Chapter: 477
“Damn it.”
As soon as I returned, I cursed at the sight before me.
It was the very place where I first encountered the Tang Clan.
‘Am I getting kicked out now?’
Hah.
I let out a sigh at the absurd situation.
To just start talking and then through me out like that.
“Why are all these so-called heroes like this?”
I hadn’t even had a proper conversation yet.
Does it make sense to spit out something like you know something and then just toss it away?
Crack.
I had to bite my tongue in this ridiculous situation.
‘What about Noya?’
Even amidst all this, I tried to see if Noya was around.
But nothing in particular could be felt or heard.
‘Surely he hasn’t fallen asleep again.’
Now that the bowl problem seemed mostly resolved, it didn’t seem like Noya was asleep.
Then…
‘Could this also be something the Tang Clan did?’
At the moment, I thought it was right to see it that way.
Phew…
I suppressed my somewhat heated emotions.
Then, I recalled the conversation I had with the Tang Clan.
She made it clear that there was something I had forgotten, something I would feel through the test she displayed.
‘What could it be?’
I couldn’t figure it out.
If I had forgotten something, it wouldn’t be the Demon Sword Master or the Divine Sword.
Especially not those who had already died by then.
‘Should I look into the weird events that happened?’
Thinking like that, only one person came to mind.
Someone appeared in my head but…
I didn’t push that thought deeper.
‘That can’t be true.’
It was something that could never happen.
‘…That would never happen.’
To be precise, it shouldn’t happen.
If I had to name a few of the anomalies in that world, I could say the strange behavior of the Murim Alliance and the movements of the Celestial Lord were issues.
Ultimately, if there was something that stood out the most…
It could be said to be the appearance of the Heavenly Demon.
‘What do I have to do with the Heavenly Demon?’
That’s why I didn’t put much thought into it. The idea of being connected to the Heavenly Demon just didn’t make sense.
However, if I had to point out one problem…
‘…’
The biggest issue was that I couldn’t deny it with certainty.
‘…What is this?’
What’s this unsettling feeling of knowing yet not knowing?
I don’t know.
Was it after meeting the Heavenly Demon from another world, or was it just before facing the Tang Clan?
Or maybe even earlier.
It might have been after I broke the bowl myself and absorbed all the vigor.
At some point, I had started to feel an indescribable sense of unease.
And this feeling would strike me whenever I thought of the Heavenly Demon.
‘What the hell?’
Why would I feel like this?
Along with this awful feeling, the words that the Tang Clan had spoken intertwined, layering various thoughts in my mind.
While it didn’t seem like I had actually forgotten anything…
Those words strangely tied up my heart.
Was there really something there?
‘…To the Heavenly Demon?’
If I thought about it, not one or two strange things came to mind.
It was also likely that the one who caused me to regress was indeed the Heavenly Demon.
‘Why?’
If so, how did the Heavenly Demon regress me in the first place, and why?
Did the Heavenly Demon have some intention towards me?
‘But there are too many strange things to see it that way.’
If I reflect on when I first met the Heavenly Demon…
I could tell her purpose was not me.
This was when she was forming a unit in the Murim to hunt demons.
This memory surfaced when the unit was dispatched for a mission.
There I first faced the Heavenly Demon.
She brutally killed the surrounding warriors as if they were mere insects.
I had to flee from that place with Wi Seol-ah.
The Heavenly Demon had attacked, targeting Wi Seol-ah with the Divine Sword.
During that chaos, I had fallen to corruption.
So looking back at this…
‘I wasn’t the target.’
I could see that the intention wasn’t centered on me.
At that time, I was certain of it.
‘…Now?’
As time passes and we reach the present, questions arise.
Was the party’s words the problem?
Or was it something else entirely?
There had definitely been something there.
I thought of it as I forced myself to cool down and reflect.
The haze began to lift.
I felt like the fog that had been obscuring my mind was starting to clear, albeit slightly.
Or maybe… I didn’t even realize there was fog to begin with.
‘…I don’t know. Not yet.’
It may not even be about the Heavenly Demon.
Or could it be something else entirely?
I couldn’t tell at this moment.
‘It’s funny that I’m even thinking about this now.’
It’s amusing that, after hearing the Tang Clan’s words, I’m recalling things I never really thought of before.
