Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Time to Part
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Unmyeong believed the demonic sword’s words.
He didn't want to believe the words of a vile Blood Demon.
To think that the reason he had just found to live in reality, after waking from a dream, would disappear.
It was absurd.
That was why Unmyeong trusted her.
Her words, asking him to trust her, had quelled his anxiety.
"Ghost Demon. Let's end this."
"We shall. Come."
The blades of the Sword Demon and the Ghost Demon clashed with all their might, each seeking to end the other's life.
Their exchange was too fast to follow with the naked eye.
*Claaaang!*
Fierce sparks flew each time their blades met.
The Sword Demon and the Ghost Demon faced each other, their expressions grim with deadly resolve.
"Sword Demon, your firm will is surprising, but… I cannot die!"
"Nonsense! Ghost Demon, your act of apostasy will be judged by death!"
"No! I cannot die, not for my son's sake! You, who have no children, wouldn't understand! To have someone more precious than your own life!"
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
A red glint flared in the Ghost Demon’s eyes.
She slammed her straight sword down violently and shouted.
"I have sacrificed everything for my son! My life! My authority! My dignity! Compared to that, what do you have?! What in the world do you even have?!"
*Screeeech—*
The Ghost Demon breathed heavily, staring at Unmyeong's face over their locked blades.
"Why are you so desperately clinging to life…!"
"I have this sword."
At his words, the Ghost Demon let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha! You're a madman! A lunatic in love with a sword! Just because it has a bit of a personality, you think it's a real person?! It's a tool! Nothing more than a lump of iron!"
"Silence! Do not insult my companion!"
"You insane Sword Demon! Die for me and my son! Die! If I die, my son will die too. Don't you feel any pity for us?!"
As the end of the battle neared, the Ghost Demon, her emotions running high, unleashed all the words she had kept locked away.
"If you die, you lose only your own life… but I have my son! I swore to him! That I would help him open his eyes again! Again!"
"I, too, have sworn an oath with this sword! We have a dream we must fulfill. We can't possibly stop here!"
"You madman! You deranged fool, in love with a sword! Even your life is a waste!"
*Claaaaang!*
They swung their blades furiously, trading blows and drawing blood.
Each had their own reason they could not back down.
In the midst of the brutal battle, they glimpsed a deep madness in each other's eyes.
A mother who had forsaken her humanity for her son, becoming a murderer who sacrificed everything.
A man who would not back down from death for the sake of the sword he loved.
It was impossible to say who was crazier.
What mattered was who was more desperate.
Their two blades surged toward each other, demonic energy and blood energy mixing in a chaotic storm.
They revealed everything they had honed, testing the other's desperation for the sake of the one they loved.
After countless exchanges, Unmyeong's blade dug into the Ghost Demon's neck. She sacrificed her arm to swing her sword wide and retreat.
*Claaaaang!*
A momentary distance opened between them.
As she fled, the Ghost Demon began to regenerate the severed tendons in her arm, trying to catch her breath, but Unmyeong did not miss this chance.
He squeezed out all his remaining strength and delivered the final blow, just as the demonic sword had told him.
*Swoooooosh—*
Seeing Unmyeong's sudden, desperate leap, the Ghost Demon hastily raised her sword to block, but her arm, its tendons still healing, was too slow.
*Smack!*
Unmyeong slapped her sword away with his bare hand and plunged the demonic sword into Asura Path's heart.
*Stab!*
"Kuaargh!"
Red blood gushed out as Asura Path felt the agony of her heart being pierced.
She tried to pull back quickly, but Unmyeong had no intention of letting her go.
"Just stay put and vanish!"
The demonic energy radiating from Unmyeong pinned Asura Path's body in place.
There was no escape.
"Kuhuk! I can't die like this…! My son…"
She glared at Unmyeong.
But nothing happened, and she realized something strange.
She could no longer feel any demonic energy from Unmyeong's body.
"Don't tell me, you've run out of power?!"
