Chapter 37 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon and Demon Mask
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Dawn was breaking in the eastern sky.
"Ugh."
As the sun rose, a groan leaked from the living room of the Heavenly Demon's rooftop room.
The time of dawn was what drunkards hated most.
Sunlight that bestowed life force upon all things between heaven and earth—yet for those littered with empty bottles, it brought only headaches.
"W-Water..."
Jang Chaewon, clutching her temples with both hands, barely opened her sleepy eyes and spoke to the Heavenly Demon.
"Give me some water."
-Kyuoo.
At that, Sparrow, who had been dozing beside her, also gazed at the Heavenly Demon with a pitiful expression.
Sparrow too had tagged along to last night's drinking party and downed more than a dozen bottles of soju.
"..."
The Heavenly Demon had seen countless drunkards before, but none had ever demanded water from him.
Sparrow aside, he couldn't ignore his employer, Jang Chaewon.
After a moment of conflict, the Heavenly Demon kicked the water bottle at his feet.
"Here."
"Mm."
As Jang Chaewon picked up the rolling bottle and drank, another groan came from the bathroom.
"Ugh."
Opening the bathroom door revealed Kim Chanwon with his face buried in the toilet, groaning.
"You up?"
Spotting the Heavenly Demon, Kim Chanwon grinned widely, bits of food stuck to the corners of his mouth.
Feeling his stomach churn, the Heavenly Demon slammed the door shut again.
"What the hell is this..."
Holidays were precious time for the Heavenly Demon too.
He had planned to circulate his qi with a clear mind, then read and watch TV.
But seeing the two groaning like zombies made his irritation rise subtly.
"Get up and go home already."
"Hey now, what're you saying. Gotta have some hangover soup first."
At that moment, Kim Chanwon staggered out of the bathroom and headed to the kitchen.
"Knew this'd happen, so I packed some perilla seed hangover soup from 'Grandma's Bone Broth House' yesterday. This place is the best spot for hangover soup."
Acting right at home, Kim Chanwon opened the fridge and pulled out a white container from the refrigerator compartment.
"Perilla seed hangover soup?"
Jang Chaewon, wriggling on the floor, spoke up in surprise.
"You can't eat that!"
"Why not?"
"Perilla seed hangover soup makes the booze... perilla."
A chill swept through the rooftop room.
As the frozen Heavenly Demon barely opened his mouth—
"Hahaha!"
Perhaps it was a joke perfectly suited to an old man's taste, as Kim Chanwon bared his yellowed teeth and laughed heartily.
"Perilla seed hangover soup makes the booze perilla! Kekeke!"
"Funny, right? Funny, huh?"
Pointing at each other's faces, the two burst into ha-ha-ho-ho laughter. They wouldn't leave until they'd slurped down a bowl of stew.
Feeling a headache unlike any before, the Heavenly Demon turned and stepped outside.
[Lord Heavenly Demon. You're awake.]
On the rooftop platform, Nameless, who had been lying spread-eagled, sat up upon seeing the Heavenly Demon.
[Did you enjoy the night?]
"Why are you lying out here?"
[It was too noisy.]
The unexpected reply left the Heavenly Demon at a loss for words.
Come to think of it, this world didn't apply even a mustard seed's worth of the Heavenly Demon's common sense.
They said one grew calm amid too much bewilderment?
With arms crossed behind his head and legs crossed, the Heavenly Demon gazed at Nameless lying in the charging station. His eyes gradually lost focus.
"Yeah. Sleep."
Avoiding Nameless's spot, the Heavenly Demon sat on the platform.
"Guess I'll circulate my qi."
Composing himself, the Heavenly Demon gathered his internal energy.
One full cycle of true qi coursed through him, and hot energy flowed from his entire body.
His current internal energy level was half a jiazi—that is, the true qi that a martial arts expert would need thirty years of arduous training to accumulate.
"Still far from ten jiazi."
Ten jiazi.
Theoretically the maximum internal energy a human could attain, it was practically an infinite realm where true qi never depleted.
What an ordinary person could gain only after six hundred years of unrelenting daily training, the Heavenly Demon had achieved in a mere twenty years.
In truth, his exact level exceeded a thousand years, but lacking words for realms beyond ten jiazi, he simply called it that.
"Do I really have to go back?"
A peculiar thought crossed the Heavenly Demon's mind.
Did he absolutely have to return to the martial world? What would change if he did?
Whether in the martial world or this one, his life hadn't changed much.
If anything, this world—where nothing went as he wished—had blown away the boredom that had clung stubbornly to his shoulders.
It offered knowledge and diverse books unavailable in the martial world. Things he hadn't yet experienced piled up.
"But..."
Gazing at the distant sky, Blood Flame Radiance lingered in the Heavenly Demon's eyes.
"I must return."
Baring his fangs, an overwhelming killing intent emanated from the Heavenly Demon's body.
