=====================
Translator: thursdays Editor: Yahiko PR: LightBrin
4.
Shadows coated the ground.
Each shadow wore a fluttering black robe. The shadows weren’t surprised at all by the army of phantoms that stood a distance away. After all, they had lived in a world overrun by Jiangshi and experienced death.
It was impossible for them to fear ghosts.
“You look very fine today, Young Master,” the Flame Ghost Demon said in a carefree tone. He was the first-ranked of the Demonic Sect’s Four Demon Lords, a cultist who competed against the Shaolin temple’s chief monk in the Great Battle of Good and Evil.
“You’ve even put powder on your face. Just like a groom-to-be.”
I nodded. “That’s right. I’m getting married.”
“…What?”
A thousand cult members turned their heads in unison. They were martial artists who had regained the abilities of their prime. Everyone must have been listening to me by augmenting their hearing with their internal energy.
So that they could all hear me, I enunciated my words. “I am getting married today.”
Silence fell.
The cult members looked at each other. Then they looked back at me. They were trying to poke and see if I was serious or just joking. I responded to their query with a simple nod.
“Y-Young Master is—” the Flame Ghost Demon opened his mouth. “Young Master is going to wed!”
The Demonic Cultists freaked.
“Our young master is tying the knot!”
“The greatest follower of the Demonic path is getting married!”
“It’s not just an engagement! It’s an actual marriage!”
The cult members forgot about the ghost legion in front of them and began to rampage. They howled and roared. It was like they urgently had to announce my marriage to the world.
“Who is your partner?!”
“She’s over there.” I politely indicated toward Raviel with both hands. “The one over there with silver hair will be my husband.”
Raviel was calming the imperial citizens who had fallen into confusion.
As always, her profile was cool and dashing.
The jaws of the cult members who followed my hand gesture and turned their heads fell to the ground.
“She’s beautiful…”
“L-lovely indeed.”
“Our young master has good tastes.”
“Young Master! What level of internal energy has Madam achieved?”
Someone asked about her skill in martial arts, thinking she might not be strong.
“Mm. My husband doesn’t know martial arts.”
The cult members’ eyes opened wide. Whispers of discontent quickly spread through the hall. The cultists’ eyes rebelled, unable to accept this marriage.
“But, she’s the person who will accompany you in the Demonic path…”
“Isn’t it kind of, you know, if she doesn’t know any martial arts?”
“Mm. Authority always comes from physical strength…”
“The Blood Guard cannot accept this union!”
I added, “I forgot to tell you. My partner is second only to the emperor in this land.”
Then, the cultists quieted.
“That’s a different story, then…”
“It’s not like people have to learn martial arts. Right?”
“Yup, authority comes from political strength…”
“Congratulations on your wedding! Young Master!”
These people were very innocent in many ways.
However, not all of those present were part of the Demonic Cult. Preta, who was once called the Devil King of Fall Rain and feared by the world, had been dumbfounded as soon as I shared that I was getting married.
“M-milord is getting married?”
“Yea. It turned out like that.”
“It doesn’t make sense. A nutjob like milord… Ah, no, I apologize. Does a human who wants to marry such a unique person as milord actually exist?”
Preta, you…
You keep saying milord this, milord that, when on the inside you think of me as a nutjob…
I sighed as another scar was added to my heart.
“She really exists, yes. We can talk in more detail at the reception. For now, focus on the battle.”
“Uh, ah. Yes. I understand, milord. What kind of enemy is it…?”
“They’re apostles from other worlds who have come to conquer this one.” Then, I added, “They’re also trying to wreck my wedding.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, the cultists’ mood changed.
“Oho.”
The Blood Demon, head of the Blood Guard, touched the hilt of his sword.
“Hmm…”
The head of the Memorial Squadron, the Flame Ghost Demon, smirked.
“They dare interrupt the wedding of the Demonic Sect’s young master.”
Demon Lord Wolyeong, leader of the Shadow Corpse Squadron, brushed back his hair.
“Ha. They’re mad.”
The Sword Demon, leader of the Assassination Squad, twisted his neck up and down, left and right.
“……”
Lastly, Preta pulled out her sword without a word. It was a magical sword that emitted dark red rays, the same sword that had killed me hundreds of times.
“I see. I understand now. I thought that milord underwent another awakening that helped us gain the strength we had in our lives… But that’s not it. It’s a Constellation’s blessing. Those men are the pawns of a Constellation.”
“That’s right.”
“May I ask what Constellations these children are mooching off of?”
“Mahos. Also known as the Warhorse of the Eternal Plains.”
The tip of Preta’s mouth twisted.
“They’re idiots who only know how to fight.”
Her derision was reminiscent of the arrogance she had before she fell to me.
The enemy numbered 10,000. We were only one thousand. However, the cult members chatted and readied their blades, and Preta slowly raised her sword. Our side had the advantage; nobody thought otherwise.
None of us.
“My lord, please give us our orders. What do you want me to do?”
I gave the order.
“Wipe them out.”
Preta raised her demonic sword high.
“As you wish.”
First guard.
A ray that was even redder than blood split the already red sky.
-Guoooh!
Power and dignity filled Preta’s strike, for she would allow nothing else. The ghosts who were caught in the red ray screamed and ceased to exist.
Even the general who led the ghost legion was nearly beaten.
-What, this is… No, it doesn’t make sense. A Constellation…? He’s not a Constellation himself, but he had one as a subordinate…
While the general looked at me in astonishment—
“Beat ’em up!”
—the Demonic sect members burst into a wild roar.
“They’re small fry! You don’t even have to say our sect’s chant!”
“You fucking plebs think you can interfere with a marriage of the Demonic Sect?!”
“The necks we snap today are our wedding gifts for the Young Master! Understand? Anyone who kills less than five will die by my hands today!”
“Kuhaha! The Assassination Squad will get at least ten each!”
“This is why unlearned idiots are…”
Some raged, some howled, and some clicked their tongues. The legion of ghosts was still far away, but the distance meant nothing. A thousand shadows utilized the Lightness Skill to stride forward at once.
-Huuh?! Stop them!
The general shouted, flustered.
The ghost legion definitely comprised elite soldiers. The ghosts lifted their shields and formed ranks at once, not having a single gap between them. With their spears raised up, they looked like a giant porcupine. But.
“Fools.” Preta, the specter of Fall Rain, laughed at them. “The cannon fodder made themselves into targets.”
A red ray ripped through the sky again. Ba-ba-bang! The tightly packed ghost legion was easily swept away. A gaping hole was poked in their formation. Other ghosts hurriedly tried to fill the gap.
“Kahaha!”
However, the cult members, with their honed fighting instincts, would never neglect an opening.
“Tear them apart!”
The cultists rushed in like beasts. The army of shadows and the army of ghosts clashed. Chwak! Chwaaak! The cultists spread their chi and slaughtered the ghosts.
Unlike the Battle of Good and Evil, they didn’t bother shouting their rallying cry of “Baraya.” No one mentioned why, but I could guess the reason. This wasn’t a duel. It wasn’t a great war.
It was simply a hunt.
The cultists saw the ghost legion as mere beasts and slayed them.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login