Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 42
>Chapter Title: Assassination (4)
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Even though we'd hurriedly cleaned up since morning, the room still bore knife marks on the walls.
There, the Eldest Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, and I sat in a circle. Everyone else had been sent away.
"Is something the matter?"
Perhaps because of my serious expression, the Eldest Senior Brother asked in a gravely earnest tone.
"What I'm about to say is merely a matter of possibility. It's not certain."
With those words, I began recounting the deductions I'd made just moments ago.
"It's known that the assassin called Chu-gak was a spy from the Martial Alliance, but he might have been an assassin sent from within the Divine Cult to target me."
"!!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"First, I should explain about the assassin's visit. I survived the attack thanks to Third Senior Brother. Since he'd snuck in at night several times before, I'd prepared measures to detect anyone entering."
"...So that's why you said it was thanks to me."
Third Senior Brother nodded gloomily, as if only just realizing.
"Yes. And it was a secret only I knew. The two guard warriors and Jin Ha-yeon disliked Third Senior Brother's nighttime visits, so I'd prepared to greet him calmly without startling."
"I had no idea you'd gone to such lengths for me."
"Ahem. Anyway, the key point is that I survived because of those preparations. Conversely, without them, I would've died without even knowing the assassin had come."
"Hahaha! Just as our little junior said, it's as good as if I'd saved his life!"
At the Eldest Senior Brother's praise, Third Senior Brother's gloomy expression softened a bit. But that wasn't the important part right now.
"The crucial thing is what would've happened if I hadn't prepared. In other words, if I'd died pointlessly."
"If you had died?"
"Yes. If that happened, who would be the first suspect?"
At my question, the Eldest Senior Brother pondered briefly before his gaze turned to Third Senior Brother. Third Senior Brother's face had also gone pale.
Since their deduction was correct, I nodded.
"If I'd died without making a sound, my body wouldn't have been discovered until morning by Jin Ha-yeon or the guard warriors. And both Jin Ha-yeon and the guards knew Third Senior Brother often snuck into my quarters at night."
"...But I was in my quarters at the time. In a state of Demonic Deviation, no less?"
His face drained of color as if truly accused, Third Senior Brother protested.
"That's the problem. Think about it, Senior Brother. I die in the dead of night, and at the exact time, you're in Demonic Deviation. If a bloodied knife were found in your room amid all that, what would you think?"
"...I'd think that in my Demonic Deviation haze, I'd unknowingly killed you."
Third Senior Brother and the Eldest Senior Brother shared a somber look for a moment. Then, as if it had just occurred to him, the Eldest Senior Brother asked in a puzzled tone.
"But why would a bloodied knife suddenly appear in Third's room?"
"For my deduction to hold, the ones targeting me must have known Third Senior Brother fell into Demonic Deviation last night. Meaning someone close to him leaked that information."
"!!!"
"If such a person exists, slipping the knife into Third Senior Brother's room while he's in Demonic Deviation after the assassination wouldn't be hard."
Of course, there was a logical leap here. The two senior brothers, stunned by my unexpected theory, didn't seem to notice.
To frame him after killing me, they'd wait indefinitely for Third Senior Brother's unpredictable Demonic Deviation?
And know exactly when it ends to kill me and hide the knife near him?
Well, they could skip the bloodied knife and frame him with circumstantial evidence alone, but it still felt a bit short.
Unless there was one way to make it possible.
'Inducing Demonic Deviation or controlling its timing would resolve all contradictions—if the ones targeting me had such a method.'
I didn't know if it actually existed.
"Anyway, if this deduction is right, it means there's a lackey among those who know Third Senior Brother visits me at night. At least one close to him."
Among Jin Ha-yeon, Gwan Mu-yeol, and Jang Hoe—at least one was a subordinate of the one targeting me.
"Then we must report this to Master immediately!!"
Enraged at the mention of a lackey, the Eldest Senior Brother rose with murderous intent radiating from him.
