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Chapter 476 – For You Forgotten in Oblivion

Thud thud.

Beyond the energy barrier, I could feel Shin Noya’s frantic struggle.

Still, I was trying my best to ignore the old man and focus on Tang Je-mun.

Recalling the words I had just heard, my mind raced.

‘Regarding Tang Je-mun’s words, then.’

According to Shin Noya, it seemed that Moyong Family’s daughter was somehow connected to the Thunder Heaven Sword.

For some reason, there seemed to be a backstory behind Tang Je-mun’s reaction just now.

Ah, of course.

‘I’m not that curious.’

Honestly, I was a bit curious, but Tang Je-mun’s expression suggested it wasn’t the time to casually ask.

Maybe it was because I had just mentioned the Moyong Family.

Right now, I was better off pretending not to know and getting straight to the point.

“Senior.”

I cautiously called out to Tang Je-mun, and her light green eyes turned my way.

There was still a fierce aura about her, making me feel jittery inwardly.

But I had to ask my question.

Calming my trembling gaze, I asked her, “Why did you send me there?”

Hearing my question, Tang Je-mun’s head tilted slightly.

Her green hair swayed with the motion.

What kind of answer would I hear?

As I waited in silence for her serious reply.

“What was it like?”

Tang Je-mun asked.

“Excuse me?”

“How was the place for the successor?”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Suddenly asking how it was there?

I looked at Tang Je-mun with bewilderment.

Then, she unexpectedly lowered herself down to sit on the floor.

‘Huh?’

I had to widen my eyes at that.

As soon as Tang Je-mun sat down, the same table as before appeared in front of her.

Two teacups had now materialized on it.

‘… Didn’t I just break all of them?’

I had seen her shatter everything just a moment ago, yet now it suddenly appeared anew.

What the heck kind of world am I in?

Questions flooded my mind.

“…”

For now, I cautiously sat down in front of Tang Je-mun.

I knew she was hoping for that.

Swish—

As Tang Je-mun’s hand moved, the teacup filled with cold tea.

Watching the rising liquid quietly, I heard Tang Je-mun’s voice.

“What did you see? Or did you change something?”

At her words, my brow furrowed involuntarily.

It couldn’t be helped.

“… I didn’t see anything, I didn’t do anything.”

In the place I was sent for the test, I had done nothing of significance.

What in the world did I see or do?

‘All I saw was…’

My own embarrassing black history.

What should I have experienced during this test?

No matter how much I thought, I couldn’t understand.

With those thoughts, I asked Tang Je-mun, “You referred to this as a test of regret.”

“Yes.”

“And you said that no matter what I did, nothing would change.”

“That’s right.”

“I was dragged back here without doing anything at all. What exactly was the purpose of this test?”

I had no understanding at all.

What had I done there, and what had I gained?

Why had I been dragged back here with some semblance of satisfaction?

“I did nothing.”

Facing the life filled with regret from my previous life.

Was that the content of the test?

Or was it to show that no matter how desperately I struggled, nothing would change?

Regardless of what it was, I was simply uncomfortable with what I had seen.

‘What the heck is this?’

What was I supposed to have felt?

If this was a test, then I should have felt something and resolved it to be here.

Yet, I truly hadn’t done anything.

Feeling frustrated, I asked Tang Je-mun, “… What was I supposed to do?”

“Successor.”

“Yes.”

“You said from the beginning that this test has neither success nor failure.”

That was right; she had indeed said so.

Just before starting the test of regret, Tang Je-mun had clearly told me:

– The test you will receive has neither success nor failure.

– At the end of the test, the thoughts you hold—whatever they may be—won’t matter.

Neither success nor failure.

Maybe I had viewed those words too simplistically.

No, even if that were the case.

“… I still don’t understand what this test means.”

I never imagined I would find myself in such a situation.

“What was I supposed to do there…?”

I faced my previous self.

I faced the woman who had died for me, and the woman who had killed me, as well as the woman branded as a calamity in the world.

It wasn’t that I hadn’t reaped anything from such encounters.

I realized the existence of a world filled with Blood Demons and understood the reason for that world’s existence.

I had reconceptualized my vessel, letting go of my humanity but gaining power.

Furthermore.

‘The Demon Sword Queen.’

I had also experienced a time when I felt that Nangong Bi-ah was the same in every incarnation.

But.

‘So what?’

Having gone through that process, I was still left in despair.

What was I supposed to have seen when I was sent into that world?

It couldn’t have been a quest for enlightenment.

Hearing my words, Tang Je-mun quietly took a sip of her tea.

There was no sound as she drank, her movements gentle.

After that soft action passed, Tang Je-mun looked back at me and spoke.

