Chapter 549: Why are you here?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 549: Why are you here?
Four days had passed.
I had left the Guangdong region behind and crossed into Hunan.
Swoooosh.
The sound of rushing water reached my ears. As night began to fall, I found a spot in a valley and sat down wherever looked comfortable. I felt as though I’d been walking for an eternity, yet the forest still stretched out endlessly around me.
“Hmm.”
I couldn't deny that I had been moving at a rather leisurely pace. But for now, that was fine.
‘Things were resolved easily.’
I finally had some time to spare. There were three reasons I had intended to move quickly while in Guangdong.
The first was…
‘The Strongest Steel.’
I was after the secret vault in the Guangdong region where the Strongest Steel was stored. Finding it hadn't been particularly difficult; I had more detailed information than I’d expected.
‘Though there was a bit of a problem along the way.’
A conflict had arisen with a man known as the Red Demon of Nine Fists, leading to a battle. However, I was able to use that situation to my advantage to settle the next matter.
‘I killed Wiseok.’
That was my second objective for coming to Guangdong: to eliminate Wiseok, the current branch manager of the Murim Alliance’s Guangdong branch. My desire for revenge had faded somewhat over time, so…
‘It was mostly a matter of convenience.’
My goal was simply to take care of it while I was already in the area.
‘And I had to spread my name while I was at it.’
I had already left a strong impression on a martial artist named Seodong, so that shouldn't be an issue.
‘There’s a chance he won’t talk, though.’
I had told him to report the incident, but there was always a possibility he wouldn't. Even so, it didn't matter. The important part was that Wiseok was dead. Because of this, the Guangdong branch would likely need at least a month to sort through the chaos. Although the branch manager was the only casualty…
‘It’s no different from turning the place upside down.’
An unidentified person had appeared out of nowhere and completely wrecked the branch. If a report reached the main headquarters, there would be significant changes on their end as well.
‘One to two months.’
That was likely how long it would take to appoint a new branch manager and stabilize the situation. It wasn't a long time, but it would be enough to delay their response to any incidents caused by demons. And that delay would likely result in casualties.
So.
“Just keep a casual eye on that area,” I whispered quietly into the night.
[I will obey your command.]
A voice answered from the darkness. I didn't bother to turn my head.
[I will station personnel in each region.]
It meant that while the Alliance was in turmoil, they would pay just enough attention to prevent any unnecessary loss of life in the Guangdong region.
Ah.
“While you’re at it, spread some rumors, too.”
[As you command.]
Just as I thought our business was concluded…
[And…]
The telepathic voice continued.
[The Captain had a message for you.]
“The Dark King?”
I widened my eyes in question, and the voice continued.
[‘The child’s preparations are complete. I will send them back now.’ That was the message I was ordered to convey.]
“...”
Hearing those words, I let out a soft breath. I knew exactly who that message was referring to.
‘I’ll be seeing them soon.’
The last time I saw them was two years ago. That much time had passed since they left with the Dark King, claiming they had necessary training to complete.
I gave a slight nod. “Understood.”
As I finished speaking, the presence behind me vanished. Only after sensing they were gone did I rise from the rock.
I started walking, leaving the spot and heading toward the sound of the crashing waves. As I drew closer…
Swoooosh!
The river, reflecting the moonlight, churned with white foam. I spotted someone sitting near the water’s edge.
Splash! Splash!
Someone was crouched down, washing something in the river. They must have taken off their top, as their pale skin was clearly visible in the moonlight.
Watching them, I asked, “What are you doing?”
“...!”
The person, who had been diligently scrubbing their clothes, flinched at my voice. Then, with a mechanical creak, they turned their stiff neck to look at me.
The first things I noticed were their yellow eyes—weary and utterly exhausted. The young man’s identity was none other than…
The Sword Demon of my past life, the Heavenly Killing Star.
And on top of that…
The former sect leader of Kunlun. The man presumed to be the disciple of Qinghai Sword.
It was Seong Yul.
“What are you doing right now?”
“...”
In response to my question, Seong Yul held up the clothes he was clutching.
“...I was just… washing my clothes.”
“At this time of night?”
“...Yes. I haven't had a proper chance.”
“Hmm.”
It was true that our recent circumstances hadn't allowed for much hygiene. But even so…
‘He’s not in his right mind, either.’
To think he’d be washing his clothes just because he found a valley in this situation. I looked at the man's bare upper body. For a martial artist who had reached such a high level, his musculature was lacking. His frame was large, but he was gaunt—likely just thin.
