Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Reality and Dream
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Reality and Dream
A bright sun shone warmly from the sky.
"Ugh..."
I groaned, slowly opening my eyes.
‘Warm sunlight and a cool breeze... everything feels so nice. But what was I doing?’
Frowning, I shielded my eyes from the dazzling light before jolting upright.
"Gah...!"
I quickly scanned my surroundings.
"That's right. I... I was definitely fighting the Blood Demons..."
Just moments ago, I should have been in the middle of a vicious battle, yet my surroundings were utterly peaceful.
The grass swayed gently in the cool breeze, and white clouds drifted lazily across the sky.
"What... what in the world is... wait, why does my voice sound like this?"
Realizing my voice was different from usual, I immediately examined my body.
Hands, arms, legs, feet.
I realized my body had become significantly younger.
"...This can't be. Is this some trick by those Blood Cult bastards?"
I hurriedly looked around, trying to find a way to return to my original body.
Just then.
*Rustle, rustle.*
I heard the sound of someone approaching.
I stared intently toward the sound, my body tensed.
‘Who is it? A Blood Demon? This is bad... I have no weapon, and my body is that of a child.’
A moment later, a woman appeared.
"Oh, Myeong. There you are."
The woman called my name familiarly, her tone gentle.
"What..."
And I knew this woman better than anyone.
The reason was none other than...
"Mother...?"
"What's wrong, dear? You're breaking out in a cold sweat."
Because she was my mother.
"How are you..."
"What? What's with the formal tone with your own mother? Come on, let's go. It's getting late. You need to eat lunch before you play."
"N-no, no. This is..."
I backed away, a look of utter bewilderment on my face.
‘How can Mother be alive? This is impossible...’
Just then.
*Thud.*
Someone blocked my path from behind. I whipped my head around to see a man standing there.
And he was...
"Son! Your mother worked hard all morning preparing meat side dishes for you. Let's take a break from playing and go eat."
My father.
"F-Father? Impossible... you abandoned our family..."
"You brat. What are you talking about? Why would I ever abandon you and your mother? What kind of nightmare did you have?"
"Lies! This is a fake! A fake..."
Believing the situation to be completely nonsensical, I tried to back away, but my father lifted me effortlessly onto his shoulders and laughed.
"Haha. You brat. What's with talking like an old man? Haha."
"Let me go!"
I struggled, trying to break free.
"Hey, calm down, you little rascal. You're hurting your dad's shoulders!"
As I thrashed with all my might, my father lost his grip. I immediately rolled on the ground, got into a stance, and shouted.
"A-are you okay? Did you get hurt when you fell...?"
"Stop lying! You can't be my parents! My parents... my parents...!"
Just then, I felt a warm embrace from behind.
"Son, did something happen? You're not acting like yourself. You're scaring Mommy."
I wanted to pull away, but I couldn't bring myself to use any strength.
This warm embrace from my mother.
I simply couldn't push this warmth away.
"You... you can't be... my parents..."
Then my father approached, knelt down, and gently stroked my head.
"Son, you must have had a nightmare. It's okay now. It's really okay. Mom and Dad are here."
I had always lived with an inexplicable emptiness gnawing at my heart.
I didn't know what it was, but no matter how hard I struggled, I could never escape it.
And in this very moment.
With a simple hug from my parents, the void in my heart vanished as if it had been washed away.
"Is... is this... really... reality?"
I forced the words out, my voice trembling.
"Of course. This is reality. What else would it be, a dream? Your loving Mom and Dad are right here beside you."
"Haha, you must have had a terrible nightmare. It happens sometimes. But don't worry. This is definitely reality."
It was too sweet.
"R-really? This isn't... a dream?"
I faced the feelings I had tried so hard to ignore.
The one thing I had longed for and desired so much.
The one thing I had spent my entire life searching for.
It was none other than love.
I wanted to be loved.
"Of course, it's real. Son, you know Mommy loves you, right?"
"Haha, it's okay. It's okay. Son, the nightmare must have been really scary. It's all right. Your dependable dad is right here."
Warm laughter swirled around me.
The walls I had painstakingly built around my heart for so long crumbled all too easily.
I gripped my mother's and father's hands, determined never to let go again, and replied with a bright smile.
"Yes, yes... I think so."
As I spoke, Mom and Dad looked at me with warm eyes.
"A-a nightmare... That's right. That's right! I think I just had a nightmare...!"
There were countless things that didn't add up, but my mind and body had no will to resist this situation.
"Haha, a big boy crying over a nightmare. You may have grown a bit, but you're still a baby."
"It's okay. Mommy's here. You've been through a lot."
My mother patted my back, holding me in a warm embrace.
"Your loving Mom and Dad are here, so everything is fine."
I let myself lean completely into my mother and slowly spoke.
"...Yes, it was so hard. So very..."
"Don't you worry. Your loving Mom and Dad are here."
"Yes... Yes! Mom! Dad! I love you...! I love you...!"
The Sword Demon, Unmyeong—known as the 'Grand Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult,' the 'Public Enemy of the Martial World, one of the Seven Demons,' and the 'Despair of Swordsmen'—was no longer there.
There was only a child, craving his parents' love.
Whether this was a dream or reality no longer mattered to him.
This place, right now, where his kind father and warm mother loved him unconditionally...
For Unmyeong, this was reality.
***
*Thud.*
Consumed by the blood energy channeled by Hell Path, Unmyeong lost consciousness and collapsed.
Sohwal, who had been watching, immediately launched herself toward him.
