1215——————==

Soul of the Evil God (Concept)

I felt a strange sensation at the prophet’s words.

“Really? If that’s true, then the Emperor’s seal continues not just in this life but even in the next…”

[Do you want to hear more about it…?]

“Yeah.”

[Then let’s consider this the end of the obligation for keeping the deal with the evil god… for now.]

“Huh?! Who decided that?!”

I protested as the prophet seemingly set the limits of our agreement, but he responded in a peculiar tone.

[Originally, I didn’t need to tell you more about the Emperor’s seal, but don’t you think I did that out of courtesy…? If you don’t want to hear more, I can just drop it right here… but… ]

“…….”

Crap… He’s so damn cunning!

But since it was a deal I couldn’t refuse, I helplessly nodded.

“Fine, let’s call it even.”

To be honest, I was thinking of leveraging this to get some treasure from the prophet, but getting detailed information about the Emperor’s seal wasn’t a bad idea either.

[As for the identity of that darkness sealing the Emperor, even I don’t know…. As I said, it’s magic I’ve never seen before…. But I can guess the principle of the spell used…. It’s a super magic formed by the bonds of countless rulers.]

“Bond?”

I was perplexed, and the prophet continued.

[It’s probably a horrendous spell….]

The prophet shuddered slightly, his tentacles fluttering widely.

[And it was initially used to seal ‘something’ using their magical power… But the spell was so powerful that Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen couldn’t withstand the backlash and fell into magical reverse flow….]

“……?”

What the hell is he talking about?

[You look like you don’t understand…. Anyway, while I can’t guess what that terrifying super magic sealed… the side effect of the magical reverse flow is also related to the law of cause and effect…. Unless the specified conditions are resolved, the seal will continue through your reincarnations. It’s certainly not a backlash that would end in one occasion.]

“Hmm… Anyway, that’s good news for me. So what are those conditions?”

[I don’t know….]

“Is there a way to find that out? No idea?”

[……]

After a moment of thinking, the prophet unexpectedly said something.

[If I go to that seal and study it for three years, I might be able to uncover the nature of the magic.]

“…Huh? What did you say?”

[Do you think you can sit on the throne of the Divine Temple for three years…? If you could do that, I could analyze the magic and even tell you the conditions of the Emperor’s seal and how many times it activates.]

I felt dumbfounded and irritated.

“That’s insane!! Even if the Emperor is sealed, do you think I can linger around there with all those powerful beings for three years?!”

[I see… Maybe you’re right…. So stop asking about it. That’s why I brought it up.]

“……”

[If there are no more questions, then that’s it….]

“No, wait! I still have a question.”

I sensed a hint of annoyance from the prophet. Given that he’s an alien, there’s no way he’d show expressions like a human, but I felt it vividly. I decided to ask a really important question.

“Ever since I started this life, I suddenly gained incredible magical power. My eyes turned pitch black, and everyone treats me like a powerful demon.”

[That shows… it’s working.]

“But I can’t remember any reason for obtaining this power. Why did this happen?”

[Alright…. Let’s ask for one last favor…. Show me your memories….]

“Is that really okay? According to Seo Mun-hye, there’s some overwhelming memory in my mind that no human can handle….”

[Do I look like a mere human to you?]

“If that’s the case.”

Hmm!

As I handed him the obsidian, it felt like dark flames flowed through the prophet’s body for a moment. However, he casually absorbed the black flames again, grabbed the obsidian with his tentacles, and began inspecting it.

[Hmm… I see how it is….]

“What do you see?”

[The cause of your magical power has two aspects… One is the memory of directly witnessing the main body of Nyarlathotep at the throne. That’s an irredeemable cosmic taboo, hence it manifests as amplified magical power…. But this peculiar magical power can’t be explained by that alone.]

The prophet fixed his gaze on the obsidian as he spoke.

[The first reason is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s another reason…. That’s likely what overwhelmingly amplified your power…. But as an outsider, I can’t know the real reason.]

“Why not?”

[The cycle of cause and effect tied only to you…. The cycle tied to the ‘Great Cycle’…. Such matters can’t even be read with the ability to calculate cause and effect…. One day you’ll understand the reason yourself. This current reincarnation is a very complex existence.]

“……?”

[Heh… I’d recommend you listen to the counsel of the Four Great Spirit Deities…. This magical power is undoubtedly a double-edged sword.]

“Is there no way to solve the memory of the obsidian?”

[No. Your memories are simply beyond the reach of earthly metals.]

Ugh!

At that moment, I felt a headache coming on and pressed my fingers against my temples.

“…It seems like this magical power is the reason for my constant headaches. Is there no way to fix this?”

[Even though you possess magical power surpassing most demon kings, it’s still a human body, after all. You should try to enhance that meager body of yours.]

