Chapter 989: The Divine Tree and the Master.

I was destined to become a calamity.

After hearing those words, I had to remain still for a while.

That the small tree was the Sacred Tree.

That my soul was twisted until I ate the Divine Fruit.

That the twisted and lost soul found its proper place after eating the Divine Fruit.

All the processes were shocking, but.

Ultimately, the most shocking thing was the fact that I was destined to become a calamity.

‘…Ultimately.’

Was it that, in the end?

Yeonilcheon’s words, what I experienced in the Central Plains, even experiencing regression. Was it all the world’s will?

‘…And what about Mother?’

It wasn’t that Mother originally came as the Central Plains’ calamity.

‘She came to leave behind a calamity.’

At the words that she came to leave behind the real calamity.

I couldn’t turn my hair back to its original color.

Why would the Master of Myriad Realms destroy the Central Plains and become its master?

A calamity is a master who lost their world appearing and carrying out actions, but Mother appeared in the Central Plains even with the Myriad Realms.

I had judged this was probably because there was another master called the Bottomless Pit, but.

‘…If it was not to become a calamity, but to create one.’

It rather makes sense.

That’s why it’s fucked up. That this is the right thing to say. That was so fucked up.

“Damn it…!”

Kwaang-!!

The ground shattered with the swung fist. Combining rough emotions and cultivation state, the ground was gouged like tofu.

“Shit.”

I wanted to say no. It shouldn’t have been, and I hoped it wasn’t, but.

‘…Damn it all.’

I couldn’t spit out denial.

To say it wasn’t, the situation was like that.

Furthermore, the life I’ve lived until now made it impossible to deny it.

Regression by others’ will?

The unknown things contained within my body?

Things that kept happening contrary to my will?

None of that is important.

What’s important is.

‘There’s nothing I can do even if I deny this.’

I know there’s nothing to gain by just saying it isn’t so and digging the ground.

So, the priority is to quickly acknowledge what needs acknowledging and find a way to break through the situation.

As much as I’ve lived like that until now, I try to find a method recklessly inside my head, but.

‘…Stay still for a moment, you bastard.’

It was utterly pathetic that I had to think rationally even in a situation like this.

Do I have to be like this, even at times like this?

‘…Even though I was destined to become a calamity?’

Without time to grieve or get angry, do I have to keep moving forward even after reaching this point?

‘What do I have to do?’

Having come this far, what on earth do I have to do?

I said I would overcome the Heavenly Demon and capture the Blood Demon, but.

‘If it becomes like this, it means I’m more dangerous than that.’

If I was the being destined to be the calamity of the Central Plains, isn’t that more dangerous than the Heavenly Demon or the Blood Demon?

“Hahaha….”

Laughter came out naturally. I couldn’t help it because it was so absurd.

“Really… it’s truly absurd.”

Angrily, I put down the hand that was about to hit the ground once more.

“What am I even doing right now…”

It’s a feeling of emptiness and futility.

I had definitely run without rest until now.

Trying to do something with my stubborn temper that didn’t even work; even when I wanted to give up, I stubbornly endured, but.

“What have I…”

What have I been doing with my life until now?

Ppaddeuk.

Strength entered my clenched fist.

My dazed mind still wasn’t working properly; only emotions surfaced, busy swirling around my body.

A calamity? I’m the calamity. Those words kept surfacing.

‘Why me?’

Why am I the calamity?

How have I lived my life? What have I experienced after regression to get here?

‘…That I might be the cause?’

What must be blocked might not be something else, but me.

Then what should I do?

If I really am destined to become a calamity…

‘Can I just die?’

If I die, can it end? If it’s that simple, can I just die now?

Thinking that, I stopped and swept my hair up.

“…Damn it.”

Curses came out naturally. Dying? I wasn’t scared.

Too much time had passed to be scared of such things.

However.

Something else was scary.

The faces I won’t be able to see after dying.

The driving forces that I can no longer let go of, and that make me move so maliciously.

Thinking of those things, I don’t think I can easily end my life.

“…What bullshit, really.”

It’s funny. So doubt arises.

“Could it be that even this is your will?”

What if becoming like this is also the world’s will?

Everything became suspicious. What happens if even this current state is someone’s intention?

“Ah…”

I get tired instantly. I really don’t know anything.

“…Mother.”

Beyond the quiet whisper, I held questions.

What on earth were you trying to do?

Is leaving me as a calamity truly the end?

‘After doing that, why did you twist my soul and leave?’

Noya said that thanks to my soul being originally twisted, I was escaping fate.

After going through the trouble of twisting my soul to help me escape the fate of becoming a calamity.

‘Why now?’

Reaching this point, did you make me eat the Divine Fruit?

Although the Divine Fruit was fed by Yar-ang, both I and Noya believed Mother’s intentions were behind Yar-ang’s actions.

Noya said that if it was to return the soul to its original state now, it was attempted because there was a method.

So, there must be some method.

Hearing that, I barely managed to breathe again, but.

I couldn’t possibly stay in that place. So I came out as if escaping.

