Chapter 130

Chapter 130

130th Episode: Deficiency I looked at Mien, who was sitting on the chair next to me. She had her glossy black hair draped over one shoulder and was looking at me with a pen and notepad in her hands. “…Are you recording this?” “Yes. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll just stay here quietly.” Mien’s eyes, illuminated by the light, were fixed on me. There was no particular worry in her gaze. I hadn’t said it was dangerous, so it was natural for her to think that way. I had no intention of betraying that expectation. Even if the process of Rebirth was dangerous, I intended to make sure she didn’t notice. “It’s going to be very boring.” “I’ve never been bored in my life. Looking back, every moment has always been meaningful.” Mien said, winking and smiling. It would be really boring. But unlike me, she had limbs, so she could go out and come back whenever she got bored. “I understand. Then…” I nodded and had Arum take the core I received from Quirkzeev and put it into my mouth.

-Thump.

The demon core, pulsating like a living cell, passed through my throat. Just one demon core. I wondered if I could complete the Rebirth with just that, but if I mixed any more types of inner energy, even the Essence-Sucking Witch’s Demonic Art would be dangerous.

-Thump.

My heart beat inside my body. There was no need to think about failure now. I would just walk and walk until I reached the end. If I collapsed and got tired, I would die. But if not, I would succeed. So there was no need to worry. // Originally, Rebirth was the process of merging martial arts and oneself by mastering internal energy. It wasn’t just about transforming into the best body, but about transforming into a body most suitable for the martial arts one had learned. That change took place in the realm of the unconscious and instinct, so it couldn’t be controlled by oneself. Among all the factors latent in the body, only the best factors were expressed, so how could the human mind control the process of the body being reconstructed? Therefore, even I couldn’t guess how my body, which had mastered the Essence-Sucking Witch’s Demonic Art, would transform. I just hoped it would stay within the bounds of common sense, but it was a little sad that I couldn’t even guarantee that. But, what could I do? That was my karma. “Hoo…” I took a deep breath and slowly closed my eyes. Then, I spread my internal energy and observed the changes taking place inside my body. There was no significant change yet. I could faintly feel the foreign presence in my stomach, but I didn’t need to worry about that now. It was probably Laufer’s seed. …In fact, I had rushed the Rebirth because of this. Since Rebirth completely changed the body, there was a possibility that the modified cells would disappear if they grew to a certain extent. It was better to attempt Rebirth when it was a little smaller than when my belly was full. With my eyes closed, I sank my consciousness deeply. Then, I drew out the demonic energy extracted from the demon core and fused it with my internal energy. Rebirth was a realm that could only be reached by completing internal energy cultivation, but that wasn’t the only way. Just as one couldn’t see the path one had taken before reaching the summit, there was a path to Rebirth that could be reached without necessarily mastering martial arts. However, it was a great paradox that the point at which it became visible was when martial arts were mastered. One could reach the summit by using a shortcut, but the shortcut was only visible upon reaching the summit. However, that was why I could use this method. The previous owner of my memories, the Essence-Sucking Witch, was already a master who had achieved Rebirth, so she could realize what kind of shortcut her martial arts had. The martial arts I had learned were quite different from hers, but it was much better than not knowing. As I circulated the inner energy mixed with demonic energy, an ominous and eerie energy spread from inside my body. Passing through Cheonchu, Gimun, and Hokjung, and reaching Hyeolhae, Haegye, and Yanggu, the poison gradually intensified, and as it circulated back to Gyeonu, Gisa, and Cheonchu, it gradually increased in intensity. …I wondered if I had given her something too good. It was almost similar to Kwaidon, but it felt that way not because of the poison, but because of the high amount and quality of demonic energy. “Huu…” I tried to suppress the slight nausea. It wasn’t that I couldn’t open my mouth, but it was difficult to lose focus. // Perhaps it was because my consciousness was deeply submerged. I didn’t know how much time had passed. And during that time, I was completing the Essence-Sucking Witch’s Demonic Art, as if filling in the empty parts. The Iron Body Armor was not yet at a very high level, but the Essence-Sucking Witch’s Demonic Art was different because I had learned it as my main skill. Even if people talked about the supreme realm of martial arts, logically speaking, Rebirth was ultimately a threshold. It was the threshold at which the body accepted and accommodated the overflowing martial arts. If the balance between martial arts and the body was properly maintained, it was a phenomenon that could be intentionally induced. And the demonic energy extracted from the demon core that I had obtained now, along with the martial arts I had diligently learned for the past four years, was enough to reach such a threshold. However, that was if there was enough time to endure. The more I circulated my internal energy and accumulated the Essence-Sucking Witch’s Demonic Art, the more strongly the demonic energy gnawed at my body. If I hadn’t had the essence I had gathered for four years, I wouldn’t have been able to endure it and would have died spitting blood. And even if I had diligently practiced martial arts for four years, if it was too late, I would still have to spit blood and die. Either achieve Rebirth and adapt to the demonic energy, or fail and die. It was a scene that reminded me of a typical game of chicken. It was a bit unfair in that only I would die if I failed.

