episode_0046

The place where Baekryeon opened her eyes was the border between the border and the devil’s realm.

I’m back.

It was a much earlier return than originally planned.

There were four of us when we went in, but we were alone when we came out.

I couldn’t feel the warmth of people anymore.

These are the precious relationships I have barely made in this world. I wanted to protect these people. I thought that if only they could live a peaceful life, I would gladly fight against the witch as a warrior.

Because they saw him as a white lotus of Korea, not a warrior of the Epelante Empire.

Baekryeon had decided to live in the countryside once everything was over.

“… It’s my fault.”

That’s because he’s weak. He’s weaker than the weak who go around killing street prostitutes. That’s because he’s weaker than the weak who go around killing street prostitutes.

Precious realizations always come from experiencing loss. Even though my daily life, which I used to laugh and chat about, was completely wiped out, nothing changed.

I didn’t know that the daily routine of chatting with friends at school would disappear. I’ve already experienced that loss. How could I never assume that I could lose this kind of daily routine too?

“… I was stupid.”

This world does not tolerate childishness. It was a sin to go astray simply because you didn’t want to do it. You had to practice doing things you hated, no matter what hell awaited you.

Somewhere deep inside, I was actually justifying my attitude.

In a world where I was summoned without consent or anything, I must protect at least a shred of humanity.

This world deserves to accept this level of rebellion.

It seems like they kept their attitude as if it were some kind of protest.

If the time really comes that I have to do it, I’ll somehow manage it. Even if it doesn’t work out, it’s not my fault, right? All responsibility lies with this world, not with strangers.

It was the white lotus that I had thought of so unconsciously.

In reality, no great troubles have happened in the world because of avoiding violence. It was considered something that would happen in the distant future.

What was immediately close was a peaceful daily life.

Swish.

Baekryeon touched her cheek. Aerin’s dried blood seeped out through the gaps in her fingerprints.

When I close my eyes, I see flashbacks of Jenna and Selena’s fates one after another. My stomach acid refluxes every time I recall the fantastical scenes.

“Wow.”

I grabbed my throat and mouth. I felt like I shouldn’t vomit anything out like this. I felt guilty about pouring out what was inside and even feeling better.

Thud, thud.

Take a step.

The fortress of change is located in a straight line of steps. It was a defensive wall that was rebuilt to be even stronger after being destroyed once by the King of Demons.

Eirin said that the report came first. She insisted that she had to tell the unknown being who had killed the king of demons, the nemesis of the change, and then died.

In the dull flow of time, Baekryeon finally reached the front of the fortress.

I saw the guards. They were the ones who had sent me compassionate looks and words of encouragement when I entered the Demon Realm. It was nice to see their faces still the same even after two years had passed.

But as soon as Baekryeon approached, they drew their swords.

“That’s it, immigrants!”

“What are you doing here? Get out of here!”

It was an unfamiliar reaction.

That’s understandable, since Baekryeon usually wears perfect makeup. Although others may find her uncomfortable, she has never been openly looked down on.

Only then did Baekryeon realize that it had been a long time since she had thrown away her wig and mask.

At the same time, I felt the emptiness of my colleagues’ positions.

This was a natural reaction. I heard the story, but I thought it was exaggerated or a joke. Just by existing, the place to be disappeared in an instant.

This was the world that Baekryeon had to protect.

A future that would overcome this situation existed for the fallen comrades.

“Why is this kid just sitting there?”

“If you don’t step down, you will be considered an enemy and betrayed.”

It’s all because of my stupidity.

If only we had practiced taking lives as instructed by the Holy See’s Master, Netherto, a long time ago.

If only we had cultivated our minds to the point where animals and people would look like mere firewood.

In this world, we might have been able to protect the few lights.

“Hey!!!”

A loud shout like a cheer sharply brushes my ears.

Let’s admit it. The life we’ve lived so far has been wrong.

And I still don’t know what the answer is.

But it became clear what had to be done.

“Warning is over!”

Yes, it is a sin that the world has warned us about countless times, but has not heeded.

I’m willing to pay that price.

Wedge!

The guard’s sword rushes towards the shoulder.

Baekryeon grabbed the side of the sword and pulled it with one-sided force.

“Hey, hey hey…?!”

The guard was dragged along so long that he eventually dropped his sword. Then, Baekryeon properly grabbed her sword and began to walk leisurely towards the other side.

It was an event that passed like a storm. The guards simply stared at the backs of the foreigners as they walked away.

