WHDBFDR 28

WHDBFDR Chapter 28

Chapter 28

The Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 28: The Calm Before the Storm

Start Valley.

A quiet night descended upon Heavenly Demon’s farm.

Under the moonlight, Romero was enjoying the honor of being baptized directly by the leader of the Moonlight Divine Sect.

Heavenly Demon placed her hand solemnly upon the head of the kneeling Romero, wearing a world-serious expression.

“May the moonlight guide you.”

“…”

-The prayer sounds kind of weird

-LOL looks like she’s just making it up on the spot

-What’s the problem? The cute and lovely cult leader herself is giving him a baptism!

-Indeed, the leader’s words are law and truth

-Huff huff I wanna join the Moonlight Divine Sect too! Baptize me too!

-メ(Excavator13) IwannajoinIwannajoinIwannajoinIwannajoinIwannajoinIwannajoinIwannajoinIwannajoinIwannajoin

-メ(MyGodIsHere) Can’t the manager kick this guy out?

-メ(HeavenlyDemonForever) Yeah yeah, let it go

-メ(MyGodIsHere) How unjust

Romero, now baptized, rose to his feet.

As a wizard who normally sought truth, he did not believe in gods… religion was a mere illusion, the opium of the common folk.

Yet the reason he accepted this baptism so obediently was…

“Did you receive what I sent?”

“Yes, Leader. I received it well.”

Because Heavenly Demon had sent him an astonishing collection of rare elixirs that made his eyes nearly pop out.

She said she’d just picked up whatever caught her eye along the way, but among them were things like Frost Spirit Orchid, which awakens the ice attribute and allows one to use ice-elemental magic; Dream Mist Lotus, said to bloom over a lake on a full moon night; Mandrake with three blossoms; Mirrorleaf, whose silver leaves shone like mirrors; Lunar Herb, which blooms only during eclipses; the cursed Thorn of Darkness made of black vines; Star Dew, which contains the light of falling stars at dawn; and Abyss Herb, which blooms only in complete darkness… eating it supposedly allows one to contact beings of the abyss or connect to the dreams of powerful sorcerers.

Just thinking about it made him dizzy… these were priceless treasures.

Was this a dream or reality? Seeing in person what he had only read about in books nearly made him faint.

Romero bowed politely.

“Once again, thank you, Leader.”

“It is nothing. I merely picked up a few things I happened to see. I’m glad you like them.”

-LOL he’s turned into a loyal follower

-Wouldn’t you be? She gave him a bunch of SSS-grade elixirs

-What did he even get?

-Romero did a review stream about what he got from Heavenly Demon. Watch the replay if you’re curious

-I could become a loyal follower too, honestly

-I’d even lick Heavenly Demon’s feet

-;; Isn’t that just your fantasy?

-You got me haha

-Bro

“Ah, Romero.”

“Yes, did you call for me?”

Heavenly Demon suddenly asked as if remembering something.

“Did you reach Platinum?”

“Yes. It wasn’t as hard as before.”

Now that Romero had become a 4th-circle wizard, the Platinum promotion matches were no longer a challenge.

He had already accumulated enough points, and after a few consecutive wins, he reached Platinum immediately.

And if he fully absorbed the elixirs Heavenly Demon had given him…

‘Maybe even beyond that isn’t a dream…!’

Platinum. It still didn’t feel real.

But that didn’t stop his pride.

That very morning, he’d proudly muttered to his mirror:

“Who am I? Romero of Rifa Platinum Tier.”

Maybe it was because he reached Platinum… his eyes looked sharper, his demeanor more confident, and his smile more self-assured.

“If you show a good performance in the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, I’ll send you more.”

“Really?”

Romero’s face brightened.

“Of course. Would I not reward a proud believer who brings glory to the Moonlight Divine Sect?”

Romero’s delusions deepened.

As he imagined himself saying, ‘Who am I? Romero of Rifa Diamond Tier,’ his chest swelled with pride.

“I will spread the glorious name of the Moonlight Divine Sect across the world!”

“Good attitude.”

“Long live Heavenly Demon!”

Heavenly Demon smiled contentedly.

-LOL he’s basically a cultist now

-メ(MyGodIsHere) (emoticon of Heavenly Demon smiling contentedly)

-メ(MyGodIsHere) A fine believer indeed

-Wasn’t he normal just a few days ago?

-Hanging around Heavenly Demon made him lose it bit by bit

-Do all cult members end up like that? Damn

-メ(HeavenlyDemonForever) Hey hey, it’s not a cult, it’s a sect.

-メ(HeavenlyDemonForever) Repeat after me. Moonlight Divine Sect

-Cult!

-(Chat restricted for 60 seconds)

“Follow me for a moment.”

“? Yes.”

Rustle, rustle.

Romero followed closely behind Heavenly Demon.

Walking ahead with her hands behind her back, Heavenly Demon spoke.

“Romero, I know you’ve met the participation requirements for the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament. But our Moonlight Divine Sect does not merely aim to participate. Should we not raise the name of our doctrine high?”

