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Chapter 452 – Which World Is It?

“I am a dancer.”

The woman in a veil who suddenly appeared from the opened Demonic Gate introduced herself like that.

Not only was it strange that a dimension suddenly opened up, but I was more focused on her very first words as she made her entrance.

– I meet the existence of another world.

‘Existence of another world?’

That was a chilling remark.

It felt as if she knew I wasn’t from this world.

Hiding my surprise, I spoke to her.

“Are you the one looking for me?”

Is she the one who was sent by the Divine Sword to find me?

If so, who could that be?

At the very least, I had never seen her before.

‘I never met her in my previous life.’

I hadn’t seen anyone with such a vibe, not in this life nor the last.

This made it all the more difficult to figure out her identity.

‘Is this world truly not the one I know?’

I was gradually realizing I could no longer dismiss this as mere fantasy.

It’s bizarre from the start.

If this illusion was created based on my memories, it should be normal to not make things I don’t know about, yet this world was different.

Even a short time after crashing here, I could tell this much.

No.

It would be more accurate to say that I had been willfully ignoring it.

When I frowned and watched the dancer, she responded with her hands clasped respectfully.

“I am not worthy.”

“Worthy?”

What does it mean to say she is unworthy?

Is she merely a messenger?

‘A dancer.’

That sounded somewhat familiar.

Of course, I know the word dancer itself, but why is it mentioned in this way?

‘Where have I heard it?’

I was sure I had heard something crucial regarding this before….

‘…!’

As I struggled to recall, memories flooded back.

A few years ago.

When I participated in the Martial Arts Tournament held by the Dragon Meeting.

It was at the very end of my spar with Jang Seonyeon in the finals.

At that time, the Blood Demon, who had descended through Jang Seonyeon’s body, had told me something.

– If you meet a dancer…

She had told me to convey that she was searching for me.

This indicated…

‘This woman must be connected to the Blood Demon.’

I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes.

Then I looked at the So Sword Sect.

She stood there with an expression as dull as a stone, showing no reaction even to the dancer’s appearance.

I could sense a slight discomfort from her, yet it was evident she was not particularly surprised.

In other words, the arrival of the dancer was not an unusual event for her.

‘What is going on?’

If there is indeed a Blood Demon behind this dancer.

Does the So Sword Sect also know of the Blood Demon’s existence?

In an instant, a flurry of thoughts raced through my mind.

While I nervously bit my tongue from the odd sensation.

“I’m terribly sorry for meeting you like this.”

The dancer continued to speak to me.

“… How did you know I had come?”

“There was a prophecy. The Master insisted that the existence of another world would appear in this realm, and we should promptly bring you here.”

Does it mean there was a word that I would appear?

If so, really.

‘This means this isn’t just a simple fantasy.’

It’s as if saying it’s a test when in fact, I was sent to a completely different world.

Then where exactly is this place?

‘A world that resembles my previous life but is somehow different… how should I express this?’

Whatever it is.

The important thing concerns Tang Je-mun. Why did she send me here?

Without being able to hold back my frustration over the escalating situation, I clenched my lips.

“Prophecies and all that, how did you know it was me?”

It doesn’t matter who made the prophecy.

The real question is how did they assure that I was the being from another world?

Instead, it was the So Sword Sect that answered this, not the dancer.

“… The energy resonated.”

As I turned to glance at her, the So Sword Sect spoke without meeting my gaze.

After hearing this, I thought to myself.

‘So it was that.’

This was also something I had anticipated.

Her words provided the assurance that the energy of the Divine Sword within me resonated with her, revealing I came from another world.

The So Sword Sect had directly stated that they were convinced by that.

While that was indeed accurate.

‘But could this really serve as the reason?’

I still didn’t fully understand this part.

Meanwhile, the dancer looked at the handcuffs binding my wrists and gestured to the So Sword Sect.

“Please release them.”

As soon as those words left her mouth.

Thunk.

The handcuffs wrapped around my wrists were suddenly severed with a swift slice, falling to the ground with a clatter.

I looked at the handcuffs on the floor and then glanced at the So Sword Sect.

‘When did she draw her sword?’

At some point, she was holding a sword in one hand.

She had cut the handcuffs without me even realizing.

To top it off.

Boom—!

My blocked energy started to flow, sparking vitality throughout my body.

This also meant the Golden Binding restricting my Lower Dantian was released.

This was likely also the work of the So Sword Sect.

After moving my hands a few times to check my condition, the dancer approached me.

“Given the situation, I apologize for not being able to present a more favorable appearance.”

Though she seemed courteous on the surface, her voice and demeanor were utterly cold.

It felt like conversing with a statue.

“So… that’s settled. What do you want from me?”

I had no desire for things to get more complicated, so I wanted to get straight to the point.

So finally, what could she possibly want from me?

In response, the dancer carefully spoke with the same serene demeanor.

“The Master wishes to see you.”

In the end, that meant she couldn’t say it directly herself.

As soon as those words escaped the dancer’s lips.

Shudder—!

The Demonic Gate from which the dancer had walked out began to open once more.

Could it be that she meant for me to follow her through that?

