Chapter: 643
[Why?]
It was a question that he found completely incomprehensible. Woohyuk laughed, seemingly flustered by the attitude that refusal was not even an option.
“…Even if you ask why…”
[Even after thinking deeply, I still can’t understand. Why?]
Why would anyone turn down such a fantastic opportunity? Was he insane? Namgung Myung’s expression was precisely that. From his perspective, it seemed like a genuinely excellent opportunity, but to explain the reason here…
“Because I am not from the Namgung family.”
The reason was quite simple.
Whether that thought was truly Namgung Myung or not, if it was him, why did he appear in this form? Woohyuk had no clue.
If what he said was entirely true and he wished to offer it to him in the name of fate…
“I cannot accept it.”
Woohyuk had no intention of accepting it.
[For just that reason?]
Namgung Myung nodded after hearing the reply. His expression still conveyed confusion.
“Just a little. If it’s such a coincidence and such a matter, I thought it would be more appropriate to leave it to my descendants rather than me.”
If the Namgung family had collapsed and disappeared, it would be different. They were still one of the four great families, serving as pillars in the Central Plains.
“Moreover… I don’t know if you are aware, but your descendants also reside here.”
I figured that since they were both not in great condition, there wouldn’t be any problems as long as they had that friend.
In this situation, was it right for him to take this task? That seemed impossible.
[Hmm.]
Namgung Myung’s expression grew subtle upon hearing this.
[Descendants.]
The Namgung family had come here.
Even after hearing that, his response lacked any excitement. Seeing this reaction made Woohyuk feel a sense of alienation creeping in.
“…Did you have any issues with the Sega?”
As Woohyuk couldn’t suppress his feelings of alienation, he asked, and Namgung Myung replied without any emotion.
[Not particularly. It just doesn’t matter.]
“That means…”
[It means that such foolish sentiments have long been left behind.]
Left your attachment behind? Did that imply he had no attachment to Sega simply because he was dead?
It felt ambiguous to consider it merely simple.
What could that mean? This was something Woohyuk couldn’t discern immediately.
[So, are you saying you are rejecting my offer?]
“…It’s not something I should be taking. That’s what I concluded.”
[I see, that implies rejection.]
“Yes.”
It was not something he ought to accept.
Woohyuk thought that way.
[Hmm.]
Upon hearing that response, Namgung Myung’s expression slightly changed. Was he pondering?
Seeing this, Woohyuk spoke to Namgung Myung.
“Rather, if you want guidance to the Namgung family, after taking care of matters here…”
He was about to say he’d provide guidance when suddenly—
Rumble—!
“…!”
Woohyuk’s head snapped towards the source of a vibration coming from somewhere.
Beyond the crumbled wall, he felt a distinct tremor from afar.
Not only a vibration, but an overwhelming energy as well.
Instinctively, he turned his gaze toward it, leaving his mouth slightly agape.
“Whoa…?”
The night sky was shining brightly.
It was the darkest hour, yet why was that place under a clear sky? What could this energy and heat be that he felt?
Watching the heat swirling in the breeze, a fleeting thought crossed Woohyuk’s mind.
‘No way?’
He recalled a close friend who had rushed away saying he had urgent matters to attend to.
Could it be that the heat and brightness were conjured by that friend? The thought left him astonished.
Really, was it something a human could achieve?
‘If it’s that friend…’
He was always the one performing the inexplicable, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he had done something like this.
‘The direction too, of all things.’
It’s supposedly in the direction of the Ice Palace’s hideout. If one could feel such vibrations from that direction, it must mean something had indeed happened.
‘Then…’
Could it be that an incident occurred involving the princess, his friend, or perhaps that child?
Crack!
Instinctively tightening his stance, strength surged into Woohyuk’s legs.
‘I must go.’
Should he really head out now?
He couldn’t afford to delay any further.
Vroom—!
Energy surged from Woohyuk’s heart. It was a strange sensation.
It felt odd indeed for energy to emanate from his core, but somehow familiar.
Like how he had always utilized it from the start, he wrapped his energy around his body effortlessly.
He could go.
With a fortified body and the energy contained within it, he felt assured.
He had no idea how far he had improved compared to before, but he felt certain he could reach that energy without delay.
He had to run.
