Chapter 454: Thank Goodness (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 454: Thank Goodness (1)
All other worlds that failed would be erased.
Only one world that successfully met the conditions would survive.
That much, I could wrap my head around.
Well, honestly, I didn't think it was okay at all, but for the sake of argument, let's pretend I did.
But even if the world I lived in successfully created a new ruler through a calamity...
It would mean the complete and instantaneous erasure of all life on that world.
In the end, whatever happened to me personally was rather nonsensical to dwell on.
Sigh.
This was no different from fighting a predetermined end.
I thought about how Yeon Il-Cheon had called me a calamity, and the causes I'd been entangled in.
Moreover, I had believed the Heavenly Demon was the next upcoming calamity, but the Celestial Sword told me she was the one who brought me back to life.
That wasn't all. There were traces left by my mother, and I still, for some reason, carried the Heavenly Demon's power within me.
-Do you really believe you were brought back to life through a miracle?
I was reminded of what Yeon Il-Cheon's spirit had said to me.
Thinking over all I'd been through, I came to a realization.
The Blood Demon said it felt like someone was deliberately blocking my ears. The heroes of the past had tried to do something, but failed in the end.
Judging by all this...
What does the world want from me?
I felt a growing certainty that the world wanted something from me.
The problem was, I had no idea what that was.
Crack.
Perhaps the world truly wants me to become the next calamity, just as Yeon Il-Cheon said?
I wasn't sure.
My current problems were already complicated enough.
Furthermore, I had one more question for the Blood Demon.
"I get what you're saying..."
I understood how the world worked, but—
"What is it that you want from me?"
[…]
What was the goal of the Blood Demon standing before me? I was curious.
I understood the world was fundamentally fucked up, but I wanted to know the Blood Demon's personal objective.
Did it share the world's goal of creating a new ruler?
I didn't think so.
That bastard definitely has his own agenda.
My instincts screamed it.
The Blood Demon wouldn't care about such things.
Considering how the Blood Demon in my world had established the Meteor Generation and used Jang Seonyeon's body to scheme, even while sealed and cut into pieces, it was clear he had a purpose.
What was it?
I was even more confused about how I'd been completely unaware of all this in my past life.
Moreover...
Is the Blood Demon an ally or an enemy?
Considering he was an existence that caused the Blood Demon War as a calamity of the past, I knew he wasn't an ally.
But was he an enemy?
I needed to figure that out.
[Hah.]
The Blood Demon let out a short laugh at my question.
[…What a fascinating fellow you are.]
"What do you mean?"
[The story I just told you should have been enough to drive you to your knees in despair, yet you remain remarkably composed for one who has only just begun to shed.]
Composed?
Composed, my ass.
I was utterly speechless at his words.
Composed? I'm on the verge of losing my mind here, so how can you say that?
Plus, I could die at any moment given my condition—how could I possibly be at peace? I was more than ready to just give up.
The story he'd told me was so revolting it made my blood boil.
The idea of countless worlds being created and destroyed by a will that sought to birth a ruler through calamity was enough to make me sick.
Yet,
Even so,
I couldn't afford to give up. That's why I chose to keep my head held high.
Dammit.
If I did nothing, everyone would die.
But that wasn't the reason I cursed out loud.
I'm not some benevolent saint who wants to save everyone.
I'm a selfish person who wouldn't lift a finger if it didn't benefit me.
However, there was one reason why I brute-forced my way through every shitty situation like this.
Every time, I was reminded of the faces of those who lived and died for me. They were the reason I continued to live this life.
Thinking of them, I couldn't afford to give up here.
Instead of wasting time wallowing in despair, I had to focus on solving the problems in front of me.
That was my duty.
[Now I see how you managed to begin shedding.]
"Stop your nonsense and just answer my question."
What was the Blood Demon's goal?
I was willing to kill him, as Elder Shin wanted me to,
But I have to prioritize.
With a mountain of things to do, I needed to figure out what came first.
Of course, there was no guarantee the Blood Demon would even answer.
[My goal, you ask? Why do you assume I have one to begin with?]
"Do I even need to think about it? You possess a fiery will, for an old fossil buried in the ground."
[Hehe…]
The Blood Demon chuckled at my mockery.
[My goal, you say…]
"Perhaps you're trying to bring calamity to the world again, like you did in the past?"
The Blood Demon had caused the Blood Disaster centuries ago.
The five heroes of the past, including Elder Shin, had stopped him, but was he trying to do it all over again?
The Blood Demon responded to my question with a low chuckle.
[If I said yes, what would you do?]
