The Controlled Heavenly Demon
"Hey, Canteas. What the hell did you make, you crazy bastard!"
"Kehehe, how about that?! My masterpiece. But that's weird. Why did he settle in with all his human memories intact?"
"You're seriously saying that right now...? If Zeus finds out about this, he'll try to kill you."
A faint shift of movement.
"Hmm. This feels strange."
Cheon Seol-gyeong flexed his fingers, narrowing his eyes. It was clearly his own body, yet it felt like moving underwater.
"You... are you really Cheon Seol-gyeong?"
"Baek Do-ha... Why do you look so young? Did you undergo Rejuvenation? You look far younger than when I died."
"Haa... Yeah, that's the Heavenly Demon all right."
Do-ha scratched his head vigorously.
Canteas, you damn bastard.
Of all the souls he could have summoned, why the Heavenly Demon's?
"Why are his memories intact? Something went wrong, didn't it?"
At Do-ha's words, Canteas turned his head away. Something truly had gone wrong at the final stage. A soul that should have settled into the artificial body only after memory manipulation was complete had skipped every step and come through directly.
"Don't blame Canteas. This variable exists purely because of me — a being who has transcended humanity."
That was the truth. The moment his soul slipped free of the Underworld, Cheon Seol-gyeong had felt an external force and immediately recognized its nature. How many times had he fought that power while he was alive? Of course he knew Canteas's energy.
And the instant he left the Underworld, Cheon Seol-gyeong had used the pure demonic energy he had engraved into his own soul to shake off the Dark Spirit rising over him.
"You engraved demonic energy into your soul...?"
"Call it a technique if that makes it easier to understand. I carved it into my soul when I ascended to the Life-or-Death Realm."
That had become the variable that let him sever the Dark Spirit.
"Then how did you settle into the artificial body? Your original memories should have triggered a rejection response."
"Even while I was alive, my body was never that of an ordinary human. Don't you remember?"
"Ah... right."
Do-ha nodded at the Heavenly Demon's words. What kind of body had that been? It felt no pain, its skin was hard as stone, and wounds closed almost the moment they opened.
"A body forged from countless medicinal herbs, elixirs, and poisons."
Thanks to that, the artificial body he now inhabited was not so different from the one he had worn in life.
"Real proud of yourself, you bastard."
"Though this body seems even better than the old one."
The Heavenly Demon was already growing accustomed to it. At first it had felt like moving underwater; now it was more like wearing a pair of thick gloves. A little more movement, and it would feel like his own flesh entirely.
"Hey. Can you dismiss this summon?"
"If I dismiss him, the Mi-ta-seong-su we used becomes completely worthless."
"Send him back anyway. It's a hundred times — a thousand times — better than letting the Heavenly Demon loose on the world."
"I wanted to see you... I take it the feeling wasn't mutual."
"Don't say something so disgusting."
"Heh heh heh. Then before I go..."
Whoosh!
The Heavenly Demon's arm shot out at terrifying speed.
"Not a chance."
It froze mid-strike.
Watching that, Canteas flicked a finger.
"What? You can control him?"
"Of course I can."
Canteas tilted his head at Do-ha's question, as if wondering why anyone would assume otherwise. He had only shaken off the Dark Spirit magic. The Death Knight's control rights had belonged to Canteas from the start.
"Controlling this thing and the Dark Spirit are completely separate."
"Ah~ is that so?"
"...Being controlled is extremely unpleasant. But... what is that smile?"
The Heavenly Demon's brow twitched at the sight of Do-ha's grin. Why was he smiling the moment he heard control was possible?
"Canteas. Don't send this guy back."
"For real?"
"Yeah. You said you can control him, right?"
"As long as I'm not dead, control is possible."
"Then we've just gained a one-man army. Why get rid of him? Keep him."
No — one-man army was underselling it. One against a hundred million wouldn't be enough.
"More than anything, I need something to take my stress out on."
