Chapter 49: Demonic Alliance Leader (3)
The Demonic Alliance Leader's abode.
He headed toward that opulent grand hall.
“Leader, the Fifth Young Master is here.”
At the Second Elder's words, the Demonic Alliance Leader looked up. He recalled what Kim Minwoo—posing as Jang Sam—had said.
—… The Young Master feared you greatly, Leader. There was no affection from you toward him. You can tell just by seeing how the other young masters are still locked in fierce competition.
—The forces following the Young Master are nonexistent. At best, someone like me, Jang Sam…?
Conclusion.
The Demonic Alliance Leader held no real familial affection. Being a bastard son brought no benefits.
It was more like he'd tracked down his blood kin and kept him around out of obligation.
He'd heard the boy arrived here a year ago, and all they assigned him was one Jang Sam. That gave a rough sense of their relationship.
Baek So-cheon, this side's Fifth Young Master, was essentially half-discarded.
So, did he need to show proper respect?
‘No.’
He sensed it the moment he saw those serpentine eyes.
The Demonic Alliance Leader was no man to hand out scraps just for wagging a tail.
‘Just show some utility.’
Then he'd flip out and try to exploit it. All they had to do was use that to their advantage.
The Demonic Alliance Leader, staring him down, spoke.
“I heard Soo-heon wrecked that guy.”
“You're talking about the Fourth Young Master?”
“Yes.”
“Well, as long as he didn't die, that should save your face, Leader.”
“You've gotten quite cocky since I last saw you.”
“The Clue to Ascension? I hear it's quite the prize. Even someone like you, Leader, covets it.”
The Demonic Alliance Leader's face stiffened slightly.
“With some cripple like Soo-heon taking a spot, we'll be lucky to snag third-rate scraps instead of the real clue.”
“So, you'll participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly in his place?”
“That's the plan. It shouldn't be a bad deal for you either, Leader.”
“… We have just over half a month until the scores are tallied.”
“That's plenty of time for one big explosion.”
“… There are no missions that award 3,800 points at once.”
“Then make one.”
That was one reason he'd utterly crushed the Fourth Young Master. He'd sent a tenth-place nobody straight to oblivion in one shot.
It proved his qualifications.
What if he couldn't attend the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly?
The Leader would be the one regretting it.
Sending even one more talented contender raised their chances of securing the Clue to Ascension.
“… Create a mission?”
“Or send someone even worse than the legless cripple?”
“There are plenty of eyes watching. Handing you a custom mission overnight would spark backlash from within.”
“I trust you'll handle it with your leadership, Leader.”
“Hah.”
He stared in disbelief for a moment.
Then the Leader drew his sword and swung.
[The Demonic Alliance Leader uses Death Command Swordsmanship (S)!]
Immense mana split into seven streams, surging toward him.
‘Guess I have to give up an arm.’
He calculated instantly.
Cedric and the skeletons were summoned in a rush, blocking some of the sword qi with their bodies.
Three deflected that way.
Of the remaining four, he twisted to dodge one.
He took the next two head-on.
Blood sprayed, but it was fine.
Just grazes, no fatal wounds.
The last one.
Sword qi aimed dead at his heart.
No angle to dodge.
He raised his sword.
The moment it deflected—
[You take massive damage!]
[The Sword of Judgment is destroyed!]
The blade shattered, and the deflected sword qi cleanly severed one arm. Blood fountained from the neat stump.
‘Cheap price.’
One of the top dogs in the murim, as expected.
The attack was vicious.
Blocking it with just one arm was better than breaking even. Clutching his severed forearm, he looked at the Demonic Alliance Leader.
“Is the test over?”
…
The Leader fell silent, face rigid. Soon, he rummaged in his robes and tossed over a recovery pill.
“Reattach your arm and eat this.”
“Sure.”
He pressed the severed arm back and chewed the pill.
[You consume a Supreme Recovery Pill!]
The arm began reattaching with a sizzle.
‘From the look, he meant to stop just short…’
No real intent to kill.
Killing him would hurt the Leader more.
Just testing the waters.
Too bad.
He'd blocked it for real and proved himself.
Now the Leader couldn't let him go.
That strike would've dropped most late-stage experts.
‘Time to get what we want.’
Grinning at the Leader.
“Oh, the mission—my maid and servant will come along. Split the points with her half, too.”
“… What?”
“My maid's pretty capable. Adjust it so it fits perfectly even after splitting. Otherwise, no deal. Oh, and my sword broke thanks to you, so hook me up with a new one. A decent martial arts manual wouldn't hurt either. See you.”
He left the Demonic Alliance Leader's abode.
The desperate one digs the well.
He'd make sure to dig deep.
* * *
Demonic Alliance Leader Baek Hak-seong.
His face was rigid.
He hadn't halted the swordsmanship midway.
Not that he'd gone all-out, but another reason.
Instinct.
This guy wouldn't die from that.
Cold eyes.
Every calculation already done.
The result was as expected.
He countered the swordsmanship with terrifying precision.
‘His body is merely first-rate warrior level…’
Even with his own physique, could he have blocked it sacrificing just one arm?
