If the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance's rival was the Demonic Cult, then the greatest obstacle was the Imperial Court.
However, with the Martial Princess nearly assassinated by the Slaughter King as the catalyst, the Imperial Court had changed its mind and instead decided to lend its hand to the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance.
Now, regardless of orthodoxy or unorthodoxy, all martial artists could focus solely on the Heavenly Demon for the sake of the Central Plains' safety.
"That's the people's assessment of the past events. It seems the Murim Alliance Leader, being from the Beggars' Sect, certainly knows well how much to reveal and where to draw the line."
"Why are you still here?"
The Martial Princess, who had acted as if she would return to the Imperial Court after hearing my answer, yet was still planted firmly in the Murim Alliance, sharpened her gaze.
"You're hinting that you want me to leave. I see. No matter how great you are, White Moon Sword Lord, it seems having the woman you cast aside by your side does make you uncomfortable."
"No. It's just that I find it annoying how you keep barging into my quarters at all hours."
"…"
The Martial Princess, whose sharp gaze had been raised to its fullest, let it droop. Well, who would dare say such a thing to her face?
And wasn't the Martial Princess someone whose looks earned her the title of peerless beauty wherever she went?
Of course, she wasn't quite on the level of Tang So-wol or the other women… but still, she had surely never been treated like this in her life. However.
"Put your eyes back where they belong. Anyone seeing you would think I'm the bad guy here."
"Anyone seeing you would know you're the bad guy. Speak a little more prettily."
"You come by every single day to interrupt my training, and you expect kind words to come out of my mouth? I wonder where you get such a positive way of thinking."
"Where else? From bloodline and beauty, of course."
The Martial Princess lifted her chin with a smug expression.
Ordinarily, the Commander would have played along at this point, but she too was a martial artist who had reached the Harmony Realm.
Whether she understood the annoyance I felt, she merely let out a sigh with a complicated expression.
Realizing she had no one on her side, the Martial Princess seemed briefly flustered, then protested in a small voice.
"What do you mean, how can a person just eat and train all day! If you keep up such an absurd schedule every single day, I'm bound to be interrupting no matter when I come by!"
"Hoo. That's precisely why Your Highness the Princess is still only first-rate."
"Kugh…!"
From an ordinary perspective, first-rate isn't actually that low a level.
It's a level one can only reach by dedicating one's entire life to martial arts without any special talent or fortuitous encounter.
But when it comes to someone like the Martial Princess, the story changes.
She's of Imperial blood, isn't she? If one has a will for martial arts, these are people who can train with support so good that it can't even be compared to that of most prestigious clans.
Spiritual medicines presented from all over the Central Plains, a eunuch who—though a traitor—was a Harmony Realm martial artist and whose martial arts suited a woman's training as a master, and, if permission was granted, the power of various divine relics that were gradually disappearing from the martial world could also be borrowed.
No matter how much one has duties as one born of Imperial blood and cannot devote oneself solely to martial arts…
"With that kind of environment, you should have reached the realm of a master by the age of twenty."
"What?!"
"Well, perhaps your talent is somewhat lacking. …Still, you should have been at the very edge of the first-rate, just short of breaking through the wall."
"Ugh…!"
"Sigh. I can't understand it. This isn't just having an interest in martial arts—this is treating martial arts as a hobby. The alias 'Martial Princess' is wasted on you. When I was that age…"
The scolding flowed naturally… no, it was concern for the Martial Princess's future.
As if to show I wasn't the only one who thought so, the commander silently nodded, urging her to say more.
After that round of preening, the shoulders that had been puffed up high drooped limply, and the Martial Princess's lips jutted out in a pout.
"…You old monster."
"Yes?"
"If I returned to the past while keeping my memories, how is that any different from Rejuvenation? I don't know how old I was before the regression, but if you add up my current age, aren't I just an old monster wearing a young body!"
"Heh."
So this was how it felt when Seomun Hwa-rin was teased about her age.
The only difference was that, unlike Seomun Hwa-rin, I couldn't even argue back because of the seal.
So I decided to use a fist that was faster than words.
THWACK!
"Kyaa!"
The Martial Princess rolled on the ground, clutching her forehead where she'd been flicked.
The strategist had reached out to block the flick in advance, but… the moment our eyes met, he quietly straightened back up.
