Absolute Regression

Chapter 607: You Think Extermination Is Something Just Anyone Gets Hit With?

Seo Jin was training her swordsmanship in the courtyard of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s safehouse.

The sword art she practiced was the Golden Dragon Sword Art.

The reinterpretation of the Golden Dragon Sword Art by Geom Mugeuk was not difficult, yet profound.

It was the kind of sword art that revealed new facets as one's skill improved. That was why the more her skills grew, the more awe she would feel.

For the past few days, she had been immersed in training. During the day, she practiced swordsmanship, and at night, she honed her Ghost Art. This was the first time in her life she had trained so diligently in martial arts.

Even before this incident, she already knew that the world of martial arts was a dangerous and terrifying place. However, having lived as a member of the Ghost Clan, she had never once felt genuine fear.

But through this ordeal, she came to a realization — that the martial world she had lived in until now was like a greenhouse. A world where the most she faced were neighborhood scoundrels she could scold.

The real martial world was a place where the smiling young man before her could be the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and where even a barefoot martial arts instructor could be aiming to kill that very Young Cult Leader.

Stepping out of the greenhouse didn’t simply mean facing a harsh wind — it could mean facing a thousand-foot cliff immediately.

If Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn hadn’t come to her aid, would she have been able to survive this place?

Seo Jin’s gaze turned again toward the entrance.

It felt as if the door might open at any moment.

The two Demon Supremes and Lee Ahn, who had left to bring the Young Cult Leader, had yet to return after several days.

‘Remember what you said when you recruited me? You told me to trust only you. I’m trusting you. So please, hurry back.’

When it came down to it, the whole incident had started because of her — which made it even more troubling. It had all begun with the investigation into the death of her hometown’s elder brother, Im Hyeon.

At that time, Gyo Seok and Yu Gwang of the White Dragon Class, who had come with her to the safehouse, reappeared from that place.

Now that they knew her true identity, they treated Seo Jin with great caution.

"Were you in the middle of training?"

Seo Jin smiled at the two.

"You can speak comfortably."

"But we really can’t do that."

To ordinary martial artists, the demonic members of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were nothing short of pure terror.

Even during the past few days at the safehouse, their hearts were on edge. Afraid of running into the demonic practitioners managing the place, or of offending them, they even refrained from speaking loudly.

"Frustrating, isn’t it? Everyone will be back soon."

Watching her expression, Gyo Seok let out a half-resigned sigh and spoke.

"In the end, you’re going to kill us, aren’t you?"

Seo Jin looked puzzled and asked again.

"Why would you suddenly say something like that?"

At that, Gyo Seok glanced at Yu Gwang, who stood beside him.

"This guy said his sense of unease disappeared this morning."

Yu Gwang, who had practically lived with the word 'uneasy' on his lips, suddenly claimed that all his anxiety was gone today.

"I don’t know why, but I feel at peace now."

At Yu Gwang’s words, Gyo Seok let out a sigh.

"Thanks to that, I feel even more ominous."

"I said my anxiety disappeared!"

"Exactly, and why did it suddenly disappear?"

"Maybe something good is about to happen."

"No, you’re supposed to stay anxious! That’s what keeps me calm."

It wasn’t something he said lightly—Gyo Seok’s unease was sincere.

"I have one request. I’ve written a letter in my room to send to my parents. If I die, please make sure it gets delivered. Ah, don’t worry. I didn’t mention anything about the Demonic Cult—no, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. No one will ever know that we were exterminated by the Cult."

It was just then.

"You think extermination is something just anyone gets hit with?"

The three of them turned in surprise to see Lee Ahn entering.

"Great Martial Artist! You’ve returned?"

Seeing that she had returned safely, Seo Jin was overjoyed.

Behind her, Fist Demon King and One-Slash Sword Supreme followed in.

Seo Jin offered a polite greeting to Fist Demon King and One-Slash Sword Supreme as well. Gyo Seok and Yu Gwang stepped back, bowing their heads and even holding their breath.

