Chapter: 452
“I am a dancer.”
The suddenly opened magic door and the woman wearing a veil introduced herself as such.
It’s strange that she appeared out of nowhere, opening a dimension, but I was more focused on the very first words she uttered upon her arrival.
– I meet the beings of the other world.
‘An otherworldly being?’
That’s a chilling statement.
Those words felt like a confirmation that I wasn’t a person from this world.
I opened my mouth, trying hard to conceal my surprise as I looked at the woman.
“Are you the one looking for me?”
Is this woman the one who sent the divine sword to find me? If that’s the case, who could it be?
At the very least, she was someone I had never seen before.
‘I haven’t encountered you in a past life.’
In both past and present, I had never seen a woman who radiated such an aura.
This makes it challenging to figure out her true identity.
‘Is this world really not the world I know?’
I was gradually coming to the realization that it was becoming impossible to dismiss this as just a fantasy.
It’s strange from the outset.
If it were an illusion derived from my memories…
Normally, I wouldn’t be able to create what I don’t know, yet this world was different.
This was something I could have understood just a few days into arriving here.
No.
It’s probably better to say I had tried to ignore it and pretend not to know.
As I furrowed my brows and looked at the so-called dancer, she answered me with her hands clasped together politely.
“I don’t deserve that.”
“Deserve?”
What does it mean to not have the qualifications?
Does that mean this woman is just a messenger relaying words?
‘A dancer.’
That sounds familiar.
It goes without saying that I know the word dancer, but why “dancer” of all terms?
‘Where have I heard that?’
I’m sure I encountered something significant related to it somewhere…
‘…!’
As I strained to recall, a memory quickly flashed into my mind.
It was several years ago.
When I was participating in the martial arts competition at Yongbong Branch.
This happened at the very end of the final match with Jang Seon-yeon.
The Blood Demon that manifested through Jang Seon-yeon’s body at that time had said this to me.
– If you meet a dancer…
Didn’t he instruct me to let him know he was searching?
The term dancer was undeniably mixed into the Blood Demon’s words at that time.
This implies…
‘Does this woman mean she is affiliated with the Blood Demon?’
My eyes instinctively narrowed.
I then glanced at Sogeomseong.
She remained steady with an indifferent expression, showing no reaction to the dancer’s entrance.
Inside, I felt a slight discomfort, but she didn’t seem particularly surprised or shocked.
In other words, the dancer’s arrival was not something unusual for her.
‘What?’
If it is indeed true that the Blood Demon is behind this woman…
Does Sogeomseong also know about the existence of the Blood Demon?
In a split second, a multitude of thoughts surged through my mind.
Caught up in this dizzying swirl, I kept biting my tongue.
“I am truly sorry to meet you in this way.”
The dancer continued to speak as if nothing happened.
“… How did you know I was coming?”
“There was a prophecy. The master said that an otherworldly being would appear in this world, and so you were summoned to be brought to him.”
Does that mean there was an expectation for me to arrive?
Then, truly…
‘So this isn’t just some fantasy.’
It suggests that this test was, in fact, a genuine transfer to another world.
Then where exactly are we?
‘A world resembling my past life, yet something feels off… How to express this?’
Whatever it may be.
The important part is the question. Why did she send me here?
Unable to suppress my rising irritation in this convoluted situation, I let it slip from my lips.
“It’s a prophecy, and all that… How did you know it was me?”
Whoever made the prophecy isn’t the key concern.
The real question is, how did you ascertain I was from another world?
This question found its answer not from the dancer, but from Sogeomseong.
“… because the energy resonated.”
Upon hearing her words and glancing her way, Sogeomseong spoke without looking at me.
Thinking over that, I pondered.
‘I suppose that’s it.’
This was indeed something I expected.
I only gained confidence from what she said.
As the energy from the divine sword within me resonated, it led to the realization that I originated from the other world.
Sogeomseong explicitly stated that it confirmed it was me.
In fact, that was true.
‘Can this really be the reason?’
This part remained difficult for me to comprehend.
Meanwhile, the dancer glanced at the handcuffs around my wrists and exchanged a gesture with Sogeomseong.
“Please release me.”
As soon as those words left her mouth.
Thud!
The handcuffs binding my wrists were effortlessly severed with a swish and fell to the ground thud.
I stared down at the fallen cuffs before shifting my gaze to Sogeomseong.
‘When did she draw her sword?’
She had somehow come to hold a blade in one hand.
She had cut off the handcuffs before I even noticed.
Further, just then…
Boom!
The blockage in my dantian began to flow, and vitality surged through my body.
This meant the previously restrained energy was also released.
Clearly, this was also a performance orchestrated by Sogeomseong.
I took a few moments to move my hands and assess my condition when the dancer approached me.
“Given the situation, I can’t present myself beautifully, and I sincerely apologize.”
She appeared polite outwardly, but her voice and demeanor were chilling to the bone.
It felt like conversing with a statue.
“So… well, that’s settled. What is it that you desire from me?”
I wanted to avoid any further complications, so I wished to jump straight into the main topic.
So ultimately, what does she want from me?
To this, the dancer carefully responded, maintaining her previous posture.
“The master wishes to see you.”
That meant she couldn’t directly convey his wishes.
As soon as the dancer uttered that phrase…
Swish!
The magic door she had just walked through began to open again.
