Absolute Regression Chapter 787

Episode 787: You must have come alone.

As the small boat carrying the sword dance approached the wealthy ship, a man appeared on the deck.

“Do you have an invitation?”

Geommugeuk took something out of his bosom.

“Okay, here’s the invitation.”

Shhh.

The paper thrown by the sword dance flew towards the unmanned man standing on the boat. The unmanned man caught it and confirmed it was a 100-nyang note.

While I was checking the receipt, I suddenly saw Geommu-geuk and two women standing before me. Just by watching their light-hearted techniques, which flew silently in an instant, I could tell just how skilled they were.

“Guide to the ship owner.”

With this level of skill, it would be enough to subdue him and threaten his life to make him guide you, but he asks you to guide him by giving him money?

“I must inform the captain in advance.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Please follow me.”

The three entered the ship under unmanned guidance.
Following behind, the Demon Lord Seophon and the Heavenly Sword Master were surprised. They hadn’t anticipated that Geommu-geuk would immediately seek to meet the ship’s leader upon boarding.

As I opened the first door and stepped inside, I felt a sweltering heat.
The large, hall-like space was decorated as a gambling hall, and over a hundred people were engrossed in gambling.
It wasn’t something to be trifled with, even though it was a gambling hall built on a ship. In fact, its facilities were far superior to those of most gambling establishments on land.

Women carried glasses of wine on trays, and guards stood everywhere to keep an eye out for troublemakers.

Here and there, sighs of regret, cries of joy, and angry curses could be heard.
Even without seeing him in person, I could tell what was happening and what was in his mind.

The group of swordsmen walked across the area, but no one paid them any attention. Their eyes were focused solely on their own cards, their opponents’ expressions, and the rolling dice.

Without even asking, the unmanned force exerted its power equivalent to a hundred nyang.

“There are seven more gambling halls like this one on this ship. This is the lowest level, and only those with five hundred nyang can enter.”

Five hundred nyang was a huge sum of money for ordinary people.

A man walking down a narrow corridor knocked on an iron door. As promised, he knocked and the thick iron door opened.

That place, too, was a gambling den.
The unmanned explanation continued. If the gambling den we’d just passed required five hundred nyang to enter, this one required two thousand nyang.

“If you make money here and make five thousand nyang, you can go back up to the upper room. Or you can bring five thousand nyang in the first place.”

This meant that it could continue to climb in that manner. Naturally, the stakes increased as you went up the ranks of the casinos. It was a structure that exploited the desire of gamblers to win big on big bets.

How far have I gone!

So, it was clearly exploiting the human desire to go all the way.

Cheonhwaruju felt puzzled again. She was none other than a priestess.

‘Why did you choose to meet me in a place like this?’

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure it out.
She glanced at Geommugeuk. Believing Geommugeuk would surely have something in mind, she felt a sense of relief.

We passed through several rooms like that. The one we were in now required thirty thousand nyang to enter.

With so many wealthy people, the atmosphere seemed relaxed, but that wasn’t the case at all. It wasn’t as boisterous as the first room, but the higher stakes made the atmosphere even more intense.
The tension was suffocating. Regardless of the stakes, gamblers were gamblers.

So the three of them entered the ship owner’s office under the guidance of an unmanned guide.

The ship owner in charge of the Buguiseon was Yang Dong.
A sturdy man, he was one of the top three masters in the Suryongbang, and enjoyed the trust and favor of the Suryongbang owner.

I examined the Yangdong Sword Dance, the Thousand-Haired Sword, and the Seophonmajon. Just looking at them, I could tell they were anything but ordinary.

“Where are you from?”
“What does your origin matter when you come to a gambling den? It’s how much money you have that counts.”
“For us, origin is more important. Many people try to recoup their lost money in other ways. If you don’t clearly identify yourself, you’ll be forced to disembark.”

As if he had already planned to reveal his identity, Geommugeuk answered without hesitation.

“I came from the new religion.”

For a moment, the bucket was startled. His unadorned reaction made it clear: this man had no connection to the Dark Palace.

“How can you believe that?”

Flash!

Before he knew it, the sword of the Geommu-geuk was aimed at Yang Dong’s neck. A subtle magical energy flowed from the tip.
Yang Dong didn’t even see his opponent draw his sword. He was considered one of the top three masters in the Water Dragon Hall!

Tax expert!

He was a master who could not even be compared to himself.

Clank.

Since I didn’t see the sword drawn, I couldn’t see it being retrieved either.

Yang Dong-i greeted him politely with a bow.

“What brings you here, your nobles?”
“Don’t be alarmed, I’m not here to ruin your business. Rather, I’m here to apprehend someone who is trying to ruin it.”

Yang Dong was not only skilled in martial arts, but also quick-witted. That’s why he was entrusted with running the most lucrative shipyard. At the very least, he knew for sure that the demonic cult master before him wasn’t out to harm him.

“Just speak.”
“I’ll take you to the VIP room.”

