The Player Hides His Past

Episode 609. Revealed (5)

The dizziness won’t go away.

Ttogak.

It was the sound of his shoes that was helping me to barely hold on to my sanity. I wonder if this is how it feels when others hear my footsteps……?

Ttogak.

I didn’t know where Grandfell was headed, but I had faith. That even if I looked like this, if Grandfell was there, he could fix any damn situation.

Ttogak.

And I wasn’t wrong this time.

It’s a fucking [Heavenly Demon Reign].

Every time Grandfell took a step.

The rampaging demons fell in unison under the influence of a strange malice.

And then.

Ttogak.

Something is wrong.

Why?

No flames of hell in sight.

‘Even if I tell you I can’t even see system messages…….’

Thanks to his training in Akshan, the demon hunter’s instincts and senses were imprinted on his subconscious. There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize the green flames of hell.

Ttogak.

But no matter how hard I tried to look again, the demons didn’t burn in the hell flames. They were falling to the ground, clearly collapsing with every step they took……..

‘Wait.’

I realized in hindsight.

Those demons weren’t being trampled by the Heavenly Demon Reign.

They had merely been brought to their knees.

Not because of Grandfell’s power.

They were brought to their knees by their own will.

‘What?’

How can I be sure if I can’t even see it clearly?

I told you, even when I felt like I was going to lose consciousness at any moment.

It’s the demon hunter’s senses, etched into my bones.

The habits of demons naturally appear in my mind.

『A demon is a being that never gives in. The tears it sheds are merely a means of deflecting a crisis, and the loyalty it offers is merely a way of putting a knife in its back.』

Even in the presence of the Ten Thrones, there was no exception.

Is the loyalty of the demons who serve the Ten Thrones as their lord really true?

I knew they weren’t.

I’ve seen them fall into Hell myself.

I’d seen the emotions they burned with.

That was a demon.

A race of creatures who would deceive all but themselves, who would take advantage of any opportunity to get ahead. The demon hunter’s senses, which could see right through them, told me.

At this moment.

“Aaah……!!!”

The demons kneeling before me were not showing any emotion of ‘deception’. No, they weren’t exactly kneeling before me, Lee Hoyeol.

“You are the……!!”

Grandfell.

You were the one they were worshiping.

Damn, I’m faced with a situation I don’t understand.

My headache is getting worse.

‘Bloody, really.’

It is a new order to do so.

That’s the way it is.

To find a reason in this dire situation.

“Think of something, Hoyeol.”

I can’t believe I have to recall a dark history from decades ago.

I desperately searched my memory. I tried to recall if there was anything in the Claudi family’s setting I had written down in my notebook that would truly make even demons obey.

Ttogak.

But as far back as I could remember, there was no such setting.

There might have been a setting that said Claudi’s greatness would make even demons tremble in fear, but at this moment, the demons in sight were not trembling in fear.

Joy.

Excited.

Agitated.

Because the demons were feeling those things at the sight of Grandfell.

I was sure of it.

This must be the 30% of him.

‘Right, Grandfell?’

Ttogak.

I knew I wouldn’t get an answer.

But do I need to know that?

Your silence makes me grit my teeth even more.

At this point, I also started to feel nauseous.

I’m going to hold on as long as it takes to break my head.

‘What the hell are you hiding in that 30%?’

I had to see it with my own eyes to understand.

‘Only then.’

I said with all my heart.

“Then I’ll understand you a little better.”

…Don’t misunderstand that it’s gross?

As a companion.

As a flesh-and-blood person we’ll be sharing for years to come.

I’m just saying that because I don’t want to leave anything behind.

‘And like I said, it’s unfair.’

You know all my dark history.

And there’s something I don’t know about you.

I have made up my mind.

It is none of my business whether a demon kneels before Grandfell or worships him from the bottom of their hearts. No, I shouldn’t be surprised, exactly. I’m sure, Grandfell, that there are worse secrets than this hidden in the 30% of you.

‘But.’

Whatever it is, I can understand it.

Ttogak.

I don’t think you’re responding to me, since you don’t even answer.

The timing is perfect.

Your last step completely changed my view.

It’s a familiar sight now.

Since I rebuilt it with my own hands, I guess I can’t help but get used to it.

Yes, it was Claudi’s territory.

And.

“Why…..?”

It was Pride.

I rummage through my memory. After following the message and going through the proper procedures to gain the power of the Seven Deadly Sins Arrogance, Pride looked different than before.

‘Even from an aesthetic point of view, there is no flaw.’

Normally, he would have spoken up sooner.

I wonder if this is why Grandfell didn’t say anything.

While I was thinking, Pride spoke up.

“My, my worthless brother, this is my last request. Do you not know that the life I have lived has been for you, Grandfell, even if there have been problems along the way?”

Suddenly.

“That, too, was for you. I became a demon for you, and I sat at the head of the goddamned Claudi family for you, so it’s not too late for you, Grandfell.”

What the hell is he talking about?