Without leaving Hwasan Sect, I sat alone in a location somewhat far from the Sacred Tree.

Even if I was here, Noya or Geobugi wouldn’t not know, but I was sure they wouldn’t come.

They too would know well that I would need time.

Pasak-!

My hands couldn’t stay still. I kept pulling up the weeds growing on the ground.

Tens of thousands of thoughts flooded my mind at once, making me unable to stay still.

‘That my becoming a calamity is destiny.’

In other words, does it mean becoming the Master of the Central Plains?

Then, it means I erase all living beings and take the place of Mu-a, the former master.

‘…How?’

If I erase them, how would I erase them? Physical force like the Blood Demon? Or is there some other ‘something’?

At least right now, I had no thoughts about anything.

It means I have no intention or thought of becoming a calamity.

If that’s hope, is it hope?

‘Noya’s thoughts could be wrong.’

Even Noya, who seemed absolutely infallible, couldn’t he be wrong this time?

I held onto that as hope.

“……”

Stopping my thoughts, I kept wiping my face with my hands.

I did a dry wash of my face and repeated it again.

“……Ah.”

What should I do?

What on earth should I do from now on? What on earth are they expecting from me?

Because I didn’t know anything, it was even more complicated.

My hands are shaking.

I bit my trembling fingertips.

Jureureuk. Blood flows down my fingers.

Even though I knew I was hurting myself, I bit harder.

‘Snap out of it.’

This is not the time.

Please, snap out of it. Hurry and find a method.

This is not the time to be like this. I have to find a method.

Even if I can’t think of anything.

I must somehow think of it.

I had to.

Since it’s been like that until now, I must be like that now too.

‘What should I do? If Noya’s words are right? Should I plan things assuming it’s right? If I plan, what? The way to escape this… How should I escape?’

Repetition of questions upon questions.

The fruitless questioning gradually eats away at me.

Jilgeong jilgeong.

As I bit my finger, blood kept coming into my mouth.

I should be feeling pain, but I ignored it and kept biting.

‘What if I become a calamity? If I have to become a calamity and kill all the children? Shouldn’t I not go back? Me just staying here-‘

Just as I was getting buried like that and gradually crumbling.

Seuk.

Someone grasped my hand that was biting its finger. Startled by the sudden touch, I moved my hand.

Hoek-!

Shaking off the caught hand, I looked sideways with surprised eyes.

“Ah.”

“…You.”

The one who grabbed my hand was the Heavenly Demon. When did she appear? Because I was concentrating, I didn’t seem to feel her presence.

While I was flustered, the Heavenly Demon approached me and clasped my hand again.

It was a hand with blood flowing down it.

“…Are you okay?”

I frowned at the words asking as if worried.

“Mind your own business.”

Because of my emotions, it didn’t come out nicely. I spat out words like a growl.

“…I’m not in a state to talk with you right now. Just get lost.”

“…”

Although I spat out harsh words, as always, the Heavenly Demon didn’t move.

If there was anything different from usual, it was that she was somewhat far from expressionless.

‘Something today…’

Not the usual indifferent gaze, but a slightly curved one.

I felt a light in her gaze looking at me, and somehow, she seemed to be smiling slightly.

‘What is it?’

Since my condition is bad, am I mistaking it?

Such thoughts flashed briefly, but.

“Are you having a hard time?”

At the Heavenly Demon’s words, those thoughts quickly disappeared.

“…What did you say?”

“You look like you’re having a hard time.”

At those words, I pouted my lips.

“Why? If I’m having a hard time, are you going to console me?”

Like an idiot, sarcasm came out. I’m such a fool.

“Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. And don’t get the wrong idea just because we traveled together a bit.”

Buried in emotions, I was taking it out on others. I knew too well how disgusting this state was, but.

I couldn’t stand it.

“As I keep saying, I find you truly disgusting-“

Just as I was spewing out words like an awl uncontrollably.

Suddenly, my face was buried somewhere.

The Heavenly Demon’s hand grabbed my head and pulled me into her embrace.

“What is this…!”

What the hell is this? Trying to get very angry and shouting like that, but.

“It’s okay.”

“…”

“It’s okay.”

At the hand stroking my back, my body froze.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

It wasn’t a slick consolation; it was just words saying it’s okay.

What’s more, the one spitting it out was the Heavenly Demon I hated the most, yet.

Did I need something to lean on?

I didn’t say anything and just stayed still for a moment.

“…It’s okay. You are.”

“Because you’ve always done well.”

The Heavenly Demon’s tone was quite different, and.

U-u-ung-!

Within the Heavenly Demon’s stroking hand on my back, an unfamiliar energy was somewhat permeating.

I hadn’t noticed.

“So it’s okay.”

“…”

Hugging the Heavenly Demon’s back, or.

Being held in her arms and shedding tears, or.

I didn’t do such foolish things.

Just staying still.

Just staying still, without saying a word, I was quietly.

For me now.

That was the best.

After time passed, feeling the strangeness belatedly, when I pulled out of the Heavenly Demon’s embrace.

“…Goodbye.”

The Heavenly Demon’s expression had returned to normal.