Chapter 20 - Blacksmith (1)

The first thing I felt was a refreshing coolness.

Then, a heavy weight.

＂...Ugh!＂

The Thousand Veils cried out. I felt every blood vessel in my body pulsate within that whimper.

The roots of the Thousand Veils, which occupied every point of my meridians, writhed slightly. Contracting and expanding, they tightly squeezed my meridians.

It wasn't being pushed aside.

It was simply devouring the incoming energy.

Not my intention. I only wanted to accumulate this energy in my dantian, following the pathways of my meridians.

But the Thousand Veils was rampaging on its own. Unexpected. Different from when I consumed the Spirit Pill.

Did Sama play some kind of trick…?

---Crack!

Now's not the time to be thinking!

I hurriedly initiated the Lesser Heavenly Circulation Arts. My skeletal structure continued to warp in real time.

Excruciating pain. But I had a conviction that if I lost consciousness now, everything would be ruined.

My qi would run rampant, and I might lose everything I'd painstakingly accumulated.

I desperately endured. I struggled to push even a fraction of the devoured Inner Qi into my dantian.

My body rattled. My flesh softened like clay, and a sensation of my bones protruding outward overwhelmed me.

Something was leaking out of my body. A liquid, but I couldn't even tell if it was blood or sweat.

The Thousand Veils is killing me.

At the same time, it’s saving me.

I gritted my teeth and endured. The agony lasted for more than half a day.

The Inner Qi accumulated in my dantian was a mere fifth of what I had initially encountered. The rest was all devoured by the Thousand Veils.

Gasping, I stood up and realized a foul odor permeated the air. I crawled towards the water.

I washed myself and wet my parched lips. I must have been in my Nest for a full day.

Roll call time had long passed. I lay down as I was. I regulated my breathing while looking at the sky.

I could feel the Thousand Veils wriggling inside my body. The fortunate thing was that my body had grown a little larger.

My skeletal structure itself had changed. My frame had become slightly bigger, and the strength of my bones seemed to have hardened.

Most fortunate of all, I felt a foundation had been established. I stretched out my hand. Faintly, but I could channel qi to its tip.

A flickering energy flow.

Vague, but Fist Energy was starting to become visible.

"...Haha."

The threshold of the Peak.

I stepped into it.

Not fleetingly like before, but firmly.

The balance of Qi Body Unification was perfectly achieved.

. . .

Immediately after ascending to the threshold of the Peak, much had changed.

My body felt lighter. A light jump propelled me twice as far as before, and strength filled my fists even without channeling Inner Qi.

The power of the Demonic Claw also increased. The first form, naturally executed, could pierce even the surface of a rock when imbued with Inner Qi, and allowed me to hunt beasts I could only dream of before.

And what about the Soul Chasing Technique? I could awkwardly cut rocks. The form was still somewhat difficult, and not as clean as 29th’s, but…

The important thing was that I could now cut what I couldn't before.

"Huu."

Even my exhaled breath now flowed naturally.

Enlightenment came first, but the Spirit Pill provided the qi to support it.

The somewhat lacking body was aided by the Thousand Veils, which devoured the Spirit Pill's Inner Qi.

I lightly executed the Ghost Shadow Step. The form itself had become quite presentable, so it seemed I could move on to the next stage.

The first application of the Ghost Shadow Step.

The Hidden form of the Ghost Shadow Step.

I tried to mimic the form I'd seen 29th use.

The sound and shadow noticeably diminished. A rustling sound, as if treading on darkness, reached my ears.

I'd heard that mastering the Hidden form would completely erase my presence and sound, but…

I can't replicate it perfectly in one go. Traces of sound and presence still remain.

Are she and I truly different?

Knowing I still lack talent, I had no choice but to catch up with persistent effort.

The Demonic Claw, the Soul Chasing Technique, and the Ghost Shadow Step.

I spurred on my Martial Arts training. I could now devour even larger beasts, beyond the wolf-like creatures, venturing deeper into Demonic Valley.

As my food intake increased, my Inner Qi naturally accumulated.

