Chapter 358: Divine Sword (3)

Hearing the words carried on the spring breeze.

I couldn’t say anything at all.

‘What… did she just say?’

Did I hear that right?

I heard what Wi Seol-ah said, but it felt like my mind was rejecting it.

It couldn’t be helped.

Because it was too bizarre a statement for me to comprehend.

“What… what did you just say?”

“…”

At my repeated question, Wi Seol-ah wore a pained expression.

Setting aside why she’d make such a face.

I needed to hear it more clearly.

“The one who made me regress…”

Not just anyone, but the being who sent my time back to the past.

“Is the Demon King…?”

The person who dragged my already rock-bottom life further into the abyss.

The master of the Demonic Cult, and.

The being who would bring a bloodbath to the Central Plains in the near future.

‘Made me regress?’

No matter how much I thought about it, it was an incomprehensible statement.

“Young Master Gu…”

“Explain… explain. What does that mean?”

“…”

I grabbed Wi Seol-ah’s shoulder and asked.

Perhaps I grabbed too hard without realizing it, as I saw Wi Seol-ah wince.

Seeing that, I faltered and eased my grip slightly.

“…Calm down…”

“That seems a bit difficult. It’s not something one can just calm down about.”

“…”

“You know, don’t you? Why I’m living like this now.”

What I’ve been struggling for all this time.

Focusing on raising my cultivation level while barely sleeping.

The reason I’ve been desperately pushing forward.

Surely, Wi Seol-ah, standing before me, would know.

“…Young Master Gu.”

Kill the Demon King and stop the bloodbath.

This life was meant for that.

It wasn’t for me.

If it were for me, I would have holed up in the mountains, never meeting anyone, and lived out my life alone.

Perhaps that would have been better.

The reason I’m struggling like this, in the end.

Is not for my own peace.

It’s like an apology to those who died for me and lived for me.

But then.

“…Why the Demon King?”

Ever since Yeon Il-cheon asked if my regression seemed like a mere miracle.

I always thought.

That someone’s will was hidden behind my regression.

If, as Wi Seol-ah said, the Demon King sent me back to the past.

The actions I’m taking now.

Should I consider all the situations unfolding around me as foreseen by the Demon King or imbued with the Demon King’s will?

Thinking that way makes my head spin.

“Young Master Gu…”

“Is it true?”

“…”

“Really… was it the Demon King who made me regress?”

I wanted to hear that it wasn’t.

That it was just a joke. That she said it as a joke because the atmosphere was too heavy.

I wanted to hear words like that, but.

“…It’s true.”

Wi Seol-ah was resolute.

“If it wasn’t me… the only person on this earth who could do such a thing for Young Master Gu is her.”

“…That…”

At Wi Seol-ah’s words, I gnawed on my tongue inside my mouth.

The words ‘if not me, then only the Demon King’.

Many meanings were hidden within them.

That meant both Wi Seol-ah and the Demon King were not human.

It meant they were beings high enough to turn back another’s time, just like the World Tree.

Furthermore.

It meant Wi Seol-ah herself was aware that she wasn’t human.

“…You.”

“I thought Young Master Gu already knew.”

“…”

I do know.

That Wi Seol-ah wasn’t human. Perhaps I vaguely suspected it in the past.

But now, I knew for sure.

Wi Seol-ah read my expression and smiled.

Was I making such a funny face?

“That’s a relief.”

What was a relief?

“…Even knowing that. Your attitude remains the same.”

At Wi Seol-ah’s words, I furrowed my brow.

“Is there any reason for it to change?”

Wi Seol-ah, whose large eyes widened slightly at my words, quickly covered her mouth and laughed even harder.

“Exactly. What was so scary?”

The way her shoulders seemed a bit smaller caught my attention, but.

Right now, the conversation we were just having was more important than that.

“…When you said if it wasn’t you, it would be the Demon King, that’s just a guess, right?”

“No. It’s a certainty.”

“Why…? Why do you think that?”

