Chapter 477: The Rotten Thing.

“Damn it all.”

The moment I returned, I cursed at the sight that greeted me.

It was Vigo, the very place where I first met Tang Jemun-nim.

‘Am I being kicked out right now?’

Ha.

I let out a breath of disbelief at the absurd situation.

To stop talking mid-sentence, say only what they wanted, and then kick me out.

“Why are all these so-called heroes like this?”

I haven’t even had a proper conversation yet.

How can they just spout something like they know it all and then just throw me out like this?

Grrr.

I had to grit my teeth at this utterly crappy situation.

‘Noya-nim?’

Even amidst this, I tried to check if Noya-nim was there or not.

But I couldn’t feel or hear anything specific.

‘He probably didn’t fall asleep again.’

Since the issue with the vessel was mostly resolved, I figured Noya-nim wouldn’t have fallen asleep.

Then…

‘Did Tang Jemun-nim do something about this too?’

For now, it seemed right to assume so.

Hoo…

I suppressed my somewhat heated emotions.

Then, I recalled the conversation I had with Tang Jemun-nim.

She had told me that I clearly had something I’d forgotten, and that I would have felt it through the test she showed me.

‘What could it be?’

I have no idea.

If I forgot something, it wouldn’t be Ma-geomhu-nim, nor would it be the Divine Sword.

And it certainly wouldn’t be those who had already died back then.

‘Should I look into the anomalies I experienced?’

Thinking about it differently, there was only one person who might come to mind if I really tried.

Someone flashed through my mind.

But I didn’t dwell on it.

‘No way.’

Because that was absolutely impossible.

‘…It absolutely couldn’t happen.’

More accurately, it shouldn’t happen.

To list a few anomalies from that world, the Martial Alliance’s strange behavior and Cheon-jon-nim’s movements were problematic.

However, if I had to pick the biggest event.

It would be the appearance of the Heavenly Demon.

‘What connection could I possibly have with the Heavenly Demon?’

That’s why I wasn’t focusing on that. Because the very idea of being involved with the Heavenly Demon made no sense.

However.

If I had to point out one issue there.

‘…’

The biggest problem was that I couldn’t deny it with certainty.

‘…What is this?’

What is this nagging, inexplicable feeling?

I don’t know.

Whether it was right after meeting the Heavenly Demon from another world, or the next moment after facing Tang Jemun-nim just before.

Or perhaps much earlier.

Maybe it was after I broke the vessel myself and absorbed all the Blood Qi.

At some point, I started feeling this strange unease.

And this feeling arose whenever I thought of the Heavenly Demon.

‘What the…?’

Why am I getting this feeling?

This damn feeling, mixed with Tang Jemun-nim’s words, brought a cascade of thoughts.

It’s not like I seem to have forgotten anything specific, but…

Her words are strangely weighing on my heart.

Is there really something there?

‘…With the Heavenly Demon?’

Come to think of it, there were more than a few strange things.

The Heavenly Demon was also the most likely candidate for the person who made me return.

‘Why.’

If that’s true, then how exactly, and more importantly, why did the Heavenly Demon make me return?

Did even the Heavenly Demon have some kind of intention towards me?

‘But there are too many things that don’t add up for that to be the case.’

If I recall the first time I met the Heavenly Demon.

I know her objective wasn’t me.

Around the time the Alliance formed a unit for demon hunting.

This happened when the unit went out for a mission.

That’s where I encountered the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demon slaughtered the Alliance warriors nearby at the time, as if crushing insects.

I had to flee from there with Wi Seol-ah.

Because the Heavenly Demon had attacked, aiming for the Divine Sword… Wi Seol-ah.

Although I became corrupted into a demon during that process, looking at this…

‘I wasn’t the objective.’

I could tell I wasn’t the objective.

At the time, I definitely thought so.

‘…But now?’

As time passed and now, doubts arise.

Was Tang Jemun-nim’s words the issue?

Or was something else the problem?

There was definitely something.

This thought came to me as I forced myself to calm down and rack my brain.

The fog has thinned.

I felt like the fog that had been obscuring things without my knowledge had lifted slightly.

No, maybe I didn’t even realize there was fog in the first place.

‘…I don’t know. Not yet.’

It might not be about the Heavenly Demon.

Or it might be something else entirely.

I couldn’t know right now.

‘It’s funny that I’m even thinking about this now.’

It’s ridiculous that I’m recalling things I never even considered before, just because I heard Tang Jemun-nim’s words.

