Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Bird Speaks!
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57
I rubbed the bridge of my nose with my index finger and thumb.
How could it be this ridiculous?
This was a first for me.
“I told you to condition his mind so I could interrogate him, not to make him lose his mind completely?”
「Th-that’s because he was a human who had reached such a high realm in life-」
“You thought his willpower would be strong too?”
「Y-yes, my lord!」
“So you beat him senseless without looking back?”
「……」
「……」
The wraiths all shrank back like folding screens.
They all hesitated to respond.
They seemed wary of giving me any pretext to punish them.
But then, out of nowhere, Number Fifteen jumped in and prostrated himself before me.
「Punish this lowly one, Young Lord!!」
What the hell was this guy doing?
The other wraiths, including Warm Devil, looked just as stunned, as if this wasn’t part of any prior plan.
「The seniors are innocent! It’s all this lowly one’s fault! When I heard the youngest was coming, I got overly eager to finally repay the Young Lord’s grace, and that’s how-」
See that?
This guy was using his wits brilliantly.
Better to take the beating first if it was coming anyway.
By putting others first, he might even score points if I was moved.
No downside at all.
It was absurd, but tolerable enough to let slide.
“Fine. Overzealousness happens. Number Fifteen, I’ll take that into consideration. Step aside.”
Number Fifteen snapped his head up. It was a bright smile he probably never wore even in life.
「Your mercy is boundless!!」
Number Fifteen scurried to my side.
Only then did the other wraiths snap to attention and throw themselves flat.
「Have mercy, Young Lord!!」
「It’s this lowly one’s fault!」
「No! It’s because this lowly one smashed his head with a club! Punish this lowly one!」
「That’s not true! This lowly one whipped him fourteen times, and some of those-」
「Punish this lowly one-」
These guys were getting softer by the minute, latching onto any single thing and harping on it.
But what could they do?
The carriage was already gone, you fools.
“All of you are at fault?”
「No! It’s this lowly one’s fault!」
「It’s me! Punish this lowly one!」
「It’s my fault for not following the Young Lord’s orders properly!」
It was heartwarming to see them all rushing to claim blame.
“Alright then. Let’s summarize: You struck the back of his head, you two grabbed his legs, you hit his face, and-”
I pointed at each wraith in turn, reciting the faults they had confessed themselves.
The wraiths jerked their heads up.
That wasn’t it?
Their faces filled with bewilderment.
I grinned.
“You’re all begging for punishment, so no choice. Everyone gets it.”
「Y-Young Lord?」
「Th-that’s true, b-but-」
“Line up and assume the position, now.”
「!!」
「Th-that’s!」
“Oh? Not doing it?”
「Hiiik! I will! Of course I will!」
「Here! I’ll do it here!」
As they dropped one by one into position, I handed a club to Number Fifteen.
“Take turns whacking their asses with this.”
「B-but-」
“What? You want in too? Then-」
「N-no! I’ll follow the Young Lord’s command!!」
Number Fifteen’s hand trembled as he took the club.
It couldn’t be easy beating the seniors who had drilled discipline into him all this time.
But.
Gulp!
Number Fifteen swallowed dryly, and his eyes suddenly sharpened.
And then.
Crack!
「Kyaauk!」
「Next!」
「W-wait! Number Fifteen! If there’s any misunderstanding between us, we can talk it out- Kyaauk!」
Crack! Craaack!
Number Fifteen swung the club with wild abandon, like a fish in water.
I knew it from the start.
Number Fifteen was the type who’d excel with a band on his arm.
Look at him now.
Flying around like crazy.
Finally getting revenge on the seniors who’d strutted over him—his feet barely touched the ground.
There, that settled the wraiths’ punishment.
「Hehehehehe.」
I narrowed my eyes at Baeksan, still grinning like an idiot.
“Hey, enough already?”
Drool still dribbled from Baeksan’s mouth.
「Hehehe. Human. Human. Play. Play with me.」
“You think I’ll just let you dissolve into nothing without doing anything?”
「Hehehehehe.」
A master who’d reached such heights in life, losing his mind from a little interrogation?
Ridiculous.
I placed my hand on his face and infused him with Black Dragon Energy.
Whoooong!
Cold pure yin energy flowed in, and Baeksan’s wounds healed rapidly.
「Th-that’s! Kyaauk!」
「Something even we haven’t received! Aaaak!」
While jealousy twisted the wraiths’ faces, focus returned to Baeksan’s previously glassy eyes.
「…Damn it.」
Baeksan scowled, realizing further pretense was pointless.
He never imagined I’d restore his damaged spirit frame with yin energy.
“Feeling better now?”
