Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Vampire Demon
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Vampire Demon.
Prayer Protector of the Ang Demon Divine Transformation Clan.
Ghost Commander of the Five Great Sword Generals.
Vampire Gate Lord.
These were all epithets referring to the Vampire Demon.
Among the five protectors, he had always been especially close to me.
The Vampire Demon had reached his current realm through innate abilities, just like me.
—Blood Absorption Nourishment.
The Vampire Demon's ability boasted a bizarre quality.
He was born with a disease. If left alone, his meridians would contract and his muscles would stiffen.
In the end, his organs and tissues would harden, turning him into a stone statue in death.
But things changed when he drank fresh blood.
The vitality contained in fresh blood infused life into his meridians and muscles. It circulated his blood flow, sharpening his reason and senses.
Especially, the superior the vitality he absorbed, the greater the level of martial prowess he could manifest—vastly different each time.
Once, under Master's grace, he had absorbed Master's fresh blood and displayed super peak-level prowess, so in terms of potential alone, he could be called the greatest among the Five Great Sword Generals.
But he couldn't absorb Master's fresh blood every time, and even fresh blood from living humans was hard to obtain, so he usually carried animal blood with him.
'Or carried my blood around.'
「Come to think of it, didn't the Vampire Demon always go around openly saying that his life's dream was to bite the Little Church Leader's nape as much as he wanted?」
「And then he got his head smashed a couple of times with a chamber pot by the Little Church Leader—」
「But I remember his loyalty to the Little Church Leader and the Divine Transformation Clan was greater than anyone's.」
「Protecting the Divine Transformation Clan's remnants like this must be out of that sense of righteousness from back then.」
To the Vampire Demon, Ghost King Blood was the greatest tonic after Master's fresh blood.
That was exactly what the spirits were talking about.
The Vampire Demon had always served at my side.
Like a shadow.
That was why he earned the nickname "Little Heavenly Demon's Shadow Sword."
He always made excuses about needing fresh blood (though that wasn't entirely untrue), but no one was unaware that it stemmed from his fondness for me and his loyalty to the Divine Transformation Clan.
If he hadn't been away on a separate mission during the Chain Heaven Seal incident, I might not have been defeated so helplessly.
He was the first follower I'd met since the Kunlun Three Elders.
And to me, he was like family.
『Turn around slowly, just like that.』
Yet somehow, his low voice sounded much more cracked and hoarse than I remembered.
Seeing how much hardship he must have endured all this time made my chest ache tightly.
I turned my body slowly, as he said.
A familiar yet unfamiliar face came into view.
The Vampire Demon had been famous as a handsome man even among the Divine Transformation Clan (of course, second only to me, the Divine Church's top beauty).
Snow-white skin like Baek Seol-gi, red lips like stamped cinnabar.
Delicate features that could pass for a woman's at a glance.
He was as flirtatious as he was handsome, stirring up scandals with countless female followers, giving me headaches, and causing trouble with the Joy Palace courtesans, earning Master's worries.
But no trace of that remained in him now.
Dozens of sword scars crossed diagonally over his face.
His nose bridge had collapsed into a flattened snout, and his upper lip was torn away, leaving a gaping hole.
Half his face was covered in burns, hideous to behold, and the other half had a ruined eye, covered by an eyepatch.
The eyes that had always been languidly half-lidded now burned fiercely like a beast poisoned with venom.
And.
He looked utterly exhausted.
『Who the hell are you? Who dares invoke the name of our late Little Church Leader to lure me here—』
The Vampire Demon growled midway and stopped.
Because I had silently reached out and was gently stroking his scars.
He flinched, thinking I might be launching a surprise attack, but he didn't back away.
There was no hostility in my fingertips.
No, it was filled with pathos.
"You idiot."
My fingertips felt rough and scratchy.
"How could you let yourself suffer to this extent... without even taking care of your own body?"
As I caressed his scars, the Vampire Demon's eyes darted restlessly.
"What the hell made you like this? That stubborn North Sea Sect Leader who chased you relentlessly? Or did the Ghost Sect Leader ambush you from the shadows? You, who strutted around boasting you'd live your life as a pillar husband trading on your looks—how did you end up like this—"
The Vampire Demon's lips trembled at the corners.
"I told you over and over: if anything happens, prioritize your own safety. Where's that bold declaration that you'd naturally protect your beauty first? Why show up looking like this? Why?"
My chest burned.
My heart tore.
Because of my ugly death, this loyal and devoted follower had to live on in such a wretched state.
"Really... are you the Little Church Leader...?"
He slowly opened his mouth.
Doubt still plain on his face.
But within that doubt lingered a hopeful "could it be?"
He was surely recalling the myth of how the Great Demon God would one day descend into this Saha world as the Savior Incarnate to redeem his lost followers.
"Yes. I am Yeon Un-hwi, your master."
"!!!"
Shock spread across the Vampire Demon's face.
Then he scowled and bellowed.
"The Little Church Leader has long returned to the Great Demon God's embrace! What vile scheme are you plotting, you bastard, deceiving Kunlun One Elder to lure us out—"
I unfurled the Purple Spirit Net.
The world was dyed in violet.
Flash!
The Wicked Ghost Hell Formation opened.
Kiiiiiaaaaa—
A barren wasteland.
Pitch-black sky.
Ghostly demons carrying nether poison spread thickly, and wails of ghost cries shook hell.
Enveloped in raging violet ghostly flames, I bellowed in the voice of the Ghost King.
"Ghost Demon. Do you still not recognize your clan leader like this?"
"!!!"
The Vampire Demon stood half-entranced before prostrating flat on the ground.
"Th, Heavenly Demon's Supremacy, All Demons Bow in Reverence! Vampire Demon of the Divine Transformation Clan's Five Great Sword Generals, Tak Yeon-gwang, greets the L, Little Church Leader...!"
