Chapter: 892
The sky gradually turns crimson as the sunset descends.
Maple leaves flutter along with the autumn breeze, permeated by their unique fragrance.
Rustle.
That would be the correct way to describe it.
The weather was gentle. Just looking at it made me feel rich.
Contrary to my mood, the current season and day were in harmony.
“…”
I immediately frowned, fearing that even for a moment, my mind might wander aimlessly.
Damn it, this feeling again.
I rubbed my forehead.
Given how bad it was already, seeing that face made it feel even worse.
What the hell?
What on earth is happening?
Ever since that day I reached the next level. To be precise, the incident with Dang So-yeol. Things have been strange ever since.
Someone kept popping into my head.
I can’t remember either the face or the voice clearly, yet for some bizarre reason, they keep surfacing.
And then, just yesterday.
Right before arriving in Hanam, I finally recognized the face I was longing to see.
“What are you?”
Heavenly Demon.
I wanted to see her.
“What the hell are you?”
“…?”
Cheonma tilted her head in response to my question.
It seemed like she didn’t quite grasp what I was saying.
Of course, it makes sense. If I, the person involved, don’t quite understand, why would she get it?
“What did you do to me?”
I thought she might have some clue.
Even though the present life has shifted from the past, she’s still a Heavenly Demon.
If she is the Cheonma I know, then this level of confusion shouldn’t be too surprising.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
I stepped forward, growling softly.
The distance between us closed in an instant.
“You must have done something to me.”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
Bam.
I reached out and grabbed Cheonma by the collar.
As I lightly pulled her in, she collapsed towards me without any resistance.
“There’s no way you wouldn’t know—”
We locked eyes, very close now.
Cheonma was looking at me with the same expression as before.
Her purple eyes captured my gaze.
They were stunning and radiant, as if they contained a star-filled night sky.
A pure purple hue distinctly different from those of other demons.
The uniqueness of her form reminded me that she was the original.
That’s why.
I unconsciously thought it was beautiful.
“Crazy.”
The moment I realized that, I let go and created some distance.
“… This is crazy.”
It’s obvious I’m going insane. There’s no way this should be happening.
How could I think that was beautiful?
It indicates that something impossible must have occurred to provoke such a feeling.
Have I lost it?
I felt as if something were wrong with my mind.
Or maybe it was that Cheonma’s face resembled Wi Seol-ah’s. Is that why I feel this way?
That would at least provide some credibility.
No way.
That wasn’t it. If it were, it should have felt strange from the very first life.
Something is off. I narrowed my eyes and glared at Cheonma.
“What’s wrong?”
Cheonma continued to look at me, tilting her head as if she still didn’t understand.
That look only served to irritate me even more.
Why on earth?
That was what I wanted to know.
Why has it been like this lately?
And,
“… why are you doing this to me?”
Why was she acting like this with me? Her voice lingered in my ears.
—I missed you.
It flashed back, spoken in a voice similar yet much softer.
Now, I felt annoyance bubbling up.
“What are you, four years old?”
It led to emotions I’d buried deep within.
“What the hell do you want from me?!”
I glared sharply at Cheonma with distorted eyes.
Despite my glare, she maintained her blank expression.
“Can’t I want to see you?”
It came out as simple curiosity.
Her demeanor was calm and composed.
“No.”
“Why?”
“You shouldn’t do that.”
“Why?”
It was a cycle of repetitive questions.
I could list a countless number of reasons, but voicing them aloud felt tedious.
“At the very least, you shouldn’t be doing that.”
“…”
Only then did I notice a slight change in Cheonma’s face.
One eyebrow furrowed just a bit, indicating she was processing something.
There was a brief silence.
“I don’t know.”
She spoke as if she had just organized her thoughts.
“But I still wanted to see you.”
“…”
Ppoduk.
I clenched my hand. Hwaruk! I summoned the flame spear, made from swirling flames, and pressed the tip against Cheonma’s neck.
“I hate you, you b*tch.”
“…”
“Until the moment of my death, and even at this very moment, I hate you.”
How could I possibly see her in a good light?
No matter how much the world has changed and how people shifted in their past lives.
