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Chapter 333: The Apostle of Chaos

“All living beings in the world must disappear.”

Can a new master truly stretch out their position on the land like this?

The words spat out by the World Tree made my mind swirl.

‘What kind of ridiculous logic is that…?’

If there is no master in the world I inhabit, then the world will eventually produce a new master.

And for that master to solidify their position, all living beings established on the land need to be erased.

“Who decided something like that?”

Who in the world put forth such a mad story?

It made no sense at all.

[It is not someone who has decided it, but rather the principle of the world is such.]

I let out a breath of emptiness at the words from the World Tree.

The principle is like that?

“That’s nonsense.”

If that’s the case, and if there is no master in the world I lived in, then according to logic, a new master will have to come forth.

And if that happens, then wouldn’t all life on the surface also vanish according to that logic?

‘Am I supposed to believe that?’

It was truly nonsensical.

This was a story I had never even heard before, and it was utterly ridiculous.

“I’ve never heard of a master. My world was just fine without one.”

They said life couldn’t be born without a master.

But life was still being born, wasn’t it?

“If your words are not lies, doesn’t that mean there is a master in my world that I just don’t know about?”

If you’re talking about the connection point of living beings and a master, then it could be likened to some kind of god.

Is the god worshipped by Shaolin or Wudang such an existence?

I couldn’t tell.

It was such absurd information that it seemed it would take a long time to comprehend.

It’s hard to easily trust this nonsense.

[Apostle.]

The World Tree called me, but its voice didn’t easily reach my ears.

[In a world that strays from principle, we call it a crack.]

“A crack, you say?”

[Yes, because a crack has occurred in the originally set framework, the principle cannot be properly applied.]

“…What on earth is this crack…?”

Ah.

The moment I was about to speak, something fleeting crossed my mind.

A crack is what prevents the principle from being properly applied.

If there’s something that could be called a crack in the world I’m in…

Could it be…?

“…The Demonic Gate?”

As a rift opened in the void, a different dimension opened, pouring forth countless demon beasts from an unfamiliar space.

Long ago, it is said that the ancestors of the Gu Clan opened the genesis of calamity.

If this caused a problem with the very principles that the world should possess?

‘No way…’

It shouldn’t be.

It must not.

The absence of the being called a master and the reason for the principles to go awry because of it.

If that’s the influence of the Demonic Gate?

‘…That incident was, of all things, the dung my ancestors dropped?’

If the crack the World Tree is talking about is due to the influence of the Demonic Gate.

Then the record of the Gu Clan, one of the achievements of the Gu Clan, is this sin emerging in the present day.

‘No, can it even be called a sin?’

If I think a little differently.

In a world where, from the beginning, there is no being called a master.

New life could no longer be born.

Yet with the crack produced by opening the Demonic Gate.

It suggests that the principles could be flipped, allowing life to continue to be born despite the absence of a master.

That wouldn’t be… a good thing, would it?

‘No, that’s not right…’

I shook my head as I realized that trying to frame it positively was impossible.

No matter how you twist it, opening the Demonic Gate in this world is indefensible.

Unless the ancestors genuinely aimed to break such principles.

Otherwise, the ancestors committed a sin, and that sin still lingers on.

So, there’s no way it could be wrapped up nicely.

What I need to think about now is the fundamental part of the story from the World Tree.

“Alright. Principals and cracks aside, let’s just go with that for now.”

I didn’t understand anything, but for now, let’s roll with it.

And what remains after rolling with it is this:

“Then, where is the master that should be in our world?”

If every world must have a master, then where exactly is the master that should be in the Central Plains?

If I’m going to look for answers, I have to start from there.

Since there is no master, this calamity has happened.

[…]

To my question, the World Tree remained silent.

Does this mean it doesn’t know either?

Could it be that there are worlds without masters at all?

That’s possible, isn’t it?

[There is no world without a master.]

“Honestly, tell me. I can read your innermost thoughts too.”

