Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The successful world remains, while others are erased.

This means that only the successful world is left after extracting countless possibilities.

Up to this point, it was acceptable.

In truth, it’s not acceptable, but let’s say it is for now.

Even if I somehow succeed in having the disaster become the master of the world I was in.

‘Welcoming a new master means that all life on the land has been erased at least once.

’Ultimately, no matter what the outcome is, it means that a damn situation arises from my current position.

‘Ha.

’This is no different from a fight with a predetermined end.

I recall.

The times when Yeon Il-cheon referred to me as a disaster and the causalities bound to me.

Along with the words of the divine sword that the Cheonma, who I thought of as a disaster, actually regressed me.

Including the traces my mother left behind.

For some reason, even the remaining powers of the Cheonma.

Do you truly think the regression you experienced is just a miracle?

The words of Yeon Il-cheon resonate deeply.

From the current situation, it was evident.

Including what the Blood Demon said, that it felt like someone was covering my ears, and that the past heroes tried to do something, but ultimately failed.

When I look at these things.

‘What the hell do you want?

’It felt like the world wanted something from me.

The problem is, what exactly is it?

Creak.

Could it be that, just as Yeon Il-cheon said, they wish for me to become a disaster?

I don’t know.

Even what I’ve grasped so far is already complicated.

Furthermore, one more thing.

There’s something I need to ask the Blood Demon.

“I understand everything you said, but…”No matter how the world is, or what the world is like.

I understand the words.

“In the end, what do you want?

”[...

]What is the purpose of the Blood Demon standing before me?

I was curious about that.

Even if the world is making a fuss and talking about the end, what is the actual purpose of the Blood Demon in front of me?

Do they also wish for a disaster to manifest and reign as per the world's intent?

I don’t think so.

‘That guy has some kind of purpose.

’My instincts told me so.

The Blood Demon wouldn’t act according to such logic.

The fact that my Blood Demon is trying to establish a group called Meteor.

And the subtle movements being made through Jang Seon-yeon’s body in the world I’m currently in.

It seems there’s something they desire despite their body being torn apart and sealed.

What could that be?

It was a question about something I didn’t know in my previous life.

Furthermore.

‘Is the Blood Demon an ally or an enemy?

’I already knew that since they had once triggered a disaster, they were unlikely to be an ally.

Then, are they an enemy?

I needed to figure that out.

[Huh.

]Upon hearing my question, the Blood Demon lets out a short breath.

[…What a curious individual you are.

] “What do you mean by that?

”[If you heard my previous words, you should have already been overwhelmed by the distant future.

Yet, here you are, still calm, despite being a mere mortal who has only just begun to break free.

]Calm?

‘Calm my ass.

’The Blood Demon’s words were so absurd.

Calm?

It’s crazy to even think of it when I’m on the verge of dying with whatever I do.

I was at a point where I wanted to throw everything away.

Just hearing it is irritating and dreadful.

Whether it’s the will of the world to create a disaster or the countless other worlds repeating the same words because of that will.

To me, it’s just a difficult and vomit-inducing story.

Still.

‘Nevertheless.

’No matter how it is, I cannot give up, so I just try to move forward.

‘Shit.

’If I don’t do something, humanity will perish.

That’s not the only reason I’m spouting curses.

I’m not the kind of person who wants to suffer losses.

The reason I’m forcing myself to try to do something in this fucked-up situation is solely because of the faces that flash through my mind every time.

The ones who lived for me and died for me.

The ones I’m living for now.

If I consider it a debt to them, I cannot sit back here.

I had to find a way instead of despairing and sitting down.

That’s all I had to do.

[Seeing this, I understand how you came to walk the path of breaking free.

] “Stop with the nonsense and just answer me.

”What is the purpose of the Blood Demon?

Following Shin Noya’s winds, I’ll try to deal with the Blood Demon somehow.

‘I need to grasp the priorities first.

’Since there are mountains of things I need to block immediately.

I had to sort out where to start and what to do.

Of course.

There’s no guarantee that the Blood Demon will provide a proper answer to this.

[As for my purpose, how did you come to the conclusion that I have one?

]“There’s no need to think too hard about it, right?

For someone buried in the ground, your will seems to be burning too brightly.

”[Hehe…]The Blood Demon chuckles at my sarcastic words.

[As for my purpose…] “Are you thinking of triggering the Blood Demon calamity again?

”The calamity triggered by the Blood Demon as a disaster several centuries ago.

Is the Blood Demon trying to unleash that calamity once more, known to have been stopped by five martial artists, including Shin Noya?

The Blood Demon smiles at my question and replies.

[If that’s the case, what do you intend to do?

] “I’ll stop it.

”My response comes out nonchalantly.

Woosh-!

The air vibrates loudly.

Chuckle.

The sound of the Blood Demon’s laughter mixes with the resonance, dizzying my ears.

[You’re just a bloodstain who doesn’t even know the world properly.

How do you think you will stop me?

] “I’ll have to do something about it.

”[How amusing.

Do you really think it would be difficult for me to just kill you right here?

