〈Episode 315〉The Dragon’s Secret Vault. (5)
—So you’re not Sincheol.
It’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.
It was both the dao name of Old Man Shin, who resides within my body, and the name of the Mount Hua Sword Immortal.
That name.
“That name….”
Why is the person before me uttering it?
What in the world is this person?
Golden hair and golden eyes, first of all.
Along with an appearance reminiscent of the divine sword of my previous life.
I felt an indescribable sense of presence from his translucent flesh.
Didn’t he say Sincheol?
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there’s no one in this era who could call Noya’s name in such a manner.
Except for Cheollyeong, whom I met at Shaolin.
Or the person I suspect to be Namgung Myeong, whom I faced in the Namgung Secret Vault.
Those who blocked the Blood Demon in that era.
And left behind their souls in the present era.
Which means.
‘This person….’
I don’t think it’s Namgung Myeong.
And it’s definitely not Cheollyeong.
Among the remaining figures.
‘Dokjeolcheon, and if not him….’
A name surfaced unbidden, as if possessing its own will, slipping past my lips.
“…Yeonilcheon.
Gwoncheolgeumwang Yeonilcheon.
One of the heroes who blocked the Blood Demon’s Blood Calamity.
The greatest under heaven, who was said to be the center of the five.
And.
A regressor like me.
“…”
Is the person before me truly Yeonilcheon?
When I brought up Yeonilcheon.
The expression of the man standing before me shifted slightly.
Seeing that, I asked again.
“Are you truly Gwoncheolgeumwang?”
At my words, seeking certainty, the man answered.
—Yes. I am Yeonilcheon.
His own words confirming he is Yeonilcheon.
I had to hide my surprise.
Distinct golden hair and golden eyes.
Steel-like flesh that drew admiration involuntarily.
He matched the descriptions passed down in records, conveying the feeling that he truly is the Gwoncheolgeumwang, yet.
What is questionable is.
“Hwang Abullyeong said you would not remain in this land.”
Cheollyeong, whom I met back then, told Noya.
That Yeonilcheon, unlike them, had been unable to leave his soul behind.
So is this person who calls himself Yeonilcheon truly Yeonilcheon?
Hearing my doubt, the man made a somewhat surprised expression.
—Do you mean you met Cheollyeong?
“Yes.”
—And it was you, not Sincheol, who met him?
Of course, we had met together, but.
I wasn’t yet confident whether I should speak of that.
Because I did not know the person before me.
When I said so, the man glared at me.
Why those eyes?
— …What year is it now?
“Several centuries have passed since the Blood Demon vanished.”
Several centuries. I see….
The man’s eyes grew momentarily distant. What was he thinking?
I did not lower my guard.
‘Can I burn through with flames? What’s the escape route?’
Could I exit through the entrance I came in?
It might be blocked.
What if I pierced the wall with flames? Since I couldn’t be sure which part of the underground this was, that was difficult too.
If a fight broke out, the terrain would be disadvantageous.
While I was thinking such things.
—You have good eyes.
Praise suddenly came from the man.
—You seem to think a lot. It’s not a bad habit. Always assuming the worst.
“…What do you mean?”
To my question, the man looked at the entrance I had come through.
—You are not Sincheol.
The same words as before.
Right, I’m not Noya. Who doesn’t know that?
I found it strange that the man kept repeating those words.
“That’s true, but.”
—However, you crossed that door and came all the way here. You even came face to face with me. How could that be?
At the man’s words uttered as if in doubt.
I furrowed my brows.
Those words implied.
That if one is not Noya, they could not cross that door?
‘…What?’
Ever since I met Hwang Abullyeong in the past.
Was there something tied to Noya?
It had all felt like they were searching for Noya.
“…What does that mean?”
—Moreover, you said you even met Cheollyeong. Just what are you?
At the man’s words, a sudden thought struck me.
That Noya’s soul was inside my body.
If the situations I had experienced so far were things prepared for Noya, as the man said.
Could the reason I had been able to experience them be because Noya’s soul was inside me?
“I, that’s….”
Just as I thought to explain my realization to the man.
The man spoke.
