Chapter 10 - First Mission (1)

Blood dripped from my fingertips. I exhaled the breath I’d been holding.

My head spun. My entire body shuddered, and the pain continued.

Yi Ho spoke, his trembling eyes fixed on me in disbelief.

＂You… you were… weaker… than me…＂

＂.......＂

＂How…＂

I pulled my hand free. Staggering in agonizing pain, I retreated.

Yi Ho, his chest pierced, crumpled to his knees. He stared up at me for a long moment, then collapsed face-first onto the ground.

— Thud.

I slumped against a tree, my mind fraying. If I closed my eyes, I felt like I would lose consciousness immediately.

But I desperately held on.

I had somehow won. I couldn’t close my eyes now.

This was the Forest of Darkness. Even within Demonic Valley, it was a place where dangerous Beasts lived.

If I passed out, I would be torn apart by Beasts all night, leaving nothing but bones.

I staggered to my feet. Somehow, I could still walk. Apart from that, I noticed that my body felt different than usual.

Slightly, but I was stronger. There was power in my outstretched hand, and my movements were more agile than before.

First-Rate.

It felt like I’d barely managed to hook my foot onto that ledge.

Was this what the 1st Demon had been talking about?

That there would be a definite reward if I used Thousand Veils to fight on the Death Line?

＂.......＂

Limping, I walked towards Yi Ho’s corpse. I didn’t have time to worry about my increased Muwui right now.

I grabbed his unresponsive clothes and dragged him forward.

Seong Ja-Myeong’s body lay where I’d left it. I laid Yi Ho’s corpse before him.

＂…Ja-Myeong. The wind is still silent. I can’t hear anything.＂

Could he hear me?

I didn't know. But I spoke nonetheless. Kneeling, I took his cold hand.

＂I wanted you to hear his screams, but I killed him before he could make any. I guess what you taught me hasn't fully sunk in yet. It was incredibly difficult to win. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have even thought of challenging him.＂

I stroked his cold hand.

＂But I won, Ja-Myeong.＂

Instead of taking his Sword, I reached for the one at Seong Ja-Myeong’s waist. I carefully removed it and placed it on my own hip.

＂…I won.＂

I sat in front of the body for a while. Staring at him in silence, then I stood.

I was tired, but refreshed.

For the first time in my life, I felt like I had accomplished the impossible.

. . .

I ran into 29th at roll call the next day.

She asked casually,

＂How?＂

The meaning of her question was obvious, so I answered.

＂I fought him blow for blow.＂

＂You don’t have any injuries.＂

＂I have a unique constitution.＂

＂You were covered in blood.＂

＂It was a fierce battle.＂

＂Was the person Yi Ho killed an old acquaintance?＂

＂I met him here.＂

＂…Were you close?＂

＂I just kept my word.＂

She didn’t pry any further. Leaving behind a look of surprise, she departed as usual.

I also practiced my Martial Arts. The form of the Demonic Claw was sharper than before. Fighting on the Death Line had given me enlightenment. Though my Qi hadn't increased, controlling my body had become easier.

A blessing in disguise.

I realized the path I had to take. Engaging in these extreme battles would lead to faster growth than simply accumulating Martial Arts normally.

To do that…

I shouldn't avoid any fights that come my way.

I honed my Martial Arts. The Second Form of the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts was more difficult than the First Form.

A Sword, held properly for the first time. I had to use a Sword from the Second Form of the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts onwards. Since the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts itself was a complex Martial Art that blended Sword techniques and Divine Law, it was only natural.

Nine Heavenly Demon Arts’s Second Form.

Soul Chasing Technique.

If the First Form took the form of a violently bestial phantom,

The Second Form took the form of a Severing Sword that extracted severed souls.

A Sword technique that prioritized cutting. I lightly took a stance and swung.

The reason 'Nine Heavens' preceded the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts was simple.

Each form was like a separate Martial Art, making it seem like nine different Martial Arts strung together.

Therefore, while entry itself was easy, it was said to be near impossible to fully master each form. That's how it was written in the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts manual the 1st Demon had given me.

While the form of the Demonic Claw had taken shape, it didn't mean I had fully mastered the First Form. It simply meant the foundation was laid for me to learn the Second Form.

I didn’t rush. While learning the Soul Chasing Technique, I continued to practice the Demonic Claw.

Calmly.

One step at a time.

29th, who had been watching me, spoke to me first for the first time.

＂You’re awful.＂

＂Pardon?＂

＂I don’t know how you reached the First-Rate level, but you’re awful. Your Sword grip is wrong.＂

29th drew her Sword.

＂Hold it like this.＂

She lightly struck.

＂And swing like this.＂

—Crack.

The boulder in front of her split apart.

＂This is Soul Chasing Technique.＂

I touched the mark, trembling.

The cut surface was smooth as a mirror. Where did she even stand?

Unable to gauge it, I glanced at her.

The consumption of Qi didn’t seem excessive at all. Even as she sheathed her Sword, her movements remained fluid and undisturbed.

Master.

A Master standing at a level I couldn’t even imagine. At least…

Peak.

I changed my Sword grip to match hers. I channeled Qi into the Sword and then unleashed the Soul Chasing Technique at the boulder.

—Clang.

The Sword bounced off. However, unlike before, a thick mark remained.

I hadn’t broken it, but I had left a Sword mark on the boulder.

Unbelievable.

Finally, something other than the sound of metal.

Unable to contain my smile, I laughed.

＂Thank you.＂

＂......＂

She looked away from me, brushing past me as if her actions were a mere whim.

