Chapter 55 : The Advent of the Black Star

What is Hell?

Everyone thinks of Hell differently.
Each religion describes Hell differently.

Some say the human heart itself is Hell, that Hell is not a place but a state of having lost salvation, that Hell is simply a place with a physical reality filled only with horrific suffering, that it’s an afterlife everyone goes to through the six realms of reincarnation, and so on.

However, the Hell that emerged in the 21st century felt quite different.

Just… How should I put it?
It felt like a tedious and sigh-inducing, tenacious army.
Though this might just be the characteristic of the demons here.

“According to what the Association knows, Hell also has factions. They must have sent guys suited to the compatibility and rules of the Gate on their side too.”

Seolhyang, revealing her pinkish-white naked form, was stretching.
Her chattering, providing additional information, carried an undeniable undercurrent of anxiety.

“So… This is why they’re waging such a senseless war of attrition?”

Right. This place is, after all, an A-rank Gate.
It can influence Hell too.
If demons contrary to the rules imposed here were to come, their power would likely weaken significantly.
Just like the current Seolhyang.

And the ‘erosion’ effect of Chunqiu Zhanguo was none other than rampant warfare.
It likely wasn’t a coincidence that demons resembling an army emerged.

“…Such, worthless acts.”

A mountain formed from the corpses of lower demons stood piled high.
Originally, demons are beings without physical substance, but the current case was somewhat special, allowing them to leave corpses.

And. Atop that mountain peak, a swirling red light was visible.

A Gate. More accurately, a stable dimensional rift called a Gate entrance.
Likely opened directly from Hell.

Something was seen slowly emerging from the corpses and being sucked towards that Gate.
Soul retrieval.

Once that process finishes. We’d likely have to fight the resurrected demons again, as if nothing happened.
Forcing a battle unilaterally disadvantageous to this side, truly horrific beings.

Caspar glanced at me.
A silent look asking if I was just going to leave it be.

“Haa… I hate eating things like that.”

Should I say it feels like force-feeding white porridge when already full?
Eating such low-grade, dirty souls leaves a bloated feeling.

I’d rather eat Caspar’s ‘vitality’ than that.
Though the texture is worse, the eating environment is different.

It’s not for nothing that demons favor virtuous souls or children’s souls.
But since I would never absorb such souls, for me, soul devouring was simply unpleasant.

…But. What can I do?
If I don’t absorb them, the battle will become harder.

-Swoooosh.

Raising my hand and focusing my will, the demon souls heading towards Hell changed direction and flew towards me.

-Kiyaaaaak!

Naturally. They were demons throwing fits, trying to escape me, but they were no match for me.

They struggled even with physical bodies; having died once, they were even weaker.

[Obey…]

However, perhaps due to the sheer numbers, I had to resort to even my demonic authority as a devil to barely suppress them.

A fulfilling sense of satiety was felt.
The rank of my soul was rising.
However, raising my rank wasn’t the intention right now.

The goal was to consume the demons’ souls.

And actually, the feeling of displeasure was far greater than satiety.
Just like how no one truly enjoys eating human flesh to survive.

Using demonic authority also brought extreme nausea.
Because it reminded me of the time I learned demonic authority by grinding down people…

Caspar probably wouldn’t have made me do this if he knew my past.
He was someone who seemed indifferent but cared.

But I didn’t bother telling Caspar my circumstances in detail.
Though I could add various remarks, the biggest reason was simply not wanting Caspar to hate me.

…How could I possibly say it?
That after you died. I threw away everything I swore and lived as a madwoman worse than any devil.

-Shaaa…

Once absorption was complete, barely suppressing the urge to vomit, I stuck close to Caspar’s side to heal.

“Mmm. I did well, right?”

‘Wouldn’t it be okay to shamelessly seek praise?’
With that thought, I smiled shyly and rubbed my face against him.

“Yes. You did well. Agathe. It must have been tough, rest for a bit. Thanks to you, we should have some time until the next invasion. Seolhyang needs time to communicate outside too.”

“Hehe… Yes. Okay.”

A cozy feeling was felt.
What’s mere soul absorption? This is true happiness.

‘I’ll pass almost all the absorbed power to the baby. Since it’s in my womb now, it’s easy to give nutrients, so I should transfer a lot now. Of course, I’ll filter out all the bad parts, so the baby won’t be affected.’

To explain easily using game terms, my child is basically getting power-leveled through party hunting right now.
Actually, getting pregnant beforehand was partly for this reason too.

‘…Anyway. Is Seolhyang okay? She looks slightly unwell, maybe from overexerting herself.’

I glanced sideways at Seolhyang, sitting cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation.
Her pure white, youthful body wasn’t mature, but could definitely be called beautiful.
A physique that people with… unique tastes might appreciate.

Though無理 to say she was busty like me, she had some curves.
With no body hair below the neck, all intimate areas were clearly visible.

“…Shouldn’t you put something on? We have some time now.”

Though I felt it was an overly defenseless posture for a woman, she had her reasons.

“Who else can see besides you anyway? I don’t know what kind of eyes you have, but anyway, putting on clothes just for you is a bit much. We’re both women, right? Just bear with it.”