Most notably, the scars covering his body, including his chest, caught my eye.
‘Those are…’
Those weren't scars inflicted by an enemy. They were the marks left when one injures oneself.
“Hey.”
“Yes…?”
“Give me those clothes.”
“...?”
Though Seong Yul looked puzzled, he obediently handed them over. I snatched the soaking wet garments and infused them with my Qi.
Fwoosh!
“...!”
In that instant, a burst of heat erupted, drying the wet fabric in a flash. I casually tossed the dry clothes back to him. The man caught them hastily, a dumbfounded look on his face.
The sight of his scars was simply unpleasant. Looking at him, I asked, “I'm surprised you didn't run away.”
“...Ah.”
Not much time had passed since I had momentarily disappeared, but it was more than enough for him to escape if he had wanted to. Over the past few days we had been traveling together, there had been several such opportunities, yet Seong Yul had never attempted to flee.
At my question, Seong Yul replied without any change in his expression.
“Even if I ran, I have nowhere to go.”
“Why? Go home. Your home is in Qinghai, isn't it?”
As I brought up the Kunlun Sect, Seong Yul’s expression darkened.
“...That place… is no longer somewhere I can go.”
Whenever we talked about Kunlun, he looked like that. If there was anything I had learned about Seong Yul over the past few days, it was this:
‘He’s not yet thirty.’
He had mentioned he was twenty-five.
‘And it seems he is affiliated with Kunlun.’
Either he currently belonged to them, or he used to. From what I could see, it was one of the two. In addition…
‘He’s also connected to Qinghai Sword.’
He never mentioned it directly, but I was certain of it. And yet, a man like that…
‘Why is he here, doing this?’
It wasn't strange for a Heavenly Killing Star to devolve into a murderer. However, if that martial artist had belonged to the Kunlun Sect, it created several problems.
‘The Heavenly Killing Star is to be executed on sight.’
This was one of the absolute rules set by the Alliance. Upon discovering a Heavenly Killing Star, one must immediately report it. It was a law that any member of the Orthodox Faction was expected to follow.
‘For Qinghai Sword to have known this and pretended otherwise…’
If he had even kept him under his wing and raised him…
‘What was his intention?’
I didn't know the answer to that. The important thing was…
‘This has become a rather troublesome situation.’
In the past, he was just a madman obsessed with slaughter. What was the Sword Demon like now? At least from what I could see, he seemed a bit dazed, but otherwise like a perfectly normal guy.
‘Then again, he’s not entirely normal.’
Judging by his appearance when we first met—as if to prove he was indeed the Heavenly Killing Star—that man was no different from the Sword Demon I had seen in my past life.
However…
‘He hasn't been completely consumed by the Heavenly Killing Star yet.’
In my past life, it seemed he had been entirely devoured by his constitution. But now, it appeared that wasn't yet the case. To put it another way…
‘He’ll be devoured eventually anyway.’
In the future, he would be unable to overcome the Heavenly Killing Star and would be consumed by it. As I thought of that…
‘I should just stick to my original plan.’
Corrupt him into a Demonic Human and use him in the future. That was the reason I had sought him out, yet I found myself hesitating.
‘Tsk.’
The image of his eyes from a few days ago—begging me to kill him while he was consumed by guilt—flashed through my mind. The memory brought a surge of irritation.
‘Ah, damn it. I saw something I shouldn't have.’
It was annoying. If I hadn't seen that, I would have gotten rid of him without a second thought. But because I saw those damn eyes, hesitation had taken root.
Tsk.
As I clicked my tongue at the rising emotion, Seong Yul, having finished dressing, asked me a question.
“Um…”
“What.”
“May I ask what it is you desire from me…?”
“What?”
Seong Yul asked cautiously. “...Why would someone like you want to travel with me? For what purpose do you intend to use me?”
Someone like me, huh.
I let out a smirk at his words. “And who do you think I am?”
“I do not know. However, I know that you are no ordinary person.”
He seemed to be under some kind of misunderstanding. I wasn't that great of a person.
‘Besides, I’m not even human anymore.’
I swallowed the words I had no intention of saying.
“Then why are you following me when you don't know who I am or what I'm going to do?”
“...Because you told me to.”
I’m following you because you told me to. That was his simple logic.
“Is that why you didn't run away?”
“Not only do I have nowhere to go if I run…” Seong Yul looked at me with calm eyes. “I judged that I would not be able to escape.”
“Hmm.”
The reason he didn't try to escape was that he believed he couldn't get away from me even if he tried.
‘He’s more perceptive than I thought.’
