CHAPTER 482: THE END POINT (1)

Beneath the towering peaks of the Xinjiang highlands, several villages exist.

These are areas with vast grasslands, and as you descend here, you can frequently see livestock grazing in the fields.

Most of the people here practice livestock farming by letting their animals roam freely.

Also, since this place is considered a foreign region when viewed from the Central Plains, the villagers had a slightly different appearance than those from the Central Plains.

Nevertheless, due to frequent exchanges with the Central Plains, even outsiders weren’t particularly on guard.

“Did that smart horse really say that?”

“Not just that, it was running well and then suddenly collapsed. It was really a near-death experience!”

“The horse must have been really struggling. Didn’t I always tell you to make it lose some weight?”

“Hahaha!”

Inside the inn, people were chattering about various topics.

Amidst the noisy atmosphere, there were two men having a particularly quiet conversation.

“This is a drink called Kumis (Mare milk drink).”

Seol-Hwi and Earth Demon entered a makeshift building like a simple inn.

As soon as they ordered drinks, Earth Demon pointed to the kumis that came in a gourd.

“It’s my first time seeing it.”

“It would be so. It’s a drink made only here after all. They say it’s fermented mare’s milk or goat’s milk?”

“You really don’t miss a thing, do you?”

“I used to live around here and sometimes came to drink. Here, have a glass.”

With a pouring gesture, Seol-Hwi held out his glass to Earth Demon.

The glass was larger than the usual ones from the Central Plains. So quite a bit of the drink filled the glass.

“Ahh……”

It wasn’t a strong drink, and it wasn’t bitter but sweet.

Even so, it felt like drinking alcohol.

Though he usually didn’t enjoy drinking, today was a special day.

With a brief moment of leisure, Seol-Hwi glanced around and spoke in a bitter tone.

“Here, all these people will eventually be replaced by those who resemble them.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

“You… don’t seem to find this situation uncomfortable.”

“Did it seem that way?”

Earth Demon, who had been responding dryly, touched his glass and then looked up.

“But Seol-Hwi, while it’s unfortunate for those who will suffer, isn’t that just the nature of life? Like how someone else takes your place when you’re gone. The only difference is that they’re similar to me in character. That’s all.”

For most people, this might not be a common perspective, but considering his life, it was somewhat understandable.

It was Earth Demon’s way of thinking.

He had always lived with death by his side.

So Seol-Hwi answered based on the standards of his thoughts.

“Then at the very least, shouldn’t they know why they’re dying? What if they find out the process leading to their death was planned by someone unknown by them? How do you think they’d feel?”

“Most people, when their lives are threatened, don’t care about the truth being the situation. They only seek means and methods to survive.”

“Even so…”

“In some ways, it might be better to die than to live under the Creator. If you somehow survive and face this dreadful truth, it might lead to a more terrible life.”

Seol-Hwi agreed on that point.

At first, he focused solely on survival. Then he came to kill the system that gave him trials and the one behind it.

So I came this far, and from my current standpoint, everything felt confusing.

After killing him, wanting to reset everything for the first time was because of that.

Something more valuable than revenge… No, I started changing it in a way that benefited me.

The direction of life began to get increasingly complicated around that time.

“Seol-Hwi.”

Seol-Hwi, momentarily lost in thought, was called by Earth Demon.

“Speak.”

“Do you really think Jang Dal is afraid of me?”

“Of course. Haven’t you witnessed him trying to kill you in dirty ways several times?”

“Yes, I have seen it. But as I walked here, I thought a bit. Could Jang Dal’s reason for trying to kill me be so simple? As I pondered, I realized there might not be just one answer.”

“If not, then what is it?”

“Hmm.”

Gulp.

Earth Demon quickly emptied the liquor glass he had been holding and continued speaking.

“You said Jang Dal, the Creator, can create unlimited characters. Yet he targeted me, not you. Why?”

“That’s because your power holds an untouchable danger. Plus, you have a proper sense of self…”

“Have you forgotten? The Creator is the one who made me with a sense of self.”

“……!”

Seol-Hwi’s brow furrowed.

The one who can create Earth Demon infinitely is afraid of creating more of him?

Of course, if Earth Demon surpassed himself, it might make sense.

But even if it seemed like a reasonable reason, it was not enough to be certain.

“Of course, I’m not saying you’re wrong. It’s just that I think his intentions aren’t solely about that.”

“Then what?”

“In my opinion… it seems like he just wanted to see you in person.”

“…What?”

“He wants to talk to you directly. To get you to come in person, he probably thought the best way was to kill me.”

“So, is that why the Creator has been doing all these pointless things until now?”

“It might not be pointless. Since you have to get inside the system. Think about it. Didn’t they say there’s a huge difference between places where his power applies and where it doesn’t? The reason he kept me from approaching there was because of that. At the old base of the Demonic Cult, there’s probably something that affects even someone like you who has become a Demon God.”

It was a reasonable point.

The fact that he hadn’t shown himself directly before.

If dealing with Earth Demon, or killing the superhumans he had prepared, wasn’t out of fear but to draw him in?

Ultimately, the decision Seol-Hwi made now might all be part of his plan.

“Recall the words of his avatars when they first appeared.”

Memories resurfaced with Earth Demon’s words.

The voice of Jang Dal, who had copied the equipment, came to mind.

