Chapter 161 - Taking It Offline (5)

The offline fight I had only heard about had actually happened. I'd heard of such things, but this was the first time I'd seen one come to fruition.

It felt like watching an antiquated custom, something out of an age of romance.

'Offline fights or whatever—winning on the internet is all that matters.'

Besides, back in my world, there was the ultimate finishing move: "I'll sue you."

Granted, a lawsuit was such a massive hassle for both parties that it was practically a self-destruct move. And since it only worked in cases like one-sided abusive comments, people usually couldn't go through with it if both sides might be held responsible.

'And having your face exposed is the biggest issue.'

Just look at the Blood Demon. People didn't even know his face, yet they used him in every sort of meme. If an offline fight went sideways, you couldn't complain about being made a laughingstock.

Human malice didn't disappear just because the era or the world changed. If anything, internet culture on Earth felt even more vile.

'It got more vile as it developed, I guess.'

Anyway, putting that aside, I checked the video recording of the Heavenly Demon's martial prowess. A woman dressed in black faced a giant of a man in worn, tattered martial robes.

The difference in size was obvious. Yet the woman was making a complete mockery of him, rendering that difference meaningless.

'She's pretty.'

The way she toyed with him was one thing, but the Heavenly Demon's looks stood out even more. She was as beautiful as the elves, a race renowned for beauty—perhaps even more so.

Combined with her lofty air, she resembled a flower blooming atop a cliff. A flower you would have to overcome countless obstacles to pluck, only to find thorns growing along its stem.

Her strength, beauty, and bearing truly befitted the majesty of the name "Heavenly Demon."

'Someone like her talks like such an old fart on the forum?'

I wasn't certain this Heavenly Demon was the same person as Heavenly Demon the moderator. But for some reason, I had a strong feeling they were one and the same.

The speech that had sounded old on the forum now seemed mature, and her stubborn-as-a-brick-wall image became lofty dignity. Finally, there was the way she seemed to sing her own beauty's praises. There was no difference between real life and the forum.

The only sticking points were her high status or possible age, but those didn't particularly matter.

└How big a deal is the Heavenly Demon? I'm from the west, so I don't know much.

└Smart Demonic Cultist) This ties into Central Plains history. Ever heard of the burning of books and burying of scholars?

└Nope.

└Smart Demonic Cultist) Think of it as going beyond persecuting scholars to expelling them. There's this thing the Central Plains does called a policy of keeping the people ignorant...

└What the hell is that, nerd?

└Stop talking about stuff only you know and give us a one-line summary.

└Smart Demonic Cultist) She's just fucking amaaaazingly great. Happy now? She personally chopped off the emperor's head, too.

└Thanks for the one-line summary.

└That's not one line though lol

└Just get the fucking point lol

After all, being the "Heavenly Demon" meant being the leader of the Demonic Cult. The bigger an organization was, the harder its head was to dismiss.

They said a position shaped the person. Perhaps the Heavenly Demon's way of speaking had changed after she took her seat.

'And her arrogance is really just overflowing confidence, when you think about it.'

More importantly, I thought of her opponent—the registered user who had posted shock images a little earlier. While the moderators were away, he had posted pictures of blood-covered ground and corpses.

The post had been deleted soon afterward, but I'd read it. And I'd realized something.

The Heavenly Demon had killed someone who deserved it.

'I should at least give her some covering fire.'

I offered the opinion that she wasn't Heavenly Demon the moderator, on the grounds that she hadn't carried the sword I'd given her.

As we knew, Heavenly Demon was a swordswoman. An exceptional one, enough to own a sword of ten-thousand-year cold iron. Well, she'd toyed with him barehanded, so having a sword or not probably wouldn't have made a difference.

Still, from my perspective, it was better if her identity stayed secret.

'I'd hate it if Heavenly Demon vanished on us.'

Above all, what would change just because I saw through her identity? It was meaningless unless I got out of here anyway, and even if I did get out, it would be fine.

We'd treated each other with courtesy and respect on a forum that guaranteed anonymity. If we'd acted that way on the forum, would real life be any different? I didn't think so.

'And she's the most likely person to be able to rescue me.'

If her identity was exposed and she went into hiding, there would be absolutely no upside for me. The best outcome was for us to keep speaking politely as always, with me able to ask her for advice.

