Chapter 342: What is your goal, what is the end? (6)

Choi Han vs. the Flame Demon.
In the village's central plaza, a human and a demon stood ready to confront each other. Aurora observed the situation with concern.

“We must go now!”
She started running quickly.

Swoosh—
Her descent from the cliff was almost weightless, the wind swirling around her like an escort, letting her glide down as if the rocky terrain were a flat plain.

“The Flame Demon… he’s a troublesome one,” she muttered.

“What kind of demon is he?”
The young black dragon’s voice was curious—too calm for what they were about to walk into.

Aurora’s frown deepened.
“…The Flame Demon or the Prince of the Veil.”

She was referring to the figure standing before Choi Han.

Boom! Bang!
Explosions ripped through the village, shattering infrastructure. The air was thick with smoke, fire, and the desperate cries of villagers. The Demon King’s army, ruthless and unrelenting, razed everything—everything except the demons.

“The Demon King's army is no joke. They’ve got several brigades,” Aurora muttered.

Swoosh—
A sudden gust of wind brushed her cheek, snapping her attention back to the chaos unfolding below.

“Among them… there’s a special group of eight.”

They were known as the Demon King’s daggers.
“Among them, the one who leads the sixth group is the Flame Demon—Viscount Deshuran.”

Viscount Deshuran.

“He’s not a knight. Not a swordsman. Not even a mage.”

Yet he led one of the eight elite groups—the sixth.

Standing before Choi Han, Deshuran didn’t look like a harbinger of chaos. No, at first glance, he looked like a noble prince pulled straight from a fairy tale.

“Yes,” Aurora murmured. “One of his nicknames is ‘Prince.’”

He always carried a book. Every movement, every gesture, radiated elegance.

“…And yet, we call him the mad dog of the current Demon King.”

The mad dog who would do anything for the Demon King.

“Strength. That’s what the Demon King’s army values most,” Aurora said.

Raon suddenly thought of the Blood Cult from the Central Plains.

“Deshuran gained recognition there.”

A blind loyalty to the current Demon King. Moreover—his power—

“He is an illusionist.”

A being who shows terrible illusions to all those who oppose the Demon King.

“But he doesn’t just show simple illusions. He doesn’t show falsehoods.”

His illusion—

“It’s real. He creates reality.”

He didn’t stain his hands or his clothes with blood. The prince created a desolate scene without dirtying even a single finger or the edge of his clothes.

“Ah.”

A sigh escaped from Aurora’s lips as her face twisted in pain.

Whirrr—

Viscount Deshuran’s book floated in the air and opened. And then—

Thump!

The moment the book closed.

Boom!

A massive surge of gray mana burst from Deshuran—so intense, it could be felt from far away.
And then, that gray mana began drifting toward Choi Han.

The moment it touched him—

“An illusion—”

No.

“A terrible nightmare… will become reality.”

Choi Han.

That person—he was in danger. He had to be warned! Aurora quickened her pace.

Woosh—

In a state of urgency, without realizing it, a wave of gray energy emanated from her body.

It couldn’t be any other way.

Cale Henituse… and Choi Han, who had come with him—
They couldn’t be allowed to die here.

They might be the ones who could stand against Viscount Deshuran and the demon army.
They might even hold the key to changing the Demon World.

This opportunity couldn’t be ruined.
From Aurora’s perspective—and many others’—protecting such crucial allies was essential.

I will save him.

Even though Cale Henituse had told them to follow and conceal their identities, Aurora decided she had to risk revealing her identity and power to confront the Flame Demon, the leader of the sixth group. Even if it meant exposing her base, she was willing to take that risk.

I will save him first.

No matter how strong Choi Han was, Deshuran wouldn’t be easy to face.

This is the Demon World.

In a land saturated with demonic mana, even a sword master would struggle against a true demon.

And Choi Han—no matter how strong he appeared—
He couldn’t surpass Deshuran.

Not yet.

Deshuran had lived for over three hundred years.
The gap in experience… was staggering.

Choi Han will have trouble handling Deshuran.

Then… she had to intervene.

Yes.

She had already revealed her base by deciding to act and save the captured demon—so what did it matter now? Aurora made her decision.

“Definitely—”

Just as she whispered to herself—

“There, Lady Aurora—”

It was Cale.

“…Yes,” she thought, her gaze flicking toward him.

‘That person is probably more concerned about Choi Han than I am.’

