902 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

150 years. The mind momentarily went blank at the daunting number. 150 years...? Not just a few months? “…What kind of absurdity is this?” Noya had been gone from my side for merely a few months. How could over a century have passed? I tried to clarify, though I found Noya’s expression was quite serious. “There were more days I didn't count, so perhaps it's even a bit more.” “What...?” “This place was initially barren. There was nothing here, so I planted a tree.” My gaze followed his hand, revealing an enormous tree towering towards the sky. “Is that it?” “Yes. It's grown quite a bit, hasn’t it?” “Too much, if you ask me.” Even if time were considered, the tree seemed extraordinarily strange. Even if Noya’s story of 150 years was true, it was peculiar for a tree to grow that large. “I'm struggling to understand here. So….” “It’s alright. Your lack of understanding isn’t new.” “Could you refrain from mocking me while I’m struggling here…?” “Oh, it’s a habit, didn’t realize I was doing it.” Annoyed, but I held it in, continuing to speak. “So, Noya came to this place, and 150 years passed… and in that time you founded the Hwasan Sect. Yet, where I was, only a few months have passed?” “Ah, you understood correctly.” “No, I still don’t get it at all.” So time flows differently. Despite over a century passing here, only a few months had passed in Zhongyuan? If that were the case... “…Why didn’t you return sooner?” He claimed he'd be back in a few months, so why linger through more years? Faced with this question, Noya appeared slightly embarrassed as he replied. “Well, it became impossible to return.” “Impossible to return?” Hearing this, I furrowed my brows. “You said there’d be a way.” “That’s because I trusted that one guy. I didn’t expect things to turn out this way.” Noya scowled and added. “And truly, it was trying to fulfill your request that led to this mess, so why the fuss?” “...” Facing the truth, I was left without words. “…I'm sorry.” Offering him a heartfelt apology, Noya gave me a strange look. “That’s unexpected. I thought you’d grumble until the end.” “Surely, I’m not that hopeless.” “Well, perhaps you are…?” “...” His confidence rubbed me the wrong way. Was I truly that much of a scoundrel? ‘But still, 150 years is extreme.’ How could someone endure such an extensive stretch of time? That was what puzzled me the most. Was it possible that Noya was lying? ‘Impossible.’ It’s impossible. The Noya I know wouldn’t do such a thing. I was certain about that. So, he really did spend 150 years in a place like this, creating the Hwasan Sect according to his taste…. Contemplating this made me realize the biggest issue. “…But Noya.” “Yes, speak.” “…How are you still alive?” “…Are you cursing me?” “I’m sincerely asking.” Even the stretch of 150 years is all right. That strange tree, let’s consider it plausible too. Yet, the fundamental question remains unsolved. “…You’ve lived quite a long time, haven’t you?” “Indeed, so you’re truly cursing, right?” “No, that’s not it….” Trying to ask properly made it sound odd, but that was my honest thought. ‘Noya lived 150 more years in his body?’ As far as I knew, he was more than eighty. Given his prowess, he seemed younger and lived longer, but to endure 150 years here? Moreover. ‘He doesn’t look any different from how I last saw him in the mindscape.’ Noya looked exactly as he did when I faced him in my mindscape. What on earth was happening here? “How do you maintain your form, and how haven’t you aged? How are you even alive still?” Explaining my concerns, Noya quietly gazed at me. “Hmm.” Was it hard to answer? After pondering a moment, he continued. “When I first arrived here, someone spoke to me.” Then, as if explaining, he went on. “Said they’d let me borrow a body for a while.” “...Borrow a body?” “Yes.” “And who was that?” “It’s the one that used to growl inside you almost every day.” “Gureungi…?” “Oh. Yes, it’s a fitting name. A great choice.” “Yes, I think so too.” “...” Though it felt like Lady Cheonma was glaring at me strangely from behind, I ignored it and addressed Noya. “Anyway, are you saying that the creature lent you its body?” “Yes, thanks to that, I haven't aged and am using it well.” “...” I couldn’t comprehend it. How did Gureungi manage to lend its body to Noya? ‘…So that huge beast was Gureungi.’ The massive creature that roared when faced with my mother. Just as large as the tree now, it was undoubtedly Gureungi. Then. ‘What is that being?’ What exactly is that creature? What is it that it could lend its body to Noya and yet reside within mine? Additionally. ‘Mother said she attached it to me. Then why did they fight?’ What reason was there to combat my mother? An array of questions filled my mind. At that moment. “Sir Leader!” A voice called from afar. “Hmm.” Noya nodded as he looked at the source of the voice. The figure was a small boy. Not like the small humans I’d seen before, he genuinely appeared young in age. The issue was... ‘…He isn’t human either.’ His ears were animal-like, and he had a tail. Much like my mother. “You’re back!” “Yes. Have you been well?” “Yes!” The boy answered brightly, his face radiating pure joy. Then, the boy looked this way. Upon making eye contact, the boy nodded slightly. “Who’s this? A new disciple perhaps?” “No, this one’s too slow to teach; he’s utterly useless.” “Oh, I see.” “…What kind of lousy remark is that right in front of someone?” “Kid, you’re not even human, are you?” “That’s quite rude, isn’t it?” This time, I was genuinely hurt. Moreover, the kid accepting it so nonchalantly made me dislike him even more. “Well then, see you later. And goodbye, slow brother.” “Slow….” “Do well.” “Yes!” With a cheerful farewell, he dashed away. I watched his retreating figure, bewildered. “Pfft.” A sudden chuckle drew my attention to the side. There stood Cheonma, her expression composed. “…Did you just laugh?” “No.” “You did.” “I did not.” She shook her head