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The look that said I nailed it was quite undesirable.

The corner of my mouth that laughed like a chortle and my expression as I looked at him confirmed that.

I wanted to punch that damn smug face of his.

But right now, I couldn’t afford to nitpick at that damned face.

“Was the Abyss even part of Mother’s plan…?”

Hwasan Divine Tree.

The Abyss that existed beneath it. No, that bastard Kkurung.

According to Noya, he was a great being at the master level, so why was such a guy in Noya’s Hwasan? That was a mystery.

‘Wasn’t that also a request from Mother?’

Shin Noya said everything was due to Mother’s doing.

That Noya had acted as a general.

That he had betrayed her while holding the Divine Tree and disappeared.

The problems that arose in Mankye because of that.

If the Abyss disappearing along with it was all a scheme that Mother orchestrated…

“…What on earth is it all for?”

What reason did she have to go to such lengths?

What was Mother’s goal, and what was Noya assisting her for?

I couldn’t wrap my head around it, so I asked.

Whether all this was a situation made by Mother or not. It was unclear how it even came to pass.

Upon hearing this, Noya looked at me with a somewhat indifferent expression.

“Well, I don’t really grasp your mother’s intentions either….”

After a short pause, Noya gathered himself and spoke again.

“To recall, the first could be an arrangement she needed to give to you. And the second.”

Noya pointed again to the void with the tip of his finger.

“Perhaps she is hoping for the end of Mankye. That is what I think.”

“…!”

Hearing those words made me grimace.

“…The end of Mankye?”

Suddenly, what on earth did that mean? Out of the blue, the end of Mankye?

“There was often a saying. And the reason we pursued this situation is also ultimately the conclusion of your mother’s desire.”

“I don’t understand what you mean. Could you explain in more detail?”

“Remember when I said that when a problem arises with a Divine Tree, a change occurs all over Mankye?”

“Yes.”

Because of that, the concentration of energy in the air surged sharply.

“If a problem arose from just one tree, then what if there were issues with many more Divine Trees?”

“…”

“Something really big would happen. Moreover.”

Noya raised his head to stare at the void above. The place he was pointing at.

“If the Master’s Divine Tree up there also encounters a problem… I can’t be certain, but it seems something very significant would occur.”

Upon hearing that, I immediately responded to Noya.

“…Is that what you call the end of Mankye? That Mother hoped for such a thing?”

Noya and the Abyss moved for this.

But the current Master doesn’t know about it?

What could possibly be Mother’s reason for wanting that?

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t understand it.

Also.

“I can’t accept that it’s for my sake.”

An arrangement I needed to receive?

“…I didn’t receive anything here.”

There couldn’t have been. I hadn’t gained anything at all.

Not to mention, the Mother I longed to see doesn’t even remember me.

What connection does this situation created by Mother have with me?

“…”

Noya didn’t say anything towards my words filled with emotion.

He just quietly stared at me. The complexity in that gaze was irritating.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

Why was he looking at me with such eyes?

“If it were the usual way.”

“Yes.”

“I would have wanted to explain everything to you as if I knew it all. But now, I can’t do that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t fully comprehend your mother’s intentions, nor could I possibly know what unfolded.”

“…What do you mean you didn’t know about it?”

“Did they call it the Divine Sword? It’s about Yarang.”

“…!”

Noya mentioned the Divine Sword. Hearing that made me momentarily shut my mouth.

“I have never heard about that child.”

The voice of Noya stating that was laced with faint but unmistakable surprise.

Under normal circumstances, I would have thought nothing of it, but now things were different.

I had heard that there was a connection between Mother and Shin Noya.

It seemed like that connection was not merely simple.

In this situation, Yarang seemed to be a considerable concern for Noya.

“Thus, I can’t clearly determine what your Mother intends.”

The fact he couldn’t even be sure of that made me briefly bite my lip.

“Just remember one thing.”

Noya looked at me with serious eyes.

“Whatever it is, your Mother is doing this for you.”

“…How can you be so sure about that?”

“What parent in this world would harm their child?”

“…”

Well.

Honestly, I couldn’t agree with that statement.

I had seen many cases where it was not so and my own family was certainly not a picture of harmony.

Perhaps that was why I made a somewhat sullen expression.

Seeing that, Noya chuckled awkwardly.

“Of course, I’m an orphan, so I don’t really know. Hahaha.”

