Episode 401

The Earth Demon was silent for a while.

Perhaps he was thinking so much that his expression vanished.

It was as if he was paying close attention to what the person said and what it would bring him.

“Hmm.”

Seol-Hwi gave him enough time.

The Earth Demon was a familiar figure, but to the Earth Demon of this life, he had never met someone like Seol-Hwi.

And when someone suddenly comes up and says, “I will live the life for you,” it is natural for him to feel lost.

He is reacting like this because of his easy-going nature; normally, everyone would kick me out.

Even Seol-Hwi felt the same way.

“Hey, I don’t quite understand… What does it mean to live my life?”

As time passed, the Earth Demon’s lips parted.

Seol-Hwi shrugged and said,

“Well, for now, it is what I said.”

Seol-Hwi’s face changed with the words; his skeleton became narrower.

“…!”

The Earth Demon’s eyes widened at that sight. It was as if he was standing in front of a mirror.

Same face and body type.

Except for the clothes, he looked as if the Earth Demon was standing in front of him.

“How is it? Do you think this works?”

“…You are a person who has reached the Supreme state.”

The Earth Demon stared at Seol-Hwi for a moment in shock. There were not many who could perfectly look like someone.

People have their own individuality in many areas, including body shape, form, and movement habits. Especially a warrior.

For a warrior above a certain level, the force created by the combination of higher strength and internal energy was like a smell.

No matter how much effort was put in, it could not be hidden or changed.

It was close to impossible.

The man in front of him was giving off a scent identical to that.

“Wonderful. It seems like you came prepared…”

The Earth Demon looked at Seol-Hwi and then shook his head.

“You cannot act as my replacement. You were wrong in knowing my life.”

“If it is your life, I know. You are someone who has had quite a lot of ups and downs.”

Seol-Hwi answered right then.

In the past, when they lived together, he had firsthand experience of how pitiful this man was.

And except for the Earth Demon himself, it was Seol-Hwi who knew the situation more objectively through the repeated pasts.

“Well. My sahyung sajaes are the problem. Honestly, for me… you would not be figured out if you dressed up, but they have other senses.”

Of course, the Earth Demon, who had no way of knowing that, rubbed his chin.

“It is a bit flustering to say it so, but you have just one talent. A natural body. Because of that, the sahyungs all treat you a bit carelessly… a knife, one which is sharp but can be used just once as it breaks later.”

“…!?”

Seol-Hwi stopped talking as the Earth Demon’s face went stiff.

“I know. Heavenly Killing Star, your body’s condition. Normally, you should have died at the age of 16. A life which must have been difficult. If it weren’t for the Sect Leader who snatched you out of the Wudang Sect, you would have died a long time ago.”

“…”

“That is why the Sect Leader isn’t just a teacher but a benefactor in life, or so you might be thinking… Unfortunately, he is no savior, and not your father at all.”

Seol-Hwi did not look sad; rather, he looked at the Earth Demon with a calmer look.

Once in their past lives, Seol-Hwi and the Earth Demon realized all of the Sect Leader’s plans. There was a time when they decided to prepare for a rebellion.

But the moment he started the rebellion, the Earth Demon hesitated and looked helpless.

At the time, he found the man’s indecisiveness irritating, but he could understand it now.

The Earth Demon lived a lonely life.

Although his martial arts were the best in the world, his blood got stronger with each day.

The Sect Leader, who kept him alive through any means possible when he was dying. The strongest man who saved his life. And taught him martial arts too.

He treated the Earth Demon warmly, even if it was just for a moment… acting like the father he lost when he was young, he must have protected that.

“Actually, you probably already know. To the Sect Leader, the Fourth Disciple is nothing more than a new, fun toy. If he really thought of you as a son, he wouldn’t have put you in this bad position, right?”

“…”

“It sounds nice, being a group of disciples right under the Sect Leader, but actually, this person called the great sahyung is a bastard, the next one is a sly fox, and the third one is a crazy woman. It’s like being thrown into a den of wolves. You happened to be the Heavenly Killing Star, so holding a glass knife is what you looked like. It must have been fun for them to watch you.”

The Earth Demon was speechless. He looked expressionless.

Seol-Hwi’s every word struck him, but his face did not change.

But that was all hiding the emotions. In response to Seol-Hwi’s harsh words, he did not deny anything.

He was the Heavenly Killing Star.

He was not only outstanding. His brain worked well too.

He must have already known that his master, the Sect Leader, was just using words to take advantage of him.

He was about to accept it.