She took a deep breath, calming her mind, and turned to face him. Their eyes met.

Cale spoke casually:
“Adjust your mask properly.”

“…”

“Your hair’s sticking out in the back.”

His voice was soft, almost lazy.
“After all, you’re probably the most recognizable one here, aren’t you? Might be best to cover up more.”

Aurora blinked.

No.

“Aren’t you worried about Choi Han…?”

Choi Han.

Wasn’t he one of Cale Henituse’s knights? She had received reports about Choi Han from the former Holy Maiden of the God of War, Cotton.

Of all those under Cale Henituse, I think only Choi Han has a true lord-and-knight relationship with him.

The relationship between Choi Han and Cale Henituse was said to be as close as that between Raon and Cale Henituse.

“Isn’t Choi Han a swordsman?”

For someone like him, an illusionist would be extremely incompatible. Without thinking, Aurora asked,
“Will he be, okay?”

Cale’s response was calm.
“What?”

At that moment, Aurora saw it. A faint twisted smile on Cale’s lips—lips that had once seemed soft and kind. An inexplicable chill ran down her spine.

<The last time I checked, Choi Han was a sword master. Not just any sword master—he was on the verge of becoming a great sword master.>

Cotton’s report flashed in Aurora’s mind.
But I haven’t verified his growth. I don’t know how much he’s changed.

Cotton’s knowledge of Choi Han had stopped at his confrontation with the White Star. That was the last update Aurora had on him.

Cale, his smile still in place, spoke again:
“Is that gray mana an illusion?”

Pfft.

Cale couldn't suppress a deflated laugh.
“Do you think that will reach Choi Han?”

At that moment—

“!”

Aurora’s heart skipped a beat as she quickly turned her head.

Boom—!

A deafening rumble shook the air, and something black sprouted from the ground. It wasn’t like any dragon she knew, but it was unmistakably dragon shaped.

It was emanating from Choi Han’s sword. No—from his body itself.

From the smoke, a dense wave of gray mana surged toward Choi Han, lunging at him.

* * *

I’ll be able to know who he is just by looking into his mind.

‘Who are you?’

As the Flame Demon, Viscount Deshuran, extended his illusory touch toward the person who didn’t answer his question, just as he decided to punish the human who dared to unsheathe his sword against him.

Boom—!

A black dragon emerged.

Choi Han, with black hair and eyes, didn’t look at Viscount Deshuran, but beyond. He saw his companions approaching, dressed in black.

- "Choi Han! Be careful, it’s just an illusion!"

Raon’s voice echoed, sounding panicked.

- “He creates real nightmares!”

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Swoosh—

A chill ran down the back of his hand. Something felt really wrong—like a bad dream sneaking in.

The gray mana floated in, all wispy like cobwebs or smoke. It crept closer, like it wanted to crawl inside him with every breath.

“If that gray mana shows illusions, and those illusions are terrible nightmares—”

Perhaps, the moment I perceive them as real; they will cause me pain as if they were actually happening?

Is that why they say he creates real nightmares?

Choi Han wasn’t interested in whether his assumptions were correct or not.

Crackle.

He just ran forward.
Straight into the gray mana.

“……”

One of Viscount Deshuran’s eyebrows raised.

“Ha.”

A mocking laugh escaped his lips. He seemed to find the situation ridiculous. Soon, the knights of the Demon King's army gathered around, but none dared to enter the space between Choi Han and Viscount Deshuran. No one wanted to face the terrible nightmare.

Whirrr—

With a gesture from Deshuran, his book opened again. Ominous symbols flowed from the book, filling the air.

“For a human, you possess an impressive aura. But in the end, a nightmare will stay by your side.”

The gray mana finally touched Choi Han’s body. His black aura flared up around him, crackling with quiet fury.

“Damn it!”

Aurora’s face twisted the moment she stepped into the village.

Swoosh—

Gray mana surged forward, swallowing Choi Han and the black dragon whole.

Deshuran calmly closed his book.
“Territory Declaration.”
His voice didn’t sound like it came from him—it echoed, like a whisper rippling across a still lake.

“The Garden of Nightmares.”

A breathless murmur brushed Aurora’s ear.
“Too late.”

Aurora felt her strength leave her.

That was it. Territory Declaration. And the cursed follow-up—The Garden of Nightmares.
She knew what it meant.

A nightmare was about to begin. For Choi Han.