“Successor.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know which world you went to or what you saw there.”

“… What did you say?”

My eyes twitched at her words.

She knows nothing?

“Then what was the purpose of this test?”

What on earth was I heading for there?

Initially, it was for the Poison Heavenly Pill, but now I just felt a vague sense of discomfort throughout my body.

“… I…”

“The name of this test is ‘Regret and Remnant.'”

“…”

That was what I had heard when she spoke about the test.

“Moreover, Successor, this is a test to confront your regret and remnants.”

“I don’t understand.”

My regret and remnants.

Was that the regret and remnants toward the Divine Sword?

Or was it toward the Demon Sword Queen?

At first, I had those thoughts, reminiscing about the Queen’s death, believing that might be it.

But.

‘It was none of that.’

I hadn’t even reached the death of the Demon Sword Queen.

Instead, the Heavenly Demon had appeared, ending everything.

Why had the Heavenly Demon appeared there?

I had no idea.

Was it because the Three Eminent Beings’ steps had reached the lands of Sichuan?

Did it recognize that and descend directly?

From the Divine Stronghold where the Heavenly Demon resides to Sichuan?

How it recognized that and how it crossed that distance in an instant didn’t matter.

The notion that ‘if it’s the Heavenly Demon, anything is possible’ was deeply ingrained in me.

In fact, the Heavenly Demon was indeed such a being.

Since that entity appeared, the test had ended forcibly.

“So, I faced no regrets or remnants. I couldn’t truly confront any of it.”

I couldn’t comprehend this situation at all.

“I didn’t…”

“No.”

Just as I was about to continue speaking, Tang Je-mun interrupted me with a firm voice.

“You completed this test.”

“… What do you mean by that?”

I felt merely frustrated. It was as if I could burst.

“I truly didn’t do anything….”

“If it ended, then isn’t it something to rejoice about?”

“…!”

Tang Je-mun’s words made it feel like my mouth was sealed shut.

“If you didn’t experience anything and the test ended without anything happening, isn’t it a blessing?”

“That’s….”

“But then, why is it that you are so troubled and pained?”

As I listened to her, I instinctively clenched my fist.

Her words held a degree of truth to them.

So indeed.

‘… Why?’

A world that had nothing to do with me.

Perhaps a world that might have already faded away.

If I finished the test with some information and an opportunity rather than a genuine connection, it wouldn’t have been bad for me.

Why was I.

‘Feeling so angry?’

Was it the regret of not being able to exchange a word while I gazed upon the Divine Sword? Or was it the remnants I held regarding the Demon Sword Queen?

Or perhaps.

Was it the blame for not having acted despite confronting the Heavenly Demon?

If it wasn’t that, then….

‘Is it that I’m angry I couldn’t just smack that idiot in the face?’

Was it rage over not being able to beat the crap out of myself back then?

I didn’t know.

I didn’t know, but I was clearly filled with anger.

As I was lost in that unknown emotion, my mind swirling,

“The regret you faced is—”

Tang Je-mun spoke, looking at me.

“It’s about what you should have known or needed to remember but did not.”

“What does that mean?”

That’s a bunch of bull.

I barely managed to hold back those words.

Even if my anger was rising, I shouldn’t cross the line.

Yet, even if I didn’t voice it, it seemed Tang Je-mun had a faint idea of what I was going to say.

“You hoped I wouldn’t make the same choice as you.”

“… Senior, if you’re going to explain, then do it properly….”

“The feelings within your body have already experienced and felt this. That is not anger.”

This isn’t anger? If this isn’t anger, then what is anger?!

“Profoundly deep sorrow often feels akin to anger.”

“… Do I look like I’m mourning right now?”

“If not, then why are you crying?”

“…?”

I frowned at Tang Je-mun’s words.

Crying? I wasn’t crying.

I raised my hand to check my cheek, but as expected, not a single tear was flowing. What was making her think I was crying?

I glared at Tang Je-mun, making a strange expression, but—

Ignoring me, she continued her speech.

“That’s the essence of forgetting.”

Forgetting.

That terms felt both familiar and distant, grazing my heart.

It felt deeply resonant somehow.

“Sometimes it provides comfort, but it inevitably leaves traces for the one left behind.”

“Why are you suddenly saying this?”

“This test represents not only your regrets and remnants, Successor.”

But I couldn’t scream at her.

It felt as if someone was covering my mouth, preventing me from speaking.

“This is also a record for the forgotten.”

“The forgotten?”

“Successor, what did you forget? What did you face there?”

“…”

I couldn’t respond to Tang Je-mun’s question.

The reason was simple. I didn’t remember what I had forgotten.

I knew the life of the Divine Sword.

