〈 Episode 446 〉 Resonance.
Demon-Breaking (Pama).
It was the power that made Wi Seol-Ah the hope of the Central Plains, and the reason she had ultimately succeeded in killing the Heavenly Demon.
The moment the first battle against the demonic humans broke out.
Or rather, back when I was not yet a demonic human myself.
There had been a time when, among those being helplessly overwhelmed after being contaminated by the demonic energy of the demonic humans, Wi Seol-Ah's sword shone with an unusual light.
She was not devoured by the demonic energy; rather, one could see it being pushed back by her sword, nay, disappearing altogether.
How was such a thing possible?
Could it be that the Wolseon Sword she was said to learn possessed such efficacy?
The people of the Central Plains expressed doubts about this, but the Sword Lord directly stated that the same phenomenon did not appear in his own energy.
In other words, it was a characteristic only Wi Seol-Ah possessed.
How could such a thing be?
They had no time to ponder this.
What mattered was that the power she held could annihilate demonic energy.
Demonic energy, which was fatal to martial artists—a martial artist who possessed the power to oppose it had appeared.
Whether such a person was a young woman or a late bloomer was of no importance.
For this reason, it did not take long for Wi Seol-Ah to be called the hope of the Central Plains.
Moreover, as it was a time when Wi Seol-Ah was already making a name for herself with her absurd talent, many people began to place their expectations on her.
Truly, was it not laughable?
The moment a small hope was discovered, she was immediately exalted as a hero.
Not only that, but they dumped the burden of having to save the world onto her as well.
‘Those damned bastards.’
To me, it was a story that sounded all too familiar.
It was not that I could not understand.
Anyone who had experienced it could not help but know just how dreadful demonic energy was, and if there was a person capable of opposing such energy, perhaps placing one’s hopes on them was only a natural course of action.
It was simply that, despite knowing this, I could not bring myself to feel the same.
Because I knew all too well what kind of fate awaited those made to shoulder those damned expectations.
Buried under karma, one would lose oneself, and gradually, everything would crumble.
That was the nature of excessive expectations and karma.
And do you know what was even more repulsive?
People did it knowing full well that the one bearing it would end up that way.
Even while knowing that she, who would shoulder the karma, would eventually break and fall apart.
Because they themselves had to survive, they repeated their pretense of ignorance.
Such was the nature of humanity.
I hated them.
Moreover, I resented her for stepping forward to protect such people even while knowing it all too well.
This time was no different.
Knowing full well that it would gnaw away at her life, that foolish woman would take up her sword and step forward.
I hated that to the point of madness.
Amidst the silence.
Tap. Tap.
A sound that grated on the ears could be heard.
I raised my head to look toward the source of the sound.
It was the sound of the Demon Lord tapping the armrest with his finger.
A habit that emerged when he fell deep into thought.
Meanwhile, the air grew heavier and heavier.
The pressure radiating from the Demon Lord was weighing down heavily on the surroundings.
Even in this situation, the demonic humans endured without letting out a single sound of strain.
Because anyone could tell that damned bastard's mood was ominous.
To the other demonic humans, he might have appeared deeply troubled by the unexpected attack, but I knew.
‘It must be filled to the brim.’
It was obvious that thick skull of his was completely packed with thoughts of the Little Sword Saint.
Gruuuu….
Pushing through the heavy atmosphere, Mugwon spoke.
“…My Lord, please give the command.”
Starting with Mugwon’s words, the demonic humans around them all knelt at once.
Even the Demon Sword Queen was the same this time.
It was none other than the appearance of an opposing force, and the fact that they were gathering their full strength literally meant exactly that.
‘It means they are preparing for war.’
I did not know how large the scope was, but it was certain that the Alliance side was preparing for war.
Moreover, in a situation where we knew the Heavenly Venerable was nearby.
If even the Little Sword Saint, who was strong against demonic energy, had come as well.
‘…This means it is by no means a light battle.’
The small mercy was that the power called Demon-Breaking (Pama) itself could not purify demonic energy like my Guyeom Hwaryun Gong.
‘Should I consider this a relief?’
Should I call it a relief that it could not purify?
It was something that drew a hollow laugh the moment I thought of it.
In this situation.
‘What decision will you make?’
Kneeling together with the other demonic humans, I observed his reaction.
The best course of action here was to first report to the Heavenly Demon.
If we reported to the main headquarters about the actions of the Heavenly Venerable and the fact that the Alliance was gathering, there would be a high chance of additional support, or the Heavenly Demon himself appearing to handle it.
Though I did not know how strong the current Little Sword Saint was.
At the very least, she would be insufficient to face the Heavenly Demon.
After all, even if the Three Venerables all ganged up on him, they would be unable to defeat the Heavenly Demon.
I could not be certain whether their true intention was genuinely war, but this would have been the fastest method.
But.
‘You won’t do that.’