As I looked at her with a puzzled expression, the dancer continued.

“The Master is unfortunately unable to move freely, so it would be appreciated if you could come to meet him.”

This was an explanatory add-on, but…

“What happens if I don’t go?”

What would happen if I refused to meet your ‘Master’? The dancer simply stared at me without offering any answer.

She didn’t say I didn’t have to come.

‘Even if the words sound polite, it’s still no different from a threat.’

I forced a bitter smile.

Everyone is truly so violent.

This is precisely why I need to diligently grow my power.

Shaking my head at the dancer, I said.

“Do I just follow you in?”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Understanding, my foot.

Whether she knew my face was rotten or not, the dancer walked towards the Demonic Gate with the same steps.

Seeing that, I followed without hesitation.

It was just as well.

Instead of tormenting myself with this unexplainable world, it would be faster to go ask someone who knows.

‘What kind of world is this, anyway? Let’s find out once and for all.’

With that thought in mind, I stepped towards the Demonic Gate.

As the lights surged within, I closed my eyes.

When I opened them again.

“Hm?”

A massive Ice Spirit appeared right in front of me.

In the quiet room.

On the wide table sat a dark blue sword.

It looked like a lackluster antique, but it was the treasure known as the Thunder Fang from the Nangong Clan, reputed to be one of the Five Great Swords of the Central Plains.

Regardless of how the blade was reduced to just its handle, the woman gazing at it looked as if she could slice through anything just with her chilling glare.

Quietly staring at the handle, she finally turned to the man sitting across from her.

“… Why… did you do it?”

Anger and resentment.

It was evident that such emotions were clearly laced in her voice.

Hearing the woman’s voice, the man lifted his head to look at her.

“What do you mean?”

“Why… did you send him…?”

The man’s indifferent response caused the beautiful brow of the Demon Sword Queen to knit in displeasure.

“… You shouldn’t have sent him….”

“He insisted on going himself, and I merely respected that.”

“… That’s a lie….”

The Mage outright denied the words of the Demon Sword Queen.

“The Great Lord… knows nothing of respect….”

“…”

The Mage’s face twisted at her words.

It seemed the previous remark had a profoundly unpleasant impact on him.

“… Deputy Lord. What in the world are you doing?”

The Mage revealed his displeasure without holding back, yet the Demon Sword Queen’s stance remained unchanged.

“You shouldn’t have sent him.”

“You’re repeating the same phrase over and over again. Have you really lost your mind?”

Bang—!

With a light punch, the table crumbled under his blow.

“You’re mixing unnecessary emotions into this. What kind of attachment do you have that you cling to it so painfully?”

“…”

It was hardly more than a few days.

Just the time spent with the young Demon who had appeared under the name of the Heavenly Demon.

What was it called? The Eight Fingers, right?

That name was clearly a pseudonym, and even if I searched for information, nothing came up.

An unknown Martial Artist who surpassed the boundaries of the Transformation Realm at that age, yet there weren’t any records.

They claimed to have lost their clan to the Righteous Faction and became a demon for revenge, but no martial artist from the Black Flame Sect believed those words.

The only reason they hadn’t dug deeper was that the name of the Heavenly Demon had been mentioned.

Demons do not trust each other.

Only the Heavenly Demon is to be believed.

“I simply cannot comprehend.”

There was no need to avoid a pointless fight, I had retrieved the Thunder Fang, and eliminated the suspicious character.

The results were perfect, so why was the Demon Sword Queen reacting like this?

The Mage just couldn’t grasp it. It was frustrating to no end.

The look in the Demon Sword Queen’s eyes changed subtly as she regarded the frustrated Mage.

As anger and resentment brewed in her eyes, a different emotion was added to the mix.

The Mage mistook it for pity.

As he was about to lash out at her for looking at him that way, the Demon Sword Queen spoke.

“… The one mixing unnecessary emotions is not me….”

“…”

Her words twisted the Mage’s expression into a scowl.

“… It’s you….”

Crash—!

A fragment of the shattered table crashed into the wall beside the Demon Sword Queen.

The Mage had lost control of his anger and thrown something in frustration.

“Deputy Lord. Don’t cross the line any further.”

“…”

This was a final warning.

It meant that if more words were exchanged, he wouldn’t let it slide.

Hearing this, the Demon Sword Queen offered no further reaction, simply recovering the Thunder Fang and taking it into her arms.

As she turned to leave the room.

Just before stepping out, she left him with her words.

“I will not give up on you…. No matter what happens.”

Those words were inexplicable.

The Mage was about to raise his voice and accuse her of nonsense, but the Demon Sword Queen had already exited.

With a soft thud.

The Mage’s fist gradually tightened with increasing strength.

Before long.

Bang—!

His clenched fist swung, forcefully smashing against the wall.

“…”

Dust showered down as pieces from the wall scattered across the floor.

The Mage repeatedly tried to catch his breath, calming his ragged breaths.

The reason he was so furious wasn’t because the Demon Sword Queen berated him for his actions.

It was because of the words she had repeated one after another.

– … The one mixing unnecessary emotions is not me….

– It’s you.

Those words literally pierced through the facade he had been desperately trying to hide.

 

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