Chapter 902: Man-gye (Ten Thousand Worlds).

One hundred fifty years.

The distant number made my head go blank for a moment.

One hundred fifty years…? Not a few months?

“…What kind of nonsensical talk is that?”

Noyas disappeared from my body was, at most, only a few months. How could that possibly be over a hundred years?

I asked again, unable to believe it, but Noyas’s expression was serious.

“There were more days I didn’t bother counting than days I did. It’ll be a bit more than this.”

“Wh-what…”

“This place was a barren wasteland at first. There was nothing. Since there were no living things whatsoever, I planted a tree.”

At the mention of planting a tree, I shifted my gaze. I saw a tree so enormous it blocked out the sky.

“Is that it?”

“Yes. It’s grown a lot, hasn’t it?”

“It’s definitely grown too much.”

Even accounting for time, the tree was quite strange. Even if Noyas was telling the truth and one hundred fifty years had passed, it was odd for a tree to grow that large.

“I… don’t quite understand. So…”

“It’s fine. It’s not the first or second day your brain’s been slow.”

“Could you please listen without rubbing it in, even for a moment…?”

“Ah, it’s a habit, I can’t help it.”

I was genuinely annoyed, but I held back and added.

“Noyas came here one hundred fifty years ago… and during that time, you created the Volcanic Sect. Where I was, only a few months have passed at most, right?”

“Oh, you understood perfectly.”

“No. I haven’t understood anything at all.”

Time is different.

Does this mean that even though over a hundred years passed here, only a few months have gone by in the Central Plains?

If that’s the case.

“…Why didn’t you come back sooner?”

If you said you’d be back in a few months, you should have returned ages ago! Why were you there all that time?

To that question, Noyas answered with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

“Well, it’s because I couldn’t go back, what else?”

“You couldn’t go back?”

Hearing that, I scowled.

“You said there would be a way.”

“I believed that guy’s words. But did I know I’d end up like this?”

Noyas added, frowning.

“Besides, if you think about it, I ended up like this trying to grant your request, so why are you throwing a fit?”

“…”

It was true, so I was speechless.

“…I’m sorry.”

I offered a sincere apology, and Noyas looked at me with a strange expression.

“How unexpected. I thought you’d act shamelessly until the end.”

“I’m not that pathetic, am I?”

“Yes, you are…?”

“…”

I really didn’t like the tone of certainty. Was I really that much of trash?

‘Still, one hundred fifty years is too much.’

How could anyone possibly endure such a long time? That was the part that bothered me the most.

The possibility that Noyas was lying?

‘None.’

That’s not possible. Knowing Noyas, he wasn’t that kind of person. I was certain of that much.

So, he really spent one hundred fifty years rotting away in a place like this, creating the Volcanic Sect to his liking…

Thinking about it, I suddenly grasped the biggest problem.

“…But Noyas.”

“Speak.”

“…How are you alive?”

“…Are you cursing me?”

“I’m asking sincerely.”

One hundred fifty years, let’s accept that. And that tree, whatever it is, let’s accept that too.

However, the fundamental problem remained unsolved.

“…You’ve lived far too long.”

“Exactly. You’re sincerely cursing me, aren’t you?”

“No. It’s not that…”

No matter how I phrased it, it seemed to sound strange. This was my genuine question.

‘Lived another hundred fifty years in Noyas’s body?’

As far as I knew, I heard he was already over eighty. As a martial artist, one lives longer and stays younger compared to their age, but… To endure one hundred fifty years there?

What’s more.

‘He looks exactly the same as when I saw him in my mental space.’

Noyas looked exactly the same as the version I encountered in my mental space.

How in the world did this happen?

“How you still have a form, how you haven’t aged and are still here… How did all this happen?”

After I explained, Noyas stared at me calmly.

“Hmm.”

Was he finding it difficult to answer? He tilted his head for a moment.

“When I first arrived here. That guy said something to me.”

He then continued, as if explaining.

“He said he’d lend me his body for a while.”

“…Lend it?”

“Yes.”

“Who is ‘that guy’?”

“You know… the one who growled inside you every day.”

