“Yes. The Protectorate is pretending to be a clown and killing those who do not conform to their will.”
Even though he had only heard the story briefly back then, Lee Hyeon’s face hardened as he heard more details.
He said, gritting his teeth.
Seo Kang-rim opened his mouth as he looked at Lee Hyeon, who was clearly showing signs of anger.
“I want to uncover the truth about the Protectorate and bring them down. I would like the help of the Black Gate in the process.”
Judging from Lee Hyun’s reaction, it seemed like he would cooperate fully.
But his mouth did not open easily.
After a long silence, a voice came out.
“I will no longer cooperate with the Protectorate. But I do not wish to join hands with you either.”
“Why?”
“I still resent you.”
There was a faint hatred in his gaze.
A familiar gaze.
Even when looking at himself as a child, Lee Hyeon was looking at himself with those eyes.
“I think that the reason why Seo Hwa-kyung died is because of you, Seo Kang-rim.”
Despite the resentful voice, Seo Kang-rim remained calm.
After all, resentment, hatred, and disgust were familiar emotions.
Lee Hyeon continued speaking slowly.
“I have long regretted that if I had dragged you out of that house back then, my senior would not have died.”
I knew very well that Lee Hyeon had special feelings for Seo Hwa-kyung.
It is also said that he has been in love with Seo Hwa-gyeong for a long time.
Because of this, he often visited Seo Hwa-kyung’s house and tried to get Seo Kang-rim out.
“I know you didn’t kill your senior yourself. I also know that it’s illogical. But I’m still wearing my mourning clothes and attending your senior’s funeral.”
After Seo Hwa-kyung’s funeral, Lee Hyeon always wore black clothes.
It was a mourning dress.
For several years, people wore black clothes in memory of Seo Hwa-gyeong, and the members of the sect also insisted on wearing black clothes to mourn her death.
The name Heukuimun itself was created for Seo Hwa-gyeong.
“I know it must be unfair from your perspective. But even so… … .”
“It’s not unfair. The teacher didn’t pass away.”
“what?”
Lee Hyun looked as if he was hearing things.
That was a ridiculous story.
Seo Kang-rim stared at Lee Hyeon and continued speaking calmly.
“It’s true. The teacher is pretending to be dead and hiding to avoid the pursuit of the Protectorate.”
He explained the facts to Lee Hyeon.
Seo Hwa-gyeong is being pursued by the Protectorate and has created a clown group to fight against it.
And still alive and well.
Lee Hyeon listened to the story with a shocked expression and then screamed.
“Don’t lie! If you are alive, let me meet you!”
“As I said before, the teacher is hiding his body. I can’t reveal my location to someone who isn’t even in a cooperative relationship.”
Seo Kang-rim glanced at Lee Hyeon and said.
“I don’t know if it would be possible if Lee Hyun Man-shin helped me.”
“… … This little brat.”
It was a mixture of threat and persuasion.
Lee Hyeon looked upset, but couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
After staring at Seo Kang-rim for a while, he finally gave his consent.
“… … Haa, I understand. I still don’t like you, but I’ll help you.”
“thank you.”
Seo Kang-rim had a blank expression on his face, showing neither emotion nor surprise, as if he had known this would happen.
Lee Hyeon didn’t like the look on his face, but there was nothing he could do about it.
He asked with a furrowed brow.
“So what are your plans going forward? Do you plan on revealing the truth that the Protectorate is a clown?”
“There is a person we have captured among the clowns. We are interrogating him now, so he will probably give us information soon.”
“Was there anyone alive?”
Surely, didn’t all the clowns commit suicide back then?
But because Seo Kang-rim was so calm, I wondered if the clown group called Burna had survived.
Seo Kang-rim nodded and stood up from his seat.
“I’ll contact you when I get the information. And I’d like to ask you a few things.”
“What is it?”
The instructions Seo Kang-rim gave were regarding items supplied from the Black Gate to the Protectorate.
Recovery potions and magic potions made at Heukuimun are classified as the best products in the industry.
As the Seocheon Flower Garden was destroyed, the protectorate was dependent on the Black Gate.
“If you cut off the entire supply, it will be seen as suspicious, so please stop supplying only the best items. You can use reasons such as a lack of materials or a lack of manpower. Then send those items to me.”
“This kid, I knew he had potential since he was little… … Haa, I understand. Contact senior Hwa-kyung later.”
Lee Hyeon left the shelter with a worried expression on his face.
It was a good deal for Seo Kang-rim.
Since there is currently no one in the Secret Garden with the ability to do alchemy, the Black Gate, who can provide items, would be a good partner.
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It was a satisfactory result, but I couldn’t just celebrate like this.
‘Now that Lee Hyun is sorted out, next is Burna.’
The hostage I spoke to Hyun about just now was Burna.
Of course she was dead, but since she was going to be brainwashed and dug up, it didn’t really matter whether she was dead or alive.
