Chapter 435
Even while Dangjemun was looking at me with a mysterious expression on her face, my eyes were solely focused on the Dokcheondan next to the white stone.
‘…How many are there, exactly?’
Even a rough count puts the number at over ten. At that quantity, it’s enough to buy out a small to mid-sized clan and still have some left over.
Of course, it had to be that way, as the current Tang clan is a relic of the past that can’t even produce the shrine anymore.
In addition to the concentrated betting unique to the divine medicine, there was one more characteristic of Dokcheondan.
That’s right.
‘They said it builds resistance to poison.’
Taking the medicine would enhance my tolerance to poison. While I’m not entirely sure if this is a recorded fact, it is indeed what’s written.
A divine potion that grants tremendous internal energy merely by consuming it, and on top of that, grants resistance to poison.
It’s a legacy from the past, something that couldn’t even be bought for billions.
‘Dokcheondan….’
And now, it was rolling right in front of me.
I could obtain it if I just pass some kind of test.
‘Even if I get it, I might not be able to use it right away.’
Given that my vessel was unstable, absorbing the energy of Dokcheondan could probably blow me to smithereens.
‘But even if I can’t eat it, I can still share it.’
There were many people around who would gladly take it off my hands. Even so, considering the value of Dokcheondan, I had to acquire it by any means necessary.
This also holds true for the white stone… no, the same goes for the White Horse Stone. Typically, when it extracts from a demon’s body, it loses both energy and color within a few days.
But the White Magic Stone is different.
Just looking at it now, it hasn’t lost any color or light, and it still preserves its energy fully.
‘I can’t be too sure since I’ve never seen any other white stones, but….’
Looking at the White Horse Stone in the center along with the Dokcheondan beside it, I thought.
‘Yeah, damn… this is a jackpot.’
I almost felt my eyes welling up when I saw it.
[Huin… are you crying?]
“Yes… these are tears of joy. Please don’t mind me.”
[Ah… okay.]
All the misfortunes I faced up to this moment flashed through my mind.
The first was the hook of Geumcheon’s ballad.
The second was probably the hook of the Heavenly Dragon Academy…
Both of them were unfortunate coincidences that did not seem at all beneficial.
‘…Life is worth living. This is fate.’
What else could be called fate?
That pathetic Geumcheon ballad.
Come to think of it, both were incidents of Yeonilcheon.
Damn those bastards.
So what if you were a regressor? You only came to kill, clearly.
I was left cleaning up the mess they made.
Resentment towards those past regressors was building inside me.
Even though the offer for the party title hasn’t even been made yet, Dokcheondan already feels like mine.
“Senior…”
[Yes?]
“Can I bow once?”
[…Huh?]
Dangjemun looked at me, a bit horrified by my words. Upon seeing that, I immediately nodded, realizing that I shouldn’t even joke about that.
Yeah, maybe that was a bit too much.
“It was a joke.”
[You… of all people, resemble Shincheol in a strange way.]
“That really bothers me…”
Of all people, it irked me to be compared to that old man.
Dangjemun chuckled while covering her mouth as if she found my words amusing.
So she’s got a humorous side to her.
She looked so cold, but this unexpected side was refreshing. Perhaps it was because of that? I decided to ask something I was hesitant about.
“Um… Senior.”
[Yes?]
“About that… it’s not really important, but why did you place that next to the Dokcheondan?”
[?]
At my question, Dangjemun turned her head to look at the White Horse Stone.
[Ah.]
Then, as if she suddenly realized something, she clapped her hands together.
[It’s a brag. It came from a monster I caught. I was planning to boast about it when I met Shincheol.]
“…”
She said it to me, her voice slightly raised.
It was an unexpectedly cute reason.
I thought there must be a grand reason it was left there, but it was just for bragging rights…
‘This is ridiculous.’
I nearly laughed out loud but stifled it instead.
‘It belongs to a monster I caught myself….’
Looking at the White Horse Stone made me think of the Suryong River.
The river formed there was undoubtedly the aftermath of the hundred-ranked monster caught by Dangjemun.
‘Does this delicate woman have that much power?’
A fleeting question crossed my mind.
The deeds of heroes from the past lingered.
And every time I met them, that thought came back.
Each of them seems just as formidable as the current three lords.
‘What on earth….’
How powerful were they?
Moreover, if they were that strong, how could they not defeat a single Blood Demon?
It was a question I had pondered in silence.
Honestly, it’s like comparing the tales of old with the current flow of events.
The disconnect from that thought suddenly sparked my curiosity.
‘Firstly, right now… the Dokcheondan is more important than this.’
The White Horse Stone had suddenly fallen way behind in importance.
What can you do? Such is life.
Shahhhh…
“You, keep quiet now.”
I pushed back the head of the annoying investigator trying to inch back into the conversation.
[Huin.]
“Yes, Senior.”
I raised my head at the sound of her voice.
At that sight, Dangjemun made a strange expression.
[…Your attitude seems a bit different than before… . Or am I mistaken?]
Is she saying my demeanor has changed?
Of course it has!
Unlike those who claimed fate only to hand out garbage, this person actually gives real gifts.
If she told me to bow my head, I’d do so a hundred times over.
Since when did I become this proud?
‘It’s those who feed you when you’re hungry who are your master and god.’
This is the way of life I’ve learned from rolling around in struggles.
Pushing aside my little apprehension towards Dangjemun, I decided to ask what I truly wanted to know.
“Please tell me. Senior, how do I take the test?”
[…]
I was told that to get the Dokcheondan, I would need to take a test.
I could do it right away.
‘I thought they prepared this test for Shin Noya.’
If it truly was for him, then why prepare such a troublesome task?
‘This must also be part of the arrangement.’
There must be some reason for it.
