Chapter 414
Chapter 414
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 414
Chapter Title: Duel on the Plains
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The temple's demons carried Beljerion aloft on his jade throne as they moved.
The site was a vast plain far from the temple.
It was land that had been abandoned without an owner to begin with, so suitable battlegrounds were everywhere.
Suhyuk, who had arrived at the plain alongside them, playfully kneaded Cheonma's shoulder.
"Do well."
"Unnecessary worry. I won't lose."
"No, don't kill him."
"...That, I can't promise."
The two men's conversation rang clearly in Gasgar's ears.
It seemed like it was meant to be heard from the start. Or perhaps they didn't care whether he heard or not.
Any ordinary demon would have lost their temper in rage.
But Gasgar thought calmly. He didn't dismiss the opponent's confidence as mere bravado.
Any demon of a certain caliber would know who he was—the Legion Commander of Greed.
Yet charging in like a moth to a flame meant they were certain they wouldn't get burned.
Gasgar, having thought that far, called to his adjutant at his side.
"Barbaon."
"Yes, Legion Commander."
"If it looks like I'm going to lose, take that guy hostage."
Gasgar nodded toward Suhyuk, who stood there with arms crossed, grinning cheerfully.
"How could the Legion Commander lose?"
"Prepare for the worst. Those guys are probably demons sent by the Kings of Lust or Sloth."
"...Understood."
Barbaon was a Division Commander-level demon as well. Subduing a loudmouth like that would be easy enough if he put his mind to it.
"The one we need to watch most right now is Beljerion. We can't predict what he'll do."
"What if he sides with them?"
"What else?"
Gasgar licked his lips greedily.
"We'll use that as an excuse to crush them all."
At that moment, Cheonma strode out to the center of the plain.
Cheonma shot him a glance. What are you waiting for?
Gasgar's brow furrowed deeply at the arrogant, insolent look. There had to be a reason for that confidence, but he couldn't just let the provocation slide.
Step.
Gasgar walked toward Cheonma.
The two stopped at a set distance. Ten paces—perfect for launching or countering an attack.
Beljerion, seated on the jade throne borne by his subordinates, spoke.
"Let us reaffirm the promise here once more. The loser will never set foot in this temple again."
"Agreed."
"I swear it."
Cheonma and Gasgar's replies fell.
"Then, begin."
The moment Beljerion gave the signal, Gasgar moved.
Shrieeeek—!
His elongated nails whipped out like five blades.
In an instant, it looked as if Cheonma's body had been sliced to pieces. But feeling no impact from his nails, Gasgar swung the claws on his other hand as well.
Kwa-gagag, queeeek—.
Ten nails slashed mercilessly in all directions. Demonic energy surged along them, whipping up a gale across the plain in an instant.
An attack infused with the intent to tear the opponent apart, no matter where they hid.
Amid the wind, Cheonma dodged the nails this way and that.
"A gentle breeze."
His hair whipped wildly. But that was all. Gasgar's nails tore up the plain's earth, but not a single hair of Cheonma's was cut.
Gasgar's nails extended even longer toward the vanished Cheonma.
Claaang—!
Ten nails clashed against the Heavenly Demon Sword.
As Cheonma effortlessly parried his nails, a glint entered Gasgar's eyes.
The nails and sword collided several more times. Cheonma's body was gradually pushed back, stumbling slightly.
In the final moment, thinking he had seized the advantage, Gasgar crossed both arms and swung his nails.
Kwaaaaa—!
Ten strands of demonic claws poured down over Cheonma's body. Cheonma swung his sword to block them but was sent flying straight back.
He had failed to kill, but Gasgar smiled.
"Not enough to worry about."
It was skill enough to warrant that confidence.
But still, nowhere near a match for a Demon Legion Commander.
Hwaaaaa—.
The golden ornaments adorning his body opened their eyes.
Dozens of eyes surrounded Gasgar's body. As they opened, hazy souls like mist appeared all around.
The power bestowed upon Gasgar by the Demon King of Greed.
The special gold he possessed could store the souls of those he had killed. He collected the souls of particularly memorable opponents and adorned his body with them.
Those souls were all his power.
"Still, you were impressive. You're worthy of being added to my gold."
"Good."
Cheonma smiled as he gazed at the grotesque, laughing souls.
It was an unnatural reaction.
They were souls doomed to eternal agony, trapped in the gold, yet they laughed so joyfully.
"I was wondering how to subdue you without killing."
"...What?"
"Consider yourself lucky. I was debating just finishing you off."
Kihehehe—
The golden souls laughed.
But the laughter was different from usual. Suspecting something, Gasgar looked up.
The misty souls floating around were staring at him with their eyes.
Step.
Cheonma approached slowly.
A leisurely gait. Even staring right at it, his body wouldn't move.
Death approached casually. Terror seeped into his body.
As he watched the hand slowly extend, bloodshot veins burst in Gasgar's eyes. Even as they swelled to bursting, his body didn't twitch.
Smoothly, Cheonma's hand rose to his shoulder. At that gesture, the souls gathered around Gasgar.
