---

Daughter, you say?

I found myself momentarily dazed by Noya’s words.

‘A daughter, you say?’

Shin Noya had clearly stated that Yarang was Mother’s daughter.

“…What does that even mean?”

No matter how hard I tried to form the words, my mouth felt jammed, like it was broken or something.

Could it really be so shocking? A different child from Mother?

If something as simple as that brought me this much surprise, I must be far too young and shallow.

It was just pure amazement, for sure.

As I stood there, wide-eyed and fumbling, Noya, who was busy cutting grass, added more.

“Your mother said so, you know. I have no idea how it happened, though.”

Noya set down the scythe he was holding.

“The important thing is, that Yarang is your mother’s eyes and ears.”

“…Eyes and ears?”

“Right.”

Noya tossed the scythe somewhere and began putting on a martial robe, which he had carelessly thrown to the side.

“Below this world, Yarang sees everything and hears everything. That’s the power she holds.”

“What kind of ridiculous power is that…?”

Seeing everything and hearing everything?

That’s not something you just gain by expanding your qi perception.

“Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s all-encompassing. After all, that’s also within the realm of powers.”

While speaking, Shin Noya pointed at somewhere. It pointed to a spot where plum blossoms were blooming profusely.

“Where the Divine Tree exists, powers can’t be used, so she cannot see.”

“…Huh? Really?”

That was a fact I hadn’t known.

No, wait. Since it’s something that had never been mentioned before, of course I wouldn’t know!

‘You can’t use powers where the Divine Tree is…’

Was there really such a thing?

“So, normally inside places like Yawolgung or others, powers can’t be used.”

I frowned upon hearing that.

There was a part I didn’t quite understand.

“Noya.”

“Yeah?”

“You just said you can’t use powers around the Divine Tree, right?”

“Right.”

“But then, if you can’t use them anywhere else either… does that mean there’s a Divine Tree in every single one of those places?”

Are you saying every location, including Yawolgung, has a Divine Tree? When I asked, Noya replied with a little grin.

“Probably.”

“…You mean they’ve all got a big one stuck in them?”

When I visited Yawolgung, I didn’t see any trees like that.

No matter how vast the inside was, if there were a tree like that, I should’ve spotted it immediately.

At my words, Noya looked at me as if I were foolish.

“Do you think all Divine Trees are that gigantic?”

“…Aren’t they?”

I didn’t know since it was my first time seeing one. Shouldn’t someone have informed me?

“Not all Divine Trees are large. Some could be small enough not to be seen or even hidden completely.”

So not all Divine Trees are huge, and they might be concealed.

Well, sure. If all Divine Trees were that big, I definitely would’ve noticed one.

But—

“Are there even more of those Divine Trees in this world?”

“If you look for them, you might find some. Apart from that one, there should be exactly three more.”

“Three more?”

“Yeah. There are a total of four Divine Trees. Just like the number of Generals.”

The same number as the Generals.

That statement got my full attention.

“So you’re saying there are Divine Trees equal to the number of Generals?”

“Strictly speaking, it’s right to say there are different regions, but… probably one of them is missing.”

“Why?”

“Why, you ask?”

As Noya pointed, it was at the plum blossom Divine Tree.

“Because I stole it and planted it there.”

“…”

After hearing that, I couldn’t help but blink in disbelief.

What? What boldness is this?

I’d heard before about how he had stolen a seed from a Divine Tree, causing quite a stir back then.

“Thus, it’s likely you can’t see this side, but the outside may be different.”

Noya gathered the crops he had harvested one by one in his arms.

Seeing him like that, I asked.

“…But why did you steal it?”

What could he possibly want with that Divine Tree?

Not understanding, I asked, and Noya replied casually,

“It was needed.”

“The Divine Tree?”

“Yeah. But there was no way to obtain it, so what could I do?”

“And so you stole it?”

“Of course.”

What a boldly casual statement to make.

It was so absurd I couldn’t even respond.

“Which might mean that Yarang is seeking it.”

“Why would Yarang want it?”

“That Divine Tree originally belonged to Yarang.”

That plum blossom Divine Tree?

I gazed at the Divine Tree with curious eyes.

“Originally belonged to Yarang means…?”

“The Divine Tree is used by a General when they establish their own nation. That Divine Tree was given to Yarang when she became a General.”

“You mean you stole it from her?”

“Aah, it wasn’t easy.”

He looked pleased, as if he had accomplished something grand.

So ultimately,

“…That Divine Tree belongs to a woman named Yarang. And you stole it to plant it here?”

“Exactly.”

“And that’s why she’s trying to find it?”

“That’s likely.”

“…Why the uncertainty there?”

What does “likely” even mean?

Noya gave an awkward smile at my comment.

“Because it could also not be the case.”

Could it really not be?

Yarang has come before, and now she’s back at it.

Even though the Heavenly Demon told me she came to see me, it sounds odd to say a General came looking for me.

I remember her trying to catch a dragon last time.

If that’s the case, she should’ve attacked immediately upon seeing me.

‘What if she’s careful beyond expectation?’

Maybe she’s staying back out of caution.

But from what I see, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

‘Besides, is Yarang strong enough to injure the Heavenly Demon?’

The Heavenly Demon could fight all three Eminent Beings alone and remain intact.

Sure, the Heavenly Demon from my previous life feels entirely different from the current one, but still…

I never imagined that the Heavenly Demon would come injured.

I recall the sight of the Heavenly Demon bleeding from his heart.

‘Is it different for someone of General caliber?’

Yarang, eh? The daughter of my mother, you said.

For some reason, a feeling of discomfort surged up.

Is it because there’s a child I don’t know about?

Or is it because the Heavenly Demon came back injured?

I can’t be sure, but one thing is certain.

‘Though I can’t confirm it properly…’

These Generals seem stronger than I expected.

‘Including that leader, too.’

Their levels, I couldn’t gauge them at all. So troublesome.

‘It’s awkward to make a reckless move now.’

If I want to end this quickly, I need to understand more clearly.

I also need to attempt contact with that General.

‘Huh…’

The path hasn’t been obstructed, but it feels a little daunting.

Both stifling and somewhat frustrating.

It began to gnaw at my mind like an itch.

“Hey, kid.”

Noya called out to me. I turned my gaze towards him.

He was already fully dressed.

“If you’re done here, let’s go.”

“Uh? Go where?”

Where on earth is he suddenly talking about going?

Caught off guard by his abrupt statement, I asked, and Shin Noya grinned at me.

“It’s been a while since we met. We should see how much you’ve grown.”

“…Huh?”

“Follow me.”

As he said that, Noya jumped.

Petals burst and disappeared.

I stared blankly at it before getting my bearings once again.

Noya was sketching a trail of flower petals in the air.

“Whoa…”

I had to stare at it in utter disbelief.

What in the world is happening?

But—

“…”

As I quietly watched it, I gathered strength into my legs.

Oddly enough, at that moment, my face was likely smiling.

 

---