Absolute Regression

“Why do you refuse?”

The Demon Supremes who had been fighting fiercely until a moment ago were now united in one mind.

The first to answer was the Great Drunken Demon.

“I hate being confined. Just the thought of being fenced in makes me feel suffocated.”

His words were followed by One-Slash Sword Supreme.

“Accept anyone? That’s difficult. Even for a walk, minds must be in harmony.”

It was clear whom she was referring to.

Next, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke.

“Didn’t you hear what I said? People’s hearts are different from mine!”

“Why can’t we kill?”

It was a joke about the idea of fighting and hating each other within my boundaries, but not killing.

Though their reasons were mixed with jokes and truths, the remarkable thing was that each of the four had entirely different reasons.

Song Sa-hyuk mimicked me mockingly.

“Did you see the Young Master’s bluster earlier? ‘It’s the decision of the one who will be your future Heavenly Demon.’ The Cult Leader should have seen this.”

I waved my hand exaggeratedly.

“Don’t say such things. Now that we’re all gathered here, let’s have a drink today.”

Even Soma, who had been outside the window, came inside. This was the first time that all the Demon Supremes directly connected to me had all gathered in one place. 1

It was truly a historic day, not only for me but also for the tavern owner.

Jo Chunbae, who brought the drinks and snacks, was overwhelmed with emotion.

“Are you that happy?”

“How could I not be? I must be the first tavern owner to have experienced this in my lifetime. I have no regrets, even if I die.”

“This might just be the beginning. You never know who else might gather here to drink.”

“My heart already feels like it’s going to burst…”

Jo Chunbae bowed deeply to the Demon Supremes.

“It’s an honor to have you here. I will serve you with all my might.”

After bowing, he stepped back. From the stairs leading down to the first floor, he looked back at us, trying his best to remember this glorious moment.

“Now, let me pour each of you a drink.”

Song Sa-hyuk poured drinks for everyone.

Since Soma didn’t drink because of his mask, he just received the drink.

Gu Cheonpa, after receiving his drink, put it aside and poured his own into a new glass.

While So Yeonrang drank the drink poured by the Great Drunken Demon, as if to show off to the Blade Demon.

Even in pouring drinks, they created a tense atmosphere.

Once the drinks had made their rounds, the Evil Smiling Demon asked me,

“So why was I called here?”

He naturally assumed that I had called him.

“It wasn’t me who called you, Soma.”

“Then who called me?”

“It was the Great Drunken Demon.”

The Great Drunken Demon looked at the Evil Smiling Demon and spoke respectfully.

“I called you because there is something I need to inform you about.”

Regardless of what they thought of each other inwardly, they were exceedingly courteous to one another.

“The Young Master considers the senior Blood Heaven Blade Demon more important than us, so I called you here to hear it directly.”

He said this while pouring a drink into his glass.

“We are just side characters. The core of the Young Master’s attention is the senior Cheonpa.”

“You may be a side character, but I am not.”

“Is that so?”

The Great Drunken Demon, as if wanting to verify his claim, asked me directly.

“Young Master, if you had to choose between Soma and the senior Blood Heaven Blade Demon, whom would you choose?”

“Soma.” 2

Song Sa-hyuk blinked his eyes and asked again.

“Didn’t you say earlier that even if the person was present, you would say the senior Blood Heaven Blade Demon was more important?”

“Me? When did I say that?”

I widened my eyes and denied it flatly.

“How could you say such a thing about the relationship between Soma and me? Soma, don’t be deceived. This is a scheme by a rolling stone trying to push out a settled stone.”

At my hypocritical words, the Great Drunken Demon laughed heartily and took a drink. After placing his cup down, he spoke.

“Don’t underestimate a rolling stone. The duration of a relationship between people isn’t what matters. There are people you meet once and remember for a lifetime.”

After gazing at him for a moment, I suddenly asked.

“Did you really have such a person, Great Drunken Demon?”

The hand of the Great Drunken Demon, which had been about to drink, halted in mid-air.

“What do you mean?”

“I just can’t imagine meeting someone once and remembering them for a lifetime. Do any of you have such a person?”

I glanced at the four Demon Supremes one by one and continued.

“No matter how close you are, if you don’t see each other for a long time, you eventually become like strangers. Even if you think you’ve become quite close, if there’s a gap, it feels awkward, like you have to start over. That’s how it is for me. Ah! Except for someone as beautiful as our Sword Supreme, whom one can’t forget after seeing.”

Song Sa-hyuk pensively emptied another glass of wine.

