Chapter 8

Chapter 7: Mastering Magic (3)

At this point, it had to be seen as coercion rather than a choice.

In a life-or-death situation, a choiceless prompt had been generated.

580... 579... 578...

‘Come to think of it.’

A number suddenly caught Seohui's eye.

It was a three-digit time.

In a situation where the worst choice was being forced upon him.

The time was etched into Seohui's mind.

499... 498... 497...

And it seemed to be

intuitively telling him something.

As if saying, "Find the reason."

‘There must be a way.’

Seohui steadied his mind and thought seriously again.

If there was a way out of this situation.

One premise had to be established.

The prompt in front of him had to be the "best choice" rather than the "worst choice."

Because if it were the worst choice, there would be no answer.

‘That’s how it’s been so far.’

The fact that he was still alive and had made it here was because he had chosen the best option among the prompts.

So this prompt should also be

▶ You don't seem much different from me, do you?

Not the worst or the second-worst choice,

but the "best choice."

At least, that's what he had to believe for now.

462... 461... 460...

Seohui continued to ponder.

How to persuade the disciple of the Heavenly Demon who was openly showing hostility.

He had to believe there was an answer.

If he had always made the best choice, then he should be able to do so now as well.

432... 431... 400...

Time continued to flow.

399... 398... 397...

Continuing.

355... 354...

Continuing.

210... 209... 208...

‘Wait a moment.’

Seohui noticed something.

Not a question, but a scene.

- Surprising. That old man. He doesn’t seem like the type to ask for help.

The unfriendly tone of the young man.

Seohui saw this in Gonma.

And it was branching out into another form under the premise of "assumption."

- Even if you know who I am, it won’t make much of a difference. I’m just a loser in the power struggle.

A Heavenly Demon disciple who has escaped the power struggle.

Was it really true that he no longer cared about the power struggle?

Although he was a low-ranking member and didn’t know all the internal affairs of the main school, he knew one thing.

Survival of the fittest.

The main school is a place that only serves the strong.

- You don't seem much different from me, do you?

Then what this prompt was indicating was

that he was also in a similar situation.

Therefore.

He could understand the heart of someone who craved power more than anyone else.

Because he felt the same way.

40... 39... 38...

And if thought about differently.

If there was a premise that he could give Gonma "power," he could calm Gonma's anger.

What was that method?

How could he give Gonma power?

21... 20... 19...

‘That’s it. Gu Jongming!’

The person who came to mind at that moment.

And thinking of him, the Taihuang Pavilion Master naturally came to mind.

Information that he couldn’t obtain before the regression flashed before his eyes.

- How did you know?

The Pavilion Master of the Demon Sect was in league with a righteous sect member.

This information could be a valuable asset to someone who craved power.

It was the Pavilion Master's "weakness," and in other words, it meant that his power could be used.

3... 2...

‘Please, let it work...’

Seohui finally looked at Gonma, who was glaring at him.

And the moment of fate had arrived.

<You have chosen "You don't seem much different from me, do you?">

It continues.

"What?"

The young man, Gonma, hesitated.

His expression was unreadable.

He seemed both flustered and angry.

‘No, he’s angry.’

Zing!

As the deep blue demonic aura rose from the tip of his sword, Seohui felt a chill run down his spine.

Perhaps it was already too late.

Persuading an opponent who was this angry was almost unimaginable.

But he had to try.

If it worked,

he could change his life again.

"Gonma-sama!"

Thud.

Seohui sensed that the opponent's movement had stopped for a moment.

"When Gonma-sama received the selection from the Heavenly Demon, the other disciples had already established their support base. No matter how hard you tried, it would have been difficult to close the gap."

The other disciples had at least ten years of experience.

In contrast, Gonma had only been chosen by the Heavenly Demon for five years.

It was already difficult for a latecomer to catch up, let alone when the other disciples had already established their support base.

"Despite this, the fourth disciple overcame the crisis with his own abilities. The fact that he recruited the Secret Eternal Corps, specialized in assassination, is well known in the Demon Sect..."

Thud.

Seohui's voice, which had been reciting to the ground, stopped.

Suddenly, Gonma's blade was at his throat.

"Don’t try to change the subject. What are you trying to say?"

‘He’s listening to me.’

Seohui saw hope even in this life-or-death situation.

Despite being able to kill him easily, Gonma had stopped his sword.

He was curious about why Seohui had brought up the similarity in their situations.

"Recruit the Taihuang Pavilion Master."

"…What?"

Gonma's eyes changed subtly.

Seohui, not missing the moment, prostrated himself on the ground.

"The Taihuang Pavilion is a core branch of the Hongma Sect. By controlling the Taihuang Pavilion, you can take over one of the core institutions of the headquarters. Isn’t that why you came to see me?"

"…!"

Gonma hesitated.

The demonic aura from his sword disappeared.

Seohui's eyes also changed.

"Gonma-sama didn’t come here to find the 'Three Teachings of the Origin' book. No, you weren’t interested in the book from the beginning. If you were, you would have found the book and left already."

