Chapter 905: Worya (Moonlit Night).

“Oblivion….”

After hearing those words, I had to stare blankly for a long time.

‘A punishment?’

That Mother received punishment for failing to fulfill her karma.

And that punishment was oblivion?

“…Is that statement true?”

“At least, as far as I know, it is so.”

“…”

Noya’s words weren’t easily believable. However, there was no reason not to believe them either.

I knew the damn world was capricious. If Mother truly received punishment, then the reason was also clear.

‘Failing to fulfill her role as a disaster.’

Thinking back, that must have been the cause.

Only then did I understand.

‘Why Mother looked at me with those eyes.’

How could she look at me with such an emotionless gaze?

It felt like I had heard the answer regarding this.

The problem was.

‘Then, the Mother I met?’

What about the Mother who appeared during the incident at the Divine Dragon Hall and the moment I faced the Blood Demon? She was definitely Mother. And the being I met this time, the owner of the Myriad Realms, was indeed Mother.

The Blood Demon’s reaction proved it, and I was also convinced of it, but…

‘What is this?’

I couldn’t understand.

At the same time, I remembered what Mother told me before I lost consciousness.

‘She told me not to think about finding her.’

No way, did she say that anticipating this situation?

‘Then, does that mean Mother knew I would come to this world?’

No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t see it any other way.

Mother knew I would come to the Myriad Realms.

How?

‘Was there some kind of device? Or did Mother intentionally send me? No. It doesn’t seem intentional.’

I judged it wasn’t the latter. To think so, Mother’s reaction was strange. Furthermore, if Mother was aware of her condition, I believed she wouldn’t have sent me like this.

Then.

‘…It must be the former in the end.’

What difference caused this to happen? I racked my brain, trying to find the changes.

My life is so shitty that there isn’t just one or two things bothering me, but…

I tried to determine it focusing mainly on recent events.

‘The first one, I guess,’

Their space. The tree I touched in the basement.

As soon as my hand touched it, it crumbled and was absorbed into my body arbitrarily. I wondered what kind of situation this was, but was that the problem?

‘Or maybe….’

The Inner Elixir called the Cintamani that the Master of the Stream Spring Gate mentioned. Was consuming that the problem?

‘That’s possible.’

What’s more, it wasn’t like I ate it intentionally. The moment I opened my mouth, it suddenly came down my throat, so I swallowed it.

Just looking at this, how strange is this situation?

‘…But if this isn’t it either.’

A white flame flashes in my mind.

White Flame.

Could the problem be that I gained the ability to emit White Flames because of the Cintamani incident? If even this isn’t it….

‘Mastery of the Nine Flame Wheel Art….’

The Nine Flame Wheel Art, which had remained at the Ninth Stage, finally reached Mastery.

If anything was the biggest change, it was this.

‘Because it was something I couldn’t even reach in my past life.’

Even after devouring so many monsters and accumulating a vast amount of internal energy, I remained stuck at the Ninth Stage.

In this life, I finally reached the realm I couldn’t attain.

‘I wonder if perhaps that was really the problem….’

‘If that’s the case, it’s strange.’

There was one major obstacle to simply seeing this as the cause.

‘If this was the cause, why didn’t it trigger immediately?’

There’s a clear time lag. I thought maybe it triggers after a time lag, but looking at it that way, it felt like just forcing a connection.

‘I can’t conclude it’s not the cause, but….’

If it’s like this, rather than seeing it as the exact cause.

‘It seems right to see it as the condition being met.’

The condition was met, and the result occurred upon facing something.

Then, could that ‘something’ here possibly be….

‘The Blood Demon?’

Facing the Blood Demon. Could that be it? The thought suddenly crossed my mind.

Of course, this is ultimately just delusion, but considering the possibilities, this seemed the most likely.

‘…’

“Was the Blood Demon really the problem?”

Moreover….

‘If my delusion is correct, it means someone anticipated this and set it up.’

Whether it was the White Flames or the Mastery of the Nine Flame Wheel Art. I don’t know what it was, but if that were the case, it meant a phenomenon was created anticipating me ending up like this.

“How could that be possible?”

‘If I hadn’t reached this point, it wouldn’t have happened.’

“Did Mother, or some other being, have confidence that I would reach this far?”

Or perhaps.

‘Did they believe?’

“That I would reach this point. Did they believe that?”

‘No way.’

I shook my head.

It couldn’t possibly have been like that.

“In fact, in my past life….”

“Oh.”

I stopped recalling and widened my eyes.

“…No way?”

“It couldn’t be, but…”

“Could it be that they even anticipated my regression?”

‘That’s crazy talk.’

