Jinu had heard the story of the Demon Lords from Baekcheon. He knew about the relationship between the Demon Lords and the Heavenly Demon.
At that moment, the memories of Geom-yeon, which he had forgotten for a while, also resurfaced.
When Geom-yeon became friends with the Sword Demon — one of the Eight Demon Lords — and sacrificed his life for him, these were the words the dying Geom-yeon heard from the Sword Demon:
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry — if I were stronger, if I could have killed all the other Demon Lords by myself, you wouldn’t have died… I’m sorry…”
As the situation reached this point, the puzzle pieces in Jinu’s mind began to fit together perfectly.
Now that the discord between the other Demon Lords, the Sword Demon, and the Heavenly Demon was certain, Jinu decided to help Baekcheon. He was curious about Baekcheon’s story. Although he had some rough guesses of his own, he wanted to hear the story directly from Baekcheon’s mouth.
“A Demon Lord is on a completely different level than their disciples or sons. They are likely stronger than the elders of the Murim Alliance or the Sado Alliance. My friend, if you want to run away, you can do it now.”
Baekcheon looked at Jinu and gave a smile that said it was truly okay.
However, Jinu, in Geom-yeon’s body, had no intention of running away in such a situation. He had the help of the Constellations and the skills he had obtained on Earth. Moreover, he could even use Geom-yeon’s deep internal energy and martial arts.
“We should fight together. We’re friends, after all.”
Jinu stepped ahead of Baekcheon and raised his sword. In the Macheon Cave, Baekcheon had stood in front of Jinu, but now a completely opposite situation was unfolding in this cave.
The Spear Demon, Gu Dal-cheon, gave a sickening smile and hoisted his spear. He looked at Jinu, who had defeated his disciple, with great displeasure.
“Was it Geom-jin? I’ll kill you!!”
*Whoosh!*
The spear shot forward rapidly. Just as Jinu had defeated Gu Dal-cheon’s disciple with a near-perfect thrust, Gu Dal-cheon showed the textbook definition of a thrust, containing all the essence of spear techniques.
Movements that the original Jinu would never have noticed came into view at a single glance. They were movements visible only because he was in Geom-yeon’s body.
And all of them were transformed into new martial insights for Jinu.
**[The Last Chef] :** Jinu, finish up quickly and let’s cook! There are so many delicious dishes in the Murim!!
Jinu nodded. He moved half a step, intending to repay the faith the Constellations had in him.
*Whoosh!*
As soon as he dodged the thrust, Gu Dal-cheon’s body rotated. He swung the spear sideways, using it like a staff. Since the shaft of the spear was also sharp, a wrong hit could result in being sliced or sent flying to crash against the cave wall.
Jinu raised his sword to block the spear, and at that moment, Baekcheon leaped. His sword rotated rapidly as it surged forward.
Baekcheon’s momentum was sharp. His presence spread throughout the entire cave in an instant, and everyone nearby felt an overwhelming sensation, as if their bodies were being sucked into a small point.
**[Anonymous 1] :** That fellow Baekcheon has a depth of martial arts similar to Geom-yeon.
If Anonymous 1 was praising him to this extent, it said everything.
*Flash!*
In a single moment, Baekcheon, who had killed the Demon Lord, looked at me.
“My friend, let’s trust each other. I’ll be the Heavenly Demon, and you be a Demon Lord. Once we kill everyone except the Sword Demon, there will be vacant seats for Demon Lords, right?”
Baekcheon spoke with a smile, as if he had let go of his worries.
Jinu stood up and joked along with him.
“Should we?”
In any case, to achieve a different kind of Murim unification with Geom-yeon, he had to kill most of the Demon Lords. Only after the Demon Lords were gone could he meet and talk with the Heavenly Demon.
Jinu called out to Baekcheon, who was about to leave the cave.
“If we’re going to fight the Demon Lords anyway, let’s lure them here.”
