“Ho ho, you really care for your disciple, Master.”
As soon as I asked Bi Wol who she was, she answered with a blissful smile. That slightly warped grin sent chills down my spine.
It was definitely her—my precious disciple Bi Wol, in both body and face, reflecting in my eyes more than anyone else.
“…Answer me. Where is the real Bi Wol?”
Yet, my soul denied it.
“I am me, Master. Do you not know?”
With her hand on her chest, Bi Wol blinked. There was a killing intent in her gaze at that moment.
“I am Bi Wol, the beloved disciple of Master Bingyeon.”
If Bi Wol even hinted at infused magic in that hand, a huge hole would be pierced right in the middle of my chest.
She was delicately plucking at my chest as if playing a fine string.
“Verdandi, summon the Holy Sword immediately. This is an emergency.”
“Y-Yes? But how am I supposed to summon it! I don’t know how!”
In that situation, I shouted for Verdandi to summon the Holy Sword. An artifact with absolute superiority against beings of evil disposition.
Originally meant as a secret weapon saved for Azazel, the saint of the foreign world, there were very few means to safely subdue Bi Wol if I didn’t use it now.
“Place your hand on your chest and shout, ‘I will execute justice!’”
I informed Verdandi of the incantation to summon the Holy Sword. I had to somehow subdue her while Bi Wol was preoccupied with touching me.
“Execute justice….”
At that moment.
BAM— A tremendous noise echoed as Verdandi’s body flew and smashed into a nearby tree. The sheer force was so strong that the trunk bent at the waist.
“Bi Wol, you…!”
“Master. We’re having a heartfelt moment here as I talk with my beloved disciple. Why are you trying to stick in a wild wolf?”
This was definitely Heavenly Demon Art. Not just any Golden Demon Palm, but the forbidden technique.
I had noted it in the original piece, but I had never seen her use that technique here.
What the heck was happening?
The fact that she exhibited such moves without any understanding or training was odd. Bi Wol’s current level seemed like it was on the verge of the utmost peak I’d reached.
“Ha, ha… huff…”
Now Bi Wol buried her face in my chest, inhaling deeply. Warm breaths and ticklish sensations were creeping up my body.
“If you stay still, no one will get hurt, Master.”
Bi Wol clasped my hand as I tried to push her away. Even with her vision obscured, she was clearly sensing my movements with Qi Perception.
Her other hand was slipping into my robe, now even caressing the muscles beneath my clothes.
“But, Verdandi….”
“I’ve adjusted my strength to that level. No matter what, as my master, I wouldn’t kill my junior, would I?”
As if to prove that claim, Verdandi coughed repeatedly, regaining consciousness.
“I merely suppressed her blood points so she couldn’t use her strength. I may have done it a bit roughly, though.”
“Master, are you okay…?”
Her trembling, unable to maintain strength in her arms and legs, made it seem like Bi Wol had indeed used blood-point suppression in that mere instant.
I hadn’t taught her that part.
Originally, Blood-Point Suppression was a technique that could only be used when there was a significant gap in ability. Use it incorrectly, and you’d lose your wrist.
“How much stronger have you become, Bi Wol?”
“Well, let’s see. If I were to use all my power, I think I could be considered at the same level as you, Master.”
I recalled Bi Wol’s traits in my mind.
With the attributes of a Heavenly Demon, Heavenly Demon Star, and an oversensitivity to blood, what exactly was the reason for her acting this way?
“Han Dohyun, think, think….”
Why had Bi Wol changed so much, like an entirely different person?
“Ice Dragon! What do we do? Fight?”
“No, don’t move carelessly. I’ll handle her.”
Here, even the Gold Tower Lord couldn’t attack Bi Wol. It was clear that if we moved with a disparity in levels, we would die.
“Indeed, serving as your disciple is a privilege, Master.”
And of course, including the Gold Tower Lord, Verdandi, and her mother, there were people around. It was now clear that without any casualties, it would be difficult to subdue Bi Wol, especially since Verdandi had just been flung away without a fuss.
‘…I need to find a reason.’
If I were to chop off my own body to fight, I could win, but.
“Please don’t think about fighting me. The girl doesn’t want to harm your precious body, Master.”
If I took just a few more steps here, Wonderhill Village would come into view, and under the curse of Heavenly Demon Star, they might turn into body and blood.
“Then stop here. Are you trying to disrespect your master?”
“However, the girl is merely throwing a fit because she couldn’t express her feelings to you, Master. This is my desire, my true heart, and my yearning.”
Pretending to comply with Bi Wol’s words, I had to find out why she had changed like this.
“You are far too stimulating for me, Master. The smell of blood and flesh when you saved me from that cult, and the tiny whimpers as you endured pain.”
Hoo, hoo, Bi Wol gasped heavily as if she had fallen into a frenzy. Had I ever written such a setting in my novel?
“Only for me, you pretended not to feel any pain through all the hardships to save me.”
Bi Wol was gently caressing each part where I had been injured.
As if she had left her traces all over my hurt spots from my shoulders and back to my hands and arms, just like we had talked about in the carriage.
“Did the scent of blood drive you mad?”
