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EP.26 Demon Sword Queen (3)

This tale takes place on Mount Tai in the past.

It was a mountainside densely stacked with cold, lifeless corpses.

In the central purgatory where even demons were mixed together, Demon Sword Queen Nangong Bi-ah stood alone, gazing at the sky with her sword raised.

[Demon Sword Queen.]

At my call, Nangong Bi-ah slowly shifted her gaze.

Was it the drop of blood splattered on her white cheek that made her look particularly enchanting?

Her dark, emotionless eyes were devoid of light.

As we locked eyes, all I could see was darkness.

[So, only you survived? Did you kill them all?]

The brutal scars visible even to the demons were left by none other than Nangong Bi-ah’s sword.

In the battle that had just happened, she had slain everyone here, regardless of enemy or ally.

As I witnessed this, I opened my mouth.

[You said time is short; what kind of nonsense are you playing at?]

With her blood-soaked sword lowered, Nangong Bi-ah approached me.

She seemed to hold no killing intent, but it was impossible to gauge her state; she never shows it, no matter the situation.

An emotionless human.

That’s what makes her a terrifying sword master.

Nangong Bi-ah reached me, wiped the blood from her cheek, and spoke.

[There was nothing here.]

[Of course, since you wiped it all out.]

With a swift motion, Nangong Bi-ah shook off the blood as if brushing it away.

A fierce wind pressure spread in the direction she swung.

With a flick, Nangong Bi-ah asked me.

[What did the cult leader say?]

[He told me to bring you back; I can only assume you’re rampaging like a madwoman.]

[The latter… is that what you wanted to say?]

[Seeing that you understand, it seems you have the mental capacity for it.]

She hadn’t decorated her head with flowers, but Nangong Bi-ah was indeed insane. Only for her sword, though.

After a casual swing, she sheathed her sword and changed her stance.

I let out a sigh as I watched her.

[Not that way, Demon Sword Queen.]

[…Where then?]

[To the left.]

[Ah….]

[…That’s the right side.]

After several corrections, Nangong Bi-ah finally found her way.

For someone who likely killed hundreds in this place, she had a peculiar dullness about her.

In stark contrast to that, her performance as she danced through a horde of martial artists exuded an indescribable sense of disconnect.

Demon Sword Queen.

In a way, it might be the most fitting title for Nangong Bi-ah.

As she walked slowly, she suddenly stopped.

[Hey, about that.]

[What is it?]

[If it’s Sword Sovereign, they must be strong, right?]

[…Hearing such nonsense, you truly seem out of your mind.]

I also halted my footsteps, sensing something was off.

[Just in case you’re wondering, don’t do anything pointless; the Three Eminent Beings are the cult leader’s domain.]

[What about the Sword Sovereign’s sword?]

[Ah…. This madwoman.]

I shook my head, continuing on my way.

Somehow, I didn’t feel any presence following behind and turned around to find Nangong Bi-ah muttering to herself, headed in another direction.

[….]

Should I grab her? I momentarily pondered.

I picked up a rock from the ground and threw it at Nangong Bi-ah.

I aimed with precision to hit her head.

The rock flew quickly, splitting apart as it dropped near her.

Before I knew it, Nangong Bi-ah had drawn her sword and was looking at me.

[Are we going to fight?]

This was the only moment where her expression held any semblance of emotion.

The pressure of my bet began to swell around me, sending shivers through my body. I wiped my face with my hand as I spoke.

[…That’s not the way.]

[….Ah!]

At my words, she instantly sheathed her sword. The surrounding pressure that had been choking me dissipated at once.

Finally, Nangong Bi-ah, who had been walking smoothly, paused again.

She looked as if she had fallen deep into thought.

[What are you doing?]

[I was considering something.]

[About what?]

[This way does not seem like a path at all.]

Having uttered that, Nangong Bi-ah suddenly leaped to the opposite side and swiftly vanished from my sight. I couldn’t help but wipe my face again.

[…That’s not the way, you madwoman….]

Afterward, I reached my destination in less than a day.

It took three days for the sprinting Nangong Bi-ah to arrive at the target.

At my shout, the eyes of everyone gathered focused on me.

Especially, Nangong Bi-ah’s gaze was particularly frightening.

I definitely didn’t want to be involved with that madwoman.

The name of Nangong from the Four Great Clans? Her beautiful appearance? All of that was meaningless.