Deshuran, the mad dog of the Heavenly Demon, had turned his power into a living hell for his enemies. Within that territory, it didn’t matter if you were a soldier or a saint—everyone suffered. The only smart way to face Deshuran was from afar. Keep your distance, ambush him, strike when he’s exposed.

But Choi Han?

He did none of that.

Without any defence, he entered that territory.

“He entered himself—”

Aurora couldn’t believe it.

“Yes.”

Choi Han had voluntarily entered that territory.

“Why?”

Aurora recalled Cale’s cold smile.

“!”

At that moment.

Creeeak-

A strange vibration emanated from the Garden of Nightmares.

“Argh!”

A groan escaped from Deshuran’s lips.

Whirrr—

His book floated in the air, and the pages moved endlessly.

“Ah—”

A sigh escaped from Aurora just when...

Boom-!

A loud rumble sounded, and the gray mana-covered hemisphere was torn apart.

The black dragon that broke through the greyness appeared.

Raon cheerfully made a comment into Aurora’s ear.

“Choi Han’s aura is amazing! He’s just a little bit Great and Mighty… but still not as much as the Great and Mighty Raon Miru!”

Cale, of course, said nothing.
He was already calmly walking toward the center of the village.

- Of course. That aura is incredible.

A familiar voice echoed in Cale’s mind—the voice of Dominating Aura.

From the Blood Cult in the Central Plains. The realization that Choi Han had attained while fighting the Blood Demon. That realization took his understanding and utilization of his aura to the next level, far beyond where he was before. Moreover, when he was enveloped in that black aura, it was barely noticeable.

But Cale knew better.
Because beneath all that power… there was something else.

“As always, no hesitation.”

Choi Han’s aura now didn’t allow him to kneel before another powerful aura. The aura that had resisted the force of a Dragon Hunter’s leader would now face the leader of sixth group, Deshuran. Wouldn’t that aura resist a mere illusion? After all, a nightmare is just that—an illusion.

Nightmares can freeze, but how could Choi Han's aura—infused with such immense power—ever be pierced by a mere illusion?

The Dominating Aura muttered as if it was unbelievable.

- Choi Han. That guy is as stubborn as his temperament, and his aura is just as formidable.

Choi Han wasn’t like Cale. Cale’s aura and Choi Han’s aura were fundamentally different. In any situation, he didn’t waver. He wasn’t someone who would retreat.

“And how could a mere nightmare make him tremble?”

“And—”

Cale murmured softly.

“This situation—”

He was probably already conjuring a nightmare for Choi Han. Cale couldn’t continue watching. He knew, perhaps better than anyone, the path Choi Han had walked. Despite everything, Cale understood the weight of the life Choi Han had led.

So, seeing this village—reminding him of Harris Village, which had long since disappeared—was already a nightmare for Choi Han. But the idea of creating a nightmare for him? It was laughable.

Cale stood still, watching as the gray mana was torn apart and scattered.

Whirrr—

The pages of the book moved frantically, not knowing what to do.

“How is it that—?”

Deshuran’s face twisted.

Perhaps as the leader of the sixth group, things might have been different, but Choi Han was a poor matchup for him. If he had confronted him with force instead of illusions, the outcome might have been uncertain.

Boom.

Cale watched as Choi Han swiftly advanced through the torn gray mana toward Deshuran. He watched the violent black aura that now clearly enveloped Choi Han. Still weak and faint, but definitely solid, that energy completely enveloped Choi Han, blocking the gray mana.

“Huh?”

At that moment, Cale and Choi Han’s eyes met.

When Cale felt a strange discomfort, Choi Han had already diverted his gaze toward Deshuran.

“……”

Deshuran’s face crumpled as his eyes widened.

Choi Han spoke.

“Do you want to know who I am?”

He let out a deflated laugh.

The village, which resembled the scene of Harris Village. In this tragic scene, who would have thought he’d say something like that? However, Choi Han still maintained his composure. That’s why he clearly saw the clothes Cale and his group were wearing. And he spoke.

“We are ‘ARM.’”

His voice rang out loudly.

Thanks to that, Cale heard clearly and stopped involuntarily.

- “Human, human! Choi Han is acting up again!”

Raon was horrified.

Cale felt something similar.

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Proofreader's Note:
A masterful buildup of dread, and just when the nightmare tightens its grip—Choi Han’s final words leave you needing to know what comes next.

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If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]