"The Heavenly Demon Church completely burned down and disappeared.
The sudden downpour was enough to extinguish the fire that had engulfed the Heavenly Demon Church, but the building, already badly burned in many parts, finally collapsed under its own weight.
The structure, perched on naturally formed high stone pillars, once it started to crumble, collapsed in a chain reaction and plummeted into the lake below.
Thus, the Heavenly Demon Church turned into ruins overnight.
There is no one left around here. At least, not any Harvesters.
The only remaining Harvesters are two people, fleeing in the distance to the north, lost and running away.
But even that won't last long. They're already being chased.
Feeling the hopeless reality of truly having no surviving Harvesters, I looked down at my knees.
The body of one person in front of me had turned completely white and crumbled, looking more like a broken plaster statue than a human corpse.
With the weather, it wouldn't be strange for bugs to be swarming by now, but it seems that all organic material had disappeared by the time it turned white.
I had been sitting all day, but when the rain stopped, I stood up.
There was nothing left on my lap but white powder.
Looking around, I found myself standing in the middle of the ruins.
Wondering if it was all truly over, I glanced to the west, where smoke was still rising.
There was white smoke and black smoke. The place where the most black smoke was coming from was the plaza where the Heavenly Demon and Omyoungseong once competed in martial arts.
If smoke is still coming from a place where nothing flammable is left, it means something is being gathered and burned. And I recognize the smell. The pungent stench of burning protein.
They're burning bodies.
At least, I couldn't see any living people.
Standing in the midst of the ruins, I briefly pondered what to do.
It seems making more Harvesters in this world is difficult. The world captures anyone with purple hair without question.
So the few remaining Harvesters from the north are being caught and dying one by one.
And I have purple hair.
I touched the artifact I had been carrying since yesterday. It's a weapon called the Makya Sword.
I had picked it up thinking it was a lightsaber, but I can't use it. It seems to be a tool that requires energy to operate.
But since it's easy to carry, maybe I should take it with me.
In case it becomes useful, it could be of help.
First, I wondered if I should head home, and to find the way, I moved through the ruins, climbing higher.
The main building of the Heavenly Demon Church was built on stone pillars, so all paths were cut off. But there were still some paths, not completely gone.
Some people remembered there was a path that led down.
So I wandered through the ruins and found the place in my memory.
Most of it had collapsed when the buildings fell, but the old stone steps that led down along the eroding cliff were still there.
They were too big for me to walk easily, but I made my way toward them.
If I fall to the bottom, I can just regenerate.
I carefully descended along the stone pillars, twisting around them, and eventually made it to the bottom. The ground had turned gray from debris falling from the collapsed buildings above.
And under the surface, there was an unusual amount of light gathering.
It probably meant that various creatures were having a feast.
I closed my eyes and walked toward the house I once lived in. Of course, it's not my destination. It's just a stop.
There's no reason to stay there anymore.
Since there were a lot of wood fragments from the collapsed buildings, many things were floating on the water, so I walked along the stone pillars to the cliff.
I kept walking north along the cliff for a while. Eventually, the cliff began to slope down, and a path appeared that I could walk along.
Climbing the hill there, heading south, I found a small, broken house, situated between the ruins and where I was.
It was completely crushed by the sealing spikes. But there were no sealing spikes around.
It seems someone took the remaining survivors.
Inside the house, there were only holes and the interior was overturned, as if it had been searched for something valuable.
All that was left were clothes for a tall woman and for a child.
It looks like there is nothing worth taking in this room.
Thinking metal tools might be worth something, I moved into the kitchen. It was dark and silent.
Hmm? Dark and silent?
Oh, now that I think about it, the fire that used to always burn brightly is no longer visible.
Looking at where the fire had been, it was now completely blocked by sand.
I cleared the sand, but there were no more signs of fire in the stove.
Well, it's no longer needed.
I grabbed a few dishes and decided to head north.
To the north, from my position.
In the world where people live, it's the center.
There is Kunlun Mountain, where immortals live.
It's said to have warmth. Not the typical kind of immortals, but ones at a level similar to Daegon.
