After hearing everything I needed, I granted him the easy death he wanted, using the Demonic Cult's methods.
The man, who had kept a blank expression throughout, closed his eyes with a faint smile on his face.
He probably wouldn't open them again. Not in that body, and not in any other.
I couldn't just leave the corpse there, so I had him buried in a cemetery prepared a short distance from the Murim Alliance.
A place for those who weren't affiliated with the Murim Alliance—especially those with no family to claim them.
Of course, I didn't bury him myself. I had someone else do it.
Still, to sort out my tangled thoughts, I stood still for a moment, gazing at the humble grave that had just been erected.
I watched the back of Great Master Jeonghyeon as he quietly recited Buddhist scriptures before the small grave mound.
After a long while, having finished the scriptures, Great Master Jeonghyeon slowly rose and turned to look at me.
"You seem to have much on your mind, young benefactor Cheon."
"Yes. Well. There was a lot of sudden information to take in."
At this point, I had no choice but to admit it. The Heavenly Demon had taken pity on the remnants of the Blood Buddha.
And before the regression—those who had been captured by the Demonic Cult and died in agony. Their torture methods had the function of returning the dead to where they were originally meant to be.
The reason the Heavenly Demon had spread such methods to the Demonic Cult in particular… perhaps it was so that even if one suffered in life, they might rest peacefully in death.
At first, I even wondered if it was to prevent the creation of another regressor like himself.
At that moment, I too had felt great regret and resentment in the final moments of my previous life, and I believed that those emotions had influenced the strange phenomenon of regression.
But seeing the reaction the Heavenly Demon showed upon realizing I was a regressor, and the fact that he had researched the Divorce Ritual—it couldn't be for that reason.
That left only one conclusion.
The Heavenly Demon would mercilessly slaughter the living, yet he showed full respect to the dead.
It is human nature to care more about the living than the dead.
After all, one is alive oneself—isn't that only natural?
But if there exists someone who only regains their humanity when dealing with the dead…
Then surely, that person is closer to death than to life.
I hadn't wanted to understand the Heavenly Demon this way.
"Hoo…"
"Still, it seems you've managed to sort things out."
"That's thanks to Great Master Jeonghyeon. Listening to the sutras when I have much on my mind puts me at ease."
"Heh heh. Might you be considering taking refuge in Buddhism…"
"Ah, no, that's not it."
"I was only jesting. This humble monk still fears the Tang Clan's poisons, after all."
Great Master Jeonghyeon chuckled playfully. I let out a small laugh along with him, then suddenly looked up at the sky.
Before the regression, and now, in my most painful moments, and in my happiest ones.
The sky was always there, in that same spot, looking down at me with the same face.
Even after a few hundred more years pass, the sky will probably look exactly as it does now.
The one who changed was always me.
When I was young, I thought that becoming a master would let me do anything.
Martial arts were everything to me, and there was a time I believed there was nothing a sword couldn't cut.
Then I came to realize that the karmic debts of the martial world were a poison that no sword could touch.
And I learned that martial arts, and anyone's karmic debts, were just tedious stories repeated over and over for someone.
Now I had also come to realize that one day, all of this would be dismissed as nothing more than an amusing old tale.
I had clearly grown stronger, and I was capable of doing far more than before.
Yet the more I learned, the wider the world seemed to stretch, and the smaller I felt within it.
But.
"It's about time we headed back."
I knew now that I was no longer a being who stood entirely alone.
Though I alone might lack much, things would be different if we stood together.
"The Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance, and bypassing my seal through the whip technique—there's still much work left to be done."
"Tsk, tsk. I may not be the Master, but this humble monk is quite old as well, yet Young Master Cheon works an old man hard."
"Old? Aren't you the pillar of the Orthodox Sects, a senior of the martial world? The troublesome matters… ah, I mean, the matters that are difficult for me to handle on my own—I'm entrusting them to you."
"Heh heh…"
Great Master Jeonghyeon let out a hollow laugh, as if at a loss for words.
At any rate, this was the strength of everyone working together.
***
After the interrogation. We were able to obtain far more vivid information than before, and we also learned that the Demonic Cult's preparations were nearly complete.
