Chapter 558: If You Buy Them All, I'll Give You a Thirty Percent Discount!

TL: FoodieMonster007

"This is the Demon Village?"

Han Seol's eyes widened at the sight before her. This was not the scene she had imagined.

Shops lined the clean street, which was bustling with countless pedestrians. There were no shady characters looking for a score or staggering drunks. Instead, children ran and played in the alleys where one might expect conspirators to gather.

Geom Mugeuk did not need to answer her question. The scene itself confirmed this was the Demon Village.

"Young Cult Leader!" a merchant selling medicinal herbs at the entrance called out, running over to greet Geom Mugeuk warmly.

"Is business going well?"

"Thanks to you, it's going very well."

Han Seol was genuinely surprised. How could a simple market merchant greet the Young Cult Leader of the Divine Cult so informally?

Of course, she was unaware that in the Demon Village, Geom Mugeuk was even more popular than the Heavenly Demon. The village had become such a pleasant place entirely because of Geom Mugeuk's efforts.

So Bing of the Cold Ice Dual Swords quickly sent a telepathic message to Han Seol.

[Step back! They might be poisonous herbs.]

[Would they really sell poisonous herbs out in the open like they're medicine?]

[That's why they're the Demonic Cult.]

Their culinary journey with Geom Mugeuk had relaxed them considerably, but now that they had arrived in the Demon Village, they were tense once again. They remained on high alert with their nerves taut, watching for anyone who might target Han Seol.

"Young Cult Leader, it's been a while!" A merchant selling farming tools from across the street also came out to greet Geom Mugeuk.

[Be careful. There could be hidden weapons disguised as farming tools.]

At this rate, they seemed prepared to warn her about the very pebbles on the street.

Just then, Sa Han, the husband of the Cold Ice Dual Swords pair, sent a telepathic message to Han Seol.

[This street has been fabricated for the Princess's arrival. They must have sent a messenger pigeon ahead to arrange it.]

Han Seol studied the merchants' expressions and replied via telepathy.

[But for that to be true, don't these merchants seem genuinely happy to see the Young Cult Leader?]

[They're acting.]

The Cold Ice Dual Swords trusted Geom Mugeuk, but their trust did not extend to the demonic practitioners. They acknowledged that Geom Mugeuk had been a great help to the North Sea Ice Palace and possessed a character unlike a typical demonic practitioner. However, they also remembered the Demonic Cult they knew, an organization whose ferocity and ruthlessness made even the savage Evil Alliance yield. A single person doesn't change easily, so they questioned how such a large organization could transform so quickly.

So, Sa Han speculated.

[This place must be the first gateway protecting the Demonic Cult Headquarters.]

[A gateway?]

[Demonic practitioners are surely lying in ambush everywhere. If anyone suspicious appears, a message will be sent to the Headquarters immediately.]

Han Seol observed Geom Mugeuk. The man she had come to know was not the type to feign friendliness with merchants just to deceive her. If this street was a facade, he was the kind of person who would have simply passed through without leaving his carriage. Still, she understood the suspicions of the Cold Ice Dual Swords. Even she was taken aback by the unexpectedly pleasant atmosphere.

Even the area in front of the Murim Alliance probably doesn't have such a bright atmosphere. Is this street really fabricated? Are they mobilizing all these people just to deceive us?

As she walked with Geom Mugeuk, she noticed a shop selling dumplings. The sight of the steaming food reminded her of the rumors about the Demon Village.

Is there really human flesh inside those dumplings?

But the middle-aged owner's face was too kind for that to be true, and the shop was bustling with customers.

While she was staring at the dumplings, Geom Mugeuk made an offer.

"This place is delicious. Would you like to try some?"

"I'm fine."

Han Seol quickened her pace, worried he might insist.

The people choosing clothes at the drapery and the owners and clerks of the fruit and grain shops all recognized Geom Mugeuk and greeted him politely.