I didn’t know either.
Seolhyang was apparently in stealth mode.
Using Ki aura to manipulate the refractive index of light, making it seem as if light emanated from her body.

I thought she was just joking, but it was real?

Well, thinking back, she did use that technique to dye her dress blue before.
Though she lacks the Magic Girl power now, if she just emits light without sophisticated techniques, it’s likely a trick she can still manage.

“But. Can you contact the outside through meditation? I don’t really know, but is that possible without machines or magic?”

It was a question thrown out without much thought.
She’ll manage somehow.

My makeshift plan was this.
Since people would be waiting outside.
Let’s somehow connect to Earth from the crumbling dimension and make contact.

“No. Can’t contact outside yet. And, there’s no particular need to either.”

Seolhyang said with a faint smile gracing her lips.

And. A full hour passed after that.

I observed the swirling mental landscape.

The sight of fierce snow falling closely resembled the scenery of my birth.

Seolhyang (雪香). Snow Fragrance.

A surname not commonly used in Korea.
Because they use 薛 (Seol) or 偰 (Seol), not 雪 (snow).
So she had some trouble getting her ID card made due to misunderstanding.

…Though her father, who enjoyed reading martial arts novels, apparently didn’t know.
Possessing a surname unused in the Central Plains, he abandoned his name and operated anonymously.

Then, upon having a daughter, the declaration to completely sever ties with the past could be said to be the newly created surname ‘Seol’.
At least, that’s what I heard from Father.

On a snowy night. Watching the softly piling snow, he gave his daughter that surname and name.
Amusingly. It wasn’t the daughter taking the father’s surname, but the father taking the daughter’s surname.

Within the blizzard-like mental image, resided adversity and the warmth of a father’s heart.

Sounds of clamor were heard outside the mental image.
It seemed the next wave of forces had already arrived.

Thanks to setting up formations properly this time, there were no civilian casualties, but Agathe was already grabbing me and making a fuss.

‘Hey! Seolhyang! Wake up!’

How she fussed because her dear husband was struggling.
There were no such women even back in the Central Plains.

…Would I. Become like that too, someday, if I fall in love?

Even amidst the hazy consciousness, she was such a unique woman to make one think such thoughts.

Once again, the mental image twisted.

This time, it was the appearance of Earth.
I saw myself staring blankly at the corpse of my martial sister.
Though I was called peerless beauty in the past, my eyes were dead, not looking particularly beautiful.

Beside her, a child was bringing down a stone on my half-paralyzed best friend, screaming viciously.
I clearly knew the child’s name and face.

Lee Yulha. The child now working at the Association.
Though we get along reasonably well now, originally, my relationship with most people at the Association started on bad terms.

Not ordinary bad terms.
Just as Yulha’s parents were killed by people from my homeland, they were mostly grievances that could be called unforgivable grudges towards each other.

That sentiment cast a dark cloud even now.

‘Seolhyang! Wake up already!’

Ah. Indeed.

There was a reason Agathe made such a fuss.
It seemed a supreme being called a Great Demon had personally led subordinates out.

I moved my body from the state of selflessness.
The movement felt like gliding on snow, and also like stepping on clouds since I moved in the air.
Wudang’s ultimate technique, Jewunjong (Ladder Cloud Leap).
(TL Note: 梯雲縱 (Jewunjong) is a famous Wudang lightness skill.)

Still observing the two opposing mental images, I realized myself.

‘…Everything. Depends on the state of mind.’

Years passed. Only then could I properly look back at my own heart.

Hurting, hating, that is also me. Yet, thinking proudly of those I hate, that is also me.

Acting like a child is me. Craving shiny things and people’s acknowledgment is also me.

Magic Girl. Martial Artist. There was never a need to define myself as just one.

What use was all that? Relying on such shells is not the way of a wandering warrior.

I was originally someone ignorant of letters.
Therefore, I don’t know the ways of Confucius and Mencius, nor the meaning of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom.
Besides, Daoist priests follow the teachings of Daoism, not Confucianism.

However…

I understand righteousness.

“Why? Now… You don’t even need the power that requires supporters, right? Why go so far to protect people?”

Someone’s voice was heard.
I didn’t know if it was Agathe’s voice, or just a demon’s voice.

Or perhaps. It might have just been my own voice.

However. I opened my mouth and answered that voice.
As always, confidently.

“Father. Told me to live kindly.”

Decades ago. When I looked just like now, he held me tight and said.

Just grow up kind and healthy.

That’s all.

I raised my sword. The reflection on the blade showed a smiling girl’s face.

A face looking relieved, and infinitely free.

“In the name of justice…”

Light shone down from the sky. Starlight gathered at the sword tip.

The mental image causing dark clouds in my heart, and the mental image shining brightly like sunlight, formed a clear Taiji.
The blurred boundary of the heart became distinct, and conversely, the boundary of the physical body blurred.

My form appeared both like a girl wielding a magic wand, and also like an aged Daoist priest.

As Yin and Yang arose simultaneously, contradictory martial arts unfolded naturally.
Though once considered divine arts, this mind study held little excitement now.

“I will not forgive you. Demon.”

And.

The Sword Saint descended.