Chapter 17
Chapter 17
************************-
Translator: uly
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Debts of Gratitude
************************-
He caught his breath. He touched his face.
It was torn. Part of the mask and the human skin disguise as well.
He could feel the wind leaking through the gap. He covered one side of his face, but everyone was already staring at him.
Yet no one opened their mouth.
"...I..."
One among the many warriors straightened his back. He brushed past him.
"I saw nothing."
"...Me too."
"The same for me."
Countless warriors brushed past him.
He looked down at the halved corpse and spat.
"Bastard."
"How wronged the Sect Leader must have felt."
"...Damn it. We should have noticed the signs long before it came to this."
Something touched his shoulder. He turned around.
A familiar gatekeeper from the Black Heaven Axe Sect grabbed his shoulder and whispered.
"...Wang So-hong. I don't know who you really are... but thank you."
"......."
"You're the benefactor of the Black Heaven Axe Sect. The warrior who awakened the truth we nearly forgot."
The gatekeeper drew his sword. He thrust the razor-sharp blade into the ground, then clasped his hands in salute.
He dropped to one knee. The blade, bathed in moonlight, gleamed pale.
"I, Jeok Dae-gwang, owe you a debt, Wang So-hong. Even after this night ends, I won't forget it. This is my respect for the Sect Leader... and my gratitude to you, who protected what I failed to guard."
The warriors glanced at one another.
One more dropped to his knee.
"I, Mak Sa-min. I won't forget this grace. The benefactor of our Sect Leader is my benefactor. If hardship befalls you, call for me. I don't know your true name, but just whisper of tonight's events, and I'll stake my life."
The crowd surged forward.
Dust rose in small clouds from the knees hitting the ground one by one.
"I, Jo No-baek. The graces I received from the Sect Leader are too many to express. I will never forget you, who repaid the debt we had lost."
"I, Jin Bu-young. If your sword calls, just once, I'll draw my axe from anywhere. Thank you for restoring the Black Heaven Axe Sect's honor."
"I, Deung Pae-cheon. I swear on this Black Axe-if you ever need aid in the future, find me. I'll lend you my axe anytime."
"I, So Baek..."
The words poured out. Endlessly.
So many that he couldn't even respond.
...No, was there ever anything to say in reply?
He spat the blood pooling in his mouth onto the ground.
Amid the endless oaths of the Black Heaven Axe Sect warriors, he could feel their Sect Leader's prestige once more.
No one blamed him for hiding his identity. They were simply grateful that he had avenged their wrong.
And so he returned the salute as well. He bowed his head lightly.
The night was ending.
His time as Wang So-hong was ending too.
"I didn't do this expecting anything in return."
"......"
"......"
"Raise your heads, everyone. I..."
He let out a low chuckle.
"...am the same as all of you. I received something from the Sect Leader, and I just wanted to give it back."
He staggered onward. He could feel countless gazes piercing his back.
But he didn't look back. He had come here to kill that man in the first place. He simply hadn't dirtied his own hands-and he wasn't in a position to receive their thanks either.
They had each simply chosen to do what they wanted, from their own stations in life.
"......."
Yet even so, he felt relieved.
So-hong.
It felt like the right choice.
....
He rejoined Number 20. She was overlooking the surroundings, having let the one called White Teacher escape.
"He fled fast. No amateur in martial arts. At least on my level."
"My level, then..."
"The peak of the peak. A warrior right before the wall. But you..."
Number 20's toes twitched faintly. At last, he could perceive where she stood.
A realm too vast to see before. But now its outline was clear.
The peak of the peak.
A monster with only the colossal wall of super-peak left before it stood right in front of him.
Number 20 narrowed her eyes.
"Met with some fateful encounter?"
"Everything that had built up burst out at once."
"...Hmm. Congratulations. But it's not perfect yet. You know what heart-qi-body means?"
"I've heard of it..."
"Only when mind, qi, and body all reach the same level can it be called 'peak.' Miss even one, and you're half-baked. Your mind seems to have reached peak... but your body and qi are ridiculously lacking. Right at the edge of first-rate. Think of it that way. Can you draw sword qi yet?"
"No."
He had tried on the way back.
But it hadn't worked.
"When the three balance perfectly, you'll be able to infuse qi into your sword as you wish. Until then, hold back. There might be backlash."
"Thank you."
Number 20 turned her head. She looked down at the Black Heaven Axe Sect warriors moving about.
"Did things go well where you went?"
"My mind is at ease now."
"Good. Seems the Black Heaven Axe Sect warriors aren't entirely without humanity. To let a highly suspicious guy like you go."
"Probably because of Maeng So-un's notorious reputation."
"Could be. But you know, it's different. Not because of his crimes-didn't they see something at the tip of your sword?"
Number 20 smirked.
"That pig bastard seemed to have a hidden trump card... and you beat it? Well done. Number 30. Impressive for someone who just crossed a small wall."
"......."
"You've got talent."
Talent.
He let out a small, incredulous laugh. It was a phrase he'd never heard in his entire life, which made it all the funnier.
If it had come from anyone else, he might have suspected sarcasm. But Number 20 seemed to mean it sincerely.
Talent.
Talent, huh.
"...Even if I lack talent, I plan to forge it myself."
"Work hard then."
"Yes."
They headed straight back to their lodgings. They gathered their things to depart.
But one person came chasing after them in a hurry.
"S-So-hong!"
The familiar gatekeeper.
He panted heavily in front of him.
"Y-You seemed about to leave... Good thing I didn't delay. Almost missed you..."
"...What is it?"
"Don't be on guard. I just came to deliver something."
He rummaged in his bosom. He pulled out a small, black pill.
"This was tucked in Maeng So-un's corpse. At first I thought it was excrement, but no. Seems it was embedded in his chest. And that qi itself..."
