Episode 11. Inside and outside the demon world, ancient bamboo forest (1)
"The swearing and verbal abuse directed at the religious leader is in and of itself a disgrace. Confucius and princesses are no exception."
"Hey, man!"
"Please speak."
Cheon Ha-jin, who was constantly fussing.
Eventually, with the sound of his breathing gradually decreasing, he turned his head.
"I didn't swear at the leader."
"… … ."
"Don't misunderstand."
"Is that so?"
Damn it! Damn it!
The emperor in his absence... … Even if it's not a bad thing, it's a king... … Even though it was difficult, it was not wrong to curse at someone higher up.
The more I think about it, the more pissed I get. Are you some kind of royal family? Isn't it okay to swear behind someone's back?
'Sister, these gloomy bastards are worse than the emperor.'
They say they are not just members of the royal family, but the incarnation of a god.
I understand, but honestly, it's not my business. To you, it's a god, but to me, it's just a big, unmanned thing.
Of course, the problem is that the large warrior is an unprecedented monster-level powerhouse.
Cheon Ha-jin, who was in the midst of grumbling, glanced at Ma Dong-pil.
He is as blunt as a thousand-year old rock. Even though the wind blows like this, not a single strand of his hair moves.
You know that mask, right? Otherwise, could a human being do that?
"You're from the defense court?"
Madong Phil got down on one knee.
"My name is Ma Dong-pil, the third leader of the Heavenly Demon God Religion's Protectorate."
"A person who is the leader of the defense court will become my personal bodyguard?"
"It is difficult to accept, Confucius. "It is my honor to be the guardian of this church's most respected person."
Cheon Ha-jin screamed inwardly.
It's three lives and it's glory, so stop saying brilliant words! There's no need for that! Just stay away from me!
He looked into Ma Dong-pil's eyes.
His face is expressionless, but his eyes are burning like flames, which is indescribably burdensome.
"I swear to Pasun that I will sacrifice my life to protect the Three Princes."
Don't offer it… … please… … .
'These disgusting things!'
I hate demonic religions. I really hate it so much. What on earth have you given me other than despair?
Isn't the scenery nice? Don't talk nonsense! I feel like I'm being toyed with even more because the scenery is nice!
"Confucius, the weather is quite cold. How about going inside and warming up?"
"I'm looking at the bamboo, so don't disturb me."
"I follow your orders!"
Dude, you're being needlessly serious.
After snorting three times in a row, Cheon Ha-jin looked back at the bamboo forest and suddenly a sense of emptiness appeared on his face.
Contained.
'Anyway, Shiva, how do you do this?'
Did she say that she was a bamboo forest?
I don't even want to know what this place means to the Demonic Cult. What's important is that I have no idea what the cult leader's intention was in sending me here, leaving a perfectly fine residence behind.
Even Gojuk Forest was a forest deeper than Gyoryongjeon (蛟龍殿), where the disciples of the sect leader lived.
At this level, I felt more comfortable being locked up in prison.
'Are you really going to set it on fire?'
If they run out of places to live, won't they move them somewhere else? It seems to be a bit dry. If you drop just one ember, it will burn in an instant.
Now that you think about it, it's really not that bad, right?
Cheon Ha-jin's face took on an insidious glow.
'It's even fascinating.'
It's thrilling just to imagine it. I just want to burn down all the buildings of the Demonic Cult.
'… … .'
Cheon Ha-jin let out a long sigh.
'Come to your senses, you crazy person. 'What excuse will you make if I set it on fire?'
These are not people for whom excuses such as burning meat while trying to eat it or being burned by a sudden lightning strike will work.
'Let's think about something productive.'
The shaking pupils stopped and color appeared in the pale face.
His face, which changed his attitude in an instant and was seriously contemplating, was reminiscent of that of a seeker.
'Okay, maybe I made a mistake from the beginning.'
He was so caught up in the thought of having to run away right away that he couldn't even read the atmosphere of the place properly.
First off, it's amazing. If I was going to run away, of course I had to figure out what kind of place it was.
'I saw it too easily.'
I regretted it deeply. I wonder if the guy who was so thorough during his days as a killer has turned into a fool.
It may be due to an obsession created by prejudice against demonic religions. Since it is a place with a reputation for being vicious even in Gangho, you may have unconsciously assumed that they are those people.
'I wasn't aware of my position as a Three Confucius, nor did I know what I could do with that position.'
Maybe the demonic religion is a town where people live like other sects. There can be many timid and good people like cherry blossoms.
Because so many people look at it, it may not be a bad neighborhood to live in.
but! Even so!
'But I can't live here.'
Just as four-legged animals have a reason to live on land, fish also have a reason to live in the sea. This guy is that guy and that guy is this guy, but it still doesn't seem like they are a demonic cult.
Crucially, even though I was given a second life thanks to a rare stroke of luck, I wondered whether I should be tied down to an organization.
Cheon Ha-jin rolled his eyes.
'Now that it's like this, let's not do anything that is obvious, like going out or something. 'I don't think it'll work anyway.'
hmm… … .
Still, I'm not sure, so why not check it out?
