〈 Chapter 450 〉 Ah, This Isn’t Right. (2)
The Murim Alliance possesses the Leiya.
In the atmosphere that had shifted somewhat after the Minor Sword Saint spoke, I had to think long and hard.
‘Why does the Murim Alliance have the Leiya?’
Originally, the Leiya should be her cherished weapon, one that the Demon Sword Queen ought to possess at this point in time.
A treasure brimming with thunder qi that displayed its effects even more potently.
Depending on the situation, it was an item that could easily double the Demon Sword Queen’s combat prowess.
‘So she doesn’t have it right now?’
No, to be precise, it seemed she had possessed it, but the Murim Alliance took it.
‘What happened…?’
This was something that at least did not exist in my memory.
In my previous life, the Demon Sword Queen had held onto the Leiya until the moment of her death.
And the one who possessed the Leiya after it left the Demon Sword Queen’s hands was none other than me.
It was an item I had carried around, claiming it was a memento after her death.
After meeting the Demon Sword Queen, I had never once seen her go around without the Leiya.
‘Then why now…?’
My eyes darted about.
No matter how I looked at it, something was strange.
Judging by the situation, it seemed some time had already passed since the Leiya was taken away.
Since entering this illusion, I had never seen the Demon Sword Queen carrying the Leiya.
Nor had I heard any mention of it, which meant it must have happened quite a while ago….
‘What is this?’
This seemed to be something that had not occurred in the previous life I knew.
Which meant…?
‘That this world is different from the one I knew….’
I had thought this world was an illusion created based on my memories.
But if something completely different from my memories was unfolding.
‘Then what in the world is this place?’
I immediately corrected my line of thought.
‘Something is different.’
The world I had believed the Tang Patriarch sent me to for a trial seemed to have something more to it, contrary to my expectations.
‘No.’
Was it even the world the Tang Patriarch sent me to in the first place?
I had to be suspicious of even that.
‘If it’s not an illusion and not a trial…. then what else could it be?’
I couldn’t figure that out yet.
But I knew I had to heighten the tension I was already feeling.
I had to remind myself that this place was different from what I expected.
My brow furrowed on its own.
Thinking of it simply as an illusion was already overwhelming enough; it felt like I was entangled in something even deeper and more irritating.
‘Anyway, nothing ever goes normally when I get involved with these people.’
This is what happens when you get involved with so-called heroes of the past.
Time stopping is one thing, but even space itself ends up shifting.
‘…Phew.’
Suppressing my intensifying emotions, I tried to clear my head.
I had to stay alert, especially at times like this.
I couldn’t forget my purpose.
I had to return safely to my original world.
I thought only of that.
"…Returning the Leiya."
The Demon Lord repeated the words upon hearing them.
"Anyone would think it was yours to begin with, the way you speak."
"It is not wrong."
At the Minor Sword Saint’s words, the Heavenly Venerable beside her stepped forward.
"The Leiya originally belonged to the Nangong family. It has merely returned to where it ought to be."
"Old monster, are you trying to play word games with me?"
The Demon Lord’s lip curled.
If it originally belonged to the Nangong family, then there was no issue with the Demon Sword Queen possessing it.
Hearing that, the Heavenly Venerable looked at the Demon Sword Queen with faded blue eyes.
"The child abandoned the Nangong name long ago. Can you truly say those words are wrong?"
"…"
The Demon Sword Queen offered no particular reply, merely staring at the Heavenly Venerable with sharp eyes.
"If the child herself abandoned the Nangong name, then I am the last Nangong remaining in this land. The Leiya has merely returned to where it originally belonged."
"And yet you would use the Leiya as leverage for a deal…. Is that what you mean?"
"Indeed."
At the Heavenly Venerable’s answer, the Demon Lord surveyed what lay behind him.
It was filled with martial artists in white, each and every one of them having reached a considerable realm.
By the numbers, the situation was filled with the Alliance’s full military strength.
The number of demonic martial artists on this side was not small either, and they could wage war if it came to it.
However.
‘We cannot win.’
This was an objective assessment.
Victory in the current battle was impossible.
