Chapter 17: Sunae… So… What that meant was…

It wasn’t just Sword Empress who was watching the scene.

Little Heavenly Demon, Hong Yeon, had been observing the situation from the middle.

Though she couldn’t quite grasp how things had unfolded from the start.

It was clear that a commotion had erupted around Yu Jin.

She sighed.

‘It seems this reality of trampling on seeds that haven’t yet grown, even as time passes, hasn’t changed.’

“He’s a guy who rose to prominence quickly, attracting jealousy and envy from behind, so it’s only by sheer luck that he’s avoided getting caught up in such things until now. Originally, he should have experienced this countless times.”

But hearing his voice at the end, Hong Yeon frowned.

“…Why?”

She voiced the question to herself.

– It doesn’t matter. Even if I’m abandoned, I’ll cling again.

“I’ve heard those words as rumors a few times, but I’ve never been so curious as I am now.”

Why would he go to such lengths?

Hong Yeon tilted her glass, furrowing her brow.

Logically, it didn’t make any sense.

Just some stragglers throwing a few complaints from behind.

Normally, a strong person like Sword Empress wouldn’t even care about such trivial criticisms and jealousy, much less pay attention to them.

Unless he was a naive kid.

It bothered her that a man who seemed to have realized reality to some extent was acting like this.

Hong Yeon had a personality that strongly disliked worthless endeavors.

Meaningless and valueless things.

And such a bizarre thing was unfolding before her eyes.

And the fact that he was doing it in a ‘hidden’ place was also a problem.

If he were doing it in front of everyone else, maybe.

Being like that in the middle of the night… no one would really acknowledge it. It would only make him stand out more from behind.

She couldn’t understand his thoughts.

“…That’s what you call affection.”

But… suddenly, it echoed in her ears.

This was the first time she had seen a man utter such words sincerely.

It wasn’t bad.

Even if he was a foolish guy who would give away his liver and gallbladder without hesitation, if there was ‘conviction’ in it.

Then it was undoubtedly something of value.

She didn’t think badly of such a man.

Hong Yeon watched the entire scene unfold from above.

At first, she thought it was just a cocky guy, moved by his petty pride.

But it wasn’t.

“…I like him.”

For someone who wields Divine Art like that…

‘He’s definitely handsome.’

No, he’s strong.

Such words came out because she liked him so much that she misspoke for a moment.

But wasn’t he too handsome for a martial artist with aptitude for Demonic energy?

…Because demons with aptitude for Demonic energy generally had mold-like spots on their faces and were mostly so ugly that they couldn’t be described.

There was a reason why Hong Yeon preferred men with outstanding beauty.

‘It doesn’t seem like that man has spots… are they under his clothes?’

Hong Yeon thought that she would have to strip Yu Jin to find the areas with spots.

Not out of personal interest, of course. It was an important task.

The fight ended with those guys shamefully running away with Hyun-moo’s body.

I’m exhausted.

The backlash from drawing out power was starting to kick in.

The surroundings had already lost the heat of the day and were enveloped in the night air, but my body was still burning hot from the aftereffects of releasing Demonic energy.

A faint light dimly illuminated my silhouette in the darkness.

The surroundings were quiet, and the air, with even the wind still, was heavy and still.

My vision was getting blurry, and it looked like the sky and the ground were mixed up. I barely regained my senses and took another step, but each step felt as heavy as dragging a lump of iron.

My stomach felt like I had drunk too much the night before and turned over the next day, making me feel like I was about to throw up any moment.

‘…This is a big problem.’

I’ve managed to get through so far depending on the situation, but now I’m really at my limit.

My body was screaming.

I was half-heartedly drawing out power, so my body was collapsing from the inside.

This wasn’t a problem that could be solved with elixirs.

‘…I’ve somehow grasped how to manipulate internal energy a bit from this, but there’s something wrong in the process of drawing it out.’

I expend all my mental energy at once.

I know how to draw out Demonic energy… but I don’t know how to suppress it.

