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The frown on my face didn’t ease at the words of the Heavenly Demon.

Swoosh.

The flowing valley water gently trickled into the pond before me, and the sunset sky radiated the same hue as last time.

Chirp. Chirp, chirp.

An artificial chirp of birds echoed in my ears, as if it were natural.

After a long silence, I managed to utter a word.

“…Younger sibling.”

Yarang. No, the Divine Sword is the Heavenly Demon’s sibling.

This revelation didn’t carry much meaning.

It was straightforward.

It simply meant the two were twins.

Perhaps they weren’t twins, but if they looked so remarkably alike, there could be only one conclusion.

They are twins.

The implication that the Heavenly Demon and Wi Seol-Ah are twins hung in my mind, causing me to bite my lips.

‘…I had a feeling.’

How could I not? Ever since I peered behind the concealed face of the Heavenly Demon.

From the moment I realized that within that visage lay the woman I had long sought to protect.

It was already a fact I had considered.

How could I be unaware? It was absurd that they bore the same face. The existence of such individuals was beyond comprehension.

‘Of all people, it had to be the Heavenly Demon and the Divine Sword?’

These two could rightly be called mortal enemies.

One was a calamity of the Central Plains. The other, a hero who saved the world from that calamity.

They were set in extreme opposition.

‘How could this be?’

How did it come to pass?

No one had shown any signs of acknowledgment.

‘The Heavenly Demon, that’s one thing.’

But could the Divine Sword have been unaware? Others said the Heavenly Demon’s face was not recognized properly.

It was claimed that because of that, the Divine Sword had not realized they looked identical.

‘Could the Divine Sword have also known this?’

As for what the Heavenly Demon knows now, did the Heavenly Demon not realize it back then?

If the Heavenly Demon’s words were true, then from my perspective, it was possible that the Divine Sword wasn’t aware.

‘Then.’

If the Divine Sword truly is the Heavenly Demon’s twin.

‘Does that mean she ultimately becomes the Blood Demon’s daughter?’

The Dragon Emperor.

Or maybe the Blood Demon.

The one who spoke of creating a paradise in the Central Plains while harboring some unknown objective.

This person indicated the Heavenly Demon as his daughter. Therefore.

‘This means that Wi Seol-Ah is also a daughter.’

How could that be?

The Blood Demon had long been sealed away, a being that had vanished. Although it now existed in the body of Jang Seong-yeon, it was still hidden away.

‘But really.’

Nonetheless, it wasn’t the actual physical body.

Didn’t the Hwang Abul Yeong say?

‘That the Blood Demon’s body and energy were separated, and all five senses were erased?’

I didn’t know how that was achieved, but if the words of Bulyeong were true, then it wouldn’t make sense that the Heavenly Demon and Wi Seol-Ah could be the daughters of the Blood Demon.

The timing didn’t add up. It was impossible for there to be daughters of the Blood Demon, who had been sealed hundreds of years ago.

‘Then, where did these two come from?’

At a point where their parents should not exist, here we are.

‘So did they exist since hundreds of years ago?’

But Wi Seol-Ah had the Sword Sovereign. How should I explain the presence of the Sword Sovereign, who was referred to as a grandfather?

‘This is driving me mad…’

It’s all tangled up. My mind was filled with perplexing truths at a time like this.

“Ah.”

I realized the fundamental issue of this matter. Looking at the Heavenly Demon before me, I asked.

“How do you know that?”

How do you know that you are twins? That was what I was asking, but the Heavenly Demon made a strange expression and replied.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“…”

It was a confident response. The implication that I wouldn’t know this despite seeing them was outright.

Yes, it’s clearly understandable. They look so alike that it would be nonsensical if they weren’t family.

“Are you seriously saying that…?”

It wasn’t something to bring up in this situation. This wasn’t a game.

“So, you mean you just thought that because you looked at their faces?”

“No.”

The Heavenly Demon denied it. It seemed like there was nothing related to intuition.

“I just had a feeling.”

“…”

What I received in return was ultimately an answer based on a feeling.

“…Are you kidding me?”

“I’m serious. It’s not a joke.”

If it’s not a joke, then what is it? You say it’s not intuition, and yet you call it a feeling? How can that not be a joke?

With an incredulous expression, while looking at the Heavenly Demon.

I turned my gaze from her to Yarang, who had been staring blankly at me without saying a single word since earlier.

Their gazes locked into identical expressions, making them look even more alike. It felt like there was nothing different at all.

‘Regardless.’

Leaving the aspect of feelings aside.

‘It seems like their relationship is indeed correct.’

The two appeared to have a close relationship; as the Heavenly Demon said, they likely shared a sisterly bond.

Although I did not know how the Blood Demon could be the father of the two, I had to accept that both were associated with the Blood Demon and shared a deep connection.

‘As for what happened in the previous life, I don’t know what it’s made of.’

After acknowledging that, the situation back then still remained puzzling.

One.

‘Right now, aside from this.’

I needed to look at something else. The fact that the Heavenly Demon and Wi Seol-Ah were sisters was important, but.

“…So, what happened?”

Now I was questioning why I am here.

“Why is she perfectly fine?”

How was it that Yarang, who had been attacked, was unscathed? Such was my inquiry.

The Heavenly Demon glanced at Yarang for a moment at the question, then turned back to me and replied.

“I fixed her.”

A hand pointed towards Yarang.

“I saved her.”

This time, it shifted to me.

This was a rather simple and straightforward explanation.

“…You fixed her? You?”

“Yep.”

“How?”

“I just fixed her?”

“Am I really going to hit you?”

The more we talked, the less sense it made.

Does she simply not want to have this conversation?

