1040 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 1040 "A... disgusting fellow." "What?" I furrowed my brow at his words. What did he say? "…What did you say?" "…He is a disgusting fellow." "Oh… You mean he's a disgusting fellow?" He nodded. Watching that, I brushed my forehead. "…That's really a brilliant answer." It's definitely not a very valuable answer. Should I just hit him? I barely held back the urge after contemplating. "Not that sort of thing. Give me some information. Is he part of the Moonlight Tribe?" "…No." That was a relief. When I asked like this, he still answered. Ah, I see. I realized. 'This guy. You shouldn't let him explain.' It seemed like I needed to ask questions that required a yes or no answer. This is driving me crazy. "He's not part of the Moonlight Tribe… so he must be under the master's favor as well?" "…Yes." "Hmm." Well, if he's not part of the Moonlight Tribe, then that's probably a given. In that case, next… "Is he a commander?" "…Yes." Upon hearing his answer, I narrowed my eyes. As expected. 'So this guy is also a commander.' Then it must be the last one remaining. 'The one who has the least information.' The one among the commanders who has the least amount of information and is the most mysterious. Supposedly located at Black Phoenix Palace between Demon Mountain and Mount Hua Sect's center. I heard he was there. 'If he's shown up and given strength to the boss…' Regardless of whether the boss wanted it or not, it was a problem that he showed up here. This means… 'The master might be aware of what I've been doing.' For a commander to lend their strength, the current master—who has no memory and wishes to kill me—may know about this matter. I scowled and asked him. "Do they know that Yusa is dead?" "…" The boss's body trembles. Then he nods, shivering as he looks at me. 'Damn.' He knew. 'How did they know?' A question arises. I did kill Yusa near the perimeter of the Night Moon. 'There were no signs of anyone.' I made it so it wouldn't be known that he died. I thought it would take some time to be discovered. 'To move so quickly means... the information was received that swiftly.' How did they figure it out? '…Darn.' Nothing comes to mind. 'That's not what's important right now.' It's not crucial how they figured it out. 'The fact they know is the key.' The fact that they know is the problem. Because of that, haven't they reached out to the boss? 'If it hadn't been for the Heavenly Demon, it would've been dangerous.' Without the Heavenly Demon, fighting two commanders there might have been a possibility. If that happened, the situation wouldn't have been favorable. 'Bringing the Heavenly Demon was the right move, wasn't it…?' It seemed that asking the Heavenly Demon to come along was beneficial. '…The Heavenly Demon, huh.' Thinking about the Heavenly Demon also brings its own headaches. 'Damn it.' There are too many things to deal with. I pressed my fingers to my forehead. 'And I just happened to lose track of them?' The Heavenly Demon said she lost the target she was trying to catch. How then has the matter proceeded? I've been staying put for three days in Demon Hall. To wait for the Heavenly Demon, indeed. 'Perhaps...' A thought crosses my mind. Could this all be the Heavenly Demon's plan? 'It's possible.' Well, if it's that dense-minded present Heavenly Demon, perhaps not. But the appearance I saw before was definitely the past Heavenly Demon. Thinking it's her wouldn't be strange. 'Tying me down?' I quickly shook my head at the idea going that far. 'No.' That can't be. Considering both being a Heavenly Demon and wielding her power, I thought she wouldn't do such a thing. The Heavenly Demon I knew. 'I suppose she'd just smash everything if she planned to.' She wouldn't bother with tactics. "Click." I clicked my tongue and relaxed my body. I looked directly at the boss. Through a slight gesture, the dark energy enveloping him dissipated. I confirmed this and exhaled a sigh. 'I can't stay any longer.' There is no time to wait. I don't know if the Heavenly Demon will appear or not in this situation. I looked up at the sky. 'It's far from nightfall.' In broad daylight. There was still quite some time before night. Although moving at night would be the best choice. '…Click.' It seemed more urgent to move right away. If I waited any longer, it would become problematic. No, the problem was already there. "Groaaannn…" I looked down at the boss whining on the floor. "Hmm." What should I do with him? 'Take him along?' Would there be any use in bringing him? Honestly, even though he listens due to forced compulsion, I can't rely on him for anything useful in adapting and scouting. In this situation, taking him along as infiltration and reconnaissance seemed out of the question. 'Then…' What to do? While pondering, one method flashed in my mind. 