Chapter 41
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: I'll figure it out after I cause trouble (5)
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*Trickle.*
The clear liquid filling the cup released a deep aroma.
Wi Hongryeon frowned.
“Why did you stop pouring?”
“Take what you’re given and drink up. You should consider it an honor that I’m even pouring for you.”
“...”
“Now you pour.”
Wi Hongryeon, who had been staring blankly at Seo Ryang, filled his cup to the brim.
Seo Ryang smirked.
“So you’re not one for petty tricks.”
“It’s a gesture of gratitude.”
“Gratitude? For what?”
“...”
“Ah, for keeping your head attached to your neck?”
“...”
“Putting on such a serious act, so unlike you.”
As Seo Ryang drained his cup, Wi Hongryeon followed suit.
A modest table of drinks and snacks was set between them. Just as Seo Ryang had guessed, she really had brought side dishes.
Seo Ryang glanced behind him.
Ma Dongpil stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his face expressionless. His gaze was fixed on Wi Hongryeon.
“Dongpil, you’re not drinking?”
“I’m fine, sir.”
“If you’re not drinking, why don’t you stop standing at attention and go rest?”
“I cannot.”
“Huh?”
“There’s a chance the Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit might go wild. Today, I will be the one to stop her.”
The corners of Wi Hongryeon’s mouth curled up. It was a rather sinister smile.
“You think someone of your level can stop me?”
“...”
“What? Why aren’t you answering?”
Ma Dongpil still didn’t respond. He simply continued to glare at her with eyes as unyielding as a boulder.
Wi Hongryeon’s expression grew colder.
“You’ve taken a subordinate who doesn’t know his place, Young Master.”
“Why? You think he’s beneath you?”
“I am the Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit.”
“I know, you wench.”
“My skills are not so poor that I would lose to a mere squad leader from the Hall of Protectors.”
Seo Ryang chuckled and refilled Wi Hongryeon’s cup.
“He’s the leader of Squad Three. And he’s growing fast.”
“So that’s why he’s so arrogant. He must have learned a few decent martial arts techniques recently.”
“Aren’t you the one being too arrogant? In your current condition, I’d say Dongpil has the clear advantage.”
Her lips twitching, Wi Hongryeon drained her cup in one go.
Seo Ryang once again filled her cup.
“By the way, what is this side dish?”
“Is something wrong with it?”
“The smell is too strong.”
“Once you get used to them, there are few things as delicious.”
“You really have no social skills. If you come for a drink, try to think of the other person, alright?”
Wi Hongryeon did not reply.
Seo Ryang, who was staring at her, extended his hand.
“I don’t have any money.”
“Who asked for money? Give me your hand.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, give me your hand.”
“Why…?”
“Are you worried I’m going to beat you up now? Or that I’m trying to pull something? When I tell you to give it to me, just give it to me, you stubborn girl.”
Wi Hongryeon’s lips twitched again.
But it was only for a moment before she thrust her hand forward.
“Hmm.”
Seo Ryang frowned as he took her pulse.
“What’s this? These don’t seem like internal injuries from me.”
“Is this about my condition?”
“What, did you think I wanted to hold hands? You’re crazy.”
“...”
“Hmm, it doesn’t seem like an internal injury from a physical blow. Aha. It’s from the cold energy in the solitary cell.”
“...”
*Wooooong.*
Wi Hongryeon’s eyes wavered.
The concentration of demonic energy pouring into her through her wrist without a word was truly immense.
It surged in like a crimson flame, and for a moment, she thought her entire arm was going to be incinerated.
But that too was brief.
*Ssssssk.*
The cold energy that had permeated her organs completely evaporated. The Dark Shadow True Demonic Art was a Scorching Sun Art, which made it easier to handle.
As Wi Hongryeon’s complexion became visibly more relaxed, Seo Ryang released her wrist.
“I have no hobby of drinking with the infirm.”
“I won’t thank you.”
“What kind of fool in this world would expect a thank you from a psycho like you?”
“...”
“Just drink.”
After emptying cup after cup in silence, it was Seo Ryang who spoke first.
“So, what’s the reason you came scurrying all the way here without resting, right after being released?”
“Didn’t you tell me to come if I wanted a drink?”
“That’s what I’m asking. Why did you come without resting?”
