episode_0097

97. The Demon Cult.

It was a problem I’d been pondering for a while.

Would I simply take on the guise of the Black Forest Clan, or would I create a new organization?

The pondering ended. Johan named his organization, which he would use in this trial.

“I am······ the last remaining successor of an ancient religion.”

“Religion? What religion are you talking about?”

The Deputy Clan Leader looked at him with suspicion. He had never heard of a religion that used such strange martial arts.

Johan said calmly.

“The Demon Cult (魔敎). I am the one and only inheritor of the Demon Cult.”

“The Demon Cult······?”

Everyone around Johan made peculiar expressions. It was a name they had never heard of before.

They had heard of Taoism or Buddhism, but the Demon Cult was too unfamiliar.

The Deputy Clan Leader refuted Johan’s words with a short remark.

“Nonsense. I’ve never heard of such a religion. If you’re going to lie, make it sound more believable.”

Johan gave a faint smile. It was a sneer.

“Even if it exists in the world, does it not exist if you don’t know about it? How arrogant.”

Johan stared directly into the Deputy Clan Leader’s eyes and continued.

“Then, tell me. What group uses martial arts similar to mine?”

“That······. Um.”

The Deputy Clan Leader shut his mouth. He had nothing to say. Just as the eccentric man had said, he didn’t know of any group that used such bizarre martial arts.

To the Deputy Clan Leader, who was showing signs of being flustered, Johan said in a low voice. His eyes were honest. They were not the eyes of a man telling a lie at all.

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you proof. In our Demon Cult, we focus more on the sorcery you mentioned, rather than martial arts that utilize the body.”

After saying that, Johan flipped his palm upwards.

Immediately, a drop of water formed on his palm. Those watching widened their eyes.

Especially, Gong Hyung, who knew Johan as an ordinary inspector, looked like his eyeballs were about to pop out.

“No way!”

“What martial art is that? Spitting out water!”

“······.”

The Deputy Clan Leader’s eyebrows twitched. He asked Johan in a trembling voice.

“Indeed, you are not ordinary. I don’t know about the Demon Cult or whatever, but there are eccentric people hidden throughout the martial world. I will believe that you are one of those figures.”

“That’s enough. Anyway, my goal is the revival of the Demon Cult.”

Johan made a determined expression.

He made up a master that did not exist and continued his words.

“My master said that in the old days, people would tremble at the mere mention of the Demon Cult.”

The Deputy Clan Leader’s expression became strange. What the hell is he talking about?

“But nowadays, people in the martial world don’t even know the name of the Demon Cult properly. I will change that.”

“So, is the first step the Black Forest Clan? How many members are there in that Demon Cult?”

Johan said confidently.

“Just me.”

The Deputy Clan Leader grabbed his forehead.

“······An overly ambitious start.”

“To be precise, it was just me until a moment ago. But now, it’s different.”

Johan pointed at the executives around him with a sharp gesture.

“Gong Hyung, Jangcheong, Deputy Clan Leader, and the other executives, and the subordinates under them, and even the residents of the village.”

Johan declared with unwavering eyes.

“From now on, everyone is a member of the Demon Cult.”

“Wait, including the residents?”

“Isn’t that natural? Including the slaves in the farmlands, everyone. They will now live within the Demon Cult’s boundaries.”

“······.”

Johan ordered the Deputy Clan Leader.

“Deputy Clan Leader, from now on, you are no longer the Deputy Clan Leader. From now on, you are the Head of the Ma-rim (魔林) Unit.”

It was a naming that clearly seemed to be hastily made up.

‘They just changed the first character from the Black Forest Clan to the character Ma (魔)!’

The Deputy Clan Leader was dumbfounded.

“By whose authority am I the Head? I am not the Head. Of the Black Forest Clan······”

He stopped mid-sentence. Because Johan’s fingertip was glowing blue.

‘Damn it.’

“······Haa. I understand. But why am I the Head? Could it be······?”

“Yes. There is a hierarchy even with water. You, who have come in first, should naturally be the Head.”

“······How fair of you.”

“That’s how the Demon Cult is.”

It meant that if he subdued the Black Forest Clan Leader, the Black Forest Clan Leader would join as the Deputy Head.

‘Then, am I the senior to the Clan Leader?’

This damn it.

Ma-rim Head felt self-loathing for the thought he just had.

‘I’m crazy. Talking with that crazy guy is making me crazy too.’

While Ma-rim Head was thinking like that, Johan asked him.

