I returned to the room where Inshimwon was.
As I touched some kind of apparatus in the room, a staircase leading down appeared.
Since I had obtained Inshimwon's memories, I knew how to go down, but I had no intention of sharing that information.
So, pretending to be ignorant, I followed Inshimwon down to the basement.
Below, there was a cave. If you listen carefully, the sound of mechanical devices is steadily audible. If those devices stop working, the drainage system will break, and the place will fill with water.
It’s a precautionary measure.
If that happens somewhere in the middle of the passage, there’s a high chance of drowning.
Unless you're a species that can breathe underwater, of course.
Thinking this, I walked through the damp and humid cave.
After walking along the path for a while, I came to a place built in a completely different architectural style from what I had seen so far.
If the building were made of stone, it would have to be constructed with sharp, angular stones stacked up, but here, it was a structure that looked like the waves themselves had been turned into stone—soft, wavy, and almost fluid.
As soon as I entered, several monsters appeared, half-human, half-seafood.
Some had their skin peeled off and muscles exposed, so it was clear they weren’t in a normal state. Just like the girl who turned into a monster earlier, these too had lost their original forms and turned into monsters.
They stared at me with their cloudy, white eyes and bared their sharp, needle-like teeth as they charged.
The attempt was good.
But as the Heavenly Demon extended his palm, a violet wave spread out, and everything disappeared without leaving a trace.
It’s a bit of a revelation, but in terms of sheer strength, I think he’s the strongest person I’ve seen.
Of course, there are those who could unleash more firepower. But I’ve never seen anyone handle the surroundings so neatly, eliminating enemies without damaging the environment.
Inshimwon stared at him with a blank expression.
But instead of saying anything, he tightened the arm holding the girl he was carrying and walked forward.
Inside, the paths were complexly twisted, but Inshimwon had memorized the layout.
As I pictured the structure in my mind, with the faded memories I had, I could guess why it was designed this way.
The structure wasn’t just made to twist the paths; it was built to prevent the flow of water from becoming excessively strong when the area eventually filled with water.
It’s a structure known to those familiar with Tesla valves.
The center of the valve is the path, and as you follow it inside, you soon arrive at a large underground temple.
The structure is designed in a stepped formation like a circular theater, with the center of attention focused on the middle. But half of the floors are submerged in water.
No, to be precise, it’s better expressed as the entire place was designed to sink.
In the areas where people can stand, there are members of the Hyeol cult, and in the water below, those known as the Yo-God Immortals gather.
And at the central podium, Tongcheon, the leader, is giving a sermon.
"This is the place where the followers of the Hyeol cult may come, and beyond this point is the domain of the breakaway sect. Humans must not approach this place."
Inshimwon stood at the boundary between the water and the shore.
Many things have happened there. It’s a place where humans fully transformed into monsters cross, and it’s also where sacrifices are made.
Furthermore, the sermon of Tongcheon is surprisingly not that strange. It’s a tale about training well to become a strong Yo-God Immortal.
And it’s also a place that tempts people with the idea that they too can become immortals.
"Let’s go."
"Yeah."
I was thinking about whether to swim through the water, but a violet barrier began spreading out from the Heavenly Demon.
"Oooh."
Inshimwon looked at the Heavenly Demon with an expression of pure reverence. He trembled as if a massive pressure from the Heavenly Demon was resisting its way toward him.
There was physical force at play here.
It’s strange that I can’t feel anything.
Is physical force selectively applied here?
Curious about the strange laws at work, I watched as the Heavenly Demon took a step forward and moved onto the water.
Creeeek.
Creeeek, creak, creak.
With the sound of hard walls crashing and vibrating, the water literally vanished.
It didn’t evaporate into steam or get pushed in the opposite direction by the Heavenly Demon’s barrier. It just disappeared.
It was as if there was a hole in the spot where the Heavenly Demon stood, and at the same time, the fish or grotesque creatures with limbs like those of humans disappeared with the water.
And when the water had completely disappeared, the Heavenly Demon turned around and looked at us, opening his mouth.
"Let’s go."
"Yes."
I jumped down below, but as I did, I suddenly remembered Inshimwon and turned around. He seemed to be hesitating, his expression confused as he wondered whether to follow me with the girl he was carrying. His eyes shifted between me, the Heavenly Demon, and then back to the ground, as if hoping someone would say something to him.
"Inshimwon."
"Yes, yes!"
It’s funny how he can’t even answer properly, so dazed. If he were really the leader of a place like Moonjeongdang, wouldn’t he at least snap out of it?
Or maybe the situation is so chaotic that he can’t even act tough right now.
I gave him just one line.
