Chapter 332 – Side Story. Dream of Return (13)

“That bitch used magic, aaaaahhhh!!!”

That was the last thing I heard before waking up from a long dream.

Bang!

Without realizing it, I kicked the blanket, and it floated up in the air before slowly settling back down.

“Ugh…huh…”

As I gasped for breath, Hong Yeon-hwa, who had also woken up, patted my back as if she understood everything.

“I understand, my lady. When one falls in a way that they can’t understand, everyone says the same thing.”

“What? No! How is that the same as this? It’s a gun! A human shot a gun! That’s magic!”

“What do you think magic is, Jin-rang? A gun is just a really fast memory, not magic! That’s why they call it the orthodox way….”

While Samma-yeoryeong was grumbling, Hong Yeon-hwa and she both tried to calm me down by patting my back.

In the meantime, Paeng So-so, who had been thrown aside, sat on my lap.

“Ugh.”

Her large and elastic buttocks pressed down on my lower body without hesitation.

It was a familiar yet always new sensation that made me shudder.

It was nice when Hong Yeon-hwa and Samma-mang sat on it, but Paeng So-so’s buttocks were on a different level.

Paeng So-so, who noticed my lower body’s reaction, giggled and whispered.

“Jin-ga is a pervert.”

“…Isn’t your body too erotic in this case, So-so?”

I couldn’t stand it anymore while we were bickering like this.

Well…it wasn’t entirely ineffective.

I was shaking earlier because of the memory of dying so suddenly, but now that I was completely calm, my excitement had subsided.

Samma-mang, who confirmed that my excitement had subsided, leaned her head on my shoulder and opened her mouth.

“By the way, about the Heavenly Destruction Castle? What do you think happened at the end?”

“Oh, that? We can’t just let it go, so we have to think about what happened.”

The problem was that I had no idea what was going on.

In the first place, the Heavenly Destruction Castle was not the kind of constitution that could go unnoticed.

“Hmm. So, do you remember what the biggest guy said first?”

“That the natural energy weakened, and the constitution’s characteristics weakened?”

“Right. Some people call the Heavenly Destruction Castle destiny, but as far as I know, it’s just a simple constitution. It’s just too powerful to resist impulses.”

According to Hong Yeon-hwa, the cause of the endless hunger of the Heavenly Destruction Castle lies in its innate bloodline.

It grants an incomprehensible talent that defies logic, but in exchange, it possesses an incredibly violent nature, as if it had been possessed by a demon.

That’s what they call the Heavenly Destruction Castle.

“In a way, it’s no different from a terminal illness that one is born with, despite having a great talent.”

“But with a terminal illness, you can still receive treatment.”

“The same goes for the Heavenly Destruction Castle. There are records of those who have reached a high level of enlightenment despite being born with the Heavenly Destruction Castle. …So, it’s more like an innate demon possession than a terminal illness.”

An innate demon possession. Then it’s natural that the original characteristics don’t manifest in a world where natural energy is weak.

People receive and emit energy through their breath, even if they can’t accumulate it in their bodies.

There’s a saying that if you go to a place with good energy, your body will feel better.

If you live in a place with abundant natural energy, you can naturally absorb more energy. Of course, you’ll emit it too.

In short, in places where natural energy is lacking, one can only receive a minimal amount of energy.

Since the bloodline is dry, there’s no way for demon possession to occur, which means there’s no effect on the mind.

“Of course, if one is strongly stimulated, the situation is different.”

“Like in my last memory?”

“Yes. My lady believes that the clear hunger you possessed at that time stimulated your bloodline.”

That’s right.

If twisted bloodline calls forth flesh, it’s also possible for powerful flesh to activate the bloodline.

The twisted bloodline that had been dormant until now must have awakened along with the talent.

In the previous life, the constitution was a kind of seed.

It was probably buried in the ground, so no one knew what was there… like a seed that grows when watered.

“If we assume that, I roughly understand. It also explains why my last memory disappeared.”

“Yes. My lady said that demon possession causes abnormalities in the brain, and it often erases memories altogether. It’s probably the same for Jin-ga.”

The other women nodded silently, without any dissent.

“Okay. Let’s finish with the previous life. There’s still something more important left, right?”

“Yes. The previous life is just the previous life. The important thing is the present.”

I nodded to Samma-mang, who spoke with a worried voice.

“For now, I’ll say this. I’ve never felt the impulse of the Heavenly Destruction Castle in this life.”

“Usually, that’s how it is. As Hong Yeon-hwa said earlier, even if it’s called the Heavenly Destruction Castle, it’s ultimately just a constitution. Since the body itself has changed, it’s natural that we can’t call the current Jin-rang the Heavenly Destruction Castle. …Above all, Jin-rang’s lack of martial talent is miserable, isn’t it?”

“Ugh…!”

As I thought about it again, my stomach began to ache.

It hurt a lot. Really.

Why did I have that talent in my past life? Why did I have to suffer so much until I met Hong Yeon-hwa in this life?

Without realizing it, I scrunched up my face, and Pung So-so hugged me, patting my cheek.

It was like a puppy trying to be cute to its depressed owner.

“Hey, don’t be upset, Jin-ga. Anyway, you’ve reached your current level, so talent doesn’t matter anymore, right?”

“…That’s true.”

I let out a sigh and looked at Pung So-so’s cheek, which was pressed against mine.

Hong Yeon-hwa flicked her head back and forth with a troubled expression.

