"......"
"......"
"Let's eat."
"Yes."
Seoryang picked at his rice. Madongpil, who had been watching him cautiously, began eating with dignity. He knew Seoryang's personality well enough to think it was best not to make a fuss. Aenghwa watched the two from the middle, wondering why they were acting like this.
How long did this awkward meal continue?
"Dongpil."
"Yes, Young Master."
"That..."
"Yes."
"...Never mind. But how did you end up being selected as my personal guard?"
Madongpil calmly explained the circumstances again. Naturally, he had to mention the death of the team members, and by the time he finished explaining, a subtle shadow had fallen over his expressionless face.
Seoryang clicked his tongue. Seeing Madongpil's gloomy face made him regret asking.
"So that's how it was."
"......"
"Are you okay?"
"Yes? Oh, of course."
"I don't mean your physical condition. I mean, are you okay with being my personal guard?"
"It's an honor of three lifetimes. It's more of a reward than a punishment."
"Thanks for saying that, even if it's just words."
Seoryang's face turned sour. Of course, having Madongpil live with him in this desolate house was a good thing. Aenghwa was there too, but there was a certain distance between them. Living together would mean less boredom.
The problem was that Madongpil might become a constant hindrance to the things Seoryang planned to do in the future. Although he had softened a bit recently, it was like a steel sword becoming a wooden sword. It still hurt when you got hit.
"You said it was an order from above, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"When you say 'above,' where exactly do you mean? The Law Enforcement Hall doesn't have personnel authority, and the Finance Hall handles finances, so it must be the Military Department or the Demon God Palace, right?"
"Probably so."
Damn it.
"They really care about me a lot, don't they? Sending someone like you."
"It's a heavy responsibility, Young Master."
If it were the Finance Hall, he could somehow manage. If it were the Law Enforcement Hall, he could just refuse to accept it. But the Demon God Palace and the Military Department were different. The Military Department was the most powerful organization in the Heavenly Demon Sect, and even heirs could be doomed if they offended them.
Of course, the Demon God Palace was beyond words.
In other words, refusing to accept Madongpil could lead to a merciless backlash.
"Phew!"
It was a sigh so intense that his lips trembled.
"Damn it! Since it's come to this!"
Seoryang rolled up his sleeves energetically.
"Let's eat first!"
"Ah, yes!"
"What are you doing, Aenghwa? The noodles will get soggy."
"Yes!"
The three of them began their meal in earnest. As Seoryang ate heartily, Madongpil and Aenghwa's chopsticks moved faster. Though they didn't say it, both were quite hungry.
After the storm-like meal ended, Seoryang called Madongpil.
"Dongpil."
"Yes, Young Master."
"You brought that sword before, right?"
Seoryang pointed to a plain four-foot-long saber lying there.
"Yes."
"Where did you get it?"
"The Demon King's Armory."
"The Demon King..."
Seoryang thought the name was still childish and fierce. Suddenly, he remembered something and quickly opened a drawer to take out the documents So Yeonsim had given him.
"Let's see, not this one... this one is done... Ah! This is it!"
Seoryang quickly read through the document.
'As expected.'
The armory referred to a weapons warehouse. The personnel and organizational chart So Yeonsim had given him also contained information about the members managing the armory.
'The personnel side is lacking.'
The classification of the armory was well done.
'Heart Demon Armory. A large armory in the outer area where ordinary demons can access the weapons warehouse. Most of the sect's demons obtain their weapons here.'
'Demon King Armory. An armory in the inner area where weapons crafted by artisans, such as treasured swords and knives, are displayed. Only those of captain rank or higher in combat units can enter, and occasionally, weapons worthy of being called divine weapons are found.'
Seoryang's eyes scanned the last armory.
"Heavenly Demon Armory."
It was the sect's top armory, strictly forbidden to enter. Only the sect leader and the next successor could freely enter. Even the elders of the council couldn't enter without the sect leader's permission.
Seoryang had heard of the Heavenly Demon Armory before. He remembered hearing about it from Madongpil in the Ancient Bamboo Forest, but it hadn't left much of an impression, so he had let it go in one ear and out the other.
"Dongpil, to enter the Heavenly Demon Armory, you need the sect leader's permission, right?"
Madongpil looked at him with curious eyes.
"Of course, but..."
His eyes seemed to ask why he was asking something he already knew.
Seoryang's eyes sparkled.
"Hmm. So you can't sneak in without the sect leader's permission?"
"Yes. But... why do you ask?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you want to enter the Heavenly Demon Armory?"
"That's why I asked you. It's a natural question... Huh? You don't happen to know a way, do you?"
He asked just in case, and surprisingly, Madongpil nodded.
"Of course, I know."
"Of course?! Does the Law Enforcement Hall have such authority? Well, the Heavenly Demon Armory is part of what the Law Enforcement Hall has to guard, right? So they might have that kind of authority..."
"No, Young Master."
"Huh?"
"No enforcer, not even the head of the Law Enforcement Hall, can enter the Heavenly Demon Armory without the sect leader's permission."
"What? Then how do you know the way?"
"Young Master, you know it better than I do."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Madongpil clicked his tongue. He had known for a long time that the Young Master's memory was jumbled.
"The sect leader's disciples have the right to enter the Heavenly Demon Armory once."
"......"
"......"
"You just have to go?"
"Yes, as long as you haven't already taken a weapon from the Heavenly Demon Armory before."
