A Grotesque Realm of Mad Things

It was a grotesque space teeming with mad things. Pitch-black liquid like tar filled every direction, and three pale blue moons hung in the sky. Squelch, squelch. Every step sent the sticky black goo sloshing and bursting like overripe fruit.

"Haa..."

Abyss, the Backside World, Lurue... This place had many names, but the most common one was probably this: the Otherworld. The dimension where the outer gods' divinities resided.

"Is your body fully recovered?"

"Yeah."

Hunchun Noeje brushed off his second disciple's question as he strode past. His body had healed long ago. It had only taken some extra time to fully rein in his power after gaining enlightenment.

The second disciple hurried after him, rattling off the matters that needed reporting.

"We're drawing up plans to retake the Hwan-han Star."

"Already? That's pretty quick."

"Lady Seiar has expressed her willingness to cooperate again this time."

The Hwan-han Star. Failing to seize it back then had been a bitter pill for Hunchun Noeje to swallow. The original plan had been to kill the Northern Duke and Duchess guarding the Northern Front and snatch the star from the duchess. But...

"Tch."

Recalling the situation back then furrowed his brow. It soured his mood. There was always one figure that came to mind whenever he thought of it.

A woman who had been waiting right at the rift, as if she'd known they would descend upon the North in advance.

"That demon bitch."

Hunchun Noeje wasn't some novice. From the moment he'd laid eyes on her, he'd clocked her as no ordinary powerhouse. But even his assessment had been a deception.

At first, he'd overwhelmed her with brute force. Then, at some point, she'd revealed her true strength. Spouting weird nonsense as if toying with him, striking seductive poses like she was seducing him.

A being skilled enough to fool even my senses.

Where the hell had such a monster popped up from?

The incarnations of the Otherworld weren't idiots. They'd been planting informants in the mortal world since ancient times, gathering endless intel. They knew every notable powerhouse inside out.

But that demon bitch wasn't in any of their records.

Next time we meet, I'll kill her for sure.

In healing the wounds she'd inflicted, Hunchun Noeje had gained profound insights. The great divinities had even bestowed more power upon him. He was incomparably stronger than before.

The realm he'd yearned for even before betraying the world—beyond Sword Master—was finally coming into view.

"Change of plans."

"How so?"

Going back for the Hwan-han Star carried too much risk. Their battle with that demon bitch had ranged too far and wide; the Northern Front was surely on high alert now.

"No need to walk a thorny path when an easy one lies open."

Plus, targeting somewhere far from the North meant no weird demon bitch interference like last time.

"There's a mansion midway up the Erbest Mountains."

"You mean the one where the Succubus Queen lives?"

"Yeah."

A treasure worth taking slept there too. Not quite on the Hwan-han Star's level, but useful enough.

"We're heading there."

"Huh? Says who?"

The voice that answered wasn't his second disciple's. Hunchun Noeje scowled without even turning, recognizing it instantly.

"...Seiar."

"Weird? I don't remember giving you permission to say my name."

She was tall. Even Hunchun Noeje, taller than most grown men, had to crane his neck to meet her eyes.

Her skin was deathly pale, like she'd never seen blood. The deep side-slits in her clothes bared her thighs, making the white even starker. Her hair was snow-white too, but that took a backseat to the massive black horns sprouting from her head. Lowering one's gaze revealed golden slit-pupiled eyes—like a reptile's.

"...Vulgar outfit."

"You noticed? Isn't it cute? Got it as a gift from a place called Yeon Kingdom."

"Yeon Kingdom?"

"Yeah. Ripped off the head of their second princess or whatever and took it. Whaddya think? Pretty?"

"...You psycho bitch."

The Mad Dragon Seiar. The moniker wasn't for show.

She could play the role of a strategic weapon single-handedly with her overwhelming presence... but the crazy bitch didn't know friend from foe.

No, she just doesn't care.

A true mad dragon. Ally or enemy, she acted on her whims alone.

"So? Why ditch the Hwan-han Star to mess with some succubi? Going to smash some pussy?"

"Shut your trap."

