Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Novel - Chapter 517

Chapter 517: The Lazy One Prepares (2)

“Are you asking me what the Demon Cult is like now?”

“Yes.”

Yeom Mong’s eyebrows furrowed.

It was an obvious but strange question at the same time.

Many had asked him about the Demon Cult until now. But those questions were usually along the lines of, “How cruel are those from the Demon Cult?” or “How twisted are they?”

Whenever he received those questions, Yeom Mong felt uncomfortable.

“Are you asking me how evil the Demon Cult is?”

“No.”

Wei Yanho tilted his head.

“I’m just asking what they are like.”

“You already know that the Demon Cult is a place full of evil people, don’t you?”

“That’s obvious. From what I see, there is no one who knows the Demon Cult better than you, uncle. Hearing it from your mouth must be the most accurate, right?”

‘Uncle…’

That word “uncle” produced a strange feeling in Yeom Mong.

For someone who lost his entire family in the war against the Demon Cult, the word “uncle” was uncomfortable but also nostalgic.

“Let me see. How should I explain it?”

Yeom Mong stroked his beard a few times before speaking.

“Imagine you are living well, and one day, a group of bandits breaks into your house.”

“Yes.”

“But those bandits kill your family and take over the land where you lived. So you lose your home, your family, and end up expelled.”

“Yes.”

“Then, what would you think of those bandits?”

“I would want to kill them.”

“Are they evil?”

“Yes! They are evil.”

Yeom Mong nodded.

“Exactly. That’s how the Demon Cult sees the Central Plains.”

“Huh?”

Wei Yanho looked at Yeom Mong in surprise.

“Isn’t that how we see the Demon Cult?”

“It could be, too.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“That both sides think the same of the other. From their perspective, we are the demons who killed their families and expelled them. From our perspective… there’s no need to repeat it, right? It’s the same. Yes, it must be the same.”

“But…”

Wei Yanho was not convinced.

“When did we kill and expel them?”

“Then, where do you think they come from?”

“Eh…”

Wei Yanho tilted his head.

Where do they come from?

He had never thought about that.

“Do you think they came from beyond the border to invade the Central Plains? It’s not like that. They are also from the Central Plains. Only they lived on the margins.”

“Ah…”

Now that he mentioned it, it made sense.

He had fought against the followers of the Demon Cult several times, but they were not very different. They were simply people. They had nothing exotic.

“They were persecuted for their religion and for various reasons.”

“But they are evil.”

“Because they are our enemies.”

Yeom Mong’s voice was serene.

“They would tell us the same thing too. That those from the Central Plains are heartless evil. Because their families, their loved ones, died at our hands.”

“…”

“Where is the evil in war? Doesn’t the sword pierce the good-hearted just the same? In a fight where both seek to behead the other, there is nothing more ridiculous than arguing about who is the bad guy. They are just different perspectives.”

Jangil twisted his face.

“Are you defending them now?”

“Defend?”

Yeom Mong gave a mocking smile.

“Defend… If telling the truth is defending, then yes. Well, let’s say I defend them. What’s wrong with that?”

Jangil gritted his teeth.

The Demon Cult does not deserve to be defended.

How many of the Central Plains have fallen shedding blood because of them.

Even if they didn’t do it out of hatred for the Central Plains, their actions are unforgivable.

How can he say something like that?

The reason why he couldn’t express his anger was because the one saying it was Yeom Mong.

He couldn’t lecture someone who dedicated his life to containing the Demon Cult. Jangil’s life was also built on the sacrifice of people like Yeom Mong.

What he doesn’t understand is why it is precisely Yeom Mong who says this.

The one who should hate the Demon Cult the most defends them. It’s crazy.

“It seems like you are asking why. Is that so?”

“…Yes.”

“As you think, I hate the Demon Cult. My anger towards them cannot be calmed. But listen, hating the enemy and understanding them are different things. For twenty years, I have observed the Demon Cult. Sometimes from the watchtowers, sometimes near them, and other times in life-or-death situations. Do you know what my conclusion is after all this time?”

“I don’t know.”

Yeom Mong replied as if it wasn’t important.

“That they are also people, just like us.”

“They say that?”

“What? Do they have three arms?”

“One…”

Yeom Mong sighed.

Every time he talks about the Demon Cult, he must overcome the same barrier. It is exhausting to always have to explain the truth beyond the perception of those who want to see the Demon Cult as bloodthirsty demons.

“They are just people. They cultivate, carry water, sometimes laugh and play with their children… Yes, they are like that.”

A strange air began to dominate the camp.

They were not grandiose words. But they contained much more than it seemed.

“Think about this.”

