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I followed Yusa’s steps, slipping into a different alley that wasn’t the one I just entered.

A dark space where not a single ray of light seeped through.

As I moved through that space, an eerie silence loomed, a stark contrast to the fleeting presence of life.

Creak.

Yusa sat atop an empty wooden crate, his light green hair swaying gently.

Watching him, I thought to myself.

‘Strong.’

Indeed, he was strong.

Perhaps it was due to his transcendence; he looked remarkably distinct. Things that had eluded my perception until now were suddenly clear.

‘Strong and immense.’

Not just in the power he possessed.

I had felt it before, but the intense presence contained within that small body kept nagging at me.

At that time, I hadn’t understood what lay within that tiny form.

I only had a vague prediction that something was there.

‘Now I see.’

The elevated realm granted me the ability to perceive more.

‘…He’s intentionally maintaining that small body.’

Compression within compression.

For reasons unknown, Yusa exerted considerable pressure to sustain that frail form.

‘How ridiculous.’

I felt a laugh bubbling up.

I managed to suppress it, yet it still seemed utterly absurd.

‘Was he holding something like that?’

Yusa was far different from what I had anticipated. To the extent that…

‘Surviving that night was a miracle, wasn’t it?’

The night I faced both the blue and Yusa. Surviving that confrontation seemed a feat in itself.

The words I had spoken personally to that little guy drifted past my mind.

It was laughable to say I had survived after uttering such nonsense.

‘He was that strong.’

My sight changed, revealing the essence.

How deeply should I have observed? How much pressure must I have exerted…

‘Could he hide that size?’

I glanced at Yusa, his shadow stretched wide behind him, threatening to engulf the whole building with its dominance.

It was unmistakable.

‘Had I fought him, I would have lost.’

Back when I was in the Transformation Realm, I thought I could have a shot at him with every trick in the book.

‘What an arrogant thought.’

Now, reflecting back, it was sheer hubris.

‘To think I could defeat that?’

I found my previous self foolish.

And now, I was grateful to have realized the truth.

Had I clashed with Yusa, I would unequivocally be dead. I hadn’t realized then, but it was good to know now.

‘Would I have succeeded if I had played my cards right?’

Yorim, the concept of life and demon energy.

Gui Jeong and the domain of power.

If only I had tapped into not just my martial arts, but all other forces at my disposal, could I have even stood against him?

‘Who knows?’

Since I hadn’t tried, I couldn’t be certain. But, if I had to argue…

‘It might have worked.’

There was a chance, albeit slim. The concept and my power could prove fatal to him.

Then…

‘What about now?’

Could I face him in my current transcendence?

As I pondered while watching him, he spoke up.

“You. Do you know who I am?”

“…You are the General.”

He knew, after all, that he had faced a harsh fate at Noya’s hands before.

As I silently stared at him, recalling that moment…

“Then you know where that guy is now, right?”

Yusa continued, directing his words at me.

I nodded slightly at his mention of “that guy.”

“Which guy are you talking about?”

“That guy you call the Sect Leader.”

“…Ah.”

I belatedly nodded in understanding of Yusa’s words.

I knew who he referred to, but had pretended not to.

“What is he doing now?”

“Um, well, I’m not quite sure how the General seeks our Sect Leader…?”

“There’s something I need to ask him.”

“Something to ask?”

I observed Yusa’s expression. The urgency was palpable.

Not just urgency; there was an undercurrent of uncertainty too.

It wasn’t the kind of expression visible on those seen in Yawol, but…

‘He seems to be having some thoughts about it.’

It seemed I had instigated some realization by killing Baeksaek yesterday.

If he had noticed it here…

‘Rather than Baeksaek’s death…’

The bewilderment concerning the owner, which hadn’t appeared when I eliminated Baeksaek.

It was possible Yusa sensed that along with me.

In that case, what thoughts was he harboring?

‘I know he’s shaken.’

But in which direction was he swaying?

I found myself curious.

“Hey.”

In that moment of contemplation, Yusa called me again.

“…Answer me. What is he doing right now?”

“I don’t know either.”

“What?”

Yusa frowned at my answer.

“What do you mean you don’t know? Didn’t you come here with a command?”

I reflected on his question briefly.

In a moment, barely the width of a breath, I came up with a response.

“The one who gave me the command isn’t the Sect Leader.”

“What do you mean…?”

As I spoke, Yusa hesitated.

He was likely pondering something.

If it wasn’t the Sect Leader giving me orders, then who had? Most likely someone who had been occupying Yusa’s mind lately.

Recalling that, I answered him.

“The Heavenly Demon.”

“…”

“His order was what led me here.”

