〈 Episode 442 〉 Don't Touch.
It had been roughly ten days since I fell into this place.
With each passing day, the hope of waking from this dream gradually faded, and by now, my sole objective had become to produce the result this world desired and escape.
Crack—!
I crushed someone's joints.
"Krk."
They let out a short scream and died. The character for "righteousness" was written on their white martial arts uniform.
A martial artist of the Murim Alliance.
"..."
Thud—
Head bowed deeply, while watching the one dying with eyes rolled back, I silently dusted off my hands.
The sensations were still vivid beyond compare.
'...Feels fucking awful....'
Corpses were strewn all around.
Most were martial artists of the Murim Alliance dressed in white, and among them were mixed a handful of demon warriors, though their number was extremely small.
Even those weren't demons of the Black Flame Squad; they were all martial artists drafted from the Ghost Inspector Sword Squad.
I watched that quietly, and then.
Drip—
I felt something flowing down my cheek.
When I roughly wiped it with my thumb, it was blood.
"..."
I frowned at that.
Because I knew where I was hurt.
It was a wound suffered when the Alliance's martial artists ambushed me moments ago, unable to respond properly.
It wasn't because it was a proper ambush, or because I had let my guard down.
I had already sensed them with my qi perception, and they were at best warriors who had barely surpassed the Peak realm.
There was no way I would fall to such people.
This was simply.
'I hesitated.'
Because I myself had hesitated to kill them.
The despair in the eyes of the martial artist rushing at me, the desperation to survive at all costs, the fear.
All of it was plainly visible, causing my hand to halt for a moment without my realizing.
The gap created by that fleeting instant was enough for the tip of the martial artist's sword to touch my cheek.
It was because of this that blood flowed.
'Fuck....'
Recalling the sensation still lingering in my hand, I cursed inwardly.
There was no way I would fear killing people at this point.
If I were going to feel such a thing, it should have been different ever since the regression.
'...It's all shit.'
It was simply shit, that's all.
Returning to this damned point in time. Coming back here and fighting another fucking war.
And the pupils of those who made me feel that process, too.
'I need to escape quickly.'
Perhaps that was why I felt more impatient.
I wanted to escape this hell as soon as possible.
Step.
As only my exhausted heart grew heavier. I felt someone approaching from behind.
"Newbie."
"...!"
A drowsy, hazy voice, yet containing something chilling within it.
There was only one person with such a voice.
"...Yes, Vice Lord—"
Confirming the approaching Demon Sword Empress, I slightly showed courtesy.
The Demon Sword Empress stopped a few steps away from me and continued in her unique manner of speaking.
"...What...are you doing...?"
"..."
"...Keep that up...and you'll die."
"I apologize."
At the sudden scolding, the surrounding demon warriors made puzzled expressions, but I knew what she was talking about.
Among the corpses strewn around, there was one that had been minced into fine pieces of meat. The martial artist who wounded my cheek was that very one.
The moment the tip of his sword grazed my cheek, the Demon Sword Empress, who had been behind me, scattered her sword qi.
The sword qi that shot out in an instant struck his body directly. He died immediately after receiving dozens of slashes in a fleeting moment.
Looking at the piece that had become chunks of meat, I had to feel something bitter.
The more I saw such things, the more I realized what this world was.
If it were Namgung Bia, she wouldn't have used such a cruel method.
Even if it were her, she would have simply killed with a single blow.
'...Ha.'
At that thought, a hollow sigh escaped me without realizing.
In the past, I had compared Namgung Bia to the Demon Sword Empress, but now, I was searching for Namgung Bia within the Demon Sword Empress.
A truly filthy sensation. How selfish a thought was this.
'Did I want to undo what happened then?'
I had told Dang Jemun that I would remember and carry my regrets.
But perhaps, deep down, I had wanted to forget.
Could that be why this world is being shown to me?
To tell me not to forget my regrets, but to remember them.
'If so, it's terrifying.'
This damned world felt particularly frightening.
"..."
The Demon Sword Empress, who had been watching me, made her peculiar, strange expression and then.