‘…’

As I was lost in thought.

‘This.’

I realized something strange.

Right, why didn’t I think of this?

The questions about the Heavenly Demon.

It’s something I haven’t deeply considered until now.

Isn’t that strange?

Even though I considered it the biggest problem, I never thought deeply about it, nor did I consciously acknowledge the danger.

Why am I realizing this now?

As I processed it all, I swallowed dryly.

I had only just realized it.

That I had been intentionally avoiding thoughts and questions about the Heavenly Demon.

‘Things I subconsciously avoided whenever I tried to think about them.’

Moments I brushed off as future problems, or things I avoided by saying there were more urgent matters.

Only now do I recall that there was a problem with all those instances.

It felt like someone was forcibly blocking me.

What the…?

So why am I able to think about this now?

‘…No way.’

I remembered swallowing the tea during my recent conversation with Tang Jemun-nim.

‘Fragments of Oblivion,’ wasn’t that what she called it?

Tang Jemun-nim definitely said that.

Could it be? Did I end up like this because I consumed it?

A sense of certainty I couldn’t explain arose within me.

Grrr…

My head turned at a sudden growl.

Instinctively, I channeled energy into my body.

Is there something else here besides me?

Fwoosh-!

I ignited my flames.

‘Tsk.’

The moment I saw the brilliantly burning Azure Flames, I clicked my tongue without realizing it.

I could somehow manage the crimson flames, but colors this conspicuous were problematic.

Putting the flames aside for now, just as I was about to heighten my senses and rush towards the source of the growl.

Grrr-

“…Hm?”

With another growl, something hiding behind a pillar revealed itself.

Upon seeing its form, my eyes widened instantly.

“Blood Qi?”

Because its appearance resembled that guy I saw not too long ago.

Specifically, the dragon who had gone mad trying to possess my body.

Grrr…

Its size wasn’t as large as a house like that one was.

It was smaller than me, but its appearance was definitely similar.

Beautifully spread blue scales, as if adhering to a pattern.

Thin fur running down its back, and limbs.

Plus, its widely split snout and sharp fangs.

‘Why is something like this here?’

Before the question even formed, my body moved.

The intention was to grab it first and think later.

Whoosh-!

Twisting my body, I threw a punch at it.

Just before my flame-wreathed fist could connect with its body.

Grrr.

“…!”

Seeing its eyes, I hastily twisted my body.

Whoosh-!

KWA-AHHAK-!

My fist burrowed into a nearby pillar, igniting flames.

Deudeudeudeuk-! KUNG-!

The pillar then shattered and collapsed.

The pillar crashing to the ground made a loud noise.

I could have simply controlled and retracted the flames.

But I could only stare at the creature with eyes far more surprised than before.

Even though I was right up close, it merely tilted its head, showing no signs of attacking.

“You…”

Seeing that, I asked it in a bewildered voice.

“…Don’t tell me, are you a Jeok-su-sa?”

Hearing my words, its eyes flashed.

And then.

Grrr.

It gave a slight nod.

“…”

Seeing that, I was speechless for a moment.

The magic stone from the enemy-grade monster I caught.

The Jeok-su-sa that hatched from it.

That’s this thing?

“But why did it turn out like this?”

I had nothing to say.

Because its appearance was completely different.

At best, it was the form of a thin snake that could barely wrap around an arm.

Now, if stretched out, it was as long as my body and much thicker too.

No, aside from being long and flexible, it had become a creature entirely different in color and form.

If you ask how I recognized it as a Jeok-su-sa in that situation.

Woong.

It’s because the energy emanating from my body resonated with the creature.

Perhaps because of that? I could naturally recognize it as a Jeok-su-sa.

Grrr.

The creature nudged its snout towards me, rubbing its face against mine.

Where its thin, elongated tongue used to be, a massive tongue brushed past my cheek.

“You’re getting drool on me. You punk.”

Maybe because it grew bigger, its drool is no joke either.

‘What happened here?’

As I roughly petted it, I tried to figure out what this situation was.

It didn’t seem like I needed to think too hard.

“Is it because of me?”

Looking at those scales and how it resonates with my energy, it’s obvious why the Jeok-su-sa turned out like this.

“…Since I changed, did you change along with me?”

Grrr?

The creature tilted its head as if it couldn’t understand my words.

Despite its somewhat menacing appearance, its behavior was the same.

‘Fortunately, it seems only its appearance has changed.’

But that’s the biggest problem.