]I can feel the energy.

The chill crawling out from the Blood Demon felt like it was reaching all the way to my throat.

The Blood Demon’s words seemed not just a threat but were also precise.

Moreover, they felt too vivid.

But.

“You don’t intend to kill me.

”I knew.

The Blood Demon cannot kill me.

“You want something from me, don’t you?

Right?

”As I lift the corners of my mouth and say that.

[...

]Swoosh.

The energy pouring from the Blood Demon suddenly quiets down.

The reason I could confidently act defiant in front of the apparently dangerous Blood Demon is this.

Because it called me here, wanting to see me as a figure from beyond, and showed signs of treating me kindly as if to share information, I could predict that the Blood Demon wanted something from me.

It might not be the case, but at least judging by the current reaction, I was certain.

[Ha.

]The Blood Demon’s brief exclamation was laced with a sense of surprise.

[You’re quicker on the uptake than I expected.

] As expected.

I squinted my eyes, confirming the Blood Demon’s reaction.

“What do you want from me?

”The calamity of the previous generation.

What does an entity from another world want from me?

I needed to know what that was.

Hiding my complicated gaze, I looked at the Blood Demon, who still merely let out a short laugh.

After a moment of silence passed.

[You asked what my purpose is.

] The Blood Demon slowly opened their mouth to me.

[I dream of creating a paradise.

] Upon hearing that, my eyebrows knitted tightly.

“A paradise…?

”While it sounds really nice, it felt strangely alien since it was uttered by the Blood Demon.

For a being that had triggered calamities, such a hopeful word was peculiar.

As I tried to understand the meaning behind it, the Blood Demon continued.

[Oh, great one from beyond.

]The Blood Demon called me.

[What I desire from you is simple.

] I listened closely to what he uttered.

[If the day comes when you successfully break free and come to understand the will of this world, come find me once more.

That is all I desire.

]“Is it possible to come here when I want to?

”How absurd.

It would be hard to go back and forth even in the same world, let alone in this different one.

I couldn’t understand why the Blood Demon would want that, but asking for it was an odd request.

Hearing my doubts, the Blood Demon immediately provided an answer.

[If you successfully complete your breaking free, nothing will be impossible.

] “…What on earth is this breaking free that you keep mentioning?

”[You will understand it naturally in due time.

]When I undergo this breaking free, will I come to know the method of traversing realms?

Or will I understand this incomprehensible phenomenon?

Whatever it is, it didn’t matter at this moment.

“Are you asking me to come for the paradise you mentioned?

”[Well…]It seems like he intends not to answer.

“…What assurance do I have that I would fulfill your request?

”[If you remember our current conversation, surely you will wish to find me.

This is not a concern.

]Whether it’s because of the word ‘paradise’ or for another reason, I couldn’t tell.

Just from what I heard before, my situation was already complicated.

‘What should I do?

’Were all the Blood Demon’s words true?

If not, what was their intention in saying that?

Conversely, if the Blood Demon’s words were all true.

‘What… should I do?

’It was increasingly surpassing the level I could handle.

Unlike when I pledged to block the Cheonma’s Blood Calamity and ensure the peace of my precious ones, I was starting to realize just how difficult and challenging that was now.

It sucks.

Living a normal, carefree life is this hard.

Such a pathetic sentiment.

‘First… I need to find a way to return to my original world.

’I realized that this was not the time to wallow in the past and become pathetic.

I needed to sort out the situation and return to my original world immediately.

‘Shit…’How did it come to this?

It feels like I’m blinded by that damned Dokcheon Clan and have gotten all tangled up.

Or maybe, should I consider that gaining this information was worth it?

A question began to rise in my mind.

‘What if all of this is the trial that Tang Jemoon spoke of?

’What would happen if everything I’m experiencing now is part of the trial she mentioned?

Would all the Blood Demon’s words become lies?

‘That would be preferable.

’Since the words I just heard were shockingly impactful, I wished it were truly an illusion.

Thoughts flood my weary mind.

As I was about to let out a sigh while pinching my brow.

[If that’s what you wish.

]The Blood Demon speaks to me.

[I can send you back to the world you originally belonged to right now.

]“…!

”My eyes widened at the casually spoken words.

What?

You can send me back right now?

I looked up at the Blood Demon with widened eyes.

[If you truly wish for it.

] “Of course…”Just as I was about to say it’s obvious, I was suddenly struck by a thought that made me clamp my mouth shut.

Even if this situation is a trial from Tang Jemoon, is it okay to go back to my original world with the help of the Blood Demon, beyond the existence of the Dokcheon Pill or White Demon Stone?

Leaving aside whether the Blood Demon truly would send me back to my original world, it’s a fundamental question.

[Hehe… You’re hesitating.

]“…”[Is that hesitation doubt towards me, or is it lingering feelings of your own?

]I bit my lip unconsciously at the Blood Demon’s words.

[Is it because you haven’t fully broken free yet?

It seems that human immaturity still lingers.

] “Shut up.

”I spat out harshly, growling.