This was because they had created numerous masters through the forced realm-elevating whip technique mentioned previously.
There were even rumors that the side effects were so severe that they wouldn't survive five full years and would die young…
In other words, it meant that war was certain to break out within five years at the latest.
When the Murim Alliance Leader laid this out at the Murim Alliance meeting, the voices that had been arguing back and forth—whether I, called the best of the Unorthodox Sects, was truly an Orthodox Sect person, and whether the Tang Clan that embraced me should remain affiliated with the Murim Alliance—fell silent.
Then, true to his Beggars' Sect origins, the Murim Alliance Leader's planted instigator, Je Gal-bu, carefully steered public opinion.
He proposed using me, recognized as the best of the Unorthodox Sects, as a bridge to form an Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance, and thereby respond to the Demonic Cult's invasion.
Well, naturally, it caused a tremendous stir unlike anything before.
It was only to be expected, really. The news that an Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance was being formed meant that most of the martial world was uniting as one.
The Imperial Court was alarmed by the birth of such an unprecedented armed organization, and even within the Murim Alliance, those with high standing—especially the veteran masters who had experienced conflicts with the Unorthodox Sects—vehemently opposed it.
In the midst of all this, the North Sea Ice Palace and the South Man Beast Palace subtly signaled their intention to join the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance.
The Murim Alliance right now was, to put it plainly, a complete mess.
Well, these complicated and difficult matters would be handled by the esteemed senior martial artists of the martial world.
And on the side of the Black Alliance…
"What does it say, young hero Cheon?"
"Wait a moment. Can't you see I'm reading?"
As I was about to read the letter that had arrived from the Lord of the Black Alliance, Tang So-wol slipped her head between my arms holding the letter.
She was smaller than me, but not as petite as Seomun Hwa-rin, so her face actually ended up blocking the letter.
She was even looking at me instead of the letter, claiming she was curious about its contents.
It was cute how she'd slipped into my arms, but I couldn't understand what she was actually trying to do.
I let out a short inward sigh and pulled the letter closer to read it. And then.
"Heh heh heh…"
"Ah."
Tang So-wol had naturally ended up embraced in my arms. The slightly sly voice that slipped from her lips made me realize her true intention.
"So this was your goal all along."
"What? I have no idea what you mean. Anyway, why don't you just finish reading the letter, young hero Cheon."
"Right, right."
Even though the letter was already close enough to read comfortably, I pulled it a little nearer, just as Tang So-wol wanted.
In other words, I held her a little tighter.
With Tang So-wol's gradually roughening breaths as my backdrop, I read the contents to the end.
"The Black Alliance and its Lord really haven't changed at all, have they."
"Hnnng."
"The Lord of the Black Alliance and Sama Yuryeon couldn't formally take me in as an adopted son, but they made it known that they think of me that way, and asked me to understand. Well, I did receive the Alliance Leader's Token, and with the Unorthodox Sects' number one changing, things must have been chaotic on their end too, so I figure this much is fine."
"Hnnngh…"
"Aside from that, most of it is just asking how I've been. Oh, and the martial artists under the One-Blade Asura are apparently hoping I'll keep up my streak of dominating the Murim Alliance—no wait, my winning streak in sparring matches. That's nonsense, though. Why would I push aside someone who does the work for me and take their seat?"
Everyone has things they're good at and things they're not, right?
Living by exchanging each other's strengths—that's what a world where people coexist should be like.
It's definitely not a world built just for my convenience. Anyway, that's how it is.
Well, I have to admit, the title of "Number One Under Heaven" does tempt me a bit.
But unlike the Black Alliance, the Murim Alliance doesn't have anyone worthy of being called the Orthodox Sects' number one, so it'd be hard to defeat someone and earn the title of Number One Under Heaven anyway.
Besides, once the war with the Demonic Cult begins, the Heavenly Demon—the true Number One Under Heaven—will reveal his power.
"…Anyway, what are you doing, Tang So-wol?"
"Hmm? Why, I'm just taking in young hero Cheon's scent, of course."
Tang So-wol, who had been pressing her nose against the back of my neck, said this with a perfectly brazen attitude.