And it’s like my body can’t handle it yet, using it all up once the tap is turned on.

It wouldn’t matter if I only drew out internal energy… but in that case, my level would drop exponentially. When I use Demonic energy, I go from peak mid-level to late-level, but if I seal the Demonic energy, I’d barely be hanging on at the peak.

That was also the case with the system in the game, and I felt something similar.

In fact, when I released Demonic energy, I felt an omnipotent feeling.

Sweat trickled down my cheeks and seeped into my neck, and with each breath, cold air entered deep into my lungs.

In that instant.

“…?”

A white-haired woman wearing a black dragon robe blocked my path.

A delicate voice that echoed in my ears.

“Are you the cocky guy who hasn’t come to see me even after using Divine Art so presumptuously?”

Eyelashes that were unusually long, like Cheon Hye-rin’s.

A particularly sharp wind blowing through the path.

She blocked the way, instantly catching my eye.

While the black dragon robe wrapped around her body, her fluttering snow-white silver hair shone like snowflakes in midwinter, further highlighting her beautiful appearance.

A woman with a strong impression.

The thin material of the black dragon robe emphasized her large chest, further emphasizing her presence.

There would definitely be men whose hearts would flutter at the sight of the faintly visible white skin, but I didn’t feel any such emotion.

Rather, I shivered.

Cheon Hye-rin at least had the guarantee of ‘not dying’ as a benefactor.

But this woman was different.

She had the authority and power to kill me in an instant with a single capricious emotion.

Little Heavenly Demon. Hong Yeon.

The one who witnessed my Heavenly Demon Divine Art with her own eyes last time.

And… a fickle woman.

Dozens of people had their tongues cut off for saying the wrong thing once.

Hundreds had their genitals cut off for confessing their love because they were enamored by her beauty.

“…That’s right.”

“You seem quite strong for that.”

Her eyebrows looked cold yet seemed to contain deep anger.

An atmosphere that made it hard for anyone facing her to take their eyes off her.

Her well-defined facial features and beautiful features proved that she wasn’t just a person who shined on the battlefield.

“Why did you come to find me?”

“Didn’t you steal that Divine Art, you cocky bastard?”

The black robe fluttered.

Every time her figure was revealed, it felt like a celestial being was walking on earth.

Is this what all the super-experts who have properly grasped the atmosphere are like…

“…Do you have any proof that I stole it?”

“How brazen.”

When she blocked my path, I momentarily suffocated.

Her intense aura overwhelmed the surroundings, and its weight captured me.

The inside of the lowered black dragon robe subtly revealed her firm muscles and the spirit of a martial artist.

Little Heavenly Demon.

The greatest power in the Demonic Cult, except for the Cult Leader, Vice-Leader, and Great Elder.

But as mentioned earlier, she was capricious and wicked.

“I’m on my way to receive a request from the Elder.”

“….What kind of request are you talking about?”

“He asked if I would train a cocky guy. So I accepted.”

“…What?”

I was so dumbfounded that I was stunned.

Hong Yeon, seemingly losing interest in my lackluster reaction, turned her head.

“You seem like an ordinary man… how did you awaken Demonic energy?”

She was definitely the Little Heavenly Demon in front of me.

But she had approached from behind without me even sensing it.

This meant only one thing.

I couldn’t keep up with her movements.

…Ask me something I don’t even know?

The reason I awakened Demonic energy?

‘I learned two martial arts with Heavenly Demon in the name in the game, and I was automatically born with it.’ I couldn’t say that, so I had no choice but to make up another excuse.

“I’ve heard that there are many who have awakened Demonic energy in the Murim world. I’m one of them-“

“Do you think I’d believe such obvious nonsense? Your skill is different from the Demons who just pop up out of nowhere.”

“Then…”

“That’s why I came to see for myself.”

Still, a fickle woman.

She arbitrarily put her hand on my back and let out a short exclamation.

