Chapter 845 : Even That Terrifying Heavenly Demon Spirit Will Smile

While ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Geom Mugeuk had gone to fetch alcohol, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult and the Sword King sat side by side, gazing up at the moon.

Having ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍grown fairly close after going through the fight at the Flowing Wind Tavern this time, sitting alone together like this was not awkward at all.

“Hero ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Inn… it is a very wonderful name.”

At ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Sword King’s words, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult wore a pleased expression. In truth, it was a name that had come to mind the moment he heard Geom Mugeuk’s words upon entering this place.

“I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍put quite a bit of thought into it for your sake.”

“Thank ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you. However, I do not know if I will be able to live such a life.”

Geom Mugeuk’s proposal was not something one could carry out without considerable resolve.

“I have lived only for myself—do you think I could live while taking care of others?”

If he were to run a large inn, there would easily be dozens of people working there. Not only the workers at the inn, but could he really manage his relationship with Cha Iran as well?

No, more than that—would Cha Iran even wish to live such a life together with him?

And yet, the fact that he was worrying like this likely meant he did want to try running such a inn at least once. Perhaps even more so because he had lived a life always thinking only of leaving somewhere.

“If one sets their mind to it, what in this world cannot be done? It is just that setting one’s mind is the difficult part.”

The Sword King knew why the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult was saying this. Because, among those he knew, the one who had made the greatest resolve and changed his life was precisely this man.

If it were him, could he have cast aside the position of Cult Leader and come here? Even opening a single inn made him hesitate this much.

“Do you not regret that decision you made, Cult Leader?”

Various emotions flickered across the face of the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult. It was something he could have simply brushed off with a smile without answering, yet he revealed his honest feelings.

“Why would I not?”

Especially the time when he had traveled the Central Plains with Gowol, establishing Hidden Moon’s branches and divisions—it had been difficult. Protecting Gowol, who had thrown himself into the work, had meaning, but creating Hidden Moon itself had not been something he originally wanted.

“To be honest, there were times I fell asleep recalling the days I lived as the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult. I even missed that dreadful sandstorm.”

The Sword King nodded, as if he understood exactly what he meant.

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult was honest with the Sword King.

Even aside from the added goodwill of thinking, since he was someone Geom Mugeuk liked this much, he must be a decent person, the Sword King he had come to know this time had a certain charm.

He was the kind of person who inspired trust that he would never use such candid words as a weakness.

“What about now? Do you still regret it?”

“Now… sometimes.”

At those words, the Sword King laughed, and the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult laughed along with him.

“This is all because of the Young Cult Leader. So you should be careful as well. Each time you lie down to sleep in that inn, you might find yourself longing for this very moment. There is no guarantee you will not become ‘that ponytailed fellow’ yourself. Ah! I must have been bewitched back then. Why was I bewitched by that Young Cult Leader who does not even come visit the inn?”

At that moment, a voice came from behind.

“As expected! Now you finally sound like our Cult Leader.”

Geom Mugeuk, who had gone to fetch alcohol, had just arrived.

“Are you not the one who hides and only comes out waiting for the moment I speak ill of you?”

“It is a misunderstanding worth having!”

Geom Mugeuk laughed as he sat between the two.

“On a day like this, we should have a drink. It is a meaningful day when our Brother Ak and I have begun speaking comfortably, and also the day we gained such a splendid name as Hero Inn.”

“It has not been decided yet.”

Though the Sword King took a step back, in Geom Mugeuk’s heart, the inn had already opened its doors.

“What are you so worried about? If things get troublesome later and the situation becomes complicated, just write this big at the entrance and put it up. ‘The Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader is my friend. —The Owner.’”

The Sword King shook his head with a laugh.

“Then that troublesome situation will grow ten times worse.”

“And for those of us watching, it will be ten times more entertaining.”

Geom Mugeuk had even carefully brought cups for everyone.

“Here, please have a drink from me.”

He poured alcohol for the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult first, then for the Sword King as well.

“Accept a drink from me.”

The Sword King poured a drink for Geom Mugeuk.

They raised their cups and drank. Sitting on the wide rock in the courtyard, drinking under the moonlight as their companion—

“This is good.”

“It truly is.”

Words of approval naturally came from all of them.

As he set his cup down, Geom Mugeuk spoke words that had long been buried deep in his heart.

“I am glad everyone is safe.”

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult and the Sword King looked at Geom Mugeuk. They both knew well how hard he had fought to save everyone.

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult spoke to him.

“You saved them all.”

A smile formed at the corner of Geom Mugeuk’s lips. He was someone who always said what others wanted to hear—but how could he himself not wish to hear such words?

He had truly wanted to hear this.

Well done, you saved them all.

