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Chapter 280: The Secret (1)

***

After the complete annihilation of Vahel, Cheongyeum extinguished the blue flames surrounding him.

“Phew.”

He let out a sigh and turned to Damien. A wide smile spread across Cheongyeum’s face as his expression softened from killing intent into a smile of delight.

“Sir Damien! Thank you so much for your help!”

Cheongyeum rushed towards Damien. Despite his seemingly light movements, he was standing right in front of Damien’s nose in an instant.

“I was trapped in a barrier and almost died in frustration, but thanks to you, I was able to smash that bastard to pieces! It feels like a decade of pent-up frustration is melting away!”

Cheongyeum grabbed Damien’s hand and shook it vigorously up and down. His grip was so strong that even Damien was forced to stagger.

“Elder, can’t you see us?”

“That’s right. We came to rescue you as well.”

Radiant Light and Green Wind spoke with a hint of disappointment.

“Of course I’m grateful to you too! Two of the Five Great Elders came to my rescue! No one else could experience such an honor!”

Cheongyeum burst into hearty laughter. Only then did Radiant Light’s disappointed expression fade.

“Come to think of it, even before I fought him, that bastard was already battered and bruised! I feel bad for getting involved for no reason. You two could have handled him yourselves.”

“Ah… If you’re talking about the wounds on his body, we didn’t inflict them.”

“Then who the hell half-crushed that filthy tough bastard?”

Radiant Light shifted her gaze to Damien.

“Sir Damien did it.”

“…What?”

A look of astonishment crossed Cheongyeum’s face.

“Did he do it alone? How on earth?”

“I just swung my sword here and there…”

Damien offered a vague explanation. He couldn’t possibly reveal that he had used ‘Annihilation’ in front of Cheongyeum.

However, Cheongyeum was not convinced so easily. He still wore an expression of disbelief.

“But the traces left on that bastard’s body…”

“Elder, you heard it when you were at the Church, didn’t you? Sir Damien found Sla alone and killed her. He must have had some hidden tricks up his sleeve.”

At Radiant Light’s explanation, Cheongyeum’s expression turned flustered. But he didn’t ask any more questions.

“Then, Sir Damien, how did you get rid of the barrier? Even with this old man’s skills, I couldn’t even scratch it.”

At Cheongyeum’s question, Radiant Light and Green Wind’s gazes also focused on Damien. It seemed they were curious as well.

“I used a treasure I received from the Empire.”

Damien lied without even a hint of shame on his face.

“As soon as His Majesty learned that I held a grudge against Pandemonium, he gave it to me just in case.”

“Such a precious thing to you? May I see it?”

“It was disposable, so it disappeared without a trace after I used it.”

Damien said with a regretful expression.

“Oh… to use such a precious thing for me! Don’t worry! I’ll speak to Her Holiness and have her give you something of equal value!”

“Thanks for showing kindness, Sir Cheongyeum.”

While Damien hadn’t suffered any losses, he decided to graciously accept Cheongyeum’s consideration.

“But more importantly, Sir Damien, you were truly magnificent. To put up such a good fight against a Duke class demon.”

“In that instant, a chill ran down Damien’s spine as Cheongyeum’s demeanor shifted. It felt as if his blood turned to ice, his body reacting to an unseen, powerful foe.”

“Your growth as a swordsman is evident, Damien. Sla’s death came as a surprise. I’d always wondered how you would fare against her.”

At first, he thought it was a mistake. But upon seeing the glint in Cheongyeum’s eyes, he realized he was not mistaken.

“It’s truly inspiring. So, what do you say? Shall we spar?”

Fighting spirit radiated from Cheongyeum’s entire body.

It was evident from his expression alone. Right now, Cheongyeum was itching to fight Damien. His whole body trembling with anticipation.

However, Damien’s mind was still reeling from Vahel’s words.

Moreover, he knew from his past life just how tenacious and annoying Cheongyeum could be when he was filled with fighting spirit.

“I’d love to, Senior, but…”

“I knew you’d say that! Then quickly, grab your sword!”

