Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: To Paradise (2)
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"The Heavenly Demon...?"
"That's what they call him."
Cheon Sang-gil frowned as he continued.
"I haven't been able to gather any information about this Heavenly Demon yet... but this old man speculates that he is not a human, but a transcendent being like a 'Constellation'."
"..."
Oh-jin's expression hardened, unable to offer any response to Cheon Sang-gil's words.
It felt as though his mind was a tangled mess.
The unexpected appearance of a "Heavenly Demon" brought on a throbbing headache.
'What in the world is going on?'
It went without saying.
There was no way the "Heavenly Demon" that the Queen of Serpens supposedly followed was the Master of the Black Heaven from Polaris's prophecy.
After all, the title "Heavenly Demon" was just something plausible he had come up with on the spot while lying to Vega.
'So... you're telling me there's actually a guy with the title of Heavenly Demon in the Black Star Guild?'
How could something this crazy happen?
Was this what it felt like to be a con artist who bluffs about knowing the winning lottery numbers, only for some random numbers he spouted to a sucker to actually hit the jackpot?
This wasn't just a case of a cow stumbling upon a mouse while walking backward; it was like discovering a gold mine.
'Huh? Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, isn't this a huge stroke of luck?'
He had planned to eventually create a "Heavenly Demon" within the Black Star Guild, kill him off, and then hide his own identity forever.
The same method Sosuke had used.
The best way for a culprit to never be caught was to make everyone believe the culprit they were chasing was dead.
But now, he didn't even need to go to that trouble.
All he had to do was frame that Heavenly Demon as the "Master of the Black Heaven."
"So you're saying that this Heavenly Demon is the true master of the Black Star Guild?"
"That's the speculation, but there's too little information to call him the 'master'. Besides the Queen of Serpens, no one else seems to follow him."
So, like a figurehead president, is that it?
'He might actually be a Constellation, not a human.'
There was still far too little information to determine the Heavenly Demon's true identity.
[...Heavenly Demon.]
Vega muttered the name with a grave expression.
In that moment, her gaze turned to Oh-jin.
'What's this?'
Why is she looking at me now?
Oh-jin frowned, trying to read the complex emotions in Vega's eyes.
Why did she look at him the moment she heard the words "Heavenly Demon"?
'There shouldn't be any reason for her to suspect me here.'
If anything, since a real Heavenly Demon had appeared just as he'd said, shouldn't she be looking at him with trust, thinking, 'Just as the Regressor said'?
'Ah, now that I think about it.'
There was one thing.
One detail was different from what he had told her.
When he first told her about the Heavenly Demon, he'd said he would appear in three years, but he had shown up in just one.
'I'll have to explain this separately.'
Oh-jin downed the rest of his tea in one gulp and opened his mouth.
"So, other than the fact that she fanatically follows this Heavenly Demon and is trying to unite the factions of the Black Star Guild, you don't know anything else about the Queen of Serpens?"
"For now, that's correct."
For all the anticipation, there really was a lack of information.
"We need to act before all the Black Star Guild's factions fall into the Serpent's hands."
"Indeed."
One of the Black Star Guild's greatest weaknesses was that each faction had its own separate goals and methods.
It didn't take much thought to realize how difficult they would be to deal with if the remaining five factions joined forces.
"As it happens, I'm currently forming a team specifically to deal with the Black Star Guild."
"A team?"
"Though I call it a team, there are only three members so far. Ah, and one of them is someone you might know."
"Who is it?"
"The Black Lion, Lee Woo-hyeok."
"Ah."
Lee Woo-hyeok was certainly the most suitable candidate for the "team" Cheon Sang-gil was creating.
Not only was he a powerful Awakened on the verge of becoming a 9-Star, but he was also burning with a desire for revenge against the Black Star Guild for kidnapping and killing his brother.
"I heard you two have a connection."
"Yes. We've fought together several times on matters related to the Black Star Guild."
"Ho ho! Then this will be quick!"