It must certainly be full of warmth.
Right?
After taking one last look at the completely lifeless kitchen, I turned and walked toward my destination.
Going down the hill, I encountered tall trees as a boundary.
A deep forest.
I remembered the time I had once been bitten by a feline beast around here, and its teasing remains lingered in my mind, making me not want to go back.
But to leave, I have to cross through it.
I entered the forest and walked the path the immortals and Taoists had once taken in reverse. The traces of their journey were still there.
It would have been nice if I could run as quickly as a martial artist, but no matter how fast I ran until my heart burst, I’m not that fast.
So I kept walking, not stopping. If I keep walking steadily, I'll eventually get there.
Unlike when Sooga pointed out how quiet the forest was, now the forest is filled with the sounds of various animals. At least, it means there’s no immediate danger.
I never imagined I’d be walking alone in a deep forest, with no one around.
Three years later.
Maybe we could have walked this path together, the three of us.
A forest that only makes white noise sounds.
At least I’m not walking through an area without a path because the traces left by others moving through make it less difficult.
After walking for a while.
I suddenly looked into the distance.
To the north, slightly to the east.
The last Harvester was killed.
They fought and died, shouting for the Heavenly Demon Church.
At least within the range I know, there are no living people anymore. The only one who might still be alive is a person.
But I don’t think that person ran away, leaving someone they loved behind.
If they did run away, they’re less likely to get caught.
Because they’re not a Harvester, and their hair is black, and according to Omyoungseong’s memories, they’ve once hidden their identity and lived outside.
So, they must have the skills.
I’m not sure about their desire, though.
After walking for a while, when I get hungry, I pick some edible plants nearby. Fortunately, immortals and Taoists mostly rely on a plant-based diet, so I know quite a bit about edible plants in this world.
Even if my memories of the murder are fragmented, I can easily extract and cross-check that information.
So, I ate some edible plants and, as the sun set, I crouched down to rest my body.
My mind doesn't sleep, but my body needs rest.
And as the day passed, then two, and three...
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Finally, the dense primeval forest ended, and a village appeared.
That means it will be much easier to walk from now on.
I happily entered the village.
But as soon as I stepped inside, men wearing white headscarves rushed up and pointed their swords at me.
"Leftovers of the Heavenly Demon Church!"
"Purple hair! Someone call the Taoist!"
"A giant woman. Could she be dangerous?"
"Her sun blood isn’t showing. Her hands are white."
They aimed their weapons but didn't strike. The person at the front signaled to the others, and one of them came forward.
This man is shorter than me.
"What’s going on?"
"Are you a member of the Heavenly Demon Church?"
"Don’t you judge by hair color?"
Isn’t purple hair enough to automatically kill someone?
"We’re not murderers. We’ve just come here to save those evil cultists from the Heavenly Demon Church. Are you one of them?"
If they’re asking if I’m a part of the Heavenly Demon Church, well, I’m not.
My contract has already disappeared, and the people I met there are all dead.
"No."
The man looks surprised.
"Someone like SaGal must be lying! Kill them now!"
Someone shouted from behind.
But the man, after thinking for a moment, carefully looked me over and asked me.
"Where are you headed?"
"Kunlun Mountain."
There was murmuring from behind.
Taoist? The Taoist? It seems they are considering my identity.
I stayed silent, waiting.
The man, who had been silently observing me, turned around and quietly instructed the others. Then, he looked back at me and spoke.
"If that’s the case, wait until the Taoist comes. If you’re truly innocent, you can go with the Taoist to Kunlun Mountain."
The man, glaring at me, spoke in a low voice, warning me.
"If not, you’ll have to pay for deceiving us."
I nodded.
"Alright. Let’s do that."
The people behind, especially those with surprised expressions, seemed to have been caught off guard by my nonchalant answer.
I really don’t have any connection with the Heavenly Demon Church anymore, so I’m not afraid.
My existence might be dangerous, but if they make an issue of it, I’ll think about that then.
Considering that anyone who attacks me will be affected by the weapon, regardless.
Yes.
It's really not that dangerous.
Really."