“…That is amazing. You really know my heart as if you can see into it.”

Because you told me all this.

It was a long time ago, but he remembered it. How the Earth Demon clearly talked about the situation.

At that time—

He also said he wanted to drink without worries.

“Phew…”

The Earth Demon let out a long sigh and looked at Seol-Hwi, shaking his head.

“But I am not looking for someone to live my life for me every day. I am barely surviving, but I am still on my own way.”

“Isn’t this a path with a clear view of the ending?”

“Even so, I am not alone. I cannot pretend not to know the many people who helped make my life easier.”

The refusal was mild, but internally, there was a foundation as solid as iron. Life was tough and hard, yet he managed to find warmth in his close friends.

“I know. But for those people, you will have to step back even more.”

Because of that, the Earth Demon could no longer retreat, and Seol-Hwi sighed, handling each of them.

“Do you think your subordinates can sleep well now? Their lord caught between jerks, all three of them insane, and they could be attacked at any time.”

“…?”

“The force is also the weakest, without a single Supreme Demon warrior. At least you all can appear virtuous and endure it, but enduring the ridicule of the other disciples and pledging final loyalty. Do you want to keep leaving it as such?”

“…!!!”

The Earth Demon could not respond to those words. But his face had changed.

It went stiff, with killing intent visible.

“What are you trying to say?”

The Earth Demon’s voice had changed, as had his manner of speaking.

Yet, Seol-Hwi’s attitude remained unchanged.

“The harsh things you’ve endured, the sorrow you’ve felt, I will make them pay for it.”

“…What?”

“The things I want to do are exactly what you want to do.”

Seol-Hwi continued,

“Not being ignored, not being hated, making the subordinates feel proud to be under the command of the Earth Demon. Isn’t that what you want?”

“…You, who are you?”

The eyes of the Earth Demon widened. Those red eyes were clear, filled with raging emotions.

To him, who could no longer hide it—

Smile

Seol-Hwi smirked.

“I said I am a friend you don’t remember…”

“Huh.”

It was such a ridiculous answer. The Earth Demon could not be persuaded by those words…

But instead, he felt a desire.

Can this… be believed?

Honestly, he wanted to believe it. The hopes he had held onto, the feelings he never spoke of.

The things he hoped for as he looked up to the sky in search of answers.

The man in front was speaking them all.

Like himself. Right, it happened to be a face similar to his, scanning through the thoughts in front of someone who says, “I will take your burden.”

It would be strange for someone tired and burdened with a difficult load not to be tempted.

“…I lived to die one day. If that is all it takes, it had to be a good life, is what I thought, but everything in my life went wrong because of its nature.”

The Earth Demon smiled brightly.

The sight of him reminiscing about old memories.

To Seol-Hwi, it looked like he was holding back tears.

“Always… Those around me had left. Even in Wudang, I was abandoned. It was the Demonic Sect Leader who saved me. But… That wasn’t the hand of salvation.”

Seol-Hwi nodded and accepted the words of the Earth Demon.

“Right. That is just that. It wasn’t until I came here that I realized it was just something thrown in for fun. The Heavenly Killing Star is bound to attract attention wherever he goes.”

The Earth Demon nodded and burst into laughter.

Like true friends who knew each other’s thoughts.

The strange man he met for the first time today seemed to know his feelings, deepest wishes, loneliness, and fears.

A truly daytime goblin.

“The ability to kill anyone, but paradoxically, also the ability to die at any time. I am a being used to pretend to be a person. Let me ask one question.”

The Earth Demon confessed his feelings,

“When an object is used up, it is no longer needed. How can I live as such? How can we live normally?”

“There is nothing.”

Seol-Hwi had thought about the Earth Demon’s miserable life.

It was probably around that time when he was helping himself while fighting against the Absolute.

He fully remembered the sorrowful feelings at that time without leaving a trace.

That was why Seol-Hwi is here.

To relieve the anger of the Earth Demon by living as him, a life no different from his. At the same time, to relieve the anger of the self.

Seol-Hwi waited for the Earth Demon’s emotions to calm down before he spoke.

“There is this one called Ga Yeok.”

The Earth Demon listened quietly as Seol-Hwi continued,

“He was a very affectionate guy, always caring for others more than his own equipment. He had a good nature. Even if he teases at times, don’t get angry… just laugh.”

Seol-Hwi paused, reminiscing, then resumed,

“And one day, when I went to work, he was nowhere to be seen. For a few days, too. I thought it was strange, so I went to his home.”

