Chapter 94
While Muyeon was engaged in a decisive battle with the Blood Demon Corpse King, a blood-drying battle was also underway without him in the Green Forest.
“They’re getting closer-!”
“Damn it, bring more cannonballs!”
…The situation was not very good.
Although the remaining people were struggling with all their might, the hole left by the absence of a Master like Muyeon was simply too large.
In fact, a few jiangshi had broken through the loosened defensive line and even laid their hands on the Wooden Palisade.
Chwaaaak-!
Of course, Dongryong stepped up and personally severed the necks of those bastards, but this in itself proved that the defensive line was gradually being pushed back.
And the Haomun Leader knew this more painfully than anyone else.
‘The defensive line might be breached before the Great Hero returns.’
The Haomun Leader looked down, assuming the worst-case scenario.
“…”
“…”
Aside from those launching Ranged Attacks from atop the Wooden Palisade, countless Green Forest Members were waiting below tensely in preparation for Melee Combat.
However, Melee Combat was truly the worst of the worst.
If they engaged in close Quarters with jiangshi, who possessed outstanding physical abilities and refused to die easily, the casualties would be tremendous.
‘We have to somehow reduce their numbers as much as possible with artillery fire.’
But the gradually piling corpses were acting as a shield, creating a situation where the bombardment was no longer as effective as it had been at first.
Furthermore, as if they were adapting, the jiangshi’s movements were getting faster, making them harder to hit.
‘Damn it…’
Even so, she couldn’t just sit on her hands, so the Haomun Leader had no choice but to accept the Bitter Pill to Swallow and issue the Order to Fire.
“…Open Fire.”
“Open Fire!!”
And the moment the Green Forest Members lit the Hongyipao cannons to Open Fire and the cannonballs flew…!
Pause.
“…!”
…Others might not have noticed, but the Haomun Leader saw it. The jiangshi, which had been showing swift movements until now, suddenly stopped like marionettes with their strings cut.
‘Why…?’
She was surprised by the sight, but before her question could be answered…
B-b-b-b-bang-!!
…The cannonballs reached them first.
The merciless cannonballs dropped right onto the heads of the momentarily halted jiangshi, and those hit squarely were blown to pieces.
“Waaaaaah-!!”
“It’s a direct hit!”
With a proper bombardment having landed for the first time in a while, the Green Forest Members rejoiced without knowing the circumstances.
The Haomun Leader was also glad that the defensive line had been temporarily reestablished, but she couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
‘Why did the jiangshi stop…?’
Right now, the jiangshi aren’t moving of their own free will, but are being controlled by a Sorcerer.
And…, that Sorcerer must be fighting Muyeon right now.
‘Did something happen to the Sorcerer?’
Perhaps something had greatly impacted the Sorcerer’s state of mind.
Whatever the case, the Haomun Leader decided to view the situation positively for now.
Besides…
“There is no time to rejoice. Prepare for the next bombardment immediately!”
“Yes!”
…As if to say their brief pause was just a fluke, the jiangshi were already squirming and raising their bodies again.
There was no time to waste on useless idle thoughts.
* * *
The Blood Dragon was struck by the Unknown Wave Sword and its form was cleanly sliced apart.
Pussssh-!
The Blood Dragon, created from the blood of the jiangshi and the Blood Demon Corpse King, lost its shape and scattered blood across the ground.
Chwaaak-!
I immediately created a Saber Curtain to prevent the blood from splattering onto my body and the Imugi’s body.
I had personally realized that touching it would cause damage.
And…, that wasn’t the problem.
I had used the Unknown Wave Sword in front of the Blood Demon Corpse King, an elder of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Others might not know, but for a guy at the level of an elder, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize it.
“…That was just now.”
As I looked ahead, as expected, the Blood Demon Corpse King was staring at me with faded eyes.
Just a moment ago, he was the Blood Demon Corpse King who couldn’t overcome the joy of battle and wore a childlike smile. But now, not a single trace of a smile could be found on his face.
It’s always scarier when someone who usually smiles suddenly turns serious.
Of course, no matter if the Blood Demon Corpse King turned serious a hundred or a thousand times, it wasn’t like I would be scared…
‘It feels unpleasant.’
…The Blood Demon Corpse King’s emotionless eyes and his attitude that had suddenly changed as if he had snapped.
Every single thing about that Fanatic serving a false god made me physiologically uncomfortable and creeped me out.
“…You bastard, what was that just now?”
Naturally, the Blood Demon Corpse King wasn’t going to stop his current actions just because I felt unpleasant.
He scrutinized me with incredibly persistent eyes and took a step toward me.
“…Speak, what was that just now? How did you use it? How did you… No, no. Something was different. Something was different. It was somehow different from the one I know…”
And the moment he took his second step…
“Ah.”
