"Oblivion..."I had to sit in a daze for a while after hearing that word.'Punishment?'My mother had failed to carry out her duty and received oblivion as punishment?"Is that really true?""At least as far as I know.""..."Noya's words were hard to believe outright, yet I had no reason to distrust them either.I was aware of the capricious nature of the world. If indeed my mother had been punished, the reason was clear.'...For failing to fulfill her role as a disaster.'That must have been the cause.Now I understood.'Why my mother looked at me that way.'Why did she look at me with such emotionless eyes? It felt like I finally had an answer.The problem was.'Then, the mother I met?'What about the mother I encountered at the Divine Dragon Hall and the one who appeared when I faced the Blood Demon? She was definitely my mother. The entity referred to as the master of the Banished Realm was also my mother.The Blood Demon's reaction confirmed it, and I was sure of it.'What's going on?'I couldn't understand.And then, the words my mother said before I lost consciousness came back to me.'She told me not to look for her.'Was that statement made in anticipation of this situation?'So, did my mother know I would come to this world?'No matter how I looked at it, that seemed to be the case.How?'Was there some mechanism in place? Or did my mother intentionally send me here? No, that doesn't seem intentional.'I decided it wasn't the latter. Her reaction was too peculiar for that. Moreover, if she had been aware of her own condition, I believed she wouldn't have sent me here like this.Then.'...It must be the former.'What change had occurred to cause this? I racked my brain for any recent changes.'My life has been a mess, so there are many possibilities. But I tried to focus on the most recent events.''The first possibility is definitely'The space of those beings. The tree I touched in the underground. As soon as my hand touched it, it crumbled and was absorbed into my body without my control. Could that have been the problem?'Or...'The pearl of wisdom that the master of Celestial Stream Sect mentioned. Was consuming that pearl the issue?'That's possible.'I didn't even intend to eat it. It just flew into my mouth, and I swallowed it.How bizarre is that?'...But if it's not that.'A flash of white flame crossed my mind.White Flame. Could it be the issue of releasing White Flame due to the pearl? If not that...'The Great Success of the Nine Flames Wheel Technique.'The Nine Flames Wheel Technique, which remained in the realm of completion. This was the biggest change if it was a change.'I had never reached it in my previous life.'Despite devouring many demons and accumulating a vast amount of internal energy, I had stayed at the completion stage.Now that I had finally reached a realm I hadn't in my previous life, Could that really have been the issue? But...'That would be odd.'There's a significant obstacle to seeing it as just the cause.'If that was the cause, why didn't it manifest immediately?'There was a clear delay. It might have been a delayed reaction, but stretching it that far seemed forced.'It can't conclusively be identified as the cause, but...'It would be more accurate to say that.'A condition was met.'Conditions were met, and as a result, something happened. So, what could that something be?'The Blood Demon?'Meeting the Blood Demon. Could that be it? Of course, this is still speculation, but it seemed the most likely.'...'Was the Blood Demon really the issue? And if...'My speculation is correct, it means everything was prepared with this in mind.'Whether it was the White Flame or the Great Success of the Nine Flames Wheel Technique. If that was the case, then someone anticipated that I would end up like this.How could that be?'If I hadn't reached here, it wouldn't have happened.'Did my mother, or some other entity, have certainty that I would reach here? Or.'Did they believe?'Did they believe I would get here?'That can't be right.'I shook my head. There's no way that was the case. In fact, in my previous life..."Ah."I stopped midsentence and widened my eyes."Could it be?"It was unlikely, but could they have anticipated my regression too?'That's insane.'Of the things I considered, that was the most unbelievable.'To prepare for my regression? That's not even funny.'If that were the case, it would be a profoundly terrifying thought.'...It feels like my life has been designed by someone.'That shouldn't be the case, nor should it ever be. Grinding my teeth, I erased those thoughts and spoke to Noya."Noya.""Yes.""Even if everything you've said is correct, I still have doubts. Especially contradictions in your words.""Contradictions?"Noya's brow furrowed slightly. That was when I asked what I wanted to know. Yes, there was one very troubling contradiction in Noya's words."If the Blood Demon's world encountered a problem and he invaded the central plains as a disaster... I see a similar stance in mother's situation. Here's my doubt."His own world vanished, and the disaster invaded the central plains? It makes sense as a story, but then, what about mother?"The Banished Realm still exists. Mother had no reason to come to the central plains as a disaster."It was both a question and a contradiction. It had bothered me from the beginning. Asking about it, Noya nodded."That's also a valid point. It's a reasonable doubt.""Then...""However, the Banished Realm is different.""What?"The Banished Realm is different?"The reason the world sent your mother to the central plains is also because of that. She is considered the ruler of the Banished Realm.""Could you explain more?""A master, as they say, is not as exceptional as you might expect."The conversation suddenly shifted to the master, but I didn't interrupt. There must be a reason he brought it up."Life in the world is connected to the master, but a master is not necessarily a powerful entity. They are simply born that way.""Simply born that way?""Yes, that's what a master is."It was an incomprehensible statement. And I couldn't understand why he was bringing up this topic right now.Then."Young one, as I said, usually there is only one master over the life forms of a world.""And that means?""As I've said several times, the Banished Realm is a place where all sorts of life forms converge. So."Noya rubbed his neck, seemingly tired."Do you think there would be only one master in the Banished Realm?""