Chapter 1013
Chapter 7: The Encounter with the Heavenly Demon
“Hello.”
The Heavenly Demon waved her hand, and I narrowed my eyes at her.
It wasn’t strange for her to show up and greet me like that. I already knew she was odd, so that wasn’t the issue.
“…What are you riding?”
That was the real problem—what the Heavenly Demon was perched on right now.
I pointed at the black figure of a wolf, and the Heavenly Demon looked down following my finger.
Then she looked back at me and said, “Friend.”
“…What did you say?”
“Friend.”
“Friend?”
“Yep.”
“…That thing? Your friend?”
“Yep.”
What kind of nonsense was this? The Heavenly Demon claimed Kkurung was her friend? I couldn’t even respond properly to such absurdity.
—Kkurung.
At her words, Kkurung let out a soft growl. Was that a negative or a positive?
I didn’t have the ability to discern what that short sound meant.
So I just stared at the creature quietly.
Suddenly, Kkurung lifted its head and looked at the Heavenly Demon. Their eyes met.
Then the Heavenly Demon gently slid off its back.
Did they have some sort of conversation during that brief eye contact?
—Kkurung.
After that, Kkurung slowly walked over and halted in front of me.
It truly looked like a dog or wolf.
With amethyst eyes resembling the Heavenly Demon’s, it stared at me. I squinted and asked, “…Were you, by any chance, waiting for me?”
—Kkurung.
What a clumsy cry for a beast. It nodded slightly amidst its growl.
It meant it had been waiting for me to find it.
This meant…
“You knew about what Mother prepared.”
It implied that it was informed about whatever plans Mother had set in motion.
“Is it really okay being out like this?”
I had heard it resided beneath the Divine Tree. Was it really okay to come out? I wondered, and the creature responded with actions instead.
Suuuu—!!
Its body began to change. Shrinking from the wolf shape, it transformed into a small bird.
Then, it flew up and settled on top of my head.
Watching that, I realized.
‘It’s a duplicate.’
This wasn’t the main body. It seemed the main body remained beneath the Divine Tree while the duplicate had come out.
—Kkurung.
It pointed its beak somewhere. Did it want me to move?
I took a step in the direction it indicated.
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon seemed to want to follow, but Kkurung looked at her.
“……”
Receiving that gaze, the Heavenly Demon frowned and stopped.
Seeing this, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You seem to be getting along?”
“He’s my friend.”
“…Right. You two be friends all you want.”
Whatever they want to do as friends is up to them.
Kkurung made a small jump, seemingly saying it was off for a while.
As my body lifted and distance grew, I felt a gaze on my back. The Heavenly Demon was staring at me as I took off.
I sensed it but made an effort to ignore it and moved on.
*
The distance I traveled wasn’t far.
It was still within the Hwasan Sect. The presence of people was sparse, and I could spot the Divine Tree from afar.
After moving a certain distance, Kkurung, who had perched on my head, jumped down.
Kkurung.
It let out its distinctive laugh and, as soon as it landed, changed its form again.
This time, it was a rabbit.
“…What are you doing?”
Why does it keep changing its body? Especially into animals, it felt a bit strange.
Kkurung.
It sounded like it was saying not to worry, but how could I not?
With its back legs, it playfully thumped its large ears, looking just like a rabbit.
I tried to ignore that and spoke to it.
“I visited Mother.”
-…
Upon hearing my words, it momentarily paused in its movements.
Then, perhaps it was just my imagination, but it gazed at me with calm eyes.
“If there’s something you want to ask, you should speak up. Oh, and she asked me to convey her gratitude.”
-…
At that, Kkurung’s ears perked up.
Seeing that, I continued, “I have something I want to know.”
There was something I had always wanted to ask.
“When exactly have you been inside me?”
-…
Since when had the Lord of the Abyss been inside me?
It also knew of Mother’s arrangements.
But the question was.
‘So from when?’
How long had Mother’s arrangement been contained within me?
Since before I regressed, or after?
In my previous life, I had no idea about the existence of the Abyss. Not even until the moment I died.
So I asked Kkurung.
It quietly stared at me and said, -From the very beginning…
This time, it spoke, not in cries, but in words.
I shouldn’t be surprised; it had spoken before.
The problem was.
“From the beginning?”
What it referred to as the beginning was the issue.
“…When exactly is ‘the beginning’?”
That’s a vague answer. So I decided to ask differently.
“Was it before I regressed? Or after?”
-…
It knew I had regressed. So, I asked directly.
Then, -From the very beginning.
It gave the same answer again, but this time it felt strikingly different.
“…So you mean from before the regression?”
The implication was that the Abyss had been in my body since before I returned from death.
“Why? What on earth were you doing in my body? You are… no.”
I paused to gather my thoughts and asked again.
“Are you the Demonic Absorption Technique?”
The ability granted to me by the Heavenly Demon that allowed me to come this far.
Was the form that became my power this creature? Or were you the one giving me such power?
That was the meaning behind my question, but.
Shaking its head.
Kkurung denied my words. Right when I thought it was a refusal.
-That’s a cover.
It spoke to me again.
“…A cover? What do you mean?”
-Or a shade.
“Speak clearly! What’s the difference between a shade and a cover?”
-You must not become the master. This is… for that purpose.
“…!”
Upon hearing its words, my eyes widened.
What does this mean? Must not become the master?
So, did it mean that the Demonic Absorption Technique was a façade?
This meant.
