The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 498

Jo Dal-soo slowly walked back to his seat. His steps were heavy, and his face was pale and blank. The meeting room was silent except for the soft hum of the lights overhead. Myung Sung-ho and the other council members leaned forward, their eyes fixed on him.

“What happened, Dal-soo?” Myung Sung-ho asked, his voice low and worried.

Another member spoke up quickly, “Will the White-Clad Wizard help us?”

Their questions hung in the air.

Jo Dal-soo wanted to tell them the truth. He wanted to say that he had tried his best to convince the White-Clad Wizard. He wanted to explain that the Wizard was not the hero they believed in, but something much darker. But he couldn’t. He swallowed hard, the words stuck in his throat.

The White-Clad Wizard had warned Jo Dal-soo that revealing his identity would come at a price.

‘That’s no empty threat. Even with my connections to the central government, I couldn’t handle the White-Clad Wizard,’ he thought.

The only S-rank Hunter in South Korea. The pioneer who started the Hunter era. Even the central government couldn’t treat the White-Clad Wizard carelessly.

Because they needed each other, the central government would likely choose the White-Clad Wizard if they had to pick between two things.

The Great Disaster was coming soon.

No one knew what kind of monster would appear in South Korea, so they couldn’t get rid of the White-Clad Wizard, the leader of Baekil and an S-rank Hunter.

Even if they could, the situation was not in Geumcheon-gu’s favor. The White-Clad Wizard was more important.

It was devastating.

A cold feeling went down his spine.

He had always believed that the White-Clad Wizard was a symbol of justice, but it was just a lie.

‘The fact that he’s been hiding his identity for 20 years shows how careful and evil he is. There are many people like the White-Clad Wizard in politics. If they cross the line they’ve been warned not to, I’ll face a malice that doesn’t care about methods or means. This is a losing game. I can’t make the White-Clad Wizard an enemy just to deal with Roman Dmitry.’

He made a quick decision.

Jo Dal-soo was a politician.

He was a councilman in Geumcheon-gu, a local area. This was a political job, not a Hunter job. He got the job because he could see changes coming and make fast decisions.

The White-Clad Wizard was untouchable. Jo Dal-soo knew this, so he took off his mask without hesitation when they were alone.

Jo Dal-soo said,

“…It seems impossible to get help from the White-Clad Wizard. It makes sense, actually. Roman Dmitry and the Incheon government are clearly rebelling, but they are also needed to fight the Great Disaster. Like the saying ‘using barbarians to control barbarians,’ we should use Incheon’s power. After the Great Disaster is over, Incheon will face a terrible situation anyway.”

He took a step back.

He had no choice.

So, the emergency meeting ended with the decision to watch Incheon for now.

That evening, Park Min-woo summoned the wizards of Baekil, his powerful wizard group.

With the leaders present, Park Min-woo made a shocking announcement.

“From now on, Baekil will actively support the Incheon government and try to work with them.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Incheon? They have many problems, don’t they?”

The leaders protested.

Recently, the Incheon government had a bad reputation.

They openly opposed the central government, and there were rumors that Incheon would be left to die in the Great Disaster.

But for Baekil to seek a cooperative relationship with the Incheon government… If this choice hurt relations with the central government, Baekil would have problems during the Great Disaster.

One of the leaders said,

“Guild Leader, why are you trying to work with the Incheon government? They are an irrational group. They are citizens of South Korea but have broken away from the central government, and they have said they will follow Roman Dmitry, a person we don’t know anything about. It is clearly a rebellion. And the Red Moon massacre… they are a threat to South Korea’s safety. Baekil is a group that believes in justice and wants to protect South Korea, but working with a group like Incheon doesn’t make sense.”

Baekil was drawn to Park Min-woo’s sense of justice.

They would die for Park Min-woo’s orders, but their main goal was to pursue justice.

It was the reaction he expected.

But he couldn’t tell them the truth.

Park Min-woo knew what people thought of him, so he needed an answer that fit that image.

Park Min-woo said,

“I understand. My intentions must seem sudden. But I think the negative view of Incheon is just the central government being bossy. What did the Incheon government do wrong? They did nothing wrong. The Red Moon incident was clearly self-defense, but the central government made them look bad while trying to force the S-rank Hunter Roman Dmitry to join them. Remember, public opinion is not the truth. We should focus on the fact that Incheon was completely excluded from the country because they didn’t listen to the central government. There are South Korean citizens there that we must protect. I ask you, is it right to abandon them? Is it right to follow the central government’s opinions just because they are strong, and to exclude Incheon? I have decided not to follow the crowd. In the upcoming Great Disaster, I will stand with the weak.”

It was clever but false reasoning.

Park Min-woo made up a good reason, as if for justice.

The leaders of Baekil were touched by his words.

If they knew about Aleksandr, it would be different, but they saw Park Min-woo as the ‘White-Clad Wizard’.

His past actions made his words believable.

When he said he would stand with the weak, the leaders, who had been protesting, teared up.

“…I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“As always, I will follow the Guild Leader. Baekil, and I, will give our lives for justice.”

The mood changed and became intense.

Everyone agreed.

Thinking the time was right, Park Min-woo called out one person.

“Jang Yun-tae.”

“Yes.”

“From now on, you will visit Incheon as Baekil’s representative and secretly tell Roman Dmitry my intentions.”

He chose Jang Yun-tae for a reason.

Most of Baekil were just people who shouted for justice, but Jang Yun-tae swore loyalty after seeing Park Min-woo’s power in a practical way.

