Chapter 474: To You Who's Lost in Oblivion (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 474: To You Who's Lost in Oblivion (1)
Dzzzt—
As the Gate of Demons nearly vanished without a trace after swallowing Gu Yangcheon, the Heavenly Demon stared into the empty space where it had been.
Silence lingered.
“Hah… Hah…”
A few people were still searching for Gu Yangcheon after his sudden disappearance.
Noticing their gazes, the Heavenly Demon turned her eyes to the Demonic Sword.
“Demonic Sword.”
Hearing the call, the Demonic Sword lifted her head, though she remained kneeling.
The Heavenly Demon saw the unmistakable disappointment in her eyes.
“Are you disappointed?”
“…No…”
It was a lie. The Demonic Sword was clearly disappointed.
Yet the Heavenly Demon did not blame her. After all, the Demonic Sword had always been like this across countless worlds.
Moreover, the Heavenly Demon felt a pang of remorse for not saving her when she had the chance. It might have been necessary, but the feeling still nagged at her.
Because of that, she decided to be generous—just this once.
“Speak, if you wish.”
The Heavenly Demon pointed toward the empty space.
Then—
Craaack—!
A rift began to tear open where her finger was aimed.
“If you desire it, I can send you there as well.”
The rift slowly widened. Unlike the white vortex that had swallowed Gu Yangcheon, this one was a deep violet.
Even so, the Demonic Sword knew—if she stepped through, she would see Gu Yangcheon again. The Heavenly Demon never lied.
Could I really see him again if I go?
The thought flashed through her mind. There were still so many things she hadn’t asked him. And she had felt so many new emotions when his eyes met hers—she wanted to see that gaze again. She wanted to ask why he had looked at her that way.
She remembered how he had shielded her the moment the rift appeared. It had happened in an instant, but every moment was engraved in her heart.
And yet…
“…I will not go.”
The Demonic Sword had no intention of following him.
The Heavenly Demon tilted her head at the firm refusal.
“Why?”
“My Gu Yangcheon… is here.”
“Hm.”
The Heavenly Demon smiled faintly and turned away. What a laughable answer.
Yet the Demonic Sword’s eyes shone with vivid conviction. The Heavenly Demon watched her thoughtfully.
My Gu Yangcheon… is it?
The Gu Yangcheon who had just vanished was still Gu Yangcheon—but to her, the one in this world mattered more. That was likely what she meant, but the way she emphasized “my” felt deliberate, almost as if she were saying it to the Heavenly Demon herself—and to her other half, who was still breathing heavily nearby.
It’s got me a little annoyed.
A slow-rising killing intent stirred within her.
The Heavenly Demon smiled inwardly, feeling a nasty emotion she hadn’t experienced in a long time. She wanted to tear out the Demonic Sword’s heart and end her—but she held back. The Demonic Sword still had a role to play in this timeline, and her answer had been satisfying enough to provoke such anger.
Crick—
The Heavenly Demon withdrew her hand, and the rift vanished without a trace.
“You’ve given me a satisfying answer. I’ll show mercy this time.”
The Demonic Sword bowed her head, and the Heavenly Demon smirked. So she really had been speaking to her, after all.
She considered punishment, but let it pass. The response had been satisfactory.
Besides…
“I’ve found the right path…”
After thousands of cycles, she had finally discovered the answer. Or perhaps she had known it all along—she had simply delayed, wanting to see a little more. Held back by regret, she had wandered lost for ages.
In the end…
In the end, she couldn’t avoid it. She had tried every method, searched for another way—but ultimately…
I’ll have to let you go.
There was no alternative. Seeing it for herself had made it certain.
Did she feel relieved? No. All that remained was disappointment.
“Demonic Sword.”
“…Yes, Leader.”
“Return to headquarters.”
The Demonic Sword looked up, startled, but didn’t dare argue. The Heavenly Demon’s gaze was frigid.
Step.
The Heavenly Demon walked toward the Celestial Sword.
The Celestial Sword had been staring desolately into the emptiness ever since Gu Yangcheon disappeared.
“As much as I’d like to end this cycle and begin anew…”
“Ugh…”
The Heavenly Demon grabbed the Celestial Sword by her hair. Her beautiful white locks had already returned to gold.