I hurriedly grabbed his trouser leg to stop him.
"Didn't I say at the start? This is just a possibility. With evidence pointing to the Martial Alliance spy, the odds are slim. It's mere deduction without direct proof."
"We can interrogate those three and something will come up."
"......"
Honestly, even I who came up with this deduction wasn't certain. It was just an obsessive what-if that popped into my head, and my obsession made it hard to let go.
Torturing those I'd been close to over something like this wasn't appealing.
"It's more likely not the case, and reporting flimsily to Master when we don't know the ringleader risks them going into hiding. We must approach this cautiously. It's important not just for me, but for you too, Eldest Senior Brother."
"???"
I added an explanation for the confused Eldest Senior Brother.
"If it's not the Martial Alliance, and they're trying to frame Third Senior Brother, why go to such elaborate lengths to target me?"
"...You mean because I cherish you?"
I nodded at the Eldest Senior Brother's question.
No matter how I thought about it, that was the only reason to target me. More precisely.
"They likely judged that we—the Master's disciples—are obstacles to them becoming the next Heavenly Demon."
Someone aiming for the next Heavenly Demon position, willing to eliminate the current one's disciples.
Realizing this, the Eldest Senior Brother's face twisted in rage, as if about to explode.
"To think cultists of the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult resort to such petty tricks!!"
His anger seemed fueled by their choice of卑鄙 methods over fair competition.
Panting as if on the verge of rampage, red glints flashing in his eyes, he was somehow holding onto his sanity.
He'd clearly reached Transcending Demon.
Turning that ferocious face toward me, he asked through gritted teeth.
"So, little brother, what do you want to do? Do you have a plan in mind?"
Facing that terrifying aura head-on, I replied as calmly as possible.
"First, to reiterate, this is just a deduction based on a slim possibility. It's not certain. But for any contingency, I do have a plan in mind."
* * *
That night, somewhere in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The Branch Leader and three men met in the darkness.
"Tch. An assassin from the Shadow Assassination Hall fails to handle a novice who's barely been initiated half a year. What a pity."
At the words from the man on the right, the Branch Leader soothed him.
"But we succeeded in diverting suspicion to the Martial Alliance, didn't we? Good thing we prepared for this."
The plan to frame the Third Young Master had long been in mind, based on information from the lackey attached to Il-mok.
Its delay was for contingencies.
In case the assassin failed, they needed time to plant fake evidence blaming the Martial Alliance.
But the man on the right wasn't satisfied, looking anxiously at the central figure.
"But is it really safe? What if the stuff we used on the Third Young Master is discovered?"
At the question, the central man clicked his tongue lightly and replied.
"Don't worry. It leaves no trace after use."
Irritated by the whiny right-side man, the central figure told the Branch Leader.
"His guards will be replaced after this, so the one we planted can't be used anymore."
"We can prepare another. Don't worry about it. More importantly, what's your next move?"
At the Branch Leader's question, the central man stroked his beard briefly and answered.
"Using what you mentioned before isn't a bad idea. Didn't you say the youngest Young Master has been suffering side effects from his demonic art lately?"
The fact that Il-mok had consulted his guard warrior about handling side effects had already reached them.
"Like with the Fifth Young Master, disguise it as Demonic Deviation and take him out?"
The central man nodded at the Branch Leader's question.
It only worked on certain demonic arts' side effects, but there was a way to trigger Demonic Deviation by stimulating them.
Just like with the Third Young Master this time.
* * *
The next morning.
Master visited Wind Rock Hall again.
"Heavenly Demon descends, myriad demons bow in reverence!"
"We pay respects to the Lord of Myriad Demons!"
The two guards protecting Wind Rock Hall and Jin Ha-yeon bowed in greeting. Master accepted their obeisance as usual and spoke.
"I have matters to discuss with Il-mok alone, so withdraw."
"Understood!"
After sending the three outside Wind Rock Hall, Master turned to me, still gripping my sword.
