Chapter 144
“Th-The Heavenly Demon Sword…!”
Dokgo Jun quickly examined the Sword upon hearing those words.
It was to check whether it was genuine or a fake.
Of course, he didn’t exactly know what the Heavenly Demon Sword, which had been stuck in the Murim Alliance Secret Vault for hundreds of years, looked like, but…
Vwoom-.
…He felt as if the Demonic Qi flowing from the Sword was crying out that it was the Heavenly Demon Sword.
If this were genuine, what choice should he make?
After being attacked by the Demonic Cult during the finals of the last Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, the Murim Alliance realized that the Righteous-Demonic War was imminent.
Thanks to that, numerous Murim Alliance personnel were currently gathered in Qinghai, the Border with the Demonic Cult.
Facing the Righteous-Demonic War that would resume after hundreds of years, many shuddered in fear.
However…
“…This is an opportunity.”
…Dokgo Jun considered this war an opportunity.
An opportunity to elevate his standing, which had been blocked by the limitations of being a Second Son.
“If I can just establish merit in the war…!”
If he could just establish merit, he could run on a solid path to success even without the shadow of the Dokgo Noble Family.
And…
“If I can just recover the Heavenly Demon Sword…!”
…The Heavenly Demon Sword was, right before his eyes, the beginning of that merit.
After a short investigation, the Murim Alliance concluded that the reason the Demonic Cult raided Anhui was an attempt to reclaim its sacred artifact, the Heavenly Demon Sword.
Due to this Raid, the Murim Alliance suffered a loss amounting to one-fifth of their total forces. However, if they could just show that they had protected the Heavenly Demon Sword, which was the raiders' objective, this would become a victory for the Murim Alliance, not a defeat.
“And I, who recovered the Heavenly Demon Sword, will become a Hero…!”
Greed for the Heavenly Demon Sword had already begun to thicken in Dokgo Jun’s heart.
“Unyo Pavilion Lord! The purpose of this negotiation is to absolutely draw the Green Forest in as an ally of the Murim Alliance! You must never forget that!”
The words of the Grand Strategist, who had earnestly requested so, had long since been half-forgotten.
“The contents of the pledge document… which part do you wish to revise?”
Thus, Dokgo Jun began a new negotiation to recover the Heavenly Demon Sword.
* * *
“Of the contents of the pledge document, which part do you wish to revise?”
Hearing Dokgo Jun’s words, I smiled inwardly.
“Okay, he took the bait.”
It seemed the Murim Alliance originally wanted to wage war using us as a Meat Shield, but there was not a chance.
“As I said earlier, the nuance of an Alliance is a bit far from what we want. I’d like it to just be around the level of a Non-aggression Pact.”
“…A Non-aggression Pact.”
“And naturally, delete the clause that the Green Forest must fight on the Front Line against the Demonic Cult whenever the Murim Alliance wants.”
“…”
At my words, Dokgo Jun furrowed his brow as if in thought for a moment.
And soon, he slowly opened his mouth.
“Well…, the term Alliance and the part about the Martial Artists of the Green Forest fighting on the Front Line are clauses that the Grand Strategist particularly emphasized. As an underling of the Murim Alliance who came to this position, I am in a difficult spot to dare distort the will of the Murim Alliance…”
“So it’s a no? Then I guess I’ll just have to trade the Heavenly Demon Sword for scraps somewhere.”
“But…”
Grab.
As I reached out a hand to take back the Heavenly Demon Sword I had placed in front of Dokgo Jun, he blocked my hand.
“…Aren’t the contents of such negotiations originally subject to slight changes by the Person in Charge? If there is justification for recovering the Heavenly Demon Sword, the Grand Strategist will also Understand.”
“Right?”
Dokgo Jun’s eyes were already filled solely with the Heavenly Demon Sword. There was no way he would miss this opportunity.
“As per the General Stronghold Master’s request, I will change all mentions of an Alliance in the pledge document to a Non-aggression Pact.”
“Kya, I knew you would. Thanks.”
Dokgo Jun immediately took out a new piece of paper and began writing a Non-aggression Pact Document instead of an Alliance Pledge Document.
However, while rewriting the pledge document, he soon paused for a moment and asked me hesitantly.
“Um…, but General Stronghold Master… The Murim Alliance absolutely needs the strength of the Green Forest. It doesn’t have to be every time, but couldn’t we include a clause where we can seek the Green Forest’s strength even just a few times?”
“…Hmm, I don’t want to.”
“Please…, if only to save my face…”
Why would I care about your face, you punk.
Still, I also thought that if I treated the Murim Alliance too poorly, it might instead Provoke their anger.
At this, I pondered for a moment before…
“…Once.”
“…Pardon?”
“Include a clause that says, “The Green Forest will help the Murim Alliance exactly once when the Murim Alliance desires it.””
…I added a new clause to the pledge document.
In the Original Novel, the Murim Alliance seizes the chance of victory after the Protagonist’s desperate struggles. I didn’t read until the end of the novel, so I don’t know exactly how the win or loss turned out. But the Murim Alliance probably won.
However, this time, the progression is different from the Original Novel.
