970 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The knowing gaze was rather annoying. The smirk and the way he looked at me made it worse. I wanted nothing more than to smack that annoying face of his. But at present, there was no way I could nitpick about that bothersome face. "Was even the incident with the Abyss part of Mother's plan...?" The sacred tree of Hwasan. And underneath it, the Abyss. No, that creature, Kurung. According to Noya, he is a significant entity on par with a master. I always wondered why such a being was in Noya's volcano. 'Was that a request from Mother too?' Shin Noya claimed that everything was orchestrated by my mother. Even Noya's activities as a general. The betrayal and disappearance with the sacred tree. The problems that arose in the myriad worlds. And if even the disappearance of the Abyss was orchestrated by Mother... "...Why on earth did she do all this?" What could be the purpose behind all this? What was Mother aiming for, and why did Noya assist her? I asked because I couldn’t comprehend it. Though it seemed all for Mother’s doing, the reasoning behind her actions eluded me. Noya looked at me with a somewhat detached expression as he replied. “Well, I don't fully grasp your mother's intentions either….” Noya paused for a few seconds before continuing to speak to me. “If I had to guess, the first reason would be a provision meant for you. Secondly…” Noya pointed with his fingertip into the empty air again. “She might be wishing for the end of the myriad worlds. That’s what I think.” “…!” I frowned at his words. “…The end of the myriad worlds? What do you mean?” Suddenly, what does that mean? The end of the myriad worlds, out of nowhere? “There are things she used to say often. And also, the motivation for this situation. It is the conclusion of your mother's desires.” “I don't understand. Could you explain more clearly?” “When a problem arose with a single sacred tree, disturbances occurred throughout the myriad worlds, as I mentioned earlier.” “Yes.” Due to that, the energy density in the air skyrocketed. “If that problem happened with just one tree, what do you think would happen if many more sacred trees were affected?” “...” “It would probably spell a huge disaster. Moreover…” Noya raised his head to look at the sky, pointing towards it. "If the master’s sacred tree up there faces a problem, though I can’t say for sure, wouldn’t it indeed be a massive event?" I immediately questioned Noya after hearing those words. “…You’re saying that’s what the end of the myriad worlds is? That it’s what Mother wanted?” Noya and the Abyss had moved to make it so. Yet the current master is unaware? Why would Mother wish for something like that? No matter how much thought I gave it, I couldn’t understand. Furthermore. “The matter of it allegedly being for me, I cannot accept that.” A provision meant for me? “…I've received nothing here.” There couldn’t have been such a thing. I didn’t gain anything at all. Moreover, even the mother I wished to see so much doesn’t even remember me. How could the situation Mother created relate to me in any way? “...” Noya did not say anything in response to my heartfelt words. He simply looked at me quietly, the heaviness in his gaze was unsettling. “…Why are you looking at me like that?” Why does he gaze at me that way? “Originally, you know…” “Yes.” “I wanted to tell you everything I knew, but now I can’t do that anymore.” “What do you mean by that?” “Not only can I not fully understand your mother's intentions, but there were things I didn’t know.” “…Something you didn’t know?” “The divine sword, you mean Yarang?” “…!” Noya mentioned the divine sword. After hearing that, I had to briefly bite my lip. “I’ve never even heard of that child.” There was a faint but clear hint of disturbance in Noya’s voice. Under normal circumstances, it might have been dismissed. But this time was different. I heard that there was a certain connection between Mother and Shin Noya. Evidently, it's more than a simple relation. And Yarang, in this context, seemed to pose a problem for Noya in its own way. “As such, I can’t be certain what exactly your mother intends.” Before I could bite my lip, Noya spoke in a serious tone as he looked at me. “However, remember this one thing.” His gaze turned sincere as he continued. “No matter what, your mother is doing something for your sake.” “…How can you be so certain?” “What parent in the world would do something harmful to their child?” “...” Well. Frankly, I couldn't agree with those words. I’d seen countless cases where that wasn’t the truth, and my family wasn’t exactly what you’d call amiable either. Maybe that’s why I wore a rather skeptical expression. Noya let out a sheepish chuckle as he saw that. “Of course, not that I’d know properly since I’m an orphan. Hahaha.” “...” What am I supposed to say when he speaks like that even now? He really was a stubborn old man. Sigh. After letting out a deep sigh and turning my head, I spoke while looking at the setting sun. “…So, does this mean there’s currently no way to meet Mother?” Even if we were to meet face to face, the current master wasn’t Mother. But since Noya claimed to have met Mother, perhaps there’s a way? I asked with that thought in mind. “I’m not sure.” Noya frustratingly provided an unsatisfactory answer. “As I said earlier, I can’t be certain. But….” He trailed off, then quickly added. “If you pursue what she intended to do, wouldn’t you find out?” “...” What Mother intended to do. “You mean breaking the sacred trees.” She had said to break all the sacred trees in the myriad worlds and see it through to the end. Could doing that lead me to see Mother? The connection seemed absurd, but. “…It serves a dual purpose, I suppose.” Upon hearing that, I got to my feet. After all, I had been working on something for the Hwasan faction, and there was something I had planned in hopes of meeting Mother. Finding and destroying the sacred tree was, in a way, related to that task. Could doing so truly allow me to meet Mother? ‘I don’t know.’ Even Noya couldn’t be certain, so how could I possibly know? But. ‘…There’s no other plausible method anyway.’ It's not like there’s another alternative. This was the most promising option among all that I've undertaken so far. I reached into my clothing and retrieved an item. "Noya." “…Yes.” "Just in case, I wanted to ask." Snap. I slowly placed the mask over my face. [Is it to share this information that you followed me here today?] My voice sounded different now. Noya regarded me with a curious look as he saw this. I wondered if he’d traveled to Yawol just to tell me what I had just heard. “No. As I mentioned before, I initially had something to tend to.” [You mean meeting Yusa?] “Yes.” Yusa had been in conversation with Noya... Though it was more of an intimidation than a conversation, he concealed his presence around the time it ended. Noya could have surely apprehended him but chose not to. When asked if it was dangerous, he assured it would be alright. He predicted Yusa would follow according to his intentions. Although it worried me slightly, I trusted Noya's judgment that it would be fine. It's amusing. For someone who constantly suspects everyone, I easily believed that old man's words. ‘Well, I haven’t known him all that long.’ Just a few years, if I counted the times. Measured against my life span, it barely constituted a tenth of it. It was truly peculiar. Crunch. My body began to change. As my frame grew larger, my hair lengthened. Once I transitioned to the Heavenly Demon state, I circled my breath and spoke to Noya. [In case you’re under a misconception, let me clarify. Our talk isn’t over yet.] There is more to be heard. I still didn’t fully understand why the Abyss was in Hwasan. I had a feeling Noya knew more than he was letting on, too. Despite knowing this, the reason I wasn't immediately pressing for answers was. There’s a convenient excuse that I trust Noya, but the primary reason is. [Night is falling.] The sun was setting, and night was coming. [I’ll listen to the rest after I return.] During the night in Yawol, there were things I needed to do. With my body fully turned to face the setting sun, Noya spoke up. “Want me to help?” I snorted. [No need. Just stay put.] Whoosh. Drawing up my demonic energy, I leaped into the air. [Just observe for a while. I’ll be back soon.] With those words, I hid myself in the approaching night. **************** Right after Gu Yangcheon disappeared. Shin Cheol quietly stared at the direction where the black flames had extinguished. “…That guy.” His skill in utilizing energy had improved significantly. He seemed much better than last time when he fought a duel with abandon to vent his anger. ‘Did he gain some sort of insight during that time?’ There didn’t seem to be anything significant to induce such enlightenment though. If he gained insight, what did he realize? Shin Cheol couldn’t think that Gu Yangcheon had gained something when he pummeled Yusa. He merely thought it was fortunate if Yangcheon realized something. He almost smiled slightly when suddenly. “Gah….” Shin Cheol clamped his mouth shut and dropped to one knee. “Master…!” Gu Bong, who had been standing at a distance, was startled and rushed over. “Are you alright…!” “I am fine. Don’t worry about it.” “No, please return to Hwasan immediately…!” “Return where, with night already upon us. There’s nowhere to go.” Being in this situation meant he should stay until morning. Moreover... "If I leave and that guy causes trouble, what will happen then, cluck cluck cluck…." “Master….” “It’s nothing. I’m just a bit fatigued.” Shin Cheol pushed away Gu Bong’s hands and steadied himself. Though he tried to fake looking fine, his insides were not. Hiding his subtly trembling fingertips, Shin Cheol smiled wryly. ‘This isn't good.’ Indeed, it wasn't good. This was just a sign. ‘It seems I don’t have much time left.’ The miracle granted to him. Seemed to be nearing its end. New: With the circumstances being what they are, how could the anger not swell...? Is it that obvious we live together...? Buying Pepero from the same store...? Tossing it to me the exact same way…? Geumyoung and Taijin 11.11 Edition) Cawing Crow - Extra in a Doomed World, after chapter 152 +6 11.11 Re: From Vanessa to Teacher +2 11.11 A kind of demand survey? Preliminary research? 11.11 Any good female hunter stories? 11.11 Romance Fantasy Request > Erica - When a Friend Clings to Me / Atonement, Regarding Its Cruelty (19) +4 11.11 Crybaby Divorcee 11.11 Requesting The Sole Manager 11.11 Romance Fantasy) Pretty Version, Spoils Duchess Requested 11.11 Current Romance Title Search +1 11.11 Comfortable Honor The Childhood Friend of the World’s Best 970 Chapter (970/1059)