“No. No matter how many times I’ve smelled others’ blood, nothing in this world can be as stimulating as your scent, Master.”
Bi Wol stopped burying her face in my bosom and began to nibble on my earlobe, oozing seductive charm.
“What I’m doing now is my true heart.”
The sound of her licking my ear echoed around us. Ignoring the gazes around, Bi Wol was persistently trying to seduce me.
‘Inner Demon.’
I suddenly recalled upon the term “true heart.” Originally, this was a trial that Kim Hyul, the protagonist of the original story King of Diamond Fist, would undergo.
A device I set up for maturing mentally and rising to a new level by fighting another version of oneself within the internal world.
‘But now, Bi Wol is experiencing that.’
I couldn’t wrap my head around it. She had been created as the final boss, destined to commit slaughter from a young age…
‘…it’s because of me.’
In an instant, an epiphany hit my mind.
I had changed her past with my own hands.
In order to solve her hunger, I had created an environment where she wouldn’t need to consume human blood and flesh.
To ensure her sleep wouldn’t be disturbed, I provided her with a spot that had minimal noise and good sunlight to rest.
I made sure that a friend she had gotten close to wouldn’t turn cold as a corpse the next day.
“To Master, you are my world. Just like a bird trapped in an egg breaking free.”
“Bi Wol, snap out of it. You’re being consumed by your inner demon….”
“Whether I’m devoured by my inner demon or not, what does it matter? What’s important is my longing for you, Master.”
Bi Wol made a sound into my ear and smiled sweetly. Her slightly heated breath and intense gaze were overwhelming.
‘The inner demon is an embodiment of the hidden evil within one’s heart.’
The inner demon should be an experience to overcome, just like a caterpillar shedding its cocoon to become a butterfly.
‘This is different from the sins of Heavenly Demon Star mentioned in the novel.’
I swallowed hard, thinking. Judging by her actions, it appeared that the essence was not the Heavenly Demon Star but rather what was buried deep within Bi Wol.
“Master, you certainly think I’ve fallen under the inner demon’s sway.”
“What on earth do you want?”
“Ah ha ha! What do I desire, you ask? My beloved disciple, the only one in this world, obviously desires your love, Master!”
As I bit my lip and barely held back from her provocative behavior, Bi Wol burst into laughter.
“I want your love, one that only gazes at me!”
She pressed her palm against my lips and then brought it back to her own, saying.
“I wish to become your wife, Master. I want to be both your first and last lover.”
With utmost affection, she was slowly sharing an indirect kiss, like melting candy, leaving me in sheer shock.
Could it be that the feelings created by the inner demon were love for me? Had she been suppressing that without manifestation and it came out in this twisted form?
There was a possibility.
“Is that why you felt jealous watching Verdandi, believing I’d dislike that kind of behavior?”
I threw out this question to gauge Bi Wol’s feelings. After all, jealousy and love are emotions that cannot easily be separated.
“No, as long as it doesn’t involve killing people, I know very well you wouldn’t reproach me even if I just subdue them.”
Bi Wol had upheld the vows of the Ice Dragon Blossom Heart before embarking on this journey, swearing not to kill.
“…Why do you think that?”
“Because you care for me, your disciple, very much. Therefore, you try not to harm me.”
Bi Wol gently loosened the front of her clothes, revealing a bit of skin. I turned my head away to avoid looking, but,
“Master, please look at me. My disciple is bravely expressing her feelings!”
I was stopped by her gestures as she puffed out her cheeks, forcing me to face her. It looked like she was enjoying the reaction I was giving.
“…I’m deeply in love with you, Master.”
“That feeling is confused with paternal affection.”
“How could a girl confuse love? All of this is because I learned it from you!”
In Bi Wol’s red eyes, my face was reflected. Struggling, biting my lip, trying not to show my ugly inner nature before my disciple.
“Master, I would do anything for you. I could throw myself into a hellish pit of fires or remain alone on an icy frozen lake.”
Bi Wol said those words while wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Seeing me longing for you so deeply, why won’t you accept my heart?”
Her lips were drawing nearer, Bi Wol seemed to be on her tiptoes, ready to kiss me.
“…Bi Wol, I’d like to propose something to you.”
“In such a situation, a proposal? You are indeed bold, Master!”
The only way to defeat the inner demon that was controlling Bi Wol without any casualties was this method.
“If you win, I will truly accept your feelings. It’s also my fault for getting to this level without realizing it.”
“Seems like you’ve thought of a clever stratagem… huff.”
I said while covering Bi Wol’s mouth with my hand. She even licked my palm in an endearing manner.
“So, what’s your proposal?”
“Let’s have a verbal duel. I’ll grant you three seconds to strike at your full power against this master.”
While controlling her inner demon, I would also handle her feelings without robbing her of anything, and this was the solution to everything.
“Alright! Let’s do it! Love can only be true if both hearts connect, after all.”
“Just to warn you, Bi Wol.”
With an air of confidence, Bi Wol accepted my proposal, and inside, I couldn’t help but smile.
“…You are the challenger.”
“Oh, while you look like a fish perfectly laid on the cutting board, I’ll quickly finish and devour you!”
If it was a verbal duel, I had no fear of losing to anyone.
