"Hic!"
Seomun Hwa-rin suddenly began to squirm.
"Heek!"
At first, worried that something had gone wrong inside the bell, I hurriedly rose to my feet.
"Ah, it's fine, Cheon Hwi. She'll be fine once some time passes… or maybe she won't? Anyway, it's nothing dangerous. She might just need some time alone."
"Nyaaah!"
As if reacting to the words "time alone," Seomun Hwa-rin curled her body up tightly this time.
For a moment, I was at a loss for words at how utterly pathetic this looked for someone in the Harmony Realm. Now that I looked, Tang So-wol was wearing a similar expression.
It seemed there was something only Seol Ri-hyang knew.
Well, that made sense. After all, she seemed to have reached the conclusion that I had gone through a regression, so it was only natural.
I did feel a bit sorry that she had gotten herself sealed because she'd hit the right answer.
But then again, Seomun Hwa-rin was reacting strangely on her own, and Seol Ri-hyang was acting like she knew everything…
"Surely not Seomun Hwa-rin, senior?"
"Yeah. Probably, right?"
Seol Ri-hyang shrugged her shoulders. Only then did Tang So-wol, who had finally grasped the situation, let out a deep sigh before puffing out her cheeks slightly.
"So it seems Sister Hwa-rin has realized something too, following Hyang-i. In the end, I'm the only one who doesn't know anything."
"Ah… it's fine, Sister Tang. I think you'll come to understand it next time."
"I hope that's true."
"I'm not just saying that. I'm saying it because the possibility really does seem high."
"Hm?"
Tang So-wol tilted her head. Seeing her like that, Jegal Bu, who had been quietly waiting for a chance to join the conversation, opened his mouth.
"Possibility, you say. Has the Cheong-eum Ice Queen discovered some kind of pattern? Ah, before that, could you tell us what content you went to see? After that, how about we share our speculations together? It's this kind of process that makes the next Grand Ritual even more perfect. Ah! Working with all of you is truly wonderful! Everyone else is only preoccupied with using formations in combat or hiding what they want to hide. But formations, by their very nature, distort the principles of nature. They can do everything we can think of! Difficulty and completion aside, of course! In that sense, this Grand Ritual naturally leads to a contemplation of the principles that are the essence of formations, and a study of beings who have already reached the pinnacle of mastery—it makes my heart race just like when I first learned formations…"
"Shu— no, enough. Close your mouth."
Was it Jegal Bu's voice, droning on without pause, that grated on her nerves?
Seomun Hwa-rin, her face flushed red and tear tracks still visible on her cheeks, said those words and rose from her seat.
As the gazes around her focused on her, Seomun Hwa-rin let out a deep sigh, but soon her expression turned strange as her eyes met Seol Ri-hyang's.
"Hyang-i, are you perhaps…?"
"Mmm. I think it's probably what you're expecting, Seomun unni."
"I see. If that's the case, then it must be So-wol's turn next."
Seomun Hwa-rin nodded as if she understood, but then she casually turned her head to look at Tang So-wol, and her expression hardened.
"And this… this is definitely something worthy of being called a seal."
"That's what I'm saying."
Seol Ri-hyang and Seomun Hwa-rin let out deep sighs in unison.
The two of them had been exchanging a conversation that only they understood, but before long, they noticed the curious looks from the others and turned to ask me.
"You there. This concerns your killing intent—are you alright with us discussing it?"
"Yes. Isn't it all in the past now? The first thing I shed when I rose to the Harmony Realm was my killing intent, so there's no need to worry too much."
"…That's a relief."
Seomun Hwa-rin offered a faint smile. For a moment, that smile resembled the expression she'd worn at the very end before the regression, and I flinched.
After clearing her throat once, Seomun Hwa-rin began to explain what she had seen.
"Ahem. What we saw this time was a point in time similar to the last one. However, the perspective was different."
That was how Seomun Hwa-rin began her explanation. With Tang So-wol and Seol Ri-hyang occasionally adding their own details, the story that unfolded was roughly what I had expected.
When it came to matters involving my killing intent, there was really only one possibility.