"..."
In truth, Unmyeong lacked the strength to land the final blow on the Ghost Demon.
He had used up all his remaining internal energy to execute that sudden leap.
"Khuh… What a shame. It seems heaven is on my side!"
A Blood Demon does not die simply from having its heart pierced.
All she had to do was pull out the blade and heal.
"In the end, this is my victory, Sword Demon! I was more desperate!"
Just as Asura Path smiled, blood trickling from her lips, a voice came from the demonic sword.
[No, this is our victory.]
"What…?!"
Hearing a sword speak for the first time, the Ghost Demon looked with surprise at the demonic sword piercing her heart.
Its fading red eye blinked with effort as the demonic sword conveyed its will.
[I will always lead my master to victory. That is the role of a weapon.]
At that moment, the energy dwelling within the Soul-Severing Sword surged ominously and began to absorb Asura Path's blood energy.
*Shwaaaaaaa—*
The surrounding air began to overheat as it prepared a tremendous attack using the absorbed Blood Demon's power.
"D-Don't tell me…!"
Asura Path realized what the demonic sword was about to do, her eyes widening in panic.
The same was true for Unmyeong, who held the sword.
"W-Wait! You…!"
Sensing her own end, the demonic sword bade farewell to her master.
[It's a shame we must part this way, my master. Though our journey was short, it was a precious memory I will never forget.]
"W-Wait! No! Stop!"
[Don't be too sad. Where there is a meeting, there must also be a parting.]
Unmyeong tried to pull the sword out, but it was no use.
The Soul-Severing Sword had already burned the last embers of its life, preparing to unleash a massive explosion at the cost of its own will and life force.
Even in that moment, the demonic sword spoke to comfort its master.
[Unmyeong, I'm sorry I can't fulfill our dream with you. Will you forgive me for this?]
In that fleeting moment, Unmyeong recalled all the time he had spent with her.
Not like this.
It absolutely couldn't end like this.
Faced with the sudden turn of events, a whirlwind of emotions churned within his heart.
Panic, agony, despair, betrayal, sorrow, grief, regret.
An indescribable mix of feelings twisted his face.
"I-I can't let you go like this! No! Don't do it! I won't forgive you! You damn demonic sword! So please…!!"
He wanted to say something warmer, more poignant, but in that split second, his mind froze like a fool.
And so, tragically, he spat out words he didn't mean.
"Y-You defective piece of junk! I told you to stop! If you go like this, I'll be…!"
Hearing this, the Soul-Severing Sword spoke warmly, as if to reassure him.
[Yes. That's more like my master. Next time, find a proper weapon. Not a defective piece of junk like me.]
Seeing the demonic sword offer him warm words to the very end, Unmyeong was overcome with an unbearable wave of emotion.
At that moment, the demonic sword's eye glowed a brilliant, final red.
*Viiiiing—*
A massive explosion erupted from within Asura Path's body.
*Kwoaaaaaaang!*
*Splat. Splatter.*
The Ghost Demon's body was blown to pieces, flesh and blood scattering in every direction.
Her desperate love for her son had been thwarted by a wicked demonic sword.
Unmyeong was also thrown back by the blast.
After tumbling for some time, he groaned in pain, covered in dust.
"Kuhhh… De-Demonic Sword…"
Despite the aching pain that wracked his body, he searched for the demonic sword, forcing himself to his feet.
His physical strength had long been spent.
He moved on sheer willpower, walking toward the site of the explosion.
Staggering forward, he came upon Asura Path's remains—only her upper torso was left.
Even that was charred black, seemingly beyond hope.
Nevertheless, she struggled to open her mouth and utter her last words.
"My… son. Mo-mmy's… sorry. For not… being with you…"
With those words, Asura Path's breathing ceased.
It was a bitter end for a mother devoted to her son, but Unmyeong had no time for such sentiments.
"Demonic… Sword…"
He called out for her desperately, searching his surroundings while dragging his limping leg.
