Impossible.
That was the word Chongyue wanted to say after witnessing Yujin’s power. In all of human history, the purification of a Demon was unheard of. To reverse the corruption of life by a Demon? If the shamans of Sami or the Emperor's Blades of Ursus saw this, they would foam at the mouth and collapse.
But the sight before him denied common sense.
The cave, once consumed by endless darkness, had returned to its original state. Originium ores pulsed as if life had returned to them. Yujin, having made the impossible possible, wiped sweat from his forehead and exhaled.
The cause of it all was simply Yujin’s constellation.
The discomfort remained. As soon as he saw the overflowing starlight, Chongyue broke into a cold sweat.
"…You, this is..."
Chongyue, still unable to speak properly, looked at Yujin. Yujin withdrew the constellation shining on the ceiling and looked back at Chongyue.
"Whew, it was easier to repel than I thought. Maybe the texts were exaggerated. Or maybe because it was just one, it was weak... Still, it's a relief."
The one responsible for the miracle drew his sword as if it were nothing. The knight seemed unaware of the weight of what he had done. If this deed became known to the world—Ursus, Victoria, Sami, Sargon, and even Yan where he stood—everyone would be desperate to capture Yujin.
"First, follow me. And never use that power in front of others again."
"What? What do you mean..."
"Please, just once. Listen to me. If everyone finds out you possess such power..."
The whole world will try to dissect you.
Yujin didn't fully grasp the gravity of the situation. The danger of Demons was implicitly agreed upon by all nations. The perfect control of information spoke to the danger they posed.
Those monsters feed on human emotions. On fear. Even with the current information control, Demons were immensely powerful.
If information control failed and all of humanity learned the truth about Demons?
The leaders of each nation discussed Demons. And the conclusion was destruction.
Apocalypse. The moment information about Demons is released and humanity harbors fear toward them, the history of humanity would end there.
Sami, Yan, and Ursus were blocking the Demons in the north.
Yan had to borrow the power of the Sui fragments they despised so much to stop the Demons coming from the north. Otherwise, they couldn't stop them.
Sami was already a fragmented tribal society. They feared even speaking the name Demon and knew that any anomaly could appear on land encroached by Demons.
Ursus was in a slightly better situation. Bordering a vast area with icefields and facing Demons, but their power was strongest due to immense national strength and ruthless purges. They attempted to research Demons and use their power as national strength.
Though there were many failures where horrific monsters slaughtered citizens.
Sargon was the same. They were blocking Demons pouring from the south alone. A great hero named Lugalszargus appeared, united the divided tribes and nations, established an empire called Sargon, and was called the Shah...
But even such Sargon was too busy blocking Demons to properly manage internal affairs. Even while creating undying immortals to block Demons.
Repel? Of course, it's possible. Assuming a superhuman who feels no fear at all upon seeing a Demon's horrific form.
The moment you feel fear, you are eaten. You are no longer human.
A human eaten like that could never return. Ending life with death, or being completely killed by that monster. Only two options remained.
But now, a third option appeared.
Yujin, who created the option of purification without knowing what he did.
Hearing Chongyue, Yujin’s jaw dropped. It looked funny, but it couldn't be helped.
The Demon Netsalem described and the Demon Yujin faced were very different. A nonsensical monster and living fear. That’s what Netsalem said. Yujin felt that way when he first saw the Demon.
But seeing the Demon convulse like a mosquito hit with insecticide when he sprinkled platinum light, Yujin’s excitement cooled.
"…That thing is that dangerous?"
"Yes. It's the reason the Imperial Court leaves us alone despite hating us. Without us, they can't deal with Demons."
Chongyue admitted they were no longer different from ordinary humans.
Rather, Yujin was more dangerous than them. Power that Demons fear. Stars that make even the Sui sweat upon sight. What on earth is that?
"Honestly, I don't really know what it is either."
"…If the person involved says so, it can't be helped."
The origin of the Stars? Unknown.
Netsalem tried to analyze it, but the Stars were closer to inexplicable sorcery than Arts.
But one thing was discovered.
To increase the Stars, one must achieve a great feat or something worthy of it.
He was unsure until the second star, but realized completely from the third. He examined it properly by exchanging letters with Netsalem occasionally.
The first star is the Covenant. Yujin promised Theresa in the cold winter of his childhood.
The second star is Undefeated. When facing Tarkan. Yujin vowed not to be defeated by evil.
The third star is Indomitability. He said he would not fear hardship and darkness, no matter what trial came.
Listening to Yujin’s story about the Stars, Chongyue stood still. Stars, judging by Yujin’s explanation alone, are noble and literally lights obtained by accumulating karma. But the fact that the Sui fear that light...
Does it mean we are beings contrary to providence, like Demons?
Leaving the Tianshi and Second Brother behind, Chongyue and Yujin returned to Dahuang. Although the Tianshi questioned the suddenly quiet cave, Chongyue didn't bother to say there was a Demon inside and Yujin purified the rampaging Demon.
