Chapter 31: Battle with the Violence Demon
“You’re a strange one. I only meant to teach you a little lesson, but your movements aren’t ordinary. The same goes for that woman called Aize.”
The huge man stepped forward as he spoke.
“You call smashing a car ‘teaching someone a little lesson’?”
I was dumbfounded by what he said.
“Why are you trying to teach me a lesson anyway? I’ve never even seen you before.”
“Who cares about that? You just need to take one punch from me and spend some time resting in the hospital. Ah! That Aize woman should be hospitalized with you too. President Lee Jo-won said he doesn’t need that bitch Aize anymore.”
The bastard clenched a fist the size of a watermelon and showed it to me.
Ghost Eye!
I activated Ghost Eye.
I had already realized there was no point in talking any further with an evil spirit.
Information appeared before my eyes.
[Soul Type: Evil Spirit]
[Evil Spirit Type: Violence Demon]
[Evil Spirit Rank: Pokgwi]
[Hybrid Status: None]
[Past-Life Karma: A general and tyrant of Geonma Kingdom in Mahan who killed his elder brother and seized the throne]
“Hey! Isn’t that woman Aize?”
“Yeah. And isn’t that man beside her the guy from those dating rumors?”
The people nearby began whispering as more and more of them gathered around.
“Inhwang! Open the Ghost Domain first!”
Seeing that things were about to become serious, Aize shouted.
I followed her advice and opened the Ghost Domain before looking at the Pokgwi again.
Damn it, I’m already dealing with a Pokgwi... Compared to this bastard, that Asek-gwi was practically cute....
A Pokgwi was an evil spirit ranked directly beneath the Three Evils of the Underworld.
The Asek-gwi I had barely managed to defeat last time had only been around Salgwi-class, two full ranks below a Pokgwi.
A thin black curtain spread in every direction.
The people around us disappeared without a trace.
“G-Ghost Domain...? Who the hell are you? I could have sworn that bitch just called you Inhwang... Don’t tell me...?!”
The huge man looked flustered.
Now that we were inside the Ghost Domain, there was no reason for me to hold back.
I quickly transformed into the Inhwang Chasa.
Black Spirit Energy wrapped around my body, changing my clothes into the uniform of the Inhwang Chasa and placing the Black Spirit Band around my forehead.
“Mija! Come to me!”
Aize scattered into black light.
Her body transformed into the Black Spirit Demonic Spear and flew into my hand.
Fully armed, I stared at the bastard.
“Y-You’re the... Inhwang Chasa...?”
The huge man’s voice trembled.
“Damn it... I only came outside for a walk and to look around the human world, but I ran into a Reaper. What rotten luck.”
He slowly backed away, trembling slightly.
“Who exactly are you? Why are you after me? Are you one of Taerang’s men?”
Thankfully, he looked frightened after seeing me.
That gave me enough confidence to act imposing.
I had always been pretty good at bluffing.
“Fine! I was once a general and even a king of a nation! I shall proudly face the Inhwang and choose death! I am Gwanhyung, the Violence Demon, Eighth Ghost among the Ten Ghost Kings serving the great Dae-ryeok Magwi, one of the Three Evils of the Underworld!”
“....”
This wasn’t exactly the scenario I had hoped for.
The best outcome would have been for him to tuck his tail between his legs and surrender after hearing the reputation of the Inhwang Chasa.
Apparently, that had only been wishful thinking.
Aize’s voice rang inside my head.
“Inhwang, Violence Demon Gwanhyung is famous as an evil spirit almost unmatched in raw strength. You absolutely must not fight him with strength against strength.”
You know a lot about evil spirits.
“Of course. A thousand years ago, I was always with Taebaek when he fought evil spirits. I might not know every single one, but you can assume I know all the famous Pokgwi-class evil spirits.”
Right. Aize is seriously useful at times like this.
“Hehe. Hearing praise from you makes me happy. Then shall we have a proper fight for the first time in ages?”
Aize sounded excited.
You really seem to love fighting.
“....”
Sorry....
I was starting to develop a habit of immediately apologizing whenever the other person went silent.
“Inhwang! As a sign of my respect for you, I shall attack first!”
You really don’t need to respect me at a time like this....
“Hell Crushing Fist!”
Gwanhyung thrust his fist toward me.
“Dodge! It’s a fist wind!”
At Aize’s urgent warning, I used Whirling Step and spun away from the blast of wind.
Even though I had moved far aside with Whirling Step, the sharp force of the wind still cut my cheek.
Rumble!
The entire first floor of the building behind me was blown apart.
The building began collapsing.