As the two Demon Supremes entered first, Seo Jin asked Lee Ahn,

"Where is the Young Cult Leader?"

"He’ll be here soon."

Seeing her relieved, Lee Ahn teased Gyo Seok and Yu Gwang.

"Once you leave, send that letter yourself, idiot. Worrying over useless things won’t make you worthy of extermination."

At that, Gyo Seok asked with joy in his voice,

"Are you really going to let us live?"

"If I were going to kill you, I’d have done it already."

"Thank you!"

Then Gyo Seok looked over at Yu Gwang.

‘But seriously, how are you always right about this stuff?’

Feeling encouraged that his intuition had been correct, Yu Gwang gathered his courage.

"I have a request."

"What is it?"

"I’d like to follow the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

Gyo Seok, shocked, tried to stop Yu Gwang.

"You! Are you insane?"

Lee Ahn quietly stared at Yu Gwang. A kid who could sense ominous signs well might be useful to keep as a subordinate. But he was too young and naïve to bring along just for that reason.

"Denied."

"May I ask why?"

What could she say to a clueless boy who had no idea what it meant to live as a demonic agent? That if war broke out, he’d have to raise his sword against his own friends? Could he kill Gyo Seok, the one standing next to him? That his parents, who sent him to the martial hall to learn martial arts, would faint from shock? And even so, would he be okay with it?

Just as Lee Ahn was wondering how she could convince him—

A cool, clear voice came from the entrance.

"Because you’re not skilled enough yet."

They turned to see Geom Mugeuk entering the safehouse. This time, both Lee Ahn and Seo Jin welcomed him together.

"Young Cult Leader!"

Lee Ahn had answered Seo Jin with firm confidence that Geom Mugeuk would arrive soon—but in truth, she had been quietly worried. After all, their opponent was no ordinary figure.

Who was she to worry about whom? She had said it herself, but really—if not her, then who else would worry about Geom Mugeuk?

“When you become exactly ten times stronger than you are now, then come and find Lee Ahn.”

At that moment, Lee Ahn understood. That was the right answer. Trying to explain things with various words would only leave lingering feelings and confusion in Yu Gwang’s heart.

But if he tried his best to become ten times stronger, he would grow into a fine martial artist.

And by the time he had become that much stronger, this ordeal would remain only as a memory from his youth. If he still remembered and returned then, it could truly be called fate.

“Can you do that?”

At Geom Mugeuk’s question, Yu Gwang answered with determination.

“Yes! I’ll become ten times stronger and come see you again!”

After his loud declaration, Yu Gwang’s face darkened.

“Ah, I feel anxious again.”

At that sight, Gyo Seok sighed.

“So he’s going to be anxious until he gets ten times stronger. I’ll have to live my whole life hearing how anxious he is.”

“You said I should be anxious!”

Geom Mugeuk had a feeling that their friendship would continue just like this. Even if Yu Gwang did come back after becoming ten times stronger, it felt like the two of them would come together. Yes—looking back, don’t lose this friendship over something trivial. Protect it well.

At that moment, Yeon Baekjin walked out to the courtyard. As he appeared, Gyo Seok and Yu Gwang stepped back into their quarters, making room.

“You’ve arrived.”

Yeon Baekjin was curious about what had happened to his brother, but he didn’t dare ask.

How could Geom Mugeuk not understand his heart?

“From now on, you are the Hall Master of the Golden Dragon Martial Hall.”

Those words said it all. His brother was dead. He almost asked who had killed him, but stopped himself. Asking that would be no different from saying to the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, “Did you kill my brother?”

He wasn’t as shocked as he thought he’d be. Nor did he feel as relieved or excited as he might have imagined.

“He passed without pain. He didn’t even realize he was dying. So don’t grieve too much.”

Even though it had been his brother who tried to kill him, he found himself thinking it was a relief that he had died without suffering. Blood was still blood, after all.