“That’s my business…”
“Hey.”
“...”
“Since you got here, have you done anything besides play word games?”
“...”
“We’ve had a fair amount to drink. Stop with the nonsense and say what you have to say.”
“I don’t have anything in particular to say.”
“You have nothing to say, yet you came all the way here with side dishes? This late at night?”
“As I said before, it is my way of showing sincerity for the trouble I caused.”
The word sincerity came from Wi Hongryeon’s mouth.
It was a word that truly didn’t suit her. A word she would never have uttered if her opponent wasn’t the Third Young Master.
Staring blankly at her, Seo Ryang nodded.
“Fine. If that’s how you feel, let’s just drink.”
“It’s true.”
“I get it.”
Seo Ryang grumbled and emptied his cup.
Wi Hongryeon, who had been quietly watching him drink without once picking up his chopsticks, asked.
“Do you dislike the side dishes that much?”
“Did you think I was lying?”
“Shall I bring another dish?”
…What is this?
Seo Ryang blinked.
“What’s with you all of a sudden?”
“Pardon?”
“I think a line just came out that is completely out of context with your personality so far, wasn’t it?”
“...”
Wi Hongryeon emptied her cup once more. Despite the rapid pace at which she was drinking, she showed no signs of being drunk.
Seo Ryang sighed.
“Damn it, to think you really just came to drain my liquor. Huh? We’ve already finished a bottle. Dongpil! Bring a couple more bottles.”
Ma Dongpil left the room. Even as he walked out the door, his eyes remained fixed on Wi Hongryeon.
Wi Hongryeon scoffed.
“His loyalty puts Guan Yu to shame.”
“You should learn from him.”
“Don’t you find it suffocating?”
“Why would it be suffocating? He’s a person who devotes himself to me.”
“At this point, isn’t it beyond devotion and closer to love?”
“There you go again. I’ll crack your head open.”
“He will be helpful in your future battles.”
“What nonsense. Why would I use Dongpil in a fight…”
Seo Ryang stopped mid-sentence, his eyes gleaming.
Wi Hongryeon shook the empty bottle.
“There’s a little left. Allow me to pour for you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“...”
“Stop being cryptic and just say what you need to say. Don’t waste time just drinking.”
A hint of confusion flickered across Wi Hongryeon’s face.
“...To be honest, I’m still debating.”
“About what?”
“Whether it’s right for me to tell you something like this.”
“You came here for a drink before you even made up your mind? No, more importantly, what are you talking about?”
Wi Hongryeon didn’t answer, merely staring down at her cup.
This time, Seo Ryang waited for her. He sensed that she wasn’t just posturing like before, but was genuinely conflicted.
A moment later, Ma Dongpil returned with two bottles of liquor.
At the same time, his gaze sharpened. He too had realized that the atmosphere in the room had changed.
Taking the liquor from Ma Dongpil, Seo Ryang filled Wi Hongryeon’s cup.
Wi Hongryeon downed it as if she had been waiting. Seo Ryang immediately refilled it.
After emptying her cup three times in a row, Wi Hongryeon finally spoke.
“How much do you trust that man?”
She gestured with her chin toward Ma Dongpil.
Seo Ryang answered seriously.
“We’ve saved each other’s lives several times.”
It meant he trusted him completely. Ma Dongpil bowed his head slightly, as if overwhelmed.
Wi Hongryeon smiled.
It was a bitter smile, one that seemed unlikely to ever appear on her face.
“I envy that.”
“So what are you trying to say?”
“The Commander of the True Demon Unit.”
“...What?”
“The Commander of the True Demon Unit is going to make a move.”
The Commander of the True Demon Unit.
One of the internal combat units, on par with the Berserk Demon Unit.
While the Berserk Demon Unit was more infamous, the True Demon Unit was a group with legitimacy.
A unit with a long history, existing since the founding of the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon. Naturally, the pride of the demonic practitioners belonging to it was sky-high.
Seo Ryang’s eyes sparkled.
“So the Commander of the True Demon Unit was there too.”
Wi Hongryeon nodded.
This was a fact not recorded in the latest relationship chart given by So Yeonsim. It was a moment that confirmed the document was reliable, but not omnipotent.
“But why is he making a move?”
“The Commander of the True Demon Unit is a fox. He never does anything that could harm him.”
