Chapter: 453
The place I arrived at through the magic mirror was a cold and dark space.
The cold, beginning from the chilly air on the floor, penetrated deep into my body.
The fact that I felt cold here was, in several ways, a problem.
‘Surely, the energy must have started circulating again.’
As the energy that had been bound was released, heat began to circulate throughout my entire body once more. Normally, this should mean that I would hardly feel the cold.
But now, a subtle chill could be felt seeping through the air.
This meant that…
‘It means it’s freaking cold here.’
It implies that this place is excessively cold.
As my eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, the layout of the space slowly came into focus.
There were a few lanterns affixed to the walls, but they didn’t provide sufficient light, and the size of the room felt remarkably vast.
Where on earth am I?
Since I came here through the Demon Mirror, I couldn’t rule out the possibility of it being the Demon Realm.
As I turned around, I gazed at a specific spot.
‘First of all, where is this cold air coming from?’
Where does the chilling air that makes my body feel so frigid originate?
Without even needing to ponder, I realized it was likely due to what lay before me.
Before me stood an enormous iceberg.
‘What the heck is this…’
This was the first time I had ever seen something this colossal.
I had heard that in the Ice Palace of the North, where outsiders are forbidden entry, there exists a legendary artifact known as the Eternal Ice Crystal.
I wondered if this was what it felt like.
I stepped closer to the iceberg.
Crunch, crunch.
“…!”
As I took a step forward, I felt the cold intensifying to a maddening degree.
The difference between being one step back and one step forward was completely drastic.
‘This seems a bit dangerous, doesn’t it?’
It’s freezing.
How long has it been since I felt this genuine cold?
It felt as though even the flame inside me was on the verge of freezing.
One step is my limit.
If I venture any further, everything will freeze solid.
Just as I decided to step back…
[Nice to meet you.]
A voice resonated.
I lifted my head.
I wasn’t trying to find out where the voice was coming from.
It was because the voice came through so clearly from the iceberg.
As I examined the iceberg closely, I noticed something.
The iceberg, exuding a chilling aura.
It indicated that something was indeed inside it.
‘No, rather than being inside it,’
It would be more accurate to say it was trapped within.
It clearly didn’t look like it was in there normally.
On top of that…
‘This voice.’
Upon hearing the greeting, my eyes narrowed.
It was a voice I had heard many times, and definitely not one I could easily forget.
Even though it was something I had anticipated, it still wasn’t particularly surprising.
I turned my gaze toward the iceberg and spoke the name of the voice’s owner.
“Blood Demon.”
Thrum.
As I uttered his alias, the iceberg quaked slightly.
[Hoo… ]
It was a voice that seemed to express curiosity.
[So, you know me, huh?]
I began to piece together the situation by observing his reactions.
First off…
‘It seems he doesn’t know me.’
If that guy in the iceberg truly is the Blood Demon, then there’s no way he wouldn’t know me.
Just sensing my energy should clearly indicate that I had arrived here.
I thought it was impossible for someone not to recognize me just because my appearance had slightly changed.
Looking at his reaction now suggests…
‘… This really isn’t the world I used to know.’
This renewed my conviction.
It clarified that this wasn’t even the world of my past life.
‘This isn’t the original world I came from.’
That certainty enveloped me.
As I entertained these thoughts, I quietly stared at the iceberg.
[What a curious thing.]
The Blood Demon gazed at me, continuing his speech.
[Initially, I thought you were a revered being from another realm. It puzzled me how someone like that could easily make his presence known. Additionally…]
Hiss…
An indescribable energy momentarily brushed past my body.
I didn’t even try to hold onto it.
[Even your own energy is seeping through?]
“…”
It seemed he sensed the blood energy within me.
‘Being from another realm.’
I focused on the Blood Demon’s words.
Both Muhee, the dancer, and the Blood Demon before this seemed to imply that they recognized me as someone from another realm.
At first, I assumed they were sizing me up simply because I originated from a different world. But something felt a bit off.
‘If they refer to me as “Excellency,” that can’t mean…’
Could it possibly denote “the master”?
‘Why?’
If so, a question arose momentarily.
The more I pondered, the less strange it seemed.
Given that my body was teeming with all sorts of oddities, it was on the verge of shattering due to them.
And of those entities in my body…
‘I believe he specifically referred to one as the lord of the bottomless pit…’
The Blood Demon had referred to that overly gluttonous monster, which incessantly devoured magical energy.
Back then, the term “master” didn’t resonate with me.
However, upon reflection, it was evident that the term “master” held significant weight.
The master of all lifeforms in a world.
The one responsible for that world. That’s definitely what the World Tree had implied.
‘Is that the reason the Blood Demon has misconstrued things?’
With a creature of that caliber inside my body, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Blood Demon mistook me for the master of another world.