-Weeeee.

At some point, a ringing started in my ears. This was probably not a good sign. The problem wasn’t just that. My body was gradually getting colder due to the demonic energy that had been gnawing at me like poison. There was still a long time before I reached Rebirth, but I could feel it instinctively. I would probably die before that. I realized that, but I couldn’t stop. The thought that it would be better to open my eyes and look at the world before I died crossed my mind countless times, but I couldn’t do that. It was partly because of the hope that maybe, and partly because of the resignation that it didn’t matter anymore. So, I was dying alone in a deeply sunken world. …My consciousness was gradually fading. In my fading consciousness, memories of my time in this world flashed through my head like a panorama. Looking at them, I thought that life wasn’t so sweet. It was fun in its own way, but I didn’t want to experience it again. That was probably how impressions were. It was good to experience it once, but I didn’t want to do it twice. Surprisingly, the perverted demon in my head was quiet. Had it been crazy all along, and only returned to its senses right before death? Looking back on my memories, I wondered if I had really done such things. Seeing this, I wondered if being obsessed with sex was not originally my personality, but because of the Essence-Sucking Witch’s Demonic Art. It was a martial art that I had built up by pouring so much essence into it, so it was understandable. Still, if I had enjoyed it in my own way, it wasn’t bad. I thought I had experienced a truly spectacular life for someone who had been reincarnated as a woman. But I didn’t want to go crazy again, so I didn’t want to be reincarnated. The next time I met the Ultra-dimensional Fate Administrator, should I just tell him to shut up and send me to the afterlife? I was continuing to circulate my internal energy to achieve Rebirth, but my body was already dying. It was now a complete failure, but my heart wasn’t heavy. Just the thought that it was all over now, and a little regret for the people who were left behind. The last thought that came to mind was, of course, the memories of my previous life. The memories of spending time with my family before the accident. …I wonder if they’re all doing well. I hoped so. My breathing gradually slowed and stopped. Was this what it meant to be truly dark? …I couldn’t see anything anymore. Nothing. // And, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, I opened my eyes in bed. “…..?” What was this? I blinked for a while, looking at the ceiling. The ceiling was still the same. Pekus in the underground plaza. My bedroom, located in the basement there. I was sure I had failed. Why was I alive? I was suspicious of that fact, but let’s be thankful for being alive for now. I thought I didn’t want to be reincarnated before I died, but that was a story for when I was dead, and in fact, it was true that this world was good even if I rolled in a pile of shit. “…..” I naturally propped myself up on the bed with my arms and looked around. How much time had passed? The scenery in the room was the same, but Mien was gone. I told her she could go back if she got bored, and it seemed she really went back. “Hmm…” As I thought that and was about to rest my chin on my hand, I felt something strange. …I have arms? No, I had succeeded, so it was natural that my arms had grown back. But it was still touching. Being dismembered, if such a terrible thing had continued, I would have been really depressed. Even if I had Arum, living a life of wriggling around and only having sex without limbs, just thinking about it was terrible. I’d rather die than do that. I let out a sigh of relief and looked down at my arm. “Haa, I’m glad…or am I?” And then I realized that something was very wrong. The smooth arm was as glossy as before, and even I thought it was pretty. But that wasn’t the important thing. The skin was purple. …Why? Why? I stared at my purple arm for a while, then muttered blankly. …In Korean. “…What the hell is this?” ———= Author’s Notes ———= Thank you for the coupon, ddd. You’re back…