349 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

She has memories. They are not something she dares to call recollections; instead, she simply refers to them as memories. It was a night with a full moon that had come too early. Others have gradually stopped caring about how much time has passed since they fell into this place. Yet, unlike them, she remembers each day. She has no choice but to remember, as she never forgets anything she sees. Thus, she inevitably remembers the passage of days. Two years and a little more. That is the time she has survived in this place, known as the Demonic Realm. The sky was red. The moon that rose held an equally ominous hue. Since the sky was the same day and night, she had to look at the moon to determine whether it was day or night. [...] It is truly an ominous world. This was the thought that came to her as she sat on a rock, gazing at the sky. The colors. Everything was dead, the withered old trees and the parched earth all drained of vitality. How could such a world not be foreboding? [Ha.] As she exhaled white breath, contrasting with the crimson world, she often pondered. Why does this world, which seems only ominous, feel so sorrowful? She wondered if it was because there was something different in this world. Something was twisted. Instinctively, she realized there was something wrong with this world. Yet, she was confused and did not know what the answer was. [...] She opened her eyes to face the moon. Was it an illusion? She often felt as if the rising red moon was speaking to her. Should she answer? What would she say? Should she greet it? She pondered for a long time but never opened her mouth to speak. Then, at that moment. [Finally found you.] A voice came from below the hill where she sat. Most warriors in the Demonic Realm used telepathy, rather than voice. Few chose to speak aloud like that. And only one spoke to her with such a fierce voice. Black hair. Eyes the same, but with a hint of red. A young man with a fierce demeanor, clad in tattered, dust-covered red martial robes. [...] He was the man she disliked the most. Looking down at his fierce gaze, she spoke. [I told you it’s dangerous to speak aloud.] Her words were through telepathy. [Are you mocking me, you crazy thing?] He spoke aloud. [You think I don't want to?] [Then you should try harder.] [You often say nasty things, more so today.] The man lifted his lips into a smile that hinted at mockery. His expression rarely made her frown. He was the sole imperfection to her otherwise stoic demeanor, her emotions typically kept in check. Every time they met, he seemed to have a knack for unsettling her. -Who does this insignificant wretch think he is, with his filthy presence! Their very first meeting in her childhood was much the same. It was what ultimately led her to take up the sword. Though that incompetent man likely didn’t remember. [Anyway, what do you want?] [What do you mean 'want'? It’s time to switch guards, so I came to find you.] Clicking his tongue, the man surveyed the surroundings before speaking to her with a hint of annoyance. [I told you last time, when you're on guard duty, stay around the camp. Stop climbing up the mountains.] [...It’s more efficient to keep watch from a higher vantage point.] [That might apply to you, but I'm too lazy to climb up and down these heights.] [Didn't I tell you to signal with fire? I’ll know and come down.] [...] Hearing her words, the man furrowed his brow and turned his head. It was something she had mentioned before. Given her abilities, it was more efficient for her to keep watch from a higher place. That’s why she often chose a higher location, away from the others in the camp. And this man was next in line for guard duty after her. She had suggested signaling with fire so he could see and come down. Yet, he often climbed up the mountain to chat. She couldn't understand it. Surely they weren’t on good terms. Shaking off that thought, she looked down the hill. [...You seem to have brought your noisy friend with you.] Another man climbing up could be seen. He was a noisy individual, contrary to his moniker. He frequently approached her to chat and urged her to speak with those she disliked. He wasn’t someone she particularly liked. Still, he was preferable a hundred times over the fierce man before her. [Ah, here you are?] This man was known as the Sleeping Dragon. [Hey, Bulkkotyi. Let’s go together next time, yeah?] [What nonsense are you spouting? You come after me, remember?] [Wouldn’t it be nice to chat together? You’d be less bored, Bulkkotyi.] [And I wouldn’t sleep during my shift, either?] [...Hehe.] [Hehe, my ass... Get lost, will you?] This conversation made her sigh involuntarily. She couldn’t understand it either. She believed all humans were dignified and equally valuable. Yet paradoxically, not everyone was of the same caliber. It wasn’t because she considered herself a descendant of a great swordsman. She wasn't thinking of bloodlines from the four great families or the nine prestigious sects. That man was a twisted human being. He had no gentleness in his character. He showed his fangs without gauging the level of his opponent. If so, what made him different from a monster? She couldn’t help but think that. Furthermore, he had no talent for martial arts and did not even try. Among those who survived this Demonic Realm, strenuously training to overcome barriers, he