Chapter 7 - Demonic Claw (1)

＂Who is it?＂

＂It's alright, Third Brother. I am…＂

＂Who are you.＂

He gasped, forcing the corners of his mouth upward.

＂When I first met you, Third Brother, I thought something. Even beyond that concealing hood, I felt like I could talk to you—like it would be okay.＂

＂That's not what I asked.＂

＂Third Brother, I was a bit of an oddity within the Divine Sect. Incompetent, yet always sticking my nose where it didn't belong. I entered the Heavenly Demon Academy, but my progress was sluggish.＂

Seong Ja-Myeong coughed up blood. A gurgling sound accompanied the bloody phlegm.

＂If a disciple can’t master the sword, they must eventually lay it down. Become a merchant, a farmer, haha… or perhaps a mercenary. Of course, one can earn money. But isn't it difficult to support three people on my own?＂

＂......＂

＂So, after much wandering, I finally chose this path. Barely scraping by, I learned the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts. My understanding is shallow, shameful to even call it learning, but I at least have the minimum qualifications. I fell into Demonic Valley, and now I’m here before you, Third Brother.＂

Seong Ja-Myeong closed his eyes.

＂Third Brother, do you hear the sound of the wind? My home, even in its barrenness, was situated on a high place. It was cold in the winter. Third Brother, do you know how deeply the cold can penetrate the bones?＂

＂…I know.＂

＂That’s a relief. You don't speak a word about yourself, Third Brother, so I was a little worried. I was also worried that if you happened to be from a wealthy family, you might not understand what I’m saying. But thankfully, if there’s such a thing as coincidence, isn't this a coincidence?＂

Seong Ja-Myeong’s voice gradually weakened.

＂Third Brother, are you there?＂

＂I am here.＂

＂As I said earlier, Third Brother, you are a rare person within the Divine Sect. Perhaps that’s why… I forced myself to talk to you. Do you know how much I looked for you while holding the first snake I ever caught? Haha. Of course, not out of affection. How could that be? I simply wanted to repay your kindness. I was so happy that unlike others, you didn’t draw your sword the moment I approached. In this hellish place, to have someone I can open my heart to while chewing on poisoned meat… isn't that truly a blessing?＂

＂......＂

＂Third Brother.＂

＂Yes.＂

＂Third Brother… are you there?＂

＂I am here.＂

He took my hand.

The tremors were also slowly subsiding.

＂Third Brother, Demonic Valley is such a cold place. But I don’t hear the wind. It's a shame. If my soul could return home… even that seems impossible.＂

He removed his outer robe.

He placed it over me.

＂…Puh-huh. Third Brother, there’s no need to take it so seriously.＂

＂Who did this?＂

＂What does it matter, Third Brother? Having entered this place, I was already expecting death. Whether I die in a year or now, it makes little difference. But… but…＂

His grip on my hand tightened.

＂I was so glad to have someone like you here. Do you know how precious it is within the Divine Sect to have kindness returned in kind, Third Brother?＂

＂…I don’t know.＂

＂Then learn it now. Third Brother, humans are treacherous. Don’t be fooled. Third Brother… Third Brother…＂

He pulled me closer.

He whispered in my ear.

＂Survive… for me too.＂

I opened my mouth. Closed it, then opened it again.

Closed it again. The corners of my mouth trembled slightly. But I didn't want him to hear my choked voice, so I coughed lightly.

＂…Ja-Myeong.＂

＂…Yes… Third Brother…＂

＂My name is Jeok Un.＂

＂…Ha… Ha… A wonderful… name…＂

I whispered to him.

＂I had a younger sister. She starved to death. But I wasn’t particularly sad about it.＂

＂…Is…that so…＂

＂I would have reacted the same way if my parents had died. Ja-Myeong, my family was like shackles to me. I couldn't even breathe properly while carrying that burden.＂

＂I… am… no different…＂

＂Ja-Myeong, I respect you. I respect the courage you showed by walking into this place so casually, with those heavy shackles on your shoulders. What other Martial Artist could do that?＂

I felt his breath fading.

＂I don't regret telling you my story that first day. Because you were someone worthy of it.＂

＂......＂

＂Ja-Myeong, you can rest now. It's okay. You don't have to tell me anything, you don't have to whisper anything.＂

His hand fell from mine.

His stopped breath did not resume.

I carefully laid him down. The ground was cold. So I laid my own outer robe beneath him.

＂You are too low to the ground to hear the wind, Ja-Myeong. I'm sorry I couldn't let you hear it. But…＂

I placed the sword from my waist on top of him.

＂I will return with a different sound.＂

I turned.

I walked towards the darkness.

. . .

Roll call time arrived. The lantern light swept past.

＂Twenty-Ninth. Thirtieth. Confirmation of survival.＂

As usual, Twenty-Ninth rose. As soon as roll call ended, she tried to run into the forest.

But I blocked her path. I steadfastly endured the gaze from within the black hood that landed on me.

＂Twenty-Ninth.＂

＂Why?＂

＂I have a request.＂

I bowed my head.

＂Do you happen to know who killed Seventeenth?＂

＂.......＂

She looked me up and down as if I were some strange beast.