“So he’s particularly cautious?”
“That’s right.”
“And a guy like that is suddenly making a move? Is there something he wants to gain?”
“Me.”
“...?”
“There are times when that cautious man acts without thinking. Most of those times are because of me.”
“Why? Is he in love with you or something? What a unique taste.”
“I think he loves me enough to want to kill me.”
It meant their relationship was extremely hostile. Seo Ryang tilted his head.
“I don’t want to know why you two are like that. What I’m curious about is why he would make a move now…”
“...”
“Don’t tell me, has he definitively sided with the Fourth Young Master?”
“To be precise, it seems the Fourth Young Master has him by the throat.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know either. I’m not certain. But having clashed with him so often, there are things I know just by looking at his face. That man, he definitely has a weakness that the Fourth Young Master is exploiting.”
“So what you’re saying is, the one making the move is the Commander of the True Demon Unit, but the one pulling the strings is the Fourth Young Master.”
“Ultimately, it is the Fourth Young Master who is making a move.”
Seo Ryang smiled.
“And the reason you’re telling me this is?”
“A gesture of gratitude.”
“...”
“And I thought it would be acceptable to join hands with you, Young Master. It seems you want to crush the Fourth Young Master anyway, don’t you?”
Ma Dongpil’s eyes narrowed. Her blunt tone was one thing, but to dare test the Young Master… what an incredibly insolent woman.
But Seo Ryang’s smile remained bright.
He filled Wi Hongryeon’s cup.
“Are you proposing we form a temporary alliance?”
“You can back out if you don’t want to. I’ve fought well enough on my own until now.”
“Sorry, but it’s not in my nature to see something interesting and just let it go. Besides, it looks like you want to use this chance to break this vicious cycle for good, don’t you?”
“...That’s right.”
The two raised their cups.
“You, can you handle the Commander of the True Demon Unit for sure?”
“I’ll make sure to pin him down properly before you take down the Fourth Young Master, Young Master. It was bothering me to just leave him be, so this works out well.”
“I do like your fighting spirit.”
*Clink!*
The two clinked their cups.
After draining his cup, Seo Ryang grinned at Ma Dongpil.
“You said this reminded you of when you first saw the Green Candle, right?”
“...Yes.”
“I thought it was all over right in front of me, but it turns out the main stage was elsewhere. You want in?”
“Of course.”
Seo Ryang pointed to the seat next to him.
“Bring another cup.”
* * *
“She went to Seo Ryang’s residence?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Hong Wi-mun smirked.
“She’s outside the bounds of common sense in so many ways. I thought she was really turning herself in, but then she suddenly attempts murder? And she didn’t even touch me.”
“Wasn’t she upholding her sense of loyalty?”
“And protecting her subordinates as well. She’s surprisingly thorough in that regard.”
Shin-hoe spoke with a firm expression.
“However, I don’t believe that’s all there is to it. While her personality is unpredictable, the Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit is not that reckless.”
“True.”
“And yet, for her to bring up the Third Young Master and turn herself in to the Hall of Punishments… I believe we must assume there was some kind of deal with him.”
“Of course. After all, she was acquitted based on that guy Seo Ryang’s testimony. That would be difficult without coordinating their stories beforehand.”
“But if she was going to be released anyway, why would she bother…”
“She saved her subordinates and also roped in the Jamiru side. And she couldn’t ignore my existence either.”
“Ah! In that case, the Hall of Punishments would have been the safest place for the Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit from all threats.”
“Right. The problem is, we don’t know what kind of deal it was.”
Hong Wi-mun, lost in thought, scratched his head.
“It’s not hard to guess, but the problem is that nothing is certain.”
“...”
“In times like these, the best thing to do is to poke and prod with a good toy.”
Shin-hoe asked cautiously.
“Are you thinking of using the Commander of the True Demon Unit?”
“It’s the surest way, isn’t it? It’s not the first or second time that man has messed with the Commander of the Berserk Demon Unit.”
“That is true, but.”
“Weighing this and that will only waste time and gain us nothing. Now is not the time to think, but to act.”
Hong Wi-mun filled his smoking pipe with tobacco.
The color of the tobacco was a deeper shade of purple than before.
“Send word to the Commander of the True Demon Unit.”