Crack.

“Arrrgh—!”

The sun had set, and the moon was now high in the sky. In the pitch darkness, unbroken by a single light, screams of agony echoed.

Crunch—

The sound of a leg snapping filled the air as one of the demons collapsed to the ground, clutching his leg and screaming in pain. It was clearly no ordinary situation, and a lone figure stood silhouetted against the moonlight, watching.

“…”

Perched atop a tall building, Silent Fist (Mugwon) observed the scene below. Demons were caught in a brutal fight.

This wasn’t surprising. Lower-ranked demons or newly-turned ones often struggled to contain their madness, resulting in frequent fights. Besides, most who became demons were from the heretical sects or had unsavory pasts, often unable to control their fiery tempers.

Many ended up dead in these fights, but the Unit Lord didn’t care, so it was of no concern.

However—

“Arrrgh…! Stop, please!”

“Stop? You bastard, you think this is over?”

Today’s situation was different. Mugwon observed with a calm gaze.

‘Hmm.’

He assessed the fallen demons, screaming on the ground.

‘They’re from the Gui Sword Unit.’

He’d heard they brought some of the Demon Swordsmen for border patrol and menial tasks. The Gui Sword Unit had a notorious reputation, and seeing them already in such a state on their first day was telling.

If they’d been from the Black Flame Unit, they wouldn’t have dared to act up like this.

‘Fear of the Unit Lord would keep them in check.’

After all, no one wanted to be burned alive from the feet up, and unnecessary actions were avoided.

Watching the scene, Mugwon furrowed his brow. Normally, he would have intervened to stop the situation.

‘…But this…’

What could he even call this?

Mugwon was momentarily speechless as he watched the scene unfold.

They were still lower-ranked, but they’d crossed into a level of maturity. Only demons skilled enough to be noticed by the Black Flame Unit would be stationed here.

And yet—

‘They’re being toyed with like playthings.’

The new recruit who had joined today was effortlessly taking down three of them.

“You bastard! Do you know who I am!?”

“Aaaargh!”

“…”

Although it appeared like a petty, emotionally-fueled brawl, the movements he occasionally glimpsed were extraordinary.

‘He’s controlling his demonic energy perfectly.’

The recruit the Deputy Lord had brought in was far more capable than Mugwon had anticipated.

‘…I think I understand why the Unit Lord told me to watch him.’

His Unit Lord must have known to look out for this recruit’s skills.

If anyone would catch on, it would be the Unit Lord.

But there was one lingering question.

“You’re running? You’re really running? Get over here! If I catch you, you’re dead.”

“Eeek!”

“You looked me in the eyes. Get over here.”

“P-please spare me!”

“…”

There was something oddly familiar about this new recruit.

“Grrr…”

One of the demons, unable to endure the pain, began to foam at the mouth and lost consciousness.

Seeing this, Mugwon decided it was time to step in.

‘This wasn’t what I expected, but it’ll do.’

Just as Mugwon was about to intervene to put a stop to the violence—

“…What are you doing…?”

A voice called out from behind him, and Mugwon immediately dropped to one knee.

Only one person here could sneak up on him so quietly.

Without lifting his gaze, Mugwon addressed the voice’s owner.

“…Greetings, Deputy Lord.”

Step.

With his head bowed, he heard the soft footsteps approaching, stopping beside him.

In the moonlit spot, the Demon Sword Queen (Mageomhu) stood, looking down at the scene below.

Two demons were sprawled on the ground, and one was getting beaten like a cornered rat by the young recruit.

“…”

The Demon Sword Queen watched intently, her gaze focused on that single youth.

“…Mugwon…”

“Yes, Deputy Lord?”

At her call, Mugwon answered, still without raising his head.

He knew she disliked making eye contact with anyone except the Unit Lord.

“…You…”

“Yes.”

“…”

Mugwon waited patiently, expecting her to continue, but she said nothing more. Just as he was about to lift his head slightly out of curiosity—

“…Never mind. It’s nothing…”

The Demon Sword Queen muttered these words and disappeared again.

Her behavior was strange, but Mugwon hid his confusion.

“Hey! Come on, snap out of it. Breathe! Breathe… Ah, damn it.”

Hearing the voice below, Mugwon stood, realizing something had happened while he hesitated.

He quickly descended to the scene below.

Meanwhile, the Demon Sword Queen lingered in thought, reflecting on last night.

While wandering through the forest, she had extended her senses fully.

Trust was not something she gave freely.

Even though the recruit mentioned the Cult Leader, she trusted no one, especially men of his age.

Her senses, when fully extended, covered the entire forest.

No sound would escape her.

Which is why—

"You still love the moon, I see."

She couldn’t help but hear his words as he gazed at the full moon.

‘…’

The Demon Sword Queen walked slowly, recalling that voice.

The sadness, longing, and unspoken sorrow within it lingered in her mind.

But there were more important matters at hand.

‘I must see him.’

Seeing the Unit Lord took precedence.

 

The next day had arrived, and with it, daylight.

Thanks to last night’s spirited fight, the quarters were quiet, and I managed to sleep well.

Maybe it was because I almost killed one of them? The demons were giving me odd looks today.

‘If Mugwon hadn’t intervened, that could’ve gone sideways.’

I’d lost control because of days’ worth of pent-up irritation, and I’d gone too hard, beating one into a near-catatonic state.

He wouldn’t be walking anytime soon.

‘Well, what’s done is done.’

I didn’t dwell on it much.

I’ve mellowed out a lot. In the past, I wouldn’t have felt satisfied without pulling something off that guy right then and there.

‘And it wouldn’t have mattered if I had killed him.’

That was clear enough.

I realized something as I beat them last night.

They weren’t from the Black Flame Unit.