***
**[Anonymous 1] :** What kind of dish is it today?
‘I’m going to try making steak in the Murim.’
Baekcheon dropped the carcass of a demonic beast in front of me. This time, it wasn’t a wolf, but a cow. I skillfully removed the demonic energy and began butchering it. Baekcheon watched the scene with admiration.
“You must have camped out often.”
“That’s right, I did it without rest. What about you?”
“I… don’t know how to butcher prey, nor do I know how to cook.”
“You were raised as a noble, then.”
“In the beginning, I was just an ordinary child. I lived in a small village with my parents, farming and looking for medicinal herbs.”
**[Father of Crops] :** Ah, Baekcheon. Did you also engage in ‘farming’? Good, Baekcheon! If you wish, I shall become your teacher! Put down your sword and pick up a sickle! The blood of a farmer cannot be hidden even if you want to!
**[Anonymous 1] :** Read the room. We’re in the middle of an important conversation.
**[Father of Crops] :** Hmph, the fact that Baekcheon is the son of a farmer is very important. Traditionally, people who have farmed have well-developed muscles and do everything well. Yes. The fact that Baekcheon is good at using a sword is ultimately thanks to farming.
**[Anonymous 1] :** Get over here. I’ll kill you.
I banned Father of Crops from the chat for 5 minutes. I focused on Baekcheon’s story while listening to the other Constellations’ praises, which were almost like worship.
“We lived in an area managed by the Sado Alliance, because people live there, too. At that time, an unorthodox martial artist drove us out, and we moved to an area managed by the Murim Alliance. But there, they took our grain under the pretext of protection fees. Everywhere you go, good and bad people are mixed together.”
“I see.”
“Then, a conflict arose between an orthodox sect and an unorthodox sect. It was an incident that could have led to war if handled poorly, but the two sects compromised, so a full-scale war didn’t happen. But… didn’t our farmland and house burn down in that small skirmish? My parents died while I was away, and so I joined the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
“….”
“This is the 10th year since I joined the cult, so it’s been 10 years since I lost my parents. I still miss them and yearn for them. That’s why I’m trying to become the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.”
“So you’re becoming his disciple because you want to save the common people.”
“Yes, I have no intention of starting a war. Even if the Murim Alliance and the Sado Alliance are my parents’ enemies, if I go to war with them, innocent casualties will inevitably occur again. So, I have no intention of starting a war, and I only pray that victims like me won’t appear again. Also, if people like me do emerge, I want to avenge them. I’ll kill only the martial artists and leave without starting a war.”
“You’ll have to become very strong.”
Baekcheon nodded.
I couldn’t perfectly understand his heart.
His sadness and my sadness were of different textures.
However, since Geom-yeon had a similar past, I understood Baekcheon’s sadness through Geom-yeon’s heart.
I comforted him not with Geom-yeon’s heart, but entirely with my own. It was by touching upon the similar parts of my past and his.
“You must have been lonely.”
“Yes, I was lonely. That’s why I was more desperate. Paradoxically, because I was lonely, I couldn’t meet friends or build bonds with anyone. That’s why I think you’re strange. I feel strangely comfortable when I’m with you. Did you learn illusion arts by any chance?”
“You’re making jokes now.”
Responding lightly, I bantered with Baekcheon.
“If I could use illusion arts, I would have immediately ordered you to clean up the Demon Lords and make me the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.”
“It seems you’ve half-succeeded.”
“What?”
“Nothing, it was a joke.”
After hearing a bit about Baekcheon’s past, I prepared the food. I built a campfire and grilled the butchered beef. It would have been truly delicious if I had mixed in medicinal herbs or food ingredients sponsored by the Father of Crops, but it was a pity I couldn’t.
Hearing Baekcheon’s past and becoming a bit closer to him made it even more regrettable. Baekcheon would never get to taste the true flavor of my food in his lifetime.
Still, the fortunate thing was that I could use skills like the Dexterity stat and Buff Bestowal.
