Chapter 191
**
The carriage moves. Sua clings tightly to my side.
Her innocent eyes are filled with worry.
“Daddy.”
“Hmm?”
“I heard it’s an all-out war. A war where different factions pour everything they’ve got all at once.”
“…….”
“I heard it’s worse than before.”
“Are you scared?”
“…Yes.”
Sua quietly nods her head.
“But I still want to be by Daddy’s side.”
“……”
“What I want to ask is something else.”
“What is it?”
“Aren’t you scared, Daddy?”
Sua spreads her small hands, looking up at the sky, whispering to me.
“I’m scared of getting hurt. I’m scared of pain. But you seem to just brush all that off.”
“…….”
“I know what it’s like to have something like that. If I lost even a finger and it regenerated, it would be really hard for me. I’d probably suffer for a week.”
“Is it really that bad…?”
“Uh-huh. It’s true. Most people would feel the same. Even those who are good at tolerating pain would jump at the slightest bump. It’s such pain.”
Sua looks back at me.
“You’re… different from others. But you never really talk about yourself.”
“…….”
“I want to hear about you… can you tell me?”
…Now that I think about it, I’ve never really shared my story with this child.
Wait, is it that I’ve never shared it with anyone? The only one I’ve shared anything with is Ilma.
Since she’s my daughter, I have no reason not to tell her. But at the same time, saying it out loud feels a bit awkward.
“It’s probably not that great of a story.”
“Still, I want to hear it.”
“…Alright.”
Where should I start?
I lowered my voice, whispering quietly enough for only her to hear.
“Since I was born, my family was a bit poor. I had to worry about where our next meal was coming from. Usually, my younger sibling and I took care of the house… But even so, we couldn’t just sit still. We had to figure out how to get food ourselves.”
“…What about your parents?”
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say like this, but… they didn’t care about us at all. The reason we were so desperately poor was partly because of them. They were far from being typical parents. They showed us absolutely no interest. They seemed to see us just as a means to make money, even sending us out begging.”
Thinking about my younger sibling brings back memories.
Just that is enough to tug at my heartstrings. It’s a story I’ve always kept buried deep inside.
“As time went on, the burden on my shoulders grew heavier. My sibling was often sick. Really often, to the point of being bedridden. That meant I needed money for treatment. Begging or running odd jobs just didn’t cut it. Half of what I earned disappeared into my parents’ gambling, so I needed to make more money.”
“So you took up the sword?”
“Exactly. I became a wandering swordsman. That was my starting point. Of course, I didn’t do all that well. The sword techniques I learned from merchants in the marketplace were all I had, and I couldn’t even wield them skillfully. As you know… I had no talent. I really didn’t. And at that time, I had no motivation either.”
“Motivation…?”
“To me, the sword was just a means to make money. I didn’t find any joy in it. So I just swung it around. I swung it… and swung it some more. The more I swung, the more familiar I became, and somehow I managed to survive even in life-threatening situations.”
I could sum up my ten years as a swordsman like that.
Struggling to survive, to earn medicine for my sibling.
“I’ve done everything but… I can’t say I’ve really done anything of value. A third-rate swordsman. That was exactly my position. I improved to a second-rate level later on, but that was my limit. The weak usually group together, you know? I was the same. I couldn’t voice my opinions and always blended into the group. There were times when I faced near annihilations. I even hid among corpses to survive.”
“…Daddyyy…”
“Should I stop now?”
“…No. I want to hear more.”
“Alright.”
I hesitated for a moment. After checking where I left off, I continued.
“Thanks to that, I was able to send money home steadily. Occasionally, I would come by and check on things. Each time, my sibling warmly welcomed me. She was a good child. Very much so.”
“…Did your parents come to their senses?”
“No. They were the same as ever. People don’t change easily. And… around that time, my sister’s health worsened significantly. It was worse than I had seen before. I needed a large sum of money. At the same time, I wanted to take care of my sister’s condition. So I looked for a stable job… and that was how I became a warrior of the Martial Alliance.”
“…Like now?”
“Exactly.”
I stroked the swords I wore. The Ear Swords seemed to let out a mournful sound for some reason.
“I barely passed the entrance exam. But for how hard I fought to pass, the salary was pitifully low. Still, I took all the side jobs I could. I managed to scrape together enough for my sister’s medicine for a while, but… that had its limits. My debts were increasing, and the pharmacist’s clicking tongue became more frequent. Then the Martial Alliance proposed something to me. How about going as an agent for the Demon Cult?”
“…….”
“With a promise of a large sum of money along with care for my sister, I couldn’t refuse. And… I went to the Demon Cult. I was a gatekeeper there. While guarding the door… I consoled myself with the letters that came in occasionally. But then… suddenly, I received an order to retreat along with a letter.”
“…What did the letter say?”
“That my sister had died.”
Sua blinked her eyes. I wiped away the tears that gathered at the corners.
“Don’t cry.”
“…Daddyyyy.”
“Don’t cry. It’s alright. I can talk about it calmly now. It’s been a while. But… back then, it must have been different. I… I wanted to die. During that time. Really. The only thing that I cherished in this world was gone… I just wanted to die, aimlessly.”
I reflected on my life.
I chewed it over for as long as I could.
“…But I didn’t want to die just anywhere. I had lived as a pawn all my life… I wanted to find the right place to die. So… I went to find it.”
“Where?”
“To the Heavenly Demon’s Training Ground. A place open to all. A place where the Heavenly Demon shows their might to everyone. I stood there for quite some time. I simply… looked up.”
“…Why?”
“I had always swung my sword without thinking. My life had been like that. I was merely following fate. I never made an effort to carve out my own path. I must have had plenty of excuses. Even now, I could list many. But because I never truly thought about it, even that was just an excuse. An excuse for not wanting to admit that I had led a foolish life. And I planned to carry that into my death…”
Things changed.