Perhaps if only the Heavenly Venerable were here, but with the Minor Sword Saint in perfect condition, neither tired nor injured, battle was out of the question.
The reason he had come to confront them despite knowing this was.
Partly because that damned bastard had charged in simply because the Minor Sword Saint was here.
But also to maintain the demonic martial artists’ position that they must not retreat from the righteous faction.
Retreating despite the righteous faction’s numbers and certain defeat would do nothing but harm the Heavenly Demon’s position back at the headquarters.
They were beings who lived more for the Cult Leader’s standing than for their own lives. It could not be allowed.
He must be stepping forward because he knew that as well.
I roughly understood the flow of the conversation, but from my perspective, there was a major contradiction here.
The contradiction was this.
"Minor Sword Saint."
"Yes."
"You seem to be greatly mistaken."
The Minor Sword Saint’s eyebrow trembled slightly at the Demon Lord’s words.
"Why do you think our headquarters would deign to negotiate with you rabble over something as insignificant as the Leiya?"
Grind.
The demonic martial artists’ killing intent grew fiercer.
That was precisely the contradiction I had thought of.
I acknowledged that the Leiya was quite important to the Demon Sword Queen, but from an overall perspective, it was not something so vital to the entire Demonic Cult.
Even if the Demon Sword Queen was important combat strength, would they negotiate with the righteous faction for her sake?
There was insufficient justification for that.
If anything, it would only provoke them.
"It seems you still look down on us."
"…Demon Lord."
As the Demon Lord gradually ramped up his flames and demonic qi, the Minor Sword Saint’s expression could be seen distorting.
Watching that, the Demon Lord held back a smile.
"I’ll ask you, out of respect for the sincerity that brought you crawling here. What do you intend to do if the deal is refused?"
"…"
The Minor Sword Saint bit her lip at the Demon Lord’s words.
If they did not accept the deal proposed with the Leiya.
How would the Alliance respond?
Looking at her expression, I could faintly guess the answer.
No, it would be stranger not to know.
Ignoring the Heavenly Demon’s warning, they had gathered such forces at the doorstep of Sacheon, and both the Heavenly Venerable—one of the Three Venerables—and the Minor Sword Saint, the hope of the Alliance, had appeared together?
‘This means.’
They were prepared to wage all-out war if necessary.
Anyone who wasn’t an idiot would know this.
In other words.
"Let me ask you something else, Minor Sword Saint."
"…Yes."
"Is this a transaction, or is it a threat?"
Since it meant they would fight if the deal was refused, it was ultimately no different from a threat.
"…"
The Minor Sword Saint, who must have known this as well, could offer no answer.
I could glimpse a faint sense of shame in her expression, and conversely, deep disillusionment was rising in the Demon Lord’s face.
"No matter how you wrap it up in grand words or forcefully cloak yourself in them, in the end, you are no different from us. Do you truly still not know this?"
Despite the calm words, their impact burst forth.
Because the Alliance’s martial artists began showing violent reactions as if responding to the Demon Lord’s words.
"How dare a disgusting traitor…!"
"What are you fallen devils who sought power babbling about!"
It was a sight I hadn’t seen in a very long time.
Looking at it, rather than irritation, an absurd sense of nostalgia seeped out.
The righteous faction, outwardly pursuing peace while rotting from the roots within.
As war broke out, these secrets began to be revealed one by one. And there was also the incident of those who became disillusioned with it and defected to the Demonic Cult in large numbers.
Are the righteous faction truly clean?
By now, everyone in the Central Plains knew that they were not.
It was simply because they predicted that if the Heavenly Demon swept through the Central Plains and reigned supreme, everything would burn away.
For the moment, they merely wished for the Murim Alliance to be victorious in the war.
From the standpoint of someone who knew this, their reactions were merely laughable to me.
Those who had collapsed when war broke out, yet were barely maintained because of the war.
What made them think they were so superior to act like that?
No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t understand.
Not that it was my place to say, having become a demonic martial artist.
Just as the martial artists’ momentum began to gradually turn rough.
Kuguuuung—!
An immense pressure erupted from the Heavenly Venerable’s body and spread to the surroundings.
