The Demon's Glow (3)

Now that I've rescued Kim Yeon from Goe-gun, stopped the Black Dragon King, saved Oh Hyun-seok with Jeon Myeong-hoon, and pulled Kang Min-hee out of the side path to kidnap her, that's the plan. I set everything in motion and made my way up to the transmission array in Cheonin-do. I headed straight for the area where Goe-gun was located.

Paaaah!

I stepped onto the transmission array of the other race and set off toward Goe-gun's location.

Paaaah!

Using the acceleration technique, I reached the area far faster than before. At this speed, I probably wouldn't even need Jeon Myeong-hoon's lightning reversal spell when it came time to escape.

'If I want to take him on head-on and win, how long would that actually take?' I thought it over carefully and ran the numbers on Goe-gun's power versus my own.

'Goe-gun is already at the level of a Human Race Alliance Taesuhoe commander by this point.' Even in his injured, groaning state, not the fully intact one.

'I can't afford a straight fight.' I didn't want to end up serving as Jang-gun for another thousand years after getting captured again.

'If it's Seo Emperor, sure, but as for Jang-gun, now... that's a different story...' The pointless thought lingered for a moment before I arrived near the Wondrous Castle and pulled up my spiritual power.

Chwack, chweurung!

The Soul-Sealing Awl technique wrapped around both of my hands. A silver chain appeared between my palms.

'Can this even help her?' It was a technique that had once worked on Kang Min-hee for a short time. But I had a feeling it would be useless.

'Can Goe-gun's madness even be compared to Kang Min-hee's?' Of course Kang Min-hee had a growing crack in her mind that would eventually turn her into the Ghost Dao Holy Mother, but at this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stage the crack wasn't large enough for the Soul-Sealing Awl to subdue her.

Goe-gun's madness, however, had already reached a level that couldn't be touched by the Soul-Sealing Awl. Still, now that I could use the mindscape, I could slam a single strike into it and temporarily calm him down.

But that was it. Even if the Ocean of Righteousness might have worked better on Kang Min-hee, the Soul-Sealing Awl was completely useless against Goe-gun.

'Tsk, that's a shame.' I felt a flicker of regret and dispersed the Soul-Sealing Awl technique.

Then, after revealing the hidden aura I had concealed, I moved in front of the Wondrous Castle and shouted.

'Greetings, my lord. This is Seo, a mere nobody. I've come because I have something I wish to present to you.'

And a familiar voice answered.

Ocean of Righteousness

White Orchid Blessing Gate!

Paaaah!

Mountain-Cleaving Emperor Art!

Kwa kwa kwa kwa!

A brilliant light exploded in every direction. A massive wind hole tore open on one side of the Wondrous Castle.

Goe-gun's circuits had been operating spiritual energy around the outside of the Wondrous Castle, laying down several layers of defensive formations. But the Mountain-Cleaving Emperor Art was a technique that divided and scattered qi itself into seven attributes. No matter how the circuits tried to manipulate their defense, it simply scattered.

Perhaps Goe-gun's circuits and the Mountain-Cleaving Emperor Art simply had terrible mutual compatibility. Thanks to that, I could see Goe-gun from inside the Wondrous Castle, staring at me with a dumbfounded expression while holding hands with [Her].

'...You... you little brat!!!!!! How dare you... how dare you... how dare you... how dare you... how dare you...'

Goe-gun's eyes rolled back for a moment, then he started furiously gnawing on his own fingers.

Puppets at the Integration stage and above began crawling out of the Wondrous Castle, including [Her].

But I maintained a completely expressionless face, caught his qi, and let my eyes shine.

All-Heaven Sword.

One strike!

Not even [Her] could block it. This strike, infused completely with the concept of the formless sword, slammed straight into Goe-gun's mindscape and suppressed his madness for a short moment.

'This... I can't hold it for long.' I felt the sadness, anger, pain, and love slumbering inside Goe-gun.

The emotions were boiling over wildly, and there was no way to calm his mindscape right now. I could only use the temporary measure of letting him regain his sanity for a little while.

While I was thinking that, I noticed something strange inside Goe-gun's mindscape.

'Wait... this...'

It was odd. Had reaching this realm changed his mindscape? I could sense 'something' within it.

'Goe-gun... you... could it be...' I clenched my teeth, sensing the signs of Goe-gun's madness.

And I understood why Seohul hadn't been able to spread his Muddy Soul Filling the Heaven technique on him.

'...You came inside me?' Goe-gun, who had regained his sanity, sat in the control room and asked while sensing my mindscape.

'...Yes. But it won't last long.'

'I see... and if it entered my heart... you're feeling it now.'

'...Yes.'

Up until now I had believed Goe-gun's madness was caused by the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Wondrous Castle's influence. It was true that Goe-gun had been affected to some degree.

But today I learned something new.

'My lord... you're not suffering from madness because of the Wondrous Castle...'

Goe-gun gave a wry smile at my words.

'It's my karma. You needn't concern yourself with it. That aside, why did you come all this way and do this?'

'To take your disciple.'