“What? I have a tremendous inner power already…”

[That’s a misconception. Your power is just too much for your inner strength to handle…. Think for yourself about how to strengthen your body….]

“……”

[Then, I’ll be on my way… Farewell.]

Hu Woong!!

The next moment, the prophet’s form vanished from the hall. I could feel his desire to no longer discuss anything with me. To be fair, having his true feelings revealed to me must not have been pleasant for him, making a considerable loss in our deal.

I sighed.

“Phew.”

It felt like I discussed something complicated, but the main points were three.

First, the Emperor won’t resurrect for at least one or two reincarnations.

Second, the reason for my amplified magical power is something even the prophet doesn’t understand.

Third, to stop the headaches, I need to strengthen my body further.

“……”

The first two points weren’t pressing matters, but the third was a whole different story.

‘How the heck can I strengthen my body further?’

Having consumed Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng numerous times to boost my inner power, I’ve long surpassed the limits of a human’s inner strength. Ever since I surpassed the level of the Master of Zen, I could even trigger earthquakes by tapping into the meridians, making the difference in endurance with the Dharma Guardian’s Heavenly Spirit Pill negligible in short-term battles.

I had effectively reached the pinnacle of what a human could achieve in terms of inner strength. I had become a boundless reservoir of inner power.

Should I consume more Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng?

But that wasn’t much of a solution. Even if I used to take it as a last resort, it seemed my inner power wouldn’t increase significantly anymore, and yes, it didn’t seem to have any significant effect at all. That’s why I had been obsessed with improving my martial arts.

Currently, Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng wouldn’t help much. The lower-grade Black and White Lotus or Sacred Lotus would probably be the same.

I looked down at the Odo at my waist and asked.

“Gon. I’ve reached the limit of my inner power. How can I further enhance my body?”

But Gon curtly replied.

[I don’t understand why you’re so obsessed with a human body. Didn’t you grasp what the prophet meant?]

“What?”

[Really foolish of you…. What the prophet meant is that your body is like a sack containing a massive river. Though the sack is tough enough not to tear immediately, the magical power leaks out continuously through its loose parts, leading people to view you as a great being.]

“……!!”

[As long as you cling to your human body, no matter what, the problem won’t be resolved. It’s still just a sack, no matter what material it’s made from. Even if you stitch holes with steel thread, the water will still leak out.]

“Then what should I do?”

[Well…. I don’t know. I don’t get why you’re fixated on a human body in the first place.]

I realized something from Gon’s words and asked back.

“Are you saying I should abandon my human body?”

[If there’s common sense, wouldn’t everyone think that?]

“I can’t do that. I am human.”

[Whether you’re human or not, it’s none of my business. So figure it out yourself. This isn’t my issue.]

“……”

I quickly sensed from Gon’s attitude that he was merely pretending to be a companion, and that he was not the type who would help me to these ends. Honestly, I was only tangled in interest with him, so expecting more was likely foolish of me.

“Damn it… Looks like I really need to seek help from Zhuge Sa or the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

I felt I could no longer postpone the issue of meeting my companions. I decided to leave this place and head towards Seo Mun-hye.

Paat!

“Welcome back.”

“Seo Mun-hye. The obsidian….”

Hmm

I conveyed the memory of the obsidian to Seo Mun-hye, who staggered for a moment before gathering the dark energy overhead and releasing it outward. However, she seemed to struggle for breath.

“Hah… Hah….”

“Are you okay?”

“Baek Woong-nim… It’s really tough for me after receiving those memories twice… The intensity is overwhelming, even with the power of the Giant Race. It’s like it’s formatted in a form of the universe’s evil intention…”

“……”

“Please share your memories verbally next time…. I can barely handle what just happened; next time I might lose my mind.”

I couldn’t believe how strong these memories were!

I was frustrated, but Seo Mun-hye spoke up then.

“We have no choice. Given this situation, we have to accept Zhuge Sa as an ally. This is now firmly in the domain of demon paths, and we’ll need the help of the best expert available.”

“Aren’t you worried that Zhuge Sa will go insane?”

“Chances are high… Zhuge Sa may already be insane, but that only means he can withstand the madness; it doesn’t stop pure magic from encroaching on his mental world. It’s like a human who can endure torture may not simply stop the bleeding and weakness caused by that torture.”

“Hmmm….”

“That’s how powerful these memories are. It surpasses the essence of mental resilience, and you need the power of transcendental beings like me to repel the magic… Zhuge Sa is an excellent priest, but as a human, he likely lacks that ability.”

That clicked in for me instantly. As I frowned, Seo Mun-hye continued speaking.

“But if I assist, it changes everything.”

“Assist? How so?”

“When you send the memories through the obsidian, I’ll attempt to absorb the magic that infiltrates Zhuge Sa. Doing so can help protect his mind from shattering.”