For a moment, the bucket flinched in surprise.

“How did you know there was a VIP suite? Have you already forgotten who we are?”

A faint smile appeared on the corner of the Sub-Hon-Ma-Jon’s lips. Before boarding the Fukui-Seon, when Geommu-Geuk had said he would show off his skills, he naturally assumed he meant to demonstrate his skills among the gamblers.

But that wasn’t the case. The person Geommugeuk was trying to taunt was the owner of this very ship. Geommugeuk’s actions continued to defy her expectations.

If it were me, I would have quietly infiltrated the room below, surveyed the atmosphere, and started gambling.
Perhaps I was still in the first room, learning from another gambler that there was a second room.

But the sword dance is already on its way to a room where only the richest people are present.

Come to think of it, the Sogyo leader’s choice was the right one. If they had planned to meet in a place like this, they probably wouldn’t have intended to meet in a quiet corner. If that were the case, they would have met on a quiet boat somewhere.

If I wasn’t going to observe quietly, I should go to the most crucial location. Even if it wasn’t there, I thought it would be right to work my way down from there.
This is how the Sub-Hon-Ma-Jon learned how to handle the sword dance.

“I’ll take you there.”
“Why do you want to go there?”

The people there were the ones he couldn’t give up even at the cost of his own life.
That’s why Yangdong didn’t back down easily.

“Even if you guys take me there…….”

The swordsman cut him off and revealed his identity.

“I am the leader of the Cheonma Sect.”

Yang Dong-yi’s eyes widened. There was no way Mine would dare impersonate the leader of the Cheonma Sect.
I knew he was a formidable opponent, but who would have thought he was the leader of a demonic cult?

“I hate gambling. I hate people who gamble, and I hate those who run these gambling houses even more. A murderer only kills one person, but you’re forcing their families and acquaintances into misery.”

This is the usual theory of the sword dance about gambling.

“So stop making me angry. I’ll just quietly take care of my business and leave.”

If the opponent was the leader of the Cheonma Sect, there was no choice.

“Please handle this quietly.”

If you cause trouble, we can’t stand it either.
I couldn’t bring myself to add that. But we have to endure it.

Yang Dong-i personally led the two women, along with the sword dance, to the VIP room.
After winding through the complex cabin and passing through a secret door, they found the VIP room.

“Okay, we have new guests.”

Then, the gazes of those inside turned to the Geommu-geuk group.
There was a large round table, and seven people sat around it.
Some were old, some middle-aged, and some young. They were all wearing expensive clothes, and anyone could tell they were wealthy.

Among them was a woman.
The moment she laid eyes on her, Cheonhwaruju knew she was the Princess Shinnyeo. Having left the palace at a young age, this was her first time seeing the Princess Shinnyeo, but she recognized her immediately.

Cheonhwaruju quietly informed Geommu-geuk and Sehonma-jon.

“It’s that person.”

Indeed, she was the divine princess, Ga-ye.
She, who had been gazing at the constellations before the Dark Princess, was now sitting in the middle of this gambling table.

Gaye said while looking at Cheonhwaruju.

“Are you here? You came sooner than I thought.”

The tone was unexpectedly calm and bright.

“Have you ever tried this? It’s more fun than you think. Come here and let’s play.”

Cheonhwaruju didn’t know how to accept her offer. He didn’t know she was sitting at the gambling table.

Instead of Cheonhwaruju, Geommu-geuk walked briskly and drew his sword.

“Anyone who has nothing to do with this woman, leave immediately. Those who remain will be considered on the same side.”

A cold magical energy emanated from the sword.

“Even if you’re crazy about gambling, you should be able to figure out this level of atmosphere, right?”

The magical energy unleashed by the Sword Dance Theater was beyond the power of ordinary people.
Those sitting at the round table trembled, rising to their feet, and buckets of water were carried outside.

Yang Dong thought it was all for the best. If these precious people were to be there together, caught up in a fight and die, and even a rumor spread, their fortune would be over that day.

‘We just have to save these people.’

Only then did the guests who came out with Yangdong get angry.

“Is this how you’ll handle guest management?”
“I’m sorry. We have circumstances, so please understand today.”
“Do you have a new room?”

Even in this atmosphere, they seemed determined to continue gambling rather than go home.
Yang Dong-i said with a smile.

“Of course. Now, let’s go.”

The bucket took them and left. More important than what was happening in the room was keeping these men hooked on gambling.

Now, only Ga-ye remained in the room. It seemed as if she had truly arrived alone, as if no one else had remained.

Rather, I thought the sword dance was a bad idea. Being alone meant believing in something invisible.

The princess’s gaze turned towards the sword dance.

“You’re more handsome than I expected.”

On the other hand, the evaluation of the sword dance drama was harsh.

“You’re more shameless than I expected.”
“Shameless?”
“You told our Lord Rouge to come alone?”
“I did.”
“Consider all the things you’ve done. And you’re telling me to come alone? If I had invited you to the main school alone, you would have come alone.”