“I am human.

”[...

]Whether I’ve become a demon or something is sprouting within my body, I was still human.

I wanted to abandon everything, yet I couldn’t let go of this damn straw.

After hearing my words, the Blood Demon fell silent for a moment, seemingly pondering.

[Well, if that’s the case for you, then anything is fine.

After all, essence is what matters.

]They uttered words laden with meaning.

And at the same time.

Crackling.

Suddenly, the dimension behind me begins to distort.

It was the Magyeong Gate, which I had entered following the dancer.

A woman wearing a veil walks out just as she did the first time.

It was the dancer.

This time too, she slightly bows her head and performs a courtesy towards me.

Seeing that, I spoke to the Blood Demon with an irritated expression.

“Does this mean I’ve seen everything I needed to see, so now I can leave?

” [As I said, if you desire it, I can send you at any time.

However, it seems you have some lingering attachment to this place, so I’m showing my sincerity in my own way.

]“If that’s your sincerity, then it’s a bit lacking.

”Should I be grateful for surviving and obtaining information?

I recalled the Magyeong Gate.

What could I be attached to in this place, as the Blood Demon said?

‘Regret.

’I recalled that the name of the trial was regret.

Seeing how Tang Jemoon threw me into this without telling me what to do.

‘Isn’t it just that they want me to fail?

’This seemed even more plausible.

Although I contemplated simply closing my eyes and asking the Blood Demon to send me back.

‘…Tch.

’My steps had already turned back towards the Magyeong Gate.

Just before entering the Magyeong Gate.

[It seems a guest has come looking for you outside.

]“Guest…?

”I stopped my steps at the Blood Demon’s words and looked back for a moment.

Suddenly, a guest has come looking for me?

The Blood Demon continues, holding a broad smile.

[Though I don’t know what you wish for here, I hope you have pleasant dreams as you leave.

]It seems they have no intention of telling me what kind of guest it is.

“…”Hearing that, I turned my head.

I don’t know what the Blood Demon from my original world is like, but at least this Blood Demon felt insane.

Without answering the Blood Demon, I walked back towards the Magyeong Gate.

Rumble!

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the region I originally belonged to, just like the first time.

Ah, if there’s one difference from the beginning.

‘The sun is up?

’I clearly remember it being night before I came in.

Now, the sun was shining.

‘What’s going on?

’No matter how I looked at it, this didn’t feel like a conversation long enough for time to pass.

So why is it already daytime?

As I adjusted my eyes to the light after stepping out of the darkness and looked around.

“Your master left a message for you.

”The dancer, who had been behind me, spoke up from inside the Magyeong Gate.

A message out of nowhere; I stared at the dancer, wondering what that was about.

The dancer looked at me through her veil and said.

“I promise.

”A dry and hoarse voice.

It felt lifeless, almost like stone.

Was she mimicking the Blood Demon’s tone?

“That no matter what you do here, I will not interfere.

” “…What?

”I tried to ask what that meant, but.

“…That is the master’s message.

”Already, the Magyeong Gate had engulfed the dancer and vanished.

She really left, only leaving behind words.

I looked at that in disbelief and rolled my eyes as I turned my gaze around.

Standing alone in a forest where no one was visible.

Did I really just meet with the Blood Demon and nothing else happened?

‘Then what now…?

’Left alone, I pondered my next steps.

It’s fortunate that I jumped into the Murim Alliance and met with the Blood Demon without incident.

But when I think about what I should do next, I feel utterly lost.

Should I go back to how things were?

After a brief moment of consideration, I shook my head.

‘No, it’s better to move independently like this.

’It’s safer than heading into the Murim Alliance.

Ah, of course, this doesn’t mean it’s completely safe here.

‘Should I just run and think later?

’Whether it’s the Little Sword Star or someone else.

It’s strange that no one is waiting where I disappeared, but it’s actually a good situation for me to slip away.

Just as I was about to leap away.

Shwaaaaaa—!

“Huh?

”Suddenly, Jeoksusa burst out from my arms and let out a cry.

I widened my eyes at that.

“Oh right.

You were with me too?

”I had completely forgotten about this little one, realizing it was there in my arms.

Had it been quietly observing me, not making a sound?

‘…Wait a minute.

’Now that I think about it, it seems the Blood Demon didn’t mention it.

Did they simply not care about it?

It was a situation that raised some doubts.

Shwaaaaaa.

Meanwhile, the Red Water Snake, after a long absence, grabbed my arm and pointed somewhere with its head.

What on earth is it doing now?

“Right now, I’m busy, so let’s talk later…”Since escaping takes priority, I tried to ignore Jeoksusa and leap again.

Boom—!

“…!

”From a distance behind me, I felt a familiar pressure.

Concentrating on the sound, I turned my head to raise my senses.

As my senses heightened, a metallic scent brushed past my nose.

What’s happening?

If it were the usual situation, I would have either assessed the situation or dashed away, but—Unlike my raging mind telling me to remain calm.

My body was already darting quickly in the direction the sound came from.