‘…’
While I was quietly considering that…
‘This.’
I could identify something strange.
Why hadn’t I thought of that?
Questions regarding the Heavenly Demon.
It’s something I hadn’t deeply contemplated until now. Isn’t that odd?
Even while I considered it the largest problem, I hadn’t dug into it further, and even though I recognized the danger, it hadn’t really registered.
‘Why am I doing this now?’
As I slowly grasped this, I found myself swallowing with discomfort.
I had only just realized…
I had been actively avoiding thoughts and inquiries about the Heavenly Demon.
‘Every time I tried to think about it, I unknowingly shied away.’
Moments where I brushed it off as future problems or this urgent task at hand.
It’s only now that I’ve realized all of this was problematic.
It felt like someone was forcibly holding me back.
What is this?
Why am I thinking about this now?
‘…No way.’
I recalled swallowing some tea during my conversation with the Tang Clan.
I believe it was referred to as “A Piece of Oblivion.”
The Tang Clan had indeed said something about that.
Could it be that? Is this the reason why I’m feeling this way?
A moment when an inexplicable certainty came forth in my heart.
Growl…
Suddenly, I turned at the sound of crying.
I instinctively gathered energy into my body.
Is there something besides me?
Whoosh whoosh-!
I kindled a fire.
‘Tsk.’
As soon as I saw the brightly burning blue flame, I clicked my tongue unconsciously.
The violet flames could be dealt with, but this glaring color was troublesome.
For now, I had to leave the flames behind and rush towards the source of the cries, filled with spirit and vigor.
Growl—
“…Huh?”
With another cry, something hiding behind a pillar emerged.
My eyes widened in shock at its appearance.
“Bloodthirst?”
The creature resembled one I’d seen recently.
The one that had gone wild, trying to take over my body.
Growl…
It wasn’t as massive as the one from before, to be sure.
Though smaller than me, its appearance was undeniably similar.
The blue scales stretched out beautifully, adhering to some rule.
A light fuzz ran down its back and limbs.
Along with a ripped snout and sharp teeth.
‘What is this thing doing here?’
Just as a question flashed through my mind, my body moved instinctively.
My intent was to catch it first and think later.
Vroom-!
I twisted my body and threw a punch at it.
Just as my flaming fist was about to connect with the creature’s body…
Growl.
“…!”
Upon seeing its eyes, I quickly maneuvered my body.
Whew—!
Kwahhhh—!
My fist slammed into a nearby pillar, igniting flames upon contact.
Thud thud thud— Boom!
The pillar collapsed, creating a cacophony as it crashed to the floor.
The flames could have been contained and reined in.
But I just stood there, staring at it, my eyes wide with even more shock than before.
Even with me looming right in front of it, the creature merely tilted its head, showing no sign of aggression.
“You….”
Surprised, I asked it in a bewildered tone.
“…Could you be an enemy familiar?”
The creature’s eyes lit up as it processed my words. Then…
Growl.
It nodded slightly.
“…”
I was left momentarily speechless at the realization.
The magic stone of a monster I had previously caught.
The monster that had hatched from it.
“Is that you?”
“But how did you end up like this?”
I had no words.
Its appearance was completely different than before.
At best, it had been a thin snake that could barely wrap around my arm.
Now, it had grown to the size of my body, being much thicker.
No, aside from being long and flexible, it looked completely different in both color and shape.
In such a situation, should I question how I recognized it as an enemy familiar?
Whoof.
It resonated with the energy emanating from my own body.
Was that why I could instinctively tell it was an enemy familiar?
Growl.
It nudged me with its snout, rubbing its face against mine.
The slender tongue had been replaced with a massive one brushing against my cheek.
“You’re drooling, you little punk.”
Maybe because it had gotten bigger, its drool was definitely no joke.
‘What’s going on here?’
I absentmindedly scratched its head, trying to process this bizarre situation.
There didn’t seem to be any need for deep contemplation.
“Is it because of me?”
Checking the scales and how it resonated with my energy, it was obvious why this enemy familiar had transformed.
“… I changed, so you changed too?”
Growl?
It tilted its head as if it didn’t understand my question.
Despite appearing more fearsome, its behavior remained the same.
‘At least it seems that only the appearance has changed.’
That was the biggest concern.
