Chapter 531: The Primordial Monster.

-What is the relationship with the Blood Demon?

At Namgung Myung’s sudden remark, I felt my mind go ice cold.

The Blood Demon?

‘Why here too.’

Whenever trouble brews, it always gets linked to the Blood Demon.

To think that even the state my Brain Core ended up in made me think of the Blood Demon, why?

So, asking why he said that, I was about to ask Namgung Myung,

[That’s enough….]

Suddenly, Elder Shin Noyya blocked me.

[Let’s go now.]

‘Noyya?’

It was strange enough that he blocked me, but to tell me to leave mid-conversation, I was taken aback.

It wasn’t just anything, it was something related to the Blood Demon.

I felt like I absolutely had to hear it, but leave like this?

As I wondered what was going on,

[When we get back, I’ll explain. For now, let’s go.]

‘…’

From that, I could feel it.

Shin Noyya knew something.

And furthermore.

‘This is something that shouldn’t be heard here.’

The fact that Noyya deliberately cut me off meant there was a good reason for it.

I had to choose.

Whether to insist on hearing it here,

or trust Noyya.

What choice did I have to make? The answer was obvious anyway.

“…We shall meet again next time.”

I chose Noyya’s intention. There was no hesitation.

After all, coming all this way, not being able to trust Shin Noyya was the problem itself.

“So. What was that about?”

Leaving the Namgung Trio and Woo Hyuk behind, I returned to the room. And I couldn’t even hear why Namgung Bi-ah, who was rather important, had rejected the Brain Core.

My mind and body were both exhausted. As much as I wanted to lie down right away, I still had to ask.

[…]

As soon as I asked the question upon entering the room, Noyya remained silent.

Was he choosing his words, or was he unable to speak?

“Noyya.”

Normally, thinking it might be something he couldn’t speak about, I would have held back, but.

Now, I had to ask.

It wasn’t just anything, it was related to the Blood Demon, so I needed to know even more.

He recalled the Blood Demon upon seeing me.

That there was nothing that made me as sensitive as this, Noyya would know best.

So, I waited.

Because I had faith that he would surely give me an answer, I had to wait.

I thought that if I waited, he would give me an answer,

and sure enough.

[…Youngster.]

Shin Noyya began to speak.

“Yes.”

Woong.

As I answered, I unfolded the barrier.

Because there were more than a few martial artists gathered around.

They were likely martial artists sent by the Poison King.

It wasn’t strange.

Given that a major incident had occurred, it was to protect the guests, and also likely for surveillance.

It didn’t matter.

Now, I could easily avoid eyes like those, as I could avoid them anytime.

Since others couldn’t hear Noyya’s words, honestly, it wouldn’t matter even if I didn’t put up the barrier,

‘It’s just that I need to feel a bit more comfortable.’

That way, I feel even a little more at ease.

I also wanted to avoid rumors spreading that the crazy guy from Gu Clan was talking to himself.

Ah, well, since the rumor about me being crazy had already spread anyway, maybe it doesn’t matter.

‘…It doesn’t matter either way, though.’

The rumor about me being crazy was actually convenient.

No matter what I did, they’d just dismiss it as ‘he’s crazy’, because that’s how people usually reacted.

‘I should do even crazier things from now on.’

I was confident it was something I was best at.

As I was firmly making that resolution,

[Before I explain this… there’s something I need to say first.]

Noyya began his story.

[Youngster, you…]

As I listened, the first thing I heard was.

[What do you think a Treasure (貴物) is?]

It was a somewhat unexpected question.

*******************

What is a Treasure (貴物)?

There are various definitions, but ultimately,

things that possessed special powers attached to specific objects, were called Treasures.

Like the Brain Core or the Spirit Stone, they also served as symbols for sects or clans.

There was even a time when a family’s prestige was determined by how many Treasures they owned, that such a time existed.

If you ask how merely the number of objects could lead to such a thing,

the fact that Treasures, were things that humans could not create with their own power, was crucial.

Why did they become symbols?

Why did they maintain value as assets?

It all came down to, whether or not they could be created by human power.

Special objects gain value.

The fewer and rarer they were, the higher their value became.

If you ask why Treasures are Treasures, it’s not just because they possess special powers,

but, as their name suggests, they are called Treasures because they are precious.

Ah, of course…

‘Later on, there will be someone who creates Treasures, though.’

Just five or six years from now. There was one person who would create artificial Treasures.

It was borderline whether to call them Treasures, but their emergence caused quite a stir.

Because it was the birth of new Treasures, which are now rarely seen.

‘But that’s not important right now.’

So, was that the question, asking if I knew what Treasures were?

From my perspective,

“…Weird objects.”

No other word came to mind.

Isn’t that right?

Swords that spew out sword energy when you infuse them with power,

bandages that absolutely never break,

or mysterious rocks, etc.

They were all clearly abnormal objects. In my opinion, no other word fit better.

Hearing this answer, Noyya chuckled and said,

[You’re not wrong. In fact, it’s quite accurate. So… let’s move on to another question.]

[When do you think Treasures first appeared?]

“Huh?”

