Moonjeongdang.
For some reason, there’s a reason why the place I was summoned to was deep underground in a cave. Moonjeongdang is located beneath the stone pillars that rise out of the lakes on the east and south sides.
After heading toward the main building with the Heavenly Demon, I took the elevator down, then boarded a boat. From there, we headed toward a stone pillar further out. Only then did we finally arrive at the place where they were.
Of course, this was based on the memories of Guseongyong and the Heavenly Demon.
As soon as I arrived at the entrance, a guide followed me.
As I followed the guide and looked around, the atmosphere felt different.
Unlike the people of the Heavenly Demon Church, who walked around with their faces exposed and clothes full of personality, most of these people were dressed in plain clothes that covered their faces.
However, they weren’t exactly wearing the same outfits. Each person had different colored knots, or different styles of hats on their heads.
It seems like they wear these outfits to clearly show their rank.
And everyone had at least two lights on their bodies.
What’s with all these things stuck on them?
As I continued to observe the surroundings, I entered a room. The inside of the room was hazy with smoke. Is this an opium den?
In the center of the room, there was someone sitting with their face covered.
"Moonjeongdang Master."
"Oh my, isn’t this the Heavenly Demon? To come here with such a person, what could be the reason for your visit?"
It wasn’t exactly a warm welcome.
From the voice, it seemed like a man. However, there’s no guarantee that this person is really the Master. Still, if I turn him into a Harvester, I’ll be able to obtain some information.
"Hello. I’ve come to offer myself to you."
Since the Heavenly Demon was beside me, I got straight to the point.
If this person starts twisting his words, I might not be able to win. And he might find some weakness in my words.
So I made the first move.
"Aha, so you want to turn me into someone like the Heavenly Demon, even though that’s not a blessing."
Then the man who claimed to be the Moonjeongdang Master pointed out the danger of turning into a Harvester. This is clearly intentional. He’s trying to plant suspicion in the Heavenly Demon’s mind.
I had no intention of letting him keep talking.
Because once he becomes a Harvester, I can obtain his memories without him speaking.
I moved forward.
Then, a click sounded, as if some mechanism had activated.
Screech.
The Heavenly Demon immediately extended his sword and cut the power line. The Heavenly Demon had noticed the mechanism moving.
Of course, the world seemed to have recovered to some extent, so even if his head got cut off, it would regenerate after a few tries, but the wounded part might become weaker than the original, so caution was needed.
I made it clear that I wasn’t interested in talking.
"This is a notification."
"My, my, Heavenly Demon, are you just going to stand there and watch? This is practically an invasion of our Moonjeongdang. If we leave this monster alone, don’t you think you’ve seen firsthand what will happen?"
His words were urgent, but his tone wasn’t.
It was almost mocking.
Once something unacceptable is done, it’s the Heavenly Demon who will regret it.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
"Do it. Moonjeongdang Master."
But the Heavenly Demon spoke calmly. The Moonjeongdang Master flinched slightly, then immediately lowered his voice.
"You’ll regret this."
"Since when did the Master start questioning my orders?"
As expected, it was the Heavenly Demon.
Is he really planning to follow through with the words he just said? Under the Heavenly Demon’s command, the Moonjeongdang Master stared at him intently.
"Chunse, Chunse, Chunchunse."
He then mockingly muttered those words before walking toward me. I recited the contract to him.
"I’ll offer myself to you. But after you finish everything, I’ll take everything you possess. What do you think?"
The Moonjeongdang Master fell into silence for a while before responding in a heavy voice.
"You always say the same thing. Fine, let’s do it."
I captured the light within his body and tried to dye it in my color. Well, I tried to dye it. But there was something strange attached to it, so I could only dye half of it.
Ah.
I know. When I first entered this body, something like this was attached to one of my eyes. Someone else had contracted with him first.
It’s claiming ownership.
I licked the light for now. The memories I obtained were about half of what I was supposed to get.
It’s only half, but it’s still something.
I learned a lot from the memories. Most importantly, although this person holds the position of Moonjeongdang Master, he’s not the highest-ranking person in Moonjeongdang.
"A double contract."
Through the faint connection, I could feel a victorious smile appear on his face.
"Double contract?"
The Heavenly Demon asked, seemingly puzzled. So, I responded like this.
"It means that this person serves someone other than the Heavenly Demon."
If it’s only warmth, I could snatch it at any time with this half-completed connection, but I decided not to.
Instead, I said this.
"Call the one you serve. Inshimwon."
"Huh, how do you know my name?!"
For the first time, he shouted in surprise. Looking at the half-completed memories, this world values names greatly. So, it seems I surprised him by knowing his name.
I pointed at him with my finger.
"Just because it’s a double contract, doesn’t mean the contract hasn’t been made, right?"
If I take a little more time, his light will completely turn into a deep purple color. At the boundary of the light, I can feel another being’s touch slowly peeling away.
No, well.