I was feeling extremely dizzy, and now I was hearing bullshit.

I couldn’t understand a word Pride was saying.

‘It was all for Grandfell.’

You have no right to say that, do you?

‘You tried to hurt a little boy who didn’t know anything.’

And if that wasn’t bad enough, you destroyed the Claudi family.

You destroyed it with your own hands.

How is that an act for Grandfell?

‘ …… Is that why it seems plausible?’

And you managed to take over the Claudi family?

Head of the Family.

I’ve seen Grandfell up close more than anyone else, and I know that the weight of it is killing him.

I can picture in my mind’s eye how Grandfell would react.

‘If only I knew you.’

He wouldn’t even speak to his prey.

But then I realized again.

This is not the Grandfell I know.

“Go back. Leave the Claudi Territory now, Grandfell.”

It was a command.

In Claudi territory, Claudi’s orders are absolute. It was clear that the power of Claudi’s command, held by Grandfell as the only Claudi, had passed to Pride, who had taken the place of the head of the household.

Ssssshhhh.

An irresistible, absolute discipline oppresses the body.

But is it because he was the same Claudi?

Either that, or I’m holding on by force.

My flesh hasn’t broken in the slightest.

Ttogak.

Just one step closer.

Without a word.

Toward Claudi Territory.

Just moving towards Pride.

Pride’s face began to twist.

“Do not come any closer, or I will be forced to use my power. Grandfell, do you really want to watch me use the power of your damned family……!”

Damn family power.

‘Why do you say that?’

It was the great Claudi family.

In my dark history, there was no reason for Claudi to be treated like that. Does that mean there’s 30% of Grandfell that I don’t know about that also holds Claudi’s family secrets?

‘Damn, the whole house is lika an onion.’

As if my headache wasn’t bad enough, I had a question that stung my tail.

Because it was like adding insult to injury.

I even muttered to myself for a moment to come to my senses.

Pride said a name out of nowhere.

Suddenly, I looked up.

He looked up at the sky, which was engulfed in dark clouds, and said.

“Bael is coming, Grandfell.”

Bael, the First Throne Demon King.

‘He’s coming here?’

I couldn’t even see the system messages that popped up, but I knew what was happening. This is dangerous. My instincts were warning me.

‘I don’t know if it’s one, but it’s two.’

There was no telling how strong the Seven Deadly Sins Arrogance, Pride, would be as Claudi’s head of household, wielding the family’s power. This meant that it was impossible to predict the outcome.

But if Bael shows up here, it’s a different story.

‘Paimon in one fell swoop.’

It was the same Bael who tore Paimon apart with one arm.

Not only that.

Bael’s forearm had been ripped off the red-eyed Dune clan.

It had the power to bring their world to destruction.

I glared at Pride.

‘…Was it a trap, after all?’

My judgment was clouded.

It’s true that I’ve been tempted by Pride’s words.

Why, in the more distant past.

Grandfell and Pride were not always on good terms.

But it seems the Akshan’s iron law must not be overlooked.

『Everything about a demon is a lie.』

Indeed.

Perhaps Pride has brought Bael here to kill me. Perhaps he had been waiting, knowing that I and Grandfell, would surely come for Claudi lord.

‘Now he’ll show his true colors ……. ‘

Pride says, reflected in my suspicious vision.

“So please leave, Grandfell. My brother.”

What are you saying, you?

I feel it even when I’m out of my mind.

Bael is getting closer.

I could stop putting on this act for Grandfell’s sake.

But why are you doing this?

Why.

‘Are you shedding tears over a demon?’

kwadeudeudeug.

It was a moment when I was speechless.

Space began to tear apart.

A giant Bael’s grip appeared.

Pride shouted.

“You are impatient, Bael. This is not your turn.”

…..

Command.

As a Cloudy Spirit, Pride’s words should be absolute.

But it was Pride, not Bael, who was shaking. Although he didn’t show it, blood was flowing from the corner of Pride’s mouth.

‘He’s clearly overexerting himself.’

Recoil.

I don’t know what the proper procedure is, but Claudi’s true lord is Grandfell. It was clear that Claudi’s power was too heavy for Pride, who was not a proper vessel, to handle it.

‘This is not the time for this.’

I have to respond. Pride has been acting strangely, but that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.

Moreover, Bael is dangerous.

‘Even in the [curse] where space and time are intertwined.’

It had recognized my presence and tried to attack.

That was the moment I blinked.

Bael’s grip disappeared from my vision.

‘Fast?!’

I couldn’t see the system message.

The [Natural Enemy] must have been activated.

But is it because my body is not in perfect condition?

I missed Bael’s movements.

The only reason I was able to recognize Bael’s move was because of Pride’s shout.

Pride’s shout was the only thing that alerted me.

“Grandfell……!”

To be precise.

‘I know. Didn’t you say it was dangerous?’

On my behalf.

He took Bael’s attack with his own body.

Pride.

“My one and only younger brother……. ”

The demon smiled sadly as he spilled blood.

–