Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Mutual Imitation Fortress and a New Beginning (1)
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With the Chief’s arrival, the situation began to settle.
The men, who had been simmering with anger, returned to their duties. At the Chief’s suggestion to move to a different location, Musal and Maeng Ak followed him into the mountains.
“I never thought you’d come back here. Well, it’s good to see you again.”
The Chief, leading the way, broke the silence with a greeting to Musal.
“The pleasure of seeing you again is mutual. However, I apologize for our rough first greeting.”
“Don’t worry about it. The man you brought with you seems to have quite a temper, but I’m sure my boys started it.”
The Chief glanced back, studying Maeng Ak once more.
‘In the martial world, judging by appearances is a good way to get yourself killed. And it’s because of masters like him that such a saying exists.’
To his eyes, Maeng Ak appeared as both a young man and an old master who had undergone a complete metamorphosis.
Judging by his aura alone, the latter seemed more likely.
But whether he was the former or the latter, one thing was certain: he was so powerful that even the entire force of Mount Waok couldn't hope to defeat him.
‘Where did he find a monster like that?’
Musal and Maeng Ak, following him up the mountain, also had much to say, but so did the man leading them.
Just then, something came into view, signaling they had reached the mountainside.
“No matter how many times I see this tree, I can’t get used to it.”
Just as Musal said, an impossibly large tree appeared before them.
The Chief explained that this tree, located on the mountainside of Mount Waok, was the largest on the mountain.
And just a short distance from here, off to the side…
“We’re here. Let’s rest and talk. I apologize for the humble accommodations.”
The place the Chief had mentioned came into view.
Mount Waok was incomparably rugged compared to ordinary mountains, yet this spot was so flat and pleasant it felt like a meadow.
In the very center stood a fairly large table and several chairs.
Though it wasn't grand enough to welcome the Heavenly Demon and a Great Elder, one could tell it was the best hospitality they could offer on Mount Waok.
Maeng Ak naturally took a seat in the wooden chair at the head of the table and spoke.
“Enough with the formalities. Let’s get to the point. I’ll give you a chance to ask what you’re curious about first.”
He had many questions for the Chief and his second-in-command.
Thus, he intended to satisfy their curiosity beforehand so they wouldn't interrupt his own questioning.
“Ahem, in that case, please tell us who you are.”
The Vice-Chief was slightly irked that Maeng Ak had taken the seat he expected his Chief to occupy, but he didn't show it as he posed his question.
His direct question made the Chief and Musal, who were beside him, tense up slightly.
Everyone present, including the Vice-Chief who had asked, knew.
The moment Maeng Ak’s mood soured, a storm of blood could sweep through Mount Waok.
Of course, Maeng Ak himself had no such intention.
He was maintaining a dignified air due to his position as the Heavenly Demon, but in truth, he was ecstatic to meet his brothers from the Green Forest after so long.
‘Still, I have to maintain appearances.’
He hadn't come as Maeng Ak, the former Fist King of the Green Forest, but as Maeng Ak, the Heavenly Demon.
If he allowed his personal feelings to tarnish the prestige of the Heavenly Demon here, it could become the catalyst for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s downfall later.
Having always been in a position of leadership, Maeng Ak knew this well.
The moment a leader’s authority wavers, it can deal a heavy blow to the entire group.
So, he set aside his delight for a moment and treated the Green Forest members with official decorum.
“You’re curious about my identity?”
“Y-Yes.”
Maeng Ak’s response, a question instead of an answer, made the Vice-Chief stammer unconsciously.
He began to regret his presumptuousness.
But even if he could go back, he felt he would ask the same question to this bastard who had taken his Chief's seat.
*Gulp*.
The moment the Vice-Chief swallowed dryly.
Maeng Ak’s lips parted again.
“Since I was rude in our first meeting as a guest, I’ll let it slide this once. However, if you ever question me with such a disrespectful attitude again, I will personally tear your body to shreds and scatter it as fertilizer for that great tree we just saw.”
He spoke with a faint smile, as if granting an immense favor.
But his eyes glinted in a way that made it perfectly clear to the listener that he could carry out his gruesome words at any moment.
The Chief and Vice-Chief had been through countless battles, but they had never seen such a murderous gaze.
“…I’ll take that to heart.”
Finally backing down, the Vice-Chief felt a cold sweat run down his back as he looked at his Chief.
He no longer wanted to question the man and passed the responsibility to his leader.
Noticing this, the Chief kicked the Vice-Chief’s ankle under the table.
But still, the Vice-Chief’s mouth remained shut.
Left with no choice, the Chief took over the questioning and asked Maeng Ak.
This time, his tone was exceedingly polite, unlike before.
“Before I ask my question, I must apologize on behalf of my foolish brother for his rudeness. I also thank you, great sir, for your magnanimity. Ahem, to get to the point you wished for, in my humble opinion, you seem to be a noble personage the likes of which ordinary men could never hope to meet in their lifetime. Might I be so bold as to ask of your affiliation?”
“Yes, that’s more like it. However, your long-winded speech is tedious. From now on, speak respectfully, but not at length.”
“Yes, great sir.”
Inwardly, the Chief cursed Musal for bringing a madman, but outwardly, he maintained a pleasant smile.
“I do not belong to any place. However, there is a place I embrace.”
“…!”
Maeng Ak’s boastful words startled the Chief so much that he momentarily lost his composure.
Of course, he quickly regained his senses and put on a friendly smile, but his mind was a chaotic mess of speculation.
