Chapter 151
Chapter 151
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Return
“......?”
I stared blankly at the stone.
I knew where I'd stolen it from.
I remembered it because it had seemed oddly out of place while I was digging traps.
It was clearly labeled as some ??'s soul stone.
'Heavenly Demon?'
Why the hell had this suddenly popped out?
More than that, if it really was the Heavenly Demon...
'It's usually a dangerous bastard in wuxia novels.'
Sure, it had a bold, heroic side, but as an enemy, it was utterly ruthless.
Or a cold-blooded monster without a drop of blood or tear in its veins.
The kind that might execute a subordinate loyal for decades over a single failed mission—an extremely hazardous type.
That was about the extent of my usual thoughts on the Heavenly Demon.
'Doesn't exactly give off good vibes.'
Still, it felt different from Rishiel's soul stone.
When I'd held Rishiel's soul stone, she'd appear as a translucent ghost and offer all sorts of advice.
But this presumed Heavenly Demon showed no sign of appearing.
The most depressing part?
'I can't even throw this damn thing away.'
My head throbbed painfully.
How much effort had I poured into ditching Lucia's Obsession? It wouldn't break, and if I tossed it, it came right back eventually.
"What's wrong?"
As I grimaced in headache, Volkan eyed me curiously.
Ah, right.
I'd originally planned to show off the immortality.
'...Should I tell him about this?'
I could trust Volkan.
I could trust the Holy Sword.
The Holy Bow? We'd only spent a short time together so far, but...
It didn't feel like it'd do me any harm on purpose.
"...Uh, there's that immortality thing, right?"
"...Yeah."
Had he sensed something from my reaction?
Volkan's expression turned awkward.
"What's up? Did you steal something else? Nah, that guy died so pathetically—must've nabbed it properly."
"No... I did steal the immortality."
"But?"
"Something weird seems to have eaten it."
"...?"
Volkan tilted his head.
-What does that even mean?
-This girl cannot comprehend it...
The Holy Sword and Holy Bow reacted the same way.
This was seriously bizarre, right?
I scratched my head and pulled a stone from my Hidden Space.
The one labeled as the Heavenly Demon's soul stone.
"...It harbors an extraordinary power."
Volkan tensed up the moment he saw it.
-That ate the immortality? It looked like a plain rock last time...
-A peculiar power emanates from it.
All three agreed: it was an utterly suspicious item.
But none of them knew what it was.
-If it could devour immortality... it must be tied to the goddess's power somehow.
The Holy Sword muttered.
Unlike the Holy Sword, though, Volkan's face had gone deathly serious.
As if he had some inkling of its true nature.
-...No, this bizarre power—it resembles that.
"Demonic Cult."
-Sun Moon Divine Cult.
They uttered different names.
But instinctively, I sensed the two groups were one and the same, or at least deeply connected.
"What is that?"
"A group that sought to devour demons by becoming absolute evil themselves."
-A group that cast themselves into chaos to eradicate evil and remain as humanity's guardian deities.
Contradictory answers came at once.
What was I supposed to make of that?
'Shut it, Holy Sword.'
-Why are you so strict only with me!!
-Hehe, swords are hopelessly ignorant as expected. When the master speaks, stay quiet like this girl.
I silenced the Holy Sword and turned to Volkan, opening my mouth.
"What kind of people are they?"
"Evil spirits. They pursued becoming absolute evil to wipe out demons—and in the end, they fell to corruption themselves."
Volkan said.
"...By their accounts, the Heavenly Demon is their god. A living deity walking among mortals. Every time he appeared, the world saw countless upheavals, great and small. A being that always stirred up storms."
That was the Heavenly Demon.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Volkan said he got the gist and left.
"At least I told you the basics. Might save you some hassle."
With that, Volkan departed.
Next, the Holy Sword spoke up.
-The Sun Moon Divine Cult is called the Demonic Cult now... but things change when the Heavenly Demon enters the picture.
'How so?'
-They were the sort who sought to right wrongs by becoming absolute evil. To confront evil, nothing beats evil itself—so they became demons.
'Yeah?'
-Dubious reaction, huh? Let me give an example. Say there are folks wailing and begging for their lives, claiming they have kids. Or ones holding kin or loved ones hostage, pleading to be spared.