‘What am I going to do with this size?’

Things happened so fast that I hadn’t paid attention, but it’s somewhat fortunate it returned with me like this.

When it was a small snake, I could somehow hide it, but now, there’s no way to hide it.

Looking at the creature tilting its head with its whiskers dangling, I felt even more complicated.

‘What is this thing now?’

Putting aside the fact that it’s a monster born from my energy after consuming the magic stone.

Perhaps because of that, its appearance even changes according to the energy.

‘It won’t change any further from here, right?’

That would be quite frightening.

What am I supposed to do if it gets any bigger?

‘If it gets bigger….’

The image of the Blood Qi I encountered in my mind flashed by.

That one was quite large.

In terms of size, it was comparable to the Jeok-su-sa I met in the river, which was even more problematic.

‘And what about food?’

Even now, I wonder what to feed it, but if it gets bigger, that would be a problem too.

‘Ha.’

I burst out laughing without realizing it while thinking.

It was funny how I was thinking about how to feed it instead of considering abandoning it.

As I casually stroked its head, the creature diligently rubbed its head against me.

After petting it like that a few times, I turned my head.

“Hm.”

Scanning my surroundings, I suddenly spotted what I was looking for and walked towards it.

Something piled up abundantly at the edge of Vigo.

It was the Dokcheon Dan and Baekma Stone.

Fortunately, they were exactly as I first found them.

“…”

At first, I drooled at the sight of these, but now, I don’t feel the same way.

I carefully picked up one Dokcheon Dan.

“Hm….”

Can I eat this with this body?

Since I haven’t properly grasped what happened yet.

It was a situation where I hesitated slightly.

‘My martial arts.’

Is Mado Cheonheup Gong still intact?

I put down the Dokcheon Dan I was holding and casually grabbed the Baekma Stone.

Woong.

The moment I activated Mado Cheonheup Gong, I felt the energy being absorbed immediately.

It seems my martial arts didn’t change just because my body did.

‘So it’s okay to consume energy then.’

As I was checking my condition one by one.

Swooooosh.

“…!”

From somewhere, along with a floral scent, I felt a slight warmth in my body.

‘This feeling is….’

My eyes darted around, sensing familiarity.

[Groan….]

As expected. A voice I often heard echoed in my mind.

‘Noya-nim?’

[…]

I felt Shin Noya-nim arrive and tried to speak, but for some reason, Noya-nim didn’t answer.

‘Noya-nim?’

[…]

What is it?

‘No way….’

Did he disappear again this time?

Just as I was about to be engulfed by such anxiety.

[…Don’t talk to me.]

Fortunately, it seemed he hadn’t disappeared after all.

“Why is that?”

I asked, filled with questions.

[I’m in a rather embarrassing situation right now…. So don’t talk to me for a while.]

‘…Ah, okay.’

It seems something must have happened.

The voice sounded quite subdued, which bothered me a bit.

‘Noya-nim, I’m asking just in case.’

Even though he told me not to talk to him, I really had to ask this.

‘Did you perhaps get hit?’

[…]

There was no answer.

I asked half-jokingly, but was it real…?

‘Noya-nim…. No way, really….’

[W-who said I got hit!]

‘…’

He yelled out in response to my suspicion.

Judging by his reaction, it seemed he really did get hit.

I couldn’t confirm his condition since I couldn’t see his face, but…

Judging by the tremor in his voice, he seemed thoroughly reprimanded.

And the person who could discipline Noya-nim like this…

-This is…

Suddenly appeared right behind me.

-What happened here?

I could sense bewilderment and a hint of anger.

Wondering what it was, I turned my head to look.

“Ah.”

I immediately understood why Tang Jemun-nim was speaking like that.

The pillar of Vigo was broken.

Tang Jemun-nim was frowning as she looked at the collapsed pillar.

The gaze contained within seemed quite sharp.

Eventually.

-Hu-in….

Her gaze turned towards me, and the moment our eyes met, those chilling eyes…

“Haa.”

I immediately sighed and pointed somewhere with my finger.

There.

Krrung?

The Jeok-su-sa (or what used to be one) that received my gesture tilted its head.

Meeting those sparkling eyes, I shouted without a moment’s hesitation.

“I told you to be careful…! What are you going to do if you just go around breaking everything like that?!”

Just like scolding a wayward child.

Of course.

-…Hu-in?

Naturally, it didn’t work.

And for good reason…

Fwoosh….

My Azure Flames were still burning on the fragments of the pillar.