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Chapter 453 – Which World Is It?

The place I arrived at through the Demonic Gate was a cold and dark space.

The chill enveloping the floor reached deep into my bones, causing a discomforting sensation.

Feeling cold here was a problem in numerous ways.

‘The energy should have started circulating again by now.’

As the energy that was previously restrained began to flow once more, heat began to spread through my body.

Logically, that meant I shouldn’t be feeling the cold at all.

Yet, a subtle chill was penetrating through the air.

This clearly meant—

‘This place is freakishly cold.’

It indicated that the temperature here was extraordinarily low.

As my eyes adjusted, the outline of the area gradually began to take shape.

There were a few lanterns fixed to the walls, but they hardly illuminated the dim surroundings, and the space felt remarkably vast.

Where in the world was I?

Since I came through the Demonic Gate, it was hard to rule out the possibility that this was a Demonic Realm.

While examining my surroundings, I focused on a certain spot.

‘First off, where is this chill coming from?’

The freezing aura prickling at my body was stemming from something directly in front of me.

Without a doubt, it had to be due to the massive Ice Spirit right in front of me.

‘What the…’

I’ve never seen anything this enormous before.

I’ve heard there’s a legendary ice treasure called the Eternal Ice Spirit located in the North Sea Ice Palace, which is off-limits to outsiders.

Could this be what it felt like?

I stepped closer to the Ice Spirit.

Creeeak.

“…!”

As I took a single step forward, the cold intensified dramatically.

The difference between being one step back and one step forward was like night and day.

‘This is a bit dangerous, isn’t it?’

Brrr.

When was the last time I felt such a potent cold?

It felt like the flame I held within me might just freeze over.

One step was the limit.

If I went any further, I would be completely frozen.

Just as I concluded that and was about to step back—

[Greetings.]

A voice echoed.

I raised my head.

I wasn’t trying to figure out where the voice was coming from.

It was coming so clearly from the Ice Spirit.

As I examined it closely, I finally noticed what was inside.

The Ice Spirit was radiating an intense chill.

Inside it, something was trapped.

‘Not just trapped, but more accurately—’

It seemed to be confined within.

There was no way it appeared normal to anyone.

On top of that—

‘This voice.’

The moment I heard the greeting, my eyes narrowed.

It was a voice I’d heard numerous times before; not the kind you easily forget.

In fact, I had expected this to happen, so I wasn’t really surprised.

I directed my gaze at the Ice Spirit and uttered the name of the voice’s owner.

“Blood Demon.”

Woooh.

As I spoke his alias, the Ice Spirit trembled.

[Hoho….]

It spoke as if it found this interesting.

[I see you know me.]

I assessed various circumstances from its reaction.

First and foremost.

‘It seems he doesn’t know me.’

If the thing inside the Ice Spirit truly was the Blood Demon, there was no way it wouldn’t know who I was.

Even just by sensing my energy, it would realize I had arrived in this place.

I thought my appearance had changed enough that it wouldn’t recognize me, yet given its current reaction—

‘… This place is not the world I once knew.’

That thought solidified my certainty.

This was neither the world of my previous life.

‘This isn’t the world I originally belonged to.’

That was my certainty.

As I continued to stare at the Ice Spirit, I heard the Blood Demon speak again.

[What a fascinating occurrence.]

He continued to look at me.

[At first, I thought you were a Master from another world. It’s odd for someone like you to so easily exhibit such presence. Furthermore….]

Swoosh—

An unknown energy brushed past my body in an instant.

I didn’t feel the need to hold onto it.

[So your energy is mixed in as well?]

“…”

It seemed he sensed the Blood Qi within me.

‘Master from another world.’

I focused on what the Blood Demon had said.

There was the Dancer lady and now the Blood Demon, both of whom seemed to perceive me as something related to another world.

At first, I really thought they were concluding this because I came from a different world. However, something felt slightly different.

‘If they call me Master….’

Could it possibly mean I’m referred to as a ruler?

‘Why is that?’

If that’s the case, a question briefly appeared in my mind.

Upon thinking a little more, it wasn’t that strange.

I had all sorts of bizarre entities inside me, making it feel like my vessel was on the verge of breaking.

And one of those entities—

‘Wasn’t it said to be the Master of the Abyss…?’

The gluttonous creature that constantly devoured Demon Energy was undoubtedly referred to that way by the Blood Demon.

Back then, the term “master” didn’t resonate with me much.

But now, the very essence of what “master” meant was undeniably significant.

A being that dictated the life forms of an entire world.

A presence responsible for that world. The World Tree had certainly communicated that meaning.

‘Is that why the Blood Demon mistook me for a Master?’

Since such a creature resides within my body, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for the Blood Demon to misinterpret me as a master from another world.