He had spent all those long years striving just to hear those words.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult with gentle eyes.

“And you saved me, Cult Leader. Thanks to you, I am sitting here drinking like this.”

Though the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult usually liked to take credit, at least when it came to that final battle, it was not so.

“I merely seized the chance and stepped in first to claim credit. Who there would have wanted you to die? Even if sparing him meant everyone else would die… as long as you were inside that man’s body, your father would not have killed him. I am certain of it.”

Suddenly, Geom Mugeuk recalled what the old man had once said—that the people he had made admirable around him would, in turn, guide him to become even more admirable.

“I heard you stood in front of my father and said, ‘Are you out of your mind?’”

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult waved his hand dismissively.

“At that time, I was out of my mind.”

At those words, they all laughed together.

The three of them drank pleasantly.

After they finished all the alcohol and rose to part ways, Geom Mugeuk spoke of the next gathering.

“When Lee Ahn and Unit Leader Cha return, let’s have a drink with the four of us.”

“Alright.”

At the mention of Cha Iran, the Sword King shrank slightly. Geom Mugeuk did not miss that change in expression.

“That’s exactly why Brother Ak needs Unit Leader Cha!”

Geom Mugeuk and the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult left the Sword King’s residence.

As they walked together through the inner compound, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult suddenly stopped.

“Young Cult Leader.”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

“May I ask you something?”

“Please, go ahead.”

An unexpected concern slipped from his lips.

“Would my staying by Gowol’s side… be a burden to him?”

“A burden?”

“I mean it as it sounds. Since he brought me here, might he feel he must take responsibility for me until the end?”

“You speak so freely when insulting the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, yet you still mind Strategist Go’s feelings.”

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult gave an awkward smile, and Geom Mugeuk reassured him.

“You persuaded him so much back then to bring you along, and now you think you are a burden? If that is the case, then just leave outright. Only when someone is gone do people realize their worth.”

“He is so busy, he might not even notice I am gone.”

When one begins worrying about someone, pointless imaginings can end up consuming the entire relationship. At times like this, the best thing to do is—

“Since it came up, shall we go see our Strategist Go? He is probably not asleep yet, right?”

“He will be working.”

“Let’s go. We can at least see his face before we leave.”

Geom Mugeuk began walking toward Hidden Moon together with the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult. Upon arriving there, he asked the martial artist guarding the entrance to call Gowol.

As they waited, Geom Mugeuk suddenly spoke. It was an answer to the question the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult had asked earlier.

“I think it is the opposite.”

“The opposite of what?”

“Strategist Go is probably worrying like this. ‘Would the Cult Leader find me burdensome? Is he losing the chance to roam the Central Plains freely because he is tied to me? What if he loses interest in someone like me?’ Even if he does not show it, he is likely very concerned.”

“Do you really think so?”

“If it were me, I would have been.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s firm reply, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult felt better. Even knowing it was said to comfort him, the words still gave him strength.

At that moment, Gowol came running out of the building with a delighted expression.

“Young Cult Leader, congratulations on defeating your great enemy.”

Gowol greeted him formally with a respectful salute.

“It was thanks to you watching over things from behind.”

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult spoke with feigned annoyance.

“And me! I risked my life fighting too.”

Gowol looked at the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult.

“You have worked hard as well, Cult Leader.”

Though his words were polite, there was a slight playfulness in his eyes.

If the Young Cult Leader had not been there, his gaze seemed like it would have said, ‘Cult Leader! You worked even harder!’

Seeing that look, he realized his worries had been unnecessary. Gowol, busy as he was with work, remained unchanged like this.

Gowol asked Geom Mugeuk.

“How do you feel?”

“It feels both refreshing and bittersweet.”

It had not even been a full day since Hwa Moogi had been killed.

Gowol read Geom Mugeuk’s heart precisely.

“You are more worried about what lies ahead, are you not?”

“So you also think Father intends to unify the martial world.”

Indeed, Gowol shared the same thought as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

“Yes, the Cult Leader will surely try to achieve the unification of the martial world.”

If even Gowol saw it that way, then at the very least, it meant that was the reality.

“If you were to advise me as a strategist?”

Even if they did not wish it, the Demon Supremes were people who had to follow his father’s orders. The Evil Smiling Demon and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme might follow him, but the rest would all side with his father.

However, Gowol was not yet a strategist of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—he was his strategist.

“There is one most certain way to stop the unification of the martial world. However, it is a method the Young Cult Leader will not want.”

“Say it.”

It was a method he had never imagined—and just as she said, it was one he did not want.

“You must become the Cult Leader before the promised five years pass.”

“!”

At the same time, it was the most certain method. After all, only the Cult Leader could start a war.

The problem was that he had no desire whatsoever to take the position of Cult Leader while his father was still in his prime.