Back when the Heavenly Demon was alive, how much stress had those Demonic Cult bastards caused him? Sometimes they had been even more fanatical than the Demon God Cult. Across every continent, the Demonic Cult had been a constant headache.
"Hey! You can't wreck the artificial body! Healing magic won't fix this thing!"
"Relax. I'm not going to take my stress out that hard."
The Heavenly Demon ground his teeth as he watched Do-ha's smile.
"Water."
A stream poured out.
"That thing that fell over there — throw it in the trash."
A grab. A toss.
Do-ha sat on the bench in front of his house, issuing orders to Cheon Seol-gyeong.
"...You're taking your stress out with menial chores like this? Pathetic."
"You're the one who walked into your own trap, and you're calling me pathetic?"
"I walked into a trap? What nonsense..."
"You thought everything would be solved the moment you got out of the Underworld, didn't you?"
Silence.
"You figured once you escaped the Underworld, you could do whatever you wanted. But look at this. You shook off the Dark Spirit magic — and still can't escape control."
Do-ha grinned as he needled him, and Cheon Seol-gyeong's brow twitched hard.
"You decided nothing in existence could control you. That was a miscalculation. And now you're being puppeteered because of it. Puhahahahaha!"
"You son of a—"
Whoosh!
Enraged, Cheon Seol-gyeong lunged at Do-ha.
A flick of the wrist. He froze solid.
"See?"
Do-ha raised a hand, and Cheon Seol-gyeong's body locked in place. Earlier, he had obtained the control incantation and computational formula from Canteas — so now he could command the man himself.
"A fool trapped in that body, unable to do a thing."
Do-ha laughed and spun his hand in a sharp circle. Cheon Seol-gyeong's body whirled in place like a spinning top — the spitting image of a ballerina.
"Hey. I should take you around and clean up the Demonic Cult remnants."
"You think I care about something like that? Those bastards will follow me no matter what I do."
"Tsk tsk. Fanatic. But too bad — by now, someone else has probably taken the Heavenly Demon's seat."
It made sense. After he vanished, the Namgung Family's children had drawn both the Demonic Cult and the Blood Cult into their schemes. The Demonic Cult only moved when their leader — the Heavenly Demon — was present. The fact that they had moved at all meant someone else had claimed the title after Cheon Seol-gyeong's death.
Silence.
"What? Are you jealous that the Demonic Cult elders switched their loyalty to a new Heavenly Demon?? Puhahahaha! Hey, Canteas — this guy's jealous."
"Shut your mouth!"
"You idiot. While you were alive they swore loyalty and grovelled at your feet. You think they spare a thought for a dead man?"
"The moment I reclaim control of this body, I will cut off your head without fail."
"You couldn't do it while you were alive. You think you can now?"
Do-ha stood and flicked Cheon Seol-gyeong hard on the forehead.
Just then, someone approached from a distance.
"Association President?"
"Do— no, Mr. A. You're home today."
He had stopped by briefly yesterday as well, but Do-ha hadn't been in.
"You could have just called."
"Haha, well... I have a favor to ask, and it's a bit hard to explain over the phone."
"A favor?"
"Yes. A rather difficult one. Hear me out, and feel free to refuse."
"Does it have something to do with the two standing behind you?"
Do-ha turned his head slightly, looking past the Association President at Kang Ji-hwan and Han Se-ah. They had been chatting as they walked over; now they stood in silence, biting their lips.
"And this person is..."
The Association President swallowed hard as he took in the massive figure of Cheon Seol-gyeong standing beside Do-ha. Having a giant simply stand there watching him sent a chill down his spine.
What is that skin color...?
It was gray. In sunlight it took on faint purple or blue tones, but the base color was solid gray throughout.
"A Death Knight."
"Ah, a Death Knight... wait, what???"
The Association President, who had been nodding along, jolted in shock. What had he just heard? A Death Knight...? The SS-rank monster?
"I don't like the way he's looking at me."
"Hey. Be quiet."
