Chương 646: God of the Underworld (3)

When I arrive at the gate leading to the deepest depths of the Underworld together with Yan Luo, from beside the gate, Blue Bird and another white-faced old man approach and speak.

[Please leave your winged garment with us.] [The living beings as well, please set them down.] [You cannot bring Immortal Treasures or weapons inside.] As they say this, they strip off my winged garment in an instant, seal it, and pull out the ascenders from within my body.

'Makes sense. If there are living beings inside when facing the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, they might just die.'

[I will entrust the living beings to you, but could you heal those who were injured from the earlier impact?] [We shall heal them.] The white-faced old man nods and takes the unconscious living beings from my body away somewhere, while Blue Bird seals my winged garment and receives the Immortal Treasures inside me.

I hand over the bodies of Yeo Hwi, Ham Jin, and Yu Hwi from my previous life, along with the Northern Dipper Sealing Immortal Flags and other items to them.

I also take out Hong Fan for a moment.

[Hong Fan. Sorry, but step outside for a little while.] No matter how strange this one is, if he stands before the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, he might not be able to withstand the rank and could explode and die.

Even if it seems a bit suspicious, it is only right to show consideration, so I naturally take Hong Fan out and place him on my palm.

"Hmm, Master. May I not enter together with you? I also wish to be of help to you."

But Hong Fan, for some reason, fidgets nervously and wishes to come with me, and I scratch my head as I reply.

[Hmm, I am sorry. But if you come, I think you will not be able to endure it.] To my words, Blue Bird also responds, looking down at Hong Fan.

[The Imperial Venerable wishes to have a private audience with this one. You should remain outside for now.]

"E-Emm... Still..."

[Are you trying to go against the will of the Imperial Venerable?]

"Th-That... understood."

In the end, Hong Fan lets out a sigh at Blue Bird's words and moves from the top of my hand to rest atop Blue Bird's palm.

[Then wait here for a moment, Hong Fan. Ah, and Blue Bird... is that right?] [Yes, distinguished guest.] [Hong Fan likes boiled potatoes, so please prepare some for him to eat.] I ask Blue Bird to make sure Hong Fan can have some boiled potatoes while waiting.

'This guy really likes potatoes, so he should at least pass the time eating those while waiting.'

Remembering well how much Hong Fan enjoyed eating potatoes, I chuckle and make the request, and Blue Bird nods.

Soon after, Blue Bird disappears somewhere along with the sealed winged garment and Hong Fan, and after confirming this, Yan Luo knocks on the massive gate.

[O Imperial Venerable, I have brought Seo Eun-hyun.] Kiiiiiik— At Yan Luo's words, the gate that is larger than our cosmic size bodies, begins to open.

Then, What unfolds before my eyes is a familiar scene.

[White Wheel].

And the massive being sitting in a lotus position before that Wheel.

Perhaps because now she considers me worthy, the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld no longer speaks through shadows with only a candle between us as before. This time, she boldly reveals her incarnation.

The very appearance I just saw in the Sun and Moon Heavenly Domain.

That beautiful yet bizarre figure of cosmic scale, the Netherworld Queen Mother, gazes down at me and at Yan Luo who brought me here, and opens her mouth.

[Let the Yama True Lord step out for a moment. I have something to discuss with the Ender.] [As you command.] Yan Luo bows deeply to the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, then disappears into the darkness beyond.

Kuuuung!

With that, the door behind closes again.

Though it is still only a projection, or an incarnation at best...

Now, I finally get to see the true face of the Underworld.

However, my growth does not bring me any joy. Rather, the more I gaze into the eyes of that colossal Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, the more suffocating it feels.

It feels like a heavy, dull weight is blocking my chest.

In that state, as I remain tense, alone with the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.

The Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld opens her mouth.

[This lowly maiden is...] Immediately, I bow my head and cry out.

[P-Please! I beg you, withdraw those words!] Kwaaang!

I shout, feeling an overwhelming sense of burden at those words.

Lowly maiden?

Anyone who has witnessed the power of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld could never stay calm upon hearing such words.

This feels less like humility and more like tyranny itself.

[I-I am... I am but a mere Great Net Immortal, and such words are far too great of a burden for me. Please, I beg you, do not call yourself such before me...!] At my desperate plea, the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld seems to gaze at me for a moment.