I watched the forum going wild over the Heavenly Demon, then sent a message. Naturally, it was to the person who must be busiest right now: Heavenly Demon.

[Wild Grylls: Heavenly Demon, are you busy?]

[Heavenly Demon: I am always at leisure. What is it?]

She should have been busy thinking up an explanation(?), but surprisingly, the reply came right away. At that speed, she might as well have been watching someone else's house burn.

My puzzlement lasted only a moment before I asked about the forum's hot topic.

[Wild Grylls: Are you actually the real Heavenly Demon?]

[Heavenly Demon: If I were, what would you do, my honored friend?]

[Wild Grylls: Nothing much would change, would it? You'd still be my benefactor.]

[Heavenly Demon: An answer to my liking.]

[Wild Grylls: So are you really her?]

[Heavenly Demon: The true Heavenly Demon is a far greater being.]

Wasn't she just praising herself? Oddly enough, that was how it felt. It really seemed like she was stubbornly denying the truth, but I let it pass.

As I'd said earlier, I wanted to keep being on good terms with her.

[Wild Grylls: All right. When are you planning to explain, then? I think the forum will keep burning until you say something yourself.]

[Heavenly Demon: For now, I wish to enjoy it. Seeing them praise me so warms my heart.]

One thing was certain, though: Heavenly Demon was enjoying the attention. Her wariness toward the Blood Demon, who was worshipped even as a meme, and her provocative posts before she became a moderator both pointed to it.

Despite being the type to do things her own way, she wanted the other users' attention.

'Fair enough.'

So the Heavenly Demon was human too. Surprisingly, that made her more appealing.

Besides, she didn't hurt others with vulgar remarks like insults about their parents. At the very least, she leaned more toward good than evil. That was how she struck me.

[Heavenly Demon: Still, something does concern me.]

[Wild Grylls: What is it?]

[Heavenly Demon: They might believe I am the same person as the real Heavenly Demon. Might they not?]

[Wild Grylls: That... is a possibility, yes?]

[Heavenly Demon: What do you think, my honored friend? Would things change greatly if that happened?]

It seemed she wanted to enjoy the forum just as she always had. She liked the forum as an invention in its own right.

After considering her words for a moment, I sent a reply.

[Wild Grylls: First of all, you are going to post an explanation, right?]

[Heavenly Demon: Naturally.]

[Wild Grylls: Then I don't think you need to worry too much. Things won't be all that different from before.]

[Heavenly Demon: Why is that?]

[Wild Grylls: You don't know any of the people talking about you anyway, do you?]

Even if the users knew who Heavenly Demon was, she didn't know who they were. That was the key. It was a one-way street, not a two-way one.

There was the problem that the real Heavenly Demon's reputation could be tarnished, though.

[Heavenly Demon: It matters not. People curse even their sovereign behind his back. Why should there be any need to stop them? Indeed, if they dared curse me to my face, even I would acknowledge their nerve.]

[Wild Grylls: You?]

[Heavenly Demon: A slip of the tongue. In any event, I do not mind, so you need not worry.]

She herself seemed fine with it. And honestly, she was absolutely right. This was a forum that called even the emperor every derogatory name imaginable. The Heavenly Demon would be no different.

If anything, those insulting nicknames were fairly mild. As for Earth... I wouldn't elaborate. It had taught me just how many nicknames one person could acquire.

'Athletes had all sorts of bizarre nicknames. I wonder if it's the same here?'

I'd look into it sometime. Anyway, it seemed I didn't need to worry about Heavenly Demon's anonymity. She'd found a solution of her own, and our relationship was no different from before.

[Wild Grylls: By the way, who was that Geum Jang person?]

[Heavenly Demon: I asked an aide, who said he was one of the Blood Cult's elders. His skills were rather respectable.]

[Wild Grylls: I wouldn't stand a chance against him, would I?]

[Heavenly Demon: He would be roughly on par with the chief, rather than the white one.]

So he was strong as fuck. And Heavenly Demon had toyed with someone like that.

Wouldn't someone of her caliber become ruler of a territory even if she entered the Forest of Four Seasons?

After that idle thought, I turned my head. In that direction, Lackey was hard at work sawing.

