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Chapter 7: The Food of Gods

“That’s more chaotic than I imagined.”

I was under the impression that being a Count meant a respectable status and a considerable fortune, but that was purely my misunderstanding.

“I don’t want to eat this!”

“Aida, there are many people outside who are starving because they have even less than this. You shouldn’t whine.”

Aida, my younger sister, threw the bread aside and burst into tears, while our father, Count Bradley Somerset, sternly chastised her.

I glanced at the food placed before me, thinking that the dining scene in a noble household might resemble that of an ordinary family.

On the table lay a thin, unidentifiable soup and bread that resembled rocks in hardness.

Certainly, these were not appetizing dishes for even a child.

Resolving to eat, I attempted to dip the bread into the soup, but just as I broke it apart—

Crack!

Did I just hear the sound of wood splintering?

쿠우우웅–!!!

As my fist met the ground, the floor crumbled instantly.

Sure, my strength played a part, but deep inside, I was certain of one thing.

‘The floor is weak.’

It wasn’t sturdy. It felt like something beneath it was missing.

쿵-! 쿵쿵-!!!

With every punch I threw, the ground began to break apart.

Not only had my power increased, but this place was also especially frail.

I smashed and smashed again.

Just in case, I cast an energy barrier to muffle both vibrations and noise.

After a while of cracking away—

파삭-!

“Oh.”

With a crash, the floor collapsed, revealing a space below. As I landed, I discovered it was a staircase leading down.

I ignited a spark and sent it up the stairs.

A tangle of things appeared to be the starting point, but I couldn’t pinpoint the exact origin.

Confirming my position, I looked up to study the hole I had descended through.

‘I’ve gone down quite a ways.’

It seemed deeper than I originally thought.

Brushing off the dust on my hands, I assessed the staircase in both directions.

It didn’t seem like an upward path, so it was only natural to choose the downward route.

*

I continued down the staircase.

With no end in sight, I felt increasingly restless.

I briefly considered just smashing my way down, but since I had found a path, it might be better to stick with it, I told myself.

At least I had something to think about during the journey.

What occupied my mind was none other than my battle with Yusa.

‘Why didn’t it activate?’

I had intended to unleash the ultimate technique of the Gu Clan, yet after using Gu Yeomtaeyarang, the ultimate manifestation never properly activated.

‘What was it?’

What could be the issue? My martial arts were by no means completely blocked. I could still conjure flames and use Heavenly Demon Technique, which suggested it wasn’t a problem with energy.

‘Hmm.’

Had I misused something? If so, what was the issue?

I pondered, but nothing came to mind.

If I had to think of anything…

‘Maybe it takes time to use it again after the first activation?’

The ultimate technique and the ring that had appeared behind me—it boosted my martial arts through its power after spinning.

But…

‘After using it once, the ring didn’t spin again.’

Looking back, it seemed like there was indeed a wait before I could use it again. That thought crossed my mind.

If that was the case, how long would it take?

‘I need to define that timeframe.’

To avoid making the same mistake in a real battle like this, it was crucial to confirm it.

‘I should spend some time later to get a better grasp of it.’

Since there hadn’t even been time to figure it out, I felt even more stressed.

It was great that I’d reached a new level, but if I didn’t know the extent of my power, I’d run into problems when it was time to use it.

Hadn’t I felt the same during my battle with Yusa?

‘It didn’t seem extremely dangerous.’

That was just the situation. To put it bluntly, it wasn’t completely safe either.

‘A single hit could have been lethal.’

If I thought I’d get hit, I needed to concentrate my strong energy to defend.

If I hadn’t focused on dodging and took a hit even once…

‘Would I have won?’

I had no certainty.

Ultimately, I had managed to win by using my life force.

‘Sigh.’

It was disappointing. Really disappointing.

It was also regrettable that I had to rely on my life force in the end.

‘I didn’t get everything I could from that fellow.’

Because the one who mentioned the location died on the spot, I couldn’t obtain most of what I should have from him.

Among those things, the most important one was…

‘Devour.’

The power of devouring that was his ability. The strength that grew stronger the more it consumed.

It was another power reminiscent of Demonic Absorption Technique and Tam’s abilities.

I had acquired information from Yusa when we were together back in the blue days.

The revelation was that…

‘The general’s power can also be devoured by Tam.’

At the moment he intended to use his power against me, Tam activated and ended up devouring his ability.

Thus, the information about devour had been absorbed by Tam.

In other words…

‘Not only dragons but also the powers of these guys won’t work on me.’

Moreover…

‘I can even swallow their abilities.’

The moment I’d knocked them down into submission, it implied that Tam could snatch their powers.

Thinking of that, missing out on Yusa’s power was quite regrettable.

After all, it seemed like a power that fit me perfectly.

‘I never expected it to die.’

Due to Yusa dying right in front of me, I missed out.

‘Tch.’

What a shame.

The fight with that fellow had mostly ended up being disappointing.

‘Think positively.’

It wasn’t like I hadn’t gained anything at all. I tried to remain optimistic about it.

‘Right? I now know that demon energy isn’t very effective, and that I can demonize the general…’

Most importantly.

‘I also learned the location of the Divine Tree.’

Considering that, this situation wasn’t half bad.

