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Chapter 457 – Change

On the scorched ground, a woman sat with a somewhat enlightened expression.

“…”

Along with the heavy atmosphere, her eyes looked weary and distant.

Click.

Gripping the sword in front of her, the woman used it as leverage to lift herself up.

She couldn’t just stay seated, exhausted in body and spirit.

She must not show any signs of weakness.

With that thought in mind, she finally managed to rise.

“Ha…”

While pushing herself up, a slight dizziness hit her. It seemed the forced use of energy had caused a backlash.

The pain was sharper because she had halted midway.

“Cough-!”

The So Sword Sect suddenly erupted into a harsh coughing fit, blood mingling with the cough and soaking the ground.

Glancing around to check her surroundings, she wiped her lips.

“…”

Tap tap.

Just after erasing the blood on the floor with the tips of her toes, she pulled a small flask from her pocket and gulped down its contents.

Only after finishing the entire flask could she let out a sigh.

“…”

With dry eyes, she surveyed the area.

Powerful Thunder Qi still scorched the ground.

Trees uprooted by the shockwave lay scattered all around.

It was evidence of the fierce battle.

Checking her condition, the So Sword Sect recalled the recent events.

It wasn’t a recap of the fight; that was long overdue.

Nor was it about the regret of having missed the Demon Sword Queen.

“If there’s regret, then rather…”

The So Sword Sect pondered.

Before engaging the Demon Sword Queen directly, a young man had appeared and intervened in the fight.

“…”

The one whom the dancer had mentioned, the prophetic figure.

It was an ‘order’ from the Black Flame Sect to gather all power and bring one of the individuals there.

Without specifying any details about the person’s appearance or identity.

According to the claim that she would know when she saw them, the So Sword Sect took action.

As anticipated, she dealt with the demons.

Moreover, she met him.

The prophetic figure spoken of by the dancer.

Just as she said, it became apparent immediately.

“So that’s what she meant by ‘you’ll know’.”

How could she not recognize him? He bore a unique energy that could not be found anywhere else in the sky.

It seemed the young man was aware of this energy, too.

The resonance was profound and, furthermore, orb-like.

‘…’

Even if their faces were different.

Their speech differed, and the scent was different.

She knew he was the anomaly the dancer was searching for.

Moreover.

The So Sword Sect also knew who he was.

How could she not? It was an undeniable fact.

Of course, it was also something hard to believe.

It was strange for two identical individuals to exist in the same world.

Thus, she couldn’t recklessly step in.

‘…’

The So Sword Sect thought of the young man who had stood between her and the Demon Sword Queen.

As the Demon Sword Queen gradually collapsed, the young man who had cradled her left without hesitation.

At that moment, the brief eye contact haunted the So Sword Sect.

-What is your name?

The question asked the night before, but left unanswered.

If he had answered then, what name would have escaped his lips?

Would he have spoken the name she thought of?

Or would he have presented a different answer altogether?

Whatever it was, it was too late now.

“…”

She hadn’t stopped the young man leaving with the Demon Sword Queen.

No.

It was more accurate to say she couldn’t.

The So Sword Sect didn’t restrain him. She shouldn’t have let him go.

For the sake of what lay ahead, she needed to seize the Demon Sword Queen right there, but the instant their eyes met, she couldn’t fulfill that.

‘… Why?’

Why did he look at her with such eyes?

The affection and inscrutable concern embedded in his gaze wrapped around the So Sword Sect’s heart.

It was a look she had never seen from him before.

Why had he looked at her that way?

She wanted to ask.

If you know me, and if the energy swirling around you is indeed what I suspect—

In your memories, what sort of relationship do we share?

She wanted to ask but couldn’t, for the burdens on her back were far too heavy.

“…”

Just after wiping the blood from her lips.

The So Sword Sect scanned the spot where the young man had vanished.

A strong backlash would come soon.

It wouldn’t be a long wait, but she needed to rest; she had to handle the situation and head somewhere deserted.

“Ah…”

I’m exhausted.

A sudden thought flashed in the So Sword Sect’s mind.

But she quickly dismissed it.

She must not be tired.

Thinking so, she straightened herself up.

Resolutely fixing her gaze, she tried to take a step forward.

“Can I leave you be?”

“…!”

A chilling voice rang out.

The So Sword Sect turned her gaze to the source of the voice. It was the Heavenly Lord.

With his characteristic icy blue eyes, the Heavenly Lord stared down at her.

“… Heavenly Lord…?”

“An incomprehensible matter indeed.”

Crackle.

Thunder Qi emanated fiercely from the Heavenly Lord’s body.

“There was surely an opportunity; how could you let it pass?”

“…”

“Did you perhaps wish to grant me the opportunity?”

The Heavenly Lord spoke with a smile, but his voice contained an overwhelming killing intent.

Gradually, the Heavenly Lord began to levitate.

The controlled Thunder Qi flowed only around him, but the overwhelming momentum caused the So Sword Sect to break out in a cold sweat.

“How regrettable… had you come just a bit earlier, things could have been easier.”

“Heavenly Lord… what do you mean… wait…!”

“Permission has been granted.”

“…!”

At the Heavenly Lord’s words, the So Sword Sect’s eyes widened.