The mention of the Heavenly Demon made Yusa bite his lip. His expression reflected deep contemplation.

Seeing that, I told him.

“Thus, I indeed wanted to meet the General; it’s fortunate this opportunity arose.”

“…What?”

As I mentioned Yusa, he widened his eyes in surprise.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I came seeking the General upon his command.”

“…What?!”

Hearing that I had come for him seemed to rattle Yusa.

It wasn’t a lie; I genuinely intended to find him.

Just… I was caught in thought.

Whether to confirm my purpose here to him.

‘Or not.’

I shifted my gaze toward the castle wall beyond us.

‘Perhaps outside.’

I contemplated but already reached a conclusion.

“Come looking for me? Why?”

Yusa asked, the urgency in his tone undeniable.

Sensing that, I explained.

“The Heavenly Demon wishes to meet with you.”

Upon hearing my response, Yusa’s gaze narrowed.

“…But why are you here delivering the message?”

“He’s currently occupied with something, so I came to relay the message in his place.”

“Ha! Occupied, you say?”

Is he seriously busy with something that led to this situation?

His reaction reeked of skepticism.

Crackkk–!!

A surge of energy burst forth from Yusa’s body, revealing his displeasure.

Ccchh.

Harsh sounds emerged from his mouth.

With each sound, his energy only intensified. Feeling it, I cautiously knelt.

“Ugh. This. Is. Tough.”

As I dramatically slumped, pretending to struggle.

“…?”

Yusa looked at me, puzzled.

What’s going on?

‘…Was that flawless?’

I sensed that my act of collapsing under the pressure might have been too convincing.

But doubt flickered in Yusa’s eyes.

Damn. What’s happening?

“You…”

Just as he was about to voice something, I jumped in first.

“…He requested before midnight—! To come to the northern forest! He said you would know the location, General!”

I looked down at the ground to hide my face. Maybe it would seem more convincing. With that thought, I spoke.

“The northern forest…”

At the mention, Yusa’s energy dissipated.

Then he said,

“…This is so aggravating.”

Clenching his teeth tightly, he rose and pointed at me.

“You.”

“Yes…”

“Convey this clearly to the Sect Leader: if he doesn’t arrive before it’s too late, I’ll come and chew his head off. Got it?”

“…I’ll deliver your message.”

Grrr.

The growl of a beast reverberated, fading as Yusa’s presence disappeared from sight.

How far has he gone? Or is he watching from the sidelines?

Lost in those thoughts, I didn’t rise from my kneeling position.

After a long while passed…

“…Huff.”

Feigning a rough breath, I staggered to my feet.

I recalled Yusa’s words. It was ridiculous—insisting on being brash after getting thoroughly beaten by Noya.

Crack.

I loosened my hands, the sound of my bones echoing.

I slowly resumed my stance. My expression was probably utterly wrecked at that moment.

This truly felt awful. Was it a side effect of reaching transcendence? I was feeling irritated over trivial things.

‘…How dare that bastard say he’d chew heads?’

Who does he think he is?

The more I reflected, the stronger my agitation became.

Suppressing my emotions, I forced my body to move, but it was rebellious.

‘Chew?’

Who would he dare threaten?

Creeeak.

As thoughts of biting circulated, something wriggled in my shadow. It was Tam.

Had my nerves sensed my agitation? It was attempting to poke its head out cheekily.

I didn’t stop it, but…

‘Hold on.’

I tried to calm it down while addressing it.

‘Not now. Be patient.’

Just a little longer. After all, it won’t be long.

Repeating that thought…

Creeeak…

Tam seemed to settle, sinking back into the shadows.

“…”

Confirming that, I reached into my pocket and retrieved an item.

It was the white mask.

As I donned the mask over my face, I moved forward.

*

Around the time midnight passed, I arrived at the location beyond the castle walls.

The northern forest. More precisely, it was near the spot where I previously met Yusa.

Arriving at the location and surveying the area, I noticed someone standing at the center.

It was Yusa.

Crisp.

As I stepped onto the grass, he quickly responded.

“Did you wait long?”

His gaze was piercing as he shot me a hard look.

“…I heard you called for me.”

“Indeed, I had a matter to discuss with you. So I sent a child to convey my message, and it seems that was well done.”

“What is your purpose?”

“Coincidentally, I have something to ask you.”

“Something to ask?”

Yusa’s brow furrowed deeply at my words.

I immediately delved into the crux of the matter.

“General, do you know the whereabouts of the Divine Tree in Yawol?”

“……”

I skipped pleasantries and went straight to the point, prompting Yusa to respond with a growl.

Grrrr.

His growl released a murderous intent, shaking the ground beneath me with its vibrations.

 

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