“And setting up Earth Demon was probably a warning that you could die if you truly started fighting. Since he’s maxed out all the stats in this world, he must have thought he could fight me. Well… anyway, fine.”

“My role… is to thoroughly ruin your plans. Experience it. Who the master of this world is. And what abilities they possess.”

It was something said by a clone in the form of Jang Dal.

This wasn’t all.

There were also words spoken by the fake Earth Demon before dying.

“If you think that way, you’re mistaken. You’ll feel even greater pain. According to the information in my head, this trial is merely the second breaker. Do you know what the third breaker is? Hehehe.”

Everything was directed at him.

To be precise, to the people he had connections with.

“When I die, numerous figures will emerge in the Central Plains. Those guys will massacre everyone there. Can you really protect everyone in the Central Plains by yourself?”

‘Is that what it was?’

The superhumans he created.

They were beings made to fight and torment the enemy.

But now, they were being used to torment Seol-Hwi instead.

Jang Dal had turned the situation around.

‘What a coward from start to finish.’

Thinking of Jang Dal, Seol-Hwi felt something boiling inside his chest.

Most were learned emotions, but now he felt something akin to a fundamental emotion.

“Regrettably, the only way to quell this chaos is for you to step forward yourself.”

Seol-Hwi nodded.

He had already made up his mind.

Soon, when he meets Jang Dal in person, he will be able to understand his intentions, the truth, in detail.

Drip.

Earth Demon poured alcohol into the empty glasses and asked.

“Just hypothetically, what happens if you defeat Jang Dal?”

“What do you mean, what happens?”

“I’m asking if you can return to the past. Wasn’t that your grand plan from the beginning?”

Seol-Hwi couldn’t answer that.

Of course, the possibility of that was slim.

When a fight occurs, someone is bound to die and disappear.

Unless Jang Dal has a specific purpose for turning back time, it seemed unlikely.

“To be honest, I don’t know anymore.”

“…?”

“As things keep getting tangled… that kind of thing has stopped being important. I even wonder if going back to the past would have any meaning.”

“Then has killing him become your goal?”

“Why, is that strange?”

Earth Demon nodded while gazing at Seol-Hwi.

“My friend’s life. If his direction is only revenge, I would be very sad.”

“Wouldn’t it depend on the target of revenge?”

“Quite the opposite, actually. The direction of life is more important than the target of revenge. If I could use the Heavenly Killing Star indefinitely, would it be worth it?”

Seol-Hwi couldn’t answer.

Heavenly Killing Star was a flame that burns once in a lifetime by sacrificing one’s life.

Losing a sacred value, it could be considered great in a way.

What if Heavenly Killing Star strength could ignite multiple times?

Would life feel as valuable as it does now?

‘What is the direction of my life?’

Seol-Hwi pondered.

The direction of life.

It seemed like there was something important in the past. But after living many lives, its meaning had faded.

He wasn’t even sure which direction he was heading.

“Your desire to go back to the past is similar. Changing one’s life. It’s truly wonderful and exciting. But, in that case, what becomes of my past life? Does it mean I lived wrongly?”

“…”

“We always find meaning in our choices, no matter what they are. We make countless wrong choices too. But when I look at you… every step you’ve taken seems remarkable to me. Perhaps it’s those choices that led you to where you are now.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s because of those past wrong choices that I’m alive today.”

“Earth Demon…”

With a seriousness rarely seen, Earth Demon continued speaking.

“Seolh Hwi. Revenge alone isn’t enough. You must find something of greater value in your life. Even if you can’t return to the past… finding something more valuable is your true victory.”

‘Something valuable…’

Seol-Hwi pondered deeply over Earth Demon’s words.

What emotions was he feeling now?

The desire for revenge against Jang Dal had become merely a formality by now.

In truth, such emotions had faded long ago due to countless repeated lives.

What truly kept his mind anchored and moving forward was…

“Yes, that’s why I could feel the passage of time. Without going insane.”

It was because of the words he had spoken during a conversation with Emei Sect’s temple.

The passage of time.

That’s what allowed him to continue without losing his mind.

And the insights he naturally gained through conversation.

“We are always at a crossroads of choices, but isn’t there nothing more foolish than wanting to turn back time and regretting?”

This was also something he had said.

‘What am I living for now?’

Lost in monotonous revenge, he wasn’t seeing where he was headed.

The worsening situation might have been due to his own selfish desires.

The Creator gave him the opportunity to use his own cards.

“That’s right. Time must pass. We have to keep living.”

At Seol-Hwi’s words, Earth Demon’s expression finally relaxed.

The stifling frustration he felt from him suddenly vanished.

He even felt a sense of relief.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Already?”

Though he said that, Earth Demon thought he could let Seol-Hwi go comfortably this time.

He was certain that whatever choice Seol-Hwi made now, he wouldn’t regret it.

Earth Demon spoke.

“We’ll see each other again, right?”

“Of course. As long as you don’t insist on having another drink now.”

“Hahaha.”

With a hearty laugh unlike his usual self, Earth Demon clasped his hands and said again,

“I’ll pay today, so next time, it’s on you.”

“Sounds good.”

The one embarking on a long journey.

He didn’t want to think of this as their last meeting.

For a brief moment, they gazed at each other.

And that was the end.

As Seol-Hwi disappeared in a flash, Earth Demon quietly turned his gaze.

And for a long time, he silently watched the empty space he left behind.

Hoping for great fortune to accompany him.