He was selfish and acted based on what benefited him. Because he was quick-witted and knew how to respond by thinking about practical benefits, Park Min-woo deliberately sent him as an agent.

Of course, it would have been best for Park Min-woo to go himself.

But he couldn’t tell people that he didn’t have the courage to face Roman Dmitry.

‘…That’s a little scary,’ he thought.

It was a secret he couldn’t share.

Jang Yun-tae shouted,

“I understand! I will definitely tell him the Guild Leader’s intentions.”

He thought to himself.

This was a big offer. Even the famous Magician in White was making it.

He said this would be a particularly easy task, truly effortless.

“……Pardon?” Jang Yun-tae’s eyebrows shot up, and his mouth fell open slightly. He looked like he hadn’t heard correctly.

The next day, he visited Incheon and, as prepared, told Roman Dmitry that Baekil wanted to work together.

He thought it was obvious Incheon would say yes.

Why wouldn’t they?

Baekil was offering to help.

However.

“Are you saying you’re refusing Baekil’s offer?” Jang Yun-tae asked again, making sure he understood.

“That’s right,” Roman Dmitry said. He remained calm, his eyes steady and unreadable. Even after hearing the name Baekil, he didn’t change his expression. No anger, no happiness. Nothing.

Jang Yun-tae looked even more confused.

“No, are you being serious? This is Baekil we’re talking about. Aside from the central government, Baekil is regarded as the best independent power in South Korea. Baekil extended their hand first, and you’re refusing? What on earth are you thinking? If you think about it logically, considering Incheon’s safety, you should accept.”

“If it were logical as you say, then yes. The problem is that Baekil’s offer doesn’t make sense.”

Baekil’s offer was attractive.

Accepting them would be right for Incheon’s safety, but Roman Dmitry had clear boundaries for his territory.

“Incheon’s external reputation is negative. The government made Incheon look bad, so people didn’t want to be connected to them. In the midst of all this, Baekil extended their hand to us. What’s the reason?”

“Well, for justice…….”

“That’s the problem. If you’re going to talk about justice, Incheon doesn’t meet the criteria. The central government claims several issues. I massacred Red Moon, and the direct commander of the Incheon government killed his opponent with cruel methods during the promotion examination. I’m not saying those are the truth. We have sufficient justification, but those who speak of justice don’t consider the reason for murder. So, your offer doesn’t make sense. Based on what Baekil and the Magician in White have done before, Incheon doesn’t seem like the kind of group they would call ‘just’.”

The Murim.

Among the righteous sects, there were some who pursued justice.

Therefore, he knew.

If Baekil sincerely pursued justice, they wouldn’t be secretly cooperating with Incheon.

He drew a line.

There was no reason to accept Baekil.

Unlike Baekil’s expectations, Roman Dmitry didn’t desperately need external power.

Jang Yun-tae’s face flushed red. He was angry. He understood the meaning, but he couldn’t accept the other party’s attitude.

“……Are you rejecting Baekil’s offer now with such intentions? Ha, really. Do you know what? The central government held an emergency meeting to punish Incheon, but the Guild Master cast a dissenting vote, saying that Incheon is also a citizen of South Korea and must be protected. Incheon, and you, are safe thanks to the Guild Master. I don’t know if you know what kind of existence the Magician in White is in South Korea, but he is a great person who embraces the negative aspects related to Incheon. He is a just person who cannot ignore the minority!”

He stood up quickly from his seat.

The reason for his anger?

It wasn’t because of a sense of justice.

He didn’t like the fact that the power he followed was being denied.

The negotiation broke down.

There was no reason to be in this place any longer.

“Don’t regret what happened today. Even if you contact me again later, there won’t be a second chance.”

He turned around.

In his honest heart, he thought he would be stopped. But until he opened the door and went out, he heard no sound from behind.

He came outside. Irritation surged.

Baekil.

Those who followed the Magician in White were almost religious.

They unconditionally praised Park Min-woo’s justice, but Jang Yun-tae was fundamentally different from those people.

He craved power. He craved authority. That’s why he followed the Magician in White, so he couldn’t help but be displeased with Incheon’s powerless attitude.

‘I am the Guild Master’s representative. Therefore, instead of unconditionally persuading Roman Dmitry, I need to show an attitude that fits the situation. The Magician in White doesn’t need to be lower than Incheon. Anyway, when the Great Disaster happens and Incheon is in big trouble, they will realize they made a mistake and will contact us.’

He thought cleverly.

Unconditionally following orders was something only stupid people did. He knew that he had to act flexibly depending on the situation and the other party in order to survive in the group called Baekil.

His cleverness was Jang Yun-tae’s weapon.

That’s why he was certain that he had been chosen as the representative.

‘What is Roman Dmitry thinking, showing such boldness? Tsk tsk, only the people of Incheon will die because of a stupid leader.’

He headed to the guild. On the way, he briefly conveyed the situation via text message. The negotiation had broken down, and he would explain the situation accurately as soon as he returned.

However.

Whirr!

His phone rang. It was Park Min-woo. Jang Yun-tae, excited at the thought of receiving praise, answered the phone without hesitation.

Click.

[So, what happened?]

Beyond the phone, a chilling voice was heard. It was different from usual. He instinctively knew that something was wrong, but he couldn’t even read the truth contained in the voice.

“As I mentioned in the text message, I initially broke off the negotiations…….”

[I’ll give you 10 minutes. Get your arse over here now.]

Thud.

The call just hung up.

Jang Yun-tae, momentarily flustered, stared at his phone with a confused expression.

“……Huh?”

Something was wrong. The reaction was too chilling. His instinct was warning him that something had gone wrong.