'Aha.' That should do it. "Hey." I spoke to the boss. "Groowl…" Instead of answering, he growled in silence. Watching him, I commanded. "It just so happens, I've found something for you to do." I summoned the dark energy that I had withdrawn again. There was something left for the boss to accomplish. * * * Returning to Demon Hall, there had been changes over the past three days. The usually still and eerily quiet atmosphere, as if they were sealed, was now slowly filled with murmuring sounds. Were they finally realizing that the boss had disappeared? Perhaps they were. In comparison to their liveliness, the state of the spirits remained unchanged. Gently seated by the Divine Tree, feeling the breeze or wearing a sorry expression even while under their face veils. Watching them, I approached and asked. "You're still carrying on in such ridiculousness today, huh?" "Ah…" Hearing my voice, the spirits reacted. Seeing me, they moved limply. "Why? You couldn't wait to be free, but you feel empty now that you really are free?" "…" Claiming that they desperately longed for freedom as maidens serving the lord and trapped within the Demon Hall. Despite granting them freedom, why are they in such a state? ‘Ah. That's right.’ I recalled something I had realized a moment too late. ‘I forgot to ask the boss about this.’ Why did he come to Demon Mountain and capture other creatures? I had forgotten to ask about this. ‘I can ask next time.’ The boss should already be leaving Demon Mountain and moving. This was due to my command. ‘Might as well verify it.’ I could determine what happens when distance increases. It seemed like a good experiment to see if the command I issued would break as we grew more distant. Though other beings hadn't been the same, things might be different in Master of Myriad Worlds. “For now, take care while I'm away.” “…Are you going now?” “Yes, something came up.” “…” The spirit's eyes glanced towards somewhere. Her gaze settled on my chest. It was the position where the gem was absorbed. Seeing this, I chuckled slightly. “I don't know what you're hoping for, but forget it. This was the freedom you wanted, wasn't it?” “Do you… hear the master's voice?” “The master? You mean the Master of Myriad Worlds?” “…Yes.” “No. Not at all.” Absorbing the gem doesn't mean I can hear her voice. Even though she seemed to long for the master's voice and kept glancing in that direction. “Don’t expect it. I can't hear anything.” I couldn't hear it. No matter how much I wanted to. I couldn't hear it. “Anyway. I'll return once I’m done. Wait here until then.” There wasn’t any obligation to return to Demon Hall. My business here was already concluded, and nothing remained to be done, so I could just leave. However, I told the spirit I'd be back. The reason was simple. ‘The Heavenly Demon might appear.’ If so, returning to inform her and waiting was the correct course. This time, I was merely carrying out a reconnaissance mission, so I would be back soon. “…” The spirit did not respond. Since last time, I had felt that something was broken within her. But I didn’t particularly concern myself with it. ‘No matter her circumstances.’ There was no reason for me to be concerned. I had my own path to follow. I turned my back. Gathering strength in my legs, I leaped towards the ceiling which was no longer sealed. Whoosh!! Fire ignited, boosting my speed. My destination was Black Phoenix Palace. It was the place where the commander often referred to as the ‘Raven’ resided. * * * Thud. Arriving at my destination, I placed my feet on solid ground. I withdrew the flames enveloping my body and surveyed my surroundings. It took approximately two days flying at top speed to reach the objective. Unlike Demon Mountain, which was composed solely of rocks, the space I arrived in was lush with foliage. In contrast to the lifeless Demon Mountain, this place was teeming with the presence of living beings. “Hmmm.” It was all too vivid. I could sense even the slightest movements of insects. After experiencing an almost devoid presence outside the Demon Hall, this energy felt uncomfortable. ‘...Very different from what I expected.’ With all the talk of Black Phoenix Palace, I anticipated a ruin or an ominous feeling much like Demon Mountain. ‘But it's just a forest?’ It looked like an ordinary forest. Is this truly the location of Black Phoenix Palace? I held doubts and expanded my senses by channeling my energy. Whoosh---!!! Energy spread throughout the area. If the information that the turtle provided was accurate, something should be in this vicinity. As soon as I thought this and expanded my senses, something came into contact at the edge of my awareness. ‘There it is... oh?’ Although I located it, the sensation left a frown on my face. Similar, yet unlike last time. Back in Demon Mountain, the lack of any presence had been surprising. But this time… ‘There are many.’ There was, in contrast, an overwhelming abundance of presences. And they were incredibly numerous.