'...'
-Even with hostages, they kill the evil. Those who sob about their children and beg anyway, only for the evil to grin and promise to send the kids along soon? That's evil. Evil has this twisted nature—the more you understand it, the more it corrupts you. That's why they became evil to punish evil.
'Hence the name Demonic Cult.'
-That's where it comes from. Even I don't fully grasp their true motives. But they pursued that path, and they nearly slew the Demon King without any heroes' help.
So they had a purpose of sorts, but fell anyway—hence "Demonic Cult."
'...That guy was Demonic Cult too, wasn't he?'
I recalled the masked figure who'd opened the demon mirror gate.
Had even prepped the monsters inside, serving them up to me on a platter.
'Heavenly Demon's soul stone, huh.'
I eyed it for a moment before stowing it back in my Hidden Space.
Eh, holding onto it might prove useful someday.
And hey, it was a soul stone.
How invaluable had the Holy Sword been all this time?
A Heavenly Demon soul stone would surely come in handy eventually.
That was all I thought at the time.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Eh, leaving already?"
When I announced my departure, Ermé reacted like that.
Soyeonhwa showed a hint of regret too.
The others, who'd wrapped up their matches ages ago, let out sighs of relief—clearly sick of the East Continent.
"This servant is fine anywhere, so long as she's with her master."
Cheong Yuraang, tail swishing as she spoke.
Ermé watched her with a dubious expression.
A look that said she still couldn't get used to it, no matter what.
What exactly was Cheong Yuraang to Ermé, anyway?
I ignored her reaction as best I could.
"But can you just leave whenever?"
Soyeonhwa tossed out casually.
"Normally, no."
The immortality held by the Demon King's subordinate... one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Ever since I'd stolen it, the pressure had been ramping up openly.
Like the Magic Tower Lord staring me down from over there.
Or that sallet-hatted Taoist eyeing me with blatant greed.
"...They made a special exception just this once."
"Figures... If the Mosan Sect leader and Magic Tower Lord are after it, the Empire wouldn't take kindly under normal circumstances."
Cradle too, probably.
Ermé added that, then waved me off like "safe travels."
"Then no choice—see you in Cradle?"
"Sounds good."
"A shame. We'll postpone the match, then."
Gotash suddenly cut into our goodbyes with that.
"Yeah, whatever."
When the time comes, I'll mess with Hwal even more.
After bidding farewell to my comrades and heading outside, I spotted one person.
Golden pupils.
Unlike priests radiating holy power, these eyes gave off an eerie vibe, as if they pierced straight into one's soul.
"Congratulations, Thief Hero."
"...Didn't exactly go to plan, but I'm glad for the congrats."
"No need. I'm simply pleased you've become a hero."
The Crown Prince spoke as if all the heroes here combined couldn't hold a candle to me.
'Ominous. Super ominous.'
He overpraised without it feeling off-putting.
It was the Crown Prince's signature style—made him seem so disarmingly casual.
That's why he creeped me out. Like he could toy with people's hearts at will.
I looked at the Crown Prince.
His gleaming golden eyes stared back with keen interest.
"Any title you desire?"
"Title? ...A barony would suffice."
"Hmm, that puts me in a bind. How about an earldom instead?"
A rank startling enough to make me flinch.
-Not that hard to understand. It's the Empire—level 9 officially gets you a duchy.
-This girl thinks even an earldom's a bit modest...
-Eh, from your level 6 perspective, an earldom's a solid deal.
-Eh? Master's level 6?
-What, you didn't know that either?
Smug Holy Sword.
But you didn't know my age either.
I tuned out the Holy Sword and faced the Crown Prince.
'...Better take it.'
Others would swarm me anyway—might as well snag a powerhouse backer like the Crown Prince.
"Sure, why not."
"Ahem, wise choice. Oh, and if anyone pesters you, feel free to name-drop me."
The Crown Prince spoke with a kindly smile.
As if graciously offering to ward off annoyances.
Put differently, he'd already staked his claim—keeping other factions at bay.
'...Whatever works.'
I'd casually mentioned the Crown Prince to Ermé earlier.
She'd seemed all for it, even.
So I accepted his offer.