[However, you Heavenly Kings possess a rank higher than us Heavenly Venerables. In terms of rank alone, none of us Heavenly Venerables, myself included, can casually lower our speech toward the distinguished one.] [P-Please! I truly beg of you! Please lower your speech toward me!] I cry out sincerely, almost like pleading.

That terrifying being humbling herself before me.

It feels more like mockery or a threat.

I feel so breathless and stifled that I nearly beg as I continue.

[This lowly Seo Eun-hyun humbly beseech you...! P-Please, lower your speech toward me!] [... If that is your wish, then so be it.] Only then do I feel a bit of the suffocating pressure lift, and I gasp for air as I raise my upper body.

[Thank you... O Imperial Venerable...] And...

Only then do I feel like I can start thinking properly again.

'Ah... Right. Now...'

The Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld is on my side.

[I am not particularly on your side. You have merely reached my standard.] [Standard, huh...?] I smile bitterly.

[The standard of the Imperial Venerable who easily defeated the Radiance Eight Immortals in a single strike is unimaginably high... Could someone like me be of help to the Imperial Venerable?] I used to think that way.

That if we reach the 'standard' of the Underworld, it would mean we at least reached a realm high enough to be of some 'help' to the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.

But now, Having witnessed the true power of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, I begin to question just what kind of help I could ever offer.

Other than being a little toy soldier easy to play with, what help could I really provide?

I start to feel doubtful.

[You lack confidence. Believe in yourself. It is only natural that you are still weak right now. Above all, your growth is not yet complete, so there is no need to be impatient. The teachings of Salt Sea will surely show you the way. I do not invest in anything where I see no potential.] [... Thank you, even just for your words.] [And there is a misunderstanding.] [A misunderstanding...?] I look up at the Underworld in confusion.

In the eyes of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, there is a trace of displeasure.

[I am not particularly stronger than the Radiance Eight Immortals. The symbol of light they summon... the power contained in that symbol is on par with my own. The reason I appeared to overwhelm them is simply because... when standing before me, light grows feeble.] [...?] I feel puzzled by those words and ask a question.

[Do you possess a mantra that weakens light?] [... No. It is just... light itself lowers and weakens endlessly before me of its own accord. [Someone]... has woven that into a law itself. That is why, if you set aside that unreasonable law, the power between me and the faction of light is merely to the degree that I hold a slight lead...]

'Then isn't that actually a good thing...?'

I cannot understand the displeasure that lingers in the eyes of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.

And then, For some reason, the memory of when Tae Yeol-jeon and Hong Fan first met suddenly surfaces in my mind.

'... What is this...?'

For some reason.

The reaction Hong Fan showed upon first meeting the Underworld within Tae Yeol-jeon.

And just now, the 'law' spoken of by the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.

I feel as if there is some connection between the two.

However, I cannot immediately grasp what that connection might be.

'For now, let's make sure to remember this.'

I decide to hold that information in my mind and observe the expression of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld.

'Right now is not the time to ask about this.'

For the moment, I avoid asking that question and instead bring up another.

[... Then, may I ask why you offer support to those who meet your standards?] [That is not what you are most curious about right now, is it?]

'... As I thought...'

Even after reaching this realm, she reads right through me instantly.

I clear my mind of unnecessary thoughts and nod.

[... Then, may I ask what I am most curious about first.] [Go ahead.] [I believe you have been watching me since my previous life. If so, I believe you also witnessed the battle between us and Hyeon Mu. In that case... do you perhaps know the current state of Hyeon Mu?] [I do.] The Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld answers readily.

And at her next words, I cannot help but feel shocked.

[Hyeon Mu is currently endlessly repeating suicide within the Interdimensional Void. For some reason, it seems she has recovered her memories. Even before, whenever she sometimes regained her memories, she would repeatedly suicide without end like that.] [... Pardon...?] [Most likely, Hyeon Mu will not appear before you again. No matter how many lives you repeat. Because... those of Heavenly Venerable rank have already begun to notice your regressions, and Hyeon Mu is among them.] [...!!] At those words, I can't help but recoil in shock.

'Th-That means...'

Does this mean Hyeon Mu and the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable have realized my regression!?

'Have all the Heavenly Venerables become aware of my regression? Was it not only Kim Young-hoon who noticed?'