‘What am I to do with this creature?’
The situation had devolved so quickly that I had barely registered it, but I was relieved it had come back with me like this.
When it had been a small snake, I had managed to hide it somewhat, but now that it was like this, it was entirely unavoidable.
Watching it coiling its beard and tilting its head made things a bit more complicated for me.
‘What is this creature, then?’
Aside from being a monster born from consuming my energy from the magic stone.
Perhaps that was why its appearance had morphed depending on my energy.
‘It won’t change further here, will it?’
That thought was rather unsettling.
What would happen if it continued to grow here?
‘If it grows…’
A vision of the massive bloodthirst demon I had encountered flashed in my mind.
That one had been excessive, to say the least.
In terms of size, it could be compared to that of the hostile creature I had encountered by the river, which was even more of a concern.
‘What am I supposed to feed it now?’
Even setting aside the current quandary of what to provide it as food, if it grew larger, that would become a problem in itself.
Hah.
While I was pondering, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
It was comical to think of how I was concerned about how to feed it while I felt no inclination to discard it.
As I was scratching its head, it eagerly rubbed its face against mine.
After a few strokes, I turned my gaze elsewhere.
“Hmm.”
As I glanced around, suddenly, I spotted what I had been searching for and started to walk towards it.
At the far end of a pile lay…
Dokcheondan and Baekmaseok.
Fortunately, it was just as I had initially discovered it.
“…”
I had drooled over this initially, but looking at it now, I didn’t feel the same way.
Carefully, I picked up one of the poisonous herbs.
“Hmm…”
Can I eat this now? I still have no clear understanding of what has transpired.
I hesitated slightly.
‘Martial arts?’
Is the Demonic Absorption skill still functional?
I put down the poisonous plant and subtly grabbed the white stone.
Whoof.
The moment I activated the Demonic Absorption skill, I instantly felt energy being absorbed.
So, it seemed that even with the change in my form, my martial arts skills had remained intact.
‘Then that means it should be fine to absorb energy?’
Just as I began checking things one by one…
Swish.
“…!”
Suddenly, from somewhere, I felt a slight heat radiate from my body accompanied by a floral scent.
‘Is this feeling….’
The familiar aura caused my eyes to dart around.
[Ugh…]
As expected, the voice I had often heard echoed within my mind.
Noya?
[…]
What?
‘No way…’
Had it vanished again this time?
Just as a wave of anxiety began to engulf me.
[…Don’t talk to me.]
Thankfully, it seemed it hadn’t disappeared.
“Why not?”
I responded, puzzled at the situation.
“I’m feeling a bit embarrassed right now. Please give me some space for a while.”
‘…Ah, okay.’
It seemed that something had happened.
I was a little worried because there was a hint of timidity in the voice.
‘Noya, I just have to check.’
Even if it had commented on avoiding conversation, I needed to ask.
‘Did you have a match?’
[…]
There was no answer.
I had asked half-jokingly, but was it actually true…?
‘Noya… Don’t tell me you really….’
[Who… Who said I had a match!]
‘…’
It roared in response to my suspicion.
Judging by the reaction, it seemed to be true after all.
With no way to see its face, I couldn’t gauge how it had been.
But judging by the tremor in its voice, it sounded as if it had faced quite a lot.
And the one who caused such a ruckus for Noya was…
-This….
Before I knew it, that presence was right behind me.
-What happened?
I sensed a mix of confusion and slight anger.
Turning around, I saw…
“Ah.”
It immediately made sense why the Tang Clan had made such remarks.
The pillar of the vault had been destroyed.
The Tang Clan frowned as she observed the collapsed pillar.
Her gaze was sharp and quite intense.
Soon after…
-Houin…
Her gaze fell on me, and the instant our eyes met, which was filled with fierce energy.
“Hah.”
I exhaled and simultaneously pointed to a spot.
There stood…
Growl?
The enemy familiar (of old) was tilting its head at my gesture.
I faced its wide, innocent eyes and shouted without hesitation.
“Didn’t I tell you to be careful!? How could you break everything like this!”
It felt like scolding a particularly troublesome child.
Of course…
-…Houin?
It didn’t quite connect, naturally.
That made sense…
Flame crackle…
Because my blue flames were still igniting amidst the shattered remnants of the pillar.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.