Chapter: 645
It feels like my head is hardening.
I don’t even know where to start thinking about it.
That’s how it felt.
‘What is this guy talking about?’
I tried to understand, but it just wouldn’t connect. It was that difficult.
“Am I the reincarnation of the Volcanic Sword?”
Am I the reincarnation of Shin Noya? No, to be precise, I’m supposed to be the flesh that should have held the spirit?
Hearing that, I thought,
‘What kind of absurd nonsense is this?’
It was utterly ridiculous.
How could it come to that?
I spoke to Namgung Myung, wearing a completely flustered expression.
“That’s nonsense.”
“Why?”
Why? I had to force a hollow chuckle at Namgung Myung’s question.
“I am not a disciple of the Hwasan Sect.”
I had dozens of reasons to say I wasn’t, and this was the simplest one.
From the martial arts I practiced to the very body employing them, there was nothing that could prove I was a disciple of the Hwasan Sect.
‘All that remains are the energy Noya had, and the sect’s certification badge.’
All I had were the energies absorbed from demonic beasts and the plaque granted to me as an honorary disciple of the Hwasan Sect.
But I’m the reincarnation of Shin Noya?
‘I’d rather believe that Yeongpung is the reincarnation of Noya instead.’
That would make more sense.
If Yeongpung were declared to be Noya’s reincarnation, it would have been much easier to believe.
‘Because there are numerous things that fit.’
A fellow disciple of the same Hwasan Sect.
With the same martial prowess and mental strength, as well as the talent that Yeongpung had, who’s renowned as the greatest in the Volcano.
If Noya’s body had been reincarnated beforehand, then Yeongpung would be the right answer, not me.
‘Even if it’s not Yeongpung.’
If I look around, there would be many more suitable candidates, and I definitely wouldn’t be one of them.
It must have been so.
“What’s the issue with that?”
Namgung Myung replied as if he didn’t care about what I said. Hearing that made me frown.
“Excuse me?”
“I could tell right away that you aren’t a master of the Hwasan Sect. I’m not blind.”
“Then how can you be so adamant that it’s me?”
“Because that’s meaningless.”
“It’s meaningless?”
“I’ll ask again. Is it necessary for this guy’s reincarnation to be a master of the Hwasan Sect?”
“That’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?”
Shin Noya is a person who spent his whole life as a member of the Hwasan Sect.
If reincarnation were to occur, it would be more convenient to become someone from that place. Wouldn’t it be a hassle to suddenly become a descendant of some sect or clan, wielding martial arts I’ve never touched before, like techniques using Kwon Gak Sool or Spear?
‘Noya wielded a sword.’
I’m not saying it has to be that way, but it would certainly be much better.
“Hmm.”
Upon hearing this, Namgung Myung nodded slightly.
“That makes sense.”
It was a much quicker acknowledgment than I expected. I thought there would be a torturous discussion, but it felt a bit less intense.
“However, that too does not serve as a reason.”
Namgung Myung’s gaze swept over me.
It was a look that felt like he was searching.
“Martial prowess and status do not prove the existence of this kid.”
I concentrated on his words.
His distinct firmness made me listen carefully.
“The reason he’s called the Volcanic Sword is simply because he was born and raised in the Volcano and wielded a sword.”
Though his expression showed clear irritation, it bore unmistakable recognition.
It’s a subtle difference.
But because of that subtlety, it made my focus sharpen.
“Shincheol, do you know what else that guy was called other than the Volcanic Sword?”
“… I don’t know.”
Other titles.
I truly don’t know. I feel like I haven’t heard any legendary facts, but was there another story?
If there were, wouldn’t it be like ‘Volcanic Maniac’ or something to that effect?
After all, even the Noechon Ilgeom sword was sometimes referred to as the Noeshin, so I could understand that kind of reference.
“The Best Sword in the Central Plains.”
“…!”
“That’s his other nickname.”
The name spoken by Namgung Myung weighed heavily on me.
It had to be heavy.
The word ‘best’ already carries weight, but the one saying it is Namgung Myung.
If you were to pick the best swordsman among those who were alive during that era, he would have surely been a candidate—if not the leading one.
Namgung Myung, without hesitation, declared Shin Noya the best.
The bizarre sensation from that remark made my heart tremble.
As I hesitated, momentarily speechless, Namgung Myung continued, as if this was not the end.
“If he’d grasped a spear instead of the sword, it would have been named the Best Spear in the Central Plains.”
The more I listen, the wider my eyes grow.
It was as if I was finally starting to grasp what Namgung Myung was about to get at.
“If he had picked up a bow, people would have celebrated him as a divine archer. If he had chosen to be an assassin, no one would know his face or name.”
No matter what he had picked up or learned, he would have reached the pinnacle.
These words bordered on flattery.
“However, the art of boxing… that may have been impossible for him. In any case, that was the type of person he was.”
The reference to the boxing technique being impossible was clearly due to the presence of Yeon Il-cheon within the context.
Even without that, merely reflecting on what I just heard prompted nothing short of a whirlwind of thoughts.