[The world despises anything that deviates from its designated principle extremely.]

Ignoring my words, the World Tree continued.

[That’s why it will try to revert things to how they were.]

“So trying means creating a new master?”

[Yes, if there are worlds and living beings, then there must also be a master.]

“…So, to achieve that, all pre-existing living beings need to be erased?”

[To solidify the new master, that is the principle.]

“Really now?”

What insanity that logic is.

Just hearing it a few times already makes me sick of it.

“So, if the principle is twisted and life continues to be born, what is it going to do? Rain down fire from the sky or something?”

It said that all living beings need to be erased for a new master to be seated.

And if death didn’t occur, that would imply that the dignity of life is being prevented.

But if that’s not happening due to the crack, then what on earth is the world planning to do in order to install the master?

To my question, the World Tree answered in a strangely cold voice.

[If the principles don’t flow back to the original path, then it will force that flow back.]

“How?”

[It’s a simple notion; if life keeps existing, it will erase it artificially.]

“…Artificial erasure, you say?”

I frowned at the World Tree’s words.

The notion of artificial erasure began to prick at me.

“…That’s…”

[If the cracks prevent the principle from flowing as it should, then the world will call for an agent.]

An agent.

One who can change the principle back to its original state and fix the twisted framework.

Differently from the principle, where life continues to be born.

If there’s a place where a master cannot be born because of this, then it means life can simply be erased artificially.

“When did such a thing start happening?”

The idea of mass extermination is both cruel and nonsensical.

If the words of the World Tree are true, then it wouldn’t be a small matter at all.

‘Were there any records of such happenings in the past, or did it occur in my previous life?’

At least, in my memory… it doesn’t seem like there was.

Then does it mean that it won’t happen in the future?

As I pondered over this.

[…The world is not one to have much patience.]

The World Tree seemed to present my thoughts as if summarizing them.

“What do you mean by that…?”

[If it were said that a crack occurred and the principle twisted, then the world would act on it right away.]

To rectify the principles.

“But…”

No matter how much I think about it, it makes no sense.

[Do you really think such things have never happened? Apostle?]

“Such things…”

Erasing all living beings in the Central Plains to correct the twisted principles naturally.

It’s not something that can be carried out smoothly.

Instead, it would take a being to carry that out.

An incident that coincided with the time the Demonic Gate was opened.

“…That’s just bullshit.”

I ended up spitting out a curse unknowingly.

The chill running down my spine was fueled by both my anxious thoughts and the situation at hand.

It comes to mind.

The actions that the World Tree is saying took place to correct the principles.

The world has no patience.

So it must have happened long ago.

To deny that would be a lie.

There was indeed one incident.

That is:

“…The Blood Demon War.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, cold sweat streamed down my cheek.

Centuries ago.

Not long after the Demonic Gate was opened.

At a time before the establishment of the current Martial Alliance.

While we were struggling to gain peace against the demons pouring out of the Demonic Gate.

In the Central Plains, which was just settling in.

An event occurred that seemed to want to bring a bloodstorm to the world.

To this day, it’s recorded as the first blood calamity.

And that was the emergence of the Blood Demon.

“…So the Blood Demon is the agent?”

The agent sent by the world to erase all living beings.

Is the Blood Demon really that figure?

Yeon Ilcheon had said before.

“This world is one destined for destruction.”

The calamity for that destruction was the Blood Demon.

While the Blood Demon was sealed with the powers of others, the calamity did not end; it continued to emerge.

And I too was part of that calamity.

[Apostle.]

The moment the World Tree called me, I sprang up from where I was sitting.

[It seems you’ve noticed something.]

“…What’s the reason you call me an apostle?”

[Apostle… ]

If the Blood Demon is such a calamity and the calamity has not yet ended, then it’s only natural that I too thought of the Heavenly Demon as a calamity.

This was an obvious conclusion.

