Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: First Gathering After a Year
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The Demon Dragon Squad and the Soul-Slaying Phantoms had finally gathered for the first time in a year.
To hear what they had been up to during that time, Yong-un summoned his subordinates along with orders to resume activities.
"It's been a while."
Having avoided disturbing their training, Yong-un hadn't visited the Soul-Slaying Phantoms' house even once in the past year. Now, he took a look around it.
He circled the area surrounding the house of the Soul-Slaying Phantoms, where traces of intense training lingered heavily.
"Everyone's mastered the Void Shadow Assassination Art."
Myung-su bowed his head at Yong-un's words.
"Yes. Mu-hee was the first to begin learning it."
The Night Slaughter Society Leader, Mu-hee.
As soon as she entered a year of secluded training, Mu-hee halted all activities as the Night Slaughter Society Leader.
Aside from responding to the insignia of the Night Crows she hadn't collected, she ceased everything and devoted herself solely to mastering the Void Shadow Assassination Art.
And for Gwi-hon, the only one among the Soul-Slaying Phantoms without prior knowledge of martial arts, she had achieved remarkably high results.
"She even adapted the stealthy assassination of the Void Shadow Assassination Art to her own style."
The Void Shadow Assassination Art allowed stealthy movement in a world turned ash-gray after concealment, undetected by anyone.
Within it, Mu-hee had devised a way to use a spirit shaman's techniques without giving off any presence, by leveraging shadows.
She had created her own martial art perfectly suited to the Soul-Slaying Phantoms, whose foundation lay in assassination.
"It's thanks to Il-gwi-hon."
Mu-hee bowed her head.
Il-gwi-hon Myung-su was the first to start learning the Void Shadow Assassination Art and was now mastering its ultimate pinnacle technique.
His guidance had allowed Mu-hee to seamlessly integrate her own skills with the martial art.
Satisfied with her growth, Mu-hee smiled faintly.
She then turned her gaze toward the Poison Witch.
"But the most impressive is the Poison Witch, even more than me."
"Sister."
Among the Demon Dragon Squad and Soul-Slaying Phantoms, they were the only two women of equal standing, and their bond had grown much closer over the past year compared to before.
At Mu-hee's words, the Poison Witch blushed shyly.
"Is that true?"
Myung-su smiled at Yong-un's question.
"Yes. Even though she started latest, the Poison Witch can now wield her poison within the Void Shadow Assassination Art."
"Ho, impressive."
Even Yong-un, who was stingy with praise, had to acknowledge the Poison Witch's achievements.
The Void Shadow Assassination Art was a technique operable solely through demonic energy.
Yet to maintain it by channeling demonic energy while simultaneously dispersing poison within—that was impossible unless one had two brains or more.
"Thank you."
The Poison Witch could now perfectly control her poison.
Having achieved the goal she so desperately desired, the Poison Witch didn't rest on her laurels there.
It was because she had been disappointed in herself for being powerless before Barum—who was an enemy then but a comrade now.
She was poison incarnate, born to kill.
Yet deep in the Poison Witch's heart, she had always seen the potential to protect her comrades using this poison.
And in the moment she fully mastered it...
The Poison Witch set a new goal.
'Invisible Death.'
The Poison Witch's ambition bore fruit.
She had created the ultimate martial art capable of mass slaughter without a trace, by dispersing poison within the Void Shadow Assassination Art's space.
"If used well, it'll become a supreme force for the Soul-Slaying Phantoms."
Knowing this full well, Yong-un didn't hold back his praise.
However, the Poison Witch's goal remained unfulfilled.
"You're too kind. I'm still lacking."
With the path to greater strength open before her, she bowed while revealing her hunger for more.
"Indeed. Since you can grow stronger, keep striving."
"Thank you, Supreme One."
The Poison Witch's progress astonished even Yong-un.
If honed well, she could become a walking Formless Poison, something only the Sacheon Tang Clan could produce. Yong-un couldn't help but smile.
Il-gwi-hon Myung-su beamed with joy at the praise for the Soul-Slaying Phantoms.
As Yong-un looked at Myung-su, he scanned him up and down.
