Chapter 530

# 530

The plan itself was simple.
Nothing particularly complicated.

They just had to infiltrate a deserted corner of the Demon Cult, take advantage of the wind, set fire to a pile of well-dried straw, and throw it inside the buildings.
If they also stoked the flames to make the buildings burn better, or even directly knocked them down, that wouldn’t be bad either.

For ordinary people, this might be difficult, but they were children of prominent families in the martial world. Setting fire to a few buildings was nothing complicated.
Besides, this place was so arid and windy that many structures were made of wood with awnings to block the wind, so they would burn easily.

The wind was blowing alone, and hard. It was enough to set fire to a few buildings for the flames to spread quickly, out of control.
If you ignored the fact that this process was called “arson” and that since ancient times it was considered one of the most atrocious crimes, everything seemed simple.

**—**

Jangil threw the pile of straw to the ground.
—I can’t do it.

—Huh? —Wei Yanho turned his head towards him.

—I said I can’t.

—Now it turns out that this beggar, who only knows how to beg for alms, refuses?

—Insult me if you want. I won’t do it.

—But suddenly, why?!

—Ugh!

Jangil collapsed on the ground.
—I know how stupid it sounds, but I can’t.

—Why?

—Damn it!

Jangil babbled without answering.

It wasn’t that he was repulsed by setting fire. He, who had burned entire huts playing with fire and received beatings from higher-ranking beggars, knew that closing his eyes and setting flames wasn’t difficult.

But he *couldn’t*.

When Yeom Mong said that the Demon Cult was also a place where people lived, Jangil laughed internally.

People? Of course people lived there. People who didn’t even look human.
What was so special about there being people in the Demon Cult?

Barbarians were also people. Murderers were also people.
He found it disgusting that Yeom Mong called “people” those who invaded the Central Plains and killed parents and siblings without remorse.

But now those words haunted him.

—I can’t.

This place wasn’t uninhabited.

The mountain was empty, but not the people. Those who remained in the Demon Cult, after the real demons left, were old men tilling the land, children running, and women covering themselves from the sun with simple clothes.

Yes, *people*.

How could he set fire to where they lived? No matter how good the strategy was, no matter how grave the crisis in the martial world was…

—…How stupid.

It wasn’t an insult from someone else. It was Jangil’s thought.

He knew very well how foolish it was to act like this.

Those who defeat the enemy and burn their base aren’t without compassion. Enduring all that to achieve a greater good is the path of the brave.

But Jangil was ruining a crucial plan for an insignificant compassion.

If he didn’t set fire here and became a demon, more people would die in the Central Plains. His brothers from the Beggar Sect would fall. Beggars who didn’t even know what the sect was would die beaten, stabbed, or from hunger.

Even though he knew it perfectly well, Jangil was rejecting an invaluable opportunity.

—Damn it…

He rubbed his eyelids with his hands and looked at Wei Yanho with reddened eyes.

—I’m sorry. I can’t. I know how stupid it sounds, but there’s no remedy. I won’t do it. *I can’t*.

—But what the hell is wrong with you? —Wei Yanho’s face distorted.

Jangil always caused problems, but this time, crying and making a fuss, was irritating.

—What can’t you do, idiot? Why?!

—…I can’t. I’m sorry.

—I mean, why not?!

—Ordinary people… no, you can’t call the Demon Cult “ordinary people,” but I can’t set fire to where they live. I know it’s stupid. But… still, I can’t. I’m sorry.

Wei Yanho’s face froze like ice.

Jangil gritted his teeth.

It was natural to receive looks of contempt. Someone had to do it. If he couldn’t, others would have to get their hands dirty. He was just unloading his guilt on his companions for not bearing the weight of his conscience.

He deserved to be beaten beyond recognition, or stabbed in the stomach, and still apologize.

Wei Yanho, with a tense face, kicked him.

**Bam!**

Although he expected unbearable pain, Jangil only felt a slight annoyance. The wall he crashed against hurt more than the kick. Although the pain was minimal.

—Huh?

He thought his jaw would fly off, but the blow was almost a tickle.

—Does this shitty beggar think he’s funny?

Ah, better to remove the “tickle” thing.

Wei Yanho kept kicking Jangil’s ass.

—W-wait. Stop!

It didn’t hurt. If Wei Yanho had wanted to, a single blow would have broken his pelvis. It was an attack without true intention…

—It hurts!

—You’re exaggerating.

Wei Yanho clicked his tongue and punched him in the head.

—A little pain will do you good.

—Well, that may be, but…

—Are you still talking nonsense?