The lingering question was—

‘How on earth did such a creature end up inside me?’

It was truly baffling that a ruler of a world was residing within my being.

The World Tree had once indicated this.

‘Mother gave it to me.’

That was an arrangement from my own mother, of all people.

I hadn’t had much confidence regarding that claim until—

The moment I encountered the Divine Sword, my mother’s voice rang a bell.

‘I sensed something from my mother.’

The World Tree had said it.

My mother was the Second Calamity and the Master of Mankye.

Mankye—what an ominous name from the get-go.

Damn it… just how many entanglements are there?

“… So, why did you want to see me?”

Hiding my complicated feelings, I asked the Blood Demon.

A chuckle erupted from the Blood Demon upon hearing my question.

[I was simply curious. The reason why a being from another world graced this place.]

“…”

Reason.

That’s something I wanted to know too. Why was I here?

As if he sensed the curiosity in my expression, the Blood Demon continued.

[It seems you didn’t come of your own volition.]

“…”

Ah, damn it, I’ve been exposed.

My god, the timing of this facial expression disaster is always at crucial moments.

I tried to regain my neutral expression and thought.

“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

[Anything goes. What matters is the purpose of your arrival in this place.]

“So you’re saying if the purpose is problematic, I might be treated a certain way?”

I came here to understand what kind of world this was, but I wasn’t keen on being put in danger.

‘Fortunately, my energy is circulating again.’

Could I use that to escape?

I’d crawled into the tiger’s den all by myself, now I had to figure out how to manage it.

[Hehe….]

The Blood Demon laughed.

[Don’t worry. I’m just curious, that’s all.]

“How can I not be worried in this situation?”

[You seem to hold a great master, yet you don’t seem to possess much knowledge.]

“…”

That hit too close to home.

[It seems I have no intention of causing you harm.]

“How can you guarantee that….”

[The evidence stands right before you. The fact that you’re breathing just fine in front of me—that’s what’s important.]

What a pathetic form of intimidation.

It was abundantly clear that I was trapped inside the Ice Spirit and helpless. What could I do about it?

‘…’

However.

Despite knowing that, the reason I couldn’t speak impulsively was that an instinct seemed to indicate something was off.

‘What is it?’

I couldn’t tell.

One thing was for sure; I was in a dangerously precarious situation.

My right arm and the scales there were painfully pulsating, resonating with the aura surrounding me.

‘Tsk.’

It reminded me of the time I faced the Blood Demon at the Righteous Faction Gathering.

At that time, the moment I encountered the Blood Demon, I went into a frenzy, gradually increasing in hostility.

The difference now being, this time I was merely thrashing about without revealing my intentions.

[What a truly strange occurrence.]

“… What is so strange?”

[My power is completely contained within you, yet somehow, the shed skin is accomplished by your original power. How could that not be strange?]

“Shed skin?”

At the Blood Demon’s words, my brows furrowed. I was pretty sure he just said “shed skin.”

As I spoke, a faint vibration resonated from within the Ice Spirit.

[Oh my…. It seems you weren’t aware of that.]

“What do you mean by that? Be clear.”

[Seeing the fact that you know my name and address me as such implies you’re still alive and well in your world…. What an enviable situation.]

“What…?”

Enviable? Enviable of what?

[In a world that has faced abnormalities like yours, who wouldn’t envy?]

His words brought to mind times he’d said he wished for me to rage even more.

That felt about right.

‘Why does the Blood Demon act this way towards me?’

It was clear he had ulterior motives, yet for reasons unknown, the Blood Demon showed me some sort of goodwill.

It was profoundly unsettling.

[May I ask one question?]

Suddenly, the Blood Demon inquired.

[Am I perhaps the one who sent you to this place?]

“What?”

I frowned at the Blood Demon’s question. He wanted to know if he was the one who sent me to this world?

What a bizarre inquiry.

Seeing my contorted expression, the Blood Demon muttered with disappointment.

[So it’s not me. Then who could it be….]

“What on earth are you talking about?”

[It seems that you, too, are in the dark about your own identity, so it’s unlikely you took the initiative. Then who sent you?]

“…”

A question arose within me at the Blood Demon’s words.

How had I not considered that before?

If this world was another world, then it wouldn’t be the kind of place where one could just travel back and forth.

‘What about Tang Je-mun?’

That Tang Je-mun, whom I had heard was dead and only left behind remnants—how did he send me to another world?

Furthermore, what exactly was the Blood Demon trying to convey?

And—

“… What in the world is this place?”

What on earth was the place I currently found myself in?

At my rhetorical question, the Blood Demon let out a small chuckle.

[What an odd question. What do you mean by “what is the world?”.]

“…”

[Hahaha-!]

Laughter erupted, and the Ice Spirit violently exhaled its chilling aura.