His loyalty remained as steadfast as ever, but it was clear that ever since I'd swept away the Slaughter King's crew with a single sword stroke, a distinct fear had crept into the way he looked at me.
He probably figured I wouldn't do anything worse than a flick, so he didn't want to stir up unnecessary conflict.
Whether the loyal subordinate knew his secret inner compromise or not, the Martial Princess was diligently rolling around on the floor.
I shook my head at the sight of her and continued.
"So? What brings you here today? If it's something trivial, finish your tea and be on your way."
"Hey…! That's not tea, it's just plain water! Cold water at that! …But this time, I've come because of something truly important."
Still clutching her reddened forehead, the Martial Princess lay on the ground, glaring at me.
"Is it something important?"
"Yes. You refused me, but you accepted His Majesty's proposal. Thanks to that, the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance can now operate in earnest with the Imperial Court's full support."
"So we're back to what I said at the start."
"Indeed. They said they'd set up a meeting to establish concrete plans and, if necessary, coordinate each other's opinions."
"Oh."
The Martial Princess had dragged things out for so long, and since their real purpose was to confirm whether I was a regressor and, if so, to join hands with me, I'd completely forgotten about it.
On the surface, it was about whether the Imperial Court would acknowledge the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance's existence.
And now. Beyond mere acknowledgment, they'd promised full support, so it was time to move on to the next step.
Now that the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance's existence and purpose had been officially announced to the world, we were supposed to hold a formal inauguration ceremony, accept any latecomers who wished to join, and only after the membership had been roughly settled, convene a general assembly… but.
Hadn't quite a few unpleasant things happened recently?
The Kunlun Sect had been exterminated, the eunuch of the Eastern Depot had betrayed us, and the cloned Slaughter Kings he had led had penetrated all the way into the Murim Alliance's inner courtyard.
It was fortunate that I had stepped in quickly, even at great cost to myself, so the damage was limited… but it wasn't nonexistent.
Some had lost a beloved disciple, others had lost an elder they relied upon.
And the Imperial Court's dignity had been thoroughly trampled.
Given such circumstances, the inauguration ceremony—which should have been filled with laughter and applause—was simplified, and we moved straight on to the next step.
"With things having come to this, it's rather amusing that the Black Alliance, who used to fight amongst themselves every single day, now looks the most stable of us all."
"Isn't that a good thing for you, the number one of the Unorthodox Sects?"
"I am a martial artist of the Orthodox Sects."
"But you are also the number one of the Unorthodox Sects. When you think about what comes after the subjugation of the Demonic Cult…"
"I don't have the leisure to think about such things yet."
I cut off the Martial Princess's words as she tilted her head in confusion.
Perhaps I had been too firm, as the Martial Princess flinched for a moment. A slight pang of guilt bloomed at the sight of her.
"I apologize. My words came out a bit too strong. But please remember this—in my experience, those who think about what comes next are the ones who die today."
"Ah!"
The Martial Princess's eyes flew wide open.
I had phrased it as carefully as I could to avoid triggering the seal, but perhaps because my opponent already knew of the regression, my meaning had gotten through clearly enough.
Well, this had actually happened, so that was a relief.
Before the regression. After the first time the Demonic Cult made its move, and word spread that Kunlun—the sect closest to them—had been wiped out.
The Black Alliance, of course, but even the other factions of the Murim Alliance merely stood by and watched the situation unfold.
Because it was to their benefit.
It was just the Demonic Cult, after all. Pitiful, but only pitiful—avengers and nothing more.
What Kunlun had suffered at their hands was surprising, but the Demonic Cult must have lost much of its strength as well.
He clearly hoped that the alliance would collapse before long, and that in the meantime, he could reduce the number of his competitors by even one.
In the end, it was only after half of the orthodox martial world had been shattered that they came to their senses and hastily formed the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance.
The reason I wanted to form the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance quickly in this regression was precisely because I knew of this history.
Having roughly grasped the situation, the Martial Princess asked cautiously.
"White Moon Sword Lord. The sword strike you showed us the other day was superior to anyone in the Imperial Court. Is the being called the Heavenly Demon so dangerous that you must be this cautious even with your skill?"
"Yes. He is dangerous enough that my strength alone is insufficient, which is why I am gathering power like this."
