Chapter 396: No! This is a Trip!
Chapter 396: No! This is a Trip!
The moment I heard the words "North Sea Ice Palace," a thought flashed through my mind.
Lee An, it must be fate telling me to go see you.
It was a destination I hadn't even considered, yet I’d heard it mentioned twice in a single day. And it wasn't as if I’d just overheard it in passing. Both Lee An and the Drunken Demon were people deeply connected to me.
"Why do you look so surprised?"
"I was just thinking that my brother is the kind of man who receives wine as a gift from the Ice Palace every year."
"I might let you look down on me, but out there in the world, I’m a man of some renown."
How could I not know? I knew better than anyone. I knew exactly how terrifying the Drunken Demon could be when he truly lost control in a drunken frenzy. Only someone like the Blood Heaven Blade Demon could get away with calling him a mere drunkard.
"But is the Ice Palace failing to send wine really something worth discussing with the Sword Venerable?"
For a split second, a hint of embarrassment flickered in the Drunken Demon’s eyes.
"It’s because you don’t know how delicious their Ice Wine is."
"Well, since we’re talking about it, why don't we go to the North Sea Ice Palace together?"
"The two of us?"
"If they won't send the wine, we can just go there and drink it ourselves. Surely they wouldn't refuse us a single cup of Ice Wine if we showed up in person? Let’s have a drink together at the summit of the snowy mountains."
It would be a lie to say I didn't feel bad for the Drunken Demon, who always lamented being pushed to the back of my mind. I wanted to spend some quality time with him.
Drinking Ice Wine with the Drunken Demon while snow drifted around us at the peak of a frozen mountain...
Ah, just thinking about it was exciting. It would truly be an unforgettable moment.
Besides, hadn't I just visited a hot spring in the snowy plains yesterday? Yes, this was fate telling me to head to the North Sea.
"Let's go together."
I expected him to agree immediately, but to my surprise, the Drunken Demon refused.
"I’ll pass."
"What? You’re always saying you want to hang out with me. Was that all talk? You said you wanted to go on a trip."
"I have things to do."
Judging by his expression, there was definitely an underlying reason.
Did he have some unspeakable history with the Ice Palace? I was curious, but I didn't pry.
Among the Demon Lords, the Drunken Demon was the one I treated with the least formality. Because of that, I could have pestered him for details or teased him, asking if it was because he didn't want to be away from Yeo-bin.
But I didn't.
When someone signals "this is as far as I go," you have to step back. We often make mistakes with those we are comfortable with, treating them rudely because of that very familiarity.
The more comfortable you are with someone, the more you should be considerate—especially if you value the effort they put into maintaining that comfort.
So, I changed the subject.
"Brother, what did you think of yesterday's summit?"
"Do you know why I particularly liked this summit?"
"Why?"
"Because it was held in a tavern. And I like even more that your Demonic Path is found in a pub."
A laugh escaped me at the Drunken Demon’s words. It was the moment another layer of meaning was added to the Pungryu Tavern—a place where my Demonic Path and the Drunken Demon’s Path of Wine met.
We chatted about this and that before parting ways. Neither of us brought up the trip to the North Sea again.
*
After parting with the Drunken Demon, Geom Mu-geuk returned to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s quarters.
He had come to see the Blade Demon today to express his gratitude for helping the summit conclude successfully. However, the purpose of his visit had now shifted to saying goodbye before leaving for the North Sea.
The Blade Demon and the Sword Venerable were in the courtyard, chatting while tending to the flowers they had planted.
Geom Mu-geuk quietly stood beside them and spoke.
"The flowers are truly beautiful."
Just looking at them lifted his spirits.
The One Flower Sword Venerable watched Geom Mu-geuk as he gazed at the blooms. He could feel that the boy wasn't just pretending to like them to please him; he genuinely appreciated them.
"Should I plant some flowers in your courtyard too, Young Cult Leader?"
"No, I’m always gallivanting around, so they’d probably die soon. I have to head out again."
"Where to?"
"I have business in the North Sea."
At the mention of the North Sea, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked up with a surprised expression.
"Why there?"
"According to my right hand, my heart is freezing over."
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn't catch Mu-geuk’s joke.
"What kind of trouble are you planning to stir up now?"
"Could there be anything more shocking than the Orthodox-Unorthodox-Demonic Summit?"
"Knowing you..." The Blood Heaven Blade Demon sighed and shook his head. "I thought spring had finally arrived, but a blizzard is starting to blow again!"
The One Flower Sword Venerable picked up the thread.
"Blood is about to be sprayed across the pure white snowfields."
