Chapter 39 – The Pearl Buried in the Mud
I’ve never been to Kilimanjaro. But looking at the landscape before me, I couldn’t help thinking—
Is this what Kilimanjaro would look like if I saw it with my own eyes?
A towering mountain pierced the heavens, its peak hidden above the clouds. Sunlight scattered off the eternal snow layered near the summit, creating a dazzling shimmer.
Following the river with my gaze, I saw clusters of houses dotting the lower slopes of the mountain.
At first glance it seemed disorderly, but it gave off a cozy, lived-in feeling.
In short, it was a peaceful, exotic view, completely different from the image one would associate with the Heavenly Demon Cult.
It even felt a bit… healing.
“We’re home!”
“We’ve returned!”
The Black Shadow Corps members had visibly excited expressions. Even Saweol’s face showed a slight blush.
Cult members spent their entire lives almost hidden away in these Ten Thousand Demon Peaks. From the moment they stepped outside, they were hunted, forced to live in secrecy.
So the meaning of “home” was bound to be greater for them.
Only Skybreaker seemed gloomy.
[After all this time… and I return in the wrong body...]
Don’t worry. I’ll figure out a way to return you to your body.
[That’s not too reassuring.]
It’s not for your sake—it’s for mine.
[Fair enough.]
Ugh, what a sweet talker.
Seeing everyone talking about “home” made me miss mine too. Even if it was just a cheap semi-basement apartment with mold in the bathroom, it was still the most comfortable place when it came to resting.
Don’t get weak now, Kim Dong-yun…
This place might be home to them, but to me, it’s a den of devils.
“Um, Young Master…”
Hwang Sogun stepped over from the guiding ship. I ignored him.
“Sir Black Shadow Captain?”
Only then did I look at him.
“What is it?”
“We’ll be arriving in about one hour.”
“You’ve done well.”
“On that note… the matter of, well… the passage fee…”
He wore a pitiful expression, but couldn’t hide the smirk twitching at the corners of his mouth.
He kept sneaking glances at Saweol with that same greedy glint in his eyes.
That’s not how you act at all.
“Saweol.”
I called her.
As both my escort and chief secretary, she came forward with a pouch she’d prepared in advance. It was filled with silver.
There were various ways to enter the cult, but the safest and fastest was by river.
The problem? You had to pay. Even just to return home.
Then again, only high-ranking cult officials used this route, so no one really complained.
Regardless, the fare had to be paid. That was the cult’s iron law. But that didn’t mean I was going to just hand it over.
–Saweol.
She flinched slightly at my sound transmission but quickly regained her composure. Only I, who had been watching closely, would have noticed the reaction.
Makes sense—until now, I’d never shown any sign of using sound transmission around her.
Truthfully, it was fake sound transmission.
Back at the ruins where I obtained the Blink Orb, I’d also acquired a relic called Puppet Flute from Jo-yang.
Its main power was to render someone into a will-less puppet with a major technique.
But as a secondary ability, it let me deliver thoughts to anyone who had heard its sound at least once.
And during the foggy night before, I had blown that flute. Not that I knew how to play—I just made a few crude notes.
Skybreaker, being musically sensitive, had called it "atrocious." But I hadn’t planned on doing a concert anyway.
Thanks to that, Saweol could now hear my voice.
–Use internal energy and throw it.
Saweol hurled the pouch at Hwang Sogun. Startled by the momentum, he had to activate his energy to catch it.
Crunch...
He stumbled back a few steps, and his footprints embedded into the deck.
“Let me give you some advice.”
I stepped toward him.
“When you covet what belongs to someone stronger, make sure you have the right to do so. If you don’t…”
I didn’t finish the sentence. I simply directed my internal energy into my eyes and glared.
That alone made Hwang Sogun gulp and frantically nod his head, unable to speak.
See? That’s how you act.
If we fought head-on, I’d be taken out in one second flat—
But now? He couldn’t even breathe properly.
Hwang Sogun hurried back onto the guiding ship.
[Monster bastard.]
“What now?”
[That was truly a splendid speech. You sounded just like a proper cultist.]
So, you mean I sounded like a psychopath?
When I looked back, Saweol’s expression seemed… lifted somehow.
“Feels good to be home, huh?”
I tossed the comment lightly.
She instantly reverted to her blank face. Wow, way to kill the mood.
Well, I guess no subordinate really wants to hear their superior cracking jokes.
Did I come off like a creep just now?
Around the time the sun began to set, Our boat reached the dock.
Unlike the rowdy, pirate-like guiding ship, our vessel was quiet. Still, a subtle sense of excitement lingered in the air.
“Disembark.”
At my word, the Black Shadow Corps leapt lightly from the boat. Naturally, I stepped down using a plank.
The dock itself wasn’t too different from any other port.
People bustled about, busy with their own matters.
But on closer inspection, their faces carried exhaustion, defeat, and despair. Some had visible injuries, others dragged shackled feet.
A far cry from the peaceful impression we’d gotten at first glance.
Which made sense.
The Sixth Demon Sector.
We were now in the Sixth Magyeong, a zone for the lowest of the low—criminals, degenerates, the broken and discarded.
And maybe that’s why, when they saw us, everyone stopped where they were and dropped face-first to the ground. Like slaves before a noble procession.
I wasn’t disgusted by it. After all, this was the world of Return of the Murim, and it had its own rules.
But still—
You came from this hell, didn’t you.