“…Are you saying the Demonic Absorption Technique has kept me from becoming the master?”
At this, Kkurung nodded. The turtle had stated that it had twisted my soul, leading me away from my true destiny.
Was that twisting the Demonic Absorption Technique?
If so, that was strange. It didn’t make sense.
“That can’t be. How could the Demonic Absorption Technique play such a role? This is…”
This wasn’t given by Mother, but rather the power granted by the Heavenly Demon herself.
How could it have such an effect? And considering Kkurung’s words, it seemed the Abyss itself might be related to the Demonic Absorption Technique.
“That’s a peculiar claim. You were inside me at the request of Mother—”
-No.
“What?”
Before I finished my sentence, Kkurung denied my words.
Not at the request of Mother?
That couldn’t be the case! Mother had clearly said that the Abyss was helping at her request.
But if it claims otherwise, how does that add up?
Just as I was becoming thoroughly confused by the contradictory statements.
-I am.
The Abyss spoke to me.
-Helping at a friend’s request.
“Friend? Whose friend—!”
I turned my head abruptly.
Friend? The word burrowed into my mind.
‘A friend…?’
Someone Kkurung considered a friend.
Suddenly, a name came to mind. Did Kkurung not refer to that person as a friend just moments ago?
“…The Heavenly Demon?”
The one who referred to herself as a friend of the Abyss.
Also, the one who had ‘regressed’ me.
Not Mother, but she…
‘…Is she the one who placed the Abyss inside me, not only in the regression?’
This was a thought I never expected.
*
At the top of Spirit Mountain, a vast cave.
A place so still and silent that even wild beasts outside dared not make a sound.
Here, even insects would hold their breath, fleeing fearfully.
Without his permission, no one was supposed to breathe.
That was the discipline set on Spirit Mountain. If one were to disturb its calm, the whole mountain would tremble.
Yet, this established discipline was being mocked.
Kugugugugu—!!!!
One day, the mountain was shaking.
The vibrations starting from the summit spread in all directions. The rough resonance threatened to demolish the entire mountain.
Where was the center of this tumult?
As I dug deeper into the cave at the summit, the source became clear.
Inside the cave sat a massive being, seated in a lotus position.
The fierce aura emanating from it shook the entire mountain.
Kuhuhuu—!
Huuuu—!!
This existence, with the body of a human and the face of a hand, continuously exhaled forceful breaths. With each exhale, flames burst forth.
“Crrr—.”
A low, gruff growl lay thick on the ground. His explosive momentum and inflated muscles made his presence loom even larger.
After some time of trembling, the being slowly rose from his seated position.
Boom-!!
As the giant moved, the surroundings shook.
Standing tall and firmly on its feet, it rolled its blazing eyes repeatedly.
Huuuu—!
The ground was filled with flames from its mighty sigh.
Crrr—.
From the growling that broke the silence, the general of the Mankye Clan, Duryeong, spoke.
“Did a fool just die?”
Crrr—.
Duryeong turned to look behind. It wasn’t a mere soliloquy; there was a man leaning against the cave wall, maintaining his silence.
“Is that true?”
“It’s true.”
“Kuhuh…”
Another general had died. Hearing that fact, Duryeong let out a voice that was, in truth, close to delight.
“How foolish.”
Who had taken him down? How did it happen?
He hadn’t heard any of that. Just the fact that someone had died was enough to make Duryeong chuckle.
“What did the master say?”
“The master is currently occupied but, being omniscient, surely already knows.”
“Krrr—.”
“Well then, with this vacancy, a new general must be appointed, but… it seems resolving everything takes priority.”
“Resolving?”
“Right. Since a general has died, we must address this matter before appointing a new one.”
“It’s just one fool who died. Is it really necessary to do all that?”
Duryeong spoke as if it were no big deal, causing the man to frown.
As always, discussions with this fellow dragged on longer than expected.
“…Fine. No point in dragging this out. I’m not here to discuss solutions anyway.”
Flap-!
The man’s black wings unfurled.
“I’m merely here to issue a warning.”
“A warning?”
“Indeed, aside from those who have voluntarily withdrawn from their positions, it’s been a long time since a general has died. The master is busy, so stay vigilant.”
“Ha.”
At that, Duryeong chuckled.
Boom-!
His laughter resonated throughout the mountain.
“Do you think I, Yusa, would be like that fool?”
On the face of it, there didn’t seem much difference.
The man kept such thoughts hidden as he spoke.
“…Better to be careful than sorry.”
“Get lost.”
Duryeong didn’t hide his irritation as he spoke to the man.
“Tsk.”
At that reaction, the man clicked his tongue and moved his hand. As his fingers grazed the air, astonishingly, a dimension tore, and his body manifested.
“I say this out of concern; don’t move thoughtlessly—”
Just as he spoke, the man reached out his hand. At that instant.
Kuaaaahhhh—!!!
A rough, rupturing sound erupted from the palm of the man as Duryeong swung his arm to attack.
“I said get lost!”
“…Huh.”
Ultimately, the man shook his head and retreated into the ripped dimension without finishing his words.
Thus, as the man vanished,
Left alone, Duryeong swung his fist one more time towards the direction the man had disappeared.
Kaaahh—!!!
The harsh wind pressure shook the walls.
“Krrr—.”
Duryeong’s eyes sparkled.
Someone was out there, capable of killing a general. Also, someone who could be killed.
At that thought, a particular being emerged in Duryeong’s mind.
