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“Hmph.”

The Celestial Being dismissed my question as if it weren’t worth a moment’s thought. Surprisingly, it was Gin Nara who reacted to the inquiry. His true form resembled a bizarre bird with a human face, just like the legendary creature known as the Garuda. Naturally, this was to be expected. Gin Nara gazed directly at me and replied.

“Yes, our lord will save humanity.”

“Gin Nara! Why are you answering the enemy’s question?”

The Celestial Being scolded Gin Nara, but he responded nonchalantly.

“If the opponent is worthy enough for our lord’s acknowledgment, then we should at least inform them of that. It’s only proper when dealing with a rival, right?”

“… Are you kidding? Are you planning to play around with them? We’re leaving first.”

“Calm down! Talking to that guy won’t kill us.”

While Gin Nara grumbled, I seized the moment and asked again,

“Gin Nara, I heard you were the great sage of Tianzhu in your past life.”

“That’s right.”

“Could it be that all of you in the Eight Parts of the Divine were originally heroes, and because you resonate with Chi You’s aim to save humanity, you are loyal to him?”

“Isn’t that obvious? There’s no one more capable of saving humanity from destruction than him.”

“……”

“He is truly the light and glory of mankind, the rightful king of humanity.”

Gin Nara answered with immense pride. It was hard to believe he had such loyalty even after transforming into a mythical being. Despite having transcended humanity, the bond of loyalty to Chi You surpassed the physical changes he underwent. His devotion was on a scale that dwarfs any belief the subjects of Wu Zetian could muster.

‘These guys would never betray Chi You…’

Though unspoken, the glances exchanged among the Eight Parts of the Divine conveyed their shared agreement with Gin Nara’s words. They had endured horrible fates at the hands of Zhu Rong and Jeon Wook without ever considering treachery. A conviction that strong couldn’t be swayed by mere profits or tortures.

I turned to Gin Nara and said,

“Then it seems strange. Our goal is to save humanity from the apocalyptic fate, after all. So wouldn’t it make sense for us to join forces?”

“Join forces?”

I nodded. “If Chi You can truly save humanity completely, then I would follow him. Yet, how can I choose to follow someone who suppresses the rest of humanity without even revealing his intentions?”

“That’s nonsense. Why did you reject Chi You’s proposal not long ago, then?”

“As I’ve mentioned before, it doesn’t seem like your lord is merely trying to save humanity. Isn’t there something more he aims for?”

“Of course! Do you think every human is worthy of salvation? The ones doomed should die.”

“What?”

What did that guy just say?

Gin Nara said casually,

“Baek Woong, now I understand what kind of person you are. You’re just a kid lost in absurd delusions.”

“Isn’t it you who’s living in delusions? Are you really okay with the idea that anyone who doesn’t follow you deserves to die?”

As I countered, Gin Nara crossed his arms and nodded knowingly.

“Of course! We’ll only save those humans who are needed. The rest will just get in the way, so they’ll have to go for the sake of our lord.”

“……”

“That’s why we destroyed the White Lotus Sect and the Twelve Joules. Anyone who stood against us humans was eliminated. We, the Eight Parts of the Divine, have been traveling the globe to cut down any potential threats. Anyone trying to uncover our lord’s identity deserves to die.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Then let me ask you. Do you believe that in the ancient times, when there were fewer humans, they all moved as one? Even back then, humanity never truly united. Thousands of years ago in Tianzhu, among a mere few thousand humans, countless factions and ideologies were swirling without anyone truly trying to understand one another.”

“…Hm.”

“Considering that the number of humans on this earth is now a hundred million…no, perhaps three hundred million? The count has increased by thousands times compared to the past.”

Gin Nara continued mockingly,

“Hah… Do you really think it’s possible to unify all their wills and lead them harmoniously against the divine, especially when facing the wicked Three Sovereigns and the Old Ruler?”

“…That’s…”

“Even when I was still human, I never dared to entertain such nonsensical dreams. A single will with great power must absorb all other factions to represent them. Even if it requires using any form of violence…”

“……”

“We are the most righteous. Our king is the king of humanity. It’s certain and fast for those of us who have transcended humanity and gained divine power to select which humans to save. Do you now understand why what you said sounds childish?”

I grasped the meaning behind Gin Nara’s words.

