Chapter 374: Gathering of the Orthodox Faction (15)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 374: Gathering of the Orthodox Faction (15)
His eyes glowed red.
But this was nothing like the crimson of flames that burned within my own eyes, or even my father’s. Where ours burned with fiery intensity, Jang Seonyeon’s eyes shimmered as if they were filled with fresh blood. Worse still, his pupils were distorted, stretched unnaturally apart.
What is that…?
The fact that Jang Seonyeon was still alive was shocking enough, but the strange, sinister aura radiating from him sent a cold sweat breaking out across my skin. The excruciating pain in my right arm was already unbearable, but now my entire body felt inexplicably uneasy. What was happening? Why did everything feel so… wrong?
Tshh…
As these thoughts raced through my mind, the searing agony in my arm intensified.
This is…
I thought I had grown accustomed to pain over the past few months, thanks to the Dishonored Venerable’s brutal training. But this was entirely different. It felt… invasive. As if the scale on my right arm was slowly expanding, spreading its influence throughout my body.
The real question was, why now?
And more importantly…
No one else seems to notice him.
Even putting aside Jang Seonyeon’s sudden reappearance, his unnerving eyes alone should have drawn attention. Yet, no one so much as glanced his way.
Am I the only one who can see this?
Could it be that only I could perceive the terrifying change in Jang Seonyeon’s eyes? But why?
As my mind churned with complicated thoughts, a familiar voice echoed directly in my ears.
—You don’t seem to be doing too well.
My eyes widened in shock, and I whipped my head toward the source. It was Jang Seonyeon who had spoken.
—…You bastard…
—I didn’t mean to shock you, but I must say, your reaction is most satisfying.
Jang Seonyeon smiled, but the expression was unsettling and completely unlike him. His face and voice were unmistakably his, yet there was something disturbingly viscous about his tone. It felt like he carried a foul stench, though no actual smell existed—an unmistakable, metallic reek of blood.
Blood…? The cloying scent of blood?
The realization struck me like a physical blow.
—Blood Demon…?
Jang Seonyeon’s smile widened, confirming my suspicion. That was it. This explained the profoundly alien and sinister aura clinging to him. This wasn’t the Jang Seonyeon I knew.
—You…
—You’re quite sharp, aren’t you?
This wasn’t Jang Seonyeon. It was the Blood Demon wearing his skin.
—How… How are you inside him?
—Are you shocked by that?
—Isn’t it obvious…!
—I simply wanted to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. Well? Are you impressed?
—…What did you do with Jang—…with the owner of that body?
If Elder Shin could borrow my body, surely the Blood Demon could do the same. But the entity responded with feigned confusion.
—Child. You killed him yourself. You reduced him to ashes. Why are you asking me such a thing?
—Don’t play games with me. This is no time for jokes.
—Hehe.
The Blood Demon chuckled at my growling tone. Meanwhile, the searing pain in my right arm worsened. This was bad. It had been perfectly fine before; the only variable was the Blood Demon’s appearance. That had to be the cause.
—You seem to be in great pain.
Despite my best efforts to hide it, the Blood Demon saw right through me. This pain was undoubtedly linked to him.
—…Did you do something to my body?
—Hehe… You may want to believe that, but unfortunately for you, child, I have no intention of harming you directly.
—Nonsense! Did you forget when you forcibly injected your Qi into me?
—I did indeed. But did it ever bring you a bad result?
—What…?
What was he talking about?
—Didn’t you rely on my power when you were in danger?
—…!
—I personally bestowed that blessing upon you. Did you honestly think I wouldn’t notice?
So, he knew. The Blood Demon was aware every time I had used his Blood Qi. Even if the scale wasn’t his direct doing, he clearly knew about it.
—…Just what is this?
When I asked about the scale, the Blood Demon stared at me with a strange, inexplicable sense of delight.
—As I expected. Child, you truly seem to be the change I’ve been dreaming of.
—Stop spouting nonsense and tell me what this is.
—You’re definitely not one of my pieces, and yet you’ve somehow begun to bloom.
—…Pieces? Bloom?
—I am not certain myself, but if that’s the case, you will be the first human to do so. I must congratulate you.
