Chapter 34
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: It's the Worst, Not the Strongest (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Berserk Demon Unit.
Simply put, it meant a unit teeming with crazed demons.
The Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon was, at its core, a religious organization. Naturally, there was no need to give a unit such a name. In fact, choosing an overly provocative name would only invite ridicule from others.
Yet, not a single person, within the Cult or outside of it, looked down on the Berserk Demon Unit.
*Encounter the Berserk Demons, and you will surely die.*
It meant that an encounter with the Berserk Demon Unit was a death sentence.
A unit without a shred of humanity. No compromise, no dialogue. No matter the enemy, they would tear them apart like rabid beasts. This was the Berserk Demon Unit, the worst of the worst.
And that infamy made no distinction between friend and foe. This was why, today, the Purple Brow Tavern had been on high alert since the Hour of the Rooster.
After clearing out all the Cult members around the Hour of the Monkey, the tavern's owner, Do Wi-gyeong, had lined up his waiters in two columns and stood in the center.
It was truly the model posture of a merchant awaiting esteemed guests.
Though the tension was stronger than the solemnity.
Do Wi-gyeong glanced at the window.
In about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, those crazed demons would come swarming in. But he couldn't afford not to have his staff on standby just because there was some time left.
If they happened to arrive earlier than scheduled and found something to complain about, his day would become a living hell.
*'My back is soaked in sweat.'*
Damn it...
*'Why did I have to lose that bet!'*
The mere thought of it was infuriating.
The moment the Berserk Demon Unit announced their dinner party, the owners of the luxurious taverns in the inner city had held a meeting. It was to decide which tavern would host the Berserk Demon Unit's party.
The subtle battle of wits turned into a debate, and the endless debate eventually evolved into a bet.
And on the battlefield of a bet where the lives of the entire tavern were on the line, Do Wi-gyeong had been defeated.
The Berserk Demon Unit, so often away on missions, only held a full company dinner once every two or three years. This fact alone showed just how unlucky Do Wi-gyeong was.
*'Anyway, let's just get through this. I heard their commander curses even the elder Demonic Lords when she's in a bad mood.'*
To have the guts to challenge the Nine Great Demonic Lords of the Council of Elders spoke volumes about her foul temper.
One wrong move, and he'd suffer so much he'd wish he were dead.
Do Wi-gyeong repeatedly wiped his forehead and shouted.
"You fools! Straighten your lines! Hey, you! Fix your damn clothes!"
Just then.
*Clank!*
In an instant, a hush fell over the tavern.
The color drained from Do Wi-gyeong's face. His sweat evaporated as if it had never been there, and the hair on his body stood on end.
*Creeaak.*
The first-floor door slowly opened.
Do Wi-gyeong quickly straightened his posture, his eyes falling on a well-built man silhouetted against the sunset.
*Gulp!*
The sound of swallowing echoed from all around. Not just Do Wi-gyeong, but the waiters and cooks were all tense.
Do Wi-gyeong shouted.
"Welcome to the Purple Brow Tavern!"
"Welcome!"
The people lined up on both sides bowed in unison. Their bows were perfectly synchronized, and their unified greeting was so loud it seemed to shake the ceiling.
A moment of silence.
The silence was shattered by an impossibly cute cry.
"Arf!"
*'Huh? What's that sound?'*
Do Wi-gyeong tilted his head in confusion. Who was making a noise like a baby animal?
He slowly straightened up, cautiously looking around.
And there he saw a young man.
"Isn't this welcome a bit too grand?"
The young man's face was filled with bemusement as he spoke, looking dumbfounded.
Do Wi-gyeong's eyes wavered.
"Who...?"
The young man, Seo Ryang, scratched his head.
"I guess this couldn't be for me, huh?"
"Who might you be? Our tavern is not accepting any other guests today..."
"The name's Seo Ryang."
"Pardon?"
"Everyone I meet seems to call me the Third Young Master."
Third Young Master? What's that? Something to eat?
The suddenness of the title caused Do Wi-gyeong's mind to stop functioning. The same went for the waiters and cooks.
Seo Ryang looked around.
"I heard this place could easily hold five hundred people, so why is it so empty today? Not very popular?"
"...Pardon?"