The Demon King died by Wi Seol-ah’s hand.

This was a clear fact.

And the time I met my death in the underground prison of the League was a few days after that.

The Demon King should have been dead long ago.

The idea that such a Demon King made me regress had too many plot holes.

Yet, why was Wi Seol-ah so certain?

Hearing my question, Wi Seol-ah avoided my gaze and said this.

“Because it’s something I couldn’t help but know.”

“…What does that mean?”

“That’s just how we are.”

The words ‘couldn’t help but know’. That phrase particularly sank into my heart.

“What on earth are you guys?”

“…”

“You… what’s your relationship with the Demon King?”

It couldn’t be said they had no relationship.

I could tell just by looking.

It wasn’t just that they looked alike; Wi Seol-ah and the Demon King looked exactly the same, as if looking into a mirror.

Everything was the same except for their hair and eye color.

Countless coincidences and miracles abound in the world, but could that truly be called a coincidence?

“If you ask about my relationship with her… it’s hard to define.”

“What does that…”

“It’s just… that originally, we shouldn’t have been ‘us’, but one person.”

“Do you really have to make things difficult too? You know I’m not that smart.”

“…I’m sorry, please understand.”

Wi Seol-ah smiled pitifully and grasped my wrist.

I could feel my voice becoming a bit rough out of frustration.

I felt my frustration subside slightly as Wi Seol-ah held my wrist, but.

It wasn’t completely gone, though.

I was just holding back because I didn’t want to ruin this unexpected reunion like this.

‘So, it’s confirmed that the Demon King made me regress.’

According to Wi Seol-ah, but.

It’s a question.

Setting aside the fact that the Demon King even had such power in the first place.

The World Tree, the master of this world, was imprisoned in a false world as payment for regressing the human Yeon Il-cheon.

As the World Tree was imprisoned, all records and memories that existed in the world disappeared.

Not even traces of its existence remained.

If it’s true that the Demon King regressed me.

‘Why can the Demon King exist?’

What was the Demon King I saw the day before?

Or perhaps, is it possible that they wouldn’t be punished?

‘And above all.’

If they had such power, why didn’t they regress themselves?

Why did they go out of their way to regress me?

Moreover, listening to Wi Seol-ah.

It means Wi Seol-ah cannot do it, but the Demon King can.

‘That means…’

Doesn’t that imply the Demon King’s power was greater than Wi Seol-ah’s?

It’s something I casually thought about once.

The Divine Sword was strong.

Although I never fought her directly, I could at least see from afar how strong Wi Seol-ah was in her prime.

She is strong.

She was indeed a formidable martial artist, so much so that I could confidently say I couldn’t win if I dared to fight her, but.

‘Was the Demon King… was the Demon King truly weaker than the Divine Sword?’

If you were to ask if the being called the Heavenly Demon was weaker than the Divine Sword.

I wouldn’t be able to answer.

That being truly seemed on a different level.

That’s why, when I heard the news of the Demon King’s death around the end of the final war.

A faint sense of peace settled in a corner of my heart, along with a question.

The question of how the Demon King could have died.

“The more I learn, the more questions arise, even as things seem to be getting solved.”

Just when I think I’ve figured something out.

The world throws another secret at me.

“As if… it’s waiting for me to solve the secrets.”

“…”

Wi Seol-ah said nothing in response to my frustrated voice.

“Can’t you at least not do this?”

“…Young Master Gu.”

“You said you don’t hate me. You said you’re sorry. Then…”

“I’m sorry…”

Wi Seol-ah offered me another apology.

“I want to tell you everything you’re curious about… everything I know.”

“Then just tell me.”

“…”

If you know, and if you want to tell me, you should just tell me.

What this dog-like world wants from me.

What the Demon King’s intention was in regressing me. You should just tell me everything.

Everyone seems like they’ll say something, but then they shut their mouths.

“It’s just…”

“I don’t have much time left.”

“What?”

My mouth, about to demand an answer out of frustration.

Was firmly shut by Wi Seol-ah’s single sentence.

