Chapter 1031: The Divine Tree and the Master.

I missed it.

I was momentarily speechless at Cheonma’s confident reply. Judging by the fact that there wasn’t a single scratch on his body, it didn’t seem like it was a particularly difficult fight.

‘I was too busy on my end to get a proper look, though.’

Did he struggle more than expected? Or did he simply miss because he was too fast.

‘……Can’t be helped.’

If he says he missed, there’s nothing I can do. After all, the request was just to block him, not to capture him.

It was a shame I couldn’t kill him right away, but since I did benefit from Cheonma’s actions, I couldn’t blame him.

Thinking thus, I was about to turn my gaze back to the leader.

“……I see.”

The leader’s eyes flashed as he looked at Cheonma.

“Just as I thought. It was you guys.”

A clear hatred and killing intent swirled within his glistening gaze.

“Dragons I could chew up and still not be satisfied with. Those hateful things…… it really was you guys……”

Jureureuk.

Blood dripped hududuk from his melting upper body. I narrowed my eyes at the leader’s words. I wondered how he knew.

‘He saw it then.’

Around the time I first confronted the leader. He had faced me and Cheonma. His gaze was directed towards Cheonma now.

Furthermore.

‘Judging by the ‘just as I thought’ comment.’

It seemed he had anticipated it. That I was the one who caused this mess.

‘Then, how did he know?’

The hatred contained in his eyes. Seeing that, did he think that because I’m a dragon? That’s probably right. For now, there was nothing else I could think of.

I looked around.

Kyaaaaaaa—-!!!

Kureureu—-!!!

‘Looks like things are mostly wrapped up over there too.’

The large-scale battles that were breaking out were also nearing their end. The monsters were tearing apart and killing all the beasts.

Confirming that, I raised my hand.

Dalkkak-

I took off the mask I was wearing.

“……Grrrrrrr.”

As I took off my mask, that leader fellow growled.

“You…!”

“Compared to your size, you’re quite quick-witted, aren’t you?”

If he’d figured it out anyway, there was no need to keep it on.

“……How dare you! Are you, a mere dragon, trying to invade Mangye…?”

The leader moved, his body exhausted. Even though he looked like he could collapse at any moment, he seemed to still have strength.

Watching that, I whispered.

“Stop.”

“……!”

Hearing the command, the leader’s body stiffened. There was almost no backlash. Since his body had already reached its limit, it seemed using the command resulted in little backlash.

“……How in the world could you… command…”

“Don’t be curious. I have no intention of telling you anyway.”

It was bothersome to explain everything individually. And I wasn’t in the physical condition to explain it.

‘……I’m also nearing my limit, in my own way.’

Because I used several techniques to check this and that, my energy is almost depleted. Thanks to that, I did get a feel for how to use it, which is fortunate, but… it wasn’t an entirely good condition.

“And, you can ask the questions from this side.”

“……Hmph.”

At my words, the leader spoke as if it were absurd.

“No matter what you ask, do you think I would tell you? I have no intention of bowing my head to a filthy dragon!”

“I suppose so.”

Looking at his temperament, the ignorant fellow wasn’t the type to bow down no matter what I did. However.

“Just because you don’t want to, doesn’t mean you won’t listen, right?”

Anyway, the leader’s will didn’t matter. There were plenty of ways to make him say what I wanted to hear. Using the command I just employed was one such way.

“What I’m curious about is nothing else,”

Nodding my head, I asked the leader.

“I heard you weren’t originally a native of Mangye. So why are you loyal to the Master of Mangye?”

“……What?”

Perhaps it was an unexpected question, as a subtle panic flickered in the leader’s eyes. It seemed he hadn’t expected me to ask that.

“That’s an absurd question.”

The leader responded to me with a reaction as if asking why I’d ask such a thing.

“What’s so questionable about being loyal to the benefactor who saved your life?”

“……”

Hearing those words, I narrowed my eyes. Was that statement a lie or the truth? Even as I considered that, a conviction shot up in one corner of my heart.

‘He’s sincere.’

From the leader’s attitude and gaze, I could feel that the words he uttered were indeed sincere. Because the Master of Mangye saved him. Therefore, he pledges loyalty. Within those simple and plain words, I could feel a rough core.

Kkeugeuk.

At the same time, the fellow moved.

“Though it is utterly pathetic that I couldn’t stop a mere dragon from trying to disrupt Mangye… Don’t misunderstand……”

Udeudeuk.

As he tried to force his stopped body to move, I heard the sound of something breaking from his flesh.

“You won’t gain anything from me-“

“Ah, come on. Just stay still, damn it. I have so much to think about, and you keep pissing me off.”

