Chapter 495 – Oblivion (1)

Upon our arrival at the subterranean sections of Dowon, individuals clad in ceremonial attire sank to their knees.

“We are in the presence of the Cheonma, the supreme lord of all Sama and the heavenly sovereign of Murim.”

“We are in the presence of the Heavenly Demon!”
“We are in the presence of the Heavenly Demon!”
“We are in the presence of the Heavenly Demon!”

The guard standing at the forefront raised the cry, and those around him echoed it. Even the fiercely independent warriors who did not ally themselves with the demonic cult were not exempted.

“Indeed.”

I surveyed the surroundings and responded concisely. In the gazes of all present, respect and trust were clearly visible. The only one who stood apart from this was Baekdo, her face twisted in visible irritation.

“Tsk.”

Baekdo muttered her protest under her breath, unheard by others.

“What’s so great about this Heavenly Demon? He just looks like a lowly parasite…”

Baekdo’s hand, adorned with a ring, clenched tightly in apparent displeasure. She was gripping my hand tightly, following the directive of Cheondo, the Lesser Demon.

“-Baekdo, work hand in hand with him.”

The instruction given to Baekdo as she went about her duties. Despite her evident distaste, she grudgingly abided by Cheondo’s words. Baekdo’s hand, clenched in anger, was slick with sweat.

I began my inspection of the subterranean areas while engaging Baekdo in conversation.

“Baekdo.”
“…What?”
“Why do you despise me so?”
“Are you asking because you truly don’t know? You’re a liar and unabashedly so… You must live quite the carefree life.”

Baekdo, flabbergasted, turned her head away with a scowl.

‘Why could that be?’

Several years ago, when war erupted in Dowon. In the end, Baekdo had opened her heart to me. The memory of her nobly protecting Hwangdo still lingered…

“Cheondo said, ‘Get closer to her.'”
“Do your job efficiently. Stop spouting nonsense.”

She was as impenetrable as a fortress. Despite our hands locked together, I felt an immense concrete wall rising between Baekdo and me.

-She behaves this way because she has feelings for you.

What did Cheondo and Hwangdo discern about Baekdo? The Hwangdo of another world had made a revelation to me. Despite Baekdo harbouring affection for me, she refrains from making it apparent.

‘…Another world?’

I stopped in my tracks, extending my other hand to study it. Something was tugging at the edge of my consciousness.

‘Is it a common misconception? No… What is it?’

I decided to put that thought aside for the moment. As Baekdo had rightly pointed out, it was time to focus on the task at hand. I regained my composure and resumed my duties, concluding the inspection as lunchtime approached.

“Come.”

After procuring peaches and meals from the dining hall, Baekdo and I set out to find a place to eat. Upon finding a suitable pavilion, I offered Baekdo a rice ball first, continuing our earlier conversation.

“So, why do you detest me so much?”
“Are you still on about that…”

Baekdo, having swept her fingers through her hair, fixed me with another glare. She bit into the rice ball in her hand, then let out a drawn-out sigh through her nose.

“Hmmm…”

“Is it because I surpassed Cheondo and became the Heavenly Demon?”

“You know well. But why did you ask earlier?”

Baekdo, ever cynical. It turned out her suspicions were correct.

“I’ve always said that Cheondo should have been in that position.”

Baekdo was mulling over words that I don’t recall ever hearing before.

“That would be the case for you.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I just know.”

To young Baekdo, Cheondo was nothing short of an idol. The utmost person who inherited the martial arts and will of her revered father. In Baekdo’s eyes, Cheondo was a figure who trailed behind no one.

“Well, if you knew, why did you do it?”

Baekdo probably couldn’t have imagined a Cheondo who failed to become the Heavenly Demon. Cheondo, after all, was a person she equated with her father. Her father, who always triumphed, who must always win. She had hoped that Cheondo would crush me and ascend as the Heavenly Demon.

But, as it turned out, I became the Heavenly Demon. The whole village lauded me. Cheondo, whom I greatly admired, was now my betrothed – it was no wonder Baekdo was fuming.

“When you think about it, you must despise me.”

“What, what? Did you eat something off?”

As I shook my head, Baekdo seemed flustered.

“So, should I apologize?”