The conspirator who sent him here.
That one had not only mysteriously severed the qi and blood of the supreme under heaven and earth but also infiltrated his soul, erasing memories of a certain time and casting him into another world.
By now, the martial world—Ten Thousand Demons Palace—had likely become a wasteland in the conspirator's grasp.
"Truly, human potential knows no bounds."
Recalling the conspirator hidden in shadows, the Heavenly Demon let out a sigh of admiration.
"Though limited to grand demonic arts, to think one surpassing even this one, called supreme under heaven and earth, exists."
A smile crept across the Heavenly Demon's lips.
The existence of a worthy foe to battle. It reignited the fighting spirit of the Heavenly Demon, who had lost his life's purpose, becoming a new source of vitality.
Clunk.
Then the front door opened, and Jang Chaewon poked her head out, shouting.
"Hangover soup's ready!"
On the small folding table sat a pot of bubbling perilla seed hangover soup.
"Eat up."
Jang Chaewon ladled generous heaps of meat and vegetables into disposable plates.
As the Heavenly Demon eyed the steaming soup, Jang Chaewon and Kim Chanwon, reeking of hangover, slurped away with endless "kueh" sounds.
"Been a while since I got properly wasted."
Kim Chanwon, lifting the entire plate to gulp the broth, spoke to the Heavenly Demon.
"If I'm drinking with you again, Mr. Cheon, I'll need to brace myself first."
"Yeah."
"Oh right, Mr. Cheon. Take this."
Kim Chanwon pulled a transparent card from his pocket and handed it to the Heavenly Demon.
"What's this?"
"Mm, a gift card. Use it like cash at big marts or theaters."
With an embarrassed smile, Kim Chanwon said.
"Housewarming gift. Buy something for the place. Or use it when you go out somewhere."
"No need..."
As the Heavenly Demon shook his head at the transparent card—
[I'll gladly accept it.]
Nameless, waiting outside, rolled in quickly and snatched the gift card from Kim Chanwon.
"What are you doing."
The Heavenly Demon asked sternly, but Nameless scratched its head and pointed to the charging station.
[This rice bowl-shaped station feels off somehow. There's a new bed-type latest model out now.]
Clutching the gift card, Nameless spoke in an excited tone.
[I'm a housemate living with Lord Heavenly Demon too, so it's fine to accept a housewarming gift, right?]
"Hmm."
Feeling his sense of normalcy crumble once more, the Heavenly Demon replied in a deflated voice.
"Do as you like."
[Thank you.]
At that moment, Jang Chaewon, munching on the hangover soup solids, looked at the Heavenly Demon with sparkling eyes.
"Oh right. What're you doing after eating?"
"I plan to chase out the intruders who disturbed this one's serene abode and shattered the peace."
"So nothing special, then."
Setting down her disposable spoon, Jang Chaewon smiled.
"Good. While we're out, let's get you a phone."
"Phone?"
Pulling her square old-model flip phone from her pocket, Jang Chaewon grinned.
"You don't have one, Heavenly Demon. Can't take nanobots on Trust or dimensional jobs. Time to get one."
"Hm."
Arms crossed in thought, the Heavenly Demon shook his head.
"No need."
"Why? I'll buy it for you."
"Too much hassle. Next time."
"What? I'd been planning it as a housewarming gift since yesterday. Nothing else you need?"
"Nothing."
Shaking his head, the Heavenly Demon suddenly eyed the pile of empty bottles under the sink.
His eyes lit up with an idea, and he spoke again.
"Ah, there is one thing."
Two hours later.
The Heavenly Demon strode through the bustling streets in his sleeveless Mad Demon Blood Battle Robe, exposing his forearms.
Beside him walked Jang Chaewon in jeans and a red long-sleeve.
Kim Chanwon had gone home, leaving Nameless and Sparrow at the rooftop room.
The Heavenly Demon had gone out with Jang Chaewon to buy what he needed.
"Wh-What's that."
Passersby flinched or sidestepped whenever their eyes met the massive figure of the red-gleaming Heavenly Demon.
Watching faces pale with each encounter, Jang Chaewon sighed.
"Can't you wear proper clothes for once?"
"What do you mean."
"That bandit getup. I bought you tons of clothes. Why always that one? Showing off muscles?"
She pointed at his log-like forearms, but the Heavenly Demon shook his head.
"This Mad Demon Blood Battle Robe is water- and fireproof, impervious to blades and spears..."
"No matter how good, you gotta wash clothes, right? Wearing it every day?"
"No need to wash."
"What?"
Proudly gesturing to his robe, the Heavenly Demon said.
"The Mad Demon Blood Battle Robe expels filth on its own and suppresses the spread of harmful substances."
"You... don't wash it."
"Didn't you hear? It suppresses harmful substances. Moreover..."
As he extolled the robe's functions at length, they arrived before an antique shop in a back alley of the bustling district.
