---

Chapter 477 – Rotten Things

“This is so rotten.”

I couldn’t help but curse at the sight that greeted me upon my return.

It was the same place I had first met Tang Je-mun.

‘Am I being kicked out right now?’

Hah.

I let out a sigh at the absurdity of the situation.

To just spew words and toss me out without even having a proper conversation?

“Why are all these so-called heroes like this?”

I hadn’t even had a proper chance to talk yet.

Is it reasonable to just throw me aside after that?

Gnashing my teeth, I felt the urge to bite something out of frustration.

‘Where’s Noya?’

In the middle of all this chaos, I tried to check if Noya was around.

But there was no sound or feeling indicating her presence.

‘She can’t be asleep again.’

With the bowl issue more or less resolved, it didn’t seem likely that Noya had fallen asleep.

So then…

‘Is this also a move by Tang Je-mun?’

For now, it seemed likely.

Hoo…

I suppressed my slightly heated emotions.

Then I tried to recall the conversation I had with Tang Je-mun.

She definitely mentioned that I had forgotten something, and her test made me feel that way.

‘What could it be?’

I couldn’t figure it out.

If I had forgotten something, it wouldn’t be the Demon Sword Queen or the Divine Sword.

Those who had already died were definitely out of the question.

‘Should I look into the anomalies I experienced?’

Thinking differently, there was only one person who could come to mind.

Someone flickered in my mind but I didn’t want to dwell on it.

‘It can’t be.’

It absolutely couldn’t be.

‘… It must not be.’

To be precise, it shouldn’t be.

Among the few irregularities that happened in that world, the most noteworthy issues were the Martial Alliance’s strange behavior and the Heavenly Lord’s movements.

But ultimately, if I had to point out the biggest event…

It would be the emergence of the Heavenly Demon.

‘What do I have to do with the Heavenly Demon?’

That’s why I wasn’t focusing on that. It was nonsensical to think there was a connection between me and the Heavenly Demon.

However, if I had to pinpoint a problem…

‘…’

The biggest issue was that I couldn’t deny it with certainty.

‘… What is this?’

What is this unsettling feeling that I can’t quite grasp?

I don’t know.

Perhaps it was right after meeting the Heavenly Demon from another world, or just before I faced Tang Je-mun.

Or maybe even before that.

After self-destructing the bowl and absorbing all the Blood Qi, I couldn’t tell when the unsettling feeling started.

And it was a sensation that came with thoughts of the Heavenly Demon.

‘What is this?’

Why am I feeling this way?

With this troublesome feeling and the words of Tang Je-mun swirling around, various thoughts piled up.

Did I forget something? It didn’t seem like I had, but the words were binding my heart in an oddly tight grip.

Is something really there?

‘… With the Heavenly Demon?’

Thinking about it, many things felt strange.

After all, the Heavenly Demon was, in all probability, the one who caused my regression.

‘Why?’

If that’s the case, how did the Heavenly Demon regress me, and more importantly, why?

Does the Heavenly Demon truly have a motive for me?

‘That would be strange, considering there are so many oddities.’

If I remember the moment I first met the Heavenly Demon, I could tell her goal wasn’t me.

At the time, she had formed a troop to hunt demons.

This was back when my troop was sent out on a mission.

It was during that mission that I encountered the Heavenly Demon.

She had killed the martial artists of the alliance around her as if they were insects.

I had to escape from there with Wi Seol-Ah.

The Heavenly Demon had targeted the Divine Sword… and Wi Seol-Ah for surprise attacks.

I had fallen into corruption then, but reflecting on this.

‘The goal wasn’t me, was it?’

I could see it clearly now.

At that time, I had certainly thought that way.

‘… And now?’

As time passed, doubts arose.

Was it Tang Je-mun’s words that were problematic?

Or was something else the issue?

Clearly, something existed.

As I forcefully suppressed my emotions and pondered, a thought popped up.

The fog had started to clear up a bit.

I felt the fog that had been obscuring my mind start to thicken.

Or did I not even realize that there was fog to begin with?

‘… I don’t know. Not yet.’

It might not be about the Heavenly Demon.

It could be something entirely different.

But right now, I couldn’t grasp it.

‘It’s laughable that I’m thinking about this now.’

It was amusing that I was bringing up things I hadn’t considered until I heard Tang Je-mun’s words.