"I cannot let the Sword Demon die like this...!"
*Thwip!*
Leaping down from the roof, Sohwal rushed toward the Sword Demon, only to be blocked by Asura Path.
*Clang!*
"Kuh...! Lady Ghost Demon... it's not too late! Please, return to our Cult...!"
"Not a chance."
*Fwoosh!*
As the Ghost Demon swung her straight sword in a wide arc, Sohwal was blown back by the force of the blood energy, rolling across the ground along with the Soul-Severing Sword that had been next to Unmyeong.
"Ah, right. That sword. It possessed quite a peculiar ability."
The Ghost Demon turned her gaze to the Soul-Severing Sword that had been sent flying with Sohwal.
"I'll be taking that sword as well."
As the Ghost Demon slowly began to walk forward, Sohwal immediately shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Yuhwa!"
At her call, Yuhwa, who had been watching the situation from a short distance away, quickly rushed in and scooped up the Soul-Severing Sword.
"Take the sword and run, now!"
"Y-yes!"
Yuhwa struggled to lift the demonic sword, which was almost as tall as she was, and began to run with all her might to get away from the Ghost Demon.
"A foolish act. You cannot stop me alone."
"You... you traitor! The Sword Demon will not yield so easily! He will soon rise and punish you all!"
"Nonsense. No human who falls into Hell Path's illusion can ever escape."
Asura Path's eyes gleamed coldly as she spoke to Sohwal.
"Hell Path's illusion shows a person what they desired most in their subconscious."
"The Sword Demon possesses an unyielding will! Besides, his greatest desire must be to punish you! He won't be defeated so easily!"
"With that unyielding will, he will obtain in his dream what he most wanted to achieve. Besides, have you ever imagined? What it is the Sword Demon truly wants and desires most."
"..."
"You don't know, do you? Neither do I. Everyone lives their lives hiding their true selves. But one thing is certain: he is in his happiest moment right now. So discard any useless hope you might have."
As the Ghost Demon started walking toward the fleeing Yuhwa, Sohwal quickly scrambled to her feet and blocked her path.
"Blood Demon, I will not fall for your cunning words. Even if the Sword Demon truly falls, that is no reason for me to stop!"
"Bold. But that is all. Courage without power is nothing but recklessness."
*Shing.*
The Ghost Demon's straight sword gleamed sharply, glinting in the crimson moonlight.
With firm resolve, Sohwal leaped toward the Ghost Demon.
Meanwhile, Yuhwa, who was fleeing with the Soul-Severing Sword, heard a mysterious voice.
[Kid, can you hear me?]
"Wh-what? Is a Blood Demon here already?!"
[It seems direct physical contact is the condition for hearing me. Anyway, kid, where are you looking? I'm over here. Here.]
Yuhwa looked around before her eyes finally landed on the crimson eye of the demonic sword she was carrying.
[There. Now you're looking at the right place.]
The girl, who had been running for her life, stared blankly for a moment before her expression turned to one of sheer horror.
"Wha-wha-whaaaaat?! The sword is talking...?!"
[Yes, yes. The sword is talking. How amazing. Truly amazing.]
"I-it's really talking..."
Yuhwa couldn't even finish her sentence, staring at the demonic sword with a bewildered face.
Looking at her, the Soul-Severing Sword spoke.
[There's no time for a long explanation, so I'll make it brief.]
The Soul-Severing Sword's eye turned toward the fallen Unmyeong.
[Throw me to where the Sword Demon is.]
"The... the Sword Demon? You mean... Young Master Un?"
[Yes. His true identity is the Grand Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Sword Demon. Well, you must have guessed he was no ordinary fellow.]
The Seven Demons of the Heavenly Demon Cult were public enemies of the Martial Alliance, so Yuhwa knew of them well.
But she had never once considered that Unmyeong could be the Sword Demon.
[It seems he's in a situation where he can't escape on his own.]
"Th-then what do we do?"
[I'll have to step in. So put me back next to the Sword Demon. I'll take care of the rest.]
"But..."
[There's no time. Even as we speak, the Sword Demon's subordinate is risking her life. What will you do? Die a dog's death together?]
Yuhwa stopped running and stared into the demonic sword's red eye.
Then, she immediately changed direction and dashed back toward Unmyeong.
Sohwal, who was struggling to hold off the Ghost Demon, couldn't hide her surprise at seeing Yuhwa return.
‘Wh-why is she coming back...?’
The Ghost Demon was just as surprised.
"What is this...? Has she given up? Well, it doesn't matter either way."
The Ghost Demon immediately ignored Sohwal and headed for Yuhwa.
But Sohwal, who had no intention of letting her pass, stood in her way despite her entire body being a wreck.
"Your opponent is me!"
"Persistent. For a mere human, you've held on for quite some time. Isn't it about time you died?"
Just as the Ghost Demon said, Sohwal's body was covered in blood.
It was only thanks to her agile movements, her specialty, that she had managed to survive this long.
Even though the Ghost Demon had been weakened after taking Unmyeong's technique, she was still one of the Six Paths Blood Demons.
To hold out against such an opponent for so long was an incredible feat in itself.
Sohwal, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, shouted to Yuhwa.
"Why did you come back?! You must take that sword until the Sword Demon awakens...!"
Just then, Yuhwa threw the demonic sword with all her might toward the fallen Unmyeong.
"Hyaaaaaah!"
The Soul-Severing Sword skidded across the ground, and its hilt once again made contact with Unmyeong's hand.