Staring at her in disbelief, the Heavenly Demon instead wore a wronged expression.

“I’m serious.”

“…So.”

I get that it’s real, but I’m asking how. I was asking because I didn’t understand.

At that, the Heavenly Demon thought for a moment.

Swish.

She flicked her finger and pointed it at Yarang.

Plop-!

“What the…!”

Blood spattered onto Yarang’s hand. The Heavenly Demon had used Demon Energy to create a wound on her palm.

At that moment, Yarang stood still, and the only one who reacted was me.

In that moment of shock, the Heavenly Demon moved again.

The sharp Demon Energy transformed and burrowed into Yarang’s palm, wrapping around it like a black glove.

Swiftly.

When it dispersed and vanished, it left Yarang’s palm completely healed.

“Huh?”

I gasped in astonishment. That was not regeneration. It was truly a realm of healing.

‘Healing wounds with Demon Energy?’

It was an unheard-of technique. How could the Heavenly Demon perform such a feat? I had never even known that she could use such terrifying and cruel energy in this way.

She had never demonstrated anything like that.

The magic she wielded was truly a calamity and disaster.

Creating a black sea in the sky from which countless wasps poured forth still sent tingles down my spine.

‘And to think she could use it like this.’

What kind of power does she possess?

‘So why did she lose?’

Why did she lose to the Divine Sword?

The thought suddenly sprang to mind.

At that time, I naturally concluded that the Divine Sword was stronger, hence the Heavenly Demon’s defeat.

‘But in retrospect, it feels off.’

The Divine Sword was strong. I acknowledge that.

However, did that mean he was stronger than the Heavenly Demon? I questioned it deeply. Had that really been the case?

‘No matter how much power he had through Pa Ma.’

The absolute defense of the one who destroys all magic.

He achieved great feats in the war against Demons because they held the powers of Pa Ma. However, in the end, it’s still odd.

‘The Heavenly Demon is strong.’

She has never shown her full strength in any battle.

Even when she killed Maehwa Seon, the leader of Hwasan.

Even when she beheaded all the officials of the Three Eminent Beings in battle.

‘Ah.’

Perhaps it was a bit different during the fight with my father.

At that time, the Heavenly Demon had suffered serious injuries.

Excluding that instance, she had never shown her full power.

In comparison, the Divine Sword.

‘In every battle, he fought at full force.’

I acknowledge the overwhelming strength of the Divine Sword. However, compared to the Heavenly Demon, his numbers inherently fall short.

The reason the Divine Sword defeated the Heavenly Demon was both strength and because all his abilities derived from the powers of Pa Ma.

The absolute defense that pierced through the absolute energy made of magic was only possible with the energy of Pa Ma.

‘Thus, I assumed he defeated the Heavenly Demon.’

Because their energies clashed.

I had thought the Heavenly Demon’s attacks wouldn’t be effective, so the Divine Sword had bested her.

‘…Was it really so?’

It was another question I had been ignoring.

However, the thoughts of the Blood Demon, the Heavenly Demon, and Wi Seol-Ah being intertwined came to mind.

Furthermore.

‘I called my reincarnation fate, and knowing that the cause was the Heavenly Demon, it feels somewhat strange.’

‘If only this were just a suspicion.’

It would be nice if it were simply my sensitivity bringing forth thoughts. Just that, but as always, the ominous premonitions always seem to hit the mark.

“Hmm.”

While I was deep in thought, frowning and tasting my mouth, suddenly, the air quivered. As I turned my head to the sudden vibration, I saw the Heavenly Demon tearing the air open to create a Demonic Gate.

“…What are you doing?”

“Now that I’m awake, we need to go.”

“What?”

“To get scolded.”

“What do you mean? Who are you getting scolded by?”

“Wake up.”

Ignoring my question, the Heavenly Demon spoke to Yarang. Without a word, she stood up at the Heavenly Demon’s command.

“Hey, I’m asking you.”

“I won’t answer. Step inside.”

“Huh.”

She was adamant. With a blank expression, she stood there with unyielding determination.

“Step inside. We have to go now.”

“No…”

“Hurry.”

She pointed at the Demonic Gate with her hand as if she wouldn’t listen to any excuses.

I tried to say more, but at that moment, Yarang moved and entered the Demonic Gate.

The Heavenly Demon followed suit.

“Wait. Hey.”

Are they going together? I thought she wouldn’t go but to go in first.

As I raised my brow in confusion, the Heavenly Demon grabbed my wrist and pulled me along.

Without being able to resist, I was pulled into the Demonic Gate.

Hooosh-!

My body naturally passed through the barrier of energies.

By the time I realized it, the scenery had already changed once more.

“What is this…?”

The transformed scenery felt peculiar.

Where had the ashen sky and barren land gone?

It still looked utterly chaotic, but the ashen sky was gone, revealing a blue sky and vibrant fields.

Had we returned to another place?

‘No.’

This looked just like the place I had seen before losing consciousness.

The pit I had created using martial arts was still there. The aftermath of the fight with that being lingered too.

When I saw that, it certainly seemed like that place.

“What on earth…?”

Something was the same but also different.

On the beautiful field, the ruins of demolished buildings were adorned with flowers and grasses, as if they were telling the time’s passage.

In the distance, a massive tree that had not existed before stood tall.

An old tree and a great tree.

It looked unmistakably like a Divine Tree skyrocketing into the sky.

And.

“What’s this…?”

Leaving the Divine Tree behind, I grimaced at what filled the ruined fields.

Something that didn’t match the lush fields and the flowers above it.

The remains of something that once was a living being.

Those filled the once vibrant fields entirely.

Indeed, they were spread out everywhere.

 

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