1209——————==

Soul of the Evil God

The moment those words ended, the mask of Nyarlathotep slowly began to scatter like dust, and as he disappeared, he left behind one last remark.

“Enjoy for a day….”

“…….”

What exactly am I supposed to enjoy…?

I stared at the spot where he vanished for a while before speaking to Master Mangnyang.

“Master Mangnyang, it seems I can’t commit suicide because that guy is blocking me, right?”

[Correct.]

“…Mangnyang said to go kill myself at the ‘black hole of the universe’ at the end. So, was I still unable to do it?”

[That’s right. My disciple likely expected to evade the Emperor’s grasp by going there, as it connects to the inner realm of the universe, but it wouldn’t have been enough to escape.]

“…….”

So, was the answer to come here after all?

In a way, it was lucky, but it felt futile that after all that buildup, I had only a single day left.

Besides, I have no companions left. Everyone’s been obliterated by Gong Sun Xuanwen, and the only one left in spirit form is Sagong Lin. In this desperate state, devoid of strength or tactics, what on earth am I supposed to do for an entire day?

Nonetheless, I gritted my teeth and asked.

“Master Mangnyang, if I obtain the Blessing of the Sky, can I defeat the Emperor?”

Then Master Mangnyang replied in a voice devoid of emotion.

[You would fight on equal footing, but before the conclusion, the blessing would fade, and you’d ultimately be defeated.]

“…Is that so.”

The Emperor’s current power struck me anew. The Blessing of the Sky could make one powerful enough to easily face any being, but eliminating the Emperor was another story entirely.

[Baek Woong, what compelled you to choose to fight the Emperor until the end?]

“What do you mean by that question?”

[If you had intended to commit suicide, your movements could have changed numerous times. Yet, the moments you truly resolved to end your life were scarce, and your focus remained on resisting. Ultimately, because of your choices, a future where you arrive in Luoyang has emerged… it’s the law of cause and effect.]

I couldn’t help but retort sarcastically after hearing Master Mangnyang’s words.

“Feel free to laugh. If I hadn’t stubbornly resisted and just killed myself, it would have been much better. I wouldn’t have to face my companions again…”

I flinched at the following words from Master Mangnyang.

[That’s the opposite. You have made an exceptionally optimal choice. The difficulty was akin to threading a needle.]

“…Huh?”

Taken aback by the unexpected comment, I looked at Master Mangnyang, who regarded me transparently.

[At this moment, it should have been Gong Sun Xuanwen standing before me, boasting while preparing to shatter my barrier… That was the causal path I had read for the future. However, you altered that future by your choices.]

“What do you mean? Are you saying Gong Sun Xuanwen was supposed to be here…?]

[Even if you had opted to die and fought with all your might, the chances of success would have been exceedingly low. Out of a hundred attempts, you’d likely succeed less than five times. This is because both the Emperor and Nyarlathotep were watching your death and were prepared to neutralize the powers of the Wheel King.]

“……!!”

I couldn’t help but shudder in shock. Noticing my stiffened demeanor, Master Mangnyang continued.

[Because you fought, Gong Sun Xuanwen has suffered a considerable power loss. Yet, it remains unchanged that he is one of the strongest beings in this universe; however, due to that, he is now delayed in coming to Luoyang. And that delay was prompted by your choices.]

“…….”

Is he implying that stealing the soul of Sagong Lin has some significance?

[Originally, Gong Sun Xuanwen was supposed to be flaunting his power before me, ready to breach my barrier… Instead, you have caused him to be tested by Nyarlathotep.]

“So, is that a good thing?”

[Quite the opposite.]

After a brief silence, Master Mangnyang walked down the path to a hut filled with flames. As he flicked his tail, the fire that had engulfed the village suddenly dissipated, and he stood before the charred hut, continuing his dialogue.

[Every causal pathway contains variables. Yet your strange level of determination is incomprehensible by your usual standards. If mere anger and stubbornness were the motivations, it would be excessively unbalanced. Your choices defy the variables but are heading toward what seems to be the answer, even reaching domains that are hard for me to read….]

“I don’t get what you’re saying.”

[Hmm… you really are dense.]

Seeing my confused expression from his complicated words, Master Mangnyang commented.

[You don’t need to understand right now. Maybe your ignorance itself is a weapon.]

