The morning of the Heavenly Demon Festival dawned.
Cheon Myeong, with Mihwa's help, was putting on a rather splendidly embroidered outer garment.
Of course, the clothes that Cheon Myeong was wearing now seemed quite uncomfortable for fighting with a sword, but today was the day of the Heavenly Demon Festival.
Before the Demonic Position Battle, Cheon Myeong was in a position where he had to attend the Heavenly Demon Festival.
Since that was the same for the other guys, including Su Yeongseong, he had put on a formal attire that matched it for now.
"Hmm, it fits perfectly."
Cheon Myeong muttered so as if he were satisfied, looking at the clothes he was wearing here and there.
"Baekjo, what do you think? Does it suit me?"
"Peep-"
"You think it's too flashy? Well, I'm not a fan of flashy things either, but I can't help it today."
Today was a place where not only the main headquarters but also the influential people of other branches were all gathered.
Although the absolute power in the Demonic Cult was, after all, with the leader, they were not without influence.
In particular, the influence of the branches controlled by the Five Great Demonic Families could by no means be said to be inferior compared to the main headquarters.
Since Cheon Myeong knew well how the Demonic Cult would change after about a hundred years from this point in time due to them, he knew well that the influence of each branch could by no means be ignored.
'It would be good to reveal my presence to each branch from now on.'
He had thought that he would move in this way after he had solidified his position in the main headquarters a little more, but since the situation had become like this, he had no choice.
In particular, since Cheon Myeong had not shown his face at the Heavenly Demon Festival for the past few years, he was making an appearance in such an official place for the first time in a very long time.
That's why he had deliberately prepared a flashy formal attire.
Wouldn't a flashy one catch people's eyes at once rather than a simple one?
In order to surely imprint his existence at the Heavenly Demon Festival today, it was good to wear clothes that matched it.
'If I'm going to run wild splendidly, I have to prepare accordingly.'
Unintentionally, the stage was set like this.
And on top of that, the opponent had even given him a motivation to be enthusiastic.
Then he would just have to act accordingly.
"Mihwa, what do you think?"
"...Yes?"
"Do you think it suits me well?"
"Ah... yes, it suits you very well."
Although a positive answer came from Mihwa, for some reason, no strength was felt in her voice.
'Is she worried about me?'
The rumor that he and Su Yeongseong would have a Demonic Position Battle on the day of the Heavenly Demon Festival had already spread throughout the main headquarters.
So that rumor would have naturally reached Mihwa's ears.
Since Mihwa would also know what the Demonic Position Battle was, she couldn't help but be worried.
"Are you worried?"
Cheon Myeong did not beat around the bush and asked honestly.
Then, Mihwa hesitated as if she were hesitating for a moment and then opened her mouth.
"Yes... to be honest, I'm worried."
"Why?"
"Why... isn't the opponent one of the leader's disciples?"
"I've also become much stronger in the meantime. You've also watched me from the side, right?"
"But..."
Mihwa also knew that Cheon Myeong had become much stronger in the meantime.
However, wasn't the opponent a person of the Five Great Demonic Families?
No matter how strong Cheon Myeong had become, Mihwa thought that he would not be able to be on par with a person from the Five Great Demonic Families.
"...Young Master, can't you just surrender without fighting?"
"..."
"I don't think I can see you get hurt anymore, Young Master. No, maybe you could even die... if that happens, what should I..."
Mihwa hesitated and then finally said to Cheon Myeong.
Of course, she knew how important this duel was to Cheon Myeong.
That's why Cheon Myeong had trained in the meantime and returned to the main headquarters, right?
But when she thought that Cheon Myeong would be fighting with other candidates, Mihwa was suddenly scared.
"I can't do that."
Although Mihwa had gathered her courage and said so, the answer that came back was firm.
That expression and that voice.
Since she already knew Cheon Myeong well, Mihwa realized that no matter what she said anymore, she would not be able to change Cheon Myeong's decision.
Drip-.
In the end, tears flowed from Mihwa's eyes.
Cheon Myeong just watched him silently.
'No... I shouldn't be crying in this place now.'
Cheon Myeong was now facing an important duel.
But for her to be crying here now. Didn't that seem as if she didn't trust Cheon Myeong?
Mihwa immediately realized that and wiped away her flowing tears.
"Young Master... please come back safely."
"..."
"I'll prepare something you especially like for dinner today. So... you must come back safely."
Saying that, Mihwa, who was smiling at Cheon Myeong.
Although the tears had not yet dried from her eyes, it was a smile that was enough to convey Mihwa's sincerity to Cheon Myeong.
"I promise."
Cheon Myeong also answered with a smile.
At the same time, Cheon Myeong, who was turning his head.
Since it was time now, he was planning to slowly head to the venue where the Heavenly Demon Festival was being held.
Flap-.
At that moment, Baekjo landed on Cheon Myeong's shoulder.
"What, are you going too?"
"Peep-!"
"Hmm... I don't know if it's okay to take you to a place like that."
"Peep, peep-!"
"..."
Would it also attract people's attention to go with Baekjo on his shoulder?
If there was one thing that bothered him, it was that no dignity was felt from Baekjo's appearance... well, it would be okay.
"But you have to be quiet, okay?"
"Peep-!"