—Why do you keep rambling about things I can’t understand?
—What I’m saying is, you should be happy. Isn’t it exhilarating? You’re transcending the weak and powerless human race, rising to something far greater.
The Blood Demon spoke with palpable joy.
—I pray that you break through your shell as fast as possible.
The thrill in his voice made my head spin. To make matters worse, the pain in my arm intensified. I wouldn’t be able to hold back a scream for much longer. After a moment of silent observation, the Blood Demon spoke again, his lips curling.
—You seem to be in great pain. Child, allow me to show you my generosity once more.
—What…?
—Take this as a congratulatory gift. Do not forget it.
As he uttered those cryptic words, the Blood Qi within my dantian surged upward violently, completely against my will. It felt like it was obeying another’s command. I tried desperately to suppress it, but the Qi poured out and rapidly enveloped my entire body.
Damn it!
In seconds, I was shrouded in a crimson aura. However…
Huh…?
The pain vanished instantly. Just like that. Was it the Blood Qi? Had it suppressed the agony? I examined my right arm, which had been throbbing just moments ago. I couldn’t roll up my sleeve to check, but the pain was unquestionably gone. This was undeniably the Blood Demon’s doing.
—Hehe…
He chuckled, amused.
—That child seems to really despise me.
—…Despise you?
—The pain you felt was born from the hatred that being holds for me.
I frowned. So the scale on my arm was a living entity? And it hated the Blood Demon? What even was it?
—It’s instinct. Understandable. No arrogant creature would want another existence of equal footing sharing the same world.
He sounded strangely pleased. I couldn’t comprehend his amusement or his excitement.
—Why are you telling me this?
I needed to understand his motive. He was feigning generosity, but was it genuine or part of some scheme? Whatever it was, he had no reason to tell me anything.
—What is it that you want from me?
—Nothing. I want nothing from you.
—You expect me to believe that, when you’ve appeared before me like this?
I was speechless. It claimed to want nothing? Then why show itself?
—If I must give an answer, then I pray that you become more capable than you are now.
—You’re still impossible to understand. How annoying.
—Child, it won’t be long before you grasp my meaning. When that day comes, you will seek me out. I await that moment eagerly.
—You expect me to go to you, a calamity? Are you expecting me to come and kill you?
At the mention of ‘calamity,’ the Blood Demon’s smile widened.
—It seems you’ve learned more than I anticipated. Not bad at all.
—…Give me a straight answer. What is your goal? What do you want from me?
—Goal, you say…
He paused, as if in thought.
—To escape the path of fate. Yes, I suppose that is my goal.
—What do you…
—Originally, I would have begun gathering my pieces sooner. But seeing you begin to bloom has allowed me to alter my plans.
Bloom. I frowned, still unable to grasp his meaning. But if his plans had changed because of me, he was clearly scheming something. I didn’t know how it was possible, but the Blood Demon had undeniably taken control of Jang Seonyeon’s body. Did that mean he intended to use Jang Seonyeon’s identity for his plans?
…So, the reason I couldn’t find any trace of Jang Seonyeon after returning…
Was the Blood Demon behind it? But how? I still had no clear idea of his ultimate goal or true nature. The only thing certain was that the Blood Demon was not human. I had suspected it before, but now I was sure.
—I’ll give you more time. You’ll come to realize it slowly.
—I won’t let you do as you pl—!
Ring-!
My consciousness darkened for an instant, a wave of dizziness washing over me.
—Do not worry. That is merely the backlash from me suppressing the hatred.
—…What did you just do?
—As I said, I’ve done you no harm. Look—even the ruler of the Abyss within you is silent.
He was right. the beast that usually growled at the slightest provocation was completely still. Both it and Elder Shin had been quiet since I absorbed the Celestial Sword, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.
—I came today merely to greet you. However, I’ve gained more than I expected. I can see a clear path now.
—I pray that one day, you will come to visit me.
With each word of his telepathic message, my consciousness grew dimmer. I fought desperately to hold on, but in the end, it slipped away completely.
Then.
When I finally woke up, the meeting of the Orthodox Faction was already over.