His cracked voice trembled.
With shock and awe.
And hope.
"I've missed you greatly, Ghost Demon."
The Vampire Demon jerked his head up.
Tears welled in his one remaining eye.
"Tr... truly... the Little Church Leader... has returned like this...! This lowly one... this lowly one has been disloyal...!"
"I know well what your heart holds. Even hearing it from the Kunlun Three Elders, it wouldn't have been easy to believe. You must have thought it could be a trap by the Demon Horse North Sea Sect. I understand."
I withdrew the Wicked Ghost Hell Formation. As the ghostly flames vanished, the room reappeared.
I spread a barrier, completely isolating the interior from the exterior, then smiled sadly.
The Vampire Demon asked.
"What in the world... happened to you?"
"Didn't the Kunlun Three Elders tell you properly?"
"I did hear, but—"
"I suppose it was hard to believe."
"...Forgive me. Even knowing the Little Church Leader could perform miracles, this was too hard to accept... My faith was lacking."
"Even if it were me in your place, I'd have thought the same. No fault in doubting."
The Primordial Spirit Heavenly Wheel Tribulation was a supreme art with no successful precedents even in the long history of the old Demon Church.
I had challenged it thinking there was nothing to lose, so it was only natural.
Look at the Black Bone Ghost Valley. Because resurrection was impossible, they resorted to futile soul-summoning rituals.
"This will take too long to explain sober. What's a talk without a drink?"
There was much I needed to hear from the Vampire Demon as well.
How he had led the followers through that chaos and escaped safely, and how he had infiltrated the Tang Family Grounds like this.
Understanding my words, the Vampire Demon bowed his head deeply.
"I shall guide you to where I am currently staying."
* * *
The Vampire Demon guided me to the eastern part of the outer quarters.
『The buzz over the New Storm Troop's enlistment exam isn't limited to the martial world. Merchants, officials, the military—even the imperial court is watching closely.』
The Vampire Demon's specialties were stealth in the cover of night and secretive, swift swordplay. That was why "ghost" was in his title.
He made full use of those strengths.
Being in the Tang Family Grounds required hiding their presence as much as possible, but more than that, it was to conceal his grotesquely ruined face.
Six years ago, he would have shrugged it off with a "Why hide this fine face?"
That self-assuredness was gone from him now.
『Especially the merchants are footing not just the supplies for the exam but even the funds for establishing the New Storm Troop.』
『War profiteers, huh?』
『Exactly. War makes money, so how could the moneybugs sit still?』
As I walked, I casually greeted familiar faces we passed while focusing on our conversation with the Vampire Demon.
『With even the vanguard North Sea Old Emperor repelled, merchants looking to cozy up to the Tang Family Grounds are overflowing. I came through them too and set up base in the eastern outer quarters where the merchants live.』
Just as the examinees were herded to the northern outer quarters, the merchants seemed mostly clustered in the east.
Then the Vampire Demon cautiously asked.
『I've heard rumors of the Little Church Leader's exploits. That you punished the North Sea Sect—』
『I did.』
『Then the North Sea Sect Leader truly...?』
『Dead.』
『...Then that traitor might open his eyes somewhere else and hatch another plot.』
The Vampire Demon let out a sigh.
Knowing that the Black Bone Ghost Valley had stuck with the Demon Horse North Sea Sect, he must have prepared countermeasures somehow.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
『No. No need to worry.』
『What do you—』
『I've already punished him for that.』
『!!!』
『I took the sect leader's secret arts and divine relic too, so the Demon Horse North Sea Sect won't revive.』
『Ahh...!!』
The Vampire Demon's voice quivered with emotion.
Various thoughts must have crossed his mind.
For the Demon Horse North Sea Sect had been the most aggressive among the traitors in subjugating the Divine Transformation Clan.
I also told him about meeting the North Sea Sect's divine man, Song Je Daewang, and explaining how they had been abandoned.
『The Little Church Leader... has already been moving so much from the shadows... I, too busy seeking my own survival, am ashamed to face you.』
The Vampire Demon struggled to continue.
I rebuked him sternly.
『Protector Tak, don't utter such nonsense.』
『L, Little Church Leader?』
『You are a loyal vassal who gave everything for the Divine Church— for your clan leader—more than anyone in the world. I know the sacrifices you bore to protect the followers. How can you call all those sacrifices wrong? That would shame the followers you saved.』
『.......』
I smiled faintly.
『Take pride in your merits. Hold them as your self-respect. I already consider you my heart.』
『.......』
There was no reply from the Vampire Demon for a long while.
But I could see what emotions he was sorting through, so I waited quietly.
『More importantly, tell me about the place you're staying. You couldn't just disguise as a merchant to enter the Tang Family Grounds, right?』
Composing himself at last, the Vampire Demon replied.
『...I relied on one of the merchant groups to get in here.』
『Can it be trusted?』
『You can place full trust in them.』
If the Vampire Demon spoke with such conviction, it must truly be reliable.
『A place truly deserving the Great Demon God's grace. Alright. Which merchant group?』
Yet for some reason, there was a pause from the Vampire Demon.
Wondering why, it was only after a long moment that he replied in a voice that sank low.
『...It's called the Heavenly Grace Merchant Group.』
Heavenly Grace Merchant Group?
Hold on.
Isn't that one of the Ten Great Merchant Groups of the world, where the Tang Family Grounds is secretly the majority shareholder?
And the group leader is definitely a woman...!
I could roughly guess what had happened.
As I halted for a moment with a dumbfounded expression, the Vampire Demon's voice sank even lower.
『......It just sort of happened.』
Just sort of happened, my ass.
This old man—face ruined and he still hasn't kicked his old habits?