"Devour him."
Craaack. The souls bared their mouths and swallowed Gasgar's body.
"But don't kill him."
Sssss—.
The mist dispersed, rising into the sky.
Once the fight ended and Gasgar collapsed, Cheonma released the souls.
The freed souls no longer held any rage. After tearing into Gasgar, all lingering attachments had vanished.
That was when it happened.
"Stand down!"
A shout from afar.
It was Barbaon, who had seized Suhyuk hostage.
He held a grotesque sword covered in bulging eyes to Suhyuk's throat.
"Back off now, or he dies."
Cheonma's gaze turned to Barbaon.
The desperate struggle of a subordinate to save his commander.
But Cheonma paid no attention to the one attempting the hostage ploy.
"Wrong choice of hostage."
"What?"
"All those eyes must be for show, on both sides."
"What have you been going on about since...?"
Barbaon felt an eerie disconnect at Cheonma's cryptic words.
Soon, he realized the source—the Suhyuk at the tip of his sword had vanished.
Crack.
That was the last sound Barbaon heard.
His neck twisted in an unnatural direction, eyes rolled back as he collapsed.
Unlike Gasgar, who had merely fainted, Barbaon's neck was fully snapped. Suhyuk felt no hesitation in killing a demon who wasn't human.
Having broken Barbaon's neck, Suhyuk gave a thumbs-up as if nothing had happened.
"Well done."
Cheonma, who had been watching the freed souls, turned his head.
At Suhyuk's expression, as if ready to applaud, the corner of Cheonma's mouth twitched upward.
Suhyuk, beaming with inexplicable joy, turned to Beljerion.
"As you can see, we won."
Beljerion's face was subtle.
Cheonma had subdued the Legion Commander effortlessly, and Suhyuk had snapped the commander's adjutant's neck with ease. Both possessed extraordinary power.
What were their true identities? If they were demons with strength at least equal to a Legion Commander, he would know of them.
Beljerion, hiding his thoughts, replied.
"Good work."
"We're tired, so could we get a room to stay in? As I mentioned earlier, we were just travelers looking for a place to rest."
Beljerion let out a hollow chuckle at Suhyuk, who kept up the passerby act to the end.
But even so, they were far better than the Demon King of Greed and Gasgar, who had brazenly tried to extort the demon godstone.
At least these two seemed willing to negotiate.
"I'll provide rooms. And send meals as well."
Beljerion assigned them rooms in the temple.
Spacious rooms perfect for rest. And lavish dishes more than enough for two hearty eaters.
After a long journey surviving on jerky and dry bread crumbs, the two dove right in at the sight of the oily feast.
"Oh, delicious."
"What if it's poisoned?"
"I'm immune to all poisons. A message would pop up if it were."
"Then this is fine."
Beljerion had truly provided an excellent meal. Whatever his inner thoughts, he was treating them as guests for now.
The meal passed in silence.
The two, who seemed close, weren't actually that intimate. Until now, their talks had only been about necessary matters; they weren't the type for personal chatter.
Especially once Suhyuk, who had spoken first, fell quiet—the silence grew heavier and deeper.
How much time passed in that quiet?
Surprisingly, it was Cheonma who spoke first.
"Not killing is harder than I thought."
The meal nearly finished, he set down his utensils and looked at Suhyuk.
He pressed him as Suhyuk slowly chewed and swallowed.
"Was that on purpose? Testing if I could fight without killing?"
"That's how everyone lives."
Clink.
Suhyuk set down his utensils and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
"You've been living strangely. Were you planning to keep living like before?"
"And if I was?"
Cheonma answered his own question instantly.
"...I'd have killed you."
Suhyuk's eyes flashed from behind the napkin. That gaze was answer enough.
He couldn't say no. Even after the Heavenly Demon Soul vanished, if Cheonma remained the same, he couldn't let him live.
"Putting me on trial? To see if I'd kill or spare that guy?"
"Exactly. Congrats, you passed. Want applause?"
Unlike the joke, Suhyuk's eyes were sharp.
"I don't trust you."
"..."
"Uncle might think I do, but trust doesn't come that easily. Not when even friends betray you."
"Then why bring me this far?"
"Watch your words. You insisted on following."
"Couldn't you have ditched me?"
"Figured you'd be useful. What other reason?"
Necessary. Simple, but certain.
In the fight against the Three Demon Kings, and in the Guardian raids ahead. Cheonma's power would surely be a great help.
But necessity alone didn't mean he could keep him around blindly.
"You'll be on trial from now on too. If it feels unfair or upsetting every time, just tell me. I'll count it as killing you with the Heavenly Demon Soul."
Suhyuk kept provoking him.
To confirm the essence of Cheonma without the Heavenly Demon Soul. To verify his true nature of good and evil.
He even thought he might draw the Heavenly Demon Sword right then.
"The trial better be sturdy."
With those enigmatic words, Cheonma rose from his seat.
Once Cheonma left the room, Suhyuk muttered belatedly at his lingering words.
"So you're still willing to step up."