"You seem real pent-up lately. Want me to help you out? Huh? Huh?"

"Psycho bitch."

Seiar was a knockout beauty, no denying it—a nation-toppling stunner. But plenty of fools who'd trusted her words and approached had lost their heads.

Hunchun Noeje's seventh disciple had gone that way too.

"The succubus mansion holds the Goddess's Tear."

"What's that?"

"...A holy relic the Succubus Queen got from some saintess. Wearing the necklace lets you dodge death ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once."

"Necklace? Pretty? Would it suit me?"

"......"

"Still don't wanna go. Can't we just hit the North? It's cool and fun there."

Hunchun Noeje rubbed his throbbing temples and sighed.

"No. No reason to crawl into that hornet's nest in the North."

"Aww why! I wanna go play too!"

"Then perfect."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Huh?"

He stared at the Mad Dragon Seiar and growled low.

"You'll be the first one in the mansion."

"Me first...?"

"Yeah. Go wild and do whatever you want."

"Whatever I want? For real? Real real? I'm so pumped right now!"

Seiar didn't even wait for confirmation. She bounced away like an excited girl—way too girly for her size—vanishing from sight.

Hunchun Noeje watched her go, then shook his head with a mutter.

"...Psycho bitch."

The world had no shortage of things that couldn't be charmed—even an ultra-top-tier beauty like her was panting raggedly.

Her clothes were soaked through with sweat from whatever intense workout she'd been doing, dripping droplets everywhere.

"Feels like I've got it down decently now, though..."

"Keep going."

"Not satisfied even yet?"

"Yeah. Not satisfied. Come on, more."

But despite the plea from this realm's SSSS+-rank idol, Namgung Sim just shook his head and sheathed his sword.

"Today's lesson ends here. As I've said a hundred times, rest is part of training."

"No, I'm still fine!"

"Indeed you look it."

He plopped down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

"Truth be told, there's nothing left for this young master to teach you."

"Already?"

"Already? Hasn't it been nigh on six months since I began instructing you?"

"Didn't you say it'd take over a year to fully awaken intent and imagery?"

"Your talent exceeded my expectations."

"Hehe. Buttering me up won't get you anything."

Namgung Sim sighed deeply again.

"You've indeed awakened intent and imagery. However..."

"Don't drag it out—what bullshit are you about to spew?"

"Your nature is the issue."

"My nature?"

"Precisely. Your inborn temperament is utterly beastly. No amount of mental discipline will stop your eyes from rolling back and charging in like a mad dog once life-or-death combat begins."

Hmm... Fair point? Sparring still got my blood pumping hard. If anything, it was worse lately—my lower belly got all hot and throbby.

That's why we meditated cross-legged daily for mental training. It helped some. Without it, I'd probably lose all reason in real fights.

"...But didn't you tempt me first?"

"What nonsense is that?"

"You lured me in with that sexy stuff first."

"Don't call the Imperial Sword Form 'sexy.'"

But it is sexy...

"Every time I see it, my gut goes all fluttery."

"Problem with your dantian?"

"I told you I don't have one."

"Then it must be diarrhea. Undoubtedly."

"Do I shit myself in my dreams too?"

"...Please, act like a lady."

You brought up diarrhea first.

See? Everything traces back to Namgung Sim.

But dragging this out would just loop forever, so I conceded defeat.

I sat cross-legged ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠facing him and stretched out my arms to loosen the knotted muscles.

"Mm... Timing's good, at least."

"No fancy words."

"Acting like some uncultured ancient Chinese dude."

Anyway, perfect timing. Academy starts in a few weeks.

Feels like I'd properly leveled up before heading in.

"Guess I won't clean out Zan-yeong-hoe completely after all..."

Still, vacation would free up time. I'd lick 'em clean then.

"By then, their numbers will have grown again, huh?"

And probably some mid-tier powerhouses joining by now? Too soon to hope, though.

"Gotta survive till vacation first..."

Dust Saga was a dark fantasy. Main stage? The Academy.

What did that mean? Non-stop incidents there. Students dying weekly, professors croaking, raids, betrayals.

"...I'll make it through, right?"