Uuung—-!!!

The leader’s body stiffened rigidly once more. It was different from before. I cast the command much more strongly. I could feel a significant amount of my remaining energy drain, but I had to do this much to stop the fellow. I could feel it. If I didn’t freeze him now, he seemed ready to take his own life.

‘Tsk.’

I was troubled.

‘What should I do about this?’

Since I’ve come this far, it’s right to deal with him. Leaving this guy as he is doesn’t make sense, plus…

‘It’s ridiculous to keep him alive like this too.’

To keep him alive, I’d have to release my power and make him use immortality again. If that happened…

‘……I wouldn’t have the energy to face him again.’

It would be impossible unless I teamed up with Cheonma. And if…

‘What if I released it and he ran away?’

Judging vaguely by that fellow’s personality. He doesn’t seem like the type to run, but you never know. What would happen if the leader escaped from here and spread word?

‘Well…’

I can’t predict it. Since the current Master said she isn’t the mother I know. If it reached her ears, would she intervene directly? If that happened…

‘Can I win?’

Also.

‘……It could cause problems for Hwasan.’

At a time when Shin Noyang can’t get a grip and isn’t intervening, a problem could erupt within Hwasan itself. Considering that, letting the leader live is unthinkable.

‘Damn it.’

A pushover like me was agonizing over that in this situation. The reason is simple. It’s just simply.

‘A guy who pledges loyalty to Mother.’

Unlike Yusah, the leader is fully pledged in loyalty to the current Master.

‘Is it right to kill him?’

An absurd question lingered in my body, wondering if it was right for me, as her son, to act like this. If he were like Yusah, someone harboring even a little bit of ulterior motive, it would have been easier to get rid of him. Because he wasn’t like that, it became a point of concern instead.

Kkeugeuk-

His frozen body began to tremble. The leader was trying to forcibly release the tension in his body. His strength is immense. It was to the point where I could visibly see the restraints loosening. This means I don’t have much time to deliberate. Killing him like this is the right thing to do situationally. What room is there for deliberation in the current situation?

I must kill him now.

Thinking thus, I reached out my hand.

“……”

My hand, imbued with energy, touched the leader’s head.

“Damn it.”

Spitting out a curse briefly, I focused my intent. Following the decision made after brief deliberation, energy was released.

Hwareureuk-!!!

However.

The energy released like that wasn’t flames, but something else.

---

The night wasn’t over yet. Seeing the moon had risen, I returned to Maryeongdong. My body wasn’t particularly tired, but my energy was almost completely depleted. Hiding my somewhat ragged breaths now that the fight was over, I reached the entrance of Maryeongdong. At the entrance, I sensed a flicker of surprise as they saw me. It was the gatekeeper guarding the place. They looked utterly surprised seeing me and Cheonma suddenly appear, but… fortunately, they didn’t block us and opened the way. It seemed they had already heard from Yeongnyeong. The night inside Maryeongdong, following the opened entrance, was indeed not much different from outside. I leaped slightly. My body flew through the air from my rising toes. In an instant, I crossed the distance to the place I saw last time. I headed towards the lake where the sacred tree was.

Chalbak.

As I landed on the lake, the water splashed slightly. I moved my head to survey the surroundings. I could see the guards who protected the lake were outside, but I still couldn’t sense any presence. Confirming this, I rolled my eyes a few times.

‘There it is.’

The center of the lake. A small hill created there, and the sacred tree growing upon it. And beneath the sacred tree, I saw a woman sitting demurely.

“You stay here.”

After speaking to Cheonma, I crossed the lake. My feet, imbued with energy, helped me walk on the water. Creating small ripples, I climbed the hill and stood before Yeongnyeong.

“Hey.”

Yeongnyeong reacted to my words.

“You have something to say-“

Meomchit.

She stopped mid-sentence and widened her eyes. It was because I felt something strange as I looked at Yeongnyeong. Yeongnyeong, who was calmly watching me from behind her veil. Looking at her, I tilted my head up. It was to look at the sky, and in the sky I gazed upon.

‘Full moon.’

Two round, giant moons, symbolizing the fifteenth night, hung in the sky.

“……”

After seeing the twin full moons, I looked back at Yeongnyeong. She was still looking at me. Her expression was hidden behind the veil, hard to see. And she remained silent, not uttering a word. Looking at Yeongnyeong like that, I spoke.

“Mother…?”

At my softly whispered words, her head tilted slightly.

“Oh my.”

Yeongnyeong, covering her mouth with her hand… no.

“You found me out?”

Mother said.