If there’s anything particularly notable in this situation, it must be this.
‘…Can I take all of Noya’s luck with me?’
If the majority of the luck I’ve gathered thus far was, in fact, meant for Shin Noya.
I wondered if it would be okay for me to consume it all.
Noya said it’s fine, so it should be fine.
‘It just doesn’t sit right with me.’
The reason lies within the uncomfortable sense of inferiority I’m unable to shake off.
Yet, despite that, I couldn’t back down.
Preparing for the bloody disaster, I decided to do it all without thinking about what I should or shouldn’t do.
In a situation where I had to devour all the luck, whether it belonged to me or someone else.
I had little time left.
I reminded myself of that again.
‘Anyway… this is luck I probably wouldn’t have gotten with Noya.’
If they had successfully brought Noya back into this realm through reincarnation or possession, it wouldn’t have been wise to just leave the luck be.
In my experience from past lives, there have never been any examples of someone like Shin Noya appearing.
This means that…
‘Their plans failed.’
Whatever they had plotted has now gone awry.
So…
‘I’ll take it and clean up the mess.’
Shouldn’t it be fine to catch both the Heavenly Horse and the Blood Horse?
For reference, this advice initially came from Noya.
Wouldn’t it make sense to do this together to thwart a bloodbath?
Back then, I thought, “What on earth are you talking about?”
Now that I think about it, it turns out it’s precisely what I need to do.
‘That old man… does he truly know how this would turn out?’
I found myself wondering if Shin Noya had anticipated this very scenario.
Right then.
[Before starting the exam.]
The party leader brought it up.
[I have something to ask you.]
“Yes.”
You have something to ask me?
What could that possibly be?
The moment I looked at Dangjemun with a puzzled expression.
[Have you ever experienced regret?]
“Yes…?”
That was a highly unexpected question.
Moreover, it struck at the very core of my vulnerabilities.
Have I ever regretted anything? Me?
‘Has there ever been a moment when I didn’t?’
It was a ridiculous inquiry.
My entire life was one grand regret; how could I possibly have avoided feeling regret?
“I have. To the point of exhaustion.”
I shouldn’t have lived like this.
I shouldn’t have made those choices.
I shouldn’t have spoken those words.
I shouldn’t have left you; I shouldn’t have used that excuse, claiming it was for your benefit.
Just a moment’s reflection, and I was bombarded by countless regrets that lacked a proper subject.
Dangjemun, observing my expression, looked a bit astonished.
What kind of expression am I sporting right now?
Sadly, I had no way of confirming it.
After a brief moment of silence, Dangjemun continued speaking again.
[…Have you thought about overcoming that regret?]
“Overcoming regrets?”
Before I knew it, I unleashed a scoff at her words.
That was undoubtedly a derisive laugh, and it felt like a mistake.
I quickly lowered the corners of my mouth and cautiously replied.
“…I think that regret is something to be held and carried with you rather than something to overcome.”
[Then?]
“Regret should be embraced and taken along. That’s how I perceive it.”
[…]
Regret is akin to attachment.
Since we live staring at the past rather than the present, regret continues to tighten its grip around us.
Overcoming it?
No. That’s utter nonsense.
It’s simply about carrying it forward.
Knowing very well that it’s a memory you can never forget.
I just keep walking, remembering those moments without pausing.
‘Is this dialogue part of the test?’
That thought was constant in my head.
As my thoughts spun and whirled, I stared intently at Dangjemun.
‘…Huh?’
As I examined her face, I noticed her eyes appeared sad for some reason.
[…So, are you then, going the right path while holding onto your regrets?]
Hearing Dangjemun’s words, I nearly responded with an affirmation right away.
One.
“…”
But I couldn’t answer.
The immediate affirmation that almost slipped past my lips felt utterly false.
This was one question I couldn’t possibly respond to.
The expression on Dangjemun’s face deepened as she gazed at me.
Then she spoke to me in a more weighty tone.
[Now, let’s start the test…]
Her words snapped me back to reality.
It seemed a bit abrupt, but I was glad it was starting soon.
I focused, unsure what surprises might emerge.
As I scanned Dangjemun with a rising tension, she spoke to me in an even, calm voice.
[The test you will receive will result in neither success nor failure.]
“Huh? What on earth does that mean…?”
No success or failure?
Then how do you plan to determine if I passed or failed?
[At the conclusion of the exam, what thoughts you hold will be the criteria. Whatever they may be, it’s of no concern.]
“Senior?”
The party leader was spouting some inexplicable words.
Listening to it made a seed of uneasiness sprout inside me.
When someone begins speaking in such an erratic fashion, it often leads to the endpoint of…
‘It only ends up with me getting the short end of the stick.’
With that unsettling thought in mind, I tried to summon Dangjemun urgently.
[I just wish for you to choose a different option than I did.]
Dangjemun’s words trailed off as she stretched her hand towards me.
In that moment.
Quaaaak!
“What?!”
The surrounding space started to twist and bend.
Damn it, I saw this coming…!
I attempted to break free from the sudden change, but the rifts had already set their effects on everything, including me.
Beyond the tangled chaos, the voice of Dangjemun echoed.
[…If only later…]
There was a hint of laughter woven into her voice.
Or sadness? Or perhaps longing?
Since I didn’t know much about the person called Dangjemun, it was tough to make that distinction.
[When you see Shincheol, please convey my words.]
I tried to respond, but my voice had already vanished.
In that collapsing space,
Only the voice of Dangjemun resonated.
…I missed you. I really… missed you. And… I…
Those words laden with longing could not finish their course.
The cracks grew increasingly pronounced and, unable to withstand the pressure, my consciousness snapped away.
When I opened my eyes once more…
Gasp…!
I found myself lying at the center of an unknown pit.
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