Chapter 276: Have You Ever Seen Someone Happy After a Relative Died?
Chapter 276: Have You Ever Seen Someone Happy After a Relative Died?
Aside from Oni Rasha, no other monster wanted the Iron Fortress to split apart.
Though the military and demon warriors remained silent, they’d eventually accept Oni Yuki becoming the new Ghost Lord.
Their faction’s top combat power was now limited to Tsuzuki Tanrō and Iwagami Ryu.
Everyone remembered Tsuzuki Tanrō getting beaten by a vampire, while Iwagami Ryu skipped work 29 days each month and spent the last day writing his own leave request.
Relying on these two to lead a rebellion against Oni Yuki was unrealistic.
Thus, her power transition would likely proceed smoothly.
Of course, some die-hard Oni Rasha loyalists might still lurk in shadows—problems for Oni Yuki to handle later.
Fang Cheng didn’t care about political matters. He slipped from the shadows and wandered to where the Ghost Lord died.
The sealed door now had extra guards, protective demon mist still hovering.
Without Uka Kaori’s help, Fang Cheng couldn’t sneak in. After brief observation, he left to return at night.
With Uka Kaori and Tsukikage Hoshi busy helping Oni Yuki, Fang Cheng found himself homeless—a pitiful realization.
He retreated to an empty palace corner to test his new abilities.
The power of the demon god caused possession, enlarging his body while boosting strength and healing.
Activating it in the courtyard, Fang Cheng suddenly grew taller until his gaze cleared palace walls.
He stood roughly four meters tall, proportions evenly scaled—no awkward distortions.
Touching his forehead, he sighed in relief at finding no horns.
Otherwise he’d have evolved from Pure Love Warrior to Minotaur Chief.
His ability’s proficiency couldn’t match Oni Rasha’s twenty-meter giant form yet. Fang Cheng simply wanted partial enlargement—hands and feet, specifically. His “equipment” needed no upgrades.
The second ability, Pure Demon Flames, burned even underwater with adjustable temperature.
More than attack power, Fang Cheng valued their combustion for creating thrust when combined with Blood Explosion—improving flight maneuverability.
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the Iron Fortress. Startled guards rushed toward the noise.
None noticed Fang Cheng fleeing over walls.
Attempting to blend flames with Blood Explosion caused unexpected self-detonation, covering him in ash.
After escaping, Fang Cheng headed toward Oni Yuki’s chamber to kill time.
Mid-flight, he spotted a familiar figure in a deserted courtyard—
Ghost Takizawa.
Disheveled and drunk, he lay on grass clutching wine jug, spotting airborne Fang Cheng.
Both froze. Ghost Takizawa waved. “Mr. Fang! Drink with me!”
Seeing no better plans, Fang Cheng descended.
It was clear that Ghost Takizawa seemed to be in a bad mood; otherwise, he wouldn’t be sitting alone here drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
He originally had no interest in caring about another guy’s mental state, but having nothing better to do, he asked, “Your sister won, but you don’t seem happy?”
Ghost Takizawa smiled and pulled a Wine Glass from his sleeve, filled it, then handed it to Fang Cheng. “What’s there to be happy about? Father’s dead, and Rasha’s gone too.”
Fang Cheng took the glass and sipped. “Aren’t you and Oni Rasha enemies?”
“But he’s still my brother. You ever seen anyone celebrate when family dies?”
He tilted his head back and gulped the wine.
Fang Cheng thought Ghost Takizawa had a point. Losing his father and brother back-to-back—no one could force him to cheer up.
Come to think of it, Fang Cheng himself had killed the guy’s brother. Sharing drinks with the victim’s sibling now felt odd.
They began chatting idly, surprisingly sharing similar hobbies. The conversation flowed easily.
Ghost Takizawa turned out to be a vermicelli of Kamikawa Takumi, hoping God’s Brush would make a demon clan siblings doujin. Too bad he couldn’t contact the artist.
Three sentences in, the guy kept bringing up his sister, hinting at marriage plans—a full-blown younger sister complex case.
Fang Cheng mused that Oni Yuki’s restraint from breaking his legs showed remarkable family love.
If Sato Hayato pestered his sister like this, he’d be limping already.
They talked until nightfall’s arrival. Ghost Takizawa finally staggered up to leave.
Watching his retreating figure, Fang Cheng felt both pity and indifference.
Even dead, Oni Rasha remained legendary. Oni Yuki now ruled supreme.
Among the three siblings, only Ghost Takizawa drifted through life—no power, no influence, no purpose.
An ordinary monster might toil for survival, but his royal bloodline identity let him mooch off Oni Yuki’s care. This was the life most monsters craved. Not pitiable at all.
Fang Cheng realized he too drifted without goals. No room to judge.
As Ghost Takizawa faded into the night, he suddenly turned. “You helped Yuki kill Rasha.”
Fang Cheng’s pulse jumped, but his face stayed calm. “You’re drunk. I never left the palace.”
Ghost Takizawa plowed on: “Yuki’s definitely not Rasha’s match. Had to be you.”
“Just your guess.”
Even caught, Fang Cheng wouldn’t admit it.
“Don’t worry. Not your fault. Power struggles are cruel.”
He swayed, muttering: “Siblings kill siblings. Children kill parents. Friends kill friends. Oldest story there is.”
As Ghost Takizawa disappeared into darkness, Fang Cheng reassessed him. Thought he was just a lazy bum, but the guy saw everything clearly—he’d just chosen to play harmless.
People aren’t simple labels. They’re layered, complicated puzzles.