—I know that Sincheol’s soul is within you.
“…!”
He was saying he already knew.
“How did you…?”
—I knew from the first moment I saw you. That Sincheol was inside your body.
At the man’s firm words, a stinging sensation arose within me.
Not quite pain.
A throbbing mixed with vibrations.
‘This is.’
It was different from when the beast whined about being hungry.
‘Noya?’
Wondering if it was Noya’s movement.
I called out to Noya inwardly, but at the same time, the stinging vanished.
He’d slept so long; I wished he’d wake up already.
Then the story I’m hearing now would be much easier to understand.
But still, Noya gave no answer.
—That is why I ask again. Who are you?
“If I carry the Mount Hua Sword Immortal within my body, what is the problem with fulfilling that condition?”
When I met Hwang Abullyeong.
When I heard Namgung Myeong’s voice.
And up until now.
If all of this was prepared solely for Noya.
Doesn’t that mean it could activate because Noya’s soul resides in me?
How can you so firmly say no?
At my question, the man shook his head.
—Because some things cannot be done with only a soul. The one I had to face had to be Sincheol himself.
“What nonsense is that? How could the Mount Hua Sword Immortal come here?”
Noya is already dead.
The man before me claiming to be Yeonilcheon too.
Hwang Abullyeong too.
Noecheonilgeom too.
Dokjeolcheon too.
Centuries have passed since they blocked the Blood Demon’s Blood Calamity.
Whether they died on the spot.
Or met their end through old age.
They are all dead.
And yet.
Everyone is searching for Noya.
Even then, Hwang Abullyeong, whom I met, had said so.
When he realized I was not Noya.
He immediately fell into despair.
As if all plans had come to naught.
‘What is it?’
Just what does Noya mean to these people?
Why is everyone searching for Noya?
As if.
As if Noya absolutely had to return alive.
“Then do you mean the Mount Hua Sword Immortal should have been reborn?”
How else could the man’s words be fulfilled?
That Sincheol himself had to come to the secret vault.
An incomprehensible story. I pressed him, frowning.
—Yes.
The man answered thus.
“…What?”
I was the one who should be surprised by those calm words.
What had I just heard?
Widening my eyes as if I had misheard.
The man continued.
—Originally, Sincheol should have been reborn and found this place.
“What—”
—To twist the fate decided by the era. To undo the karma and curses accumulated upon this land. That was the path we chose.
—For that, we remained in this land. Even if only as souls.
If the man’s words are true.
Then Noya originally.
Should have been reborn in this land.
‘Twist fate?’
Fate decided by the era. Karma and curses accumulated upon the land.
A dizzying story just to hear.
“What is fate, that you have all remained here until now?”
At my words, the man’s gaze changed.
Should I say strength entered it?
—Child of a later generation. Do you know the Blood Demon?
“…Yes.”
Of course I do.
How could I not? Because of that damned bastard, I have unreasonably more to worry about.
While I frowned.
The man added.
—What do you think the Blood Demon is?
“What?”
What the Blood Demon is?
Watching my expression.
After a brief silence, the man spoke in a cold voice.
—The Blood Demon is a calamity.
A calamity.
A familiar resonance.
—A curse upon the glorious Central Plains. A calamity.
I had to find meaning in those words.
Is it called a calamity because the being known as the Blood Demon caused a Blood Calamity?
I could tell from the man’s words that it was not merely that.
The word calamity held another meaning.
—You said several centuries have passed since the Blood Demon vanished?
“Yes.”
—Even if you are not Sincheol, the fact that you found this place must mean the Blood Demon has appeared.
It was correct.
“…”
—A distant tale. Yet in the end, fate cannot be twisted.
If the being I faced while borrowing Jang Seonyeon’s body was truly the Blood Demon.
He would be residing in this era.
Though I don’t know what connection that has with my being here.
“What does that have to do with this situation?”
—This land should have met its end long ago at the hands of the Blood Demon. That was its fate.
“What?”
It should have been destroyed?
Is he referring to the Blood Calamity?
If so, they blocked it just fine, so what bullshit is this?
“Even if that were so, that was because you all….”
—If we had blocked it, the Blood Demon would not be appearing in this era.
