Chapter 581: Welcoming the Night.

“Hello.”

A casual greeting.

Words that seemed perfectly fine to anyone else, but.

As I looked at the one offering them, I couldn’t react at all.

The violet eyes I feared might appear even in my dreams.

And hair that was black, with hints of another color swirling around it.

Even the appearance that reminded me of someone.

I had thought I would have to see them someday.

But I never dreamed I’d suddenly encounter them at a somen shop in a back alley of Hanam.

No, frankly, no human could have predicted such a meeting.

Woong-!

My heart pounded uncontrollably.

The moment I recognized them, my body tensed up on its own.

Force gathered in my heart.

Whoook-!

At the same time, the energy throughout my entire body began to rage.

Throb.

Energy surged through my meridians, putting a strain on my still-unhealed body.

As if it didn’t matter, I filled myself with energy.

I had to.

It felt insufficient even after doing so.

‘What should I do.’

Why, of all things, was that here?

‘Am I still dreaming?’

I knew better than anyone that it couldn’t be.

There was no way this situation could be a dream, not with this vividly turbulent demonic energy.

The demonic energy I had suppressed began to move on its own.

It was clearly reacting to the other presence.

It must be unable to tolerate another demonic energy in the same space.

What kind of crazy energy is this? I feel like shit all over again.

However, demonic energy or whatever, that’s not what’s important right now.

Only one thought came to mind.

‘Can I kill it?’

Could I really kill that thing standing before me?

Only that thought filled my mind.

A few years ago. Around the time I met them at the Dragon Palace.

I had tried to somehow bridge the gap I felt back then.

Although I had bridged the gap to a degree incomparable to back then.

‘It’s still not enough.’

Even that would be far from enough to face the Heavenly Demon of my memory.

She, who was called the ‘Beyond Heaven’ of the Central Plains, who treated the Three Sovereigns said to reside above the heavens as mere playthings.

No matter how much stronger I’ve become now.

My opponent was that Heavenly Demon.

Cold sweat trickled down.

I was concentrating with all my might to keep my breathing steady, but.

It wasn’t easy to control.

The Heavenly Demon was still just staring at me, making no other move.

Watching her, I thought.

‘Should I run?’

It was the most realistic option.

No matter how much my level had risen, I was in danger in my current state.

Moreover, my body wasn’t even fully healed.

She surely knew that very well.

Wooooong-!

My instincts kept urging me to give up.

The demonic energy was surging, telling me.

To kill that thing, right now.

Tuk-tuk.

I took a step forward, approaching the Heavenly Demon.

I put more force into my heart.

My reason knew.

That I shouldn’t start a fight here.

That it was a rash judgment, an irrational act.

But.

My fingertips were already trying to move, contrary to my thoughts.

Just then.

“No.”

The Heavenly Demon, who had been watching me quietly, spoke.

Her voice made me stop my actions without realizing it.

Those violet eyes seemed somehow calm, yet vacant.

Unlike the bizarre situation, her eyes seemed incredibly serene.

Unlike the stack of somen bowls piled high on the table.

I glared at the Heavenly Demon, my face scrunched up.

As our eyes met, all sorts of emotions surged within me.

Hatred.

Resentment.

Fear.

It was roughly a mixture of those emotions.

“What…?”

I managed to spit out the words.

This was the best I could do.

“No.”

The Heavenly Demon repeated the same answer, then showed me the somen bowl she was holding.

What is this? What on earth is that action?

As I thought that.

“Food.”

The Heavenly Demon uttered briefly.

“…What?”

“My ‘Unni’ told me to be quiet when eating.”

What on earth is she talking about now?

Amidst the confusion I felt moments ago, bewilderment mixed in.

No matter how I thought about it, it was an incomprehensible conversation.

Whether she knew it or not, the Heavenly Demon ignored me and just kept talking about herself.

“So you be quiet too.”

Finishing her words, she started eating the somen diligently again with her chopsticks.

It was quite an aggressive slurping.

Perhaps because of her appearance, the action reminded me of Wi Seora.

Seeing that, I trembled as if my pupils were shaking.

‘What the hell is that.’

What kind of situation is this?

I came to a back alley restaurant for breakfast, and the Heavenly Demon is eating somen.

This ridiculous situation is absurd enough, but what on earth is that appearance right now?

‘…Is that really the Heavenly Demon?’

How could such a damn question even cross my mind?

But the doubt quickly faded. Because I knew it was absurd.

That Heavenly Demon is real.

Otherwise, the demonic energy wouldn’t be showing such hostility.

I can tell.

That incomprehensible demonic energy is concentrated within that woman.

She was originally the source and master of demonic energy.

No matter how much I’ve converted demonic energy to my own, would that fact be any different now?

It isn’t.

Can’t you see it even now?

I observed the woman casually eating somen using my inner energy.