“……!! But that means you’ll be put in danger.”

“I have no choice. If I can’t find a way to quickly release your magical power, it will only get worse, and we must seek Zhuge Sa’s assistance. There’s no avoiding the risk now.”

“Seo Mun-hye….”

“Don’t worry. I won’t die that easily.”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t believe Seo Mun-hye was being so selflessly helpful!

I thought that I surely had to repay this debt to her and opened my mouth with considerable effort.

“…Thank you.”

“Then let’s go.”

Paat!

I went with Seo Mun-hye to Jangryeong Valley. Upon entering Jangryeong Valley, we found that Jo Hee-tae from the Hengshan Sect was already dead, his head severed and flies buzzing around like they were having a party. Of course, it was nothing of concern for me, so I left Jo Hee-tae’s corpse behind and ventured deeper into Jangryeong Valley, where an unexpected situation unfolded.

There was Zhuge Sa, but he wasn’t alone. He wore an utterly bored expression as he read something, and sitting opposite him was a cold-looking beauty.

The beautifully adorned lady turned her head toward me and asked, “Hmm. Who are you?”

“…….”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words in disbelief at the violet-clad beauty asking.

‘Damn…!! I can’t believe she’s here!’

Was it because I hadn’t come quickly enough? It felt like a few days had passed, but she appeared earlier than I anticipated!

‘…No, something seems off? There was a time before when I came looking for Zhuge Sa, but at that time, this lady didn’t show up…’

Before I could delve deeper into my thoughts, Zhuge Sa, who had been silently sitting, finally spoke.

“They look like apostles of the Old Ruler disguised as humans. What will you do, Master?”

“Hehehe…. I haven’t heard that one’s answer yet, so let’s listen first and then think it over.”

The lady with the violet garment asked me again.

“Who are you?”

What should I do?

As I hesitated, Seo Mun-hye gestured subtly toward me, sending a secret message.

[Baek Woong-nim. It’s pointless to negotiate with Zhuge Sa while that one is here. We must find a way to drive her away. She’s of no benefit to us.]

“……”

I knew that already. But my hesitation came from the fact that my opponent was not someone easy to deal with.

Should I strike with force?

Or should I rely on my words to navigate this situation?

As much as I wanted to go with the latter, these two were too cunning, and it’d be easy for me to get owned. On the other hand, simply overpowering them would be quite difficult. Plus, if I used force and Zhuge Sa managed to escape, it would complicate things immensely.

‘Damn it…. I guess I’ll wing it!’

After a moment, I made up my mind and grinned as I responded to the lady.

“I am Baek Woong, the apostle of the Three Sovereigns, So Ho.”

“Oh? So Ho, you say…?”

Swoosh

I noticed the lady exchanging glances with Zhuge Sa. It was clear they were scheming, and I felt an intense sense of tension. If those two were to conspire against me, I would have no chance of dealing with it.

So rather than wait for her response, I pressed on.

“The reason I’m here is that I received information about Zhuge Sa being a heretical sect leader.”

“And what does that have to do with an apostle? A human priest must seem like a bug compared to your status.”

“It matters. I have a mission I must fulfill on earth, and the Soul Exchange Technique would be a significant help.”

“……”

“Who is the traitor, Zhuge Sa? I wish to speak with him.”

I had already shifted my gaze toward Zhuge Sa, but he avoided meeting my eyes, fiddling with his glasses and staring blankly into space. Certainly, he was plotting something foul.

Then the beauty smirked and said, [You’re being foolish. You’re aware that the domain of the Three Sovereigns has already crumbled, and their influence has significantly weakened, yet you would wish to reach out to us?]

“What…”

[It’s best you turn back now. As a representative of your disciple, I’ll deliver the message of doom.]

With a malevolent air, saturated with divine essence, the lady’s voice transformed into a devilish tone, signaling that the inevitable confrontation was upon me.

Despite knowing her identity, I pretended otherwise and replied.

“Message of doom? Who are you to represent the other party?”

Kugugugu

Kurrrrrrrrum

After a brief moment, the lady’s body disintegrated, scattering dark powder into the air that began to form strangely. Eventually, it looked like a monster with a lot of heads and tentacles threatening me.

[I am Simon Magus, a servant bound by contract, and a disciple of Hermes, the God of Alchemy. We, the heretics, sever our ties with the crumbling Three Sovereigns.]

Indeed, it was the Demon King Simon Magus!

The first leader of heretical sects and Zhuge Sa’s master, one of the most powerful Demon Sorcerers alive. He looked just like he did during the Wall of Tao…

At that moment, Zhuge Sa spoke up.

“Master.”

I could feel Simon Magus stiffening at those words.

“You’re becoming senile.”