'But the biggest beneficiary here is you, Myung-su.'
The first time Yong-un met Myung-su, he had been shocked.
Knowing the Soul-Slaying Phantoms were coming, Yong-un had scattered crimson demonic energy around in advance.
Yet he hadn't sensed Myung-su until he was right upon him.
Even Yong-un, with his exceptional spiritual sense, hadn't detected Myung-su—perfectly blended into the space—until he was within three paces.
'So that's why.'
That was the reason he had given his subordinates the manual without the most crucial part.
If he grew further like this, Myung-su would one day become an assassin so perfect that even Yong-un couldn't sense his presence.
But Yong-un soon shook his head with a smile.
Hadn't he realized this through Myung-un?
These were Yong-un's other family.
Not mere subordinates, but family who would stand back-to-back with him, facing the same direction.
"Good work."
"Thank you, Supreme One."
Myung-su's growth was Yong-un's own.
True to his assassin origins, Yong-un patted the shoulder of the rapidly advancing Myung-su.
"Bro, why'd you skip us?"
"That's unfair, Supreme One."
As the mood wrapped up, Cheon-il and Barum voiced their feigned hurt.
Yong-un and Myung-su exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, I didn't forget you."
"I didn't skip you on purpose either."
"Right, so what growth have you two achieved?"
Myung-su fell silent and looked at Cheon-il and Barum.
"You two should explain it yourselves. You know your own progress better than I do."
"Got it."
Barum smiled—a expression Cheon-il hadn't seen a year ago—and turned to him.
"Yeah!"
Understanding from Barum's gaze alone, Cheon-il unleashed his demonic energy.
Demonic energy emanated from both their bodies simultaneously, transforming their forms.
"The demonization has changed."
The onset of demonization seemed no different from before.
But once the enveloping demonic energy dissipated, their appearances had drastically altered from a year prior.
Barum was similar to before, but Cheon-il's form had flipped 180 degrees.
"How do I look, bro?"
His demonization had looked childish before, but now Cheon-il appeared nothing like that.
He looked just like a Demon Cry—a perfect member of the demon race.
"That's not all. Barum bro told me I have a demon skill."
"Show us."
Barum nodded.
Cheon-il then drew up his demonic energy and activated the skill.
"Cheon-il possesses an extraordinary skill."
As Barum finished speaking, the demonic energy shrouding Cheon-il's body began to change.
Sharp horns sprouted across his body, with black demonic energy gathering at their tips.
And from the ends of that energy, black smoke billowed endlessly.
"In the demon world, this is called... the Warlord form."
Warlord (Sovereign General).
No one knew its meaning, but since it was a term that existed in the martial world, Yong-un understood.
And Yong-un caught the faint shadow that crossed Barum's face.
"I see."
"Yes. Anything touched by the smoke from this Warlord form can transform into a demon beast—one obedient to its master."
No one was unaware that what Barum called demon beasts were known as monsters in this world.
A skill that turned foes into one's own obedient demon beasts.
Everyone gaped at the powerful ability.
"Cool, right?"
"Cheon-il's amazing!"
At Jong-hyun's words, as he watched in awe, Cheon-il scratched the back of his head.
But Jeong-won waved his hands frantically at the approaching Warlord smoke and shouted.
"Hey, Cheon-il! Keep this away from me! I don't wanna turn into a monster!"
"Hahaha."
Everyone smiled at Jeong-won's panic.
"Ah, sorry, hehe."
Cheon-il hurriedly dispelled the Warlord skill and his demonization.
Barum then spoke.
"Only those with hostility transform. You're not aligned with it."
"Gotta stay on Cheon-il's good side..."
Anyone harboring hostility could turn into a monster at any moment.
Everyone laughed again at Jeong-won's words.
Everyone except Barum and Yong-un. = = = While listening to the Soul-Slaying Phantoms' progress, Yong-un ordered his subordinates to clean their house.
He then secretly pulled Barum aside and asked him atop the roof.
"Does 'Warlord' mean what I think it does?"
"You have the right idea."
Warlord.
In the martial world, it referred to generals who protected the king.