“It’s strange to hear such words from someone as young as you.”

“There you go again, disregarding the stories of the young, and disregarding a young drunkard too.”

The Great Drunken Demon looked at me with a curious expression. Even if he found my words annoying, he must have felt a bit pleased that I remembered what he said.

“Alright, I keep forgetting. Our Young Master’s youth is quite different from ordinary youth.”

“Indeed, please don’t forget that I’m an old soul.”

As I raised my glass, Song Sa-hyuk made a toast.

With the Demon Supremes gathered, the atmosphere became more rigid compared to the beginning, but nonetheless, drinking with him was inexplicably enjoyable. He had a knack for keeping the conversation going and enlivening the stiff drinking atmosphere.

“Let me reiterate, I choose the Evil Smiling Demon.”

I raised my glass to him in a toast and drank alone.

His eyes, visible through the eye holes of his mask, were smiling contentedly. Seeing that smile again after so long made me feel good too.

It’s nice to see you again.

Perhaps due to the fierce battle with Sword Emperor Baek Mang-gi, an unspoken camaraderie had formed between Soma and me. It was a feeling separate from the issues of being a Demon Supreme or a successor.

At that moment, Gu Cheonpa sent me a telepathic message.

—Yes, you’re doing well. Take care of the others first.

—Doesn’t it hurt your pride?

—Why would my pride be hurt over such a trivial matter? Just remember one thing. Never trust the Evil Smiling Demon or the Great Drunken Demon.

The more I got to know them, the more I understood my father’s difficulties. If handling four was already this challenging, leading eight and managing all the responsibilities of a Cult Leader must have been truly burdensome. Father, you must have had a tough time.

The atmosphere at the drinking table was good.

Everyone had a favorable disposition towards me, so they refrained from showing their prickliness or bad temper. I was grateful that they were all holding back. Such a normal yet pleasant gathering with the Demon Supremes!

As expected, Song Sa-hyuk was the main drinker.

He made a point of eating some snacks after drinking three glasses, as if to show me.

Our eyes met once, and I nodded and smiled.

Soma looked at us with a peculiar expression.

I knew it. While I didn’t understand all the emotions in his gaze, part of it was jealousy.

It was the Evil Smiling Demon who had initially pestered me to become friends. Now, the Great Drunken Demon was urging me to be like brothers with him.

Two people who were similar yet completely different.

I wondered if there would come a day when I could spend time with the unmasked Evil Smiling Demon and the sober Great Drunken Demon.

The Evil Smiling Demon had said that the smell of the Great Drunken Demon’s alcohol made him feel bad.

However, in this gathering, he showed no such signs. If I hadn’t been informed beforehand, I would never have known he had such thoughts. Only courtesy between the Demon Supremes passed between them.

“I heard you left the Cult with the Young Master and then returned.”

“That’s correct.”

“You must know a lot about the Mugeuk then.”

The Evil Smiling Demon glanced at me and said,

“The Young Master is a person far removed from both you and me.”

“Very far?”

“Very far.”

Soma was telling me that I was like a fellow villain but giving different information to the Great Drunken Demon.

“Among us, senior Cheonpa is the closest to the Young Master.”

The Great Drunken Demon looked surprised at the Evil Smiling Demon’s words.

“Really, the Blade Demon? Not our Sword Supreme?”

Then Soma glanced at So Yeonrang and said something unexpected.

“Isn’t the Sword Supreme just like us? If you were friends, you would have known.”

A moment of silence followed.

TheOne-Slash Sword Supreme’s expression hardened slightly.

What did the Evil Smiling Demon see in her to say such a thing? She was known to be the least demonic among the Eight Demon Supremes.

At that moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon burst out,

“What nonsense! The Sword Supreme is nothing like the likes of you.”

In such situations, it was always Gu Cheonpa who stood up for her.

“Who are you to judge, hiding behind a mask? She’s far better than you.”

Despite the fierce reaction, Soma merely laughed. Enraged further, old man Blade seemed ready to wield his Heaven-Extinguishing Saber at any moment.

Then One-Slash Sword Supreme spoke in a low, cold tone,

“Do you think I like it when you stand up for me like that?”

It wasn’t that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn’t know how she would react. He just kept drinking the alcohol before him.

Then she said something unexpected.

“But… he might be right.”

Gu Cheonpa stared at his empty glass and said,

“Yes, he might be.”

He didn’t stand up for her just to defend her unconditionally.

“We might be more hypocritical and worse than the guy behind the mask. That’s right.”

