HDCLSSRS Ch 52

Chapter 52 Expert in Disappearances and Abductions (7)

 

“Who dares to pose as one of the noble Seven Princes! You filthy heretic! Kekekeke!”

Baek Ryeoil clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.

“Did you hear that? Puhaha…! He claims to be the Cult Leader.”

He held his mouth as his shoulders shook, looking as if he might soon roll on the ground laughing.

At any rate, the man’s self-admission of being a cultist made the rest easy. It took less than one quarter-hour for the family head, his wife, and Baek Ryeoil to extract all the information they needed from him.

As expected, he was a bait sent by the Demonic Sect. The man admitted to luring Seomun Yuha and even confessed that he was still alive and hidden in a nearby safe house.

Seong Muyeon looked at the man, now in a pitiful state, with a touch of pity.

“Hand him over to the authorities.”

Baek Ryeoil appealed to the family head.

“We will head to the safe house immediately and bring back Young Lord Seomun.”

“Wait. I’m going with you.”

Madam Seomun stepped forward to follow them.

“It may be dangerous.”

“This is about my son. I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

Baek Ryeoil’s expression hardened with annoyance, but he could not stop the lady, whose determination was unmistakably firm.

At first glance, it resembled a warehouse built in a secluded shopping district. However, all the guards stationed there were unmistakably skilled fighters. Furthermore, the surrounding land was encircled by various formations to prevent outsiders from stepping in carelessly.

Seong Muyeon naturally glanced at Baek Ryeoil.

“…Wait here.”

It was perfect understanding. With a faint sigh, Baek Ryeoil drew his sword and approached the warehouse, making no effort to conceal his presence.

“Who goes there?!”

Sensing a threat, the guards rushed in, but under Baek Ryeoil’s martial prowess, they were swiftly and miserably defeated.

“Aaagh!”

“Aaaaargh!”

Screams echoed. Seong Muyeon, who had been waiting seated in the underbrush, heard the ruckus die down in less than a moment. Soon, Baek Ryeoil returned with heavy steps.

“Come in.”

As expected, Baek Ryeoil’s martial prowess shone even here.

The three of them entered the warehouse together. Behind stacks of crates piled to the ceiling, they discovered a hidden door leading to a lower level.

In the damp, musty basement where not a single ray of light entered, there was another door. Judging by the multiple layers of locks securing it from the outside, it was clear that the situation was dire.

Madam Seomun bit her lip in worry.

As soon as Baek Ryeoil’s sword light flashed, the thick locks were sliced apart like tofu.

The interior was surprisingly arranged like a normal room. As the door opened, a young man lying on his side on the bed waved his hand without even glancing their way.

“Hey. Why is it so noisy? I can’t sleep at all.”

The youthful voice grumbled in complaint. When no response came, the young man reluctantly sat up. His youthful face, still retaining traces of baby fat, was strikingly handsome. But upon seeing the familiar woman standing at the door, his face turned pale.

“M-Mother…? What are you doing here? How did you find me? Who are all these people?!”

Seomun Yuha looked well-fed and well-kept. His skin was vibrant, and there were no signs of darkness or suffering. In contrast, Madam Seomun had clearly spent countless sleepless nights worrying for her child; dark circles shadowed her eyes.

“You…! You wretched child!”

“Aaack!”

Madam Seomun rushed at her son and began striking his back with wild abandon.

“Do you have any idea how worried your father and I were?! You disappeared without a word—if anything, I should be the one asking you questions! What are you doing in a place like this, you disgraceful child?!”

“Aaack! That hurts! Stop hitting me!”

Madam Seomun, panting heavily, finally stood upright.

“Let’s go home. We’ll talk there.”

However, Seomun Yuha spun around. Folding his arms and turning his back, his refusal was firm.

“No. I’m not going. Mother shouldn’t be here. You should go home.”

“What are you talking about? Of course, you have to come home!”

“They’ll be coming soon. I have to wait for them.”

His attitude was utterly obstinate.

It was like watching a petulant child. He resembled a tantrum-throwing seven-year-old lying on the ground, demanding his way.

Seong Muyeon’s expression twisted with dismay. So it was true, all the fuss over him being a baby wasn’t exaggeration.

Madam Seomun pounded her chest in frustration.

“Why must you be so difficult! Who are these people? And what are you planning to do by following them?!”

“They said they’d make me stronger. So strong that no one would dare look down on me…”

Seomun Yuha mumbled. His voice was heavy with deep yearning.

But this wasn’t right.

“Young Lord Seomun. This is not the time for such things. Let us return and discuss everything in detail…”

“Who are you to meddle in someone else’s affairs? Get lost!”

