〈 Chapter 661 〉 Villain and Hero.
I left the streets of Hanam and headed toward my lodgings.
By then, the sun was gradually setting.
Since I still remembered the way to my lodgings, finding them wasn't particularly difficult.
It was just that I'd spent some time buying and eating this and that along the way.
'She said she wouldn't eat, but she sure ate well once I bought it for her.'
She ate so much that I wondered why she'd refused at first.
Still, it was better than her not eating, so that was a relief.
The sun was setting.
The sunset glow was fading, and I could see night approaching.
Both my hands were full.
Buying all sorts of things had left me like this.
Honestly, I'd considered using void storage because I was annoyed carrying everything, but since that would stand out too much, I had to endure it.
On top of that.
'She's carrying even more than me....'
Wi Seol-a, walking beside me, was holding far more than I was.
Judging by her beaming expression, she was in a very good mood.
Looking at that expression, I felt like nothing else mattered.
'For now, more than that....'
Walking along, I recalled what had just happened.
It was about Bihyeonhwa.
'I was so surprised that I forgot.'
Wi Seol-a's sudden appearance had made me forget to insert demonic energy into Bihyeonhwa.
'What a waste.'
I had already planted something in Beomdong anyway, so even if I didn't do it to Bihyeonhwa, it probably wouldn't matter for the plan.
Even so, I couldn't help but regret it.
Moreover.
'...Damned wench, she ran off without even paying for the tea?'
She left in such a hurry without paying that I had to cover her bill too.
'Just wait until I see her next time.'
I'd squeeze at least ten times that amount out of her. Even now, thinking about it killed me.
'Damn it, why was the tea so expensive again?'
It wasn't even alcohol, just tea, yet it was outrageously expensive. And what was with the people who actually enjoyed drinking that stuff?
Moyong Huia had probably designed it all expecting this, but I never thought it would actually work.
I'd thought, who would pay such exorbitant prices to eat snacks and drink tea at an inn?
They ate very well.
The taste was quite good too.
It was so good that even though I knew I was being ripped off, I bought a heaping pile of it and left.
'Will they like it?'
Wi Seol-a had eaten it and said it was good, but she was always like that, so that was fine.
I wondered if the others would eat it well.
Of course.
'If they don't, Wi Seol-a will eat it all.'
There was no worry about food going to waste.
Should I consider that a blessing...?
As I was walking slowly like that.
Rustle.
As I passed through the forest path lit by lanterns, I sensed a presence.
I turned my gaze toward the spot.
"Kyah!"
Brushing through the bushes, Dang Soyeol suddenly jumped out.
She hadn't come by the path; her head was covered in leaves.
I wasn't surprised by her appearance.
Because I had already sensed her energy long ago.
"My lord!"
Dang Soyeol smiled brightly the moment she spotted me.
My hands were full at the moment, so I used my energy to brush the leaves off Dang Soyeol, then looked at her and asked.
"Where did you go?"
I had definitely sensed Dang Soyeol's presence near the inn, but at some point, her energy had vanished.
I'd figured she had something to do and let it go.
It seemed she'd wandered around instead of returning to the lodgings.
"Ah, I just had some business to attend to."
Dang Soyeol replied with a smile.
I nodded at that, but.
'Just business?'
My inner thoughts weren't entirely calm.
'I smell blood.'
A faint but definite scent of blood wafted from Dang Soyeol. She must have tried to erase it.
Having ascended in realm and completed my transformation, my five senses were extremely heightened.
To the extent that I could easily pick up this level of scent.
So, while I didn't know what Dang Soyeol had been doing.
I could tell it hadn't been anything peaceful.
I simply didn't show it.
'There must be a reason she's not saying anything.'
Having thought that far, I asked Dang Soyeol.
"What about food?"
"I haven't eaten."
"Why? It's already this late. What've you been doing without eating?"
"I was waiting to eat with you, my lord."
"What kind of dog-shit nonsense is that? You eat three meals a day. If I'm not here, does that mean you skip all three?"
"That might be... ack!"
At her nonsense, I struck her on the head with my energy.
Since my hands were full, I had to hit her with my energy.
"You're talking nonsense."
"Eee...."
