Chapter 80 - The Scent of Snow (3)

5

Master could not undergo surgery right away.

“I'm sorry. I n-need to rest just a liiittle...”

The Murim Alliance Leader's procedure had only just ended. Both the Apothecary and the Medicine King were exhausted from operating. The Apothecary collapsed and fell fast asleep, while the Medicine King climbed into the hot spring and sat silently with his mouth hanging wide open.

“...”

Master frowned down at the Murim Alliance Leader.

“Old man. I heard you lost your dantian, so I have graciously come to see you.”

“What a marvelous first visitor to my sickbed. Go on, feast those eyeballs of yours.”

“How do you feel?”

The Murim Alliance Leader chuckled as he lay on a straw mat.

“Light as a feather. I feel as though I could ascend to immortality.”

“Your bullshit has reached new depths. You haven't even achieved bodily transformation, and you talk of ascending to immortality...”

The Murim Alliance Leader smirked.

“Your own ugly mug looks lighter, too. Demon, have you decided to undergo the procedure?”

“... Yes.”

Master sighed.

“I just poured out a year's worth of power and swung my sword to my heart's content. It was the last time in my life I would play with internal energy.”

“Oh!”

The Murim Alliance Leader's eyes lit up.

“That must have been a magnificent sight. What a shame I was stuck in bed and missed it. Well? What did you cleave?”

“I tried to cut down winter, but failed. The Life-and-Death realm remained far, far away.”

“Oh, what a pity. Well, cheer up. It's a realm no one has ever reached, isn't it? If it were as easy as saying it, the martial world's history would have been overturned six times already.”

The Murim Alliance Leader laughed heartily.

Looking down at the laughing old man, Master parted her lips.

“Namgung Un, you...”

“I have no regrets at all.”

The Murim Alliance Leader's answer was firm.

“With the world ruined like this, surviving three years was a stroke of fortune. Being treated by physicians from beyond the borders was another. And taking a disciple in my old age, preserving the legacy of orthodox Murim when I thought it was certain to end—that, too, was a stroke of fortune! When such fortunes pile up, isn't that a miracle? I am simply grateful for the miracle.”

“...”

“Hmm. If I have one regret, it's that I never settled the Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic Forces with you, demon. Well, no life is perfect. Our disciples will finish things properly on their own.”

“Yes, they will.”

Master gave a small, forlorn smile. Yet when she turned to me, her eyes held an unshakable faith.

“If this is the ending my life has reached, I will accept it.”

Her expression did not suggest she accepted it gladly. Willingly was closer to the truth.

However sweet a candy may be, you must let it dissolve bit by bit before swallowing it.

Perhaps Master was chewing over the ending that had come to her life, one small piece at a time.

“Mm.”

I nodded.

“Master, I'm going to step out for a little while.”

“Hmm? Where in this world is there left to go?”

“Just think of it as your disciple going out for some fresh air. Don't worry.”

“... Telling me not to worry only makes me more concerned.”

Master's eyebrows lowered gently.

“You aren't about to involve yourself in something terribly dangerous, are you?”

“I'll be back before your procedure is over. I promise.”

I cupped one hand over my fist in salute.

The gesture still felt awkward, but I was confident it held all the sincerity it needed.

“Rest easy through your procedure, Master. When you open your eyes again, your unworthy disciple will be waiting.”

Master had accepted her ending.

Now it was my turn to give her life back to her.

6

I left the cave and crossed the snowfield.

As I walked over the snow, I pictured this world before its destruction. Murim—the martial forest. Had lush woods grown there? The rivers and lakes of the martial world. Had water flowed through them?

“My lord.”

On the other side of the snowfield.

“I have carried out your command.”

There, in the midst of the snow, where woods must once have flourished and rivers flowed, Hungry Ghost knelt on one knee.

“Did you find them all?”

“Yes.”

Hungry Ghost answered with her head bowed. White snowflakes flecked her hair. Those few flakes bore witness to how long she had remained prostrate.

“As my lord commanded.”

I had given Hungry Ghost an order some time ago.

「There should be living corpses that use martial arts scattered haphazardly around this area.」

「Find them.」

「Find the members of the Demonic Cult in black robes. Find the chivalrous warriors in white robes.」

Over the three years of the Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic Forces, many living corpses had gone “missing.”

The corpses of Murim had been driven away by snowy winds, swept off by blizzards.

“Of the living corpses you called demonic followers, 439. Of those you called orthodox followers, 478. A total of 917 missing persons.”

And that was not all.

“Another 560 demonic living corpses had not gone missing and were assembled nearby. Another 521 orthodox living corpses were likewise gathered nearby. A grand total of 1,998. Every last one.”

Hungry Ghost bowed her head a little lower.

Beyond her slender shoulders...

“I have brought them here to await you.”

Living corpses stood in ranks across the snowfield.