A flick of Do-ha's fingers, and Cheon Seol-gyeong dropped into a chair.
"D-d-does that mean... Mr. A summoned him...?"
"Yeah, well..."
Do-ha gave a vague nod. He hadn't created the thing — he only controlled it — but there was no need to explain that to the Association President.
"So what was this favor..."
"Would you consider taking these two around with you and putting them to work on odd jobs?"
"Excuse me??"
The completely unexpected request made Do-ha start. Take Kang Ji-hwan and Han Se-ah around and make them do chores?
"And while you're at it, I'd like you to offer them a word of guidance here and there — teach them."
"No, why all of a sudden..."
Those two were among the most renowned Hunters in South Korea. Not just Korea — they would stand out in any country in the world. Why hand people like that over to him?
"The truth is... at the dinner party some time ago, both of them were deeply shaken by the power you displayed, Mr. A."
From that day on, the two of them had thrown themselves into Gates like madmen. They had even volunteered for support missions abroad, hunting in S-rank Gates and above. And yet neither of them had grown. Their combat experience against monsters had improved, but neither had broken through their own wall.
"So they came to me with a request."
They wanted to do even menial work at Baek Do-ha's side, hoping to gain some insight. If they stayed close, maybe they would find a clue that would let them break past their limits. That request was why the Association President had finally brought the two of them to Do-ha.
Do-ha crossed his arms and studied the pair. Their determination was admirable, honestly.
If you want to get stronger, seeking instruction from someone stronger is the right call.
Martial artists were a prideful breed by nature — even when faced with a superior, they often refused to acknowledge it. Those who climbed the stairs of cultivation, however, cast pride aside and pursued strength alone.
I was the same way.
In the world of Belhart, he too had discarded his pride for the sake of growing stronger. Back then, he had wanted to get strong fast, finish everything, and go home.
"If it makes you uncomfortable, please feel free to refuse. These two won't take offense over something like—"
"Fine."
"Y-you'll take them with you?"
"Yes. I'll teach them properly."
He had been meaning to bring strong Hunters into Paju anyway. This worked out perfectly.
Do-ha snapped his fingers. The two, quick on the uptake, were in front of him in an instant.
"From now on, I will be instructing the two of you."
"Th-thank you!"
"We'll work hard!"
"I'm older than both of you... mind if I drop the formal speech?"
"Yes!"
Both nodded at once. Kang Ji-hwan and Han Se-ah were three years younger than Do-ha.
"I'll take you around and make you strong."
Kang Ji-hwan and Han Se-ah smiled as they looked at Do-ha's absolute confidence. How could their hearts not race when a legendary Cheonwaecheon said something like that?
"But."
"?"
"?"
"Both of your guilds will relocate their headquarters to Paju."
Their expressions hardened at the sudden demand. Move their guilds to Paju, just like that...? Kang Ji-hwan in particular looked slightly troubled. Han Se-ah was Guild Leader of the Doksa Guild, but he was just a guild member. He was close enough with his Guild Leader to call him brother, but he wasn't the one who made guild decisions.
"Don't like it? Then I can't grant your request either. But if you move your guilds to Paju like I say, I'll guarantee you both reach SSS-rank at minimum."
"We'll move immediately."
"I'll get my guild relocated no matter what it takes."
Both of them decided on the spot. If it meant becoming Cheonwaecheon, what did a guild's location matter?
"All right, then..."
Do-ha glanced around, then snapped his fingers. The surrounding space warped and darkened — a domain woven from Spatial Separation Magic and a Qimen Formation.
"Let's see what level the two of you are at."
He flicked his hand, and Cheon Seol-gyeong rose from his seat and approached.
"Both of you — fight this Death Knight with everything you've got."
"You're telling me to face these insects..."
"Quiet."
Cheon Seol-gyeong's mouth clamped shut.
"You'll need to fight like your lives depend on it. This one is nothing like an ordinary SS-rank monster."
As the two of them put distance between themselves and settled into their stances, Do-ha smiled.