I poured all the cooking-related skills I could use into this single hunk of steak.
Because a well-grilled piece of meat is a secret technique that can settle any situation.
The savory smell of meat wafted out of the cave. The smell and smoke would likely draw in other examinees and the Demon Lords.
“Was this why you wanted to lure the Demon Lords and kill them all? You really intend to kill them.”
To Baekcheon’s question, I replied as usual.
“It’s a matter involving a friend’s revenge. How could I not help when my friend wants it? Before that, try this.”
***
Baekcheon looked moved by Jinu’s habitually nonchalant attitude.
‘Geom-jin… just what kind of guy is he?’
Baekcheon didn’t know how to treat a friend, having had one for the first time in his life. He decided to see his friend exactly as he was, without doubting if there was another meaning behind his actions.
“Hurry up and try it. My arm is going to fall off. You were hungry, weren’t you?”
Baekcheon nodded. He looked at the piece of meat Jinu handed him. When he sliced the meat, a beautiful pink hue that made his mouth water was revealed. The outside was deliciously browned.
Meat might just be meat, but Baekcheon had already eaten the wolf Jinu had grilled. When food passed through Jinu’s hands, even ordinary meat produced an extraordinary taste.
He put the meat in his mouth with a trembling heart. As soon as he bit into it, a savory meaty aroma exploded, and the juices spread throughout his mouth. Thanks to Jinu’s Buff Bestowal skill, the flavor was enhanced even without salt or pepper, and furthermore, he felt as if his internal energy had slightly increased.
Baekcheon looked at Jinu in surprise.
“…What on earth did you do? What is this?”
“My friend, I’ll tell you later. For now, focus on what’s in front of us.”
**[Anonymous 1] :** Hey, give me some of that meat! I’m curious about the taste of beef in the Murim.
**[Father of Crops] :** I can finally chat!! Give me some meat too!!!
**[Water God of Cheongha] :** Descendant, I ask of you as well.
**[Endless Waiting] :** Me too!
**[Returnee from the Demon Realm] :** Jinu, I’m hungry too… When you return to Earth, I’ll shower you with coins, so I’m counting on you.
**[Liberated Swordsman] :** It’s urgent.
**[The Last Chef] :** If you don’t give me food, I’m going to poop my pants!
**[The Last Blacksmith] :** The Last Chef… was this kind of character.
**[God of Rain and Sunlight] :** I’m going to poop too!!
‘Please wait.’
After calming down the impatient Constellations, Jinu spoke to Baekcheon.
“The typical bad guys who are wicked and lazy, and who want to steal this meat, have arrived. We have to protect the meat.”
At Jinu’s words, Baekcheon let out a chuckle as if it were absurd.
“Right. Delicious meat like this should be eaten with a friend. We can’t possibly eat it with bad guys, can we?”
**[Anonymous 1] :** Baekcheon, let’s be friends. Give me some meat too!
**[God of Rain and Sunlight] :** Become my friend, Baekcheon!
**[Liberated Swordsman] :** We’re fellow swordsmen, let’s be friends.
**[Endless Waiting] :** I’m a swordsman too!
**[Water God of Cheongha] :** Let’s be friends, Baekcheon!
**[The Last Blacksmith] :** I’ll make you a weapon, so give me meat!
**[The Last Chef] :** I’m really going to poop, okay?
**[Returnee from the Demon Realm] :** It’s a mess.
Baekcheon saw two Demon Lords who had entered the cave after smelling the meat. The Fist Demon and the Blade Demon.
Those two Demon Lords were also powerful individuals, but Baekcheon wasn’t scared at all.
“If you interrupt my mealtime with my friend, you die.”
Leaving only those words, he drew his sword.
Jinu didn’t help Baekcheon and continued to grill the meat. This appearance gave Baekcheon even more strength.
“Grill a lot, my friend. I’ll be right back.”
“Yeah, hurry back.”
The two people, each holding many secrets, had truly become friends.