Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Sulking First Demon
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I shattered the ice encasing my body myself. From within the crumbling ice, I asked.
The first thing I did was introduce myself.
"My name is Red Cloud. It means Red Cloud. I was born in Bicheon Village."
My body froze over once more. It hummed as if telling me to answer only the questions posed by White Night.
I forcibly pried my mouth open again. I calmly recounted the story of my life, one detail at a time.
My body repeatedly froze and shattered. Even so, I didn't stop talking.
I just wanted to tell it. How I'd lived so far and how I planned to live from here on.
What I carried within me, and what I would wield.
White Night, who had kept resisting at first, seemed to tire and simply listened to my tale. Even after I put the final period on my story, the spirit sword showed no reaction.
I gripped the hilt tightly, but it didn't budge an inch. Was this White Night's own form of rebellion? Or...
Was it thinking?
I had no idea what exact structure a spirit sword possessed. It simply felt like I'd gained a new companion with whom I'd share my fate.
To reach even greater heights, I'd need these guys. Even with no response from White Night, I moved my wrist, which was slowly freezing over.
It was bearable, but tormenting the thing further felt subtly wrong, so I slid it back into its sheath.
A finicky one like this wouldn't warm up to me overnight.
Still, I planned to make the effort.
After all, that was something I was best at.
"...To tame one, look only at that one, wasn't it?"
I glanced down at the other one strapped to my waist. Black Jewel. The spirit sword I'd use to draw forth the power of the Fire Wheel Demon Sword.
Grasping that one would probably come much later. I whispered to Black Jewel.
"You'll have to wait a little longer."
Black Jewel shuddered. It felt like a protest, or maybe a temptation.
But I ignored it for now. Ghost Valley Night Commander had told me that for a reason.
Let's take it slow.
Just like always.
...
Thanks to my brisk pace, I reached the Demon Hall in no time. As I climbed up to the Heavenly Mountain near the entrance, familiar scenery came into view.
The buildings I'd grown accustomed to while living with the First Demon. When you thought about it, hadn't I done my gatekeeper duties right here too?
Of course, what I'd actually guarded wasn't the Demon Hall building itself, but just one of the countless castle gates leading into the fortress built on this Heavenly Mountain.
I stepped toward the interior. With that, something suddenly covered my eyes.
A voice I'd heard before rang out.
"Come with me. This is the Cult Leader's command."
By the time the blindfold was removed, I was already in the Demon Hall's hidden underground chamber, just like last time.
I stepped inside hesitantly.
"Cult Leader...?"
The Heavenly Demon, who had been sitting on the bed swinging her feet, whipped around to look at me.
"Puppy. Come here."
"Pardon?"
"Come sit first."
I knelt down before the Heavenly Demon. She stroked my head.
"Looks like your trip went well. Spirit swords, huh. Two proper ones, and you brought back one weird thing too. Is that one complete?"
"Two are complete, but one isn't yet. As you can see, this spirit sword is refusing to be drawn."
"Hmm? Is that so? Even if it refuses, I could draw it... but that wouldn't show proper respect to its owner, would it? Anyway, that's not what's important right now."
The Heavenly Demon lowered her voice.
"Puppy. Do you know why I called you here?"
"Is there some other task for me?"
"No. I just called you to give a warning."
"A warning about what...?"
The Heavenly Demon let out a sigh.
"The First Demon is sulking."
"Pardon?"
"She's sulking hard. Completely sulking, to the point her nickname Heavenly Blood Human Demon feels undeserved."
"What do you mean..."
"Exactly what I said. She's sulking enormously. She's even radiating her bad mood everywhere. The Demon Hall is in a state of utmost emergency right now. My Grand Protector has always been like a honed blade, so the subordinates on duty are all trembling in fear, not knowing when their heads might roll."
"What happened to the First Demon...?"
"Something happened."
My heart plummeted. I shot to my feet at once.
"What on earth...?!"
"I teased her a little."
"Pardon?"
"I teased her just a tiny bit, and from then on she's been completely sulking and won't even talk to me. You wouldn't know, but when the First Demon sulks, it lasts quite a while. This time it's especially bad. Probably because I dragged out something she didn't want exposed. Even the north wind and biting snow would feel warmer than the First Demon right now."
"What exactly did you poke at?"
"If I tell you that, she'll throw an absolute fit. Try to understand my position."
The Heavenly Demon let out a sigh.
"With the First Demon sulking, it'll probably affect you too. If she acts cold, just deal with it."
"Did you call me here just to tell me that?"
"No. If it were only that, I'd have sent a maid. The real reason I summoned you personally is something else. This next part is the most important."
"What on earth...?"
"Go soothe her."
"Pardon?"
"Go soothe her. Sneak in a bit about my situation and get her to forgive me quick."
