Chapter 30

Chapter 30 – A Bold Confrontation In The Mist

Beside me, the black river flowed turbulently, and far off, the desolate plains stretched with snake-like mountain ranges winding through.

I stood there, all alone in the middle.

A familiar place.

Sometimes clashing swords with a warrior, other times matching spears with a master—the training ground of the Twelve Godly Demons.

I was currently neither dead nor alive, caught between life and death, being toyed with—no, trained—by the Heavenly Demon Cult’s ancestors, who introduced themselves as the Twelve Godly Demons.

“...”

Which crazy person was trying to catch me today?

As I heightened my vigilance, a strange sound suddenly pierced the air and struck my ears.

-Ding~

‘Ah, this is the sound of a string...’

Wait, a string?

In a flash of intuition, I hurriedly leaped from my spot.

And at that very moment, a shrill metallic sound flew in like an arrow.

-Shhh!

“Ugh!”

Dust rose exactly where I had been standing, and a scar like one cut by a sword appeared.

-Ding! Ding-ding-ding-ding!

Then, with the ensuing dizzying performance, the fog that covered the wilderness dissipated, and the music filled with murderous intent targeted me.

“Couldn’t you at least tell me when you’re starting?!”

I shouted in frustration, but the relentless, beautiful notes continued without mercy.

Grinding my teeth at the sound, I began to use the footwork I’d hurriedly learned.

-Ding! Ding! Ding!

The short, minor key stabs cut through the air once, scattering it.

-Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding! Ding! Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!

The long, major weapon lashing from all directions forced me to move a beat faster to keep up with the flow.

[Yes, you’ve managed to keep up with the ever-changing rhythm to some extent.]

So, how about this?

As the voice beyond the mist spoke with a hint of laughter, the previously calm resonance was instantly overturned.

-Dung! Dududung!

The sound produced by plucking fine strings typically had a thin and sharp quality, unlike percussive instruments like pianos or drums.

But what on earth was that heavy string sound?

Even before I could wonder about the identity of the musician plucking the strings, the heavy resonance fell towards me.

Why did it fall with such resonance, you ask...?

-Dung!

-Kwang!

Because the spot where I had been standing collapsed completely, as if struck by a meteor.

I quickly leaped into the air to avoid it, but it was a moment of chilling realization.

[Did you leap into the air? Foolishness.]

-Dung! Dung! Dududung!

“Hey, who are you?”

[Me? Well? I don’t really want to tell you.]

What was it talking about?

When I frowned, the voice laughed heartily.

[You come and find me. Grope through the dark night, make a path and follow it.

As you walk and walk, before you know it, you’ll have crossed the highest mountains and the tallest walls to reach me.]

The voice concluded the conversation about itself unilaterally.

“Ugh, is there no other choice?”

[Oh my? You’re giving up surprisingly easily?]

If the divine energy I harbor originated from the voice beyond the mist, then the very process of learning and understanding that being would be a form of training.

Whether it was he or she, human or god, even knowing its name.

“If I find the answer here, it might feel refreshing for a moment, but since it’s not the answer I found, it will surely cause trouble.”

Besides the goal of retraining my body, there was one more new task.

A very intriguing task, at that.

“I don’t know how long it will take, but I will visit you soon.”

[...Could there be a happier heart than mine?]

This time, the voice, whispering as if lovingly, approached my ear softly.

[I will give you a parting gift.]

“A gift?”

As I questioned, an unknown force gently cupped my face, as if to answer.

-Smooch!

A cool, soft sensation, like the night air, lightly brushed against my forehead and then withdrew.

[No matter what oracle stands in your way, you will change its course, and no power shall oppress you. So please, wander freely in this unfamiliar world.]

With those words, my consciousness began to slowly sink.

Where was I going? If I fall asleep in a dream, is that place reality, or another dream?

[Oh, by the way, you have brothers and sisters too. If you meet them, get along well!]

...Huh? Brothers and sisters?

What does that mean?

When I tried to question it and opened my eyes again.

I was greeted by a reality completely opposite to the desolate landscape of my dream.

Clear skies, bright sunlight.

And...

“Mmph?”

“Mmph?”

A woman as beautiful as a goddess kissing me.

...At this point, one could say that ‘literally’ everything was completely opposite.