I couldn’t help but feel impressed with Saweol. To rise all the way to the Main Hall from this place of despair—That was proof of her extraordinary talent.
“Captain.”
That was when Tak Horak approached. He grimaced, likely from the stench in the air.
“Shall we head to the Fifth Sector right away? We still have two days to reach the Main Hall, and the sun’s going down.”
Even though you could see Ten Thousand Demon Peaks from here, it didn’t mean it was close. It was just massive. We’d need two more days of travel to reach the Main Hall.
“No.”
I replied.
“We’ll stay here tonight.”
“Here, sir?”
The corps members showed signs of discomfort. Most of them were from the Fourth Sector or higher, so it made sense they’d avoid this place.
“Of course, not everyone has to stay here. There’s no place to accommodate us anyway. So—”
I continued,
“Saweol, Tak Horak—you two will stay here with me.
The rest of you, head on to the Main Hall and wait for me.”
“Captain??”
Tak Horak broke out in a cold sweat but I ignored him. No matter how loyal, men and women had boundaries. Staying alone with Saweol would be inappropriate.
“I’ll report in myself, so don’t send anything. Just inform them I’ve returned.”
“Captain??”
“The first squad leader will take charge. Move out.”
“Captaaain???”
The Black Shadow Corps vanished like the wind. Tak Horak’s face turned to one of utter despair.
“I’ll cut your time in the Discipline Cave by three days.”
His expression immediately brightened. He must really hate that place.
[Why the hell do you want to stay in this dump?]
Skybreaker grumbled.
As a member of the noble Six Demon Families, he clearly loathed this lowly place.
“There’s a reason.”
Honestly, I didn’t like it either. Filth was everywhere, and the people walked around with dead eyes.
But I had a plan.
[What kind of reason could justify staying here?]
“I’m looking for someone.”
[Someone? How would a Monster like you know a cultist? You've never even been here, let alone met anyone from the Sixth Sector.]
The Sixth Demon Sector was a place even the Main Hall barely acknowledged. People could die or fight here, and no one would care.
It was too complicated to explain. But anyway—I had to find someone here.
In the original Return of the Murim, there was a character who eventually sided with the villain.
A pearl buried in the mud—someone who hadn’t yet realized their own worth.
I wasn’t planning to recruit him “just in case.”
Better to claim him before the villains do. He’ll definitely be useful.
The problem was, I didn’t know where in this massive Sixth Sector he was.
That’s why I needed Saweol—a native of this place, my human GPS.
“Saweol. I’ve heard there’s a place where homeless children gather here. You know it, don’t you?”
“Are you referring to the ‘Cradle’?”
I nodded.
The Cradle was a group formed by helpless children to protect themselves from adults. A self-defense organization born from necessity. And the person I was looking for was there.
“Take me to them.”
“The Cradle often changes its base, so it’s hard to find right away.”
“Can’t find it, huh…”
That was a problem. Even in the novel, the Cradle was only mentioned vaguely—its location was never given.
“If you give me a few days, I can track it down.”
But staying here for several days would be pushing it. Not going directly to the Main Hall already counted as a deviation.
I needed to finish quickly to avoid suspicion.
“At least tell me where they show up often.”
“Yes. There are several villages that could be possibilities.”
“Then let’s go there.”
The roads in the Sixth Sector were too narrow and rugged for carts. So we had to walk. Avoiding the filth scattered all over the street was a challenge.
From afar, it had looked almost healing. Up close? Not so much.
“Ugh, this place reeks. As expected…”
Tak Horak muttered beside me.
I suddenly grew curious and asked,
“Where are you from?”
“I’m from the First Demon Sector. Hehe.”
The First Sector was practically part of the Main Hall.
Only the elite lived there. Well, his family wasn’t part of the Six Demon Families, but it still held influence.
Still, how could someone this dimwitted be from the First Sector? I stared, and he tilted his head.
“Is something on my face?”
“…Nothing.”
After about 10 minutes of walking, we reached a path that was almost like a mountain trail—completely deserted.
No bandits, of course. Only a lunatic would dare pull that in cult territory.
After 30 more minutes, we finally saw a decently large village—People were bustling about; it must’ve been market day.
They looked a little better off than the ones from the port town.
I told Saweol and Tak Horak,
“If anyone tries to approach me, don’t stop them. Let it happen naturally. Got it?”
“Excuse me? What do you mean, sir?”
“Just understand it that way.”
Then I strode ahead confidently. People stepped aside, bowing as they recognized us from our weapons.
Then—
Thump!
“I-I’m sorry!”
A child about ten years old had bumped into me and fallen to the ground.
“You rascal! Do you know who you just—”
Tak Horak started forward, but Saweol reached out and stopped him.
Smart girl.
I knelt on one knee and looked at the child.
“Are you alright?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Are you hurt?”
The boy blushed.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Good. Then off you go.”
“Thank you!”
The boy disappeared like lightning. I brushed off my knees.
“Are you alright, Captain? I’ll cut that brat’s right arm off, how dare—”
Tak Horak fumed.
In the cult, that kind of thing could cost you your head.
“Of course, I’m not alright.”
“Of course you’re—wait, what?”
I lifted my robe.
“My coin pouch is gone.”
This is the world of clichés—Return of the Murim. If a child bumps into you at a market?
Your wallet will be stolen. That’s how it works.
Of course, I let it happen on purpose.
“Saweol. Track that kid.”
If I can’t find the Cradle, then I’ll just make them come to me.