Chapter 134: A True Villainous Duo

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Why are you against it?"

The Demon Supremes, who had fought so fiercely just moments ago, were now united.

The Drunken Demon answered first.

"I hate being trapped in a fence. The thought of a fence makes me feel suffocated."

The Flower Sword Supreme spoke next.

"Accept just anyone? That's difficult. Even for a simple walk, people need to be compatible."

The Flower Sword Supreme clearly had someone in mind.

Then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon said, "Didn't you hear what I said? People's hearts are different from my own!"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon gave the final reason.

"Why can't I kill them?"

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was joking. The joke was a response to my rule about fighting and hating within my fence, but not killing.

Their reasons were a mix of jest and sincerity. Surprisingly, all four of them had completely different reasons.

The Drunken Demon teased me, mimicking my earlier words.

"Did you see the Second Young Lord's bravado earlier? 'This is the decision of the man who will be your future Heavenly Demon.' The Cult Leader should have seen this."

I waved my hands in an exaggerated dismissal.

"Don't say such dreadful things. Now, since we're all gathered, let's have a drink today."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, who had been outside, came inside the window. This was the first time the Demon Supremes I had connected with had gathered in one place.

It was a truly historic day, not just for me, but for the tavern owner as well.

Jo Cheonbae brought the alcohol and side dishes, looking deeply moved.

"Are you that happy?"

"How could I not be happy? I must be the first tavern owner in history to have such an experience. I can die without any regrets."

"This might just be the beginning. Who knows who will gather here to drink in the future."

"My heart feels like it's going to burst even now…"

Jo Cheonbae bowed deeply to the Demon Supremes.

"It is an honor to have you here. I will do my utmost to serve you."

After greeting them, Jo Cheonbae withdrew. On the stairs leading down, he glanced back for a moment, as if trying to etch the glorious moment into his memory.

"Here, I'll pour everyone a drink."

The Drunken Demon poured a drink for everyone.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon didn't drink because of his mask, so he only accepted the cup.

When the Blood Heaven Blade Demon received his cup, he set it aside. He then poured himself a new drink in a fresh cup.

The Flower Sword Supreme drank the alcohol the Drunken Demon poured, as if to show the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

These were people who could create palpable tension just by pouring a single cup of alcohol.

After a round of drinks, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon asked me, "By the way, why did you call for me?"

He naturally assumed I had called for him.

"I wasn't the one who called for you, Smiling Demon."

"Then who did?"

"The Drunken Demon called for you."

The Drunken Demon looked at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and spoke politely.

"I called you because there was something I needed to tell you."

Regardless of their internal thoughts, they were impeccably polite to one another.

"I called you to come and hear for yourself that the Second Young Lord considers the Blade Demon Senior over there more important than us," the Drunken Demon said as he poured alcohol into his cup.

"We're just side dishes. The Second Young Lord's focus is the Blood Heaven Blade Demon Senior over there."

"You may be a side dish, Drunken Demon, but I am not."

"Is that really so?"

The Drunken Demon asked me, as if to let her confirm it herself.

"Second Young Lord, if you had to choose only one between the Smiling Demon and the Blade Demon Senior, who would you choose?"

"The Smiling Demon."

The Drunken Demon blinked and asked again.

"That's different from what you said earlier, isn't it? Didn't you say you could declare the Blade Demon Senior was better even with the person in question right in front of you?"

"Me? When did I say that?"

I feigned ignorance with wide eyes.

"What do you take the relationship between the Smiling Demon and me for, to say such a thing? Smiling Demon, don't be fooled. The rolling stone is currently scheming to drive out the embedded stone."

At my words, the Drunken Demon laughed heartily as if he found it amusing and drank his alcohol. He set down his cup and said, "Don't underestimate the rolling stone. I don't think the length of time is important in a relationship. There are people you can't forget for a lifetime even after seeing them just once."

I stared at him for a moment before asking abruptly, "Did you really have someone like that, Drunken Demon?"

The Drunken Demon's hand, which was raising his cup, stopped mid-air.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I was just wondering if such a person really exists. I can't imagine someone you meet once and never forget. Do any of you have someone like that?"

I made eye contact with each of the four Demon Supremes before continuing.

"Even if you were the closest of friends, you eventually become strangers if you don't see each other for a long time. Even if you think you've become quite close, a gap feels awkward, like you have to start all over again. At least, that's how it is for me. Ah! I'll admit to not being able to forget someone as beautiful as our Sword Supreme."