That bastard called the Demon Lord would not take such a choice.
I knew it all too well.
Creak.
With the kneeling demonic humans before him, the Demon Lord slowly rose to his feet.
And stepping down from the throne, he spoke to Mugwon.
“…Mugwon.”
“Yes. My Lord.”
“Guide me to their location.”
At those words, the demonic humans sprang to their feet at once.
The great hall was filled with the fighting spirit radiating from the demonic humans.
It was because they all knew the meaning contained in the Demon Lord's words.
Seeing that, I too smiled bitterly inwardly.
‘You crazy bastard.’
As expected, that’s just like you.
It was an action that deviated not an inch from my prediction.
His choice was always the same.
In the end, he would choose her.
In the previous life as well.
And in this life as well.
And likely in the distant future as well.
‘You are always a foolish bastard.’
An idiot who did things hoping someone would acknowledge him, unable to even give a definite answer himself.
That was me.
If the current me were going through such a situation, what choice would I have made?
I thought of this while watching the Demon Lord’s back as he exited the great hall.
I already knew what choice I would have made.
‘Probably.’
I would have made a choice no different from his.
Because I knew that, I could not even comfortably curse him out.
That bastard was indeed crazy.
And I too was still a fool.
I merely wished.
That in this situation, nothing irreparable would explode.
******************
The location Mugwon mentioned was just outside Sacheon, or more precisely, a village located at the border leading into Sacheon territory.
It was a difficult place to reach, being sparsely populated and located deep in the mountains.
Of all places, to think the Alliance’s forces were gathering there—had they chosen such a location on purpose?
‘This is strange.’
Even while increasing our speed, the doubt remained.
Did they think the demonic humans would not notice just because it was a region outside Sacheon?
No matter how much the Alliance was full of fools, they were not humans with their brains that empty.
There was definitely some plan.
‘And yet, he charges straight in knowing that full well.’
It was a thought I had while looking at that bastard running at the very front.
Could he possibly not know this?
‘There’s no way.’
He must know very well.
He was recklessly charging toward the enemy camp despite knowing it plainly.
And at that.
‘With this level of force…’
I glanced behind me.
The number of demonic humans following was considerable.
Even a rough count put it at over a hundred.
This meant he was leading even the demonic humans who had been guarding the surroundings.
In cases where I brought this much force…
‘Either intending to utterly crush the opponent.’
Or intending to get our own side crushed. Usually, it was one of those two.
After running for a while, the Demon Lord spoke.
“Mugwon.”
“Yes.”
Mugwon, who was right behind, gave his attention, and the Demon Lord continued as if he had been waiting.
“I will go ahead, so bring the main force.”
“…Understood.”
Originally, the Demon Sword Queen, who was the vice commander, should have led the main force.
Since the Demon Sword Queen might end up going somewhere strange if she ran at the front, Mugwon usually took the lead in such situations.
Meanwhile, at the words he spat out, I had to furrow my brows.
‘He’s going ahead?’
To think he would leave the main force behind and go first in such haste—what kind of nonsense was this?
What did he think was waiting there to choose such a foolish method?
Anyway, I did not like it.
Fwoosh.
Whether he knew my thoughts or not, the Demon Lord immediately clad his body in black flames.
Kwaang-!
With an enormous explosive sound, he shot forward.
So fast was his speed that the Demon Lord’s body disappeared before my eyes in mere seconds.
‘Crazy.’
A method of pouring out an enormous amount of energy to raise his speed.
If I used such a method in my current state, I would probably run out of internal energy in less than half a shichen.
‘Back then, I could run like that all day and still be fine.’
Even while cursing it as a crude usage, seeing something like that made me keenly realize the need to further increase my internal energy.
Immediately after the Demon Lord disappeared, Mugwon hid his inner fluster and spoke to the demonic humans.
“We are not far from the destination. Prepare for battle.”
At Mugwon’s warning, the demonic humans raised their fighting spirit.
Seeing that, I swallowed dryly.
The chances were high that both the Demon Lord and Mugwon were still wary of me.
Yet I had to think about what it meant that they had dragged me into such a war.
Just as the demonic energy escaping from the bodies of the demonic humans began to resonate in the air.
Kuuuuuung-!
“Kkeuk!”
The ground shook violently as if an earthquake had suddenly struck.
The sudden shock threw off the balance of those running.
The moment I tried to pause, wondering what this was.
“That is….”
At Mugwon’s words, everyone looked to the front.
‘Ha….’
At the unfolding situation, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
‘He rushed out ahead, and this is what happens the moment he arrives?’
At a point visible far away on the mountainside, a massive wave had formed.
A black wave of overwhelming size, as if it would sweep away the entire mountain.
A wave of flames surging high enough to touch the clouds.
There was no need to wonder what it was.
It was all black flame (Heuk-yeom).
Because the flames were so numerous and massive, it looked exactly as if a colossal tidal wave had appeared.