Ch 204
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 204
"Master Zhang, don't you think I've become quite familiar with Absolute Domain now?"
"You're certainly a prodigy, I'll give you that. I thought I'd only teach you the concept for a week and leave the training to Yu-ryang."
"Well then, don't you think I could start learning something else now?"
Ever since rescuing Eunseo and returning, I've been training exclusively to master Absolute Domain perfectly.
And tomorrow is the last day of the week that Zhang Sambong initially mentioned.
"The next thing? I give you a little praise and you think you're on top of the world. Do you think breaking through a wall at your level is possible in just a day or two?"
"I know it's difficult, but..."
"If you know, then don't be so impatient. You've improved compared to before, but it's still not perfect."
"Then couldn't you at least tell me the concept so I can practice it on my own later?"
"I told you not to rush. Anyway, don't you have Yu-ryang? You have that ridiculously powerful master of yours who defeated even a Sword Immortal without ascending, so what's the problem?"
That's exactly why I can't learn from that master.
Of course, it's not that my master deliberately refuses to teach me.
My master isn't the type to fear things like students surpassing their teacher.
Even if I became one step... no, two steps stronger here, I still wouldn't be able to match my master.
But right now, my master is putting all his effort into Luciel and has no spare capacity.
He's converting the demonic energy continuously supplied from the Demon Realm Tree into internal energy, but as his internal energy increases, the supply of demonic energy also increases.
Luciel's body has three types of energy intertwined—demonic energy, internal energy, and the celestial energy she possessed as an archangel—creating a literal cauldron of chaos.
Though my master appears to be doing nothing and lounging around, he's actually coordinating things to prevent Luciel's energy from going berserk.
If my master stopped his coordination, the runaway energies would consume Luciel and...
My master said it would be finished soon, but he said the same thing a month ago, so I don't know when that "soon" will be.
"Understood."
"Good. Now go eat dinner."
"You're not going to eat dinner and just drink alcohol again today."
"For me, alcohol is no different from food. Do we have plenty of rice wine?"
If Yeo Dong-bin is a Sword Immortal, is this fellow an Alcohol Immortal?
He seems to drink almost 18 liters every day.
He's truly an incorrigible drunkard.
I answered that I'd go buy some if we ran short and returned to the camping car with Zhang Sambong, but massive energy was fluctuating from the direction of the camping car.
"Hmm, seems like it's time."
I was about to ask what time he meant, but I quickened my pace toward the camping car.
When I arrived, a large black sphere made of demonic energy was floating in the air, with my master standing beneath it with his eyes closed.
"Master, what on earth is happening?"
"It's hard work, so don't make me talk."
Indeed, instead of his usual languid expression, his brow was deeply furrowed and sweat beads had formed on his forehead.
"Your woman is finally trying to break through the wall."
My woman means Luciel?
Focusing on the energy, I could feel Luciel's presence from within the black sphere made of demonic energy.
"She'll... she'll be okay, right?"
"Don't worry. Your master is putting forth all his effort right now."
I naturally trust my master, but the flow of the rampaging energy right now is so tremendous that it's difficult just to stand here.
One gak passed, then two gak, followed by half a sijin, then a full sijin.
Moment by moment, the black sphere surrounding Luciel repeatedly became lighter and darker in color.
I don't know how he's exerting his power, but my master seems to be overexerting himself considerably—the clothes of the man who wouldn't break a sweat even after sparring with me for several sijin were completely soaked with perspiration.
"Seems like it's almost over."
Simultaneously with Zhang Sambong's words, the energies that had been swirling like a storm calmed down, and the color of the sphere surrounding Luciel gradually became lighter.
It changed to a milk-white color, but then returned to gray as my master opened his eyes.
"Phew, that was exhausting."
At the same time, the sphere disappeared, but Luciel was gone.
I deployed Absolute Domain to search for Luciel, but I couldn't find any trace of her anywhere in the surroundings or even anywhere in the portal.
"Ma... Master?"
"What?"
"Luciel is... Don't tell me... no, right?"
"What's 'no'?"
If something had gone wrong, my master wouldn't be this nonchalant...
"I can't sense Luciel's energy anywhere. What happened?"
"She probably returned to where she originally was. Didn't you say her main body is in another world?"
"Ah... Then that's good, right?"
"If you're that worried, why don't you go check for yourself?"
I immediately took out my wallet and tore a leaf.
My vision changed instantly, but I couldn't help but be startled.
I've visited Luciel's world dozens, hundreds of times, but for a moment I wondered if I'd come to the wrong place.
Instead of black grass and red earth, there was a wide lawn filled with green grass.
Various colorful flowers filling that lawn.
Even the sun, which had cast a gloomy atmosphere with its purple light, had changed to the same golden color as Earth's.
The Demon Realm Tree visible in the distance had also completely changed.
When I went closer, what had previously been entirely black due to demonic energy with purple leaves, creating quite an eerie atmosphere, now had a blue tint with green leaves growing on every branch.
Most importantly, the black sphere next to the roots of the Demon Realm Tree was also nowhere to be seen.
Since splitting her soul, the Luciel of this place had always been sleeping inside that black sphere, but now that sphere was...
"You came?"
At the familiar voice, I turned around, only to be startled once again.
"Lu... Luciel?"
The voice was unmistakably Luciel's, but her appearance had completely changed.