Applied to the demon world, the answer was clear.
"The demon contracted with Cheon-il... must be close to the Demon King."
"At least marquis-level or higher, I believe."
The mere appearance of a viscount-level demon plunged the world into chaos.
But a contract with something marquis-level or above?
If the world learned of this, Cheon-il would instantly become a global enemy, turning the entire world against him.
Everyone knew the fate of hunters who contracted with demons from history.
"You haven't told anyone, have you?"
"No. The moment I, a demon, pledged loyalty to you, Supreme One, I became merely a human of this world."
Yong-un scanned Barum up and down, noting his deep reverence.
He then asked something he'd held back before.
"What's your rank in the demon world?"
Barum's power made the demons they'd encountered so far pale in comparison.
His blue claws, which annihilated all energy, proved he was no ordinary demon.
Having anticipated the question, Barum replied calmly.
"I hold no official rank. However, from killing ranked demons... if I were to have one..."
Barum looked up.
"It would be marquis-level. I've killed several up to viscount."
Yong-un had already seen it through Barum's memories.
And he had faced the being that instilled the seal of fear of death—even making the Demon Cry tremble—in Barum's memories.
"Then who is that guy?"
"Who do you mean?"
"The one with three red horns on his head."
"...?!"
Barum's eyebrow twitched.
"How... did you know?"
Barum asked, stunned.
Yong-un pointed to his head.
"Who do you think removed the veil of oblivion from you?"
"Ah..."
"I saw everything in that process. All your memories."
The way Barum looked at Yong-un changed.
No longer mere surprise, but genuine awe mixed with respect for a truly mighty warrior.
"Since you saw everything, I'll tell you. That's why I consider him marquis-level."
He bowed low to Yong-un, shedding his shock.
"It's a duke. I don't know the name, but that's what he is."
A duke-level demon, beyond marquis.
A demon as lofty as the heavens to those beneath the Demon King.
"Facing him felt like facing you, Supreme One."
Barum rated that demon on par with Yong-un.
Even Yong-un, so powerful, wasn't Demon King level.
And coming from a demon who lived in the demon world, Yong-un couldn't take it lightly.
"Duke-level, huh..."
His expression darkened slightly at the thought of a being stronger than him eyeing this world.
"I'm sorry... for telling you so late."
He had wanted to protect his family with his own strength.
But if the Demon King descended, their safety wasn't guaranteed.
Of course, he was building forces in preparation, but against a stronger foe, even those would be meaningless.
"Is that so."
"S-Supreme One?"
Yet the expression Barum saw on Yong-un's face was strange.
His voice was calm, but his face told a different story.
Beneath the worry gleamed a thick smile.
'F-Fighting spirit?'
It wasn't fear.
It was the thrill of facing a supreme foe that only blood-mad demons might show.
"Guess I need to train too. No time to get complacent."
Yong-un stood from the roof.
Barum, bewildered, followed suit.
He swallowed the question burning inside.
'Is there... still room to grow stronger?'
"Thanks."
"Not at all."
"Now call the rest."
"Yes, Supreme One."
Now fully one of the Soul-Slaying Phantoms, Barum descended and gathered the Demon Dragon Squad and Soul-Slaying Phantoms.
"The Demon King..."
The longing for a powerful opponent reignited a fire in Yong-un's heart after so long.
He smiled inwardly, envisioning the inevitable war between this world and the demon realm.
The Soul-Slaying Phantoms and Demon Dragon Squad—and even the Demon Dragon Phantom Assassins—battling demons.
And himself clashing with the Demon King.
"Has the time come to master the fifth form at its peak, which I thought unnecessary?"
For Yong-un, who had no goals left, a new one was set.
Surpassing the duke from Barum's memories, venturing into the unknown of demons.
For the first time since the Blade Demon, he reaffirmed the importance of growth he once deemed unnecessary.
Feeling his gathering subordinates' presences, he slowly descended to the ground.
"But first, let's check the Demon Dragon Squad's progress."
To confirm the force that would protect his family while he fought the Demon King, he clasped his hands behind his back and headed toward the Demon Dragon Squad's house.