Chapter 364: The World's Best (2)

“This place is similar to the Central Plains.”

“That’s the theme.”

“Oh?”

The Heavenly Demon responded with interest and lightly tapped the ground with his foot.

– Human, did you see that? The Heavenly Demon just leapt onto the leaves and climbed up!

Yes, I saw it.
What a terrifying person.

“Truly, this world is vast. It’s quite entertaining.”

The Heavenly Demon’s face, now graced with a cheerful smile, seemed to have shed a bit of its previous boredom.

However, that didn’t mean he was radiating life or energy.
Rather, his natural aura exuded a calm, carefree presence.

‘He’s similar to Cale-nim.’

Choi Han glanced between Cale and the Heavenly Demon, then nodded to himself.

“Your clothes also resemble those from the Central Plains.”

The Heavenly Demon chuckled as he looked down at his billowing robes with their wide folds. Still smiling, he asked,

“Then, would the Kingdom of Lan be similar to the Imperial Palace?”

If this place resembled the Central Plains, did that mean the Kingdom of Lan mirrored the Imperial Palace?

Whoooosh—

A soft breeze surrounded Cale, Choi Han, the Heavenly Demon, and the average ten-year-old as they descended toward the mountain.

“No. It’s nothing like the Imperial Palace.”

“Then?”

“It’s similar to the Demon Cult.”

Stop—

The Heavenly Demon came to a sudden halt.

The branch beneath his single foot swayed slightly.

That small movement indicated just how surprised he was.

Swoosh—

Cale, who had been descending swiftly down the mountain thanks to the wind tied by Raon’s magic, also paused.

The moment their eyes met, the Heavenly Demon opened his mouth.

“Is it similar to me?”

Wow.

Cale was genuinely surprised for the first time in a long while.

He had simply mentioned the Demon Cult, but the Heavenly Demon had interpreted it as me.

In other words, he equated himself with the Demon Cult.

As expected of the Heavenly Demon.

“Queen Tamahi of the Kingdom of Lan holds a position similar to yours.”

“And?”

“The structure of her rule resembles the Demon Cult. Even the mindset of the people in that kingdom aligns closely with that of the Demon Cult.”

It was inevitable.

The Kingdom of Lan was inspired by Wuxia.

Just like how each of the Eight Evils represented a different theme, the New World itself was composed of realms with vastly different concepts.

Unlike most games, which usually feature a single thematic world, the New World encompassed everything.

And it was only possible because of the vast scale of the world backing it—large enough to contain all those settings and more.

Transparent Corporation hadn’t offered a detailed explanation about the concept either.

But the Kingdom of Lan was packed with familiar Wuxia clichés—from clothing and philosophy to martial professions and cultivation-based skills.

That’s why countless users who longed for a traditional martial arts atmosphere flocked there.

Cale added a bit more explanation.

“The center is the Kingdom of Lan, but beneath it are numerous factions that swear loyalty to the crown.”

“Are they like the righteous sects and the demonic sects?”

“It’s similar—but there aren’t only two factions.”

“How many are there?”

“There are about five major alliances. And within those alliances, countless sects and clans exist. It’s very much like the martial world’s families and sects.”

“How interesting.”

The Heavenly Demon murmured in a low voice, a spark of genuine intrigue lighting up his expression.

“If we interpreted the situation in the Kingdom of Lan using the structure of my world—”

Cale noticed the Heavenly Demon’s smile was starting to look a little... dangerous.

And then he heard it.

“It would mean a new order has been created under the rule of demons.”

“…!”

“They worship a demon as their supreme ruler and fight among themselves to expand their influence beneath him—”

“Hmm.”

“That’s... truly fascinating.”

In truth, even within the Demon Cult, each faction pursued its own self-interest, merely pretending to be loyal to the Heavenly Demon—a loyalty that was often laughable at best.

“However, Hae-il.”

The Heavenly Demon still referred to Cale by the name Hae-il.

“Looking at this… it doesn’t seem like the Kingdom of Lan was built for demons. It feels like it was created for someone else.”

“Oh?”

Cale raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and asked with a slight smirk,

“You realized that?”

At Cale’s mocking smile, the Heavenly Demon shook his head, a hint of disbelief in his eyes.

“Blood Demon.”

At the name he uttered, Cale’s smile deepened.

“They’re called the Blue Blood Family, right? It seems like the Kingdom of Lan was made for them.”

“I think so too.”

It was through the Blood Demon that Cale had first grasped the connection between RMPAG and the Hunters.

<The current rank of ‘Blue’ is 4th!>
Her username was Blue, and she ranked fourth overall.

“Human, then… is the Kingdom of Lan the kingdom they’re preparing to gift the Blood Demon in the future?”

“Probably.”

Cale wasn’t certain, but that was his working theory.

Just then, the Heavenly Demon furrowed his brows in confusion.

“But something doesn’t add up.”