“From this point on, the Golden Dragon Martial Hall will be different.”

His brother had only chased after the goal of making it the greatest martial hall in the Central Plains. Yeon Baekjin held no such ambition.

“Even if I raise just one person, I will raise them to be a martial artist with proper character.”

“You can start with those two who just went in.”

Yeon Baekjin nodded and looked at Geom Mugeuk, Lee Ahn, and then Seo Jin.

Geom Mugeuk could feel it—there was no sign in Yeon Baekjin’s gaze toward Seo Jin of a tragic fate pulling him to a bitter end.

And that was because this entire incident had started in order to change their fates.

‘We did it.’

Just like that, the matter of the Golden Dragon Martial Hall had come to a complete close.

Geom Mugeuk conveyed to Fist Demon King and One-Slash Sword Supreme the outcome of the matter with the Sword King.

“I decided to befriend him.”

He spoke honestly, thinking the Demon Supremes should know.

If anyone other than Geom Mugeuk had said such a thing, neither Fist Demon King nor One-Slash Sword Supreme would have believed it.

They had seen the Sword King’s aura themselves.

Between those densely packed blades, there didn’t seem to be any room for another person to exist.

“What kind of person is he?”

One-Slash Sword Supreme asked out of curiosity. Since the other was a swordsman, it was only natural for her interest to be piqued.

“To be honest, I don’t know him very well either. But this is the impression I got—he’s someone who wants to be freer than anyone else, yet is bound tightly by those people.”

Then One-Slash Sword Supreme said something unexpected.

“Like you?”

Geom Mugeuk looked at her and smiled. It seemed to her that he too was someone bound tightly and yearning for freedom.

“With someone who understands me like this, I think I can endure the pain of these bonds.”

“Who in this world could bind the Young Cult Leader? Surely, you’re the one binding yourself.”

That’s why she thought the freedom Geom Mugeuk longed for must be even more desperate.

“That’s true. I’m someone who wants to roam this martial world freely. I went traveling with my father because I hoped he would live a free life as well.”

Then he added something even more honest.

“But as much as I want freedom, I also have just as much desire for power. It’s not just any position—it’s the seat of the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Freedom is great and all, but it’s not so grand that I would throw away this position without hesitation. I do have the ambition to inherit and lead it well.”

Of course, before any of that, the priority was to persuade his father within five years to give up his plan to unify the martial world.

At that moment, Fist Demon King, who had been quietly listening, calmly spoke.

“You’ll become a good Cult Leader.”

Geom Mugeuk turned his gaze to Fist Demon King. Moments like this made him feel just how powerful the words of a quiet person could be.

If someone else had said something like that to him, they’d have replied, ‘What’s with the flattery?’ But coming from the normally quiet Fist Demon King, those words carried weight and struck deeply.

“Of course, I’ll be a better Cult Leader than my father, right?”

To Fist Demon King, however, the father was an unassailable fortress.

“That would be difficult.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled and asked. Now was the time to express his gratitude.

“The chair that led to the underground path—Master left that behind on purpose, isn’t that right?”

The person the Sword King had trusted must have been a true master. Likely one of the Twelve Zodiac Kings. Despite fighting such a master, Fist Demon King had still managed to leave the chair behind.

Fist Demon King simply gave a small nod, without showing off.

And the ones who never boast are the ones to whom greater gratitude should be expressed.

By recognizing his intention and putting that gratitude into words, the difficult battle Fist Demon King had fought could finally be brought to a proper close.

Geom Mugeuk lowered his head respectfully, placing the final period.

“Truly, thank you.”

*         *         *

That night, Geom Mugeuk activated the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.

It wasn’t for training, but for the first time in a while—rest.

A white sandy beach stretched endlessly along a deep blue sea. A comfortable chair under a large-leafed tree.

“Ah! This is perfect!”

As he sank into the chair, the words of contentment escaped his lips naturally.

“Come on, you rest too.”

He placed the Secret Box in the seat he had prepared beside him.