My skeleton legion held each living corpse from both sides. It was morning. The living corpses, weak to sunlight, would not move, but even if clouds happened to cover the sun, the formation would not collapse at once.

“Good. Well done.”

I nodded.

“Now bring the living corpses before me, one at a time.”

“Yes. As you command.”

Skeletons dragged over a corpse. By the time it reached me, I had already drawn my holy sword. Winter was cold. But my blade, sliding through the winter air, would be colder still.

... Baraya...

A wind blew from somewhere. Just as falling rain pools in a lake, the wind blew and swirled into the valley. As it gathered there, the wind of the world seemed to take on a human voice.

... Baraya...

Far away, the wind chanted a sutra.

As they fall downward, all sounds come to resemble human voices.

Listening to the sound of the wind tumbling down, I swung my sword.

... Agabaraya...

One stroke, cleaving in two.

The living corpse's head split apart.

“Whew.”

I cut down those who had become corpses, again and again.

Without rest.

Fragments flew as the living corpses' heads burst.

“Next!”

“Yes!”

Skeletons quickly brought the next corpse. Hungry Ghost coordinated the legion of bones. When I found my rhythm, she hurried the corpses forward; when she thought I was tiring, she slowed the pace a little.

“Faster! I'll finish them all before sunset today!”

“Yes, my lord!”

Our execution ceremony proceeded like the flowing wind.

A total of 1,998 corpses.

Even if they neither moved nor resisted, cutting them all down with a single sword was no easy task.

“Hhh, whew... whew...!”

I had been agonizing over it all this time.

'How can I reach a perfect ending?'

What ending would leave Master completely satisfied?

'What would make a person's life complete?'

I wanted that without the slightest trace of insincerity.

And so I had arrived at a conclusion.

'Simply becoming her disciple isn't enough.'

Master going mad and rampaging was a bad ending. An unmistakably bad ending. But did that make my [Initiation as a Disciple] a happy ending?

Would Master truly be happy and satisfied with this ending?

'No.'

A Normal Ending.

[Initiation as a Disciple] could never be called a complete ending. It only barely met the criteria for one.

If I declared it finished, the constellation Librarian would probably accept it, and Floor 22 would be cleared as it stood, but...

“Hup! Hhh...!”

I could never be satisfied with that.

“Keep going just a little longer, my lord! Only half remain now!”

[Sparkle cheers on the hero's valiant efforts with all her might!]

Before I knew it, sunset had come.

The sky was dyed red, the snowfield violet.

“Whew, hhh...! Whew...!”

I did not know how long it had taken. Seven hours? Eight? Somewhere around that, probably. In any case, I swung my sword without pause. My clothes were drenched in sweat and scraps of flesh.

“The last ten, my lord!”

Ten.

I looked ahead. Indeed, only five demonic followers and five orthodox followers remained. Even as I panted, I gripped the hilt tightly.

A little more.

“Five!”

Just a little more.

“The last one! Truly the very last!”

I smashed the head of a Demonic Cult member in black robes. The living corpse's frozen brain shattered like ice. The instant I cut down the 1,998th living corpse, my knees gave way, and I slumped into the snow.

“Hah, haa...! Hhh, whewww...”

“Well done, my lord! You have worked so very hard!”

Hungry Ghost was so delighted she looked ready to hop about, though she had toiled for over half a day just as I had.

Ever since I took her into my shadow, she had always been impassive. I thought this was the first time I had seen her express her joy so openly.

“Why? What makes you so happy?”

I asked after catching my breath. Realizing that her expression had softened for a moment, Hungry Ghost hurriedly returned to her impassive face.

“... Imagining the sight you will show them filled my heart of its own accord. I have never met the person who is your master. But I am certain she will be happy. Not merely happy... truly, deeply so.”

“Yeah.”

Sprawled in the snow, I smiled.

“I hope she'll be very happy.”

A cure had been developed.

I had been acknowledged as Master's disciple.

Finally, I had also obtained the attendant spirit's permission.

The road here had been anything but easy.

But at last... everything was ready to see this world's ending.

7

A week passed.

“Hmm. Having my dantian destroyed does leave me feeling terribly empty.”

For that week, Master recuperated alongside the Murim Alliance Leader. Fortunately, we had no need to find a separate convalescent home. This cave, with its open-air bath, was the finest retreat imaginable.

“Even when I meditate and regulate my breathing, I cannot accumulate so much as a grain of internal energy. Without it, I grow anxious for no reason. Ah, so this is how those left powerless, unable to practice martial arts, feel...”

“I'm actually more at ease now. Honestly, I was alive all this time, but I never felt alive! All day long, I had to keep my cervical point sealed and make my heart beat. Oh, what a misery.”

The Murim Alliance Leader sighed as he soaked in the hot spring.

“Now I can breathe without even thinking about it. I finally feel alive! It's all thanks to these children from beyond the borders.”

“Th-thank you for your patience...”

Fidgeting, the Apothecary finished examining Master.

