HDCLSSRS Ch 75

Chapter 75 Ilgwang’s Plot (5)

The Black Demon Matron staggered toward a corner of the wrecked room and retrieved a small box buried beneath piles of dust. She brushed off the grime coating the lid, then gingerly opened it.

What she pulled out of the box was…

“Eek!”

A shriveled, bluish, blood-drained phallus.

“Wiiiiiiriiiim!”

The Black Demon Matron caressed it with her fingertips as if it were a cherished lover. Seong Muyeon felt nauseous, his stomach churning from the sheer revulsion.

Seizing the moment while her attention was elsewhere, he figured now was his best chance to escape. Leaving the wailing matron behind, he quietly began to edge toward the door.

“Seventh Young Master!”

“Eek!”

The Black Demon Matron lunged at him and threw herself into his arms. Unable to withstand her force, Seong Muyeon tumbled backward. Her soft body pressed down on him.

“When a woman cries, isn’t it the gentleman’s duty to console her? Aren’t you being far too heartless? Or… are you really a eunuch?”

“N-No, I…”

At that moment, the door burst open with a bang.

“…What the hell?”

The Black Demon Matron sniffled petulantly.

Ilgwang and Baek Ryeoil stormed into the room, only to freeze in horror at the disastrous scene. The room was clearly the site of a violent altercation. And in the center of it—

—lay the nearly naked Black Demon Matron, sprawled atop a helpless Seong Muyeon. To any onlooker, it appeared to be the aftermath of an attempted rape. And from the looks of it, he had been thoroughly victimized.

“Seong Muyeon!”

“Seventh Young Master!”

“Headmaster…”

Relief flooded Seong Muyeon’s chest at the sight of his rescuers. Something hot surged from the depths of his throat. When he tried to speak, his voice trembled with emotion.

Baek Ryeoil’s eyes burned with fury.

“Out of the way!”

He dashed forward and forcefully yanked the Black Demon Matron off, pulling Seong Muyeon to safety.

While Baek Ryeoil examined Seong Muyeon for injuries, Ilgwang placed himself protectively in front of them.

“Leave the Seventh Young Master out of this, Black Demon Matron! I was the one who killed Wirim!”

Ilgwang shouted. Now clad in Baek Ryeoil’s coat, Seong Muyeon was startled by the declaration.

‘How did Ilgwang know?’

And judging by Baek Ryeoil’s complete lack of surprise, he must have known too. So much for keeping secrets. Seong Muyeon clicked his tongue in irritation.

“It was you…? You’re the one who killed my Wirim…? Huh?”

The Black Demon Matron, just about to explode in fury, suddenly faltered and tilted her head.

“That’s odd. My precious Rimrim wouldn’t have lost to someone like you. You’re lying!”

Ilgwang glanced at Seong Muyeon, looking at a loss.

“…She’s not buying it.”

“If it wasn’t him, and it wasn’t the kid, then it’s you, isn’t it? The Heartless Sword, Baek Ryeoil!”

Seong Muyeon clamped his mouth shut like it had been glued, offering no rebuttal. After all the times he’d vehemently denied it, it felt awkward to suddenly admit the truth now.

…

Yes. He was willing to let Baek Ryeoil take the fall.

The man was strong and durable—he’d manage somehow!

The next moment, Baek Ryeoil shoved Seong Muyeon aside. The latter fell over with Ilgwang and looked up to see a massive dent in the wooden floor where Baek had just been standing.

“You missed. I’m over here.”

Baek Ryeoil, now plastered against the opposite wall like a spider, mocked the Black Demon Matron.

“Filthy orthodox scum… I should’ve slit your throat from the start! Die!”

“Hmph.”

Baek Ryeoil and the Black Demon Matron clashed.

Now reduced to a bystander, Seong Muyeon watched the battle unfold in a daze.

‘Why would the Headmaster…’

It made sense for him to intervene, but even while being targeted, Baek Ryeoil never denied or defended himself.

No, this was supposed to be a secret! Why did it feel like everyone already knew?!

As the fighting intensified, even the maids and attendants drew weapons from hidden places. But they only charged at Baek Ryeoil, ignoring Seong Muyeon and Ilgwang entirely.

“We need to get out of here!”

Ilgwang grabbed Seong Muyeon’s hand, snapping him out of his daze.

Amid the chaos, Seong Muyeon spotted a long whip rolling across the floor. It was Wirim’s weapon. The Black Demon Matron must have kept it as a memento alongside the severed body part. Without hesitation, he lunged for it.

“Why are you picking that up?! Throw it away!”

“I’ll have you know, this is the Divine Whip!”

For what it was worth, Wirim had used a fairly good weapon. Though the original owner was disgusting, Seong Muyeon had someone else in mind for it now.

“Alright, let’s go. The Heartless Sword will find his way out.”

Seong Muyeon shook his head.

No.

Baek Ryeoil would not escape unscathed on his own.

He was strong, but the Black Demon Matron’s subordinates were no pushovers either. To break through them all, he would pay a steep price.

One careless misstep on the battlefield could mean death.

