All living beings in the world must disappear for the new master to take root?

The words from the World Tree made my mind spin.

‘What kind of nonsense logic is this…?’

If there’s no master in the world I live in, the world will eventually produce a new one. And in order for that new master to settle in, all living beings rooted in the land would have to be erased.

"Who decided such a thing?"

Who was the lunatic that set such a rule? It was an absurd and nonsensical idea.

[It’s not someone who decided it. It’s the way of the world.]

I let out a hollow breath at the World Tree’s words. That’s just the way of things?

"What a ridiculous idea."

If that’s the natural order, and if there’s no master in the world I live in, then naturally a new master will appear. And if that happens, according to this natural order, all living beings on the surface would disappear?

‘Am I supposed to believe that?’

It was truly an absurd story. Not only had I never heard such a thing, it made no sense at all.

"I’ve never heard of anything like a ‘master.’ Even without one, my world has been functioning just fine."

If a master was necessary for life to be born, then life shouldn’t be able to exist without one. Yet, life is being born just fine, isn’t it?

"If your words aren’t lies, does that mean there’s already a master in my world that I don’t know about?"

If the master is the connector of life, would they be like a god? Perhaps like the gods worshiped at Shaolin or Wudang? I couldn’t be sure.

The information was too outlandish. It would take me a while to fully grasp it. It wasn’t something I could believe so easily.

[Sado (apostle).]

The World Tree called out to me again, but the words didn’t easily reach my ears.

[We call a world that has deviated from the natural order a ‘fracture.’]

"A fracture?"

[Yes. A fracture in the original framework causes the natural order to malfunction.]

"...And what exactly is this ‘fracture’...?"

Ah.

Just as I was about to speak, something flashed in my mind.

If a fracture is something that prevents the natural order from functioning, and if there is something in my world that could be considered a fracture… Could it be?

“…The Demon Gate?”

A rift in space, an alien dimension that opens and spews forth countless demons.

A long time ago, it was said that one of the ancestors of the Gu family opened the very first Demon Gate. If the opening of the Demon Gate caused a disruption in the natural order of the world…?

‘No way…?’

It couldn’t be. It must not be.

If the absence of a master caused the natural order to break, and if that break was the result of the Demon Gate…?

‘…Was this all because of the mess my ancestor made?’

If the fracture the World Tree was talking about was caused by the Demon Gate, then this would be the consequence of the sins committed by my family.

‘No, can we even call it a sin?’

If I think about it differently for a moment…

Originally, in a world without a master, no new life would be able to be born. But if the fracture caused by the Demon Gate allowed life to continue being born despite the absence of a master, then… wasn’t it a good thing?

‘No, that’s not right….’

I shook my head, realizing it was impossible to paint this in a positive light. No matter what, opening the Demon Gate cannot be justified.

Unless the ancestor had intentionally tried to break the natural order, it was clear that a sin had been committed. And that sin has persisted to this day.

No matter how much I think about it, there’s no way to sugarcoat it.

The only thing I should focus on right now is the fundamental question raised by the World Tree.

"Fine. Let’s say that this natural order and fracture nonsense is true."

None of it makes sense to me, but for now, I’ll play along. So what remains is…

"If a master is supposed to exist in our world, then where is that master supposed to be?"

If every world must have a master, then where is the one that’s supposed to be in Zhongyuan?

If there’s a problem, it must lie there. The master’s absence must be the cause of all this trouble.

[...]

The World Tree remained silent in response to my question. Does that mean it doesn’t know?

Isn’t it possible that there’s simply no master for our world?

[There’s no such thing as a world without a master.]

“Come on, be honest. You’re reading my thoughts, aren’t you?”

[The world despises anything that deviates from its natural order.]

Ignoring my question, the World Tree continued.

[That’s why it always strives to restore things to their original state.]

“So when you say it strives, you mean it tries to install a new master?”

[Exactly. Where there is a world and where there is life, a master must also exist.]

“…And for a new master to take root, all existing life must be erased?”

[That’s the natural order.]

“Give me a break. Seriously.”

What is this "natural order" nonsense?

I’ve heard enough to be sick of it already.

“So if the natural order is twisted and life keeps being born, how exactly do you plan to erase all of it? Will the heavens rain down fire?”

If all living beings need to be wiped out to install a new master, and if the method of wiping them out involves stopping the creation of new life, but that isn’t happening because of the fracture… then what exactly will the world do to establish a new master?

With that question in mind, the World Tree responded, this time with a voice that felt somehow colder.

[If the natural order has been twisted and things aren’t flowing as they should, the world will take action to make it so.]

“How?”

[It’s simple. If life continues to exist, it will be erased artificially.]

"Erased artificially?"

I frowned at those words. The idea of artificially erasing life… It started to prick at my mind.

"…That means…?"

[If the natural order is disrupted and things aren’t flowing as they should, the world will summon a substitute to correct it.]

A substitute.

A being that can restore the natural order and repair the twisted framework.

If life keeps being born despite the natural order, and a master cannot emerge because of that, then the solution is to artificially wipe out all life.

"When does something like that even begin to happen?"

The idea of all life being wiped out was a horrifying, absurd notion. If the World Tree’s words were true, it wouldn’t be a small event.

‘Was there ever any record of such a thing in the past? In my previous life, did such an event occur?’

At least, from my memory… I don’t think so. So does that mean it’s something that’s going to happen in the future?

As I was thinking this over…

[The world isn’t known for its patience.]

The World Tree’s words echoed my thoughts.

“What do you mean…?”

[If a fracture occurs and the natural order is twisted, action will be taken immediately.]

In order to restore the natural order…

"But."

Even upon reflection, nothing like that has ever…

[Do you really believe nothing like that has happened, Sado?]