Shhk—
Sheathed her sword and turned her back.
"...Be careful."
"Yes. I apologize."
She spat out a short word and leisurely disappeared.
After the Demon Sword Empress disappeared, the remaining demon warriors finally let out the sounds they had been holding back.
It was a somewhat buzzing noise.
Among them, someone approached me and asked.
"Hey, brat."
A form of address I still couldn't get used to.
"Yes."
"...By any chance, do you have a separate personal connection with the Vice Lord?"
"...What?"
What kind of nonsense was this out of nowhere?
"What do you mean?"
When I asked with a slight frown, the demon warrior added as if explaining.
"Well, the Vice Lord... I've never seen her treat someone so familiarly."
The demon warrior didn't say, "Except for the Lord."
"Familiarly?"
I didn't know what part made him think that, but.
"There's nothing like that."
I answered with a short laugh.
A personal connection with the Demon Sword Empress.
There was no way such a thing existed.
At least here, with her....
'Because we're strangers.'
That was enough for me.
******************
The Black Flame Squad, which had established its headquarters near Sichuan.
Had the Great Heavenly Demon War fully begun, it might be different, but after successfully capturing Sichuan, the tasks they undertook were nothing particularly grand.
At best, it was handling remnants of the Alliance hiding in Sichuan like today, or patrolling the surroundings to assess the situation.
If there was anything slightly different, it was that they had heard word of the Heavenly Lord, so their vigilance had been somewhat strengthened.
'You can tell just from the fact that the Black Flame Squad is personally conducting patrols.'
Each and every one of them was a martial artist who, by the Alliance's sword squad standards, would be at the Vice Lord level.
Within the Black Flame Squad, excluding the Lord, the next seven or eight individuals were figures who would surpass the level of elders or family heads in other great families.
The fact that even such figures were roaming outside in person meant that the Heavenly Lord's interference was exerting considerable influence.
I observed the Demon Sword Empress walking toward the great hall from afar.
'The Demon Sword Empress will face the Heavenly Lord.'
It was a memory from that time.
When the Heavenly Lord drew attention from the outside, the one who personally faced him was none other than the Demon Sword Empress.
Facing the Namgung family's sword with the Namgung family's sword.
Furthermore, it was the Demon Sword Empress's will to kill and erase the remaining Namgung bloodline herself.
The problem was.
'That this ultimately failed.'
Even under normal circumstances, winning against the Heavenly Lord was no easy feat.
No matter how much of an expert the Demon Sword Empress was, having inherited the name of the Sword Empress, the Heavenly Lord was an old monster who had stood in the heavens of the Central Plains for decades.
There was no way the Demon Sword Empress could easily defeat such a being.
She knew this as well, which was why she had mustered her full strength to face the Heavenly Lord.
That was where the problem arose.
'Paejon raided the main camp.'
While the Heavenly Lord drew attention, Paejon launched a surprise attack on the main camp, and in the process, I ended up facing him.
This was the problem.
And that was.
'...She came for me.'
While I was fighting desperately with Paejon, most of the demon warriors had died, and just as I was about to be killed by Paejon, the Demon Sword Empress appeared and pulled me away from him.
In this process, the Demon Sword Empress, who was their strongest combat force, disappeared, causing the forces facing the Heavenly Lord to be annihilated.
Mukgwon, who barely survived, had one arm cut off.
Fortunately, the injured Heavenly Lord retreated, and Paejon, also wounded, was pursued by the intervening Cheonra Heukmangdae, eventually facing a crisis of falling to the Lord, Pilduma.
It was at this point that Paeng Ujin appeared and saved Paejon.
This was a situation caused by the Demon Sword Empress leaving the battlefield to save me.
Moreover, it was an event that led to the Demon Sword Empress's death.
The Demon Sword Empress, bearing the injuries she had received from the Heavenly Lord, blocked Paejon.
Fortunately, she succeeded in escaping from Paejon, and Sichuan wasn't lost either, but.
The wounds received from the Heavenly Lord and Paejon at that time caused her to die in a later surprise attack.
