Chapter 63
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Five Great Sovereigns (3)
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I was glad that Gwang-woo was starting a family, but it felt bittersweet that he was becoming a member of the Seok Family.
"After the wedding, is it purely your idea to live with the Seok Family? Or did the family head instruct you to do so?"
"The family head asked if I thought it would be a good idea. I said it didn't sound bad to me, so that's what we're going with."
It had turned out just as I'd suspected.
Even Seok Yang-ho, who was known as a gentleman, had no intention of letting Gwang-woo go.
I'd vaguely anticipated something like this ever since Gwang-woo first entered the Seok Family as an instructor.
But I didn't see it in a bad light.
I understood the desperation he felt as family head to protect his household and retainers.
"Good for you. Once you hold the wedding, you'll be fully one of theirs."
"What are you talking about, brother? I'm still your little brother, and this place is still my home."
The fool's foolish words made my chest tighten.
"Listen to me carefully, Gwang-woo. Once you get married, you'll be completely part of that family. This house won't be your home anymore—the Seok Family will be. And you'll have to be ready to lay down your life for them."
Gwang-woo's bright face darkened in an instant.
"Why does it have to be that way? I'm your brother."
"Because you'll be one of their own. That means you have to put your new family first, even before me. That's what becoming family means."
Gwang-woo, head bowed in gloom, soon managed a slightly brighter expression.
"Got it, brother. But I'll always be your little brother."
I gave him a smile in return.
"Yeah."
"Come on, come on. What's with the mood on such a happy day? Let's drink. Come on in."
Myeong-gak fussed noisily to liven things up.
I emptied my glass, washing away the stuffiness in my chest with the alcohol.
The pleasant drinking session continued, and a drunken Gwang-woo started babbling about his time with the Seok Family.
"The retainers I'm teaching... some of the older ones really like me. Whenever something tasty comes up, they always call me over and make sure I get some... The younger retainers treat me with real respect, like I'm the master of the house... ...Anyway, so I laid him out with one punch. Didn't even hit him that hard, but he woke up after about half a shichen. Hahaha... After that, no more retainers challenging me to spar..."
I listened happily to Gwang-woo's drunken ramblings.
Myeong-gak, Cheongpung, Zhuge Ji, and Namgung Hye all let him prattle on unchecked.
Thump... Thump thump thump...
As I drained my glass and listened to Gwang-woo's drunken complaints, I suddenly felt my heart pounding and scanned the surroundings with a strange sense of unease.
But I couldn't sense any presence anywhere.
Calming my racing heart, I set down my glass—then the sound of the front gate opening came.
Creeeak...
My gaze turned there, as did everyone else's heads.
A burly middle-aged man with a refined air was stepping in.
A longsword and shortsword hung at his waist.
Gulp.
I swallowed without realizing it.
"Namu Amida Butsu, Kwanseum Bosal. Why is a layman like you in a place like..."
"Enough!"
I cut off Myeong-gak mid-sentence and shot to my feet, tense.
They must have sensed my extreme tension too.
They all went on high alert, eyes fixed on the middle-aged man.
The man watched us calmly until our eyes met—then a glint flashed in his.
"So you're Go Un-san."
"Who are you?"
No sooner had I asked than Gwang-woo, who had been drinking, jumped up and yelled at the man.
"Who the hell are you to call my brother by name like that?"
"Gwang-woo!"
I hurriedly blocked his path.
This man was fundamentally different from anyone I'd encountered before.
Goosebumps prickled my skin, my hair standing on end—it felt like facing the Great Heavenly Demon himself.
"Impressive instincts indeed. No wonder Elder Yeom fell to you."
The moment "Elder Yeom" left his lips, I knew who he was.
"From the Demonic Cult?"
Myeong-gak, Cheongpung, Zhuge Ji, and Namgung Hye whipped their heads toward me in shock.
But I couldn't spare them a glance.
The instant I looked away, I felt like the sword at his waist would fly out and cleave me in two.
"The Demonic Cult... Not just sharp instincts—you've got brains too."
That answer was confirmation enough.
The man was from the Demonic Cult.
"Brother, why's someone from the Demonic Cult here?"
The fool butted in again.
"Don't move, you idiot!"
I barked at him, and only then did Gwang-woo seem to realize something was seriously wrong, glaring at the man.
The middle-aged man glanced at the hulking Gwang-woo.
"You've got the makings of a dragon yourself."
"I'm not a dragon—I'm a rabbit, old man."
Gwang-woo's icy retort twisted the man's expression oddly.
Damn it, this kid.
A thousand irritations flared inside me.
Part of me wished the middle-aged man wasn't the enemy and this fool was instead.
I took a shot in the dark and asked the man.
"What brings one of the Five Great Sovereigns of the Demonic Cult here?"
The man's eyes widened, his mouth agape for a moment.
Hahahahaha...
His laughter rang out clear and high, uncharacteristic of a Demonic Cultist—like the peal of a pure bell.
"How did you know?"
"Lucky guess."
He nodded slowly at my honest reply.
"These days, we're called the Five Great Sovereigns rather than the Five Demonic Emperors. I am the Infinite Sword Demon, Baek Jang-cheon."
"Why have you come here?"
"If you fell short of expectations, I planned to cut your throat myself."