Since I’ve already taken the memories and stolen the warmth, I could give up the light.
Trying to bargain like that, there was no movement.
He probably needs to see me directly or has no intention of letting go.
In that case, there’s only one thing left.
That’s also someone who will be turned into a Harvester.
Anyway, right now, the people here probably think that I can only know their names. Since the information is already spread, there’s no need to hesitate in using it.
In this world’s culture, names are important, so I made it sound like I’ve taken everything important.
"Did you think you could just make a contract and move on? Come. Bring them here."
I couldn’t figure out where they were, but I could tell whether it was the right person or not.
"Heavenly Demon! Kill this person immediately! This one is an unprecedented evil god from outside the heavens! With just this contract, a person will lose everything and be reduced to an empty shell! We have a way to escape its grasp. If we don’t push this thing out of this world, the Heavenly Demon Church will face great disaster!"
Inshimwon shouted loudly, almost hysterically, trying to negotiate with the Heavenly Demon.
I looked at the Heavenly Demon and pointed at him.
"He’s saying that someone more important than you exists."
"It sounds that way to me as well."
After saying this, the Heavenly Demon extended his hand. Then, the dark purple energy surrounded the area.
Hmm.
This is me, but something feels different?
Is it the difference between flesh and amino acids? I’m the amino acid, and what’s surrounding me now is the flesh. It’s not just protein; there’s something else mixed in.
And the Heavenly Demon uses that to lift Inshimwon and choke him.
What do they call this?
Force grip?
As soon as that happened, the faded memories showed me the word Galil, followed by the term Heukgyeong.
Isn’t that the same thing?
Ahh.
Faded memories flood in like a storm. At the same time, they scrape away. These memories.
While I was reflecting on those old memories, the Heavenly Demon interrogated Inshimwon.
"I didn’t know there was someone above me in the Heavenly Demon Church."
Gargling, he scratched his neck, but it seems like he couldn’t just grab it with his hands.
At that moment, the light in his head moved quickly. Then, it pierced through his eye socket and came out.
A fish-like creature, like an eel, emerged from the cloth covering his face.
Inshimwon gasped, groaning in pain. Well, it’s only natural since it’s digging into his brain.
The movement to kill him was visible.
So I approached and grabbed the head of the fish.
"I found you."
And I shoved my fingers into its gills.
While speaking, since I grabbed it, I couldn’t finish my sentence properly. This happens a lot. Speaking without actually finishing the thought.
I thought it was just a behavior in works of fiction, but here, it’s real?
These things are just irritating.
"Come speak to me directly. Rude."
The fish matter stabbed me? This is an attack, right?
I stole the warmth from this creature and ripped its neck off. Gotta take the warmth. Hehe.
With a strong fishy stench, the fish died.
Then, the man collapsed to the floor, foaming at the mouth.
Gasping in pain, the man slowly reached for the light. I could tell he was trying to grab it. I can take the light, but right now, it’s annoying.
"Inshimwon. Poor human. If you want to live, deny the one you serve and swear allegiance to me."
After touching the contract a few times, I realized something.
Words have more power than expected. The contract is connected to me simply by muttering it.
"Say you like me. Say you’ll betray others for me."
I urged him to betray.
"Then I’ll spare you."
In reality, it’s closer to letting him heal himself.
I took his hand and spoke kindly.
"Just one word. Yes. Just one word."
I whispered quietly.
To avoid the greatest pain, people will do anything. It doesn’t matter if it’s belief or faith. In unbearable situations, the body instinctively struggles to survive.
Just like how I struggle to gain warmth.
You have to do the same.
If your mind were clearer, you might have chosen death, but in this brain-damaged state, what will you choose?
I encouraged him repeatedly.
"Yes."
Eventually, he accepted, foaming at the mouth.
Hehe.
The hand that held his light was pushed away, and I wrapped myself in the light. I filled it until no white part remained.
I completed the unfinished memories.
And at the same time, his body cracked like pottery, and his clothes tore. Blue skin appeared, and purple hair could be seen between the head fragments and the cloth scraps.
"Uh, uh, uh?"
He stared at his own fingers in confusion. The blue skin was visible.
"Congratulations on your betrayal. Or should I say it this way?"
I stood before him and said this.
"You’ve apostatized."
Hyeol cult. This person was believing in a religion other than the Heavenly Demon Church.
In the faded memories, the man is conflicted.
It’s a tradition in the cult to have Hyeol cults, but I wonder if it’s really traditional.
Isn’t Taoism the religion that believes in immortals instead of gods?
Terms like Chukgyeong or Jeoljeonggyeong seem like they’ve just modified Taoist terms, not martial arts terms.
I knew this world wasn’t martial arts, but why is he still pondering?
While I felt the memories flicking, I removed the torn cloth covering his head.
The man, who had given up on faith and chosen reality, looked up at me and the Heavenly Demon with a terrified expression.
I met his gaze and smiled.
"Congratulations."