Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: The Identity of the Loyal Retainer
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“Advisor Seol, are you alright?”
‘Traitor.’
‘Bloodbath.’
‘The Heavenly Demon’s death.’
As a splitting headache hit me and countless phrases flashed before my eyes, the Young Cult Leader’s voice rang out.
‘How did he get here so fast...’
The headache had only lasted a split second, but by the time I noticed, the Young Cult Leader was already up on the platform with me, checking my complexion.
“I-I’m fine. It was just a momentary dizzy spell, so don’t worry.”
“That’s a relief, but... don’t push yourself.”
“Yes!”
Unable to stall any longer, the Young Cult Leader returned to his seat.
‘That just confirmed it. No matter what, I have to see this meeting through to the end.’
If only to prevent the future I’d seen in the original story.
It had been summarized in just a few lines, so I’d completely forgotten about it.
‘After the memorial service in the cult, the council of eleven elders discusses how to respond to the Tang Clan of Sichuan’s attack.’
And in that meeting, someone opposes the Heavenly Demon’s will.
After learning that a faction colluding with the Tang Clan of Sichuan exists within the cult and that there are elders opposing his will, Daddy becomes gripped by the fear that they might harm me. In his anxiety to protect me, he slaughters all the elders who spoke against him.
‘It was the first bloodbath in the cult after Daddy became the Heavenly Demon.’
But it was a misjudgment born of Daddy’s fragile state of mind.
They were loyal retainers who had offered sincere advice out of concern for the cult’s future, while the real traitors colluding with the Tang Clan were someone else entirely.
With the loyal retainers gone, the traitors grew bolder, leaking the cult’s information to the Tang Clan and plotting a major scheme.
Even after the truth came out later, the dead couldn’t be brought back.
‘The vacancies left by the murdered elders proved far more fatal than Daddy imagined, and in the end, they lost to the Murim Alliance led by the traitors.’
I have to identify who those loyal retainers opposing the Heavenly Demon’s will are in today’s meeting and make sure they survive—so Daddy doesn’t repeat the same mistake!
That way, the traitors won’t be able to run rampant like in the original story, and even if the Murim Alliance attacks, the elders can lend their strength to Daddy.
But the agenda is how to deal with the Tang Clan of Sichuan—would there even be a reason to oppose Daddy’s will?
Doubts lingered, but I steadied myself and picked up the scroll.
“Today’s meeting agenda is our response to the Tang Clan of Sichuan.”
As I calmly read from the scroll, the elders listened intently.
“From the incident where assassins were poisoned and killed by the Tang Clan, to the assassins sneaking in with poison during the memorial service—they’re openly showing hostility toward the cult. I’d like to hear the elders’ thoughts on this.”
“Let this Yaksha say a word!”
No sooner had I finished than Elder Yaksha, with his goblin-like appearance, raised his hand.
“Elder Yaksha, please speak.”
“I believe we must take a hard line against the Tang Clan. Because we stay quiet every time, they see the cult as an easy mark! Didn’t they just try to kidnap Advisor Seol most recently?”
“How did you know about that, Elder Yaksha...”
‘I heard only the Young Cult Leader and Elder Gwangyu knew...’
“How could I not know about that incident? Elder Gwangyu half-killed those Tang Clan assassins lurking near Advisor Seol’s quarters and was about to bury them alive...”
“Ahem, Yaksha! That’s enough.”
Elder Gwangyu cut off Yaksha, who was recounting the event with relish.
‘No wonder it felt odd that the Tang Clan declared they’d kidnap me and then went quiet—they’d already come to the cult?’
And got thoroughly thrashed by Elder Gwangyu?
Wait, but was Elder Gwangyu the type to half-kill someone and bury them alive?
He was a cult elder, sure, but having only seen my master’s sloppy side, I couldn’t picture it.
‘Well, maybe he just scared them off or killed them in one stroke, and the rumors exaggerated it to “buried alive.”’
“I see. Please continue, Elder Yaksha.”
