Chương 168: Those That Are Lost (2)

"Unable to do so."

I look at the official and the messenger with a hardened face.

The messenger sighs deeply.

His sigh echoes long in the room.

"... I hope there's a valid reason for this."

The messenger looks at me with icy eyes.

"The elixirization decreases volume during evacuation, aids in the cultivation progress and recovery of the Human Race soldiers, weakens the Devil Realm in the long term, and profits the Human Race through the selling of Devil elixirs. Your words, Governor, suggest abandoning all this to save those beasts. I hope there is a valid reason for this."

"Because…"

I take a breath, thinking for a reason in my mind.

Why?

Why do I want to save the devils, who are not even my kin?

Why indeed.

Why!

The vision of a young couple getting engaged in front flash through my mind.

The sight of playing a Go and sharing conversations with a tentacled being passes by.

Images of the Devil Race living under the governor's office over the years come to mind.

With all those memories of the years embedded in my mind, Carrying those connections on my back, I look straight at the human in front of me and say,

"Because it's the right thing to do."

And the messenger's face contorts.

"... Did you just say it's the right thing to do? Countless soldiers who might die in this war, the countless lives. Are you saying abandoning resources that could save them is your definition of good? Wouldn't the true good be to act to save them?"

"That's your good."

"It's the good of the Human Race Grand Alliance."

"Does the Human Race Grand Alliance represent all of humanity?"

"Of course, it does."

"I don't seem to be represented by them."

"It sounds like you're suggesting the betrayal of humanity. Isn't betrayal the very essence of evil?"

"Listen, I'm not talking about who's on our side or theirs, or what's good or evil."

I glare at him.

"Whether it's the Human Race or humanity, they are not me and I am not them. Their good is not my good, and their lives are not my life."

I always feel as if I have lost a lot of important memories.

But…

One thing always remains clear.

I want to live a proper life.

A life where time doesn't fly by due to regression, where all my connections and time do not disappear.

And for that life, I will live my best at any given time.

"My good that I'm speaking to you about is the priority of my life."

I won't put forward a feeble argument.

My good, compared to the grand cause of humanity the messenger speaks of, may be insignificant, selfish, and merely personal arrogance.

It might just be a pretense put forward by an individual.

It could be foolish nonsense and flawed logic.

However.

"This is my way of life. I won't impose my way of life on you, so don't impose yours on me."

"Do you not understand that being stubborn in your position itself is a form of coercion?"

"…Just leave now."

Wo-woong!

I summon the strength of General Seo hidden in my shadow and speak.,

"The important resource in this occupied territory is the Void Spirit Pond, and there are only seven Devil tribes. Compared to other territories, the number of devils here is significantly less, so even if all these tribes are converted, how many elixir pills can possibly be produced? You should return to the Bright Cold Realm. I will do my utmost to support the remaining Human Race in their evacuation."

"... I will report as such to the Grand Alliance."

The two leave the room.

I sigh deeply and lay down.

I'm tired.

[By the order of the esteemed governor, the expulsion of devils living in this area is decreed!] In the 8th occupied territory of the Devil Realm by the Human Race.

There, numerous puppets are flying around, expelling the devils.

The devils, puzzled yet determined not to be driven from their land, resisted.

However, each puppet possesses the minimum strength of the Core Formation stage, leaving the devils no means to resist.

At the Governor's mansion, I take a deep breath and stare at the ceiling.

'Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation, huh…'

I prevented the complete elixirization of the devils but there's no room for consideration regarding the formation.

If I also refuse the installation of the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation, I would truly become a traitor to the Human Race.

The Azure Heaven Creation Sect would also be marked as a sect that raised a traitor to the Human Race, risking collateral damage.

For me, cowardly as it is, I cannot not stop the installation of the formation.

Thus, there's only one solution.

'Relocate the nearby devils. Far, far away…'

The power of the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation is said to obliterate everything within a radius of five hundred li, and the spatial storms it unleashes would spread in all directions, causing immeasurable damage.

"... Cultivator Gyeon."

I speak to the devil I brought to the Governor's mansion.

[What is it, Lord Seo?] Wriggle, wriggle...

The devil replies to me while clinging to the ceiling.

"All the humans from the Governor's office have been sent back to the Bright Cold Realm. There's no surveillance now, so to speak... I want to entrust you with the leadership of the seven tribes and have you lead them to safety."

[Evacuation…?]

"Yes. The Human Race will soon start a massive slaughter."

I can't directly mention the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation.

But I decided to convey my thoughts indirectly.

"So, please take the devils and move as far away from the Human Race's occupied territories as possible. At least ten thousand li, you must move away ten thousand li."

[It seems the Human Race intends to use a powerful weapon. An attack from the peak Integration Stage can barely produce such a range.] He asks me, his tentacles wriggling.

[May I know this information? If I meet the Devil Realm alliance, I will share what you've told me with them.]

