Absolute Regression

A silence fell.

It was quite a long and heavy silence for two people to bear in one space.

The alcohol I had bought was the same one he had sought just before he died. It was a liquor sold at a brewery near the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. No one knew why he had specifically wanted to drink this particular alcohol. Song Sa-hyuk died just after drinking this liquor.

“Why did you buy that alcohol?”

His voice trembled as much as his eyes.

From his reaction, I could be sure there was some story attached to this liquor.

I feigned ignorance and offered an excuse.

“I was in a bad mood. You seemed to expect some great alcohol, but I just bought it from a random place. If you sent me an empty bottle to test me, you should have expected some common local alcohol. Didn’t I tell you how I felt when I received the empty bottle?”

Song Sa-hyuk briefly looked at me as if glaring, at my reply that I had bought it without any particular meaning.

To reduce suspicion, I had to ask back. Rather than avoiding, I had to dig in. I had to ask outright.

“Does this liquor have some special meaning?”

When I looked at him with suspicious eyes, Song Sa-hyuk subtly changed the subject.

“You’ve got quite a temper.”

“Who doesn’t? We all live with it, holding it in.”

Song Sa-hyuk loosened his posture, which he had suddenly straightened, and leaned back into the chair again.

“You said you understand the mind of a person who falls into alcohol? How?”

“I was once caught up in it myself.”

Then he openly sneered.

“Is it that young drunks are not acknowledged as drunks?”

It was a series of counter-questions to his earlier comments about young people not having real stories.

“I understand. Youth is intense in every way.”

“Don’t mock me.”

“I’m not mocking you. I’m just saying age is inevitable. I don’t want to act like an annoying senior who thinks he knows everything and tries to teach others.”

“But you’re doing exactly that right now.”

“That’s why I say age is inevitable. If you’re angry, drink that liquor.”

And with that, he took a big gulp of the alcohol himself as if he was angry.

“Damn it!”

He slammed the glass down, breaking it. When he raised his hand, the shattered pieces floated into the air and flew to one corner, where many other broken glasses were piled up.

Pouring a drink into a new glass, Song Sa-hyuk spoke.

“Have a drink yourself.”

“I’m angry, but I won’t drink.”

“Why not?”

“I came with the intention of not drinking today. If I drink while facing the Great Drunken Demon, what do you think will happen?”

“That’s a reasonable thought, but have you considered the opposite? How can you face the Great Drunken Demon without drinking?”

“Then, promise me one thing. Let’s just drink today.”

“Isn’t that my line? Please don’t ask me for help after getting drunk.”

“Alright.”

I drank directly from the bottle I had brought. Even though I had only taken a sip, my throat burned.

“It’s strong. Would you like to try it?”

Song Sa-hyuk shook his head.

I walked over to him with the bottle and sat across from him at the table.

“I need to eat something while I drink.”

“Such a boring drinker.”

“It’s more about health than style. I’m not even a drinker.”

I took out a silver needle to check if the food was poisoned. Seeing this, the Great Drunken Demon erupted in anger.

“Do I look like someone who would serve poisoned food to a guest?”

“Isn’t that why I’m checking? To see if you are that kind of person or not.”

He grabbed the food I was about to check with the silver needle and ate it.

“What do you take me for? There’s nothing like that! Just eat!”

“No, thanks. How can I trust you?”

I tried to check another dish with the silver needle, and he grabbed and ate that too.

“Trust me. I despise anyone who puts poison or drugs in food or drink! I’d rather eat them alive.”

I spoke calmly to him, who was fuming.

“You eat appetizers well. Keep doing that. Consider the effort of the person who made them. Are appetizers flowers? Just to look at?”

Honestly, I came here purposely to eat appetizers just to tell him this. No one around him would dare tell the Great Drunken Demon to eat appetizers.

Man, if you keep going like this, you’ll die from drinking. You love and take pride in your drinking so much, but you can’t let it kill you, can you?

This was a separate issue from whether he would be on my side or my brother’s side. Even if he committed evil deeds and died by my hand, I’d rather he be pierced by a sword.

If a person who has loved and enjoyed something all their life dies because of it, isn’t that too miserable?

If he saw his future self, I could guarantee it. He would take his own life immediately.

“Come on, let’s have a drink.”

