939 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The atmosphere in the tea house turned cool. I asked as calmly as possible, but judging by the turtle's eyes and the strained breathing, it seemed my intention had not been conveyed correctly. His beard trembled slightly. Though not easily visible, his narrowed eyes were focused on me. And even the trembling of the cane he clutched. I could feel that the turtle, who had only been mildly annoyed before, was now reacting quite differently. Did I make a mistake? While I quietly watched him, he eventually opened his mouth, unable to hold back any longer. “What did you just say...?” Did he pretend not to hear? Or was he feigning ignorance even though he did? I wasn't sure, but I repeated myself anyway. “I was asking if you happen to know a way to travel back to the past or into the future.” The turtle's eyebrows twitched again at those words. “Why are you asking that?” Watching his words and reaction, this time I showed a peculiar expression. That reaction... ‘Does that mean there is a way?’ If there wasn't, he would simply deny it. His guarded response indicated that something was there. However, he seemed quite averse to discussing it. “I'm just curious.” “Your interests are remarkably unique.” “Well, you use such peculiar techniques, so I wondered if this might be possible too. It's a small curiosity.” I tried to dismiss it lightly with a joking tone, but the turtle's reaction wasn't as light. “Then don't be curious about it.” “Pardon?” His voice was quite serious and heavy. “Even if there's a future you wish to see, don't be curious. Leave regretful pasts as mere regrets.” “...” After hearing his words, I adjusted my posture to show that I was listening attentively, as if moving forward. “Time is originally something that should be left to flow, and once it has passed, it cannot be grasped again. That is why it is called time.” “…You're quite the expert, aren't you?” “If by any chance.” He tapped lightly on the table with his free fingers. “If there's something you wish to gain from this, it's a pointless thought you should abandon.” “Why?” “Because there’s nothing more meaningless and cruel than that obsession.” “...” Meaningless and cruel obsession. It was a notion I had never considered. Thus, I erased the smile from my lips and asked. “Why do you think that way?” Why are you so certain? I was curious because his somber gaze seemed like he was recounting his own story, not someone else's. “Do you know the fate of those obsessed with such things?” The turtle asked. “No, I don't. I'm not one of them. What happened?” I answered his question with another question. And the turtle responded to me. “They were torn apart pitifully.” “…What?” Torn apart? That sounded rather frightening. “…Physically?” “No, their souls.” “Oh, really?” I was relieved it didn’t mean their bodies were ripped. Taking a sigh of relief, I heard the turtle click his tongue. “Did you think it was fortunate because it’s the soul?” “Well, I thought it might be a bit better since it wasn't direct.” “It would be better to suffer physically. Having the soul torn is a more hellish experience.” “...” Having the soul itself torn apart. The turtle regarded this as a more serious matter. Of course, it wasn’t something I could comprehend deeply, given the scarcity of information. “…So, when you say not to get obsessed with this, that's what you mean?” “If you want to be torn asunder, go ahead.” “I'm sorry, but I'm not into that sort of thing.” Who would enjoy being torn apart? Though, if you searched, someone might exist, but I wasn't one of them. ‘Hmm.’ I organized his words in my mind. What was of importance now was none else than this. ‘In the end, it means he knows something about it.’ The turtle actually knew something regarding this topic. “So no one has ever succeeded in doing so without tearing their souls?” I asked while sipping my tea. “…You keep asking useless questions.” “I was curious. Since you’ve told me this much, might as well go further given our... relationship.” “And what is our relationship?” “A perfectly detached transaction-based one.” “...” “We give what we need and take what is given. Isn’t that clean?” “I sense no affection or warmth in this relationship.” “It’s called a tidy relationship. So, why not tell me comfortably?” “Why? Were you thinking of trying if it were possible?” The turtle asked, shifting his stance with a hint of caution. Was he asking if I would try it? The question involuntarily made me smile. “No. I have no intention of doing so. Probably in the future too.” I have no interest at this point. I might have shown interest if it were in a past life. But now, it's different. ‘Having gone through it once, why do so again?’ If I could return, would that be an opportunity? It might be different in some ways. However, ‘To experience the same all over again is just too suffocating.’ Those who finally recognize me, the world that forgets everything. To build up everything once more to derive a different result—it's too exhausting a task. Just going through it once has been enough torment, and repeating it isn't something I could endure. I am sure and resolved not to do it for these reasons. ‘Nevertheless, what I am curious about is...’ It wasn't about my own reincarnation. “Though you say you have no intention, you are curious? What a contradictory words.” “Just a small curiosity of a youngster.” “...” The turtle observed me with skepticism in his eyes. Was he unwilling to tell at this point? Now, it seemed like pushing further would be unwise. Just when I considered changing the subject to something else— “Impossible.” The turtle spoke. “Impossible, you say?” “That's right, keeping the soul intact is absolutely impossible, and even if they endure being torn, there is no one who can succeed." “What’s the reason for that?” “Because there’s no one who can withstand both the process and the result.” The turtle's voice was unwaveringly firm. His assurance and belief that he was absolutely correct were evident. “Even if you pierce the heavens by sacrificing all the karma accumulated in your soul, you get rejected with your soul torn apart. To maintain your soul and achieve the results? Such arrogance.” Though he said it with a smile, there was a hint of sadness in his words. His words made me scowl. “So, it implies that if you offer something, it might be possible?” “…Do you not understand what I'm saying?” “No, I understand. It seems there might be a way or something that could be attempted.” However. “It means that even if the method exists, there’s no being who can withstand it.” “...” “Did I understand correctly?” I asked bluntly, but the turtle didn’t answer. As always, silence signified agreement. “Hmm.” I noted this while crossing my arms and nodding my head thoughtfully. There was still something I hadn’t asked. “But, Elder.” “…What is it?” “What if there is someone?” “What?” “No, what if there’s someone who succeeded?” “You were told there isn’t anyone.” “But isn’t it possible there could be? After all, the affairs of this world are unpredictable.” “…What are you trying to hear since earlier?” “Just what I said. If someone succeeded…” “There is no such case.” Thud-! The turtle struck the ground with the cane he held. And at that moment, the surroundings quivered as if rippling. The once calm tea house began to distort as if melting. As I frowned at this strange atmosphere, “Leave,” the turtle said. “Pardon?” “I said leave.” “But I haven’t even asked my questions…” I hadn’t even started discussing the important incantations, yet he wanted me to leave? “At least for today, I don’t want to continue this conversation with you.” “What in the—” “If you don’t want to leave, I’ll make you leave. Do you want that?” Creak-! In the endlessly swirling space, the turtle’s gaze turned cold. In that instant, an eerily alien feeling came from his body. Buzz. The five loops coiled around my heart trembled. It felt like they were sending a signal of danger. “...” Feeling that, I quietly looked at the turtle before standing up. “No, I’ll leave on my own.” Staying any longer would only sour the atmosphere further; it seemed I had touched a nerve with the turtle. “...” Hearing my words, the turtle tapped the floor with his cane once more. As a result, the fluctuating room instantly returned to its original state. “I won’t forget about our previous trade, so come find me later.” “…When should I do that?” “Who knows.” As the turtle redirected his gaze to me, he added, “You’ll probably know by yourself.” “...” With those words, the turtle fell silent, and watching him, I too made my way out of the building. “Hmm…” I scratched my head. I thought I might glean something about reincarnation, but it seems that wasn’t the case. ‘…Or was it? It doesn’t seem like I left empty-handed.’ The fact that such knowledge exists. And according to what the turtle knows, there’s something that makes time reversal impossible. I could at least claim to have gained that knowledge. “…It's not an impossible act.” After all, reincarnation exists. This isn’t something I heard casually from someone else. I went through it myself, so how could I not know? Though the turtle asserted its impossibility, I stood as living proof before him, affirming otherwise. I experienced reincarnation. And that made me all the more curious. ‘The turtle said, even if you offer something remarkable, reversing time is impossible.’ In other words, ‘Offering something far more significant would mean… isn’t reversing time eventually possible?’ I interpreted it this way. Though I didn’t know what exactly the method was or what needed to be offered, if the value of the offering was right, doesn’t it imply reincarnation is possible? That’s how I understood it. “...” Pondering over this, I fidgeted with my fingers for a while. My pace, once brisk, momentarily halted. An approaching figure came into view. A familiar face with a vacant look. She was clearly searching for someone, glancing around. It was the Heavenly Demon. As she moved lightly, her gaze landing on me, she waved her hand. “Oh, found you.” “....” It seemed she had been looking for me. Confirming this, I furrowed my brow. ‘Reincarnation doesn’t come without a price.’ Which means, ‘What did you give up?’ What did the Heavenly Demon of my past life sacrifice to enable my reincarnation? Moreover, ‘Why?’ Why did you bring me back? What did you hope to achieve or do? I had pondered these questions ever since realizing the Heavenly Demon was the one responsible for my reincarnation. And even now, as time passed, the curiosity remained. 1 Comments 3.1 / 80 Yeonwoo 2024.10.29 07:14 신고 It's unfortunate for the Heavenly Demon. 0 Only logged-in members can post comments. 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