“Kkureung-i…?”

“Oh. Yes, you gave him a great name. It suits him perfectly.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

“…”

I felt Cheonma looking at me strangely from behind, but ignoring it, I spoke to Noyas.

“Anyway, are you saying that guy lent you his body?”

“Yes. Thanks to him, I haven’t aged and I’m making good use of it.”

“…”

I don’t understand.

How could that Kkureung-i guy possibly lend his body to Noyas?

‘…That giant creature was Kkureung-i.’

The massive monstrous being that roared while facing Mother. That thing, as big as the current tree, was definitely Kkureung-i.

Then.

‘What is that thing?’

What exactly is that being? What kind of being would not only lend its body to Noyas but also reside inside me?

Furthermore.

‘Mother said she attached it to me. Why were they fighting then?’

For what reason did she fight that battle with Mother, who appeared out of nowhere? It wasn’t just one or two questions.

Just then.

“Sect Leader!”

A voice suddenly called out from over there.

“Mm.”

Noyas nodded, looking at the owner of the voice. What appeared was a small boy. Not like the small humans I’d been seeing, this one genuinely looked young.

The problem was.

‘…This one isn’t human either.’

Not only were his ears those of a beast, but he also had a tail. Just like Mother.

“Welcome back!”

“Yes. Have you been well?”

“Yes!”

The boy replied with a bright smile. He had a very cheerful-looking face.

This time, the boy looked over at me. The boy tilted his head slightly when our eyes met.

“Who is that? Is it another new disciple?”

“No, this fellow is too dull-witted to teach; he’s useless.”

“Ah. I see.”

“…What kind of dog-shit talk is that to someone’s face?”

“You’re not human, brat.”

“Your words are quite harsh?”

This time, I was genuinely hurt. I disliked the little kid even more for accepting it so nonchalantly.

“Well then, see you next time. Bye, slow big brother.”

“Slow…”

“Work hard.”

“Yes!”

He said goodbye and dashed off. I stared dumbfoundedly at his retreating back.

“Pfft.”

At the sudden burst of laughter, I glanced sideways. There stood Cheonma, expressionless.

“…Did you laugh?”

“No.”

“You did.”

“I didn’t.”

He shook his head firmly, but something felt off. He definitely laughed, right?

“Tsk, tsk… Stop messing around and follow me again. We need to finish our conversation.”

Shin Noyas turned and went inside, leaving me behind. Watching him, I scowled and said.

“Look at him, beating me up with his hands and words, then just leaving like that. Isn’t he a thug? How is that a Taoist master? He’s just a neighborhood thug.”

“Swear inwardly, won’t you…?”

“You’re speaking to me, so why should I keep it inside?”

“…”

Noyas suddenly turned back. I braced myself, thinking he might hit me.

“It’s not just me, but you’re really something else too, brat. Can’t you keep your mouth shut even after getting hit like that?”

“I feel better only after saying what I need to say.”

“That’s true.”

Shin Noyas nodded as if convinced. Maybe I won’t get hit if I say this.

The moment I thought that, my head snapped downwards. I felt a strong impact on the top of my head.

“Still, you have to take the hits you deserve.”

“…Fuck.”

I cursed under my breath while rubbing the top of my head. Even though I expected it, I couldn’t dodge.

“Tsk tsk.”

I touched the sore spot and looked around. The kid who had dashed off earlier had joined another group and was now holding a sword. Though they each looked different, the sword techniques they displayed were the same. Looking at the group where no humans were visible, I asked the question I’d been wanting to ask.

“About what you were saying earlier.”

“Mm?”

“That the calf-bastard was someone who almost became a monster. Does that mean…”

I pointed at the unidentified beings and said.

“Were they also beings like him?”

“…”

Noyas fell silent for a moment at my words. Fortunately, the silence didn’t last long.

“Yes.”

“But how did they gather here without becoming monsters?”

The small old men, the children mixed with beasts, none of them looked like monsters to my eyes, at least.

“Did their worlds not perish?”

Did they not become monsters because their worlds didn’t fall? I asked, but.

