전생검신 83권 17화

I couldn’t help but be surprised by the Emperor’s words.

‘Is this the moment we finally meet…?’

The most remarkable figure I focused on after coming to the past of [Great Cycle]. The girl, having the strongest avatar ability in human history, sought after even by gods—she was like the eye of a storm, at the center of all conflicts among the powerful deities.

As I was still in shock, the Emperor abruptly turned around and said:

[Jeon Wook, clear a path for the girl.]

[…… Understood.]

Swish!

In the next moment, all avatars of the Three Sovereigns except Jeon Wook vanished simultaneously. Only Jeon Wook and I remained in the hall, and I could feel his avatar gazing at me in silence.

After a moment of silence, Jeon Wook spoke.

[Your hostility toward the Emperor is quite strong. What’s the reason?]

“…….”

[It’s the first time I’ve seen the Emperor treat someone with such generosity. Even to someone as arrogant as you… So I suppose that’s why I find you intriguing.]

Huh?

When I looked at Jeon Wook, his avatar reached out its hand.

Whoosh!

Immediately, a door leading somewhere was created. The moment I saw the shape of that door, I realized something.

‘That shape is the Five Demon Gate!!’

The Five Demon Gate, enormous enough for giants to pass through, had appeared smaller this time, but almost identical in overall form. Feeling déjà vu from such a place made me confident that this indeed was the past of [Great Cycle].

Jeon Wook took the lead and stepped through the dimension door.

[We can’t meet Nüwa in one go, so follow closely.]

“Okay.”

Whoosh…….

After entering the dimension door, I found myself in a metaphysical space filled with colorful and bizarre lights and shapes, reminiscent of a starlit world. Arriving in this dazzling realm, I was taken aback.

“Huh? This is a completely different dimension…”

[It’s the will of Nüwa.]

Jeon Wook, hanging upside down in a square cube as if gravity didn’t exist, crossed his arms as he spoke.

[She created a separate dimensional barrier to keep us on guard, preventing any ambushes.]

“Which means….”

[Originally, this place is a death trap that mortals can never breach. If you’d come alone, no matter how strong you are, you would have had a tough time.]

With that, Jeon Wook made a motion as if grabbing something with one hand, and I could see a hidden weapon appearing in his grasp.

Whoosh—

With a flash of darkness, a hole burst open in the dazzling dimension, and it seemed like Jeon Wook chuckled at that sight.

[We’ve already identified the weaknesses in Nüwa’s barrier.]

“…….”

Indeed, the Oje are fearsome beings.

Whoosh

I followed Jeon Wook, dashing through what felt like countless traps in the dimensional realm ten times, until he finally stopped throwing hidden weapons to bore holes into the dimension. This time, it felt as if we were floating on a foggy sea, and Jeon Wook glanced skyward before saying.

[Nüwa. I relay the Emperor’s command that Baek Woong has come to meet the girl. Open the final door.]

Jeon Wook’s words were a direct address to Nüwa herself. I found it a bit odd and tilted my head in confusion.

“Why aren’t you breaking the barrier directly this time?”

[This is practically in front of Nüwa’s home. If we were to breach this dimension, we would directly encounter her. Are you suggesting I provoke Nüwa’s wrath?]

“…….”

[If Nüwa refuses, then I have no way forward. You’d better turn back.]

It’s not that there’s truly no way. If Jeon Wook played along and clashed with Nüwa in my place, we could somehow find a way in. However, there was no reason for him to show that level of loyalty for my sake. I smacked my lips, contemplating.

“Well, I guess I’ll just have to try on my own when that time comes…”

Just then.

Whoosh…..

In contrast to the holes being created by hidden weapons, a door made of shimmering pure light appeared before me. Upon seeing that door, Jeon Wook glanced at me and said.

[Nüwa insists that only you enter.]

“Hmm.”

[Then come visit my Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace next time.]

I widened my eyes at his unexpected words.

“Huh? Why all of a sudden…?”

Jeon Wook’s avatar rested his chin on his hand, looking intrigued.

