Chapter: 11
“Grandpaaa!!”
Just as Unhyeon was about to unleash a furious tirade at the Shadow Demon Lord, Yeonwoo tugged on the hem of his clothes.
“Let’s hurry back! We said we’d eat rabbit meat! Right? I even brought salt!”
“Rabbit meat?”
The Shadow Demon Lord’s eyes sparkled with delight.
Seeing the man show not the slightest hint of remorse for what he’d done, Unhyeon rubbed his aching temples and let out a quiet sigh.
Right.
People of the Demonic Cult…
They had always been this shameless and lawless.
What difference was there between this man and those five first-rate martial artists who had gathered just to kill a single child?
“Very well. Let’s go.”
Abandoning any further thoughts about the Shadow Demon Lord, Unhyeon took Yeonwoo’s hand.
If he kept thinking about it, only his own lifespan would grow shorter.
He intended to ignore the man and focus on what needed to be done.
He truly did.
But then…
“…What exactly are you doing?”
Unhyeon stared at the Shadow Demon Lord, who was squatting innocently beside Yeonwoo in front of the campfire, warming himself as though he belonged there.
While climbing the mountain, Unhyeon had noticed him happily trailing behind them.
It had seemed strange, but he hadn’t wanted to deal with him and simply ignored it.
“The rabbit’s going to taste good, don’t you think?”
“Yeah! It’s really delicious! Sprinkle lots of salt on it! Then munch munch! Ahh!”
“Really? Really? Ahh… I can’t wait.”
Just what kind of ridiculous situation was this, with the two of them chatting away as if they were old friends?
Dropping the bundle of dry branches he’d gathered along the way, Unhyeon shouted,
“What are you getting your hopes up for? There isn’t any for you!”
“I figured you’d say that.”
As if he’d been waiting for those words, the Shadow Demon Lord pulled two rabbits from his waist.
“Wow! Two rabbits!”
Yeonwoo clapped happily.
Unhyeon stared at the sight in disbelief.
But only for a moment before his expression hardened again.
“You expect us to roast meat that hasn’t even been cleaned? Do you know how hungry Yeonwoo is…?”
“Hyah!”
Without warning, the Shadow Demon Lord tossed the rabbits high into the air and drew his knife.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
After only a few quick strokes, the rabbits were perfectly dressed. The meat and hide had been completely separated, and even the entrails had vanished without a trace.
Unhyeon’s mouth fell open.
“Waaah!”
Yeonwoo applauded enthusiastically.
“……”
Watching the Shadow Demon Lord puff up proudly under Yeonwoo’s applause only made Unhyeon’s headache worse.
In the end, he gave up trying to exclude the man and silently began roasting the meat.
The Shadow Demon Lord, who had looked like he would leave at any moment, continued lingering around even after the meal, when Yeonwoo resumed his training.
Sometimes he ran alongside Yeonwoo as the child raced up and down the mountain, cheering him on.
Other times he lounged atop a huge boulder, snickering as he watched.
When they moved to the mountain they’d climbed yesterday under the pretense of collecting the meat they’d hung out to dry, he followed them there as well, smacking his lips alongside Yeonwoo.
And so, somehow, another day passed.
“Uuuugh… Yeonwoo’s sleepy…”
After training even harder than the day before, Yeonwoo stuffed himself with dinner before immediately falling fast asleep.
Click.
His bedroom door closed, and before long, the child’s soft, steady breathing could be heard.
After confirming there were no suspicious presences nearby and that everything was safe, Unhyeon finally turned around.
The Shadow Demon Lord stood there with his arms crossed, smiling warmly as he gazed at Yeonwoo’s room.
“Why haven’t you left yet?”
Unlike the way he spoke to Yeonwoo, Unhyeon’s voice was cold.
The Shadow Demon Lord’s eyes curved into crescents.
“Why do you keep trying to chase me away? Aren’t we friends?”
“We’re strangers.”
Utter strangers.
The kind who should have been trying to kill each other.
People who could never become close, and never should.
No… even right now…
Wasn’t this someone who could kill him on the spot without anyone finding it strange?
“I’m starting to feel a little hurt.”
“Feel free.”
“And please leave already.”
“That’s harsh. Did you really have to tell me to get lost…?”
Watching the dejected expression on the man’s face, Unhyeon frowned slightly.
Did I just…
Did he accidentally say his thoughts out loud?
It had been a mistake.
Still, after thinking about it, he realized he hadn’t said anything untrue.
Seeing him like that, the Shadow Demon Lord chuckled and pulled something from inside his robes.
It was a folded sheet of paper.
“I brought news you’ll probably like.”
“What is it?”
“News from the Central Plains.”
“…!”
Unhyeon’s expression froze.
He strode over, practically snatching the paper from the man’s hand before unfolding it.
As he read its contents, his face darkened by the second.
“Is this true?”
The Shadow Demon Lord smiled faintly.