The Earth Demon’s shoulders moved, indicating he understood what was coming next.

“He was dead, and not properly attended to. What’s surprising is that in broad daylight, with dead bodies around on the street, people didn’t even turn to give them a second glance.”

“…”

“I don’t know the weight of your life because I haven’t lived it. But this is how it is. There are lives which are worse than ours. One doesn’t know when they’ll die, and no one will remember you.”

Shhh

The Earth Demon raised his head, making eye contact with Seol-Hwi.

“I am not here to guess the life you’ve lived. I am here to make a proposal for your life.”

“My life from now on.”

The Earth Demon echoed Seol-Hwi’s words, pausing before continuing.

“So, if you become the Fourth Disciple of the Heavenly Demon, my life will change then?”

“Yes. Entirely different.”

“How?”

Seol-Hwi, anticipating the question, answered carefully, meeting Earth Demon’s trusting gaze.

“First, you will not be the Heavenly Killing Star. So, even if you use your strength, you won’t die. And even though you aren’t that, he possesses a level of strength which might even surpass it. So, situations where people die unjustly will no longer exist.”

“…”

“Not just your Hidden Truth Corps, but all the escort and core warriors, as well as the secret warriors, will be in danger or despised. If you have a cause, you are in the position of holding power.”

The Earth Demon’s gaze shifted at Seol-Hwi’s words.

Unlike his initial reaction, this time he truly considered the matter serious. And Seol-Hwi waited for him.

For him to organize his thoughts.

Because he had already anticipated that someone would not be pleased about someone acting as their body double.

When a bit of time had passed.

“Phew.”

His eyes were full of concern as he called out to Seol-Hwi.

“I don’t know about other things… but I know that you are strong. Much stronger than the other disciples. Maybe it’s because you seem stronger than anyone I’ve met.”

“…How do you know?”

Seol-Hwi was slightly flustered. He had been preparing for this event, but it seemed unnecessary. Instead, he was curious.

“The moment I met you, comfort… I think I felt like that.”

“…?”

“Something I’ve never felt before. Because of that energy, I normally hate people when I meet them, I get sensitive and sometimes go overboard. But with you…”

His voice trembled slightly as he paused for a moment.

“As soon as we met, all that vanished. It must be a person, but instead of reacting, I felt comfortable.”

He felt it.

Seol-Hwi nodded.

That made sense. He mentioned that his extreme senses felt at ease. It felt like he was witnessing the effects of the improvement.

“Your name?”

“Hwi. And Seol is the first name.”

“Seol-Hwi…”

The Earth Demon recited Seol-Hwi’s name and then continued speaking.

“Seol-Hwi, I want to hear something honest.”

The Earth Demon looked at Seol-Hwi again. Then he spoke,

“What is the real reason?”

It was an unexpected reaction.

He thought he had explained it well enough earlier… it felt like something was missing.

“Now that I think about it, it doesn’t have to be me, right? With your ability, you could just become the fifth disciple since the Sect Leader hasn’t been seen for a long time… That is why I need to know the real reason, why it has to be me.”

“Somehow… Because I want to start from the lowest place.”

“…!”

The Earth Demon paused.

Seeing him like this, Seol-Hwi did not want to continue talking, and from now on, it did not matter even if he did.

It would be polite to show honest feelings to close friends who ask for sincerity.

“You have to be in a position of being despised and looked down upon… which makes revenge more thrilling.”

“Revenge.”

The Earth Demon spoke again, highlighting that.

“Against whom? It seems like your strength isn’t just for a disciple of the Heavenly Demon, but…”

“God.”

“…?!”

The Earth Demon went still, as if shocked.

“Revenge on the God who made me like this. How does that sound?”

The Earth Demon trembled.

It was odd. He definitely heard something that made no sense, and yet he was shaking.

Right, he had given up, but there was a time he felt it—the reason he was different and broken.

Different from normal people since birth, and the people who made him like this must exist.

“God… it feels like a romantic word.”

The Earth Demon did not avoid eye contact.

He saw Seol-Hwi, who looked like him.

“I will do that.”

If there was a God who made them this way, if there was one who made their lives this sad… even the Earth Demon wanted to punch him in the face.

You almost blew him up before. Although it didn’t go as well as planned.

Seol-Hwi smiled and nodded, and the Earth Demon, as if waiting, said,

“Let’s do our best, Fourth Disciple.”

“Yes… Fourth Disciple.”

The two people looked at each other, sharing the same resolve, and smiled.