Chapter 215: Participate from the Beginning
Chapter 215: Participate from the Beginning
The Extreme Evil Smiling Demon sat alone in his white room today, his gaze fixed on the wall.
Ever since I learned that the white wall aided his martial arts training, my worries about him losing his mind had vanished. I stepped into the room and got straight to the point.
"Lord Smiling Demon, let’s go. It’s time to fight."
Behind his mask, the Smiling Demon’s eyes crinkled into a wide smile at the news that I had obtained permission. This was the same man who had gone so far as to don the Immortal Ghost Mask just to meet my father on my behalf.
"Very well," he replied without a moment's hesitation.
Even knowing the opponent was Ya Yul-han, he showed no fear. He was simply happy to be heading into battle by my side.
"We won't just be dealing with Ya Yul-han; we're taking out his entire Four-Man Group as well."
The Smiling Demon’s eyes curved into crescents within the mask's eyeholes. He was the type of man who grew more delighted the stronger the enemy was. However, that didn't mean he was prone to arrogance or failed to assess his opponents accurately.
"Ya Yul-han is a powerful man," he noted. "This could be a more difficult struggle than any of our previous battles."
The Smiling Demon was by no means letting his guard down. He understood the danger of this task better than anyone. That made me even more grateful—knowing the risks, he had still stepped forward for me.
"The problem is that we must eliminate them without leaving a single shred of evidence that we were the ones who did it."
"The Second Young Master is clever; I'm sure you'll find a way."
"I'll need your help, Lord Smiling Demon."
"I'll stick to the killing part."
He made it sound easy, but I could see his gaze deepening. The opponent was someone who demanded serious focus. The Smiling Demon spoke to me in a calm, measured tone.
"Sometimes, in the heat of battle, I forget who I am. That is when it's most dangerous. From what I've seen, the Second Young Master knows who he is better than anyone. That is why I do not worry."
"And I don't worry because you're with me, Lord Smiling Demon."
We looked at each other and laughed. We treated each other with genuine sincerity, appreciating the mutual goodwill. I felt a sudden urge to joke around with him, to engage in some lighthearted banter, but I held back.
Mistakes are often born from such moments. Because we were close, I had to maintain boundaries; it is often with those closest to us that we fail to observe proper etiquette. Thus, I treated him with even deeper respect than before.
"Oh, and another Demon Lord will be joining us for this mission."
"Who is it?"
"By my father's order, the Poison King will be coming along."
At the mention of the Poison King, a slightly troubled look crossed the Smiling Demon’s eyes.
"I have no personal acquaintance with that man."
Who did? That statement applied to both the Poison King and the Smiling Demon.
"I've come to know the Poison King a bit while preparing for this. I think he's a decent person."
The Smiling Demon still seemed uncomfortable. Liking me was one thing, but his relationships with the other Demon Lords were a separate matter entirely. He walked over to the opposite wall and stood before a line he had drawn.
"The Poison King and I... we would be about here."
He pointed to the very beginning of the line.
"Well, at least he's on the line," I remarked.
The Smiling Demon chuckled. Since the matter was already decided, he accepted the situation.
"I'll just have to hope the Poison King's toxins don't accidentally kill us as well."
I, too, had trouble picturing the two of them together. Combinations of Demon Lords were rarely a good fit. I wondered if any two of them actually got along.
"When can you depart?"
"Anytime is fine with me."
"Then let's leave tomorrow morning."
"Understood."
As I turned to leave, I spoke to him once more.
"This mission is possible because of you, Lord Smiling Demon. Thank you again."
"If we don't make it back alive, you'll have to use the word 'responsibility' instead of 'thanks.' Save your greetings for when the job is done."
Having finished, the Smiling Demon turned back to the wall. I stared at the white expanse with him for a moment before saying my goodbyes and leaving the room.
As I walked through Villain Valley, the gazes of the Faceless Guests I encountered were filled with even more goodwill than before. Some even bowed deeply, saying they had enjoyed the "show" earlier. After my outburst at the Circular Sparring Arena, my popularity had soared. They really did seem to love eccentric behavior.