"Hey, Mr. Ma."
Ma Dong-pil's face showed a look of bewilderment.
Mr. Ma? It's an unfamiliar calling. I don't remember ever being called that way by a superior.
He bowed his head deeper than usual, fearing that his embarrassed expression might be seen.
"Yes, Confucius."
Cheon Ha-jin's expression suddenly became shocked.
"But are you going to bow your head like that every time I call you? "I don't know what to do with myself."
"I apologize, Confucius. "It is a natural courtesy to an honorable person."
"… … ."
"… … ."
"good. Anyway, whatever. "I have something to ask you."
"Please ask."
"I'm sure you know. "It's been a little over three months since I recovered from the poison spell."
"yes."
"stuffy. It's quite frustrating and awkward. So, I want to go out to the countryside and get some fresh air."
"… … ."
"Do I have to cancel my outing pass or something like that?"
Ma Dong-pil slightly raised his head.
The face was still as hard as a mask, but it had an expression of puzzlement that anyone could see.
Cheon Ha-jin frowned slightly.
"why? "Is the procedure a bit complicated?"
"that… … ."
"Oh, you don't have to be careful. "Just say it plainly."
Ma Dong-pil flinched when he showed his expectant face.
The feeling that came after the surprise was bewilderment. I wondered if someone who had lived in Protestantism for over ten years might not know that.
However, since a high-ranking person asks a question, it is natural that, as a subordinate, I must answer with all my heart.
"Since you say so, I dare to say something."
"That's right, that's right."
"Basically, expulsion is possible only when a formal order is issued from superiors."
"Official order? "Where does it come from?"
"It is issued by the Naeseong Military Department."
"huh? Military department?"
"That's right."
"good. "Then can I just go to the military department?"
"It's not like that."
"what? Are you saying it is issued by the military department? "You just have to go and get permission."
"In general, yes."
"Explain quickly."
"What takes priority over the military department is the order given from the Demon God Palace. According to custom, disciples know that it is nearly impossible to go out to the countryside without permission from the religious leader."
"… … ."
"If you want to be excommunicated, you will have to go to the Demon God Palace, not the Military Department. "If you have an audience with the religious leader and obtain permission, there is no need to obtain permission from the military department."
"I see… … ."
"That's right."
"huh… … "Thank you for the explanation."
"That statement is difficult to accept."
Ma Dong-pil bowed his head politely and looked at Cheon Ha-jin with eyes full of suspicion.
It was because Cheon Ha-jin's face looked ten years older in just a moment.
Is there something wrong with you? Ma Dong-pil, who hesitated for a moment, carefully opened his mouth.
"I apologize, Mr. Confucius. The days are getting colder. I am very worried that it will harm my body... … ."
"Are you coming? Okay, let's go in."
"I follow your orders!"
In this way, Cheon Ha-jin entered the Gojuk Forest under the guidance of Ma Dong-pil.
Is it because he was completely dumbfounded?
Cheon Ha-jin did not see it. A ray of tension flashes across Ma Dong-pil's blunt face.
The day I found out why he kept bringing up the weather and asking me to go home quickly.
At that very moment, Cheon Ha-jin would seriously consider whether or not to grab Lee Cheon-sang by the collar.
Saaaaa!
The bamboo leaves swayed here and there in the blowing wind.
It was a gloomy night.
* * *
That night, Ma Dong-pil knelt in front of one person.
"… … "This concludes my report on the Three Princes."
"Good job."
A shadow appeared on Mudam's face as he stood in front of the window.
"Your mission is enormous. "Please continue to serve us with all your heart."
"yes."
"Let's just go."
"… … ."
"Is there anything else you can say?"
Ma Dong-pil, who hesitated for a moment, gathered courage and asked.
"Wonju."
"Okay."
"I apologize in advance for asking a profane question. "As a bodyguard, basic information about the person being guarded is essential, so I dare to ask."
"Tell me."
"By any chance, did Confucius suffer memory damage after taking the medicine?"
A look of puzzlement appeared on Mudam's face.
"How can you ask such a question?"
Ma Dong-pil reported in detail the conversation at Gojuk Forest.
Mudam, who had been listening to him silently, answered.
"Chief Sam, I understand why you asked that question."
"… … ."
"But don't worry too much about that. "The person you serve now is not an ordinary leader, but one of the seven people who have the potential to take over the presidency of our school in the future."
"… … ."
"Maybe you just needed someone to joke with. Or maybe he really lost his memory. But that's it. "Don't ask any more questions than that."
Mudam smiled slightly.
"This is also why it is difficult to escort the successors. That's why I specially dispatched you."
"… … yes."
"Go back now."
Ma Dong-pil, who had been with us briefly, disappeared like a ghost.
A cold look passed over Mudam's smiling face.
'It's a memory… … .'
He took out a book that had been shelved on one side of the bookshelf.
It was a list of medicines prescribed by Hyeonghongak, a medical center for resistance, to patients on campus over the past three months.
Kuuk.
As Mudam looked at the list with calm eyes, a thick tendon suddenly appeared on his chin.
'no way?'