Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Novel - Chapter 513

**Chapter 513: The Lazy Man Who Went to the Demon Cult (3)**

—What a wretched appearance.

—I apologize. I have been incompetent…

—Was that child that strong?

The Heavenly Flowing Sword raised his head and stared at the old man.

He had lost.

Such a crushing defeat that left no room for excuses. For the legendary Heavenly Flowing Sword to return defeated by a brat would be shocking to anyone.

But the old man remained serene, as if he had already anticipated everything.

*”He won’t be fazed.”*

Even if the world turned upside down and heaven and earth changed places, the old man wouldn’t be surprised. He would remain unperturbed, as if he already knew.

That irritated the Heavenly Flowing Sword.

He was an unattainable being.
A mere object of admiration.

Since he learned of the existence of that “older brother,” for the first time, the Heavenly Flowing Sword felt rejection toward it. Like when one contemplates a calm lake for so long that they feel like throwing a stone to break the stillness, a petty desire arose in him to disturb this man’s composure.

—He was strong.

—So strong that you couldn’t even counterattack?

—Yes. So strong that I couldn’t respond. It wasn’t a mistake. I lost due to pure skill.

—He reached that level…?

A slight,
very slight tremor shook the old man’s serenity.

—Patriarch.

—Speak.

—I have something to ask.

—What is it?

—Are we using the Demon Cult?

The old man’s gentle gaze rested on the Heavenly Flowing Sword. A gaze that once seemed warm to him.

But he no longer felt that way.

*”Why didn’t I notice it before?”*

That warmth wasn’t respect towards him. It was the gaze of an owner towards his possession, the gaze directed at a faithful dog.

—Does it matter?

—How can it not matter?!

The Heavenly Flowing Sword’s voice seethed with anger.

—Wasn’t all of this to restore the glory of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword? What’s the point of recovering our family’s prestige if we end up subjected to the Demon Cult? It only has meaning if we achieve it with our own hands. It’s not a reputation we should recover as dogs of the Demon Cult!

—Prestige… —The old man sketched a smile and slid a cup of tea towards him—. You’re agitated. The aroma of the tea will calm you.

—Patriarch!

—I’m telling you that you’re agitated.

—……

A low but severe reprimand.

Faced with that, the Heavenly Flowing Sword pursed his lips.

*”Do you still see me as a child?”*

He acknowledged that he was an older brother worthy of respect. But he was no longer young. His reputation wasn’t insignificant either. Couldn’t he treat him as an equal?

In silence, he took the cup and drank the hot tea in one gulp.

Tok!

The cup struck the table harshly.

—Is that all?

The old man looked at him without changing his expression. Seeing the hatred in the eyes of the Heavenly Flowing Sword, he let out a sigh.

—Gong Ui.

—Yes, older brother.

The title of “Patriarch” had changed to “older brother.”

It was a sign that they wanted to speak as brothers, beyond hierarchies. The old man shook his head, understanding his intention.

—You still don’t understand anything.

—It’s not that I don’t understand, it’s that no one could. Only you know everything. If you don’t tell us anything, how could we guess your intentions?

—……

—Perhaps you believe you’re carrying the weight alone. But, is that the right direction? We’re not just followers of your plan. We’re not hunting dogs that bite and bark at your order. Then, why! Why do you insist on hiding everything from us?

The old man closed his eyes.

—What’s the point of achieving everything this way? What we want to restore is the glory of the Infinity Sword. And the punishment for those scoundrels. It’s not creating a world dominated by demons. I thought they were just tools. Didn’t you say that too? But… when did everything change? When exactly?

—Why do you think it has changed?

—Isn’t it so?

The old man’s gentle gaze and the Heavenly Flowing Sword’s sharp gaze intertwined in the air. The old man calmly received the anger in the younger man’s eyes.

—Gong Ui.

—…Yes.

The old man maintained his unperturbed gaze, not altered by the rudeness.

—Nothing has changed. Nothing. From the beginning until now, nothing has changed.

—But…

The old man’s words cut off the protest.

—Did you say it was for the glory of our family?

—Yes.

—Then nothing has changed. Everything is for the Infinity Sword. I swear it by everything I am. It’s not what you think. I have never bowed before the Demon Cult. I have never followed their orders. I have only pursued the glory of the Infinity Sword.

—Older brother!

—Do you doubt me?

The Heavenly Flowing Sword pursed his lips.

He knew it too.

That the old man had dedicated his life to the resurgence of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword. That he had renounced all worldly happiness for that single goal.

That, starting from nothing, he had forged the Baekgeom Fortress, and now finally had the opportunity to return everything to its place.

He knew it. He knew everything.

*”But why does this have to happen now?”*

—Just one more question.

—Ask.

The Heavenly Flowing Sword hesitated several times before speaking.