[You seem like an interesting fellow. Since you seem very interested in the Emperor, if you have questions, I’m willing to answer.]

“……!!”

[See you next time.]

Whoosh!!

When Jeon Wook’s avatar vanished, I felt dazed. Then, beside me, Heuk Woong revealed himself in a small form and said.

[Master. I have a request.]

“A request?”

[I ask that you seek out Jeon Wook, if possible. If he were to grant you more Spirit Power or Blessing… I have a feeling I could grow even stronger!]

“…….”

It’s rare for Heuk Woong to make such a strong request.

Thinking I should pay heed to his words, I nodded.

“Alright. If that helps you get stronger, then I’m in.”

[Thank you.]

“Now, where should I go…?”

Step by step, I moved toward the door of light, and there unveiled a gigantic palace. However, it looked nearly identical to when I first visited the Queen Mother’s palace, suggesting I hadn’t really moved far in actual space at all.

‘But was there an array of dozens of dimensions and traps making walls between those few steps…?’

Furthermore, this place itself was the very stronghold of Queen Mother and Nüwa. I quickly glanced back at the fading light door and then stepped forward.

As I passed through a dozen columns into a grand royal court, I instantly spotted a breathtakingly beautiful maiden sitting on the throne. Upon seeing her, I involuntarily whispered.

“……Miho….”

No joke, her appearance resembled Miho’s quite a bit. Though similarities existed, they were of different looks, so I soon shook my head. In truth, I had witnessed the form of this avatar during my prior meeting with Fuxi. Observing my reaction, the breathtaking maiden’s eyes lit up.

“So there was someone among your acquaintances resembling this avatar? It’s shaped like Fuxi, molded to fit human ideals of beauty.”

“It’s similar, yes, Nüwa.”

I replied, gazing intently at Nüwa’s avatar.

“I thought she would appear as the Queen Mother, but I never expected another avatar entirely.”

Indeed.

What stood before me was Nüwa’s avatar!

But not the strongest among Nüwa’s avatars, which held power equivalent to her own, rather a different form altogether. It implied that the Queen Mother wasn’t present in her palace, making it utterly baffling.

Nüwa then spoke in a rather cold tone.

“You seem to know an unusually great deal, just like Fuxi. What do you wish for?”

“Did Fuxi speak of me?”

“Ask him later. For now, it’s time for you to clarify your purpose for being here.”

“…….”

Unlike the Oje’s demeanor, hers was considerably forbidding and stern. But since this was the usual behavior of Nüwa as I knew her, I didn’t pay it much mind and replied.

“The Emperor entrusted me with the girl’s fate. That’s why I’ve come to this palace to meet her.”

“Hmph! What makes you so special that the Emperor would entrust the girl’s fate to you?”

With a sneering laugh, Nüwa looked at me with utter disdain. It seemed she genuinely detested the Emperor. Then, she turned her gaze back to me and said.

“I will not respond to such nonsense. However, I’m certain you have a real reason for coming here, which I would like to know.”

“What if that real reason is?”

“Don’t play coy. Even if the Emperor acts like he has entrusted you with everything, the truth is that a real purpose for being in this palace exists. I demand you disclose it.”

“…….”

It seemed I couldn’t brush this off too lightly. I sighed and replied to Nüwa’s demand.

“Honestly, I came to listen to the Emperor’s story. But when he offered to introduce me to the girl, I naturally came along.”

“Looking to ingratiate yourself with the Emperor for a place, were you, you pitiful creature?”

“……No, that’s not it.”

“If not, be honest! What’s your journey to this palace all about?”

I pondered whether I should explain the whole circumstance to Nüwa.

‘Fuxi is my ally. Then that would mean Nüwa, as his twin sister, wouldn’t betray me at this point. Betraying me would mean betraying Fuxi, and she wouldn’t do that. But…’

For some reason, I felt that recounting the events tied to the Wheel King and the Phoenix to Nüwa wouldn’t be a wise choice. After much deliberation, I began to speak slowly.

“What I’ve articulated is indeed everything. Fuxi would guarantee my identity; why so suspicious?”