—Since that was impossible, what we chose was, at best, a seal.
The same words Hwang Abullyeong had spoken.
What the five heroes could do by combining their strength.
Was, at best, to seal the Blood Demon.
‘But, a fate where it should have been destroyed?’
The man’s words were still incomprehensible.
Why say this land was fated to be destroyed?
—That is why we had to choose. To block the Blood Demon, who would revive after our deaths.
“…For that. Did you plan the reincarnation of the Mount Hua Sword Immortal?”
—Yes.
“How could mere human power….”
Control the reincarnation of a soul?
I was about to ask, but.
If the person before me is truly Yeonilcheon.
There were words that came to mind.
Another regressor like me.
A person who turned back time.
If it’s him, was there another method?
—Judging by your expression, you seem to know what I am. Who told you? Cheollyeong?
“…No. I heard it from the Mount Hua Sword Immortal.”
—That fellow still has a loose mouth. Truly curious that you seem to believe such words after hearing them.
Well, that’s because I regressed too.
“I have something to ask.”
There was truly a mountain of things to ask.
I had heard so much it was overwhelming to organize.
“What is fate?”
The words about trying to twist fate.
That it was a choice for that purpose.
The story that Noya had to be revived in this land.
I was curious.
Not how.
But why it had to be so.
“I want to hear in detail about this land having to be destroyed.”
—It means exactly that. The fate decided for this land… should have ended with the Blood Demon.
“Who decided such a thing?”
—I cannot say.
What a load of crap.
“Why? Because I am not the Mount Hua Sword Immortal?”
—Yes. Because you are not Sincheol.
“You said you knew he was inside me. Then can’t you tell me?”
—That is precisely why I cannot.
“…What?”
What kind of bullshit is this?
As irritation welled up and my face scrunched up.
Conversely, the man’s expression grew endlessly cold.
—What we sealed was not only the Blood Demon.
“What do you mean, not only the Blood Demon?”
—Most importantly, we also erased the calamitous karma the Blood Demon possessed.
“Calamitous karma….”
The karma that should have dyed the Central Plains in blood and brought destruction—they had dealt with it as well.
If so.
“…Does that mean as the Blood Demon revives, that karma revives as well?”
—No, that will not revive. We did not seal it; we burned it away.
“Then isn’t it irrelevant?”
If the calamity has ended.
Their worries seemed no different from having none.
What is the problem?
To my question, the man let out a sound close to a sigh.
—That was our mistake.
I lent my ear to the man’s words.
He was clearly calling it a mistake.
“A mistake?”
—A calamity does not disappear. It is merely postponed. The calamity does not vanish just because the Blood Demon’s karma disappeared. It passes on, so to speak.
“A calamity isn’t some object… If you erase it, another pops out, that kind of….”
I had spoken as if at a loss.
But had to shut my mouth instantly.
A calamity does not disappear.
It passes on.
Fate cannot be severed.
After hearing his words.
A figure came to mind.
‘Cheonma…?’
There was a story Noya once told.
The being called Cheonma, whom I often recalled and feared.
He said it felt so similar to the Blood Demon’s aura he remembered.
Now, hearing the man say the calamity is merely postponed.
‘Is the next calamity he speaks of the one called Cheonma?’
The fate of destruction destined to befall this land beyond the Blood Demon.
Could it be the story of Cheonma?
‘If… that is the case.’
In my previous life, Cheonma lost his life to the Divine Sword.
Does that not mean the calamity was blocked?
To hell with this land’s fate.
I don’t know about such difficult matters.
Isn’t it the same story as Wi Seora ultimately blocking the calamity?
Hadn’t it been resolved well?
As I was thinking that.
—Sincheol was our hope for blocking that calamity.
The man continued speaking.
The role he spoke of for Noya.
Was to be born in an era where the calamity floods again, and together with the Blood Demon, to stop other calamities—a mechanism prepared for that purpose.
‘…Could that be true?’
Then where lay the problem?
There were far too many issues to consider that.
First, there was no one in my previous life who could be called Noya’s reincarnation.
There were many problems with Wi Seora being Noya’s reincarnation.