The Iron Blood Faction's attack. And the process of me losing my grip on sanity and becoming the Sword Demon.
What Tang So-wol, Seol Ri-hyang, and Seomun Hwa-rin had witnessed were the events that followed Seol Ri-hyang's death.
So that was why Seomun Hwa-rin had given me that complicated smile.
Just as Seol Ri-hyang had, she must have realized it was a memory from before the regression and learned what I had done after her own death. It was only natural she'd react that way.
The explanation had grown longer than expected, perhaps to avoid the seal, but thanks to that, they were able to convey quite detailed information.
And the expressions on the faces of those who learned the full story were… quite a sight to behold.
Pity, shock, and understanding.
"Wait. Why are you nodding at me, Lord Je Gal?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I was just reminded of the halls that got smashed when you took down the Blood Buddha the other day. No matter how great a martial artist, one instinctively holds back when there are buildings around. Subconsciously, you think of buildings as things that are hard to break, or things you shouldn't break. Indeed… you've broken so many that you've lost all hesitation."
"…"
Thinking about it, that was a fairly reasonable point, so I decided to let it go.
Tang Jincheon, on the other hand, patted my shoulder with a grave voice.
"You've worked hard. I couldn't understand at first why you were so fired up about the Seomun Clan Head's affairs, but now I see it clearly."
"Yeah, well."
"From now on, only good things will come your way."
Strictly speaking, I had received something from Seomun Hwa-rin first, so this was me returning the favor—the order of events was reversed, but…
Well, what did order really matter when I'd already gone through a regression?
As I listened to Tang Jincheon's kind words with a strange feeling in my chest, this time Great Master Gakjeong and Great Master Jeonghyeon approached.
"Amitabha… So this was what you meant when you said the martial art we spoke of last time was your life."
"It is truly fortunate that Sir Cheon has managed to break free from his own killing intent."
"Thank you. Still, I'm a little embarrassed to call it a complete break—it wasn't quite that dramatic."
I answered with a somewhat dazed feeling, but this was sincere.
After all, I should have realized this a bit earlier—it took me dying once and then a long while after to finally grasp it.
I knew that Seomun Hwa-rin had also reached the Harmony Realm through a similar realization, but she said hers came solely through Realization.
If I added up the time from the moment I began to be called the Sword Demon before my regression until I lost my life, and then all the time from my regression to now, a similar span of years would have passed.
I looked at Seomun Hwa-rin with a hint of respect. Then she seemed to lower her gaze slightly, and suddenly—she turned her head away!
…What was that?
Just as I was about to ask what she was looking at, Jegal Bu, who had been smiling all along, opened his mouth.
"Alright, then. Since the time for explaining roughly what happened is over, shall we talk about where this time is the same as last time, and where it differs?"
"It feels a bit like you're treating this as a game."
"Come on. A game? I'm more serious than that. I'm just having too much fun."
"Hoo. Well, I can't very well say nothing at all, so let me explain simply. There's a reason that only I, So-wol, and Hyang-i can glimpse Cheon Hwi's memories through the secret arts."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Indeed. I can't explain in detail because of the se…al, but it seems it's because our bonds run deepest."
"Bonds, you say… Come to think of it, you did say the seal placed by the White Moon Sword Lord had something to do with his past life."
Seomun Hwa-rin and Jegal Bu traded questions and answers back and forth.
At times Tang So-wol or Seol Ri-hyang answered in their stead, and at other times Tang Jincheon or Great Master Gakjeong posed questions instead of Jegal Bu, but even this time, they failed to arrive at the correct answer of regression.
It seemed that because of the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha's name, the focus kept drifting toward his previous life.
Well, it wasn't as if calling the time before the regression a past life was entirely wrong, but either way, the fact remained that the conversation had gone off track.
However, Seomun Hwa-rin's reaction was clearly different from before. The way she fell silent, the content of her answers. Though occasional, the moments where she expressed various emotions in the middle were all connecting toward a single conclusion.
Seomun Hwa-rin had also realized the truth of my regression.
This wasn't merely a similar guess—just like Seol Ri-hyang, she had truly figured it out.
Of course, she probably didn't retain the complete memories of before the regression like I did.
