Side Story 62
Heavenly Mountain is vast and expansive.
Heavenly Demon Cult was a group that possessed enough power to challenge the entire Murim World.
Beyond mere individual skill, they had built an organization that was like a nation in itself.
Guided by Gwang Hamuk, with Kim YuWon and Pandora following, they ascended Heavenly Mountain.
Step by step, Gwang Hamuk led the way. He glanced at Kim YuWon and Pandora several times.
'But leaving the Subchief-nim aside.'
A woman with reddish-orange hair, it seemed like he had seen her somewhere.
Gwang Hamuk smiled with a tilted head.
'Who is that woman?'
The woman who came with the Subchief. Since her face was well-hidden, she couldn't be easily recognized, but something inside him was sure. He was convinced that she was also not an ordinary person.
"Chuk-."
Gwanghamuk, who had been climbing the mountain for a while, suddenly stopped.
"I think from here on, you should climb alone."
From this point onward, it was the domain of Heavenly Demon.
The only people who could surpass this level were Heavenly Demon, the Successor of Heavenly Demon, and those who received permission from Heavenly Demon.
"And I'm sorry, but..."
Gwang Hamuk glanced at Pandora sideways.
"The companions accompanying you should wait here..."
"Let's go."
"Yes."
YuWon and Pandora ignored Gwang Hamuk's tough words and climbed. In the face of their actions, Gwanghamuk, momentarily bewildered, shouted.
"Oh, no! If you go up like that, Heavenly Demon will be angry!"
In response to Gwang Hamuk's objection, YuWon turned to him. Then, he curiously asked Gwang Hamuk, who was trying to stop them.
"Why? We're not here to fight."
"That's the law of Heavenly Demon Cult."
"A law, huh?"
Certainly, this was Heavenly Mountain. And all Cultists were bound to follow the laws of Heavenly Demon Cult.
However...
"But I already told you! All I have is a title."
-"Do as you please. Anyway, it's not to catch you."
YuWon wasn't obliged to do so.
At that moment, the will of Heavenly Demon was like that.
Once he obtained the Holy Fire, this Heavenly Mountain would belong to YuWon, and he didn't need to be bound by the organization called Heavenly Demon Cult.
But.
'They can't remember me, after all.'
The problem was that the current Heavenly Demon didn't remember him.
Originally, even if it was a law or whatever, YuWon would have taken Pandora with him without hesitation.
In any case, it was his own choice to be forgotten by everyone, so he couldn't act too recklessly.
'Then...'
YuWon looked towards the top of Heavenly Mountain.
The law of Heavenly Demon Cult is simply the rule created by Heavenly Demon. Ultimately, to break that rule, he could only persuade Heavenly Demon himself.
"Here, at least I'll try to get permission."
Hwa-.
Flames rose from YuWon's body.
At that moment...
['Heavenly Demon Spirit' reveals its form]
The flames took shape and transformed into the figure of a giant.
Heavenly Demon Spirit.
When it revealed itself, Gwang Hamuk almost gasped and stepped back.
"H-Heavenly Demon Spirit?"
An intense heat enveloped Gwang Hamuk.
It was clearly a Heavenly Demon Spirit, but it was a bit different from the one Gwang Hamuk knew.
'A Heavenly Demon Spirit made of flames...'
Heavenly Demon Cultists who saw the Heavenly Demon Spirit couldn't forget it.
All the Martial Arts they learned derived from the Heavenly Demon Spirit, and they had no choice but to absolutely submit to those who possessed it.
But...
'A form I've never seen before.'
It was evident that what was in front of him was a Heavenly Demon Spirit. Even if someone didn't point it out, it was engraved in Gwang Hamuk's instinct.
But it's different...
The only being that wields the Heavenly Demon Spirit in this Tower...
And the Heavenly Demon's own Heavenly Demon Spirit.
'Indeed, it looks more...'
Just by harboring that thought in his mind, Gwang Hamuk tilted his head.
It seems even more majestic.
Just having that thought, as a Cultist, is a sin.
Thump-.
Gwang Hamuk immediately kneeled and bowed his head.
The Heavenly Demon Spirit is like the symbol of Heavenly Demon Cult.
Standing before it was something a Cultist couldn't do.
"I-I, as a Cultist of Heavenly Demon Cult, Gwang Hamuk, in front of this grand Heavenly Demon Spirit..."
"I didn't bring this out for you to see, so stay silent."
YuWon ignored Gwang Hamuk's exaggerated greeting.
He then awaited the next response from Heavenly Demon, Chun Mujin.
And soon.
-Enter. Both of you.
Heavenly Demon's response echoed.
YuWon turned his head and looked at Gwang Hamuk with an expression that said, "See?"
The Heavenly Demon Spirit made of flames disappeared again.
Having gained permission that way, YuWon raised his head and headed up again.
"Let's go."
YuWon and Pandora began to walk again. Thus, climbing again, YuWon recalled the two people he would see again after a long time.
'Lately, he seems to be obsessed with the sword...'
Step, step-.
From the moment he set foot in the Heavenly Demon area, he felt two energies.
They approached him as if greeting him.
"Even he is here."
--------------------
At the top of Heavenly Mountain.
Chun Mujin, who was drinking alone, opened the closed eyes.
"Guests have arrived."
The presence felt from halfway up the mountain. They signaled from quite below, saying that they would now come to see him.
Quaac-.
In an instant, a large sword swung before Chun Mujin's eyes.
A great sword with a blood-red glow.
A sharp sword made from the horn of an unknown creature. One of the masterpieces created by Hephaestus a few years ago.
"Your heart is racing once again."