“Um… Since the body has changed, the constitution of the Heavenly Destruction Castle has disappeared… Then I don’t understand the way you acted during Yeong-hwa’s trial.”

“Ah, I have an idea about that, Yeon-hwa.”

Samma-mang lightly waved her hand and tapped her own head.

“Jin-rang’s body has changed, but his memories are still the same, right? And memories don’t disappear, they just can’t be recalled.”

In fact, the alcohol technique that Samma-mang showed this time was a technique that extracted forgotten memories and reproduced them in dreams.

“Jin-rang in his past life was definitely a clear Heavenly Destruction Castle. That chilling aura couldn’t be held by just anyone. But the current Jin-rang probably only has the remnants of that.”

That remnant was the memory of when the twisted bloodline was awakened, according to Samma-mang.

Originally, just like in my past life, I should have been just an unconsciousness that couldn’t recognize my own constitution.

“But the situation Jin-rang was in at the time was not normal. I haven’t seen it myself like my mother and sisters, but… didn’t they say he died and came back to life more than a hundred times? Even Jin-rang wouldn’t have been in his right mind.”

That’s right.

One’s mental strength may be strong, but in a situation of infinite despair and repeated deaths, there was no choice but to face one’s limits.

In fact, the decision I made at the time included a primitive desire for revenge.

I would repay the pain and suffering I endured with my own death.

“The fact that Jin-rang was pushed to the extreme is a problem, but the fact that the cause was repeated deaths is a bigger problem.”

It is a common occurrence to recall memories that are associated with something we see.

For example, a sword passed down from a master.

When looking at a broken sword blade, one naturally recalls the image of a blood demon the size of a mountain.

Similarly, when experiencing death, one may recall their past life’s death, according to Samma-yeoryeong.

“I may not have recalled it exactly, but I must have received some stimulation. As a result, I was able to make the sensation I awakened in my last moments of my past life my own… That’s what I think.”

So, to summarize, I am not a Heavenly Destruction Castle now, but I was lucky enough to recall the sensation of being a Heavenly Destruction Castle due to the situation.

“What? That’s awesome!”

I involuntarily let out a surprised voice at the unexpected turn of events.

Hong Yeon-hwa also nodded her head, seeming to agree with Samma-yeoryeong’s hypothesis.

“It’s a reasonable theory. However, there is one concern if that’s the case.”

“Yes. If what I’m saying is correct… now that we have directly seen the forgotten memories, we don’t know when the sensation of being a Heavenly Destruction Castle will be reawakened.”

“Right. Of course, since Pung-goon’s level is Pung-goon, he probably won’t be swayed by something as small as that, but…”

“Still, it’s the Heavenly Destruction Castle…”

Hong Yeon-hwa and Samma-yeoryeong both let out a sigh and looked at me.

Their reaction is a bit too much.

Of course, I understand.

Whether it’s Hong Yeon-hwa’s world or the original world, the Heavenly Destruction Castle was treated as a disaster.

Once it appears, it causes a bloodbath that will be remembered in history.

Even if it’s just a remnant, they are worried about me being affected by the Heavenly Destruction Castle.

“But aren’t you worrying too much?”

“My lord. Just in case. If by any chance you were to fall into a frenzy, even I wouldn’t be able to help you. It’s best to prevent it from happening.”

“I won’t fall into a frenzy. I’m wielding the sword not to cut someone, but to protect someone.”

“But during Yeong-hwa’s trial…”

“It’s the same then. My goal of returning to your side hasn’t changed even after experiencing death more than a hundred times. It’s just that the method has changed a bit.”

“Hehe.”

When I spoke in a serious tone, Hong Yeon-hwa’s worried expression turned into a smile.

I chuckled and shrugged my shoulders at her reaction.

“Besides, if I were to fall into a frenzy, wouldn’t it be easy to subdue me?”

The Myeongryun Divine Art is a mental martial art.

If my mind doesn’t settle down, I can’t use its power.

No matter how intense it is, the Myeongryun Divine Art doesn’t respond to simple killing intent.

That’s why my master always told me to control myself…

Wait a minute.

Did my master know about it too?

As someone who has reached the level of the Sword Saint, did he see the remnants of the Heavenly Destruction Castle deep within me?

Is that why he taught me the Cheondung Sword Technique, which requires emptying one’s mind and being emotionless, or the Muryeong Divine Art, which requires a pure heart?

“….”

No way.

I looked at the broken sword on the desk with a strange feeling.

There’s no need to ask for an answer since my master’s memory is completely gone now.

To lighten the mood, I cleared my throat.

“And this is a secret, but…”

The attention of my other women focused on me. I whispered with a playful smile.

“If I get confused, just touching my chest will probably bring me back to my senses.”

“….”

“….”

“….”

“….”

A moment of silence. At the end of it, my women giggled.

“Oh, really?”

“We should try it out for ourselves!”

“Oh my, then shouldn’t we make Sanggong angry first?”

“Make Jinrang angry… it seems like he’s already angry enough here?”

It was just a joke to reassure them that they didn’t need to worry, but their reaction was more intense than I expected.

It’s nice, but I wonder why they’re like this. I looked at each of them calmly.

“Oh.”

Until a moment ago, my women were wearing modern clothes, but now they were dressed in beautiful wedding attire.

It’s only natural since we returned to reality, but I only realized it when I saw them.

Wearing wedding attire means that we got married today.

In other words, it’s our first night as newlyweds.

But we only held hands and slept.

…I should make a move soon.

I grabbed my pants and shouted.

“Let’s go, Barat!”