At least Cheonma hasn’t changed.
“My final concession is tolerating you while I look at you now.”
At first, it was simply due to my inability to kill her, and that hasn’t changed significantly.
Cheonma’s tranquil demeanor meant I felt no need to touch her. But in the end, I’d have to kill her.
“I don’t know what you plan to do to me, but it’s futile.”
“…”
Cheonma didn’t respond at all.
She continued to gaze at me as if watching the night sky as usual.
She showed no reaction to the spear against her neck or the heat radiating from it.
Was it a lack of will to live? Did she think I wouldn’t really kill her?
Ugh.
I bit my lip. If she really believed that, I had to show her how wrong she was.
I tightened my grip on the spear with force.
I tried to land a blow from close range, but—
“…”
For some reason, my body wouldn’t move.
What the hell? Why aren’t you moving?!
This wasn’t due to someone else’s will; I had completely stopped due to my own.
My mind was telling me to move any way possible, but my body was frozen in place.
It was as if an instinct deep within warned me never to attack the Heavenly Demon.
Despite my struggle, I tried to force the spear toward her, yet it remained unmoved.
“Dammit.”
Finally, I cursed as I lowered my hand. The spear retracted, and the heat swept across the grass.
Kwaaaaahh!
The gust pushed the grass aside violently.
The lingering warmth stayed in my palm, and I brushed it against my face.
“Hoo…”
No matter how I looked at it, it all felt wrong. Why did it turn out this way?
As I dealt with the growing frustration inside me,
“Do you hate me?”
Cheonma asked me the question.
“I told you earlier. I hate you.”
“I heard that.”
But why was she asking?
An inquiry formed in my head.
“But. I didn’t say I hated you.”
I narrowed my brows at Cheonma’s words.
What?
“I didn’t say I hated you.”
“What kind of nonsense is that…?”
Is there really a difference between saying “I hate you” and “I detest you”?
It felt utterly ridiculous.
“Do you hate me?”
Cheonma asked again, and I gave a hollow laugh in response.
“That—”
Yeah, I hate her. I hate her enough to want her dead.
I tried to speak but found my mouth was acting up this time.
I said I hated her, yet why couldn’t I say I wanted to kill her?
It was ridiculous to watch my body and words fight against each other.
Still, if there was one silver lining, it was that this was an improvement compared to before.
“… I hate you. So much that I want to kill you.”
“…”
If I pressed it out, the words would explode from me.
Cheonma’s eyes widened slightly at my declaration.
At the same moment, a slight tremor coursed through my heart. It felt unpleasant. Saying those words made me sick.
To be honest, I found my own declaration deeply unsettling.
Why was this feeling creeping up on me even though I merely spoke the truth?
“… You, what exactly did you do to me…?”
As I was about to speak to Cheonma, my body suddenly stiffened.
Her expression was strange.
She looked down, fists clenched tightly and lightly biting her crimson lips.
Anyone looking at that would say…
You look hurt.
Did the Heavenly Demon actually feel pain?
Could it be possible that this bizarre being, who always just smiled, was actually wounded by something so trivial?
Don’t be ridiculous.
No way would Cheonma be hurt over something like this.
I tried to convince myself.
Yet, my insides felt like they were being ripped apart.
Was it simply because she looked so much like Wi Seol-ah?
Yes, that must be it.
“What’s with that expression?”
“…Do you really hate me that much?”
“Yeah.”
“… Why?”
“Must I explain my reasons? You said that to me earlier.”
What I saw in Cheonma’s eyes was an inexplicable earnestness.
As I said that while ignoring it, it felt like someone was raking their nails along my insides.
“I just wanted to see you. Me too.”
I managed to say that while suppressing my feelings.
“I just dislike you.”
“…”
Sure, folks believed this life would be different from the last, lived out differently.
I was certain there were people who thought that and moved on.
But not for her.
Even amid those faces, Cheonma remained unique in my eyes.
“…”
Cheonma didn’t have any reply for my words.
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
“Then…”
She looked at me as if she had been holding something back.
“… Why did you come to me?”
“…”
If you hated me so much, why would you come?
