Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Sword Demon and the Demonic Sword (6)
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I was running alone in the darkness.
Though nothing was chasing me, I felt an urgent need to flee.
I didn’t know what I was running toward, but I felt compelled to race toward the horizon.
I have to run toward my goal and flee from failure.
"Gasp...! Gasp...!"
As I ran, panting, my heart grew more and more anxious.
What lay beyond seemed to grow more distant, while whatever was chasing me seemed to be getting closer.
As I ran endlessly, I suddenly fell into a large pit that opened up beneath my feet.
Falling endlessly, I flailed my arms, trying to grab onto something, but caught nothing.
I continued to fall for a long time.
Just how long will I keep falling?
It feels like an eternity, yet also like a fleeting moment.
Is there even a bottom?
What on earth was I so afraid of that I was running like that?
What on earth was I hoping for that I was running so desperately?
Everything is a mystery, and not a single thing is certain.
Suddenly, the words my mother once told me came to mind.
"You must become famous. So famous that everyone looks up to you."
"Succeed. Become a being superior to all others, endlessly perfect in their eyes."
"Become a great man and resolve this mother's regrets. Make your father, who abandoned me for being lowly, regret it..."
My mother cursed the world every day, not knowing she was digging her own grave.
Even in the moment her grave was complete, her words to me never changed.
"Never show your weakness to others. This world is just waiting for you to become weak."
The further I go, the more anxious and fearful I become, but I must not let it show.
Because I must be a perfect person.
But for some reason, every time I run forward, someone blocks my path.
To be perfect and superior, I must surpass everyone and stand alone at the summit.
‘Get out of my way, all of you.’
When I first held a sword at a young age, the neighborhood thugs blocked my path.
After I surpassed them, martial artists blocked my path.
After I surpassed them, masters who had transcended the peak blocked my path.
After surpassing them all, a woman who seems utterly unbeatable is now blocking my path.
Known as the ‘Ghost Demon’ or the ‘Ghost Blade Rakshasa,’ she is said to be the strongest of the Seven Demons. If I manage to surpass that monster, what will block my path next?
Is there even an end to this?
If I slip and fall, won't I be caught by those chasing me?
The summit might be just ahead, but what if I fall just like this?
As I fell endlessly into the black pit, I closed my eyes and decided not to look down anymore.
Because the moment I looked, I would surely tremble in fear.
I would rather break than face it.
Just then, I heard a voice that was somehow familiar, yet irritating.
[There is no such thing as a perfect person in this world.]
‘Who is it?’
Suddenly, an unpleasant pair of red eyes came to mind.
‘Ah, damn it. That wretched thing.’
It was surely the voice of that unpleasant demonic sword, but the meaning within it wasn't half bad.
[Sadly, as long as you are born human, you are bound to live with anxiety and fear. But, my master. Let me tell you one good thing.]
[Happiness is not found in the satisfaction of reaching a goal, but in the process of chasing it. So do not be too harsh on yourself.]
[Life is something you can only move forward in, never backward, so it's okay to rest a little along the way.]
Despair awaited at the bottom of the black pit, but I finally opened my eyes and looked at the one who spoke to me.
There, it was not the red-eyed demonic sword, but a woman in pure white, reaching her hand out to me.
[Cherish yourself. My master.]
The moment I slowly reached out my hand toward her, who was endlessly warm and dazzlingly bright...
***
-Clunk!
"Ugh!"
Unmyeong jolted violently in his sleep and ended up hitting his head on the wall.
It didn't hurt, but such a sight would usually look ridiculous to others, so he reflexively turned his head and scanned his surroundings.
Fortunately, he was alone in the carriage. As he breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes met with the Soul-Severing Sword, which was lying on the opposite seat.
He felt a chill run down his spine, and his premonition was never wrong.
[Oh, dear. My foolish master, Unmyeong. It seems you had a pitiful nightmare, didn't you? To the point where your clothes are soaked in a cold sweat.]
The demonic sword's red eye curved slightly, giving off a mocking air.
Normally, he would have immediately yelled at it to shut up, but not only was he conscious of his subordinate, Sohwal, in the driver's seat, but the voice of the woman from his dream also happened to match the demonic sword's, making it hard for him to speak.
[What are you blinking for? Wipe the drool from your mouth. To think the Sword Demon... Tsk.]
"Haaa..."
Unmyeong placed a hand on his forehead, a headache already setting in.
‘Right. I just had a strange dream. There's no way that wretched thing would be so kind.’
Though it was just a brief dream, he mulled over the words that had brought him comfort as he looked at the scenery outside.
It was his attempt to ignore the demonic sword's voice.
[Seeing you quiet down, it seems you've finally decided to be obedient to me. Yes. How nice it is to see you being such a good boy. Just keep it up from now on.]
-Crack.
But his efforts were in vain, as his fist clenched on its own, angry veins bulging.
Every single word it chose was marvelously crafted to provoke him.
As a Grand Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult and one of the Seven Demons, he hadn't been subjected to such blatant ‘disregard’ or ‘mockery’ for a long time.
