Chapter 154: The Idiot
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154: The Idiot
“B-But… isn’t that treason?”
“To be precise, it cannot be called treason. What was stolen must be reclaimed.”
“R-Right.”
Jang Gi Hoo nodded, his arms and legs trembling. Ever since the Reaper’s Scythe was stolen and the expedition to hunt down the Weapon Thief had ended in a disastrous failure, he had been stripped of nearly all his authority. His father, Jang Gi Young, didn't even show his face, as if utterly disappointed in him. The only thing he saw whenever they happened to cross paths was a pair of icy eyes.
‘You stupid fool. I doubt a creature like you is even of my blood.’
Recalling that chilling gaze and voice, a shiver ran down his spine, and Jang Gi Hoo lowered his head. There was no place left for him here. He had been instantly pushed out of the various businesses the guild had its hands in. It was then that a helping hand had reached out to him: Kim Hee Young, a woman who followed him and one of the powerful warriors guarding the city’s four gates. If not for her, Jang Gi Hoo probably wouldn't have been able to endure.
“B-But… if we fail…”
“Young Master. This is ultimately your choice. The Fallen King has grown old. It is time for you to inherit his position. We cannot entrust Hadum to some ignorant wench, can we?”
“You’re right about that.”
Just the thought of it made him furious. The idea of an illegitimate child born from a demon slave sitting on the throne of Hadum was something he didn't even want to imagine. Come to think of it, the one who had stolen his weapon was also a demon, and the thought made his anger boil over.
He no longer felt any affection for his father. If he had his way, he would gladly sever the old man’s head, but the thought of the risk involved in failure made his legs tremble.
His father, Jang Gi Young, was utterly ruthless to his enemies. Though old, he was still considered one of the strongest men in the East. It would be strange not to be afraid.
Jang Gi Hoo slightly raised his head to look at Kim Hee Young. Meeting his gaze, she spoke again.
“You must become king, Young Master.”
“R-Right…”
As he continued to stare at the sharp-eyed beauty, it was only natural for a fiery lust to surge from below. But Kim Hee Young was not someone he could touch carelessly.
As if sensing the lewdness in his eyes, Kim Hee Young slowly reached a hand toward his groin. With just a gentle touch, his member swelled as if it would burst, and Jang Gi Hoo let out a ragged breath.
“My body is always yours, Young Master. Once you become king…”
Even after hearing those words, his hesitation remained. Feeling his body grow languid, Jang Gi Hoo slowly opened his mouth. His father would be manageable. But he knew the guardians of the North, South, and West gates would be no easy opponents.
“You say we can handle my father with the forces we have… but what about Jeong Hee Cheol, Kim Dong Hyun, and Kim Hye Ji?”
“We must take the old king’s head before they can enter the castle. Officially, it will be announced that the wench, Jang Ye Ri, killed the old king. It is a world ruled by power, but legitimacy is surprisingly important.”
“.......................”
“Do you understand how a monarch is made?”
“If the people of the city follow him, isn't that a king?”
“That’s half right. But none of the citizens truly follow the old king. The same goes for Jeong Hee Cheol, Kim Dong Hyun, Kim Hye Ji, and a few other clans and guilds. They are bound by self-interest, benefiting excessively from the current system, and they are the ones who do not wish for it to be destroyed. Uprisings and rebellions only happen when the Summoned and the citizens are hungry and in pain.”
“A prosperous city has no complaints. The people who live in this city, which has grown by sucking the lifeblood of other small towns and humans, receive various benefits, and that is why they protect the old king. They protect the system he created.”
“That’s… a rather unpleasant thing to say…”
“This is reality. You are not yet fit to be king, Young Master. But you will become king. You will remain king by the will of those who wish for this system to be maintained. The powerful guardians of each gate will pledge their loyalty to you, and the people of the city will continue to support you.”
“Because it benefits them.”
Jang Gi Hoo pondered this, but of course, he couldn't find an answer. Just then, Kim Hee Young carefully removed her hand from his member.
“Are you in the same position as them?”
“I am different from them, Young Master. I shall take my leave now. Please think it over slowly and come find me.”
Jang Gi Hoo nodded. Soon after Kim Hee Young left, he caressed his throbbing member and called for the maids outside. He needed a woman to take care of this.
“Is anyone out there!”
But no voice answered. After a long while with no reply, Jang Gi Hoo violently threw open his door, but there was no one waiting for him outside.
The space, usually occupied by maids and slaves who offered their bodies to him, now seemed utterly empty.
‘Damn it…’
It was only natural for a curse to rise in his throat. He couldn't be treated like this. Fury flared to the top of his head, but all he could do was scream. They couldn't do this to the man who would be king. In the dark, endless corridor, he was all alone.
