Published at 29th of April 2026 8:50 am

Chapter 426

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『How ridiculous.』

I heard the Heavenly Demon's voice.

The emotion contained within was violently intense.

Whether it was anger or contempt, it was filled with negativity all the same.

『Those without qualification dare to discuss positions. How can that not be disgusting?』

No qualification.

At those words, I looked at the Young cult leader.

His eyes glinted with a red hue, slanting with the mark of the Heaven-Slaying Star, said to be the symbol of the Heavenly Demon.

Behind him stood demonic beings, brimming with menacing energy.

Just by looking at them, the Young cult leader's status seemed firmly established.

'No qualification, huh.'

I recalled what the Heavenly Demon had told me before.

The qualification to become the heavens was not something like the Heaven-Slaying Star.

'What the Heavenly Demon values most is—'

None other than the divine eye, or Ghost Eyes—the eyes that could see the unseen.

The crucial part the Heavenly Demon spoke of was that.

'So.'

Was it for that reason he told me to go to the Demonic Cult and inherit the position?

'That's insane.'

A hero of the orthodox factions.

The Sword Saint's successor, Yu Chun-gil, who is seen as a symbol of peace.

Not just that, I had become the representative of the rising stars of the orthodox sect, and yet he tells me to become the Heavenly Demon?

It was utter nonsense.

『Why do you say it's nonsense?』

"......."

I closed my mouth at the Heavenly Demon's words.

Could this guy read thoughts too? Now he just reads every thought—how embarrassing.

『I'm not reading, just sensing.』

'Isn't that the same thing?'

『Answer. Why do you think it's impossible?』

'I just explained why, moments ago.'

Regarding Yu Chun-gil too. And besides—

'I have no intention of becoming the Heavenly Demon.'

Why would I risk myself to willingly sit in such a dangerous and villainous position?

『Haha.』

The Heavenly Demon laughed. Did he find something I said to be funny?

『If that's your only reason... then it doesn't matter.』

'What?'

『Do as you please. The axis of fate will turn that way regardless.』

'.......'

He had a particular talent for speaking in cryptic, annoying ways.

'Yeah, right.'

Axis, what axis.

If that 'axis' was mine, I'd do anything to break free from it.

No matter what it took.

* * *

The Young cult leader and Divine Spear moved on.

Their destination was a previously prepared meeting hall.

Inside, the table was full of neat food, there was tea, and attendants clustered together with tense expressions.

"You've prepared this quite nicely."

At the Young cult leader's words, Divine Spear simply took a seat in response.

To Divine Spear's left was Heavenly Insight. And on the right—

'It's me.'

Divine Spear's gaze settled on me.

Noticing this, I sat down cautiously.

"Thank you for agreeing to this meeting. It must have been a difficult decision."

At the Young cult leader's words, Heavenly Insight's expression hardened, clearly showing his dislike.

"What is it you want to say?"

Divine Spear asked directly.

Straight to the point.

The Young cult leader smiled at those words.

"Directness—how refreshing. I like that. Then let me get straight to it as well."

The Young cult leader pulled something out from his robe. It was a letter.

"The Demonic Cult, which I am to lead as cult leader, wishes to avoid unnecessary conflict with the orthodox factions and live in peace. Therefore—"

Bang.

A rough sound echoed. It was from Heavenly Insight's side. He slammed the desk.

"What nonsense you speak."

The atmosphere grew ice-cold at his response.

"You dare utter such words? Have you forgotten your own actions?"

The Demonic Cult and Broken Heaven Palace appeared, which turned Henan upside down and left Divine Spear, the alliance leader, with fatal injuries, nearly killing him.

"And now, peace? I'm holding myself back from tearing out your tongue, yet you speak of peace. That's a ludicrous claim."

"Oh my, it seems you're quite upset. Allow me to apologize for what happened back then."

"You...!"

"Well, we had our own circumstances on our side... Not that it excuses anything..."

The red irises flashed.

"Could you perhaps overlook things in exchange for our sharing information about Broken Heaven Palace?"

"You crazy...!"

Heavenly Insight could barely hold back, about to explode—

"Let's hear him out."

"Alliance leader!"

Divine Spear butted in.

Heavenly Insight glared at him, but Divine Spear's gaze was resolute.

"This whole negotiation is full of issues. How can we possibly—"

"Sit down."

"......!"

Divine Spear spoke calmly, and Heavenly Insight ground his teeth and sat down.

He decided to at least hear Divine Spear out.

"Go on."

"Ah, then I'll continue."

I glanced over at him, annoyed by his constant grinning.

It felt unpleasant.

"Broken Heaven Palace approached the Demonic Cult because they needed something from us."

"Something they needed?"

"Yes, something they needed."

"And what would that be?"

"The previous Heavenly Demon. My father's corpse."

"...... What did you say?"

'Huh?'

I paused at those words. What did he just say...?

'Whose corpse?'

The corpse of the Heavenly Demon?

My eyes widened.

Before I knew it, I looked at the Divine Sword.

The Heavenly Demon gave no particular response.

"... You mean the cult leader's corpse still remained?"

"It did. We kept it in our possession."

Heavenly Insight's expression twisted.

"That's impossible. The cult leader's body..."

"It disappeared at the hands of the Sword Saint. That's how the orthodox faction remembers it."

"That's how it's known?"

"I don't know the inner details, but my father's body was kept by the Demonic Cult. In pristine condition, at that."