Yeom Mong’s gaze turned to the side. Everyone could imagine what was beyond the empty walls of the camp.

“The sects of the Central Plains are self-sufficient. But they only need to earn money. Whether by managing inns or hiring people to work the land. With that money they can do anything. But, what can be done in this land? Money? It’s just a heavy burden. Here, they work the land to live. Do you think they are all martial artists?”

“…Probably not.”

“Most of those we know as the Demon Cult are actually ordinary civilians. They work the land to live even in this arid place. Martial artists? Yes, they may be hateful. But did they have another option? What could they do against those who hated them and didn’t give them even a piece of land? Stay here and live?”

Yeom Mong smiled mockingly.

“Or perhaps dialogue? With you?”

Jangil tightened his lips.

“You can’t dialogue with those who don’t want to. In the end, there is only fighting left. It’s the only way.”

Yeom Mong was going to add something, but Wei Yanho spoke with disinterest.

“Then, what is the answer?”

“Huh?”

“What is the Demon Cult like?”

“…”

Yeom Mong looked at Wei Yanho disapprovingly. But Wei Yanho remained with a bored expression.

“Well, they are people, so they will have their reasons and circumstances. But I’m not interested in that. I just want to know what that place is like. Knowing it won’t change anything.”

“…”

Yeom Mong looked at Wei Yanho in disbelief and then laughed.

‘What a strange boy.’

Normally, when he defended the Demon Cult in this way, everyone showed hatred or anger. Or they looked with suspicion.

But Wei Yanho did none of those things.

He simply seemed bored, as if it was something obvious.

‘For this boy to be the son of Wei Jeonghan…’

No, perhaps it is precisely because he is the son of Wei Jeonghan that he acts like this.

“It is difficult to describe the Demon Cult in one word. Not even I know them all. But one thing is certain: they are also people, and that is also a place where people live.”

“Mmm.”

Wei Yanho scratched his cheek.

“Does that answer your question?”

“I’m not satisfied, but it’s an answer. Although… I still don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

“Objectively, I was wondering if they would have any reason. But, well, it doesn’t seem like there is a great reason.”

“A great reason?”

“Mmm…”

Yeom Mong was going to ask again, but he stopped.

‘He is talking about his brother.’

Perhaps “brother” is not the right word. In reality, Wei Yanho and Wei Sanho are not related by blood.

Not even Yeom Mong knew it.

He only knew when the Master of Divine Abilities told him. The Master could not avoid it. Yeom Mong is the one who should be most aware of the changes in the Demon Cult. They could not hide such an incident from him.

‘A reason…’

Yeom Mong shook his head.

“Drink.”

Filling the empty cups was all he could do.

* * *

The night was deep.

The nights in the wasteland are incredibly cold.

Exhausted from the long journey, Wei Yanho and the others went to bed early. Although it was not easy to find a spacious and comfortable camp, in this wasteland, any place that protected them from the wind was enough.

Although they could use their techniques to avoid fatigue, the warm bed easily led them to sleep.

But there was someone who couldn’t sleep.

‘How beautiful.’

Wei Jeonghan looked at the sky.

Stars filled the world.

An infinite sky of stars and a dark earth.

It was a strange place where you couldn’t distinguish the boundary between the two.

Seeing this made this wasteland not seem so bad. Although its inhabitants would shudder to hear it.

While admiring the overwhelming view, Wei Jeonghan drank from his cup in silence.

“Can’t you sleep?”

Wei Jeonghan turned his head slowly.

Yeom Mong climbed up to the watchtower.

“Aren’t you sleeping?”

“When you do the same thing every day, sleep doesn’t come easy. It’s not something you can schedule.”

“That makes sense.”

“Yes.”

Yeom Mong sat next to Wei Jeonghan in silence. For a while, both looked into the distance without speaking.

“Did you come because you had something to say to me?”

“…Not exactly.”

“It seems you have lost your ability to lie, senior. You have become more innocent.”

“When you only see sandstorms and talk to quiet guys, you end up like this.”

Wei Jeonghan passed him a bottle of alcohol without saying anything. Yeom Mong took it and looked at the cup Wei Jeonghan offered him.

“What is this?”

“I thought you would come, so I prepared it.”

“You are…”

Yeom Mong filled the cup and drank it in one gulp.

Toc.

He left the cup on the ground and looked into the distance before speaking in a low voice.

“Why did you do it?”

Wei Jeonghan closed his eyes.

It was a question he had to hear. And one he had to answer.

But it was still not easy.

“Simply…”

Wei Jeonghan spoke slowly.

“At that moment, I thought it was the right thing to do.”