Chapter 2576 – 2576. The Ascension Of Light

“Not all swords are the same. There are swords for butchering chickens, swords for butchering cows, and swords for butchering people. They are all different.”

“…Could it be? Does the Emperor know? That I am the Heavenly Star of Slaughter?”

“It seems certain from the circumstances. Perhaps he knows even more than that. Ah, just so you don’t misunderstand, I didn’t report it myself.”

“I didn’t think you did.”

The Emperor’s authority is beyond imagination. There are eyes and ears I don’t know about everywhere. Perhaps the Emperor has even infiltrated the Demonic Cult. Or maybe the Emperor has some special ability.

I check the expression of Baek Ran, the regressor Heavenly Demon. It has been stiff the entire time. It was clear how wary she, a regressor, was of the Emperor.

“Do you know exactly what the Emperor’s ability is?”

“I don’t. The Emperor is thoroughly hiding his abilities.”

It seems she really doesn’t know.

‘Even the regressor Baek Ran doesn’t know the Emperor’s ability… How thoroughly has the Emperor acted?’

Even a regressor doesn’t know.

‘Well, things are probably very different now than before the regression.’

I intentionally emptied my mind, which was becoming complicated. There’s no time to waste on idle thoughts. In the first place, the Emperor is trying to use me, not kill me.

“But is it okay for a First-Class Imperial Guard to tell me these things?”

“Don’t misunderstand. This is just a simple warning not to be rude to the Emperor.”

I chuckled at her audacity.

“Does the Emperor know that we’re meeting?”

“Perhaps. But he wouldn’t care about something like this. He’s not that petty.”

It seems Baek Ran came to warn me not to act rashly. The reason she’s not speaking frankly… is because she’s wary of the Emperor’s eyes and ears. This is the Imperial Palace. You have to be careful about everything.

“Thank you for coming all the way here to tell me.”

“Even if you rise in the world, don’t forget that mindset. Ah, one more thing. Be careful of the Crown Prince.”

“The Crown Prince? I greeted him at the banquet… He didn’t seem dangerous.”

“The Crown Prince is a man with great ambition, regardless of his abilities.”

“Someone who’s not good to get involved with. Got it.”

“Calling His Highness the Crown Prince ‘someone.’ Don’t do that anywhere else.”

I nodded vaguely. I’m speaking comfortably because it’s in front of Baek Ran. Even I know how to distinguish situations.

Baek Ran quietly disappeared.

The Martial Alliance Leader, the Sword King, and I were guided by a eunuch to the banquet hall. It was more like being watched than guided.

Today’s banquet was held in the Emperor’s garden, not the palace. The number of people attending the banquet was smaller than usual. Elite soldiers stood guard around the garden as if watching.

‘I get the feeling. Everyone attending today’s banquet has been selected.’

It’s not a selection for a purge. The faces of the attendees here looked quite relaxed. If a purge was planned, they wouldn’t have missed the signs. Moreover, even the Prime Minister was attending this banquet. There’s no way they would purge the Prime Minister at a place like this.

We decided to relax a little and enjoy the banquet.

That’s when it happened. A eunuch approached me. He had a serious expression as he spoke to me.

“Lord Seong. His Majesty the Emperor has summoned you. Please come with me.”

“If His Majesty the Emperor has summoned me, I must go. But do you know why he summoned me?”

“I was only ordered to bring Lord Seong.”

Refusal was practically impossible, so I braced myself and followed the eunuch.

The Emperor was standing in a pavilion. He had his hands behind his back, looking up at the gloomy sky. The eunuch quietly retreated.

I quietly looked around. There was no one except the Emperor. Even the guards had been dismissed. I was alone with the Emperor.

“Come here.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I carefully went up to the pavilion. The Emperor didn’t turn around.

“Seong Yu-jin. I have been preparing a grand plan for a long time.”

“…I cannot even begin to guess what Your Majesty’s grand plan is.”

“I intend to usher in an era for humanity.”

“It is already an era for humanity. The monsters have gone into hiding, and the people praise the Emperor.”

“No. Although the direct threat of monsters has decreased, humans are still merely toys for the Great Immortals.”

I quietly mulled over his words. I still didn’t know what the Emperor wanted. In times like this, silence was the answer. Isn’t there a saying that if you stay still, you’re halfway there?

“……”

“Do you know where humans go when they die?”

“I have heard that they go to the Underworld to be judged. Criminals suffer in hell to pay for their sins, and the innocent are reincarnated. Sometimes, reincarnation itself is said to be a punishment.”

“Then I ask you. Are the judges who make those judgments perfect? Can you be sure that they judge only based on sins, without any personal bias? Are there truly no innocent people among those who have fallen into hell?”

“……”

I couldn’t answer.