"It seems like some interesting guys are coming up."
A tall man with disheveled red hair. Shirtless, sweating all over, and with a fierce expression, he had nothing to do with Heavenly Demon Cult.
"It was getting more and more boring with only those brats called Celestial Kings coming."
Ssss-.
A red aura emanated from the large sword he held. Igniting his fighting spirit, he revealed his sharp fangs in a fierce smile.
"It seems like this time they're decent guys."
He could feel it. The fact that these two who visited Heavenly Mountain for the first time were much more formidable than the brats known as Celestial Kings who always sought Heavenly Demon.
"Don't be so rude."
"Rude? Weren't they the ones who bared their fangs first?"
"They didn't bare their fangs; they just asked for permission, showing the Heavenly Demon Spirit."
The one with more thoughts at this moment was Chun Mujin.
'What the hell is going on?'
Heavenly Demon Spirit.
Clearly, it was a power that was only passed down to Heavenly Demon of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Moreover, Chun Mujin had not chosen a successor yet, so in this Tower, only he had the power of the Heavenly Demon Spirit.
That's how it should have been.
'Someone with the Heavenly Demon Spirit.'
The guests who visited him today possessed that power.
He had never felt so confused.
He was worried that the Heavenly Demon Techniques might have leaked outside.
While Chun Mujin was lost in his thoughts...
"Why worry so much?"
Boom-.
Slamming the ground with his large sword and making it tremble, Diablo gleamed with anticipation.
"I will check it out. What kind of person he is."
A guttural growl escaped his lips. His fighting spirit was already growing uncontrollably.
Chun Mujin sighed.
It was difficult to contain Diablo in this state.
"Do you plan to fight on Heavenly Mountain?"
"Of course not. This is the Master's home."
Master.
At some point, Diablo started calling Chun Mujin that.
Although Chun Mujin hadn't transmitted the Heavenly Demon Spirit to him, Chun Mujin had taught Diablo the art of the sword, so it wasn't entirely incorrect.
'Are all of the Demon Race like this?'
Diablo, the Demon King. His personality was fierce and wild. He craved battle and loved blood, seeking only strength.
One day...
Diablo approached Chun Mujin and asked him to teach him how to handle the sword.
'He has a natural talent for combat. Without systematic teaching, this guy was already complete.'
Chun Mujin couldn't help but be surprised as he taught him. What others took years, decades, or even a lifetime to learn, he mastered in the blink of an eye.
Diablo became the Demon King with just his fighting instinct.
Thanks to Chun Mujin's teachings for over a decade, he became a Sword Master.
How much had he grown?
"Promise me one thing. No, I beg you."
Chun Mujin didn't stop Diablo.
At any other time, he would have without a doubt, but this time was a little different.
Someone with the Heavenly Demon Spirit. Without knowing what intentions he had, Chun Mujin couldn't simply reject Diablo's help.
"Don't kill him. I have many questions to ask him."
Clang-.
Chun Mujin gripped the sheath of his sword beside him.
Some called him a courteous knight or a grand master. However, that was only the assessment of those who superficially knew the man named Chun Mujin.
His title was Heavenly Demon (天魔).
The Demon of the Skies.
His nature was not good (善) but evil (惡).
--------------------
YuWon didn't hurry. He could climb in the blink of an eye if he wished, but he didn't.
They didn't remember him. And if he rushed up to the mountaintop, they might misinterpret it as an intention to fight.
After all, this was the home of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The home of the most bellicose warriors in Murim.
However...
"…Maybe I was too cautious for no reason."
The more he climbed, YuWon couldn't help but regret climbing so slowly.
The top of Heavenly Mountain gradually came into view. And the unsettling aura felt from there was clearly different from an illusion.
'That's right.'
On the steep hillside.
'There's no way it's an illusion, a guy I don't even remember suddenly having the Heavenly Demon Spirit.'
At the summit he reached, Chun Mujin was standing with his sword in hand.
It was different from the face he had shown to YuWon in the past.
Unlike when he climbed after formally completing the Trial, YuWon was now more of an intruder.
"Greetings to the Master of Heavenly Mountain."
YuWon's greeting, who was thinking about what to say.
"…Yes."
Chun Mujin responded to his greeting indifferently.
Chun Mujin's gaze, which had been sensing YuWon's presence from below, turned to Pandora beside him.
"The woman at your side is Pandora, isn't she?"
"Do you know me?"
Pandora's eyes, half of her face covered, widened.
Chun Mujin's words had a different tone than someone who simply knew her from rumors.
He seemed to know Pandora.
"Why wouldn't I? You even invaded our Heavenly Mountain once."
Long ago.
Olympus had used Pandora to initiate a battle against the Heavenly Demon Cult.
And that was the first event that brought Pandora to the outside world.
That's why Chun Mujin couldn't forget Pandora.
However...
'Why was it?'
Chun Mujin's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
It was strange.
He remembered the events of that time, but he couldn't remember the reason Olympus attacked his cult.
He shouldn't have forgotten the cause of such an important event.
Lost in his thoughts for a moment, Chun Mujin wondered if he had made YuWon and Pandora wait too long.
"What is your purpose in coming here?"
"I have matters to attend to above."
"Matters in my home? That's strange. I don't know you."
Chun Mujin's eyes narrowed.
"Where did you get the Heavenly Demon Spirit?"
Having said that, he stared at YuWon's face. A face that seemed familiar to him. But he couldn't remember who he was. No matter how much he thought about it, he didn't know.
However, how could this man have his unique Martial Arts, the Heavenly Demon Spirit?
At that moment...
He heard YuWon's response.
"I learned it from you."
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