He is someone who would have reached the peak no matter what he did.
As I tried to picture Shin Noya, the man I knew, it created a disconnect in my perception. Yet beyond that,
‘He is a human figure that has no meaningful connection to me.’
That was a statement that stood in stark contrast to my own.
Peak and the Best in the World.
I thought those were the most irrelevant terms in my life.
Moreover, when I heard that Shin Noya lived for the world and took up the sword for that reason, my mindset became even more solidified.
‘I can’t do that.’
Not for myself or for someone important. Living for the sake of the world?
‘What kind of insane talk is that? I can’t do that, even out of resentment.’
I cannot and do not wish to.
That is who I am.
Thus, I hope that isn’t the case.
I might accept the task Noya wanted to accomplish and lead a descendant’s life.
But I can’t live with his mindset or share his experiences.
I fully understood that.
I was similar to Noya, yet different, twisted in a way that makes things fit just enough.
And that’s precisely why.
‘I can’t possibly be a reincarnation of Noya.’
Namgung Myung was surely mistaken. It had to be.
“Why, on earth… do you have such confidence it’s me? Based on your words alone, I see he was a formidable person, but I am nothing like him.”
“How old are you, descendant?”
“I’m twenty.”
It might have exceeded that if I factored in the past lives, but I didn’t think it was necessary to dive that deep.
“I see. When we were your age, Shincheol and I hadn’t reached that level. Given the context, you don’t appear to be lacking at all, do you?”
“…”
Namgung Myung’s words made me frown.
“No, this is…”
Thanks to my regression, I’ve encountered all sorts of fortunes that led me to this level. When it comes to talent, I still fall way short of that.
I couldn’t find a way to explain all this, which only made it more complicated.
To him, it seemed I was some unprecedented monster for reaching this level of mastery at my age, but this wasn’t merely a result of my unique talent.
So, frankly, it wasn’t that thrilling.
In response to what I anticipated, Namgung Myung looked at me with a hint of confusion.
“Descendant, it seems you do not wish to uncover the truth of the situation, but rather wish you weren’t that person.”
“…”
It was hard to deny that.
“Why?”
“Do I really have to tell you all that?”
The manners I had barely managed to maintain crumbled away. I couldn’t help but speak with irritation in my tone.
“It doesn’t matter. No matter how you respond, it won’t hide the truth.”
Namgung Myung reacted with indifference to my demeanor. I couldn’t decide whether to feel grateful or irritated.
“Descendant.”
I turned to look at Namgung Myung upon hearing him call my name.
“How can I be so sure you’re the one?” I asked.
“…Yes.”
The assertion that I was the reincarnation of Shin Noya was something no one among all the thoughts I had encountered had ever stated to me.
In that situation, how could I be so sure?
In response, Namgung Myung pointed somewhere on my body.
My eyes followed the direction—it led to my arm.
“The ghost tied to your left arm.”
Noya’s favorite weapon, which lost its original color and took on a blue hue.
“That’s the proof.”
“…!”
At Namgung Myung’s words, my eyes widened like lanterns.
“What in the world are you saying all of a sudden?”
This is evidence?
‘How could this possibly be evidence?’
Guijeong was something I obtained from the secret vault of the Shinryong Pavilion.
It was also something Noya had given me, hanging onto my arm, making me live in ignorance of its nature for a while.
I had started using it effectively after discovering it was Noya’s beloved weapon and learning how to wield it, but to call it proof?
“How could something like your presence be proof…?”
“Guijeong follows you. Do you need more convincing?”
Oh, so it appears that I look like I’m using Guijeong.
If that’s the case, then I have an excuse.
“In the past, I have used your favorite weapon as well.”
“Favorite weapon?”
“Yes, the Brain Sword.”
“…”
The Brain Sword used by Namgung Myung—I had once wielded it in Sacheon.
It was a property claimed to be unusable by anyone not of the Namgung lineage as identified by the Brain itself, yet somehow I had managed to use it.
Given how the remnant emotions of Namgung Myung echoed complaints, it appears that my unique constitution permits strange interactions.
That leads me to believe I could similarly wield Guijeong.
“Different.”
Namgung Myung firmly dismissed that idea too.
“Different?”
“Forcing an item and having it willingly follow you are two separate matters.”
“What does that mean…?”
“Do you truly believe Brainia followed you?”
His question made me reflect on the situation for a moment. Did Brainia truly follow me?
‘…Hmm.’
Although I had used the Brain, the backlash hitting me afterwards had been intense.
To question whether it followed me, it’s indeed ambiguous.
“I can’t say for certain if it followed me or not… but I indeed used Brainia.”
“That much is true. All spirits bow before you.”
“What?”
“You are a dragon. Isn’t that so?”
“…!”
His casual remark carried daggers hidden within.
Hearing that made it tough for me to maintain a straight face.
‘Did he know?’
I never purposely tried to conceal it, but I wasn’t broadcasting it either. Namgung Myung hadn’t mentioned anything, so how could he possibly know?