"Sell a lot!"

Each time, Geom Mugeuk returned their greetings one by one.

This side of him was new to Han Seol.

She was well aware that Geom Mugeuk was a meddlesome person. She had always assumed it was a tactic he employed when dealing with her mother, the Ice Empress, herself, or the heirs of the Murim Alliance and the Evil Alliance. There had to be a hidden motive behind his kindness. It was an impressive feat, as most people would find it difficult even if they knew how.

However, Geom Mugeuk was treating these merchants in the exact same way.

How can this be?

How could his treatment of the Princess of the North Sea Ice Palace be the same as his treatment of a shop owner? If anything, he seemed even more affectionate when dealing with the merchants.

Is this really a disguised street, just as the two Elders said?

It was no wonder she harbored such doubts.

Just then, a street vendor selling wooden dolls caught Han Seol's eye.

So it's real! Someone who sells Demon Supreme dolls!

Demon Supreme dolls were actually being sold from a stall. When she first heard the rumors, she had simply imagined they were just scary-looking dolls given a nickname. But these were truly dolls modeled precisely after the Demon Supremes. Since she had met the Drunken Demon herself, she could confirm it was a perfect likeness.

There's even a Heavenly Demon doll!

She found it truly absurd. Selling a doll of the Murim Alliance Lord in front of the Murim Alliance would probably get you dragged away.

The goat-bearded merchant selling the dolls called out to her.

"These are only sold here in the Central Plains! If you buy all the Demon Supremes, I'll give you a thirty percent discount!"

Just then, the vendor noticed Geom Mugeuk standing behind her.

"Ah, Young Cult Leader!"

"Have you been well?"

Han Seol watched the merchant's expression brighten.

Is that expression an act?

If it was, then every actor in the Central Plains must have gathered here.

Han Seol asked Geom Mugeuk, "Did the Cult Leader really give permission to sell these?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded. "You can tell how magnanimous my father is just by looking at this one thing."

Sa Han's telepathic message came again.

[That can't be true. They might be cursed dolls, just like the rumors say. In a critical situation, those dolls might move on their own and attack an opponent.]

Han Seol sent a telepathic message back to him.

[They're too cool and cute to be that kind of doll.]

The thought of buying them to place on a display cabinet crossed her mind.

The goat-bearded man delivered some welcome news to Geom Mugeuk. "I finally get to see you, Young Cult Leader. I had something I wanted to tell you anyway."

"What is it?"

"A doll of you, Young Cult Leader, will be coming out soon."

"Oh! My doll is finally coming out!"

Now that he was officially the heir, a Geom Mugeuk doll was being planned for release.

"Is there a particular pose you'd like? We couldn't ask the others and just made them arbitrarily, but we wanted to ask you before making yours, Young Cult Leader."

Han Seol could feel it. The very fact that he asked such a question showed how much the merchants here trusted Geom Mugeuk. How could he dare ask such a thing otherwise?

"Just make it however you see fit. It just has to be cool. So cool that if you put it over there, it's the first one people reach for! You know?"

Geom Mugeuk deliberately lowered his voice to a whisper.

"Even cooler than my father."

The goat-bearded man laughed and nodded. "Even if we make yours the worst, Young Cult Leader, it will sell the most."

Geom Mugeuk turned to Han Seol. "Would you like to buy a doll? Which one do you like?"

Then, a surprising statement came from Han Seol's lips.

"I'll take all of them."

At the same time, the Cold Ice Dual Swords sent a simultaneous telepathic message.

[You can't!]

[It's dangerous!]

Of course, if she were the type to listen to them, she would not have come this far in the first place.

"You said you'd give a thirty percent discount if I buy them all?" she asked.

At her words, the goat-bearded merchant began packing them up. "An excellent choice! When you set them up, they'll really brighten up your home. All your guests will ask where you bought them."

