The Aftermath of the Storm
“It’s unusually noisy today.”
Squad Leader Jin, a member of the Law Enforcement Bureau, had returned to the family estate to celebrate his parents’ birthdays. The estate, which he hadn’t visited in a long time, was particularly chaotic today, and Jin couldn’t fathom the reason.
‘What’s going on?’
Jin showed his wooden identification tablet, marked with the character for the Sword Family, to the gatekeeper—who was standing at strict attention—and asked, “Tell me, has something happened in the family? It’s quite rowdy today.”
“That is…” The gatekeeper cut himself off and glanced around nervously. After confirming no one else was nearby, he leaned in and whispered, “An elder of the Swift Sword Sect tried to assassinate the Sword Saint’s disciple under the guise of a sparring match…”
“What? Did I hear you correctly? The Swift Sword Sect? An assassination?”
“Shh! Shhh! Keep your voice down!” the gatekeeper urged urgently. In truth, as long as one wasn’t shouting at the top of their lungs, no one would typically scold them for talking, but… wasn’t it always best to be cautious with such sensitive matters? The gatekeeper had lowered his voice just in case.
“Anyway, because of that… the Sword Saint is furious, and he’s stormed into the Swift Sword Sect. The atmosphere in the family is a complete mess right now…”
“Good heavens… No, what kind of faithless wretch, someone who had ties to the Sword Family, would dare to harm the Sword Saint’s disciple?”
For Squad Leader Jin, it was utterly baffling. The fact that the Sword Saint had taken on a disciple was a blessing for the entire family—no, for all the demonic sword practitioners. For decades, the Family Head had knelt and begged, and the Council of Elders had applied subtle pressure, yet the Sword Saint hadn’t even blinked. If things had continued, it was clear the Sword Saint’s legacy would have vanished. If the Sword Saint, who had never found any genius worthy of his standards, had finally taken a disciple, didn’t that mean the child was an incredible talent? It was a blessing for the demonic sword practitioners because the Sword Saint’s martial arts would not be severed, and a blessing for the Sword Family because the next Sword Saint would be tied to their lineage.
‘But… they tried to assassinate the Sword Saint’s disciple? Why?’
It was incomprehensible to Jin. The gatekeeper continued, “Well… the rumor is that the Sword Saint’s disciple hasn’t even been practicing martial arts for half a year yet, so they thought if they assassinated that person, their own disciple might become the Sword Saint’s disciple instead…”
“No, what kind of moron would do such a thing?” Of course, this wasn’t the truth, but rumors always tended to distort easily.
“In the end, the Sword Saint’s disciple fell into the elder’s trap and ended up sparring with that elder’s disciple.”
“Ugh… So, the Sword Saint’s disciple managed to escape safely without dying?”
“No! They instantly slaughtered the elder’s disciple, who had reached the peak of the Second-Class realm!”
“Hmm? Wait. Didn’t you say the Sword Saint’s disciple hasn’t been practicing for even half a year?”
“That’s right! That’s exactly why they became the Sword Saint’s disciple!”
Squad Leader Jin was momentarily speechless. “No… is that person a Supreme Demonic Body?”
“That’s the rumor going around… though it’s not confirmed. Anyway, after that, they went to the residence of the elder who plotted the conspiracy and publicly demanded justice for his crimes…!”
Squad Leader Jin stood there for a long time, lost in the heroic tale of Seo-ah’s demonic martial prowess. As time passed, Jin managed to meet his parents, but given the atmosphere, the birthday banquet was out of the question; after exchanging simple well-wishes, he returned straight to the Law Enforcement Bureau.
“Hm? Squad Leader, wasn’t this your vacation? You’re back early?”
“Um… it was nothing special.”
“Oh, come on… don’t be like that. Did something happen?”
“Ahem… you fellow. I told you it was nothing…” Just as Jin was about to tell him to stop, thinking the family’s scandal was something to be ashamed of, a thought struck him.
‘Wait… isn’t this not a scandal for the family?’
He realized that the Sword Saint taking a disciple after decades, and that disciple dealing with a traitor to the family, was actually a great blessing. Especially since they had slaughtered a near First-Class expert without a single scratch, having practiced martial arts for less than half a year! Once his thoughts reached that point, Jin wore a good-natured smile and said to his subordinate,
“Ahem… oh, my. I really shouldn’t be talking about this carelessly.”
He glanced around just as the gatekeeper had, then lowered his voice and began to speak of the family’s pride.
“This is a secret I’m only telling you. The Sword Saint has taken a disciple this time…”
Contrary to Seo-ah’s expectations, this was the moment her reputation began to spread outside the Sword Family.
By the time Seo-ah’s intent had been realized—with no one in the Sword Family daring to look down on her anymore, and her heroic tales spreading even among the common folk—the protagonist of the story opened her eyes.