Cheon Sang-gil beamed as he looked at Oh-jin.
"Would you be interested in joining the team this old man is creating... the 'Guardian Stars'?"
Guardian Stars.
A team created solely to eradicate the Black Star Guild.
As a team personally assembled by Tamrangseong, a member of the Seven Stars, it would undoubtedly receive generous support in many ways.
It was an offer with no reason to refuse, but...
"Could you give me a moment to think?"
"Of course."
Cheon Sang-gil rose from his seat.
He gathered the empty teacups and said.
"I'll go brew some more tea, so take your time and think it over."
Cheon Sang-gil closed the door and left.
[My child...]
Vega's voice came in a low whisper.
She hesitated, glancing at Ha-eun sitting next to her.
Her body language suggested she wanted to ask something but couldn't because of Ha-eun.
"It's fine. I told Nunna, too."
[That you are a Regressor?]
"Yeah."
Vega looked at Ha-eun with surprised eyes.
"Uh... yeah. I-I heard about it, too."
Ahahaha.
Ha-eun laughed awkwardly, scratching her head.
Before she could make a blunder, Oh-jin quickly changed the subject.
"I think I might have been mistaken."
[Mistaken?]
"About the Heavenly Demon being born in three years."
The Heavenly Demon was already ruling the Black Star Guild.
"The Heavenly Demon wasn't born after three years. He existed before that, but he was hiding his identity and staying in the shadows."
[...So that's what happened.]
Vega nodded, but her eyes, still fixed on Oh-jin, were filled with a complex emotion.
She bit her lip with an anxious expression, then suddenly shook her head from side to side.
"What's wrong?"
[No. It is nothing.]
What's with her?
'She's been acting a little strange since yesterday.'
Oh-jin narrowed his eyes at her.
Vega avoided his gaze and replied in a fading voice.
[I was merely worried for you.]
"Worried?"
[The Heavenly Demon has appeared sooner than you thought, has he not? I am worried you will become his target.]
"..."
Her gaze held more than just 'worry'.
But for now, he decided not to press the issue.
"Don't worry. He said that besides the Queen of Serpens, no one in the Black Star Guild follows the Heavenly Demon, right?"
In other words, it was safe to assume that the being called the "Heavenly Demon" was unable to move for some reason.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to use a proxy like the Queen of Serpens to rule the Black Star Guild.
[Then we must weaken his forces as much as possible before he begins to move in earnest.]
"Exactly."
"Oh-jin, are you going to join that Guardian Stars thing?"
"For now."
He couldn't defeat the Black Star Guild with his strength alone, anyway.
If he could find allies, there was no reason to refuse.
"Well, I plan on setting some conditions."
He had no intention of joining if the team operated with a rigid, top-down command structure like a military organization.
The stricter the hierarchy, the more his actions would be restricted.
"Then I'll join too."
"You too, Nunna?"
"Yup. It's all about crushing those Black Star Guild bastards, right?"
"Well, yeah."
As they killed time sorting out the conditions, Cheon Sang-gil returned with fresh tea.
"Well, have you decided?"
"Yes. We would also like to join the Guardian Stars."
"Hahaha! Excellent! I knew you would grant this old man's request!"
"However, I have a few conditions."
"Conditions?"
Oh-jin explained the conditions he had in mind.
That just because it was a team, he had no intention of blindly following orders.
That the purpose was solely information sharing and mutual cooperation.
"I understand. I will respect your opinion as much as possible."
"Woo-hyeok is one thing, but who are the other two members?"
"I will let you know once all the team members have been assembled."
Oh-jin nodded.
He had gotten all the information he needed, so he was about to get up.
"Before you go, there is one thing I would like to ask of you."
"Yes?"
"Ah, let me correct myself. To be precise, it is not you, but..."
Cheon Sang-gil's gaze shifted to Ha-eun.
"There is something I would like to ask of Miss Ha-eun."
"Huh? Me?"