There was a small hint that Cheondo had given me. To be a bit kinder. Perhaps I had been too harsh on Baekdo all this time.

“What are you going on about?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh.”

I, who took Cheondo’s place and ascended to this position. I, who might seem like a heretic in Baekdo’s eyes, bowed my head to her first.

“…Have you lost your mind?”

“Perhaps.”

It felt as if it had been a long time since I last saw Baekdo. I felt a deep regret, and just the sight of Baekdo’s face caused heartache.

‘Strange.’

My memories were becoming muddled. Things that should be segregated were blending together, slowly melting into this environment. This tranquil world, as natural as could be, felt like it was mine.

I saved Dowon and became the Heavenly Demon, ah. Now the memory is surfacing.

-Idiot, fool, dimwit.
-Baekdo, just stay put.
-No.

I was always angry at Baekdo. Always disobedient, always insolent, always causing mischief for the most absurd reasons. Moreover, we were like oil and water, never to mix under any circumstances.

But why,

“Why does seeing you now make me so sad?”

“…What?”

Baekdo, her eyes wide open, dropped the rice ball she was eating. This sentiment wasn’t that far away. A sorrow that felt like it had been harbored a long time ago, but was still felt recently.

“Don’t make me laugh. Who are you to apologize, huh?”

I put down the rice ball I was eating. The piled snow from the distant mountains was beginning to tumble down.

“You didn’t even offer an apology… Why this sudden change?”

Baekdo queried, her face not just displaying confusion but now also a hint of suspicion. I brushed a hand across my parched face.

“Upon reflection, I realized I have no reason to harbor any resentment towards you.”

This sentiment was genuine. My memories are somewhat hazy at the moment, so I can’t provide a definitive answer.

“…Actually, I might have even held some fondness for you.”

I had wanted to share this revelation with him.

“What are you blathering about, you idiot? Why the sudden sentimentality?”

Baekdo stared at me as if I were some repugnant creature, but I felt as if my chest had been hollowed out. I turned my gaze towards Baekdo. His visage displayed slight disgust, but the hostility previously simmering in his eyes had considerably waned.

“I apologize.”

Baekdo took a moment, hesitating before finally responding.

“What, what do you want from me? Don’t push me like this. When have we ever bothered with such things?”
“Will you accept my apology? I will find a way for both of us to reach a satisfactory resolution.”

At my words, Baekdo’s cheeks puffed up, as if in a pout. He reached into his bag, retrieved a peach, and bit into it. Chewing the firm flesh of the peach, Baekdo lowered his gaze and continued.

“I don’t know….”

In the distance, amidst the bushes, a girl with unfamiliar dark hair was aimlessly looking around.

* * * * * * * * * *

They say love transforms people. Just as Lee Se-Young encountered Lee Si-heon and distanced herself from crime, the ‘Si-heon’ of this world also began to change after encountering ‘Se-Young’.

“Ugh….”

The scent of detergent and bleach vibrated throughout the house. I gathered all the trash scattered on the floor, discarded the old clothes, and filled the space with carefully chosen garments.

People change when they encounter reason. Lee Si-heon, who was never particularly bad at housekeeping, managed to completely transform his room in a single day.

“Okay, finished.”

The notion that men can’t clean well is a lie. Even after serving in the military, a person is used to being ordered around – cleaning is a minor task in comparison. Recently, he started paying more attention to his physique and posture, his previously hidden attractiveness dramatically surfacing.

【Can a person change this much in just a few months?】

Baekyang exclaimed in awe. Given the right circumstances, there’s nothing a person can’t do.

‘That’s why first impressions matter.’

As ‘Si-heon’ transformed, the perception of him within the company also gradually began to shift. More precisely, the change in evaluation amongst the female employees was the beginning. Once a few of the male employees, who had been paying attention to the female employees’ attitudes, began to follow suit, a natural atmosphere of at least partial acceptance of him began to take root.

【If you look at the facts, he’s a handsome junior who is diligent in his work.】

Moreover, he’s quite adept at his job? The very reason ‘Si-heon’ succumbed to exhaustion was the efficiency with which he handled his work, prompting those around him to persistently delegate tasks his way.
Word on the street was that a female executive, the daughter of the chairman no less, had expressed interest in meeting him.
The surname was San. Se-young couldn’t even recall her given name. Should all go well, the path to promotion could be within reach.

