Absolute Regression

Chapter 707: Would This be of Help?

“Welcome, Alliance Leader.”

After giving a polite greeting, Cha Iran looked around.

“I would like to offer you a seat, but as you can see, there is none.”

Even in a situation where her life was at risk, she remained calm. She had torn down the signpost marking the crossroads between life and death in her life, and thus she had no fear.

Only the day when her steps came to a halt while walking the path she wished to walk would be her last day.

“Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

At Baek Jagang’s question that came like that of a grim reaper, Cha Iran replied politely.

“I am afraid.”

At that moment, chills crept up on Baek Jagang’s ear. He was facing someone against whom his instinct to detect lies resonated. Her claim of being afraid triggered that reaction—meaning she was lying.

She was not afraid of death?

Normally, he would have thought that this woman was hiding a trump card, or that there was someone who would rescue her, so she had no fear.

But Baek Jagang had seen it. That fleeting moment of detachment in her eyes.

Among those he had met, there had been some who carried such a gaze.

The gaze of those whose boundaries between life and death had already collapsed.

They were people who could do anything because they had abandoned everything.

It was unexpected. That someone with such beauty and brilliance had no attachment to life?

Just what kind of life had she lived?

Such thoughts suddenly crossed Baek Jagang’s mind.

Could it be that the reason Geom Mugeuk was trying to resolve this matter without killing this woman was because he, too, had seen the same thing Baek Jagang just did?

“I know that the Young Cult Leader regards you with special favor. But that is something between you and the Young Cult Leader—it has nothing to do with me.”

After making it clear that he would show no mercy because of her relationship with Geom Mugeuk, Baek Jagang asked directly.

“Why are you trying to kill me?”

His earlier warning that he would not ask twice had meant that if she did not answer the first time, he would kill her.

“As you must already know, I am an assassin. And so I accepted a contract.”

She belonged to an organization, but strictly speaking, it was not a command-based hierarchy.

The organization handed her the contract money and entrusted her with the job. She had tried hard to keep her distance from them, even though she knew the organization resented her for it.

“You accepted the contract even knowing that I was the target.”

It was a point sharp enough to ignite his greatest fury, but Cha Iran chose to face it head-on.

“How could I refuse? For an assassin, it is a once-in-a-lifetime contract, if it ever comes at all.”

Her frankness led him to press on with questions without restraint.

“What did you mean when you spoke to the Gang Leader of the Divine Transformation Gang?”

In truth, the reason Baek Jagang had sought her out today was to ask this very question. For the Alliance Leader of the Divine Transformation Gang had left such words as he lay dying.

“He said you claimed that if I did not die, the martial world would be destroyed?”

When she had spoken those words, she had never imagined it would lead to this situation. At that time, she had not foreseen Geom Mugeuk stepping in.

In truth, the one who had told her those words was Hwa Do-myeong.

He was, no doubt, hiding somewhere far away, watching this scene unfold with a sly smile.

Would he simply keep watching even when Baek Jagang tried to kill her? Or would he step in to save her?

“That seems like something I should be asking you instead.”

Baek Jagang’s eyes grew sharper, but she calmly said what she had to say.

“Do you intend to bring destruction to the martial world?”

A brief silence passed.

Baek Jagang had never expected to be asked such a question by this woman.

Perhaps because of that, Baek Jagang accepted her provocation.

“And if I did?”

She had not asked this to provoke Baek Jagang. Quite the opposite.

“If that was truly who you were, you would not have come here to ask me such a thing.”

Cha Iran continued calmly.

“Most likely, they told me such things in order to persuade me. After all, there would be no better justification to kill someone than that.”

Finally, Baek Jagang cast a decisive question.

“Even so, do you still intend to kill me?”

This answer did not come quickly.

After a moment, she spoke.

“Yes. I already accepted the contract.”

There was no chill at his ear this time—proof she was telling the truth. Her courage was admirable, but that alone was no reason for forgiveness.

“Give me one reason why I should not kill you.”

Cha Iran sighed as she answered.

“I don’t believe there is one.”

The grim reaper who had only been asking questions at last gave his judgment.

“Then die!”

His hand gripped the hilt of his sword.

Watching that motion, Cha Iran recalled the moment when Geom Mugeuk had reached for his sword. But this tension was far greater. Geom Mugeuk had not drawn his blade, but Baek Jagang surely would. And surely, he would kill her.

Cha Iran gathered her inner energy. Could she possibly defeat the Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance head-on? Impossible.

‘Hwa Do-myeong, will you only keep watching? If I die, this plan also fails.’

But Hwa Do-myeong did not appear.

Yes, you were only ever a spectator.