“Tell me if you don’t like it.”

He reflexively replied.

“Of course, I don’t······”

Ma-rim Head’s words trailed off. Johan’s eyes were fiercely shining.

“The same goes for the other executives. Tell me if you don’t want to join the Demon Cult. I won’t force you.”

Sss-

Johan raised his magical power.

They swallowed their saliva at the overwhelming pressure that was spreading. It was a deep internal energy that they had never felt even from the Black Forest Clan Leader.

“Exploiting innocent farmers, and treating helpless slaves like beasts. The Demon Cult will never allow that.”

Johan continued.

“The Demon Cult is one. All members are equal, and no one can be superior or inferior. It’s just that their roles are different.”

Hwarururureuk-!

The flames, shaped like snakes, were flickering on Johan’s palms.

“If an outsider touches a member of the Demon Cult, I will personally punish them. Conversely, if a member of the Demon Cult touches an innocent outsider, the same will happen.”

Tu-kwak-kwak-kwak-kwak-

Hwarururureuk-

The water droplets elongated. The flames and water streams spun as if entwined.

Kwajik-!

The torch that was lighting the conference room went out as it came into contact with the water stream.

Darkness came to the conference room. The blue dragons and the fire snakes danced against the quiet darkness.

The ordinary people, who did not know of the existence of the spells, stared blankly at the scene.

The Ma-rim Head, who had been maintaining a cold attitude all along, was the same. Rather, he was most fascinated by the scene before his eyes.

Taegeuk (太極).

Fire and water created a mysterious harmony and looked down at them.

The voice of the leader echoed in their ears.

“This is my Demon Cult. Now, choose.”

“”······””

***

In the dark night, a group of people was moving through the deep mountains.

It didn’t look like an urgent journey to meet a deadline. There were only a few people, about six or seven, without even a carriage.

They were all wearing swords at their waists, which made it clear they were martial artists.

The handsome man at the very front of the group opened his mouth. His face was pale, and his fingers were slender like willow branches.

He didn’t fit in with the rough-looking men behind him.

“Did you say we arrive after we pass this mountain?”

“Yes, Leader. But are you really okay? You must be tired since this morning······”

“I’m fine. I’m not that tired.”

The person talking with Johan was Jangcheong.

Johan was leading five executives, excluding Wigang, and the Ma-rim Head to the Black Forest Clan Leader.

Wigang was not brought along as he was still injured.

‘There needs to be at least one person to guard the house.’

He had considered leaving Jangcheong behind. However, Jangcheong said that Wigang was a reliable person.

Johan decided to trust Jangcheong. After all, Wigang alone wouldn’t pose much of a threat to Johan.

Suddenly, a hoarse voice broke Johan’s thoughts.

“Leader, why did you bring me? I am injured, just like Wigang.”

His way of speaking was a little more polite than before. Even though he still didn’t use honorifics, it didn’t really matter.

What Johan needed was not only polite language, but also ‘respect’ for him. The current Ma-rim Head was showing enough respect.

“We are going to greet the Deputy Head, how can the Head be left out? And, aren’t you not in much pain?”

“······.”

Ma-rim Head glared at the back of Johan’s head. Is that something the one who caused the injury would say?

‘After he made a hole almost the size of a fist······’

Well, what could he do. Now, that man is his Leader. And he is a member.

It was only natural to follow the Leader as a member. Ma-rim Head suppressed his small dissatisfaction and performed a light step technique.

‘My nape is prickly.’

Johan smiled slightly while running.

Still, it’s much better than before. As the Ma-rim Head’s attitude changed, it will gradually improve.

Johan had no doubt about that fact. At that moment, the bushes that were blurring his vision, cleared away.

“We have arrived.”

It wasn’t a large village. However, the brightly shining lanterns in the vermilion color, gathered together, were enough to show the village’s vitality.

He didn’t know how the Black Forest Clan ruled this village, but it didn’t seem completely terrible.

‘Well, maybe it’s natural?’

It’s a village where dozens of families live, not just a small neighborhood store.

No matter how reckless the Black Path may be, they must have common sense in ruling in order to survive.

Well, for Johan, it was a good thing.

‘The work has been reduced. I just have to deal with the Black Forest Clan Leader.’

As the condition of the village was returning to normal, it would become a strong foundation for the Demon Cult.

Johan kicked the ground and said to the Ma-rim Head.

“Guide me. To where the Clan Leader is.”

“Understood.”