Chapter 65: Ken’s Demon Realm


    Quiet night streets.


    I opened the door of the ck building, which had no windows, and yellow light enveloped me.


    The white young man, who had been dozing off, spotted me and grinned.


    “It’s been a while, Young Master.”


    I feigned surprise and asked,


    “You’re still alive? The thugs didn’t bother you?”


    “Pardon? Hahahaha.”


    “Yourugh is still the same.”


    I stared intently at Kant’s face and then said,


    “Should Ie back another time?”


    “I’ve been waiting. Let’s go.”


    I nodded nonchntly and thought to myself,


    ‘His face is like a steel te.’


    Not in a bad way, but literally like a steel te.


    His fake expressions, then and now, made it difficult to read his thoughts.


    I followed Kant to the second floor, where the interior was empty.


    There was no one engaging in strange activities while emitting the acrid smoke of hallucinogenic herbs.


    Kant nced at me and said with a smile,


    “Business hasn’t been goodtely. Don’t know whose fault it is.”


    Anyway, since I was in the same boat as Kant, I offered him sincere advice.


    “I think the problem is your smile. How can business be good when you smile so artificially? Try smiling more genuinely.”


    Kant didn’t respond and pushed through the rippling wall.


    After passing through the passage and descending the stairs for a while, we arrived at the same secret room as before.


    The ck mask was waiting inside. Kant offered me the seat of honor and said,


    “Please have a seat, Young Master.”


    I sat down on the seat of honor and asked,


    “How’s the investigation going?”


    As if he had been waiting, the ck mask handed me a booklet.


    [Urgon n Power Analysis Report]


    “It’s thin.”


    “Urgon’s influence is so strong in Shan Kris that it was difficult to gather information. Please read it first.”


    I opened the first page of the booklet and immediately closed it again.


    The onught of numbers from the very beginning made my head throb.


    “You want me to read this?”


    The ck mask replied in an absurd tone,


    “I worked hard on it.”


    I sighed and opened the booklet again, only to m it shut in frustration.


    “…There’s another idiot here. Is this supposed to be a ‘look how smart I am’ showcase? When you write something like this, make it simple, easy to understand at a nce for your superiors. Are you doing this on purpose because you think I’m weak with numbers?”


    The ck mask tried to make an excuse, but my rapid-fire words left no room for him to interject.


    “Mask, you idiot. You have no idea how tired I am these days. I’ve been in meetings with those mercenaries all day, had a fight with the second Corpse Eyes, distributed gold bars to the elders… I’m already dying from a headache, and now you want me to read this? Fail.”


    Maybe on another day, but today I wasn’t in the mood to read through all these details. I even had to cut into my sleep time toe here.


    I waved my hand dismissively and pointed at Kant.


    “Exin it to me in words.”


    Kant nced at the ck mask, then grinned and replied.


    “The Urgon n consists of two magic divisions and the Council of Elders. The Azure Dragon Division handles external affairs and is further divided into three magic units…”


    “….”


    “Apart from that, there’s a special task force that protects the Lord and his direct bloodline. Due to the low concentration of ns in the southeastern part of the continent, they boast unrivaled power in San Kris. As for friendly forces…”


    I, who had been listening silently, raised my hand and interrupted Kant.


    I couldn’t quite grasp their level, so I decided to ask only the parts I was curious about.


    “It’splicated. Can youpare them to something in simpler terms?”


    Kant nodded.


    “If you give me a reference point, I can tell you.”


    “Compared to the Noble ns?”


    Kant’s eyes sparkled with interest.


    “Are you referring to the Six Noble ns?”


    “Yes.”


    “That’s impossible. No matter how influential the Urgon n is in the eastern continent, they pale inparison to the Noble ns. They wouldn’t even be able to im the lowest rank.”


    “Be more specific.”


    “Even if several magic ns like Urgon joined forces, they wouldn’t be able to match the Belusia n, which holds the lowest rank among the Noble ns. Moreover, in high-level confrontations, magic ns are inherently at a disadvantage.”


    “How aboutpared to the Magic Towers?”


    Kant, who had been answering readily, narrowed his eyes for the first time.


    “Comparing them to the Magic Towers is tricky.”


    “Why?”


    “Let’s take the Blue Magic Tower as an example. In terms of sheer numbers, Urgon has more, but the Magic Tower has more high-ranking mages. To begin with, the Magic Tower doesn’t have that many permanent residents, and it’s apletely different type of organizationpared to a n. The Magic Tower also functions as a training ground for mages, so if they were to directly sh with Urgon, people from all over who im to be disciples of the Blue Magic Tower might join the fight.”


    “….”


    “In reality, it’s more appropriate topare the two in terms of authority rather than military power. Most magic ns either want to connect with high-ranking mages from the Magic Towers or have already received their tutge. Urgon, in fact, has a deep connection with the Blue Magic Tower and treats its high-ranking mages with utmost respect.”


    “So, in any case, the Magic Towers are superior.”


    I suddenly looked at the stone bread on the table and said,


    “By the way, there’s stone bread again. What is this stone bread made of that it’s so hard?”


    “There’s stone inside.”


    “It’s not for eating?”


    “It’s a decorative item.”


    “Wow.”


    Finally understanding the mystery of the stone bread, I had a sudden thought.


    This stone bread has saved many lives.


    It saved the white mask, Grid, Garlic, and Bravo Khan.


    If it weren’t for this stone bread, I would have thrown away the bread and picked up a spear.


    The guys who got hit by the stone bread might feel wronged for getting knocked out by mere bread.


    But if the stone bread hadn’t been hard, they could have been stabbed by a spear. Do they even realize that?


    This is why people should be grateful even when they experience injustice.