She sensed that her final moment had come. In truth, she did not fear death. Rather, she had been awaiting this moment for some time.

The Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, her final target.

There could be no one better to deliver her end.

The only regret was that her subordinates would all perish as well.

“My subordinates…”

Before she could even plead for their lives, Baek Jagang cut her off.

“I am not someone who leaves behind future troubles. And would I then leave behind assassins as future trouble?”

From Baek Jagang’s body, a tremendous energy surged forth and spread in all directions.

It was the first time she had ever felt such a fierce and overwhelming aura. It was as if a massive beast, bound until now, had been unleashed and was roaring toward the heavens.

Matching that aura, Cha Iran drew her inner energy to the very limit. She did not fear death, but that did not mean she was someone who gave up life so easily.

She drew out her dagger. The keenly shining blade mirrored the sharpness in her eyes.

From afar, First Beauty and the other assassins who had been watching all leapt down around the two. Each of them drew their concealed weapons.

Though Baek Jagang’s overwhelming aura made them sense death, not one of the women fled.

Srrrng.

At that very moment, Baek Jagang’s sword began to slide from its scabbard.

Shiiiiiik.

Like light itself, someone flew between the two and landed.

The one who had dashed forward using Star Light Step was none other than Geom Mugeuk.

His sudden appearance startled Cha Iran. She had never expected Geom Mugeuk to appear at such a moment. It wasn’t only her—the assassins around her were also shocked.

Baek Jagang’s sword had not yet been fully drawn.

“Fortunately, you had not drawn it all the way yet!”

At Geom Mugeuk’s relieved words, Baek Jagang asked,

“You ran here breathless like this because you feared I might kill this woman?”

Letting out a sigh of relief, Geom Mugeuk gave a short reply.

“Yes.”

Though it was only a single word, a trace of intense emotion flickered across Cha Iran’s face. Even her so-called friend, Hwa Do-myeong, had not stepped in—but her enemy, Geom Mugeuk, had intervened for her.

Geom Mugeuk looked at Baek Jagang. In Baek Jagang’s small eyes, he caught a certain intent.

—Surely not? Did you know I was watching?

At Geom Mugeuk’s transmitted thought, one corner of Baek Jagang’s lips rose faintly. That meaningful expression said it all.

As expected, you do understand my intent.

Now Geom Mugeuk was certain. Baek Jagang had realized he was watching from afar and had deliberately drawn his sword.

From the start, Baek Jagang had never intended to kill her. He had only wanted to ask what he wished and then leave. The reason he had acted as if to draw his sword was…

To make her indebted to him for her life.

And even to ensure that her subordinates, who had stepped in, would all be spared as well.

Yes, he was not the type to recklessly intrude into a matter he had entrusted to Geom Mugeuk and kill her himself. If he were ever to kill her, it would be in Geom Mugeuk’s presence.

—Thank you truly, Alliance Leader.

To this, Baek Jagang also replied with a transmitted thought. Indeed, Geom Mugeuk’s guess was correct.

—Would this much be of help?

—Yes, enough to change the balance.

—Then that is enough.

Now, instead of transmitting soundlessly, Geom Mugeuk spoke aloud for everyone to hear, making a plea to Baek Jagang.

“For my sake, please forgive her just this once.”

“A woman who intended to kill me?”

“Please, look at my face and let it go just this once.”

For a moment, Baek Jagang seemed to hesitate. Then, slowly, he released his hand from the sword hilt.

“Consider this the repayment of the debt I owed you.”

In truth, by saying this, he bound her with an even greater debt.

“Yes, thank you for showing such mercy.”

Bowing his head, Geom Mugeuk sent a soundless transmission to Baek Jagang.

—You are truly admirable!

—More so than your father?

—……

—Save such words for that time.

After reminding him once again who his true rival was, Baek Jagang strode away. He did not spare so much as a glance at Cha Iran or the assassins, as if to say, She is yours now.

Geom Mugeuk silently watched his retreating back.

Today, his black martial robe seemed all the more impressive. Cha Iran was an assassin who had tried to kill him. Yet Baek Jagang, who hated leaving behind any future trouble, had yielded this much.

‘I will surely repay this favor.’

Once Baek Jagang was gone, the tension that had hung over the assassins dispersed. Earlier, they had thought they would die at the hands of Evil Smiling Demon, and now they had nearly died at the hands of the Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance.

At a signal from Cha Iran’s eyes, First Beauty led the assassins far back. Before retreating, they cast sidelong glances at Geom Mugeuk.

Though it had not been his intention, thanks to the Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, he had become their benefactor, the one who had saved their lives.

Cha Iran looked at Geom Mugeuk with a gaze filled with incomprehension.

