No matter how close the senior-junior relationship was, showing up at the office without any prior notice and appearing in front of Seong Guk-eon like this was against etiquette.

But Seong Guk-eon didn’t mind at all and invited his junior to sit down.

“Junior, please sit.”

“Yes, thank you for your consideration.”

The Black Forest Sword Saint loosened his po-gwon and obediently sat down. Unlike his usual habit of speaking in a formal speech regardless of gender or age, his tone was polite this time.

From that alone, Seong Guk-eon roughly inferred the reason why he had come here.

‘If he wanted to test me and then attack based on my answer, he wouldn’t have sat down. If he intended a surprise attack, he would have done it the moment we crossed paths. If an official meeting was necessary, he would have contacted Mu-yeong. Coming without notice means something’s going on. But he’s still keeping his manners.’

The Black Forest Sword Saint was deeply immersed in the martial arts concept and often did things that ordinary people couldn’t understand, but he never acted against his own principles.

Even though sneaking in to meet a politician might remind one of a scene from a martial arts novel, it didn’t suit the concept the junior pursued.

Though he preferred black, he considered himself a righteous martial artist who knew how to uphold propriety.

Whether it was to request a duel or a meeting, his choice was to come directly and fairly.

‘He must have needed to hide his eyes and actions now. He was probably wary of the demon tribe’s gaze. According to Uisin, the demon tribe even watched who came and went during the festival.’

Having drawn that conclusion, Seong Guk-eon asked.

“So you came here because you’re wary of the demon tribe. There must be something urgent to discuss or a warning for me. Which one are you wary of? The Fomor demons? Or the priests of the Demon God?”

“Senior Guk-eon Museong, just as you said. We are wary of both sides.”

“Haha! My epithet is not actually ‘Guk-eon Museong.’”

Seong Guk-eon was often called by the nickname ‘Guk-eon Museong’ rather than his actual epithet, but officially it wasn’t his title.

‘Guk-eon Museong’ was coined by the media after the siege war to stop the player special act’s forced revision in the National Assembly, and it stuck because people kept using it.

Thus, articles about otherworldly conquests often used that nickname as his epithet, and some players called him that too.

Especially the members of Jeolheukpoongrim sect openly called Seong Guk-eon ‘Guk-eon Museong’ because they thought it fit the martial arts world better than ‘assemblyman’ or his true epithet.

“A spy planted among the Fomor demons sent a message. They said that soon Guk-eon Museong will fulfill the contract.”

Seong Guk-eon admired his junior’s intelligence.

He knew Jeolheukpoongrim was on alert as soon as the Fomor demons came to Korea, but he only now realized the depth of their intelligence network to track the higher-ups controlling his contract’s execution.

While Seong Guk-eon marveled purely at the Black Forest Sword Saint’s ability, the junior’s expression was relatively serious.

“Yes, they will fulfill the conditions I set. Soon the contract must be carried out. We have prepared ways to counter it.”

“I know that you made the contract not only for yourself but also for Eun Gwang’s safety and set conditions. But the moment the contract begins to be executed, Jeolheukpoongrim will declare Guk-eon Museong a public enemy.”

The junior’s gaze sharpened.

Seong Guk-eon realized that the Black Forest Sword Saint came not merely to warn him of danger but to give him a warning.

“The condition they set is to break the great throne, the rear arm of the Dana deity. I also know that the throne screamed because you have the king’s qualifications.”

“You know well. Since there are many humans involved with demons, Jeolheukpoongrim rarely declares public enemies unless it’s serious. Seeing you say it like that, breaking the stone must be more than just losing a divine treasure?”

The Black Forest Sword Saint nodded heavily.

Seong Guk-eon had thought that if he laid a hand on the throne, he would lose the people’s trust, be politically ruined, and it could become the seed of diplomatic disputes, but the junior was worrying about something beyond that.

“The one-eyed giant demon king Balor, worshipped by the Fomor demons, was originally a deity.”

“Yes. Balor is the grandfather of Lugh Laba, the main god of Celtic mythology and god of light.”

“Since Lugh Laba thoroughly defeated Balor, he couldn’t reach the rank of a higher being and remained a true demon king. But do you know that true demons can become higher beings?”

Seong Guk-eon knew that well.

Yong Jegun had tormented him about ascension to higher being status, so he couldn’t have been unaware.

“I know well. One of the true demons I know nearly became a higher being.”

“Then this makes it faster. If the Fomor demons, by their contract, degrade the divine treasure of the Dana deity, do you know what will happen?”

Seong Guk-eon immediately understood.

It wasn’t just breaking the divine treasure of the Dana deity’s rear arm, but if the throne-recognized Seong Guk-eon joined hands with the Fomor demons to break it, it would be a terrible insult to the Dana deity.

This would give the Fomor demons, who were defeated by the Dana deity, a new victory in modern times and increase their prestige.

‘Dragons become higher beings through ascension rituals, but demons might be different. Could this contract itself have considered that?’

If the demon king Balor, who had built his divinity over a long time like Yong Jegun, still couldn’t become a higher being, something else might be necessary.

The decline of the Fomor demons was deeply connected with the existence of the Dana deity.