“And do you have a method for me to become Cult Leader?”

Gowol did not answer. His expression made it clear he knew—but could never say it aloud.

From that reaction, Geom Mugeuk could guess the method.

To duel his father and win.

If the son became stronger than the father, the father would yield the position of Cult Leader.

Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly.

“As you know, I once served as acting Cult Leader. I was tied down in the Heavenly Demon Pavilion all day, working. It was truly stifling and difficult. But I also came to understand that because Father endures that hardship, the countless people of our cult are able to live.”

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze, which had been on Gowol, turned toward the moon.

“The day Father steps down, I will make it the most honorable day in this world. It will be a day worthy of the lifelong devotion he has given while protecting the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.”

Gowol bowed his head respectfully. Being as perceptive as he was, he fully understood what he meant. He must have clearly realized his resolve—that he would never seize the position of Cult Leader by defeating his father.

The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, who had been quietly listening, came up with another method.

“Hey, Young Cult Leader. I have thought of a way to stop the unification of the martial world.”

With the gazes of Geom Mugeuk and Gowol focused on him, an unexpected method came out.

“Get married and give him a grandchild.”

Thinking it was a joke, Geom Mugeuk laughed. But the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult was serious.

“I am not joking. If he holds a cute and handsome grandson who resembles you in his arms, any desire to wage war will vanish instantly. No—since he only raised a son, give him a granddaughter instead. I am telling you, trust me! In front of a granddaughter, even that terrifying Heavenly Demon Spirit will smile!”

Unlike Geom Mugeuk, who laughed it off as nonsense, Gowol nodded seriously.

---

“Are you not asleep yet?”

When Geom Mugeuk went to see him, Geom Woojin was standing in the inner courtyard of his residence with his hands clasped behind his back, looking up at the night sky.

“Is that not why you came, knowing I would be like this?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

His father usually went to bed early, but for some reason, it felt like he would still be awake tonight. So even the drinks he had earlier, he expelled their effects with his internal energy and came here sober.

Geom Mugeuk stepped beside his father. It was the same moon he had seen in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s room, with the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult and the Sword King, and with Gowol. Now, he looked up at that same moon together with his father.

Before, he had looked at it without much thought, but now that he was gazing at it with his father, his chest swelled. Because he was standing together with the person he had most wanted to save.

“How do you feel?”

“I feel good. So good that I do not think I will be able to sleep tonight. Ah, and take a look at this.”

Geom Mugeuk took out a piece of paper from his chest. It was the plan he had written earlier in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s room.

“There are this many things I must do now. Not that—look here. Do not think about joining the Handsome Four and making the Demon Supremes uncomfortable.”

The corners of Geom Woojin’s lips lifted. It was the first familiar smirk he had shown since Hwa Moogi died.

“Here. Traveling with Father! I want to go on another journey with you, Father!”

He had expected his father to say he was busy, of course.

“Then prepare a fishing rod again.”

His father was waiting for a rematch of their fishing contest.

And tonight, he had been waiting for his son.

“Unfold the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.”

Geom Mugeuk did as told and unfolded the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.

“That as well.”

Geom Mugeuk obediently unfolded even the Heavenly Time Secret Art, allowing the outside scenery to be seen.

Though he had experienced the Heavenly Time Secret Art once before, Geom Woojin was still astonished upon seeing it again. Time flowed as if it had slowed to a halt. The faint flutter of a bug’s wings flying toward the lantern on the wall was visible to the naked eye.

‘Even if I teach him everything else, I will not teach him the Heavenly Time Secret Art. I am sorry, Father.’

But his father had not asked him to open this space to learn that technique.

“Your Nine Calamities Demon Art has advanced a stage.”

“Yes, this battle helped.”

The Nine Calamities Demon Art had now reached the Eleventh Star. Only one step remained until the Twelve Star Greatness. Of course, that one step could become something that one might never cross in a lifetime if fortune did not favor them.

Geom Woojin drew the Heavenly Demon Sword as he spoke.

“You will not leave until you reach the Twelve Star Greatness.”

Geom Mugeuk was startled. The reason his father had him unfold the Heavenly Time Secret Art was to train him. Even the fact that he was still carrying his sword late into the night was because he had anticipated his son would come.

His father must have known that if his son became stronger than he was now, achieving his own dream would become even more difficult.

Yet instead of asking to be taught the Heavenly Time Secret Art, his father was trying to help his son reach the Twelve Star Greatness. Because he was this kind of father.

This is why this fight is the most difficult for me.

Geom Mugeuk smiled as he spoke to his father.

“As you can see, I have many things I must do…”

Geom Mugeuk drew the Black Demon Sword and spoke firmly.

“I will leave before morning comes.”