“I’m quite exhausted from the battle with the demons. It seems I don’t have the strength to fight any longer.”

“Hahaha, Sir Damien, our enemies won’t wait for us. We can’t always be in top condition. If you’re tired, then let’s fight tired. Show me your resolve and draw your weapon.”

But you’re an ally, not an enemy.

…Those words were on the tip of his tongue, but he held them back.

“I’m severely injured internally due to the battle with the demons…”

“Don’t lie to me. You’re perfectly fine.”

“Only on the surface.”

“Come on, just for a moment, just a quick exchange of blows.”

Cheongyeum wasn’t giving up easily. Damien put on a weary expression.

“Very well, Sir Cheongyeum.”

Just then, Radiant Light extended a helping hand.

“Her Holiness was concerned.”

“Her Holiness? It’s all my fault. As soon as I return to the Church, I’ll immediately go to see her and…”

“And she was incredibly angry.”

Cheongyeum’s face hardened at those words.

“She told me to make sure to convey this message to you. You said you would follow her advice and go out with the other Five Great Elders but you didn’t, and look what happened when you ran off on your own.”

“Ah, no… it’s just that… the situation was urgent…”

“She said you should be prepared when you return. She’s going to assign you paperwork for three months, so don’t even think about going outside.”

“Whoa, wait there! I’m willing to put up with that much… but the paperwork!”

“It’s no use talking to me. You need to beg Her Holiness.”

“Ugh.”

Cheongyeum slammed his fists on the ground in frustration. It seemed he really hated paperwork.

“…Speaking of which, didn’t you see the other person?”

Everyone was taken aback by Cheongyeum’s question.

Having an idea, Damien asked Cheongyeum,

“What other guy are you talking about?”

“When I arrived here, there was a lich in the form of a skeleton standing next to the demon. I was immediately trapped in the barrier, so I couldn’t get a good look at him.”

“…!”

A lich in the form of a skeleton.

Dorugo.

It was clear. There was no other lich who could have looked like that.

Damien felt his blood boiling.

“I couldn’t gauge his strength because he was hiding himself. But something about him felt ominous. Just as much as the demon next to him.”

This was the moment he had been chasing after Dorugo for so long.

Damien felt more regret than joy.

If he had only come a little sooner, he might have been able to kill Dorugo, but he had missed his chance.

“Oh, come to think of it, there wasn’t just the lich.”

Cheongyeum said as if he had just remembered something.

“There was also an entity with bat wings on its back. Its limbs were grotesquely long, and skin color was strange too. No matter how I looked, it didn’t seem to be an ordinary being, but a chimera.”

An entity with bat wings.

Damien could think of one person who fits that description perfectly.

But he immediately denied the possibility. That thing wasn’t the type to show up now.

Iota.

One of The Four Great Demon Kings created by Dorugo, an undead with a specialty in aerial combat.

The Four Great Demon Kings were masterpieces, hailed as the greatest and strongest among the undead Dorugo had created.

All four were incredibly powerful, and they played a significant role in the War of Destruction.

Of course, these evaluations and praises were all received with the exception of Damien.

At that time, Damien was classified as a being of a different plane of existence even among Dorugo’s subordinates.

In the first place, The Four Great Demon Kings could only be born because of Damien.

‘The Four Great Demon Kings were created with the knowledge he gained by analyzing my soul.’

Dorugo had completed the bodies of The Four Great Demon Kings early on, but he had been unable to create souls that matched them.

Then, by analyzing Damien’s soul, he was able to get his hands on the necessary knowledge.

Thus, Dorugo split his own soul to create the souls of The Four Great Demon Kings.

Even so, The Four Great Demon Kings ultimately could not hold a candle to Damien.

‘Dorugo still hasn’t caught me. So The Four Great Demon Kings can’t be completed. Then what on earth is the guy you saw, old man?’

Damien was deep in thought when Cheongyeum spoke up.

“Sir Damien, let’s return to the Church now. When we return, I will tell Her Holiness of your great deeds in detail.”

Cheongyeum got up from the ground.

Just then, a forgotten face came to Damien’s mind.

“Wait!”