“…There is now a reason to continue this one.”
“…”
“I despise you. Enough to tear you apart right now.”
Was it because she looked just like her? Or because her other half had stolen his heart? Those might have been reasons, but they weren’t the true one.
Long ago, there had been another woman—nameless, with the same eyes as the Celestial Sword, endlessly chasing hope. The Heavenly Demon remembered that foolish hopefulness, that belief that if you worked hard enough, you could walk side-by-side with the one you loved.
It infuriated her every time she saw that look.
“Just kill m—”
“Silence. You will not say that to me.”
At the very least, the Celestial Sword should not beg for death.
Still gripping her hair, the Heavenly Demon glanced back at the Demonic Sword.
“Return to headquarters and tell the Captain this: I will visit in a few days. He should prepare.”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned back.
“And you.”
She resumed her earlier tone.
“Take me to you and my father. There is something I must say to him.”
The Celestial Sword’s eyes widened in shock.
The Heavenly Demon concealed her emotions as she watched her reaction. She would have to do this several more times—dozens, even. She had already made up her mind; she could do “that” anytime she wished.
But now was not the time. She had to wait a little longer. She needed to pave the way just a bit more. After all, she had endured all this time for exactly this.
Even with the end finally in sight, her heart felt heavy.
If there was one thing she wished for…
At the end of this timeline…
When it was all over, she hoped he would hold her again, like he had long ago, and tell her she had done well.
She pictured it clearly—but she knew, deep down, it would never happen.
* * *
I felt dazed.
It was like floating in some formless space. Comfortable? Not exactly unpleasant, at least.
Where was this?
My mind was as hazy as my body felt. Struggling to gather my thoughts, I tried to focus.
What happened before I lost consciousness?
…!
Scattered memories rushed back.
I was killed by the Heavenly Venerable. I fought the Blood Qi monster. My vessel shattered. I became something less than human.
…And the Heavenly Demon.
I even met the Heavenly Demon.
Remembering it all, my eyes snapped open.
“Hugh…!”
I sat up abruptly.
…The Gate of Demons…
A white Gate of Demons had opened and swallowed me whole.
I scanned my surroundings.
Maybe…
Did I really return to my world, like the Heavenly Demon said?
I hadn’t accomplished anything resembling a test in that other world. I couldn’t afford to come back empty-handed.
…Hm?
But something felt off.
I expected to see either the barren lands of Sichuan or the secret vault I’d been in before crossing worlds. This was neither.
“Where the hell is this…?”
Contrary to what the Heavenly Demon had said, I wasn’t in my world.
Everything was white—a strange, boundless whiteness. There were no walls, no ceiling, no sense of direction.
“This place…”
It felt familiar, as if I’d been here before. How?
Just as I stood to get a better look—
“Hm?”
I noticed something strange. Something had appeared right in front of me that hadn’t been there while I was sitting.
“…”
I understood immediately.
Far in the distance, there was a figure.
Frowning, I focused my vision.
A woman was seated there. Before her stood a small table with three tea cups—an oddly mundane sight in this surreal place. Her long green hair flowed down to her waist, and her hands rested calmly in her lap, eyes half-closed.
Recognizing her, I spoke carefully.
“Mistres—… No, Senior.”
She lifted her head at the sound of my voice and looked toward me.
There was no doubt. It was Tang Jaemoon, the one who had sent me to that other world.
“It’s been a while.”
Her voice was soft, but hearing it made me frown. Anger surged in me the moment I saw her—along with countless questions.
“What did you want from me, that you would—”
“I waited, hoping to see you again… but you took much longer than I expected.”
“Hey, I’m trying to talk—”
I tried to protest, but stopped when I saw Tang Jaemoon’s eyes. She wasn’t looking at me.
I followed her gaze.
There…
“…Huh?”
Another figure had appeared—a tall old man in white robes, standing with his hands behind his back. I recognized him instantly from the flower emblem on his chest and the image burned into my memory.
“…Elder Shin…?”
It was really him.
“…”
I stared in shock, but he too was looking only at Tang Jaemoon, not me.
Was it because they were meeting again after so long? Elder Shin looked deeply startled—but what he said next left me utterly bewildered.
“…Who are you?”
“Eh?”
What…?