“Why did you save me? If I died, everything would be cleanly resolved. You wouldn’t even need to stain your own hands with blood.”

At last, Geom Mugeuk turned to look at Cha Iran. She stood there covered in dust.

“In the end, you will end up wearing the clothes I chose for you.”

It was a joke. She had chosen a different outfit at the shop rather than the one he had picked, but now that her clothes were ruined, she would have to buy the one he had selected after all.

Cha Iran’s eyes quivered faintly. Could he really act like this, even knowing she intended to kill him?

“Tsk, all this dust.”

Geom Mugeuk brushed away the dust that had risen into the air from the clash of energies and killing intents.

“Let’s walk a little.”

Since the ruined place was no setting for conversation, the two of them slowly made their way toward the rear garden. There, a small flower garden awaited.

“You must have been tense. Sit for a while.”

Geom Mugeuk sat first on the broad rock set before the flower garden. Cha Iran quietly sat beside him.

The two of them gazed at the flowers for a while. Despite the tension from just moments ago, the blossoms swayed indifferently in the wind, as though unconcerned with worldly affairs.

“By the way, there’s someone I need to ask you about.”

“Who do you mean?”

“A man with makeup on his face appeared before the Mistress of the Sky Flower Pavilion.”

For an instant, Cha Iran’s expression stiffened. That was something even she had not known.

“He said that if the Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance wasn’t killed, the martial world would be destroyed.”

Yet when Hwa Do-myeong had met her, he had not said such a thing. He was surely scheming something.

She had not spoken of it to Baek Jagang, but she told Geom Mugeuk. He always belittled himself as a mere bystander, but…

“He’s an important figure within the organization.”

Which was why she added one more line.

“It’s better not to get involved with him.”

Geom Mugeuk slowly turned his gaze toward her.

“Then does that mean it’s fine for me to get involved with you?”

At the depth in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes, as dark as an abyss, Cha Iran found herself unable to speak.

But then, with a smile as if it were all a joke, he said,

“I jest, I jest. I’ll take your advice to heart. Best to stay away from dangerous snakes before they strike. I’m not the sort of man who pokes around in the grass with a stick just to stir up trouble. I dislike reckless people who bring calamity on themselves.”

Cha Iran asked again.

“You still haven’t answered. Why did you save me?”

“I already told you. I like admirable people.”

Cha Iran gave a short scoff. She already had a guess at the real reason.

“It’s because the chances of making that person leave increase if I’m alive.”

As if seizing the chance, Cha Iran voiced her honest feelings.

“It doesn’t feel good. It feels like I’m just some tool or sacrifice for that person.”

Then, from Geom Mugeuk, came words she never expected.

“Isn’t living as a tool or a sacrifice already what you’re doing?”

“!”

Struck right at the heart, Cha Iran’s expression hardened. Geom Mugeuk, unconcerned with her reaction, continued what he wanted to say.

“If you must be one regardless, isn’t it better to be the tool and the sacrifice for the one you love?”

“What do you know about me?”

“I know enough. That you drink. That you don’t even know what clothes suit you.”

In the end, Cha Iran laughed. Truly, there could be no one else in the world but this Young Cult Leader who could speak of tools and sacrifices so offensively, yet make someone laugh with it.

“And that you cherish your subordinates immensely.”

“Why do you think I cherish them?”

He had a clear reason.

“I’ve heard that even when your subordinates fail an assassination and are captured, they don’t commit suicide.”

Really, this Young Cult Leader was sharp. Nothing escaped him.

And he went even further.

“This principle of not committing suicide—does it apply even if you yourself fail?”

He struck at a place she had never expected.

“And if it does?”

“Then let’s make a promise.”

The promise Geom Mugeuk was about to suggest was something she could never have imagined.

“If I prevent your assassination attempt, then you must accept my contract.”

“!”

He was asking her to leave them and take his hand. It wasn’t the same as asking her to help him make that person leave. It meant that even if she failed in her assassination, he would still give her another chance.

In this way, Geom Mugeuk took one more step closer to her.

“You mean you would spare the very person who just tried to kill you?”

“Yes.”

“Are you a fool? Or do you take me for such a fool that I’d believe that?”

And yet, she could feel it. Geom Mugeuk truly meant those words.

It was as if he would smile brightly at her, even after she failed to kill him, and say,

Now, as promised, take my hand!

With no resentment at all.

“And if I succeed in the assassination?”

Geom Mugeuk lifted his head, gazing up at the sky.

The clouds drifted on, scattering and joining again, slowly moving as the wind guided them.

And with a calmness that revealed his sincerity, Geom Mugeuk answered.

“Then I will go ahead to Hell and wait for you.”