…He suddenly stopped all movement, like an Ascetic who had attained enlightenment.
A single breath, a single blink, and even a single moment’s tremble.
His entire body stiffened as if he were a stone statue rather than a living creature.
And when he breathed and moved again, his head tilted halfway…
“You bastard. You were a Descendant of a Heretic.”
…It was accompanied by an eerie voice that sounded like scraping metal.
Step-, pssss.
Originally, demonic energy was heavily influenced by emotions.
If the user’s resentment and grief reached the heavens, the demonic energy could first become excited and erupt outside the body.
And as proof of that, every time the Blood Demon Corpse King took a step, demonic energy flowed out and rotted the ground.
At that absurd sight, the Imugi swallowed its saliva. Of course, I was also somewhat tense.
“I thought you were just…, a mere Unbeliever, but I was wrong. You are definitely a Heretic. No, a Descendant of a Heretic. Am I right?”
“…”
The Demonic Cult bastards call those who do not follow them Unbelievers. To them, an Unbeliever is someone who deserves to die.
And a heretic literally refers to those who were once part of the cult but left.
If an Unbeliever is someone who deserves to die by the Demonic Cult, a Heretic is someone who deceived and betrayed the cult… - a bastard who absolutely must be killed.
Their hatred toward Heretics is deep, so very deep.
And in my case…, I would probably be ranked at the very top of their Heretic hit list.
But there was also an unfair aspect to it.
“Wait.”
I held up my Palm toward the Blood Demon Corpse King, who was slowly approaching me, and spoke.
“Fuck, this is really bullshit. Have you ever even seen me in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains? I’ve never even joined the Demonic Cult, so why am I a Heretic, fuck.”
It had been bullshit for a long time. I had never even set foot in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, so why was I a Heretic?
But the Blood Demon Corpse King answered very firmly.
“An Inheritor of the Will of a Heretic is naturally the exact same Heretic.”
“That’s ridiculous. Then, is a criminal’s son a criminal just like his dad?”
“Is that not obvious?”
“…”
Come to think of it, this was a world with a guilt-by-association system. It was a world where a criminal’s son was treated as a criminal and beaten to death.
Still, after exchanging a few words, the Blood Demon Corpse King’s excitement subsided a little. He scrutinized me with eerie eyes and said this.
“If you are truly not a Heretic, recite Our Cult’s mantra.”
“A mantra? Ah…”
Originally, the Demonic Cult had its own mantra, just like how Monks chanted ‘Amitābha Buddha’ whenever they had the chance.
‘What was it again…, ah…’
I’m pretty sure it was ‘Divine Cult Undefeated, Demonic Heaven Under Heaven’.
So right now…, he’s telling me to recite that out loud?
“Recite the mantra and bow toward the direction of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains to show your respect. And if you submit obediently to my Capture, follow me to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, complete the verification, and join the cult, I will believe you.”
“…”
Bullshit, absolute bullshit.
But judging by the current atmosphere, it seemed as if just reciting the mantra would quell the Blood Demon Corpse King’s anger somewhat.
At this, I pondered for a moment.
‘Should I just close my eyes and do it once?’
Well, pride doesn’t feed you, and what wouldn’t I do to avoid the threat of that old Fiend?
“…I’ll prove it right now, so wait.”
Having quickly made up my mind, I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.
“Divine Cult…”
“…”
-You…!
The Blood Demon Corpse King and the Imugi watched with wide eyes.
And I…
“Divine Cult…, Divine Cult… Divine Cult, fuck…”
…In the end, I couldn’t hold it in and spat out a curse.
I’d rather die than do this.
“Divine Cult my fucking ass, you cultist bastards…, if you love the Heavenly Demon so much, go to Hell with him when he dies.”
“You bastard!!”
As soon as I said that, the Blood Demon Corpse King let out a Roar of Rage and charged at me.
“Do not speak The Honored One’s title with your filthy Heretic mouth!!”
Aaaaaah-!
As he charged, demonic energy poured out of his body as if it were screaming.
He approached me, driving death forward with an Aura like the Grim Reaper.
-Mu, Muyeon-!
At that sight, the Imugi freaked out and clung to me. It was a movement that seemed to urge us to hurry up and run away.
True…, looking at the Blood Demon Corpse King’s current appearance, anyone would probably suggest running away.
But I had no intention of doing so.
“Since I’ve been caught anyway, it’d be unfair if I didn’t get my money’s worth.”
No, I shouldn’t leave a witness alive in the first place. If by some chance the Blood Demon Corpse King survived and returned to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, it would find out I was here.
For the sake of my own safety, I absolutely had to kill the Blood Demon Corpse King right here, right now.