Chapter 396: I Said No! This Is a Trip!

TL: FoodieMonster007

The words 'the North Sea Ice Palace' sparked a thought in my mind.

Lee Ahn, it must be fate telling me to go see you.

I had not even considered the place, yet I heard its name twice today. It was not just a passing mention, either. Both Lee Ahn and the Drunken Demon were people deeply connected to me.

"Why are you so surprised?"

"I was just thinking that my Hyung is the kind of person who gets annual liquor gifts from the Ice Palace."

"You're the only one who ignores me. Out in the world, people acknowledge me."

Of course, I knew. I knew better than anyone how terrifying the Drunken Demon was when he got truly drunk and rampaged. Only someone like the Blood Heaven Blade Demon would dare call him a drunkard.

"But is the Ice Palace not sending liquor a big enough deal to discuss with the Sword Supreme?"

Panic flickered in the Drunken Demon's eyes for a moment.

"That's because you don't know how delicious their Ice Wine is."

"Then, since we're on the topic, shall we go to the North Sea Ice Palace together?"

"The two of us?"

"If they don't send the liquor, we can just go drink it there. Surely they wouldn't refuse us a glass of Ice Wine if we showed up, right? Let's have a glass of Ice Wine on a snowy mountain peak."

The Drunken Demon always lamented that I put him on the back burner, and it bothered me. I wanted to use this chance to spend time with him.

Drinking Ice Wine with the Drunken Demon on a snowy peak, surrounded by swirling flurries?

Ah, just thinking about it is exciting. It would be an unforgettable moment.

Besides, I had just enjoyed a hot spring in a snowy field yesterday.

Yes, this is fate telling me to go to the North Sea.

"Let's go together."

I expected him to agree, but the Drunken Demon surprisingly refused.

"I'm good."

"What? You said you wanted to hang out with me every day. Were those just words? You said you wanted to go on a trip, didn't you?"

"It's because I have something to do."

His expression made it clear he had a reason.

Could he have some unspeakable reason related to the Ice Palace?

I was curious but did not press him.

I treated the Drunken Demon more informally than any other Demon Supreme. I could have pried, asked what was wrong, or even joked that he did not want to leave Yeo Bin, but I did not.

When someone signals their limit, you have to back off. We often make mistakes and act rudely toward people we're comfortable with. The more comfortable the relationship, the more considerate you should be, especially considering the other person's effort to create that comfort.

So I changed the subject.

"Hyung, what did you think of yesterday's summit?"

"Do you know why I particularly liked this summit?"

"What is it?"

"I loved that it was held in a tavern. I love even more that your demonic path is in a pub."

The Drunken Demon's words made me laugh. His comment added another layer of meaning to the Alluring Inn, a place where my demonic path and his path of liquor met.

We chatted for a while before parting. Neither of us mentioned the North Sea again.

After leaving the Drunken Demon, Geom Mugeuk returned to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's residence.

He had originally come to thank the Blade Demon for helping the summit succeed. Now, his purpose had changed. He was here to say farewell before leaving for the North Sea.

The Blade Demon and the Sword Supreme stood in the courtyard. They talked while looking at the flowers they had planted.

Geom Mugeuk quietly stood beside them.

"The flowers are really beautiful," he remarked.

Just looking at them makes me feel good.

The Flower Sword Supreme watched Geom Mugeuk gaze at the flowers. She sensed he was not just pretending for her sake. He genuinely loved them.

"Should I plant some flowers in your courtyard too, Young Cult Leader?"

"No, they'd die quickly since I wander so much. I have to head out again this time, too."

"Where to?"

"Something came up, so I have to go to the North Sea."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked surprised at the words 'North Sea'.

"Why there?"

"According to my right-hand man, my heart is freezing over there."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon did not understand Geom Mugeuk's joke.

"What are you planning to do this time?"

"Could anything be more surprising than the summit between the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions?"

"With you, there could be."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon sighed and shook his head.

"I thought spring had come, but a blizzard is starting to rage again!"

The Flower Sword Supreme added to his words.

"I see blood will be sprinkled on the pure white snowfields."