"I'd have to stop you."
I answered without hesitation.
Woong-!
The ice crystal began to resonate with a loud hum.
Hehehehe.
The Blood Demon's laughter echoed, ringing unpleasantly in my ears.
[How could a child like you, who knows so little of this world, even think of stopping me?]
"I'll find a way."
[How foolish. Do you truly believe it would be difficult for me to kill you where you stand right now?]
I felt it.
A cold air seeping from the ice crystal had already reached my neck.
The sensation was unmistakable; the Blood Demon wasn't bluffing.
However…
"You have no intention of killing me."
I knew the Blood Demon couldn't—or wouldn't—kill me.
"You want something from me, don't you?"
A small smile touched my lips as I spoke.
[…]
Swish…
The chilling aura emanating from the ice crystal instantly subsided.
This was precisely why I could afford to be so reckless with such a dangerous being.
The Blood Demon had wanted to see the one who came from another world. He'd acted strangely kind, feeding me information. It was clear the bastard wanted something.
I might have been wrong, but his reaction confirmed my suspicion.
[Hah.]
The Blood Demon sounded almost surprised.
[You are sharper than I expected.]*
Just as I thought.
I frowned at his response.
"So, what do you want from me?"
The calamity of the past, a being from a different world—I had to know his intentions.
I stared at the Blood Demon, masking my conflicted feelings, while he continued his quiet, infuriating chuckle.
After a moment of silence,
[You… asked what my goal was.]
He began to speak slowly.
[I dream of creating a paradise.]*
I immediately frowned.
"Paradise…?"
It sounded like a noble phrase, but coming from the Blood Demon, it was deeply unsettling. Too hopeful, too pure for a being who was a calamity of the past.
As I wrestled with the meaning,
[Being from another world.]
The Blood Demon called out to me.
[There is only one thing I want from you.]*
I listened carefully.
[Once you learn the true purpose of this world, after you have finished shedding, come visit me again. That is all I ask.]*
"You know I can't just come here easily, even if I wanted to, right?"
I was dumbfounded.
It was hard enough to travel within my own world, let alone cross into a different one.
I didn't understand why he wanted this, but it was a bizarre request.
[Nothing will be impossible for you, once you are done shedding.]*
"...Just what the hell is this 'shedding' that you have so much faith in?"
[You will come to know it naturally.]*
Could I traverse worlds once I shed? Or would I simply understand this bizarre phenomenon?
Whichever it was, it wasn't important right now.
"So, you want me to visit you for this 'paradise' you dream of?"
[I'm not sure.]*
He wasn't going to answer that one, huh.
"...How can you be so sure I'll even remember your request?"
[As long as you remember this conversation, you will seek me out. That is all that matters.]*
I didn't know if it was because of the 'paradise' he mentioned or some other reason.
My mind was already tangled enough from everything he'd told me.
What should I do?
Was any of what the Blood Demon said true?
If not, why would he tell me all this?
And if it was true...
Then… what am I supposed to do?
The more I learned, the more overwhelming it became.
My previous goal was to stop the Heavenly Demon and secure peace for those I cared about. Now, I was realizing just how monumental that goal truly was.
It was utterly shitty.
It was hard enough to live a normal, peaceful life. What a shitty thing to contemplate.
First… I need to find a way back to my world.
I also knew I shouldn't waste time here, trying to change the past.
I was already short on time in my own world.
Fuck…
How did things come to this?
It felt like everything went wrong the moment I was charmed by those Heavenly Poison Orbs.
Well, should I actually be grateful I learned all this?
One thing still confused me.
What if everything happening here is just a test, like Tang Jaemoon said?
Would that mean everything the Blood Demon told me was a lie?
That might honestly be for the best.
I was so shocked by his story that part of me wished this was all an illusion.
Complicated thoughts continued to swirl in my head.
Just as I was about to sigh in frustration,
[If you wish]
The Blood Demon spoke again.
[I can send you back to the world you came from.]*
"...!"
My eyes widened.
What? You can send me back right now?
I stared up at the ice crystal, stunned.
[If that is what you truly desire.]*
"Well, obviously I—"
I was about to answer without thinking, but I stopped myself.
Putting aside whether this was a test from Tang Jaemoon and what rewards it might hold, was it right to accept the Blood Demon's help to return?
I didn't doubt his ability to send me back. My hesitation was more about whether it was morally acceptable to take his offer.
[Hehe… you hesitate.]*
"..."
[Is that hesitation born of disbelief in me, or of lingering attachment?]*
I bit my lip unconsciously.