Hong Yeon, who initially had a subtle expression, took her hand away as if surprised.

“Hmph. But it’s strange. How did you perfectly execute the stances with this body? Surely, your internal energy and Demonic energy are insufficient to do it in an ordinary way.”

“…?”

“I asked how you used it… but if you don’t intend to tell me – well, then I guess I have no choice but to investigate it myself.”

Thud!

My body overturned once.

She had pounced on me.

I lowered my chin slightly, seeing the shadow cast over my face.

With a slowly descending gaze, someone’s large breasts filled my vision.

…They’re the size of watermelons.

And the compression bandage that barely sealed them to their limit.

Trying to go further inside, there was a black petal drawn over her cleavage, as if covering a deep and precious place.

Something seen through the collar of the black dragon robe – probably a slight exposure of the pattern on her chest.

Suddenly, Hong Yeon’s gaze fell as she realized my gaze was directed towards her chest.

“…A flower?”

With doubt, Hong Yeon’s chest quickly moved away.

Hong Yeon’s expression was dyed with embarrassment. She widened her eyes and bit her lip slightly.

“Y-you… Where are you looking! How dare you look at my symbol without permission…”

“No… You’re the one who clung to me, aren’t you?”

Instantly, my whole body froze. Hong Yeon’s face quickly flushed, and her embarrassment was evident.

Hong Yeon quickly looked down. The black dragon robe was subtly open.

The pattern that had been secretly hidden was exposed through the gap. The embarrassment spreading from that small gap overwhelmed her.

“…I, I apologize. Then, turn around for a moment.”

Hong Yeon took a breath and hurriedly grabbed the collar of the black dragon robe with her hand.

Her hand moved quickly, and she began to fix her clothes again. In the midst of her flustered movements, she fastened the collar of the black dragon robe tightly.

Even while fastening the collar, her face was tinged with a reddish hue. She, in her own way, felt the coldness of the black dragon robe, and that cold sensation made her embarrassment even more intense.

Whether it was the intoxication or being swayed by emotions, the appearance of her cheeks turning red was not easily concealed.

Finishing with the collar, Hong Yeon carefully cleared her throat. Her hand was still tightly gripping the collar of the black dragon robe, and she seemed to be trying hard to hide the momentary tremor.

“Only two people have seen my symbol… It’s starting like this from the beginning.”

“…Uh, I’m sorry.”

“…Well, it can’t be helped.”

After taking a short breath, she came closer and said.

“Anyway, try moving your arm once.”

Just as I was about to say something about that, I closed my mouth at the change felt inside my body.

Oh.

“…What is this?”

My shoulder, which had been stiff since earlier, suddenly softened.

Not only that. The feeling of wanting to throw up after using Demonic energy, which was unique to Demonic energy, had also disappeared.

A feeling of slowly invigorating vitality.

“It’s nothing much. I just adjusted a few pressure points. And… I know your intention, but it would be good to do it moderately in the future.”

“Yes?”

“What do you mean by moderately?”

“I’m talking about training.”

“?”

Hong Yeon, who had been quietly exclaiming, burst into a fit of laughter at the sight of me tilting my head with a carefree expression.

As if she was now admiring the barefaced lie.

“I never thought I’d say this before even starting training… but seeing it in person, you’re completely out of your mind.”

“What are you talking about?”

Hong Yeon opened her mouth as if she had been waiting.

“I mean you’re completely infatuated with that woman.”

“…?”

“It’s a relief that you know now.

From now on, keep that pure love to a moderate degree.”

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t like it. What’s so important about mindset…

“I am fascinated by strength after all and want to train you. It is not right to debate this as I am forcing power through force.”

“Yes?”

“Besides, you were somewhat dangerous. In the end, it was a good thing. Eventually, your dantian quickly got used to Demonic energy. It has become more solidified. That is all.”

“Isn’t it because you were in love with Cheon Hye-rin that you trained so recklessly?”

What is this bizarre bullshit again.

Seriously.