No, I hoped to, but I couldn’t succeed.

Even when I tried to examine her insides, I was blocked by a massive barrier and couldn’t see in.

Moreover.

‘The barrier blocking me is entirely demonic energy.’

It was immense demonic energy preventing me from seeing the Heavenly Demon.

Several years have passed since my regression.

I had hunted monsters and gathered demonic energy for what was definitely not a short time, yet.

Looking at the Heavenly Demon, I could realize it once again.

That the quantity and quality she possessed were entirely different from mine.

That is indeed the Heavenly Demon.

It means she is the being I must kill and eliminate in this life.

Then…

‘What is that attitude?’

What is this appearance right now? No matter how I looked, it was just confusing.

What was the Heavenly Demon like in her previous life?

A figure whose very existence was a disaster and despair for humanity.

She viewed all beings except herself like insects.

She was a being with overwhelming power that allowed her to maintain that arrogant attitude.

Supreme among all beings (萬人之上).

She had overthrown the Three Sovereigns (三尊) who ruled the skies of the Central Plains.

A monster who stood alone above them, looking down.

That was the Heavenly Demon.

And yet.

What is that before my eyes right now?

Fwoosh-.

Arrogance or whatever, she ate like a maniac as if only the somen mattered, and now she’s even drinking the broth straight from the bowl.

And then.

Thump.

As if she’d finished, she placed the bowl on the table.

The expression she wore was a sight to behold.

“Mmm…”

It was a very satisfied expression.

How many bowls was that? Roughly counting, it looked like nearly ten.

Then.

“That was delicious.”

She uttered a short phrase, and the Heavenly Demon stood up.

“…!”

Seeing that, I had to tense up involuntarily.

Although I wavered for a moment at the bizarre situation, my opponent was the Heavenly Demon.

I had to realize once again who I was facing.

All sorts of thoughts raced through my mind.

What would happen if I started a fight now?

Considering the surrounding area would be devastated, when would the Alliance intervene?

Could I hold out until the Alliance intervened? Even if I could hold out until then.

‘Is the Alliance on my side?’

It wasn’t just one or two problems.

Meeting the Heavenly Demon here in the first place was a major issue for my plans.

I grit my teeth.

There were countless problematic situations.

Knowing that all too well made the situation even shittier.

Is this an opportunity or a crisis?

Overwhelmed by the torrent of thoughts, I couldn’t make a decision and was gradually being consumed.

That was why.

I couldn’t react even though the Heavenly Demon had already approached.

‘Damn it…!’

Before I knew it, the Heavenly Demon was beside me.

Just as I belatedly tried to react urgently and move my body.

Kwak-!

I felt the Heavenly Demon grab my arm.

“…!”

I couldn’t break free from her grip.

The pressure of her hold was strong.

To break free, I would have to unleash a surge of energy.

My head turned.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Demon wasn’t looking at me.

Just as I wondered where she was looking.

“Please calculate the bill.”

The Heavenly Demon said with an indifferent expression.

At this, an old woman appeared.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my, such a slender young lady ate so much.”

The old woman laughed contentedly at the stacked bowls.

Seeing that, the Heavenly Demon handed something to the old woman with her hand. It was silver coins.

The old woman’s eyes widened upon seeing it.

“Oh my goodness. I don’t have anything to give you change for this…”

Let alone ten bowls of somen, it was an amount the old woman couldn’t earn even selling somen all day.

The old woman became flustered, but the Heavenly Demon seemed unconcerned.

“You can keep the change.”

Saying that, she gave a slight bow to the old woman.

Seeing that, I had to let out a breath.

Because it was unthinkable for the Heavenly Demon to bow to anyone.

“It was delicious. I’ll come again.”

As the Heavenly Demon turned to leave, the old woman tried to say something.

But the Heavenly Demon dragged me, whose wrist she held, and left the shop.

Immediately after being pulled outside.

I immediately broke free from the Heavenly Demon’s grip.

Tak-!

I didn’t need to put much force into it.

The Heavenly Demon wasn’t holding on that tightly anymore either.

As I broke free, the Heavenly Demon tilted her head, examining her now-empty hand.

I stared at her with a distorted expression.

Clutching back the emotions threatening to explode, I asked the Heavenly Demon.

“…Why. Why are you here?”

Even though I tried my best to hold back, I couldn’t hide the fierce tone in my voice.

This was the best I could manage.

Hearing this, the Heavenly Demon looked at me quietly.

And then she answered.

“I came to eat…”?

Hearing the answer, I ground my teeth.

“Stop talking nonsense, what’s your scheme…!”

Is she trying to mess with me? It was absurd.

As I asked in disbelief, the Heavenly Demon spoke.

“You.”

What would she say? The moment I tensed up.

“Why do you hate me?”

An unexpected question came.

“…What?”

I asked, taken aback.

