Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Behind the Scenes
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Zhuge Ser tilted her head for a moment before letting out a small exclamation, as if she suddenly got it.
"Ah. You're talking about that guy who follows the Vice Squad Leader around so faithfully."
I nodded. Just as she said, Paeng Daesan stuck to me like glue. Sure, it had involved a bit of physical persuasion and the agony of bones separating from flesh, but the end result was that he followed me well enough, so she wasn't wrong.
"He's indeed a scion of the North Sea Paeng Family, one of the Five Great Families."
Just as I thought. That made three of the Five Great Families with members in the Murim Alliance. So why were they saying they lacked strength?
She gave a wry smile and continued her explanation.
"But... the North Sea Paeng Family isn't all that friendly toward our Murim Alliance. Hostile would be more accurate."
"Hostile? Then why send a promising young talent here...?"
"According to the investigation records, it's because the current head of the Paeng Family had a woman he admired stolen away by the Alliance Leader in the past."
...?
"Of course, it was back when he was still the young heir, and it was mostly one-sided affection on his part... but even so, he utterly despises the Alliance Leader for snatching away the woman he loved."
Hearing it laid out like that, it sounded exactly like something the Paeng Family would do. A group full of warriors whose brains were packed with muscle all the way to the core—it was plenty believable.
"That's why they sent young master Paeng here all alone. Just for show. They hate the Murim Alliance, but they still want the benefits it brings."
"Young master Paeng's realm at the time of joining was third-rate at best. But from the Alliance's perspective, putting a scion of one of the Five Great Families into the White Tiger Squad just because his talent was lacking would give the North Sea Paeng Family an excuse to complain. So they had no choice but to assign him to the Azure Dragon Squad."
Everything clicked into place then. Why Paeng Daesan's martial prowess was noticeably weaker than the other Azure Dragon Squad members. And why Squad Leader Byeok Cheonwi had such a headache over him specifically.
I nodded roughly, convinced.
Truth be told, it wasn't really my business.
My gaze naturally shifted to the Mad Demon Swords right in front of me. Pointing at the blades emanating ominous energy from within their cases, I asked,
"So, what are these for?"
Not that it was likely, but if they weren't going to use them... I could just swallow up that demonic energy. It would be perfect. I'd only absorbed the energy from one sword so far, but I'd already felt my mental strength noticeably bolstered. Taking in all three of these would be a huge help.
Was my inner thoughts read again? Zhuge Ser chuckled and dashed my hopes with a single stroke.
"No can do. These were specially bestowed by the Alliance Leader for research into the Forbidden Demonic Arts to counter the Demonic Cult's demonic techniques."
What a shame.
But how did this woman know I wanted them? Did she notice when I siphoned off the Mad Demon Sword's demonic energy?
Zhuge Ser stared straight at me with a meaningful smile.
"Well... if you help me out in various ways... a few swords wouldn't be impossible to spare. The Black Tortoise Squad dispatched to the secret caves will bring more anyway."
Her voice was soft, but it carried a clear intent.
"Didn't the Vice Squad Leader heal that demon person the Squad Leader Byeok captured last time?"
...Busted.
Completely busted.
I'd totally forgotten about the demon person.
"Our Vermilion Bird Squad secretly investigated the one you healed, and it turns out he was some nameless rogue from an unorthodox sect."
"......"
If you don't know the name, did you really find out anything?
Smoothly—
She took another step closer. A faint, elegant fragrance wafted from her, tickling my nose.
"And we examined all the demon person corpses recovered by the White Tiger and Azure Dragon Squads from various secret caves. The results were shocking. They were all warriors from unorthodox and orthodox sects. Not a single trace of the Demonic Cult."
"From all that evidence, we reached one conclusion."
She paused to catch her breath, then looked me straight in the eye and said,
"There were no Demonic Cultists to begin with."
"!"
"Only foolish warriors from orthodox and unorthodox sects whose reason had been eroded by the demonic energy of the Mad Demon Swords embedded in the secret caves."