It seems he had grasped this long before.
“Are you implying that my ability to use Brainia is linked to being a dragon?”
I didn’t deny the statement about dragons.
I figured it was a waste of time discussing it.
To this, I wanted to wrap up our back-and-forth already.
“Of course. To begin with, spirits originate from dragons.”
“What?”
I halted momentarily as Namgung Myung continued speaking.
I had heard this before.
It was said that spirits were things obtained from high-ranking demonic beasts.
And I was aware that they were now referred to as dragons.
But how does that related to me?
“Dragons are the masters of all spirits. Even if they acknowledge humans as their owners, they are ultimately drawn back to dragons.”
“So you’re saying…”
I have access to Brainia because I’m a dragon.
Furthermore, I would be capable of utilizing any spirit, given the opportunity.
“Wouldn’t it mean I could use Guijeong in the same way?”
Couldn’t I use spirits as I did with Brainia?
“As mentioned, there’s a distinction between following and forcing. Guijeong is following you.”
I wasn’t sure what this meant exactly, but the latter part rang some bells.
Guijeong follows me.
Unlike the forceful rebound I experienced after using Brainia, there was none of that with Guijeong.
If I desired to wield it, I could do so.
There wasn’t any strange recoil afterward either.
In this regard, I speculated it was possible only because I still retained a small trace of Noya’s energy, in addition to having his consciousness.
‘Was it not that…?’
As I dwelled on this, old memories began to surface.
I remembered the day I encountered Guijeong in the temple. It was a day when it unexpectedly jumped towards me.
‘…’
There was far too much evidence to dismiss it.
The reality continued to close in around me, making denial increasingly untenable.
“Senior…”
“Stop.”
Just as I tried to inquire further, Namgung Myung raised a hand, signaling me to halt.
“I came merely to assess the situation and make a request. I had no intention of engaging in lengthy discussions.”
“That’s—”
“Moreover, time is running short.”
Creak!
Just as Namgung Myung commenced speaking, a sound echoed through the space.
My gaze shifted.
A crack appeared in the air.
It was a sight that felt familiar. It indicated that the end of our conversation was being forcibly imposed. Watching it made me grit my teeth.
‘Damn it, I still have so many questions left.’
While I learned a lot, I had become even more curious.
If Noya succeeded in reincarnation, where was the body he should have possessed, and what happened to the consciousness that should have been there?
Furthermore, what was Namgung Myung actually trying to accomplish here?
I hadn’t even heard why he needed to head to the North Sea, and it was ending like this? That wouldn’t do.
As I felt frustrated, rolling my eyes anxiously.
“I will hold the next Q&A session in the near future. However, I hope Shincheol will be there with you then.”
“When you mention next time… you’re implying you won’t vanish on me like this?”
It was a pleasant piece of news to hear.
“I didn’t grant you that much time. That too is part of my duties.”
Thump!
Namgung Myung reached out, poking my forehead gently with his fingertip.
I didn’t avoid it. No, I simply couldn’t.
His gesture was far too natural for me to react.
At that moment.
Zing!
A faint current pulsed through my body.
It felt as if brain energy was seeping into me.
“What is this…?”
“The order is proper. Now, seek Xinjiang.”
“Pardon?”
“Even though this wasn’t in our planned arrangement, if Shincheol chose you, then it must be fate. It doesn’t matter what you are. Thus, head there next.”
“…!”
His blunt words carried a vast amount of significance.
“And.”
Namgung Myung spoke again, gesturing towards somewhere new.
It was in the direction of the Black Lion and the Palace Lord.
“If possible, I would appreciate it if you could rescue the bloodline of that Ice Palace.”
“Are you referring to the Palace Lord…?”
It was a rather sudden request.
In this scenario, he’s asking me to save the Palace Lord all of a sudden?
As I gazed at Namgung Myung, puzzled, he added,
“I have a personal favor to ask. You have done a lot for me. I think I can manage this much for you.”
“Ah.”
Upon hearing Namgung Myung’s request, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
He had smoothly divulged information until now, only to throw that request at me.
What could be his reason for needing to save the Palace Lord?
That was also something I was curious about, but I couldn’t ask.
“If you value the next meeting, I believe you’ll do this much.”
If I wanted to hear the remainder of his thoughts, he was indicating to me to behave and follow along.
A request that felt more like a threat than anything else.
When I looked at him with a bewildered expression.
Crunch!
The cracked scenery began to fragment.
The end was signaling itself.
As the falling debris increased in size and the rumbling shook the ground, Namgung Myung set his gaze on me.
“Oh, and descendant.”
There wasn’t time to answer.
“Be cautious of Yeon Ilcheon.”
“What…?”
I desperately tried to pose my inquiry to Namgung Myung.
Crash!
Before I could finish formulating my question, the ground trembled, inhibiting me from speaking any further.
The tremors burst forth as my eyes went shut.
As I braced myself and then reopened my eyes,
“Extraordinary power—!!”
By then, everything had returned to normal once again.
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