Roughly half of it was silently siphoned off by the Thousand Veils. But I was satisfied with that.

The pain that constantly accompanied my movements had subsided to a dull ache. Perhaps when the Thousand Veils fully took root, even this pain would disappear.

Then, except when regenerating, I wouldn't feel any pain.

I was overjoyed by the successive good news. I especially liked that I could sleep soundly without writhing in agony.

My skills gradually improved. I reached for the second application of the Soul Chasing Technique.

The sound from the Hidden form of the Ghost Shadow Step had almost vanished. I was confident I could now slip past even a Black Heaven Squad Warrior undetected.

Beyond wolf-like beasts, even the massive four-legged beasts deep within Demonic Valley.

I devoured everything I could. I gorged myself, accumulating strength bit by bit.

1st Demon was right. The explosive growth, bordering on euphoria, was no more.

All that remained was to silently take one step at a time.

One day, as usual, I leaned against my sword and slept, having forgotten to keep track of the days.

＂.......＂

A new recruit arrived at my Nest.

Bearing the name 29th.

Distinctly white hair peeked out from under the mask. Somewhat taller than the previous 29th.

But the strength of her Martial Arts was far from that of a newcomer. The caliber itself was different from when I first arrived.

First-Rate, Top-Tier. Perhaps around that level.

…A feeling as if she was aiming for the Peak.

Of course, it wasn't certain. Perhaps I would know if our swords clashed. But she didn't even offer me that chance.

The new 29th didn't say a word to me. As if she already knew the situation within Demonic Valley, she acted as if I didn't exist.

Since she didn't speak to me, I didn't speak to her either. I could tell from the energy flowing through her that she was on edge, so even if I initiated conversation, I didn't expect a pleasant response.

However, she was more clumsy than I expected. She seemed to act rigidly and meticulously, but she displayed a certain airheadedness.

Like getting lost trying to find the watering hole she'd visited the day before.

Or groaning in pain after eating rotten moss.

Or taking roll call in the wrong Nest.

Ten days after the new 29th arrived, I realized something.

---She's an airhead.

Watching her actions made me want to chuckle. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I quietly spoke to her.

We had to live in the same space, after all.

If she wanted to keep her distance, I decided to simply tell her what she needed to know.

"The watering hole is over there. Nobody uses it. It's relatively close, so you can get your drinking water there. It's better than going further afield."

".......”

“The Nests may look similar from the outside, but there are faint numbers carved on the rocks. Even if you can't see them, you can feel them with your hand. I recommend not approaching anyone who's lying down, 29th. Everyone is as sharp as a knife."

I also stealthily caught a beast and left it at 29th's place. Although the stomach ache from the poison was similar, the feeling of fullness would be different.

Three days after silently staring at me without a word, the new 29th finally spoke.

"Do... you like me?"

"Huh?"

"I asked if you like me, even though you've never seen my face. If so, I want to reject you in advance. I'm not interested in men. I rather detest them."

Rejected before I even confessed.

Taken aback by the unexpected question, I shook my head.

"I was just helping you because we're in the same squad. I apologize if I caused a misunderstanding. If it makes you uncomfortable, I won't interfere anymore."

"...Are you really sure you have no other intentions?"

"None."

Dumbfounded, I completely cut off the conversation this time. For a while, I kept my distance from her and focused on my own affairs. This time, she was the one who approached me.

In her hand was a snake. I could tell at a glance that the slight wounds on her hand weren't from a snake bite, but from scraping the ground.

Getting bitten on your first hunt is a hellish experience. The poison wasn't deadly, but it left you feeling incredibly nauseous and foul.

She offered me her glorious first spoils of war. Her somewhat prickly tone remained unchanged.

"Eat it. 30th."

She's not a good person like Seong Ja-Myeong.

But at least she's someone who understands gratitude.

I glanced at the offered snake. It’s been a while since I graduated from these…

There wasn't much Demonic Qi or satiety to be gained from eating it.

"It's okay. You eat it, 29th."

"...Are you rejecting my good will right now?"

