Chapter 259
Chapter 259
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 259
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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Afterward, Jeokgal-sa's plan was as follows. He fiddled with the crystal stele and said,
"It's good to mass-produce these Portrait Automatons, but without a proper power source, they're just empty shells. Blindly pouring Makya's power solely into them would be inefficient. So let's make the Portrait Automatons just for sacrifices and hold off on combat models."
"What are you thinking?"
Jeokgal-sa stared at me intently before speaking.
"Hey, White Protector. Why do you think the Imperial Palace is such a threat?"
"Because they've mass-produced those superhuman soldiers, right?"
"That's just a side issue. To be honest, if the White Lotus Leader and all the Protectors mobilized, no amount of those soldiers would matter. And yet, the White Lotus Cult isn't planning to smash the palace by force."
I grasped what Jeokgal-sa meant and said,
"It's because they have an [Ancient Ruler] backing them."
"Exactly. That's the core of the problem. We could strike and weaken the palace, but afterward, everyone fears the [Ancient Ruler] retaliating against anyone who touches their underlings. In this world, only equals or greater beings can withstand an [Ancient Ruler]'s wrath."
Muttering that, Jeokgal-sa suddenly whipped his head around.
"So we need to change that fundamental issue first. If the palace has an [Ancient Ruler]'s power behind it, then we have no choice but to secure an equal entity as our backing."
"......"
I could guess what he meant. But it was an idea I'd never even considered, so I furrowed my brow.
"You're saying we should serve an [Ancient Ruler]?"
"Right on the money."
Jeokgal-sa hummed cheerfully, clearly in high spirits.
"We lump them all under [Ancient Ruler], but there are plenty of divine beings ruling the constellations—not just one or two. I know of at least forty or more, and even they have hierarchies among themselves."
"Hah..."
"So we just serve a suitable god and borrow its power. That eliminates any worry about the palace's backing."
"That's nonsense!"
I shouted vehemently.
"Those demon gods treat humans like insects—they won't take us seriously! Human sacrifices are just idle amusement to them, and every one of them is an evil entity with the most depraved natures. How could we serve such beings?"
Jeokgal-sa chuckled darkly.
"That's why we'll use non-humans as sacrifices."
"...Portrait Automatons?"
"Yeah. From the reaction when we sacrificed those three last time, each one is worth hundreds or thousands of ordinary humans. Otherwise, an [Ancient Ruler] wouldn't bestow treasures like the Blood Eye."
Jeokgal-sa's smile deepened.
"It solves the ethical issues and is super efficient. Unlike combat models that need activation, we can churn out sacrifice ones endlessly. If we play our cards right, we might even get amazing rewards from an [Ancient Ruler]."
"......"
He had a point. It would definitely ease the ethical concerns. Portrait Automatons were highly artificial lifeforms without souls, so using them as sacrifices didn't carry much guilt. But I knew this was pure demonic path thinking, so I shook my head.
"I'm not sure that's the right way. Do we really need to back a god?"
"Oh man... you're frustrating. Talking to Hyeon is frustrating in one way—he pretends not to understand when he does. But you? You're genuinely clueless."
For some reason, he pounded his chest dramatically before saying,
"Listen up. I'm not using some specially evil method—it's essential strategy against evil god cults. Ancient priests always did this."
"Ancient?"
Ignoring my question, Jeokgal-sa crossed his arms.
"Wiping out an evil god cult without backing invites massive repercussions, so the basics are serving a comparable [Ancient Ruler] and gaining its protection. Otherwise, you get curses that are nightmares incarnate."
I knew about curses.
Hadn't the White Lotus Cult's young leader suffered one from an [Ancient Ruler]?
But I replied curtly,
"I'm not unaware of that. But what's to guarantee an [Ancient Ruler] will be satisfied with Portrait Automatons? What if it demands hordes of tastier sacrifices for more?"
"......"
"I agree we need an [Ancient Ruler]'s power, but we need a compromise. Serving them to the end will only lead to ruin."
"Urgh..."
Jeokgal-sa looked exasperated. I'd hit the nail on the head. For someone already steeped in the demonic path like him, human sacrifice or serving evil gods was routine. But to me, it was an abominable act with unknowable harm to those around us. Naturally, I'd resist.
"A compromise, huh..."
Jeokgal-sa pondered for a long while before saying,
"Fine. We'll do it quick and clean. Borrow power from two entities at once— that'll suffice."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm saying we'll smash the palace outright since it's no big deal. Finish it in one clean sweep, and we won't need to serve them anymore. Sound good? Got anything better?"
"If it works, nothing could be better..."
"Right? Piece of cake. Just lend a bit of Makya's power."
Jeokgal-sa cackled. His laughter brimmed with confidence, as if the palace—our long-time headache—was now trivial, like flipping a hand.
'What does he have in mind?'
I decided to help Jeokgal-sa for now, but I had too many questions. As I followed his instructions, I asked,
"I have a question."
"You sure have a lot. Your slow head's your only flaw."
Ignoring his nonsense, I continued.
"First... could you take a look at this book?"
I took a gamble. Knowing he could decipher eldritch tongues, there was no point delaying. I handed him the Heavenly Dark Secret Book. Jeokgal-sa took it with a puzzled expression.
"What's this?"
"The Heavenly Dark Secret Book, a demonic tome. Tell me what it's about."
"Sure. Let me see..."
Flip, flip.
Jeokgal-sa leafed through slowly. His face twisted oddly, and he said,
"What the hell?"
"What's it say?"