‘Musal had definitely said this man belonged to the Demonic Cult. The aura he exudes is unquestionably demonic energy. But to say he embraces it!’
He couldn't easily guess the man’s identity.
He wondered if he was some old master from the Demonic Cult who had undergone rejuvenation, and the word “embrace” made him consider if he might even be the Cult Leader.
Just then, as if reading his mind, Maeng Ak asked.
“You seem lost in thought. Is everything alright?”
“Y-Yes, great sir. My apologies. Being of humble birth, my head gets heated whenever I meet someone of high stature.”
“Then, who do you think I am?”
“W-Well…”
The Chief’s mind raced as he glanced at Musal.
It was a silent plea for help, but Musal avoided his gaze.
‘That man is… wait, if someone of the Master of the Windless Killing Curtain's caliber serves him as his lord…’
He combined Maeng Ak’s claim of “embracing” a place with the various circumstances and reached a conclusion.
“Could you be… the Cult Leader of the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?”
*Gulp*.
The die was cast.
The fate of the Mutual Imitation Fortress, which had crawled into Mount Waok just to survive, seemed to hinge on Maeng Ak’s answer.
If he were someone below the Cult Leader, he might be pleased…
No, he could also be punished for daring to speak the Cult Leader’s name.
And if he was the Cult Leader…
‘Dammit, I have no idea…’
If the man wanted to kill him, he would find a reason regardless.
All he could do now was pray that the madman sitting before him was in a good mood.
The moment was tense.
Finally, Maeng Ak spoke.
“The Cult Leader of the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult… Well, you could say it’s something like that.”
‘Phew. Thankfully, that wasn’t a bad answer.’
Whether his rank was similar, higher, or lower didn't matter.
What mattered was that the man held a high position in the Demonic Cult, and my answer wasn't wrong…
“But since when did the Green Forest grovel before the Demonic Cult?”
An unexpected rebuke roared from Maeng Ak’s lips.
It was truly unexpected.
One moment he demands I grovel, the next he asks why I’m groveling.
From the start, this man hadn’t cared about me guessing his position correctly.
If that was the case, there was no longer any need to hold back.
“…Then what do you want from me?”
The Chief, feigning an outburst of frustration, sent a signal to his Vice-Chief with his eyes.
A signal to take everyone and flee while he confronted this madman.
“What? Have you truly lost your mind?”
Thankfully, the madman took the bait.
Sometimes, true lunatics attacked without a word, but fortunately, this one chose to argue first.
That meant he could stall for a little more time.
‘I don’t know his reasons, but it’s clear this madman came to kill us. If so, I have to stall as long as I can to save my brothers. If I sacrifice myself, at least one of them might survive!’
A little further in from here was the settlement where his brothers and their families lived.
He had to buy enough time for them to evacuate.
He hid his trembling fists under the table and continued speaking.
“One moment you tell me to grovel, and the next you’re displeased that I do. What is the meaning of this?!”
“You! Stop this!”
A startled Musal tried to intervene from the side, but it was no use.
“You stay out of it! Why did you bring this man here in the first place? Judging by his attitude, he came to wipe us out from the very beginning! Did you know? Did you bring him here knowing this?!”
He even directed his killing intent toward Musal.
Musal tried to explain, but Maeng Ak stopped him.
“What nonsense is this! My lord would never…”
“Enough! Musal, you stay put.”
Maeng Ak rose from his seat, looked at the Chief, and asked.
“Are you truly confident you can stall for time against me?”
“…”
A chill ran down their spines.
Both the Chief, who was trying to stall, and the Vice-Chief, who was about to use his lightness skill to escape, froze on the spot.
Just who was this man, to see through their intentions so clearly?
Suddenly, his true identity, which hadn't mattered to them before, became a burning question.
Frankly, they lost all will to fight.
Their chances were slim even if he didn't know their plan, but he had already seen right through it.
It felt like they couldn't stall for time against him even if they had a hundred bodies.
Even the fraction of aura he had revealed upon standing briefly far surpassed their expectations.
‘I thought he’d be slightly stronger than Musal, but he’s a monster beyond comparison. Is the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult this powerful?’
A question arose in his mind.
He could no longer answer the question the man had posed.
If he honestly said no, it felt like they would all be killed.
Even if he said yes, the outcome seemed unlikely to change.
All he could do was pray to the lord sleeping in his heart.
‘My lord… now that you are gone, we cannot even withstand a crisis like this on our own. What should we do?’
Just then, as if his prayers had been answered, the man began to laugh.
“Hahahahaha, my prank went too far. I apologize. Musal, you apologize to our benefactor as well.”
“My friend, I am sorry. Even I cannot dare to predict my lord’s actions… Please understand.”
Musal wore a genuinely apologetic expression.
In truth, he was just as curious as the Chief.
As to why Maeng Ak was acting so unpredictably.
In reality, there was a reason Maeng Ak was toying with the Chief like this.
‘Still, he hasn’t forgotten his pride.’
He had humbled himself before an overwhelmingly powerful foe, but he had not abandoned his pride simply to survive when the odds were insurmountable.
The Chief seemed ready to throw away his own life at any moment, overcoming his instinctual fear to save his family.
The Vice-Chief had understood his Chief’s intentions with a single glance and prepared himself.
Both of them passed.
Maeng Ak decided this would be the starting point for his unification of the Green Forest.
“As a token of my apology, I will tell you my true identity. The current Heavenly Demon, Maeng Ak. That is who I am.”