“No, they all perished.”

Noyas’s answer was firm.

“…Then how did they not become monsters?”

“…”

To my question, Noyas stroked his long beard. A faint emotion seeped into his plum-blossom-colored eyes. It was clearly pity.

“Little brat.”

“Yes.”

As we walked, a residence came into view ahead. It was the smallest and most ordinary-looking house among all the buildings I had seen so far. Could that possibly be Noyas’s residence?

“You asked earlier. What this place is, specifically.”

“Yes.”

Noyas said to me as he walked towards the residence.

“Some people call this world ‘Consideration’.”

“…Consideration?”

“Yes, Consideration. Among the life forms whose masters disappeared and were perishing. Only a small few could come here. They settle and live in other worlds without becoming monsters.”

I widened my eyes upon hearing that. That means…

“Unseen beings from all sorts of worlds flock here every day. Thus, this land is called Ten Thousand Worlds (萬界).”

Ten Thousand Worlds (萬界). It meant countless worlds were merged together.

“A place where those who should have perished can luckily arrive. That’s why some call it the world’s Consideration. And also.”

Noyas paused for a moment, then looked towards me and uttered a word.

“Some call it Paradise (樂園).”

That word felt strangely familiar.

“Haha. How utterly laughable.”

Paradise (樂園). That was the same word as the belief Hyeolma pursued.

---

In a serene space, a woman sat slanted, opening her eyes blearily. Her purplish-red eyes, resembling the sky and stars of this land, and the tails lined up behind her showcased her presence. The woman, breathing languidly, repeatedly furrowed her brow as if something was bothering her. Her slender, jade-like fingers tapped her brow.

‘This is strange.’

I feel uncomfortable and bloated. Her delicate brow remained furrowed due to the tightness in her chest.

‘Why?’

Why could that be? The reason she continued to feel discomfort. It was because of a face she had seen not long ago.

‘Why does it keep coming to mind?’

Is it because I saw a species I hadn’t seen in a long time? Perhaps it’s particularly memorable because I saw something I thought was long gone. I thought so, but it didn’t seem entirely like that.

‘I can’t understand.’

That was definitely a Dragon (龍). A species that had already sinned, broken karma, and perished. Furthermore, they were the ones punished and banished even from the Ten Thousand Worlds.

And yet.

‘It reappeared.’

How could such a species reveal itself in this land? I couldn’t understand.

‘The Dragon Emperor should be receiving punishment?’

That arrogant and disgusting being disappeared from sight long ago, yet… How could something like this happen now?

Also.

“…It’s bothersome.”

Of the two young dragons, the face of one kept surfacing, making the woman uncomfortable. It was a dragon with blue eyes. It had black fur and fierce eyes.

‘Why could that be?’

I don’t know the reason, but that dragon’s face was complicating the woman’s thoughts like this. Just as the woman was pondering repeatedly, wondering why.

[My Mistress.]

A man appeared in the space and knelt before the woman.

[The Leader has returned.]

“…”

At those words, the woman slightly straightened. Does ‘returned’ mean the mission was successful? Did they succeed in killing the dragon? As that thought flashed through her mind, her heart skipped a beat.

[However, due to an unexpected intervention, they were unable to fulfill your will.]

“…I see.”

The corners of the woman’s eyes flickered.

“Failure? I expected that child would be capable.”

[An outsider appeared and interfered, they say.]

“Hmm…”

Outsider. At that word, the woman’s expression subtly crumpled. It was a being that had been causing minor trouble lately.

“I showed them generosity… Why would they make such a choice?”

It’s a question. We granted each other’s wishes, so why did he make this choice? And they succeeded? They couldn’t break the promise. What trick did they use?

Just as the woman fell into contemplation.

[What should we do?]

The man asked the woman.

“Well…”

The woman gave an unusually ambiguous answer.

[…]

The man’s reaction felt significant at those words. It was because it was an unexpected answer.

“I’ll have to think about it a bit.”

[…Understood.]

Though questions arose, he didn’t say anything further. The Mistress’s words were always the answer, and it would be the same this time. The man was convinced of that.