Chapter 280

[Translator – Kie]

[Proofreader – Kawaii]

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Chapter 280: The Secret (1)

***

After the complete annihilation of Vahel, Cheongyeum extinguished the blue flames surrounding him.

“Phew.”

He let out a sigh and turned to Damien. A wide smile spread across Cheongyeum’s face as his expression softened from killing intent into a smile of delight.

“Sir Damien! Thank you so much for your help!”

Cheongyeum rushed towards Damien. Despite his seemingly light movements, he was standing right in front of Damien’s nose in an instant.

“I was trapped in a barrier and almost died in frustration, but thanks to you, I was able to smash that bastard to pieces! It feels like a decade of pent-up frustration is melting away!”

Cheongyeum grabbed Damien’s hand and shook it vigorously up and down. His grip was so strong that even Damien was forced to stagger.

“Elder, can’t you see us?”

“That’s right. We came to rescue you as well.”

Radiant Light and Green Wind spoke with a hint of disappointment.

“Of course I’m grateful to you too! Two of the Five Great Elders came to my rescue! No one else could experience such an honor!”

Cheongyeum burst into hearty laughter. Only then did Radiant Light’s disappointed expression fade.

“Come to think of it, even before I fought him, that bastard was already battered and bruised! I feel bad for getting involved for no reason. You two could have handled him yourselves.”

“Ah... If you’re talking about the wounds on his body, we didn’t inflict them.”

“Then who the hell half-crushed that filthy tough bastard?”

Radiant Light shifted her gaze to Damien.

“Sir Damien did it.”

“...What?”

A look of astonishment crossed Cheongyeum’s face.

“Did he do it alone? How on earth?”

“I just swung my sword here and there...”

Damien offered a vague explanation. He couldn’t possibly reveal that he had used ‘Annihilation’ in front of Cheongyeum.

However, Cheongyeum was not convinced so easily. He still wore an expression of disbelief.

“But the traces left on that bastard’s body...”

“Elder, you heard it when you were at the Church, didn’t you? Sir Damien found Sla alone and killed her. He must have had some hidden tricks up his sleeve.”

At Radiant Light’s explanation, Cheongyeum’s expression turned flustered. But he didn’t ask any more questions.

“Then, Sir Damien, how did you get rid of the barrier? Even with this old man’s skills, I couldn’t even scratch it.”

At Cheongyeum’s question, Radiant Light and Green Wind’s gazes also focused on Damien. It seemed they were curious as well.

“I used a treasure I received from the Empire.”

Damien lied without even a hint of shame on his face.

“As soon as His Majesty learned that I held a grudge against Pandemonium, he gave it to me just in case.”

“Such a precious thing to you? May I see it?”

“It was disposable, so it disappeared without a trace after I used it.”

Damien said with a regretful expression.

“Oh... to use such a precious thing for me! Don’t worry! I’ll speak to Her Holiness and have her give you something of equal value!”

“Thanks for showing kindness, Sir Cheongyeum.”

While Damien hadn’t suffered any losses, he decided to graciously accept Cheongyeum’s consideration.

“But more importantly, Sir Damien, you were truly magnificent. To put up such a good fight against a Duke class demon.”

“In that instant, a chill ran down Damien’s spine as Cheongyeum’s demeanor shifted. It felt as if his blood turned to ice, his body reacting to an unseen, powerful foe.”

“Your growth as a swordsman is evident, Damien. Sla’s death came as a surprise. I’d always wondered how you would fare against her.”

At first, he thought it was a mistake. But upon seeing the glint in Cheongyeum’s eyes, he realized he was not mistaken.

“It’s truly inspiring. So, what do you say? Shall we spar?”

Fighting spirit radiated from Cheongyeum’s entire body.

It was evident from his expression alone. Right now, Cheongyeum was itching to fight Damien. His whole body trembling with anticipation.

However, Damien’s mind was still reeling from Vahel’s words.

Moreover, he knew from his past life just how tenacious and annoying Cheongyeum could be when he was filled with fighting spirit.

“I’d love to, Senior, but...”

“I knew you’d say that! Then quickly, grab your sword!”

“I’m quite exhausted from the battle with the demons. It seems I don’t have the strength to fight any longer.”