[You truly seem oblivious. How can that be?]

“Seems like confusing people is a universal pastime, whether here or there. It really messes with one’s feelings.”

Hehehe.

[My apologies. Normally, when reaching the stage of shedding one’s skin, one should inherently come to know such things, so it’s perplexing. How could that be…. This feels as if….]

Woooh.

[It feels like someone has deliberately covered your ears.]

“…”

Someone deliberately covered my ears?

Strangely enough, that notion seemed to hold a degree of validity.

If it were otherwise, it would be strange for me to know so little. Despite my muddled feelings, the Blood Demon continued to speak.

[You asked what this world is.]

“…”

[This place is not different from your world.]

“What do you mean…?”

[It is simply one of many possibilities.]

That response was utterly incomprehensible.

What nonsensical statement was that? I glanced at the Ice Spirit. Ignoring my gaze, the Blood Demon continued.

[There’s a stone lying on the ground before you.]

“A stone?”

[Pick it up. Don’t pick it up. The choice exists, and in the end, you chose to pick it up.]

I was confused by the sudden mention of a stone, but I decided to listen to the Blood Demon.

[Do you think something will happen from such a mundane act?]

“You mean, what will happen?”

Is there even anything that could possibly occur?

I merely picked up a stone; what great disaster could result from such a trivial act?

As if reading my expression, the Blood Demon quickly answered, and his response was something I couldn’t fathom.

[Conversely, it means there will exist a world where you chose not to pick up the stone.]

Without realizing it, I burst into laughter.

There couldn’t be such a ridiculous thing.

“So what? This world could exist in countless forms?”

The Blood Demon’s suggestion implied that drinking water or not, sleeping or not—such mundane actions could spawn infinite worlds.

That was beyond absurdity….

[How can you be so certain it’s not true? The very existence of you here serves as proof of it.]

“…”

As I was about to speak, I had to clamp my mouth shut upon hearing what the Blood Demon said.

[Among the countless worlds generated from such trivial actions, do you find it strange that you and this world exist?]

If someone else had said such a thing, I would have certainly dismissed it as the ramblings of a madman.

But given the situation I was currently experiencing, it felt like there was a grain of truth in it.

‘Yeah.’

That’s one way to look at it.

But attributing this place to being one of those alternate realities was another story.

“… So, what do you mean by this possibility you mentioned?”

The Blood Demon tacked on the ideas of possibilities to his statement.

Then, what exactly is this possibility for?

He seemed to imply that there had to be a deeper meaning behind all these worlds that branched off.

Listening to my question, the Blood Demon fell silent for a moment before slowly resuming his explanation.

[It pertains to this world.]

His tone seemed to carry a slightly deeper gravity.

[In one way or another, beings who must achieve the results they desire to find their purpose.]

“What do you mean by that….”

[If they have suffered two failures, it’s only natural they wouldn’t want to suffer a third time.]

“…!”

[The multitude of worlds’ possibilities corresponds to the will of a world that doesn’t wish to fail.]

The Blood Demon’s words left my eyes wide open in shock.

Two failures.

I felt I’d discerned the meaning behind what the Blood Demon was saying.

Was it possible that:

‘The calamity’s descent…?’

The first Blood Demon had been one such calamity.

My mother was the second calamity.

Yet both of them had failed to become the rulers of this land.

As time passed, Yeon Ilcheon referred to me as a calamity, yet I truly perceived the Heavenly Demon as the calamity.

So the Blood Demon’s assertion regarding the possibilities and the world’s will meant—

‘This world essentially yearns for the calamity to descend and fulfill its duty?’

Was the purpose behind the creation of all these worlds aimed towards that?

Just for that purpose—a plethora of different worlds?

“Ah…?”

That was hard to digest.

First off, I should have questioned whether the Blood Demon was speaking the truth at all.

If this absurd talk was right, then I had a crucial question to ask.

“If what you say is valid….”

If indeed the Blood Demon was correct.

“What happens to all the other worlds if the calamity successfully descends and becomes the new ruler?”

If a calamity succeeded in its task of ruling, what would happen to the other worlds that were unable to achieve the same?

Upon hearing my inquiry, the Blood Demon replied in a calm voice.

[Then, the unnecessary remaining worlds would no longer be needed. After all, there is only one objective to the mission.]

“…”

In response to the Blood Demon’s statement, I could only express sheer disbelief.

Amidst countless worlds, if the calamity successfully descended in one, the remaining worlds would simply be erased.

This meant that:

All living beings would vanish, replaced by a new ruler.

Or perhaps another calamity would descend from another world, biding its time until the previous world was erased.

There were just two choices granted to these worlds.

‘Wow, what a messed-up world.’

That was the fleeting thought that flickered through my mind.

 

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