Published at 13th of February 2026 4:02 pm

Chapter 396

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

What did I just hear?

'... Did I mishear?'

The words I heard from Yu Chun-gil standing in front of me. I broke out in a cold sweat as I recalled them.

'... It must have been a mistake, right?'

My ears must be malfunctioning. Otherwise, the situation made no sense at all.

'If not...'

Yu Chun-gil in the Mind Realm—

'He recognized me.'

It meant he really reacted as if he'd seen me before.

My hands started trembling. I narrowed my eyes and tried to calm my wildly beating heart.

Though I struggled to compose myself—

"Shouldn't you greet a person if they speak to you first?"

Yu Chun-gil spoke to me with a sardonic smile.

I heard his words and asked him,

"... Do you remember me?"

"Oh. So you're not mute. Right, talking to myself would've been lonely. Ah, what was the question? You asked if I remember you?"

Srrrk.

Yu Chun-gil slowly got to his feet.

"Not sure. I feel like I've seen you before... but can't say for certain. Still, I think we've met. Haven't we?"

"...."

"You've activated the Moon Eye. Are you from the Blue Moon Sect?"

"Something like that."

"Then why are you wearing these guys' clothes, I wonder?"

There was no doubt—

'He's different from before.'

His reaction was worlds apart from before.

Back then, he'd rushed in and swung his sword straight away. This time, he was calmly composed.

'This isn't good.'

That, in fact, made things worse.

'... My calculations are off.'

The plans I'd carefully constructed no longer added up. I'd even tried to anticipate Yu Chun-gil's responses as part of my preparations.

'A variable.'

A massive variable had appeared. This was something I'd never factored into my plan.

"Hm."

Yu Chun-gil glanced around. Every time his blue eyes swept past me, goosebumps prickled along my skin.

"Fascinating."

He smiled.

His smile made my knees tremble.

"Where is this place?"

'Damn it.'

He was starting to realize it. The subject in the Mind Realm was becoming aware of what he was?

'What kind of ridiculous situation is this?'

I'd never experienced anything like this. What should I do?

'What should I do in a case like this?'

I gripped my sword. Should I just fight this absurd being?

'Tch.'

I gulped. How was I supposed to respond in a Mind Realm like this?

'... Why am I hesitating?'

Either way, there was only one answer.

Srrrng.

I drew the Divine Sword. Just as I was about to charge at Yu Chun-gil—

Cr-c-c-craaaack--!!!

"Huh?"

The space began to distort. Cracks spread everywhere.

Kwa-duduk-!!

And then, the space collapsed entirely.

* * *

"...."

I opened my eyes on the spot. Rising up, I pressed a hand to my forehead.

"... What the hell?"

Just what was this situation?

The Mind Realm broke on its own.

Yu Chun-gil, looking younger, seemed to recognize me as if he remembered things from before.

"What did he do?"

Did Yu Chun-gil do something? If not, it made no sense to me.

'A thought within the Mind Realm that awakened itself.'

Was it even possible for someone trapped in a never-ending loop to simply start remembering things on their own?

"This is nuts."

As if things weren't hard enough already—now they just got even tougher. Tsk.

What should I do now? My head spun from confusion.

"You're awake."

"... Mm?"

A voice came. A familiar and chilly voice.

"... What?"

I looked up. Someone stood before me.

A middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a cold aura.

It was the Virtuous Moon Sword.

"...?"

For a moment, seeing the Virtuous Moon Sword standing right in my room, I nodded.

"I must still be dreaming."

I must not have fully awakened from the Mind Realm.

Yeah—sometimes, when you wake up poorly from the Mind Realm, you get stuck in nightmares like this.

"Just my luck. To have such a scary nightmare..."

"...."

Sighing, I lay right back down. Alright, time to really wake up.

"...."

"...."

A bit of time passed.

After a short while, I cautiously sat up.

Ah, no matter how I looked at it—

"... This isn't a dream, is it? Right?"

It seemed reality itself had turned into a nightmare.

* * *

I sat facing the Virtuous Moon Sword, two cups of tea set out on the table.

An awkward silence hung between us. It was an agonizing stretch of time.

After a brief pause—

"... Uh, so what brings you here...?"

Why had the Virtuous Moon Sword come to see me at the crack of dawn?

I asked out of curiosity.

"I came to check your condition."

The Virtuous Moon Sword replied, surprisingly.

"My condition...?"

"After remolding your body, there's always a risk of sudden changes in your flesh. I was worried something might go wrong."

He scrutinized me closely.

"But it seems there is no need for concern. You're balanced."

Problems from remolding the body...? I'd never heard of that. Not that I'd know, seeing as the evil spirit who should've explained was long gone.

"... Ah, I see..."

'Balanced,' or so he said. I was relieved there didn't seem to be any issues.

"If there's no problem, then that's that."

"Was that really the only reason you came?"

"Hardly."

The Virtuous Moon Sword said with a smile. Wow, this guy actually knew how to smile.

'Creepy.'

His good-looking smile sent a chill through the air.

"Then...?"

If he didn't come just to check my health, then why had he bothered? I inquired further.

"It's tomorrow."

The Virtuous Moon Sword answered calmly.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes. The Blue Moon Festival begins tomorrow. You must have heard already, so no need for explanation."

"...."

He was certain I'd found out on my own. Unreal.

'Though I really did find out by myself.'

I couldn't help but wonder what he thought of me.

I felt slightly awkward.

"... Yes. I looked into it a bit myself."

"That's tomorrow."

"Was the schedule always set for tomorrow?"

