Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 515

◈ 515. The Demon King’s Divide and Conquer

‘No, why is this guy here?’ Rembrary frowned at the unexpected face.

He knew him, but he wasn’t happy to see him. Beyond being happy or not, he hadn’t expected to run into him here.

“I thought you’d be holed up in the maze.”

Rembrary said bluntly, despite wearing a gentle smile. The Demon King chuckled in response, pretending to be friendly as he asked,

“Did you play well with my clone?”

“It needs a body to be a clone. Would you call a fragment of soul wandering without a body a clone?”

A cunning smile spread across the Demon King’s lips.

It was the look of someone who knew something Rembrary didn’t, but wouldn’t reveal. Seeing that expression, Rembrary felt a little uneasy.

‘Did a Demon King fragment really take over a body over there? Why is he smiling like that?’

When he didn’t respond, the Demon King glanced at the shopping basket Rembrary had filled and asked,

“You bought a lot. Does the High Priest like this world too?”

“He likes it. It was even better before the upheaval. But it can’t compare to home.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I don’t have a home, so I wouldn’t know, High Priest.”

“Isn’t your home the Demon Realm?”

“No, my memories go back further than that. The Demon Realm is a place of residence, not a home.”

“Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

In response to Rembrary’s question, the Demon King continued without giving a definite answer.

“I like this world more than I expected, High Priest.”

‘So what?’ Rembrary stared blankly, and the Demon King raised the corners of his mouth.

“So, I have a proposal.”

“What proposal?”

“If you don’t interfere, I’ll bring all the demons here.”

“?”

“Your world’s humans and Redrin will return to their original world.”

“!”

‘What is he saying?’ As Rembrary stared in surprise, the Demon King smiled.

“You didn’t come here because you hated your original world, so if you can go back, you’ll go back, right?”

“Do you think we’ll listen to that? Surely you don’t think that’s a realistic proposal?”

“High Priest, the monsters that appear here aren’t ones we brought in. It’s a secondary problem that arose from connecting and traversing dimensions. Did I deliberately summon monsters to attack humans?”

“That’s sophistry [a clever but misleading argument]. It all started when you attacked Redrin and our world.”

Rembrary wore an expression that showed he couldn’t agree at all, but the Demon King continued without refuting him.

“If you leave, I’ll close all the rifts. And my trusted subordinates and I can eliminate the harmful monsters. With that as an excuse, we can attempt to integrate into human society.”

“…….”

“Doesn’t it sound like a good proposal? You get to return to your original world, which is good. I get to settle down here, which is good. The people here get a rapidly stabilizing society, which is good. What do you think, High Priest?”

On the surface, it was a very good deal. On the surface. But…….

“You want this world.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I don’t particularly want to fight?”

“Do you think I’ll believe that? You wouldn’t leave this world alone even if I told you to.”

“Of course, I’ll do it even if the High Priest doesn’t want me to.”

The Demon King smiled.

“But I thought I should ask once.”

Demons were good talkers.

The problem was the realm of trust. To sum it up, there were many swindlers among demons.

“…….”

As Rembrary glared at him, the Demon King continued nonchalantly.

“Talk to Redrin. He might think differently.”

Then, before Rembrary could answer, he handed him an umbrella.

“Leave the umbrella at home.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Demon King disappeared.

Rembrary looked up at the sky. As soon as the Demon King disappeared, the rain stopped.

And…….

‘Was it an illusion?’

What Rembrary was holding wasn’t a black umbrella, but a single rose.

Rembrary looked at the ground. The ground wasn’t wet either.

The flat asphalt was dry without a trace of moisture.

‘Was the rain an illusion too?’

Just then, a familiar voice came from not far away.

“Will you accept the proposal?”

Rembrary glanced back, still holding the rose. Sagamjae was standing there with a grim face.

“When did you get here?”

“I came because I felt a strange and powerful energy.”

Rembrary stared at Sagamjae for a moment, then looked around.

Reapers were densely packed, looking this way. Like a flock of penguins.

“Those guys. Are they an illusion?”

“If we’re seeing the same thing, then no.”

“Why are they all gathered?”

“We must have all felt the same energy. They all rushed over.”

Rembrary was dumbfounded.

‘That Demon King. Did he deliberately make that proposal where the Reapers could see? Hiding their vision with rain and an umbrella?’

“It seems the Demon King knows that Lord Yeomra and Redrin have decided to join forces.”

“Did he use a divide-and-conquer tactic?”

“It seems so. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have suddenly said something like that.”

“……Perhaps he’s changed his mind.”

“If he’d changed his mind, he wouldn’t have said it in front of you.”

“That’s true. That makes sense. So, you have no intention of accepting the Demon King’s proposal.”

“Of course not.”

Rembrary glanced at the Reapers, who were still gathered like penguins, and added,

“But your friends seem to want that.”

“!”

* * *

“Rembrary! Why are you so late!”

When he returned home, Ardor had already set up all the cooking utensils and was sitting in front of the door wearing an apron.

As soon as Rembrary entered, Ardor greeted him enthusiastically, quickly took the shopping basket, went to the kitchen, and asked,

“What should I make for you? What do you want to eat? I’m confident I can make anything you tell me!”

He seemed quite proud of his cooking skills.