＂Thirtieth, people die. They die even easier within Demonic Valley. It’s not strange for someone to die in this place. It’s common for fights to break out over a single snake, ending with them stabbing each other.＂

＂.......＂

＂Whoever Seventeenth was, if he’s dead, forget it. Connections within Demonic Valley… Caring is what’s strange.＂

＂He was a friend.＂

＂.......＂

＂That fact doesn’t change just because he’s dead.＂

I lowered my head once more. I could bow countless times for him.

＂If you just tell me, I will repay you in any way possible.＂

＂It’s not worth it.＂

＂I decide its worth.＂

＂No one will appreciate it.＂

＂I will.＂

She stared at me intently.

＂…You. You’re stubborn.＂

＂I’ve heard that a lot.＂

＂Knowing won’t help. You can’t kill that person.＂

＂So you know who it is.＂

＂Yi Ho. It must be him. He often hunts humans. He was covered in blood yesterday too. Thirtieth, there's something you don't know about this Demonic Valley.＂

She tilted her head.

＂All the beasts within Demonic Valley emit a faint Demonic Qi. Eating them nourishes the flesh and blood. But that effect disappears once they're cooked. Only by consuming them raw can you absorb it.＂

＂.......＂

＂But that doesn’t just apply to beasts. It can be done between those who practice the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts. Of course, the condition is the same. You have to eat the raw flesh.＂

…Come to think of it, they were missing.

Not only some of the spilled intestines, but also his severed arm, which I couldn't find anywhere nearby.

＂There’s a limit to how much you can consume at once. The Qi you can absorb is about equivalent to one of the beasts inside.＂

One beast.

The weight of a life.

＂…Just that much?＂

＂Once we begin practicing the Nine Heavenly Demon Arts, sooner or later, we encounter our Demonic Nature. We eventually become murderers soaked in blood, and the only way to control that is to reach a higher Realm. We are all desensitized to killing. You know that too. That we can kill someone without any emotion at any time.＂

＂.......＂

＂Yi Ho simply found pleasure in that act. He succumbed to his Demonic Nature faster than others, and as a result, he now feels pleasure in the act of killing. Yi Ho's proclivities are well-known. Anyone who has survived long in this place knows about it.＂

＂Thank you.＂

＂I’m telling you…＂

She crossed her arms and looked up at me.

＂Yi Ho’s Martial Arts skills are close to First-Rate. Not at the top of the Blood Demon Corps, but not low either. It’s too much for you.＂

＂I’ll handle that.＂

＂…Tsk.＂

She turned to leave. I stopped her before she completely disappeared.

＂I will repay your kindness.＂

＂No need.＂

Twenty-Ninth vanished into the darkness.

＂If you challenge Yi Ho, you won't even have the chance.＂

. . .

Finding Yi Ho wasn't difficult. I remembered the number branded on his body. After roll call ended, when he moved, I followed.

I unfolded the Ghost Shadow Step, which I had finally grown somewhat accustomed to. With my skill barely reaching the cusp of First-Rate, there were limitations, but I did my best to conceal my presence.

Yi Ho turned his head. I hid behind a tree.

Sensing something amiss, he picked up his pace. I didn't bother chasing him closely.

Instead, I looked at the footprints he left behind. The steps he took as he began to accelerate were evenly spaced.

A stability I couldn't imitate. She was right.

He was at least First-Rate.

Someone at that level.

Could I win? Probably not. I could tell just from his Ghost Shadow Step. If his movement technique was that stable, his body was likely just as solid.

Unlike me, he might even be able to use the Nine Heavenly Blood Demon Sword Arts. If he had mastered parts that I hadn't learned, how should I respond?

I pondered. I wanted to kill him. At least, before Seong Ja-Myeong's body was devoured by beasts, I wanted to drag his screaming form before the corpse.

How much more effort would it take to defeat him in my current state?

He would continue to train just as I did. By the time I neared First-Rate, he might reach the Wall of the Peak Realm.

The gap between us would remain, even with the passage of time. I wasn't a genius, confident enough to believe I could close that gap in a short amount of time.

…But.

The more I thought, the more excuses I made.

I wasn't rolling around in this place to make excuses.

I followed the footprints. I stopped thinking. I simply followed my heart.

Yi Ho came into view.

His head turning. His hand striking out in response to killing intent.

「Survive… for me too.」

Ja-Myeong.

You’re right. I didn't come here to die.

I want to become like the Heavenly Demon. Live long enough to face her gaze directly.

…But.

If all of that can only be achieved by turning my eyes away and running…

What meaning would all of that have?

If I turn away after finally gaining some dignity, what meaning would my journey have?

---Paang!!

I struck. The Demonic Claw, honed over months of training, clung to my fingertips.

But the enemy deflected the attack with a single move. Regaining his balance after his sliding form, he asked me.

＂What the fuck are you doing?＂

Cry out. Nine Heavenly Demon Arts.

Cry even louder if the opponent is strong. Tear them apart even if you’re mangled.

Endurance shines only through pain. Then what makes me shine now?

The kindness of a friend.

The silence of the one who worried for my safety until his last breath.

＂Seong Ja-Myeong's friend.＂

Why did I learn Martial Arts?

I…

＂Jeok Un.＂

…learned Martial Arts so I wouldn’t have to hide.

＂You son of a bitch.＂