The God of Death and the God of War - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Evil Hegemon Martial God

Chapter 13

The Inner Sanctum, being the residence where the direct bloodline of Jegal Sega lived, naturally had strict surveillance and vigilance as basic elements.

Jami Hall, Lady Hang’s residence, was especially so.

But at this very moment.

Whoosh.

There was no sign of human presence at Jami Hall.

No, if one lowered their gaze slightly unlike usual, they would be able to discover them.

Numerous gate guards and servants who had collapsed soundly as if sleeping with their faces buried in the ground.

And the culprit who created this situation.

“….”

Jeok-un stood frozen like a faithful wife stone in front of Jami Hall’s door with a serious expression.

It wasn’t because he was injured from the battle with the gate guards.

They had fallen so quickly they didn’t even know they were collapsing.

But what tormented Jeok-un so much was.

His mother who was inside the door.

‘…Would it be right to pay my respects and leave.’

Wouldn’t it be better to just leave without saying anything to spare mother from worry?

Jeok-un had decided on his life and course, and now planned to depart on his journey.

Before the journey, he had come to Jami Hall to pay his final respects, but Jeok-un couldn’t easily announce his presence.

‘What if she worries that I’ve been consumed by demonic nature after cutting off Jegal Wiyeon’s head….’

This was what Jeok-un worried about.

She was a mother who cherished him so dearly.

The one who had given him boundless, pure love his entire life.

That very person.

Before his regression, when she died by Jegal Wiyeon’s evil hands, how deeply had he carved that bitter resentment into his heart?

It became an indelible brand on his heart, causing him to wander for a while.

Killing Jegal Wiyeon with a single stroke could be seen as a reaction to those past days.

‘That’s why… I’m even more afraid.’

The events before regression had become facts only he knew.

He wasn’t being expelled from the family but walking out on his own feet.

The schemes and plots devised by Jegal Wiyeon and his mother had either never happened or their impact was reduced.

So perhaps mother might not understand him.

So she might be disappointed in him or fear him.

‘That’s what I’m afraid of.’

Just when Jeok-un was hesitating and wavering until the very end.

“If you’ve come, why don’t you come in quickly instead of dawdling.”

“…!”

His mother’s voice came from inside.

The same as always, a kind and benevolent voice.

Because within it was an infinitely broad embrace like the sea that generously accepts everything.

Creak-!

Jeok-un mustered his courage and opened the door to enter.

“…Mother.”

Jeok-un suppressed his surging emotions and barely managed to speak.

But Lady Hang, whether she knew or didn’t know Jeok-un’s inner thoughts, calmly and leisurely took out snacks from a box.

They were sweet cakes. The snacks he used to cling to mother’s skirt and always beg for just one more.

“Eat quickly. Don’t you like sweet cakes?”

“Thank…you.”

“Thank you for what.”

Lady Hang watched with warm eyes as her son ate the snacks. And she praised her son for eating well without dropping a single crumb.

“Mother still thinks I’m a child.”

“In a mother’s eyes, even a seventy-year-old man looks like a child.”

At his mother’s gentle attitude, Jeok-un slowly let down his guard.

By the time he had completely emptied the plate of sweet cakes, the atmosphere had also become completely soft.

“Then wouldn’t you love your grandchildren more than your son?”

“Oh my? Has our son found a young lady he likes?”

Because of Lady Hang suddenly mentioning marriage, Jeok-un choked, and could only calm down after emptying a full cup of tea.

“So, why did my son come to his mother this late at night?”

“That’s….”

Jeok-un swallowed dry saliva, then spoke with a voice full of determination.

“I have completely cured all my heavenly afflictions.”

“Really? Is this truly the truth?”

“Yes, it is.”

It was the heavenly affliction he had carried since birth.

At the news that the heavenly punishment that had caused him daily pain and suffering, that couldn’t be severed by any means, had disappeared, Lady Hang was genuinely delighted.

“What a relief. What a true relief.”

“So… I now wish to leave mother’s embrace and venture into the world.”

Jeok-un finished speaking. He thought his mother would be greatly shocked. But Lady Hang’s reaction was different from his expectations.

“…I see. Indeed, blood cannot be deceived.”

As if she had known this day would come.

At his mother’s bitter smile, Jeok-un was the one who became flustered instead.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Pardon?”

“I thought I was protecting you by keeping you safe from danger… but it seems this mother was actually blocking her son’s path forward.”

“N-no. Mother is…”

When Jeok-un tried to say something, Lady Hang firmly grasped both of Jeok-un’s hands and spoke.

“This mother treated you too much like a child. Now I see our Woon-a has become such a fine man.”

Proud of how well he’d grown, yet sad about his departure.

At this indescribable expression, Jeok-un couldn’t utter a single word.

In his heart, in his head.

Countless words flickered in and out, but none came out of his mouth.

“…I should have told you sooner.”

“No. How difficult it must have been for you to handle such matters alone. I’m sorry this mother couldn’t be of help.”

Lady Hang gently stroked the hands she held, as if comforting her son.

“May this mother make one request?”

“I’ll listen carefully.”

“I hope you won’t hate your father too much.”

She was probably saying this out of concern for the hardships he faced as an illegitimate son.

But Jeok-un had no lingering attachments or resentments toward anyone except Jegal Wiyeon and his mother.

Even if he had, he had already shaken them all off.

“Men who protect the world are bound to be busy. What I loved was that aspect of your father.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Perhaps Jeok-un’s sincere answer pleased her heart.

Lady Hang gazed at her son quietly, then gently embraced him.

“Please don’t get hurt and stay healthy. And don’t cause trouble like this again.”

Jeok-un’s lips twitched, but he soon closed them.