At my reply, Goe-gun nodded.

'I see. When Yeon-ah dreams, she meets someone in her dreams. It was you.'

Goe-gun nodded as if he already knew I had met Kim Yeon in her dream.

'Take her. But be careful. I will eventually find that child again. Because... my life's greatest goal can only be realized if that child exists.'

'I will take care of it. And...' I looked into Goe-gun's eyes and said.

'Until the day connection grows strong enough for her to achieve your goal on her own, I will raise her.'

Goe-gun's goal was the Connection of Connections. It was for Kim Yeon to activate Yeon-ui Yeon by manipulating the Wondrous Castle with her vast consciousness through the Strange Star-Mind Scroll.

Goe-gun nodded.

'Yes, I ask of you. And...'

Goe-gun pulled out something that looked like a magical artifact and modified it in an instant.

'That must be...' Just as the past-life Goe-gun had infused [Her] with enlightenment, he was engraving enlightenment into this artifact this time.

This time it was possible because my realm had risen and I had extended the time Goe-gun could remain coherent.

The bee puppets brought Kim Yeon over.

'U-uh... Eun-hyun... oppa?'

'Kim Yeon.'

When Kim Yeon looked at me in surprise, Goe-gun spoke to her.

'The only thing I can say now that my mind is clear, so listen well.'

She looked bewildered, as if it was strange to see Jo Yeon in such a clear state.

Jo Yeon handed her the enchanted artifact containing his enlightenment.

'I'm sorry for the long wait. From now on... be happy.'

No more words were needed. He was already sinking back into madness, and the only thing that mattered was already inside the artifact.

I walked up to Kim Yeon, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and bowed to Jo Yeon.

'Thank you. I'll take my leave for now...'

Before Kim Yeon could even process what was happening, I used the acceleration technique and left the area.

Jo Yeon was returning to Goe-gun.

There was no more time for waste.

Paaaah!

Using the acceleration technique along with the Submerged Soul Technique, All-Heaven Sword, and gliding arts, I tore away from Goe-gun in the blink of an eye.

I crossed thousands of li in a single breath and felt the mindscape clone I had implanted in Goe-gun being torn apart by his madness, which was raging like an angry mob.

Goe-gun had fully returned.

But because the distance had grown too great, he didn't pursue me.

'I rescued Yeon-a more stably than at any other time before.'

Kim Yeon was still blinking her large eyes in surprise at the sudden situation.

'Yeon-ah, are you flustered?'

Her appearance made me grin. I asked with a light laugh.

'Um... was it a dream...?'

I gently pinched her cheek, which hadn't yet returned to normal, then took her to the transmission array that would take us back to Cheonin-do.

'It wasn't a dream. Well then... shall we go to the side path of the Black Ghost Valley and take a look?'

I had rescued Kim Yeon. Now it was time to rescue Kang Min-hee.

***

Jingyojin, Dragon Alliance headquarters of Bongmyeong-ju.

A hidden layer inside Bongmyeong-ju.

There, a dragon race monk with a gentle smile and a woman in white robes sat playing a chess piece.

'So... what exactly did you want my help with?'

Oh Hye-seo, the woman in white, asked with a small smile.

'It's nothing special. I would appreciate it if you could look into the past of the person I'm monitoring.'

'Oh my, the only person who's ever asked me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for something like that is that Goe-gun fellow, isn't he?'

'Hehehe, since something was born that I couldn't handle with my own hands, I wondered what kind of fault had occurred and asked.'

'Ahahaha, yeah, hearing about Goe-gun, there really isn't anyone in the world more unbeatable. Even our grand commander couldn't handle him.'

Oh Hye-seo laughed loudly as she placed the stone.

Seohul blocked the path in front of Oh Hye-seo's stone and smiled.

'So, will you accept the request?'

'Hmm, sure. Who is it?'

Seohul smiled kindly at the answer and formed a connection.

Woo-woong―

For a moment, an illusory face appeared before Oh Hye-seo's eyes.

'This is the terminal I placed on him. It's in a somewhat dangerous position, so it can break at any moment, but since he hasn't noticed yet, I ask you to scan his past through this.'

Oh Hye-seo's eyes widened at the face.

'Oh my, it's someone I know? You want me to tell you about their past?'

'Yes.'

'Hmm... Seo Eun-hyun... so he's a person who would make you afraid?'

Oh Hye-seo explained Seo Eun-hyun to Seohul. Roughly who the person was, their past, what they liked or disliked, how their combat strength compared, how many times they had visited the dentist, what military post they held, which school they attended, and what records were written in their student file, among other things.

Seohul asked questions about concepts he didn't understand and learned more about Seo Eun-hyun.

'...Well, anyway, that's the kind of person he is. Just an ordinary, unremarkable fellow who had no interest. He was the kind of person who was serious about eating and nothing else...'

'Hehehe, I see. That was a good reference.'

After listening to Oh Hye-seo's story from beginning to end, Seohul concluded.

'The 'Seo Eun-hyun' that Hye-seo-ssi knows is probably already dead.'

