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Red eyes.

When I exhibited my Fire Energy.

It was different from the crimson eyes my father possessed.

If his eyes shone bright red with Fire Energy—

Jang Seonyeon’s eyes felt like they were glowing with blood.

Even the pupils were wide open, giving off a strange vibe.

‘What the…’

It was startling enough that Jang Seonyeon was alive.

But I was sweating from the unknown discomfort radiating from him.

The pain in my right arm was one thing.

But the discomfort rising from within began to take over my body.

What is this? Why does it feel so eerie?

Chiiiiiing.

Even amidst all this, the pain crawling up from the scaly area felt like it was gradually intensifying.

‘This…’

Over the last few months.

I thought I had gotten used to pain from training the Tua Pacheongong taught by Pejon.

But this was a different kind of pain.

‘It’s as if…’

It feels like it’s slowly spreading. Should I say the area covered in scales is enlarging?

The problem is, why is this phenomenon happening all of a sudden?

Furthermore,

‘Despite that appearance, no one seems to care.’

Ignoring the fact that Jang Seonyeon had shown up.

His eyes have changed to such a condition, and yet no one feels it’s strange.

‘Does it only show to me?’

Does this mean Jang Seonyeon’s eyes are only visible to me?

Why…?

Amidst my tangled thoughts, a familiar voice reached my ears.

– You seem to be in bad shape.

I widened my eyes and looked at the owner of the voice.

The one speaking to me was Jang Seonyeon.

– …You little brat…

– I didn’t plan to surprise you. But seeing your reaction, I suppose it’s pleasing.

The Jang Seonyeon smiling with a grin felt considerably different from what I knew.

Why is that?

Clearly, the face and voice belong to Jang Seonyeon.

Yet there was a sticky sensation in his voice.

Even though I sensed no smell, my nostrils felt overwhelmed with a metallic scent.

This is undoubtedly Blood Scent.

‘Blood Scent…? The smell of blood?’

Once I reached that thought, I began to feel as if I understood what I was sensing from Jang Seonyeon.

– Blood Demon…?

At my words, Jang Seonyeon’s smile deepened.

Seeing that, I could be certain why I felt the unfamiliarity from him.

Even though it’s Jang Seonyeon, it didn’t feel like him at all.

– You…

– You have quick wits.

That guy was not Jang Seonyeon; he was the Blood Demon.

– How… How are you in there?

Is it possible he borrowed this body to descend, just like Shin Noya did?

If Shin Noya can do it.

The Blood Demon surely could as well.

At my words, the Blood Demon expressed confusion.

– Ah, but you burned this child to death horribly. I wonder why you seek me.

– Don’t speak nonsense. You’re not trying to joke with me, are you?

– Hehe.

At my growl, the Blood Demon merely laughed as if finding it entertaining.

Meanwhile, the pain in my arm was growing increasingly severe.

This is not good.

‘Why is it suddenly acting up?’

It had always been just fine.

So, why this sudden pain…?

‘Could it be because of the Blood Demon?’

The strange occurrence began the moment I encountered the Blood Demon. No matter how I thought about it, that was it.

– It seems like you’re suffering quite a bit.

I was trying to hide my discomfort, but the Blood Demon immediately picked up on it.

Seeing that, it seemed this pain was indeed related to the Blood Demon.

– …Did you do something to me?

– Hehe… As much as you want to think so, unfortunately, I have no intention to do such a thing.

– Nonsense! You shoved your energy into me without permission!

– Indeed, so was there a bad outcome from that?

– Huh…?

How can you say that after just pushing it in?

– There were times when you used my power when needed, weren’t there?

– …!

– It’s a miracle I directly granted you. Do you really think you wouldn’t notice?

From that statement, it meant he knew I had used Blood Qi.

And even if the scales rising on my arm weren’t the Blood Demon’s doing.

I realized that he was aware of those scales as well.

– …What exactly is this?

When I asked the Blood Demon about the scales, he looked at me with a strange expression.

In that expression, I felt a sense of unknown delight.

– It seems, Ahya, you are the unexpected change I desired.

– Stop talking nonsense. What is this?

– You are surely not my fragment, so how did you start to bloom?

– …Bloom?

Blooming, huh?

– I’m not sure myself, but if that’s the case, you’d be the first among humans. It’s a cause for celebration.

– Why do you keep babbling nonsense?

– It’s something to be happy about. It means you are rising above the incompetent and filthy lower species.

The delight in the Blood Demon’s voice seeped through.

– I certainly look forward to the day when you break out of your shell.

As if intoxicated, the boiling words he spat spun my head.

The longer this went on, the more intense the agony on my arm became.

It seemed like I wouldn’t be able to hold back a scream any longer.