The Drunken Demon emptied another cup of alcohol.

"It's strange to hear such words from someone as green as you."

"You're looking down on me again. You dismissed my youthful story, and you dismissed the young drunkard."

The Drunken Demon gave me a peculiar look. He probably felt a mix of displeasure and fondness because I remembered everything he had said.

"I understand, I keep forgetting. Our Second Young Lord's youth is vastly different from an ordinary youth."

"Of course. Please don't forget that I'm an old soul in a young body."

When I raised my cup, the Drunken Demon toasted.

The atmosphere had grown more rigid with all the Demon Supremes gathered, but drinking with him was still enjoyable. He had the skill to guide the conversation so it never faltered and to liven up the drinking party.

"Now, as I was saying, I choose the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon."

I raised my cup to him as if in a toast and drank alone.

His two eyes within the eyeholes smiled pleasantly. Seeing that smile after a long time made me feel good too.

It's good to see you again.

Perhaps because of the bloody battle with Baek Manggi, an indescribable camaraderie had formed between me and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. It was a feeling separate from issues like who was a Demon Supreme or who was the successor.

Just then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon sent me a telepathic message. [Yes, you're doing well. Take care of the others first.]

[Doesn't it hurt your pride?]

[How could my pride be hurt by something like this? Just don't forget one thing. You must never trust extreme evil or the Drunken Demon.]

The more I get to know them, the more I can understand Father's hardships. If managing four is this difficult, leading eight on top of the countless duties of the Cult Leader… Father, it must have been truly hard for you.

The atmosphere of the drinking party was good.

Since they all held goodwill toward me, they didn't deliberately reveal their prickly or irritable natures here. Thankfully, they were all holding back well. To think I'd have such a casual and pleasant get-together with the Demon Supremes!

As expected, the Drunken Demon was drinking the most.

The Drunken Demon, as if to show me, ate a side dish after every three cups of alcohol.

Our eyes met once, and I nodded and smiled at him.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon watched this with a peculiar gaze.

I knew. While it wasn't the entirety of the emotion in that gaze, a part of it was jealousy.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had initially pestered me to be friends. Now, the Drunken Demon was in that position, pestering me to become sworn brothers.

Two people who were similar yet completely different.

Will a day ever come when I can be with an unmasked extreme evil and a sober Drunken Demon?

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had said that the smell of the Drunken Demon's alcohol put him in a bad mood.

However, he showed no sign of it here. If he hadn't told me beforehand, I would never have known he felt that way. Only the politeness between one Demon Supreme and another passed between the two of them.

"I heard you left the Cult with the Second Young Lord and then returned."

"That's right."

"You must have learned a lot about the Second Young Lord then."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon glanced at me and said, "The Second Young Lord is a person far removed from the likes of you and me."

"Very far?"

"Very far."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, who had told me I was a villain just like him, was now giving different information to the Drunken Demon.

"If anyone, it is the Blade Demon who is closest to the Second Young Lord."

At the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's words, the Drunken Demon showed a surprised reaction.

"The Blade Demon Senior? Not our Sword Supreme?"

Then, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon looked at the Flower Sword Supreme and brought up something completely unexpected.

"Isn't the Sword Supreme the same as us? As her friend, you should have known."

A moment of silence fell.

The Flower Sword Supreme's expression hardened slightly.

What did the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon see in the Flower Sword Supreme to say such a thing? Among the Eight Demon Supremes, the Flower Sword Supreme was known as the one least like a Demon Supreme.

Just then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon angrily stepped forward.

"What nonsense is this! The Sword Supreme is completely different from the likes of you."

In the end, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was the one to step forward for her in a situation like this.

"Who are you to judge anyone, you who walk around wearing a mask? She is a much better person than you."

He, who had restrained himself multiple times, had finally exploded.

Despite his fierce reaction, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon just smiled without getting angry. This angered the Blood Heaven Blade Demon even more, and he looked ready to brandish the Heaven Destroying Dao at any moment.

Just then, the Flower Sword Supreme said in a low, cold tone, "Do you think I like it when you step up for me like that?"

Did the Blood Heaven Blade Demon not know she would react this way? He just drank the alcohol in front of him, one cup after another.

Then, the Flower Sword Supreme said something unexpected.

"But… what he said might be right."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked down at his empty cup and said, "Yes, that could be true."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon hadn't stepped forward just to defend her blindly.