“Indeed. I must not show a shameful image before the Church.”

-Kyah

-Look at Romero talking all proper

-メ(MyGodIsHere) (emoticon of Heavenly Demon smiling contentedly)

-メ(MyGodIsHere) Every word he says is right

“Correct. To do that, you must go beyond the preliminaries and reach the main stage.”

In any tournament, as one nears the finals, more people watch and public attention grows.

The Dragon-Phoenix Tournament was no exception.

“Not just the main stage! I’ll reach the quarterfinals—no, the semifinals—and spread the name of the Moonlight Divine Sect across the world!”

-Wow kya pya

-Did Romero always flatter this well?

-That guy lost his mind after tasting those elixirs LOL

-Elixirs make even Romero turn into a bootlicker

-メHeavenlyDemonForever) You all should learn from Romero.

-Romero! What happened to a wizard’s conviction!

-Conviction? Hah, did that ever exist?

-Oh, that? He traded it for an elixir haha

-Kisama!

“Good attitude.”

After walking for a while longer, Heavenly Demon suddenly turned around with a spin.

Before they knew it, the two of them were standing in a wide clearing outside the farm.

“So I shall help you a little.”

“You’ll help me?”

“Yes.”

Heavenly Demon flicked her finger.

Romero steeled his heart.

‘Yes, I’m different now.’

He wasn’t the same as before.

Wasn’t it because he had been careless that he lost to Heavenly Demon last time?

He was now a 4th-circle wizard, after all!

‘Who am I? 4th-circle wizard Romero.’

No matter how monstrous Heavenly Demon was, he wouldn’t go down so easily this time.

Determination flashed in Romero’s eyes.

“I humbly ask for your guidance.”

“Come.”

Moments later—

“…”

Romero found himself slammed face-first into the cold ground.

“You have too many openings. Why does your chanting take so long? Your enemy won’t wait for you to finish your spell.”

-But… that didn’t even take a second though

-Wasn’t his casting speed insanely fast?

-Yeah; in terms of casting speed he’s easily in the top 5 percent

“I said, it’s too long.”

“…”

—

A few moments later

-Aaagh! Agh!

-Save me!

-Halt!

-Go away, you old monsters!

-Hehehe, learning through the body is faster than through the mind. Feel the technique with your whole body!

-Khaghhh!

While everyone else was running around frantically, the youngest member of the Execution Squad, Jegal Samdol, sat blankly in front of the screen.

Dam Wolrin had given him a quick up-and-down glance, clicked her tongue, and said, “You just do the editing.”

“…”

Everyone else returned covered in dirt from running all over with their master, and here he was… sitting alone in the hideout in clean clothes. It made him feel strangely left out.

“Aigo, I’m dying here….”

Just then, Paeng Deokjo came in. Jegal Samdol hurried over to him.

“Brother.”

“What.”

“Do you have any more elixirs?”

Paeng Deokjo glared at him.

“You were the one whining about water ghosts and whatnot. And now you want more?”

“Fooled or not, I already drank it anyway. At this point, there’s no turning back, right? We’re in the same boat now.”

“You think you can even absorb it properly? You don’t even have internal energy in your dantian.”

“Still.”

Paeng Deokjo stared at the youngest, displeased, then dragged Samdol to the terrace behind the building.

After glancing around, he quietly pulled something wrapped in paper from his clothes.

“Here, take it.”

“As expected, only you understand me, Brother!”

“Hurry up and drink it before someone sees.”

Gulp!

“How is it, good?”

“Huuhhh… It’s amazing, Brother.”

“You brat, you better treat me right.”

But someone was eavesdropping on the two idiots secretly taking elixirs.

“Good grief…”

On the rooftop, Dam Wolrin watched them with a disappointed expression.

She had expected a few to skim some off the top… she had taken that into account when she entrusted them to Paeng Deokjo.

The strength of any group depends on the strength of its members. For the Moonlight Divine Sect to grow, the believers’ development was essential.

When people commit a small wrongdoing, they naturally become self-conscious and act obediently to avoid getting caught.

In any organization, once you control the head, the rest follows.

Giving out elixirs served both to strengthen and to tame them… that was why she had appointed Paeng Deokjo as the seller.

“Aren’t you going to have one, Brother?”

“No one’s watching, right?”

“No one.”

“Then maybe I’ll have one too.”

“Please, go ahead. I’ll stand guard.”

Gulp!

“How is it?”

“Khh… it’s killer.”

“Hehehe.”

“Hihihi.”

“…”

Seeing them hiding away and sneaking elixirs like opium addicts made her want to give them both a good smack.

Who eats elixirs like a couple of thieves?

‘Still, maybe I should praise them for having small enough guts to only skim a few off the top.’

Dam Wolrin sighed and rose from her spot.

“Samdol. What do you think… how old do you suppose our Heavenly Demon is?”

Her ears perked up at the conversation she had intended to ignore.

“Hehe. Well, she looks young on the outside.”

