Chapter 457: Change (Change)

A woman sits on the devastated ground with a somewhat vacant expression.

“…”

Along with the heavily subdued air, the woman’s eyes also look weary and heavy-lidded.

Click.

Clutching the sword placed before her, the woman used it as a lever to push herself up.

Because she couldn’t just sit there just because her body and mind were exhausted.

She couldn’t show any weakness.

Recalling that resolve, she barely managed to get up.

“Haa….”

As she was getting up, her head spun slightly. It seemed the backlash had hit because she had tried to forcefully use her energy.

The pain was worse because she had stopped trying to draw it up.

“Cough-!”

So Geomseong coughed violently for a moment. Blood mixed with the cough stained the floor.

She glanced around, surveyed her surroundings, and wiped her lips.

“…”

Tap, tap.

Immediately after wiping away even the bloodstains on the floor with her toes.

At the same time, she took out a small bamboo tube from her bosom and gulped down its contents.

Only after finishing the entire tube could she let out a sigh.

“….”

She looked around with dried-out eyes.

Powerful residual energy was still burning the ground.

Trees, uprooted and swept away by the wind pressure, lay fallen in all directions.

Evidence of the fierce battle.

Checking her condition, So Geomseong recalled the situation just before.

It wasn’t a review of the battle. She had long passed the point where such a thing was necessary.

Nor was it about the regret of letting the Sword Empress slip away.

‘If there was any regret…’

So Geomseong recalled.

The young man who appeared right before the fight with the Sword Empress and stopped the battle.

“…”

The prophesied figure the Dancer had commanded her to bring.

It was the ‘order’ to take the main force of the Black Flame Brigade and bring back one of the people present there.

Without providing any description of his appearance or details about who he was.

So Geomseong acted according to the words that said she would find out when she went.

As expected, she dealt with the demonic beings.

And furthermore, she met him.

The prophesied figure the Dancer had mentioned.

Just as she had said, she knew immediately.

‘So that’s what she meant by ‘finding out.’

How could she not know?

He possessed an aura that couldn’t possibly exist anywhere else under the same sky.

And it seemed the young man knew about that aura as well.

The resonance was so deep. And, it was sorrowful.

‘…’

Even if his face was different.

Even if his way of speaking and his scent were different.

She could tell he was the anomaly the Dancer was looking for.

And.

So Geomseong could also tell who he was.

How could she not know?

It was impossible not to know.

Of course, it wasn’t something easily believable.

Because it was strange for two identical people to exist under the same sky.

That’s why she couldn’t rashly step forward.

‘…’

She thought of the young man who had stood between her and the Sword Empress, stopping the fight.

So Geomseong couldn’t bring herself to stop the young man who left while holding the slowly collapsing Sword Empress.

Only, a brief eye contact at the moment he was leaving.

The lingering thought about the question she couldn’t ask then remained faintly on So Geomseong’s lips.

-What is your name?

The answer she hadn’t received last night.

If the young man had answered then, what would he have said?

Would he have spoken the name So Geomseong was thinking of?

Or would he have given a different answer?

Whatever it was, it was already too late.

“…”

Because she hadn’t stopped the young man who left with the Sword Empress.

No.

It would be more accurate to say she couldn’t bring herself to stop him.

So Geomseong did not stop him.

She shouldn’t have let him go like that.

For future events, she should have captured the Sword Empress right there and then, but…

The moment she met his eyes, she couldn’t.

‘…Why?’

Why did he look at her with those eyes?

The tenderness and inexplicable worry etched into his pupils enveloped So Geomseong’s heart.

A gaze she had never seen from the him she knew.

Why did he look at her like that?

She wanted to ask.

If you know me, if the aura you possess truly matches my expectations.

What kind of relationship do we have in your memory?

The reason she couldn’t ask that, despite wanting to…

…is because the burdens on her back are too heavy.

“…”

Right after wiping away the remaining bloodstains from her lips.

So Geomseong scanned the spot where the young man had disappeared.

A strong backlash would come soon.

It wouldn’t be for long, but she needed to rest, so she had to quickly deal with the situation and head somewhere without people.

“Ah….”

I’m tired.

Such a thought suddenly crossed So Geomseong’s mind.

And then she immediately erased it.

Because she couldn’t afford to be tired.

Thinking that, she straightened her body rigidly.

As she tried to move her feet, forcing her gaze to stay firm.

“Is it alright to just leave it as it is?”

“…!”

A chilling voice was heard.

So Geomseong turned her gaze to look at the owner of the voice.

Cheonjun watched So Geomseong, his characteristic blue eyes chillingly cold.

“…Cheonjun…?”

“This is incomprehensible.”

Crackle.

Demonic energy bloomed from Cheonjun’s body.

“There was clearly an opportunity, so why did you do that?”

“…”

“Or perhaps, were you trying to give this old man an opportunity?”

Cheonjun spoke with a smile, but his voice was filled with a distant killing intent.

Gradually, Cheonjun’s body began to float upwards.

The restrained demonic energy began to flow only around Cheonjun, but So Geomseong couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat from the overwhelming pressure.

“What a shame…. If I had arrived a little sooner, it would have been easier.”

“Cheonjun… What are you… Wait…!”

“Permission has been granted.”

“…!”

At Cheonjun’s words, So Geomseong’s eyes widened.