「Just dissolve me. You’ll get nothing from me anyway.」
Baeksan’s eyes blazed with intensity.
His pupils shone with unbreakable resolve.
Ordinary interrogation wouldn’t faze him.
That’s why he’d faked madness, even at the cost of his dignity.
Such loyalty, even in death.
Impressive, in a way.
But.
The more they resisted, the better for me.
A smile tugged at my lips.
“We’ll see. Whether I can or not is my business.”
I rolled up my sleeves.
“Truth is, unlike with White Bone Net Sect, I want you to hold out to the end.”
「…What.」
“If you spill too easily, it’s no fun. Hold out as long as you can—that’s what makes it enjoyable for me.」
「!!」
The Mythic Demon Revival Sect’s followers had suffered under them for six whole years.
I couldn’t just brush that off in a few hours.
So I wanted Baeksan to endure as much as possible.
He was already dead, so no risk of killing him again.
No matter how damaged his spirit body got, I could restore it with Black Dragon Energy anytime.
Any torture method was fair game.
“So hold out. Exactly as much as the followers suffered. Not more, not less.”
「!!!」
Baeksan froze.
In his pupils, I looked like a grinning demon.
* * *
Ilno glanced stealthily toward the now-quiet carriage amid the lively chatter.
‘Has he finished with the viewing?’
Everyone in the Mythic Demon Revival Sect knew Unhwi commanded wraiths as common knowledge.
But there was a world of difference between rumors and seeing it firsthand.
Watching Unhwi talk to empty air sent chills down his spine more than once or twice.
Especially after serious discussions with them—the rare glimpses of his eyes were so sharp, they hardly seemed human.
Eyes only someone crossing between the worlds of living and dead could have.
‘That’s why he could return from that hell to save us.’
To Ilno, Unhwi was no longer just a young lord to serve.
He was faith.
Resurrection.
What greater miracle could exist?
Especially that moment when he slew the demonic ghost trying to drag them to hell’s depths… Backlit by moonlight, a playful glint in his eyes through the mask… It felt like the Demon God had descended from heaven.
Divine punishment for enemies, salvation for followers.
That image of Unhwi was etched indelibly in Ilno’s heart forever.
His only worry was whether he’d drag down the Young Lord as he pursued greater deeds ahead.
He resolved to grow stronger quickly, to qualify serving at his side.
‘The word “lord” still feels awkward.’
Ilno scratched his cheek with his index finger.
What interrogation was unfolding inside?
If he could help even a little, that’d be ideal.
That’s when it happened.
「You’d best not peek.」
Flutter!
Suddenly, a bird quietly flew to Ilno’s side and perched on the carriage seat.
The bird Unhwi kept with him.
“Huh?”
Ilno looked around.
He’d heard a human voice, but there was no person—just a bird. Inevitable confusion.
The surroundings were just a mountain path full of insect chirps.
Nothing else.
No human presence detected.
“…Did I hear wrong?”
Ilno rubbed his eyes, tension easing as he chalked it up to fatigue.
「Hear wrong? You heard it loud and clear.」
“…Huh?”
「Moments ago you were acting all serious alone. Now you’re completely dumbfounded?」
“???”
It wasn’t his imagination!
Ilno shot to his feet.
If North Sea Sect had sent assassins, he had to stop them.
「Over here.」
But no matter how he sharpened his senses, nothing registered.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
Drip!
「I said over here.」
Sweat beaded in his clenched fists.
The enemy must be hiding, mocking him to induce a mistake—
Crack!
Suddenly, the bird hopped up and smacked Ilno’s occiput hard with its wing.
“Wh-what the—」
「How many times do I say ‘here’ before you get it? With reflexes like that, how do you plan to serve the Young Lord? Tsk tsk.」
「!?」
Ilno snapped alert.
「What are you standing there like an idiot for? Greet your senior when you see him—」
“The bird—the bird is speaking!”
No saga had a tale like this.
How could a mere bird speak human words!
It defied all reason, leaving him aghast—then Warm Devil hopped again and smacked his occiput.
「Snap out of it, fool! You’ll serve the Young Lord up close from now on—things like this will be commonplace. Freaking out already?」
Warm Devil puffed out his chest proudly.
He figured this dim junior needed a proper introduction.
The two who’d serve the Young Lord most closely from Nine Dragons Branch should at least exchange names and build rapport.
Absolutely not because he’d snuck out to escape the brutal beatings inside the carriage.
“…S-so you’re the one the Lord—”
「That’s right. I am Number One, the first close aide the Young Lord took after his resurrection—」
“His pet?!”
A deep furrow creased Warm Devil’s brow.
Crack!
Another lump sprouted on Ilno’s head.