“You naive fool. What you see on the outside isn’t everything. Do you think someone that age could instantly freeze a Class-3 magical beast to death?”

“Wait, so you know how old she is, Brother?”

“Of course! I looked it up… apparently, natural-born monsters like her can reach such a high level of martial arts mastery that they stop aging altogether.”

Paeng Deokjo spoke in a meaningful tone.

“You know why she’s called a natural black ox?”

“I’m not sure, sir.”

“Because she’s a thousand-year-old black ox.”

“Hehehe.”

“Hihihi.”

Crack—

‘You little punks—’

Crash! Bang!

“Uwaagh!”

“M-Master Heavenly Demon! I didn’t say anything—ugh!”

“Ah, you damn brats.”

The Moonlight Divine Sect was peaceful as ever today.

—

[Broadcast Statistics]

Peak viewers: 731

Average viewers: 511

Followers: 508 (+10)

—

“Hmm…”

Chi Yulang silently gazed at his stream analytics.

Though her viewer count was slowly increasing, the explosive growth hse had seen early on was no longer there.

Every streamer inevitably faces a certain phase…

a stagnation period.

And that period had now come for Chi Yulang.

Usually, maintaining one’s numbers during such a slump was already considered doing well.

In Chi Yulang’s case, her viewership wasn’t dropping… it was still inching upward… which was impressive in itself.

But Chi Yulang wasn’t satisfied with that.

Her ambitions reached much higher.

“How do I overcome this hurdle?”

She instinctively knew… now was the time to take a bold risk.

She needed something big.

Something that would blow this slump away in an instant.

The answer was already clear.

‘Aim for the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.’

After all, she had already been promoted to Platinum by beating up the Blood Demon.

Now the only thing left was to shine on the grand stage of the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.

‘Victory. I’ll allow no other option.’

The calm destroyer stared at her screen… her violet eyes flickered quietly.

Scratch scratch scratch—

“…”

The sound of claws scratching the broadcast room door made Chi Yulang rise from her chair.

“Tch, couldn’t even wait a moment.”

When he opened the door, a white fox… now with three tails… spun circles around her.

Pant pant pant—

“Calm down already.”

With the “three-tail-copter” whirring behind her, Chi Yulang walked toward the spot where she had stored the magic stones.

“Huh?”

There were no magic stones left.

Only powdery fragments scattered on the floor, as if they had all been chewed to dust.

“You mean you ate all of them already?”

Whine whine—

The fox, Gumi, clung to his leg and acted cute.

Chi Yulang gently pushed the creature’s head away.

“Ugh. All right, all right… get off. I said, off, you clingy furball.”

Letting out a small sigh, Chi Yulang began to walk.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

Yip yip!

An excited Gumi spun in circles around Chi Yulang.

Thud!

The twin-tailed girl’s figure shot forward, and the three-tailed fox chased right behind her.

The cries of unknown beasts echoed through the forest for a long while.

—

Time passed, and the day of the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament finally approached.

Standing upon the platform, Dam Wolrin opened her mouth.

“The day of the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament has arrived! I will now announce the proud believers of the Moonlight Divine Sect who will participate! Let’s congratulate them with thunderous applause!”

Then Dam Wolrin began calling the names one by one.

“Blood Flame Sword Nam Dusik! Trash Paeng Deokjo! Clone Master Kim Bunshin! Farming Genius Romero! And, the one and only under Heaven and Earth, our proud Leader herself!”

“Waaahhhh!”

“These five will be participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.”

Among the applauding believers, a few grumbled.

“Wait, then why did we get pushed so hard?”

“For real. It’s not like a Silver ranker can become Platinum in a week.”

Dam Wolrin, whose ears were sharp, barked sharply.

“You there, silence!”

“…”

“Pathetic fools. Are you saying you plan to slack off now?”

“Well, that’s not what we meant…”

“Silence! What do you know of our Leader’s great will? You need only follow without doubt.”

Looking around at the believers with clear disapproval, Dam Wolrin continued explaining.

“This is a long-term plan. Each and every one of you is the strength and the face of the Moonlight Divine Sect. Your growth is the Church’s growth. Do you not wish to become stronger?”

“N-no, we do!”

In just a week, the former Execution Squad… now believers of the Moonlight Divine Sect… had grown beyond recognition.

Thanks to the harsh, life-or-death training they’d received under their experienced masters.

After cracking her whip for a good while, Dam Wolrin looked at the discouraged believers’ faces and finally threw them a carrot.

“Still, it’s admirable that you didn’t get implants. You’ve preserved the pride of martial artists.”

“That’s just because we couldn’t afford them.”

“And honestly, I was scared of the surgery.”

“Hey, shut up!”

“…”

Dam Wolrin swept her cold gaze over the believers, then let out a heavy sigh. Should I give it to them or not?

After a brief moment of hesitation, she finally announced the reward… after all, it was the Leader’s command.

“The Leader, in recognition of your hard work, has personally bestowed elixirs upon you. Come and receive them.”