In the previous life, it was the Heavenly Demon who caused the blood calamity.

That immense power and presence were so overwhelming that it was impossible to think of it as merely human.

If calamity were to have a face, it surely would be that.

Even if he eventually met death at the Divine Sword’s hands, the Heavenly Demon remained a being worthy of being called calamity.

However…

“What do you hope for from me?”

Then what exactly am I?

[Apostle.]

“What do you wish from me?”

If the being before me is talking about a different world but calls itself a master.

While revealing such facts to me and granting me the Holy Mark.

What is the reason for calling me an apostle?

“Are you telling me to be a calamity?”

The Blood Demon was sealed with the strength of others, including Yeon Ilcheon.

That would be the conclusion of the first calamity.

Yeon Ilcheon had said.

“This world would not repeat the same mistake.”

There would be a reason for my regression.

I am the calamity.

[It seems you harbor some misunderstandings.]

“Misunderstanding? No matter how I look at it, it’s not a misunderstanding.”

Don’t spout such nonsense.

What have I been through?

Through miraculous regression, I’ve desperately struggled to live a different life.

To save those who have died for me and to live a life different from my previous one.

But if all of that was simply a predetermined path to lead my world to destruction…

“…I.”

It would be better for me to die right here, right now.

[Apostle.]

“Don’t call me an apostle…!”

[There was once a child like you in the past.]

Just as I was about to scream, clutching my dizzy head, the World Tree momentarily halted.

The emotions within the words felt unusually warm.

I found myself drawn to it without even realizing.

Why is that?

[There was a child who knew the truth and screamed in despair, bloodying his hands.]

“…What is this sudden, out-of-the-blue story?”

Now is not the time for tales of the past.

I wanted to cut it off but found it difficult to put into words.

[How pitiful he cried, unable to embrace his own child despite knowing the useless old tree was his offspring.]

“A child, you say?”

It’s a tree, how can it have a child?

I unexpectedly entertained such awkward thoughts.

[To a master, their life is like that of a child.]

So, if a master exists in the earth, then life can be born.

Is it implying that the life born to that master is like a child?

[Do you understand this, Apostle?]

“How could I know if you didn’t say anything?”

[In your world, there does exist a master.]

There is a master in the Central Plains?

Then, in a situation where that master is absent, since the Demonic Gate was opened, it means that the Blood Demon did not appear to correct the principles?

“…Then? Where did the master go?”

If so, where is the master of our world now?

[To defy time is to require great power, as I mentioned before.]

It was the same line as earlier.

[The karma from it is something a single human cannot entirely bear.]

“Impossible?”

Then what am I?

[Humans cannot hold or support, nor even hope for such a thing; even if a being greater than them takes it on, it would be power they cannot endure. That is the nature of time.]

“Why are you telling me such nonsensical things….”

[The master in your world is not absent; they have been erased from existence.]

My eyes widened at the World Tree’s words.

[The master, for defying the flow, has received a punishment for reversing the small flow of humanity and lost the qualification to exist. That is why you do not know about the master.]

“…What do you mean by that? Are you saying the master of the world has regressed another human…?”

Huh?

While blabbering, I raised my head to look at the World Tree.

The former master had regressed a single human.

As for the existence lost to the master’s command, the one I was aware of was none other than me.

How could I not know?

The one who sealed the Blood Demon was another regressor like me.

Why is the World Tree suddenly bringing this topic up?

“You….”

[Apostle, do you think I marked you as a calamity to use?]

The voice of the World Tree was filled with the same sorrow as it had at the start.

[To a master, life is like their child…. How could I do that?]

It sounded like it’s crying beyond sorrow.

The branches devoid of a single leaf and the roots spreading to block the wind seemed to carry an air of melancholy.

[Do you understand this, Apostle?]

The World Tree spoke to me in a quivering tone.

[The mark of a master is not something that can be given to anything that isn’t their child.]

It was the master of our world.

 

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