Ch.185Chapter 185 – Demon Brain, Flustered

“What, what did you say?”

After hearing my words, Manoe seemed to doubt her own ears and asked me to repeat what I had said.

In response, I tensed my stomach muscles and said to Manoe:

“I. Don’t. Want. To. Cooperate. Can’t you understand simple words?”

“T-this can’t be happening?”

Manoe appeared quite flustered when I refused to cooperate.

Hehehe. Well, who told you to kidnap people? If they had sent someone to politely escort me here, I would have said “Oh, how delightful!” and jumped right in to treat the Heavenly Demon.

“How exactly have you been running the Heavenly Demon Cult until now? Did you think you could just kidnap people and force them to do whatever you want?”

“……”

…Was that really it? They just kidnapped people whenever they wanted something?

Though thinking about it, this is a place where fists and swords matter more than laws.

“Sigh… You speak the truth. We are the Heavenly Demon Cult. We serve the Heavenly Demon, who stands at the pinnacle of all martial arts and demonic arts. Therefore, our logic is the logic of power. Do you find that wrong?”

“That might work with people who live here, but it doesn’t work with me.”

“……”

My words must have hit the mark, as Manoe’s face turned red once again.

“If you wanted something from me, you should have sent someone to escort me respectfully. I would have fixed the Heavenly Demon without hesitation.”

“Then can’t you just fix him now?”

“You started off on the wrong foot. Besides, are you even aware of the situation your cult is in right now?”

“What do you mean?”

It seems Manoe doesn’t understand what kind of situation the cult has gotten itself into.

“The person who was my escort is Baek Yuwol of the Han Dongbaek family, and the others are from the Paseong Geum family.”

“I’m aware of that much. That’s why we brought you here without them knowing…”

“Kidnapped.”

I corrected the wrong part of Manoe’s statement.

“…kidnapped you. But why should that be a major problem?”

“Haah…”

Seriously, how did someone with this level of intelligence become Manoe?

Aren’t you supposed to be the strategist of the Heavenly Demon Cult? Can a strategist be this stupid?

“Can the Heavenly Demon Cult face a single major family on its own?”

“We can certainly handle one. The Thousand Wolf Corps and Thousand Tiger Corps are not that weak.”

“Then, if all sixteen major families attack simultaneously, could you handle that?”

“What?”

I pointed out what she was missing.

As she said, with the strength of the Thousand Wolf Corps and Thousand Tiger Corps, they could certainly handle one major family.

But what if all sixteen major families brought their forces?

Would the Heavenly Demon Cult survive then?

“If the Heavenly Demon were awake, that might be different, but if all sixteen major families bring their forces, the Heavenly Demon Cult will not survive.”

“You dare threaten the Heavenly Demon Cult!”

“It’s not a threat. I’m simply stating facts.”

A threat? I’m just helping you realize what you’re missing.

“Currently, I’m here as an honored guest of the Liu Empire, and after that, I’m scheduled to tour the sixteen major families at the request of their heads.”

“I-is that true?”

Manoe was startled by my words. Is this person really Manoe?

Is she just Manoe in name only? Why is she so clueless?

“In that situation, I’ve been kidnapped… Do you think the Heavenly Demon Cult can withstand an attack from the imperial army and the masters of the sixteen major families once they learn the truth?”

“Uh, uhhh…”

“That’s enough. You may withdraw now.”

As I continued to press Manoe, a clear, beautiful voice spoke from behind her.

Manoe, still looking flustered, retreated and stood close to the wall.

“You still have much to learn. Now do you understand that the position of Manoe is not something easily attained?”

“Yes… Master.”

…? What? Wait. So she’s not Manoe?

The person I thought was Manoe isn’t actually Manoe?

“I’m pleased that you’ve entertained me, Count Pathos Severio.”

As the fake Manoe stepped aside, I saw a woman with blood-red hair emerge gracefully from the darkness.

“I will release your bindings. Stay still.”

With her words, the ropes constraining my body came undone.

Finally free, I was able to stand up.

“I apologize. Due to our cult’s difficult situation, we had to bring you here in this somewhat rough and disrespectful manner. For this, I offer my sincere apologies.”

The real Manoe approached me and prostrated herself on the floor.

I could see the sincerity in her apology for kidnapping me through her actions.

Her knees were meant to bend only before the Heavenly Demon, yet here she was, kneeling before me and prostrating herself in apology.