Just as Woohyuk made that judgment and bent his upper body—
Boom—!
The vibrations continued to crescendo before abruptly falling silent.
A glint of curiosity illuminated Woohyuk’s eyes. Had the situation concluded?
Doubtful, he studied the space ahead with questions swirling in his mind.
Flash—!
“…Huh!?”
A blinding flash of light abruptly obscured Woohyuk’s view.
What was happening? His mind raced in confusion as he strained to open his eyes.
Whoosh—!!!
Suddenly, an overwhelming pressure of wind slammed against him.
Ahh—!
A scream echoed from below.
Woohyuk kept his feet grounded, squinting to look forward.
“Whoa…?”
Where the light burst forth.
Beyond the storm of intertwined heat, a breathtaking scene unfurled.
His expanded awareness barely grasped it.
Whoosh—!
Something engulfed in flames.
A creature resembling a beast—particularly a tiger—rampaged across the ground.
Fear coursed through him as his hair stood on end.
The massive energy forming the tiger amplified the dominance of this unmanned force.
What on earth was that? Did that friend really accomplish such a feat?
If it was indeed flames, it surely hinted at that friend. Yet somehow, it felt different.
[Hmm.]
Whether from the gust of wind or the erupting light, Namgung Myung, watching beside Woohyuk, reacted distinctively.
[This is peculiar.]
The gaze directed at the flaming tiger brimmed with inquiries.
[In this era… it shouldn’t have surfaced. What on earth is going on?]
Namgung Myung uttered as if he knew what that flame tiger represented.
[The seal has been broken. It seems an anomaly has occurred.]
“Senior…?”
Woohyuk glanced at Namgung Myung, attempting to probe for answers.
[That won’t do.]
However, Namgung Myung took the lead.
Swish—!
“!?”
Namgung Myung’s translucent arm penetrated Woohyuk’s chest.
“What the—!”
Woohyuk startled, trying to recoil from Namgung Myung.
There was no pain.
Indeed, it felt entirely numb. However—
Crackle—!
A slight electric sensation radiated from where his arm was tucked.
There was no time to feel panic. The energy expanded, and by the time he realized it, it had enveloped his entire body.
[Just borrowing for a moment.]
With those words, Woohyuk lost consciousness.
Immediately after receiving the explanation.
I stared at the figure in front of me, my brow furrowed.
“So… you arrived in that form?”
He nodded.
With his calm demeanor, Namgung Myung possessing Woohyuk’s body looked at me.
In reaction, I rubbed my face with my hand.
“…Oh great, I’ve become a local drum. And now, I’ve dropped it.”
A sigh escaped my lips.
After all that hard work, I ended up having it snatched away by an old geezer from centuries past.
‘I really should avoid rescuing next time…’
Even if I helped, who could say what bizarre individuals might seize my body next? Ignoring it seemed the easier option.
‘Anyway…’
I peeked at the individual through the gaps of my hands covering my face—someone standing casually with their arms crossed, gazing off into the distance.
It seemed like Woohyuk’s body, but as he had introduced himself, he wasn’t Woohyuk.
‘Namgung Myung, the Thunder Blade and the God of Lightning.’
A man who also bore the title of ‘Thunder God.’
Additionally…
‘The essence of thought housed within the lightning.’
That essence, likely residing within Namgung Bi-ah now—the thoughts that once dwelled inside it.
He stated that he had abandoned his attachments to his clan, with his true body situated in the North Sea.
‘So, that’s the main body he speaks of?’
The notion that he had shed his obsessions with his own clan and retained solely the resolve to save the world.
That was what the author intended.
‘Certainly.’
Something felt distinctly different.
The light and filthy sensations I had experienced in the lightning had vanished, and as I mentioned earlier, a sharp edge stood in human form.
Namgung Myung was a man imbued with that aura.
“You are the descendant of that damned fellow.”
I reacted to Namgung Myung’s voice. Though the address was odd, I held my tongue.
I could easily infer who that damned fellow referred to without his clarification. It was only natural he recognized my identity.
‘I know because I’ve faced it so many times.’
The knowledge that I bore the energy of Shin Noya within my body and that he could discern it merely by looking at me. Anyone could tell, even if it wasn’t Namgung Myung, based on the reactions I witnessed from those nearby.