*
After leaving Villain Valley, I went straight to the Thousand Poison Forest.
The Poison King was already in the middle of packing. I had come to tell him we were leaving tomorrow morning, but he seemed to have anticipated it and was busy gathering various items.
"How did you know? That we're leaving tomorrow morning."
"You caused such a ruckus to get this chance; of course you'd want to leave immediately."
"You're clever as always."
"If I were clever, would I be in this mess?"
To him, the "mess" wasn't facing Ya Yul-han. It was the fact that he had to leave the comfort of the Thousand Poison Forest. The Poison King packed poisons into a bag he could sling over his shoulder. Pouches, canisters, bottles—he packed a staggering variety of toxins.
"Is it necessary to take this much poison?"
The poisons the Poison King usually carried on his person were likely enough to kill a small army. Yet, he was packing what seemed like an excessive amount of spares.
"Who knows what might happen?"
Regardless of how much he hated going, his preparation was thorough. It was his nature. Without such a meticulous personality, he wouldn't have been able to create so many poisons and antidotes.
The Poison King put on a thin robe to hide the poison pouches fastened to his waist. The inside of the robe was lined with several more pockets, which he also filled with toxins.
"I'll be carrying a leather pouch myself. If you give me some, I can carry them for you."
"Do you plan on destroying the Unorthodox Path Alliance? Forget it."
"I feel like we're already prepared to do just that."
He ignored me and packed something else. This time, he strapped on a leather belt holding about twenty poisoned daggers.
"Do you throw daggers as well?"
"I'm probably better at it than you."
I doubted that, but I was surprised to see the Poison King using daggers. On top of that, he packed a fan. It was his unique weapon, known as the Avici Fan, which he primarily used for administering poison. It wasn't hard to kill everyone by scattering poison; what was difficult was killing only one specific person in a room full of dozens.
One had to be careful when the Poison King started fluttering that Avici Fan. There was no telling where the wind leading to hell might blow.
In the future, the next Poison King would evaluate his master like this: The greatest master of poison arts in three hundred years.
"I'm telling you now, I'm not killing Ya Yul-han. I'm just following along. I'm just going to watch!"
"If you're just going to watch, why are you packing so much poison?"
"So I can watch with peace of mind."
This was just his personality—a mix of meticulousness and deep-seated anxiety.
"How long will it take?"
"I'm not sure. I intend to handle it as quickly as possible, but I don't know what the situation will be like once we get there."
"Let's finish it as fast as we can and come back. Got it?"
"It would be faster if you helped."
"I don't know about anything else, but I have to have a word with that True Poison Recluse bastard."
The Poison King seemed genuinely annoyed by this incident.
"If you're going to sell medicine, make it properly before you sell it. It's because of people like him that we get a bad name. It's why the Cult Leader hates me."
"However, you mustn't leave any trace that you used poison arts."
"Do you think I'm going to leave corpses on display?"
He meant he would dissolve the bodies until not even a trace remained. In any case, if the Poison King handled the True Poison Recluse, I wouldn't have to reveal that I possessed a Body Immune to All Poisons.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow morning."
I left the Thousand Poison Forest, leaving him behind as he busied himself packing the poisons he had missed. As Sangseon guided me out of the forest, he spoke.
"Please look after the Poison King."
I knew well how much Sangseon cared for him. Since it was the Poison King's first time leaving the Cult in a long while, Sangseon was clearly concerned.
"I feel like that's a request I should be making to the Poison King, but yes. I will look after him."
"This is the last time I'll guide you. From now on, come on your own."
Sangseon, who had always led me through confusing, shifting paths, took me out through the easiest and best route today.
*
After leaving the Thousand Poison Gate, my next stop was the infirmary. I was finally able to say the words the Demon Doctor had been waiting for.
"I am leaving tomorrow to kill Ya Yul-han."
The Demon Doctor stood dazed, reeling from the shock. I emitted my qi to steady his body, helping him sit down before bringing him some water.
The Demon Doctor asked in a trembling voice, "How did you know it was him?"
He had asked me to kill a certain man, but he hadn't mentioned the name yet. I said nothing. Soon, the Demon Doctor let out a soft "Ah!" He had asked my father for this favor in the past and been rejected, so he naturally assumed I had heard it from him.