Just feeling it made the hair all over my body stand on end.
"Silence—!"
At the Heavenly Venerable’s voice, the Alliance’s martial artists who had been noisily chattering all shut their mouths at once.
Click.
Upon confirming that, a sound came from the Demon Sword Queen’s direction.
Before anyone knew it, the Demon Sword Queen had drawn her sword. If they had gotten any louder, she might have scattered sword qi.
The Heavenly Venerable had likely noticed that and forced them to shut up.
The Demon Lord didn’t seem to care about such a situation and continued his words.
"You bark noisily, but you offer no denial. Meaning you know it too."
"…"
"Was the righteous faction’s value of existence said to be righteousness and loyalty?"
The Demon Lord moved his steps and approached the Minor Sword Saint.
At this, the martial artists flinched and tried to guard the Minor Sword Saint, but she raised her hand and stopped them.
"In your eyes, does any of that still remain there?"
The Minor Sword Saint’s golden pupils met the Demon Lord’s purple pupils.
"…It may not. But."
As if unwilling to back down, the Minor Sword Saint also took a step toward the Demon Lord.
"If it does not, then I will create it."
"…"
"For that is why I took up the sword."
It was a resolute tone.
Seeing that, I felt a nauseous churning in my gut.
‘Don’t lie.’
It was obvious she wanted to run away at that very moment.
She took up the sword for that? That too was a lie.
You never wanted to take up the sword in the first place.
How could she utter such words?
Those behind her made moved expressions as they watched the Minor Sword Saint who would not back down.
I wanted to rip those bastards’ faces apart.
"…You are still a fool."
"Perhaps I am."
"So in the end, you intend to obtain what you desire through force. Is that it?"
"…"
The Minor Sword Saint did not deny it.
Meaning the Demon Lord’s words were correct.
‘What on earth does she want?’
Given her personality, the chances of her participating in something like this were slim.
Why had she gotten involved in such an illogical matter?
The Murim Alliance’s intentions in sending someone like her here were questionable, and what they hoped to gain by doing so was also a question.
"I don’t understand. Just what do you want to gain so badly that you would stage something like this?"
At a distance close enough to feel each other’s breath.
The Demon Lord asked her.
Under that gaze, the Minor Sword Saint slightly averted her head.
‘Hm?’
She looked toward me.
…What, why is she looking at me all of a sudden?
"I am looking for a person."
"A person?"
"Yes…."
Those words meant that the Murim Alliance was prepared to break the warning and wage war if necessary to obtain something. Surprisingly, that something was a single person.
I wondered what in the world that was supposed to mean.
The Minor Sword Saint suddenly raised her hand and pointed in my direction with her fingertip.
"Hm?"
Seeing that, I hurriedly looked around to see if someone was there.
No matter how I looked at it, it seemed she was pointing at me.
Only after confirming that did a chilling sensation climb up my spine.
‘Uh…. Could this be.’
Widening my eyes, I looked at the Minor Sword Saint once more.
"That person. I want that person."
"…!"
She said that while looking at me.
At those shocking words, just as I was about to express my surprise to the fullest.
Kugugugu—!
"Urk!"
I had to jump in surprise and dodge away from the frightening energy felt from the side.
It was the thickest and most intense killing intent I had felt since coming here.
Kureung—!
As if reacting to the energy, dark clouds suddenly began forming in the clear sky.
From the dark clouds, intense thunder qi could be felt coiling up.
While the demonic martial artists and even the Murim Alliance’s martial artists began panicking and changing their stances.
"You."
The one emitting an absurd energy spat out words toward the Minor Sword Saint.
The culprit was none other than the Demon Sword Queen.
Her white hair fluttered in the thunder qi and began rising slightly into the air.
Profound enlightenment coiled around her drawn sword.
That was the Demon Sword Queen’s other title.
It was an appearance befitting the Thunder Queen.
Having assumed an appearance as if she might rush forward at any moment, she spoke to the Minor Sword Saint.
"Do you want to die?"
The usual clumsy and quiet tone was nowhere to be found; her pronunciation was shockingly clear and distinct.