“If you don’t eat appetizers, I won’t drink.”

“Is that enough? Is it?”

“Alright.”

We drank together. Despite giving the impression that it would be difficult if he drank more, he continued to drink. He gradually became more intoxicated.

In the midst of this, my flattering technique was smoothly attempted without fail.

“You’re the most handsome among the Eight Demon Supremes.”

“That’s something anyone would agree with.”

The technique of flattery requires a push-and-pull method. If you say something nice, you should also say something bad to make the good words shine more. Like this:

“Honestly, I’m so sculpted that it sometimes feels a bit distant.”

“Tell the women of the world. Please keep their distance from me.”

“Ah! I can’t stand this. I need to drink.”

Who in the world doesn’t like to be told they’re handsome? Song Sa-hyuk also drank happily.

“Once upon a time… really, women lined up for me. Can you imagine the righteous sect’s heroines and the unorthodox sect’s female masters fighting over me? Ah, it really brings back memories.”

Suddenly, as if his interest had been piqued, he stood up and took off his shirt. Before I could stop him, he threw himself into the lake.

He swam around like a madman for a while and then climbed back up to the pavilion. His body, dripping with water, was muscular and had many scars.

Come to think of it, I had never seen the bodies of other Demon Supremes. Perhaps their bodies had similar scars? Like how my body became covered with scars while gathering materials for the Great Regression Technique, the scars demanded by their positions.

“Ah, now I feel a bit sober. Come on, let’s drink some more.”

It was too normal to be considered drunken behavior. He casually threw on his clothes and started drinking again.

I drank slowly. Although he drank incessantly, he didn’t force me to drink. That was really nice.

“Shall I tell you honestly why I called you?”

“Please do.”

Then the Great Drunken Demon gave a truly unexpected reason.

“Because no one seeks me out. Why don’t the Eldest Young Master or you ever come to see me? While meeting the other Demon Supremes so easily? Are you all ignoring me? Is that it?”

“If that were the case, I wouldn’t have come to see you today.”

“Then why? Stop the nonsense about the protagonist appearing later.”

“If I had to give a reason, it might be because you seemed like someone far removed from the succession struggle.”

“Me?”

“Isn’t that the case?”

“Not at all. What does my love for drinking have to do with trying not to be pushed out in the internal power struggle? Aren’t these two entirely separate matters? What? If you like to drink, you must like people, lack ambition, and have no greed? Who decided that?”

“This must have been another prejudice. Truly, you are the embodiment of prejudice, Great Drunken Demon.”

“Oh, what a tedious world.”

The Great Drunken Demon drank again. Whether he was happy, angry, or felt any emotion, he drank. With such drinking habits, it was no wonder he would die from abusive alcoholism.

After a few more drinks, I asked the question I had been waiting to ask.

“Did you send a bottle of alcohol to my brother as well?”

“I did.”

“Did he come to see you?”

Song Sa-hyuk shook his head.

“Instead, he sent this.”

As he extended his hand, a box from the corner flew over.

When I opened the box, there was a bottle identical to the one he had sent me. But the bottle was broken.

“Do you know what I thought when I saw this?”

“I know.”

“You know? What did I think?”

“What’s this bastard trying to do?”

Repeating the words I had thought when I saw the empty bottle sent by the Great Drunken Demon made him laugh uproariously as he drank.

“Geom Mugeuk, you’re amusing. How about we become sworn brothers? Having a funny younger brother like you would be absolutely fantastic.”

“I wish my brother was like that too.”

The Great Drunken Demon laughed even louder and drank more.

I felt puzzled.

Three Demon Supremes had interacted with me, so my brother must have been in a situation where he needed at least one more Demon Supreme. But to so bluntly refuse the Great Drunken Demon’s proposal?

If what he said was true, I needed to find out why my foolish brother made such a choice. There must be a reason.

“That doesn’t seem like what Muyang would do.”

“Maybe you’re the one misjudging the Eldest Young Master.”

“I don’t think anyone knows my brother better than I do.”

“Listen, Young Master.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know? The closest people are often the ones who see the least.”

He said this as if it were a profound statement, but in the midst of it, he spilled his drink all over his lap. Feeling embarrassed, he tried to swim again.

“I need to sober up. Those insolent fish! They must have many prejudices against me too. I’ll teach them a lesson.”