As Cheon Myeong said that, Baekjo answered vigorously.
"Please take care, Young Master Cheon Myeong."
Mihwa's voice was heard from behind.
Cheon Myeong just raised his right hand without a word and answered Mihwa's greeting, and Cheon Myeong left the Little Heaven Pavilion as it was.
"...?"
After leaving the Little Heaven Pavilion and walking for a while, familiar faces were seen in the direction Cheon Myeong was walking.
The figures of Hong Yeorin and Jong Seojun were seen in front.
Looking at them standing there, it seemed that they had been waiting for Cheon Myeong.
"What? Why are you guys here?"
"I heard that you would be having a Demonic Position Battle today, Young Master, so I wanted to see you before going to the venue."
"Why?"
"That's... since this is all I can do for you now, Young Master..."
As Cheon Myeong asked, Jong Seojun raised his bowed head and said.
'Did these guys also come because they were worried?'
This was a strange feeling to have them appear one after another.
Had he ever been worried about by someone so much in his life?
Since he had always been in a position to give worry rather than to receive it, he was not used to this situation now.
'Well, putting aside Jong Seojun.'
Since Jong Seojun had a debt of gratitude to him, he would have come here because he was genuinely worried.
But this one...
"Did you also come because you were worried about me?"
"Of course."
"You didn't come because you were worried about the Body Enhancement Pill, not me?"
Flinch-.
It seems that's the correct answer.
Well, it didn't really matter.
After all, the relationship between him and Hong Yeorin was one that was formed by their mutual interests.
Since what Hong Yeorin wanted was only the Body Enhancement Pill, she couldn't help but be more worried about that.
Since she showed an honest reaction without denying it, he rather liked that.
"It's good that you're honest. Don't worry. I'm not going to die today."
"A-are you sure?"
"Yes, or do you want me to die?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Hong Yeorin shook her head and strongly denied it.
Looking at her, Cheon Myeong said with a grin.
"There will be no disruption in our deal in the future. So rest assured."
As Cheon Myeong said that, Hong Yeorin let out a sigh of relief.
Looking at her, it seemed that she had been quite worried.
Ah, of course, about the Body Enhancement Pill, not him.
"Young Master, is there anything we can do to help you now, by any chance?"
At that moment, Jong Seojun asked Cheon Myeong.
Then, Cheon Myeong shook his head lightly and said.
"That's okay. You two just watch from the special seats."
"..."
"You'll be able to see something interesting today."
Something interesting?
While the two were hesitating for a moment, Cheon Myeong passed between the two.
The two who were silently watching Cheon Myeong's back as he got farther and farther away.
Contrary to their expectation, since Cheon Myeong's face was full of confidence, the two were also slightly puzzled by that.
"For the Young Master to say that much... does he have something to believe in?"
Although he knew that Cheon Myeong had recovered some of his strength, the opponent was that Su Yeongseong.
That's why Jong Seojun had only thought that Cheon Myeong would not be a match for Su Yeongseong.
"I don't know either. But."
"...?"
"The only time Young Master Cheon Myeong makes that kind of expression is when he has some kind of certainty."
Hong Yeorin said, looking at Cheon Myeong's back.
The only time Cheon Myeong made that kind of expression was when he had some kind of trump card, and the expression he had when he had first come to see her and the expression he had just seen were very similar.
That's why from the moment she had confirmed that, Hong Yeorin was not particularly worried about Cheon Myeong's Demonic Position Battle.
"If the Head of the Finance Hall says so, it must be certain."
"..."
"By the way, Head of the Finance Hall."
"...?"
"Why did you come to follow Young Master Cheon Myeong?"
The two had not come here together.
They had come here separately and had just happened to run into each other at the same time.
Later, they had both found out that they had come to see Cheon Myeong for business and had just been waiting together in this place.
"Come to think of it, didn't you also come to see me with Young Master Cheon Myeong last time and help me?"
"Uh... I did."
"As you know, Head of the Finance Hall, I decided to follow Young Master Cheon Myeong to repay the grace of him curing my son's illness."
"..."
"Did you also receive a grace from Young Master Cheon Myeong, Head of the Finance Hall?"
"Uh..."
A grace... if it was a grace, it could be said to be a grace.
Of course, it was a grace of a different nature from Jong Seojun.
But when she tried to say that in front of Jong Seojun, Hong Yeorin felt somewhat embarrassed.
"...It could be said that I received a grace."
"Oh, I'm curious. Could I hear about it, by any chance?"
"..."
How should she say this?
The grace of the Body Enhancement?
No, it was still not a satisfactory part to say that yet.
Thump-.
Hong Yeorin silently placed her two hands on her chest.
And she cleared her throat and lowered her hands again.
"...Head of the Demonic Medical Hall."
"Yes?"
"A woman has a secret."
Hong Yeorin said and passed by Jong Seojun's side.
"...?"
Jong Seojun, who was looking at Hong Yeorin's back as she walked away with a puzzled face.
He had just asked Hong Yeorin to tell him the grace she had received from Cheon Myeong, so why were such words coming out?
'It seems there is a deep story.'
Perhaps there was a story as deep as Jong Shingeon's Blood Death Disease to Hong Yeorin.
Jong Seojun convinced himself so.