Chapter 442: Don’t Touch!

It had already been ten days since I fell into this world.

With each day I woke up, I lost hope that I would wake up from this dream and by this point, my goal was to escape from this world by doing what the world wanted me to do.

Craack-!

I broke someone’s bones.

“Urgh.”

He died after a short groan. The word justice was written on his white outfit.

It was a martial artist of the Murim Alliance.

“…”

His neck drooped down, and his eyes became fully white. After confirming his death, I dusted off my hands.

This still felt like real life.

…How sickening…

There were many corpses around me.

Most of them were martial artists of the Alliance who wore white outfits, but there were also a few Demonic Humans here and there.

They weren’t from the Black Flame Army, but the Ghostly Sword Army instead.

As I stared at those bodies,

Dribble-

I started to feel something running down my cheek.

I wiped it with my thumb, and I saw blood.

“…”

I frowned after seeing the sight.

I knew where I was injured.

It was an injury I got because I wasn’t prepared when the martial artists of the Alliance ambushed me.

It wasn’t a well-planned ambush, nor was it because I had my guard down.

I already noticed them beforehand with my senses, and they were at most just over Peak Realm.

There was no way that I would be defeated by those bastards.

However…

I hesitated.

It was because I hesitated in killing them.

When they charged towards me, I saw despair, fear, and their desire to survive in their eyes.

Because of that, my hand paused in the air for a moment due to my hesitation.

That short moment was enough for one of their swords to skim my cheek, which was why I was currently bleeding.

…How annoying.

I was pissed off.

The fact that I was brought to this damned world, and how I was fighting in this damned war.

Even those bastards’ eyes all pissed me off.

I have to escape already.

Because of that, I felt more desperate.

I wanted to get out of this hell as soon as possible.

Step.

As I became more exhausted, I started to feel someone’s presence approaching from behind.

“Newcomer.”

“…!”

It was a sleepy voice. Inside that voice, a mysterious, ominous something within.

There was only one person who had such a voice.

“…Yes, Vice Captain.”

I bowed down when the Demonic Sword approached me.

After stopping at a distance that was a few steps away from me, she spoke in her unique tone.

“…What… are you doing…?”

“…”

“…You might… die like that.”

“I’m sorry.”

Other Demonic Humans around us looked at this situation with a puzzled look due to her suddenly scolding me, but I knew what she was referring to.

One of the corpses around us was especially more cut than the other bodies. That was the body of a martial artist who gave me the injury on my cheek.

When the bastard’s blade skimmed my cheek, the Demonic Sword unleashed her sword flux at him.

It instantly struck the bastard’s neck, and after being cut dozens of times by her attack, he died on the spot.

I felt horrified when I saw his body being cut into many pieces.

Seeing things like these made me truly realize what this world was.

Namgung Bi-ah wouldn’t have chosen such a violent method to kill someone.

She would have chosen to kill a person in one clean strike, if she had to, of course.

…Hah.

I accidentally let out an incredulous laugh at the thought.

I compared Namgung Bi-ah to Demonic Sword in the past, yet now I was trying to look for Namgung Bi-ah in the Demonic Sword.

It was a disgusting feeling. What a selfish bastard I was being.

Was I trying to pretend that none of these things happened?

Despite telling Tang Jaemoon that regrets were a burden that a person had to keep for the rest of their lives, perhaps I was the one who wanted to forget them all.

Was that why she was showing me this world?

To make sure that I won’t ever forget these memories?

If that’s the case, then that’s horrifying.

This damned world felt weirdly scary now.

“…”

After the Demonic Sword made a strange expression,

Clack-

She put her sword away and turned around.

“…Be careful.”

“Yes, I won’t make that mistake next time.”

After speaking briefly, she disappeared.

Once the Demonic Sword left, other Demonic Humans around me started to speak as if they were holding it in the whole time.

It was rather rowdy in my ears.

Then, someone came over and asked me a question.

“Uh, youngest brother.”

I still couldn’t get used to the way they called me.

“Yes?”

“…Did you have some sort of a relationship with the Vice Captain in the past by any chance?”

“…Pardon?”

What was he asking me all of a sudden?

“What do you mean by that?”

When I questioned him with a slight frown, the Demonic Human started to explain.

“The Vice Captain… I haven’t ever seen her treat someone so kindly.”

The Demonic Human didn’t say ‘Besides the Captain’ as there was no need to.

“Relationship?”

I didn’t know what gave him the thought.

“There isn’t anything like that.”

But I spoke after a smirk.

A past relationship with the Demonic Sword?

There was no way that was possible.

At the very least, she and I in this world…

We don’t know each other.

I was satisfied with that much.

The Black Flame Army’s main base was near Sichuan.

It might have been different if the Heavenly Demon War truly began, but ever since succeeding in taking over Sichuan, they weren’t tasked with anything too important.

At most, they killed off the remaining troops of the Murim Alliance that were hiding in Sichuan, just like today, or looked for any problems around the area.

