Chapter 452: Which world?

“I go by the name Mui.”

The Demon Mirror Gate suddenly opened, and the woman who emerged wearing a veil introduced herself as such.

It was strange enough that she suddenly opened a dimension and appeared, but I was focusing more on her first words than her appearance.

-I greet an existence from another world.

‘An existence from another world?’

That was a chilling statement.

Because those words felt like she knew I wasn’t from this world.

Trying my best to hide my surprise, I looked at the woman and opened my mouth.

“Are you the one looking for me?”

Was this woman the one who made the Divine Sword search for me?

If so, who could she be?

At the very least, I had never seen her before.

‘I haven’t met her in my past life either.’

Not just in my past life, but even in this one, I had never encountered a woman who gave off that kind of vibe.

This made it difficult to figure out this woman’s true identity.

‘Is this world truly not the one I know?’

I was gradually realizing that I couldn’t even dismiss it as a mere illusion anymore.

It was strange in the first place.

If this were an illusion created based on my memories,

it would be normal for it to be unable to create parts I don’t know about, but this world wasn’t like that.

This was something I could have known just a few days after falling here.

No.

It would be more accurate to say I was trying hard to ignore it, pretending not to know.

As I frowned and looked at the woman called Mui, she replied, clasping her hands politely.

“I am not qualified for that.”

“Qualified?”

What could it mean that she wasn’t qualified?

Was this woman merely a messenger?

‘Mui.’

It sounded familiar.

Of course, I knew the word ‘Mui’ itself, but why ‘Mui’ specifically?

‘Where did I hear it?’

I felt like I had definitely heard it mentioned importantly somewhere…

‘…!’

As I struggled to recall it, a memory flashed back not long after.

It was a few years ago.

Around the time I was participating in the martial arts tournament at the Yongbong Gathering.

It was near the end of my match against Jang Seon-yeon in the finals.

At that time, the Blood Demon who had descended through Jang Seon-yeon’s body had told me this:

-If you happen to meet Mui…

Did he say to tell you that he was looking for her?

The Blood Demon’s words back then definitely included the name Mui.

That means…

‘This woman is someone from the Blood Demon’s side?’

My eyes narrowed involuntarily.

I then looked towards So Geomseong.

She stood there with a nonchalant expression, showing no particular reaction to Mui’s appearance.

I could sense only a slight discomfort within her, but she didn’t seem particularly surprised.

In other words, Mui’s appearance itself wasn’t strange to her.

‘What is this?’

If the Blood Demon was truly behind the woman named Mui,

did So Geomseong also know about the Blood Demon’s existence?

Countless thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant.

As I kept biting my tongue from the sharp sensation,

“I am truly sorry to meet you in this manner.”

Mui continued speaking to me.

“…How did you know I was coming?”

“There was a prophecy. My Master proclaimed that an existence from another world would appear in this world, and commanded me to find and bring them here swiftly.”

Does that mean there was word of my appearance?

Then really.

‘This place isn’t just some simple illusion.’

Does this mean they really sent me to another world after calling it a test?

So where exactly is this place?

‘A world that resembles my past life yet is somehow different… what should I call this?’

Whatever the case.

What’s important is the reason. Why did she send me here?

I couldn’t suppress the irritation rising with the complicated situation, letting it escape my lips.

“Prophecy or whatever. How did you know it was me?”

It doesn’t matter who made the prophecy.

The problem is how you were certain I was someone from another world.

The answer to that came not from Mui, but from So Geomseong.

“…Because our energies resonated.”

Hearing her words, I glanced at her. So Geomseong spoke without looking at me.

Hearing that, I thought to myself.

‘So that’s how it is.’

This was also a reason I had already expected.

I had only gained confirmation from her words.

It meant they found out I was from another world because the energy of the Divine Sword within me resonated.

So Geomseong had directly stated she was certain it was me because of that,

and it was indeed the case, but…

‘Can that really be the reason?’

I still couldn’t quite understand this part.

Meanwhile, Mui glanced at So Geomseong after noticing the handcuffs around my wrist.

“Release them.”

As soon as she said that.

툭.

The handcuffs binding my wrists were sliced off with a seogeok-! and fell to the ground with a thump.

I looked at So Geomseong after seeing the handcuffs on the floor.

‘When did she draw it?’

She was somehow holding a sword in one hand.

She had cut the handcuffs off without me even noticing.

Moreover.

쿠웅-!

My blocked internal energy began to move, and vitality surged throughout my body.

This meant the seal blocking my dantian had also been released.

This must have been So Geomseong’s doing as well.

After moving my hands a few times to check my condition, Mui approached me.

“Given the circumstances, I can only apologize for not being able to show you a better presentation.”

Although she appeared polite on the outside, her voice and gestures were exceedingly cold.

It felt like talking to a block of wood.

“So… enough of that. What do you want from me?”

I didn’t want things to get any more complicated, so I wanted to get straight to the point.

So, in the end, what did she want from me?

Regarding this, Mui spoke cautiously, maintaining the same posture as before.

“My Master wishes to see you.”

So, in the end, she couldn’t say it herself?

The moment Mui uttered those words.

쩌저저적-!