"There’s been nothing like…"

Wiping out all life in Zhongyuan to correct a twisted natural order? Since that can’t be done naturally, the world would send a substitute to accomplish it?

The timing of the Demon Gate’s opening and the events that followed suddenly came to mind.

“…That’s really messed up.”

Without realizing it, I cursed under my breath. Goosebumps crawled up my spine as I thought of the overlapping events, the unease growing inside me.

It dawned on me.

The event the World Tree was talking about, the act of correcting the natural order…

The world is impatient, so such an event must have already occurred in the past.

It’s not a lie to say that something like that did happen.

Because the first thing that comes to mind is…

“…The War of the Blood Demon.”

As soon as I spoke the words, a cold sweat trickled down my cheek.

Several centuries ago.

Not long after the Demon Gate first opened.

At a time when the current Martial Alliance didn’t yet exist, and the world was only just beginning to resist the demons spilling out of the rift, fighting tooth and nail to achieve even a fragile peace…

In the midst of all this, something happened as if to say peace was not meant to be.

It was the first great bloodshed, the event that heralded the arrival of the Blood Demon.

“…So, is the Blood Demon the substitute?”

A substitute sent by the world to wipe out all life?

Youn Ilcheon once told me…

This world is fated for destruction.

And the Blood Demon was the calamity sent for that destruction. Although the Blood Demon was sealed away, the calamity wasn’t over. It would return, and I, too, was a calamity.

[Sado.]

The World Tree called out to me, and I sprang up from where I had been sitting on its root.

[You’ve realized something, haven’t you?]

"Why do you keep calling me Sado?"

[Sado…]

If the Blood Demon is a calamity, and the calamity hasn’t ended, then it would make sense to believe the Heavenly Demon is also a calamity.

That seems only logical.

In my past life, it was the Heavenly Demon who brought about the great bloodshed.

The overwhelming power and presence of the Heavenly Demon were so immense that it was hard to believe they were even human.

If anyone deserved to be called a calamity, it would be the Heavenly Demon. Even though they were ultimately defeated by the Divine Sword, the Heavenly Demon was a fitting figure for such a title.

But then…

"What is it that you want from me?"

If that’s the case, then what am I?

[Sado.]

“What is it you expect from me?”

The being in front of me claims to be a master of a different world. They’ve given me this information, handed me the so-called ‘stigmata,’ and keep calling me Sado.

But why? What do they want?

“Are you telling me… you want me to become a calamity?”

The Blood Demon was sealed by Youn Ilcheon and others. That was the conclusion of the first calamity.

Youn Ilcheon once said the world wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

There’s a reason for my regression, and that reason is because I am also a calamity.

[It seems you’ve misunderstood something.]

“Misunderstood? How could I possibly misunderstand this?”

Don’t give me that crap.

Do you know how hard I’ve been trying?

Through the miracle of regression, I’ve been struggling to live a different life.

I’ve been trying so hard to save those who died for me and to live a life different from my previous one.

But now, you’re telling me that all of this was predetermined, and that I was meant to bring destruction to the world I once lived in?

"…I’d rather die here."

[Sado.]

"Stop calling me Sado…!"

[There was once a child, just like you.]

Just as I was about to shout, clutching my pounding head, the World Tree’s words made me pause.

The emotion in its voice was oddly tender, making me stop without realizing it.

Why is that?

[There was a child who screamed in agony, who vomited blood after learning the truth.]

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

This wasn’t the time to be listening to some old tale. I desperately wanted to break free from this, but…

For some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to say another word.

[How sorrowfully that child cried. And the useless old tree couldn’t embrace its child, even though it knew.]

“Child?”

A tree has children? The thought crossed my mind without me even realizing it.

[To a master, life is like their own child.]

“…”

If the master’s existence allows life to be born, then the lives born from that master are like their children.

[Do you know this, Sado?]

“How would I know? You never told me.”

[Your world doesn’t lack a master.]

There was a master in Zhongyuan?

Then the Demon Gate didn’t open because there was no master, nor did the Blood Demon appear to restore the natural order?

"…Then what? Did the master just leave?"

If that’s the case, then where did the master of our world go?

[Traveling against the flow of time takes a great deal of power.]

The World Tree had said that earlier.

[The burden that comes with it is too great for a single human to bear.]

“Too great?”

Then what about me?

[A human can’t carry it, endure it, or even hope for it. Even a being greater than a human would struggle with that burden. Time is such a force.]

“Why are you suddenly talking about this…?”

[The master of your world wasn’t lost. They were erased.]

My eyes widened at the World Tree’s words.

[The master, having gone against the flow of time, faced punishment for reversing a mere human’s time. They lost their qualification, and their existence was erased. That’s why you know nothing of the master.]

“…What are you saying? That a master of the world turned back time for a human?”

Wait…

As I was speaking, I lifted my head to look at the World Tree.

The master, having once been a master, turned back time for a single human.

I…

I know about another regressor besides myself.

How could I not?

The person who stopped the Blood Demon and sealed it was a regressor, just like me.

So why is the World Tree suddenly bringing this up now?

"You…"

[Sado. Do you think I gave you the stigmata to use you as a calamity?]

The World Tree’s voice, just like before, was filled with sorrow.

[To a master, life is like their own child… how could I possibly do that?]

The voice sounded beyond sorrowful, as if it were crying.

The bare branches, devoid of a single leaf, and the roots stretching out as if trying to block the blowing wind…

It all seemed so tragic.

[Did you know this, Sado?]

The World Tree spoke to me, voice trembling.

[The stigmata of a master…]

Now I finally understood.

The World Tree standing before me…

[It can only be given to one’s own child.]

…was the master of our world.