“Since His permission has been granted. There is no longer any reason to hold back.”

At his words, So Geomseong bit her lip.

Because she immediately understood the meaning behind those words.

“Decide. Whether you will come with me or stay here.”

“…”

So Geomseong couldn’t give any answer to Cheonjun’s words.

Seeing her reaction, Cheonjun also shook his head without a word.

“Please. I hope this hesitation you feel now doesn’t persist until the very end.”

Kuuung-!

Cheonjun, leaving those words behind, wore a stoic expression and flew away rapidly, becoming one with the demonic energy.

At this, So Geomseong tried to shout something to stop Cheonjun, but…

“Ghk…!”

At that moment, the backlash that began to surge hit her, and she finally had to kneel.

“Gasp… Gasp!”

With her rapidly worsening breath and blurring vision, So Geomseong tried desperately to regain her grip on the sword, but…

She ultimately failed and lost consciousness for a moment.

---

A forest path entering Sichuan. With the sun behind my back, I ran like mad.

The speed was quite fast, so the scenery was changing relentlessly.

Even in that situation, I moved my feet like mad.

‘How much further do I have to go?’

My destination is the center of Sichuan, right now.

Damn it, I couldn’t know the geography because my eyes were covered during transport.

I was just running, vaguely thinking it must be this way.

‘Ah, shit.’

Originally, I had planned to move to another region, hide my tracks, and observe the situation for a bit.

‘What the hell is this situation?’

Because of the guy riding on my back, I can’t do that anymore.

The Thunder King… no, the Sword Empress, who had been wildly wielding lightning until just moments ago, was now slung over my back.

“Hoo… hoo…”

Steady breathing could be heard by my ear.

It seems the Sword Empress has lost consciousness for a moment.

‘Is it the backlash?’

It seems the backlash hit because she had just reached the Thunder King Manifestation state.

How surprised was I when she collapsed right after seeing me, saying it was fortunate.

‘…That means her body was truly at its limit.’

I knew that the artifact called ‘Neuro-Demon’ caused significant backlash to the user, but…

It’s not like the Sword Empress couldn’t handle it.

The reason things are like this now must be because she used the Neuro-Demon when she was already at the absolute limit.

‘So why.’

My teeth grind involuntarily.

There was no need to go this far.

If you die, it’s the end.

From my perspective, having experienced regression, anything is possible, but I thought something like that wouldn’t happen to the Sword Empress.

So I just wish she’d live well.

Stop throwing your life away like this.

At the very least, I wish she wouldn’t do this for my sake.

‘Damn it.’

Feeling the Sword Empress’s light weight, I scowled.

Is she even eating properly?

Why is she so light, making me annoyed.

I put more strength into my toes.

Because my goal right now was to get out of this place.

Meanwhile, I glanced back.

‘…So Geomseong.’

I recalled making eye contact with So Geomseong while urgently supporting the collapsing Sword Empress.

Unlike what I expected, that she would somehow try to stop me, So Geomseong just looked at me with a frown.

Was she trying to let me go?

Judging by the fact that she didn’t make any move even as I leaped out of there, that seems likely.

Because if she had wanted to catch me, I definitely couldn’t have escaped her grasp.

However.

As for why she let me go, I really didn’t know.

‘Is the you here somehow different?’

Just as she said it was another world, it’s possible her personality differs from the Divine Sword Master I know.

Even if she looked no different.

“…Nnngh….”

Just then, I felt a stirring behind me.

“Are you conscious?”

“…”

I called out tentatively, but there was no answer.

Is she still unconscious?

‘So should I just head to the main base like this?’

Since I couldn’t do anything else with the Sword Empress, heading to the main base was the top priority for now.

The problem is….

‘What explanation should I give.’

What explanation am I supposed to give when I get there in this state.

‘…No, maybe it’ll be okay.’

After all, the Sword Empress recklessly came to save me and stirred everything up.

She just saved me.

But she used too much power and fainted, and I brought her back.

If I put it that way, maybe they’ll accept it, but…

‘It’s impossible….’

Considering the one who has to hear this is none other than ‘me’, there’s quite a big problem.

Putting aside the fact that the Sword Empress recklessly came to save me.

The issues include the fact that the Martial League wanted me, and that the Sword Empress is in this state while I’m perfectly fine.

‘Should I just blurt it all out?’

Just straight to the face.

Actually, I am you.

I came from another world.

Nice to meet you, you idiot.

I really want to just yell that out, but…

‘…Will it work?’

If it doesn’t work, it’ll be the worst.

And I could safely assume it definitely wouldn’t work.

Because knowing that bastard’s personality, there’s no way he’d believe it.

The only saving grace is.

‘He won’t kill me, right?’

Seeing as I returned unharmed, he’ll probably assume I have backing.

Besides, given that I’m a demon, he won’t kill me outright.

So Geomseong herself wanted it too.

And ultimately, I returned alive with the Sword Empress.

‘…However.’

The problem here is that in this case, there’s a high probability the report will go up to the Heavenly Demon.

If things had gone further than this, it would have truly reached the point where the Heavenly Demon needed to be informed.

If that happens.

‘The Heavenly Demon himself might come.’

Meaning the sky of the main sect might appear in Sichuan to confirm the anomaly.

Then things would really go down the drain.

I had to escape or resolve this situation before that happens.