Chapter 197
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: An Unpleasant Seed (3)
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“Nah, no way that’s true.”
“I don’t think so either, but… the Cult Leader is supposed to be deciding the successor this year. It makes sense that he’d be getting anxious.”
“But that’s just a rumor too, isn’t it? That the Cult Leader is deciding the successor. It’s not confirmed.”
“Well, if you put it that way, I’ve got nothing to say.”
“It’s all just gossip. Even if it were true, would someone as magnanimous as the Third Young Master really use the young Seventh Young Mistress as a sacrifice?”
“No one really knows.”
“You said it. Nothing’s certain, so it’s pointless to babble about things no one can know for sure.”
“Words to live by, huh?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“But you know, that rumor doesn’t seem entirely baseless.”
“Huh?”
“Did you know that before the Third Young Master returned to the cult, all the other candidates were summoned to the Palace of the Demonic God?”
“They were?”
“Just as I thought, you didn’t know. I heard from the guys in Squad Seven that the candidates looked grim when they came out of the Palace.”
“Hmm…”
“In any case, things are about to get a little chaotic. I just hope nothing major happens.”
Though he was some distance away, Seo Ryang’s heightened senses caught every word of the two cultists’ conversation.
‘So, it’s already spread.’
Sometimes, rumors are more terrifying than the truth.
Human nature is a fickle thing; people will draw clear lines of for or against the truth and tear each other apart, but they love to endlessly inflate rumors. There’s a reason why the mere absence of a sect leader from a neighboring school at a public event could spawn all sorts of tales, from his disappearance to his sudden death.
It becomes a serious problem when such rumors move beyond ‘suspicion’ and into the realm of ‘fanaticism.’
‘Public opinion is a powerful weapon, but it’s not the decisive move that determines victory or defeat. The one who started this rumor must know that.’
Then what was the fundamental reason for spreading such a rumor?
‘The goal is to control my movements.’
He would use a child as a sacrifice to seize victory in the succession battle?
Whether he intended to or not, he could no longer move about freely. He would have to make an effort not to give the public the impression that the rumor was true.
And what if he ignored the rumor? That would also be a problem.
If he went about his business as usual, the rumor would snowball. One way or another, public opinion was a powerful means of control, and in the end, only the target of the rumor would suffer.
A single piece of gossip could easily tie a person’s hands and feet. Such was the power of illusions and lies.
Seo Ryang spoke to Chae Yeomin.
“Did you hear?”
“Hm? Hear what?”
“People are saying I’m going to hurt you.”
Chae Yeomin’s clear eyes widened.
“Really?”
“That’s the rumor going around.”
“But you would never hurt me, would you, brother?”
Though they had only met a few times, Seo Ryang was already firmly established in Chae Yeomin’s mind as her savior.
Seo Ryang smiled.
“That’s right.”
“Then why would a rumor like that start?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. And what’s more, there are plenty of people who actually believe it.”
Chae Yeomin shook her head firmly.
“They’re fools. There’s no way that could happen.”
“I see. So they’re fools.”
“Yes, they’re all fools. They don’t know anything about us.”
Behind them, the face of their follower, Sodang, flushed slightly. After all, she was on the list of people her mistress had just called fools.
But she didn’t let her guard down.
‘I have to consider the slightest possibility.’
This is why being a protector is so difficult. You can’t see even the plain truth as truth. Even if Seo Ryang were Chae Yeomin’s blood relative, she would have started with suspicion.
“But, brother.”
“Hmm?”
Chae Yeomin’s eyes twinkled.
“Please tell me that story again.”
“Ah, the one about the Beast Palace?”
“Yes! Are there really that many animals?”
Animals.
That was true. Beasts of prey were animals, after all.
Seo Ryang let out a soft laugh.
“I haven’t seen that many. But I’ve managed to befriend one of them. I’ll show you sometime.”
“Really?”
Chae Yeomin’s face lit up. She had only ever known a rigid life of martial arts training and studying; to her, Seo Ryang was more than just a savior.
Seo Ryang licked his lips.
“But you have to be careful. It has quite the temper. If it acts up, I’ll give it a good flick on the head.”
With a Heavenly Demon Thunderclap Fist.
Giggling with anticipation, Chae Yeomin clapped her hands.
“Oh! And I have one more question.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Brother, are you trying to become the successor?”
For a moment, Sodang’s eyes wavered.
“Y-Young Mistress!”
“Hm?”
“Such words are…”
Seo Ryang shrugged.
“Of course. I’m determined to become the successor.”
“You are?”
“Yep. I have a dream.”
“What kind of dream?”
“It’s a bit of a scary dream to tell a little girl like you. In any case, it’ll be easier to achieve that dream if I become the next successor.”
Chae Yeomin’s eyes sparkled.
“Please tell me what it is.”
“Hmm…”
How should he explain this?
Seo Ryang’s eyes darted around before he spoke awkwardly.
“I’m going to crush the Righteous Heaven Alliance.”
Sodang’s jaw dropped. Was that really something to say to a young girl?
Chae Yeomin tilted her head.
“Why are you going to crush the Righteous Heaven Alliance?”
“Well… it’s complicated to explain. But anyway, they’re the bad guys.”
“Aren’t *we* the bad guys?”
Seo Ryang shot a reproachful glare at Sodang. He couldn't imagine what she had been telling the child to make her say such a thing.
One was a fool who had never talked with a child, the other was a cultist to the bone. In the end, Seo Ryang and Sodang were not so different.
“At least to me, the bastards from the Righteous Heaven Alliance are the worst of the worst.”
“Is that so?”
“Yep. You could call them my mortal enemies.”