“What did you say?”

Seeing my reaction, a wry smile appeared on Wi Seol-ah’s face.

Not enough time?

“What does that mean? Not enough time.”

“…Now, I don’t have enough strength left to tell you the stories Young Master Gu is curious about. Talking about the Demon King was my limit.”

What is she saying right now?

It felt like her words weren’t sinking in, even more than when she spoke about the Demon King earlier.

Not enough time.

“…I’m sorry… for not being able to tell you more.”

“Wait… what do you mean? Are you saying you’re going to disappear?”

“I’ve already held on for a long time. This is a child’s body, so I can’t push it too hard.”

Didn’t she say the current Wi Seol-ah was borrowing the body of the present Wi Seol-ah?

“…Then, then what about the child who was originally there?”

“I’ve put her to sleep for a while. This child will find out someday… but it’s not a story I want to tell right now.”

“Does that mean you’re really going to disappear?”

“…”

“Answer me…!”

She didn’t answer, but.

I could hear a silent answer from Wi Seol-ah’s smiling face.

Suddenly.

Wi Seol-ah’s hand touched my cheek.

It was cold.

“I’ve never seen that expression before.”

What kind of expression was I making for her to wear that look?

“I like it. Seeing this face too.”

“How… how much time is left? Years?”

“…”

“If not, a year? A few months?”

If not that, then at least a few days should have remained.

If not even that much time was left.

That would be a truly fucked up story.

“Young Master Gu…”

“Was this what you meant earlier when you said I’d regret it?”

“It’s not like that… I didn’t think you’d regret it just because I disappear…”

“What could possibly be more regrettable than this?”

“…”

Wi Seol-ah flinched at my firmly spoken words.

“Can you get better if you go back into the body and rest? Then go in now.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Please… stop with the damn apologies and tell me a way.”

I wanted to scream, but I forced myself to hold back.

I didn’t remove the hand touching my face.

I just looked at Wi Seol-ah’s trembling eyes.

What expression was I wearing right now?

All I knew was that it definitely wasn’t a normal expression.

Wi Seol-ah, who had been looking at me, smiled again.

“Don’t just laugh… what are you laughing about in this situation?”

“How could I not laugh?”

The hand on my cheek moved.

Should I call it a stroking sensation?

“You’re looking at me and worrying.”

“…Should I curse at you then?”

“We’re this close. And I’m touching your cheek.”

“…”

“Do you know something?”

She smiled beautifully, damn it, making me unable to say anything.

“This was my dream. More than world peace. This is probably what I wished for.”

Her voice trembled.

“Why didn’t I realize that?”

“…Then you can do it now, can’t you? If you don’t disappear…”

Wi Seol-ah’s eyes curved even more at my carelessly spoken words.

“That’s greed.”

“What’s wrong with a little greed? Everyone lives greedily.”

I probably lived my entire life without a single greedy thought.

Such was the life of the Divine Sword.

So, what’s wrong with being a little greedy now?

Despite saying that, Wi Seol-ah just shook her head.

“…It’s also my lingering attachment.”

As she spoke, Wi Seol-ah slowly withdrew the hand touching my cheek.

“I was very greedy. I even thought about taking over this child’s body once.”

“…”

“Can you tell me to do that, Young Master?”

The answer that came to mind.

Couldn’t quite leave my lips.

The meaning of the Divine Sword entering and taking over the body of the present Wi Seol-ah.

Perhaps it was possible since they were the same existence, but.

Could I say that would make her the same existence as the present Wi Seol-ah?

No answer came.

“I thought you wouldn’t be able to answer.”

“…Well.”

“So I’m relieved. That you are that kind of person.”

“…You.”

“This life belongs entirely to this child. There’s no place for me to interfere. That’s why this moment, meeting you, feels like a lingering attachment to me.”

Wi Seol-ah took a step back.

“My regrets are being erased.”

“…Regrets?”

“Regrets about what if we had met differently. What if life had been just a little different. Those regrets are being erased through this child.”

