---

After finishing my conversation with Noya, I descended back into the realm.

It was still a little past noon.

People buzzed around me, and the atmosphere was as lively as ever.

I felt this lively energy during my visit to Yawolgung as well, but here, the ambiance seemed particularly bright.

While the Central Plains are vibrant, they feel somewhat hurried and intense in comparison; here, I sensed a certain comfort.

What makes it different?

What sets it apart from the Central Plains?

It seemed too simplistic to say it was just a different world; there had to be some kind of distinction.

Curiosity struck me, prompting me to walk around and observe my surroundings.

“Hmm.”

It wasn’t obvious upon mere observation.

No, honestly, I wasn’t trying to figure it out.

I was drawn to the comfort that this place exuded.

“That’s quite the effort.”

What did Noya say? This place has been around for over a hundred years, right?

For a place built in just a century, it was exceptionally well-crafted.

As I quietly observed, I thought, “Hmm?”

I felt a gaze upon me.

It was common for others to glance at me, but this time felt different.

Narrowing my eyes, I followed the direction of the gaze.

Normally, I wouldn’t have paid it much mind, but—

“What is it?”

This time, it carried emotion.

A somewhat negative emotion, at that.

As I sought to identify the source of the gaze—

“That group over there…”

I identified the cause in the direction I was looking.

Among the uniquely shaped members of the Hwasan Sect, there were particularly small individuals.

They were the Dwarf Clan members I met at the forge last time.

They looked at me with unease, fear, and a mix of suspicion and resentment.

“Ah.”

Only then did it dawn on me why they were staring at me like that.

“It’s because of that incident.”

The event from the forge—while meeting with the guild head.

When I touched the gloves he was wearing, my palm had melted away. And the looks I received when I revealed my identity as a dragon…

It seemed that this had spread and affected them as well.

“Have the rumors spread to them?”

The children appeared unfazed. It was the older ones surrounding them that were concerning.

I could sense a resolute intent not to let me get close.

What did they say? They were oppressed and captured by dragons, living as slaves?

“…”

Recalling that, I feigned a casual approach in their direction.

“Eek—!”

“Ugh…!”

Immediately, they shoved the children aside and showed signs of hostility.

Seeing this, I awkwardly scratched the back of my head. With that kind of reaction, it would be difficult to do anything right now.

“Not the right time, it seems.”

Following the plan, I needed their—specifically, the blacksmiths’—strength, but the method was rather vague, and with my own schedule, I decided to turn away for now.

Though it was slightly disappointing to be looked at like that without doing anything…

“I’m used to it.”

Getting scorned was nothing new, so it didn’t bother me much.

Besides, regardless of whether they liked it or not, I had to utilize them. In truth, I didn’t mind being viewed negatively.

If they insisted on seeing me in a bad light…

“I could reciprocate with a similar attitude.”

So it was all good.

With that thought, I headed toward the tea house where I expected to find the turtle.

After a brief stroll indulging my curiosity, I eventually arrived at the turtle’s tea house.

But—

“What is this now?”

I was left dumbfounded by the scene before me.

This was unavoidable.

“Where did it go?”

The tea house, which should definitely have been here, was nowhere to be found.

There weren’t even any traces left behind.

It was simply empty, as if nothing had ever been there.

“…Ha.”

Unbelievable.

What nonsensical situation was this? I grimaced at the absurdity.

Could something just vanish like that? And why were there no signs?

It was utterly bewildering.

“Am I going crazy?”

There was a hint of plausibility there. After all, such a thing couldn’t be real without a touch of madness.

Yet—

“It doesn’t seem like I am.”

Regrettably, I wasn’t insane, at least not yet; there were still too many things on my agenda.

So I quietly scanned the area where the tea house used to exist.

“It feels like some prank has been pulled.”

The turtle must have done something.

With that conviction in mind, I steeled my gaze.

Whoooosh—!!

Power surged through my heart, igniting my eyes with warmth.

I awakened my Heart Eye.

In an instant, my vision flickered slightly, and I received a response.

The more I used it, the more familiar it became, and I realized one thing.

“All objects possess energy.”

Every object undeniably holds energy within it.

The Heart Eye isn’t just about predicting the movements of energy to find openings in opponents.

It’s about observing the energy itself, accepting it more swiftly.

That seemed to be the essence of the Heart Eye crafted by Pejon.

“…He’s one crazy dude the more I think about it.”

How on earth did he invent such absurd powers?

Both the Tua Pacheonmu and the Heart Eye were shrouded in mysteries surrounding Pejon.

“Seriously.”

All the people who taught me were nothing but monsters.

Be it Shin Noya or Pejon, it was all the same.

Should I be thankful that no matter how hard I try, I don’t become arrogant because of them?

“Is this even something to feel good about?”

Putting that aside for now, I continued to use my Heart Eye and surveyed the area around me.

The trees, the rocks, and even the plum blossom leaves drifting from the sky.

Each little item was permeated with energy.

Though the intensity varied with size, the energy was clearly wavering at the edges.

I focused on it, staring straight ahead.

“There it is.”

I could see it.

In front of me, in the void where nothing seemed to exist, energy was rippling.

When viewed in its energetic form, it clearly resembled a house.