However, because the Heavenly Venerable was near Sichuan, more guards were placed around the boundaries.

The fact that the Black Flame Army was on patrol was enough to know.

Each person in the Black Flame Army was a strong martial artist who rivaled the Murim Alliance’s vice captains in strength, and seventy-seven people under the Captain were strong as Elders and Lords of other clans.

The fact that people like them were on a patrol just showed how much influence the Heavenly Venerable’s appearance had.

I observed the Demonic Sword from far away as she headed to the headquarters.

The Heavenly Venerable will fight against the Demonic Sword.

I was reminded of back then.

It was none other than the Demonic Sword who faced the Heavenly Venerable as he was attracting everyone’s attention.

The Namgung Clan’s sword was used to fight against the Namgung Clan.

Moreover, it was the Demonic Sword’s goal to completely erase the Namgung Clan blood from the world.

However, there was a problem.

She didn’t succeed.

It wasn’t an easy task to win against the Heavenly Venerable.

Even if the Demonic Sword was a master who had inherited the Sword Queen title, the Heavenly Venerable was an old monster who had stood at the top for decades in the Central Plains.

There was no way that the Demonic Sword was able to win against him easily.

She knew this as well, which is why she brought all of her forces to face him.

But a problem occurred.

The Dishonored Venerable ambushed the headquarters.

As the Heavenly Venerable attracted everyone’s attention, the Dishonored Venerable attacked the main headquarters, and I faced him.

That’s where the problem occurred.

…That’s when she came to me.

Most Demonic Humans in the area died as I fought against the Dishonored Venerable, and right before I was about to be killed by him, the Demonic Sword appeared and helped me escape.

But because the Demonic Sword left her army to help me, her army fighting against the Heavenly Venerable was decimated.

The Silent Fist, who barely managed to survive, ended up losing one of his arms.

Thankfully, the Heavenly Venerable retreated after being injured.

The Dishonored Venerable who was also injured ended up being chased by the reinforcements of the Heavenly Black Army and as he was about to be attacked by the Captain of the army, Unyielding Demon, Peng Woojin appeared and saved the Dishonored Venerable.

All of these things happened because the Demonic Sword left her battle to save me.

Moreover, this led to the Demonic Sword’s death.

She fought against the Dishonored Venerable with the injury she got from the Heavenly Venerable.

We thankfully were able to escape from the Dishonored Venerable, and we didn’t lose Sichuan, but because of the injuries she got while fighting against the Heavenly Venerable and the Dishonored Venerable, she ends up dying from an unexpected attack without being able to act in time.

No.

I have to say what really happened.

The Demonic Sword was more than capable of running away.

She could’ve lived on if she wanted to.

However…

She died because of me in the end.

She came back for me, and she died for me.

What a shitty memory it was.

Did she know? I wanted to die in that moment.

At first, I hoped to die by my father’s hands, and when that failed, I wished to die in the hands of the Dishonored Venerable.

I had only desired to die in all of these fights.

I started to wonder as I looked at the Demonic Sword’s back.

…Will you make the same choice this time as well?

I already knew.

This world wasn’t any different from what I experienced in my past life. It was highly likely that the Demonic Sword was going to make the same choice. Perhaps it was possible for me to intervene and change history.

However, I wasn’t able to do anything despite knowing that.

If I change the course of events right now…

…The Celestial Sword… will die.

I clenched my eyes shut and thought to myself.

The Celestial Sword would die.

Yes, I was in that kind of situation.

That was why I wasn’t able to do anything in this situation.

Crack.

I ground my teeth.

I curled my hand into a fist as I looked at the Demonic Sword.

That was why I called this world hell.

No matter what decision I make, someone will die.

Even if this was just an illusion, it was not easy to make a choice.

The Demonic Sword’s death was a big part of my regret, but if I make the choice to save her, then the Celestial Sword would die.

It wasn’t possible for me to escape the fate of regret from this world.

But… if I let the Demonic Sword die?

Would I be okay with making the same choice I made in my original life?

Sigh…

After thinking this deeply, I was suddenly reminded of what Tang Jaemoon said.

She said it didn’t matter what decision I made, and nothing would change.

“…”

Now that I look at it, she wasn’t lying at all. Perhaps she told me this because she expected this situation to happen from the very beginning?

If that was the case, then she had an evil hobby.

It doesn’t matter what choice I make?

Fucking bullshit.

How could it not matter?

It wasn’t possible.

Even if this was all an illusion, there was no way that I could watch everything unfold when it all looked so real.

“…”

That was why I was so conflicted and exhausted.

I wasn’t able to make a choice.

Of course, there was thankfully one solution to this.

In a way, it was both the easiest and hardest route I was able to take.

But I planned to choose this method if… I had to make a choice.

Creak-

After arriving in our territory, I continued to walk with blood all over my body.

I was no longer bothered by the smell of blood that filled the area.

It was easy for me to get used to as I had lived this kind of life before.