'Pristine', he said.

The words he used to describe his father, the Heavenly Demon, felt unsettling.

It was as if he was describing something else entirely.

"That's not possible..."

It was different from what Yu Chun-gil had said. The people around me began to stir.

'Is what he's saying true?'

I covertly asked the Heavenly Demon.

『Well.』

Once again, the Heavenly Demon gave an ambiguous answer. Birds of a feather indeed—these people are all the same.

"... So Broken Heaven Palace wanted the Heavenly Demon's corpse?"

"Yes."

"And you just handed it over?"

"Ahaha... It wasn't that easy to hand over. It's not something you'd just give away that easily."

"'Not that easy' means you gave it away after much bargaining, then?"

I cut in, drawing all attention. The Young cult leader also glanced my way.

"That's right. It was with much difficulty."

"... What did you get in return?"

"The Heavenly Demon Divine Art."

"What?"

Clatter. At my words, the Divine Sword at my waist shifted.

"The Demonic Cult received the lost sacred arts from Broken Heaven Palace."

"......."

The Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

A famous martial technique.

Said to have been used by the previous Heavenly Demon.

'They said it could alter the heavens and earth.'

Its power was so great that it would ingrain a lifetime of terror in anyone who saw it.

But now—

'It wasn't just lost—'

Broken Heaven Palace gave it away? Utter nonsense.

Why would Broken Heaven Palace even have that?

It was strange that they possessed it at all.

And they exchanged the Heavenly Demon's corpse for the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?

'What did they plan to do with the corpse?'

Their reason for taking the Heavenly Demon's body gave me a chill.

'Something's off.'

Now that I knew Broken Heaven Palace was connected to the heretics, countless dark thoughts flickered through my mind.

They took the corpse. The ones who took it were heretics. If you think about it that way—

'... These bastards.'

What are they plotting this time?

At least in my past life, I don't think they ever did anything using dead bodies.

"The Heavenly Demon Divine Art—from Broken Heaven Palace? And you handed over the body in exchange?"

"Yes. And not just anything. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art. It's the most essential thing to become the cult leader."

『Ha ha.』

At the Young cult leader's words, the Heavenly Demon laughed.

『The most essential thing? That wretch has no idea the meaning of those words.』

'.......'

Calling his own successor a 'wretch'—how odd.

『Don't call him a successor. I've never chosen something like that as my successor. Receiving the Heavenly Demon Divine Art? How ridiculous.』

'Why? If it was already lost, isn't it possible to get it back?'

『Yes, it was lost. The fact that no one could use it meant it ended in my generation. And so, what is it that brat got?』

'Ah.'

Now that he mentioned it, it made sense.

If it was truly lost, then what did Broken Heaven Palace give him?

『Besides, that divine art can't be used by someone like him. Only those who can 'see it' can use it.』

'... You mean—'

Does using the Heavenly Demon Divine Art require the Ghost Eyes?

Not the Heaven-Slaying Star or anything like that?

『How many times have I said it? The so-called Heaven-Slaying Star is a useless form of karma.』

'... Hmm.'

As I narrowed my eyes, pondering his words—

"So let's say you received the technique—how do you explain your attack on Henan then?"

"There's not much to clarify there. It's true that we worked with Broken Heaven Palace, it's true we held grudges."

"What did you say...?"

"I apologize."

At the Young cult leader's words, Heavenly Insight's face furrowed further.

It looked like his face would burst.

"Apologize...? Do you know how many died by your evil deeds?"

"I apologize for that too."

"You!"

Heavenly Insight leaped up, shouting.

"Do you know how many more died in the war you started?"

"Those were the actions of the previous cult leader, but if you wish, I will apologize for that as well."

BANG!!

"I can't listen to any more!"

Heavenly Insight's eyes flashed dangerously.

"Alliance leader, do you still think this negotiation can continue after his attitude today?"

"......."

Divine Spear gave no response.

No, it looked like he was reacting—his back muscles tensed visibly.

"I, for one, cannot accept this."

"Haaa..."

The Young cult leader let out a sigh.

"It all happened long ago. So I guess no apology can fix anything."

His red eyes gleamed.

He scratched his cheek.

To be honest, it wasn't just Divine Spear and Heavenly Insight.

'Ah, I'm reaching my limit.'

Just watching this and pretending everything's fine—it was reaching the limit.

My heart felt cold.

It always did.

I needed to think rationally—as always.

But still, did I—

'Is this how I should live?'

Even up to this moment?

In that listless moment, something came to mind.

'If it was Yu Chun-gil...'

If it were Grandpa, what would he do in this situation?

Such a thought brushed by.

'What do you mean, what would he do.'

In an utterly quiet moment, I heard the old man's voice echoing in my head.

'I'd just go for it—no matter what.'

"......."

"Then... not just apologies, but I also have an offer for the Murim Alliance—"

My body took flight.

"Hey."

"Wh-what...?"

The Young cult leader turned wide-eyed at me.

I didn't meet his gaze for long.

Crash!

I leaped over the desk and drove my knee straight into the Young cult leader's face.

"Keuk!"

Blood burst out as his head snapped back.

Watching him reel, I spoke—

"You really need to get smacked before you talk. You piss people off."

Srrrng!!

At that instant, the elite guards on the demonic side drew their weapons.

TL's corner:

Maybe I forgot, but I don't think Baek Chun-il is the Heavenly Demon's son...

Is he pretending?

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