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The Second Calamity, Not the Calamity Itself

“An existence that gives birth to calamities.”

My mother spat that while referring to herself. Moreover, the calamity mentioned over there meant me.

This meant that—

“I, as an existence, was supposed to be born as a calamity from the very beginning.”

Even more shockingly, my mother claimed she was not the calamity itself.

Her purpose was simply to give birth to me.

“The purpose is to give birth to a calamity…”

The world sought to investigate every step due to the failure of the Blood Demon.

They lowered the limits of martial artists and calculated every scenario where they would absolutely not fail.

That is—

“A calamity being born in the Central Plains from the very beginning?”

The medium for that was my mother. She met my father and gave birth to me?

“…How?”

How could anyone believe that giving birth to me would result in a calamity?

Did my mother know this when she met my father?

Then what about all the life I’ve experienced?

“Was it the world’s will that I came this far…?”

Could it be that even the experience of reincarnation was part of the world’s design?

“Do you truly think your reincarnation is merely a coincidence?”

“……”

Yeon Ilcheon’s words echoed in my mind.

“You are the calamity.”

The thoughts of Yeon Ilcheon, whom I met at Shinryong Temple. His words were the truth.

Did he say that knowing full well?

“……Haha.”

I brushed my hair back. A wave of exhaustion washed over me. Shin Noya once told me, if I don’t think that way, then it isn’t true.

So I should trust in myself.

I endured until now believing that.

“…What more can I trust at this point?”

As situations escalated to this level, what should I believe in?

My own mother, who gave me life, said she did so as a calamity. What on earth am I supposed to believe?

“…Was it a problem from the start?”

Was my very existence the problem? Or was it a problem that I struggled to live a better life?

After all my efforts to reincarnate and live a different life—

“…If everything was predetermined from the very beginning.”

What was I enduring all this for?

Everything seemed about to collapse into nothingness.

Just as I pressed my lips together, trying to feel the crumbling inside me—

“Son…”

My mother spoke to me.

Her pitiful voice and sad eyes. Looking at them, I asked what I had been holding back.

“If your role was truly just that…?”

I didn’t want to ask, but it was something I had to.

“Does my father also know this?”

“……”

She came to give birth to me as a calamity and met my father.

Was he a rival? Someone to oppose when calamities fell?

Noya said that Yeon Ilcheon was the Blood Demon’s rival, and if my mother came as a calamity, then that rival must be my father.

If that’s the case—

“My mother said she wasn’t a calamity.”

And if my destiny is to exist as a calamity of the Central Plains—

“Does that mean my rival is my father?”

How ridiculous. Destined to oppose my own child.

“Indeed…”

In my previous life, I killed my father with my own hands. So could this life be the opposite?

As I pondered that, frowning—

“Your father didn’t know.”

My mother said.

“…He didn’t know?”

“Right… Even I didn’t know about it. I only realized it during the time I gave birth to Gu Ryeonghwa.”

“……”

She realized this when giving birth to Gu Ryeonghwa. My mother clearly stated that.

“When I first fell into that world, I knew nothing. I had forgotten everything, so I shouldn’t know about karma.”

“Why is that?”

“If you knew, something unexpected would happen. And it did.”

So she lived without realizing she was the Master of Mankye all along?

“Then did you realize that after giving birth to Ryeonghwa?”

I narrowed my eyes, recalling the past.

Honestly, it’s hard to say. The age gap between Gu Ryeonghwa and me isn’t that large. I can’t remember anything significant after giving birth to Ryeonghwa that would symbolize a change in my mother.

And—

“Must I even doubt this?”

The idea of questioning my mother’s words was becoming tedious.

What’s truly important is simple.

So ultimately—

“What is your purpose, Mother…?”

What is my mother’s purpose? Calling me here. Engaging in this conversation through the manifestation of the Divine Tree.

After all, it must have a purpose for happening.

Moreover—

“I believe that purpose isn’t to make me a calamity.”

At least, it shouldn’t be. No matter how rough my life has been, it couldn’t possibly be that terrible.

That was my minimal barrier and faith.

I could feel that in our conversations.

“You mentioned wanting to blind your eyes. What does that mean…?”

To blind the eyes of the world.

That’s what my mother claimed is her purpose. And by blinding those eyes—

“Does that mean blinding my destiny?”

But then, what was the reason for feeding me the Fruit of God?

What plans does my mother have?

Through that arrangement—

“Will I not be a calamity anymore?”

All of it piqued my curiosity.

Could that method ease my anxiety?

Firstly—

“How do I become a calamity?”

Even if it was my destiny, how exactly does one become a calamity?

Just getting stronger doesn’t mean one becomes a calamity.

“To eradicate all life in the Central Plains.”

Something that transcends the very concept of killing. There must be a precise concept that can be labeled as a calamity.

“I…”

I had absolutely no intention of doing that. At least not now, but how could I simply accept that I could become a calamity? I couldn’t believe it even if the circumstances pushed me toward it.

That’s why I felt even more uneasy. One day, I could change, but I had no idea how.