".......?"
I couldn't comprehend, so I asked.
"Is the First Demon's sulking... really that dangerous?"
"The First Demon handles half of the Demon Hall's affairs. The other half falls to its institutions, and only the final tenth comes to me. I just stamp them, so it's very convenient for me. But right now, in her sulk, she's not even touching a tenth of her half. Naturally, all the rest lands on me."
"......."
"No one but the First Demon can assist in my position. The rest of the Heaven Earth Eight Demons are all sect leaders or vice sect leaders. I can't delegate work to them due to issues of fairness. And handing it off to other institutions is no good-they're too slow."
The Heavenly Demon let out a sigh.
"I've been holding out for over three months already like this. I won't last another month before I dry up and wither away. You're my only hope. Go dance if you have to. Somehow lift her spirits and get her back to normal."
"......."
"Got any more questions? Want me to teach you some tricks to play cute?"
Just crack a little.
I let out a sigh at this new side of the Heavenly Demon, whom I'd always admired. I nodded.
In this way, she had a...
Girlish side to her. For now, I'd just keep it in mind.
"Cult Leader."
"What?"
"I have something to give you first."
"Hm?"
I rummaged through my belongings. I smoothly drew out a dagger.
The Heavenly Demon blinked.
"Planning to assassinate me from this range?"
"It's a gift."
"A gift?"
The Heavenly Demon lightly placed her hand on the dagger. She drew it from its sheath and examined it this way and that under the lantern light.
"Want something in return?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"I brought it because I wanted to give it to you. And this too..."
I carefully pulled another item from my satchel. A delicate handicraft, handled with care so it wouldn't break.
The moment I saw it, it had reminded me of the Heavenly Demon-a black flower made of glass. Its intricate detail made it feel eerily like a real flower.
"What's this?"
"The moment I saw it, I thought of you, Cult Leader."
"Of me?"
The Heavenly Demon turned the flower this way and that. After inspecting it from every angle, she glanced up at me once more.
She tilted her head.
"Why?"
"I don't know. Just..."
I stared at the glass flower. I hadn't been able to tear my eyes away since the moment our gazes met.
"...it reminded me of you..."
"Hmm. So you're saying I'm pretty like a flower?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"......?"
The Heavenly Demon covered her mouth and laughed.
"You're mysteriously direct at times like this. Hmm. I see. A flower, huh... Just to check, Puppy. Did you prepare a gift for the First Demon too?"
"Yes."
"The same flower?"
"No."
"Hmmmm... A gift just for me..."
The Heavenly Demon pinched my cheek.
"Ow. Such a cute pup."
"I was worried it was something you could get anywhere, but I'm glad you like it."
"You're right. It's something I could get anywhere. But it wouldn't be the same as one picked out and brought by my well-trained puppy, would it?"
"...Thank you for saying so."
"Red Cloud. Just to make sure-this isn't just simple admiration, right?"
I knew exactly what she meant by those words.
So I answered right away.
"My feelings haven't changed. Cult Leader. If they're to remain mere admiration, I'd rather lay down my sword right here."
"Puhuhu. Shall I give you a hug for encouragement?"
"I'll pass."
"Tch. Don't pass."
I was forcibly hugged. It was soft and squishy, making me feel a bit strange.
...
I stood before the First Demon's residence. The gatekeeper spotted my disguise before I even arrived and rushed straight at me.
"S-Sir! Where have you been?!"
"Pardon? I was just away on a mission briefly..."
"We're so glad you're back, even if late! Things inside the manor are not good at all!"
Before the warrior's urgency hit me, something else did. A ferocious killing intent. The entire residence seemed steeped in an unsettling aura, as if deeply displeased by something.
What the hell was this? Just what realm of martial arts did you need to blanket an entire manor like this with nothing but killing intent?
Even after I'd reached the Superhuman Realm, the First Demon's level remained invisible to me. She'd probably arrived somewhere beyond the Flower Realm.
The Heaven Earth Eight Demons.
It felt like seeing the weight I'd only vaguely known with my own eyes once more.
"Is the First Demon's condition... that bad?"
"Don't even ask! It's like walking on thin ice! Just not knowing when it might crack has my blood running dry-I can't even feel like I'm breathing!"
Dark circles under the gatekeeper's eyes proved it wasn't exaggeration.
What on earth had the Heavenly Demon teased her about to cause a crisis like this?
I sneaked toward the interior. In that instant, the aura twisted sharply---.
The murky, unpleasant energy swept over me in a flash. Even from a great distance, I could instinctively tell the First Demon had noticed me.
I slowly crossed the wide garden. I arrived before her usual office.
I tentatively opened my mouth.
"First Demon. I've returned from my mission."
---Click.
The sound of the door opening rang out.