Given his track record, Mu-geuk deserved such misunderstandings, but it still stung a little.
"No, don't misunderstand! I’m just going to meet someone! I’m going to see Lee An. To laugh, chat, and sightsee. I’m going to look for restaurants in the North Sea with talented cooks."
The two elders looked at each other and sighed, pretending not to hear him.
"I wonder how many will die this time."
"I told you, no! This is a trip to the North Sea!"
*
Before leaving for the North Sea, I diligently went around to say my goodbyes. When I went to rescue Jo Chun-bae’s family, I had left the Cult in a hurry, almost like a runaway, but this time I greeted everyone properly. I intended to travel around the Central Plains with Lee An after leaving the North Sea.
My father said only one thing.
"Don't cause trouble!"
My master, the Fist Demon, added one more warning.
"The Ice Palace Master is a cold person."
I knew. I knew exactly how cold he was. And I knew he possessed a temperament that perfectly suited the title of Ice Palace Master.
I couldn't even meet the Poison King and the Demon Buddha. The two of them had gone deep into the Thousand Poison Forest again to dig up poisonous herbs.
"This is too much! Are you two always going to play without me?"
The words I left with Sangseon to relay to them only echoed through the Thousand Poison Forest.
Of course, I said it like that, but I could feel that their time together was having a positive influence on both of them.
The Soul-Seizing Demon Lord unexpectedly revealed her inner thoughts with uncharacteristic calm.
"I hope there will be a day when I can go out with you next time."
It seemed she was envious of how I got along with the other Demon Lords.
I gave her the words that would provide the most strength.
"You are the first Demon Lord of the next generation. When the time comes, there will be plenty of opportunities."
Soul-Seizing Demon Lord, don't forget that now is the time to bury your life in effort. Only by going through this period can you become the Demon Lord you look up to now. Do you think the Fist Demon’s massive fists or the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon’s shining mask were just made out of thin air?
I only hoped she would grow into a magnificent Demon Lord.
And the person who moved me more than anyone else was the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon.
When I entered the Smiling Demon’s quarters, I was startled.
The room had changed. On the wall opposite the bed I had brought in, a new bed had been placed. And amazingly, the Smiling Demon was sitting on it. He, who always stood in the middle of the empty room, was actually sitting on a bed.
"Lord Smiling Demon!"
"You’ve come?"
"You finally have a bed of your own."
"I decided to get one this time."
I was truly happy. He had recognized my heart when I moved my bed into his room. He understood my wish for him to sleep comfortably.
"Sleeping on a bed is more comfortable than I thought."
I sat on my bed and looked at the Smiling Demon sitting across from me.
Because his position had changed, his perspective would change as well. This change would also change him. Just as I was, the Smiling Demon was gradually becoming stronger.
"I intend to go to the North Sea."
"On what business?"
"I’m going to see a beautiful heart."
The Smiling Demon had been there when I first used the expression "beautiful heart." So, he likely knew who I was referring to.
"I thought that not taking care of her would make her stronger, that leaving her alone would make her stronger... but I think I’ve reached my limit. I have to go see her."
The eyes behind the white mask crinkled in a charming smile. Recalling the joke he used to tease Lee An with, he spoke.
"If the heart you speak of is that ugly heart I know, it will be beating quite well even in that cold place."
*
That night, the Drunken Demon came to find me.
"Shall we have a drink?"
"Sounds good."
Whenever I drank with the Drunken Demon, it was always at the Drunken Dream Pavilion, but today we sat facing each other in the front yard of my quarters.
"I’m going to the North Sea, even if I have to go alone. You know Lee An, who used to be my guard? She’s there now. But since you brought up the Ice Palace, I felt like going to see her."
"The reason I said I wouldn't go was..."
It seemed that had been weighing on his mind. He had grumbled about me not playing with him all this time, yet when I finally asked him to go, he had backed out.
"There is a place inside the Ice Palace where they brew liquor. It’s called the White Liquor Snowy Plains. I’m acquainted with the Master of that institute."
On a hunch, I asked.
"Is the Master a woman?"
The Drunken Demon flinched and nodded. Brother, don't be surprised. I can pretty much guess the situation.
"That person likes you, doesn't she?"
The Drunken Demon didn't answer and just drank his wine. It was a silent affirmation.
A romance between the Drunken Demon and a master brewer from the North Sea Ice Palace. The Drunken Demon likely hadn't accepted those feelings for a long time. But coincidentally, the wine hadn't arrived during this period when he had opened his heart to Yeo-bin, so he probably thought the woman was heartbroken.