When do I think Treasures first appeared?

‘…Come to think of it?’

When did these things come into existence?

By the time I was born, the existence of Treasures was already widespread.

Historically, they had been around for hundreds of years.

‘…I don’t recall ever learning when Treasures first came about.’

I just knew that such objects existed in the world.

I had never heard how or when they came to be.

I never bothered to wonder about it either.

Because the existence of Treasures was common knowledge.

But then,

the fact that Noyya was asking me this now,

“…Are you saying the Blood Demon and Treasures are somehow related?”

With the Blood Demon (血魔) who appeared centuries ago,

and the Treasures prevalent today, does it mean there’s some connection?

To this question, Noyya,

[I’m not certain. Namgung Myung guy probably isn’t either.]

gave a somewhat ambiguous answer.

‘Not certain.’

Not being certain meant, he couldn’t definitively say no.

“…Then, why did you mention Treasures specifically?”

Also, I needed an answer as to why Namgung Myung linked me to the Blood Demon.

Regarding this, Shin Noyya, after a brief silence, just like before,

continued speaking to me.

[The objects currently called Treasures originally…

It sounded like a continuation of the earlier explanation, so I listened intently.

…were objects that appeared along with the Demonic Mirror Sect.]

“…What did you say?”

At his words, I was slightly surprised.

‘Treasures came from the Demonic Mirror Sect?’

It was the first time I’d heard this.

“Is that true…?”

[Why would I tell a lie? I saw it with my own eyes.]

That Treasures had sprung forth from the Demonic Mirror Sect, did Noyya mean he had seen it himself?

If that were truly the case, it wasn’t strange.

Shin Noyya was a person from the era, when things started going downhill because of the Demonic Mirror Sect.

However, the preceding details were strange.

“Did the Demonic Mirror Sect just… spit out Treasures?”

[As if it did that.]

“Then what? How did Treasures…”

[To be precise, Treasures are objects spat out by demonic beasts that came from the Demonic Mirror.]

…That sounds even weirder?

“Demonic beasts spit them out?”

Demonic beasts spit out objects?

Not magic stones, but actual objects?

As I was dumbfounded by the rather absurd answer, barely regaining my senses, I had to ask about the contradiction in Shin Noyya’s statement.

“If that’s the case, we haven’t heard such stories now, have we?”

If demonic beasts truly spat out Treasures,

why aren’t they doing so now?

Furthermore.

‘There aren’t even any records.’

It was baffling why I was only learning this information now.

[They might not appear now.]

“Huh?”

[Aren’t the ‘White ones’ not appearing anymore these days?]

“…Noyya, are you saying…”

The ‘White’ that Noyya mentioned, if I’m not mistaken,

‘Rank White demonic beasts.’

Possessing a white color, and having such immense power, they were strange beings that cursed the terrain even after death.

After the Blood Calamity ended, these strange beings stopped appearing.

Judging by Noyya’s words, it meant that Treasures were objects that came from those Rank White demonic beasts.

[Yes, all Treasures were obtained by killing those fellows.]

“How… how is that possible?”

Obtaining objects by killing demonic beasts.

If it were hides, bones, or perhaps magic stones, I could understand, but this was incomprehensible.

It would have been more realistic if Treasures were made using such byproducts, but…

They just popped out?

[I don’t know the specifics of how it happened. It just happened that way.]

If that was the origin of Treasures, several questions arise.

Various contradictions also came to mind,

‘…But that’s that.’

What was important to me now wasn’t the birth of Treasures.

“So, what does that have to do with Senior Namgung Myung’s words?”

The core of Namgung Myung’s mention of the Blood Demon.

I had to hear that.

To my unspoken urging, Shin Noyya began speaking to me in a calm voice.

[Youngster.]

“Yes.”

[The Spirit Stone on your arm, have you ever wondered how you can use it? Have you never questioned it?]

Talking about the Spirit Stone.

‘…I didn’t find it particularly strange?’

Noyya had also taught me how to use it.

It was Noyya himself who had scolded me, asking why I wasn’t using it immediately.

That meant, even though I didn’t know how to use it, I could have used it long ago if I had tried, right?

Moreover, I had absorbed Noyya’s energy, so I naturally thought I could use it because of that.

[It’s different.]

But Noyya denied this.

[Putting aside the fact that you can use the Spirit Stone, what I’m saying is, that the Spirit Stone has changed.]

“Changed?”

At those words, I raised my arm and examined the Spirit Stone.

‘If it changed, does he mean the color?’

The crimson energy used by Hwasan’s martial artists.

The Spirit Stone’s color was originally like that, but now it was tinged with blue.

Seeing this, I naturally thought it had been influenced by my energy.

[Yes, that’s precisely the problem.]

“…This?”

[Do you know the position Treasures currently hold within the clans?]

“I do.”

Treasures exist in various forms.

Moreover, they were even divided into ranks.

From objects called Treasures, that weren’t very useful,

to Treasures like the Brain Core or the Spirit Stone, that became symbols of an organization.

Yes, symbolic Treasures.

Prominent noble families and prestigious clans, all possessed such Treasures.