The pertinent question now was…
‘How did that entity end up in my body?’
How could someone possessing such authority inhabit me?
The World Tree had informed me that…
‘I was told it was something my mother gave me.’
It seemed to have been my mother’s design, not anyone else’s.
I didn’t hold any particular confidence in that claim…
However, I realized it when I recalled my mother’s voice at the moment I first encountered that divine blade.
‘There’s something about my mother.’
The World Tree had mentioned…
That my mother was the Second Catastrophe and the ruler of all worlds.
The term “Man-gye” (萬界) alone sounded quite ominous.
Damn it… What a tangled mess this all is.
“… So, what did you want to see me for?”
Concealing my tumultuous emotions, I asked the Blood Demon.
A small chuckle escaped the Blood Demon after hearing my words.
[I was merely curious. Why would an entity from another world come to this place?]
“…”
That’s a question I wanted to know as well. Why am I here?
As if he’d caught the nuances of my expression, the Blood Demon continued.
[It seems you didn’t come here voluntarily.]
“…”
Ah, crap, he caught me.
Ugh, I hate my expression management skills. Why is it always a hassle during crucial moments?
Frantically, I attempted to reset my expression.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
[It doesn’t matter what it is. What truly matters is your purpose for coming here.]
“Are you implying that if my purpose is questionable, you might do something to me?”
I had approached this world in order to understand what kind of place it was, but putting myself in danger wasn’t part of my plan.
‘Thankfully, my energy is starting to return, though.’
Could I leverage this to my advantage?
Whatever the case, I had willingly stumbled into the tiger’s den, so I had to deal with the situation myself.
Chuckles…
The Blood Demon laughed lightly.
[Don’t fret. I’m merely curious.]
“I can’t help but be concerned in a situation like this.”
[You possess impressive virtues, but you seem rather uninformed.]
“…”
That hit a nerve.
[I don’t intend to hurt you.]
“How can you assure me of that…?”
[The evidence lies right before you. You’re standing here, breathing fine in front of me. That’s what’s crucial.]
That was a pitiful threat.
It was apparent just by looking that he was trapped in the iceberg and immobilized. What could he possibly threaten me with?
‘…’
Furthermore, the reason I couldn’t speak hastily, despite knowing that, was that my intuition was inexplicably hinting at some sort of danger.
‘What is that?’
It’s unclear.
Yet, it was evident that I was in a precarious situation.
Thump—!
The scales on my right arm throbbed incessantly, alongside the energy that spread throughout the space.
‘Tsk.’
It was identical to how I felt when I encountered the Blood Demon at the previous meeting of the sects.
In that instance, the mere moment I faced the Blood Demon sent me into a frenzy, gradually building hostility within me.
The primary difference now was that I was merely restless, without manifesting any real hostility.
[How fascinating this is.]
“…What do you mean by that?”
[Within me lies an abundance of strength, yet oddly, I seem to be shedding it using my own energy. How could that not be fascinating?]
“Ecdysis?”
My brow furrowed at the Blood Demon’s words, clearly, he just mentioned molting.
At that moment, I sensed a gentle vibration emanating from the iceberg.
[Oh… It seems you were unaware.]
“Speak clearly about what you mean.”
[It appears that in the other realm, they refer to me by that name, so I must still be present… It’s rather enviable.]
“What…?”
Envious? Of what?
[How could one not envy a world experiencing an anomaly like yours?]
Every time I met the Blood Demon, I recalled his previous words.
Didn’t he hope for me to go completely wild?
It was an odd feeling.
‘Why does the Blood Demon treat me this way?’
He looked scheming at first glance. Despite not knowing why, he always showed me a strange favor.
It felt incredibly uneasy.
[Let me ask you one thing.]
Suddenly, the Blood Demon posed a question to me.
[Could it be that I sent you to this place?]
“What?”
I frowned at the Blood Demon’s words. Was it really him who had sent me to this world?
What kind of nonsensical statement is this?
As I grimaced, the Blood Demon muttered, clearly disappointed.
[I guess that’s not the case. So, who could have done it… ?]
“What on earth are you talking about?”
[Since you don’t know what I am, it’s unlikely that you came to me of your own volition. So who sent you?]
“…”
A question emerged from the Blood Demon’s inquiry.
In retrospect, how had I not considered this before?
If this world is an alternate realm, it wouldn’t be something you could traverse with such ease.
‘What about the Tang Dynasty statement?’
By what means could the already deceased Tang Dynasty, now a mere remnant, send me to another realm?
What exactly is the Blood Demon attempting to convey?
And then…
“…What on earth is this world?”
What is this place where I currently find myself?
The Blood Demon chuckled softly at my complex question.
[What a peculiar query. What is this world?]
“…”
Haha!
He broke into laughter, unleashing frigid air from the iceberg.
[You truly seem to know nothing. How could this be?]