I became curious.
The life of a predator.
A life I had never lived.
“While looking up at the traces left by the Heavenly Demon, I became curious about that person’s life. What kind of time does one who was born with everything spend? I began to think that there must be a reason I shouldn’t live like that…”
“…….”
“Fortunately, luck was on my side. I caught the Heavenly Demon’s eye and… was granted a second life. Of course, it came with a terrible price… but I had confidence that I could endure it. Even though I had lived an unwanted life, I had managed to endure until then.”
“…Daddy…”
“It’s alright. Not every moment was bad. You see, from the moment I decided to live for myself, I realized what I wanted to do. That life that was just something I was curious about became something I wanted to surpass, and the martial arts that were just a means to an end transformed into something I could enjoy. I found joy in swinging the sword repeatedly. And finally, I reached the point where I can say that the sword is fun.”
I looked back at my life.
And I laughed.
“I met friends and parted ways. I got involved with the Black Heaven Sect. What about the Sma Clan? I also confronted the Demon Valley Lord. I mingled with the blacksmith that could forge the Ear Sword… and clashed swords with someone from the Shinwon Jin Clan. Those people I introduced as my acquaintances? I met them all there.”
“…All your sisters?”
“Those two are different. I met them on the way to Eungmin. I got involved with someone named Ansasugwi, and I directly experienced something called the Demon Phantom Skill… I don’t really want to go into detail about what happened inside.”
I paused my story slightly.
I patted Sua’s head.
“I also met a man who wished to become the Blood Demon in Eungmin. He was someone I couldn’t respect. But he was strong. I don’t know much about him, but… he must have had his own story.”
“…….?”
“And after preparing, I came here. To do what I have to do. My goal is to catch the three criminals who escaped from the Demon Cult. Partly to repay the Heavenly Demon’s favor, but… honestly, it’s also for my own sake.”
“Why?”
“Because I owe a debt. I want to repay it properly before I try to catch up with that person.”
“…The Heavenly Demon?”
“Exactly.”
I turned my head and looked up at the sky.
The sky. That person must be like the sky. I’ve never seen them wield a sword, and all I’ve seen are the traces left upon some uncut object…
But I could guess.
The sword they wielded must be one that could overshadow the sky itself.
“Longing is a lonely word. She said so. Because no one thinks they can surpass it, it is called longing. But I… I’m not longing for her. I see her as a wall to overcome. The power to captivate a person just by the traces left by their sword. Her supreme realm signifies her very being…”
“…….”
“I want to surpass it. Truly. As a swordsman who owes a debt. The wall of the Heavenly Demon. Even if it costs my whole life. If there is anything I want to do in my second life… it’s exactly that.”
“…Daddy, you can do it.”
Sua nuzzled her cheek against my hand.
“Because Daddy is the strongest!”
“…….”
I smiled.
“Yeah.”
That’s right.
Once I finish what I have to do…
Let’s return to her.
To catch up to the name of the Heavenly Demon.
“Thank you.”
“It was an inspiring story.”
I loosened the reins, turning my head immediately.
In an unexpected situation, a man quietly standing beside me whispered.
“Longing, huh? That’s right. I think the same. But isn’t that a bit reckless?”
“…What?”
The person I had seen before. Despite having the exact same features as someone I knew…
He blinked, radiating a completely different sense of alienation.
“To aspire, and yet resolve to catch up? That’s reserved for those with at least the minimum qualification. There’s nothing more ridiculous than a bug trying to mimic a human. Friend.”
“…Who are you?”
“I was going to say Sapa’s First Sword, but it seems you already recognized me. Have you made an acquaintance? It seems we’re on friendly terms after the Demon Cult… I don’t know about the techniques, but I know you have quite a wide network. Impressive.”
The man chuckled. In a situation where no one around recognized him, he whispered only to me.
“I’m Jeok-un. Mu-seong. The Soul Sword. A righteous thief of the Demon Cult… or am I now a double agent? I have a lot of names. How should I be called?”
“…I asked who you were.”
“Questions in response to questions. Good. Very good! But you see, if you draw your sword now, then I’ve wasted my effort in extending this little opportunity. I hope you understand that I’m offering you what might be your last chance to fight properly.”
He raised his hand.
Gesturing to the surroundings.
“I’m different from those little pests. I prefer a clean fight. So how about this? Let your beloved ones escape. Don’t worry about chasing after them; I’m well past the stage of absorbing that mediocre guy.”
“……”
“You can’t fight properly with your precious daughter in tow, can you? Of course, I’m somewhat curious about that immature one’s future, but… in any case, let’s settle everything and have a proper duel. You came to catch me, right? Hm? If you can’t understand this, then at least share your name.”
He slightly lifted his hat.
“You said you’re chasing after an escaping prisoner? Among them, there’s probably someone named Chilma. Ah, that nostalgic name. One of the Heavenly Eight Martial Artists. But that’s a name I’ve already discarded. A double agent of the Heavenly Demon Sect. As a token of appreciation for chasing me to this place, you’ve earned the privilege of hearing my name. Have you ever heard of Reverse Heaven? The craziest group in the world. A collective of uniquely insane individuals.”
He smiled.
“Six flipped stars serving a master. I am one of them, the Reverse star, Jin Baek-cheon. Now, say your goodbyes to your beloved ones. I’m generous, so I can wait for you long enough.”
“……!”
“But I’ll warn you. If you think of running away…”
He whispered.
“I will kill you and tear apart every single one of your friends, burying you all in the same place. From the moment our eyes met, one of us is destined to die. As a double agent from the Demon Cult who came to chase a runaway… the runaway is right before you. Get ready to fight. Then let’s dance. A memorable sword dance.”