“……”

Seong Muyeon closed his eyes tightly. But he gritted through with patience. His opponent was barely into adulthood—still a child, really.

“Please listen carefully, Young Lord Seomun. I don’t know what you were told, but even if you go with them, not a single technique from the Demonic Arts will be granted to you. You must believe me.”

“Yes, Yuha. Listen to what this gentleman is saying.”

“Hmph. Do you think I’ll fall for such lies? How would you even know?!”

“No one here knows better than I do. I am, after all, one of the Demonic Sect’s princes. I am Seong Muyeon, the Seventh Prince.”

Seomun Yuha’s eyes widened.

“T-The Seventh Prince…? The son of the Cult Leader…? That’s a lie, right? There’s no way someone this frail-looking could be a prince of the Demonic Sect.”

As if to verify the truth, he looked at Madam Seomun and Baek Ryeoil. Both of them nodded.

“……”

Seomun Yuha’s pupils trembled. Emotion surged within him, and he grabbed Seong Muyeon’s hands with both of his.

“To think I’d meet the prince of the Demonic Sect! What an honor! This must be a dream!”

“……”

Seong Muyeon calmly pulled his hands away.

“Now do you understand? This place is dangerous. Let’s return home, Young Lord Seomun.”

“B-But… Are you saying they deceived me? Th-That can’t be true.”

Seomun Yuha pulled out a letter from his sleeve with trembling hands and showed it.

“They clearly promised to teach me demonic techniques. They said someone would come for me tonight and take me to Shingang.”

Seong Muyeon gave a bitter smile.

“It’s a lie. What they want from you is something else entirely.”

Had they truly intended to teach him demonic techniques, they would have chosen someone younger. That way, they could instill absolute obedience to the sect. There was no reason to entrust valuable martial arts to a grown adult who might run away. When they abducted those past the age of maturity, their purpose was different.

“Yes, Yuha. Let’s go home.”

“But… I have to become strong.”

“Can’t you just learn your clan’s martial arts techniques?”

Seong Muyeon offered. The sword techniques of the Seomun clan were fierce and renowned—surely enough to become a formidable warrior.

“You said you were the Seventh Prince, right? I cannot inherit our family’s martial arts. I’m not like Father.”

Seomun Yuha’s voice was downcast. A moment ago, his tone was anything but courteous, but the moment he learned of Seong Muyeon’s identity, his attitude became deferential.

He raised both hands for them to see.

“Look at this body. Does this look like the frame of someone fit to wield a greatsword? I can’t even lift it… I needed another way…”

“Why are you so obsessed with becoming strong? Isn’t the Seomun clan also famous for its business? Even without martial arts, you could live a perfectly normal life.”

Seong Muyeon said, and Madam Seomun nodded.

“Yes. It’s fine if you don’t practice martial arts. Other disciples can carry on our family’s legacy. You just need to live an ordinary—”

“You’re the last person who should say that, Mother!”

Seomun Yuha suddenly raised his voice. His bloodshot eyes glared at the woman.

“Seomun Yuha!”

Madam Seomun shouted sharply in return.

“Aren’t you even the least bit resentful, Mother?! Why do we have to live in hiding, constantly worrying someone might recognize us?! It’s because we’re weak! I will become strong!”

“…Who cares about that? You’re still a child. That’s not something you need to worry about.”

“If we ignore it? What if someone finds out who we are? Then what, we just die?!”

“Seomun Yuha!”

“……”

Listening in silence, Seong Muyeon was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. This was starting to veer into personal territory. He began to wonder if he should even be here for this.

“I don’t understand why you’re so complacent, Mother. After marrying Father and living comfortably, did you forget why we ended up like this?”

Smack—!

A loud slap rang out, and Seomun Yuha’s head snapped to the side. Madam Seomun had struck his cheek.

“…Mother?”

Covering his reddened cheek, Seomun Yuha stared at his mother in disbelief. It was as if the world of a pampered flower raised in a greenhouse had just shattered. Madam Seomun’s face had gone terrifyingly cold.

‘Ugh, I really don’t think I should be watching this…’

Seong Muyeon grabbed Baek Ryeoil’s sleeve to back away.

Smack—! Smack—!

But she didn’t stop there. She slapped him several more times, until Seomun Yuha collapsed onto the floor.

“Oh dear, Madam! Please stop! You’ll hurt your precious son!”

Seong Muyeon rushed in to restrain her. Though still fuming, she panted with fury. She had always been a frightening woman, but now she was terrifying in a different way.