I remembered the death of the Demon Sword Queen.

I hadn’t forgotten those who had died for me.

Then what on earth had I forgotten?

“It’s okay if you can’t remember. As I said, there is neither success nor failure in this test.”

“… Your words sound like wordplay to me.”

My tone had become rather harsh, yet even after hearing such words, Tang Je-mun merely nodded slightly.

In frustration, I took a sip of tea.

At that moment.

Woo Hyeok,

“…!”

As the tea flowed down my throat, a vibration rippled through my body.

Feeling the unknown tremor, I jumped to my feet.

“What are you doing…? What have you done?”

I looked at Tang Je-mun with urgent eyes, knowing she had done something to me.

Is it poison? It doesn’t seem like poison, but something has definitely happened, so I couldn’t help but be on guard.

“I don’t want them to be forgotten.”

She looked up at me with wistful eyes as she spoke.

“Originally, I hoped Shin Cheol would experience this, but I’m relieved that you went through it.”

“Are you saying you did something to me?”

“I’m sorry.”

What on earth has she done? I didn’t know.

I was seething because I had no idea what was happening, but Tang Je-mun simply wore a sad smile.

“She may wish to be forgotten, but that would be too tragic, wouldn’t it?”

“What have you done to me? Why does everyone seem so eager to grab me and do something?”

At this point, my honorifics had all but shattered. It was unreasonable to uphold respect in this situation.

Why were these damn ghosts from my past all trying to grab hold of me and do something?

My life was already a mess, after all.

“What you swallowed was a fragment of oblivion.”

“… A fragment of oblivion?”

“Originally, it should have been Shin Cheol’s burden, but perhaps this is fate as well.”

Tang Je-mun suddenly reached into the air.

Kugugugu—!

As she moved her hand, the white space began to slowly dissipate.

“If it’s you, I believe you might be different from us.”

Hearing those words, I sensed something was about to unfold.

“Are you planning to disappear after just talking about yourselves again…!”

These people always acted like this; it was infuriating.

I tried to grab Tang Je-mun, filled with all kinds of emotions.

Snap—!

With the sound of her lightly flicking her finger.

“…!”

I was transported to a different space, not the original white space.

“What the hell….”

Should I consider this fortunate?

The place I arrived at was somewhere I recognized.

I couldn’t possibly not know it.

It was beneath the lake where I first met Tang Je-mun.

The space where the Poison Heavenly Pill and White Horse Stone had been piled up.

Right there.

“…”

Right after sending Gu Yangcheong away.

Tang Je-mun looked on with an array of emotions directed at one spot.

It was the teacup that Gu Yangcheong had drunk from.

For some reason, she gazed at it with a sorrowful expression.

As she stayed silent for a moment, Tang Je-mun suddenly mumbled to herself.

‘Was this really the right thing to do?’

These words were directed at someone who could no longer hear her.

They were words toward a woman who wouldn’t be recorded in history, nor would future generations remember properly.

“I’m sorry.”

Yet, Tang Je-mun offered her apology.

She knew.

Tang Je-mun was well aware that the woman would respect her choice.

That was just the kind of person she was.

However, knowing that didn’t mean the emotions stuck in her heart would vanish.

In fact, they only grew deeper and denser.

The iron lady who had defended the Moyong Family on her own.

Recalling her, Tang Je-mun closed her eyes for a moment.

As she took a moment to catch her breath.

“… Damn it.”

A familiar yet longing voice whispered in her ear.

“What kind of prank is this!”

Hearing the old man’s voice, Tang Je-mun couldn’t help but smile.

That guy was still the same.

She thought to herself.

“Huh? Where did that brat go?”

“I sent him ahead.”

“What?!”

Looking at the fierce-faced old man, Tang Je-mun replied with a smile.

“I had something to discuss with you.”

The long-awaited meeting she had yearned for.

More than her own love and feelings, it was meeting the giant of Hwasan, who sought to save the world.

Faced with the man who could be called a hero more than anyone, the woman smiled.

Of course, the expression on Shin Cheol’s face as he faced that smile was somewhat displeased.

The woman addressed the old man by his name.

“Shin Cheol.”

“Yes?”

He grimaced at her.

Seeing that, Tang Je-mun spoke the words she had held onto for so long.

There was no hesitation.

Having pondered for many years, she had already come to her answer long ago.

“I missed you. A lot…”

Those words surged forth from her heart.

After she finally let those feelings out.

“… O-oh… right….”

The expression of annoyance had vanished, and Shin Cheol revealed a rather dazed expression.

The reason was simple.

‘Why is that brat acting like this?’

In Shin Cheol’s eyes, Tang Je-mun was not a woman but a comrade.

 

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