took a completely different path. Why, then, did the man known as Sleeping Dragon stick with him? In her eyes, he looked as if he had given up on everything. Why did he show his fangs even to those he could never defeat? Was it because he didn’t mind dying right then and there? Or perhaps he even hoped for it. Why? Why wish for death? If he wanted to die so much, he had the option to take his own life. She realized that she was entertaining a rather chilling thought and tried hard to erase it from her mind. Such cold thoughts needed to be excluded as much as possible. Every time she thought of such things, she felt her humanity crumbling. Or perhaps, it was more accurate to say that she needed to prevent the destruction of the layer of humanity she had painstakingly crafted for herself. [...I'll head down first.] She had spoken with the intention of returning to the camp. Although she didn’t need much sleep, she recognized the importance of resting her weary mind. Suddenly. The Sleeping Dragon grasped her wrist firmly. [Ah, why leave so soon again?] [...!] [You won't sleep even if you go down. Why not stay a while and chat?] Why? She already knew the man called Sleeping Dragon was headstrong. Normally, she wouldn’t become angry over such actions. And yet. For some reason, at that moment, she felt pure anger. [Hmm?] The Sleeping Dragon flinched. [Little Sword Saint?] Why? She shouldn't have been angry over such trivial things. Perhaps it was due to the continuous accumulation of incomprehensible situations, or perhaps something else entirely. All she knew was— The sensation of a primitive being’s touch on her skin was intolerable. [Stop it.] It was ‘that’ man who separated her from the Sleeping Dragon. [Why hold onto her when she wants to leave?] [I was just….] [And while you’re at it, why don’t you also get lost?] His words rumbled like a growl. [Oh, come on.] The Sleeping Dragon chuckled sheepishly, brushing it off. Leaving them both, she resumed her steps. Pausing, she glanced back at the two. The Sleeping Dragon was animatedly talking next to the man. Meanwhile, the man sat in silent repose on the rock where she had been sitting, offering no response. She looked at his back. Though not broad, his back seemed particularly shadowed. His gaze remained averted from her. And she reciprocated, deliberately avoiding reading the emotion conveyed by that back. Despite this, she felt her surging emotions subside unexpectedly. Though curious about the reason, she focused first on calming the thoughts that had briefly flared up. She walked back toward the camp. Her heartbeat was unusually heated, yet her heart felt cold. Had she called these memories? She needed to correct that. They were regrets. Regrets wondering how things might have been if they were just a bit different. That’s why she continued revisiting them incessantly. Even though she knew she could never return to those times. Regrets that persisted despite the knowledge, akin to excuses comforting herself that she had no choice back then. So what remains for her, for me? Could it be merely the ability to watch over him from a distance? Is it enough to take on the karma meant for him? Is it something to be thankful for, sticking together the fragmented soul she should have lost long ago to give it some semblance of resolution? I cannot be sure of anything. "Let go." However, I know there is only one thing I must do. "Don’t you dare lay that filthy hand on him." I protect him. Everything is for that. Thunderous crack. The ground, once a pillar of a mountain, crumbled. A continuously extending trace widened, creating new space. A single swing. The aftermath it left was beyond imagination. “Huff… Huff…” The tremor of demonic energy that surged up to his chin quieted for a moment. Gu Yangcheon barely managed to expel his breath and remove the pressure pressing down on him. But he couldn’t calm his trembling eyes. Even when he faced the Heavenly Demon, or when his demonic energy began to rampage then. He hadn't felt this type of emotion. Boom. A sound emerged from the wrecked ground. Amid the swirling dust, there appeared the Heavenly Demon once again. Fwoosh. Shaking off the dust from its body, the Heavenly Demon appeared without a single scratch. ‘Even if the timing’s too soon, indeed, the Heavenly Demon is the Heavenly Demon.’ The figure he had seen before—the young appearance that seemed barely over ten years of age—had, after a few years, grown to look similar in age to him. This signified a different growth rate. “...” The Heavenly Demon, emerging through the dust, simply watched Wi Seol Ah. As it observed her standing with a sword. Swish. The Heavenly Demon formed a sword-like shape with dark energy in its hand, as if mimicking her. Upon confirming this, Wi Seol Ah’s expression twisted. Following that, Wi Seol Ah’s body launched herself swiftly at the Heavenly Demon. Boom—! Craaack! Their energies collided. The impact spread the damage everywhere. The force almost knocked Gu Yangcheon off his already exhausted feet. Standing firm to avoid being blown away was all he could do now. ‘It’s strange.’ He wasn’t referring to the Heavenly Demon appearing at this moment. That was odd, true, but— What was important was Wi Seol Ah. To the best of his knowledge, Wi Seol Ah was at the peak. More precisely, she possessed the maturity befitting the pinnacle, but— It didn’t mean she was at the level to exhibit such power. It was apparent. Rumble-! The Heavenly Demon was being pushed back little by little on Wi Seol Ah’s sword path. Could this be possible? Could the Heavenly Demon’s rank be shallow? It was possible. Given that they couldn’t ascertain the Heavenly Demon’s stature or mastery level at present. Dark energy spread out in every direction. Though chaotic, it followed the Heavenly Demon’s gesture with a strange orderliness. In response, Wi Seol Ah advanced, slicing through and cleaving the energy. Every time her sword carved through the air, it left a stark white trace. It was the trace of the energy enveloping Wi Seol Ah’s body now. That was the issue. The dark energy was subdued, being defenseless before Wi Seol Ah’s aura. The aura was a purity that surpassed radiant gold. It was the reason Wi Seol Ah of her past life could display such overwhelming dominance over demon foes. And eventually, contain the Heavenly Demon. ‘How?’ This was not a power Wi Seol Ah should currently wield. It couldn’t be called the Swordmaster’s martial arts; even the Swordmaster was overpowered by the Heavenly Demon, as he recalled. Given that it was a strength Wi Seol Ah comprehended and found through her own enlightenment. A power she had grasped only near the end of her previous life. How could Wi Seol Ah be using that strength now? What was the reason? Foolishly, I felt it was more important than the appearance of the Heavenly Demon. My back itched. A strange sound, as if there was an overwhelming ring in my ears, was audible. My breathing grew harsh. Why? Was it because of the backlash from the demonic energy? That was a valid answer. The backlash from the demonic energy remained relentless. The pain from it was enough to make me feel like I might lose consciousness. ‘Why.’ But my focus was not on that—it was on Wi Seol Ah. Engulfed in that white aura. Her back, as she swung her sword toward the Heavenly Demon. Wi Seol Ah was strong even now. Talented enough to be called the Divine Sword in her past life. This was evident in her reaching the peak stage not too long after we were separated. There was no doubt Wi Seol Ah was strong. But something about her current state felt different. ‘Why…?’ Her current demeanor. Was not like the Wi Seol Ah who would approach me with a bright smile. Who found happiness in satiating her voracious appetite. Rather, she resembled the one who concealed most of her emotions. Held back her sorrow and pain, carrying the singular resolve to save the world. Rumble—! Amid the continuous clashes of white energy and demonic aura. It became increasingly apparent that the demonic aura was gaining the upper hand. Previously, the white energy had been advancing, purging the demonic aura. My gaze shifted to the Heavenly Demon. Its face remained expressionless, just as it was from the start. Initially, it seemed surprised when it was being pushed back. But that lasted only a moment. Now, the demonic aura gathered strength. While the demonic aura was still being consumed and dissipated, It simply spat out more than was being consumed. A truly monstrous way of adapting. “Urgh…!” As the demonic aura increased, Wi Seol Ah let out a groan. Residual energy slipped past her defense, leaving her with minor wounds. Even amid that, she adjusted her energy to prevent the damage from reaching me. ‘No.’ I didn’t want to see that. I didn’t want to see her facing the Heavenly Demon once again. I trained relentlessly to gather strength for this reason. Whether a blood storm swept through, Or countless others were doomed to die in the future. These were not of much importance to me. Only one thing mattered. That she would not have to carry such a burden on her shoulders ever again. That was the life I had chosen to lead. But now— Am I once again meant to watch powerlessly? What was my ascent to the Flower Realm for? Here I am, unable to protect a single small woman, being protected instead. ‘What should I do?’ I wanted to rush to her side and pull her away immediately. I wanted to confront and stop the Heavenly Demon right here and now. If so, many things could change. ‘Then I should move.’ So don’t just lay around pathetically. Move right now. “Augh…” I tried to rise, but the pain from my core forced me to collapse again. How? How should I proceed? My bloodshot eyes searched for a way. How could I overcome this? Calm the rampaging demonic energy storming back to its master like it's been summoned. And rise to my feet again. “...” The answer came to me quickly; it was something I had known all along. As the resonance of the demonic energy filled my senses to deafening levels. The only method that would grant temporary relief became clear. This choice might tether my current life a bit closer to the past. For now, I found a way that would ease my current plight. Hesitation settled in soon after. This could plunge my life into hell once more, Pushing true peace further away, perhaps even erasing it entirely after everything is resolved. Lifting my head, I looked forward. “Ngh…!” I gazed at the woman who swung her sword to fend off the demonic aura, proclaiming she would protect me. Was my future peace more important than this moment? It was not. The deliberation ended there. A dilemma I never needed to face, to begin with. Clench. I released the grip I had been holding on the rampaging demonic energy. Immediately. I drew upon the demonic energy, pulling it in abundance.