“Fuck…”
The curse escaped his lips before he even realized it. It wasn't his fault. It was all that demon's fault. Jang Gi Hoo began to walk, his steps taking him wherever they pleased. The guards who protected him, the maids—they were all gone.
He kept walking until he finally arrived at the room of that thieving demon bitch. The room of the sister he never considered family. The room of the prostitute who had been nothing more than a tool for his sexual release in his youth.
“Jang Ye Ri!”
“Jang Ye Ri!!!”
As he roared, guards immediately swarmed the area. Things he no longer had.
“It is late, Young Master. The Young Lady is sleeping, so we would appreciate it if you returned in the morning. I will let her know you came to visit.”
“How… how dare you!”
Unleashing a great burst of magic, he swung his arm. A guard slammed into the wall, coughing up blood.
“A mere guard dares!”
But the others swarmed him in an instant. They must have been on standby, sensing that something was happening. If he caused a scene like this, rumors would surely spread through the castle by morning. Yet, he was too furious to just turn back, and he continued to radiate magic. It was then that a voice came from inside the room.
“Let him in.”
“But, Young Lady…”
“I believe I said it was fine to let him in.”
“Yes…”
Emboldened by Jang Ye Ri’s words, Jang Gi Hoo needlessly shoved the guards beside him and strode into the room.
What he saw was Jang Ye Ri, sitting in a chair with her legs crossed. She wore a gown, but it was so translucent that he could see everything underneath. The lust that had been quelled by his anger surged once more.
‘Slutty bitch. So you wanted it too. Even after you cut off your horns, even after Father truly accepted you as family… you’ve always wanted it.’
Jang Gi Hoo smiled at Jang Ye Ri, and her red lips slowly began to part.
“What is it, at this time of night?”
He had originally come just to vent his anger. But seeing Jang Ye Ri like this, another thought came to mind. There were other ways to relieve his frustration. It was a shame he no longer had her horns to grab onto like in the old days, but her body was more than enough to satisfy his desires.
“You know full well, don't you? It's been a while. How about we go back to our childhood and reaffirm our sibling bond?”
Jang Gi Hoo slowly took a step forward. Come to think of it, he hadn't touched her at all since his father had accepted her into the family. The youthful freshness of their childhood was gone, but her ripe, mature body would surely be satisfying. As he slowly advanced, lost in his thoughts, his feet suddenly stopped moving. Not only that, but a cold sweat was trickling down his back.
The Jang Ye Ri looking at him was one he had never seen before.
“You stupid fool.”
“Wh-What?”
What he saw were the reddened eyes of a predator. Eyes that no one would mistake for human. They were closer to those of a beast.
“I said, you’re a stupid fool. The only thing you know how to do is play with what’s between your legs. That’s why you’ve ended up in this pathetic state.”
Seeing an expression on Jang Ye Ri he had never seen before, a fire erupted within him, but strangely, no words came out. She wasn't suppressing him with magic. He was feeling pure, human fear. The same kind of terror that gripped his entire body when he faced his father.
He was dumbstruck for only a moment before he began to spew the rage inside him.
“You… you…”
“You… fucking bitch! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you! I’ll tear you to pieces, you fucking bitch. I’ll kill you the same way I killed your mother. I’ll rape you for three days and nights, then throw you to the filthy prisoners and soldiers. You fucking bitch… you… you…”
But Jang Ye Ri’s expression didn't change. If anything, the corner of her mouth curled up into a smile.
“Do it now, you stupid fool.”
“Wh-wh-what?”
“I said, do it now. Have you gone deaf as well?”
“You… you think I won’t if you tell me to!”
But his feet wouldn't move. In his mind, he wanted to gouge out the eyes that looked down on him and sew shut the mouth that spewed such filthy words, but in reality, his body was completely frozen, the opposite of what was happening in his head.
His legs even began to tremble. He was too scared to meet her gaze, so he kept staring at the floor. His once-swollen member had lost all its strength and was now completely limp.
“Damn it… Damn it all!”
“I see now you can’t even be called a man.”
Her cold voice struck his ears, but he was powerless, able to do nothing. In the end, Jang Gi Hoo slowly backed away. Overcome with shame, he turned and fled, slamming the door behind him. The icy stares of the guards only made him lower his head further.
The voice of Kim Hee Young came to mind.
To be precise, it was the conversation they had just had.
Those who benefit from this city do not wish to see this city, this system, collapse. But there were no benefits left for him here.
He had no choice.
Jang Gi Hoo ran. The deliberation was over. She couldn't have gotten far into her district yet; she surely wouldn't be asleep.
And so, Jang Gi Hoo ran.