“…”

What was I supposed to say in response to that despite the absurdity of the situation?

That old man was truly infuriating.

Sighing deeply, I turned my head to gaze at the setting sun as I asked.

“…So, there’s really no way to see Mother anytime soon?”

Even if I faced her directly, the current Master is certainly not her.

But since Noya said he had met her, wasn’t there a way?

That’s what I was thinking when I asked.

“I don’t know.”

Noya provided an infuriatingly vague answer.

“As I mentioned earlier, I can’t be certain. However….”

He trailed off, then quickly added on.

“You could find out by doing what she meant to do.”

“…”

What she intended to do.

“Is that breaking the Divine Trees?”

It was about breaking all the Divine Trees in Mankye and seeing it through the end.

By doing that, I might be able to see Mother again?

What a nonsensical connection.

“…How ironic.”

Having heard that, I promptly rose from my seat.

Since I had originally planned to do something for the Hwasan Sect and see Mother…

Looking for and breaking Divine Trees was related to that plan.

Could doing it really allow me to see Mother?

‘I don’t know.’

If even Noya couldn’t be certain, how would I know?

But.

‘…There’s really no other suitable way.’

There was nothing else available.

This was the highest probability task I have done so far.

I stood up and took something out of my possession.

“Noya.”

“…Yeah.”

“I ask this just in case.”

With a soft thud, I slowly placed the mask over my face.

[Did you come here to speak of that today?]

My voice changed.

Noya looked at me with an astonished expression.

I wondered if I came all the way to Yawol just to tell him what I heard.

“No. As I said earlier, I originally had business here.”

[To meet Yusa?]

“That’s right.”

Yusa and I talked with Noya….

Though it was called a conversation, half of it was you getting pressured until it ended as I concealed my presence.

Noya could have caught me if he wanted but didn’t.

When asked if it was safe, he said it would be fine.

He claimed that guy would follow as intended.

That made me a little anxious but I believed it would be okay since Noya said so.

It’s funny. I used to be suspicious of everything, yet I found myself easily trusting that old man’s words.

‘What would I know after so little time?’

When I calculated it, it had hardly been several years.

In the grand scheme of life, it didn’t even account for a tenth.

It truly was a strange situation.

Crack.

My physical body began to change.

My figure grew larger as my hair lengthened.

Next, I switched into the state of Heavenly Demon and, as I breathed, I spoke to Noya.

[I’m just letting you know in case you’re mistaken. Our conversation isn’t over yet.]

There were still things to discuss.

There was also the specific reason why the Abyss was in Hwasan that I perceived Noya might know but was holding back.

I trusted him enough to let it ride, but at the same time, the biggest reason was.

[The night is coming.]

The crimson sunset was giving way to nightfall.

[I’ll listen to the rest when I return.]

In the night of Yawol, there were things I had to do.

As I completely turned away from the setting sun, I said.

“Need a hand?”

Noya asked, but I just snorted.

[No thanks. Just.]

Woosh.

I gathered my Demon Energy and flew into the air.

[Just keep an eye on things for me. I’ll be back soon.]

With those words, I plunged into the embrace of the approaching night.

Right after Gu Yangcheong vanished.

Shin Cheol quietly stared in the direction where the Black Flame had flickered out.

“…That guy.”

His application of energy had improved significantly.

It felt far superior to when he had clashed in the sparring last time and vented his frustrations.

‘Did he realize something in between?’

I couldn’t pinpoint what, but if he did learn something, that would indeed be good news.

So just as he was about to bring a slight smile,

“Cough….”

Suddenly, Shin Cheol closed his mouth and knelt on one knee.

“Sect Leader…!”

Gu Bong, who was some distance away, rushed over in surprise.

“Are you alright…!”

“I’m fine. Don’t mind me.”

“No, you need to return to Hwasan immediately…!”

“Return? It’s already night, why on earth would I leave?”

Now, given the situation, he’d have to stay until morning.

Adding to that.

“If I turn a blind eye and that guy makes trouble, what then? Heh heh….”

“Sect Leader….”

“It’s fine. I’m just a little worn out.”

Despite seeming okay, Shin Cheol pushed Gu Bong’s hand away and steadied himself.

He pretended to be fine, but in truth, he was feeling unwell.

He tried to hide even the slight trembling in his fingertips as he forced a smile.

‘This isn’t good.’

Clearly, time was running short for him.

The miracle given to him was gradually reaching its end.

 

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