"We always moved together during the last sparring trip, but with so many eyes watching, I couldn't properly enjoy myself. I ought to make up for it now."
"…What about everyone else?"
"I divided the time fairly, so we'll take turns using young hero Cheon in order."
"Using."
That's an odd way to put it.
"If that's how it is, then I'd better not miss my chance to use you too, Tang So-wol."
"Eek!"
As I buried my face into the nape of her neck, following Tang So-wol's lead, a delighted shriek reached my ears.
As we shared each other's warmth and idled away the time, I could feel the edge that had crept into my heart over all that had happened slowly settling.
"Tang So-wol, you said something like this before. That sometimes I felt like a sword without a sheath. So you'd become my sheath. …Looking at it now, it seems you've kept that promise."
"What?! Young hero Cheon is the sword and I'm the sheath. Whispering something so lewd the moment we're left alone is a bit…"
"…"
I stared at Tang So-wol with a look of disbelief. Her deep green eyes curved like crescent moons, and she wore a smile full of mischief.
"I'm just joking."
"How about we make it not a joke?"
"That wouldn't be bad either, but… this is the Murim Alliance, isn't it? In the end, it's someone else's house. I think our home would be a little better. And…"
"And?"
"It's about time, you see. Next is Hyang-i."
"Hm? Already?"
"Tonight, we have something important to do, don't we?"
"True. That's right too."
With the information on the Demonic Cult obtained from this interrogation, and the matters related to the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance, the current Murim Alliance was completely preoccupied.
That is why there is no proper time outside of tonight.
Through the bell, it will show me the final memory.
…Yes. This is probably the last one.
If the bell shows me my most intense memories, then there is only one memory that rivals the deaths of Seol Ri-hyang and Seomun Hwa-rin.
My death, and Tang So-wol's.
The Illusion Witch said that no seals were placed on Seol Ri-hyang and Seomun Hwa-rin.
She said that information from before the regression, obtained through a roundabout path, was not subject to seals.
I don't know why it was hidden, but… she said she would tell me after this Grand Ritual was over. If I wait, I'll get my answer.
Yes. By tomorrow, at the very least, I would be able to reveal my secret to these three: Tang So-wol, Seol Ri-hyang, and Seomun Hwa-rin.
I would finally be able to set down one of the stones that had weighed on my heart for so long.
With a mix of worry and anticipation, I decided to simply enjoy the remaining time.
***
After Tang So-wol, Seol Ri-hyang and Seomun Hwa-rin each came into my room in turn, chattering away to their hearts' content before leaving.
After Seomun Hwa-rin, the last of them, had left the room, I thought I should do some light meditation to steady my loosened mind, since there was something important coming up.
Knock, knock.
Someone tapped lightly on the door, deliberately making their presence known. The familiar presence prompted me to open the door, and there stood—
"W-Well, good evening…"
The Illusion Witch stood there, her posture stiff and hesitant.
Whether it was the influence of her sorcery or her natural disposition, she looked as gloomy as ever.
But unlike usual, she wasn't wearing a rumpled martial robe thrown on carelessly, nor was she wandering around with a damp face that had only been splashed with water and not properly dried.
Her attire was immaculate, as if she'd bought new clothes, and upon closer inspection, her face was even dusted with powder, albeit clumsily applied.
It was practically a full battle array. And she'd even come alone, right after Seomun Hwa-rin.
I quietly watched the Illusion Witch, who kept glancing up at me furtively before flinching and lowering her head whenever our eyes met.
Then she opened her mouth in a cautious voice.
"Illusion Witch. Surely you're not fond of me? If so, I'm sorry to say this, but I don't have the leisure for that right now."
"Ah, no. I came to prepare for the Grand Ritual, so could you stop blocking the door and step aside…?"
"What."
"W-well, it's not that I dislike the White Moon Sword Lord. In fact, I'd say I think rather highly of you. And if you were to spare my life, well, that'd be even better. Yes. But suddenly asking if I like you—I can't help but feel that's a bit too much confidence on your part, and it's also rather unfair that I'm getting rejected before I even confessed…"
"…"
I suppose not, then.