Her very existence was just such.

“…Young Master?”

Muyeon appeared with a look of panic, cursing at me.

I’d like to keep my mouth shut and endure, but that was impossible.

In the midst of it all, Nangong Bi-ah looked at me and asked.

“Are you the owner of this group?”

Just hearing her voice made cold sweat trickle down my back. Should I respond?

Nangong Bi-ah performed a bow, as if indifferent to my unresponsiveness.

“I am Nangong Bi-ah from the Nangong Clan. If it’s not too much trouble, I would like to go to Sichuan….”

“That’s not allowed. We’re not going to Sichuan, and it would indeed be a bother.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at my firm refusal.

Nangong Bi-ah tilted her head. Could it be an unexpected turn of events?

Certainly, I would imagine she hadn’t been refused while mentioning the Nangong Clan. But I had my reasons to say no.

“I cannot accept someone of unknown identity into our group without verifying whether the Young Lady truly belongs to the Nangong Clan.”

While it could easily be inferred she was from the Nangong Clan based on her white hair and the blue martial robe with her family’s name inscribed on it, this was the formal stance.

There was absolutely no way I would accept her.

Upon my rejection, Nangong Bi-ah made a sound of ‘Ah…’ and nodded.

Then she drew her sword. Seeing this, Muyeon hastily prepared for battle, but Nangong Bi-ah merely stood still, closing her eyes.

For some reason, I couldn’t shake off the sense of unease that came from her familiar posture.

‘That madwoman, could she possibly….’

In an instant, the flow of air changed.

It felt as if I were walking not on the ground, but on the sword blade itself; the atmosphere created by the blade stirred up impending doom.

It was the energy I had continuously felt from Nangong Bi-ah in my previous life.

At last, Nangong Bi-ah slowly opened her eyes.

Simultaneously, a tingling energy burst forth from her body.

Muyeon and the guards simultaneously drew their swords upon sensing this.

Before the blades could reach Nangong Bi-ah, the energy emanating from her vanished in an instant.

Despite the multiple swords threatening her, Nangong Bi-ah’s expression remained utterly calm.

Imperial Sword Form.

The Nangong Clan’s absolute style briefly shone through that seemingly frail woman.

“I still can’t use this properly, so I can only show you this, but is this enough proof for you?”

Nangong Bi-ah had resorted to such a reckless method to prove she was indeed of the Nangong Clan.

Though it might be the most certain method.

All the martial artists present here would likely have been convinced she was a direct descendant of the Nangong Clan.

There was no better way of proving her status than the Imperial Sword Form of the Nangong Clan.

Hearing her words, I nodded slowly and replied.

“Such overwhelming energy. I believe it’s impossible for us to ‘ever’ travel together with someone who wields such terrifying martial arts. I apologize.”

Of course, even with proof, certain things remained impossible.

Fortunately, having declined Nangong Bi-ah’s companionship, I began moving again to head back to Sichuan.

Surprisingly, she didn’t say anything about my rejection. She merely nodded.

Did I manage to resolve just one issue?

I truly felt as if I had aged ten years.

‘Who would have anticipated meeting that monster here?’

The memories of her recklessly swinging her sword without concern for allies or enemies still lingered vividly. Why was a direct descendant of the Nangong Clan wandering alone here?

“Ah…. I’m really tired.”

The fleeting minutes I spent with Nangong Bi-ah just now felt more exhausting than the past three days riding in the carriage.

“Young Master, Young Master!”

“What is it?”

Suddenly, Wi Seol-Ah, who had been gazing out the window, called out to me.

She kept staring outside the carriage.

“They’re still following us.”

“What’s following us?”

What could possibly be following us….

A chilling thought began to swirl in my mind as Wi Seol-Ah answered.

“That pretty older sister from earlier is still following us.”

Oh, heavens above….

Frantically checking outside the carriage, I indeed saw Nangong Bi-ah following us from afar.

‘You have to be kidding me, was that nod of hers meant to convey this?’

So, if I don’t accept her, she’ll just follow?

….I’m really going to lose my mind.

Though I wanted to shout at her not to follow, I had no justifiable reason to do so.

‘I’ve explicitly stated I won’t be going to Sichuan, so why is she following me?’

Is the path we’re taking the same? That can’t be right.

I had never seen that madwoman taking a proper route.

Right, just ignore her. Ignoring is the way to go.