'Would Lackey know this Geum Jang too?'

Suddenly curious, I asked Heavenly Demon to show me how to write Geum Jang's name. Once she sent it, I called Lackey over.

"Lackey! Come here a second!"

"?"

He stopped his diligent sawing and came running. Just two days ago, he wouldn't even pretend to hear me when I called. Now he came readily enough.

Apparently, giving him glasses had established some kind of trust.

"Do you know who this is?"

"..."

When I wrote the name on the ground, Lackey stared at it for a while. Then he nodded as though he recognized it, looked at me, and spoke.

"#%@#%"

"... You still can't speak Korean, can you?"

"Ook?"

"Ugh. F*ck."

I'd have to teach him soon. Not being able to communicate was driving me mad. Besides, having everything interpreted through Heavenly Demon was quite a hassle. I felt bad about it too.

Anyway, she translated Lackey's answer for me.

[Heavenly Demon: He says Geum Jang was the most trusted subordinate. Originally, he had been chosen as the Blood Cult's next successor.]

[Wild Grylls: So he was a huge deal. With someone like that gone...]

[Heavenly Demon: Those gorillas are the true successors.]

[Wild Grylls: Will they come to the Forest of Four Seasons looking for them?]

Whether they killed the successors or brought them back, it was a fairly important matter for the Blood Cult. Even Geum Jang, who should have served as their rallying point and fighting strength, had fallen at Heavenly Demon's hands.

What could the Blood Cult do now that she had targeted them? Nothing.

Unless they sought out Lackey and the gorilla chief in a desperate attempt to cling to their coattails.

[Heavenly Demon: The possibility exists. The world is vast, and there are many crazy fckers in it. And according to my aide, the Blood Cult members are truly, thoroughly crazy fckers.]

[Wild Grylls: I want normal people. I'd rather avoid lunatics.]

No matter how much I missed human company, I didn't want to live shoulder to shoulder with Hitler followers. Not only would we be unable to communicate, they might harm me too.

*'Though no sane person would go anywhere near the Forest of Four Seasons...'

Even on Earth, people got sucked into cults and committed all kinds of bizarre acts. How much worse would it be here? It would be worse if anything, certainly not better.

Planning to keep an eye on the Blood Cult's activities for the time being, I addressed Heavenly Demon.

[Wild Grylls: Thank you for telling me. You'll be posting soon, right?]

[Heavenly Demon: I have prepared an explanation perfectly suited to the forum's users. It incorporates your advice as well, my honored friend, so you may look forward to it.]

[Wild Grylls: Oh. I will.]

What sort of explanation had she prepared that she was telling me to look forward to it?

I told Lackey he'd done well and tossed him a fasting pill. He was delighted and ate it with obvious relish.

The speed-sloth gave me a strange look, but I did my best to ignore it. There were still plenty left.

*'Let's see. She should have posted by...'

I was browsing the forum when I spotted it.

[I Am the Heavenly Demon.]

A title I couldn't possibly ignore caught my eye. And sure enough, Heavenly Demon had posted it.

After all that, was she simply going to reveal her identity? Bewildered by the contradiction between her words and actions, I opened the post.

Perhaps because so many people were viewing it, it even lagged a little.

Title) I Am the Heavenly Demon.

Heavenly Demon

Actually, that is a lie.

But what will you do about it?

What can you do, you insignificant creatures?

What can you do but rage, curse, and belittle me? All I hear is the resentment of lowly creatures who have never even reached the heavens.

└Sword Masta) What the hell lmaooo

└Holy shit lmaooo This is the Heavenly Demon? What a load of bullshit lmaooo

└If that's really the Heavenly Demon, the Demonic Cult members must be crying right now;;

└Fuck, what kind of Heavenly Demon is that lol Just another forum degenerate.

└Smart Demonic Cultist) I'm just going to believe it isn't her. I'll have more peace of mind that way.

└Didn't you say you were in the Demonic Cult last time? That's your master right there.

└Smart Demonic Cultist) Fuck, I said it isn't her, you son of a b*tch.

└Why are you cursing at me;;

"Um..."

Whatever else might be true, one thing was certain.

'She's seriously wise, isn't she?'

She was a very wise person indeed.