Chapter 903: Master of the Abyss.

Paradise.

It’s a word that grates on me, and grates on me again.

“Paradise…”

I sit idly on the chair, recalling our conversation. My mind was still unsettled.

Paradise (樂園). The name itself is an undeniably beautiful word, but now, it didn’t seem so pleasant.

The problem, I suppose, is that the one who uttered it was none other than the Blood Demon.

‘He said he dreamed of Paradise.’

Did he say he would make the Central Plains into Paradise? Or did he say he was going to Paradise?

That part isn’t clear, but I know that was his objective.

However.

‘The Ten Thousand Realms are, in other words, called Paradise.’

If the place I am now is called Paradise, could it possibly be related to what the Blood Demon said?

If there is a connection, in what way might they be intertwined? That part bothered me.

‘Especially, the reaction the Blood Demon showed towards Mother.’

Hostility, or perhaps wariness.

I haven’t seen him much, but the Blood Demon always watched as if finding amusement in any situation. Yet, the moment he saw Mother, that guy showed intense wariness.

The Ten Thousand Realms and the Paradise the Blood Demon spoke of have some connection.

It was the moment I became certain.

Just then.

Tak.

Something is placed on the table in front of me. I looked to see what it was, and it was a teacup.

“Drink.”

At the voice, I looked at the other person. Naturally, he wasn’t human.

It was a man with black hair and beast-like ears.

He looked a little under twenty years old, but I figured you couldn’t judge by appearance.

“Who?”

When I asked his identity, the man’s brow furrowed.

“…I am Gu Bong, the first disciple.”

First disciple.

At those words, I couldn’t help but make a strange expression.

‘First disciple?’

A term that really seemed like something out of a sect just popped out. No matter how I looked at it, it felt foreign, but I didn’t particularly show it.

No, it probably showed, but it would be more accurate to say I held back as much as possible.

“I see. So what is this…?”

“It’s plum tea. The Sect Leader grew and made it himself.”

“…”

Hearing that, I couldn’t manage my expression.

‘…Grew it himself? That old geezer?’

Could that fellow, known as the world’s number one for his foul temper, have had a hobby like this? If it were Plum Blossom Immortal, maybe, but calling him ‘Elder Shin’ seemed quite unfitting.

I couldn’t trust it at all and just stared at the tea.

“Consider it an honor.”

“Hm?”

The beast-man called Gu Bong added.

“It’s something normally not given to anyone, but the Sect Leader is giving it specially…. very specially.”

“Ah.”

At those words, I nodded.

Then, looking at Gu Bong, I said.

“You don’t seem to like me, do you? Why is that?”

“…”

At my question, Gu Bong’s eyebrows twitched. His expression suggested he hadn’t expected me to ask so directly.

I asked purely out of curiosity.

“We seem to be meeting for the first time. That’s probably right. I’ve never seen your kind anywhere else. So why do you dislike me…?”

As I spoke, I took a sip of the plum tea. I was surprised.

‘This is delicious.’

Unbelievably, the plum tea was clean and fragrant. It was strangely so, considering it came from that eccentric old man.

“…It’s not like that.”

I chuckled at Gu Bong’s words.

“Not like that? You’ve got daggers in your eyes; you look like you could kill someone just by looking.”

“…”

“I know I’m not the type to be well-liked anywhere, but I don’t particularly like being cursed without having done anything wrong.”

I took another sip. The tea was gone in two sips. It was because I couldn’t control myself; it was that good.

“What is it?”

I asked, looking straight at him, but Gu Bong didn’t answer. He only intensified the emotion in his eyes.

What is it? I really want to punch those eyes out.

‘Rip them out?’

Irritation welled up. My nerves were already frayed, and now this was causing trouble too. Just as I was considering giving him a piece of my mind.

“Tsk.”

With the sound of a tongue clicking, someone stroked my hair. A rough touch, a calloused palm. And the scent of plum blossoms wafting. I knew who it was without needing to be told.

“Why are you two fighting in someone else’s house? If you’re going to fight, go outside.”

“…Greetings, Sect Leader…”

Gu Bong bowed his head. The owner of the hand was, of course, Elder Shin. Confirming this, I immediately blurted out.