“What? Don’t believe it because it came from someone in the Demonic Cult?”
“……”
Instead of answering, Unhyeon crumpled the paper tightly in his fist.
• Namgung Unhyeon, the Patriarch of the Namgung Clan and the Emperor Sword, has died fighting the Heavenly Demon.
• The Namgung Clan has appointed Namgung Mohyeon, the Emperor Sword’s younger brother, as the new Patriarch.
• The Martial Alliance is recruiting a new Demonic Cult Extermination Force to carry on the Emperor Sword’s will.
Every line was something he desperately wished not to believe.
Yet every line was something he couldn’t help believing.
If the people who had tried to kill him were behind this, they would naturally manipulate the situation to their advantage.
They’re even using my death.
Despicable.
The hand clutching the paper trembled.
“Why are you showing this to me?”
“Because you’re the Emperor Sword.”
“What good does that do?”
No matter what was happening in the Central Plains, there was nothing he could do in his current state.
“The Emperor Sword died that day on the snowy mountain.”
“You don’t intend to go back?”
“You only speak of returning when there’s actually somewhere to return to.”
“Then how about joining our Cult?”
Unhyeon’s brows knitted deeply.
His gaze toward the Shadow Demon Lord became even sharper.
“I would sooner die than betray the principles and honor of the Namgung Clan with my own hands.”
“So… you do intend to go back eventually.”
The Shadow Demon Lord laughed as though it were obvious.
Unhyeon couldn’t deny it.
Even if he could never return to the Namgung Clan or the Martial Alliance, he had always intended to return to the Central Plains someday.
He had no desire to spend the rest of his life in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, territory of the Demonic Cult.
That was why he had promised Yeonwoo he would take him there one day.
The Shadow Demon Lord stepped closer.
“Don’t you want revenge?”
His voice was soft, almost a whisper.
Yet it was unmistakable.
A sweet voice that seemed to tempt him toward vengeance.
Unhyeon simply smiled faintly and turned his head.
“People of the Demonic Cult…”
“You know that phrase’s getting a little dangerous, right?”
“If you want to kill me, then do it.”
“Mmm… No thanks. Believe it or not, I’m someone who values promises.”
Promises?
Unhyeon looked at him in confusion.
The Shadow Demon Lord merely shrugged with an unreadable expression.
Unhyeon turned away.
He had long since realized asking when the man planned to leave was a waste of time.
But before he reached the house, he suddenly stopped.
“The Central Plains won’t be invading anytime soon.”
“What do you mean?”
Unhyeon turned back.
“Exactly what I said. They may be recruiting a new extermination force, but they won’t be able to move so easily.”
Most likely because of internal power struggles.
“They’ve announced my death, but they never found my body. They probably haven’t convinced every sect and clan that I’m truly dead.”
“Does it matter whether they believe it or not? The Namgung Clan has already installed a new Patriarch.”
“I was meant to become the next Alliance Leader.”
Though betrayed by those he trusted, there were still many throughout the Central Plains who believed in and respected him.
Moreover, his cause of death had been announced as dying in battle against the Demonic Cult.
What sect or clan could simply disregard a martial artist who had supposedly given his life fighting for the Central Plains?
“As long as the majority refuse to accept my death, many will argue that finding my body comes before launching another campaign.”
Duty would outweigh revenge.
“Hm.”
The Shadow Demon Lord stroked his chin with interest.
“The righteous sects really do love putting on a show. They can’t even draw a sword without a proper justification.”
“They simply value righteousness and honor.”
“Exactly. Sounds exhausting.”
Why bother?
Just cut them down.
“So… want to join the Cult?”
“Get lost.”
Unhyeon turned away once more.
Something about being ignored so completely amused the Shadow Demon Lord, who burst into laughter.
Leaving that laughter behind, Unhyeon finally entered his room.
“Thank you for the information.”
Those were his final words before the door shut.
Watching him pretend to be annoyed yet refuse to abandon the courtesy expected of a righteous martial artist to the very end, the Shadow Demon Lord laughed again.
Click.
The door closed.
A heavy silence settled over the yard.
“Hm…”
The Shadow Demon Lord turned and walked away.
So instead of launching an extermination campaign, they’ll come searching for the body…
Either way, they’re coming.
And if the Emperor Sword was right, then those searching for his body would be the very people who had once followed him.
The Emperor Sword…
The Shadow Demon Lord glanced back toward Unhyeon’s room.
Was he expecting them to come?
Behind his mask, violet eyes cooled into an icy gaze.
A moment later, a quiet laugh escaped his lips.
“Well now.”
“So you planned to go back from the very beginning.”
Early the next morning.
Swoooosh—
While circulating his qi in meditation inside his room, Unhyeon suddenly opened his eyes.
Without hesitation, he picked up his sword and stepped outside.
But the instant he opened the door, someone’s arm stretched across his path, blocking the way.
“…?”
Frowning, Unhyeon looked up at the person standing before him.