With that thought, I arrived in the headquarters after walking through the hallway, but it for some reason felt like the stench was worse than usual.

Hmm?

It seemed like I wasn’t the only one who noticed this difference, as I started to faintly feel Combat Qi from the Demonic Sword who walked in front.

She seemed to be bothered by something.

Slam.

When the giant door opened and revealed the room, I saw other people inside.

I checked to see who they were. Compared to the Black Flame Army, they had a sharper smell of blood on them, and their killing intent was so intense that it was leaking from their bodies.

They all had swords at their waist, and I was able to know who these bastards were after seeing that.

“Hehe.”

I looked up after hearing a chuckle.

Someone was sitting in the seat that belonged to the Captain of the Black Flame Army.

His long hair reached down to the floor, and he had a grin on his face.

Chills ran down my back because of his ominous Qi and killing intent.

…That bastard.

I frowned when I saw the bastard’s face.

The people who filled this room were Demonic Humans of the Ghostly Sword Army.

That meant that the man sitting in the center seat was their ruler.

The Sword Demon.

It was the Sword Demon who was known to have an obsession with slaughter.

The Sword Demon smiled after seeing the Demonic Sword.

“It’s been a while, Demonic Sword Queen.”

“…”

The Demonic Sword responded by pulling her sword out, and she quietly whispered to the Sword Demon.

“…Come down…”

“Hmm? What did you say?”

“Come down… from there. That seat… doesn’t belong to you.”

Combat Qi started to pour out from the Demonic Sword’s body.

I felt my Dantian flinch due to our difference in strength.

Despite feeling this much Combat Qi from the Demonic Sword, the Sword Demon continued to giggle.

“Jeez, the Captain isn’t even here. Aren’t you being a bit too serious for something like this?”

“…”

Right as the Demonic Sword was about to charge her Lightning Qi after hearing his response,

Creak.

The Sword Demon got up from the seat and started to walk down.

That crazy bastard.

It has been a while since I’ve seen the Sword Demon, but he was still the same crazy bastard I remembered.

If the Silent Fist was someone who was least suited to be a Demonic Human, the Sword Demon was the complete opposite.

Step.

The Sword Demon walked down the stairs and went closer to the Demonic Sword.

“I heard that the Captain went somewhere. Do you know where he went, Demonic Sword Queen?”

“…”

She gave no response to his question. She instead continued to stare at the Sword Demon.

Because of that, the Sword Demon clicked his tongue once and spoke.

“Hmm, those fierce eyes of yours still bother me a little. You would be so incredibly beautiful if it weren’t for those eyes.”

Qi started to rise from the members of the Black Flame Army after they heard the Sword Demon.

Following them, killing intent from the Ghostly Sword Army became denser.

In this situation, I was only able to make a dumbfounded expression.

These crazy bastards.

They suddenly came here, and now they are trying to fight each other.

I didn’t even know something like this happened because I was usually outside of the territory.

As I looked at their relationship, which was much worse than I thought,

“Hmm?”

“…!”

The Sword Demon suddenly made eye contact with mine.

His eyes filled with killing intent, he gazed at me.

I then started to see amusement fill his eyes.

“A new face, huh? Who is this bastard?”

The Sword Demon took a step forward towards me with a horrifying grin.

What should I do? As I started to frown a little due to the sudden situation I was put in, the Sword Demon’s expression changed as well.

“What’s with that expression of yours? You seem not to know who I am. That’s why you dare to make that expression in front of me.”

I’m fucked.

I got on this piece of shit’s bad side.

I should’ve just been staring at the ground. What a hassle this was.

Reach-

The Sword Demon reached his hand towards me, lifted up my chin, and started to observe me.

“You guys don’t educate your people properly, which is why a bastard like this exists. Are you new? You definitely look different, but you feel so strangely similar to that man.”

I didn’t even have to ask who he was referring to.

The Sword Demon continued to speak as he frowned.

“…Because of that, I’m not fond of your eyes. If you dare to stare at me with those eyes…”

It was then.

“I shall educate you and pull them out- “

Slaaam-!

An incredible amount of Combat Qi exploded all of a sudden and sent the Sword Demon flying into a wall.

Slam-!

Craaack-!!

Dust scattered everywhere, and shattered debris from the impact fell on the Sword Demon.

It all happened in an instant.

I stared at the person who did this with shocked eyes.

Zap.

Zaaap.

The Demonic Sword continued to pour out her Combat Qi as if she had no intent to hide it after sending the Sword Demon flying into a wall.

It mixed with her Lightning Qi and her presence fully filled the room.

It felt like the environment around was crumbling because of how powerful the Demonic Sword’s presence felt.

The members of the Ghostly Sword Army couldn’t even pull their swords out in this sudden situation, and the Demonic Sword started to speak as she expanded her Qi.

“…Don’t touch… with that disgusting hand…”

The Demonic Sword spoke to the Sword Demon with a clearly angry tone, which was rare to see from her.