Chapter 932: So in the end.

I dragged Gu Bong and Cheon Ma back to the Mount Hua Sect first.

I had nowhere else to go for the time being, and things had gone better than expected, so there was no need to stay any longer. Besides, I was going to visit again eventually anyway.

Click.

I felt the clicking token in my embrace. It was an item given to me by the head of that Black Family place or whatever it was. He said this alone would make traveling to and from the Moon Palace much easier. Even this much was a considerable benefit. In any case, it meant they were willing to listen to my story.

‘The important thing is that I got the first button fastened correctly.’

I used Gu Bong to create the framework. I had suspected that guy and those nobles were connected somehow. As expected, Gu Bong was someone with a story.

‘Well, that’s that, I guess.’

If there was anything unexpected here…

‘It was the head of that place.’

The guy from the White Family. Compared to the owner of that place, Baekwol or whatever his name was, it was night and day.

‘Strong.’

Never mind his method of hiding his presence or his power to obscure vision and create illusions. The man I faced directly after piercing through that was far more powerful than I thought.

‘I couldn’t get a good read.’

How strong he was. How much power he was hiding. I couldn’t gauge it well. That meant he was that powerful. Even his steady gaze. The aura he exuded during that time was unusual. What would have happened if I had fought him to the death right then and there?

‘Hmm….’

Even imagining it, I couldn’t quite figure it out. It meant I wasn’t sure if I would win or lose.

‘He’s definitely different from that Baek whatever guy.’

With the other guy, I thought it would be tough only after nightfall. But this guy felt dangerous even before the sun had set. Which means…

‘What about at night?’

Does it mean I’d likely lose if he got stronger at night?

‘Hmm….’

I frowned. I started thinking about what to do. Just as I was falling into thought…

“…Why are you sitting there uninvited? I told you to get out.”

The turtle that appeared before me scowled and spoke. Hearing that, I clicked my tongue and replied.

“I came as a guest, so why do you keep trying to kick me out? I haven’t even had a single drink yet.”

“What do you mean, guest? You barged right in when I clearly posted ‘No guests allowed’ outside the door?”

The turtle gripped his staff, looking incredulous.

Thwack-!

“Ack!”

He hit me right on the crown of my head. I rubbed my head, feeling a stinging pain.

“I’m not open for business, you punk! Get out quickly.”

“Then why did you give me tea?”

I said, looking at the steaming cup of tea placed before me. He tells me to leave, yet he gives me tea. At my words, the turtle stared at me with an incredulous look.

“Who was it that threatened to make a mess if I didn’t give them tea?”

“You gave it to me anyway. Last time, you just kicked me out.”

I remember him waving his staff around a few times and chasing me out of the shop. If he didn’t want me here, he could just do that again. As I said that, I saw the turtle scowled.

“That’s-“

He stopped mid-sentence. I looked at the turtle, wondering why, but the old man just wore a displeased expression and said nothing else.

What the…?

‘Maybe he actually wants me to stay?’

Is he the type to grumble like a god but still take care of things?

‘I don’t know. Doesn’t seem like it to me.’

Though my gut feeling said otherwise, the circumstances suggested it. There was no other reason for him to act like this.

“Hoo.”

The turtle sighed. It was a deep, weary breath.

“…If you have no business here, just drink that and leave.”

“Aw, come on.”

At those words, I immediately replied with a smile.

“Why would I have come if I didn’t have business? I don’t particularly like drinking tea, you know.”

“…”

The turtle furrowed his wrinkled brow deeply.

“Then why did you come?”

To his question asking my business, I downed the tea in one gulp and said,

“Elder-nim. There’s something I need to try, and, uh, I have a question.”

“No.”

“…I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

“I have nothing to tell you.”

“…”

I faltered at the swift refusal. The turtle was perceptive. His face showed he’d grasped what I was about to say in an instant.

‘Damn.’

I continued, offering an awkward smile.

“Come on now… Don’t just refuse right away.”

“Maybe not to others, but absolutely not to you.”

“No, why not?”

“Because I feel like it.”

I tried to learn some magic, but the turtle waved his nearly fingerless hands dismissively, clearly refusing.

“Aw, Elder-nim.”

“Don’t try to butter me up with that ugly face of yours. It’s even more unpleasant.”

“…”

That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? That one stung a little. Seeing me shut my mouth tightly, the turtle glanced at me. And then.

“You shouldn’t set foot in this place.”

Does ‘this place’ refer to magic? I shouldn’t dabble in magic?

“Why is that?”

Unable to comprehend, I asked, and the turtle tapped the table emphatically.

“This world would be infinitely gracious to you, but I cannot bear the calamity that would result.”

“What does that mean?”

Tell me so I can understand. As I glared with that thought, the turtle suddenly tilted his head.

“I’ve felt it since last time, it’s strange.”

“What is?”

“You shouldn’t be this stupid, so why are you this stupid?”

“…What?”

Why is this old geezer straight-up insulting me like this?

“Calling someone stupid to their face.”

“No… it’s strange…? Surely someone of that caliber shouldn’t be like this… Ah, perhaps.”

The turtle stared intently at me, seemingly unable to figure it out. At that moment.

Vmmm-.

I saw the turtle’s eyes, hidden beneath his brows, begin to glow. And then.

Swoooosh–!!

“…!”

Suddenly, an unknown sensation swept over my body.

Thump-! My heart pounded, and energy surged uncontrollably. My whole body coiled as if to block the invasive foreignness. Only then did the sensation on my body disappear.

“Hmm.”

“What did you just do?”

I knew the turtle had done something. But I didn’t know what. So I asked, and the turtle replied, still frowning,

“I see.”

His expression suggested he’d realized something.

“So that’s why.”

“Why ‘so that’s why’? Why are you figuring it out alone?”