"... Saying that makes it difficult for me to release you, Cultivator Gyeon."

[I am speaking frankly because it's Cultivator Seo. I have no desire to betray the Devil Realm, nor do I wish to lie to you.]

"…That's admirable. But."

I look at him and say,

"For now, you'll have to focus on fleeing. Again, ten thousand li. That's the minimum, and perhaps, you might need to go three or four times further. So…"

Wo-wong!

I unfold a storage scroll and take out several puppets.

Heavenly Being stage puppets I had not given to Yeon Jin are all there.

"I'll command the puppets to help you and the Devil tribes flee as far as possible. You use your mental abilities to soothe the tribes and lead them."

[…Understood.] Pluck!

Cultivator Gyeon attaches himself to the head of a Heavenly Being stage puppet and goes outside shortly after.

Soon, he will overpower the minds of the devils and forcibly drag them all outside.

'I've sent away most of the Human Race left in the occupied territory and the devils who were about to die.'

Soon, I will also be able to leave.

"…"

'Is this the best I can do?'

I can't tell if what I've done is the best or not.

Have I done the right thing?

Is there no better solution?

After much deliberation, I finally make a decision.

And then, I write a letter.

I entrust the letter to General Seo, who has been protecting me all this time, and imbue it with an instruction.

"…Can you find your way? Deliver this to him."

I decided to send the letter through General Seo.

General Seo turns into a beam of light and flies far away.

Given his speed, he should reach the target and deliver the letter within a few months.

'…I've done all I can.'

Now, all that is left is for Cultivator Gyeon to lead the Devil tribes out of this 8th occupied territory.

Through the senses of the Heavenly Being stage puppets attached to Cultivator Gyeon, I can tell where he was now.

'He's almost out of the occupied territory. Then it's time for me to…'

Just then.

Wo-woong!

"…!"

The entire occupied territory is enveloped in an ominous energy, covering everything!

Startled by this energy, I hurry outside to look up at the sky.

"What… is this…!?"

Kugugugu!

A barrier!

The sky is covered in a barrier!

The entire 8th occupied territory is enveloped in dazzling rays of light, covered by a barrier emitting a rainbow of colors!

'That is…'

I locate the axis of the barrier.

The axis of the barrier is the Vast Cold Jade, embedded in the devil veins of the 8th occupied territory.

The seven devil veins existing in the occupied territory!

Seven Vast Cold Jades embedded in those places weave a heptagonal barrier.

And above the barrier, a face seems to emerge.

'That's… the messenger…!?'

No, that's not it.

I ponder, thinking.

"You… were not a mere messenger."

Kugugugu!

The giant face emerging above the barrier slowly opens its eyes.

[Your head is quite sharp-minded…]

"It's obvious you've come to punish me, but a mere Core Formation stage messenger wouldn't have the authority to activate such a tremendous formation..."

[Correct. I am Wi Ryeong-seon, Integration stage Grand Cultivator affiliated with the Human Race Grand Alliance. All messengers dispatched to each occupied territory and the Administrators sent to each Sky Island of the Human Race belonging to the Grand Alliance, all are avatars I've painstakingly created.]

"…!"

[Monitoring the movements of the entire Human Race is my duty. But what about you, provincial governor Seo Eun-hyun of the 8th occupied territory? You've abandoned your sacred duty and what are you doing now? All messages conveyed through the messenger were directly from the decisions of the Grand Alliance that I passed on to you. Setting aside wasting precious resources, are you now trying to send them outside? To release enemies who might disclose our occupied territory's secrets and strategies?] Wo-woong!

Ziiing!

The sound of the face gives me a headache, making it hard to stay conscious.

At the same time, the urge to obey the Grand Cultivator's words and act as he wishes becomes overwhelming.

Isn't what he's saying correct?

Isn't that the truth?

"…Puppets…and..."

However, I resist the pressure emitted by the Integration stage Grand Cultivator, gathering all my strength to speak.

"Command, has… been given… to delay, the devils, meeting the devil army, until after, the formation is activated…!"

Crack!

"There will be, no leak of information…!"

Koong!

I shake off Wi Ryeong-seon's pressure with my mental strength and look him in the eyes.

"Moreover… I have many questions for you. You have the power to kill a weak Core Formation cultivator like me, but didn't you have the power to protect the Thunder Spirit Island from being destroyed by the True Immortal's attack? Claiming to be at the Integration stage, but there are widespread rumors that you suffered fatal injuries or died trying to catch a glimpse of the True Immortal Realm. May I ask, Grand Cultivator, why you were so foolishly defeated?"

The surroundings fall silent for a moment.

Then, Wi Ryeong-seon speaks again.

[Firstly, spreading the barrier with the Vast Cold Jade was to confine you and the devils. Since I can't be sure if what you said is true… Moreover, this barrier serves to confine you and also to convey my will to you. Your arrest will happen when the formation masters arrives to install the Realm Annihilation Heavenly Void Formation.]