Seoryang's mouth dropped open.
"Huh, is that so?"
"......"
"But once? Just once? That's it?"
"Yes, that's what I know."
"What? So if I visited in the past and don't remember, it's all for nothing?"
"Well, yes. Unless the sect leader grants permission again."
Damn it!
'It's hopeless.'
Although he had never seen it himself, before he reincarnated into this body, the real Seoryang's reputation was almost that of human trash.
Naturally, he must have been greedy, and from what he heard, he was as confident as he was greedy. There's no way such a person wouldn't have entered the Heavenly Demon Armory by now.
Seoryang clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, there's no other way."
If there was a divine weapon that suited him, it would be like gaining another martial art. But Seoryang wasn't particularly attached to weapons.
To be precise, he liked having good weapons, but he wasn't the type to be greatly disappointed without them. He could beat people with his bare hands, and he could cut steel with an ordinary sword, so there was no need to be obsessed with divine weapons.
"Then I can enter the Demon King Armory freely, right?"
"Of course. You could even live there if you wanted."
"What? Are you telling me to live there?"
"Oh, no! I just meant you can come and go as freely as you like."
Seoryang stroked his chin, lost in thought. Of course, his contemplation didn't last long.
"Alright, then let's visit the armory. There's something bothering me from the recent fight..."
It was then.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of knocking on the door revealed the person's character. Even without sensing their energy or hearing their voice, Seoryang immediately knew who it was.
"Young Master! Are you there?!"
Seoryang's face crumpled.
"Why is that person here again?"
At that moment, Aenghwa exclaimed, "Oh! Come to think of it, Young Master, the Great Madman came looking for you about ten days ago."
"For what?"
"I'm not sure, but from what I overheard, it seemed like he came to drink with you."
"Does he not know what the situation is? Coming all the way here to drink?!"
Madongpil tilted his head. Personally, he didn't think the current situation was that bad.
Bang! Bang!
"Young Master! Are you not there?! I mean, when someone knocks like this, shouldn't you at least open the door..."
Creak!
The door swung open, revealing Wi Hongryeon.
Seoryang asked bluntly, "Why are you here?"
"Oh? Young Master! Have you finished your training and returned?"
"Training or whatever, why are you here?"
"I came to drink."
He was half-doubting, but he didn't expect it to be true. Seoryang, who was quietly watching Wi Hongryeon, slowly closed the door.
"I'm not going far."
"Huh? Wait a minute! Why all of a sudden?!"
"It's my choice, you brat."
"But there's a certain courtesy for someone who came all the way here! Oh? Sniff sniff, what's this? Were you eating?"
"Good for you, having a keen sense of smell. Leave."
"Let me eat with you! I skipped breakfast!"
"Ah, just go!"
"No! Let's just have a drink with the meal!"
"Did you leave your alcohol here?! Why are you causing a scene here?! Go drink with those precious subordinates you love so much!"
"It's no fun drinking with them!"
Madongpil, watching the scene from the side, turned his head away. He couldn't believe this was a conversation between a candidate for the sect's successor and a combat unit captain. No, he didn't want to believe it.
Seoryang scratched his head furiously.
"Ah! Why is everything so chaotic? Hey!"
"What?!"
"This brat? Why are you yelling?!"
"I'm naturally loud! And why are you so harsh with me when you're so lenient with that Third Captain?!"
"Enough, I have somewhere to go, so come back later if you want to drink."
"Where are you going?"
"Now you're trying to get a report? Huh? Straighten your forehead! I'll punch a hole in your forehead and make your eyes an odd number."
"Who said I wanted a report? I was just asking, but you're overreacting."
"Be honest. You came here because you wanted to get hit, right? If that was your goal, I think you've almost succeeded. If you provoke me a little more, I might throw a punch."
Wi Hongryeon frowned.
"I took time off from training the kids to come here, and you're being so harsh."
"That's not my concern. And if you trained them, you should watch over them instead of coming here to drink. Are you really a captain of a unit?"
"They manage well on their own."
"Then quit being a captain since they manage well. Why bother being a captain?"
"The monthly salary is quite nice."
Seoryang sighed. It seemed like she wouldn't leave unless he beat her up.
"Hey, I really have somewhere to go. Come back later. We'll have a drink then."
"So where are you going?!"
"I'm going to the armory, the Demon King Armory! Is that enough?!"
It was then.
"Oh, you're going to the armory?"
Everyone's gaze turned to the person behind Wi Hongryeon.
When did he arrive? There stood a middle-aged scholar with his hands behind his back.
"If you're going, why not go to the Heavenly Demon Armory instead of the Demon King Armory?"
Seoryang scratched his head.
The middle-aged scholar smiled brightly.
"Haha, it's been seven or eight years since we last met..."
"Who are you?"
"......"
"I don't know who you are, but I think you've come to the wrong place. Well, this place is quite remote. Hey, when you leave, take this person with you."
Wi Hongryeon swallowed hard.
"Young Master."
"Let go, I'm closing the door. I won't be responsible if it breaks."
"......It's the Chief Military Strategist."
"What?"
"It's the Chief Military Strategist!"
"......Huh?"
Startled, Seoryang looked at the middle-aged scholar standing outside the door.
The middle-aged scholar, Ho Yosung, scratched his head.
"If you could just offer me a cup of tea, I'll be on my way."