***
“Ah… Young Lady! You’re awake?! Are you alright? Please, stay lying down! The Sword Saint said you mustn’t… Ah! This isn’t the time for that, I must go tell them you’ve woken up…”
As Seo-ah opened her eyes and tried to sit up, So-so began to ramble incoherently.
Seo-ah muttered, “So… So-so…”
“Yes?”
“I… m… my stomach…”
“Your stomach?”
“Ugh… it’s coming.”
“...?”
Seo-ah uttered words that would only make sense if one thought about them for about three seconds. The problem was… by the time So-so accurately understood the meaning of Seo-ah’s words, it was already too late.
So-so tried desperately to prevent the disaster.
“W-wait a moment!”
“Guaaaaaaack.”
In the end, So-so couldn’t stop Seo-ah from emptying her stomach thoroughly. It was a tragic sight. So-so’s complexion turned deathly pale.
***
After the minor incident, So-so had heard the whole story. Before she could even convey her thanks for being saved, Seo-ah had learned in excruciating detail what she had eaten the day before. So-so, moving frantically, cleaned up the mess on the floor in an instant, then headed outside with an awkward smile to find No-ya. Seo-ah could easily read the meaning behind that smile.
She was grateful, but…
She was also angry that Seo-ah had dumped vomit all over her body and the floor the moment she woke up.
She wanted to scold her, but she was suffering like that because she had saved her… and yet, she couldn’t just let it slide. She wanted to curse and thank her at the same time, but she couldn’t curse her because she was her superior.
Her face was a mix of a thousand conflicting emotions.
Having been stuck to So-so like glue for nearly a year since entering the Divine Cult, Seo-ah could easily read those expressions.
‘Ahem… who would have known it would turn out like this…’
Seo-ah thought with a bitter smile. Who could have known? That she would have to empty her stomach the moment she woke up.
The moment she sat up, the things she had done the previous day began to surface in her mind one by one.
Severing Jin Mu-woong’s limbs. Pulling out his tongue. Gouging his eyes… peeling his skin…
Because of the memories surfacing in an instant and the sense of dissonance—that it was her, yet not her—Seo-ah couldn’t help but empty her stomach. While Seo-ah was flustered by the sudden memories, vomiting, and lost in a daze, So-so, who would have received her apology, had unfortunately already stepped out the door.
‘I’ll… have to apologize later.’
In that empty room, Seo-ah sat up.
***
Seo-ah sat up and crossed her legs into a lotus position. It was to perform a full circulation of qi to examine her body.
Her body felt heavy.
Her head throbbed as if it were being torn apart. It was the influence of her Inner Demon.
Seo-ah hurriedly checked her body, worried something might be wrong, but fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any major physical damage. It was just that her meridians were a bit strained from excessively unleashing First-Class techniques that were impossible for her Second-Class body. If so, the fact that her hands were trembling and her head was throbbing meant it was a mental issue.
‘Am I… okay?’
There was no way she was okay. Although she felt a bit better now, she had clearly fallen into an Inner Demon. An Inner Demon is a demon rooted deep within the heart. It exists in everyone’s heart, but its presence is so weak, damp, and dark that for a normal human, it could never become the main current of their mind. However, when the spark of that demon begins to burn and grows uncontrollably, and that terrible demon dominates one’s body—we call that falling into an Inner Demon.
Seo-ah had not only faced the demon deep within her heart head-on, but she had also fallen into it and had her body dominated by it. Thus, Seo-ah’s body had fallen into the Inner Demon of killing intent and moved according to her desires. However, while the Inner Demon moved according to her desires, it did not move according to her will.
Killing Jin Mu-woong and dealing with the Fourth Elder was certainly her intent. Establishing her authority and removing future threats was certainly her desire.
But was it her will to tear Jin Mu-woong to death and pressure the Fourth Elder while half-mad in the process?
It was not. Until recently, Seo-ah was someone who agonized over killing even a single person, committing murder only as a last resort. For such a Seo-ah to be consumed by killing intent and show more brutality than necessary could never be called her own will.
Seo-ah began to worry. ‘It was fine this time, but…’
Could she continue like this? Could she conclude that she would never fall into an Inner Demon again? Her loved ones hadn’t been hurt this time, but… could she guarantee that she would remain the same in the future? Was her appearance while consumed by the Inner Demon truly her genuine self and her true will? If that cruel appearance while in the grip of the Inner Demon was her true self… then how could she explain this current sense of dissonance?
The headache seemed to grow even more intense. Seo-ah, having finished her circulation, opened her eyes. All sorts of worries and the fear of the Inner Demon were gnawing at her spirit… but it was okay. Because she wasn’t alone.
Seo-ah realized that the person who could answer her worries was right in front of her. No-ya was waiting for Seo-ah, who was sitting in a lotus position.
No-ya said, “Are you alright? Your complexion is very poor. I heard you emptied your stomach the moment you woke up… I don’t know if you’re okay.”
“Master… I have a worry.”