“Where have you been? Where do you disappear to after just dropping someone off?”

“Didn’t I say I was just stepping out for a moment? Besides, how long have I been gone for you to be fighting already?”

“Who’s fighting? Can’t you tell? I was being provoked unilaterally.”

“Don’t make me laugh. Brat, how many people in the world do you think would pick a fight just by looking at your face?”

“Well, you would, Elder.”

“Do you want a beating?”

“No.”

The hand stroking my head applied more pressure, so I cut myself off. The problem was.

‘Look at those eyes.’

Gu Bong’s gaze, watching this, seemed to intensify even further. What is it? Jealousy? No.

‘It seems like something more than jealousy…’

I felt something else.

“Gu Bong.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“You’ve worked hard. You may leave.”

“…But…”

“I’ll handle the rest, so go rest. This guy’s temper is so foul, you might get bitten if you stay together.”

“Now you’re treating me like a dog…?”

“You’re not human.”

“You old geezer, again?”

“Watch your words.”

“Hm?”

As I was arguing with Elder Shin, Gu Bong interjected.

“Address the Sect Leader properly. Observe the etiquette.”

Hearing that, it seemed calling him ‘old geezer’ was the issue.

“That’s right, you punk. Tsk tsk, how rude to call him an old geezer.”

Meanwhile, Elder Shin chimed in happily, chuckling. This is ridiculous.

Grinding my teeth, I said.

“Yes, Sect Leader. Stop teasing and please sit down in front of me.”

“Alright.”

“Damn it.”

“I can hear everything.”

Elder Shin walked over and pulled up a chair in front of me.

“You’ve worked hard. You may go.”

“…”

“Gu Bong.”

“…Excuse me.”

Gu Bong bowed respectfully to Elder Shin and left. He didn’t seem to forget glaring at me on his way out.

“Damn it, those eyes…”

Just as I scowled and was about to get annoyed, the Elder burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha.”

Hearing that, I asked the Elder accusingly.

“What’s with that guy? Why is he acting like such a jerk?”

“Don’t say too much. Isn’t the blatant malice kind of cute?”

“Cute my ass. I really held back from ripping his eyes out.”

Normally, I wouldn’t have held back. However, this was a space created by Elder Shin. And it seemed his emotions were based on the Elder, so I restrained myself.

“That guy certainly has a temper.”

“So, if it were you, Elder, would you have held back?”

“If it were me, I’d have cut off his head first.”

“…That doesn’t sound like something a true Daoist would say.”

I didn’t intend to kill him, but this guy intends to do it without hesitation.

“Anyway. Just let it slide for now. That kid is a bit excessively intense.”

“…”

I didn’t answer. Because if it happens again, I won’t hold back. Elder Shin didn’t point this out either. It was hard to call it permission; it seemed like he just intended to let it pass.

“Was the tea alright?”

“…Yes. Well.”

“Judging by your expression, it must have been delicious. Khkhl.”

“…”

I was found out. I wanted to say it wasn’t tasty if I could, but the tea was undeniably delicious.

“Have you been well?”

“No.”

“I’m glad you said you’ve been well. I haven’t been too bad myself.”

“…I just said ‘no.’ Why ask if you’re just going to ignore it?”

“Honestly, I’m not that curious, but shouldn’t I at least pretend?”

That was the most casual answer in the world.

“Where did that black-haired girl go?”

“I don’t know. She just left suddenly.”

“…Is it okay not to know?”

The Elder looked at me as if it were absurd. Of course. The Elder probably knows that girl is the Heavenly Demon. Right. Normally, one should be a bit concerned.

“…It’s fine.”

I ended up ignoring it without realizing. It wasn’t good. This was something I should have thought about more deeply.

‘I got caught up in the situation.’

The current situation is so chaotic that I think I forgot without realizing it.

“Hmm.”

The Elder looked at me and nodded. The more I look, the more I feel it; he really does have sharp features. However.

‘He’s annoyingly handsome.’

His appearance, which suggested he must have been quite dashing in his youth, really bothered me.

“What’s with that strange look?”

“I just remembered something I didn’t like.”

“While looking at my face…?”