Judging by their fighting style, they were lackeys of the Demon Sword unit. You can tell by the way they hold their swords—their fingertips are steeped in murderous intent.

‘It’s always been like that with them.’

The Unit Lord is a bloodthirsty lunatic, so it’s only natural his subordinates have the same aura.

There’s a reason I’d beat up any Demon Swordsman I saw.

‘To be honest, I just can’t stand them….’

But that’s a memory best left in the past.

I glanced around the area. We were all gathered in the hall, and the demons lined up in silence.

They were visibly tense.

‘Why do they look so scared?’

I could only watch with a puzzled look. Then, catching sight of my clothing, I sighed.

‘…Wearing this again.’

The black martial robe they called the Cult Uniform of the Demon Cult.

It was marked with the emblem of the Black Flame Unit. Never thought I’d wear this cursed thing again.

‘This is seriously depressing.’

Every time I wake up, I wonder if I’ve returned to the real world.

But after three days, it’s clear I should probably give up.

It was like this the last time I returned. It took me three days to accept reality.

Damn it.

‘If I want to return, I’ll have to do something.’

But the first thing I’d have to do was figure out what that something was.

Nothing specific came to mind just yet.

‘I should find a chance to gather information.’

The fact that I was trapped here was enough to make me feel miserable, but I had no choice.

Once you’re in this mess, it’s faster to accept it and find a way forward.

Creeeak.

The sound of the door made me tense.

Thud.

The moment the doors opened, a heavy presence filled the hall.

If I relaxed, I’d probably collapse.

‘Ah… so that’s why.’

Feeling the overwhelming energy, I understood why everyone was so tense.

If they didn’t brace themselves like this, they’d probably pass out.

‘That lunatic.’

I couldn’t help but curse under my breath as I recognized the presence.

That bastard probably didn’t even realize he was exuding this kind of energy.

The fool should at least make an effort to contain it if he’s that overflowing with demonic energy.

Thump.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the hall.

The past version of myself stepped forward, black robes flowing, scanning the hall with violet eyes.

Just watching it made me cringe.

It was mortifying.

‘I’d rather die of shame than have my vessel break.’

It couldn’t be truer.

He really was trying to appear impressive. What was he thinking?

Behind him followed the Demon Sword Queen, Mugwon, and six others.

They were the elite of the Black Flame Unit.

Thud! Thud!

The moment he appeared, the demons dropped to their knees in unison.

Not wanting to stand out, I knelt down as well.

“Greetings, Unit Lord!”

The high, spacious hall echoed with the greetings.

The Black Flame Demon continued walking, unfazed by the loud voices.

And yet—

‘Why the hell is he staring at me?’

I noticed his gaze linger on me for a moment before moving on.

At this time, there were only two reasons the past version of myself would look at someone like that:

Either they were someone he was interested in,

or someone he planned to kill soon.

And looking at me now, I could tell… it was both.

He was both intrigued and considering me as a target. I could tell without even needing to look again.

It seemed I was marked.

Ignoring his gaze as best I could, I kept my head down.

Creak.

The Black Flame Demon shifted his gaze from me and ascended to the throne, taking his seat with a heavy thud.

“A report has come in.”

Straight to the point, as usual, not wasting any time.

“The Heavenly Lord, that senile old man, is said to be lingering near our borders.”

The presence of the Heavenly Lord around Sichuan—at his words, the demons in the hall stirred.

This implied that the fragile truce maintained until now could escalate once again into war.

Listening to this, my mind raced.

‘The Heavenly Lord is in Sichuan.’

I’d heard this directly from the Demon Sword Queen in the past.

If it was around that time, then…

‘Oh… don’t tell me.’

A realization widened my eyes.

I knew that the Heavenly Lord had wandered near Sichuan at one point.

The reason he appeared here was to deliberately draw attention by disregarding the Cult Leader’s orders that forbade the Three Sovereigns from interfering, attracting the focus of the demons.

‘So it was now.’

Piecing it together, I finally understood the time period I was in.

I looked over at the Black Flame Demon, thinking.

The reason the Heavenly Lord was drawing attention was simple.

‘…To send him.’

The Heavenly Lord’s goal was to attract everyone’s attention.

Meanwhile, someone else would slip in unnoticed—that was the real objective.

And that "someone" was none other than…

‘The Defeated Lord.’

It was an operation to send the Defeated Lord into Sichuan.

This meant we were right before the Defeated Lord would appear and wreak havoc.

In my memory, he’d attacked seven days after this report came in.

‘Damn it.’

Why now, of all times? I couldn’t help but glare, clutching my head in frustration.

Was the Defeated Lord’s arrival the problem? No, that wasn’t it.

The reason for my concern was something else entirely.

Biting my lip, I glanced toward the Black Flame Demon.

‘You already knew.’

I had known that the Heavenly Lord was in the area before the Demon Sword Queen even reported it to me.

And I also knew the Defeated Lord would appear soon.

Yet, that idiot chose to feign ignorance.

If my prediction was correct, he’d say something like this next.

“We’ve received orders…”

‘…From the Cult.’

“Orders from the Cult.”

Hearing the words exactly as I’d anticipated, I closed my eyes tightly.

“We must send a message to the Heavenly Lord, who has defied the Cult Leader’s commands.”

Maintaining an impassive expression, his violet eyes swept over the gathered demons, who trembled under his gaze.

“From now on…”

Whether he was aware or not, that damn fool continued his speech unbothered.

“We begin the hunt for the old monster.”

“Yes, sir!”

The demons responded to the Unit Lord’s words with a shout.

In the midst of this, I could only frown, biting my lip.

As expected.

No matter how I looked at it, the conclusion was the same.

I was trapped in an inescapable memory, struggling to break free.

In every sense, this world was truly a hell of my own making.