!"I managed to suppress a gasp. That meant."...Are you saying there are multiple masters in the Banished Realm?""Yes. Exactly... It's a situation where there should be several."That seemed to be the meaning of his earlier words."However, the Banished Realm and the world do not wish for that, so when they are accepted into the Banished Realm, conditions are applied under the guise of consideration."Shin Noya spread two fingers."One is to swear loyalty to the master of the Banished Realm."And the second."To become a member of the Yueya (Moonlit Night).""...Moonlit Night?""It refers to those originally existing in this world. That way.""Does it prevent other masters from appearing?""That's what they say. But..."Noya moved to pet Kurung. The creature lay on the floor, unresponsive."There is one other master she uniquely acknowledged. That allowed her to accept the duty and descend into the central plains.""What... another master?""You're looking at it right now.""What?"I turned my head and saw something that made me pause. Indeed, there it was.When I encountered my mother or the Blood Demon, they had a distinct presence."…Kurung?""Yes, Kurung."[....]The creature slightly reacted when called by its name. Its gaze seemed displeased, but within it, there seemed to be a sense of resignation."Is this one also a master?"To think that… it certainly seemed possible given how it had confronted my mother."As I said before, being a master doesn't simply mean being strong. It's generally true that they appear strong.""If Kurung is a master, how can it even exist?""Because it's necessary."Noya stopped petting Kurung."Darkness is needed everywhere. Not night, but darkness.""What does that mean?"At my question, Noya sighed softly, his face showing fatigue. Why did his expression suddenly worsen? As I wondered, Noya's words reached me."If she manages the surface, then this one signifies the opposite.""Opposite?""The Banished Realm might potentially become masters or those who refused to become Moonlit Night. An entity was needed to manage them. Not just that…"[Grrr.]"Something was also needed to contain and burn the extinguished ones.""…What?"My eyes widened at his follow-up."A very deep pit. Something that you couldn't find even if you looked inside, something that should be inescapable once entered."Could Kurung be…"The world calls it an Abyss. And this one is…"The entity that contains and erases those without a master."In other words, it's the master of that Abyss."That meant it was the source of demons.

   *****************   As the day slowly ended, I couldn't feel the sunset, but I could tell by looking that night was approaching. I sat expressionlessly as the night drew closer."..."My face showed no thoughts, but in reality, my mind felt almost broken from too many thoughts."What a shitty life."I muttered quietly in frustration.Could life be this shitty? I repeatedly rubbed my face with my dry hands.It felt like digging deeper only made worse things jump out."Damn it. Can't they give me something I can handle?"I would have tried to endure if the difficulty wasn't so unfairly high."Phew…"Why is there nothing easy?Whether it was my past life or this one… Ah, I wonder if now is even harder? It seemed so. Just when I thought I could handle it, something else was always added, and it just got worse."Damn it. If you're going to help me, just finish it off and go."Then Noya, who had been explaining, suddenly looked tired and disappeared after saying he needed to go somewhere. Once Noya was gone, Kkurung glanced at me and then slipped back into its usual nook. It felt odd just staying there, so I eventually had to return to my quarters.They told me to rest, but how could I with things like this? It didn't make any sense."Phew…"I definitely couldn't sleep. Nor did I particularly want to move. That indicated how mentally exhausted I was.So."…Can't you just leave me alone? I'm not feeling great right now."I spoke while looking somewhere. This wasn't a remark aimed at myself.As soon as I returned to my quarters, I directed it at someone watching me from a distance.Upon hearing me, the onlooker slowly revealed themselves.A creature with black hair and beastly ears.It was Gubong whom I had met earlier. Seeing him brought a sigh from me."What do you want from me… Ah, never mind."I was too tired to ask. I stood up as I thought there was no need to ask. Just seeing his face made it clear.Looking at Gubong, I said,"I didn't like the look in your eyes since this afternoon. Those who look at me like that usually want something."I had encountered enough situations in my life to be irritated by the predictability. I glared at Gubong as he spoke to me."Master previously said it's okay, but I do not agree."I just stared at him as if asking him to continue."No matter how long Master has been waiting for you, your attitude is unacceptable here, at least in Mount Hua."I laughed without realizing it."Bullshit, this isn't even a mountain, let alone Mount Hua. What are you on about? Have you even been to a real volcano to be judging about Mount Hua? You wouldn't even know what Mount Hua is.""Do not insult Mount Hua.""Why would I insult it? I like it there too. If anything, it's you who's being ridiculous… No, not even that."I waved my hands dismissively, tired of the wordplay."So, you're saying you want to fight?"Gubong looked surprised by my direct question. Had he not expected me to outright ask?However, his surprise was short-lived. Gubong's eyes hardened as he addressed me."I, as Mount Hua's top disciple, will teach you manners—""Shut up. That's why we're fighting."Crack.I clenched my fist, and the sound of cracking bones filled the air."I should mention I'm quite pissed right now and might not control my strength well. Is that okay?""..."Gubong's brow furrowed deeply at my words."Such provocation will not work—"His words were cut off.Crash-!"Urgh!""Then let's get started."My fist had already dug into his abdomen. I tilted my head, feeling the exact impact.It didn't go as deep as I expected. He was tougher than I thought.Maybe that was why?'Perfect for blowing off some steam.'I unwittingly thought that as I prepared myself.

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