Only a portion of the memories she had built up. And the fact that she had watched her own death from another's perspective.
Even so, I couldn't figure out what to say or how to say it.
That was only natural—if Seomun Hwa-rin had seen my memories, then she had also seen the sight of me losing my mind and running amok after failing to keep her last wish.
And so, unable to say a single word, how long did I keep watching from a step back?
After the guests who had come to help with the Grand Ritual gradually took their leave and departed.
On the way back to my room, Seomun Hwa-rin called out to me.
"You there. You there."
"…What is it?"
"Would you spare me a moment of your time?"
"For Senior Seomun Hwa-rin, I have all the time in the world."
I shrugged and followed her, and there was the small garden that Seomun Hwa-rin tended as a pastime.
It might be a bit rude to say it suits her age, but Seomun Hwa-rin had always enjoyed growing flowers and trees.
She must have taken a portion of this estate's grounds to tend while staying with the Tang Clan.
Some flowers were in bloom, some weren't, but the space was lush with the green of leaves, fitting for the hot summer.
Standing at the center of it, Seomun Hwa-rin scolded me without preamble.
"You truly are a foolish one."
"…Ah."
The words came out of nowhere, but I knew at once what she meant.
Seomun Hwa-rin had just seen it. And if there was a reason to come all the way here to talk, there could only be one.
"A person's heart is not something one can command as easily as one's own mind."
"Still, I have always hoped that you would be left with good memories. Unlike me."
"That is…"
Because of the seal, we were speaking in circles around each other, but what we meant was all too clear.
Seeing that I could not answer easily, Seomun Hwa-rin shook her head with a bitter smile.
"Dear me. My words were too cruel. That was not what I meant to say."
With that, Seomun Hwa-rin took a step closer to me and took my hands in hers.
"My friend."
"Yes."
"Are you happy right now?"
"…I suppose I am fairly happy."
"That hardly sounds convincing."
"There is still one problem that remains unresolved."
"Ah, right. That Heavenly Demon fellow is still out there. Then let me change my question."
With that, Seomun Hwa-rin pulled the hand she was holding and pressed it against her own cheek.
The soft sensation felt through my hand. Her skin, so smooth and dry that it seemed not a single drop of sweat had formed despite the summer heat, and her slightly warm body temperature made me stiffen for no reason.
But Seomun Hwa-rin paid it no mind, rubbing her cheek against my hand as she continued speaking.
"What do you think of what this woman left with you?"
"…"
After a moment of deliberation, I carefully opened my mouth.
"If the day ever comes when I can truly be happy… it will surely be thanks to the teachings that Senior Seomun Hwa-rin left me."
"Is that so."
"Yes. And so, I intend to return what I have received, exactly as it was given to me, someday."
"Hm? What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that if I came to know the joy of life through Senior Seomun Hwa-rin, then this time, I will teach Senior Seomun Hwa-rin the joy of life."
"That is…"
It was a vow I had only ever made to myself. Hearing it spoken aloud for the first time, Seomun Hwa-rin seemed taken aback, her lips wavering slightly.
"That is quite something to look forward to."
Still pressing her face against my hand, Seomun Hwa-rin curled the corners of her mouth into a radiant smile.
"Then, on the day you fulfill this one's dream, this one shall forgive you."
There were no camellia trees here. But the flower that fell that day drifted on and on, blooming once more in my hand.
On the way back to our respective rooms in a slightly ticklish atmosphere.
As if something had suddenly occurred to her, Seomun Hwa-rin's eyes went wide, and then she spoke in a grave tone.
"…You there. Remember this one thing well."
"What is it that you wish to say?"
Seeing Seomun Hwa-rin's unusual demeanor, I too focused my mind seriously and waited for her words. And then.
"Later on, So-wol or Hyang-i may slander this one with baseless accusations, but know that this one had no part in it."
"Yes?"
"Anyway, it wasn't this one, so know that. Indeed. Such a thing is certainly not something this one would do."
"Yes…"
I didn't know what it was about, but I nodded for now.
For some reason, Seomun Hwa-rin's gaze was fixed slightly downward.
What is it, really.