“It wasn’t just about containing a single thread. It was also concealing it.”

“No….”

I kept wondering what he was talking about. If he figured something out, it would be nice if he shared it. Just as I was thinking, ‘Why is he acting like this?’

“I’ll ask just one thing.”

“…What is it?”

The turtle asked me.

“Are you connected to the master of this place?”

“…”

Suddenly? The unexpected question made me narrow my eyes. He asked about my mother out of the blue; I was quite taken aback, but…

“…Yes, I suppose I am, in a way.”

I answered for now. The turtle nodded as if he’d expected it.

“…So that’s it.”

“What exactly-“

“What is it you want to know?”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you say you had a question?”

“…Will you tell me?”

“Yes.”

He seemed absolutely unwilling just moments ago, but now? Why the sudden change of heart? Sensing something strange, I looked at the turtle.

“But.”

The turtle held up a single finger. I wasn’t sure if that was supposed to be a finger, but it probably was.

“There’s one condition.”

Hearing ‘condition,’ my ears perked up. Seeing me like that, the turtle spoke.

“Yes?”

Hearing that, I couldn’t help but wear a slightly bewildered expression.

---

“So, that turtle bastard agreed?”

After finishing my conversation with the turtle, I went looking for Shin Noyaa. For some reason, Shin Noyaa was farming behind his quarters. He seemed quite serious about it, too, still dressed as a farmer.

“…What are you doing?”

I asked, and Shin Noyaa looked up at me. He held a sickle, not a sword, in his hand.

“Can’t you tell by looking?”

“I know perfectly well, that’s why I’m asking.”

Who asks when they don’t know? It was obvious he was farming. My question was why he was doing it now. To my question, Shin Noyaa straightened his back and said,

“It’s about time for the season, so I have to prepare. Besides, I’m finding this rather fun. How about it, want to give it a try?”

“…No.”

I didn’t have time for leisurely activities like that. I carefully walked past the field and approached the elder, saying,

“Anyway… I was hoping to learn it if possible.”

“Hmm… Is that so?”

Hearing me, the elder chuckled. Watching him, I asked,

“Will it be okay?”

“Hm?”

At my words, the elder tilted his head.

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Well, that turtle old man seemed quite reluctant.”

He seemed unwilling to teach me about magic. Especially looking at me, his aversion to my very existence was palpable. In that situation…

“He accepted after finding out something about my mother.”

“…About your mother?”

“Yes. I didn’t state it clearly… He asked if I was connected, and I said I suppose I was, in a way.”

“And that made him agree? With such a bizarre condition?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

The elder nodded. His face looked like he’d understood something.

“So, you accepted, you brat.”

“It wasn’t a particularly strange condition, and I wasn’t in a position to refuse.”

I had to learn while I could. Opportunities to learn this field were extremely rare.

‘The more I see, the more convinced I become.’

Experiencing magic. The more I felt that foreign power, the more I became convinced this was the right path. It was clear.

‘I need magic.’

To create a connection with the martial arts I’m pursuing, I need magic. And not just any magic, but power higher and more refined than what I possess now. Therefore, for this…

‘I need the turtle’s help.’

He would know. The direction of the path I intend to take. Knowing that, I desperately wanted to learn.

“Then what are you worried about? Go ahead and do it.”

The elder suggested I should just do it if I knew everything. He was right. He was right, but…

“…It feels like there’s something wrong.”

“There probably is.”

The elder said calmly.

“Then…”

“But, does it look like the wrong path to you?”

“…”

I couldn’t answer.

“You decide the path. Whatever lies at the end. If you want to do it, then do it.”

As he spoke, the elder chuckled, finding something amusing.

“Haven’t I always told you? To believe in yourself.”

“…If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be living like this.”

“It’s not easy. But…”

The elder put down his sickle and patted my shoulder.

“Kid, you can do it.”

“…”

That inexplicable faith reached me clearly. So I gave an awkward smile. I felt like I’d asked something pointless. Or perhaps, I felt reassured after hearing the elder’s answer. I realized I’d unconsciously placed a lot of trust in this old man, and felt a slight pang of embarrassment. As I tried to suppress it…

“Ah, speaking of which, I heard that girl came back injured. Is she alright?”

“…Are you talking about Cheon Ma?”

Mention of Cheon Ma made me frown. She was currently receiving treatment from Seol Yeong, the first disciple. I didn’t know, but apparently, she also handles medical treatments.

“Yes, she said she fought someone who was watching us.”

“Mm…”

I used ‘us’ instead of ‘me’ for now.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s probably nothing.”

How badly could Cheon Ma really be injured? She’d recover quickly if left alone anyway. As I said that with that intention, Shin Noyaa let out a hollow laugh.

“It’s quite amusing hearing someone who cares more than anyone else say that.”

“Who cares more than anyone else?”

“You don’t?”

“Absolutely not.”

What nonsense is he talking about, to someone who’d rather see her dead? As I said that, frowning deeply, the elder nodded vaguely with a strange expression.

“Right, if you say so, then it must be.”

“…Let’s leave Cheon Ma aside. That one who keeps staring is bothering me. Do you know anything?”

I said this because Shin Noyaa seemed to know something last time.

“I know. There are very few beings capable of that.”

As expected, the elder seemed to know. That was fortunate. He had information.

“Furthermore, if it was watching, it would be Ya-rang.”

“Ya-rang?”

I’d heard that word before. Is the watcher’s name Ya-rang? I listened intently. The elder added,

“Yes, Ya-rang. One of the generals your mother kept by her side.”

The elder swung his sickle again.

Swish. The sound of grass being cut tickled my ears. And at the same time, the elder’s words struck me.

“She is a being your mother personally identified as her daughter.”

“…What?”

Hearing that, my body froze solid.