Of course, it sometimes appeared in the rivalries between the Seven Demons, but even the others were cautious around him, who ranked at the top in terms of martial power. Even when they did challenge him, it could be considered truly ‘gentlemanly’ compared to this damn demonic sword.
He had been looked down on for a short while in his youth, but that was long ago, and he had ended up crushing them all. As a result, his tolerance for insults was now practically non-existent.
He was frustrated with resentment and anger, but he couldn't do anything about it, which only made him more furious.
Just then, Unmyeong's eyes fell upon the spare cloth he had brought to wrap the demonic sword.
He didn't hesitate for long.
Clenching his teeth, he picked up the demonic sword and whispered in a voice low enough for Sohwal not to hear.
"You son of a bitch... I'll cut you off from the world entirely..."
[You have the face of a pouting child who's had their toy taken away. How adorable.]
"You... son of a... bitch...!"
In the end, he spat out a curse he would never normally utter.
With bloodshot eyes, he roughly wrapped the demonic sword in the cloth.
Before, he had only covered the blade and the red eye, but now he wrapped the entire thing, hilt and all, until it was impossible to tell if it was a sword or a bundle of cloth.
"Gasp... Gasp...!"
Unmyeong panted heavily as he looked at his handiwork.
"How do you like that? Feeling suffocated?! If you reflect deeply and offer me a sincere apology, then I'll unwrap you!"
Knowing the demonic sword's personality, it was unlikely to apologize, let alone reflect, so Unmyeong had played his strongest card.
However, the Soul-Severing Sword's reaction was unexpected.
[Unmyeong, my master. You seem to be quite upset. I shall apologize for this one.]
"Of course! There's no way you'd apolog—huh, what? What did you just say...?"
For a moment, he wondered if he had misheard, and asked with a dumbfounded expression as he looked at the sword.
"No way... Did you just... apologize to me?"
[That is correct. Why are you acting like someone who's never received an apology before? It seems I teased you too harshly, so let it go.]
Seeing the venomous Soul-Severing Sword adopt such a docile attitude so easily, Unmyeong replied with a reluctant expression and an awkward demeanor.
‘I didn't think it would hate having its vision blocked this much. Did this thing have such a human side to it?’
"Ahem, hmm. Well, I didn't expect you to react like that. It's a bit surprising."
[I apologize again. I did not realize you would react so strongly to such a trivial taunt. Your heart is far more fragile than I thought. I am sorry for not understanding. From now on, I will treat you as carefully and gently as one would a child, so do not worry.]
-Twitch.
A vein bulged on Unmyeong's forehead.
He gave a sour smile, his lips twitching as he looked at the demonic sword covered in multiple layers of cloth.
"Right. Of course. You defective lump of iron. Prepare yourself. One day, I will extinguish that arrogant consciousness of yours for good."
[Tsk, tsk, don't say such harsh things. It makes you look weak.]
The patience responsible for managing Unmyeong's anger had long since exploded and shattered.
Even for the Sword Demon, who had endured countless painful and lonely training sessions, the hellish mouth attached to the Soul-Severing Sword was simply unbearable.
"Kghhh... Ugh...!"
He clenched both fists, trembling and contorting his body, then panted heavily and spoke to the demonic sword through gritted teeth.
"Right... This fragile heart of mine just won't seem to heal... I'll accept your apology, but you're staying stuffed in there for the time being...!"
He had now given up on trying to win against the Soul-Severing Sword with words. From now on, he would show it through his actions.
[Oh, my poor master. If I had hands, I would have gently soothed that wounded heart of yours. What a shame.]
"I agree. If you had hands, I would have smashed them to pieces immediately, and this wounded heart of mine might have found some comfort. It's a real shame."
The way they childishly refused to lose a single word to each other made it hard to tell if they were sworn enemies or old friends.
Just then,
the small door connecting to the driver's seat opened, and Sohwal spoke to Unmyeong.
"Lord Sword Demon, we have entered Qinghai. There is a village nearby. Shall we stop?"
The site of the attack was in southwestern Qinghai, so they still had to travel further south, but Unmyeong, feeling stiff from spending so long in the carriage, nodded.
Although he had just been bickering with the Soul-Severing Sword, he quickly regained his composure and replied in a calm voice.
"Yes. Let's go to the village, gather what we need, and rest well before we set off again. You must be tired from driving the horses for so long, so take this chance to get some proper rest."
"Understood. I will take you to a nearby inn within the village, leave the carriage there, and find us lodging."
This was Sohwal, who, with her sturdy constitution, never showed signs of fatigue.
But even so, driving the horses for days on end without rest had clearly taken its toll, as there were dark circles under her eyes.
Naturally, managing a subordinate's stamina is also an important duty of a superior.
Unmyeong knew well that rest was as important as training, so he planned to fully replenish their strength in the village so both he and his subordinate could rest comfortably.
He looked outside through the carriage window.
Beyond the slowly setting sun, a village came into view in the distance.
"It's quite large. We should be able to get everything we need."
And so, a single ebony carriage entered the village located in the northwestern part of Qinghai.
-Rustle.
Unaware that someone was watching them from within the dense forest, their red eyes glowing quietly.