As Damien raised his voice, the other three were startled and gathered around him.

“Sir Damien, what’s the matter?”

“Is there a problem?”

Damien said with a regretful expression.

“No, it’s not that… I left her behind.”

“Who on earth did you leave behind?”

Cheongyeum’s confusion was evident in their eyes. Damien let out a weary sigh and said.

“…I left Lady Agnes behind.”

***

The group hurriedly headed to the place where Damien had left Agnes.

Fortunately, Agnes was found unharmed. No, she was far from unharmed.

“You filthy heretics! The time has come to pay the price for tormenting the innocent and weak!”

Agnes was effortlessly slaughtering the demonic followers who were occupying the area.

As she had reached the level of 1st-grade paladin, there was no one among the demonic followers who could stop Agnes.

“Master! You’re back safely!”

As soon as she saw Cheongyeum, she was overjoyed.

“Lady Agnes, I’m so sorry. I left you alone in enemy territory and…”

“No, it wasn’t your fault. You were caught up in the demon’s technique and couldn’t help it. It’s a blessing that you’re back safe.”

Agnes didn’t blame Damien for his mistake at all.

Damien couldn’t help but feel guilty about Agnes’s attitude.

In fact, Damien had deliberately gotten caught up in the demon’s technique in order to meet Vahel.

“Sir Damien, you two go back first. Radiant Light and I will stay here with the paladins and clean up the remaining trash in this area.”

Cheongyeum, Radiant Light, and the paladins that Cheongyeum had brought decided to stay here and eliminate the demonic followers.

Thus, Damien, Agnes, and Green Wind headed back to the Church.

***

“What do you think, old man?”

After the three left, Radiant Light asked Cheongyeum.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m wondering if you believe Damien’s words. He says he lifted the barrier with a treasure given by the empire, but… I honestly don’t believe it.”

There was no way the empire would have so easily handed over an item that could lift the power of a Duke class demon.

And even if they did, it was strange. As far as Radiant Light knew, there was no item that could lift the power of a Duke class demon by ‘simply touching it.’

“Damien is hiding something from us.”

“So what do we do?”

“We need to find out. No matter what.”

Radiant Light’s eyes shone brightly.

She looked ready to torture even someone who had just been an ally.

Cheongyeum didn’t seem particularly surprised or amused. He had already anticipated that Radiant Light would act like this.

“I don’t want to do that.”

“Old man.”

“It’s true that Damien is hiding something from us, but he has never done anything harmful. In fact, he has helped us. On the contrary.”

Cheongyeum spoke firmly.

“If Damien hadn’t used that ‘secret,’ we would all be dead by that demon.”

Cheongyeum was isolated by the demon’s power, and Radiant Light and Green Wind were on the verge of death from the demon’s power.

Only Damien was able to confront the demon, and he reversed the situation by liberating Cheongyeum.

“If we try to force the ‘secret’ out of him and he turns against us… let’s not talk about this anymore.”

“…If that is your will, old man, I will remain silent as well.”

Radiant Light reluctantly agreed. And then she left to eliminate the demonic followers.

Left alone, Cheongyeum gazed at the distant sky and muttered.

“…Radiant Light, Her Holiness said that she believes in Damien.”

Holy Empress had a strange supernatural power that allowed her to see through the true nature of people.

Holy Empress saw Damien as a terrible and monstrous being. But Holy Empress did not consider Damien to be dangerous.

He simply said that it was a pity.

Cheongyeum believed in her judgment. She was far wiser than anyone he could compare to.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to ask her about that next time.”

Cheongyeum thought of the wound that had been carved into Vahel’s torso.

When he first saw it, he doubted his own eyes. He thought he must have seen it wrong.

But the more he punched Vahel’s body, the more convinced he became.

The blow that had crushed Vahel’s body.

It was clearly ‘Annihilation’.

How on earth was Damien using others’ realm?

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t find an answer. Cheongyeum forcibly stuffed his maddening curiosity into a box.

“Damien, next time I see you, I will definitely find out that secret.”

A smile appeared on Cheongyeum’s lips.

It was like looking at a predator who had met its rival.