“Did you do this?”
He pointed somewhere with a fingertip, and as I followed the direction, I discovered the charred remains of a hundred-level monster.
“…I didn’t do it.”
I had tried to catch it, but ultimately failed.
“Then who did?”
“Why do you ask?”
What was his motive with that question?
A sense of wariness crept over me. When I responded with emotion, Namgung Myung turned his gaze toward me this time.
“Do you know what that is?”
“…Isn’t it a hundred-level monster?”
The highest tier of monster that appeared when the Blood Demon War erupted and heralded disaster.
They were also given the name of dragon due to their strange and formidable appearance.
“That creature shouldn’t be appearing right now. Additionally…”
Namgung Myung’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Right now, you all cannot catch it. Hence, I inquire. How exactly did you manage to capture it?”
“…What?”
What did he mean?
I comprehended the first part, yet the latter portion eluded my grasp.
“It’s uncapturable, you say?”
It lay dead right there; what did he mean by uncapturable?
“The world has issued a curse. As long as that curse prevails, monsters cannot be caught. It is clear… but if it wasn’t you, who could possibly have accomplished this?”
“…!”
Namgung Myung’s words sent a shiver coursing through me.
Curse.
This was something Shin Noya had once articulated.
The world had cast a curse upon this realm to prevent it from receiving another chance, blocking warriors behind barriers unlike before. This was the reasoning behind their inability to grow stronger.
Did that imply the ongoing events were interconnected?
“What is this? The seal was maintained precisely to prepare for such circumstances. What on earth transpired?”
“…You were maintaining the seal?”
What he meant was concerning that hundred-level monster.
More precisely, it was Namgung Myung who had been ensuring the creature didn’t appear.
[Just a little more…]
I recalled Mang’s words, stating if only they had had a bit more time, it would have been perfect.
This implied that the creature either awakened or had been released not long ago.
Concerning the reasons behind that event, what mattered to me was that this creature had been set loose unexpectedly.
‘This suggests it may not have initially been the intended outcome.’
Perhaps it had never transpired in a previous life.
I had never heard of a hundred-level monster surfacing within the North Sea.
Given the distance, if anything had occurred, perhaps they would have been oblivious. I had assumed so, but upon reflection, some doubts resurfaced.
‘What if it never happened in the first place?’
What if the hundred-level monster itself hadn’t appeared, furthermore, what if that being had never emerged?
‘You’re suggesting something occurred just now?’
It would be more accurate to say that someone had released the net binding the monster.
‘Who on earth would that be?’
Who could have orchestrated such an event?
An indescribable discomfort began to prickle at me.
As my thoughts started racing at full speed, Namgung Myung observed me and continued.
“They ought not to be present in this world currently. The time is not yet ripe.”
The time hadn’t come.
Namgung Myung’s words stirred something within me.
“When you say ‘time,’ do you imply the moment when Noya… no, when the Volcano Sword Master reappears?”
“Where did you hear that?”
“I heard it from Hwang A-bul-yeong.”
The whispered thoughts of the Yellow Emperor, lingering within the white carp of Shaolin Temple. Those were his words.
“I see. So, you’ve already met that friend.”
“Yes.”
I had encountered not only Hwang A-bul-yeong but also Dang Je-mun and Yeon Il-cheon.
In addition…
“I have met other facets of your thoughts as well, senior.”
“…”
As I broached the topic of the brain, Namgung Myung’s face displayed slight discomfort.
“Did you say they lacked memory?”
“Yes. He remembered nothing of how he had come to be in that state.”
He had no idea why he was bound to the Volcano faction and why his comrades persisted as thoughts until this era.
Noya knew virtually nothing.
It was comical, reflecting on how lost we both seemed compared to one another.
Since Namgung Myung appeared to be informed, I thought perhaps my frustration could finally be alleviated.
“What does that mean?”
Namgung Myung listened to my report, his expression still questionable.
At that moment, I began to ponder whether it was indeed so unusual for Shin Noya to possess such ignorance.
“You’re contained within the object?”
Namgung Myung conveyed something rather shocking.
“It’s not the Hwasan faction in Shaanxi; it’s the artifact. What are you getting at?”
A chill breeze swept across my chest.
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