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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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Despite Namgung So-yeon’s reassurance that the village was nearby, it turned out to be much farther than expected.
As he struggled to keep up, gasping for breath, she tilted her head and adjusted her pace to match his.
“I thought you were a martial artist, but I guess I was mistaken.”
It seemed she had assumed he knew martial arts based on the signs of physical training in his physique or bearing.
They camped out several times on their way to the village and shared various stories around the campfire.
Mostly, it was her talking, since he didn’t know anything about this world.
“So, Master Kang, why were you there, anyway?”
“Ah, well…”
He hesitated, then recounted his experience with the strange religious group.
He omitted the parts about possession and other dimensions and only explained that he had woken up in a strange place and ran away from the suspicious cultists and eventually fell off a cliff.
By the time he finished, her eyes were brimming with tears.
“Oh my… how awful. So, you escaped from the clutches of the wicked Demonic Cult.”
“Demonic Cult?”
“Yes, the Demonic Cult. A truly evil organization that plagues the Central Plains.”
Was she referring to the Demonic Cult, the one led by the Heavenly Demon?
“But Miss Namgung, why were you there?”
“Oh, I…”
She spoke, her gaze drifting into the flames.
“I was searching for the entrance to the Demonic Cult to assassinate the Heavenly Demon.”
“Assassinate?”
“Um… what’s with that look?”
“I don’t know much about the Heavenly Demon, but… isn’t she incredibly powerful?”
“She is.”
“You’re saying you plan to face the Heavenly Demon one-on-one?”
He implied she looked rather weak, and her cheeks puffed up.
“How rude. Judging someone by their appearance is the mark of a true amateur.”
“I’m not a martial artist.”
He retorted bluntly, and her face brightened with realization.
“Ah…”
She took out some dried meat, skewered it on a stick, and heated it over the fire before handing him a piece.
“You weren’t headed to the village because of me, were you? You said you came to meet the Heavenly Demon.”
He asked, savoring the salty, chewy jerky.
But she shook her head.
“No, there’s no way to enter from outside due to the barrier formation. More importantly, I received intel that the Heavenly Demon wasn’t there.”
“I see…”
“Master Kang.”
She handed him another piece of jerky and spoke.
“Yes?”
“Would you come with me to the Martial Alliance? I have a feeling you have some kind of connection to the Demonic Cult. It’s just a hunch.”
If he parted ways with her, he would be completely lost.
If he could build a stronger connection with her on the way to the Martial Alliance, maybe he could gain a foothold in this world.
That was his reasoning.
“Sure. I was feeling pretty helpless with no idea what to do next anyway.”
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The Heavenly Demon stood motionless for a long time, intently staring at the painting.
“Cult Leader?”
The Head Administrator cautiously called out to her, but she didn’t respond.
After some time, the Heavenly Demon finally spoke.
“Shadow Demon.”
“Yes.”
A figure emerged from the shadows in the corner of the palace.
“Have you found any traces?”
“Yes. I’ve searched the area around the spot where the intruder jumped.”
“Did you find anything?”
“I found this a little distance away.”
The Shadow Demon held up a piece of high-quality clothing.
“……”
“Any other traces?”
“Judging by the lack of damage, it appears they changed into other clothes. The traces are roughly five to seven days old.”
“I understand. Head Administrator, where are the prisoners?”
“They are currently at the execution grounds.”
At the execution grounds, the prisoners were bound and kneeling.
Their faces paled at the sight of the Heavenly Demon.
The one who seemed to be the leader slammed his head on the ground and shouted.
“Cult Leader! I beg your forgiveness! It was all my fault! Please, only take my life…”
“Silence.”
It was a quiet command, but everyone at the execution grounds held their breath.
“So, you ask for leniency with only your life?”
“…”
“You dare to bargain with the Heavenly Demon? The Cult’s discipline has truly fallen into disarray.”
“Th-that is not what I meant.”
“Shut up.”
The Heavenly Demon slowly approached the leader and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I had originally planned to sever your hands and gouge out your eyes.”
“…”
The leader trembled as he looked up at her.
The hand on his shoulder tightened.
*Crack*
With a grotesque sound, his arm was torn off.
“Aaaaaaaaagh!!!”
A bestial scream echoed through the execution grounds.
“Even if I tore the limbs off everyone here, I doubt it would soothe my heart… ah, what should I do~?”
She said sweetly and gently placed a palm on her cheek.
Her tone was one of utter distress, but no one dared to look directly at her.
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