Her purple eyes had turned golden, her wing colors were all pure white. Her skin, which had already been on the fair side, was even whiter and smoother. Moreover, her overall appearance, which had never really been unattractive... no, honestly, in terms of looks, she had always been supreme.
But now, what was...
"Yeah. It's me, but why do you have that expression? Is it strange?"
No matter what words I tried to use, they seemed insufficient—I really thought there might be no words in human language that could describe her beauty.
If it weren't for her trademark silver-white hair, which was the only thing that hadn't changed along with her voice, I might not have recognized her.
Has she undergone a complete transformation?
"If it's strange, go to the dentist."
Seeing her grin and copy one of my favorite terrible jokes, it's definitely Luciel.
"Master said you'd be here... What happened?"
"What happened? It's just as you see. It's finally over."
"Then you're okay now?"
"Yeah. It's all thanks to Master and you, Shin-hyeok."
"What did I do... Master did everything."
"If it hadn't been for you, Shin-hyeok, I wouldn't have met Master."
"That's true, but. Master was the one who actually taught you."
"That's true too. Even thinking about it again, our master is really outrageous."
"Huh?"
"Since the Demon Realm Tree kept increasing its demonic energy supply, Master suggested how about purifying the Demon Realm Tree as well."
"That... that's possible?"
"I thought the same as you at first, but you can see the result yourself right now, can't you, Shin-hyeok?"
Luciel points to the Demon Realm Tree.
Well, I guess we shouldn't call it the Demon Realm Tree anymore.
"You really worked hard. Now let's hurry back. We should have a party or something."
My master seemed to know things had gone well, but if I showed him directly, he'd be even more relieved... what?
Luciel's expression suddenly darkened.
"I'm not going."
"Not going? What do you mean? Don't tell me you can't use soul-splitting magic like before?"
Luciel is much stronger now than before. Maybe she can't manifest magic that was implemented with demonic energy using internal energy?
Since things that can be done with magic can be done with internal energy, I don't think that's likely.
"No. That's not the problem."
"Then why? You should go show Master that you're fine."
"Master will know even without showing him."
"No, why are you suddenly being like this?"
"Last time, Primordial Heavenly Honored One showed you the future, right?"
"But why are you suddenly bringing that up..."
"I saw it too."
Primordial Heavenly Honored One showed the future to Luciel as well?
For that to be the case, she hadn't said anything about it all this time...
"What does that have to do with anything? I already said I'd handle everything anyway. Primordial Heavenly Honored One told me to do that too..."
"It's not something you can think about so easily... Now I know for sure. I shouldn't go to the outside world."
"What do you mean? You can finally move around freely now... So you're going to stay here forever instead of the portal?"
"That's right. I should only stay in this place."
"..."
Honestly, I thought it would be annoying and bothersome if Luciel followed me around like before, but to stay here forever instead of the portal...
"I'm fine. You can come often, Shin-hyeok. Se-jin will come often too."
Luciel keeps saying calmly that she's fine, but I'm not so oblivious that I can't tell she's not really fine.
No matter how often I visit this place, time here flows 30 times faster than the outside world.
The reason she even split her soul to come outside last time was probably for that reason, so why is she suddenly being like this...
What on earth did Primordial Heavenly Honored One show this girl?
"Then you're planning not to meet Master anymore either?"
Since Master has movement restrictions placed on him from the immortal realm, even if he tears Luciel's leaf, he can't come to this place.
"Master will understand. He'd probably be happy that his troublesome disciple who always worried him is gone."
"Don't say such nonsense. That old man just doesn't express it outwardly. He cherishes you so much."
"...Still, he'll understand."
She seems to have made up her mind completely.
But I don't like it.
"I don't want that."
"Don't act like a child."
"In the future you saw, do I happen to die?"
Luciel hangs her head without saying anything, and it seems my guess was right.
"There's nothing to worry about. I've already almost perfectly mastered Absolute Domain... URGH!"
Suddenly Luciel kicked me.
"What are you doing?"
"If you can't even dodge something like this... don't act tough."
"...I was just caught off guard earlier."
"Whatever, just go back. I'm used to being here anyway."
This girl Luciel, really...
Honestly, I thought it would be annoying and bothersome if Luciel followed me around constantly.
So I even hoped it would be delayed for her to come out.
But I can say with certainty that I never once wanted this girl to stay forever in this space that flows 30 times faster.
Moreover, I know better than anyone how bored this girl was while trapped in the portal training with Master.
She waited for me every day like a dog waiting for its owner to return.
I also know that even though she bickers with Master normally, they have a good relationship and she follows him well.
"Luciel, whatever future you saw doesn't matter. Something like that will absolutely never happen."
"How can you guarantee that?"
"Even that Primordial Heavenly Honored One said that what he shows isn't a confirmed future, right? Besides that, don't you trust me?"
"..."
"Trust me. I'll say it again, but a future where I die absolutely won't happen."
With those words, I extended my hand to Luciel.
Since Luciel was still hesitating, I approached and took her hand.
"If you really can't trust me, at least trust our master. You said so yourself earlier. Master is ridiculously strong."
"But Master has restrictions from the heavenly realm..."
"If I'm in danger, do you think our master would care about such restrictions? If I become endangered, he'll ignore the heavenly realm's restrictions and whatever else to help me."
"Well, Master does cherish you..."
"You don't think he feels the same about you? Luciel, it's the same for you. So come with me. I don't want to get scolded by Master for leaving my junior sister alone."