Normally, Rembrary would have been pleased, but after meeting the Demon King, he couldn’t be.

“Make anything. Except for what I can’t eat.”

“Huh?”

“If it’s a dish made with the ingredients I bought, I can probably eat anything. I’m a little tired. I’m going to rest my eyes for a bit.”

As Rembrary went into the room, Ardor stopped organizing the shopping basket, disappointed.

Unaware of this, Rembrary closed the door and prayed to Redrin as soon as he lay down on the bed.

* * *

“The Demon King contacted the Saint of Another World.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He said he’s more interested in our world than the other world, and he’s going to stay here, so don’t fight them and just go back.”

As Redrin wore a strange smile, Yeomra, who was across from him and had been listening to the report from the Reaper about the Demon King and Rembrary’s contact, became angry.

“What’s so funny?”

He couldn’t have missed the conversation since he was right in front of him. Still, he resented the way he kept smiling.

As Yeomra provoked him, Redrin raised his eyebrows and looked at Yeomra.

But soon, Redrin smiled and informed him.

“My kid is talking about that too.”

“Why? Is the Saint urging you to return to your original world?”

“No. He’s asking you to send some if there’s any virtue left over.”

“How shameless! I’ll give it to you, but!”

Yeomra, who was dumbfounded, grumbled quietly.

* * *

Rembrary rested for a few days and prepared to enter the 3-2 entrance, choosing the members to go with him.

However, there weren’t many people he could take.

Yeonwoo was still faking illness and staying out of sight, and Maeng Wooshin had suddenly gone on vacation.

Hwasaja also said she still hadn’t returned home when he called.

“I’ll go, High Priest!”

“I’ll go too.”

Ardor and Mulu bravely stepped forward, and this time, Shin Jo-woon also volunteered to go with him.

“What if that meeting is held again?”

“They said there won’t be a meeting anytime soon, so it’ll be okay.”

“I heard you’re very busy these days. Won’t you have a lot of work piling up when you get back?”

“It’s okay. I’ll take my laptop.”

“So, is it just the four of us going this time?”

A few days after making that decision.

He was thoroughly preparing his luggage when, unexpectedly, Woo Sung-woo came in with a slightly urgent look on his face.

Actually, it wasn’t that surprising that Woo Sung-woo came in. The problem was the large travel bag he was holding.

“What’s wrong?”

Rembrary, wondering what was going on, asked, and Woo Sung-woo explained.

“Have you decided on the members who are going?”

“Almost. Ardor, Mulu, me, and Anchovy [Shin Jo-woon’s nickname]. The four of us are going. Why?”

“I’ll go with you.”

It was an unexpected statement. Rembrary and Shin Jo-woon glanced at each other in surprise.

‘Why does Woo Sung-woo want to go with us? Doesn’t he hang out with the Nakru team?’

“Alright.”

Anyway, he allowed it since he was going, but Woo Sung-woo said something even more surprising.

“But it would be better if Mulu and Ardor didn’t go this time.”

“What?”

“Are you serious?”

Mulu and Ardor frowned and asked almost simultaneously.

Woo Sung-woo asked to talk for a moment, then led the four of them into the main building and explained.

“Didn’t Ardor and Mulu go just before this? So, it’s better if they don’t go this time.”

‘What does that have to do with anything?’ Everyone in the group didn’t immediately understand Woo Sung-woo’s claim.

As the group all looked at him, Woo Sung-woo spoke more specifically.

“I think it’s better to rotate the members who go into the dungeon. Except for Rembrary.”

“What is rotation?”

“It means to keep going in turns. In other words, since Mulu and Ardor went last time, someone else should go this time.”

“What about me? Then why do I keep going in?”

“Because Rembrary is the only healing ability user. Besides, he’s a key member. Rembrary is the only one who can calm the situation if something happens inside.”

“That’s true.”

Mulu, who had been listening quietly, asked,

“Woo Gong [term of respect]. But if everyone takes turns going in, won’t we end up revealing everything about us to the enemies?”

Woo Sung-woo shook his head.

“That’s right. But you can only know which demon you have the best compatibility with by actually going in.”

“That’s true, but…….”

“What I’m worried about is that the demons are constantly watching the people who enter the dungeon. Rembrary said that before. That’s why I’m anxious. If they keep watching like that and the same people keep going in and different situations keep being given, the demons might analyze that person’s abilities, personality, and behavior patterns in all situations.”

“So, you’re saying you’ll go?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. Then.”

Ardor was shocked.

“Th, then, High Priest, are you, that guy, and Shin Jo-woon going into the dungeon with just the three of you? Just the three of you? That’s too dangerous!”

He didn’t say anything when Ardor and Mulu were going to leave with just the three of them before.

In the meantime, Ardor’s conditions had become much more demanding.

But Ardor had no choice but to shut his mouth at the words that came from behind.

“I’ll go with you. Then it’ll be four, so it should be okay.”

As he turned around, Sagamjae was standing there calmly, as if he had arrived sometime ago.

“Sagamjae?”

As Rembrary called out with a surprised face, Sagamjae replied nonchalantly.

“I came because it seemed like there weren’t enough people.”

“Not to monitor me?”

“I do have that purpose a little bit, though.”