"Then... the rumors of the Demonic Cult stirring were all lies?"
"Correct."
So who the hell was behind all this, and why?
"Then who exactly is doing this...?"
"We don't know that either."
Zhuge Ser shook her head.
"But one thing is certain. Someone is deliberately spreading fake treasure maps to plunge the Central Plains into massive chaos. Luring warriors to secret caves where Mad Demon Swords slumber, making them kill each other, and using the resulting demon people to stoke fear of a Demonic Cult uprising."
"And the Alliance Leader ordered me to investigate the mastermind."
Zhuge Ser slowly extended her hand toward me.
It was small and white.
"Won't you help?"
"Nah, pass."
"Eek!"
My sharp refusal made Zhuge Ser stomp her feet. For all her gloomy looks and attempts at dignity, her true colors were showing.
"When a woman offers her hand, isn't it etiquette for a man to grab it firmly?"
She yelled shrilly, so I chuckled and seized her hand.
"Like this?"
The moment my hand enveloped hers, Zhuge Ser's body flinched. The soft, warm sensation transmitted straight through my palm.
"Ah. Ah. Ah... "
She stammered, bowing her head deeply. Through the strands of her disheveled green hair, I could see her earlobes flushed bright red.
"Y-your hand... it's quite large and rough..."
She mumbled in a voice as tiny as an ant's, then cleared her throat awkwardly to regain composure.
"A-anyway! Now that you've taken my hand... I'll take that as you agreeing to help!"
"We'll see."
I shrugged, still holding her hand. No intention of letting go. Her soft, pliant hand was addictive.
"Eut...!"
Finally realizing she was being toyed with, she let out a small groan. Glancing at me sharply, she asked,
"What will it take... what will it take for you to help?"
I pretended to think. Truth be told, her offer tempted me. A few Mad Demon Swords as reward? Couldn't ask for more.
But to gain the upper hand in this deal, I needed to play it cool.
Still holding her hand, I slowly stroked the back of it with my thumb. Each time, her shoulders twitched. Her face remained flushed red.
Watching her embarrassed like that, my body reacted on its own against my will. My lower abdomen grew heavy, and the front of my uniform pants began to tent slowly.
"Hm? What's that...?"
Zhuge Ser's gaze drifted down to my waist. Her eyes widened in shock upon spotting the bulging shape of my erection.
"A-again! Sexual harassment again! You really are shameless!"
She struggled to pull her hand free. But my grip held her like a rock.
"No naughty stuff! I'm not that kind of easy woman!"
"This thing doesn't move on my command."
I answered calmly. Her struggles paused.
"I-is that so? Ah... sorry."
"It's because the Squad Leader's body is too sexy."
"See! I take back that apology!"
Her huffy reaction was pretty cute. I let out a chuckle and got to the point.
"Fine. Here's the condition."
I looked her straight in the eye and said,
"All the Mad Demon Swords the Murim Alliance collects from now on. Hand them all over to me."
My outrageous demand left Zhuge Ser's mouth agape.
"Ugh..."
She fell deep into thought. Biting her lower lip with her still-reddened face—it was quite erotic. I squeezed her hand a bit harder and kneaded it gently. Her shoulder twitched again.
"Th-then... I'll give you all but one! We need at least one for researching the Forbidden Demonic Arts, right?"
I accepted her counteroffer without a second's hesitation.
"Deal."
My immediate agreement left her stunned for a moment, then she shrieked as realization dawned.
"Ah, aah!"
She glared at me with a look that screamed she'd been had.
Truth be told, I'd been planning to settle for just a few. But now things had changed. With over twenty secret caves mentioned, that meant nearly twenty Mad Demon Swords heading my way.
Rub rub.
Sweat was seeping from her palm, slick and moist. My senses picked up her heart pounding like mad. By keep kneading her hand and distracting her, I'd lulled her into a half-dazed state where she made the worst mistake possible.
Gotta use this trick again next time.
Good. Perfect.
"So, what do you need help with?"