At his sincere words, the One-Slash Sword Supreme’s eyes trembled slightly.

“Who are we to judge who is what? But at least in front of those like him, don’t let it show. Don’t be played by the likes of a masked trickster or a drunkard!”

Then the Great Drunken Demon spoke slyly.

“Why are you picking on me?”

“You’re the same! Sneaky bastard! Hypocritical bastard! You might fool everyone else, but you can’t fool me. You two, get away from the Young Master!”

Gu Cheonpa, unable to hold back, poured out his true feelings. Although he was usually stern and deep-thinking, the matter involving me and the Sword Supreme had stirred his emotions.

On the other hand, despite the insults, Song Sa-hyuk was smiling broadly and sipping his drink. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but think they truly seemed like a pair of villainous schemers.

Old man Blade stood up and apologized to me.

“Young Master, I’m sorry for ruining the atmosphere. I didn’t intend to leave first tonight.”

“No, it’s not you leaving first, sir.”

“What do you mean?”

“This drinking session ends here.”

I looked at the remaining three Demon Supremes and spoke.

“Let’s call it a night.”

The Great Drunken Demon emptied his last glass and remarked,

“Ensuring the lodged stone won’t be easily dislodged?”

“Of course. How can we drink when the elder is leaving in anger? The Blood Heaven Blade Demon is my left wing. If my wings fly away, so will I.”

I showed clearly that dislodging a lodged stone wouldn’t be easy. It was my way of showing gratitude to the one who came to this drinking session to protect me.

—Thank you, sir.

Feeling moved by my telepathic message, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned his head to look out the window.

The Great Drunken Demon laughed and said,

“I’ll give up on removing the left wing, so let’s be brothers.”

Then the Evil Smiling Demon chimed in,

“And be friends with me.”

Lastly, One-Slash Sword Supreme joined in. Although her mood had turned somber, she couldn’t miss this moment.

“I already have a special friend.”

Everyone looked at her curiously, but she simply felt proud without boasting about our sparring friendship.

“Now, let me say one last thing.”

I projected the same majestic aura I had shown before. Radiating dignity and elegance, I addressed them,

“As the future Heavenly Demon who will lead you, let me reiterate. As I said before, within my boundaries, you may fight as much as you like. Hate, envy, fight… Ah! This is really too much!”

The Demon Supremes vanished in an instant, each using their own mastery of lightness techniques to escape, disappearing without a trace.

“Stay and listen! Even you, Elder!”

But they were already gone.

I laughed and sat back down. Though the seats were empty, it felt as if their presence still lingered.

Looking down at the first floor, I saw Jo Chunbae clutching the tab that the Great Drunken Demon had tossed him, staring wistfully at the spot where the Demon Supremes had disappeared.

“Owner, let’s have a drink together.”

“With pleasure, Young Master.”

Jo Chunbae came up and poured a drink into my glass. I returned the favor and poured into his.

We emptied our glasses together. The mental strain from dealing with the Demon Supremes was significant, but drinking with Jo Chunbae brought a sense of peace.

Jo Chunbae cautiously asked, sensing my mood,

“Are you feeling exhausted?”

“Do I look exhausted?”

“I can only imagine how tiring it must be to deal with those Demon Supremes.”

“Yes, it is tiring.”

I answered honestly, and Jo Chunbae smiled. The wrinkles on his face, worn from dealing with all sorts of patrons and the hardships of life, looked particularly distinguished today.

“When I’m exhausted, do you know what my wife whispers in my ear when she hugs me?”

“What does she say?”

“Weakling.”

I laughed heartily. I knew well how much he and his wife loved each other. Sometimes, a playful joke could be more uplifting than the most heartfelt comfort.

Jo Chunbae grinned mischievously,

“Shall I say it to you?”

“No need, someone has come to do that.”

“Who? Who’s here?”

Jo Chunbae suddenly felt an overwhelming presence behind him. His whole body’s hairs stood on end, a feeling entirely different from being around the Demon Supremes. He cautiously turned around.

“Oh my goodness!”

Jo Chunbae dropped to the floor in shock.

My father had somehow made his way up behind us without a sound.

He sat down in front of me and said,

“Weakling.”

I laughed and turned to Jo Chunbae,

“Owner, close up shop and set up a new table here!”

1 : Cheong Seon is only connected to him through Jeong Dae, she never interacted directly with him so far. She doesn’t even know he used Sa Woojong to manipulate her ^^

2 : Lol, this absolute heelturn XDXDXD

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