“What do you mean?”

Cale turned toward him.

Still standing atop a branch that looked ready to snap, the Heavenly Demon replied.

“Didn’t you say there was a follower of the God of Chaos inside the royal palace?”

“Yes. The national minister. The queen’s husband.”

Cale had glimpsed Queen Tamahi through Serisa’s memories. Her husband had spoken with Bishop Serisa and referenced the sacred place.

Although he hadn’t shared the full story with the group yet, Cale knew—he had to meet Tamahi’s husband.

“It’s strange. Really strange.”

The Heavenly Demon let out a soft laugh of disbelief.

“That place is not the Demon Cult.”

His voice was resolute.

“As long as I lead the Demon Cult, I would never allow something tainted by another god to infiltrate my domain.”

Hmm.

Cale let out a small hum.

Yeah—

This guy really isn’t normal.

The Heavenly Demon was definitely a dangerous individual.

It was almost baffling that the Emperor had left someone like him alone.

Well… challenging the Demon Cult would mean catastrophic losses.
Better to pretend they didn’t exist.

“The King of Lan can’t even be compared to the Demon Cult.”

The Heavenly Demon’s arrogance was absolute.

“It’s a clumsy place.”

For him, even the Emperor was probably an insignificant figure.

He was like a divine being—

A crazy one.

Still, Cale had his reasons for summoning the Heavenly Demon.

And the Heavenly Demon now turned to speak about that.

“However, after hearing about the Kingdom of Lan, I’m beginning to think I may not be needed there.”

“Really?”

“It sounds like a place better suited for someone from the righteous path.
A tactician like Jegal Miryeo would be a far better fit.”

“No.”

Cale shook his head.
“I need you.”

“Oh.”

The Heavenly Demon couldn’t hide his interest at Cale’s gaze, who was directly pointing at him. For the Heavenly Demon, Kim Hae–il, Cale’s existence was special. He was someone who wanted to be a god, but also wanted to be human.

“After this update, the Kingdom of Lan will hold an event.”

Cale revealed information to the Heavenly Demon.

“The game users believe this event is for The Great First Step.”

In particular, the users who didn’t have factions but had a high rank were paying attention to this event.

“In a week.”

Cale mentioned the event that would be the biggest in the Kingdom of Lan.

“They choose the heir of the Kingdom of Lan.”

Ah.

Choi Han exclaimed.

“Ha, ha, ha, ha—”

The Heavenly Demon burst out laughing.

Flutter—

The leaves that were nearby moved.

It didn’t affect Cale or his group, but the aura contained in his laughter made the atmosphere vibrate.

“It’s really fun.”

Really fun.

The Heavenly Demon nodded his head repeatedly and then asked Cale.

“Do you want me to go there?”

“Yes. I’d like you to become the sole heir.”

“Then, I’ll also be able to see the queen’s husband.”

“Yes.”

It was the easiest way to draw the Kingdom of Lan to Cale’s side—and at the same time, get close to the queen’s husband.

‘I can’t fight Queen Tamahi. But… maybe I’ll end up becoming her benefactor.’

“It’s difficult to approach the queen’s husband by normal means. The Lan royal palace—especially the residence of the royal couple—is considered a sacred place. If someone who isn’t of royal blood or their spouse approaches, it’ll be noticed immediately.”

And apparently, Queen Tamahi’s husband never left that sacred place.

“Hmm.”

The Heavenly Demon thought for a moment, then broke into a smile filled with excitement.

“This sounds fun.”

With visible enthusiasm, he asked a question.

“Aren’t I evil? Shouldn’t I belong to the Seventh Evil?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

The upcoming event in the Kingdom of Lan—

“The Supreme Martial Arts Tournament.”

That tournament—

“Affiliation, status, age—it doesn’t matter.”

“Only strength matters.”

“That’s right. Whoever takes first place becomes Queen Tamahi’s official heir and rules the Kingdom of Lan.”

That was why users from all over were gathering in the Kingdom of Lan.

To participate.

Or to spectate.

The Eastern Empire, the Western Empire—though both were dealing with their own share of problems, nothing stirred up as much buzz as the news surrounding the Kingdom of Lan.

“It’s an interesting tournament,” the Heavenly Demon nodded in approval.

“Alright. I’ll go.”

The Supreme Martial Arts Tournament.

The Heavenly Demon had decided to enter.

He pointed at Cale.

“And you?”

“I’m your servant.”

“Then that guy must be my bodyguard.”

Cale was the servant. Choi Han, the bodyguard.

Both Cale and Choi Han were notorious among the Hunters for their strength.

Naturally, the Hunters would either compete or at least attend the tournament.

So, it was best not to reveal themselves.

“But didn’t the Kingdom of Lan originally have an heir?”

“They say they did, but now it’s officially declared that there isn’t one.”

“Ah, the Blood Demon.”

“Yeah.”

The answer was simple.