Knock, knock.

The tip of the sword dragged on the ground, making a dull metallic sound. After all, it was a cheap sword issued to guards. It was heavy and dull, so it was only used for personal self-defense.

Strangely enough, my hands didn’t shake.

It seemed as if the past, when I would feel terrified just thinking about pointing a weapon at someone, had become a blur.

I felt like I had overcome a wall that had been blocking my consciousness.

I walked for a long time. The sun set and the sun rose countless times. Even though I didn’t eat or drink anything, my body miraculously didn’t collapse. The poison from the magic mirror didn’t have any effect on Baekryeon’s safety.

It didn’t matter if it was snowing heavily or sleeting.

I just kept moving forward and forward, desperately reminiscing about the journey I had with my colleagues.

How far have we progressed by tracing those footsteps?

After moving her legs while stuck in the swamp of time, Baekryeon finally returned.

To the place where the king of demons flaunted his huge body. And to the side of the weak where he felt joy in killing the weak.

It was a bright day.

That day, in the desolate terrain left by the battle, it was a great thrill to detect an opponent. North personally came out to meet him, his eyes sparkling with light.

“Hmm, this time it’s not a shield?”

North maintained a relaxed attitude.

“Does a child who doesn’t know violence know how to handle a knife? I wonder if he’s ever slaughtered meat himself.”

“… Why.”

“Huh?”

North showed interest in Baekryeon’s split voice.

“You’ve finally transcended humanity, so why did you build a nest in the Demon Realm?”

“That’s obvious.”

North chuckled.

“I don’t know if there were fifteen of them, but if there were seventy-two of ‘those things’, why would they die?”

“… Yeah.”

Baekryeon took up the sword.

The posture was extremely sloppy. Even for North, who was of Baekjeong origin, it was embarrassing to compare it to the well-organized knights.

There is nothing more to see.

Uduk, uduk uduk…!

North’s body transforms. His entire body becomes blackened by poison, and horns grow all over his body to prevent enemy invasion.

Baekryeon silently watched the series of awakenings.

I had a hard time coming here.

Could it be that we are the ones at fault?

I wonder if I may have stirred up the devil’s curiosity and upset his feelings.

Isn’t there a reason why they remain in such a harsh environment even though they have transcended humanity?

Could it be that he committed murder simply because he was afraid of his secrets being leaked as a criminal?

… If that was the case, then perhaps this tragedy was an inevitable accident. Until then, Baekryeon’s mind had been filled with doubts.

But the reason he stayed in the Demon Realm was because of the simple logic of power.

The only reason he lives in the Demon Realm is because he is afraid of the seventy-two saints.

There was no justification for Aerin, Jenna, and Selena to lose their lives.

“…”

He grips the sword handle tightly again.

I feel disgusted, with an unfamiliar, pure murderous intent.

nevertheless.

February 24, 498 Imperial Calendar.

During the spring flower season, Baekryeon wields violence with the intention of murder for the first time in her life.

“You go first, you coward…!”

Wedge!

The sound that tore through the air disappeared into the clear sky.

Peace and stillness reigned in the magical realm, as if the movement of space and time had stopped.

Gulp, thud.

North’s neck slid cleanly across the surface, and fell hopelessly into the land of the demon realm.

Kookung, kugukung!

A second-dimensional scar was carved into the area extending several hundred paces in front of the direction where Baekryeon pointed her sword tip.

The sword he swung with all his might for the first time produced an unbelievably strong violence.

“… Oww, woof…”

dump!

Baekryeon knelt down.

It was so easy.

There were no limits for Baekryeon, who held a sword instead of a shield. To be exact, Baekryeon, who hated and resented someone, was given an overwhelming amount of power.

People become so strong when they harbor murderous intentions. I realized that belatedly.

I wish I never knew the truth.

There is no knowledge that I would like to acquire by feeling the weight of life. There was none in the past, and I hope there will be none in the future.

It’s heavy. It’s crazy heavy.

Aerin, Jenna, and Selena.

I can’t stop my self-destructive thoughts from being so disgusted and repulsed by the fact that these three lives could have been saved so easily.

“Haa… Haa…”

My heart is pounding.

I wish my thoughts would freeze like this. The feeling of swinging a sword to take a life too late is etched into my mind.

That feeling… is so unbearably horrible…

“Keep going, woof… ugh…!”

Ugh.

In the end, I ended up vomiting out all the contents inside.