    I continued my stream of consciousness and said to Kant,


    “Is there any reason for Urgon to hold a grudge against Samael?”


    Kant pulled his chair closer, interlocked his fingers, and rested his chin on them. It seemed to be a habit he had when starting a serious conversation.


    “You probably asked me to investigate Urgon because of that. Urgon attacked Samael about 20 years ago. But the more I looked into it, the stranger it seemed. Samael and Urgon had no connection back then.”


    “You mean there was no justification?”


    “The surface-level justification was that they were insulted by Samael, but that information couldn’t be verified. Even if it were true, it’s not enough reason to start a full-fledged war. Moreover, it’s iprehensible why they’re still pressuring Samael now.”


    “….”


    “It’s even more strange considering Urgon’s nature. After all, Urgon is a n that, at least on the surface, advocates for righteousness. They can’t ignore the public eye, so pressuring a remote n like this while even taking over the Hamad Merchant Group ispletely different from their usual behavior. In fact, when I contacted some members of the Cheongnyeong Division at a tavern in Shan Kris, none of them knew the reason.”


    “So, it’s not even shared within the n. Something smells fishy.”


    Kant replied with a slightly grim expression.


    “It seems to be ssified information.”


    I organized my thoughts for a moment and then said,


    “It’ll be difficult to find out unless we directly confront them.”


    “….”


    “Well, it’s better this way. Is there anything else I need to know?”


    Kant, who had a gloomy expression just a moment ago, curled his lips upward again.


    I observed Kant’s face carefully and said,


    “You seem pretty confident about something.”


    “Yes.”


    “I guess I read your expression correctly this time.”


    Kant, with a confident smile, said,


    “The eldest son of Urgon has entered the Demon Realm.”


    “What’s the Demon Realm?”


    “I’m talking about Ken’s Demon Realm.”


    “Ken?”


    Ken was in the southwestern part of the continent.


    Geographically, it was on the opposite side of Khaoto, at the very edge of the continent.


    This is how I remembered Ken.


    It was where the White Magic Tower, filled with old geezers, was located, and


    It was a city where monsters emerged from the western border, which was still untouched by humans.


    “Is the Demon Realm referring to the monsters?”


    Kant, assuming I was stating the obvious, went straight to the main point.


    “It has been confirmed that the eldest son recently entered the 2nd-level Demon Realm.”


    “….”


    Kant looked at me strangely.


    “Young Master?”


    Observing my expression, Kant asked in a bewildered tone,


    “Don’t tell me you don’t know what the Demon Realm is…”


    Remembering the saying “the less you know, the more confident you should be,” I replied randomly.


    “Of course, I don’t know. I’ve only been in the mountains. It’s something to be proud of. And what a terrible name, Demon Realm.”


    “…You’re truly unpredictable, Young Master.”


    Seeing Kant sigh and wet his lips, I assumed a long exnation wasing, so I cut him off.


    “Let’s hear the exnationter. I’m a bit tired right now. Just the key points.”


    “The Red Phoenix Division and the special task force are in Ken with the eldest son.”


    “Why?”


    “It’s only natural, considering they would see the 2nd-level Demon Realm as having that much honor and value. The number of people currently stationed in Urgon is less than half of usual.”


    I understood what Kant was trying to say.


    “So that’s the key point.”


    Currently, there weren’t many people stationed in Urgon. That was the key point.


    If mages from a n like Urgon were all absent at the same time, it meant that this Demon Realm thing was quite important.


    “Anything else?”


    “Nothing else that would particrly interest you, Young Master.”


    “Good work.”


    I stretched and leaned back in my chair, then suddenly noticed the ck mask still standing behind me.


    “You can sit down too.”


    I pulled out a chair next to me.


    “Sit. You’ll get tired if you keep standing.”


    “I’m fine. I’ll stand.”


    If he’s fine, he’s fine. What’s the psychology behind adding that he’ll stand anyway?


    “Are you sulking because of what I said earlier? It’s okay, man. Everyone learns from mistakes. As long as your head doesn’t get smashed, it’s all good.”


    I closed my eyes and carefully examined the booklet, then said,


    “Looking at it again, you did put a lot of effort into it.”


    While the ck mask hesitantly approached from behind, I pointed at Kant and said,


    “Ah, this is frustrating. Make him sit down.”


    “Please have a seat, Marco.”


    The ck mask sat down on the chair, and finally, a quiet stillness settled in the secret room.


    Kant, having finished what he had to say, suddenly started dozing off. The ck mask was reviewing the booklet he had written, and I enjoyed the momentary silence.


    The secret room, lit only by a small light, had a cozy atmosphere in its own way.


    Finding moments of peace, anytime and anywhere, is important. A peaceful mind broadens your perspective. It’s one of the secrets to protecting your head from enemies.


    Suddenly, Kant, remembering something he wanted to say, looked at me again and grinned.


    “By the way, thanks to you, Young Master, it might be difficult to do business in Khaoto from now on.”


    “Why?”


    Kant clicked his tongue and replied,


    “It used to be a quiet ce. But changes areing.”


    “Are you thinking of moving?”


    “I’m considering it.”


    I shook my head and said,


    “You won’t seed in business if you keep ming others. I told you, try smiling more genuinely.”


    Kant curled his lips up even more.


    “Not like that. Look at me. Smile with a chuckle.”


    I chuckled to demonstrate, and Kant tilted his head.


    “That sounds like a mockingugh?”


    “Whatever it is, the important thing is to smile genuinely.”


    Suddenly, Kant pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and slid it towards me.


    “What’s this?”


    “You’ll like it.”


    I casually checked the writing on the paper, and my recent question was answered, causing me to chuckle involuntarily.


    “Wow. I was wondering where some guy suddenly got money from.”


    ———