The war broke out a few years earlier than in the Original Novel, and the war began with both the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult having suffered damage.
Originally, when the Righteous-Demonic War started, I planned to just sit tight in our Hunan Province and live in luxury, but…
‘If the Murim Alliance looks like it’s going to lose, I suppose I can intervene about once.’
…Still, I had no intention of letting the Murim Alliance lose the war.
“Once, huh… Honestly, it’s lacking, but I think I can still save my face. I will do so.”
Scribble, scribble.
A new clause was created in the Murim Alliance-Green Forest Non-aggression Pact Document, stating that the Green Forest would help exactly once when the Murim Alliance needed it.
And below that…
“…The Green Forest transfers the Heavenly Demon Sword to the Murim Alliance, and the Murim Alliance pays the Green Forest 2,000 Gold Gwan in return.”
…A clause regarding the Heavenly Demon Sword was created.
Scribble, scribble…
“Here…, it is complete.”
Dokgo Jun handed me the Murim Alliance-Green Forest Non-aggression Pact Document that was completed on the spot.
“Is the General Stronghold Master satisfied with the new pledge document?”
“Hmm…”
Looking at the contents of the pledge document, I smiled without Dokgo Jun noticing.
Compared to the first pledge document, this was an Epoch-making Change.
‘If the Murim Alliance Headquarters find out, they’ll probably clutch their heads in disbelief, won’t they?’
According to the contents of this pledge document, even if the Righteous-Demonic War broke out, we would be able to sleep with our legs stretched out in the Rear Area.
All of this was thanks to the Heavenly Demon Sword.
Feeling a bit regretful, I lightly stroked the blade of the Heavenly Demon Sword and then placed it on the table.
It was an item that would definitely give me indigestion if I swallowed it anyway. If I were going to dispose of it, selling it for money like this was much more profitable.
“I’ll sign.”
“…Yes!”
When I expressed my intention to sign, Dokgo Jun, filled with joy, perhaps due to the thought of obtaining the Heavenly Demon Sword, immediately brought over the red ink pad.
Then, after stamping the pledge document with the ink pad, he wrote a promissory note stating that 2,000 Gold Gwan would be paid to me in the name of the Murim Alliance and handed it to me.
“All the contents of this pledge document and the promissory note are processed under the guarantee of the Continental Exchange, the Main Trading Money Changer of the Murim Alliance. You do not need to worry about not receiving the money.”
“Right, well… In that case…”
Hearing his words, I signed the pledge document. Then, after coating my finger in the red ink pad, I prepared to make my mark.
Press.
…I stamped it right onto the pledge document.
“…With this, the Murim Alliance-Green Forest Non-aggression Pact has been concluded.”
With this, the Murim Alliance had become an excellent Meat Shield for our Green Forest.
* * *
Right after all the pledges were completed, Dokgo Jun immediately took out the Great Return Pill from the wooden box and handed it to me.
“General Stronghold Master. Here is the promised Great Return Pill.”
“Oh…”
And then…
Slide-.
“…”
“…”
…He took the Heavenly Demon Sword instead and placed it into the wooden box where he had taken out the Great Return Pill.
‘…Is this what it feels like to be NTR’d?’
In truth, it hadn’t been that long since I obtained the Heavenly Demon Sword, but it felt as if my heart was being torn apart.
It had been a long time since I found a Sword that fit so perfectly in my hand like that…
As I stared with eyes full of regret, Dokgo Jun quickly packed up the wooden box and bowed his head to me.
“General Stronghold Master. Then, I shall take my leave with my party now.”
“Ah…, you’re leaving already?”
“Isn’t the situation quite urgent right now? I also have things to report to Headquarters…, so I think I must hurry and hit the road.”
On Dokgo Jun’s face as he said that, his eagerness to report the recovery of the Heavenly Demon Sword was evident.
“…”
Looking at that face, I somehow find myself not wanting to let him leave so easily.
“Ah, was 2,000 Gwan too little? Should I have asked for more?”
Or should I just snatch it back and use the Heavenly Demon Sword myself.
…Thoughts like these began to swirl in my head.
“Then, farewell.”
“…”
Of course, knowing that I shouldn’t do that…, I let Dokgo Jun and the Heavenly Demon Sword leave just like that.
* * *
After sending Dokgo Jun off, I asked Jeokyeom, who remained in the room.
“Hey, Jeokyeom. Are you okay?”
“Pardon? What do you…”
“That punk was from the Dokgo Noble Family just now. Is it okay to just let him leave alive?”
“…”
Because Jeokyeom had a worse history with Dokgoyeong than anyone else, I couldn’t help but be mindful of him.
However…
“I am fine.”
“…Really?”
“Wasn’t Dokgoyeong the one I held a grudge against, not the Dokgo Noble Family? And…”
Jeokyeom bowed his head deeply and continued speaking.
“Thanks to the Leader’s grace, I was able to resolve that grudge. I decided from that day on that elder brother’s will is my will.”
“You punk…”
Jeokyeom’s face as he said that truly looked as if he would die if I told him to die.
At this, I patted his shoulder a couple of times.
“Right, I Understand your will well. You worked hard today, so go and rest now.”