'No.'
I should say it correctly.
The Demon Sword Empress could have run away at any time.
If she had wished for it, she could have lived.
But she.
'In the end, she died for me.'
She returned for me. And died for me.
Wasn't it truly a fucked-up thing?
Did she know? That in every one of those moments, I had wished for my own death.
At first, I had wanted to die by my father's hand.
Then, I had wanted to die by Paejon's hand.
And during the surprise attack, I had wanted only me to die.
I recalled this while looking at the Demon Sword Empress's back.
'...Will you make that same choice this time as well?'
I knew.
Since this world was no different, the Demon Sword Empress was highly likely to make the same choice, and if I intervened in that choice, perhaps it could change.
However, even knowing that, I was in a situation where I could do nothing.
"..."
If a disturbance occurred in the current situation....
'...Singeom...will die.'
I closed my eyes tightly and thought.
Singeom dies.
Yes, that was the kind of situation this was.
A situation where I had no choice but to move desperately.
Grind.
My teeth ground together.
Watching the Demon Sword Empress's back, I clenched my fist.
This was the reason I said this life was like hell.
No matter which choice I made. Someone would die.
No matter how much of an illusion this was, nothing was easy to choose.
Even if the Demon Sword Empress's death formed a large basis for my regrets.
If I chose the option to save her, Singeom might die.
Then, would there be no regret gained from that?
'On the contrary... if I just let the Demon Sword Empress die?'
If I chose the same direction as my original life. Would that be alright?
'Ha....'
Having come this far, Dang Jemun's words suddenly came to mind.
That no matter which choice I picked, it didn't matter. That nothing would change, hadn't he said?
"..."
Looking back now, it was truly a meaningful statement. Had he said that to me because he had anticipated such a situation would occur?
If so, he truly had a twisted sense of humor.
'That it doesn't matter what I choose?'
Bullshit.
'How could it not matter.'
It couldn't be.
No matter how much of an illusion this situation was. To make it so vivid and then simply tell me to watch comfortably.
I.
Absolutely could not.
"..."
That was why my thoughts only grew more numerous and exhausting.
Because it was a situation where neither could be easily chosen.
Of course.
Even so, fortunately, there existed at least one other method.
It might be the easiest, or perhaps it was the hardest method.
If I were to do something... I planned to take that choice.
Screech—
Immediately upon arriving at headquarters, I walked with blood plastered all over me.
By now, the thick, bloody stench wafting from the surroundings didn't bother me at all.
I had originally lived such a life, so readapting to it was a simple matter.
Thinking so, I passed through the corridor and arrived at the great hall, but for some reason, the fishy stench seemed stronger than usual.
'Hm?'
Perhaps I wasn't the only one who felt the difference; a faint aura could be felt from the Demon Sword Empress walking ahead.
It felt as though something was rubbing her the wrong way.
Boom.
The massive door opened and I entered the great hall.
Inside, other figures were already present.
Wondering who they were, I observed. Their bloody stench was especially thick compared to the Black Flame Squad, and their killing intent was so strong that it was leaking out of their bodies.
They each carried swords at their waists, and seeing that, I could figure out who they were.
"Kih kih."
Hearing the laughter, I raised my head.
Someone was sitting on the jade seat where the Lord of the Black Flame Squad should have been sitting.
A man with disheveled hair and the corners of his mouth stretched upward.
The chilling madness and killing intent I felt from him made my spine tingle.
'...That bastard.'
I frowned upon confirming who he was.
Those filling the great hall were none other than the demon warriors of the Ghost Inspector Sword Squad.
Which meant, the man sitting on the jade seat was the master of those demon warriors.
'Sword Demon (劍魔).'
Meaning the Sword Demon, who was called the Thousand Killings Star.
The Sword Demon, sitting on the jade seat, smiled upon seeing the Demon Sword Empress.
"It's been a while. Demon Sword Empress."
"..."
Shring.
As if answering his words, the Demon Sword Empress immediately drew her sword.
