episode_0253

A few days after Chaeryeon came to Seomhwaseong, a branch of Moonwoljeong was created in Seomhwaseong.

The building they used was my own.

To be exact, it was a manor provided by the military. When I became a casemaster, I was given a separate manor, but since I lived in a guesthouse, I didn’t really need a manor. However, it is not possible to just steal money or build it and make fun of it, so it was lent to Munwoljeong.

“Hey~. Thanks to this, I am glad that I was able to reduce the cost of building a building.”

“Well, with this much.”

“Hehe. Is this why I really like my brother-in-law?”

The moment Chaeryeon was about to hug me, smiling like a fox, I grabbed the back of her neck. It was Chaejin.

“Ahaha… Sister?”

“Hehe. Please talk to me for a moment.”

She grinned and dragged Chae-ryeon towards her, and Chae-ryeon smiled brightly and waved her hand.

“See you next time~!”

It’s not like she can’t pay the manor rental fee at Moonwoljeong, but Chae-ryeon says that just to make fun of Chae-jin. Those sisters are really… the more I see them, the better they get along.

“But can I rent out the manor like that?”

“It doesn’t matter. In fact, among those who have received government positions, not many people live in the manor they were paid for.”

“Huh? Really?”

I said calmly while sitting at the guest table and eating fruit. Right now, the lord of the castle was also given a separate manor, but the manor was being lent out to someone else.

“Hmm. It is said that some officials even use the manor to do business.”

“Oh… that’s amazing.”

There are a few events related to this, but they are not important, so let’s skip them.

I asked Sayun as I put the fruit in my mouth.

“But Sayun. How is your training going these days?”

“Uh. Yes.”

Sayoon swallowed the fruit in one gulp and nodded. These days, Sayun was not only training at Hongseongmun, but was also training at various branches of the Murim Alliance.

“It’s a shame that Yura is gone.”

Yura, who became friends with Sayun and Chaeryeon, eventually left Seomhwaseong Fortress.

I remember Sayoon’s regret when she left. It was heartbreaking to see him become so sullen.

“Still, she is a warrior belonging to the Murim Alliance. It can’t be helped. I heard that a summons has been issued to the members of the Murim League?”

I nodded after hearing Hongryeon sigh and speak as she sipped her tea.

It was like that in Heavenly Moon. Because Yura was reluctant towards the Demon Cult to the same level as I was towards the Iron Blood Order.

So it wasn’t understandable that he wanted to improve his skills by fighting them.

“In particular, they say that the demonic cultists are going on a rampage these days. So, it seemed like the Murim Alliance needed more power.”

It was information passed down from the Murim Alliance. It was confirmed by the open side, and there was quite a bit of tension as to what had happened inside the Demonic Bridge.

“Giwon Confucianism is moving demons, and it is said that the number of people trying to take advantage of this gap and exert influence within demon religion has increased. They say that because of that, if things go well, infighting could break out…”

The enemy’s pain is the ally’s joy.

I heard a similar story from the military, and that they were taking advantage of the situation to attack areas currently under the influence of the Demonic Cult.

“Didn’t you get a call to participate?”

When Hongryeon asked while tilting her head, I shrugged my shoulders.

Actually, it came. Cheonilhwa: An all-out war between the Empire and the Demonic Cult may begin, so prepare.

“I’m here. But I have no intention of participating right away.”

“Huh? Is that okay?”

“Hmm. The strategic part is up to the generals to solve… and my role is basically to give advice.”

So I just wrote a few things down on a letter and sent it to Cheon Il-hwa.

Things to watch out for in the area where the Demonic Cult currently resides. About the formation method used by the demonic cult.

And things like the weaknesses of some magicians.

At that level, the alliance between the military and the Murim Alliance would be enough to regain the power controlled by the Demonic Cult.

Of course, there were other reasons why I did not want to participate in that war.

“I believe that the current turmoil in Demonicism is due to the original Confucianism.”

I said after chewing a bite of fruit. What could be the reason why the Demonic Cult, which had been quiet until now, suddenly became confused?

This may be because the Origin Confucianism, currently the largest force within the Demonic Cult, is moving in earnest.

And the reason is probably…

“…Is it to obtain half of the Heavenly Demon’s Magic?”

Hongryeon’s eyes filled with strength and I nodded. There was nothing to explain other than that.

“But Namgoonghwa said that no one knows about it, right?”

“That’s their opinion. It may have become known in another direction.”

“That’s right. Maybe I was thinking too deeply?”

“Well, from my point of view, it would be nice if it was for nothing, but… I think Seomhwaseong Fortress will probably be attacked in the near future.”

“A~. No way…”

That was when Hongryeon smiled and said.

“It’s a big deal!!”

A soldier came into the room, and I stood up.

“What’s going on?”

“Gangshi and monsters have appeared outside the island castle!”

Hongryeon’s eyes sparkled at that cry.

“I have to go right away.”

These guys aren’t noble either.

When we went outside, not only the soldiers, but also the Murim Alliance and some of the warriors staying at Seomhwaseong Fortress were climbing the wall with embarrassed expressions.

Jiangxi.

It is a deadly weapon created using the dead, and even the weakest ordinary jiangshi are monsters that are difficult to deal with with most martial arts people.

There are at least a thousand such jiangshi.

In addition, there are monsters that can be created through magical arts, like Fire Tiger.

Quite a few dangerous things were camped out outside the Seomhwaseong Fortress.