“...That’s seriously insane power. I guess he really deserves the name Violence Demon. His strength is ridiculously violent....”
I couldn’t even close my mouth from shock.
“With your current strength, you can’t beat that Violence Demon head-on.”
What about Soul-Slaying Strike from the Black Spirit Demonic Spear Art?
“If something goes wrong, that evil spirit might steal me from you.”
She meant that if I threw the spear with Soul-Slaying Strike, the Violence Demon might simply catch it and take the spear.
Then what the hell am I supposed to do...?
“Wahahaha! Are you trembling before my strength, Inhwang?!”
Violence Demon Gwanhyung leaped into the air.
He shot down toward me and slammed his fist downward.
“Whoa! Fierce Dragon Step!”
I urgently used Fierce Dragon Step to escape his punch.
It was the first time I had ever used Fierce Dragon Step to dodge instead of attack.
CRACK!
The concrete where I had been standing caved in, with cracks spreading more than ten meters around it.
His strength was absurd.
“Here he comes again! Another fist wind! Dodge!”
“Mountain-Crushing Storm Fist!”
Violence Demon Gwanhyung thrust both fists toward me.
The winds released from the two fists twisted around each other.
They merged into a massive wind dragon and rushed toward me.
It was far too large to dodge with Whirling Step.
Instead, I used Black Spirit Air-Walking Art and shot into the sky.
The Violence Demon’s wind dragon passed beneath my feet with a violent roar.
WHOOOOOSH!
The wind dragon wrapped around an entire building and shattered it to pieces.
“Looks like the Inhwang isn’t what he used to be. Kekeke.”
He raised both hands toward me again while I remained suspended in the air.
“Activate Bingshin!”
Aize shouted urgently.
“What? Bingshin?”
“We’re going to call upon the Vermilion Bird, one of the Four Divine Beasts. Shout ‘Vermilion Bird Bingshin’ right now!”
Then I remembered.
Aize, the Black Spirit Demonic Spear, possessed an ability called Bingshin, or Divine Possession, that allowed even the power of a god to possess her.
“Vermilion Bird Bingshin!”
A crimson phoenix, redder than ordinary flame, sank into the Black Spirit Demonic Spear.
The spear began burning with heat hotter than molten lava.
“Use the First Form of the Black Spirit Demonic Spear Art at the same time!”
Following Aize’s shout, I activated the First Form, Soul-Slaying Strike, while still floating in the air.
Black Spirit Energy twisted around the blazing Black Spirit Demonic Spear like a drill.
“VERMILION. BIRD. SOUL-SLAYING STRIKE!”
Red flames and Black Spirit Energy spun together.
I hurled the Black Spirit Demonic Spear straight at Violence Demon Gwanhyung.
“N-Ngh... I refuse to die like this...! Mountain-Crushing Savage Fist!”
Fear filled Gwanhyung’s face as he gritted his teeth and released a black wind dragon.
The black dragon bared its vicious fangs and collided with the spinning spear covered in the power of the Vermilion Bird and the Black Spirit.
HISSSSS! ROOOOAR!
The intense heat and sharp power of the Black Spirit Demonic Spear evaporated the black wind dragon.
The drill of black flame pierced straight through it and shot toward the Violence Demon.
“GRAAAAAH!”
The Black Spirit Demonic Spear pierced Gwanhyung’s body.
His terrible scream rang through the Ghost Domain.
BOOOOOOM!
An explosion erupted where the Violence Demon had stood.
A huge cloud of dirt and dust rose into the air.
“Whew... Is it finally over?”
I descended to the ground and wiped the sweat from my forehead while staring at the place where Gwanhyung had been.
The thick dust slowly settled.
There was no sign of the Violence Demon anywhere.
Instead, a gigantic crater remained, still radiating heat as white smoke rose from it.
“Mija! Come to me!”
The Black Spirit Demonic Spear embedded in the center of the crater flew back into my hand.
“Restore form!”
The spear broke apart into black light.
Aize returned to her human form.
“Inhwang! That was amazing! You looked exactly like Taebaek did in the past!”
Aize excitedly threw herself into my arms.
“Really...? I would’ve been in serious trouble this time if you hadn’t been here, Aize....”
I honestly admitted it while gently stroking her soft hair.
“But... can we change the name of that Bingshin ability? ‘Vermilion Bird Bingshin’ is a little too much, isn’t it? Even the Vermilion Bird we summoned must have felt offended.”
“Right? I think so too. But the ability only activates if we call out that exact name, so there’s nothing I can do....”
“The Jade Emperor did it, didn’t he? He named both that ability and you, Mija.”
“Yes! That’s right.”
I continued stroking Aize’s hair.