And right now, Baek Ryeoil was heavily outnumbered.

Proof of this came in the form of his tightly shut mouth—he no longer had the luxury to trade barbs. He was focused entirely on staying alive.

KWA-KWANG—!

The Black Demon Matron’s claws tore into a pillar. What looked like dainty fingernails shattered a column thick enough to require three men to encircle. One splinter grazed Baek Ryeoil’s cheek.

A minor wound, nothing worth noting. But Seong Muyeon’s heart skipped a beat. Baek Ryeoil hadn’t even put up a protective aura. His concentration was slipping.

And while Seong Muyeon hesitated, Baek Ryeoil continued to accumulate injuries.

“Seventh Young Master!”

Ilgwang urged him again.

Finally steeling himself, Seong Muyeon took a deep breath.

“Everyone, STOOOOOP!”

His shout rang through the room.

The chaotic melee came to a sudden halt.

“Black Demon Matron! You’ve picked the wrong target. The one who killed Wirim wasn’t him.”

“…What are you saying?”

Her disheveled hair draped over her face.

“It was me.”

“…Huh?”

“I killed him.”

The Black Demon Matron blinked in confusion before bursting into hysterical laughter.

“Ahaha! Don’t be ridiculous! A weakling like you couldn’t kill anyone, let alone Wirim! Ahahaha! Oh gods, that’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard.”

She laughed so hard tears streamed from her eyes. Seeing her laugh like that twisted something in Seong Muyeon’s gut.

KWA-KWANG—!

With a thunderous crash, her laughter died instantly. She glanced down—there was a long, deep gouge in the floor, mere inches from her feet.

A single drop of cold sweat trailed down her cheek. If that blow had landed…

Seong Muyeon recoiled the whip.

“Got it now? I’m the one who killed him. So leave the Headmaster alone.”

“….”

The Black Demon Matron and all her subordinates were stunned into silence. Taking advantage of the opening, Baek Ryeoil hurled himself free.

“Let’s go!”

The three of them bolted. Their enemies, still reeling from the shock, didn’t pursue.

As they began crossing the long bridge they’d traversed earlier, Ilgwang asked,

“Seventh Young Master! Was it truly you who killed him?”

“Yes!”

“…”

Ilgwang’s face turned pale, but there was no time to dwell on it.

Seong Muyeon sprinted across the bridge. He’d been paralyzed by fear before, but now, urgency trumped terror.

“Seventh Young Master! My precious Wirim’s killer!”

“Eek!”

That chilling voice came from behind. The Black Demon Matron had finally regained her senses and was closing in at terrifying speed.

“That persistent witch!”

Baek Ryeoil drew his weapon and turned back, but Ilgwang surged ahead, hoisting Seong Muyeon and taking off at full speed.

“Even if you are the Seventh Young Master, I’ll never forgive youuuuuu!”

Ilgwang didn’t look back as he ran. They soon reached the far side of the bridge. The view beyond the cliff was shrouded in mist.

Seong Muyeon shifted nervously from foot to foot.

Moments later, a shadow burst through the clouds.

“Headmaster!”

Upon seeing Baek Ryeoil, Seong Muyeon swung his whip and destroyed the bridge.

“Think I’ll let you get away?!”

The Black Demon Matron surged forward, her ominous energy swirling around her. A bridge like this was meaningless to someone of her level. She was nearly on top of Baek Ryeoil.

“Tch!”

Twisting his body midair, Baek Ryeoil hurled something with all his might. It struck the Black Demon Matron squarely on the forehead. Blinded by rage, she hadn’t seen it coming.

“Quack.”

Baek Ryeoil landed gracefully on the far side. With a shrill cry, the Black Demon Matron plummeted into the depths of the cliff.

Seong Muyeon strained to listen. There was no sound of impact.

“…Think she’s dead?”

“Someone like her won’t die from a fall like that. She’ll be crawling back up any moment. Let’s use the time to run.”

Baek Ryeoil scooped Seong Muyeon up without pause.

They dashed through the forest.

Deep in thought, Seong Muyeon suddenly slapped his forehead. He had just realized what Baek Ryeoil had thrown at the Black Demon Matron’s head.

“It was that, wasn’t it? The pee—”

“Ugh.”

Recalling the sensation, Baek Ryeoil furiously wiped his hand on his waistband.

In any case—

“Haha… we’re alive…”

Though his clothes were spattered with blood, Baek Ryeoil seemed largely unhurt.

“So what about the Poison freak? What happened to him?”

“Well…”

Ilgwang trailed off, a troubled look on his face.

“He escaped.”

“How could you let that happen?!”

Seong Muyeon shouted in disbelief. Flailing his limbs, he forced Baek Ryeoil to halt.

“How could you let the Poison freak escape?! Do you know what a golden opportunity that was?!”

He was so angry he felt like he might burst. It was unbelievable—whenever these two were left to handle things, nothing ever went right. Not one single thing!

“Ask him.”

Baek Ryeoil crossed his arms and cast a sidelong glare at Ilgwang.

“…Ilgwang? What did you do?”

Ilgwang averted his eyes sheepishly.