Chapter 36: Two People's Diverging Fates (1)

Time flowed endlessly like that. For Bi Wol, I bought her a new sword and had her learn the Three Talents Sword Technique.

Though it only had horizontal cuts, vertical cuts, and thrusts, precisely because of that simplicity it could be applied in countless variations.

Even if it was a third-rate martial art, the person mastering it wasn't third-rate.

"This sword bestowed directly by Master... This girl will cherish it more than her own body."

Bi Wol spoke while hugging the black sword that matched her hair color to her chest.

The reason I matched it as closely as possible to the sword she used in the original work was because I hoped she would break free from her original fate.

It felt like I shouldn't act to bind her by my arbitrary decisions anymore.

If I had given Bi Wol more freedom, perhaps the Heart Demon wouldn't have grown in her heart.

"Master! Where's my gift!"

Beside Bi Wol speaking brightly, I taught Verdandi the Six Harmonies Sword Technique. A third-rate martial art containing all three sword principles of the Flower Mountain Sect: speed, change, and illusion.

Though she struggled at first training in the mental imagery world, it was unavoidable to teach while conserving my body as much as possible.

Moreover, Verdandi's nemesis Sieghart was a swordsman who could turn anything in this world into a sword. A monster who, when grown, could grasp even time and space to cut down opponents.

"Unfortunately that's how it is. How about this comb instead?"

I showed Verdandi a comb. Since she kept one side of her hair braided, there was a hidden setting about how she treasured her hair.

"I love it! Master understands a woman's heart!"

Seeing it, she smiled brightly and immediately took the comb from my grip. Though the shop owner gave me some strange looks, it must have been my imagination.

"Master, do you know the meaning of a man giving a comb as a gift to a woman?"

Was there such a thing? Seeing Bi Wol pulling on my sleeve giving silent pressure, I seemed to have made another mistake.

"I wouldn't know. I have no connection with women."

I shook my head and played dumb consistently. The way to deal with such things was to deliberately act oblivious.

"...Since you didn't know, I'll let it slide this once."

Bi Wol showed an expression that said she expected as much, sighing deeply before showing an accepting attitude.

What meaning could it have? Living with a terminal condition, I hadn't thought about taking a wife.

After losing Seolhwa, I hadn't even thought about meeting another woman.

"Don't you have a gift for me?"

At that moment, I felt a presence behind me. Azazel, asking with puffed cheeks if there was anything for her share. I was glad she seemed to be opening her heart gradually.

"How about something to eat? There are sweet snacks like mahua."

I spoke gently while offering Azazel snacks similar to twisted bread sticks coated in sugar.

Since Azazel still treasured the rosary given by Kang Si-woo, I thought giving a physical gift might have the opposite effect.

"Hmm, not bad. Thank you."

She bowed her head in thanks. Watching her, I sensed she still needed more time.

"I hope you'll continue to improve from now on."

People grow tired of repetitive tasks without reward.

Even writing before a web novel launch (building up chapters without reader feedback) is a lonely and solitary task.

The reason I discontinued serialization while alive was also because there was no reader response.

Though they say a writer is one who writes even if only one person reads it, after losing Seolhwa, I wanted more people to read my work.

"Of course."

"Yes! Understood!"

"If I could meet Si-woo..."

My disciples each made their pledges, showing gratitude for their gifts and demonstrating even more dedication to their training.

* * *

After finishing their training, the three disciples bathed and gathered in one room. Two more people had joined what was originally Bi Wol's solitary room.

"It's spacious here. We won't be too cramped."

Bi Wol had given up the best quarters in Ice Dragon Flower Banquet, the sunny spot below. She was accumulating favors to get something from Master later.

"So, what's the reason for gathering us in one place!"

Verdandi spoke first to Bi Wol, who was looking at the other two with a somewhat ominous expression. She too thought there must be something special about the three of them being gathered.

"What, did you have something to discuss?"

Though Azazel spoke indifferently, it had been a long time since she had been among people like this.

"...I'll listen at least."

She seemed to secretly not dislike this lifestyle. Wasn't it better than being trapped in a cold place endlessly waiting for someone who would never come?

"Don't we seem to have something in common?"

Bi Wol brought up one hypothesis to them. Unlike the children Bing Yeon usually took in, they were individuals with enough power to overthrow a country.

According to Bing Yeon, who could see the future, wasn't it against fate for them to be gathered here now?

"First, we all have dark pasts."

Bi Wol spoke while extending one finger. In her case, she had to taste blood and slaughter while being raised in the Heavenly Demon Cult from childhood.