For some reason, doing that seemed to calm me today.
Feeling relieved after defeating the Violence Demon, I released both my transformation and the Ghost Domain.
“Whoa! Aize is hugging the guy she’s rumored to be dating!”
“Oh my... In broad daylight?”
Click! Click! Click!
Everyone was busy taking pictures.
Ah, screw it.
I tightened my arms around Aize.
“Oh! Inhwang!”
Aize looked up at me in surprise.
Since things had already reached this point, I hugged her properly and even posed affectionately with her.
After about twenty minutes, the crowd finally seemed to lose interest and gradually began leaving.
“Want to walk to your place together?”
“Sure. But let’s buy sunglasses and wear them on the way. I don’t want people bothering us.”
“Same here.”
I tightly held Aize’s hand.
Aize smiled as well.
Rather than a “comrade” who had fought beside me through life and death a thousand years ago, Aize felt more like an inseparable “best friend.”
She was beginning to feel more precious to me than any other existence in the world.
Deep inside King Yeomra’s Palace in the Underworld was a private chamber that King Yeomra used whenever he needed to secretly discuss important matters.
Inside sat Arang, the Woljik Chasa and Minister of Royal Administration, along with three men and King Yeomra.
“Father, something strange is happening throughout the Underworld.”
Arang spoke to Yeomra with a grave expression.
“Your Majesty. According to our investigation, one ordinary heavenly maiden, Minister of Internal Affairs Kangcheong, five Heavenly Dragon-class Chasa from the Great Hell of Severing, and one Nahan-class Chasa who served as Security Captain appear to have fallen into the Infinite Dark Cavern.”
Jeonghu, Captain of the Secret Chasa, reported to Yeomra.
“If anyone in the Underworld would dare commit such an act, it would have to be former Iljik Chasa Taerang or the Three Evils of the Underworld.”
Jangryeong, commander of the Royal Guard Chasa, added his opinion.
“The strangest detail is that one of the soul powers belonging to the evil spirits imprisoned in the Great Hell of Severing has disappeared. Apparently, it belonged to the evil spirit of a doctor who conducted horrific human experiments at a place called Unit 731.”
The speaker was a dignified man whose appearance resembled Guan Yu from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
He was Jeonghu’s father, the chairman of the Underworld Chasa Association, and one of Heaven’s Four Great Generals.
He was Jeongcheon, the Commander of Spirits.
After Minister Kangcheong disappeared, Yeomra had ordered Jeongcheon to temporarily assume the duties of Minister of Internal Affairs as well.
“We discovered traces showing that the Spirit-Sealing Black Jade and Summoning Talisman stolen by Taerang were used to release that evil spirit. We also discovered signs that a Heaven-Passage Talisman capable of moving between the living world and the Underworld was used. This makes Taerang’s involvement in this incident clear.”
Captain Jeonghu finished his report.
King Yeomra’s expression darkened.
“What do all of you think Taerang is trying to accomplish? He spent treasures of the Underworld as if they were nothing for the sake of a single worthless evil spirit, and he even killed citizens of the Underworld. Does that make any sense to you?”
“Your Majesty, we have not yet determined Taerang’s objective. However, I believe this incident demonstrates the need to extend the Underworld’s investigative power into the living world.”
Commander Jeongcheon spoke.
“Then, Lord Jeongcheon, do you already have something in mind?”
Jangryeong asked.
“I intend to submit a separate report regarding that matter. I have not finished organizing everything yet.”
Jeongcheon stroked his long beard.
“Very well. All of you should investigate whether any other strange incidents have occurred. Arang, remain here for a moment. I have something to discuss with you.”
At Yeomra’s order, everyone rose, bowed, and disappeared like smoke.
Only Arang remained.
“Arang... how is the Inhwang doing?”
Yeomra asked quietly.
“I am properly controlling the Inhwang’s power according to the program. You don’t need to worry.”
“I am asking about the Inhwang’s memories.”
“...There doesn’t seem to be anything unusual yet.”
Arang lowered her head.
Because she had just lied.
There were already signs that the Inhwang’s memories were returning.
But Arang did not want Yeomra to know.
“Eventually, he will remember....”
“Yes....”
Arang answered softly.
“Until Taerang and the Three Evils of the Underworld are captured, the Inhwang must never fully recover his memories.”
“Yes... I know.”
Tears began falling from Arang’s lowered eyes.
“You already know this, but that was also the wish of your older sister, Hwayeong.”
“Yes... I understand....”
“If the Inhwang completely recovers his memories... the Underworld itself may be destroyed.”
Yeomra gently stroked Arang’s head as she cried.
But Arang could not stop her tears.