“…….”

“If you truly doubted me, you would have struck me down without hesitation. The fact that you’re merely speaking to me indicates you don’t see me as an enemy. I’m not the type to dare deceive someone like you.”

Putting forth a desperate act, I could see Nüwa contemplating thoughtfully. Shortly after, she softened her expression and said.

“Very well. I’ll momentarily take your words at face value. Now, you truly need to see the girl?”

“Yes. But…”

“But what?”

“Could you explain why you’re in a space shared with the Oje? They’ve been known adversaries, so it’s unlikely they’d just happen to be in your palace together.”

This was something Fuxi himself mentioned he didn’t know.

Nüwa clearly hated the Emperor, so why was she unavoidably cohabitating with the Oje in her palace?

Upon hearing my query, Nüwa responded blankly.

“From the beginning, I was the one protecting the girl. I took care of her since the moment she was born, keeping a watchful eye over her.”

“……!!”

“However, as she sought the Emperor’s side, I intervened, compelling her to remain in this palace.”

I was dumbfounded by her words.

“Why do both Shennong and you want to manipulate human fate?”

“…….”

Nüwa subtly wrinkled her brows as if put off by my question.

“You must realize why you can speak so shamelessly before me, right?”

“Huh?”

“Because of power. It’s due to power that I don’t easily either kill or burn you to ashes. The bond with Fuxi is power, and the tremendous divine strength you possess is power as well. It’s the natural order of this world for the strong to dominate the weak; is it wrong for me to restrain the fate of mortals?”

“…….”

“And that girl is no ordinary mortal. Her very existence could redefine the fate of the world, so labeling it as oppression against the weak is inaccurate. I am merely persuading her to reconsider her will.”

“Even so, isn’t it violence if you’re forcing her against her will?”

“Does that mean you wish to fight?”

Rumbling!!

In that instant, Nüwa’s appearance began to transition into the Queen Mother’s. It was no idle threat; Nüwa’s patience was reaching its limit, possibly thinking about truly ending my life. Realizing that prodding her any further might lead to danger, I hurriedly said.

“No, that’s not it! If the girl’s will is indeed legitimate, can’t you also change your thoughts?”

Nüwa’s energy momentarily subsided as if my rebuttal reached her. She halted her transformation and returned to her exquisite maiden form, crossing her arms once more.

“There’s absolutely no way. That girl is making the wrong choice.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Arguing further is tiresome. You shall meet her directly.”

With that, Nüwa pointed her slender finger toward a small door beside her. It clearly indicated that going through that door would allow me to meet the girl, and so she closed her eyes as if out of things to say.

“…….”

The ancient Nüwa was no different from the one I already knew…

As I pondered, I shook my head and walked toward the tiny door.

Clunk

Upon opening the wooden door, a modest yet beautifully jewel-adorned corridor came into view. After walking along this passage for a while, another jade-colored door appeared, and I entered through it.

As soon as I opened the door, a woman’s voice greeted me.

“You’ve finally arrived.”

I turned toward the direction of the voice and was caught off guard.

“Yuso…?”

Could it really be Yuso?!

But her attire was different!

She was donned in a completely black silk robe, the only difference from Yuso.

The woman chuckled softly, taking a seat on a nearby chair.

“I seem to be misunderstood again.”

“Don’t tell me….”

“Myself and Yuso are twins. We look quite similar, you see. There are differences if you observe closely.”

“…….”

What? I never heard that from the folks in Takrok Village!

How come nobody mentioned this?!

As I was taken aback, the woman spoke to me.

“You’ve been struggling against a demon sorcerer in an unknown space, haven’t you? I’m glad you’re unharmed.”

“……!!”

My eyes widened in astonishment. I hurriedly stammered.

“Girl, how do you know that?”

Without a doubt, the woman before me was the girl! The strongest avatar ability holder at the center of the gods’ war in the past of [Great Cycle]. The fact that she knew about the existence of Heavenly Secret and my recent affairs in the training world left me in shock.

‘Was she referring to the trial of the reborn person and fighting Dharmas just now?!’