The Heavenly Demon asked with eyes full of questions.

“I haven’t done anything. Why do you hate me?”

It was the most bewildering thing I’d heard since my regression.

Why do I hate her?

Is that even a question?

I could list countless reasons why I hate and despise her right now.

Although I could have spewed hundreds of words out.

For some reason, I couldn’t say anything.

‘What is this?’

The words wouldn’t come out.

It felt like something was firmly shutting my mouth.

What am I hesitating for?

Is it because I’m afraid of the Heavenly Demon?

That’s right. I’m afraid.

I fear that being who took everything from me and tried to burn the world, but.

That shouldn’t be the reason my mouth is shut.

Then what’s the problem?

I chewed my tongue in frustration, trying desperately to force out words, but it was still impossible.

Time passed.

If I couldn’t put a sword to my tongue, I should at least put it to my fingertips, but.

I couldn’t even do that.

I could only stare at the Heavenly Demon with my sealed lips.

“…”

A few seconds passed as I met her violet eyes.

To me, unable to utter a word, the Heavenly Demon turned her head and beckoned.

Following her gesture, I turned my head, and there was the shop we just left.

“This place is delicious. It’s my favorite spot.”

Her voice reached me.

“You should try it too.”

I thought it was trivial talk.

So I turned my head back to look at the Heavenly Demon, but.

“…Damn it all.”

Perhaps giving her that brief moment was the problem.

The Heavenly Demon had already vanished from that spot.

I could taste blood from my bitten tongue.

At the same time, I had to wipe my face with my dry hand.

It was something I already knew well, but.

I felt like I understood it clearly now.

That something was twisted, far more twisted than I had ever known.

---

I left the shop and took light steps.

It didn’t take many steps to move forward.

Because if the woman wanted to go somewhere, she could go anywhere.

A place with few people.

A small lodging built somewhere between the county and the outside.

It was a place rented out cheaply due to its cramped location.

For a woman, it was simply incomprehensible, even hearing about it.

“Oh, you’re back?”

Upon arriving at the lodging, someone else greeted her.

It was the person the woman referred to as ‘Unni’.

“Mm.”

“You said you were going to eat and come back, you’re a bit late?”

“Mm.”

She replied curtly with a vacant expression.

The other person already looked accustomed to such replies.

“Right, as long as you ate well, that’s all that matters.”

She said, extending her hand. The woman tilted her head, looking at it.

“The money left over from the meal.”

“There isn’t any.”

“…What?”

At the woman’s words, ‘Unni’ faltered.

She had definitely given her silver coins, so why was she saying none were left?

As she questioned this, the woman stated calmly.

“Last time, what Unni did. I did the same.”

“…What could that possibly mean…?”

“I don’t need the change.”

“…”

At the woman’s words, Unni pinched the bridge of her nose.

Yes, she had definitely said something like that before.

“That… well… Haa…”

She tried to say something but held back.

Who could she blame?

It was her own fault for giving the silver coins to that dullard and sending her on an errand.

It’s fine. She still had plenty of travel funds.

Besides, if need be, she planned to sponge off her mother somewhere around here.

“…Never mind. So, did you have a good trip?”

“Mm. It was delicious.”

As the woman said it with satisfaction, Unni chuckled.

“Right, that’s a relief.”

She then asked a question.

“I told you to go because you said you wanted something specific, but when did you come here before?”

In response to Unni’s question, the woman shook her head.

“This is my first time.”

“Huh?”

“My first time.”

The woman’s answer that she had never been to this county in Hanam before made the other woman wear a strange expression.

“But you said you had a place you wanted to go?”

“Mm.”

“…What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.”

Her face showed that she didn’t understand even what she herself had said.

“But I wanted to go.”

“…”

Her answers didn’t fit at all, and seeing this, Unni finally nodded.

She had given up on understanding.

It was always like this, and she decided it would be the same this time.

“…Anyway, as long as you had fun, that’s all that matters.”

“Mm.”

The woman nodded and started to move.

Seeing that, Unni called out to the woman.

“Oh right, Yeon-ah.”

“…”

At those words, the woman stopped and looked towards Unni.

However, unlike before, the woman’s expression was slightly distorted, as if she didn’t like something.

“…Don’t call me that.”

It seemed she didn’t like the way she was being addressed.

“I’m not Yeon.”

It was a firm reply.

“Then what are you?”

Unni asked back.

“…”

The woman merely pursed her lips, as if she had nothing specific to answer.

Seeing that, Unni chuckled.

“You don’t even have a name to say, so why keep saying no?”

“…Anyway… That’s not it. I’m leaving.”

The woman replied curtly and left the spot.

She seemed to be sulking.

At the woman’s attitude.

“I really don’t know why she’s acting like that.”

Unni, no.

The black-haired woman. Gu Huibi voiced her confusion.