Ha-eun pointed to herself with a surprised expression.
Cheon Sang-gil offered a kind smile and nodded.
"Ever since we first met, I have been hearing a 'sound'."
"What sound..."
"The sound of a dragon's roar."
Cheon Sang-gil's gaze fell on the area around Ha-eun's left eye, hidden by an eyepatch.
"You are still inexperienced in handling your own power, are you not?"
"..."
Hit right on the mark, Ha-eun fell silent as if she'd eaten honey.
"Fufu. This old man tends to meddle a bit. Just like with Sakaki, whenever I see an Awakened like you with 'noise' coming from them, I feel the urge to step in and teach them something."
"Noise...?"
"It's a sound I hear from Awakened who possess immense power but are unable to use it properly. Well, it's one of the few talents this old man has."
Come to think of it, he had heard from Sakaki before.
That Cheon Sang-gil could use his unique ability to grant 'enlightenment' to other Awakened.
"I would like to teach Miss Ha-eun myself."
It was a sudden proposal.
Oh-jin and Vega's gazes turned to Ha-eun.
"Possessing immense power but unable to use it properly..."
Ha-eun muttered in a small voice, her hand tracing her left eye.
Her deliberation didn't last long.
"I want to learn."
Her uncovered right eye shone with strong determination.
Reading the fiery passion in her eyes, a faint smile graced Cheon Sang-gil's lips.
"The process won't be easy. Are you sure you're okay with that?"
"I don't mind."
Ha-eun clenched her fist tightly.
An opportunity to be taught by one of the Seven Stars.
For her, who had been unable to properly handle her power after ascending to 9-Star by accepting the 'Dragon's Heart', there could be no better chance.
"Then I will provide you with a fine house. You may stay there for a while."
"Ah."
It was obvious.
The training wouldn't be over in a day.
To receive Cheon Sang-gil's guidance, she would have to live apart from Oh-jin.
That fact made Ha-eun hesitate.
"Um... while you're at it, can't Oh-jin join too?"
"There is nothing this old man can teach Oh-jin."
Cheon Sang-gil shook his head and answered in a firm voice.
His gaze turned to Oh-jin.
"Because... no noise comes from him whatsoever."
Like a starless night.
The sound coming from Oh-jin was utterly silent.
'This is the first time I've met an Awakened with this little sound.'
No matter how exceptional an Awakened was, there was always a little bit of noise.
But from Oh-jin, as if trapped in a veiled, sealed room, not a single sound could be heard.
"I understand. I'll go home, pack what I need, and come back."
Ha-eun smacked her lips in disappointment and turned to Oh-jin.
"Are you okay with this, Nunna?"
"Can't be helped. It's not like we can't see each other just because we're living apart."
Ganghwa Island wasn't that far from Seoul.
Ha-eun, who had been sulking at the thought of being separated from Oh-jin for a while, soon grinned and poked him in the side.
"You better not cry because you can't sleep with me, okay?"
"Oh, really now."
"Yeah, really."
Ha-eun took a bold step forward and gave Oh-jin a light peck on the cheek.
"I'm gonna get stronger and come back, so you just wait, you little punk!"
Haven't I just been receiving things from Oh-jin until now?
To return even a little of what he had given her, she had to become just as strong.
'Otherwise, Oh-jin will just get farther and farther away.'
Considering Oh-jin's absurd growth rate, the time she had to be of help to him was limited.
And so, after it was decided that Ha-eun would receive Cheon Sang-gil's tutelage.
"So then... what should I call you? Mr. Cheon Sang-gil? Lord Tamrangseong?"
"Hoho. There's no need for such formalities with this old man. Just be comfortable, be comfortable."
"Okay, Grandpa!! I'll be in your care!!!"
"G-Grandpa?"
Ha-eun grabbed Cheon Sang-gil's hand and shook it vigorously up and down.
"...Nunna."
Oh-jin pressed a hand to his forehead as if a headache was coming on.