'Oh dear, that's too bad.'

Oh Hye-seo clicked her tongue and blocked Seohul's path. Seohul ate Oh Hye-seo's stone and continued speaking.

'He was probably stripped of his body by some high-ranking being. Perhaps his memories, soul, and fate as well. The 'Seo Eun-hyun' who exists now... isn't the colleague Hye-seo-ssi knows. He's a bizarre unknown monster. Be careful, Hye-seo-ssi. You don't know the true myth yet, so be cautious—extremely cautious.'

'Eii, even though you talk that way, you're secretly hoping I'll touch something weird and break, right? Then brainwashing will be even easier.'

'Hehehe, I have not a shred of such a thought.'

'Hmm, I think I understand the grand commander's way of speaking now...'

Oh Hye-seo shot Seohul a glare, and Seohul used the opening to cut off every path from Oh Hye-seo, giving her a full view of his home.

'By the way, you said Hye-seo-ssi was a workplace colleague, didn't you? So you've learned more than enough information about that Seo Eun-hyun person. Is your hometown one of those places where information is easy to obtain?'

'Oh my, the grand commander knows too. I'm a bit of a meticulous person. As for colleagues, I know everything. Especially since I had a younger brother I liked, I looked into everything—how many wisdom teeth he had, what shape they were, when he had them trimmed, down to the size of the nails...'

'Hehehe, it must have been Hye-seo-ssi’s personal hobby.'

'Yes, something like that. But it's so hard to know about the grand commander that it's sad. Please, can you tell me about your past?'

'I told you last time. I was born as the son of the late Dragon King Haeryeong, Seo Hwi...'

'Eii, I knew that was all lies. And you're not even Seo Hwi's son. Your body isn't even the original one. You're not even older, are you?'

Seohul and Oh Hye-seo continued chatting with smiles on their faces, and Oh Hye-seo reached into the illusion Seohul had shown her.

The pattern of the Taiji appeared in her eyes.

'Hmm?'

Suddenly, Oh Hye-seo smiled inside.

'Oh my, I just rescued Yeon-ah, didn't I? And what is this... it's exactly like before, isn't it? All the small habits, the mannerisms, the way of speaking, even the way the corners of her mouth rise when she laughs. And yet... she was possessed by something weird?'

She cut off all of Seohul's paths with another stone placed inside his home, which she had discovered, and her eyes sparkled.

'What nonsense. That is Seo Eun-hyun himself. I don't know why he became weird, but since we all gained strange abilities, it must be the influence.'

She smiled inside.

'Since she rescued Kim Yeon, that dull-witted guy couldn't have known what Kim Yeon was thinking. He must have decided to gather all the colleagues.'

Oh Hye-seo made her plan.

'I need to find an opportunity to meet Seo Eun-hyun. Since Seo Eun-hyun seems to be at odds with Seohul, he'll probably help me if I tell him Seohul captured me. And while playing both sides, I'll be a double agent. Both seem interesting...'

She decided to meet Seo Eun-hyun in the near future and chose to side with the one who could satisfy her curiosity.

And Seohul, watching Oh Hye-seo, smiled faintly.

'Ah, grand commander. I won. You didn't see this coming, did you?'

'Hehehe, Hye-seo-ssi really can't be handled.'

***

I returned to Cheonin-do with Kim Yeon, registered her into the guest book, and headed toward the entrance of the Demon Realm together with her.

Here I would wait until the Black Dragon King came, or wait until Oh Hyun-seok was rescued, then head to the Black Ghost Valley to pull out Kang Min-hee.

Kim Yeon looked at me for a moment and asked.

'Eun-hyun oppa.'

'Hmm? What is it, Yeon-ah?'

'...You said you're going to the Black Ghost Valley, right?'

'Yeah.'

'The Black Ghost Valley... is the place Min-hee unnie went, isn't it?'

'So?'

Kim Yeon hesitated for a moment, then asked with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠resolve.

'You're going to see Min-hee unnie, right?'

I hesitated over what to say, then realized what she meant.

'You... know?'

'Ah... that's... Min-hee unnie told me to...'

Kim Yeon, who had been caught red-handed, looked a little embarrassed and lowered her head.

I shook my head.

'It's not because I miss Kang Min-hee. I'm going because there's something I have to do. It's just... she's only my ex-girlfriend.'

'Is that so...?'

'Yeah.'

'...Eun-hyun oppa.'

'What?'

'You want to rescue Min-hee unnie for the same reason you rescued me, don't you?'

'What do you mean?'

I felt a faint unease and asked.

Kim Yeon gave a bitter smile.

'When you said you were going to meet Min-hee unnie, you showed the same resolve.'

'Ah...'

I guess the thought of rescuing Kim Yeon had relaxed me, and I had shown my resolve.

'But when rescuing Min-hee unnie, you showed the same resolve as when rescuing me. If you think of Min-hee unnie only as an ex-girlfriend...'

The words that followed left me stunned, as if I'd been hit from behind.

'So... you see me the same way as an ex-girlfriend too?'

'U-um...?'