Chapter 438: Sleeping Dragon Mountains
Chapter 438: Sleeping Dragon Mountains
Thud!
Crash!
The chalice Asmodeus threw with all his might slammed against the sooty wall with a loud noise. The impact knocked a torch from its sconce, and it fell to the floor, starting a small fire.
Fwoosh, fwoosh!
The flames spread in an instant, brightly illuminating the once-dark room. A Demonkin standing nearby hastily dropped to the ground to put out the fire, but when Asmodeus let out a monstrous scream, they immediately pressed their head to the floor and begged for forgiveness.
Looking at the trembling Demonkin, Asmodeus bit his lip viciously. In truth, the Demonkin before him was guiltless. How could the current situation be the servant’s fault? It was all born from Asmodeus’s own greed, from pushing things too far.
“D-Damn that bitch Lilith! How dare she, how dare she! Keh!”
Even after throwing things and screaming, Asmodeus’s rage showed no signs of cooling. If anything, the more he thought about it, the more his anger flared, and he began to tear at his hair violently.
There was a reason why Asmodeus, the ‘Demon of Lust,’ was so enraged. It was because of Lilith, the ‘Queen of the Night,’ the ‘Great Harlot.’
The Demon Realm strictly followed the law of the jungle, where the strong reign supreme. It was an absolute rule: only the strong could be masters, and the weak could not survive.
From this perspective, although they were both among the Seven Great Demons, there was a clear difference between Asmodeus and Lilith. One only had to look at the current status of the ‘Fourteen Demon Lords’ under the command of the Seven.
Just a year ago, Asmodeus had two demon lords under his command (though he had recently lost one in an unfortunate accident). Lilith, on the other hand, had never commanded a single Demon Lord, then or now.
And yet, Lilith’s recent attitude toward Asmodeus was a world away from how she used to treat him. Not only did she act as if she were addressing a subordinate, but she also frequently humiliated him publicly during meetings.
Each time, Asmodeus remained silent. He had nothing to say. His mistakes were too great to lash out, and besides, what Lilith said was always true.
Of course, that didn't mean the ‘Demon of Lust’ was genuinely repentant. He was forced to endure it when everyone was gathered, but when he was alone like this, he would grind his teeth and let his fury toward Lilith burn.
“Damned bitch, fucking bitch…! A bitch who does nothing…! A bitch who only knows how to spread her legs…! Khel-khel-khel-khel!”
Unable to control his surging anger, Asmodeus turned his head and grabbed another chalice nearby. He was just about to hurl it with all his strength at the still-burning fire.
Fwoosh, fwooooosh!
The dwindling flames suddenly flared up. They spiraled upwards like a whirlwind, creating a fierce gust of wind that scattered them in all directions. With a final sprinkle of tiny embers in the air, the room returned to its initial, silent darkness.
And another demon appeared with it.
“Having fun, I see, Asmodeus.”
Asmodeus stared into the space where the fire had vanished, his eyes drawn by the voice that broke the room’s silence. He saw a demon leaning casually against the wall, and his eyes widened. Because that demon was…
“S-Satan?”
It was Satan, the ‘King of All Demons,’ the ‘Adversary.’
“Wh-When did you get here…? And why are you here…?”
Asmodeus’s eyes began to tremble with anxiety.
Despite holding the title ‘King of All Demons,’ Satan rarely interfered with the other demons. Whether they fought or waged war, as long as they didn't bother him, he usually didn't care. In a way, you could say he simply ignored them.
But things were different lately. No, they had changed. He had started to show a little interest in the affairs of the other demons.
Though it hadn't yet escalated to interference, the Seven Great Demons were beginning to grow tense.
For Satan, who had always been a mere observer, to start moving meant he had found a ‘purpose.’ And they all knew that once Satan moved, he would stop at nothing to achieve that purpose, not even hesitating to use fellow demons as sacrificial lambs. That was why the other demons couldn't help but be nervous.
After a long silence, Satan lightly sat himself down on the back of the Demonkin who was still prostrated on the floor.
“Ahh. A rather interesting rumor has been going around lately.”
“A-An interesting rumor?”
“Yes, Asmodeus… I hear you’re planning to plant a seed in the Northern Continent once again?”
“Ke-Khel! Keck, keck, keck, keck!”