And when his mother let him go.

“I won’t get hurt.”

He said with a confident smile.

“However, since you call this minor incident an accident, I’ll send you Gongjindan from time to time.”

At her son’s answer trying to ease her worries, Lady Hang simply responded with a gentle smile.

* * *

A bed large enough for three or four people to lie down with room to spare.

On it lay a single man alone.

Though handsome, his body was so gaunt that one felt pity first—this man’s name was Jegal Jun, the eldest son of Jegal Sega.

‘Mmm…?’

Jegal Jun suddenly woke from his sleep.

It was because of a cold wind he felt abruptly.

‘What? Did someone open the window?’

When he checked, the window was indeed open.

Though puzzled, Jegal Jun raised his body to close the window.

As he half-raised himself from the bed.

“You don’t need to get up.”

An unexpected voice was heard.

It was his younger brother’s voice.

“Woon?”

“Yes, elder brother.”

When he turned around, Jegal Jeokun was looking at him with a smile.

Deep in the night, his younger brother had come to see him without anyone knowing, and he was even the very person who had caused a tragedy by killing Jegal Wiyeon during the day.

Therefore, an ordinary person would naturally shrink back, and even more so if they were bedridden.

But Jegal Jun showed no sign of shrinking back at all.

His attitude showed he was certain that Jeok-un was his younger brother and had no reason to harm him.

“What brings you here this night?”

“I came to see you one last time, elder brother.”

“Last time? What do you mean by that?”

Jegal Jun asked back in surprise. He owed his life to Jeok-un.

Naturally, both in terms of human duty and family bonds, he had an obligation to repay him, and he was willing to shoulder that obligation.

“Don’t tell me you’re leaving?”

“That’s right.”

At the sudden words about leaving the family, he was flustered and couldn’t continue speaking.

“What do you mean? To suddenly leave like this…”

“I have blood on my hands. People won’t consider the deeper circumstances and will curse and point fingers at our family. It’s better to leave.”

This was merely an excuse Jeok-un had thought up.

If Jegal Sega put forth their full effort, erasing one vicious rumor would be nothing.

But since Jeok-un didn’t feel the need to do so, he declared he would leave the family for now.

“No, you don’t need to do that. This elder brother will kneel before the family elders if necessary to proclaim your innocence…”

Jegal Jun tried to dissuade Jeok-un, but Jeok-un refused help to the end.

Though his half-brother’s help came from good intentions, it wasn’t the kind he needed.

“Hah, I’m sorry… I’m truly sorry…”

Jegal Jun apologized to Jeok-un with tears welling up.

For getting blood on his hands and bearing infamy because of him, and before that, for Jegal Wiyeon extending his dark influence to target Jeok-un and his mother.

Though he had been bedridden, as the eldest son of the family, these were matters he should have taken responsibility for, so Jegal Jun apologized regardless of his dignity.

“Your younger brother is really fine. I’m confident I can survive even if I leave the family.”

“But the world’s waves are so harsh…”

“Don’t worry. Even after leaving, I’ll have to return occasionally. The aftercare for Black Flame poison must be quite thorough.”

Black Flame was a notoriously vicious poison, and even if the toxicity was immediately extracted, one wouldn’t recover right away.

So Jeok-un planned to visit the family about once a year to check on Jegal Jun’s condition and care for his mother.

“I’m relieved you’re not leaving completely.”

“I’ll come even if you tell me not to.”

“Haha, this is your main family, isn’t it? It’s natural for you to come.”

At Jegal Jun’s sincere words, Jeok-un smiled gently.

But that was only for a moment.

“So please take good care of my mother.”

“That’s only natural. Your mother is also my mother.”

“I’m not saying this out of excessive worry. Someone might extend their claws toward mother to pressure me.”

“…!”

As soon as Jeok-un finished speaking, a heavy sense of pressure crushed the surroundings.

It wasn’t killing intent. It was closer to presence.

Jeok-un hadn’t unleashed killing intent nor made base threats, and still maintained courtesy and respect, but.

“If that happens… I think I might get a little angry.”

That tremendous presence pressed down on Jegal Jun as if it had taken physical form.

A chilling wind swept through Jegal Jun’s heart.

Though wrapped in the guise of a request, it clearly contained a warning.

If you fail to protect my mother.

Or if you play tricks on my mother.

It was a warning that the price would never be light.

But despite that overwhelming pressure.

“Don’t worry, Woon-a. That will absolutely never happen.”

Even after hearing his younger brother’s chilling warning, Jegal Jun didn’t change his attitude.

He still maintained his dignity and was gentle toward Jeok-un.

‘…This child nearly faced death from his blood relative Wiyeon. He can’t help but bristle even toward me.’

Rather, Jegal Jun looked at Jeok-un with pity, understanding why he had to be this way.

“Not a single hair on your mother’s head will be harmed. I’ll stake this elder brother’s life on it.”

Heh.

Then Jeok-un smiled brightly as if nothing had happened, hearing his half-brother’s firm answer.

“Yes, then I’ll trust only in elder brother.”

“That’s only natural.”

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

“…Woon-a, please take care of yourself.”

“Hehe, don’t worry.”

Jeok-un politely showed proper courtesy, then disappeared into the darkness.

His trace was like a shadow and like a mirage, so Jegal Jun couldn’t detect even the slightest presence.

‘Huh, to think Woon achieved such accomplishment…’

The moment Jegal Jun admired Jeok-un’s achievement.

“Ambush! It’s an ambush!”

The guard captain’s shout rang thunderously throughout the hall.

After the clamor of running footsteps, a shocking cry awakened the night.

“Lady Oh has been murdered—!!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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