“…That’s enough, please rise.”

“Hehe, thank you for understanding. You may be the only person besides the Heavenly Demon who has ever received a bow from me.”

Ah, yes… that’s an experience I don’t wish to repeat.

Manoe gestured to the fake Manoe who had retreated to the wall. She quickly moved to set up a table and chairs, then brought a teapot and cups that had been brewing in a corner of the room.

“Thank you for accepting my apology. Here, would you like a cup of tea? It’s brewed from leaves I’ve grown as a hobby, but I only serve it to precious guests.”

The real Manoe personally poured the richly steeped tea into my cup.

Judging by the sweet aroma rising from the tea, it had a very sweet floral scent.

“I’d like you to listen while enjoying your tea. First, it’s true that the Heavenly Demon has collapsed. You must have heard the explanation from my disciple over there…”

“Hiccup!”

“You did explain properly, didn’t you?”

“Yes, yes! I explained everything properly, Master!”

I could see the fake Manoe panicking under the real Manoe’s murderous gaze.

“That’s good then. Sigh, with my only disciple acting like this, how can I entrust the Heavenly Demon Cult to her…”

It seemed Manoe was deeply concerned about her disciple’s future after seeing her fumble like that.

“Well, that’s not the important part, so let’s move on. Currently, the Heavenly Demon is likely suffering from a deviation in his cultivation.”

“I heard he was attacked during training, but is that enough to cause a cultivation deviation?”

“From what I’ve heard, the Heavenly Demon was on the verge of a breakthrough when the attack came. Being forcibly pulled out of his meditative state damaged his blood vessels and heart meridians, which is why he still hasn’t awakened…”

Manoe looked extremely depressed as she spoke about the Heavenly Demon’s condition.

Well, it’s understandable. With the Heavenly Demon—the cult leader and their god—collapsed, it’s natural for his closest aide to be worried.

“So what you want from me is… to cure the Heavenly Demon’s cultivation deviation?”

“That’s correct. For us, the Heavenly Demon must wake up as soon as possible for the cult to survive.”

“Are you certain that the attack on the Heavenly Demon was carried out by the Evil Demon Cult?”

“I am certain. I sent people to confirm it myself. If their reach extends this far, there’s a possibility they’ve infiltrated the sixteen major families as well.”

Sigh. To think the Evil Demon Cult has extended its reach even to the Eastern Continent.

It seems that since my appearance, the order of the main story has been greatly altered.

“When the Heavenly Demon awakens, will the Heavenly Demon Cult fight the Evil Demon Cult, or will you cower and hide?”

“We will fight. Those who dare touch the Heavenly Demon Cult and falsely claim the name of a demonic cult will be granted only death.”

“Then, would you make me a promise?”

“A promise? What kind of promise?”

I looked at Manoe.

“A promise that the Heavenly Demon Cult will lend its strength in the fight against the Evil Demon Cult.”

“Could it be… that you too are fighting against the Evil Demon Cult?”

I nodded at Manoe’s words.

For me to live a peaceful life, the Evil Demon Cult must be eliminated.

If they targeted the Heavenly Demon, they must have judged that a living Heavenly Demon would pose a significant threat to the Evil Demon Cult.

After all, both “Heavenly Demon” and “Evil Demon” use the same character for “demon” (魔).

The core belief of the Heavenly Demon Cult is that there cannot be two demons under heaven, so the proud Heavenly Demon would never forgive the Evil Demon Cult for tarnishing his pride.

‘But… was the Heavenly Demon male or female?’

I think the Heavenly Demon was portrayed as male in the game, but the illustrations were so delicate…

Drawing a woman and claiming it’s a man, what nonsense is this?

‘Whatever. What does it matter if it’s a man or woman?’

As long as they help catch the Evil Demon Cult, that’s all that matters.

To catch Eldran, I need a transcendent powerhouse like the Heavenly Demon.

“Very well. But the reward must be certain. And you must definitely fight against the Evil Demon Cult.”

“I promise. If the Heavenly Demon awakens, I will use everything at my disposal to persuade him to fight the Evil Demon Cult. Though knowing his personality, he would want to destroy the Evil Demon Cult immediately for what they did to him.”

Only after receiving this firm promise did I follow Manoe to where the Heavenly Demon was.

Man or woman, it doesn’t matter.

I just hope we can properly crush that bastard Eldran.