Chapter 334: Mother. (1)

“What is that…”

[The reason was simply that there was no other way. The child was weeping sadly. And that was all this old tree could do. If I try to find a reason, nothing else comes to mind.]

“…”

[Traveling back in time is like carrying karma within one’s soul.]

My brow furrows.

Because that story was one that resonated clearly with me too.

[The child made a choice, but going against what was determined by reason is impossible.]

“That’s…”

[However, that child must have accomplished something. That’s why they are an Apostle. Isn’t that why you can face me?]

As the World Tree said, Yeon Ilcheon succeeded in sealing the Blood Demon.

Perhaps it can be understood from this that sealing was the best he could do.

And.

The Blood Demon would revive in the future.

And that the world doesn’t make the same mistake twice.

‘In the end, the apocalypse comes.’

Those were the words Yeon Ilcheon conveyed to me.

No matter how hard one tries, the end comes. Whether it’s the Blood Demon.

Or something else.

‘The world the World Tree speaks of. Is it a god-like being?’

The god that shamans and Shaolin monks respected so much.

Could it be such a being?

‘That’s strange too.’

If the World Tree says its existence was erased and it’s no longer in the world.

It means it existed originally.

What would Taoism have looked like in that world?

With such a vast being called the ‘Master’ already present, could they have believed in a god?

‘Now is not the time to be worrying about that.’

I shook my head, erasing the thought. There was so much else I needed to know.

It wasn’t the time for trivial worries.

“…So… Ha.”

A sigh escaped me as I was about to speak.

The current situation was just too overwhelming.

So, in the end, the current situation is because of the crap our ancestors left behind, and isn’t it accurate to say I’m cleaning it up?

If you think about it carefully, it might not be the case, but that’s how it seemed to me.

‘Where to start…’

What should I even ask first?

There was too much; it was hard to even recall.

Fuck…

My mind is a mess.

How did it end up like this?

What should I ask first?

Should I ask what the seed is?

I should ask what the Heavenly Demon is.

Should I ask what this place is?

Or should I start by asking what my regression is?

Or maybe…

If not that…

[Apostle.]

“…!”

Just as I was forcefully sorting through my chaotic thoughts.

The World Tree’s voice reached me.

[You seem very tired, Apostle.]

“…Not really.”

That was a lie.

I already knew it myself.

That it was overwhelming and heavy.

And that’s why it was difficult.

“You said my regression wasn’t your doing.”

[Yes, your traveling back in time was not something I did.]

You definitely said you didn’t have the strength left for that.

Could that be true?

Or could it be a lie…

Bbaak-!

My head shook from the blow of my own fist.

I hit myself to try and clear my head.

Verifying the truth of each statement,

figuring out whether it was false or true is my old habit.

Because I couldn’t trust anyone.

Having experienced a situation where everyone was an enemy.

And the many people who stayed by my side in that situation,

whose deaths in my stead are etched in my memory.

It was a habit I developed to somehow survive.

“…It’s all fine. Everything’s fine, but…”

Clutching my tired head.

I pushed aside the thoughts I’d had earlier.

The words I wanted to hear and the questions I wanted to ask while looking at this World Tree.

The truth about how the world works,

or the secrets hidden within it.

It was simply…

“What do you want from me?”

What I need to do.

How I should proceed.

In this shitty situation.

What these unknown things expect from me.

I desperately wanted to know that.

[Apostle.]

“…You told me.”

That I was the flame that would burn all karma.

The World Tree I met in my past life said that while looking at me.

Was it purely because I could ignite a flame?

No matter how I looked at it, that wasn’t it.

[Did I say such a thing to you?]

“Yes, but I don’t know how to do that. The only thing I know how to burn is people.”

The words ‘burning karma’.

What could be the reason you said that to me?

I can’t know anything.

That’s why I had to ask more desperately.

“Where do I even start? What should I do?”

How should I possibly do this?

The people staying by my side are increasing, one by one.

Strangely enough, I felt they were precious.

Even in such a situation, the Blood Calamity approaches.

The notion that stopping the Heavenly Demon would suffice

hid a truth far greater than that.

If I were to protect them, I had to know.

Not for myself.

For them.

“You said I could burn it.”

[…Apostle.]

I said I would.

Whether it was stopping the Blood Demon or the Heavenly Demon.

If it meant I had to live, and they had to live, I would try.