“Anyway, it wouldn’t be bad for the cult to wipe out the Tang Clan while we’re at it. Then everyone will know the cult’s greatness and won’t dare touch us. This Yaksha is ready to charge into war for the cult anytime! Tang Clan scum, I’ll send your heads flying with my blade!”
Elder Yaksha roared, raising his sheathed sword from his waist.
“Well said! This Ironclad agrees with Yaksha!”
“Let’s go, warriors of the cult! To the battlefield!”
“To the battlefield!”
These were the same guys I’d called demons from hell, and now they howled for war like bloodthirsty beasts.
‘These two don’t care about the Tang Clan—they just want to rush into battle...’
“Elders, please calm down first. Are there any other opinions?”
Startled by their eagerness to charge the Tang Clan right then, I tried to rein in Yaksha and Ironclad.
“Fair enough, we should hear the others first.”
At my urging, Yaksha and Ironclad regretfully sheathed their swords and sat back down.
“Seol Ryu-on opposes the opinions of Elders Yaksha and Ironclad.”
Then Elder Ryu-on spoke up.
“Yes, Elder Ryu-on. Please share your detailed thoughts.”
“I agree we can’t just take it lying down from the Tang Clan. But if the cult starts a war with them now, even if we exterminate them, we could make enemies of the entire Murim Alliance.”
“Why do you think that? They struck first, even if they’re allies.”
Ironclad, who’d been listening, countered.
“Of course that’s the truth. But the Tang Clan is full of sly foxes who lie as naturally as breathing. They’ll twist it to say the cult started the war and pin all the blame on us. Besides, doesn’t the cult have a strong image of being brutal and evil to the outside world?”
“True enough. I don’t get why—they’d see we’re good people just like anyone else, right?”
Silence instantly blanketed the meeting hall at Yaksha’s words.
“Joking, joking! You people are so cold, just like true cultists! Haha!”
Looking awkward, Yaksha laughed it off.
‘Is that cult-style dad humor?’
To crack such a joke without fear—truly the boldness of a cult elder.
“Ferocity will offer a new opinion.”
“Yes, Elder Ferocity. Please speak.”
As soon as he finished, I felt Ferocity’s murderous intent again.
‘I’ve been hit twice now, and it’s starting to feel familiar...’
But looking at his face still gave me the nagging sense I was forgetting something.
“I don’t think this is the Tang Clan’s problem.”
“Ferocity, what do you mean? Dozens of our cult members were unjustly killed by the Tang Clan. If it’s not their problem, whose is it?”
Silent until now, Elder Beheader frowned in displeasure at Ferocity’s claim.
“I’m not saying the Tang Clan is innocent. They’ve done unforgivable things to us. But if the cult stays as it is, it won’t just be the Tang Clan attacking us.”
“So there’s a problem with the cult. Does Elder Ferocity know what the problem is and its solution?”
The beauty with long white hair, Elder Flowerwork, asked curiously.
“I do. I’ve kept silent until now out of respect for the Heavenly Demon’s will, but now I must speak.”
As if resolved, Ferocity opened his mouth again.
“The cult’s current problem is the Heavenly Demon himself.”
‘The Heavenly Demon is the problem?’
So Ferocity was the elder opposing the Heavenly Demon’s will?
That would make him a loyal retainer.
‘I even suspected he might be the one colluding with the Tang Clan inside the cult... but he’s not?’
“What nonsense is this? Elder Ferocity, do you realize what your words imply?”
Ryu-on tried to stop him, but Ferocity didn’t halt.
“I’m only offering loyal advice for the cult’s future. No one dared touch the cult while the Heavenly Demon was here. But as he’s been away longer for his daughter’s sake, opportunists now see this as their chance to topple us.”
“That’s only to protect the successor...!”
As my name came up, Ryu-on defended me.
But Ferocity sharply cut her off.
“The successor issue too. Handing the cult’s leadership to a child who doesn’t even know the first thing about martial arts? Even if it’s the Heavenly Demon’s will, I can’t follow it. If his daughter proves unworthy of the role, I’ll deal with her myself. That is...”
Ferocity’s sharp gaze flashed with murderous intent far denser than before.
“...even if it goes against the Heavenly Demon’s will.”