[Perhaps it is because you have not yet finished shedding. I can still see the human in you.]*
"Shut your mouth."
I roared back at him.
"I am human."
[…]*
Even if I became a Demonic Human, even if my body was filled with other creatures, I was still human.
I was willing to give up many things, but this was one thing I could never relinquish.
After a moment of silence, the Blood Demon spoke.
[Well, if you say so, then it matters not. In the end, it is the essence that counts.]*
As he finished speaking,
Craaack.
The space behind me began to fracture.
It was the Gate of Demons I had entered through, alongside the woman called the Dancer.
From the other side, a masked woman emerged.
It was the Dancer.
Just like before, she bowed her head respectfully towards me.
Seeing her, I spoke to the Blood Demon in an annoyed tone.
"Telling me to screw off now that you're done with me?"
[As I said, I can send you back if you wish. However, I will extend you this courtesy, as it seems you still have unfinished business in this world.]*
"What a shitty courtesy."
Was I supposed to be thankful for being let go and given information?
I thought this as I stared at the Gate of Demons.
As the Blood Demon said, I had to consider my lingering attachments to this world.
Regret.
I remembered this test was called 'Regret'.
Considering Tang Jaemoon threw me in here without explanation,
Maybe she just wanted me to suffer here?
That honestly sounded plausible.
I seriously considered asking the Blood Demon to send me back,
…Tsk.
But my feet were already moving towards the Gate of Demons behind me. Just as I was about to step through,
[On the other side, it seems a guest is looking for you.]*
"A guest…?"
I stopped and looked back.
A guest, looking for me? Now?
The Blood Demon continued with a chuckle.
[I do not know what you seek to achieve in this world, but I hope you have a pleasant dream.]*
The bastard had no intention of telling me who the guest was.
"..."
I turned my head back without responding.
I didn't know how different the Blood Demon in my world was, but I knew this world's Blood Demon was anything but normal.
Without another word, I stepped into the Gate of Demons.
Swoosh-!
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the same spot as before.
Well, with one difference.
The sun is up?
It had definitely been night when I entered the gate.
But now, the sun was high in the sky.
Huh?
No matter how I calculated it, I hadn't spent that long talking to the Blood Demon.
Yet, it was already daytime.
As I blinked, adjusting to the light and looking around,
"Master left a message for you."
The Dancer, who had emerged from the gate behind me, spoke suddenly.
A message? I looked at her, wondering what it could be.
Then, she spoke in a voice devoid of life, as monotone as stone or wood. Was she imitating the Blood Demon?
"I make you this promise."
Her voice was utterly flat.
"I will not intervene, no matter what you do in this world."
"...What?"
I wanted to ask what she meant,
"...That is all from my master."
But the Gate of Demons enveloped the Dancer, and she vanished from sight.
She had truly left, after delivering that cryptic message.
Staring dumbfounded at the empty space, I began to scan my surroundings.
I was standing alone in an empty forest.
Was meeting the Blood Demon really all I was meant to do?
What should I do now…?
I pondered my next move.
The Murim Alliance had brought me here, I'd met the Blood Demon and emerged unscathed—which was a relief—but I had no plan.
Should I return to the headquarters?
I thought for a moment, then shook my head.
No, it's better to act alone from here on out.
Staying with the Murim Alliance might be safer than that place, but 'safer' was a relative term. The Alliance wasn't exactly safe either.
Should I just run for now and figure things out later?
It was strange that no one was waiting for me—not the Celestial Sword or anyone else. But it was convenient, as it meant I could escape immediately.
Just as I was about to channel my Qi and leap away,
Shaaaa-!
"Hmm?"
The Red Water Snake suddenly slithered out from my sleeve, crying out loudly.
My eyes widened at the sight of the little snake.
"Oh, right. You were here too."
I'd completely forgotten about the bastard, even though it had been with me the whole time. Had it been unusually quiet?
…Wait, now that I think about it,
The Blood Demon hadn't mentioned the snake at all.
Did it not care? Or had it not noticed?
Shaa.
After showing itself for the first time in a while, the Red Water Snake coiled tightly around my arm and pointed insistently in a certain direction.
What was up with this guy?
"I'm busy right now, we'll talk later—"
I was about to ignore it and leap away, prioritizing my escape,
Thud-!
"...!"
But then I sensed a familiar Lightning Qi from far behind me.
I focused on the Qi, expanding my senses.
Simultaneously, the scent of blood wafted past my nose.
What's happening?
My usual instinct would be to assess the situation carefully or run immediately. But despite my brain screaming for caution, my body was already charging at full speed towards the source of the disturbance.