Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: Loyalty of the Man Clan
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The moonlit night had swallowed the world whole by the break of dawn.
Thud. Thud.
Man Ho, having finished his candid discussion with Hyeok Mulin, made his way back to his clan.
For so long, endless worries had bound him tight.
And Hyeok Mulin's firm affirmation had become the outlet that freed him mentally.
What I do best.
"Follow where your heart leads..."
Murmuring Hyeok Mulin's words, he slowly curled the corners of his mouth upward.
'To think I forgot who I even was.'
The world saw Man Ho as an unpredictable, free-spirited demon unbound by convention.
Yet at the most crucial moment, he had chained himself more tightly to the world than anyone, shackles dragging at his ankles.
If not for the Cult Leader's answer, he might never have broken free.
Man Ho felt nothing but gratitude toward Hyeok Mulin.
Honestly, setting aside all those worries, his resolve to stand by Hyeok Mulin's side had solidified long ago.
The reason was simple.
Being at Hyeok Mulin's side meant tomorrow would never be boring.
He looked forward to what the man would do next, what challenges they'd face, and Man Ho knew his desire to join that path was growing stronger by the day.
"Yeah, when have I ever second-guessed myself like this?"
As the Cult Leader said, he would live by his heart's command.
Man Ho's thoughts were now resolute, unlike before.
But before living that way, there was one thing he needed to settle first.
Rumble—
As the gatekeeper opened the main doors, Man Ho stepped inside.
Returning to the estate, he headed straight for his quarters but paused upon spotting one hall still ablaze with light.
"......"
It was the clan's council chamber.
Man Ho sensed multiple presences within.
'They're waiting for me.'
This was the first time light had spilled from the chamber at such an hour.
That meant they were discussing something serious.
And the topic had to be...
'Nothing but me.'
For half a month, the clan patriarch had acted completely out of character, then suddenly left for the Heavenly Demon Palace in the dead of night.
It was the kind of behavior that naturally sparked talk among the clansmen, and he had expected as much.
They would learn the truth eventually anyway.
It had just come a bit sooner.
Turning his feet from his quarters, Man Ho headed for the council chamber.
As he drew near, little sound came from inside despite the number of people.
Most seemed to be sitting in silence.
Creak.
Man Ho pushed open the doors and entered. The clansmen all rose and bowed their heads.
Those gathered were the heavyweights upholding the Man Clan.
Sweeping his gaze over them, Man Ho spoke.
"You've been waiting for me."
"Yes. We gathered in advance, sensing you had something to say, Patriarch."
"I see."
Hearing the chief steward's words, Man Ho proceeded to the head seat.
"Be seated."
At his permission, they all took their places.
And quietly watched, awaiting his words.
As their gazes converged straight on him, Man Ho slowly opened his mouth.
"As you probably suspect, I just came from seeing the Cult Leader."
This could determine the Man Clan's future path.
The clansmen listened intently with serious eyes.
In the hushed atmosphere, Man Ho announced his decision to all.
"From now on, the Man Clan will follow the Cult Leader."
"......"
Having declared his will, Man Ho gently closed his eyes.
No voices reached his ears.
The gathered clansmen remained silent.
It was the expected reaction. From their perspective, this sudden choice would be hard to grasp.
Only he, who had been at the Cult Leader's side, truly knew his worth—and even then, only a few who joined the envoy delegation had glimpsed fragments.
So their response was understandable.
But.
'That decision won't change.'
Man Ho had already chosen to stand by Hyeok Mulin, convinced it was the best path for him and the Man Clan.
Now, what remained was...
'Explaining to convince them.'
Of course, the patriarch's word was final; nothing would alter the outcome.
But Man Ho preferred they understood and accepted his choice willingly, rather than forcing it.
He believed such a process was necessary to unite the clan.
With that, Man Ho slowly opened his eyes to share the full details of why he chose to follow the Cult Leader.
But then.
"Understood."
What entered his vision was an utterly unexpected sight.
Nearly all the clansmen in the chamber nodded, their faces showing approval of his words.
What was going on?
Man Ho stared at them in disbelief, eyes full of puzzlement.