In other words, Chi You’s followers consider all the human heroes and sages trying to save humanity with their various methods to be a nuisance, opting to exclude them and pursue only their way, eliminating any humans that obstruct their path. I felt a sense of arrogance in those words and couldn’t help but shout.

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

“Aren’t you the same?”

“What?”

“During the World Tree War five years ago, the alliance between the White Lotus Sect and the Twelve Joules self-destructed in a laughably easy manner. Of course, we would have won outright in direct combat, but everyone knows there was a true culprit behind the scenes. That would be you and your followers, Baek Woong.”

“……”

“You wanted to get rid of them, right? What makes it different from what we’re doing?”

Gin Nara was merely guessing I was the culprit, but he was surprisingly close to the truth. I found myself speechless in response to Gin Nara’s comment. Though it was Zhuge Sa’s strategy, it was true that eliminating the White Lotus Sect and the Twelve Joules made our movements much easier.

I glared at Gin Nara and said,

“It’s not the same.”

“It is the same. Humanity is nothing but the dregs of chaos, inherently evil creatures from birth, ignorant, selfish, and believing themselves superior. None can be saved by human goodwill, something each member of the Eight Parts of the Divine recognized during our human lives…”

With a reminiscent tone, Gin Nara continued,

“There is no reward for virtue or punishment for evil in this world; if the punishment of good and promotion of evil reign supreme, the wisest path is to embrace the darkness ourselves! Our lord, Chi You, is the great superhuman and deity that leads us, preventing us from falling into true evil.”

“……”

Considering that Gin Nara played the role of strategist for the Eight Parts of the Divine, a chill ran down my spine. The strategist had such blind loyalty, which was bordering on fanaticism. Just what kind of existence was Chi You?

“Well then, farewell, Baek Woong. In the end, you’re just another mundane human.”

Pa-at!

A moment later, the Eight Parts of the Divine vanished using spatial movement. I stood silently, watching the spot they had disappeared from when the Prophet spoke to me.

“Strange. It seemed you wanted to say something to the Eight Parts of the Divine, but why didn’t you…?”

“It would have been pointless.”

I muttered,

“No matter how sincerely I clash with the likes of them now, it won’t matter.”

Enemies with convictions.

I had met them before, but the Eight Parts of the Divine were different. It was like a feudal relationship formed around a single absolute monarch, feeling even a hint of faith. Trying to persuade them would be like speaking to a wall. In truth, Gin Nara’s logic was firm, and I found myself nodding to some of his points.

Chi You was undoubtedly an incredibly appealing figure from the perspective of human heroes. He had already gained divine status and seemed to have established a solid way to rescue humanity from destruction. Had I not forged my beliefs through my past life, I might have been easily swayed by their words.

However – there was a sense of discomfort. That was the very reason I was able to reject Chi You’s proposal on the spot.

‘Why did Chi You enter into a double contract?’

Along with arrogance, I felt an uncomfortable twinge. There seemed to be someone protecting Chi You, and it appeared he had formed an additional contract with someone else. Moreover, Chi You was deeply involved with the Seven Luminaries, yet it was Jeogok who fixated on the Seven Luminaries. Even in the presence of a Fire Spirit like me, Chi You had shown restraint and chose not to attack. To top it off, there was no clear explanation of his relationship with the Emperor, nor the promises made with him.

It was hard to just call Chi You the ruler saving humanity, given the plethora of uncomfortable aspects surrounding him.

‘Something feels off.’

Could it be that even the Eight Parts of the Divine were deceived by Chi You?

It was a ridiculous thought, but the intuition nagged at me. While I was deep in my thoughts, the Prophet spoke.

“After issuing such threats and leaving… I can’t give you any information about Chi You… But the price of knowledge is great, so… if you have any questions, I’ll answer everything for now…”

Snapping back to attention at the Prophet’s words, I asked,

“Prophet! Am I being manipulated by someone?”

At my question, the Prophet blinked in disbelief. After scrutinizing me carefully, he waved his tentacle.

“I can’t see it… Even if it exists, the one being controlled wouldn’t be foolish enough to realize it… Could it be that, really, just like Gin Nara said, you’re caught up in a delusion?”

“Damn it! Are you joking? Ugh, what should I say…”

Desperately racking my brain, I said,

“Is there a sorcerer capable of subtly manipulating my fate to the point where even you or the Heavenly Mysterious Woman wouldn’t even notice?”

The Prophet let out a hearty laugh.