—Wei Yanho used the Infinity Sword.

—……

A tremor.

The Heavenly Flowing Sword didn’t miss it.

Ripples were forming on the tranquil lake.

—Perfect. Well, there’s no such thing as perfection in the Infinity Sword. But it was an Infinity Sword that was approaching it. I had never seen that level except in your sword. He still lacked time to mature, but at least he had reached the edge of the Infinity Sword. I ask: are there others who inherit the Infinity Sword besides us?

The old man shook his head.

—I don’t know.

—Are there things you don’t know?

—This is not the time for sarcasm.

The old man’s voice was firm.

—I cannot know everything that happens under the sky. Even if someone else had inherited a part of the Infinity Sword, I wouldn’t necessarily know.

—……

—If the Infinity Sword has been transmitted elsewhere, it would be something to celebrate.

—It was frighteningly similar.

—Similar?

—Yes. Frighteningly similar to your sword. I would have believed that he was your disciple. There was your sword, the one that neither I nor Hoemyung could reach.

—Mmm…

The old man’s eyes trembled.

This was definitely strange.

The Infinity Sword.

Although it’s simply called “Infinity Sword”, it encompasses all the swords under the sky. Therefore, there are countless paths to reach it. Even if the result is the same, the process is unique for each one. And now he was saying that the path was also similar?

*”That’s impossible.”*

Only someone who inherited the legitimate lineage of the Great Family of the Infinity Sword and assimilated its essence could achieve it. But… all the legitimate heirs, except them, had died. That was a fact.

So, where did Wei Yanho learn that sword?

The Heavenly Flowing Sword couldn’t have been mistaken. He had experienced it firsthand. Then…

—I don’t know what’s happening.

—Yes, you don’t know. Then, one more question.

The Heavenly Flowing Sword’s voice became firm.

—Did you know of the existence of the Heavenly Demon?

—……

The old man didn’t answer.

But that was more eloquent than any word.

—I knew it.

The Heavenly Flowing Sword pursed his lips.

—Why did you know and not tell us anything?

The old man shook his head.

—What would knowing it change?

—What would it change?

—I avoided unnecessary confusions. If you had known…

—Older brother!

The Heavenly Flowing Sword interrupted him with an angry voice.

—We are not three-year-olds, nor your tools. I wanted to be a companion who built the legacy of the Infinity Sword alongside you. Not live as a tool to fulfill your desires.

—My desires?

—……

—My desires? My desires?

The old man began to laugh.

*”What…?”*

The Heavenly Flowing Sword’s eyes widened disproportionately.

Laughter.

The laughter that always adorned the old man’s face. But this was not like the ones he had seen before.

It wasn’t a smile full of calm and softness. It was a twisted, distorted laugh, bordering on madness.

—Hahahahaha! My desires? My desires? Did you say my desires?

—He… Older brother…

—Ignorant.

A terrifying aura sprouted from the old man.

—You lived comfortably in the shadow of the name of the Infinity Sword! You know nothing of the truth and still speak! My desires? My desires?

The old man shouted.

It was a shocking scene for the Heavenly Flowing Sword, who had never imagined seeing him like this.

—Do you think restoring the Infinity Sword was my desire? Was it really my desire? Enough. Enough, insolent! I grabbed the reins of a twisted madness, and now you blame me! Me!

The Heavenly Flowing Sword’s face trembled.

—Yes, you may hate us. But you chose this path. Don’t expect us to thank you for your suffering in solitude. You didn’t even give us the opportunity to suffer with you.

—……

—I will fulfill any order of the Patriarch with my life. Follow your glorious path. As you always have.

The Heavenly Flowing Sword stood up abruptly and turned. Without another word, he left the garden.

The wind blew.

The old man, now alone, looked at the empty sky as the wind buffeted him.

—The Heavenly Demon…

Laughter erupted.

The Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Demon…

—The Heavenly Demon is nothing…

The old man clenched his teeth.

The truth was too heavy.

So much so that his body, which feared nothing in the world, could be crushed under its weight.

Should he tell them?
Should they share the burden?

—Enough, fools.

They don’t know how terrifying this place is. And soon…

*”Soon they will know.”*

Because there is no escape anymore.

When the world is filled with the name of the Infinity Sword, they will also see the truth. And then they will understand why he had to do this.

—Is there no one here?

—Present!

—Bring me Hoemyung.

—Order received!

When the shadow hidden in the pavilion disappeared, the old man slowly turned his head towards the flowers in full bloom.

—The flowers that bloom, must one day fall.

When the flowers fall, it will be seen. The black soil that was hidden behind them.

Soon, the members of the martial world will know. How black and ugly was the land they walked on. The old man will throw rotten mud in their faces.

And then he will laugh.

But…

All that glory was never prepared for him.