Considering everything I've done, I guess I deserve to be misunderstood like this.

"No, please don't misunderstand! I'm just going to meet someone! I'm going to see Lee Ahn. We'll laugh, chat, and look around. I'm going to find a restaurant with a skilled chef in the North Sea."

The two of them pretended not to hear. They just looked at each other and sighed.

"I wonder how many will die this time."

I said no! This is a trip to the North Sea!

Before leaving for the North Sea, I diligently said my goodbyes. Last time, when I left to save Jo Cheonbae's family, I had rushed out as if running from home. This time, I said farewell to everyone. My plan was to tour the Central Plains with Lee Ahn after we met.

Father said only one thing.

"Don't cause trouble!"

My Master, the Fist Demon, added a warning.

"The Ice Empress is a cold person."

I know. I know just how cold she is. Her disposition perfectly suits the name Ice Empress.

I could not meet the Poison King or the Demonic Buddha. They had gone deep into the Thousand Poisons Forest again to gather poisonous herbs.

"This is too much! How can you two always hang out without me?"

I left the message with Sangseon, asking him to pass it on. The words merely echoed through the Thousand Poisons Forest.

Of course, I said that, but I feel their time together is a positive influence on them both.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme calmly revealed her inner thoughts.

"I hope I can go with you next time."

I told her what I thought would give her the most strength.

"You're the first Demon Supreme of the next generation. When the time comes, there will be many opportunities like this."

Seophon, don't forget that now is the time to bury yourself in effort. Only by going through this can you become the Demon Supreme you admire. Do you think the Fist Demon's great fists or the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's shining mask were made from nothing?

I can only hope she grows into a wonderful Demon Supreme.

But the person who moved me most was the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

I was startled when I entered the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's residence. The room had changed. A new bedstead stood against the wall opposite the one I had brought him. Surprisingly, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon sat on it. He, who always stood in the middle of the empty room, was now sitting on a bedstead.

"The Smiling Demon!"

"You've come?"

"Finally, the Smiling Demon has his own bedstead."

"I took this opportunity to get one."

I was truly happy. He had understood why I moved my bedstead into his room. He understood my wish for him to sleep comfortably in a bed.

"Sleeping on a bedstead is more comfortable than I thought."

I sat on my bedstead and looked at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon on his own bedstead opposite me. His position had changed, so his perspective would change too. This change would also change him. Like me, the Smiling Demon was gradually growing stronger.

"I intend to visit the North Sea."

"For what reason are you going?"

"I'm going to see a pretty heart."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was beside me when I first used the phrase 'pretty heart', so he knew who I meant.

"I used to think I should leave her alone so she could become strong. I thought I shouldn't look after her, but it seems I've reached my limit. I have to go see her."

The eyes behind the white mask smiled charmingly. He recalled a joke he once made to tease Lee Ahn.

"If the heart you speak of is that ugly heart I know," he said, "it will be beating just fine even in a cold place."

The Drunken Demon came to see me that night.

"Care for a drink?"

"Sounds good."

We always drank at the Drunken Dream Palace, but today we sat facing each other in the front yard of my residence.

"I'm planning to go to the North Sea, even if I go alone. You remember Lee Ahn, my former bodyguard? She's there now. Since you brought up the Ice Palace, Hyung, I feel like I have to go see her."

"The reason I said I wouldn't go with you is…"

It seemed to be bothering him. He always grumbled that I never hung out with him, but when I finally asked, he was the one who refused.

"Inside the Ice Palace, there's a place where they brew liquor called the Hundred Wines Snow Cellar. I know the brewmaster there."

I asked, just in case.

"Is the brewmaster a woman?"

The Drunken Demon flinched and nodded.

Hyung, don't be so surprised. I can already guess what's going on.

"She likes you, Hyung."

The Drunken Demon did not answer. He just drank his liquor in silent affirmation.

A romance between the Drunken Demon and a liquor artisan at the North Sea Ice Palace. He must have refused her feelings for a long time, but the liquor stopped coming right when he opened his heart to Yeo Bin, so he must think the woman is heartbroken.

"You think she stopped sending liquor because she heard about you and Yeo Bin, don't you?"