"Still full of good stuff."
Ornate lamps dangled sparkling from the ceiling, while countless antiques piled below—like a treasure vault from a fairy tale.
Ting-a-ling.
Entering the shop rang a clear bell.
"Welcome."
An old man polishing something inside spotted Jang Chaewon and smiled warmly.
"Oh my, Manager Jang. Long time no see."
"Been a while, sir. All good?"
"You bet. Oh, and who's this..."
As the old man's gaze turned to him, the Heavenly Demon flashed red eyes and assumed a dignified expression.
"This one is..."
"Don't say useless things. Pick quick."
"Anything's fine?"
Glancing around, Jang Chaewon grinned at the Heavenly Demon.
"Yeah. Pick whatever you like."
Every item in the shop had a mysterious shape; nothing looked ordinary.
The Heavenly Demon seemed quite pleased, examining the shelves with utmost seriousness.
"Huh?"
Jang Chaewon spotted a wooden box on an antique table. Faint spiritual energy emanated from its surface.
Click.
Opening it revealed two ruby-carved-looking cups nestled in blue cloth.
"Aren't these Spirit-Shaking Stone cups?"
Spirit-Shaking Stone held yokai power, said to vitalize yokai and clear the human mind.
"Sir, I'll take these."
"Ah, those?"
The old man smiled generously at the box Jang Chaewon picked up.
"Go ahead."
"How much?"
"Just take them."
"Huh?"
"You always buy my useless junk for big money whenever you come."
Truth be told, just a few years ago, the old man had nearly closed shop.
Then Jang Chaewon, a chance customer, bought up his remaining stock at exorbitant prices.
Thanks to her, he could keep the place running steadily.
"You let me keep this shop going by buying worthless antiques at high prices. Consider it my gift."
"They're not worthless."
Shaking her head at the old man's warm smile, Jang Chaewon said.
"The stuff you bring in... even if we hunted with eyes ablaze, we couldn't find rarer, pricier treasures. I got them way below value."
The old man chuckled and shook his head.
"This makes forty years in the business. I know the value of what I stock."
Jang Chaewon sighed.
"You just don't know their worth, sir. On our side, we can't buy them even for money."
"Our... side?"
Then the Heavenly Demon strode up, holding something out.
"This one will take this."
"You're buying that?"
Jang Chaewon rubbed her eyes.
In the Heavenly Demon's hand was a large mask. Sharp twin horns, red-hot skin, saw-like teeth.
It looked just like a demon risen from hell.
"C-Crazy? You wanna wear that?"
Truth be told, what the Heavenly Demon needed was a "mask" to hide his face.
Gazing at the sink piled with bottles, he suddenly recalled the young woman from the old infirmary.
She had watched him from afar when he smashed the Ice Golem.
"Perfect, no? To conceal this one's features in dungeons."
Jang Chaewon sighed.
With the same clothes daily and unprecedented muscularity, no one would fail to recognize him even with a mask. She'd just brought him along to buy a housewarming gift.
"Fine. It's too hideous; it'll draw more eyes. Pick something else."
"Hmm."
Like a child clutching a favorite toy, the Heavenly Demon wouldn't let go of the demon mask.
"This one likes it."
"I'll gift it. Take it."
As the old man smiled, Jang Chaewon shook her head.
"Huh? No. It's fine."
"It's too grotesque anyway; no one buys it."
"Then I'll pay."
"No. It's just a wooden mask. No need to feel burdened."
At that, the Heavenly Demon showed an uncharacteristically bright smile.
"Generous soul. In return, if trouble arises, contact this one without fail."
"Uh, sure..."
The old man blinked at the Heavenly Demon, arms crossed in feigned sincerity.
Vroom.
A white van pulled out of the parking lot with sprightly speed.
Seated in the passenger seat, Jang Chaewon chuckled at the Heavenly Demon fondling the demon mask.
"That thing really catches your fancy?"
"Of course. Doesn't it symbolize this one's dignity?"
The Heavenly Demon flipped the wooden mask onto his face.
Boom.
In that instant, crimson aura exploded outward, conjuring the illusion of a demon king from hell smirking.
Screech.
Jang Chaewon slammed the brakes without thinking.
Even she, who had seen gods and yokai aplenty, was stunned by the ferocious energy filling the car.
"H-Heavenly Demon."
Wiping sweat from her brow, she spoke cautiously.
"Y-You really have to use that?"
"Obviously."
"Then absolutely don't wear it outside."
Stunned, heart pounding, Jang Chaewon pressed on seriously.
"Only in dungeons. Got it?"
Wiping sweat again, she repeated.
"Promise me. Got it?"
"Hmm."
The Heavenly Demon nodded reluctantly, a hint of regret.
"Understood."
He tucked the removed demon mask into his bosom and stroked it tenderly.
As if knowing it would become his powerful amulet amid the crises ahead.
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