firmly, yet something felt off. She definitely laughed, right? “Ugh…. Quit babbling and come along. We’re not done talking yet.” Noya spun around and strode away, leaving me to scowl after him. “Beats me up with words and fists, then slips away clean. Isn’t he just a thug? How is he a master at all? He’s just a neighborhood bully.” “Maybe keep your complaints to yourself….” “Why would I hide my comments when I’m asked?” “...” Noya turned back abruptly. Though bracing myself for another hit, instead— “You might as well, but truly, kid, you are something else. Even after taking a beating, you can’t keep that mouth shut?” “You have to say what you need to feel better.” “Well, that’s true.” Noya acknowledged, nodding in agreement. Perhaps I won’t get hit this time. But just as the thought crossed my mind, my head drooped down. A strong impact landed square on my crown. “Still, what’s deserved is deserved.” “…Crap.” I cursed while rubbing the top of my head. Even though I anticipated it, I couldn’t dodge it. “Eh?” Rubbing the sore spot, I looked around. The kid from before had joined another group, already wielding a sword. While they looked different, there was uniformity in their swordplay. Seeing non-humans mingling, I asked the question that had been on my mind. “About what you mentioned earlier.” “Hmm?” “That kid you almost turned into a demon, those words…” Pointing at the unknown beings, I continued. “Are they the same as him?” “...” Noya was quiet for a moment. Thankfully, his silence didn’t last long. “Yes.” “Yet, how aren’t they demons, gathered here like this?” The old folks and the beastly children, at least to my eyes, did not resemble demons. “Are their worlds not extinct?” With worlds not perished, did that keep them from becoming demons? That was my question. “No, they’ve all perished.” Noya’s answer was firm. “…Then how aren’t they demons?” “...” Noya stroked his long beard contemplatively. His eyes, a lovely shade akin to a blooming plum, held a faint emotion. Compassion. “Kid.” “Yes.” As we walked, a simple, humble dwelling came into view. The smallest, plainest home among the structures I’d seen. Could it possibly be Noya’s abode? “You asked before, wondering what this place is.” “Yes.” As he approached the house, Noya continued. “Some call this world an act of kindness.” “…Kindness?” “Indeed, kindness. Life forms that lose their worlds, only a few can come here. Avoid becoming demons, to settle and live in another realm.” The words left me with widened eyes. Those words meant... “Every day, unseen entities from diverse worlds arrive. Hence, this land is called Mangye (萬界).” Mangye (萬界). A place composed of countless merging worlds. “A place where those who should have ceased exist privileged fortunes, reaching here. Thus, kindness of worlds, as some say. Additionally.” After a brief pause, Noya looked at me and spoke a word. “It’s referred to as Paradise as well.” Somehow, the word felt very familiar. “Haha. It’s almost laughable, isn’t it?” Paradise. That was a concept akin to the Blood Demon’s ideology. ************** In a tranquil space, a woman sat idly, eyes half-closed. Her amethyst eyes, reminiscent of this land’s sky and stars, and her long, trailing tails spoke volumes of her presence. The woman, amidst her languid breaths, couldn’t help but repeatedly furrow her brow, as if something was bothering her. Her long, slender fingers lightly touched her furrowed brow. ‘Strange.’ It was uncomfortable and unsettling. The graceful woman’s brow continued to crease from her restless heart. ‘Why?’ Why was she troubled? It was because of a face she had recently seen. ‘Why is it haunting me?’ Perhaps because it was a race she hadn’t seen in a long time? Memories of something she thought long erased seemed to linger uniquely. She contemplated this, though it didn’t entirely make sense. ‘I cannot understand.’ It was definitely a dragon. A race that had committed sins and transgressions long exterminated. Moreover, they received punishment, exiled even from Mangye. Yet. ‘It appeared again.’ How could such a race show itself on this land? It was beyond comprehension. ‘The Dragon King should be punished still, right?’ That arrogant, detestable presence had long disappeared from view. So why now was something like this happening? And moreover. “…It’s bothersome.” One of the two young dragons’ faces kept resurfacing, irritating the woman. A dragon with blue eyes. With black fur and a fierce gaze. ‘Why?’ She didn’t know why, but that dragon’s face was complicating her mind like now. Why was that? As the woman pondered, suddenly— [My lady.] A man appeared in the space, kneeling before her. [The leader has returned.] “...” At those words, the woman slightly raised her body. Returning meant success with the mission? Did they succeed in killing the dragon? The thought of it made her heart skip a beat. [However, I regret to inform you that due to unexpected interference, your wishes could not be fulfilled.] “…I see.” The woman's eyes flickered slightly. “A failure? I expected it to be possible for that child.” [An outsider appeared and interfered, it seems.] “Hmm...” An outsider. That word caused a slight crease in the woman’s expression. Recently, this entity had become somewhat troublesome. “I extended them kindness... Why choose such a path?” It was puzzling. They had mutually fulfilled each other’s desires, so why had they chosen this? How had they even succeeded? Breaking such a promise should've been impossible. What method could they have used? While the woman pondered over her questions. [What would you have us do?] The man asked the woman. “Hmm.” For once, she offered a rare ambiguous reply. [...] The man's response was conspicuous in its silence. Her uncertain answer was unexpected. “I suppose I shall have to think about it.” […Understood.] Although filled with questions, he held back from further inquiry. Her words had always been the truth, and this would likely be no exception. The man was certain of it.