"Huh? No, it's not that… I'm just not particularly hungry…"

"Are you bragging about being able to easily catch larger beasts?"

"What are you talking about?"

Dumbfounded, I asked back. 29th offered the snake again.

"Then please accept it. I hate being indebted to others. I'll decline any one-sided help. I'll repay what I've received.”

".......”

I reluctantly accepted the snake. The more I thought about it, the stranger I felt.

What is this?

I received repayment, but why do I feel like I've been insulted?

"...Thank you. I'll eat it well.”

I took it. From then on, she caught and offered me several more snakes.

"Here, eat it."

Since it was awkward to refuse, I ate them. She would always watch until I finished before leaving.

What is this? Why is she doing this?

Even with the mask, I could feel her obvious gaze, and it made me feel suffocated. Did I make the wrong choice?

Is she retaliating indirectly because her pride was hurt by accepting help...?

She was an enigma. And because she was an enigma, she was unsettling. The previous 29th was blunt, but his intentions were transparent. He never spoke in a roundabout way.

But this woman?

There seemed to be poison hidden within her kindness.

So, I tried refusing the snake she offered once.

"I'm full.”

"...Huh?"

I could feel the new 29th glaring at me from behind her black mask.

"Then how am I supposed to repay my debt?"

"You don't have to…"

"I don't want that. I'll repay it. I really hate owing anything to a man. So eat it. Force yourself to eat it."

"Isn't this putting the cart before the horse?"

"Even if it is, just eat it.”

What a bothersome woman.

I ultimately refused.

"I don't want to eat it.”

“......"

From that day on, 29th stopped coming to me. She started managing things on her own, however clumsily.

I also didn't offer her anything, finding it unsettling. As time passed, our current relationship solidified.

Both of us.

Keeping our distance.

Channeling Sword Qi into the tip of the Soul Chasing Technique's sword became natural. The realm of the Peak, which I vaguely understood, was slowly taking shape.

And the Ghost Shadow Step? My speed increased. While the Hidden form reduced my speed somewhat, it also noticeably diminished my presence, making it useful for hunting beasts. Combined with the Demonic Claw, it made for an excellent assassination technique.

I felt a sense of steady progress. The pain from the Thousand Veils also lessened, and at the same time…

I occasionally felt a sensation as if something was rummaging around inside my body.

What is this? Could it be that the Thousand Veils' abilities aren’t limited to warping bones and regeneration?

With that question in mind, the sword I swung was tattered. I realized my weapon needed maintenance.

I need to fix the sword. It’s the Holy Saint's Sword. I want to use it for a long time if possible.

So, I asked the person who came to inspect during roll call.

“…A blacksmith?"

He stroked his chin.

"Impossible. But... the blade of your sword is definitely chipped. Even if the form is intact, it won't function properly. I'll issue you a new weapon. Return your old sword."

“......”

It was somewhat bitter, but there was nothing I could do. I nodded and returned the sword.

However, the man who had left returned a day later and handed me a piece of paper.

"I'll give you a week. Take this to a nearby blacksmith. It's a map and a letter. If you take this, they'll prioritize your request."

“…Huh? Why?”

"It's the Great Master's order."

The Blood Demon Squad Leader.

He seems quite eager to curry favor with 1st Demon.

It had been about half a year since I returned to Demonic Valley. I stood up, tying back my long hair.

I felt a gaze. A gaze that seemed envious to death, but refrained from outward expression due to pride.

Come to think of it…

Her sword is also in a terrible state.

“…Would it be possible for 29th to accompany me?”

"What? There's a limit to how much we can accommodate you. How dare…"

"I would be grateful if you would just inquire with the Great Master.”

Did he think I was using the Blood Demon Squad Leader's name in vain?

I could sense his unseen face contorting behind the mask. He glared at me, his pride seemingly wounded, before turning away.

The next day, when he appeared for roll call, he nodded at me and 29th.

"You have seven days, starting tomorrow. If you don't return within the time limit, we'll send a pursuit squad.”

I nodded.

It's been a while since I've been outside.