“It seems to be the same everywhere — muddling people’s thoughts and leaving them feeling terrible.”
Snicker.
[I apologize. Typically, when one reaches the state of shedding, they naturally come to know these things. The fact that you don’t is strange… It’s almost like… ]
Woof.
[It feels as though someone intentionally covered your ears.]
“…”
Someone deliberately concealed my understanding.
Strangely enough, that notion resonated with me.
If not, it would indeed be odd not to know so much. Despite the knot in my stomach, the Blood Demon continued to speak to me.
[You asked what this world is.]
“…”
[It’s not really any different from your own.]
“What…?”
[It is merely one among countless possibilities.]
The answer was enigmatic.
Thinking it over, I stared at the iceberg, trying to decipher its meaning. The Blood Demon continued, as if unaware of my gaze.
[There’s a stone on the floor in front of you.]
“Stone?”
[Pick it up. Don’t pick it up. You had choices, and ultimately, you chose to pick it up.]
The sudden mention of a stone startled me, but I remained silent, listening to the Blood Demon.
[What do you think will happen as a result of such an insignificant act?]
“What’s going to happen?”
What could happen?
It’s just picking up a rock; how could it lead to any significant event?
Reading my expression, the Blood Demon quickly provided an answer—one that left me utterly baffled.
[This signifies that, conversely, a world can also be born where the action of not picking up the stone occurred.]
Upon hearing this, spontaneous laughter erupted from me.
Because such nonsense was astounding.
“So what? Are you implying that infinite worlds could potentially exist in this manner?”
According to the Blood Demon’s logic.
Drinking water. Not drinking water.
Sleeping or not sleeping.
This essentially meant there could be a breathtakingly vast number of absurd, parallel realities stemming from seemingly trivial actions.
What kind of sense does that make…
[How can you assert that it wouldn’t be true? The very fact that you’re here stands as evidence.]
“…”
Just as I was about to reply, the Blood Demon spoke a truth that left me momentarily speechless.
[Do you find it odd that you and this world exist among the innumerable realms born from such trivial choices?]
If I had merely heard this from someone else, I might have dismissed it as absurd and labeled them insane.
However, as I observed the situation unfolding before me, it felt a bit different.
‘Indeed.’
Let’s shift my perspective.
If I were to accept that, let’s assume this is indeed one of those diverging worlds stemming from such actions.
“… So, what do you mean by a possibility?”
The Blood Demon elaborated further about this possibility.
So what does this possibility serve?
He spoke with a tone suggesting it held deeper significance in this divided realm.
Upon hearing my inquiry, the Blood Demon sank into a moment of silence.
Then he slowly began to speak once more.
[This refers to the world itself.]
There was a peculiar lilt to his voice, as if it were slightly subdued.
[It represents the essence of a being who aims to manifest the conclusion they desire to achieve satisfaction.]
“What does that even mean…?”
[If you have already experienced two failures, it’s certain you wouldn’t want a third, would you?]
“…!”
[The numerous possibilities of that world reflect its resolve not to fail again.]
My eyes widened with realization at the Blood Demon’s assertion.
Two failures.
Because I began to grasp what the Blood Demon implied.
It couldn’t be…
‘The descent of a calamity…?’
That was the case with the original Blood Demon.
The same applied to my mother.
Both of them had failed to claim dominion over this land as calamities.
As time elapsed, the notions of Yeonilcheon had referred to me as a disaster.
But in truth, I regarded Cheonma as the disaster.
In this context, the Blood Demon discussing possibilities as the will of the world indicated that…
‘A world striving to ensure that calamity descends and fulfills its purpose?’
Does that imply they are striving to forge a multitude of worlds?
Could it be that so many worlds are being shaped for that very cause?
“Ha…?”
It was undeniably a hard pill to swallow.
From the outset, I should have doubted the Blood Demon’s honesty regarding these claims.
If his words bear any truth, then I must contemplate an imperative question.
“If what you assert holds weight…”
If, in reality, the Blood Demon was on the mark.
“What then transpires in all other worlds excluding the one where the potential succeeded?”
When calamity descends and successfully establishes a new ruler over the realm…
What becomes of the other realms that may not achieve that outcome like this one?
In response to my inquiries, the Blood Demon replied in a measured tone.
[In that case, the world will deem the superfluous and remaining realms unnecessary. The intention will have always been singular.]
“…”
At the Blood Demon’s response, I involuntarily wore a bewildered expression.
In countless worlds…
This implies that all realms aside from the one where calamity successfully descended would face obliteration.
Which means…
All living beings would be erased, and a new master would be ushered in.
Alternatively, a master from another realm could descend, leading to the erasure of the world.
This indicates that the current world is constrained to these two options.
‘Wow, truly.’
What a genuinely messed-up world.
Suddenly, that thought flitted through my mind.
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