"Well, since I'm already here, what can I do? My feet are sore and my back aches. It's too much trouble to go somewhere else, so just find me a seat."
What's with this reckless familiarity?
As Do Wi-gyeong stood there awkwardly, tilting his head in confusion...
"...Th-Third Young Master?!"
A single utterance from someone completely changed the strange atmosphere.
*'Third Young Master? Which Third Young Master? What? *That* Third Young Master? The Cult's Third Young Master? The Cult Leader's third disciple?'*
In an instant, Do Wi-gyeong's face went deathly pale.
"Keuk!"
"Ugh?!"
"Cough!"
Everyone, each with their own dramatic reaction, dropped to their knees.
"Invincible Cult! All Demons Submit! We greet the Third Young Master!"
The resounding voices seemed to make the entire tavern vibrate.
Geumho, as if its ears hurt, buried its head in the scruff of Seo Ryang's neck.
After patting Geumho a couple of times, Seo Ryang lowered his hand and cleaned his ear.
"If you're going to make this much of a fuss every time we meet, I won't be able to come to taverns very often."
"Gasp! P-Pardon?"
"It's uncomfortable, so you can all get up now."
"As you command!"
*Shwiiik!*
Led by Do Wi-gyeong, everyone shot to their feet.
He looked around the first-floor tables and walked to a seat by the window with a nice view.
Do Wi-gyeong followed behind Seo Ryang, his back bent low. The extreme caution was evident in the way he walked on his tiptoes, trying not to make a sound.
As soon as Seo Ryang sat down, Do Wi-gyeong immediately dropped to his knees.
He cried out with heartfelt passion, as if coughing up blood.
"For the Third Young Master to visit our establishment is truly an honor of three lifetimes!"
At the same time, the waiters and cooks also shouted.
"It is an honor!"
Seo Ryang frowned. Geumho, who had quickly hidden in his arms, covered its ears with its front paws.
"Enough. What's the best food you have here?"
"Y-Yes?"
"I asked what tasty food you have."
"Th-That is... how..."
"Why else would I come to a tavern? I came to enjoy some good food and drink, did I not?"
"Ah!"
He had never imagined that a being like the Third Young Master could be a 'customer'. Do Wi-gyeong haltingly described the dishes.
After listening quietly, Seo Ryang sighed.
"They're all just heavily seasoned dishes."
It was a comment to himself, but everyone who needed to hear it, heard it.
The cooks' faces, in particular, turned so ghastly that even plague victims would have pitied them.
"If there is any dish you desire, we will prepare anything you ask!"
As Do Wi-gyeong, who was sweating waterfalls, prostrated himself and shouted, the cooks nodded so hard their necks nearly broke.
Lost in thought for a moment, Seo Ryang snapped his fingers.
"Pork thoroughly boiled in a bamboo tube, and some lightly oiled stir-fried vegetables should do. Make the vegetables spicy, but keep the seasoning light."
*Fwoosh!*
Do Wi-gyeong shot up and approached the cooks. He moved so fast that even Seo Ryang stared with his mouth agape.
Do Wi-gyeong glared at the cooks with bloodshot eyes.
"Make it."
"Y-Yes?!"
"Make a dish so good that if two people were eating it and one died, the other wouldn't notice! Use every ounce of skill you've honed until now! Do you understand?!"
"Gasp! Yes!"
"If the Third Young Master so much as frowns once, I'll debone every last one of you and boil you down for stock!"
"W-We'll keep that in mind!"
Though spoken in a hushed voice, the sincerity and gravity in his words were beyond imagination.
The pale-faced cooks shot into the kitchen like arrows.
Seo Ryang inwardly clicked his tongue. *They're scared out of their wits. I doubt they can make a decent dish like this.*
But well, it didn't matter.
*'Even if it's bad, I can just pretend it's delicious.'*
The food and drink weren't his purpose for coming here, after all.
And so, the entire staff that had been preparing to host the Berserk Demon Unit moved for Seo Ryang alone. Even though the place was already polished without a speck of dust, the waiters picked up their rags again.
Of course, the cleaning was done very politely and quietly, outside of Seo Ryang's line of sight. They were afraid of bothering him in the slightest.