“Fascinating, isn’t it? Who could have foreseen such an easy transformation?”

Of course, being the target of flirtations from female employees was hardly a pleasant affair,

【 Just a bit? 】
“No, quite a bit.”
【 So, quite a bit? 】
“Oh yes. It’s exceedingly irksome.”

Nevertheless, there was someone deeply smitten with ‘Si-heon,’ allowing Se-young to watch the unfolding drama with an ease of mind.

– Knock!

The notification chime from ‘Si-heon’s’ pocket after finishing his cleaning duties. A faint smile graced his features.

—-
Se-young noona: Hey
Se-young noona: Hey, hey, hey, hey
Se-young noona: How about a commemorative drink before the business trip?
—-

What a peculiar tradition.
Why hasn’t he confessed? Words were on the brink of escaping her lips.
Such naive souls.

“…It’s driving me to madness.”

‘Si-heon,’ after sending a response, was momentarily lost in thought, scratching his head while deeply mired in contemplation.
The worry gnawing at the man, now freed from the entanglements of life, was undoubtedly about a confession.
‘Si-heon’ was even considering posting on a community forum, seeking validation on whether this was a budding relationship or not.

——
[There’s a senior lady at work who keeps inviting me for drinks. Would she accept me if I confessed?]
There’s this senior lady who looks after me when I’m down, invites me for drinks, and occasionally joins me at Instagram-popular restaurants. I feel like she doesn’t view me as a potential romantic interest at all. What should I do?

– Why are you inquiring about a woman’s feelings?
– This isn’t a place to seek relationship advice.
——

“Is he not a complete fool?”

Se-young had no choice but to avert her eyes at that juncture.
To seek advice on vital romantic matters from the most dubious of internet strangers was indeed a predicament.

But there wasn’t much time left.
Se-young, who had been observing the flirtatious interplay between these two for a full five months.
Se-young still regarded ‘Si-heon’ as a likable or cute kid, but the transition had happened in a blink of an eye.

【 Whatever happens… No interference. 】
“Understood.”

Just once.
The moment you interfere with determination, the chances of escape diminish drastically.

Despite Baekyang’s repeated advisories, Se-young could not tear her gaze away from him.

* * * * * * * * *

“Wow, it feels incredibly liberating to step out of the office when you’ve been working for a while.”
“This is work too, you know?”
“But it feels different.”

Due to a slight adjustment in the schedule, the day’s outing had expanded into a three-night, four-day business trip.
It felt like soaking up the warm sunlight that one didn’t usually get a chance to enjoy.
Given the long winter nights, it was a routine of arriving for work in darkness and leaving when it was still dark.

“This is freedom.”

Se-young’s hands turned the steering wheel, her laughter dancing in the air.

How could one describe it, this sensation? It was like being a student again, leaving school halfway through second period, basking in the sunlight when everyone else was studying, that ambiguous thrill pulsating through you.

Nevertheless, work was work. It couldn’t quite compete with the allure of a day off.

“A drink would be the perfect complement to a work-free day,” she mused.

With that thought, she drove along the highway, navigating the long journey to a distant city.

The immediate task upon arriving was checking into the hotel.

To ease the exhaustion of Se-young from the long drive, Si-heon entered the hotel with her, his arms laden with their luggage.

“Hmm, not bad at all. If only the elevator wouldn’t creak so much.”

The accommodation provided by their company was rather decent. The perks of working for a large corporation were evident – the meals in the lounge, the outdoor swimming pool. Though the chill of winter removed the possibility of swimming, there were still a variety of spa facilities available.

*Screech, screech.*

The elevator was a tad slow, if one were to pick a flaw.

“Next time, let’s take the one on the left. This one is a bit eerie,” Si-heon suggested.
“Agreed,” Se-young replied.

Perhaps it was the unsettling hum of the elevator that spurred the flutter in her heart. Was it akin to the effect of walking on a shaky bridge? Or perhaps it was anticipation for what lay ahead.

Si-heon, his eyes trailing after Se-young, clenched his fist out of her sight.

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

It felt as if they were in the final scene of a drama.