Gu Clan has one too, but I’ve never seen it used.

[Why do you think that’s possible?]

“Well… obviously, because their characteristics matched, right?”

Matching characteristics.

I thought that statement was accurate.

As its name suggests, the Brain Core was a weapon imbued with brain energy,

even looking at the Spirit Stone or the Treasure I brought to Hwasan, it was infused with the energy of plum blossoms.

It was the same for other symbolic Treasures.

They all contained energy that evoked their respective sects or clans.

‘Come to think of it, that’s kind of strange.’

How could that be?

It was simply fascinating to think about.

If Treasures came from White demonic beasts, does that mean they took all the Treasures that matched their energy?

The Brain Core used brain energy, so Namgung Myung took it,

the Spirit Stone contained Hwasan’s Taoist energy, so Noyya took it?

Just as I was thinking that might be the case,

[…The order is wrong.]

Once again, Noyya said no.

“Then what is it?”

[Originally, the objects that emerged as Treasures, did not possess such energy.]

“They didn’t have it?”

This time, I was even more surprised than before.

The emerged Treasures weren’t infused with energy? Then what are the current Treasures?

[The primordial Brain Core was merely an unnamed stick. And the Spirit Stone was just a white bead.]

“Then…?”

[Do you know how those Treasures came to be in their current forms?]

At Noyya’s question, it flashed through my mind.

Because Noyya’s words about the order being wrong lingered.

Just in case, I tentatively offered an answer.

“…Infused them with energy?”

[Yes, we infused those objects with our own energy.]

And surprisingly, that turned out to be correct.

The Brain Core, which was originally a stick, became the Brain Core because Namgung Myung infused it with energy,

meaning the Spirit Stone became the Spirit Stone because Shin Noyya infused it with his energy.

‘So that’s why symbolic Treasures are in each clan.’

They created objects without energy by infusing their own.

Because Hwasan’s energy was infused into the primordial Treasure, it was taken to the Hwasan Sect.

Is that what it means?

In other words,

“This also changed because I infused it with my energy, Is that what you mean?”

[Yes.]

Infusing my energy into the Spirit Stone, did it mean its color changed like this?

That seemed to explain things roughly.

The problem here is,

“What… what’s the problem with that?”

The Treasure changed to match me after I infused it with my energy.

What’s the problem with that?

Since that was supposed to be its effect anyway.

As I frowned, unable to figure out the problem, just then,

[How could it not be a problem?]

Noyya said to me with a sigh.

[…Treasures, once infused with energy, do not change.]

“…What? They don’t change?”

As soon as I heard that, I raised the arm bound with the Spirit Stone.

Then what is this thing?

When there’s clearly something that has changed, how can you say it doesn’t? When its color has clearly changed like this.

[That’s why it’s a problem. Namgung Myung guy probably had the same problem.]

“Hmm…”

After all, why are symbolic Treasures symbolic?

Most of them are objects that cannot be used unless one learns the martial arts of their lineage, or if their energy doesn’t match, which is the case for the majority,

if anyone could use them, how could they be symbolic?

But if that’s the case…

‘Why can I use it?’

It was certainly strange.

Even granting that, since I also possess Hwasan’s Taoist energy, let’s say the Spirit Stone is understandable.

But the Brain Core was different.

I took a weapon already saturated with brain energy, and infused it with my heat to use it.

How could I explain this?

As my doubts grew, Noyya said.

[…We called such an act ‘subjugation.’ We called it that because it meant infusing a Treasure with one’s energy to make it subordinate to oneself.]

As I listened to the explanation, my mind raced.

Whether Shin Noyya knew I was thinking this or not, he simply continued speaking.

[Not all weapons absorbed energy like that, but objects that particularly matched their users absorbed energy exceptionally well. And when that happened, martial artists with different internal energy couldn’t use them.]

Objects like the Spirit Stone and the Brain Core were prime examples.

[But.]

As he spoke, Noyya’s voice grew somewhat darker.

[There was someone who casually took and used such objects.]

I had to react to those words.

A sense of foreboding brushed past me.

[He used Treasures as if energy didn’t matter, that fellow who used them as if they were his own.]

He’d use them a few times, then toss them aside as if he lost interest.

He never needed the power of Treasures in the first place, a true monster.

That’s what he used to do.

[Even Treasures that were painstakingly changed, when they fell into his grasp, changed their appearance as if meeting a new owner.]

“…Noyya. That couldn’t possibly….”

The person Shin Noyya was trying to describe now.

I had a feeling I knew who it was, and my stomach churned.

Perhaps because I had figured this much out.

Namgung Myung’s words from earlier kept replaying in my mind.

-What is the relationship with the Blood Demon.

“…Shit?”

Why had Namgung Myung mentioned the Blood Demon while looking at me?

And considering that the change in the Spirit Stone happened right after I shed my skin…

[…Yes. That fellow was precisely…]

There was only one answer to this story.

The true meaning of what Noyya had been trying to tell me from the start.

It was…

[The Blood Demon.]

The disaster that stained that era with blood.

He was saying that I was using the same power that the Blood Demon, Dokgo Jun, supposedly showed.