"...resembles the Sect Leader's."
He toyed with the pill handed to him. He could feel it.
The trace he'd sensed from Maeng Cheon's axe.
"Why give this to me...?"
"Maeng So-un was a beast of a man. A pig who knew nothing of humanity. Even if we're members of the Divine Cult, we're still human, aren't we? We can't let spoils from slaying a beast fall into someone else's hands. That would be truly beastly."
"......."
"It belongs to the one who deserves it. Since I joined the Black Heaven Axe Sect, it was the first time I saw the Sect Leader smile so purely. A smile I never saw in ten years."
The gatekeeper gave a bitter smile.
"I don't know your real name, but even so, So-hong-this belongs to you. No one else should have it. That would be the Sect Leader's wish too."
"......."
"Why? Doesn't fit with the Divine Cult?"
"...I-it does... but..."
"The Black Heaven Axe Sect is a sect under the Divine Cult. But even so, the Sect Leader always emphasized one thing."
The gatekeeper formed a fist salute.
"Mutual aid. If you receive help, you must give it in return. The Divine Cult isn't just a beast craving power. At least the Black Heaven Axe Sect isn't."
"......."
"Didn't you do the same? You received something, so you protected what needed protecting."
The gatekeeper patted his shoulder.
"I'm the same. I received, so I'm here to return it."
"...What's your name?"
"I said it earlier... haha. Must've been distracted. Jeok Dae-gwang. And you?"
"Unfortunately, I can't tell you. But..."
He tucked the pill into his bosom.
"Jeok Dae-gwang. I'll remember your name. Since I've received something, I should return the favor too, right?"
"...Kuhuhu. This could go on forever."
The gatekeeper, Jeok Dae-gwang, burst into hearty laughter.
"Should've had a deeper talk with you sooner. My eyes were blind. But now, I'll remember just those two characters, So-hong. Unfitting for the Divine Cult, perhaps... but it's one more way to remember you."
"What do you..."
"A wandering hero. Doesn't it suit you perfectly? Be on your way, So-hong. I don't know where you're headed, but..."
Jeok Dae-gwang took a step back.
A faint wrinkle of loneliness creased his brow.
"I look forward to our reunion."
"...Yes. Brother Jeok."
He returned the salute.
"I hope we meet again someday."
....
"The report has arrived, First Demon."
"Is that so?"
The Blood Demon Squad Leader handed the letter to the First Demon.
"The Blood Demon Squad's Number 20 and Number 30... killed not only the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader but his eldest son too?"
"Yes, First Demon."
"......."
The silence was heavy.
The Blood Demon Squad Leader knew the First Demon well. He'd never seen her face beneath the mask, but just standing before her told him she was an expert he couldn't even aspire to.
A master whose position he couldn't fathom even at the peak of peak. One of the Heaven and Earth Eight Demons, personally chosen by the Cult Leader at the tender age of eight-that terrifying talent.
There was an overwhelming gulf between him and the one before him.
And he knew she utterly despised any deviation from her plans.
The Blood Demon Squad Leader bowed his head low to the ground.
He strained desperately to divert her wrathful gaze from himself.
"I'll handle the ones who acted on their own at my level, First Demon. I'll make the cleanup perfect. No need to worry..."
"No. Unnecessary."
The First Demon tilted her head.
"Forget that. Just report properly what happened."
".......?"
...Something.
It's different from usual.
The Blood Demon Squad Leader furtively gauged her mood. A report on what happened?
These were the grubs she usually wouldn't even bother with. If she was demanding a report now...
Was there some hidden backstory?
"Ears clogged?"
"N-no, sir! I'll report. Number 20 and Number 30 learned of the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader's death the day before the operation. According to the report... even after hearing the rumors, they infiltrated the sect again on operation day to confirm the corpse."
"That's all here. I'm talking about the ones these two clashed with."
"Intel says the eldest son had cultivated a martial art called White Demon Body. And there was also a fake White Teacher, said to be the Disciple of Myriad Sages Divine Healer."
"White Demon Body?"
An intense gaze stabbed down from beneath the First Demon's black mask.
"Is that true?"
"Th-the intel we acquired said so, but..."
"And?"
"Number 20 clashed with the one called White Teacher. He took a wound and fled, from what I heard."
"Seems Number 20 has a decent sword arm."
"...Do you perhaps know this White Teacher...?"
"Not for you to worry about. Continue."
"Y-yes! And then... the son who cultivated White Demon Body clashed with Number 30."
"So?"
The Blood Demon Squad Leader desperately peeked at her expression. For some reason, the sunken mood felt laden with meaning.
What is it? Number 30-a recent addition. And it had been odd from the start that she wanted a personal report on something she usually ignored.
Could there be some connection to the First Demon...?
"Your ears are useless. Might as well not have them if they don't hear."
"S-sorry!"
"Last one, Blood Demon Squad Leader. So what happened?"
"Th-Number 30... well, Number 30... killed the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader's son who cultivated White Demon Body. He was cornered, then cleaved from head to groin with one sword stroke."
"Cleaved in two the one who cultivated White Demon Body?"
"Yes... Pardon?"
The First Demon fell silent for a moment. The Blood Demon Squad Leader frantically racked his brain, wondering if he'd given wrong information.
The silent First Demon finally spoke.
"...The Fourth Demon will come sniffing around the Blood Demon Squad. That one's greed for talent is insatiable. Once his eyes light up, he charges ahead without thought. Stepped onto the peak wall less than a year after entering Demon Valley..."
"...Pardon?"
"Return to Demon Valley, Blood Demon Squad Leader."
The First Demon turned back to her documents.
"When Number 20 and Number 30 arrive at Demon Valley, send a messenger pigeon. I'll come myself."