“That’s a misunderstanding. I was just looking, and there was your face… No, just your face was there.”

“…No.”

Should I get angry or not? After pondering for a moment, the Elder sighed and said.

“…Forget it. It’s too much trouble to get angry over every little thing. Just ask what you want to ask.”

“Yes.”

With an awkward expression, I asked the Elder. I still had a mountain of questions and so much to figure out, but.

“Is there a way to go back?”

The most important thing, ultimately, was finding a way to return. The problem was.

‘Does that old man know?’

Hearing Elder Shin, he’d apparently been here for 150 years. I wondered if there really was a way. So, I asked with a sense of unease.

“There is.”

“…!”

Surprisingly, the Elder said there was a way.

“What? You looked like you thought there wasn’t.”

“Of course. If there were, why…”

…haven’t I returned until now? I tried to ask, but.

“There is, but it was unusable.”

“…What?”

What did that mean?

“You realize this is another world, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

How could I not know? Not only were non-humans roaming around, but there were also two moons. How could I not know?

“Once you’ve come to another world…. to go elsewhere, you ultimately need permission from the master of your original world.”

“…Permission?”

There are masters of worlds, and you need their permission to go anywhere? I didn’t understand. If so.

“Why, when I came here-“

…did it happen without issue? I tried to ask about this, but.

“That’s because the Central Plains has no master.”

The Elder spoke faster than I could.

“You know that, don’t you? That’s why the Central Plains is in its current state.”

“…”

I didn’t want to understand, but it was true.

‘…Which means.’

“To return, I need permission from the master of this world.”

“Correct.”

“…A master…”

The master of this world. If I get his permission, I can return to the Central Plains?

“I’m not certain, but at least that’s my prediction.”

“…”

Hearing that, I thought of someone. If it’s the master of this world…

“That’s right.”

The Elder said to me.

“It’s your mother.”

“…!”

“It’s something you already know, isn’t it?”

“…I wasn’t certain.”

At my words, the Elder chuckled.

“Not certain? You just didn’t want to believe it.”

That was also true.

The master of the Ten Thousand Realms.

Mu-ah’s words and the Blood Demon’s words combined, finally becoming one. Mother was the master of this world.

‘If that’s the case.’

While that was quite shocking, if it’s the method, wouldn’t it be simple? Such a thought occurred to me.

Just then.

“I know what you’re thinking, but it won’t be that easy.”

As if reading my thoughts, the Elder quickly interjected.

“Not easy?”

“Masters of worlds generally don’t want their children going elsewhere. They also say relationships aren’t great. Especially with the Ten Thousand Realms.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“This part… it’s a bit long, so I’ll explain it later. The important thing is, if you’re hoping for maternal love (母性愛) from her, abandon that futile expectation.”

Why? The thought naturally arose. It wasn’t that I solely hoped for that, but it was a part that somewhat satisfied me. But to completely exclude it? The part about it being meaningless particularly bothered me.

“Why is that?”

So I asked, and the Elder replied with a somewhat reluctant look.

“She is your mother, but… she probably isn’t now.”

“…What?”

“Especially from her perspective, despising dragons. You shouldn’t meet her. If things go wrong, the situation could drastically change.”

“What does that mean?”

Despises dragons? She’s my mother, but not?

“I don’t understand, Elder.”

“That’s… Ah.”

The Elder, about to speak, suddenly stood up. His expression suggested he had realized something.

“It seems she’s just woken up.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll explain on the way. Get up.”

“Again…?”

Where are we going now? I just arrived at this place, why do I have to move again?

“Are you already tired, young man? It’s not far. Just ahead.”

The Elder pointed out the window. It was the location of the passage that had surprised me the moment I saw it.

“Since that thing below has woken up, let’s head there first.”

“Woken up?”

Was something sleeping here? The moment that question arose.

“Yes, it has woken up.”

Kugugugu—!!!

“…!”

The ground vibrated, and goosebumps immediately rose on my arms. At the same time.

[Geueueu.]

A cry was heard. Hearing that, I immediately lifted my head.

Could this sound be…?

“I’m talking about the master responsible for the darkness of this land.”

[Kuoohhhh.]

Kkureungi wailed.