Gaye didn’t say anything in response. Instead, she smiled.

Cheonhwaruju walked slowly and sat down in front of the princess. The two women stared at each other. Though they were both priestesses who received prophecies, they had lived completely different lives.

After a while, Cheonhwaruju asked calmly.

“Why did you want to see me?”
“You’re as impatient as the cult leader.”
“Because of you, I’ve been through so many ups and downs, and now I’m like this.” “
It’s a bit strange to say you. Shouldn’t Rouge and I be linked by the word ‘we’?”
“I left when I was young because I hated that.”

The two women exchanged polite words, but an invisible tension was building between them.

“You know that the Thousand-Sal Star has appeared, right?”

As Cheonhwaruju nodded, Gaye said something surprising.

“I received a new prophecy.”

An astonishing prophecy came out of the mouth of the Princess Divine.

“This world will be ruled by those born with the Thousand-Sal Star. This is a new prophecy.”

A heavy silence fell.
The most startled was, by far, Cheonhwaruju. Having lived by the belief that prophecies were infallible, her heart pounded.
The prophecy ultimately meant the death of the Young Cult Leader and the Evil Soma.

“Why are you telling me that?”
“It’s the prophecy of the main palace. Shouldn’t you know it even if no one else does?”

At that time, Geommu-geuk slowly walked over and sat down next to Cheonhwaruju and said.

“That prophecy is a lie.”

Cheonhwaruju looked at Geommugeuk with a surprised expression.

“A priestess can’t lie about a prophecy.”
“Then it seems you’ve given up on the priestess.”

The sword dance said firmly.

“If a prophecy had been given in this situation, it would have been given to Lord Rouge.”

Then, Gaye asked with a look of genuine curiosity.

“Why do you think so?”

Geommugeuk said with a cold look in his eyes.

“Because your life is wrong.”
“!”

Gaye’s expression, which had been relaxed throughout, hardened slightly.

“I think you’re worse than the Dark Princess. The Dark Princess was originally a person with a clear purpose, but what about you? Was the role of the Shinnyeo Palace to help the Dark Palace conquer this world?”
“The Dark Palace inherited the will of the Heavenly Palace.”

It meant that he followed the Heavenly Palace, not the Dark Palace.

“Do you really think so?”

The swordsman stared at her with piercing eyes.

“If the princess who served the Heavenly Princess were to see you, what do you think she would say? Do you think she would say you’re doing well?”

The princess’s eyes trembled slightly. The sword dance stimulated her even more.

“If the Dark Princess is trying to use Luju here to lure me into killing you, aren’t you against it? Don’t you want to kill Luju more than me?”
“Why would I want to kill that person?”
“How could I know what’s on your mind? You haven’t received prophecies, but Luju here has, so she’s probably angry.”
“Shut up!”

Gaye’s composure was broken and her expression turned cold.

Slurp.

The swordsman lifted his sword and held it halfway in front of her face.

“I believe that heaven would not give a prophecy to a person like this.”

Her distorted face was reflected in the blade.
Beyond the blade, Geommu-geuk spoke.

“You should have met with Lord Rouge and apologized instead of telling her your nonsensical prophecy. I’m sorry I called you into this trap. I couldn’t help it.”

Clank.

Geommugeuk stood up from his seat, retrieving his sword.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Cheonhwaruju looked at the princess who was sitting quietly and then asked Geommugeuk.

“Are you just going to leave her behind?”
“She’s already gone.”
“Huh?”

Shhh.

The black magic sword sliced ​​through the air. A single ray of sword energy cut through her neck.

Crunch.

Her severed head flew into the air. Both Cheonhwaruju and Sehonmajon were startled, not knowing that Geommugeuk would suddenly decapitate the Princess Divine.

But there was no blood coming from the neck.

Bang! Phuong!

The princess’s head and body vanished into black smoke. The moment I returned the half-drawn sword to its scabbard, I realized her aura had shifted. Whoever it was, with incredible skill, had taken her away.

“Something just unfolded around us!”

Sensing something, Geommu-geuk walked back and opened the door.
The hallway outside was indeed awash with a dark aura. The floor was filled with black smoke like a fog.

“I think I now understand why you asked me to meet you on this ship.”

Geommugeuk recognized the dark magic unfolding before his eyes.

“The great destruction of greed has been accomplished on this ship.”

The Great Extermination of Greed was a representative dark magic that descended from the Dark Palace.
Even the Demon Lord of the Sub-Souls knew what kind of magic it was.

“It’s a dark magic that thrives on human instinctual desires. The more primitive the desire, like appetite or lust, and the stronger the desire, the greater the power it unleashes… Ah!”

At that moment, she also understood why she had asked to meet here.

“This ship even devours appetite and lust…….”

Geommugeuk added softly, looking down the hallway filled with fear and foreboding.

“It is filled with a more tenacious desire.”