“Hahaha, Sir Damien, our enemies won’t wait for us. We can’t always be in top condition. If you’re tired, then let’s fight tired. Show me your resolve and draw your weapon.”

But you’re an ally, not an enemy.

...Those words were on the tip of his tongue, but he held them back.

“I’m severely injured internally due to the battle with the demons...”

“Don’t lie to me. You’re perfectly fine.”

Cheongyeum’s confusion was evident in their eyes. Damien let out a weary sigh and said.

“...I left Lady Agnes behind.”

***

The group hurriedly headed to the place where Damien had left Agnes.

Fortunately, Agnes was found unharmed. No, she was far from unharmed.

“You filthy heretics! The time has come to pay the price for tormenting the innocent and weak!”

Agnes was effortlessly slaughtering the demonic followers who were occupying the area.

As she had reached the level of 1st-grade paladin, there was no one among the demonic followers who could stop Agnes.

“Master! You’re back safely!”

As soon as she saw Cheongyeum, she was overjoyed.

“Lady Agnes, I’m so sorry. I left you alone in enemy territory and...”

“No, it wasn’t your fault. You were caught up in the demon’s technique and couldn’t help it. It’s a blessing that you’re back safe.”

Agnes didn’t blame Damien for his mistake at all.

Damien couldn’t help but feel guilty about Agnes’s attitude.

In fact, Damien had deliberately gotten caught up in the demon’s technique in order to meet Vahel.

“Sir Damien, you two go back first. Radiant Light and I will stay here with the paladins and clean up the remaining trash in this area.”

Cheongyeum, Radiant Light, and the paladins that Cheongyeum had brought decided to stay here and eliminate the demonic followers.

Thus, Damien, Agnes, and Green Wind headed back to the Church.

***

“What do you think, old man?”

After the three left, Radiant Light asked Cheongyeum.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m wondering if you believe Damien’s words. He says he lifted the barrier with a treasure given by the empire, but... I honestly don’t believe it.”

There was no way the empire would have so easily handed over an item that could lift the power of a Duke class demon.

And even if they did, it was strange. As far as Radiant Light knew, there was no item that could lift the power of a Duke class demon by ‘simply touching it.’

“Damien is hiding something from us.”

“So what do we do?”

“We need to find out. No matter what.”

Radiant Light’s eyes shone brightly.

She looked ready to torture even someone who had just been an ally.

Cheongyeum didn’t seem particularly surprised or amused. He had already anticipated that Radiant Light would act like this.

“I don’t want to do that.”

“Old man.”

“It’s true that Damien is hiding something from us, but he has never done anything harmful. In fact, he has helped us. On the contrary.”

Cheongyeum spoke firmly.

“If Damien hadn’t used that ‘secret,’ we would all be dead by that demon.”

Cheongyeum was isolated by the demon’s power, and Radiant Light and Green Wind were on the verge of death from the demon’s power.

Only Damien was able to confront the demon, and he reversed the situation by liberating Cheongyeum.

“If we try to force the ‘secret’ out of him and he turns against us... let’s not talk about this anymore.”

“...If that is your will, old man, I will remain silent as well.”

Radiant Light reluctantly agreed. And then she left to eliminate the demonic followers.

Left alone, Cheongyeum gazed at the distant sky and muttered.

“...Radiant Light, Her Holiness said that she believes in Damien.”

Holy Empress had a strange supernatural power that allowed her to see through the true nature of people.

Holy Empress saw Damien as a terrible and monstrous being. But Holy Empress did not consider Damien to be dangerous.

He simply said that it was a pity.

Cheongyeum believed in her judgment. She was far wiser than anyone he could compare to.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to ask her about that next time.”

Cheongyeum thought of the wound that had been carved into Vahel’s torso.

When he first saw it, he doubted his own eyes. He thought he must have seen it wrong.

But the more he punched Vahel’s body, the more convinced he became.

The blow that had crushed Vahel’s body.

It was clearly ‘Annihilation’.

How on earth was Damien using others’ realm?

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t find an answer. Cheongyeum forcibly stuffed his maddening curiosity into a box.

“Damien, next time I see you, I will definitely find out that secret.”

A smile appeared on Cheongyeum’s lips.

It was like looking at a predator who had met its rival.

[Translator – Kie]

[Proofreader – Kawaii]