“Of all the things I’ve thought of, this is the least believable.”

‘To think they prepared things anticipating even my regression. It’s not even funny.’

“If that were the case, it would be an unfathomably terrifying thought.”

‘…It feels like my life is a design intended by someone.’

“It shouldn’t have happened, and it shouldn’t be happening.”

Gritting my teeth, I pushed away the thoughts that came to mind and spoke to Noya.

“Noya.”

“Yes.”

“Even if everything Noya said is true. I still have questions. Specifically, there’s a contradiction in Noya’s words.”

“A contradiction?”

Noya’s brow furrowed slightly. Seeing that, I asked what I wanted to ask.

Yes, there was one very bothersome contradiction in Noya’s words.

“If the Blood Demon’s world had problems and invaded the Central Plains as a disaster… I see Mother’s situation as similar. This is my question.”

“A disaster whose own world disappeared invaded the Central Plains?”

“It sounds plausible as a story, but if so, what about Mother?”

“The Myriad Realms still exist. There’s no reason for Mother to specifically come as a disaster to the Central Plains, is there?”

“It’s a question and a contradiction.”

“It was something that bothered me from the first time I heard it.”

When I asked about it, Noya nodded.

“That is also correct. Logically speaking, it’s a valid question.”

“Then….”

“However, the Myriad Realms are different.”

“Huh?”

“The Myriad Realms are different?”

“The reason the world specifically sent your mother to the Central Plains is also like that. Her being the ruler of the Myriad Realms must have been the reason.”

“…Please explain in more detail.”

“You see, the existence known as a ‘Ruler’. Isn’t as outstanding as one might expect.”

The topic of Rulers suddenly came up, but I didn’t interrupt.

Because I figured there was a reason for bringing it up.

“The lives of the world are connected to the Ruler, but it means the Ruler isn’t necessarily an overwhelmingly strong being. It’s just that they are born that way.”

“Born that way?”

“Yes, that’s what a Ruler is.”

“It was incomprehensible.”

And I couldn’t understand why he was bringing that up now.

Just then.

“Listen, kid. A Ruler. Usually, there’s only one Ruler above the lifeforms of a world.”

“…What does that mean?”

“As I’ve said before, the Myriad Realms are a place where all sorts of lifeforms gather. So.”

Noya said, touching his neck as if weary.

“Do you really think there’s only one Ruler in the Myriad Realms?”

“…!”

I held my breath. What he means is.

“…Does that mean there are multiple Rulers in the Myriad Realms?”

“Yes. More precisely… it’s a situation where multiple ones must arise.”

“They are born that way.”

That must have been the meaning behind those words.

“However, the Myriad Realms and the world don’t desire that, so they impose conditions when accepting them into the Myriad Realms under the guise of ‘consideration’.”

Noya spread two fingers.

“One is to pledge loyalty to the Ruler of the Myriad Realms.”

“The second is.”

“To become part of the Moonlit Night clan of the Myriad Realms.”

“…Moonlit Night?”

“It refers to those who originally existed in this world. If that happens,”

“Does that mean other Rulers won’t appear?”

“That’s what they say. However….”

Noya moved and stroked Kkureungi’s fur.

The creature was lying on the floor, showing no reaction.

“There is one other Ruler whom she uniquely acknowledged. It must be because that existed that she could receive karma and descend to the Central Plains.”

“What do you mean… another Ruler?”

“Aren’t you seeing it right now?”

“Yes?”

I turned my gaze and stopped, seeing something.

“There definitely was.”

“A being that gave off a distinct presence, like when I saw Mother or faced the Blood Demon.”

“…Kkureungi?”

“Yes. It’s Kkureungi.”

[….]

The creature reacted slightly to being called. Its eyes looked quite displeased, but within them, it felt like… a sense of resignation.

“This thing is also a Ruler?”

“Saying ‘this thing?’ But…”

‘Indeed….’

“Seeing how it fought against Mother, it seems okay to call it that….”

“As I said earlier. You can’t simply dismiss a Ruler as just a strong being. It’s more accurate to say they generally appear strong.”

“If Kkureungi is a Ruler, then how can it possibly exist?”

“Because it’s needed.”

Noya stopped stroking Kkureungi.

“Everywhere needs darkness. Not the night, but darkness.”

“…What does that mean?”

To my question, Noya sighed softly. Exhaustion was evident on his face.

Why did his expression suddenly turn grim?

Before I could even wonder, Noya’s words reached me.

“If she manages the surface. This one means the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“The Myriad Realms might have things that could become Rulers. Or things that refused to become Moonlit Night. A being was needed to manage those things. Not only that….”

[Grrr.]

“Something to contain and burn the vanished things would also have been necessary.”