I stopped him as he staggered to his feet.

“Please stop drinking. I need to go now.”

Honestly, I wanted to drink more. Was it because I was drinking with Song Sa-hyuk? Or was it because the alcohol spirit sleeping inside me had awakened? I enjoyed this drinking session.

However, since this was a meeting with the person I needed to be the most cautious of in this martial world, I decided to finish it by only emptying the bottle I had brought.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

The Great Drunken Demon, unable to keep his balance, leaned against the backrest and asked me.

“Will you drink with me again?”

“Anytime you invite me.”

“Shouldn’t we become sworn brothers?”

Instead of answering, I asked him a question. It was the very question Lee Ahn had suggested.

“When was the most delicious and enjoyable drink you’ve ever had, Great Drunken Demon?”

I thought this question would provide a glimpse into who he really was.

His unexpected answer came.

“Now.”

“Are you talking about drinking with me? I’m honored.”

“Our Young Master has quite the dreams.”

With unfocused eyes, the Great Drunken Demon stared at the lake.

“For me, the drink I’m having right now is always the best. Whether I’m drinking alone or with a stranger passing by. The drink I’m having at that moment is the most delicious. Even if an assassin comes to kill me after you leave, the drink I share with him would be the best.”

As he said this, the Great Drunken Demon emptied his glass. Now too drunk, he leaned back against the backrest, almost lying down, and closed his eyes. He gestured for me to leave, slurring his words.

“What’s the use of reminiscing about past drinks that have already turned into urine… Farewell.”

With those words, he fell asleep.

I quietly turned and left.

One of the Three Great Drinkers, Lyu Bin, who had greeted me earlier, rowed the boat.

Halfway across the lake, I looked back.

The Great Drunken Demon, unable to keep his balance, was draped over the railing of the pavilion like laundry, staring at me.

It would normally be too far to see his expression, but thanks to my New Eye Technique, I could see his face clearly. His face was red as if it would burst, and his eyes… were completely indifferent.

His flat gaze was so empty that it made me wonder what all the drinks, jokes, and time spent together had been for.

Unlike what the One-Slash Sword Supreme felt, he was not easygoing, nor was he unpleasant like the Evil Smiling Demon felt. He seemed like a drunkard but wasn’t a drunkard, appeared easy to deal with but wasn’t.

I still didn’t fully understand what kind of person the Great Drunken Demon was.

* * *

After leaving the Great Drunken Forest, I went straight to find the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Gu Cheonpa was training with his blade technique as usual.

“Why are you so immersed in training these days?”

The Blade Demon drove the Heaven-Extinguishing Saber into the ground and leaned against it. His body was drenched in sweat.

“You might believe you can end the succession struggle without bloodshed, but I don’t.”

This implied that a fierce battle might ensue.

“Will you fight for me?”

“I’m fighting for myself.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“You’ve been drinking.”

“I drank with the Great Drunken Demon.”

“With Song Sa-hyuk?”

“Yes. He approached me first.”

I wondered how the Great Drunken Demon appeared in the eyes of old man Blade.

“The Great Drunken Demon is a cunning person. Stay away from him.”

Cunning. Another side of Song Sa-hyuk revealed itself.

“Why do you associate with such bad people?”

“Is there anyone who isn’t bad?”

The Blade Demon just smacked his lips in frustration.

“If you had to choose between the Evil Smiling Demon and the Great Drunken Demon, who would you pick?”

He couldn’t easily choose one.

“Is it that hard to decide because they’re both so cunning?”

“I dislike those who are addicted to alcohol. They’re different when they’re drunk and when they’re sober. The Great Drunken Demon stands at the extreme of drunken antics, nuisance, and shameless forgetfulness.”

But his dislike for Song Sa-hyuk wasn’t just because of those reasons.

“Have you ever seen him sober?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Neither have I. Probably no one has. That’s why he’s a cunning person.”

This was the decisive reason for Gu Cheonpa’s dislike.

“He’s never shown his sober self, not even once.”

So, is his drunk persona his true self, or is it when he’s sober?

“Be careful. A cunning person has started to move.”

I didn’t know with what intention he sent me the bottle, but maybe, Great Drunken Demon, it’s time for you to sober up once in your life.

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