"Yes."

The Virtuous Moon Sword nodded without change in expression.

"Tomorrow."

Although I already knew, he repeated it several times. Was he drilling it into my head?

"Yes, understood. So... the Sect Leader wishes for me to participate?"

"Do you think it unnecessary?"

"No. I was just questioning whether it was needed, not unnecessary."

They called it the Blue Moon Festival, but in the end it seemed to be a contest for Young sect leader.

'It didn't seem Yu Chun-gil was particularly keen on it either.'

The existence of a Blue Moon Sect sub-leader was not something that had ever existed in the sect's past.

To become the Sect Leader, you weren't supposed to go through some sub-leader; you simply needed to claim the title through a life-or-death duel with the current leader.

What was the point of becoming sub-leader here?

'Well, they say you can open something important.'

Was that really such a big deal?

After all—

'I already have Yu Chun-gil.'

Obtaining martial arts from the Blue Moon Sect library meant little to me anymore.

I already had a far greater being teaching me much more.

"You're quite confident."

"Confident...? Hmm."

"Can you defeat the Silver Moon Sword?"

"Pardon?"

Why was the Silver Moon Sword suddenly mentioned?

I stared at the Virtuous Moon Sword, baffled.

"That child is my masterpiece."

"...."

A firm declaration from the Virtuous Moon Sword's lips.

A masterpiece. That was quite the compliment.

"Your masterpiece, huh..."

If he'd go that far to say it—

'It's true.'

The Silver Moon Sword was strong. Among the martial artists I'd met at that age, he stood among the best.

'All the more so compared to the other Seven Geniuses.'

Even among the monsters called the greatest of the rising stars, he was several steps above.

Frankly, it was almost strange that someone so skilled had kept a low profile in the Central Plains.

"Someday, I thought for sure he'd kill me and become Sect Leader."

To raise a masterpiece who might kill him. The Virtuous Moon Sword's words carried the faint scent of blood.

He meant he was nurturing someone who'd one day kill him.

"That's why I'm curious."

Sharp eyes locked onto me.

"Between you, the inheritor of the Sword Saint's will, and my masterpiece—who is truly superior, I wonder?"

"...."

Such clear and pure curiosity in his eyes. I almost felt intimidated by that pure gaze.

"... That's a strange thing to wonder about."

"It's simple curiosity. Truly..."

His blue eyes shone intensely.

"Which of you will strike my neck, I wonder?"

"...."

I flinched at those words. I couldn't help it.

'What kind of expression is...'

It was a look I'd never seen on the Virtuous Moon Sword before.

Madness, perhaps? No—the word 'madness' wouldn't even begin to describe it.

Trying to act nonchalant, I asked,

"... If I try to strike you down, will you just let it happen?"

A duel to the death for the Sect Leader's seat.

At my words, the air around the Virtuous Moon Sword grew dense.

"Of course not."

He made it absolutely clear.

"Do you know the most regrettable moment in my life?"

"I do not."

How would I know, since I didn't know his life?

Perhaps sensing my thoughts, he immediately told me.

"My greatest regret is that I never had a life-or-death duel with the Sword Saint."

"...."

Ah.

'Of course.'

I recalled as I heard his words.

It was said the Sword Saint died of natural causes, and so the Virtuous Moon Sword never fought him.

He only became Sect Leader because, aside from the Sword Saint, he was the strongest martial artist in the Blue Moon Sect.

'And that's his greatest regret?'

That he never fought the Sword Saint.

That he never had a life-or-death duel to become Sect Leader.

That was his greatest regret?

'These people are nuts.'

I laughed inside at his words. I realized anew:

'This really is a den of lunatics.'

Just the idea of picking a Sect Leader by duel to the death was crazy in itself—

Yet the fact that the current Sect Leader regretted not fighting the Sword Saint haunted his life.

"Amazing, all of you."

I muttered without thinking. The Virtuous Moon Sword's face went expressionless.

'Oops.'

Did I go too far? I stopped and looked at him.

"That's why I want you to show me."

The Virtuous Moon Sword said, staring at me.

"How far the Sword Saint's will reaches within you. Just how strong it truly is."

Swish.

He slowly raised his hand to his own neck.

"Whether it can reach my throat."

"...."

His hand reached his neck.

'... That's right.'

Yu Chun-gil had told me before.

I was supposed to become the World's Greatest.

But before that, I had to become the Blue Moon Sect Leader.

Now I could feel the true weight of those words.

'To become Sect Leader myself—'

I would have to kill the person in front of me.

I could feel it now. The funny thing was, the Virtuous Moon Sword wanted that, too.

Probably—

'So did Yu Chun-gil.'

Maybe that's why he was so angry about all this sub-leader nonsense.

"... Hmmm."

In the past, I'd have wondered why I had to do something so crazy and scary.

'This is driving me insane.'

One thing's clear:

'I'm just as crazy as them.'

I didn't hate this situation.

Even I—

I was slowly becoming more and more like that monstrous old man.

"... So whose masterpiece is superior, you ask?"

I spoke and raised the corners of my mouth.

"Obviously, I am."

Of course.

"After all, I have the greatest man in history behind me."

No matter how strong the Virtuous Moon Sword was—

Behind me stood the master of the world.

Even if his personality was the worst and he was foul as could be.

At that answer, the Virtuous Moon Sword smiled just as he had before.

Maybe it was my imagination, but—

—... But I never called you my masterpiece, did I?

I could almost hear Yu Chun-gil grumbling something just like that.

Annoyingly, too.

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