Chae Yeomin frowned, rubbing her chin with her index finger. The sight was so adorable that Seo Ryang couldn’t help but laugh.
“If someone else becomes the successor, can’t they punish the Righteous Heaven Alliance?”
“They could. But not like I would.”
“I see.”
After a moment of thought, Chae Yeomin smiled and said.
“Then I don’t want to be the successor.”
Sodang’s eyes went wide.
“Young Mistress!”
“Why?”
“Y-You can’t do that!”
“Why not?”
“As a disciple of the Cult Leader, how can you say something so weak? Considering his grace, you must strive to do your best!”
“Brother is Master’s disciple too, isn’t he?”
“But…!”
How could she explain this? Sodang felt the words catch in her throat.
Seo Ryang was also surprised.
“You don’t want to be the successor? You don’t want it?”
“I do want it.”
“Then why are you trying to give up? Are you just giving up because I said I want it?”
“That’s part of it, and, umm…”
Chae Yeomin pouted.
“I want to become the successor for Sodang’s sake. But I don’t want it for myself.”
It was a difficult statement to understand at first glance. But Seo Ryang understood her instantly.
“So you want to fulfill the expectations of those around you, but it’s not your own dream.”
“Yesss.”
A look of pity formed on Seo Ryang’s face.
‘I knew it, but she really has lived a difficult life.’
A young child, ignorant of the world, had entered the cult and lived a thoroughly controlled life. At an age when she should have been running and playing, she had to learn difficult martial arts and study until her head spun.
All just to become the best.
The children of countless prestigious martial families went through this process to become the next generation of leaders. If Seo Ryang had followed a similar path, he probably would have yelled at her to stop talking nonsense and work harder.
‘A life deprived of personal freedom is a truly terrible thing.’
Seo Ryang nodded.
“Alright. Then I’ll work hard enough for the both of us.”
“Okay! I’ll be cheering for you!”
“Thanks.”
Sodang cried out in alarm.
“You can’t! Young Mistress, the succession battle is…!”
“Hey.”
Seo Ryang’s face hardened into a scowl.
“Are you going to keep interrupting?”
“I apologize. But I am the Young Mistress’s…”
“Handmaiden.”
“…!”
“Does she have to live up to your expectations? Who do you think you are? Instead of trying to mold her to your liking, just focus on helping her grow into a fine adult.”
“I-I wasn’t telling her to meet my expectations! It’s just that…”
“Sorry to keep cutting you off, but I have no desire to hear what you have to say. And one last thing.”
A faint demonic energy flickered in Seo Ryang’s eyes.
Sodang’s face turned pale. The moment she met his gaze, a dreadful fear washed over her.
“She may be young, but she’s not the clueless child you think she is.”
Seo Ryang looked at Chae Yeomin and asked.
“Right?”
“Yes. That’s true, but…”
Chae Yeomin gently tugged on the hem of Seo Ryang’s clothes.
“Please don’t fight.”
“Huh? Oh, we’re not fighting. This is just a conversation. A chat.”
Not that it could even be called a fight.
“Anyway, let’s go. We’re on the main road now.”
As they entered a wide street, all eyes in the vicinity turned toward the three of them.
Everyone who met his gaze bowed their heads. Seo Ryang nodded back to each of them in greeting.
As they walked, Seo Ryang felt the number of gazes on him increase, one by one.
‘The rumor is spreading faster than I thought. There’s definitely someone pulling the strings from behind.’
He was certain now. No, even if it were just an unfounded rumor, he had to act as if it were true.
‘There’s a way to silence a ridiculous rumor like this in one fell swoop.’
Despite his thoughts, Seo Ryang continued to chatter cheerfully with Chae Yeomin as they walked. He had been quite awkward when they first met, but now that he had opened his heart and approached her with warmth, conversation flowed easily.
This was also because he had clarified his life's goal. Freed from the obsession of escaping the Divine Cult, he now understood his true purpose, and there was nothing that could hold him back.
Another quarter of an hour passed, and the three of them arrived in front of the First Young Master’s residence.
Surprisingly, quite a few people had stealthily followed them. It was incredibly rude, but the cultists knew of the magnanimous personality of the Seo Ryang in the rumors. They believed he wasn't the type to make an issue out of something like this.
Seo Ryang lived up to their belief. He wasn’t displeased, and even if he were, he needed to keep them here right now.
“Hoh, as expected of the First Young Master’s residence. It’s in a different class.”
A gate guard stood watch before the magnificent gate. The atmosphere was completely different from the residences of the other disciples.
After setting down Chae Yeomin, whom he had been carrying, Seo Ryang spoke.
“Announce that the Third Young Master and the Seventh Young Mistress are here. Tell him we’ve come to finish that cup of tea we couldn’t have. He’ll know what it means.”
The gate guard’s eyes flickered.
But only for a moment.
“Please wait a moment.”
“Alright.”
The guard who went through the gate returned in less than half a quarter-hour.
“You may enter.”
“Huh?”
“…Yes?”
“What are you talking about? I didn’t come here to go inside.”
“W-What do you mean…?”
“I said I wanted to have a cup of tea. But I don’t feel like drinking it here.”
Seo Ryang smiled.
“If I go into the house of the person who started this absurd rumor and end up dead without a trace, will you take responsibility?”
“…!”
“Go back and tell him. I’ll wait here, so he should hurry out. Tell him we’re going to Jamiru.”
Everyone’s attention was fixed on Seo Ryang. They were more captivated by his accusation of starting a rumor than by his audacious, almost insolent, magnanimity.
A languid expression spread across Seo Ryang’s face.
“Oh, and be sure to add that if he doesn’t want his residence to end up like the fourth’s, he should be out here within a quarter of an hour.”