But he shook his head firmly.

"No. If she sent the liquor with such personal feelings, I wouldn't have accepted it."

I could feel the sincerity in his words.

"The liquor the brewmaster sends is truly excellent. Our relationship is between a person who makes liquor and a person who drinks it."

A master brewer and the greatest drinker. That was their relationship.

"Then why did you say you wouldn't go?"

The Drunken Demon then said something unexpected.

"The fermenting liquor has gone bad again."

I had once helped the Drunken Demon clean up his spoiled liquor mash. He had called it a bad omen, something that had never happened since he became a Demon Supreme. Now, that same mash had spoiled again.

"So I'm brewing it again and watching over it. I said I wouldn't go because it's hard to leave right now. I was going to tell you earlier but didn't want you to worry."

I could tell. Many things have changed since I regressed, but I still haven't been able to change the fate Hwa Mugi is bringing.

"Was it the same as before?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm asking if the rotten smell was as strong as last time."

Fortunately, the Drunken Demon shook his head.

"It spoiled less than before. Last time was awful, wasn't it?"

I wonder what this difference could mean, but if I assigned meaning to it in the first place, I might as well assign meaning to this too. I'll believe the situation has improved.

The liquor brewed this time will surely spoil less. This summit must have changed our fates a little more.

"Hyung, don't worry too much. If it spoils, brew it again. If it spoils again, just brew it again."

Brew it and brew it again. This was my exact attitude toward dealing with Hwa Mugi and facing evil. I would not assign it too much meaning.

Hwa Mugi, I won't let you become my everything. You're the one who should be restless and obsessed with me. You should be the one thinking, 'Why isn't it working? Why isn't he taking the bait?' You should be the one feeling anxious and burning up inside.

Perhaps the best revenge isn't killing him, but living a happy life myself. Hwa Mugi? Who was that again?

The next morning, the Drunken Demon showed up just as I was about to leave the Cult.

"Let's go together."

The Drunken Demon had already come prepared for a trip.

His attire was different. He wore the same outfit from the summit, but the painting on it had changed. Back then, it depicted a drunken, laughing god of liquor. Today, it showed the god floating on a boat in a moonlit lake, drinking alone. It looked like a scene from a painting.

"That outfit is really cool. If you have a spare, give me one."

"I'll give you one when we get back."

I did not ask why he had changed his mind. Some things you can understand without asking.

"Let's run to the North Sea using our movement arts. I'll match your pace, Hyung."

The Drunken Demon looked dumbfounded.

"You'll match my pace?"

"Of course. The faster person has to match the slower one's pace."

"You've never properly run with me, have you?"

"Same to you, Hyung."

"Shall we make a bet?"

A movement arts bet with me? That's like betting Father on who can sneer better.

"We're people who drink and fight. What do we do when we get into trouble after drinking? We run! We're experts at running away."

The Drunken Demon was full of confidence.

"If I lose, I'll give you this."

The Drunken Demon took a small liquor bottle from his robes.

"It's the Fire Dragon Wine."

The Fire Dragon Wine was one of the best miracle herbs that came in liquor form. It was a truly precious drink.

"You're going to give me something this precious?"

"Its properties just don't match my inner arts, so I've only been storing it."

"You're doing this because you think I'd feel burdened if you just gave it to me as a gift, right?"

"Just try not to fall and cry!"

The Drunken Demon had wagered something big. Offering the Fire Dragon Wine first meant he wanted something from me, too.

"What if you win, Hyung? Is there something you want?"

The Drunken Demon's condition was unexpected.

"If I win, grant me one favor."

"What is it?"

"I'll tell you when I win."

"What to do? I guess I won't even get to hear that favor."

We set a destination and started running.

The Drunken Demon was certainly fast. He was fast enough that I wondered if he was the fastest among the Demon Supremes in movement arts. He had not offered the Fire Dragon Wine just to give it away. This was a bet he intended to win.

Unfortunately for him, he was not as fast as my fully mastered Swift Step.

Hyung, I still have a conscience. I'll listen to your favor while I drink the Fire Dragon Wine.

Faster and faster, we raced northward at great speed.