The moment Satan spoke, Asmodeus broke into a violent coughing fit. He shot his head up to vehemently deny it, but he froze when he saw Satan quietly holding up both hands.
“Wait, wait. It seems you wanted to hide this from me, but let me say this first. I don’t care what you’re plotting. We are independent entities, after all.”
“Uhm… Th-That’s true. Then why bring it up here….”
Satan didn’t answer right away. He simply stared at Asmodeus with a steady gaze before flashing a grin, revealing his white teeth.
“It’s just… since we’re eating from the same pot for now, shall we say I could offer you a little help?”
“You-You’ve never been interested in anyone before. Not interference, not help… Th-Then why all of a sudden….”
“Oh… That’s true, Asmodeus. But you see… your situation hasn’t been so great lately, has it?”
“…Keh.”
Satan’s words hit home, and Asmodeus fell silent. Satan looked at the ‘Demon of Lust’ with a pitying gaze, then pulled a cigarette from his coat.
Asmodeus watched Satan light it and quietly spoke up.
“Satan, helping someone else. Anyone who heard that would think it’s nonsense. Keh, khel-khel!”
“Hah… I called it help, but you can think of it however you like. An opportunity, or just advice. Because in the end, the choice is entirely yours.”
“An opportunity…? Advice…?”
“The key is the choice… Let me get straight to the point. I’m going to give you a piece of information. I don’t know how you’ll see it, but from my perspective, it’s an investment. Anyway, things will change depending on whether you accept it or not.”
“An investment from Satan. Hmm…”
“Of course, if you don’t accept, I’ll have no choice but to find someone else. For example, Lilith…”
His interest had been piqued when Satan mentioned an investment, but that last sentence was the deciding factor. Asmodeus, who had been wavering, suddenly snapped his eyes open and stared directly at Satan, though a sliver of suspicion remained deep inside.
“Ke-khel-khel. Satan, you say such disappointing things. I suppose I can at least hear you out, can’t I?”
“Of course. However, if you leak this information elsewhere, or if you refuse and then act on your own… you’ll have to deal with the consequences.”
“That won’t happen, so don’t worry. Keh!”
“Good. Then…”
Satan paused and gently patted the buttocks of the Demonkin he was using as a chair. The prostrated Demonkin possessed power approaching the highest level, yet they didn't even dare to lift their head. On the contrary, they seemed deeply moved to be treated this way, and they began to crawl forward cautiously, as if afraid of letting Satan fall.
A moment later, Asmodeus and Satan were facing each other at a much closer distance.
“Before we get to the main point, let me tell you an interesting story related to the Northern Continent you’re trying to challenge again.”
“An interesting story?”
“A myth, shall we say? Sometimes, looking into these things can lead to a new perspective.”
“?”
Asmodeus tilted his head, his face showing he had no idea what Satan was talking about. Satan chuckled softly once or twice, then spat out the cigarette he had been holding in his mouth. He leaned forward slightly and steepled his fingers.
“The name of the myth is the Great War… It’s a story from a very long time ago, depicting the battle between the dragons and humans who once ruled the Hall Plain.”
Satan’s voice was no longer the same chilling tone from before. It was still low and quiet, but it was an endlessly soft and sweet sound.
Asmodeus unknowingly swallowed hard.
*
The sun, which had been peeking through the dense trees, was now slowly tilting westward, preparing to disappear from view. The crimson glow of the sunset spread calmly around us, gradually deepening. Perhaps because we were in the mountains, evening seemed to be arriving quickly.
The setting sun wasn't a problem. But if there was one thing that bothered me, it was what Ahn Sol had said just before we entered, which kept replaying in my head.
‘Orabeoni. It’s tonight. You probably have to find it by tonight.’
Ahn Sol had said we had to find it by tonight. In other words, if tonight passed, Hangyul’s life, which had been hanging by a thread, could be severed.
It wasn't that I didn't feel rushed, but I tried my best to remain calm.
The Sleeping Dragon Mountains were incredibly vast. If I let my impatience get the best of me and started searching haphazardly, it would be the worst possible move. For now, all I could do was hope we would safely reach the place where Hangyul was before the day ended.
If it really comes down to it… I might have to use a Miracle.
After letting out a soft breath, I stared at Hangyul’s back as he staggered forward. Despite the rough mountain terrain and the thick fog, Hangyul was silently walking toward the location of his soul.