Verdandi could detect others' lies because of her Eyes That See Truth, and grew up enduring persecution from villagers.

In Azazel's case, she lost her parents, lived with her twin sister, and suffered the humiliation of losing even the man she had a crush on.

"Yes! That certainly seems true!"

Verdandi nodded as if understanding Bi Wol's reasoning. Even the aspect of Master Bing Yeon understanding and embracing all their pasts was the same.

"...Is that so?"

Azazel tilted her head slightly with a puzzled attitude.

Anyone could consider their past unfortunate depending on their standards of thinking, and she thought she had been saved by a man named Kang Si-woo.

"Second, we all have power enough to overthrow a country. This is also different from the children who usually enter the sect."

Most people taken in by Ice Dragon Flower Banquet were children of parents who fled after being charged murderous taxes by local officials, people who lost jobs after losing limbs in accidents, or those left homeless due to famine.

In other words, there was no need to accept them as disciples when they were strong from birth. If he truly wanted to change the future, it would have been better to support from behind with minimal influence.

"We might be connected to Master's death!"

At that moment, Verdandi raised her hand and shared her opinion with Bi Wol.

The vision she saw in the mental imagery world when Bi Wol fought the Heart Demon. The future shown by the karma of the Killing Star clearly showed someone familiar being beheaded.

"No. If it was to preserve his life, he wouldn't have saved us. He would have chosen to kill us instead. That would leave fewer future problems."

She shook her head, expressing disagreement with Verdandi's opinion. It was something she learned during training.

Even at the same pinnacle realm, since Bing Yeon had been stuck at that wall much longer, they couldn't easily win even attacking three at once.

"When you put it that way, something does seem strange."

Azazel rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. If they were really connected to the negative future Bing Yeon saw, couldn't he just kill them?

- That man, even I find him strange. It's not normal for someone under an Outer God's influence to maintain their sanity.

The tentacles on her back writhed as Morgidian offered an opinion.

Not just any Outer God but Shub-Niggurath. The being called the Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young, also named the Lurker at the Threshold, wife of Yog-Sothoth.

- The daughter-in-law of the 'Blind Idiot God.' Do you think someone touched by her is truly an ordinary human?

Since Azathoth above was often described as a being beyond reason, she could be called the companion of the effective leader of the Outer Gods.

"Third, Master seems to feel guilty while calling us daughter-like beings."

At this final commonality, they felt something familiar while looking at each other's faces. Despite different hair and eye colors.

It felt hard to say they looked alike. They might not have noticed separately, but they had many small commonalities.

"Don't we all have different parents!"

Verdandi expressed confusion while rolling her eyes wide. Seeming to sympathize with her words, Bi Wol sighed deeply.

"Yes, Master has no companion. Though he occasionally visits somewhere with flowers when winter comes."

They had even imagined he might be projecting lost children, but no matter how they thought about it, the ages didn't match.

"But our appearances have commonalities."

"Commonalities...?"

Bi Wol stroked her hair while speaking. The disciples before her had the same falling hair length.

"Long straight hair, unusual eyes, and builds larger than average peers."

All three had long straight hair, special eyes, and better builds than peers their age.

As if modeled after someone.

"......"

"Looking at it this way, we really do seem alike!"

Could such coincidences exist? They were born continents hundreds of meters apart.

In truth, it resulted from the final bosses in the novels all being described with appearances similar to Seolhwa's, but,

"...Could we actually be lost sisters?"

Due to Azazel's misstep, their misunderstanding only deepened.

* * *

Sleep wouldn't come today. Was it because of the assumption that Seolhwa might really be alive?

The Outer God Shub-Niggurath might be imitating her handwriting and memories to tempt me.

"Even after years, I can't forget you."

I frowned while covering my face with my hands. Love was like a deadly poison, tormenting people no matter how much time passed.

Before and after possession, Seolhwa remained in a corner of my heart, flaunting her presence.

"...If you're really alive, why haven't you shown yourself to me?"

I had left the sect and was walking alone in the back mountain. Feeling like I might go mad staying still, I didn't care even as my breathing grew rough and my body was drenched in sweat.

I wrote to gain her attention, to commemorate her. Admiration turned to love, and now only ugly attachments remained as I took the final bosses as my disciples.

What more was there to take from me, trying to destroy even my last remaining memories?

"Don't you know that reason better?"

At that moment, my nerves stood on end as a familiar voice brushed my ear.

It couldn't be.

It absolutely couldn't be.

The owner of this cute, slightly high-pitched voice,

"...Do-hyeon. It's been a while."

It was the voice of Seolhwa, whom I had longed for all my life.