I wondered if it might be Yeongpung, but.
Considering the realm or situation he reached in his previous life, that wasn’t it either.
‘…Did he die in obscurity?’
That might be possible, but.
I had to consider that Sincheol’s soul had entered a spirit artifact.
In the end, the first conclusion that came to mind upon returning.
Was that Noya had failed to reincarnate from the very beginning.
And his soul had even gotten bound in a spirit artifact.
I couldn’t be sure, but.
If they had sacrificed so much.
And waited, bound as souls for hundreds of years, only to fail.
‘Then was this the reason Cheollyeong despaired back then?’
I could understand to some extent.
Thinking up to there, I asked the man.
“Why did it have to be Noya?”
The greatest of that era.
Yeonilcheon, who was the center of the five heroes.
Since Noya also occasionally mentioned Yeonilcheon’s strength.
If reincarnating, it would make more sense for Yeonilcheon to do so rather than Noya.
—You said you heard from Cheollyeong. That I could not remain in this land.
“Yes.”
—Those words are correct. I could not remain in this land as they did.
“…Then, what are you now?”
You claimed to be Yeonilcheon.
So what are you saying now?
—I am merely a lingering will. A lingering will left behind to transfer this place and provide information when Sincheol came.
A lingering will?
I’ve heard of it, but.
‘He can do something like that?’
Did he leave it in the secret vault together with a formation?
To activate like this when Noya arrived?
This already felt beyond the realm of humans. Was that my imagination?
Cheollyeong, whom I met at Shaolin.
Namgung Myeong, and this Yeonilcheon too—ultimately.
They were like coincidences prepared for Noya.
—One who turns back time once accumulates sin upon their soul. For they have twisted fate set by another.
—That is why I could not remain, and moreover, if one were to go, Sincheol was the right one to do so.
Turning back time accumulates sin upon the soul.
Those words grated considerably on my ears, but.
I ignored them for now.
“You mean Sincheol was the one who should have gone.”
—Yes. Sincheol… Sincheol is hope.
Foul-mouthed, chasing after women.
An old man who’d pop a boner just from standing near a woman.
He was carrying such a heavy burden?
No matter how I thought about it, it was absurd.
If by any chance the man’s words were true.
“…Then what now?”
What should I do?
I had already devoured Noya’s soul and energy.
I’d just come to raid the secret vault a bit, but ended up hearing all this.
What am I supposed to do now?
I quietly spoke.
“Um… Can I just leave?”
I meant that I’d ask Noya when he wakes up later, so couldn’t I just go?
What can you do.
Things having come to this, it can’t be helped.
I had heard an incredible story, but there was nothing I could do about it here either.
‘What about the vault’s items?’
If the items remaining in this secret vault.
Were prepared for Noya from the start, shouldn’t I just take them?
While I was looking around with an awkward face.
—Even if you try to twist fate. It returns to its place.
—No matter how much you struggle. In the end, this is the only truth.
The man uttered cryptic words in a heavy voice.
—How could you have come here?
—How do you possess Sincheol’s soul?
—What conclusion do you draw from that?
“…Excuse me?”
Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?
I felt a strange atmosphere.
He had been explaining well, so why was he suddenly acting crazy?
—With all our might, the twist we created.
—Someone must have returned it to its rightful place.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Rumble, rumble, boom.
As he continued speaking.
The secret vault began to shake little by little.
“What the hell…!”
—You cannot leave.
“What?”
I had to swallow hollowly at the man’s words.
I can’t leave?
“Why are you spewing bullshit all of a sudden? Are you taking your anger out on me because everything went to shit?”
What do you want from me?
This guy is suddenly going on a rampage.
Rumble, boom!
“The fuck…?”
The vibrations in the room intensified. Something was happening.
I urgently ran toward the entrance, but.
Crackle!
Unable to pass through, I was bounced back.
“Guh, why is this happening!”
I stepped back and shouted at the man.
But I could only see his expression growing colder.
“No, fuck, it’s not my fault your plan failed! Why are you doing this to me all of a sudden! The Blood Demon or whatever, I’m blocking it, okay?”
I’m busting my ass trying to block Cheonma.