He was right. I had no intention of letting him go peacefully.
‘I’d sooner kill him.’
He possessed the Heavenly Killing Star. How could I let him live, not knowing what he might become later? And in the midst of that…
‘What I desire.’
What I wanted from him in this situation.
“Well.”
Nothing came to mind just yet. No, there was something, but it wasn't something I could ask of him right now.
“And so what if I desire something? What would change? Would you even do it?”
“...I do not know,” Seong Yul shook his head. “However… if it is something I can do, I will do it.”
Hearing that, I tilted my head. “What kind of bullshit is that? You don't know who I am or what I'll do, but you'll do it if you can?”
I was planning to turn him into a Demonic Human to use him because I thought he wouldn't listen to me. And now he was saying he’d listen on his own? It was simply absurd.
“Why the sudden change of heart?”
“...”
“What’s with you?”
If he was going to listen to me on his own, it would be convenient, but I was curious about the reason. As I stared at him, my eyes full of questions, Seong Yul began to speak in a weary voice.
“You are aware of the problem I carry, are you not?”
I knew it well. That he had a mad constitution that craved blood and the pain of others.
“If you still need me, knowing that… I thought that would be fine.”
If I needed him even knowing he was a Heavenly Killing Star, then that was enough for him. Also…
“Is it that you have nowhere to go anyway, so you’d rather do something than just stand around like this?”
“...”
His silence carried a heavy sense of resignation.
“Hmm…”
Listening to Seong Yul, I thought, ‘This is ambiguous.’
A Sword Demon not yet driven by madness. It would have been easier to use him if he were already steeped in insanity. But in his current, uncertain state, he was nothing but a burden to me.
‘A bomb that could go off at any moment.’
He seemed fine now, but if his madness flared up, he might change like he did at the barracks. Knowing that, wouldn't it be better to just turn him into a Demonic Human now and use him safely? That thought crossed my mind.
‘It’s a pain to even think about it.’
The image of him consumed by guilt. The nagging feeling because of his connection to Qinghai Sword. No matter how long I mulled it over, there was only one answer.
‘Unless I have a way to suppress his Heavenly Killing Star.’
As if something like that existed. I didn't know what Qinghai Sword was thinking, but as far as I knew, there was no such method.
Right.
‘Let’s take the easy way.’
If I wasn't going to turn him into a Demonic Human, I had to kill him. In that case, it would be better to start the demonization process now.
As I thought that and was about to reach for Seong Yul…
Shaaa.
“...!”
I felt a presence behind me and quickly turned my head.
“What is it?” Seong Yul asked, wearing a bewildered expression at my reaction. “Um…?”
“Be quiet for a moment.”
“...”
In the silence, I drew upon my internal energy and spread my senses.
Fwoooosh!
The Qi that erupted from my feet enveloped the surroundings. Then, the presences became clearer. There were two of them. And they were rapidly approaching.
“Damn.”
The moment I sensed them, I frowned. It was because I recognized the presences. The problem was, they weren't presences I should be sensing here.
‘…Why do I feel that child’s presence here?’
Questions arose, but there was no time to think. The moment I confirmed the presences, I circulated the Qi in my body.
Then.
Crack!
A sound came from my joints as my body began to change.
“...Huh…?” Seong Yul let out a short gasp as he witnessed the scene.
Crrrack!
Along with the sound, my body grew smaller and smaller. My height decreased, and my build shrank. The difference was about a handspan.
“Hoo…”
After barely managing to shrink my body, I swept my hair back. Then I checked my reflection in the valley stream. Slightly reddish pupils were the first thing I saw. Fortunately, it seemed the transformation was successful.
“...W-what in the…?” Seong Yul was staring at my suddenly transformed appearance with a look of utter shock.
But this wasn't a situation where I could explain. Just as I was barely pulling myself together, I felt the presences finally draw near.
Step.
I heard the sound of light footsteps.
“Oh…?”
Then, a voice followed. The beautiful, clear voice of a woman. Her voice was thick with bewilderment. As I turned my head toward the sound…
“...What?”
The woman whose eyes met mine widened them as far as they could go. Her face was both familiar and strange. Sharp, yet slightly downturned eyes. Black hair left to fall freely. A small crest drawn on her white uniform, and a frame that was small even for a woman.
And on top of that… a face that resembled someone I missed dearly.
The woman couldn't hide her shock as she looked at me.
“Why…”
The woman’s identity was, surprisingly…
“...is my brother here?”
The fourth child of the Gu Clan.
It was Gu Ryunghwa.