I found myself tongue-tied in response to Cheonma’s inquiry.
That was a question I was just as curious about.
Why?
What was the reason?
Why did I choose to seek the Heavenly Demon just now?
It was a time when my head felt like it might burst with the matters concerning Mrs. Mi’s letter, my father’s business, and Demonic Cult affairs.
There was never a reason to visit Cheonma, especially when I had abandoned the children.
Yet here I stood, staring at the woman I despised, hated, and was supposed to kill.
Why?
I kept asking myself, time and time again.
It lingered even until I arrived.
Why was I advancing toward Cheonma?
I wasn’t moving with the intention of carrying out a murder.
Why am I…
…
A question I couldn’t answer for myself. No, I knew the answer, but I refused to acknowledge it.
—I missed you.
When Cheonma expressed that, I felt a tremor inside.
That feeling from back then made me feel sick.
Because it was an emotion I should never experience.
Kwuk.
I tightened my fist to the point of trembling.
I held it so hard it looked like it might quiver.
“…”
Cheonma briefly glanced at my shaking fist before turning her gaze back to me.
“… I see.”
While she didn’t respond verbally, she may have interpreted my actions as an answer.
A look of sympathy crossed her face.
She was interfering.
Even that expression she wore.
The differences in voices, likely imperceptible without attention.
I hated every emotion boiling up inside me.
The sight of her small shoulders became apparent.
Those thin, delicate shoulders seemed like they could be held in one hand.
Was that why?
My hand reached out unwittingly.
Startled, I halted my hand. However…
Snap!
“…!”
Suddenly, Cheonma seized my wrist.
“What the hell…!”
And that wasn’t the end of it.
My eyes widened in shock at her subsequent actions.
Geegiiiiing—!!
Because the Heavenly Demon grasped my hand and summoned energy into her other hand.
A black aura swirled upwards.
Danger struck me immediately upon seeing it. The intensity and density of the energy were no joke.
If I took the hit straight on, it would be disastrous.
What the hell?
Did she really intend to kill me just because I said I hated her? Frantically, I gathered my own energy.
I unleashed flames in an attempt to counterattack.
Hwaak—!
Instead of dodging, Cheonma embraced me.
Chiiik—!
The hot flames merged with Cheonma’s body, though she appeared utterly unfazed by it.
Her hand, extended toward my side,
The energy stored there ignited and burst forth.
KUAAAAAAHH—!!!
The black aura swept across the area before us.
This sudden turn of events was bewildering. What on earth prompted her to act this way?
I gazed at Cheonma, astounded.
But her focus wasn’t on me.
She stared into the void where she had just unleashed the energy, and her face was contorted in anger.
What is happening…?
As I opened my mouth to address Cheonma,
Chills ran down my spine!
I immediately turned to look in the same direction.
In that moment,
I noticed someone striding toward me from afar.
A figure strolling leisurely, hands clasped behind their back.
Thump—! Thump—!
Seeing him caused my heart to race.
Boom—! Boom boom—!!
In an instant, my heart pounded violently, and nausea rose within me.
With every breath I took and every instinct I had, I locked my gaze on that person.
Why the hell is he here?
The being that appeared was someone I recognized well.
Even though he approached from a distance, my instincts informed me of his identity.
Even if that weren’t the case, I couldn’t miss those blood-red eyes.
“Tch, tch.”
A dry chuckle invaded my ears.
It felt like my ear drums might rot away.
“The greeting’s a bit stilted.”
“…”
Upon hearing his words, Cheonma stood up straight.
Geegiiiiing—.
Magic energy began to coalesce in her hands once more.
An overwhelming hostility radiated from her.
“This…”
The figure with blood-red eyes watched with interest. Jang Seong-yeon… no, Blood Demon, shook his head as if feeling let down.
“It’s a shame about the manners.”
With each step he took closer, the heat of my blood surged hotter.
“Blood Demon…”
However,
“Nice to meet you.”
Oddly enough, the Blood Demon was staring at Cheonma instead of me.
He smiled and addressed her.
“My daughter.”
“…!”
With those words, an intense smell of blood enveloped us from all directions.
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