“Since His permission has been granted, there’s no reason left to hold back.”

Understanding the implications behind those words, the So Sword Sect bit her lip.

“Decide. Will you go with me or remain here.”

“…”

The So Sword Sect could muster no response to the Heavenly Lord’s words.

Seeing her silence, the Heavenly Lord shook his head without a word.

“I hope your current hesitation does not extend to the very end.”

Boom—!

With those words, the Heavenly Lord wore a blank expression and swiftly departed like a bolt of thunder.

The So Sword Sect tried to shout out in an attempt to stop him.

“Cough…!”

But at that moment, the overwhelming backlash hit her, and she fell to her knees.

“Haah… Haah!”

With breathing becoming rapidly ragged and her vision blurring, the So Sword Sect tried to regrasp her sword, but she ultimately failed and briefly lost consciousness.

*

On the forest path that led into Sichuan, I sprinted madly, turned away from the sun behind me.

With a considerable speed, the environment changed rapidly as I moved.

Even in such circumstances, I kept on running like a madman.

‘How much further do I have to go?’

The destination was the heart of Sichuan.

Damn it, since my eyes had been covered during the transport, I had no idea about the geography.

I was just running on the assumption that this was the way.

“Oh, for crying out loud.”

Under normal circumstances, I would have tried to relocate to another area, hiding my tracks and observing the situation.

‘What kind of mess is this.’

I couldn’t do that thanks to the one on my back.

The one who had just been wildly wielding Thunder Qi… no, the Demon Sword Queen was now slung over my back.

“Phew… Phew…”

Her steady breathing echoed in my ears.

It seems the Demon Sword Queen had momentarily lost consciousness.

‘Is it backlash?’

It seemed that after reaching the state of Thunder Lord, a backlash had arisen.

When she saw me just before collapsing, how surprised she was with relief.

‘… Her body was indeed at its limit.’

I knew that the Thunder Fang, as a treasure, inflicted great backlash on its user.

But it wasn’t like the Demon Sword Queen couldn’t handle it.

The situation right now was likely due to her using the Thunder Fang at the very edge of her limits.

‘So, why?’

My teeth ground together.

There was no need for her to go this far.

If they die, that’s the end.

Having experienced regression, one might not know what would happen, but I never thought such a thing would happen to the Demon Sword Queen.

So please, stay alive! Don’t throw away your life like this!

At the very least, I hoped she wouldn’t do it for my sake.

“Damn it.”

Feeling her light weight, I frowned.

Is she eating properly? Why is she so light it’s irritating?

I put more strength into my toes.

For now, the goal was to break free from this place. I glanced back briefly.

‘… So Sword Sect.’

I recalled the moment I briefly locked eyes with the So Sword Sect when I desperately helped the fallen Demon Sword Queen.

Rather than trying to grab me, she merely gave me a frown.

Was she trying to let me go?

Considering she hadn’t made any moves until I leaped away, it seemed likely.

If she truly wanted to catch me, I could never have escaped her grip.

But.

Why did she let me go? I had no idea.

‘Is that you in this world something different?’

Just as this was said to be another world, there might be traits of the Divine Sword that differed from the ones I knew.

Though it didn’t seem like there were any differences at all.

“… Ugh….”

At that moment, I sensed movement behind me.

“Are you awake?”

“…”

I called out softly, but there was no response.

Still unconscious, huh.

‘Then should I go straight to the headquarters with her like this?’

Having to take the Demon Sword Queen with me left me no choice; for now, I just had to get to HQ first.

The problem was….

‘What should I say?’

How do I explain this situation when I get there?

‘… Is it okay, though?’

After all, the Demon Sword Queen had come charging in here and stirred up all kinds of trouble to save me.

It could just be explained that the Demon Sword Queen came to rescue me, but overexerted herself and fainted, right?

Saying it like that might work.

‘That’s impossible….’

Reflecting on who would hear that—a certain “me”—it raised quite a number of problems.

Forget about the Demon Sword Queen charging in to save me.

The Martial Alliance had wanted me, and now the Demon Sword Queen was like this while I was perfectly fine; those were all issues.

‘Should just throw it all out there?’

Just directly confront them.

I am actually you.

I’m from another world. Nice to meet you, you idiot.

That’s what I genuinely wanted to shout.

‘… Would that work?’

If it doesn’t, that would be disastrous.

And it’s safe to assume it wouldn’t work.

Given that bastard’s personality, he wouldn’t believe it anyway.

On the bright side.

‘He wouldn’t kill me, right?’

Considering that I had come back in one piece, I could assume there was some backing behind me.

In any case, given the fact that I was a demon, it wouldn’t be immediate death.

The So Sword Sect also desired that.

Ultimately, it turned out I returned with the Demon Sword Queen.

‘… But.’

The problem here is that, under the circumstances, there was a high likelihood that the Heavenly Demon would get the report.

If I stayed any longer, it was indeed a point where the Heavenly Demon would need to get involved.

And if that happened.

‘The Heavenly Demon could come personally.’

Seeing the anomaly, could the Heavenly Demon descend onto Sichuan?

If that happened, I would be in a world of trouble.

I had to either escape or resolve this situation beforehand.

 

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