“Do you really think such a power exists? Why would there be any magic or sorcery that could fool even us, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman?”

“Really? It feels like I’m stuck in a strange sensation… things aren’t going well…”

“Hehe… Seems you’re having some bad luck… if that was the case…”

Just then, the Prophet froze suddenly, as if he couldn’t believe what he saw. He then fixed his suspicious eyes on me, studying for a while. The sudden change in the Prophet’s demeanor made me tense, but after a moment, he sighed.

“Incredible… Is that truly a doubt born purely from your instincts?”

“The truth is, Master Mangnyang told me something.”

“Really… I see… Master Mangnyang… an absolute existence… Even so… the existence of a Reborn Person is truly… an unbelievable sensation…”

“Wait! Am I really caught up in something?”

Startled, I echoed back, and the Prophet replied.

“I don’t know… At least not at my level… there’s nothing abnormal appearing right now…”

“What? Then what was with that reaction?”

“I can’t know what I can’t know. Isn’t that obvious? From the beginning… if my assumption is correct… that would fall outside the realm of sorcery or magic… even the Heavenly Mysterious Woman wouldn’t be able to know… The Three Sovereigns wouldn’t as well…”

“……?”

“I think your doubts are justified… But… if the situation unfolds as I’ve imagined… then discovering it will lead to no solution… Not even the gods can intervene in such a scenario… because this is an event that shouldn’t happen according to the cosmic principles…”

“Ugh… What sort of sorcery is that?”

“It’s neither sorcery nor magic… Rather, it lies within the realm of [Cycle].”

“……?”

“However, if Master Mangnyang is watching over you… Hehe… you probably don’t need to worry…”

Continuing with his mysterious talk, the Prophet added,

“You won’t have to worry… According to Master Mangnyang’s advice… just go with the flow and choose when the time comes… that’s all there is to it…”

“Damn it! Who can relax knowing that they’re being controlled like a puppet?!”

“You know how the structure of karma works, right? You’re not a puppet… it’s not designed that way… even if the outcome is the same, the process is entirely yours to choose… that’s why I say there’s no harm to you…”

Speaking as if it was all so obvious, the Prophet said,

“Well then… it doesn’t seem like this would help the dullard you are, so… I’ll give you some real help…”

“How?”

“Because I want to make Chi You cry…”

With a swift motion, the Prophet extended his tentacle, touching both my hands.

“First… I will amplify the blessing you currently possess using our clan’s technique… and then…”

An orange light surged throughout my body. And then, I noticed what looked like a strange mark shimmering on the back of my hand—a design I had never seen before. As I stared at it in confusion, the Prophet explained.

“I don’t know what abilities you have traded for until now as a Reborn Person… but this one’s likely the first for you… It’s a power only the kings can wield…”

“Is this like an unlimited access pass to the Tower of Muwang?”

“……”

“……”

“Could it be… that I… traded that too…?”

“Yup.”

“What the heck is going on? Chi You truly has a reason to be wary of you…”

The Prophet seemed shocked and staggered for a moment. But soon after regaining his composure, he spoke.

“No… but perhaps it’s a power that could be more potent than that… my unique ability… the Seal of the Supreme King…”

“Seal of the Supreme King?”

“Only I… the king of my tribe can inherit this power for generations…”

The Prophet continued,

“You can only use it once in this life, but I hope you manipulate your destiny with this ability…”

I listened attentively as the Prophet explained what the Seal of the Supreme King could do.

“Hmm…”

Despite its vast potential, I had no clear idea of how it could help. Here I was, in a situation that had spiraled into something massive, and I could hardly fathom how to use it properly.

‘Still, it’s better than nothing!’

I stepped back from the Prophet, waiting for Cheon Woo-jin, who returned shortly to escort me back to the base. Standing in front of the base, Cheon Woo-jin remarked,

“We have a guest.”

A guest?

As I went inside and caught a glimpse of the visitor, I was taken aback.

“Abe no Seimei.”

He was the guardian of the human race, revered as one of the top grand sorcerers. Although it was hard to tell if he was male or female, his form resembled that of a beautiful youth, yet somehow appeared weary. Abe no Seimei was seated, looking over at me, and spoke.

“I’m glad we could meet like this, not too late…”

“What’s going on? How did you find me here…?”

“……”

Abe no Seimei paused for a moment before delivering the shocking news.

“The Dongyoung has been destroyed.”

 

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