Before long, we had passed the entrance and were fully inside the mountain range.
Lush bushes grew thick and wild, and ancient trees were rooted throughout the rugged landscape. At a glance, it looked no different from any other mountain, but it was not a beautiful sight.
Perhaps it was because it had been untouched by human hands for so long, or because of the fog that still lay heavy in places. And…
— Sob… sob, sob… I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you all…!
— It’s unfair… It’s so unfaiiiir…!
The faint, monstrous screams that occasionally drifted by created a desolate and eerie atmosphere in the mountains. The more I heard them, the more I felt a strange sense of unease, but I didn't show it. I was sure I wasn't the only one feeling it.
“Hey, hey. Jewel… You know, I think there’s something strange about this fog.”
“Je-Je… What did you say?”
“You heard that weird scream just now, right? I hear things like that whenever we enter an area where the fog is especially thick. And it feels like my mood gets worse, too. What do you think, Jewel?”
“…I don’t know. I just felt my senses getting dull… I’ll think about it, but please don’t call me Jewel from now on.”
I overheard Vivian and Hanbyul whispering behind me. I almost chuckled at Vivian calling Hanbyul ‘Jewel,’ but her words were not to be taken lightly. Having once lived as a spider monster in a similar mountain, I couldn't ignore Vivian’s senses.
“Clan Lord. I, too, heard strange words when passing through the fog. Crying, or someone saying it was unfair…”
Just as I was heightening my guard, Seon Yuun, who must have overheard them, walked up beside me and spoke quietly.
I replied as if it were nothing.
“I heard it too. I believe it’s a type of field effect.”
“A field effect. I’ve been counting the intervals between the sounds since we entered, and they’re becoming more frequent. I’m curious about the source of the sounds.”
“I wonder. Perhaps it’s similar to when we explored the Frozen Forest. They say a great war took place in this mountain range long ago. It could be the vengeful spirits of the Residents who died then.”
“Vengeful spirits… But why would there be any? According to what you told Ahn Sol earlier, the humans were victorious… Though it might be a different story if they were the vengeful spirits of dragons.”
I shrugged to show I didn't know. It wasn't that I was being dismissive; I truly didn't know. My knowledge ended with the record that the dragon had cast a curse.
It might be related to the dragon’s curse… or there could be a part of the story I don’t know.
Seon Yuun nodded and said no more. I warned Vivian and Hanbyul not to talk too loudly, as they might attract unwanted attention, and then resumed walking behind Hangyul.
After walking for several more hours, the sun completely disappeared over the western horizon. The red glow of the sunset had faded, replaced by the encroaching darkness of twilight.
The deeper we went, the deeper the mountain became. The fog that had been flowing along the ground had now risen up to envelop the entire mountain. Hangyul, walking ahead, was now only a faint silhouette, forcing some of the clan members following at a distance to close the gap.
As we moved in silence, a place ahead with extremely thick fog caught my eye. It was far hazier than any place we had passed through, and I couldn't see clearly no matter how much I enhanced my vision. I could only guess it was a clearing, based on the way the bushes and trees formed a circle around it.
It was then.
Shiiiiiiiii…
A faint, cold breeze brushed against my face. I was about to take another step but immediately raised my hand, signaling for everyone to stop. Hangyul, however, didn't stop. He walked straight into the clearing and vanished.
“Baek Hangyul…”
“Wait a moment.”
I quickly grabbed Seon Yuun’s arm as he was about to move forward and shook my head.
“I’m not certain, but I feel something strange inside.”
Seon Yuun immediately closed his eyes, as if to heighten his senses. But he soon opened them and shook his head, indicating he couldn't detect any presence.
Shiiiiiiiii…
This time, it wasn't the wind. The fog from the clearing flowed out and enveloped us.
And in that instant.
— We’re envious, it’s unfair, we’re envious, it’s unfair…
— We fought so hard… How, how could this happen!
Along with the fog, the faint screams returned. Judging by the sharp intakes of breath around me, I wasn't the only one who heard them. I quickly snapped to my senses and stared ahead. The fog in the clearing had become much thinner than before.
— So, just stay right there…
— I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you allllll!
And in the clearing, now cloaked in darkness, dozens of eyes, glowing with a crimson light, were watching us.