“Just curse at me instead…. Damn….”

[I’m serious.]

Oh, is that so!

While I gritted my teeth at the thought of getting back at that black cat someday, Master Mangnyang adopted a cat’s characteristic sitting posture and said.

[You have nothing more to do, so just rest in this village for the day.]

“What? Rest? There’s a ton to do for a day….”

Master Mangnyang responded decisively.

[There is not. Everything you possess is rendered meaningless upon reaching this level. Right now, we have passed the prologue and developments of the end times and reached the point where the strongest beings in the universe are starting to emerge.]

“What about offering to the Seven Luminaries or doing something…?”

[You don’t understand, do you? All the means you possess are futile. From the moment the strongest mask appears….]

“…….”

I couldn’t help but give a look of disbelief at Master Mangnyang’s words.

‘So you’re saying that Nyarlathotep’s mask is that strong?’

Even during the times the Three Sovereigns had been enemies, I could use the treasures I had to concoct some schemes, but Master Mangnyang claims that such tactics are meaningless! That was practically saying that Nyarlathotep was a being so grand that tricks wouldn’t work against him.

I cautiously asked Master Mangnyang.

“I’ve got a question: didn’t you mention another mask sealed away besides Nyarlathotep? Where is that mask?”

[It’s sealed deeper inside.]

“Oh, I see. What’s the name of that mask?”

[I don’t know.]

“Why not?”

[Neither of those two masks, including Nyarlathotep, can have their names known by any being in this universe until their seals are lifted. Because those beings were sealed long before this universe was created.]

I was taken aback by that statement.

“Sealed before the universe was created?! Is that even possible? That doesn’t make any sense!”

[…….]

“Well, how could something exist before the universe exists? That’s complete nonsense.”

[Telling you that secret requires a significant amount of causality. There’s nothing more to be told kindly, so figure it out yourself.]

“Tsk….”

Is Master Mangnyang throwing out nonsense too? Even a child could see that’s ridiculous!

As I inwardly grumbled, Master Mangnyang spoke up.

[Don’t fidget. You’ve done all you can, so now all that’s left is to wait for the clash of causality… The outcome is guaranteed by no one, but up to this moment, the situation has been shaped by you and your companions fulfilling their lifelong wishes.]

“Are you saying I can just sit back and relax?”

[That’s correct.]

After hearing Master Mangnyang’s words, I pondered.

If what he said is true, does that mean I can just space out and wait for a day? Is that really okay? I’d always felt that wasting time was like a sin, so restlessness bubbled up within me, and finally, unable to hold it in, I said.

“I wish there was something to do! Is there nothing at all?”

[If you really want something to do, then.]

Master Mangnyang, seemingly annoyed, strolled toward a distant boulder and spoke.

[Go clean up Yeodong-bin’s shrine.]

“Huh?”

[Cleaning it up might help calm your mind.]

“…Alright.”

I followed Master Mangnyang’s suggestion and walked down the restored village path towards the interior. Upon finding Yeodong-bin’s shrine and stepping inside, I was unexpectedly hit by nostalgia.

‘Oh, I haven’t been here in a while.’

Even though this was the world of dreams, after wandering through unrealistic universes and time and space, this ordinary and everyday scenery actually felt quite welcoming. I touched the wooden pillars of Yeodong-bin’s shrine and picked up a rag, making my way to the stream to soak it.

As I dampened the rag in the stream, preparing to wipe the shrine floor, I suddenly realized something.

‘Ah! Where’s Sagong Lin?’

Somehow, while I was chatting with Master Mangnyang, she had slipped away without me noticing. I hurriedly called out for Master Mangnyang.

“Master Mangnyang!! Where did Sagong Lin go?”

But there was no response. I tilted my head but eventually began to wring out the rag again.

‘Master Mangnyang wouldn’t harm Sagong Lin… She must have a reason for being gone.’

After wringing the rag, I started wiping the floor of Yeodong-bin’s shrine. As I scrubbed for a while, I noticed the thick layer of dust on the floor disappearing. I even began sweeping the nearby area for half a moment.

While cleaning for quite some time, something caught my eye.

“Oh, there.”

Upon closer inspection, I saw an old, rusty iron sword inside the shrine. It looked like it could break at any moment, and I felt like I couldn’t touch it back in the day for fear it would shatter.