Dang Soyeol groaned pretending to be in pain, so I ignored it.
When I didn't react, Dang Soyeol finally scrunched her nose, got up, and scurried over to Wi Seol-a.
And she took half of the luggage Wi Seol-a was carrying.
The naturalness of it made me tilt my head.
"When did you two greet each other?"
"Nyeh?"
"Huh?"
At my question, Dang Soyeol and Wi Seol-a opened their eyes wide in surprise.
There hadn't even been a 'how have you been' or a 'nice to see you.'
The way she so naturally took the luggage was subtle.
To my memory, there hadn't been a situation where they could have greeted each other.
Wondering what was going on, I looked at them.
"...No, it's... uh."
Dang Soyeol reacted somewhat flustered for some reason.
I wondered what there was to be so flustered about.
"We greeted each other earlier."
In contrast, Wi Seol-a answered me in a calm voice.
"When?"
"Mm. Before going to the inn where you were."
"...Huh?"
If she meant the inn, it seemed to be the place where I met Bihyeonhwa.
When did they greet each other then?
I tilted my head, unable to understand no matter how much I thought.
"We greeted each other then."
Wi Seol-a said that with a bright smile.
It was a smile filled with the implication not to ask further.
"Uh, yeah. Sure. That can happen."
My instincts were telling me.
That I shouldn't ask any more about this.
So I decided to let this pass too.
Nothing much probably happened.... Surely.
******************
After returning to the lodgings, I immediately changed my clothes and roughly finished my meal.
The moment I arrived, I'd been eagerly looking for an escape route because of the Overlord, but ironically, the Overlord wasn't at the lodgings.
It seemed he had said he'd come later because he had some business.
It felt like my life had just been extended.
When a few people saw Wi Seol-a, who had suddenly joined us, they made surprised expressions, but.
They weren't exactly unfamiliar faces, so they just accepted it with an 'I see' and moved on.
Moreover, the merchant group side seemed to have already known Wi Seol-a would arrive, as they provided one more room.
Since there were people who had come from the North Sea as well, they needed to divide the personnel a bit.
However, the patients Namgung Bia and Goeseon had to be placed in the quarters where Sinui was.
"Appearing after a month and immediately working an old man to the bone. Are you out of your mind?"
Sinui, who had been put to work because of that, had a thoroughly annoyed expression.
"You were feeling a bit lonely these days anyway. It's good to have work to do."
"That's called enjoying your leisure...!"
"Wouldn't it be good to live a bit busily in your later years? I heard you've been doing nothing but playing Go."
"You damn brat...?"
Sinui got angry at me, who didn't back down a single word, but as was characteristic of him, I knew he was treating them with all his might.
"How is it?"
"How is what."
Thump thump.
Grinding medicinal herbs vigorously, Sinui said.
"Both are martial artists, so their regeneration is high; there's no major problem. They might scar a bit, but I've treated them well, so it's nothing for me to worry about."
"...I see."
On the way here, I had circulated my internal energy to help with the treatment, and since I had prepared beforehand, it seemed there were no issues.
"It will probably take both of them about three months to fully heal... but after a month, they should be able to move without difficulty."
"Thank you."
Three months, huh?
It felt like a short yet long period.
The fact that martial artists needed that much time also meant the injuries were that severe.
'...Phew.'
Should I have beaten them more?
I think I probably should have.
As I was clenching my fist, thinking of Uhyeok.
"But, boy."
Sinui called out to me.
"What happened to you?"
"Yes?"
"That body of yours."
"Ah."
Right.
I remembered my condition had been poor before departure.
I had thought healing completely before the Martial Arts Tournament would be a close call.
But now, seeing that I was not only fully healed but healthier, it was natural for Sinui to be curious.
"I just had a bit of a fortuitous encounter."
"Every time you say you had a fortuitous encounter and come back healed after shoving it down... tsk tsk, this is why doctors are dying out."
I didn't think doctors would die out even if the world ended....
It was absurd to hear that from a man who barely worked and only did so occasionally.
'It's not like fortuitous encounters happen that often.'
A fortuitous encounter is something one might not even experience once in a lifetime.
I was the weird one for consuming them like breathing.
"Ahem, anyway... nothing major happened, right?"