Soon, he found a black sword lying limply on the ground at the epicenter of the blast.
"Hah, heok…!"
He gasped and rushed over, carefully examining the fallen sword.
"Demonic… Sword? Are you alive…? I-I'm here…! Th-This is strange. Why… why aren't you saying anything?"
Unmyeong's breathing grew ragged as he slowly lifted the demonic sword.
"Demonic Sword… Soul-Severing Sword… I-I'm here. It's me…"
Despite his desperate calls, no answer came.
He then looked at the eye that had always glowed red.
The eye that had shone with such passion was now a cold, dark black.
"H-Hey. Demonic Sword. Ha, haha. Don't joke around. Th-This can't be happening."
He suddenly remembered the last words the demonic sword had said to him.
"Y-You defective thing! H-How could this happen?! How could you say that to me and then leave so meaninglessly! Stop joking around…"
Thick tears streamed down his cheeks.
"N-No. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for calling you a defective thing… That's not what I meant…"
Unmyeong was filled with regret. Why did he have to hurt her, even at the very end?
Why couldn't he have been better to her?
Why couldn't he have treated her more affectionately?
Deep regret tore through his mind.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
He looked up at the sky and let out a wretched, furious cry.
As if understanding his heart, raindrops began to fall from the gloomy sky.
*Plip. Plop.*
Soon, as if a hole had opened in the heavens, a torrential downpour soaked his body.
*Swoooooooosh—*
As Unmyeong sobbed for a long time, Sohwal cautiously approached and spoke.
"S-Sir Sword Demon… We've confirmed the apostate's death… Are you all right…?"
At her return, Unmyeong replied in a trembling voice.
"All right…? Did you just ask me if I'm all right?"
"...W-Well."
Sohwal couldn't help but be shocked.
Never before had the Sword Demon shown such emotion.
It was the first time she had seen him, who always maintained a stoic demeanor, weep so sorrowfully.
"The woman who saved me… is dead."
"The woman, you mean that sword?"
When Sohwal asked, he nodded slightly and replied.
"What am I supposed to do…? I'd only just found hope. I'd finally found a reason to live… What am I to do now?"
Looking at Unmyeong, Sohwal spoke cautiously.
"S-Sir Sword Demon. Please cheer up. It's just a sword, isn't it? There are plenty of other weapons…"
"—Shut up!!!!"
Unmyeong lost his reason, his eyes bloodshot as he shouted.
"What! What do you know! I never even heard her name! I just took her help and did nothing for her! Finally! Finally! I found a reason to live! Finally, I found the only one who understood my heart! Do you have any idea how I feel, having to let her go so meaninglessly?!"
"S-Sir Sword Demon…"
He raged with such passion that Sohwal's face turned pale, and she stepped back.
"Get out of my way! I won't accept this! Sh-She's still alive! She can still be saved!"
Unmyeong panted heavily and began to run.
"S-Sir Sword Demon! Where are you going…!"
"The Blacksmith! That possessed blacksmith can do it! He can definitely bring her back…!"
Hadn't he said he awakened a sword that was once without consciousness?
Firmly believing it was possible again, he dragged his injured body and ran through the fierce rain.
"Sir Sword Demon! Please calm down! It'll be faster to take the carriage!"
Hearing this, Unmyeong shouted at Sohwal.
"Then what are you doing?! Hurry! Bring the carriage! I have to get to that blacksmith quickly!"
"B-But we still need to investigate the area…"
"Investigate? Investigate?! While she's dying? Investigate?! Are you in your right mind?! Get lost! I'll go by myself!"
"N-No, sir! I'll bring the carriage right away!"
Unmyeong stood in the cold rain, gazing at the blackened, cold Soul-Severing Sword.
A deep obsession filled his eyes.
"I can't let you go like this. If you leave, what am I, left all alone, supposed to live for…?"
Unmyeong was thirty-three years old this year.
He had lost the woman who had awakened him to love for the first time in his life, all in a single day.