"We could be more hypocritical and worse than the one behind that mask. That's right."

At the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's sincere words, the Flower Sword Supreme's eyes trembled slightly.

"Who are we to judge who is this or that kind of person? But at least don't get caught in front of them. Don't be played by the likes of the mask-wearer and the drunkard!"

At that, the Drunken Demon casually remarked, "Why are you picking on me when I'm just sitting here?"

"You're the same! You insidious bastard! You pretentious bastard! You might fool everyone else, but you can't fool my eyes. You two! Get the hell away from the Second Young Lord!"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon could no longer hold back his true feelings. Though he was stubborn, he was a man of deep schemes, but his emotions had flared up because it concerned me and the Sword Supreme.

On the other hand, seeing them smiling cheerfully while being cursed at, and sipping their alcohol, I thought they truly looked like a villainous duo.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood up from his seat and apologized to me.

"Second Young Lord, I'm sorry for ruining the mood. I didn't intend to be the first to leave today."

"No, Elder, you're not the one leaving first."

"What do you mean?"

"Today's drinking party will end here."

I looked at the other three Demon Supremes and said, "Let's call it a day, shall we?"

The Drunken Demon emptied his last cup.

"Are you hammering the embedded stone in tight so it won't come loose?"

"Of course. What's the point of drinking when an Elder is leaving in anger? Elder Blade Demon is my wing. If my wing flies away, I go too."

I made it clear that the embedded stone could not be easily removed. It was a sign of my gratitude to him for coming to this drinking party for my sake.

[Thank you, Elder.]

As if choked with emotion by my telepathy, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned his head and looked out the window.

The Drunken Demon said with a laugh, "I'll give up on being a wing, so just be brothers with me."

Then the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said, "And be friends with me."

Finally, the Flower Sword Supreme didn't miss her chance. Though her mood had soured, she couldn't be left out.

"I'm already a special friend."

Everyone looked at her with puzzled expressions, but she just seemed pleased with herself and didn't boast about us being duel friends.

"Now, I have one last thing to say."

I once again unleashed the qi I had shown before. Emitting a qi full of dignity and grace, I spoke to them.

"I speak to you as the future Heavenly Demon who will lead you all. As I've said before, you are free to fight as much as you want within my fence. Hate, be jealous, fight… Ah! You're really too much!"

The Demon Supremes had flung themselves away and left. They didn't just leave. They each used the ultimate techniques of their movement arts and vanished in an instant.

"Listen to everything before you go! Blade Demon! Even you, Elder!"

However, they were already gone.

I smiled and sat back down. The seats were empty, but their heat still seemed to linger.

Looking down at the first floor, I saw Jo Cheonbae clutching the bill the Drunken Demon had tossed him. He gazed with wistful eyes at the spot where the Demon Supremes had vanished.

"Owner, let's have a drink."

"Of course, Director."

Jo Cheonbae came up and poured alcohol into my cup. I also poured a drink into his.

We emptied our cups together. Dealing with the Demon Supremes had been mentally draining, but drinking with Jo Cheonbae like this put my mind at ease.

Jo Cheonbae watched my expression and asked cautiously, "Is it difficult for you?"

"Do I look like I'm having a hard time?"

"I was just thinking how difficult it must be to deal with those Demon Supremes."

"Yes, it is difficult."

When I answered honestly, Jo Cheonbae grinned. The wrinkles on his face, etched from dealing with all sorts of customers and experiencing life's hardships, looked particularly handsome today.

"Do you know what my wife whispers in my ear when she hugs me when I'm having a hard time?"

"What does she say?"

"You're so weak."

I laughed out loud. I knew very well how much the happily married couple loved each other. I also knew that sometimes, a joke like that can be more encouraging than heartfelt consolation.

Jo Cheonbae said playfully, "Shall I say it to you?"

"No, I don't think that will be necessary. The person who will say it has arrived."

"Huh? Who?"

In that moment, Jo Cheonbae felt an immense presence behind him. The fine hairs all over his body stood on end. The feeling was on a completely different level from when he was with the Demon Supremes. Jo Cheonbae cautiously turned around.

"……"

Jo Cheonbae was startled and prostrated himself flat on the floor.

Father stood behind me. He had come up at some point without me noticing.

Father sat down in front of me and said, "You're so weak."

I smiled and said to Jo Cheonbae, "Owner, close up the shop. We'll need you to set a new table for us here!"