"Your power is dangerous. So never reveal it in front of others."
He could only say that much.
Hundreds of years. For hundreds of years, Chongyue watched countless humans turn to ash in the north. He saw too many people humiliated even in death by beings called Demons, or evil spirits in Yan.
"…Yujin."
Thus, Chongyue had to cling to Yujin, knowing it was a sliver of hope. If that exists. Maybe.
Humanity could escape the threat of Demons.
"Would you like a drink?"
Realizing the burden to be placed on that knight's shoulders, Chongyue smiled bitterly.
"Suddenly...?"
"Just a lament. Accompany an old man for a moment. Perhaps... it's a story you must know too."
Whether Chongyue could persuade Yujin was uncertain.
But it would likely be a long story.
The next day, Chongyue gathered all his family. One ignored Chongyue’s call, stuck in the mountains, but all the available Sui gathered.
First, Chongyue.
Third, Ling.
Sixth, Shu.
Seventh, Jie.
Ninth, Nian.
Twelfth, U.
Originally, they were supposed to gather regarding the death of the Fifth, Jie (different character). But because of a single knight named Yujin, the purpose of this story changed.
"Ah~ boring. Dahuang really doesn't suit me. Too quiet."
"Sister..."
Nian, burying her face on the round table, spoke to Chongyue and Ling. U rubbed his forehead seeing Nian like that, but wondered why Chongyue suddenly called everyone.
Jie frowned as soon as Chongyue called him. To Jie, Chongyue was always someone who lived with losses. A pitiful person who gained nothing compared to his efforts to be with humans.
"Eldest Brother, you didn't call us for something trivial just to see our faces, did you?"
"That's not it. It's the first time we've gathered like this. But I... just thought I couldn't be the only one to know this, and you should know too."
Then Chongyue stood up and opened the door. Beyond the door stood Yujin, leaning against the wall.
"We haven't reached an agreement..."
"No need for agreement. Your power will soon create agreement."
Then, as Yujin entered, Jie made an unpleasant face. The human said to hang around Shu lately. Thinking Shu was too soft-hearted, Jie looked at Yujin.
However, the words spoken after Yujin entered were bound to shock everyone.
"Yesterday, I went to the mine where the vein explosion occurred with Sir Yujin."
"And... we met an evil spirit inside."
Ordinary people wouldn't understand the word evil spirit, but those here were different.
Knowing that evil spirit meant Demon in Yan. It proved the mastermind behind the heavy rain last time was a Demon.
Irritation appeared on everyone's faces as if hearing something they didn't want to hear, but Shu was different. As if she had a fact she shouldn't be caught with, she took a deep breath, calmed herself, and looked at Chongyue and Yujin.
But despite her deep breath, as Chongyue continued, the Sui siblings felt dizzy.
What? Purified a Demon?
And turned the land polluted by the Demon back to normal?
"…Brother, don't talk nonsense."
"Everything I've said so far is true. Clearly seen and felt with my own eyes."
Even Ling, who had been lying on the round table drinking, shook off her intoxication and looked at Yujin with sharp eyes.
Ling unconsciously tried to kill Yujin on the day he sparred with Chongyue. Stars, the starlight shining on the world even during the day felt so unpleasant.
Such light purified a Demon. No, it would be more accurate to say it brought death.
"Rather than just talking, it would be more accurate to show. Um... Miss Ling? Could you put away your staff?"
The power they possessed was strong even individually.
If the six here tried to kill Yujin?
Of course, Shu, Chongyue, Nian, and U were absolutely not such people, but if six tried to kill him, he would have to die helplessly.
"…Fine, show us."
Yujin floats the stars.
Starlight illuminates the world. Three connected stars made of platinum light shone faintly, illuminating the Sui.
They felt discomfort. Light, starlight, beautiful but nauseating. They didn't know why, but felt fear regarding the stars.
Only Ling reached out towards the stars, suppressing the disgust that seemed about to burst. She had lived long enough to be considered a master of Arts and sorcery, and had protected humans in Chongyue’s stead.
As Ling reached out for the stars.
It wasn't Ling who reacted, but her Authority.
Twelve split authorities. Among them, the authority Ling possessed as a Sui was the power to freely enter and exit anywhere. It was possible to move through worlds using dreams as a medium or create dreams to enter and exit.
Vision blurs. Like a mirror reflected in a clear lake repeating infinitely, Ling’s authority reacted first, and one by one, all Sui authorities showed light.
And the lake, the mirror, the world flips.
"…Ling!"
"Shu!"
Chongyue reaches out to Ling in panic. Yujin called Shu’s name and tried to withdraw the stars, but the stars didn't respond. As if already letting them in, five except Chongyue began to be submerged under the lake.
Into the imagery of a single human.
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