Then, looking at the Sword Demon, she quietly whispered.
"...Get down...."
"Hm? What?"
"From there...get down. That place...is not where you sit."
An immense aura spread from the Demon Sword Empress's words and body.
The difference in their levels made my dantian feel as though it was contracting instinctively.
Even while feeling the Demon Sword Empress's aura, the Sword Demon simply kept chuckling.
"Well, the Lord isn't here anyway. You're being too harsh for just sitting a bit."
"..."
At the moment when the Demon Sword Empress was gradually drawing up her violent energy at the Sword Demon's words.
Creak.
The Sword Demon shrugged his shoulders slightly and obediently began to rise from the seat and come down.
'That crazy bastard.'
The Sword Demon, seen after a long time, was still a madman fitting of the rumors.
If Mukgwon was said to be the least demon-like demon warrior I knew.
The Sword Demon was, conversely, the most demon-like demon warrior.
Step.
The Sword Demon descended the stairs and approached the Demon Sword Empress closely.
"The Lord has apparently gone somewhere. Do you know where he is, Demon Sword Empress?"
"..."
No answer came to the question. The Demon Sword Empress simply watched the Sword Demon silently.
Perhaps that was the problem; the Sword Demon clicked his tongue shortly and continued speaking.
"Hm, I still don't like those angry eyes. If only not for that, you would truly be beautiful."
At the Sword Demon's words, energy surged from the Black Flame Squad behind her.
In response, the killing intent from the Ghost Inspector Sword Squad's side began to grow thicker as well.
In that gap, I alone had to make a dumbfounded expression.
'These crazy bastards?'
They suddenly gather and try to fight among themselves.
Since I usually left headquarters and wandered outside, I hadn't known such things occurred.
The relationship seemed far worse than I thought, and as I was wondering what to do.
"Hm?"
"...!"
I suddenly made eye contact with the bastard Sword Demon, who had been clashing with the Demon Sword Empress.
Pupils filled with killing intent turned toward me.
Soon, what began to mix into his pupils was clearly interest.
"A face I haven't seen? Who is this one?"
The Sword Demon took a step toward me with a chilling smile.
What should I do? The moment I unconsciously frowned slightly at the sudden situation.
A change occurred in the Sword Demon's expression as well.
"Look at that expression? You. You don't know who I am. That must be why you're making such a face before me."
I'm screwed.
I had drawn the attention of a bastard with this shitty temper.
I should have just quietly looked at the floor; this became troublesome.
Swish.
The Sword Demon soon reached out, grabbed my chin, and began examining me this way and that.
"Anyway, it's because they don't educate you properly that there are bastards like this, no? A newcomer? Strange. You clearly look different. Yet you strangely resemble that human."
Who that human was, was obvious without even looking.
The Sword Demon continued speaking with his brow gradually furrowing.
"...Is that why I don't like your eyes? If you intend to keep looking at me like that...."
Then.
"I shall personally gouge out your eyeballs for education...!"
Kwa-bang—!
In an instant, an immense aura exploded, and the Sword Demon's body was smashed into the wall in a flash.
Thud—! Crackle—!!
Dust burst out, and debris shattered from the impact rained down on the side where the Sword Demon was embedded.
A situation that truly occurred in an instant.
I surveyed the one who had committed the act with surprised eyes at the unexpected event.
Crackle. Snap.
The Demon Sword Empress, who had struck the Sword Demon without warning, showed no intention of hiding the bursting aura, expressing it with her entire body.
Violent energy mixed within the aura, expressing an overwhelming presence.
Such was the strength of the presence the Demon Sword Empress displayed that the surrounding space felt as though it was distorting bit by bit.
The demon warriors of the Ghost Inspector Sword Squad couldn't even draw their swords at the situation that had occurred too suddenly.
In that gap, the Demon Sword Empress gradually intensified her energy and opened her mouth.
"...With that...disgusting...hand... Don't touch him carelessly...."
In the Demon Sword Empress's voice as she spat out words toward the Sword Demon.
Rare for her, clear fury permeated her voice.