Trampling the Dana deity in Balor’s name might help them ascend.

As a higher being.

“If Balor, who was defeated by Tuatha Dé Danann, shows their prestige and power in modern times, they could become a higher being. So if I carry out the contract, a new Demon God will be born?”

“That’s correct.”

The Black Forest Sword Saint confirmed that Seong Guk-eon understood correctly.

Though immersed in martial arts novels, the Black Forest Sword Saint had perfectly learned knowledge about opposing the demonic cults and was quick-witted as a graduate of Eun Gwang High.

From the moment he heard about the contract, he collected information considering such a possibility and concluded this.

“Depending on your choice, a new Demon God will be born. The birth of a Demon God will lead to the demonic cult’s outbreak and prosperity, so if you create that opportunity, it is right to make you a public enemy and eliminate you.”

“Haha! I see. Wouldn’t it be hard to move without telling me this?”

“I told you thinking it best if you do not fulfill the contract. I trusted your character and waited after telling you, but there is always a possibility.”

The Black Forest Sword Saint’s gaze was 90% trust, 10% doubt.

Considering he dealt with evil and cunning demons, holding such faith itself showed how deep his respect for Seong Guk-eon was.

Knowing that, Seong Guk-eon laughed heartily even when told he would reveal all his sins and be eliminated if things went wrong.

“Hahaha! I will remember that, junior. But by ‘junior who told me’ you mean Uisin, right?”

“That’s right. I heard Uisin’s intelligence, but the demonic cult collects information cruelly and craftily and counters accordingly. If their numbers waver, a moment will come when you must make a choice.”

“I understand well what you mean.”

The words that sounded like a threat increasingly felt like concern.

Though he heard about Jo Yi-shin’s intelligence, his worry as a senior who had known him longer outweighed that of a high school student.

Realizing his junior’s feelings, Seong Guk-eon spoke warmly.

“Thank you.”

“...I just said what I had to.”

For the Black Forest Sword Saint, who insisted on a unique concept, had many talents, and had many enemies due to fighting demons, there were not many seniors he could trust and open up to.

Though he didn’t attend Eun Gwang High at the same time, he met Seong Guk-eon through Class 0 alumni meetings, and Seong Guk-eon, as the student council president who led the chaotic Eun Gwang High, even took martial artists as juniors.

Moreover, Seong Guk-eon was not only bold but also skilled, so the Black Forest Sword Saint couldn’t help but respect and follow him.

“If you don’t fulfill the contract, you’ll have to fight the demonic cult as well. Politics will make it hard to block attacks.”

“Haha! I already have countless political enemies; a few more won’t be a big problem.”

“The cunning demons of the cult never fight head-on. They will try to dismantle you.”

“Then I must choose a way to end it without fighting.”

Jeolheukpoongrim was relatively free from the demons’ cunning tactics.

Because even if demons infiltrated or sent contract holders to cause trouble, they always failed.

No one who had tried to imitate Jeolheukpoongrim’s concept of real martial arts could deceive them for long.

Among martial artists who proclaim chivalry and righteousness, demons or their contract holders stood out badly.

But other groups were different.

There were professional player teams fighting demons besides Jeolheukpoongrim, but they easily collapsed under their attacks.

“You seem worried about the upcoming fight.”

“The Seven Deadly Sins’ Demon Gods prey on human emotions. While Jeolheukpoongrim’s members who uphold chivalry and righteousness are fine, those who join hands in the future won’t be.”

At that, Seong Guk-eon recalled a student at Eun Gwang High who was almost manipulated by a priest of the Demon God.

The priest, who followed the Demon of Jealousy, Invidius, tried to use Bang Yun-seop.

When blinded by jealousy towards Joo Suhyuk and Maeng Hyo-don, Bang Yun-seop barely survived thanks to the help of the leader of the Sasu tribe.

There were humans who could resist their schemes with strong hearts, but not everyone was like that.

‘But that incident also holds another lesson. If someone helps, you can overcome it.’

Recalling that, Seong Guk-eon tried to soothe his junior, but the Black Forest Sword Saint still seemed worried.

He continued.

“I heard you’ve been spending time recently with someone who handles law.”

Seong Guk-eon quickly interpreted his words.

“You mean a judge or lawyer... Could it be lawyer Byeon Jae-ik? Come to think of it, he was once falsely accused of being a demon’s spy, but Jeolheukpoongrim cleared him.”

Once, Byeon Jae-ik was accused of being a demon spy based on very weak evidence in articles.

Jeolheukpoongrim intervened to stop the flood of fabricated articles to identify true demon servants, and Byeon Jae-ik easily escaped the trap.

“Another anonymous tip accusing him of involvement with the demonic cult arrived. Again, they’re linking him to the cult. Whoever it is, it’s clear they want to bury him by associating him with the demonic cult.”

The Black Forest Sword Saint handed over a copy of the anonymous tip to Seong Guk-eon.

Receiving it, Seong Guk-eon suddenly thought of Jo Yi-shin’s face.

‘Come to think of it, Uisin was quite concerned about lawyer Byeon Jae-ik as well.’

Of course, Jo Yi-shin was very concerned about Byeon Jae-ik since he was also a playable character.