Chapter 97: Why Are You Obsessed With My Mask?

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon came to see me again the next day.

"I thought you wouldn't be coming anymore."

"How could I not, when you're the one who holds my power over life and death?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon mocked my words from yesterday about letting him live. I replied in my own way.

"Please wait just a moment. This is something I need to process quickly."

"Don't mind me, take your time."

I could have paused my work, but I made him wait as a show of dominance.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon walked to the window and asked, "I don't see that flower from yesterday."

I answered while stamping a document. "I suppose Detective Seo took it out for a bit to water it."

I reviewed the next document and stamped it. Then I stamped another, and another.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon looked out the window. He must have grown tired of waiting because he perched on the edge of my desk. He then looked down at me working.

You made me wait, so you'll have to endure this much rudeness, right?

"Why do you make your work so difficult? Just kill them all."

I smiled and told him, "You're the one who lives too simply, Smiling Demon."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon roared with laughter at my words. I couldn't be fooled by this casual demeanor. Everyone who let their guard down around the Smiling Demon died. Only those who were wary of his extreme evil survived.

"All done."

After stamping the last document, I lifted my head. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon brought up something unexpected.

"If I really become the successor, will you let me live?"

Of course, I couldn't be fooled by these words either. He couldn't have possibly come to beg for his life.

He was enjoying this entire process. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's true desire was to interact with me like this, hoping to one day see me crumble. He was the type of person who wouldn't be satisfied until he could cackle and mock me at that moment.

I took out a throwing knife and drew a long line on the tabletop.

"I'll let you live. In exchange…"

I drew a vertical line slightly to the right of the center.

"You have to get to here to live."

The Smiling Demon's eyes glinted with interest. "What is this?"

"It's the measure of my affection."

"Oho! Something like this?"

"You have to cross the halfway mark to live. Even with a friend, if there's no affection at all, they're no different from a stranger, are they? A friend in name only will die."

"It's difficult, surviving."

"You'll have to cross it somehow."

"Where am I right now?"

I drew another vertical line just a little past the starting point.

"Is that all?"

"You're already here."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon looked down at the line, then back at me, then back at the line again.

He had no choice but to become engrossed in this relationship.

It wasn't just that I treated him casually. He must have sensed a taste of justice or chivalry from me that could never be found in our Cult. That would become an irresistible spice, stimulating the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon even more.

"Second Young Lord, what do you think of the Cult Leader?"

He likely asked to probe whether I acted this way because I trusted my father, or perhaps if I had received a secret order from him.

"I don't think about my father. I just try to feel things out as they come. Father isn't someone I can understand with my head. It only makes things harder for me."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon laughed as if he sympathized with my words.

"If you're done with what you have to say, you should get up now. It's time for my meal."

"You must have your meal. Let's go."

I left the office with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. As we exited the building, he followed me closely.

"Where will you be eating?"

"I was thinking of eating out in the Demon Village today."

"Let's go together."

I asked him, feigning surprise. "Will that be alright?"

I had never heard of him eating with anyone since he never took off his mask.

"It's fine. I'll just sit by while you have your meal, Second Young Lord."

"I don't mean you, Smiling Demon. I mean the Demon Village. It'll be alright, won't it?"

Only then did the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon realize it was a joke telling him not to cause a rampage or massacre. He laughed loudly.

Across the way, Seo Daeryong held a flowerpot to his chest. He watched us with a worried expression as we cut across the training grounds and headed outside.

Just before we entered the Demon Village, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon spoke.

"Did you know? I've never been out in the Demon Village. If I had business outside, I would just pass through, but this is the first time I've ever walked here."

"Isn't that a relief for the residents of the Demon Village?"

He laughed at my joke. "Is it okay for me to walk the streets?"

"If you're worried about people panicking and scattering in terror, you don't have to worry about that."

"Why is that?"

"You'll see when we get there."

And so, we entered the Demon Village. As we walked down the street, everyone passed by us as if it were nothing. A few people who recognized me bowed their heads in greeting, but no one was horrified by the sight of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon next to me.

"Why is no one afraid of me?"

"Because no one thinks you're the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon."

"Shouldn't they know it's me when they see this mask?"

"Look over there."

I pointed to a street vendor across the road. The stall sold all sorts of goods related to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"They even have your mask, Smiling Demon."

"!"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was startled.

Indeed, masks just like the ones the Faceless Warriors wore were hanging there. There were not only white masks but also some with colors or pictures painted on them.

"These bastards!"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon raised his hand as if to blow them all away. I pulled on his sleeve.

"I think that hand is needed over there."

Just then, a child held his father's hand across the street. He wore a Faceless Warriors mask, and when he saw the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon in the same mask, he waved enthusiastically.

"It doesn't cost you anything, so please wave back."

I gently tugged his sleeve. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon waved back as if he couldn't refuse.

The child passed us by, perhaps never knowing he was the only person the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had ever waved to.

"Don't be too surprised. That's possible too."

The vendor next to them sold wooden dolls. There were dolls modeled not only after the Eight Demon Supremes but also after the Heavenly Demon.

Seeing the Heavenly Demon doll, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was truly shocked.

"Is this really allowed?"

"If you don't sell these things in a village near the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, where would you sell them? You can't exactly sell them in front of the Murim Alliance, can you?"

"It would be better to sell them in front of the Murim Alliance than here."

"It's because of my father's magnanimity. He gave permission to make and sell as many as they want. Since that day, merchandise related to my father and the Demon Supremes has flooded the market. You'd think they'd feel uneasy making them, but the power of making money is a great thing."

"This is truly ridiculous."

Now, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon laughed heartily. Passersby glanced at him, but no one thought he was the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and went on their way.