Wei Yanho grabbed Jangil’s head and turned it to look at a place.

—Do you see it?

—Huh?

—What did I say we would do when we came here?

—Set fire, kill, loot…

—Damn beggar!

Wei Yanho kicked him again.

—I said we would *loot* and *then* set fire!

—A-ah, yes.

Jangil nodded dazedly.

—Do you think those people have anything worth looting?

—…No.

With that miserable appearance, they would hardly have anything of value.

—It’s not here!

Wei Yanho’s hand, which was pointing at the ground, extended forward.

—It’s *there*!

—…

Wei Yanho’s eyes shone. Where he was pointing was the only imposing building in the entire fortress.

—He he he he.

Wei Yanho smiled sinisterly.

—So that those bastards from the Demon Cult return foaming at the mouth, we have to burn *that*. *That*!

—…There?

Jangil sighed, relieved.

Sure, Wei Yanho could be crazy, but he wasn’t a monster. What kind of plan would be…?

—Wait a moment? Do you mean that this beggar thought we were going to set fire *here* and loot? —Jegal Munin asked.

The atmosphere became tense.

—Amituofo, how pathetic to think like that.

—Think how?

—Like a beggar.

—Ah!

Musan also looked at Jangil disapprovingly. Cornered, Jangil struggled.

—No, that’s not…

Wei Jeonghan patted him on the shoulder with a kind smile.

—Shut up.

—…Yes.

Without room to defend himself, Jangil closed his mouth and stepped forward. If he didn’t want to be insulted for the rest of his life, he would have to try his best now.

—B-but then, why did we come here?

The place they had arrived at was on the other side of the main building. It was natural to wonder.

—This guy, what was he listening to?

—Leave him alone. He was already bad since we started infiltrating.

—When has a beggar been good?

—…Good point.

Wei Jeonghan cut off the conversation.

—Enough!

With a gesture, he silenced everyone and spoke seriously.

—The longer we delay, the worse. Ready?

—Yes!

While everyone answered, Jangil looked around, confused.

—W-wait…

—Let’s go!

But Wei Jeonghan didn’t wait for his answer and started running.

—W-wait, heroes!

Jangil stumbled after them. At that moment, Wei Yanho took the lead.

The race began in the outer shadows and soon reached the main avenue.

—Where are you going, crazy people?

If they were going to set fire to the building, they should infiltrate stealthily, right?

But they were running down the main avenue, the largest in the fortress, which connected the main gate with the building.

Gods.

There were many warriors in the world, but only six people had had the courage to run down the avenue of the Demon Cult. Realizing that he was in a historical moment, Jangil felt his breath catch.

And then, when he saw what Wei Yanho did, he thought it would be better to die drowned.

—

Saha, the Historian, stared at Gwanggu Singae with empty eyes.

Gwanggu Singae avoided his gaze with discomfort.

—Hey…

—It seems you were born lucky, huh?

—Huh?

Before Saha could protest, Gwanggu Singae interrupted him.

—We all make mistakes.

—Who said anything?

—Your eyes are disrespectful!

Saha coughed uncomfortably.

The old ones were cunning.

—Anyway.

—”Anyway” what?

—Anyway… —Saha continued quickly before Gwanggu Singae could complain—. Weren’t they too loud?

—How?

—It was supposed to be an infiltration into the Demon Cult. Even if the demons are gone, it’s still enemy territory. Could they really afford to make so much noise?

—Of course.

—Huh?

—We did it on purpose.

—What?

Saha blinked, confused. Gwanggu Singae clicked his tongue.

—What did we go there for?

—To set fire to the place.

—Tsk tsk, what good is that head if you don’t understand? We went to make the main army of the Demon Cult *return*, not just to burn things.

—Ah!

Gwanggu Singae shrugged.

—The fire was a means, not the objective. The sooner they found out about our intrusion, the better.

—So that’s why they revealed their presence.

—Not exactly.

—…

—There was simply no need to be careful.

—Ah, I understand.

Saha no longer argued. He had gotten used to it. Although it was strange to see the true face of these “heroes,” he now accepted it.

—But, would the Demon Cult really retreat because of something like that?

—”Something like that”?

—Would they withdraw their troops in the middle of an attack on the Central Plains just because their base is burning? The Demon Cult is a religion, but they don’t have sacred relics or holy lands to protect…

—They do.

—Huh?

Gwanggu Singae put on a bitter expression.

—There was something more important than relics or holy lands. I don’t know if Wei Yanho knew it, but there was something they *had* to protect. Something *absolutely* necessary.