I practiced the Soul Chasing Technique endlessly. Worried about damaging my Sword Body, I only struck the boulder once a day, when my Qi was plentiful.

The Sword marks on the boulder gradually became clearer. Eventually, I could leave a distinct mark.

29th, who always glanced at me and left, started talking to me more often.

＂Why do you work so hard?＂

＂I want to become strong.＂

＂To leave?＂

＂That’s part of it, but it’s not the goal itself. There's someone I admire.＂

＂Who?＂

＂The Heavenly Demon.＂

＂An unreachable mountain.＂

＂That’s why I dream of it.＂

＂…Strange one.＂

I knew it myself. But I still didn't let go of my Sword.

Persistence and patience.

Those were my greatest weapons.

Time passed. The posture of the Soul Chasing Technique matured, and the sound of wind splitting from my Demonic Claw became clearer.

I could feel myself growing stronger, bit by bit. My Qi remained stagnant, but now I felt I had firmly entered the First-Rate level.

It would probably take a long time to reach Peak. I might never reach it.

I heard the realm of Peak was the domain of geniuses.

But I didn’t give up. I continued practicing my Martial Arts.

When the days I’d carved on the boulder easily numbered over two hundred and approached three hundred…

＂29th. 30th.＂

For the first time, different words came out of the mouth of the man checking our survival.

＂A mission.＂

. . .

The orders were delivered to us through a document. We read it once, then burned the entire document.

The orders themselves were simple. Bring the head of Maeng Cheon, the Leader of a Sect called Black Heaven.

I replayed the document’s contents in my mind.

Estimated Martial Arts level: high First-Rate. Possibly higher.

Leave no trace. One opportunity. If the mission fails and you’re captured, take the poison.

Execution date: 20 days from now. Until then, hide in the surrounding villages.

We were each given a Human Skin Mask. The skin-like face felt strange, but I adjusted quickly.

I could also take off the stuffy black hood. Officially, we couldn’t remove the black hoods within Demonic Valley except when alone, so even though it was a fake face, I enjoyed the fresh air after a long time.

From below to above.

29th and I left Demonic Valley.

＂…Whew.＂

The light I saw after so long was too bright. For a while, I had to squint.

Seeing 29th in the light felt strangely new.

Small.

Almost like a little girl.

But her Martial Arts level was far from that of a girl. There must be a reason. I stared intently at her face. A fake face. An ordinary appearance you could see anywhere.

29th stared back at me.

＂Ugly.＂

＂Isn't it passable?＂

＂Not at all.＂

＂My real face is better.＂

＂Really?＂

＂…Ahem.＂

＂Pft.＂

She laughed for the first time in front of me. She turned around and looked at me.

＂Warm sunlight. It's a little chilly, but spring seems to be coming, 30th.＂

＂Indeed.＂

＂I'm hungry. How much money do you have?＂

＂I have quite a bit, but…＂

＂Can’t we eat first?＂

＂There’s no reason we can't.＂

We went to the nearest restaurant first. The outside food I ate after so long was very unfamiliar.

It was savory. And at the same time, what was it… It felt like it wasn’t food from this world.

I ate with tears in my eyes, then glanced to the side. She was sniffling too.

＂…It’s spicy.＂

I put some of the same noodles she ordered into my mouth.

They weren’t spicy at all.

＂…You’re right.＂

I chuckled.

＂Spicy. Very.＂

. . .

I realized after we came outside.

The reason she had been quiet inside was because she truly hated being in there.

She was more talkative than I thought. Her naturally beautiful voice was clear and pleasant to listen to.

＂30th. Did you know that missions are usually spaced one to two months apart?＂

＂I didn’t know that.＂

＂This time, it was strangely long. I was starting to think we'd been abandoned. But I'm glad. That we could come out.＂

I asked her as she hummed a tune.

＂Why did you enter Demonic Valley, 29th?＂

＂…A topic I don’t really want to talk about. Let's talk about something else. What do you like?＂

＂Hmm…＂

I stroked my chin.

＂Meat…?＂

＂You ate plenty of that inside Demonic Valley.＂

＂Cooked, not raw.＂

＂Do you like both?＂

＂Only the latter.＂

＂I prefer the former.＂

＂I knew you would say that.＂

＂…Just kidding.＂

＂I’m kidding too, 29th.＂

She giggled and poked my waist.

＂How's your progress with the Ghost Shadow Step?＂

＂Still clumsy.＂

＂The Sword is important, but footwork is the foundation of all foundations. Mastering it will definitely help you.＂

＂I’m practicing it until my bones break.＂

＂What if you can't walk anymore?＂

＂I’ll walk on my hands.＂

＂What if your hands break too?＂

＂I'll have to roll around, what else can I do?＂

The conversations with her, who had become much more talkative, were enjoyable. Talking lightheartedly without delving into deep topics was surprisingly comfortable.

But the pleasant time was short-lived. We soon arrived where the Black Heaven was located.

Fifteen days remained.

We blended into the crowds. After securing lodgings at an Inn, we observed the Black Heaven.

Quite a few Warriors. Even at night, there were enough people that breaking through directly seemed difficult.

29th, looking practiced, sketched a map at the Inn based on what she’d seen.

＂Learn what I’m doing, 30th. It will help you later.＂

＂I always receive help from you, 29th.＂

＂Pay me back later.＂

29th glanced at me. I smoothed my collar.

＂If you want my body…＂

＂I wouldn’t take it even if you offered.＂

29th put down her brush. She spread out the completed drawing.