[Whenever Hyeon Mu regains her memories, from that moment on, she continues to kill herself in this way until an entire generation of Enders declines. After that, her memories are sealed again, and she resumes mindlessly chasing after me, declaring that she will defeat me. A pitiful child.] As the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld speaks of Hyeon Mu, for the first time, genuine pity flickers in her eyes before quickly fading.

At that moment, something flashes through my mind.

It is that.

Back then, when I heard about Hyeon Mu's Heavenly Venerable advancement ritual, something had struck me as 'contradictory' at the time.

What that [something] is finally comes to mind.

As soon as I realize that contradiction, I realize that I must ask about it here and now. Carefully, I open my mouth.

[... In fact, I have been holding a question regarding her as well... Would you be willing to answer?] [Speak. After all, I called you here to tell you what can be told. If there is wisdom you are not yet ready to bear, I will choose what to share, so do not worry.] [Yes, I am most grateful. Then, if I may... I wish to ask regarding the contradiction that lies within Hyeon Mu.] The contradiction I noticed when I first heard about the Heavenly Venerable advancement ritual.

That contradiction deepened further as I witnessed the power of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, and the moment the topic of Hyeon Mu was brought up by the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, the question fully formed.

[It was said that Hyeon Mu's advancement ritual was the expulsion of all beings from Mount Sumeru. But... if the power of Radiance Hall weakens only before the presence of the Imperial Venerable, then how on earth... could someone like Hyeon Mu have driven out even Radiance Hall?] That's right.

The group known as Radiance Hall has existed longer than the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, and the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld has existed longer than Hyeon Mu.

Then, even back when Hyeon Mu was around, Radiance Hall must have already been standing strong...

How in the world did Hyeon Mu win against the Radiance Ten Heavens of that era, who held power comparable to the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld?

That is exactly the essence of the contradiction I felt before.

And upon hearing those words, the eyes of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld twitch slightly as she answers calmly.

[It is simple.]

'Simple?'

But contrary to the word simple, as I hear the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld's following words, I feel chills run all over my body.

[Because that was not Hyeon Mu's advancement ritual.] [... Pardon?] [It was not Hyeon Mu, but a different [someone] who once underwent such an advancement ritual... and the great undertakings of that [someone] have been [overwritten] onto Hyeon Mu's history. Even Hyeon Mu's Interdimensional Void, the Plane of Soul... in truth, none of it is hers. All of those feats belong solely to someone else. That is why contradictions cannot help but arise within Hyeon Mu's story.] [...] I feel a creeping horror as if I am standing before a dreadful truth and ask my next question.

For some reason, I am afraid to speak the next question.

[... Is it... is it truly possible to become a Heavenly Venerable through such means? Through such an act of being suddenly...'overwritten' like that...?] [Your premise is wrong.] And at the words that follow, I am left utterly speechless.

[It is not that Hyeon Mu became a Heavenly Venerable through such means. Rather... it was after becoming a Heavenly Venerable that she was overwritten.] [... What does that mean...?] [Hyeon Mu, and the others of the Three Heavenly Venerables, one day simply came into existence. I myself do not know the detailed memories of that time, for at the plea of the Three Heavenly Venerables, I sealed them away with ancient force... but I suspect that truth is deeply tied to their disgrace.] [...] I tremble, trying to ask the next question.

But no words come out.

The question that rises to my throat is whether that means the Three Heavenly Venerables are beings inserted into the history of Mount Sumeru by someone...

But instinctively, I realize.

'This is dangerous.'

If I let this question slip out of my mouth, I feel certain an unbearable disaster will fall upon me.

It is my intuition, honed through knowing so many True Immortals and Governing Immortals even before becoming a True Immortal myself, and having always kept my thoughts guarded.

This is the kind of question that must not be voiced.

I feel as if an unknown someone will 'notice' if I ask.

Barely, just barely, I manage to swallow the question back down my throat.

Seeing this, the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld nods.

[It is best not to speak dangerous wisdom aloud. Even if the question is born purely from curiosity to know the truth... You have self-restraint.] [... Thank you... for the praise.] I hurriedly shift my attention to another topic.

Not something related to Hyeon Mu or the disgrace of the Three Heavenly Venerables...

I return to the topic of the Heavenly Venerables realizing my regression.