“…”

“I know it’s because of your efforts, Young Master Gu. That’s why the lingering attachment remains.”

That I had tried to be different from back then.

She must have seen it all.

“That’s why I shouldn’t remain here any longer.”

“What does it matter… If you hate interfering, you could just watch.”

“Not only can I not do that… but even if I could, I would become greedy. Greedy enough to want to feel that happiness myself.”

She took two more steps away.

I took a step forward to match her distance.

No. I tried to approach, but I couldn’t.

“…!”

A faint light began to emanate from Wi Seol-ah’s body.

Anxiety welled up.

For some reason, I couldn’t approach her.

---

The woman looked at the man.

Even as her vision blurred, his face appeared exceptionally clear.

The man shouted.

“Hey…! Wait a moment!”

His face looked flustered by the sudden turn of events.

So I can see that kind of face too.

I saw many faces I hadn’t seen before today.

That’s why I liked it even more.

Suppressing the emotions welling up.

The woman spoke.

“I didn’t want to say goodbye like this. I knew I didn’t have much time left… and if possible, I didn’t want you to find out.”

All those actions.

Because she didn’t know if her very existence would become a shackle for him.

That was the woman’s reason.

“…Still. Seeing you happy that we could meet like this, even at the end, makes me feel relieved.”

The karma accumulated from defying fate and twisting causality had piled up in her soul.

If she disappeared like this, she would be punished.

The woman was deeply afraid of that, but.

She didn’t show it outwardly.

She looked into the man’s eyes.

His face was a mess. Were those tears gathering in the corners of his eyes?

Probably not.

Because I’ve never seen him cry.

‘No, maybe he cried when she died.’

Perhaps he cried around the time the Sword Empress died.

Such childish jealousy arose even at this moment.

Recalling that, the woman spoke.

“I’m not in a position to say this to you, but… I have two requests.”

Even as the woman spoke, the man was trying desperately to move somehow.

It was pitiful to see him try, but he wouldn’t be able to move.

It was the world fulfilling its karma.

Just being able to watch it with his own eyes was remarkable.

“Please, dote on this child a lot…”

She didn’t add the unspoken words, ‘as much as I couldn’t do for myself.’

Because she didn’t want to burden him with these words.

And the other is.

“…Please call this child by name.”

The man, who had been trying to move his body by force.

Gu Yangcheon faltered.

Never.

Gu Yangcheon had never called anyone by name.

It was probably the same for everyone, including himself.

The reason why is unknown.

If I had to guess vaguely.

Perhaps it’s because he doesn’t want to keep someone precious enough to call by name by his side.

It’s the same for me, but.

He was truly a cowardly man.

Even knowing that, asking felt selfish and embarrassing, but.

I thought it was perhaps the only request I could make at this moment.

Despite that, not including the women around him.

Making this request only for this child.

It must be the selfishness I could still afford to harbor.

Pasasasa….

I can feel it crumbling.

It’s not the body collapsing.

It must be the sensation of the soul disappearing.

So this is what it feels like for a soul to disappear.

What will remain after I disappear?

Perhaps whatever remains, he won’t be there.

‘That… would be very sad.’

Even amidst this, the woman smiled at the thought.

Regret still remained.

Because there were so many words left unsaid to him.

I couldn’t even say I missed him.

I couldn’t even say the most important words.

That I liked him.

That I dared to love him.

The woman couldn’t bring herself to utter those few words.

The man who heard these words.

Because she knew what feelings he would harbor.

Seeing him potentially troubled by her words, she forced them down.

This was enough.

‘I’m sorry to you.’

She said this to her younger self, sleeping within.

There was much she wanted to tell.

But it seemed time wasn’t on her side.

Still, on the other hand, she felt envious.

Of the life she hadn’t experienced.

Of her younger self who would live a life with him.

Thinking such thoughts, the woman closed her eyes.

Just then.

Kwadeudeuk-!

Along with a tearing sound.

A warm hand appeared and embraced the woman.