At that moment, I impulsively felt two choices emerge in my mind.

Pick up the iron sword.

Do not pick up the iron sword.

“…….”

Well, obviously I should pick it up!

I grabbed the iron sword and swung it around. However, nothing much happened, leaving me puzzled.

‘Huh…. That felt like a solid instinct just now… Why is nothing happening?’

I had never felt such a strong instinct before, so this was odd.

‘Is it possible I messed something up? Or is there a reason why, even though my instinct activated, nothing happened?…’

The vague sensation I felt was that something was lacking.

Isn’t there something I need to bring?

I pondered for a while but couldn’t come to a conclusion. Ultimately, I placed the iron sword back where it was.

It seems I’m not meant to do anything here yet.

‘If I ask the cat, it’ll probably just spout nonsense…. Maybe I’ll ask Yeodong-bin later.’

As I thought that, a small laugh escaped me.

Will there even be a next time?

Tomorrow, my fate will be decided, and whether there will be a next life is even uncertain.

I shook my head and exited the shrine.

Then, I sat idly on the column of the shrine’s main gate, staring at the sky as time passed by.

I used to do this often.

Living in the countryside, I would sometimes find a moment to watch the sunset alongside my gold, clearing my mind and merely letting time flow. I thought about how these painful moments would eventually pass…

‘I want to farm with my gold.’

Once everything is over, would that be possible? No, since I’m hoping for the true destruction of the world, that won’t happen.

Lost in various thoughts, the sunset faded, and night arrived. Sitting and listening to the sounds of insects, I felt an emptiness envelop me. Just recently, my companions had faced a horrendous demise, and here I was, in such a peacefully calm day. But just because I spent my time peacefully doesn’t mean my heart isn’t hell…

Can I really get my revenge?

No, can I land a blow on Gong Sun Xuanwen and transition to my next life?

How much time has passed?

As my thoughts spiraled, I suddenly heard Master Mangnyang’s voice.

[Baek Woong. Rise.]

Moments later, I slowly felt myself waking from the dream.

[Nyarlathotep has invited you to the throne.]

“What….”

What did you say?!

[Witness the final outcome with your own eyes.]

Boom!!

When I opened my eyes, I realized I had arrived at a familiar scenery.

“This place….”

A colossal dimensional corridor.

I’d been here once before using a summon, but I never got accustomed to it. As multicolored lights flowed like rivers in this chaotic passage, I began to walk slowly, and moments later, I felt galaxies pass by me like the tide.

Boom….

I could hear the sound of galaxies colliding. With every step I took in this corridor, the galaxies shrank into mere dots, and everything shifted from low to high. I never expected I’d return to this place, which gave me a complicated feeling.

‘Damn… entering the path to the throne means… reality is already….’

A terrifying premise loomed in silence.

But I forcibly shook off those thoughts and pressed forward. After all, I came here to bring about a conclusion.

Step

Step

Grrrr….

As the supergalaxy became smaller than grains of sand, a mist obscured my vision. I realized I had reached beyond the midpoint of this path, where peculiar beings began to drift nearby. Those creatures were all [Old Rulers], so I decided to avoid their gazes.

Moments later, I encountered two figures at the end of the path.

[You’ve come.]

A mesmerizingly beautiful young man clad in black and white.

One adorned in a golden crown and imperial robes.

Recognizing their identities, I glared at them with resentment.

“Yeah, I came. Are you going to tear me apart now?”

[…….]

“Even if you two conspired to erase me, I won’t yield. I’ll come back and wipe you out in my next life!!”

I unleashed a roar like a lion, but the two beings before me showed no reaction.

‘Huh?’

Something felt off.

The black-and-white young man wore a gentle, beautiful smile, while Gong Sun Xuanwen simply stood there, arms crossed, remaining silent with no reaction. An atmosphere distinctly different from companions hung between them.

As I sensed the tension, Nyarlathotep broke the silence with a smile.

“Baek Woong, I thought about what would be the most entertaining, and I have reached a conclusion.”

“What…. What conclusion!!”

“Ha ha ha.”

With his follow-up statement, I felt my eyes widen in shock.

“You two will compete in martial arts before the throne, and the victor will be granted the right to ascend.”