Chapter 38
At the same time, the messenger beeped incessantly.
[(Messenger) Your synchronization rate with Indra has increased to 2.25%!]
[Due to the relaxation of causality constraints, the implementation rate of Indra’s powers has increased significantly. You can now manifest 2.25% of Indra’s powers in the the mortal world.
+Cost: A magic stone is required as a medium.]
Without asking further, Baek Yi-heon immediately ran towards Lee Yudam.
He began to confront Lee Yudam, who had lost his reason and was charging at the chief monk.
Surprisingly, their strengths were evenly matched.
‘No, perhaps Baek Yi-heon might be slightly overpowered…?’
But now was not the time to be amazed.
Taking advantage of Baek Yi-heon holding off Lee Yudam, I rushed towards the parasitic monster.
That vile face still mocking this situation.
Lee Yudam’s face, shedding tears with an indescribable expression, overlapped with it.
“You worm-like bastard! Don’t mock humans!”
Taking on the appearance of the chief monk, how dare you mock Lee Yudam. Don’t mock his feelings.
Vermin should be burned to death, as is customary.
I took out a fire-attribute magic stone and infused it with power.
The fierce heat that enveloped the monster’s body was unbelievably intense for a C-rank magic stone.
That power, now even greater and more powerful than when it burned the sea dragon last time, was now shining beyond red into a blue color.
Even as its entire body burned, the parasitic monster let out laughing sounds until the very end.
Only after reducing it completely to ashes did the flames cease.
“…Don’t mock us.”
I stared at the blackened, burned spot with a feeling of emptiness.
Clang—!
The weapon slipped from Lee Yudam’s hand.
The last remaining monster had vanished as well.
Only then did the third eye on Lee Yudam’s forehead slowly fade into a line and disappear.
At the same time, the fierce light in his eyes subsided, and soon his black pupils slowly returned to normal.
As he regained consciousness, he looked around with a bewildered gaze.
Lee Yudam uttered just one word.
“Ah.”
It was a scene no different from hell.
The bodies of those he had personally cut down, lying there in their monk’s robes.
“Ah… ah…”
A groan full of anguish involuntarily flowed from Lee Yudam’s lips.
Clang—.
The knife in Lee Yudam’s hand fell, making an inappropriately clear sound.
Unable to bear looking down at the hellish scene, he tilted his head up towards the sky.
…The battle was completely over.
I quickly ran towards the injured Baek Yi-heon.
He had been attacked by a monk who had turned into a parasitic monster during the fight.
“Baek Yi-heon-ssi! Are you alright?!”
“…I’m fine.”
He gritted his teeth, then pulled out the knife stuck in his stomach with his own hand and threw it away.
I felt slightly relieved and said,
“Since mana flows through your body, it will heal soon.”
The wound-healing ability of an awakened one was incomparable to that of an ordinary person.
“Yes. Don’t worry, this much is nothing. More importantly…”
Baek Yi-heon’s gaze fell on Lee Yudam.
Turning his eyes away from the chaos on the ground to look at the sky, he slowly brings his hands together.
Then he closes his eyes.
“Amitabha Buddha…”
Surprisingly, his face, which had been immersed in deep anguish and despair, was gradually becoming peaceful.
For a moment, I was captivated by something akin to awe as I watched him.
How could he offer prayers to his god in a situation like this?
‘What kind of prayer…?’
“…Is this the power of religion?”
“I don’t know. However.”
Baek Yi-heon looked around the scene in the temple and added with a bitter expression.
“It’s fortunate enough that he hasn’t gone mad. In a situation like this, anyone would lose their mind.”
In a situation like this, does he mean a situation where one loses all their close ones in just a day?
Looking at the people lying fallen and covered in blood, I realized what he was thinking about.
…Probably his family.
“…We don’t need to stay here any longer. Let’s quickly go to where Sehun is.”
In this ruined world, one must become resolute.
I steeled my heart and led those injured in body and mind towards the main hall.
💎
Not Choi Yudam, but Lee Yudam.
However, the surprises didn’t end there.
“…Twenty-eight years old?”
Lee Yudam wasn’t a teenage boy, but a twenty-eight-year-old woman.
She was a bhikkhuni who had joined the temple after enduring various hardships in her youth.
“It was the chief monk who took me in when I had lost hope and was in despair.”
Lee Yudam recalled with a bitter tone.
I had made a hasty judgment based on her loose-fitting robes that didn’t reveal her body shape, her short haircut, and her low voice.
I had to admit that the parasite’s words were somewhat true.
‘Humans are easily deceived by appearances…’
“Then, Yudam-nim. What are your plans from now on?”
Baek Yi-heon didn’t seem particularly surprised, suggesting he might have already known her gender.
“Staying alone in this temple is out of the question.”
“Please let me come with you.”
Monk Yudam, no, Lee Yudam, calmly requested.
Her quick response suggested she had spent the previous night contemplating this decision.
“I’ll help as much as I can. I won’t be a burden.”
At her words, both Baek Yi-heon and Sehun looked at me intently.
They were asking for my opinion.
I scratched my cheek with a troubled expression.
‘It feels like we’ve already diverged from Baek Yi-heon’s companions in the novel, hasn’t it?’
I wondered if this was okay, but…
I glanced at Lee Yudam’s calm face.
She appeared serene on the surface, but the dark circles under her eyes suggested she hadn’t slept at all last night.
I knew what she had been doing all night.
On the small mountain behind the temple.
Dozens of small graves made of stacked stones had appeared there.
I also knew whose grave was the one made with the most meticulously chosen stones.
Whose prayer beads were on top of it.
“……”
As I looked at Lee Yudam’s fingers, raw and red at the tips, I finally spoke.
“Let’s go together.”
At my words, I felt Baek Yi-heon’s face subtly brighten.
He must have also wanted to go with her.
If I had refused here, he probably would have thought, ‘How cold-hearted,’ and reconsidered his opinion of me.
Hmm. That’s surely it.
Besides, I had already witnessed her formidable combat skills yesterday.
‘Right. That’s why. This is a very rational decision.’
[(Messenger) Indra looks at you with a pleased expression.]
‘What. Why.’
Feeling embarrassed, I inwardly grumbled and changed the subject.
“Then… what should we call you from now on?”
I asked awkwardly, having treated her like a teenager until now.
She just chuckled warmly.
“Just call me Lee Yudam comfortably. After all, I’ve discarded both age and gender.”
She doesn’t seem that much different from me in age.
I wonder what experiences she’s been through to reach such a level of enlightenment.
Whether aware of my thoughts or not, Yudam asked with a gentle face:
“Where do you plan to go next?”
“First, to downtown Busan.”
I answered without hesitation.
I need to find Choi Yudam.
‘My monster-repelling magic stone maker.’
But the two of them, unaware of my true intentions, nodded in unison.
“Of course. You’re planning to investigate Dowonhyang, aren’t you?”
Huh?
“I knew you were contemplating it. But I also knew that Noah would choose this path.”
…Even Baek Yi-heon?
💎
Thank you for reading! ♡