And going crazy to block this Blood Demon bastard who suddenly butted in too.
“You shouldn’t do this to me!”
I don’t know why he’s suddenly trying to cover his tracks.
Does he really have a mental illness?
The space gradually distorted.
I could tell at a glance that staying still would get me killed.
‘Should I blow it up?’
I didn’t know if force would work, but this was no time to ponder.
I spread my hands and raised my inner qi.
I hadn’t thought I’d have to do this right after my internal injuries healed.
If I detonate the Flame Prison now, I’ll suffer internal injuries again, but.
‘Now is not the time to worry about internal injuries.’
I have to survive first.
Huuuk—!
Inner qi gradually gathered at my fingertips.
‘Flame…’
—You are the calamity.
The moment I tried to use a secret technique, raising my inner qi to the limit to survive.
At the man’s words, all my inner qi scattered and vanished.
Because his words were that absurd.
“Fuck, what did you just say?”
—I do not know how you have lived.
“What did you say, you bastard?”
—How you came to house Sincheol’s soul. How you reached such a realm at that age.
—Moreover.
—Why you, like me, could turn back time. I do not know.
“…!”
The man seemed to know that I had turned back time as well.
How? How in the world?
Unfortunately, now was not the time to ask such things.
“…What does that have to do with me being the calamity? Then you should keep me alive instead.”
If you know I’m cleaning up the shit others left behind by turning back time like you.
You should at least give me a rice cake before sending me off.
“Why are you trying to kill me, you crazy bastard.”
—The one who sends the calamity and creates karma is no fool. He will not make the same mistake.
“More bullshit.”
—Have you never thought it strange, your regression?
“…What?”
—That is fate.
Rumble—!
My head rang with the vibrations, and I felt the end approaching, but.
At the words the man just uttered, my body felt tightly bound and unable to move.
My regression…?
The words I just heard dug into my chest like a dagger.
My thoughts seemed to stop, becoming hollow.
Heavy thoughts filled my head.
‘You are the calamity.’
The man’s words kept resurfacing.
My breath felt completely choked.
Rumble…!
As the spatial distortion reached its limit.
While I was floundering in thought.
I felt my body being swept away and torn apart by the distorting space.
Even so, I couldn’t move at all.
Then.
Swish—!
Suddenly my hand moved on its own.
“…Huh?”
At the same time as my hand, my feet moved.
It was definitely not my will.
—…What…!
The man watching me also seemed caught off guard by the unexpected situation.
He widened his eyes, but.
I was bewildered as well.
This was as if someone was controlling my body.
[Because you so lack confidence in yourself. If that’s the case, you might as well cut off your dick, you idiot.]
“…Huh?”
At the voice that reached my ears.
My dazed head cleared instantly as if opening my eyes.
The thin and fierce old man’s voice.
Was the tone I had longed for so much.
“Noya?”
At my trembling call.
A laugh resounded within my head.
Tsk, tsk.
— …Sincheol.
The man also spat out words in surprise, but.
Noya said nothing in response.
Unlike with Hwang Abullyeong, he didn’t even greet him.
My body, moving as if led.
Suddenly reached out into the distorted space.
And began peeling off countless covered cloths, searching for something among them.
“Noya? Now isn’t the time…!”
I spoke urgently, but.
My hands moved here and there against my will.
And finally, from among the items piled here and there.
It grasped something.
— …You will regret this, Sincheol.
The man watching spoke from behind.
[Regret?]
Only then did Noya speak toward the man.
[As always, that is my choice. Rather, I shall have no regrets.]
A confident voice mixed with laughter. It was Noya’s unique way of speaking.
—Sincheol….
[You’ve become quite the ugly fellow in the time I haven’t seen you. Ilcheon-ah.]
[Still, it was good to see you.]
As Noya finished speaking.
Huuuuuk—!
Centered on the object grasped in hand.
The fragrance of plum blossoms spread throughout the room.
It was a dense and immense dao energy unlike anything I had ever felt, incomparable to anyone.
[Hold your breath, brat.]
Noya said so.
Soon after, my vision.
Was dyed full of plum blossom petals.