I know that the judges of hell are not perfect beings.

“They discuss the sins of humans, yet they do not discuss their own sins. They impose reincarnation, yet they themselves are free from it. The Immortals of the Celestial Realm are no different.”

“…Your Majesty intends to break the cycle of reincarnation.”

“That is correct. I intend to break the cycle of reincarnation, to destroy the false heaven created by those Celestial Lords.”

The ambition the Emperor revealed was admirable. He was saying he would fight against both the Celestial Realm and the Underworld.

“I was once ordered by the Celestial Realm. I believed it was the right thing to do, so I willingly followed the orders of the Celestial Realm. I killed the Heavenly Star of Slaughter because I had no doubt that it was for the good of the world. But I later realized the true intentions of the Celestial Realm. They were afraid of the Heavenly Star of Slaughter.”

“Are you saying that immortals are afraid of a mere mortal?”

“A star is a source in the heavens. They fear the stars, yet they also yearn for them. I know that you are the Heavenly Star of Slaughter. Originally, the Heavenly Star of Slaughter is supposed to be consumed by its murderous nature and become a rampaging monster, but you are controlling your murderous nature. I intend to use your power to kill the heavens, so you must cooperate with me.”

This isn’t a proposal. I can’t refuse. The moment I refuse, I die.

“Your Majesty. I fear that the heavens might be watching this conversation.”

“Are you talking about the false heavens? Do not worry. I have used a technique to temporarily deceive the eyes of the heavens. Even if we insult the Great Immortals, it will not reach their eyes and ears.”

That gloomy sky wasn’t a natural phenomenon after all.

“What can I gain in exchange for cooperating with Your Majesty?”

“Haha. You are bold. But you are qualified. I will ask you in return. What do you desire?”

“If I were to desire the martial world.”

“That’s nothing. I will give it to you.”

It was an immediate answer. It was clear that the martial world was of little value to the Emperor.

“I would like you to declare the Demonic Cult as the state religion of the Empire when I desire it.”

“There is a condition. Religion cannot interfere with state affairs.”

“And I would like you to give me Heavenly Jade. I need as much Heavenly Jade as possible.”

“Heavenly Jade is a precious item even in the country. Its uses are endless, making it a treasure in itself. I cannot bestow all the Heavenly Jade in the country to you. Therefore, I will bestow 10,000 pieces of Heavenly Jade to you. And I will bestow Heavenly Jade to you every time you achieve merit.”

10,000 pieces of Heavenly Jade.

I immediately bowed to the Emperor.

“Your grace is boundless!!”

“Your sword is not yet sufficient to reach the heavens, so train until the time comes.”

• • •

Soldiers entered the banquet hall and formed ranks. The high-ranking officials attending the banquet watched the situation with tension. The orderly and disciplined movements of the soldiers were like watching a military parade.

The Emperor sat on the jade throne in the center of the banquet hall, looked around, and opened his mouth.

“Seong Yu-jin, the son-in-law of the Namgung family and the Little Heavenly Demon of the Demonic Cult, come before me.”

I walked confidently through the path made by the soldiers and approached the Emperor. The gazes of those around me were fixed on me. They were gazes filled with various emotions.

I knelt before the Emperor and bowed.

“Today is the auspicious day that marks exactly one thousand years since the founding of the Empire. To commemorate this, an auspicious connection has also come to the Empire. How can I not be pleased? Seong Yu-jin, listen. I hereby appoint you to the position of Second Rank General. Your title shall be Thunderclap (雷霆). You are now the Thunderclap General (雷霆將軍).”

As the Emperor raised his hand, eunuchs came forward. They were holding treasures in their hands.

“I bestow five treasures to the Thunderclap General, along with the duty of protection. The first is the White Lightning Spear (白電槍). It has the power to summon and amplify lightning.”

The White Lightning Spear was a three-pronged spear with the tip split into three directions.

“The second is the Cloud Dragon Armor (雲龍鉀). It will protect the General from the cold and heat.”

It was a splendid mountain armor with white dragons embossed on both shoulders and the abdomen.

“The third is the Cloud Dragon Helm (雲龍冑). It will protect the General from evil curses.”

It was a helmet with two white horns on each side.

“The fourth is the Cloud Dragon Gauntlets (雲龍手). They will add courage to the General.”

They were gauntlets that protected the hands and wrists.

“The fifth is the Cloud Dragon Boots (雲龍足). The essence of the earth will protect the General.”

They were steel boots that protected the shins and feet.

I even swallowed my saliva carefully and shouted to the Emperor.

“Your grace is boundless!!”

“Now I shall speak of the duties of the Thunderclap General. The Thunderclap General shall protect the North.”

“I shall obey the Imperial command!”