The Kingdom of Lan had once had an heir—one who had never appeared in public.

But now, with the announcement of the Supreme Martial Arts Tournament, it was officially recognized that there was no heir.

Cale figured the reason was obvious.

The Blood Demon no longer existed.

“Should we head down again?”

At Choi Han’s question, Cale replied.

“Yeah. Today’s the last day to register. We have to sign up.”

The group began descending the mountain again.

The Heavenly Demon calmly followed from the rear, matching their pace with ease.

Then he murmured to himself.

“The Supreme Martial Arts Tournament…”

His voice was so quiet, it was swept away by the wind.

“If I win first place, yet still remain beneath a king, can I truly call myself the strongest? If someone is declared the best, shouldn’t they actually be the best?”

The Heavenly Demon’s monologue ended there.

But there was a strange gleam in his eyes.

“…Hmm?”

Cale, unaware of what the Heavenly Demon had been mumbling, suddenly felt a chill and scratched his neck.

Wait—was that a bad sign?

Should I just ignore this?

He glanced back at the Heavenly Demon, just in case.

The man was simply smiling.

…I don’t like this.

Cale felt uneasy.

Yeah. I need to keep a close eye on this guy.

He made up his mind to stick close and make sure his "master" didn’t do anything reckless.

* * *

“Your Majesty—”

Queen Tamahi, who had been gazing at the pond, slowly turned her head.

There stood Charun, her teacher and the current head of the Martial Arts Academy. His white hair and deeply lined face came into view.

“Please reconsider.”

The elderly minister knelt before her, his voice sincere.

Swoosh—

A gentle wind brushed past.

“I’m sixty years old,” Queen Tamahi said softly. “I can’t put this off any longer.”

She turned her gaze back to the pond. Its surface remained calm. Regardless of what churned beneath, for now, it looked still.

“This is our final move to stop being manipulated.”

“Your Majesty…”

Tears welled in Charun’s eyes—tears of frustration and sorrow.

“The Wanderers.”

Queen Tamahi whispered the name and looked at the carp beneath the pond’s surface. Her resolve solidified.

The Wanderers.

“We cannot allow those who dare call themselves gods to take this land.”

“…You are right.”

The old minister—over eighty now, yet with eyes still sharp as blades—rose from his knees.

“A path will surely open. I will devote all I have to carrying out Your Majesty’s will.”

“Yes. I trust you.”

Tamahi’s heart was filled with desperate hope.

“…Wu.”

(TL Note: "Wu" (武) represents martial strength or martial arts. It’s commonly used in Korean and Chinese contexts to refer to martial cultivation or those who walk the path of martial prowess.)

Strength?

Power?

No.

What defines Lan is not simple power.

The essence of this land is…

That someone who understands Wu (武) will arise.

At that moment, a guard stationed far from the gazebo approached quickly.

“Your Majesty—”

When their eyes met, the guard bowed and reported.

“Duke Hinpa has arrived.”

Tamahi’s husband—Hinpa.

A faint smile appeared on Tamahi’s face. In contrast, Charun’s expression momentarily darkened before settling into practiced indifference.

Duke Hinpa.

Suspicion toward him had only been growing.

Just then, a telepathic message entered his ear.

Smile~

Charun flinched and turned toward Tamahi.

The voice belonged to none other than Tamahi—his queen.

Your Majesty—

Charun silently quelled the storm rising within him.

He would wait.

Wait for the moment when this great queen, whose wings had once been broken, would rise again to soar.

The Wanderer will have registered for the tournament as well.

Charun clenched his fists.

Even if this aged body were to shatter—

He would protect this land of Lan.

===================

<Crazy! So many rankers have registered!>
I'm watching from near the registration counter, and seriously—tons of top-100 rankers have entered the Heavenly Tournament (aka the Supreme Martial Arts Tournament). It’s insane!

– Of course, it's the safest shot at becoming king. No way they'd miss this.
– Not just rankers! Warriors from every corner of the continent are flocking here!
– Whoa… if this turns into a fight, it’ll be a full-blown war!
– No way a user wins this. The continent’s real warriors are on another level.
– Still, isn’t the current #1 ranker of the Eastern Empire about to be crowned crown prince? The Kingdom of Lan has a shot too!

===================

While the RMPAG community was buzzing over the grand event set to take place in a week, one last participant registered—someone who was neither a continental warrior nor a ranker.

“Is your name Kim Hae-il?”

“That’s right.”

“Class? Swordsman?”

“That’s right.”

The Heavenly Demon completed his registration without hesitation.

‘Are you really going with Kim Hae-il?’

‘Yes. So what?’

‘You’re seriously using that name?’

‘Indeed. I’ll be number 2. Not number 1.’

…This crazy bastard.

Cale stared at the Heavenly Demon with a face full of disapproval.

 -----

Translator's Comment:

When gods play kings and demons dream of crowns, the martial world prepares for war.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]