“…that is.”

One of the martial arts people who was staring at their group gritted his teeth.

It was a familiar face. It was a warrior named Gil Chi-woon, a martial arts expert from Jeongsajigan, who came to Seomhwaseong Castle a few days ago and asked about how to deal with monsters.

His reputation in martial arts was that he was an expert known as Jeongsajigan, and he was a martial artist who did not have a very good personality and many people disliked him.

Even Gil Chi-un, who was evaluated as such, was gnashing his teeth at their group.

It’s natural.

Among those strong poems.

“…vicious bastards. How could that…”

There were many people wearing ordinary clothes that ordinary farmers would wear, and there were even children.

That’s why I knew.

Where were those strong poems made? How was it made?

“Seonja Shinsan. Could it be that those guys… there was news that the village was devastated these days… did they really kill them and create a Jiangshi?”

“I guess so. Among the magicians, there is a magician called Saju (Death Master). If you use that magical skill, you can easily turn people who have recently died into jiangshi. Of course, it is weaker than a properly made gangshi, but…”

But even so, it cannot be denied that it is dangerous.

“…What is that again?”

They were wearing black clothes. The living people move leisurely like that in a place overflowing with strong spirits and monsters.

There was no one present who did not know who those people were.

They are demons.

As they came out laughing, something huge started moving behind them.

-thud!!

-thud!!

It was a giant. However, the giant’s appearance was different from the demolition man or the bronze giant.

-Queuuu…

The giant who was emitting a strange scream was made of flesh.

“… Poetry, Elder Shinsan Seonja. That…”

“A six giant. This is my first time seeing it in person…”

A giant literally made of flesh. I’ve seen it a few times in Heavenly Moon, but this is my first time seeing it in person.

“Even if you use fortune telling, you cannot necessarily create a jiangshi. It is said that in the case of people whose bodies are severely damaged or who have difficulty using their strength even if turned into a jiangshi, the demonic cultists use their corpses to create giants. That’s the six giants. Remember this. There must be a medium called black rock somewhere in the body of that six giant. If you don’t destroy it, the six giants will never fall.”

“…Okay.”

“And… according to the imperial records, the Six Giants increase their strength by absorbing corpses around them.”

“…That means…”

“They can become stronger by absorbing neutralized Jiangshi.”

Everyone’s tension was growing stronger.

So, the number of death squads led by the Demonic Cult begins to increase.

One thousand, two thousand, three thousand people.

When the enemies gathered in front of the castle wall showed their murderous intent towards Seomhwaseong Fortress.

I sighed.

Something was coming out among those strong poetry.

It has a different appearance from other Gangshi. There was a large man with blood-red eyes and demonic energy beginning to bloom from all over his body.

“Is that… a demonic cult…?”

“Not a demonic cult. That one must be strong too.”

“Gangshi?! What emits such terrifying energy?!”

“…Blood Demon Gangshi.”

One of the Murim Alliance’s executives spoke calmly, but chewing his lips.

Those who belong to the Murim Alliance will know this.

Blood Demon Gangsi.

A powerful monster that is a masterpiece of Origin Confucianism.

“There is a saying that five Blood Demon Gangsters can take on even a superhuman.”

“Is that really true?”

Hongryeon, who was watching the enemies next to me, bared her teeth and held the Dragon Hwan Sword. Sayoon, who was next to her, watched them with a tense expression.

An imminent situation.

The enemies were waiting, and those on the walls were also tense.

“Teacher Yu!! How did this happen?!”

As if to add to the tension, Seongju came running, leading the military officers.

Even though he had quite a lot of experience, it seemed like he could not have predicted the movements of the Gangshi and Demon Cultists of this magnitude.

I glanced at him in confusion and shook my head.

“The demon cultist was just a demon cultist.”

“No, that… Sigh. Rather, they…”

“Given that the Kangxi are the main force, it seems like they are from the Giwon Confucian family.”

I watched them, then grabbed the loudspeaker and shouted.

“A demonstration of force there probably means that there is something to be said. I am June, the Empire’s case study. If you want to talk, please come out.”

Did you hear my cries? One person from their group walked out. He has a skinny figure and venomous eyes.

He was an old man who had taken care of himself so well that he could not feel any demonic energy in his body.

The slightly bent old man wiped his hooked nose and let out a loud cry.

“Kill, kill, kill!! This is how I meet the famous June. nice to meet. This is Jeon Gwang, the ghost ship of the guardian of the Demonic Cult.”

“Me, Jeon Gwang?!”

He is quite famous. He is a demon who belongs to the Origin Confucianism, is Yu Jang-mok’s right hand man, and is a demon who can use incantations.

Having mastered not only four spells but also other magic techniques, he gradually accumulated his hidden magic energy and shouted.

“I’ll tell you just one thing!!”

“Tell me.”

“Open the gate!! Then you…!!”

“……”

“I’ll kill you nicely.”

I’m overflowing with confidence. There’s a superman next to me.

I watched him and chuckled.

“Well… have you become senile? What bullshit?”

“Katkatkat! You can kneel in front of me and say something like that…”

“Don’t talk about something that is just bait.”

I laughed as I saw Jeon Gwang’s expression harden.

I knew it would be like this.

I’m not stupid, and I’m sure I don’t know the current situation at Island Hwaseong, but it doesn’t make sense to attack the ground.

As expected, the strategy chosen by Yu Jang-mok was Seongdonggyeokseo.