"You think she didn't send the wine because she heard the news that things are going well with you and Yeo-bin?"
But this time, he firmly shook his head.
"No. If she had sent wine out of such personal feelings, I wouldn't have accepted it."
I could feel the sincerity in the Drunken Demon’s words.
"The wine the Master sends is truly magnificent. We have interacted as a brewer and a drinker."
A master of brewing and the ultimate drinker. That was their relationship.
"Then why did you say you weren't going?"
Then, the Drunken Demon said something unexpected.
"The liquor base for the Wine God's Spirit has spoiled again."
I had once helped the Drunken Demon clear away a rotten liquor base before. He had said it was an ill omen because it had never happened since he became a Demon Lord.
That base had spoiled again.
"So I’m in the middle of brewing it again and keeping an eye on it. That’s why I said I wouldn't go; I didn't want to leave my post at a time like this. I was going to tell you earlier, but I didn't want to make you worry needlessly."
I could tell. Many things had changed since my regression, but I still hadn't managed to change the fate that Hwa Mu-gi was bringing.
"Was it the same as before?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did the stench of rot vibrate as much as it did then?"
Fortunately, the Drunken Demon shook his head.
"It was less spoiled than before. It was terrible back then, wasn't it?"
I wondered if there was any meaning in such a difference, but if I were to assign meaning at all, I might as well find it here. I chose to believe the situation had improved.
The wine brewed this time would surely be less spoiled. Because this summit must have changed our fates at least a little bit.
"Brother, don't worry too much. If it spoils, brew it again. If it spoils again, brew it yet again."
Brewing, and brewing again. This was exactly my attitude toward dealing with Hwa Mu-gi and facing evil. I wasn't going to give it too much weight.
Hwa Mu-gi, I won't let you become my everything. You’re the one who should be restless and obsessed with me. 'Why isn't it working? Why isn't he falling for it?' You should be the one anxious and burning up inside.
Perhaps the greatest revenge wasn't killing him, but me living a happy and good life.
Hwa Mu-gi? Now, who was that again?
*
Early the next morning, as I was about to leave the Main Cult, the Drunken Demon found me.
"Let's go together."
The Drunken Demon had already come prepared for the trip.
Even his attire was different from usual. It was the same style of clothing he wore on the day of the summit, but the painting on it was different.
Back then, it was a garment showing a drunken Wine God laughing, but today, it depicted the Wine God floating a boat on a moonlit lake, drinking alone. It looked like a scene from a collection of poems and paintings.
"That outfit is really cool. If you have any spares, give me one too."
"I’ll give you one when we return."
I didn't ask why he had changed his mind. There are things you can know without asking.
"Let's use our Lightness Skill to run all the way to the North Sea. I’ll match my speed to yours, Brother."
At that, the Drunken Demon looked at me as if I were being ridiculous.
"You’ll match your speed to mine?"
"Of course. The fast person should match the speed of the slower one."
"You’ve never truly run with me, have you?"
"Neither have you, Brother."
"Shall we make a bet?"
A Lightness Skill bet with me? That was almost like asking my father for a contest on who could sneer better.
"We’re people who drink and fight. What do we do if we cause trouble while drunk? We have to bolt. We’re experts at running away."
The Drunken Demon was full of confidence.
"If I lose, I’ll give you this."
The Drunken Demon pulled a small flask from his robes.
"It’s Fire Dragon Wine."
Fire Dragon Wine was among the highest tier of liquid elixirs. It was a truly precious liquor.
"You’re going to give me something this precious?"
"It doesn't match my internal energy or my nature, so I’ve just been storing it."
"You’re doing this because you think I’ll feel burdened if you just give it to me as a gift, right?"
"Just don't trip and cry!"
The Drunken Demon had wagered something truly big. The fact that he offered the Fire Dragon Wine first meant there was something he wanted from me as well.
"And if you win? Is there something you want?"
The condition the Drunken Demon set was unexpected.
"If I win, just grant me one favor."
"What is it?"
"I’ll tell you if I win."
"What a shame. I guess I’ll never get to hear that favor."
After deciding on a destination, we began to run.
The Drunken Demon was certainly fast. Fast enough that I wondered if he was the quickest among the Demon Lords in terms of Lightness Skill. If he was this fast, he hadn't intended to just give me the Fire Dragon Wine. He had made this bet to win.
However, unfortunately for him, he wasn't as fast as my Rapid Speed Step, which had reached Great Achievement.
Brother, since I’m a man with a conscience, I’ll listen to what your favor is while I’m drinking that Fire Dragon Wine.
Fast, and even faster. We dashed northward at a blistering pace.