“That's all for today's examination. Neither of you has any abnormalities. At this point, we can consider you completely cured. E-even if living corpses bite you again, you won't become infected...”

“Thank you.”

Master raised her hand and stroked the Apothecary's head. The Apothecary flinched, her shoulders briefly drawing inward.

“That old man and I owe you our lives. Helping complete strangers cannot have been easy.”

“N-no... I only did what anyone should...”

“It is remarkable to recognize what one ought to do as such. To then actually do it as a matter of course is even more remarkable. Child, you are extraordinary for one so young.”

“Eek. I mean, no, that's...”

The Apothecary stood helplessly as Master patted her head. Though she was terribly bashful, she did not seem to dislike it. They looked just like affectionate sisters, and watching them warmed my heart.

“Mm.”

But I couldn't just keep watching fondly forever.

“Boss, does that mean they're both allowed to move around now?”

“Oh. Y-yes! I only extended their recuperation period as a precaution. Moving around and exercising won't cause any problems.”

Okay.

“Master, Alliance Leader. Come take a short walk with me.”

“A walk?”

Master tilted her head.

“I would be delighted to get some fresh air with my disciple... but why bring the old man? Gongja, even a pleasant walking path becomes a path of filth with that old wretch along.”

“Well, well. If it means strolling with an old demon and a young demon, I'll be the one to decline. You dim-witted master and disciple can go by yourselves.”

Their reactions were exactly as expected.

“No.”

I quietly shook my head.

“I need both of you to come.”

“Hmm...?”

Master and the Murim Alliance Leader exchanged glances. They seemed to realize I was not suggesting an ordinary stroll. Both wore expressions that said they did not know what this was about, but it sounded interesting.

“Very well. My disciple must be plotting something. Walking with that old wretch is hardly my wish, but I will gladly let my foolish disciple trick me.”

“Well, whatever a young demon has cooked up is bound to be trivial. I'm not expecting a thing.”

We left the cave.

It was cold. Just as on the first day I fell into [Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon], today was winter, too.

The difference was that neither Master nor the Murim Alliance Leader could use internal energy now. Nor would they ever again.

I held Master's hand with my right and the Murim Alliance Leader's with my left. That way, I could use aura to pass warmth to them.

“Master.”

“Yes.”

“Alliance Leader.”

“Yes?”

“You both said it. Your only regret was that you couldn't bring the Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic Forces to a conclusion. That, regrettable as it was, we disciples would have to carry on and resolve it...”

Relying on my warmth, the two crossed the cold winter path.

“But I think differently.”

Was it unfamiliar because this was their first outing in a week? Or were they still unaccustomed to bodies that had to walk without internal energy? Master's steps and the Murim Alliance Leader's were a little awkward.

“The Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic Forces is your ritual. Even if the Heavenly Martial Sect's leader and I fight, it would only be an ordinary sparring match, never the great war. Only a match between the two of you can be the Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic Forces. Because you are the ones who have preserved the Demonic Cult and the orthodox factions all this time.”

“My disciple...?”

“Thank you.”

We arrived at the snowfield.

“Thank you for not giving up for three years.”

The place where corpses had once spread like a forest. A forest of human silhouettes. Now it was nothing more than a clean stretch of snow, without a single corpse.

“Thank you for finding the living corpses every morning and gathering them again. If you had given up, if you had treated them as mere corpses and let them go missing, we would never have recovered them.”

The lives you lost.

The sight you deserved to behold.

To give those back to them, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Rebirth of a Hundred Ghosts.”

My shadow spread across the snowfield.

[Activating skill.]

Figures resembling snowmen rose one by one from the shade. Some shadows wore black robes. Others fluttered white sleeves. Gradually, they took on human form and looked down at their hands in astonishment.

“My disciple, what in the world is this...?”

But none of them could have been as astonished as Master and the Murim Alliance Leader.

“You can think of it as a dream. You can dismiss it as an aftereffect of losing your dantians. Or you can believe I've learned a strange mystic art that lets me briefly summon the memories and bodies of the dead, recreating them exactly as they were in life.”

“...”

“Master. Alliance Leader.”

Rebirth of a Hundred Ghosts was complete.

“Demonic rule over the world has not ended yet.”

The elite members of the Demonic Cult. One thousand.

“Martial prowess has not forgotten chivalry, nor has chivalry lost its martial prowess.”

The elite warriors of the orthodox factions. One thousand.

“The Demonic Cult's destiny will not be ended by mere living corpses, nor will orthodox Murim be devoured by the dead.”

A true Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic Forces.

That was their wish.

“If the Demonic Cult vanishes from this world, it must be only by the blades of the orthodox factions. If the orthodox factions must truly fall, it must be by the hands of the Demonic Cult alone.”

“...”

“I humbly address the leader of the Demonic Cult, and beseech the leader of the Murim Alliance.”

I smiled.

Then I raised my cupped fist in salute.

“Contest who shall be the martial world's final master.”