“Yes, Leader.”
Like that, Jeokyeom left, and…
“Great Hero.”
…This time, the Haomun Leader, who had been hiding her presence while I was talking with Dokgo Jun, came in.
“I saw the Murim Alliance representatives packing their bags. You have completed the negotiations, right?”
“Ah, yeah. The pledge document is here.”
Without hesitation, I showed the Haomun Leader the pledge document I had just written.
She skimmed through the pledge document for a moment and soon marveled.
“If it is according to this pledge document, we will be able to observe the situation from the Rear Area without participating in the war. And we will also be able to maintain an amicable relationship with the Murim Alliance.”
“I negotiated amazingly well, didn’t I?”
“Selling the Heavenly Demon Sword for as much as 2,000 Gold Gwan was a truly brilliant move. It was a white elephant to us.”
“That’s…, urgh…”
As I hesitated for a moment at the fact that I had let the Heavenly Demon Sword go, the Haomun Leader’s eyes flashed as she pressed me.
“Great Hero… As I said before, that item is something we must not possess. Please do not try to ruin things because of Selfish Desires.”
“I know…, I do too.”
“Anyway, you worked hard today. The night is deep, so I shall take my leave now as well.”
“Ah, is it already time…”
In the first place, it was late afternoon when I woke up today.
Furthermore, after the negotiations with the Murim Alliance were finished, it was already late at night.
Because the night was deep, I sent the Haomun Leader off and lay down in bed.
Perhaps because I had woken up after sleeping for several days, sleep did not come.
Instead…
“Sss…”
…My hand twitched, and a different sensation kept tickling my hand.
It was because of the Heavenly Demon Sword.
“Haa…, I’ve got a fucking lot of greed too.”
Even though I know in my head that it’s not my item, my heart keeps leaning toward it.
“It was the first time a Sword fit so perfectly in my hand like that…”
As expected, a demonic Sword is a demonic Sword.
With the lingering feeling still remaining in my hand, I swung it through midair a few times for a moment before…
“Tch, yeah, it’s already left my hands, so thinking about it more will only make my stomach hurt. Let’s just sleep.”
…I pulled the blanket completely over myself and forced myself to sleep.
Well, anyway, today was a day with far more gains than losses.
* * *
Flash.
“Hmm…?”
That night, I had a bizarre experience.
“My consciousness is awake, but…”
…My body wasn’t awake. As proof of that, I couldn’t lift my eyelids.
I could immediately realize what situation I was in.
“Sleep paralysis…”
Because it was something I was experiencing for the first time in my life, I found it incredibly fascinating.
I wondered what it meant for only consciousness to be awake, and it was something like this.
I tried hard to move my arms and legs, but they didn’t move.
‘Well…, I’ll probably Wake up on my own in a bit.’
It was then that I focused my mind to just go back to sleep.
Rustle-.
“Uh…?”
A presence could be heard from somewhere in my room, where there definitely shouldn’t be anyone.
“Is it…, just my imagination? It must be, right?”
I tried to brush it off as my imagination, but…
Rustle, slide.
“…!”
…It wasn’t.
There is something inside my room right now.
And that something is…
Slide-, slide-.
…Approaching me.
“Fuck.”
Something is approaching me without even trying to hide its presence.
“An Assassin?”
I soon erased that assumption from my head.
What kind of Assassin in the World would approach their target so slowly like that?
And that isn’t just at the level of approaching slowly.
Slide-, slide-.
…It’s crawling on the floor, approaching me.
“Fuck.”
Suddenly, the story the Haomun Leader told in the past comes to mind.
“G-Ghosts really do exist…!”
A ghost.
Slide, slide.
If someone crawling on the floor approaching a person suffering from sleep paralysis in the middle of the night isn’t a ghost, then what is it?
Slide-, slide-.
“So this is why there are people who wet their pants even at an older age.”
Of course, I didn’t wet myself, but it’s that scary.
No, it’s fucking scary.
It’s so fucking scary.
What is this all of a sudden, fuck.
Slide-, slide-.
“Fucking Hell, Haomun Leader, Yongyong-a, Somyung-a, Dongryong-a, Maknae-ya, a-anyone…! Even that Damned Bitch Cheon Ye-Seo is fine, so please, someone help me…!”
With the sound having approached right up close before I knew it, I desperately prayed inwardly like that.
However…
Stop.
“…”
…The presence stopped right in front of me, making my pleas pointless.
At that moment, I stopped breathing and my thoughts halted as well.
I was merely waiting for the punishment that the approaching Unknown Fear would hand down to me.
But…
…
…
“…?”
Absolutely nothing happened, making my worries pointless.
“…Did it leave?”
The moment I felt relieved for a second at this…!
“…If you throw me away again, you die.”
“…!”
Along with a chilling woman’s voice…
“Keheok-!!”
…I exhaled my Held Breath and was able to Wake up.
“Heok…, heok…”
The surroundings were already brightly lit as if morning had come, and my heart was pounding severely as if I had recklessly used Martial Arts.
And next to my bed…
“…What the fuck is this.”
…The Heavenly Demon Sword I had sent away yesterday was placed far too Neatly next to me.