The problem came later at night when we set up camp.

After struggling to find a usable terrain to start a fire, I noticed another campfire in the distance.

It was none other than Nangong Bi-ah. What on earth had she brought with her? I saw her skewering a frog onto a stick and roasting it over the fire.

Maybe because her appearance was so flashy, her eyes seemed vacant, but she looked quite pitiable.

It was like a bold declaration that she was indeed following me.

Where on earth did that frog come from?

I turned my head away, trying hard to ignore her. As my gaze shifted, Wi Seol-Ah was once again running around with dumplings.

I’d heard the guards joking that as soon as Wi Seol-Ah handed out dumplings, all their fatigue would disappear.

Honestly, I could relate a little to that.

“Young Master! Dumplings!”

I picked up the dumpling Wi Seol-Ah handed me, feeling instantly relieved.

Despite everything, dumplings always lifted my mood.

‘…I’m thankful that at least you are here.’

Feeling hungrier than usual, I quickly devoured a dumpling. Perhaps because I was slightly peckish, I felt I needed to eat more.

I looked for Wi Seol-Ah to get more dumplings.

“…That’s really not good.”

Somehow, Wi Seol-Ah had gone over to Nangong Bi-ah and was handing her a dumpling.

Nangong Bi-ah displayed a rare look of surprise as she gazed at the dumpling presented by Wi Seol-Ah.

“Do you want to have one, pretty older sister?”

“…Ah.”

In a hurry, I stood up and approached Wi Seol-Ah.

I grasped her shoulder and pulled her back.

“What are you doing with an outsider right now?”

I must have sounded annoyed because Wi Seol-Ah appeared slightly intimidated.

“No…. I was just trying to share it with this sister who seems pitiful….”

“She probably just wants to eat. Don’t act recklessly and stay back.”

“Yes….”

After being scolded, Wi Seol-Ah turned around, looking dejected.

In the meantime, Nangong Bi-ah held the dumpling and glanced at me.

I asked her.

“Why are you following me?”

“It’s just that the path….”

“I’m not going to accept the excuse that the paths are similar.”

Cutting her off made her momentarily mute.

“I recognize that you are from the Nangong Clan.”

“So, why didn’t you allow me to join your group?”

“That’s my choice; it’s not necessary to accept anyone just because they belong to the Nangong Clan.”

“Ah….”

“I’m wondering, why is a delicate member of the Nangong Clan wandering alone to this distant land?”

Although I felt chills run down my spine as I tried to respect her, I swallowed it down. This was a necessary line of questioning…

Nangong Bi-ah scratched her cheek with her other hand, looking somewhat awkward.

“….We definitely started together…. but I lost my way since the middle….”

I couldn’t find words to respond to that.

No matter how many people had set out together, she surely had ridden in a carriage, so how could she lose her way?

‘…If she hadn’t lost her memories from her previous life, I would have never understood.’

The image of her being unable to distinguish left from right came to mind.

The Demon Sword Queen was a god-given disaster when it came to directions.

“We are not going to Sichuan.”

“Really…? I had a feeling you were going to go.”

This misguided person who couldn’t even find the right path seemed to have a strange instinct about this direction.

Clearing my throat, I resumed speaking.

“…Anyway, I won’t say anything about you coming along, but please, let’s keep it to that only.”

That should be enough. This should be the end of the matter. It had to be.

Just as I was about to leave, Nangong Bi-ah called out to me.

“Excuse me, Junior.”

“…What is it?”

“I’m Nangong Bi-ah.”

“Yes, I know.”

Nangong Bi-ah continued to stare at me silently. What was she trying to convey?

As I endured the silence, she tilted her head again. Suddenly, as if realizing something, she spoke up again.

“I’ve introduced myself, so may I ask for your name as well?”

“I don’t want to….”

I hesitated to mention my name, fearing it would tie me to her unnecessarily.

However, a fleeting thought came to me as I said,

“…I’m Gu Jeolyub.”

“Excuse?”

“I’m Gu Jeolyub of the Gu Clan, Gu Jeolyub.”

Upon hearing my name, Nangong Bi-ah nodded in acknowledgment.

It seemed she intended to remember it.

…I’m sorry, Jeolyub.

….I’ll borrow your name for a while.

At that moment, I felt a slight pang of guilt towards Gu Jeolyub, a name I never thought I’d carry.

 

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