Gonma, who was looking down at him.

Seohui emphasized his voice even more.

"I thought about it. Why did the Heavenly Demon disciple come here? Why did he keep talking to me, a low-ranking member? It wasn’t just to find the book. In the process, I realized something."

"…?"

"To find someone who might know the weakness of the Taihuang Pavilion Master."

Gonma's expression changed slightly.

After a moment of looking down,

he said casually.

"Why did you think that?"

Seohui looked up at him.

He had been waiting for this moment.

Because he had a sharp move to make.

"The task the Taihuang Pavilion Master wanted me to do. Coincidentally, I was the only one not involved in that task, wasn’t I?"

"…!"

* * *

A month had passed since he came to the Thousand Days Hall.

If things had gone as he remembered, his subordinates would have all died.

There was enough time for the news of their deaths to reach the main school.

Gonma would have heard the rumors.

About the Bi Guest Corps members who died in a confrontation with the Huashan Sect.

‘There’s no reason for the Heavenly Demon disciple to come see me.’

This was the biggest premise.

There was no reason for him to come see a low-ranking member like him.

Even if he came by chance, there was no need to show such interest.

In such a situation, showing this much interest.

There must be a "specific purpose."

He had deduced this based on that premise.

"Hahaha. Hahahaha!"

Gonma laughed.

Excessively. He was laughing.

"Really... You’re an interesting guy. I understand why Old Sima didn’t like you."

He spoke in an ambiguous tone, neither positive nor negative.

"Well, fine. Let’s say that for now."

Gonma nodded and looked at Seohui.

"So, you’re saying you can create that weakness?"

Seohui knew.

That it wasn’t over yet.

The fact that he hadn’t put away his sword meant that the hostility was still there.

"Yes, that’s right."

"What is it?"

Seohui didn’t answer immediately.

Gonma, looking displeased, raised the corners of his mouth.

"Why? Can’t you remember? You sounded so confident just now."

Gonma's expression turned cold.

"No."

"But why aren’t you saying it?"

"A conflict has arisen."

"Conflict?"

Gonma’s eyes narrowed.

But Seohui continued calmly.

"If I give Gonma-sama what you want, what can I get in return?"

"…What?"

Gonma’s face crumpled.

But Seohui didn’t back down.

He couldn’t.

He had thought about it for a long time.

Dying and coming back to life repeatedly, being trapped in the underground of the Thousand Days Hall, he had thought about it countless times.

He couldn’t live like this anymore.

He had to live according to what he wanted.

He couldn’t be dragged around by what he saw in front of him.

"Gonma-sama. I’ve put my life on the line here. If there’s something to gain, I think I should gain it."

So he made a proposal.

No longer being dragged around.

He had to bring the "given life" in the direction he wanted.

"What’s the value of your life? And don’t you know that I can kill you?"

"I know. But if I can save Gonma-sama’s time and effort or provide a good opportunity, isn’t that value enough?"

"My time and effort?"

"Yes."

"…."

Gonma didn’t answer.

He seemed to be thinking.

Crossing his arms and looking away for a moment.

After a little time passed,

"If the value of the information you have is appropriate…"

Gonma spoke to Seohui, who was calmly waiting.

"I promise to give you a reward that matches it."

Seohui looked up.

It was finally time to reveal it.

"The weakness of the Taihuang Pavilion Master is Gu Jongming of the Huashan Sect."

"…."

Gonma didn’t show much of a reaction this time.

He just looked down at the ground, as if thinking.

"Any evidence of collusion?"

After a moment,

he asked Seohui.

"The Taihuang Pavilion Master is not the type to leave evidence."

"Just a suspicion, then?"

"To me, it’s just a suspicion, but… it might not be to Gonma-sama."

"…?"

"If the suspect is narrowed down to one person, don’t you have the ability to turn suspicion into evidence?"

Seohui thought so.

No, he was sure of it.

Gonma had many followers.

And among them,

there were many mysterious experts who could uncover the truth.

"What’s your name again?"

"Seohui."

"Seohui…"

Gonma slowly bent down.

And his eye level was now the same as Seohui’s.

"Let’s verify it."

"Ah…"

Seohui let out a short moan.

It was a reaction of relief at being alive, rather than worry.

"Before that, there’s something you need to do."

"What? What…"

"Jieming. Kill him."

"…!"

Seohui’s eyes widened.

The person who had beaten him up right after the regression.

He was talking about the leader of the Black Moon Corps, one of the Taihuang Pavilion’s units.

"Why? Don’t you want to?"

"That’s not it. But the reason…"

Gonma continued with a sardonic expression.

"To trust you, I need to verify you first. You might be in league with the Taihuang Pavilion Master."

Indeed.

He was a suspicious person, as the rumors suggested.

Without solid evidence, his words were natural.

"Can you do it?"

His question again.

Seohui’s hesitation was not long.

It wasn’t a question of whether he could or couldn’t.

It was a mission he had to accomplish.

"I will."

Seohui bowed and knelt.

And he raised his voice, as if to strengthen his resolve.

"I will show you by killing him."