Woljedang.
Oh, so the reason I was summoned to this place deep inside a cave has to do with this. Woljedang is stuck under the stone pillar that rises up from the lakes to the east and south.
After heading towards the main building with Cheonma, we took the elevator down and then boarded a ship. From there, we set off to the stone pillar further outside. Only then did we finally arrive at the location where they were.
Of course, I was aware of this through Guseongyong and Cheonma’s memories.
As soon as I stood at the entrance, a guide attached himself to me.
While following him and looking around, the atmosphere felt different.
Unlike the Cheonma Church members who proudly display their faces and unique outfits, most wore plain clothing that covered their faces.
But not everyone wore the exact same outfit. The knot colors were different for each person, and the hats on their heads looked varied.
They probably dress like this to show their ranks easily.
And everyone had two or more lights around them.
What are they living with all that?
While I was admiring the surroundings, I entered a room. The room was hazily covered in smoke. Is this an opium den?
And in the middle of the room sat a person with their face covered.
“Woljedang.”
“Oh dear, is that you, Cheonma? Coming here with such company. What brings you here?”
Well, not the warmest welcome.
From the voice, it seemed like a man. However, there’s no guarantee this person is the real Woljedang. Still, if I harvest him, I can gather some info.
“Hello. I came to offer myself to you.”
With Cheonma by my side, I quickly jumped to the point.
If this person starts to twist my words, I might not win. And there’s a chance he might find a weakness in what I say.
So, I dive right in.
“Aha, you wish to change me like Cheonma? Even if that isn’t a blessing.”
At that, the man who calls himself Woljedang pointed out the dangers of harvesting. His intentions are clear. He’s trying to sow doubt in Cheonma.
He doesn’t plan to let me speak.
Because once I harvest him, I’ll gain his memories regardless.
I stepped forward.
And with a click, some devices moved.
Swish.
Cheonma immediately unsheathed a sword and cut the power line. Because he could see the mechanical device moving.
Of course, considering the world has somewhat recovered, he could regenerate from a decapitation a few times. But a once-injured area might be weaker than before, so it’s still wise to be cautious.
I made it clear I had no intention of chatting.
“This is a notice.”
“Oh, oh dear, Cheonma! Will you just let this pass? This is nothing short of an invasion of our Woljedang! You’ve seen what could happen if we let this monster be, haven’t you?”
The words were urgent, but the tone was anything but.
It was almost mocking.
Once you cross a line you shouldn’t, regret is the name of the game for Cheonma.
“Do it. Woljedang.”
But Cheonma casually replied. Then the slightly startled Woljedang quickly lowered his voice.
“You’ll regret this.”
“Since when did I become subject to your commands?”
As expected of Cheonma.
Is he really planning to stick to what he said back then? Woljedang stared intently at Cheonma.
“Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years.”
Then he just said that mockingly and walked towards me. I recited the contract document to him.
“I’ll offer myself to you. But later, once you’ve taken care of everything, I’ll take all that you possess. What do you say?”
Woljedang fell silent for a moment before responding in a heavy voice.
“You always say the same thing. Fine. Let’s do that.”
I grasped the light within his body and tried to tint it with my color. No, I meant to, but something strange was sticking to it, preventing me from fully coloring it.
Ah.
This.
I know. When I first entered this body, something like this was stuck to one of my eyes. Someone must’ve contracted with this guy first.
That’s claiming ownership.
I first licked the light. The memories I gained were about half of what I should’ve obtained.
Half is still something.
I gained quite a bit of memory. Most importantly, while this guy holds the title of Woljedang, I also learned he isn’t the highest-ranking person in the Woljedang.
“It’s a double contract.”
Through faintly connected senses, I felt a victorious smile emerge on his face.
“A double contract?”
Cheonma asked in a manner of confusion. So I replied like this.
“It means he doesn’t serve Cheonma.”
If it were just warmth, I could snatch it at any time with my current connection, but I chose not to.
Instead, I said this.
“Call your master. Inshimwon.”
“W-How do you know my name!”
For the first time, he shouted in panic. Looking through my half-obtained memories, this world places great importance on names. So, he seems surprised I figured it out.
I pointed my finger at him.
“Just because it’s a double contract doesn’t mean the contract’s void, right?”
If I take my time, his light will gradually turn wholly dark purple. Bits of another being’s touch are slowly being ripped away from the light’s boundary.
Well, I mean.
I can obtain memories, and once I snatch warmth away too, I can sacrifice things like light.
Even if I try to negotiate like that, something isn’t budging. Perhaps he needs to see me to converse or has no intention of letting go.
In that case, there’s only one option.
That man is also a target for harvesting.
Anyway, right now, those present likely believe I could only know their names. No need to hesitate in using the already spread information.