“Hm.”

I closed my eyes, staring at it.

Whooom—!

The energy dissipated, and my Heart Eye faded.

And then—

Huuuuuush!!

I channeled the energy from my eyes into my fist.

Zzing!

In an instant, intense pain shot through me.

The ring of the Technique of the Flame Wheel expanded wildly and rotated, blending violently with the intensity of the Breaking Heaven Technique.

As it exploded, I covered my mind to avert disaster, conjuring sorcery threads around it to prevent damage.

The compressed explosive force derived from the friction.

I trapped it within my fist.

Growl.

My bones vibrated from the violent tremors.

Despite the strained state of my body, I managed to steady my posture.

Right before launching an attack, my shoulders hunkered down.

“Stop it—!”

Something suddenly shot out from the void.

It was the turtle.

“You crazy fool! What on earth are you trying to do?”

Clearly startled, his once-hidden eyes were now out for all to see.

The turtle’s eyes, previously obscured by eyebrows, were now as wide as marbles.

“Oh.”

Seeing that, I released the energy I’d been holding.

In that moment.

Kuaaaaaaaaah—!!!

A tremendous wind erupted from my body.

As I let go of the energy I had been containing, the blast of pressure surged forth.

“Ugh!”

The startled turtle stumbled, barely managing to hold himself up with his cane.

Once the wind settled, he shouted at me in an irritated voice.

“What the heck were you trying to do?”

I tilted my head and replied.

“I thought you might not come out, so I was trying to make some noise to summon you.”

“Make noise…? Make noise, you say?”

In disbelief, the turtle narrowed his face, incredulously.

“Which lunatic makes noise like that?!”

“Well… you came out, didn’t you?”

Who told anyone to hide, anyway?

I felt slightly wronged by this.

Clearly, it seemed like he was doing something clandestine, and now I had to find out how to untangle that.

So I intended to blow everything away.

I had intended to practice the Heavenly Demon Technique too, simply trying to utilize it once.

But before I could properly launch it, the turtle rushed out in a panic.

“Given how you reacted, did I create a serious problem?”

Considering how quickly he emerged, it implied that I hadn’t prepared anything tolerable.

“…You really are out of your mind. What on earth were you trying to use just now?”

“I’ve been practicing lately.”

“…Practicing…?”

“Yeah. It feels somewhat useful, but I can’t use it often, so I’m trying to get the hang of it.”

“You think getting used to something like that makes sense? Do you even realize what you were about to do?”

“…Something powerful, probably?”

“…You must be kidding me.”

The turtle shook his head vigorously.

His voice bore a weighty sense of frustration.

What’s with his reaction?

“Is there a problem?”

“A problem? Of course! What you just tried to do is beyond reason.”

“Oh….”

Beyond reason? Was it really that outrageous?

“You would struggle with even one of those! Why in the world would you attempt to combine four?”

“No… but I couldn’t achieve what I wanted otherwise.”

I needed to create friction to amplify my strength.

I had to endure until I unleashed that power, meaning I needed to layer my mind over it.

And then, to prevent it from shattering, I had to bind it again with sorcery.

As I explained, the turtle seemed poised to say something.

“But in doing that, not just your body, but your soul too…”

Before completing that sentence, he closed his mouth, as if fighting against the urge to say more.

“…Fine. Just come in for now.”

“Can I go in now?”

“…If I say no, you look like you’d bulldoze your way in, don’t you think?”

“Then I’ll just take my leave.”

With determination, I stepped past the turtle. Though he continued to look displeased with me, I chose to lightly ignore it.

As I moved past him, suddenly the tea house appeared before my eyes.

So, this must also be a part of his sorcery.

I nodded at the familiar surroundings and spoke to the turtle.

“No need for tea.”

“Honestly, I didn’t plan to serve you any, you brat.”

Tsk tsk. The turtle clicked his tongue repeatedly as he walked ahead.

He pulled a chair and took a seat, prompting me to sit across from him.

“…What now?”

“You mentioned something last time.”

“Last time?”

“Yeah. You said to come see you when I was in real need.”

“…”

Upon recalling his own words, the turtle’s brow twitched.

“That time… it’s not yet, is it?”

“I don’t know when the time will be, but I need you now, Elder. I need to groom myself a bit.”

“Groom?”

What kind of oddball talk was this? The turtle stared at me.

I met his gaze and calmly replied.

“Yeah. Groom. I need to visit my mother. I can’t just go looking like this.”

“Your mother? You’re saying you want to visit her from here?”

“Yeah.”

“Where on earth is your mother that you suddenly want to groom yourself…?”

“My mother is said to be the master of this world.”

“…What?”

At my words, the turtle’s eyes widened like lanterns.

Ah, while I said “lanterns,” it was more like the size of marbles.

“No way….”

The turtle hesitated for a moment, then fell silent.

Seemingly bombarded by thoughts, he shifted his gaze before finally saying,

“…I see.”

He nodded, as if he had come to a realization.

The expression on the turtle’s face turned somber, worn down by a subtle bitterness.

“So… that’s how it was.”

“…Elder?”

“You’re a child of the Yōko (fox spirit).”

At that moment.

Currrrlll—!!

The space trembled violently.

 

---