So please, just tell me.

“Apostle, right. Was Yeon Ilcheon also an Apostle? One who received your holy mark.”

Seeing as you call me Apostle.

Does that mean Yeon Ilcheon was also an Apostle like me?

[…Yes, that child was also an Apostle.]

“Yeon Ilcheon looked at me and called me a disaster. He said I would destroy the world.”

The Blood Demon failed.

However, the disaster wouldn’t just stop; it would surge again.

According to the reason the World Tree spoke of, it would happen like that.

I thought that would be the Heavenly Demon.

[You mean you met that child?]

“Yes. He left behind his lingering thoughts.”

It wasn’t a very good memory, but I did meet him.

[That child, his lingering thoughts…]

The World Tree seemed lost in thought as it spoke, but

I wasn’t in a state to wait for that.

“What is it you desire? For what purpose…”

As I said that, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

“Don’t tell me… the reason my past self fell here was because you summoned me?”

[That’s not the case. Just like back then, meeting you now is merely a coincidence.]

That was a relief, at least.

The transmigration incident itself occurred because of the Demonic Mirror Gate that Cheoljiseon tore open,

and if the World Tree was actually involved in that,

it would have been a chilling story.

“Then, please tell me what exactly you desire from me.”

Saying I could burn karma, and such.

Giving me the holy mark.

The previous World Tree, the one I met in my past life, taught me how to escape this world.

To be precise, it was the World Tree I met in my past life.

“…Are you hoping I’ll extract you from here and return you to your original world?”

At my question, the World Tree lets out a slight chuckle.

[That is an impossible story.]

“Then what is it you want that made you choose me?”

[I… simply wish for the children to live.]

The world where the World Tree originally existed.

More precisely, the people of the world I was living in.

To continue living.

That’s what the World Tree wishes for.

“You chose me for that purpose?”

Is that possible? How could that be?

It wasn’t something I could understand.

“…Why me, of all people?”

I was a being without such power.

[No, Apostle. You can do it.]

“Why on earth are you so…”

Just as I was about to ask how you were so sure.

[Before we get to that story, there’s something you need to know first.]

“A story?”

The World Tree interrupts.

[Do you know what existence resides within your body?]

“…!”

I swallowed a gasp at the World Tree’s words.

The existence he was referring to.

Was the beast that had settled inside my body.

“You… how did you…?”

[For that, first…]

That wasn’t the only surprising thing.

The World Tree continued immediately.

Bringing up a fact I had momentarily forgotten.

[I must speak about your mother.]

In the distant past.

It was a story about my vanished mother.

---

Tududuk!

Cheoljiseon quickly moved his feet, pounding the ground.

His breathing was ragged, his legs were numb, but Cheoljiseon didn’t stop.

‘What is that…!’

Even so, his gaze remained fixed on the sky.

Because the sky, which had been turning black from earlier, was gradually deepening.

‘No… that’s not the sky.’

Right, it’s not the sky.

It was definitely closer to a membrane.

Gradually, it began to cover the surroundings like a formation, enveloping them in a black membrane.

The scope was also unusual.

It covered two mountains and even reached the Sinryong Hall a little further away.

‘What in the world is going on…!’

Cheoljiseon gritted his teeth and moved his feet.

It was certainly not a peaceful situation.

Cheoljiseon thought even as he ran.

‘Where… where am I going right now?’

In the urgent situation, he had just started running without thinking, but

he had no idea where to go.

‘The instructors?’

If he wasn’t the only one seeing this situation.

The instructors must have surely seen it too.

The surroundings were quiet.

Disturbingly so.

Just then.

Shwook-!

Feeling something nearby, Cheoljiseon quickly twisted his body.

It was a movement driven by instinct, but

Pook!

“Nngh!”

It seemed too late, as the pain of being pierced by something struck him.

Perhaps the projectile contained magic, as a whistling sound followed, sending his body flying.

Soon, Cheoljiseon’s body rolled helplessly on the ground.

“Hah… Hah!”

Wondering where the wound was,

it seemed his thigh had been pierced.

A dagger was lodged there.

“…Nnnngh…!”

As Cheoljiseon began to grit his teeth in pain.

“What are you doing? You almost killed me.”

A person’s voice came from the front.

Cheoljiseon looked forward through the pain.

Someone clad in black martial attire was approaching, drawing their sword.