"Forcing yourself could reopen the wound."
"It's a shallow cut, no major issue. Seems my youth makes recovery quick. Hahaha."
"Hohoho. You speak as if you've experienced old age."
"Ahem. I often hear it from Uncle Tae-hyeon. He says as he ages, even a full night's sleep doesn't restore his body."
I'd nearly slipped about my past life.
Fortunately, Master showed no suspicion and got to the point.
"Investigations into those connected to Chu-gak proceeded over the past day. Naturally, the Shadow Assassination Hall Leader was first, but nothing suspicious there. We're looking into anyone even remotely close to him, but it seems likely a solo act."
Master spoke much like the Eldest Senior Brother—clearly suppressing anger.
Not only had a Martial Alliance spy infiltrated, but they'd targeted his youngest disciple. He was quite furious.
"Also, your guards and maidservant will be replaced. You've mastered the scriptures, histories, and laws, so no need for lessons from that Jin maidservant. I'll assign ones with longer elite guard experience."
Worried for my safety, it seemed. He'd dismissed the guards for this talk.
And it was what I'd been waiting for.
"If it's about my safety, wouldn't adding a few more guards suffice? Is there need to dismiss them?"
"...I know you've grown attached during your time together. But nearly losing you means we can't overlook it."
"Am I not perfectly fine?"
"You didn't notice the assassin entering your quarters—that's failure enough."
"But the protectee is unharmed, so isn't it a success? Please just add one or two more and call it done."
"...Why go so far for them?"
At Master's question, I put on the saddest expression possible and replied.
"If they get punished over this, won't their remaining time in the cult be hard? Branded as failed guards, how can they rise higher?"
Watching me speak as if on the verge of tears, Master stroked his beard and said.
"You're a good soul. I understand your care for the faithful."
"Thank you, Master!"
"But only this once. You are my disciple, the cult's heaven. Your life isn't personal. Protecting those who failed in official duty out of sentiment could lead to future regrets."
"I'll keep it in mind! And keep it in mind again!"
I bowed deeply to the floor, showing maximum respect.
No sycophancy or anything special.
This was how one treated the Heavenly Demon in the cult, even normally.
Besides, I wasn't pleading out of true pity for those three.
'First button secured.'
Slim chance, but if my deduction held, at least one was the enemy's lackey.
And as that famous movie line goes? Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
My first plan: Become the bait myself.
* * *
The fish didn't bite the bait right away, it seemed. Nothing happened that day.
And that night.
Shortly after Il-mok finished his duties and entered his quarters.
Knock knock.
"Young Master. Are you asleep?"
Jin Ha-yeon's voice came from beyond the door.
"What's the matter?"
"May I come in?"
At night? On purpose?
The thought crossed his mind, but Il-mok told her to enter.
Seeing Jin Ha-yeon who stepped inside, Il-mok's mind blanked for a moment.
"...Wh-why did you bring all that?"
She wore thin white sleepwear for bedtime, and had brought blankets and a pillow too.
The question was why.
"I heard from the Heavenly Demon. That you forgave me, though I deserved demotion."
Was she planning to repay the forgiveness in that kind of way?
"...I didn't mention it to Master with such intent."
Flustered in every way, he humbly deflected for now.
But her response differed slightly from his expectation.
"Having received your forgiveness, Young Master, I must show further improvement. To me, being a step too late this time was because I was too far from you. Thus, from now on, I'll share your bed and stay with you all twelve hours of the day."
"...So, for protection, you'll sleep in the same room?"
"Yes."
"Every day?"
"How can there be days off when guarding you, Young Master?"
"......"
Jin Ha-yeon replied with her usual icy expression, without a hint of hesitation.
Il-mok pondered briefly, then nodded.
"Do as you will."
Absolutely no lewd intent.
'Right. Jin Ha-yeon's a suspect too. I'm the bait, so having her close might catch something?'
That was what Il-mok told himself.
He had no idea why his heart kept racing.