‘…’

As I was lost in thought,

‘This.’

I was reminded of something strange.

Right, why hadn’t I thought about it sooner?

Doubts about the Heavenly Demon.

It was something I hadn’t thought deeply about until now. Isn’t that odd?

Even while thinking it was the biggest issue, I hadn’t delved into it, and I knew it was risky.

Why is it that I’m focusing on this now?

As I slowly pieced this together, I unconsciously swallowed.

I had just realized.

I had been intentionally avoiding thoughts about the Heavenly Demon.

‘Every time I tried to think about it, I unconsciously steered away.’

Whether trying to dismiss it as a distant future or claiming there were urgent matters to attend to, I was avoiding those moments.

It was only now that I remembered how odd all those moments had been.

It felt as if someone was forcibly blocking me.

What is this?

Then what is the reason I’m thinking about this now?

‘… Could it be?’

I recalled swallowing tea just before the conversation with Tang Je-mun.

Was it the “Fragment of Forgetting”?

Tang Je-mun had definitely said so.

Could that be it? Is it because I consumed that that this is happening?

As an inexplicable certainty began to rise within me, a sudden sound caught my attention.

Grr…

Turning my head instinctively, I summoned energy to my body.

Is there something else besides me?

Flame Burst-!

I ignited a blaze.

‘Tsk.’

Upon seeing the vibrant Blue Flame, I couldn’t help but click my tongue.

I could manage with the scarlet flames, but bright colors like this made things tricky.

For now, I pushed the flames back and was about to dash toward the source of the crying sound, when—

Grrr…

“… Huh?”

With the sound of crying echoing again, something hiding behind a pillar revealed itself.

Upon seeing it, my eyes widened.

“Blood Qi?”

It resembled something I had seen not long ago.

It was the dragon that had been furiously trying to take over my body.

Grr…

Its size wasn’t as big as back then.

Although it was smaller, it definitely resembled that creature.

Beautifully stretched, shiny blue scales that followed the rules.

Thin fur running down its back and limbs.

Moreover, a split mouth and sharp fangs.

‘Why is something like this here?’

Just before I could question it, my body was already in motion.

I intended to catch it first and think later.

Whoosh-!

I twisted my body and stretched my fist toward it.

Just as my flame-encased fist was about to connect—

Grr.

“…!”

I checked its eyes and quickly turned my body away.

Whoosh-!

Crash—!

My fist dug into the pillar beside me, igniting flames.

Boom! Crash—!

The pillar shattered and fell.

A loud noise erupted as the pillar collapsed onto the ground.

Although I could regulate and retract the flames, my gaze remained on the creature in shock.

Despite coming so close, it merely tilted its head and didn’t adopt a posture to attack.

“You….”

Seeing that, I asked it in a startled voice.

“… Could it be, Red Water Clan?”

Upon hearing my words, its eyes shimmered. Then—

Grr.

It slightly nodded its head.

“…”

I was momentarily left speechless.

The enemy-grade demon stone I had possessed.

The one that had hatched from it was this creature?

“But why does it look like this?”

I found myself at a loss for words.

Its appearance was completely different.

It used to be a thin snake barely capable of wrapping around my arm.

Now it was as long as my body when fully extended, and it was much thicker too.

No, aside from being long and flexible, it had transformed into a completely different creature in both color and appearance.

How I recognized it as a Red Water Clan was due to—

Grr.

The energy resonating between me and it.

Was that why? I instinctively recognized it as the Red Water Clan.

Grr.

It nudged its snout against me.

Where had its thin, elongated tongue gone? A massive tongue brushed against my cheek.

“You’re drooling all over me, you little rascal.”

It must have grown larger, because its drool was no joke.

‘What is happening?’

As I absentmindedly stroked it, I didn’t feel the need to ponder this situation for too long.

“It’s probably my fault.”

Seeing its scales and feeling its energy resonate, it was obvious why the Red Water Clan had changed.

“… Did you change because I did?”

Grr?

It tilted its head, seemingly not understanding my words.

Despite its somewhat brutish appearance, its behavior was still the same.

‘At least it seems like it only looks different.’

That’s the biggest issue.

‘What do I do with this size?’

The situation had escalated quickly, and I hadn’t been focused on it, but it was fortunate that we had returned together.