"Ha… So it only has a confining function."

I look towards the direction where the Vast Cold Jade is located.

Sensing my intention, Wi Reong-seon spoke in a mocking tone.

[Thinking of destroying or pulling out the Vast Cold Jade serving as the anchor? Unfortunately, once the formation is activated, touching the Vast Cold Jade will only make the formation stronger. The power of the Vast Cold Jade will surge even more, eventually becoming a powerful formation that can temporarily immobilize even an Integration stage Grand Cultivator.]

"…Quite an elaborate formation just to capture a mere Core Formation cultivator."

[Not just any Core Formation. Based on observations through the messenger's eyes, your overall strength is judged to be at the Four-Axis stage. Seems like an appropriate level of response.]]

"…"

I fall silent for a moment.

Then, I raise my head and ask him again.

"Why did the Integration stage Grand Cultivators receive critical injuries from the True Immortal?"

[That's because the True Immortal attacked the Human Race's Thunder Spirit Island, and we tried to protect it…]

"You're lying."

I open my eyes wide and speak.

"I am well aware of the significant distance between the Heavenly Human Island where Integration stage Grand Cultivators are and the True Immortal's descent in Thunder Spirit Island. Moreover, as someone who usually doesn't care much about what happens in each Sky Island, why did you make such a fuss when the True Immortal attacked?"

I glare at him.

"There must have been ulterior motives. Isn't that right?"

It shows.

When I mention the True Immortal, greed intertwined with Wi Ryeong-seon's consciousness writhes.

Greed.

And then, shades of regret, remorse, and shame become evident in his demeanor.

'The Integration stage Grand Cultivators had something they desired from the True Immortal when they exerted their power this time. It wasn't about defending Thunder Spirit Island from the True Immortal. They had something they wanted to obtain from the True Immortal, and when the True Immortal refused to comply with what the Integration stage Grand Cultivators desired, they inflicted critical injuries on them and disappeared.'

Just by observing the colors of emotions, the story is somewhat guessable.

Upon my words, Wi Ryeong-seon silently glares at me after a moment of silence.

[It's not for you to know. You are to merely wait here in this barrier with the devils until the formation masters and the Grand Alliance's inspector arrive… This barrier requires permission from the Grand Alliance to exit from inside, while entry from outside is unrestricted. Of course, it's limited to the Human Race, and other races cannot enter… I'm not sure if you've truly conspired with the devils, but even if you did, there's no devil coming to rescue you.]

"I haven't conspired, so it doesn't matter to me."

[Haha, that will be for the inspector to judge… Since an alchemist will be accompanying the inspector, it would be wise to convert all the confined devils into medicinal ingredients.]

"…You intend to use the devils as resources?"

[Is there something wrong with that?]

"…Let's end this meaningless conversation here."

Thump!

I slump down on the spot.

Now, I am the only Human Race member left in this occupied territory.

Then, there is only one thing left for me to do.

[Have you given up…? After all your pointless stubbornness, well done. I'll see you at the Grand Alliance's tribunal, former provincial Governor Seo Eun-hyun of the 8th occupied territory…] Swoosh…

After delivering his message, the face dissolves into the barrier and disappears.

'I've sent the letter to him.'

Regardless of whether the Integration stage Grand Cultivators of the Devil Realm really arrive, given the situation, the Human Race won't be pushed back.

At the same time, I glow with determination.

'I cannot let those children die.'

From now on, I will do everything in my power to prevent it!

Wo-woong!

Around me, something pale and ethereal flutters, filling the space.

For the past 18 years.

The many connections I made in this life were recorded as artifact spirits in this technique.

And as I recorded these figures, increasing the number of artifact spirits, the proficiency of the technique gradually improved.

Wo-woong!

Now, I can record figures just by thinking of them.

Swish!

Spiritual energy gathers around, recording another figure.

It's Wi Ryeong-seon, who I had just conversed with.

'Wi Ryeong-seon evaluated my overall strength as being at the Four-Axis stage and confined me with such a barrier. That means the inspector coming to arrest me will also be at least at the Four-Axis stage.'

Wo-wong!

'It will take roughly seven days for the Four-Axis stage inspector from the Human Race Grand Alliance to arrive at the 8th occupied territory.'

I clench my teeth, my eyes shining with resolve.

'In the next seven days, I must regain my memories.'

If I fail to regain my memories within that time?

'Then…'

I grit my teeth.

'I will advance to the Nascent Soul stage.'

The moment I enter the Nascent Soul stage, I somehow feel that my Formless Sword will undergo a significant change.

And surely, if the Formless Sword changes, I have the feeling it can cut through any barrier, no matter how solid.

Pzzt!

I close my eyes and prepare to create artifact spirits using the nameless technique, challenging the Nascent Soul stage again.

'Here I go…!'

Whether I turn to ashes or succeed, I will reach the Nascent Soul stage...

And protect the connections that have come into my life!