"Did the Cult Leader give his permission?"
"Yes. Six Demon Lords helped me for this very purpose. My visit to the Poison King was also to get permission for this task."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to tell you after I had secured permission."
Intense emotion flooded the Demon Doctor’s face.
"I have lived only for this day."
His life had been one of pure agony, having survived alone after losing his family before his eyes. He had lived as if punishing himself, treating patients while dreaming of revenge. He likely hadn't had a single night of peaceful sleep in his entire life. Even when eating delicious food, he probably never truly tasted it.
I have never had children of my own, but I could not even begin to imagine the depth of the sorrow and resentment one would feel seeing their child murdered before their eyes.
"I could have just come back after killing him and told you the result, but the reason I'm telling you now is because I know how important this is to you. That's why I'm letting you know from the very start. It begins now. I want you to participate in this, right from the beginning."
The Demon Doctor would be trembling, nervous, and worried until the day I returned. He wouldn't be able to sleep. Even so, I believed telling him was the right thing to do.
The Demon Doctor recalled that day—the day he wanted so desperately to forget, yet never could.
"It was when I was young. I was treating a critically ill patient when Ya Yul-han burst in. He demanded I immediately treat the person he had brought. I told him I couldn't. I said if I stopped the treatment now, my patient would die. Even with a blade at my throat, I held onto my convictions as a physician. And that day, I saved both of them. I saved the person I was treating, and I saved the person he brought."
"Then why...?"
"He said he had never let anyone live who defied his orders. He said it was his personal principle, one he would always uphold. Since I had saved his subordinate, he said he would spare my life. Instead..."
Tears began to stream down the Demon Doctor’s face.
"I regret it. I should have just done as he said. Tens, hundreds of times a day, I regret it. If only I could go back to that day... I would follow his words. Even if the patient I was treating died, I would obey him."
I said nothing. I knew that no words could comfort him.
He led me to his sleeping quarters within the infirmary. The room was so cramped and humble it was hard to believe it belonged to the Demon Doctor. A single hard bed, a small desk, and a chair were all it contained. A few books on the desk and a worn-out lamp seemed to represent his entire life.
There was a secret door in that room. He opened a small panel hidden in the wall and stepped inside. In the hidden space, his former home had been recreated exactly as it was.
The place where his wife used to cook, the area where his son used to play, the room where the three of them used to sleep. He was still there, in that place, on that day. He hadn't been able to leave it for even a single moment.
"My young son always wanted to play with me. Every time, I told him Daddy was busy. Daddy had to save patients. Daddy had to go buy herbs. I kept putting it off, again and again. Yet, the boy never hated me. That little child said to me, 'You'll play with me when you're not busy, right? You're working like this for us, right?' I still can't forget the way he looked at me that day. And my wife would say... 'Don't push yourself too hard. Take care of your own health first.' What kind of physician am I, when I couldn't even save my own child? My own wife!"
Finally, the tears the Demon Doctor had been holding back poured out. He tried desperately to suppress them, but the more he tried, the more they flowed. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry.
I stepped forward and embraced him. I held him tight and patted his thin, bony back. He squeezed his eyes shut and sobbed silently. It wasn't the Second Young Master hugging him. It was the me from before my regression, who had lived much longer than him, hugging a younger brother who was living such a difficult and lonely life.
Ma-ui, stop suffering now. I will end this.
After a while, the Demon Doctor regained his composure. Our gazes met. He looked somewhat relieved, as if a weight had been lifted. It was a pain he had suppressed alone for far too long.
"...I am sorry. For making you undertake such a dangerous task for my revenge."
I spoke to him firmly.
"I will make sure to kill him and return."
Today would be the last time I saw his face wet with tears.
"He has likely forgotten my very existence."
That fact would only make him more maddened with rage.
"I will make him remember."
I am someone who usually attaches no meaning to the death of a villain, but this time was an exception.
"And so, I will whisper in that bastard's ear as he dies. I'll tell him that this death is the Demon Doctor's answer to his pathetic principles."