The Blood Demon watched this and filled with laughter said,

– You seem to be suffering a lot. Ahya. I shall show you mercy once again.

– What…?

– It also carries the meaning of congratulations, so don’t forget that.

The moment the Blood Demon uttered those incomprehensible words.

The Blood Qi that had been lodged in my Lower Dantian suddenly surged up!

It surged furiously.

As if it had heard someone’s command, it wriggled mightily.

I didn’t feel pain, but the energy moving on its own was a problem.

I tried desperately to quell it, but the rampaging Blood Qi erupted from my Lower Dantian and consumed my body.

‘Insane!’

It took only a few seconds for the Blood Qi to permeate my entire body.

The issue was.

‘What the…?’

The pain I felt afterward suddenly calmed down.

Could it be the influence of the Blood Qi?

Then does that mean the Blood Qi subdued the pain?

I checked my aching arm.

I couldn’t roll up my sleeve here, but the pain was definitely gone.

At this point, no matter how I looked at it, it would be difficult to say the current situation wasn’t related to the Blood Demon.

– Hehe…

Even in this situation, the Blood Demon was quick to smile at me.

– That child seems to hate me quite a lot.

– …Hate you?

– Ahya, the pain you felt was born from the hostility directed at me.

I frowned at the Blood Demon’s words.

What that means is, the scales rising on my arm are also something unusual.

To feel hostility towards the Blood Demon.

What in the world is this?

– It’s instinct. It’s how it was meant to be. Such arrogant beings do not wish to see another equal existing in the same world.

What could possibly be so enjoyable? The tone filled with satisfaction.

The expression brimming with laughter.

Even the sense of anticipation.

I couldn’t comprehend any of it.

Most importantly.

– Why are you telling me this?

I needed to understand why the Blood Demon was doing this to me.

I know he is extending goodwill toward me.

Whether this is goodwill or a calculated and intentional act, I don’t know.

But at least it meant there was no reason for the Blood Demon to act like this towards me.

– You, what exactly do you want from me?

– Nothing at all. I wish nothing from you.

– Is that really what you want to say after appearing before me in that state?

It was absurd. You’re telling me you want nothing at all?

Even while openly showing that you want something?

– If I were to find anything to desire, it would be for you to be able to do more than you can now.

– You still don’t get what you’re saying, do you? It’s so frustrating to listen.

– Ahya, the day you truly comprehend these words is not too far off. When you understand it someday, you will come looking for me. I merely await that day.

– You expect a day will come when I seek out you, the calamity? Are you looking forward to being killed, or what?

As soon as I spoke the word ‘calamity,’ the Blood Demon’s smile deepened.

– It seems you’ve figured out a lot more than expected. Not bad at all.

– …Clearly tell me. What’s your goal? Why are you doing this to me?

– My goal.

The Blood Demon paused for a moment. It seemed he went deep in thought.

But soon after, he resumed speaking to me.

– To break free from what is predetermined, I suppose that’s a goal.

– What does that…

– Originally, I planned to find my fragment relatively early and set things in motion. But now that I see you blooming, I feel I can change my mind.

Blooming.

Just that talk left me frowning.

It also meant that he initially had some intent.

I don’t know how he did it, but it was clear the Blood Demon was donning Jang Seonyeon’s guise.

Does this mean there’s some purpose to engage in something while taking Jang Seonyeon’s appearance?

‘…So that’s why, even after returning from the Demon Realm, there were no traces of Jang Seonyeon.’

Was that also a deed carried out by the Blood Demon?

How could this be?

I still couldn’t easily guess the Blood Demon’s intentions or what kind of being he was.

All I could figure out was that, at least, the Blood Demon was not human.

No, I already knew that, but now I was even more certain of it.

– I shall move just a little slowly, so you can realize it gradually.

– Who do you think you are to act as you please…!

Vwooooosh—!

Just as I was about to speak to the Blood Demon.

I suddenly felt my consciousness fading.

I was dizzy.

– Don’t be alarmed. It’s just the recoil from suppressing your hostility.

– …What are you doing to me now…?

– As I said before, I have done nothing that would harm you. Look. Doesn’t the beast within the Abyss remain silent now?

Just like the Blood Demon said, the beast that would usually snarl and show its teeth.

This time, it didn’t show any reaction.

Recalling how once I had possessed the Divine Sword, Shin Noya was already rarely showing up, and there was little sight of the beast either.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

– I truly only came to greet you today.

– Furthermore, aside from that, I have gained much. I can clearly see the way ahead.

– I hope to see you come seeking me on your own feet one day.

As the Blood Demon’s voice continued to echo, my consciousness blurred more and more.

I tried desperately to hold onto my awareness, but in the end, I couldn’t hold on and the connection snapped.

And then.

When I regained consciousness later.

The Righteous Faction Gathering had already ended.

 

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