[... May I ask something else?] [Go ahead.] [... When we last spoke in private before. Did you not say so back then? That it would still be a long time before the Heavenly Venerables would notice.] [That was originally the case.] [Originally, meaning...] Just when I feel confused, the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld suddenly brings up an unexpected topic.

[When the order of time is reversed, what must be done for there to be no contradiction?] [...? I apologize. I do not understand the question.] [When someone from the future changes the past, what must be done so that it does not cause a contradiction in time?] [Are you... speaking of a time paradox?] That's right.

A time paradox.

If someone goes to the past, changes it, and then returns to the present only to find that the changed past altered the present in such a way that the reason for them to go back disappeared—that headache-inducing contradiction!

The Underworld suddenly brings up something like that.

And I cannot understand her intention.

'What is this? Is it a question somehow related to me, a regressor?'

But since I can't grasp her intention, I simply answer with what I think of.

[If a being from the future intervenes with a being of the past, for a contradiction not to occur in time... it would require determinism.] [Determinism?] [Fate is predetermined. If there is such a 'fate' in which the interference of the future being with the past being is the very thing that makes the future being come into existence, then perhaps... there would be no contradiction... If you are referring to my ability, though, would it not be more like parallel worlds... or something like that...?] [I am not talking about your ability.] The Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld smiles subtly as she speaks.

[[Someone] has already... from a point in the future beyond this moment, intervened in the past. And because of that, the fate of this present moment has been twisted and fixed. That upheaval of fate... has caused those of Heavenly Venerable rank to have awakened earlier than expected.] [... Pardon?] I open my eyes wide at the absurd claim.

'From the future... someone intervened in the past? What is that supposed to mean?'

[What do you mean, what is supposed to mean? Don't you have a guess?] [Me...?] Then the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld points at me.

[Deer. You must have seen a deer, have you not...?] [...] At those words, I open my eyes even wider.

[That deer... is proof that [someone] has intervened from the future. In other words... from the moment you saw that particular [deer], the future of this world has already been set. Your ending, too, has already been written.] [... Are you saying... my future has been determined?] [That is not exactly what I mean. Only the future in which [someone from the future interferes with the past through the symbol of a deer] has been determined. Who that 'someone' is, or what journey must be taken to reach that point—none of that has been decided yet.] [...]

'So only one scene from the future is set, but everything else remains undecided.'

Why is she telling me all this?

I look up at the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld in confusion.

[You want to know why I am telling you this?] [Please, tell m... Ah, no...] However, just as I am about to listen to her story as if entranced, I quickly shake my head.

Because I can tell that if I answer that question with a 'yes,' the Underworld will truly begin to reveal to me her intention, along with countless truths.

But when I think about it, I've already received more than enough answers regarding many matters from the Underworld.

Far too many, in fact.

In a way, it has been an incredible amount of help.

And...

'The help of a True Immortal stronger than me... always turns into misfortune, doesn't—' [Are you worried about such things?] It happens then.

The Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld raises her right arm.

Once again, above that right arm, something like the hand of a monstrous beast made of darkness rises.

Shiver!

The next moment— Kwaaaaaaang!

'Th-This is...!'

I understand immediately.

That single gesture of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, swinging her hand toward the void!

With just that one motion, a part of the principles of Mount Sumeru is torn away!

At the same time, I notice that the Wheel behind the Underworld stirs faintly.

'It... it's been rewritten!?'

In an instant, the laws of Mount Sumeru have been altered within the hand of the Underworld.

[I have just torn apart and reworked that law. It will need to be restored later, but... at least for now, I can twist away the misfortune coming for you as much as I please. I will become the Trial Overseer, twisting your misfortune into trials suitable for you and sending them back.] [...] [So do not worry about misfortune. I stand above such laws. Now, I will ask again. Do you want to know why I am telling you such things?] I gape at the terrifying power of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld, slowly nodding my head.

At that, the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld smiles.

[Then I shall tell you. Who it is that sent you down into this world, who it is that hunts you down, and who it is that blocks the way beyond the Audience Chamber where we Governing Immortals must go...] Thus, before me, seeking the truth, the mouth of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld opens, pouring forth the truths of this world.

[The one who hunts you down, who keeps the light as their servant, and who blocks the way beyond the Audience Chamber. That being has many names, but I mostly call them this.] At the words that follow, my pupils contract sharply.

[The Future King (未來王).]