The girl tilted her head slightly.

“I had a feeling you were supposed to have memories transferred through an ‘object bound by cause and effect,’ didn’t I? Did you not see my image?”

“……?”

“Think it over. You’ve probably seen me before.”

At that moment, memories from the past flashed in my mind.

[According to the omens, it seems there’s no place like Takrok Village anywhere in this world. Where did you go?]

[I had no choice but to ensure that when you returned, the memories would be transferred via the object bound by cause and effect. I have no idea what that item might be.]

[…… Just complaining. That child has already accepted her fate, you know. Because it is already the future, the past, and at the same time the present. It was merely about choosing one from the numerous open endings. Neither of which is bad, so why wouldn’t she be happy? But I still haven’t decided my fate. I’ve never seen the true form of the one who turned back [Great Cycle]… ]

…….

Suddenly recalling that instance, I was flabbergasted.

‘That! That was certainly… right after facing Dharma!’

I remembered a mysterious woman saying those words. But I thought it was merely an illusion…!!

“Was… that you?”

As I asked with a trembling voice, the girl nodded.

“Yes, that was me leaving a message for you.”

“……How? Since I was still within, no one from outside could reach me.”

That’s especially true since the place where I fought Dharma was the deepest part of the Heavenly Secret. Even the training world devised by the terminal and the trials of the Heavenly Secret had been entirely detached from reality. The girl responded.

“It’s simple. At some moment, it was clear you would return to reality, so I ensured that when you did return, the message I wanted to convey would reach you.”

I shook my head.

“No. I heard those words from within. There’s no way anyone could have contacted me that way.”

“There must have been a moment where you stepped from the realm of illusions into reality. I extended my hand back through the past’s causes using that moment as a conduit.”

“What?”

Clank

Before I knew it, the girl had poured tea into a pristine white teacup. While the clear tea filled the cup, she continued her explanation.

“If the outcome of my speaking to you gets concealed, the message then conveys itself to you through various means, be it an illusion or a dream. Although I cannot determine precisely when that would be.”

“…….”

I could only astonishedly listen to the girl’s words. The implications of her claim were monumental.

I stammered, my voice trembling.

“You mean… no way…?”

“Yes, exactly as you guessed.”

The girl elegantly took a sip of tea.

“With the power of [Infinity], I can manipulate the causes of events.”

“……!!”

Cause manipulation!!

Are humans even capable of such a feat?! Not even as a normal case but one strong enough to influence the trials within the Heavenly Secret?!

I couldn’t fathom how remarkable things could ensue using that ability. I suddenly grasped the reason why the girl was deemed the strongest momentarily lost in thought.

I exclaimed in astonishment.

“I see now… I understand why the gods are eager to wage war over you.”

“Do you find it enviable?”

“It would be a lie to say I didn’t.”

“…….”

Clank

The girl placed her cup down with a sigh.

“I find you more enviable, dear Reborn Person Baek Woong.”

I gazed at her words, and the girl poured tea into my cup as well.

Looking down at the warm, steaming clear tea, I said.

“Was that something you heard from Yuso?”

“Yes. I possess the ability of Infinity, yet I can’t foresee everything like Yuso does. Therefore, until now, Yuso has been guiding my path. She said that you are indeed the reborn person who traversed the past beyond [Great Cycle].”

You know everything.

I took a sip from my tea and replied.

“Regardless, I’m merely a foreigner who fell into this era. My true comrades aren’t here.”

“Does that mean you don’t trust the Takrok Village folks?”

“Trust or not… We haven’t been together long enough to build trust. It’s not that I dislike them.”

“What about Fuxi?”

“Fuxi is my comrade… I could say that much.”

“…….”

I felt an odd sensation when the girl suddenly brought up Fuxi. Why was Fuxi being mentioned all of a sudden?

The girl then locked her gaze onto me and said.

“Baek Woong. No, you’re wrong.”

“What do you mean I’m wrong?”

“As I mentioned before….”

With a resolute expression, the girl delivered her words with undeniable conviction.

“Fuxi is not your comrade.”