"That's quite a strange thing to ask, coming from someone who vanished to the North Sea."
"..."
I scratched my cheek sheepishly.
I had been asked a favor by Sinui, but things happened and I had to rush to the North Sea.
So it wasn't strange for Sinui to express his dissatisfaction like this.
"Still, I did block it to some extent before leaving."
"..."
At my following words, Sinui didn't say much more.
"...Which is why I'm curious. How exactly did you do it?"
"Well, I just blocked it roughly in my own way."
"Ha."
It had been Sinui's request to stop the descendants of the Jegal Clan, who were scheming a rebellion.
I had simply granted it.
At least on the surface.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure what you're worried about doesn't happen."
I spoke while slowly getting up.
"Please take good care of them."
As I dusted myself off and spoke about Namgung Bia, Sinui looked at me and asked.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes. I have work to do now."
"Work?"
It was about time.
'Honestly, I want to rest more.'
It had been a while since I'd had leisurely time.
It had only been a day since I returned.
I wanted to shake off my fatigue and spend some time lazily, but.
'I have to move.'
I couldn't afford to.
I knew my place too well to waste time resting.
To protect what I must, I had to move. That thought alone was enough to get me up.
"Then, I shall take my leave now."
After paying my respects to Sinui, I took a step.
Less than a month remained until the Martial Arts Tournament.
'Within that time.'
I had to finish all preparations.
******************
The lingering sunset faded.
A crescent moon hung in the black sky.
When the moon also floated upon the lake following that light.
Rustle.
I walked along the path.
It was the path I had taken before.
A location slightly removed from Hanam.
It was still an underdeveloped area.
Chirrrrp-!!
The sound of grass insects chirping tickled my ears.
Quiet and still. Yet leisurely.
The forest always exuded this atmosphere.
But.
'They made it well.'
I knew this was all artificially created.
Thud.
While walking forward, I slightly changed my angle.
Seongyul was following behind.
I had brought him just in case.
However.
'I can probably come alone next time.'
It seemed there was no longer any need to deliberately bring Seongyul.
I now knew the way.
No, to be exact, I could now see the path.
Within the artificially twisted space, the path was clearly visible.
I strode along that path.
I could see what I couldn't see before. I could feel what I couldn't feel before.
Was this purely due to the difference in realm?
It couldn't be.
I could tell instinctively.
'Seeing as it isn't a formation...'
I reached out my hand and stirred the empty air.
Hum.
I felt something.
'Is it sorcery?'
The alien power I had discovered in the North Sea.
I thought this space and its distortion were sorcery.
Though I wasn't certain yet.
As I was slowly finding my way and walking.
Rustle.
A presence was felt up ahead, and someone appeared and knelt before me.
"...I greet my Master."
A woman with yellowish-green hair and purple eyes similar to Dang Soyeol's.
It was Nahida, who had now become a demon.
I looked at her and held back a chuckle.
"Long time no see. Have you been well?"
She probably hadn't been.
I had given her so many tasks, after all.
Without listening to Nahi's answer, I walked past her as if brushing by.
Then Nahi, as if accustomed to it, rose and followed behind me.
"It seems you did the work well. Not bad."
"...Thank you."
"As for the situation... organize it yourself and bring it to me later."
Walking, I pulled out a cracked mask from my breast.
At the same time.
Crack-!
Using the Aura Body Transformation Technique, I gradually increased my build.
Within seconds, I transformed into a physique just under eight cheok.
I had worn martial arts robes slightly large from the start, so they fit my enlarged body well.
Click.
I donned the mask over my changed body and face.
Putting on the mask, I naturally felt that it was time to work again.
[Nahi.]
I spoke to Nahi in a much deeper voice.
"Yes, my Lord."
[Go and report to the Great Lord Cheonra.]
To the former Demon Cult Great Lord staying in the hideout.
Tell Pilduma.
[Tell him This One has come, so he should prepare to receive me.]
"...I accept the command."
Soon, Nahi turned to smoke and vanished.
[...]
I stopped walking and raised my head to look at the crescent moon.
And without realizing it, I thought.
'...Wasn't that pretty cool just now?'
Even looking at myself, it seemed a bit cool.
Satisfied, I nodded my head.