Could it be that she’s asking me to follow her in there?
Making a strange face, I stared at her, and the dancer continued.
“Unfortunately, the master is limited in movement, so he requests that you come to him, if possible.”
Adding that as an explanation, she continued.
“What happens if I don’t go?”
When I asked what would happen if I chose not to see her master, the dancer merely gazed at me in silence.
She did not say I didn’t have to come.
‘Even if her words are kind, they end up sounding like threats anyway.’
I managed a bitter smile.
Everyone certainly seems to have a violent streak.
That’s why I feel compelled to build up my strength like my life depends on it.
Shaking my head, I looked at the dancer and said.
“Should I just follow you inside then?”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Understanding? Not at all.
Whether she noticed my expression of displeasure or not, the dancer walked toward the magic door as composed as before.
Seeing that, I followed her without hesitation.
It was actually convenient.
It’s far better to seek answers from someone who knows about this bewildering world than to keep pondering aimlessly.
‘What the heck type of world is this? Let’s go see what it’s about.’
So I thought as I stepped into the magic door.
Soon, I closed my eyes to the blinding light enveloping me.
When I opened them again, I found myself facing a gigantic ice crystal.
In a room engulfed in tranquil silence.
A broad dark blue stick lay atop a spacious table.
It appeared to be a shabby antique, yet this was the legendary Ghost Sword Noea, renowned as one of the Five Great Swords of the Central Plains.
Leaving aside how it became known as a divine sword with just its handle remaining, the woman gazing at it wore an expression so chilling that merely meeting her gaze felt lethal.
Calmly staring at the hilt, the woman turned to the man seated before her and spoke.
“… Why… did you do that?”
Anger and resentment.
Those emotions were unmistakably evident in her voice.
Upon hearing her tone, the man lifted his head to look at her.
“What are you talking about?”
“Why… did you send him away…?”
The man’s indifferent reaction drew a frown across the beautiful brow of the Demon Sword Master.
“… You shouldn’t have sent him away…”
“He insisted on going, I merely respected that decision.”
“…Lies…”
The Martial Master’s words were met with a firm denial from the Demon Sword Master.
“The master knows nothing of respecting decisions…”
“…”
The Martial Master’s face contorted upon hearing her words.
It seemed the previous statement had struck a nerve.
“… My deputy, what on earth is going on here?”
The Martial Master let his displeasure show without holding back, but the Demon Sword Master remained resolute.
“You shouldn’t have sent him away.”
“You just keep saying that over and over. Have you lost your mind?”
Bang!
The Martial Master’s lightly thrown fist sent the table crashing apart.
“Emotions are meddling here. What depth of bond makes you cling to this foolishness?”
“…”
A mere few days at most.
The time spent alongside the young martial artist who had arrived speaking of the Heavenly Demon.
What was his name? Paljeolyeop, right?
It was obvious that it was a pseudonym, and even if they searched, no credible information would emerge.
A martial artist who had crossed the walls of the Void at that age, yet no tales of him existed?
According to his own words, he had lost his clan to wicked sects and had become a martial artist to seek vengeance.
Yet no one amongst the inhabitants of the Dark Flame Clan believed that claim.
It was simply because he had spoken of the Heavenly Demon that they refrained from digging deeper.
Martial artists do not trust each other.
Only the Heavenly Demon is held in belief.
“I can’t understand this.”
They had avoided unnecessary conflict, reclaimed the Ghost Sword, and eliminated a figure of suspicion.
The results couldn’t have been better, so why did the Demon Sword Master show such a reaction?
The Martial Master was bewildered—and even frustrated.
As he watched the Martial Master, the Demon Sword Master’s expression subtly shifted.
In her gaze, which had contained anger and resentment, one additional emotion was added.
The Martial Master thought of it as pity.
At that moment, as she cast that look, the Demon Sword Master spoke to the Martial Master.
“… The one harboring unnecessary emotions… is not me…”
“…”
His expression contorted with fury as he faced her words.
“It is you…”
Crash!
A fragment of the broken table flew past the Demon Sword Master, crashing violently against the wall.
The Martial Master couldn’t suppress his anger and threw an object in frustration.
“Deputy, don’t overstep your boundaries.”
“…”
This was his final warning.
It meant any further exchanges of words would not go unpunished.
Upon hearing this, the Demon Sword Master did not express further reactions, quietly reclaiming the Ghost Sword, holding it to her chest.
She then turned away, heading toward the door.
Just before she opened it to exit…
She left these words directed at the Martial Master.
“I will not give up on you… no matter what happens.”
It was an incomprehensible statement.
The Martial Master was about to raise his voice, questioning what nonsense that was, but by then, the Demon Sword Master had already stepped outside.
Bam!
The fist clinched by the Martial Master grew increasingly tense.
Eventually…
Smash!
His tightly clenched fist swung with fury, smashing against the wall.
“…”
Thud thud thud.
Bits crumbled from the wall, littering the floor.
The Martial Master repeatedly drew in breath, struggling to calm his raging emotions.
His anger didn’t stem from the Demon Sword Master’s failure to understand his actions.
The problem lay in what the Demon Sword Master had continuously blurted.
– … The one harboring unnecessary emotions… is not me…
– It is you.
Those words were direct.
They struck right at the core of the Martial Master’s hidden truths.
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