"When you or I come out here, Smiling Demon, we might think we're the main characters, but this is a world where those people are the main characters. They get scared and bow their heads when they recognize us, but what's important to them isn't us, it's their own lives. They have to earn money to get by day to day, meet people, and raise their children. This is what the Demon Village is like."

"Interesting. How do you know all this so well, Second Young Lord?"

"I used to sneak out of the Cult and wander the Demon Village since I was young. This Demon Village was my world."

I gave him that excuse. He wouldn't believe it if I said I had traveled the world, but the Demon Village sounded plausible enough.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's gaze returned to the vendors selling masks and the Heavenly Demon Soul dolls.

He unleashed his unique demonic qi, the evil smile qi, without hesitation. The vendors selling their wares frowned and clutched their chests, as if feeling stuffy.

"Soon, that man will put on the mask he was selling and stab the person next to him to death. If they die, it will be because of you, Second Young Lord. You're the one who brought me here."

"Don't be absurd. You're the one who tagged along when I said I was going to eat, Smiling Demon. You're also the one doing the killing, and there's one thing you must know."

"What is that?"

"Committing murder in front of the Sanzu Hall Director is punishable by beheading. Go on, try and trade them. Their lives for yours, Smiling Demon."

I started walking first and added, "You can mess with my father's doll over there, but you don't mess with a person's livelihood."

I could feel the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon retracting his evil smile qi behind me. He had done it to see my reaction, not with the intention to kill from the start.

He was having fun playing with me right now. He likely anticipated that the more he yielded to me, the more thrilling the pleasure would be at the moment he finally killed me.

The place I arrived at was the Alluring Inn.

"Well, this is my regular spot."

"It's shabby. Why here of all places?"

"It's a bit boring since I come here all the time, but I like the owner. He's the only one who knows that you, Smiling Demon, are the real Smiling Demon."

The owner, Jo Cheonbae, came out and greeted me warmly as always.

"Welcome, Director."

His gaze shifted to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

Jo Cheonbae flinched for a moment, his face showing fear.

"This man really is the only one who knows who I am."

"Because you came with me. He knows the real one has arrived."

I smiled and said to Jo Cheonbae, "He's who you think he is. Fortunately, only I will be eating, so you don't have to worry too much."

"……"

Nevertheless, the pressure from the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon seemed even greater than my father's. The rumored Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was a villain who killed people for no reason.

"Of all the guests I've brought here, he seems to fear you the most, Smiling Demon. Even more than my father."

"The Cult Leader has been here too?"

"……"

"That's unexpected."

"Everyone has a first time for something."

"And everyone seems to have that first time with you, Second Young Lord."

I gave a faint smile, and he habitually smiled back.

This time, I asked a question. "Have you ever eaten at a tavern like this?"

"I did when I was young."

"Who did you eat with?"

He didn't answer.

But I knew who it was. He had said that before becoming the Smiling Demon's disciple, he had eaten in the marketplace with his father. It was a single memory that remained like a painting in his mind.

I suddenly pictured the scene. A little boy, holding his father's hand, entering a tavern.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had said he was born stained with slaughter from a young age, but was that really true? Were the eyes of that little boy who entered the tavern filled with the intent to kill?

In the meantime, the food arrived.

Jo Cheonbae was so careful with even his breathing, as if he thought one mistake could actually get him killed.

As he safely set down the dishes and turned to leave, his eyes seemed to say it all.

Thanks to you, I have achieved complete mastery as a tavern owner today.

I replied with my eyes.

You never know, owner. What other situations might arise.

I picked up my chopsticks and asked the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon as a courtesy. "Would you like to eat together?"

"My mask doesn't have a mouth hole. Is there a way for me to eat?"

"How about slightly lifting your mask and eating from underneath?"

"Wouldn't that look undignified?"

"Then there's no other way."

"I'm not hungry, so please don't mind me and eat."

"Yes, I'll eat first then."

I really did eat alone. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon just watched me. Anyone else would have called it madness, but I accomplished the difficult feat of eating alone in front of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"Isn't it difficult to keep your mask on all the time?"

"It must be more difficult for you, Second Young Lord."

"For me?"

"Since you don't have a mask, you have to make several different expressions a day, don't you?"

"Ah, I suppose that could be true."

Starting with that topic, I told him various stories.

I told him about when the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Flower Sword Supreme, and the Demonic Buddha had come here. I talked about the weather and about how selling white masks in front of the Murim Alliance would probably be profitable. He listened to my stories without a word.

When I finished my meal and put down my chopsticks, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon brought up something unexpected.

"Second Young Lord, I have a favor to ask."

"Please, go ahead."

"Please speak to the Cult Leader and have my restriction released."

I feigned a startled expression, but I had anticipated this request the moment he said he had a favor. It was originally a favor he would have asked my brother. Now that his fate and mine had switched, he was asking it of me.

"That won't be easy."

"That's why I'm asking you, Second Young Lord. For some reason, I feel like you might be able to do it."

"If I get your restriction released, what will you do for me?"

"Just say the word. What do you want? Do you want my full support?"

My brother had wanted that, but I was painting a bigger picture.

"No."

"You don't want my support?"

"I don't want forced support. It would only break the unity of those who already support me."

"Then what do you want?"

I stared into the two eyes within the mask and said, "At least when we're alone, please take off your mask for me."

"!"

The atmosphere instantly froze.

"Why on earth are you so obsessed with my mask?"

"I'm not obsessed with the mask."

"Then what is it?"

"If we're going to be friends, I want to be real friends."

"!"

After a moment of silence, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon asked coldly, "Can you handle me without my mask?"

I stared into his eyes, which shone with a primal malice from within the hollowed holes, and calmly asked back, "Can you handle me without that mask?"