He hadn't provided any evidence or explanation to back his conclusion.
Yet no objections or discontent arose.
The clansmen didn't know the Cult Leader's true nature.
He had planned to lay it out step by step, listing the benefits of aligning with him.
But before he could even start, they had already accepted his decision.
Unable to hide his bewilderment at their ready compliance, Man Ho had to ask.
"Why aren't you asking for more details?"
Then Man Ji-do, seated nearby, spoke up.
"It's been about twenty years since I first met you, Patriarch. The others have served similarly long."
Glancing around at the clansmen, Man Ji-do continued.
"We all know how much you've sacrificed for the clan's revival and prosperity."
As he said, the Man Clan's members knew well how faithfully Man Ho had fulfilled his role as patriarch.
Outsiders pointed fingers, calling him neglectful as he wandered freely.
But the truth was different.
The weight of his duty had been immense, and the clansmen alone felt how much he had given up to bear that responsibility.
"No matter what choice you make, Patriarch, we will always stand behind you."
At those words, Man Ho met each clansman's gaze from left to right.
Their eyes held gratitude and trust toward him.
Confirming that, Man Ho let out a breath.
Whoosh—
When he first became patriarch, he never dreamed of such a moment.
With his free spirit, the position had felt like shackles from the day it was decided he would inherit it—but he was the only one who could take it on.
Thus, he had sacrificed much for the Man Clan and walked a long road, yet even now, he wasn't sure if he was doing well as patriarch.
Only now did he realize.
That arduous path hadn't been in vain.
Each step had built faith and trust.
The freest patriarch in the Man Clan's history.
Yet the one who earned the deepest, sturdiest loyalty.
That was Man Ho.
"Thank you for trusting me."
The clansmen flinched and exchanged wide-eyed glances.
It was the first time they had heard Man Ho voice his thanks aloud.
As they doubted their ears, Man Ho tossed out another remark.
"But you're all gravely mistaken about one thing."
"...Pardon?"
"My decision to follow the Cult Leader isn't just for me—it's for the Man Clan."
"......!"
Looking at the stunned clansmen, Man Ho grinned, hooking the corner of his mouth.
And added with firm conviction.
"The main house will usher in unprecedented prosperity alongside the Cult Leader."
Meanwhile, as Man Ho returned to his estate, Hyeok Mulin made his way back to the Heavenly Demon Palace.
His footsteps led to the Heavenly Demon Hall.
The empty Heavenly Demon Hall.
"Hoo..."
Plopping down onto the grand seat, Hyeok Mulin exhaled.
With one major matter settled, he took a moment to collect his thoughts before clenching his fist tight.
'The Man Clan. I've finally secured it.'
Among the Seven Great Demon Clans dominating the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, it held the third seat.
That made it all the more anticipated, all the more effort poured into winning them over.
Of course, it was merely a matter of showing who he was, so it hadn't required great exertion—but precisely because of that, the outcome had been uncertain, making it a complicated affair.
Man Ho was a man of great volatility; to the end, there had been no guarantee of his choice.
'Yet it ended in the best possible result.'
Man Ho had pledged his loyalty to Hyeok Mulin.
It seemed he hadn't informed the clan yet and had decided unilaterally.
"No issues there."
The Man Clan's members would support his decision absolutely.
Even in his previous life, it had played out that way.
No matter what Man Ho decided, the clansmen followed the patriarch's will without question.
Unlike outsiders' views, those inside knew the weight he bore and his sense of responsibility.
He seemed to doubt himself as patriarch, but he was wrong.
He already had their absolute support and was carrying on the lineage admirably.
"Yes. With the Man Clan safely secured like this..."
Now five.
He had received oaths of loyalty from five of the Seven Great Demon Clans ruling the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Only two clans remained.
The Gu Clan and the Cheon Clan.
But that didn't mean the end was in sight.
Winning over those last two might prove harder than securing the five beneath him now.
The reason was clear.
The cult's two sole ancient martial ancestors.
"...One in the Gu Clan, one in the Cheon Clan."
Thinking of them, Hyeok Mulin's eyes darkened like ink.