So he'd come to kill me after all.
'Damn it all.'
I didn't have my sword right now.
It was back in the barracks. I didn't think I could take him with just bare-handed techniques.
But the Infinite Sword Demon turned and headed out the gate.
That's when Gwang-woo let out a shout, kicked off the ground, and launched himself forward.
"Stop!"
"Gwang-woo!"
As the man exiting the gate moved in a flash, I was already kicking Gwang-woo's shoulder to knock him aside.
Thud!
Gwang-woo tumbled across the ground, a shortsword buried deep in his shoulder—all but the hilt protruding.
Shiiiing...
Almost simultaneously, my longsword from the barracks flew into my hand.
But the Infinite Sword Demon had already vanished from sight.
I kicked off immediately, vaulting over the wall.
Myeong-gak, Cheongpung, Zhuge Ji, and Namgung Hye followed behind.
"Don't follow!"
"Layman!"
"Brother Go!"
If he'd just left, I wouldn't have bothered chasing.
But Gwang-woo had taken a hit from that shortsword.
Wind whistled past my ears.
Racing through the darkness, I stopped upon entering the village.
Gone.
No—from the start of the pursuit, the Infinite Sword Demon hadn't been ahead of me.
I'd chased on instinct alone.
'Wasted effort from the beginning.'
Unable to find him, I turned back dejectedly.
"Brother, what happened?"
I hadn't gone far before running into the others.
Gwang-woo, shortsword still in his shoulder; Myeong-gak; Cheongpung; Zhuge Ji; Namgung Hye.
"Can't you tell?"
Gwang-woo bristled at my curt reply.
"Why are you snapping at me? It's my shoulder that's stabbed."
"So why'd you charge ahead and get yourself stabbed? Can't you sense if someone's dangerous just by looking?"
"I didn't."
I was so exasperated I didn't want to talk to the fool anymore.
"Great job, idiot. Because you stuck your nose in, I couldn't even talk more with that Infinite Sword Demon."
"What do you have to say to a Demonic Cult fiend?"
Gwang-woo pressed as he followed me.
"None of your business."
Gwang-woo stopped, yanked the shortsword from his shoulder.
Blood spurted out like a fountain.
"Sit down a moment, little brother Gwang-woo. I'll staunch the bleeding and treat the wound."
"Thanks, Brother Myeong-gak. You're like a real brother to me."
I snorted at the sight of them.
Hmph.
"Have your fun. Play all you want."
The shock was too great; sleep wouldn't come.
I needed to sleep to meet the Great Heavenly Demon and ask my questions, but no matter how I tried, I couldn't drift off.
Finally, I got up, threw on an outer robe, and stepped out of the barracks.
The courtyard was stacked with supplies, a bonfire burning in one corner.
Four people sat around it, deep in conversation.
"Why don't you ask, Monk Myeong-gak?"
"Namu Amida Butsu, Kwanseum Bosal. I don't understand why we lesser monks must tread this thorny path."
They were having a grave discussion but rose quickly when they saw me emerge.
I took a seat by the fire.
"What has you all so curious?"
Puhehehe... hehe.
Myeong-gak tried to dodge with a flippant laugh but trailed off awkwardly under my stare.
"You overheard us, then."
Zhuge Ji spoke calmly in his stead.
"You were all talking so loudly I couldn't sleep."
"Sorry. But it's a very important matter—we had no choice."
Their faces were deadly serious.
I could already guess why.
Likely because of that fiend calling himself the Infinite Sword Demon.
No, a demon king was more like it.
"How did you know about that Infinite Sword Demon?"
As expected.
"I didn't. First time seeing him too."
"Yet you seemed to know not just him, but the Demonic Cult inside out."
Even Zhuge Ji was calling me "Brother Go" now.
After telling them not to call me Great Hero, they'd skipped Hunter and settled on Brother.
I played dumb.
I couldn't tell them the Great Heavenly Demon was with me.
"Isn't that common knowledge for you all too?"
"Yes, but in your conversation with the Infinite Sword Demon, we got the strong sense you knew things even we don't. And it's not just me."
As Zhuge Ji finished, Myeong-gak, Cheongpung, and Namgung Hye nodded in agreement.
"A feeling is just a feeling, Lady Zhuge."
Namgung Hye, who had been staring silently, suddenly asked.
"Whose lineage among the Five Demonic Emperors do you think the Infinite Sword Demon inherited?"
"How would I know?"
That was my answer, but I had a guess.
Probably the Blood Heaven Sword Demon's Moon River Asura Scripture.
"Fine. Then tomorrow, we'll send carrier pigeons to the main branch and headquarters with news of a Five Great Sovereign inheriting one of the Five Demonic Emperors' lineages. My brother will come rushing over."
I took it as a threat.
It sounded like if I didn't come clean, she'd call in Namgung Hu.
"Do as you like."
Her eyes widened at my response.
"You really wouldn't mind if I called my brother?"
"Not at all. Just know you'll bear full responsibility for what comes after, Lady Namgung."
"Are you threatening me right now?"
"If that's how it sounded... probably."
Coldness settled over Namgung Hye's face.
But I didn't care a bit.
Having chosen to live in the martial world, I intended to face it head-on.
"Get some sleep."