‘Who…’

“I told you to check their face before killing them. Do you want to die by Taeju’s hand?”

“One or two people should be fine.”

Voices came from behind as well.

This seemed to be the person who threw the dagger.

“Anyway, the lineage of the Four Great Families only has daughters left. The rest can be killed off as needed.”

“That’s only for the instructors, though. Be careful if you don’t want to cause trouble.”

“…Tsk.”

Hearing the other person’s correction, the man clicked his tongue, grabbed Cheoljiseon’s hair without warning, and lifted him up.

“Aack!”

“Do you recognize this face?”

At the man’s words, another person approached and stared intently at Cheoljiseon’s face.

He grabbed Cheoljiseon’s jaw and turned it around.

“Hmm.”

He quickly frowned as if something was wrong.

“Why?”

“Look at the mole’s position and the clothes. He’s one of the ones Taeju told us not to touch.”

“…Ah, was that so?”

“What are we gonna do!”

“What do you mean, what are we gonna do? We just leave.”

The man chuckled.

Cheoljiseon was thoroughly terrified by the unexpected attack, but

nevertheless, his eyes were moving rapidly.

‘One has a mark on his chest, the other on his left wrist… Both are dragons.’

He was visually identifying their features.

“My apologies. I was eager to taste blood after so long, so I was a bit hasty.”

The one who threw the dagger at Cheoljiseon.

He patted Cheoljiseon’s cheek nonchalantly,

and quickly got up.

It seemed he really had no intention of killing him.

‘If they don’t kill me… what about the others?’

He recalled what they had said.

-Anyway, the lineage of the Four Great Families only has daughters left. The rest can be killed off as needed.

This meant that

they intended to kill everyone except the important ones.

‘The reason the instructors haven’t appeared…’

Is that the instructors are involved in this,

or that many people like those two have arrived now.

…Is this a planned attack?

‘No way.’

Only then did Cheoljiseon recall when Shinseong told him not to worry about the part where Gu Yangcheon was attacked.

Could this incident possibly be related to Shinseong?

“Your leg should be fine if you stop the bleeding properly. It wasn’t poisoned.”

The man said that with a laugh and prepared to move.

It seemed they intended to capture others, not him.

That meant he couldn’t just let them leave.

Cheoljiseon moved his fingertips.

Because it hadn’t been long since he opened the Demonic Mirror Gate.

Even if he couldn’t open the same gate as before,

he felt he couldn’t let them leave like this.

He tried hard to find a sensation with his fingertips, but

he couldn’t grasp the feeling he wanted.

‘Please…’

This was the power he had wished would disappear so badly,

yet why did it fail to respond at a time like this?

Just as Cheoljiseon desperately tried to move his fingertips.

“Let’s go the other way…”

The man, who had started to get up, stopped mid-sentence.

Because his reaction was strange, Cheoljiseon unconsciously followed his gaze.

Tuk.

Something fell right before Cheoljiseon’s eyes.

“Hh… Hhhuuup!”

Seeing it, Cheoljiseon let out an involuntary scream.

What had suddenly fallen was a person’s head.

And it was the head of the person who had been checking Cheoljiseon’s face.

“Who the hell…!”

The man tried to summon his power next, but

Seogeok-!

Along with a chilling sound of something being sliced.

Tuk.

That man’s head also fell before Cheoljiseon’s eyes.

Seeing that, Cheoljiseon clutched his trembling heart, unable to even scream.

Could it be an instructor?

The presence of the two warriors was formidable,

If someone could slice through such figures like this…

“…Where are they?”

Just as Cheoljiseon felt a slight sense of relief, thinking it must be an instructor.

Another voice came from directly above.

It was a voice he’d heard before.

Not often, but a voice he’d heard a few times.

Normally, it was a gentle, sleepy-sounding voice.

Yet, somehow, it had a beautiful, alluring tone, but

now it sounded cold, as if filled with anger.

Moreover, the chilling emotion contained in the voice

made Cheoljiseon tremble incomparably more than before.

Cheoljiseon raised his trembling head to look at the owner of the voice.

First, he saw hair that was close to white, a pale blue-white shade,

“…That person.”

Second were beautiful blue eyes.

“Where are they?”

Hwik-!

Shaking the blood off his sword.

Namgung Bi-ah was looking down at Cheoljiseon.