"Next time, choose what you want to do for yourself."
And I immediately followed the Heavenly Demon.
The reason behind what I said?
It’s nothing special.
Once the value of freedom is decided, I plan to push it through to the end. Since I promised not to lie, I must ensure that my words remain true.
And I’ve already gathered all the information I can from him. I don’t really want much more than that. So Inshimwon can do whatever he wants now.
Betrayal?
Yes. That’s allowed too.
As long as it gives me more warmth.
Thinking this, I moved forward from the damp, submerged location where I had been.
Additionally, glowing stones like those found in radioactive areas were embedded in the ground.
Isn’t this releasing radiation?
But since it’s a place where light is hard to bring, I understand.
So I walked while absorbing the warmth from the creatures dying far off, getting caught in the Heavenly Demon’s barrier.
Not long after, a massive door appeared, and the water crashed at an incredible speed, hitting the Heavenly Demon’s barrier and disappearing.
But at some point, the water crashing into the barrier disappeared. I could see bubbles beyond the barrier, no longer preventing the water from disappearing.
And on the other side of those bubbles, a dark shadow appeared. A massive, human-shaped marine creature, so large that dozens of people standing in a row would look small, was behind the water’s barrier. And a bright, glowing light inside its chest was visible.
That monster broke through the water and came out. Then, its size gradually shrank, transforming into a man wearing a scale-leather cloak.
"Those who still carry the name of the Heavenly Demon use unimaginable strength."
The man, who spoke, waved his hand through the air. A crack appeared behind him.
One of the lines shot forward, and when it touched the Heavenly Demon’s barrier, the barrier collapsed without a sound.
And the man walked toward us, step by step.
"Are you Tongcheon?"
The man, with a broad forehead and no hair on his body, looked down at me with eyes as white as frost.
"Yes, I’m the leader of the Tongcheon Sect. You should have known that you would die for touching my things after intruding into my domain."
"Your things?"
The way he said it, it sounded like this body was originally his property.
"This body was meant to hold our essence. But you came and stole it, using it as you pleased... It was a carefully crafted vessel, made with slaves, but now that you've entered, it must be remade."
When he mentioned "slaves," he was referring to the Hyeol cult group.
But there’s something strange here.
"Why do you need a human body? Your own body seems bigger and stronger."
He chuckled as he laughed.
"Ah. This body was carefully crafted too. But the vessel that can hold a god is limited, and it doesn’t last long. So it needs to be reborn."
He reached out, but not toward his head or body. He pointed to his lower abdomen. I can guess what he wants.
Unlike me, who is embodied, he wants to use this body to create a new one.
"Can’t you just come without it?"
If you need a body, why don’t you ask if it’s like mine?
"Any insignificant thing that looks at me directly goes mad. To avoid that, I need to wear the body of this world. And it’s the same for you, Heathen God?"
It seems like he’s a surprisingly powerful being. To go mad just by looking at him.
Yes, it’s true. Gods are described that way.
The same way humans cannot look directly at the One True God, and polytheistic gods make people burn just by being seen.
"No. I’m not a god. I’m just a monster that sank to the bottom. I’ve been looked at by humans just fine."
When I finished speaking, Tongcheon smiled, clearly pleased.
"Ah, I see you’ve understood the difference in rank. Yes, your abilities are quite interesting. You can turn people to pieces and still make them regenerate. A very useful power. I can treat you well."
He spoke as though it was obvious that I would surrender to him.
Look at this.
"Most positions in the Sipcheon Army are vacant. How about your rank? If you work hard under me, I can raise your position."
It’s like he’s already treating me as a subordinate.
"Hehe."
A laugh involuntarily escaped me.
Why? The Heavenly Demon suddenly retreated with a frozen expression, moving faster than ever.
"Oops. What’s the use of running?"
Then Tongcheon swung his arm. The water exploded, and it rushed toward the Heavenly Demon like a snake.
Well, I’m sure he can handle it. In fact, when he drew a sword from his robe and swung it, the water burst apart. I didn’t pay attention to it and walked straight toward Tongcheon.
The closer I got, the stronger the smell of fish became.
Since I’ve become this body, I’ve stopped feeling anything from the smell, but I’ll make sure to remember how disgusting it is from now on.
I approached him and grabbed his neck. But my strength was only at the level of a slightly stronger girl.
"So, you want to resist?"
Tongcheon looked at me with a mocking expression and opened his mouth. I didn’t have any intention of choking him.
When I saw him up close, I understood.
When I fell beneath the surface, I saw a massive chunk of light, the same size as what I had seen near the surface.
In other words...
"You have a lot of warmth?"
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