He wasn't sure.
Frightening talent.
He'd glimpsed a fragment.
‘… Good thing.’
Trivial doubts—like how the youngest blocked Death Command Swordsmanship, or if he'd hidden his strength—didn't matter.
What mattered.
He'd gained an unexpected trump card.
‘Must get him in.’
By any means, Baek So-cheon had to enter the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.
‘The mission… that should work.’
Baek Hak-seong's eyes gleamed.
A way to boost the maid and youngest's scores without backlash came to mind.
Suddenly, regret hit him.
He'd thought the eldest had the best aptitude, so he'd invested most there.
Too late to reverse. Time to the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly was short.
‘If only he'd shown talent sooner.’
He'd have poured every resource into him.
Baek Hak-seong shook his head.
Regret was regret.
Now was time for action.
“Second Elder, you there?”
“Yes.”
“Gather the elders. We need a meeting.”
“Understood.”
“Oh, and…”
* * *
He'd memorized the way back roughly, so returning was easy.
Back to his abode.
Jang Sam and Seo Yerim.
Both waited inside. Jang Sam, head bowed like a hunchback, shot up.
“Y-Young Master! Why'd the Leader summon you? Because you messed with the Fourth Young Master?”
“Not just that. Had some things to discuss.”
He gestured for Jang Sam to step out.
Misunderstanding something, Jang Sam glanced between Seo Yerim and him, scratching his head.
“Heh heh. Then this humble one will take his leave.”
“… That's not it.”
“Come on, giving Ang-ang sis a nickname and all. Yerim, was it? This Jang Sam gets it. You two are in the heat of youth, blood boil—“
“Goddamn it! Shut up already?”
Seo Yerim's eyes turned fierce.
“W-Well, call anytime! I'm off!”
Jang Sam bolted out the door.
Finally, some quiet.
“Your name's Ang-ang?”
“… Yeah. Like you're Baek So-cheon.”
He got why Jang Sam was cheeky. In this murim world, their names were Ang-ang and Baek So-cheon.
But earlier, they'd used real-world names at first.
Must've sounded like pet names.
Explained the Fourth Young Master's freakout.
Not just some affair drama in his head.
“… We use real names only when alone. Avoids misunderstandings.”
“So, what do I call you?”
“Ang-ang-ah or something.”
“… You're insane.”
“What can you do? I'm the young master, you're the maid.”
If it bothered her, she should've been born higher.
A young master politely honoring his maid would get called crazy.
“… Your dad didn't say anything? Raise a maid's status if she fights well?”
“Not really.”
“… Fine. Do what you want.”
She rubbed her temple like a headache, then gave up.
“Let's get to the point. You know how to clear this?”
“Got a hunch. Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.”
He nodded.
As expected of beyond A-rank—decent instincts.
“I'll join it. No settling for the mid-bracket.”
“… Figured. Be honest. You entered this gate on purpose, right?”
“Yes.”
No need to deny.
She'd already gauged his level. No way he'd bumble into a gate like an idiot.
And he hadn't.
“Any necromancer skill for that? Like ghost hand shoving or something?”
“Hayangi.”
—Coo.
Hayangi appeared on his shoulder. Ang-ang—no, Seo Yerim—widened her eyes.
“Huh, when?”
“She's got strong stealth. Even the Sword Sage wouldn't notice.”
“… That tiny bird pushed him?”
“Yeah. Divine beast strength.”
Seo Yerim snickered.
“Jo Pilwook must be pissed. Double curse to the face.”
“He'll eat more shit ahead.”
“… Fair. Sigh. So, no clean exit for you either?”
“Too busy grabbing rewards. So, what about you, Yerim?”
“…”
She crossed her arms, pondering.
“… Rewards look decent.”
“I'll take first. Second onward's fair game.”
“… Ha, funny. Who said you'd get first?”
“You have to give it. Otherwise, no Dragon-Phoenix Assembly for you. How else get points?”
“… Clear missions.”
“No time. Points are rat-shit levels.”
“… Even trying hard?”
“Tough. Hard to stack, and sabotage is brutal. Once you have some, every mongrel assassinates you.”
A maid stacking points?
Bet on it.
Borderline rankers would come eyes blazing.
A total pain.
“Yeah, figures.”
Seo Yerim scratched her head.
“But same for you?”
“That's why I crippled the Fourth and negotiated.”
“Negotiated what?”
“Grab a big mission. Big enough for us to split and still qualify.”
“And I let you take first?”
“That's how the world works.”
“What if I betray you?”
“If you were that type, I wouldn't have saved you. Thought you jumped in to die.”
“… Don't flatter yourself. Didn't jump for you.”
“Got it. Deal?”
Seo Yerim wouldn't betray.
She came to save him. Betray and kill? Stab in back?
‘Wouldn't have come if killing.’
Backstab? How face the Sword Sage?
Not trusting her.
Trusting her boundless love for the Sword Sage.
Thus.
“… Fine. Time for a good martial arts manual.”
“Good choice.”
When she agreed, he smirked inwardly.
‘Strong rival eliminated.’
First-place odds skyrocketed.