‘I have a lot to ask. I don’t know if she knows the identity of the director, but at least she knows about the humanoid demon that accompanied him.’
All she had to do was ask her what the alternate protectorate was doing.
The problem is that her resistance is fierce.
After returning to Bihomun, he immediately tried to conquer Burna, but the result was a failure.
Burna’s rank was Yongilpum, and he was also very hostile, so he was not responding to the call.
Still, Seo Kang-rim showed no sign of being anxious.
Because I knew how.
If your magic power level increases, you can also summon Burna.
‘The Protectorate has prepared something good for you.’
He brought a glass that had been placed in a corner of the room.
It was a goblet of blood from the Great Demon Sutra, adorned with a cloudy gold color.
An item containing the blood of thousands or tens of thousands of animals.
Until a few days ago, there had been cloudy blood sloshing around, but now the purification was complete.
The smell of blood had disappeared and a silvery liquid remained in the glass.
═══════════════
[Name] Bloody Tears
[Rank] Divine Second Class
[Description] A drink made by replacing the magical power contained in the blood cup. When consumed, it strengthens the magical circuit. The grade of the result varies depending on the amount of blood contained in the cup.
═══════════════
This is a drink made from the condensation of that much blood.
Just holding the glass seemed to transmit the magic contained within.
Seo Kang-rim gripped the glass tightly.
‘What did the Protectorate plan to do with this?’
The only person who could possibly use such a precious item would be the director.
What would have happened if he had not secured it in the middle?
What if the director drank this alcohol?
But now the cup of blood was in his own hands.
He slowly brought the glass to his lips.
The cold yet hot alcohol touched my lips.
The moment the strong alcohol swirled around my tongue and went down my esophagus.
[You have consumed ‘Tears of Blood’!]
[The magic circuit is strengthened!]
As if I had drunk poison, the magic power began to spread throughout my body along with heat.
It was more like a storm than alcohol.
A hot sensation, as if the blood vessels extending throughout the body are exploding.
I felt the heat spreading from above, down my esophagus, into my arms and legs, and throughout my entire body.
[‘Magic Power’ has grown to level 91!]
It was as if my old, old body had completely burned away and I had gained a new body.
It felt like my previous eyes and ears were cheap imitations.
My heart was pounding like it was going to burst.
Feeling the magic circulating through his body along with the blood, Seo Kang-rim picked up the drop again.
“Burna, burna, burna.”
The drops shook sharply like pieces of a knife blade.
Every time he said the name, his voice seemed to ripple with magic.
Bangul started shaking like crazy.
[Use the item ‘Gangneung Drop’!]
[The soul is summoned according to the command of ‘Seo Kang-rim’!]
It was finally time to reunite.
* * *
“Annabi, I have returned after finishing the subjugation of the demons.”
Annabi’s face was wet with fatigue as she entered the office with the report.
Not only her, but the other messengers who accompanied her also seemed seriously tired.
A messenger grumbled as he drank the stamina restorative like water.
“Sigh, damn it. Why are there so many demons these days?”
“That’s right. The frequency is increasing too much.”
“It was okay until the Great Demonic Cultivation.”
After the fourth great demonic scripture closed, the number of demons appearing began to increase further.
Although the messengers were putting their whole body and soul into blocking the demons, there was a limit to what they could do.
Annabi also said while drinking the stamina restorative potion.
“I guess it’s fortunate that the clown group didn’t show up. It seems quiet these days.”
“That’s right. I wonder how much more irritated Team Leader Princess would have been if even a clown had shown up… … .”
Lately, Team Leader Gongju has been away from her post a lot, and when we do run into each other, she’s always looking like she’s going to kill someone.
It was after the fourth great demonic scripture closed that people changed like that.
The princess, who was alone in her office, gritted her teeth.
‘Damn, the goblet of blood is gone. And Burna hasn’t come back either… … .’
After the fourth Great Demonic Mirror closed, the princess was in a state of panic.
The problem was that the strategy itself was too fast, but there was something more important.
The fake clowns who were supposed to return with the bloody cup have disappeared from sight.
Did they run away with it? That couldn’t be happening.
In that case, there was a high probability that he fought someone inside the Great Demonic Mirror and died.
Because the Great Demonic Cult was closed, the exact details could not be known.
There were some suspicious parts though.
‘This time, Seo Kang-rim attacked Daema-gyeong again. Is he related to this incident?’
Seo Kang-rim has been appearing in affairs related to the Protectorate since long ago, interfering with them.
He might have done something this time too.
I had such strong suspicions, but I had no evidence, and I couldn’t go to Seo Kang-rim to ask him about it.
‘You said I’d be demoted if I failed again, right? No. But I’m the team leader, so there’s no way I’d demote you. Judging from the fact that there’s still no news… ‘
Fear was evident from the nervously pursed lips.
His usual relaxed appearance was nowhere to be seen, but he looked anxious.
At that moment, a message arrived in front of him.
[Team Leader Gong, I have something to tell you about work-related matters, so please come to my office.]