Reassuring myself, I continued to walk for a while more.

“…Finally here.”

At last, the long staircase reached its end.

As I reached the steep staircase’s conclusion, a massive iron door was embedded in a large wall.

It certainly seemed like that was the entrance I needed to go through.

Reaching out instinctively…

우우우웅.

“Hmm.”

The space warped, and I felt a wave in my hand. It was like putting my hand into water.

But there didn’t seem to be any issue with gripping the doorknob or any trouble with the door itself.

I felt the waves as I grasped the doorknob.

끼이이이익–!!!

I pulled it sharply.

Fortunately, the door opened easily.

As soon as it did, the sensation of waves in my hand faded away.

As I fully opened the iron door, light poured out from within. I squinted at the brightness.

It was so bright that I couldn’t help but squint.

With my eyes narrowed, I made a shade with my hand to endure it. Before long, as my eyes adjusted…

“…Whoa.”

I gasped at the space created inside.

“What the heck. What is this?”

It was unimaginable. Surrounded by iron doors, I had thought it must be a basement with trees planted in it, but the inside did not feel like a basement at all.

It was, so to speak, a paradise on earth. A sprawling field and a beautiful lake. A garden overflowing with flowers peeked through.

How could there be such a lovely garden? I struggled to contain my awe.

In my life, I had never seen such a beautiful garden.

Even the Shaolin Park, reputed to have cost a fortune, didn’t compare to this.

While I stood entranced by the beautiful spectacle…

“…Ah.”

I finally collected my thoughts. I shouldn’t forget the purpose of my visit.

“The Divine Tree…”

I came here in search of the Divine Tree. Reminded of that, I began to look around, straining to find a tree.

‘What’s going on?’

It was strange. The garden was beautiful but not vast. As for how the ceiling was pierced, it seemed high and bright like the sun was shining, but there were no towering trees like those in the Hwasan Sect.

What could be going on? Why couldn’t I see the Divine Tree?

There were several smaller trees around the field, but judging by their appearance, they were just ordinary trees.

It didn’t feel like anything that could be called the Divine Tree was in sight.

What’s happening?

‘Could it be that there’s no Divine Tree?’

Could it be that I came to the wrong place? This looked like a secret space where one would expect to find the Divine Tree.

How could it not be here?

It was unbelievable.

“There has to be one.”

That can’t be right. It’s definitely here somewhere. Believing that, I focused my energy.

Just like before. I concentrated on sensing the Divine Tree’s energy.

화아아아악–!

Surprisingly, I didn’t even need to focus. The energy washed over me in an instant.

Refreshing and clear energy.

Simultaneously, a holy feeling emanated from it.

What I couldn’t feel properly in the meeting room was significantly more palpable here.

The energy was so rich that it couldn’t be mistaken.

With that sensation, I turned my head.

‘There it is.’

A space where the trees clustered together.

I felt the energy of the Divine Tree coming from that area. I quickly made my way there.

I dashed through the trees. The wind blowing around me grew stronger as I moved.

‘With trees all around, how is there wind blowing?’

If this was really underground, it wouldn’t produce a breezy space. Having wind like this felt out of place.

What this meant was…

‘This isn’t normal space.’

This stood as proof it wasn’t an ordinary space.

It also proved that I really had come to the right place.

With that conviction, I pushed through the trees.

Eventually, I stopped before one tree.

“…Hmm?”

I tilted my head in confusion. My eyebrows naturally furrowed. It was unavoidable.

“What? This is a Divine Tree?”

What stood before me was an utterly ordinary tree.

A perfectly ordinary tree with green leaves that could be found anywhere.

It wasn’t particularly large, nor were the leaves anything special.

It looked no different from the other trees around.

“…What’s going on?”

The energy I felt undeniably came from this tree.

Could it really be that this is the Divine Tree?

‘It’s too different from what I expected.’

The trees in the Hwasan Sect loomed large enough to block the sky.

The one I expected to be the Divine Tree, while notably smaller, still carried an aura and appearance that screamed Divine Tree.

But…

‘What’s with this?’

Could this unimpressive tree actually be the Divine Tree?

If I hadn’t sensed the energy, I might have just walked right past it.

I kept tilting my head in confusion, and just to verify, I reached out to touch the trunk of the tree.

Upon touching it, I felt its rough texture.

As expected, the texture wasn’t any different from that of an ordinary tree…

사아아아아아아–!!

“…?”

Suddenly, a wind blew from the tree.

Not from somewhere else, but precisely from the tree. What was this?

The tree rustled its leaves and released a refreshing breeze.

Why was it doing that?

Just as I was furrowing my brow in confusion…

“How do you like it?”

“…!”

I immediately turned my head at the voice that sounded from behind me.

I hadn’t sensed any presence.

Thinking it might be an enemy, I urgently prepared myself, but then I froze.

I had to stop everything as I saw the figure behind me.

“Though it appears plain, it’s a sturdy and kind soul.”

It was a woman in neat clothes with white hair.

She was smiling gently as she looked at me.

Staring at her smile, I felt as if the world had turned hazy.

I was completely frozen, unable to utter a word as I gazed at the woman.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

She spoke to me, who had become rigid.

She was…

“Our son.”

My mother.

 

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