"…I see."
The Imperial Court knows of the existence of regressors. After all, it was possible because even the first emperor was a regressor.
Perhaps it was because, having studied regression for so long, she understood the power and influence of regressors—and the results they had actually achieved—better than I did.
Sometimes, the way the Martial Princess treated me alternated between shock and acceptance.
But precisely because of that, she might have taken the Heavenly Demon somewhat lightly.
That was trust in a regressor like the first emperor, and at the same time, an act born of ignorance—unaware that the Heavenly Demon was an infinite regressor.
Still, it should be fine now. The Martial Princess might lack tact in some ways, but she does listen well.
I let out a soft chuckle at her, who wore a somewhat stiff expression as she pondered something, and opened my mouth.
"By the way, will the Martial Princess be serving as the Imperial Court's spokesperson at that gathering as well?"
"That's right. I hear that this time, not only the Murim Alliance but also members of the Black Alliance will be attending… I've heard that you, White Moon Sword Lord, share a deep friendship with the Lord of the Black Alliance. Are there any particular cautions or recommendations you have?"
"There's nothing in particular… Ah, but the Lord of the Black Alliance does favor those who are capable yet insolent."
"How peculiar. Though that is rather fitting for the Unorthodox Sects."
"And these days, he's practically head over heels for his wife."
"I knew they were close, but to that extent?"
"Yes. From what I can see, it's to that extent. So if you're planning to prepare a gift, wouldn't something that would benefit their marital relationship be a good choice?"
"Benefit their marital relationship, what in the world…"
The Martial Princess, who had been tilting her head, suddenly flinched like a cat that had been poked in the side and straightened her back.
"E-even so, I am an Imperial Princess, yet you have no restraint in your words! To bring up such a topic out of nowhere!"
"…Huh?"
"A vessel that would benefit their marital relationship! How am I supposed to know what's good and what isn't to gift them! Surely you don't mean for me to test it out myself…!"
"Oh dear."
Only then did he understand what the Martial Princess was misunderstanding.
A sigh escaped him on its own. He looked at the utterly clueless Imperial Princess with pity and shook his head.
"Not a vessel—a spiritual medicine. The Imperial Court's secret vault must be full of medicines better for nourishing the body than for boosting internal energy. Just pick one with a good amount of yang energy in it."
"…Ah."
Realizing what she had been imagining, the Martial Princess flushed crimson in an instant.
This time, I hadn't even flicked her forehead, yet she was covering her face with her own hands and rolling around on the floor.
Well. The Lord of the Black Alliance may be barren, but that only means she can't bear children—she can still do everything else, so she must be pleased.
And after I attached the demonic threads, I recently received word that there was some improvement.
From now on, whenever she recalls today's events, this will be a gift that satisfies everyone—except, of course, the Martial Princess rolling around on the floor.
I nodded and waved my hand.
"Alright. If you've said everything you need to say, stop rolling around like you're covered in dust and get out. In a little while, the others will finish their personal training and come looking for me."
"…Hmph! The others, you say? Ah, you mean people like that Flying Butterfly Poison Peak or the Illusion Witch I saw last time."
"Yeah. Something like that."
Since I couldn't very well claim it had all been a lie at this point, I made up a vague excuse.
The Martial Princess stood up, scratching her disheveled hair roughly.
"Hmph! I'm not leaving because I've been given the boot—I'm leaving because my business here is done!"
"Is that so…"
Having salvaged her pride—albeit belatedly, very belatedly—the Martial Princess left the room with the commander.
***
After spending time in conversation with the other women, which had become part of my daily routine.
I had just lain down on the bed, thinking it was about time to get some sleep.
Creak.
The door opened cautiously as the Illusion Witch poked her head in.
"Um… I was passing by when I heard the Martial Princess asking why you were here when the White Moon Sword Lord had called for you, so I came to check…"
"Ah."
I hadn't expected my hastily made-up lie to come back around like this.
For some reason, I nodded as I met her eyes, sparkling with anticipation from behind her long, flowing hair.
"You came at the right time."
"S-Surely not… is today the day…?"
"Turn off the light before you go."
"?"
"I said turn off the light, since I'm about to sleep."
"…"
The Illusion Witch's eyes rapidly dulled, then she turned off the light with dead eyes.
It was the same look as always.