"No clue."
"......"
As I stared in disappointment, he explained defensively,
"Eldritch tongues number in the tens of thousands. You're lucky to hit one I know; otherwise, forget it. Common ones are from the Blasphemous Gods, or languages of Hastur or Chaugnar Faugn... This ain't either."
"Hmm... The Yi people I saw understood it. They fled before explaining, though."
"What'd that Yi look like?"
I described the 'shaman's' appearance, along with the human sacrifice ritual and mind spell he'd used. Jeokgal-sa nodded.
"That 'shaman' seems like a high-ranking descendant of the Blasphemous God Cthulhu."
"A big deal?"
"Big time. Probably owns a decent building in R'lyeh. Hard to believe one got summoned to the human realm."
Muttering, he added,
"At that level, it's half-divine."
"For something like that, its physical prowess was nothing special..."
"Why would a shaman train his body? Proper R'lyeh powers could kill most foes. Shamans aren't fighters anyway."
Tossing the book back like I was an idiot, he said,
"Anyway, unless it's mainstream eldritch, it's some rare dialect. No human like me can read it—ask a proper Yi."
"Hmm..."
"Don't waste my time on useless crap."
My doubts deepened. I'd hoped Jeokgal-sa could reveal the Heavenly Dark Secret Book's secrets, but it only muddied things further.
Woooong!!
Soon after, Jeokgal-sa performed another ritual with a Portrait Automaton. This time, all the stolen ones vaporized into thin air. Surprised, I asked what happened. He snapped,
"I'm negotiating—don't interrupt."
Negotiating?
Moments later, a bizarre box appeared on the altar before him. It gleamed gold, seemingly made of the metal, with a soft halo. An [Ancient Ruler] had bestowed something again.
I turned to Jeokgal-sa and said,
"Nice. Another good gift?"
I still remembered him greedily claiming the Blood Eye. I figured he'd snatch the golden box too.
"......"
But his face had paled slightly. Muttering,
"What... what is this? A golden box? If that's what's sealed inside... then it's the entity sealed in Luoyang..."
"......?"
"Damn it! What the hell! Why's the game suddenly this big?!"
Jeokgal-sa cursed out of nowhere.
Then he burst into manic laughter.
"Ehehehe! No! This is perfect—now it's fun! So damn fun, hahahahaha!!"
"Have you lost it? What's with the sudden rant?"
Eyes wide, he grabbed my hand.
"Hey, thanks! Thanks for saving me!"
"......"
"I'm the happiest I've ever been since birth! Approaching the truth of the [Ancient Ruler] I crave at lightning speed—shocking, thrilling, terrifying, but fulfilling as hell! All thanks to you, Baek Woong!!"
"Ugh..."
In that moment, I felt a twinge of fear from Jeokgal-sa. I couldn't grasp the principle behind his behavior, and it seemed he'd transcended mere madness into something beyond. Only someone in the exact same headspace could comprehend it.
Grinning like a crescent moon, Jeokgal-sa said,
"Tell the Leader. We attack the palace tomorrow afternoon."
Tomorrow afternoon?!
Dumbfounded, I said,
"What?! We attacking that soon?"
"Yup, of course. Know what I just did?"
"No."
He guffawed.
"Got permission from the [Ancient Ruler] puppeteering the palace from behind. Says we can wipe out its underling, the palace."
"......!!"
Could I trust this?
Wasn't this a trap?
I tried reading his emotions or mind, but his insanity made it impossible. Dealing with someone like this was a first. How could he be rational yet utterly deranged?
"A-alright, assuming that's true. Even so, in one day, against those powerful Dragonkin and demonkin..."
"Dragonkin... demonkin... They're just Yi scraps. You martial artists try brute force against brute force, so of course they're tough. But to me, the Demonic Cult Leader and sorcerer? They're nothing."
Snatch.
Jeokgal-sa seized the golden box in one hand and laughed maniacally.
"Ehehehehehaha!! With this in my grasp, what do I have to fear?! One day is plenty—hell, overkill!!"
"......"
"White Protector. Hurry and report. Or we won't hit the palace tomorrow."
With no choice, I relayed Jeokgal-sa's words to the Sword Demon. He was debating Dokgo Seong and Muron when my sudden report startled him. Not knowing the full story myself, explaining was tough.
After hearing me out in detail, the Sword Demon said,
"It's a gamble. If Jeokgal-sa's telling the truth, your greatest wish comes true in one go. If not, it's a massacre trap for us all."
"I don't know what to do."
"We'll bet on Jeokgal-sa. If he truly has a way to destroy the palace, we need to find out."
"But if he's deceiving us..."
The thought was horrifying.
No guarantee he wouldn't subdue, imprison, and torture us horribly. With his near-perfect madness, capture by him was worse than death a hundredfold. And the Sword Demon had his only daughter Seomun-hye and the Shadowless Gate retainers to protect!
Yet the Sword Demon said,
"Then Dokgo Seong and I will stake our lives to cut him down. Even against the White Lotus Leader, our joint assault won't let him walk away unscathed."
"......"
I agreed. Their combined might could likely fell even a Protector. They were peerless experts with few equals under heaven. But Jeokgal-sa's viciousness filled me with endless unease.
He's seeing something else entirely.
Not knowing what made it worse.
"Understood."
I returned to Jeokgal-sa's workshop and repeated infusing Makya's power as directed. He drew blood magic circles, hair unbound, chanting spells in endless rituals without rest—his aura so bloody and eerie it chilled onlookers.
And the next morning dawned.