Looking at the Cold Ice Dual Swords, who were still shaking their heads, Han Seol smiled. "I came to visit the Divine Cult, so I should at least buy a souvenir, right?"

The goods in other shops were things one could find anywhere. But these dolls, the vendor said, were sold only in the Demon Village. More than anything, she simply felt the desire to buy them.

Just then, Sa Han stepped forward. "Before that, we'll take a look."

Sa Han carefully examined the dolls as they were being wrapped. No matter how he looked, they were just ordinary dolls.

"It's fine."

The goat-bearded man resumed packing, and Geom Mugeuk asked her, "Which one do you like the most? Since you've already met the Drunken Demon, don't you feel the most familiar with that one?"

However, she unexpectedly chose the Fist Demon doll. She picked the one that was the largest and most fearsome-looking of them all.

Geom Mugeuk smiled at her taste. "I see our Young Lady likes scary faces. Ah, so it was true that you like men of few words."

After all, among the Eight Demon Supremes, the Fist Demon was second to none when it came to being a man of few words.

In the meantime, the goat-bearded merchant finished packing the dolls nicely and handed them to her. Geom Mugeuk offered to buy them as a gift, but she insisted on paying for them herself.

"When the Young Cult Leader's doll comes out next, please buy one then too!"

"I don't know if I'll have a reason to come back," she replied.

At her words, Geom Mugeuk quickly interjected. "What stronger reason could there be than that?"

"You want me to come all this way just to buy one doll?"

"Do you think it'll only be my doll? There might be a doll of you, and maybe even a doll of the Sanzu Hall Director."

Yes, this was the kind of person who would probably tell them to make a doll of this goat-bearded vendor too.

Wouldn't her pride be hurt if they were sold together? Wouldn't her honor be tarnished?

Geom Mugeuk was someone who would never think such things. The Heavenly Demon and the Demon Supremes were probably the same, which must be why the dolls continued to be sold like this.

She was the one who thought that way. She would have hated being sold alongside a doll that was not on her level.

Through these dolls, she was able to reflect on herself. She realized she possessed a useless authoritarianism and bluff that even those much stronger than her did not have.

I guess they really are cursed dolls, seeing as how they pierce my heart so painfully.

She had always lived without giving any thought to others. But when she was with this man, she kept getting pulled out of her own world.

Just then, someone ran out from a tavern across the street, shouting.

"Young Cult Leader!"

Of all the merchants they had seen, this man was the most delighted to see Geom Mugeuk. He was none other than Jo Cheonbae, the owner of the Alluring Inn. He had come running out after a customer told him that the Young Cult Leader was walking through the Demon Village.

"You'll fall, come slowly."

"Young Cult Leader! You've come?"

Jo Cheonbae was truly overjoyed.

Han Seol glanced at the Cold Ice Dual Swords. This time, no telepathic message claiming it was all an act came from them.

"Innkeeper, have you been well?"

"Of course, of course. I've been well. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I'm fine."

"That's a relief. A true relief."

This trip away from the cult had been quite long, so Jo Cheonbae had been secretly worried about Geom Mugeuk.

"You seem to have gotten thinner, Innkeeper." Geom Mugeuk took his hand.

Flustered, Jo Cheonbae stammered, "Oh my, you shouldn't."

Geom Mugeuk introduced Jo Cheonbae to Han Seol. "This is the owner of my regular tavern."

In her life as the heir to the Ice Palace, she had never once been introduced to a tavern owner, and she would likely never be again.

"This is the Princess of the North Sea Ice Palace."

Jo Cheonbae was startled by the mention of the North Sea Ice Palace. For drinkers, the North Sea Ice Palace held a different meaning than the Murim Alliance or the Evil Alliance. It was the most mysterious of all sects.

"Oh my, it is an honor to meet such an esteemed person." Jo Cheonbae bowed his head politely in greeting.

"Innkeeper, I have to go greet my father. I'll see you later."

"Please come anytime!"