“…Yes?”

At his words, my eyes widened like saucers.

What that meant was….

“A very, very deep pit. Something that couldn’t be found even if one tried to examine and search inside. A place from which one should never be able to escape the moment they enter.”

“Could Kkureungi be…?”

“The world designated that as the Bottomless Pit (無低坑). And this one…”

“Is the one who contains and erases beings that vanished without a Ruler.”

In other words.

“Is the Ruler of that Bottomless Pit.”

“If you think about it, it meant the source of monsters.”

---

The sun is gradually setting.

I couldn’t feel the sunset, but seeing the sun setting, I could cautiously predict.

Watching the night gradually approach, I sat there expressionlessly.

“…”

My face showed no thoughts, but in reality, it was close to feeling broken from too many thoughts flooding in.

“Fucking life.”

Then, I quietly lamented.

“Can life be this fucking shitty?”

I kept brushing my dry face with my hands.

“I’d felt it since long ago, but it seemed like the more I dug, the worse things kept popping out.”

“Damn it. Can’t they give me something I can handle?”

“Hoo….”

“Why is there nothing easy?”

“Past life and this life…. Ah, if you think about it, isn’t this life harder?”

“It seems so. Just when I thought I could endure it a little, they kept adding something, and it only got worse over time.”

“Damn it. If you’re going to do something, at least finish it properly.”

“On top of that, Noya, who was explaining things, suddenly looked exhausted and disappeared again, saying he had to go somewhere.”

“After Noya disappeared, that Kkureungi fellow glanced at me and slipped back into its crevice.”

“Since it felt awkward just staying there, I eventually had to return to my quarters.”

“He told me to rest, but telling me to rest when I’m in this state. It’s absurd.”

“Hoooo….”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep at all. But I didn’t particularly feel like moving either. It means I’m mentally exhausted to that extent.”

“So.”

“…Can’t you just leave me alone for a bit? I’m not really in the mood right now.”

“As I spoke, I looked somewhere. I wasn’t talking to myself. It was directed at the guy watching me from afar the moment I returned to my quarters.”

“Hearing my words, the peeping guy slowly revealed himself.”

“The guy with black hair and beast ears.”

“It was Gu Bong, whom I met earlier.”

“As soon as I saw his face, I said with a sigh.”

“What business do you have with me… Ah, never mind.”

“It’s too bothersome to even ask something like this.”

“Thinking so, I got up.”

“Actually, there was nothing to ask. Looking at his face, I couldn’t help but know naturally.”

“Looking at Gu Bong, I said.”

“Your eyes have been bothering me since noon. Guys who look at me with those eyes usually have something specific they want.”

“It’s something I’ve experienced throughout my life, and it’s infuriating because it’s never been wrong.”

“As I glared at Gu Bong with a deeply furrowed brow.”

“He opened his mouth to me.”

“Earlier, the Sect Leader said it was okay, but I disagree.”

“I stared at him calmly, as if daring him to continue.”

“No matter how much you are a long-awaited guest of the Sect Leader, your attitude is unacceptable. At least here at Hua San.”

“Hearing that, I burst out laughing involuntarily.”

“Damn it, this isn’t even a mountain, let alone Hua San. What right do you have to talk about Hua San when you haven’t even been to a real volcano? You probably don’t even know what a volcano is.”

“…Do not insult Hua San.”

“Why would I insult Hua San? I like it there too. If anything, I was teasing you… No, that’s not it either.”

“I waved my hands dismissively as I spoke. It’s exhausting to continue this wordplay.”

“So I decided to get straight to the point.”

“So, are you going to fight me or not?”

“Gu Bong’s eyes widened upon hearing that. Was he surprised to be asked so directly again?”

“However, his surprise was brief. Gu Bong narrowed his eyes and said to me.”

“As the foremost disciple of Hua San, I will teach you manners-“

“Your tongue is annoyingly long. You mean you want to fight, right?”

Crack.

“As I clenched my fist, the sound of bones cracking echoed.”

“Let me tell you in advance. I’m quite heated right now, so I might not be able to control my strength properly. Will that be okay?”

“…”

“At my words, Gu Bong’s brow furrowed intensely.”

“Such provocations won’t work on m-“

“Gu Bong couldn’t finish his sentence.”

CRUNCH!

“Gasp!”

“Yeah, sure then.”

“My fist was already burrowing into his abdomen.”

“Feeling the precise sensation, I tilted my head.”

“It didn’t go as deep as I expected.”

“He was harder than I thought.”

“Perhaps that’s why?”

‘He’ll do nicely as a punching bag.’

“The thought crossed my mind before I knew it.”