For a while, he gazed out at the blue sky and the ocean.

As the warm breeze carried the scent of the sea and gently blew over him, his mood lifted effortlessly.

“This trip helped me understand you a lot better.”

As the energy inside his body became fully his, his feelings toward the Secret Box grew more familiar as well.

“Where are the remaining three energies?”

There was one place that came to mind.

The Martial Alliance.

The Main Cult had the Secret Box, and he had acquired the orbs from the Unorthodox Alliance, the Heavenly Wind Cult, and the Northern Sea Ice Palace. Then it wouldn’t be strange if the Martial Alliance held one too.

“It’s in the Martial Alliance, isn’t it? Right?”

If only you could speak.

Even if it was held in the Martial Alliance, he couldn’t exactly walk up to the Martial Alliance Leader or Jin Hagun and demand they hand over the orb. Like all the others he had obtained, he would come by it only when fate aligned.

Geom Mugeuk resolved not to rush. That had been the same when he first acquired the Secret Box. He had decided to leave it to fate and stay at ease.

He emptied his mind and enjoyed his time alone.

He dozed off in the chair, strolled along the beach, squatted to observe crawling crabs.

He lay down again, fell asleep, then woke and watched the sea. And at one point, he shouted out loud—

“I really don’t want to leave!”

The next morning, carriages for the return to the Main Cult were prepared.

Three carriages in total.

Fist Demon King rode in the lead, One-Slash Sword Supreme in the middle, and Geom Mugeuk, Lee Ahn, and Seo Jin in the last one. The two Demon Supremes had prepared separate carriages to ensure their comfort.

Facing Geom Mugeuk, Seo Jin offered her thanks.

“Thanks to you, I was able to avenge my elder brother. Thank you, Young Cult Leader.”

Compared to what you did for me in my life before the regression, this is nothing.

With a meaningful smile, Geom Mugeuk asked her—

“How do you feel about coming to the Main Cult?”

Just as it seemed she was pondering what to say—

Seo Jin suddenly raised her hand, palm facing upward.

Ssssss—

A swirl of pitch-black smoke rose from her palm and formed into a small black wolf. It was just big enough to fit in her hand, but it was a striking-looking wolf with proud, dignified eyes.

“When the Commander first recruited me, I was like this.”

Sssssssss—

More black smoke billowed out in front of the wolf, and this time it shaped into the large face of a tiger.

And the moment that tiger opened its jaws wide—

The handsome wolf burst with a pop and turned into a terrified mutt, its tail curled completely between its legs.

“This is what I’m like now.”

Geom Mugeuk chuckled at the sight of the dog. So she had such a talent, yet never once showed it during her time as a wanderer.

“That’s exactly what I’m like in front of Father.”

With an expression of shared understanding, Geom Mugeuk stroked the dog. The dog made of black smoke nuzzled its face into Geom Mugeuk’s hand.

While stroking it, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

“Whether you’re a tiger, a wolf, or a dog—it doesn’t matter.”

“Then what does?”

The same feeling Geom Mugeuk had wished to convey to Lee Ahn was passed on now to Seo Jin.

“What matters is whether you’re happier than you are now when you get to the Main Division. I don’t want a miserable tiger.”

Seo Jin hadn’t spent a long time with the Young Cult Leader, but at least she could tell that those words came from the heart.

Pop!

The dog vanished, and in its place, the same wolf from earlier reappeared.

“Even if I can’t become a happy tiger, I’ll do my best to be a happy wolf.”

Yes—before the regression, when she had been a wanderer, she had felt just like a wolf.

Live that way, Seo Jin. But this time, be a wolf that lives with a wide, joyful smile.

Now that they were returning to the Main Cult, faces he longed to see began flashing through Geom Mugeuk’s mind—faces he hadn’t properly said goodbye to, having left in such a rush.

He stuck his head out of the carriage window and shouted loudly.

“All right, back to the Main Cult! And this time, we’re going as fast as possible!”