Naturally, Seo Ryang paid them no mind. He was too busy playing with Geumho, who had climbed onto the table and was lying on its back, tapping its nose.
Some time passed like that.
Geumho's ears twitched, and a cool light glinted in Seo Ryang's eyes.
*'They're here.'*
*Fwoosh.*
The ripple of demonic energy, felt from a distance.
*'Just as the rumors said. No, even more than the rumors.'*
Violent.
Every one of them knows how to properly control their demonic energy. But their subtle presence exuded an untamed madness.
*'Two hundred people. All of them at least first-rate masters. Just like the information in the organizational chart.'*
And one more thing.
*'They're accustomed to battle.'*
A unique sensitivity and killing intent, honed through countless battles, was deeply ingrained in them. Regardless of the organization's tendencies, it was clear they were warriors, each capable of facing a hundred foes.
Seo Ryang scratched his head.
*'I wonder if they can be shaped.'*
Well, if not, it can't be helped. He was one of the highest-ranking members of the Cult anyway, so he had nothing to fear.
A moment later.
*BANG!*
With a sound so loud it seemed something had broken, a burly man entered.
"We're her—"
Before the man could finish his sentence, he frowned.
"What's this? You're not even ready yet?"
The waiters were quietly cleaning, and in a corner of the kitchen, brilliant flames were soaring. The atmosphere was extremely solemn, yet filled with tension.
Everyone's gaze turned to the man.
The man's face gradually contorted. It was fine that all eyes were on him, but these people weren't even straightening their posture...?
"Look at these bastards. Hey! Where's the owner?!"
Just then, Do Wi-gyeong hurried down from the second floor. His face was drenched in sweat, filled with urgency.
"Y-You've arrived, Deputy Commander."
"You're not ready yet? I'm pretty sure we announced the time for our dinner party properly."
"Not at all! The preparations are perfect!"
The man, who was about to retort, tilted his head for a moment.
"What's wrong with your voice?"
"Pardon?"
"Why's your voice all shriveled up?"
Do Wi-gyeong forced a smile and said.
"I-Is that so."
"See, you're doing it again."
"If it bothers you, I apologize."
"Bothers... no, that's not it. Look here, owner."
"Yeees."
The man kicked a nearby chair.
"You said you were all ready, didn't you? Then why is it such a mess?"
"Ah, that's..."
"And how are you managing your subordinates? Huh? When a customer arrives, these bastards should be bowing so low their heads hit the floor, right? What are they doing just standing there gawking?"
As he spoke, he grew more heated, his face turning red.
"Is this how you're going to kick off our good-spirited dinner party? If you act like this, owner, it makes us feel unwelcome. Don't you think?"
"W-Well..."
"And."
The man's eyes turned to the first-floor window. Seo Ryang wasn't even looking their way, busy playing with Geumho with his fingers.
A murderous glint appeared in his eyes.
"And who the hell is that?"
"...!"
"If we announced a private party, you should have cleared everyone out beforehand! And you say you're ready? Are you really tired of living?!"
In that moment, the faces of Do Wi-gyeong and everyone else in the tavern turned pale.
The man roared.
"What are you standing around for? Drag that bastard out of here right now!"
*Gulp.*
"Huh? Not moving? You bastards, really!"
He raised his fist. Seeing his furious eyes, it looked like he was about to start by smashing some furniture.
Just then.
*SMACK!*
"Ack!"
The man, struck hard on the back of the head, staggered forward a couple of steps.
At the same time, a cold voice came from outside the door.
"What's with all the noise?"
Seo Ryang's eyes sparkled.
*'She's here.'*
*Step, step.*
A figure slowly came into view.
She was nearly six feet tall and looked to be around thirty years old.
Her slightly irritable eyes and a diagonal scar running across them gave her a chilling air. But aside from those two features, she had a rather beautiful face.
A woman carrying a thick, short sword on her back—two feet long and nine inches wide.
"I told you to clear the way, not cause trouble. Huh?"
The man bowed his head.
"C-Commander."
Seo Ryang smiled.
*'So she's finally appeared.'*
The youngest and most violent of the leaders of the inner combat units, a demonic master at the peak of her power.
It was the arrival of the Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit, Wi Hongryeon.