Trying to address that, I asked—

“I can’t tell you.”

My mother frowned as she spoke to me.

“…You can’t tell me?”

“At least not now. This is the limitation of what I can share at this moment.”

“…This current limitation means…?”

Something was coming to mind.

“Does it mean it will change when I meet the next Divine Tree?”

Upon my words, my mother smiled slightly.

“Our son, you’re clever.”

“……”

That was the answer.

The Divine Trees located in Yawol. My mother appeared when I touched it, and there are five Divine Trees currently existing in Mankye.

Meaning, each Divine Tree harbors my mother’s presence.

“…And the first one happened to be the Divine Tree of Yawol?”

“Correct.”

“Then did you predict that I would touch the Divine Tree? Or…?”

Had you manipulated it so I would?

Before I could ask further, my mother cut in.

“I have asked many to ensure it would happen.”

“…Asked?”

As soon as I heard that, Noya came to mind.

Also, those ‘many’ must not only refer to him.

“Son.”

My mother called me. I observed her with a serious expression unchanged.

“I know it’s hard. I’m sorry for that… but please endure just a little longer….”

“……”

What should I say?

Should I vent my resentment? If that’s the case, why did you even give birth to me? Am I supposed to say something so childish?

Part of me wanted to, but at my age, such age-appropriate words felt futile.

So—

“Mother.”

“Yeah.”

The words I should speak now aren’t resentment.

“You told me to come to the hill when the full moon rose. Is this connected to everything?”

“Uh?”

My mother’s eyes widened at my words.

“…When was that?”

“A few days ago.”

“Was it me?”

Am I correct? That means my mother knows she’s currently in a state of forgetfulness, not remembering her status.

“Well, I can’t be certain. But that’s how I perceive it.”

“…I see.”

“I understand the full moon, but I don’t know what the hill signifies.”

“…The hill.”

Upon hearing that, my mother nodded lightly.

“That’s likely where the next Divine Tree is.”

“The next Divine Tree?”

“Yeah.”

“By the next Divine Tree—”

“Spirit Mountain. Go to the hill located there. That’s definitely where I meant.”

“Spirit Mountain….”

Where could that be? I knew nothing about how Mankye’s regions were structured.

‘Spirit Mountain…?’

All I knew was that by indicating a hill, it connected to that earlier conversation.

‘The fact that she spoke so confidently about Spirit Mountain indicates…’

It means the mother I met back then knew something.

She knew I would soon be touching the Divine Tree of Yawol.

At that moment—

Creak.

“Ah.”

With a small sound, my mother let out a sudden exclamation. I looked to see her hand crumbling.

“Dear….”

Staring at her hand, my mother’s eyelids fluttered, revealing her regret.

“…It seems the time is finally up.”

Was there a predetermined time for this? As I watched, I unconsciously stepped forward.

I stretched out my hand to grab her wrist, but before I could reach it, it crumbled away.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t say more. You probably had many questions….”

“…Mother.”

“I really wanted to see you. Yet, even in front of you, I can’t touch you. That’s so frustrating.”

Her crumbling hand brushed against my cheek. I still couldn’t feel anything.

“Son.”

“…Yes.”

“It sounds silly to say this, but don’t worry.”

My mother said that with a smile.

“I’ll make sure things will work somehow.”

As she said that, her form rapidly began to disintegrate.

I could only watch in silence as it happened.

There were many things I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t.

In truth, there was so much I wanted to hear, yet the feeling remained the same.

It felt like a stone was lodged in my throat.

While I remained unable to voice anything, watching her disappear—

“If you return, seek the Abyss. The Child will finally have something to say to you.”

“…The Abyss?”

“Yeah. I’m really grateful to you. Please also convey my gratitude on my behalf.”

Crack.

As my mother finished her words and started to fade—

“My dear son. I truly wanted to see you. Someday… let’s meet again.”

My mother conveyed her message.

And just like that, she completely crumbled away, leaving no trace behind.

“……”

The fragments that fell to the floor all vanished.

A space with nothing left.

As if I was always alone, I felt nothing.

Feeling that, I looked around.

I turned back and slightly widened my eyes.

“What the…?”

It was gone. The Divine Tree I had just been touching had vanished.

Where did it go? The moment that question crossed my mind—

Thump—!

“……!”

I felt a sensation from my heart.

Is this—

“The Divine Tree?”

The energy I felt from the Divine Tree was now flowing into my body.

It wasn’t merely the feeling of a bet or demon energy.

If it were to be compared, it was the subtle energy of the Divine Tree itself.

It felt eerily akin to the immense Divine Tree I saw in the Hwasan Sect.

As clear as a lake.

Feeling that, I caressed my chest.

Did I absorb the Divine Tree? What could this possibly mean? While I thought about that—

The words my mother spoke surged to the forefront of my mind.

“I truly wanted to see you.”

“……”

Those straightforward words bloomed in my heart.

“…Yes. Me too.”

It was a barely uttered reply, spoken amidst the floral scent.

 

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