When it was a small snake, I could disguise it to some extent, but with this size, hiding it would be impossible.

Watching it tilt its head with its whiskers fluttering, I felt an increasing sense of complexity.

‘What the heck is this?’

It’s a demon born from consuming my energy from the demon stone, but—

Perhaps that was why it had changed its appearance according to my energy.

‘It wouldn’t grow any bigger or anything, would it?’

That would be quite scary.

What if it grew even larger?

‘If it does grow….’

Flashes of the Blood Qi I had encountered in my mind crossed over.

That one was quite massive.

In terms of size, it could rival the Red Water Clan I met in the river, which made it even more problematic.

‘What will I feed it?’

Just looking at it now, I was puzzled about what to give it for food, and if it got bigger, it would be even more of a problem.

‘Hah.’

As I thought about it, I unintentionally burst out laughing.

Amidst all the chaos, it was funny that I was worried about how to feed it.

As I casually stroked its head, it began to enthusiastically rub its head against me.

After doing so a few times, I turned my head.

“Mm.”

As I surveyed the area, I suddenly spotted what I was looking for and walked toward it.

At the end of a pile lay something.

It was the Poison Heavenly Pill and the White Horse Stone.

Fortunately, they were just as I had found them initially.

“…”

At first, I had practically drooled over this, but now looking at it, there was no sliding feeling to how I felt then.

I cautiously picked up one of the Poison Heavenly Pills.

“Mm….”

Can I eat this with this body? I hadn’t fully grasped what had happened yet, so I felt hesitant.

‘What about my martial arts?’

Does the Demonic Absorption Technique still exist?

I placed the Poison Heavenly Pill down and gingerly picked up the White Horse Stone.

Grr.

As soon as I activated the Demonic Absorption Technique, I felt my energy being absorbed immediately.

It seemed my martial arts hadn’t changed just because my body had.

‘So that means it’s okay to consume the energy.’

While I was checking my state one by one—

Suuuu.

“…!”

Somewhere, alongside the scent of flowers, I felt a heat flow over my body slightly.

‘This feeling….’

Rolling my eyes at the familiar energy.

[Ugh….]

Just as expected. The voice I had heard often echoed in my mind.

‘Noya?’

[…]

As I sensed that Shin Noya had arrived, I tried to speak to her, but for some reason, Noya didn’t respond.

‘Noya?’

[…]

What is this?

‘Don’t tell me….’

Has she disappeared again?

Just as I was about to succumb to that unease—

[… Don’t talk to me.]

Fortunately, it seemed she hadn’t vanished.

“Why are you like this?”

I asked, curious.

[Because I’m feeling a bit embarrassed right now…. So don’t talk to me for a while.]

‘… Ah, okay.’

Apparently, something must have happened.

The way her voice was so subdued was somewhat bothersome.

‘Noya, I have to ask just in case.’

Though she said not to talk to her, I had to ask this question.

‘Did you get hit?’

[…]

There was no answer.

I had asked half-jokingly, but was that actually true…?

‘Noya… I’m not kidding, did you really—’

[Who, who got hit!]

‘…’

She shouted in response to my suspicion.

Seeing that reaction, it seemed like she really did get hit.

I couldn’t see her face to check her condition, but judging by the tremble in her voice, she must’ve received quite a scolding.

Additionally, the one who had scolded Noya was—

-This is…

She had appeared right behind me before I knew it.

-What happened?

I felt both surprise and a hint of anger from her tone.

As I turned to look, I immediately understood why Tang Je-mun spoke like that.

The pillar in the corner had collapsed.

Tang Je-mun frowned upon seeing the fallen pillar.

Her gaze directed at me was exceptionally sharp.

In that instant—

-Hoo-in….

Her piercing eyes focused on me, and when our gazes met—

“Hah.”

I immediately sighed and pointed at something with my finger.

There, the creature I had pointed at was tilting its head.

Grrn?

The Red Water Clan, which had been the target of my gesture, was curiously tilting its head.

I faced those sparkling eyes and shouted without a moment’s hesitation.

“I told you to be careful…! Do you know what happens when you just go around breaking everything?!”

I scolded it as if it were a poorly-behaved child.

Of course.

-… Hoo-in?

It clearly didn’t register.

Which was understandable…

Flame Burst….

Because my Blue Flame was still burning brightly on the fragments of the fallen pillar.

 

---