As he was turning to leave, Jo Cheonbae said to Geom Mugeuk, "It's truly good to have you back, Young Cult Leader."

Han Seol could feel it. He was as happy as if his own son had returned.

She sent a telepathic message to the Cold Ice Dual Swords, as if making a declaration.

[Even after this?]

However, the Cold Ice Dual Swords still could not believe it.

[They said the tripartite meeting was held in a tavern in the Demon Village. Would such an important event be held in an ordinary tavern?]

They still thought that some secret they did not know was hidden here in the Demon Village.

"Let's have a drink with friends there later," Geom Mugeuk said. "I have friends in our Cult to introduce you to as well."

For her, who had not a single friend, friends were practically pouring in.

Leaving the Demon Village behind, the four of them made their way toward the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Headquarters.

"How was it? Your impression of the Demon Village?"

To Geom Mugeuk's question, Han Seol answered exactly as she felt. "It was nice. It was much brighter and cleaner than I expected."

Just then, Sa Han interjected with a pointed remark. "As if it were deliberately created."

Then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.

"It was deliberately created."

For a moment, the three surprised people turned their gazes to Geom Mugeuk.

"It wasn't always like this. At first, it was so rough that nobody could mistake it for anything but the Demon Village. Plenty of guys acted violently just because they were martial artists, and many others got drunk and caused trouble. When I became the Sanzu Hall Director, I threw them all in jail. I beat down anyone who assaulted people while drunk, stole money, made threats, or scammed and killed people. The sentence was doubled if you got drunk and caused trouble. If a martial artist harassed a commoner, the punishment was tripled. The truth is, I made all of this."

Han Seol stared at Geom Mugeuk silently before asking calmly, "Why did you go that far?"

After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk said, "Because it's something I can do. No, to be more precise, because it's something I can do easily."

Han Seol could feel from the look in Geom Mugeuk's eyes as he gazed at her that he was speaking from the heart.

"It's something you and I can do easily. We're in positions free from various conflicts of interest. It's something that can be done if you just have the will."

Han Seol remained silent for a moment. He was an heir, and she was an heir. Yet she had never once known what was happening in the villages near the North Sea Ice Palace. She had never given it any thought. Perhaps the real cursed dolls were being sold in a place like that. She had only walked through a marketplace, but her mind was now filled with thoughts.

In the meantime, they arrived at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Headquarters.

The fortress walls were high enough to pierce the sky, and a giant iron gate was engraved with the image of a demon.

Han Seol grew tense. She had finally reached the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, a place she had only heard stories about since she was a child. Her mother, the Ice Empress, had never visited this place, yet she was here first. It was also the first time the Cold Ice Dual Swords had ever been to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Headquarters.

The elite demonic practitioners guarding the main gate greeted Geom Mugeuk with a polite and formal salute.

"We greet the Young Cult Leader!"

The powerful shout echoed in all directions. The practitioners' eyes were sharp, and their discipline was clearly established. Seeing this, the Cold Ice Dual Swords exchanged glances, silently agreeing to be even more cautious.

KRRRRRRNG.

Normally, practitioners entered and exited through a small door set within the giant iron gate, but with the Young Cult Leader's return from his long trip, the massive gate itself began to open.

At the scene that was revealed, Han Seol and the Cold Ice Dual Swords gasped in unison.

"Ah!"

The interior was so vast its end could not be seen, and the buildings erected throughout were tall and magnificent. The North Sea Ice Palace was also large and grand, but it could not compare to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

A wide, grand avenue led toward its center. On either side of the road stood colossal statues of demons, lined up in a row.

Erected like gatekeepers, they looked down arrogantly with terrifying eyes, as if warning that once you passed them, you could not return.

Han Seol was intimidated by the grandeur of the Headquarters, and it was the first time she had ever seen such enormous stone statues.

Geom Mugeuk stood before them, smiled, and said, "Welcome to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."