Since this world values names, I twist my words to imply I’ve taken the important things.
“Did you think you could merely contract with words? Now. Hurry and bring him.”
Though I couldn’t find out where he was, I could tell whether that person was right or not.
“Cheonma! Kill this man at once! He is the unprecedented evil god from beyond! Through mere contracts, a person can be stripped of everything and turned into a lifeless husk! We have ways to escape his grip. If we don’t banish him from this world soon, the Cheonma Church will face dire consequences!”
Inshimwon shouted loudly like someone having a seizure, trying to negotiate with Cheonma.
I looked at Cheonma and pointed at the interest.
“He’s saying there’s someone more important than yourself.”
“I hear that too.”
After Cheonma replied thus, he extended his hand. Then the dark purple energy enveloped the surroundings.
Wow.
It was indeed my energy, but something felt different?
Should I compare it to the contrast between meat and amino acids? I’m amino acids, and what’s around me is the meat. It’s not just proteins, but something else is mixed in.
And Cheonma used that to lift the man and choke him.
What do they call this again?
Force grip?
Right away, faded memories keep popping the word ‘gal’ into my mind, then the term ‘heavens and earth’ comes to light.
Wait, isn’t that the same thing?
Ahhhh.
Faded memories flood in like a storm. At the same time, I realize something’s been scratched. This memory.
While I was reflecting on those old memories, Cheonma interrogated Inshimwon.
“I didn’t know anyone above me existed in this Cheonma Church.”
Gasping for air, he scratched at his neck, but Qi seemed impossible to grasp with just hands.
At that moment, a single light atop his head began to move rapidly. Then it pierced through where his eyeball should have been and emerged.
Through the cloth covering his face, an eel-like fish leaped out.
Inshimwon was wheezing and letting out groans filled with agony. Naturally, that’s to be expected since it’s tearing through his brain.
I see movements aiming to kill.
So I stepped closer and grabbed the head of the fish.
“I found you, Krub.”
And I shoved my fingers into its gills.
I guess because I grabbed it while speaking, I couldn’t finish my sentence properly. This happens a lot. It’s common for someone to just voice without looking at their subordinates.
I thought it was simply an action in stories, but it seems it happens in reality too?
Such an annoying element.
“Come and speak directly. How rude.”
The fish substance pricked me? Is that an attack?
I snatched the warmth from this creature while ripping its throat out. Gotta take that warmth. Hehe.
Right then, a strong fishy stench filled the air, and the fish died.
Woljedang then collapsed to the floor, frothing blood.
Struggling in pain, I noticed he was gradually reaching for the light. He can take the light, but now this is just annoying.
“Inshimwon. Poor soul. If you wish to live, reject your master and proclaim you’ll serve me.”
I figured out through touching contracts a few times that words possess a surprisingly powerful force. Just reciting the contract document while thinking shows it connects me and him.
“Say I like you. Say you’ll betray another for me.”
I pushed him to betray.
“If you do, I will let you live.”
Truth be told, it’s less about me saving him but more about him naturally surviving.
I gently took his hand and said sweetly.
“You only need to say one word. Yes. Just one word.”
I whispered softly.
To escape the utmost pain, people will do anything. Faith or beliefs don’t matter. In unbearable situations, the body instinctively struggles for survival.
Just like how I’m struggling to gain warmth.
You should be like that too.
If he had some clarity left, he might consider death, but in this situation where his brain’s damaged, how about it?
I urged him several times.
“Yes.”
Eventually, he accepted while frothing blood.
Hehe.
My hand that clutched his light got knocked back, and I filled myself with the light. I packed it in tightly, leaving no white spots behind.
I completely filled the incomplete memories.
And at the same time, his body cracked like porcelain, tearing his clothing. Blue skin emerged from the cracks. Purple hair peeked through the pieces and cloth on his head.
“W-What?!”
He blankly stared down at his fingers. His blue skin visible.
“Congratulations on your betrayal. Or shall I phrase that differently?”
I stood before him and said.
“You’ve apostatized.”
Hematoma Mystic Art. This guy was not a believer of the Cheonma Church but another religion.
Within the faded memories, the man is pondering.
While it’s traditional for a blood cult to exist within a sorcery cult, is that really right?
If it’s a religion that believes in immortals and not gods, does that mean it’s Taoism?
Terms like ‘spirit of vitality’ or ‘heavenly pole’ seem to be merely variations of Taoist phrases, right?
To begin with, is this world aligned with martial arts?
While I understood it wasn’t anymore, I couldn’t fathom why I was even contemplating.
I felt memories scatter as I peeled the torn cloth from the man’s head.
Then the man who chose reality over faith looked up at Cheonma and me with a terrified expression.
I met his gaze and smiled.
“Congratulations.”