The Demon Mirror Gate Mui had just walked through began to open again.

Surely she wasn’t asking me to follow her through there?

Seeing my strange expression, Mui continued speaking to me.

“Unfortunately, my Master is in a condition where movement is difficult, so they hope you will come visit if possible.”

She added this as an explanation, but…

“What happens if I don’t go?”

To my question about what would happen if I refused to see her Master, Mui simply looked at me without any reply.

She didn’t say I didn’t have to come.

‘Even if she speaks politely, it’s no different from a threat.’

I let out a bitter laugh.

Everyone is just so violent.

This is why I have to desperately cultivate my strength.

I shook my head, gesturing ‘no no,’ as I looked at Mui and said,

“Should I just follow you in?”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Understanding, my ass.

Whether she noticed my grimacing face or not, Mui walked towards the Demon Mirror Gate with the same gait as before.

Watching her, I followed without hesitation.

It’s for the best anyway.

Rather than continuing to worry about this unknown world, it would be faster to go ask someone who knows.

‘What kind of messed-up world this is. Let’s hear it.’

Thinking that, I stepped towards the Demon Mirror Gate.

Immediately after, I closed my eyes against the rushing light within the Demon Mirror Gate.

When I opened my eyes again.

“Hmm?”

A giant ice crystal stood before my eyes.

---

Inside a room filled with quiet silence.

A dark blue rod lay upon a wide table.

Though it looked like a shabby antique, this was the Nangong family’s treasured item, the ‘Noe-ah’, known throughout the world as one of the Five Great Swords of the Central Plains.

Setting aside how an item with only a hilt remaining could be called one of the Five Great Swords,

the eyes of the woman looking at it were chilling enough to feel like they could cut you just by meeting them.

The woman, quietly gazing at the hilt, opened her mouth as she looked at the man sitting before her.

“…Why… did you do that?”

Anger and resentment.

Her voice clearly carried those emotions.

Hearing the woman’s voice, the man looked up and stared at her.

“What are you talking about?”

“Why… did you send him…?”

At the man’s indifferent reaction, Magumhu’s beautiful brow furrowed.

“…You shouldn’t have sent him….”

“He said he would go himself. I merely respected his decision.”

“…Lies….”

Magumhu firmly denied Maje’s words.

“You… don’t know anything about respect….”

“…”

At Magumhu’s words, Maje’s face contorted.

He seemed quite displeased by her statement.

“…Unit Leader. What is this you’re doing now?”

Maje openly showed his displeasure, but Magumhu’s words remained the same.

“You shouldn’t have sent him.”

“You keep repeating the same thing. Have you truly lost your mind?”

쾅-!

The desk crumbled with a wajajak under Maje’s casual punch.

“Unnecessary emotions are mixed in. What makes you hold onto such attachment with such deep affection?”

“…”

At most, a few days.

The time spent with the young demon who appeared using the name Cheonma.

Was his name Paljeolyeop?

His name was obviously fake, and searching for information yielded nothing.

A martial artist who had overcome the barrier of Hwagyeong at that age, yet had no known background?

He claimed to have lost his family to the orthodox sects and became a demonkin for revenge, but…

No demonkin in the Black Flame Brigade believed his words.

They simply didn’t pry further than necessary because he mentioned Cheonma.

Demonkin do not trust each other.

They only trust Cheonma.

“I cannot comprehend it.”

He avoided unnecessary battles, recovered Noe-ah,

and eliminated those who seemed suspicious.

The outcome was exceptionally good, so why was Magumhu reacting like this?

Maje couldn’t understand. He was frustrated, moreover.

Magumhu’s gaze towards Maje shifted subtly.

Another emotion was added to the eyes that held anger and resentment.

Maje thought it was pity.

Just as he was about to get angry, asking why she was looking at him like that,

Magumhu looked at Maje and said,

“…The one with unnecessary emotions mixed in… isn’t me….”

“…”

At her words, Maje’s face twisted fiercely.

“…It’s you….”

콰앙-!

The shattered desk flew past Magumhu and smashed against the wall.

It was because Maje couldn’t contain his anger and threw the object.

“Unit Leader. Do not cross the line any further.”

“…”

It was a final warning.

He meant he wouldn’t let it slide if she spoke further.

Hearing this, Magumhu showed no further reaction, simply retrieving Noe-ah and taking it into her embrace.

Then, she started walking towards the door.

Just before opening the door to leave.

She left Maje with these words:

“I… will not give up on you…. No matter what happens.”

They were cryptic words.

Maje was about to raise his voice, asking what nonsense this was, but…

Magumhu had already left.

빠드드득.

The force in Maje’s clenched fist grew stronger.

Eventually.

쾅-!

His clenched fist swung, smashing forcefully into the wall.

“…”

후두두둑.

Fragments fell from the wall, covering the floor.

Maje repeatedly tried to calm his ragged breathing.

The reason he was so furious wasn’t because Magumhu questioned his actions, saying she couldn’t understand them.

It was the words Magumhu uttered one after another.

-…The one with unnecessary emotions mixed in… isn’t me….

-It’s you.

Those words literally…

pierced the very core of what Maje was desperately trying to hide.