Chapter 939: Do you know who my mom is?

The atmosphere in the tea house chilled.

I asked as calmly as possible. But seeing the turtle’s eyes and distorted breathing, it seemed to have landed differently than intended.

His slightly trembling mustache.

Eyes narrowed, looking at me, though not clearly visible.

And even the tremor in the hand gripping his staff.

I could feel the turtle’s attitude drastically change from just being mildly annoyed moments before.

Did I make a mistake? As I quietly watched the turtle.

He opened the mouth he had been holding shut.

“What. What did you just say….”

Was he pretending not to have heard? Or pretending not to have heard even though he did?

I didn’t know what it was, but for now, I told him again.

“I asked if you perhaps knew how to travel back to the past or forward to the future.”

At the same words as before, the turtle’s eyebrows twitched once more.

“Why are you asking that?”

Seeing his words and reaction, this time I showed a strange look.

That reaction right now….

‘Does it actually exist?’

Instead of just saying no, his wariness suggested that perhaps something did exist.

However, it was filled with a feeling of strong reluctance.

“I was just curious.”

“The part you’re curious about is quite unusual.”

“Ah, you use such peculiar things, so I wondered if something like this might also be possible. It’s just a small curiosity.”

He tried to brush it off lightly as if dismissing it as a joke, but the turtle’s reaction was not like that.

“Then don’t be curious.”

“Huh?”

It was a very serious and heavy voice.

“Even if there’s a future you desperately want to see, don’t be curious. Even if there’s a past you regret, just leave it as regret.”

“…”

Hearing him, I slightly adjusted my posture.

As if moving forward, in a posture as if listening intently to his words.

“Time is inherently like that. You must let it flow, and because you cannot grasp what has flowed away, that is what time is.”

“…You sound quite professional?”

“Perhaps.”

Tap, tap.

The turtle lightly tapped the table with fingers that weren’t there.

“If you seek anything regarding this, it means you should discard it as a useless thought.”

“Why?”

“Because there is no obsession more meaningless and cruel than this.”

“…”

A meaningless and cruel obsession. It was a phrase I had never considered.

Therefore, I erased the smile on my lips and asked.

“What is the reason you think that?”

How can you be so sure?

I was curious about that.

His faint gaze.

It felt like he was reciting his own story, not someone else’s.

“Do you know the fate of those who obsessed over such things?”

The turtle asked.

“I don’t. Because I’m not. What happened?”

I answered his question with a question.

In response to my words, the turtle replied.

“They were torn apart miserably.”

“…What?”

Torn apart?

It was a terrifying statement.

“…Your body?”

“No, their soul.”

“Oh, really?”

Thankfully, it didn’t mean their body was torn apart.

As I let out a sigh of relief. Hearing that, the turtle suddenly clicked his tongue.

“Did you think it was fortunate because it was the soul?”

“No, well… It wasn’t direct, so I thought it would be a bit better.”

“It would be better to receive it through the body. Having your soul torn apart is a more hellish affair than that.”

“…”

The soul itself being torn apart.

I could feel that the turtle considered that far more significant.

Of course, I didn’t have enough information to understand that.

“…So, in any case, you’re saying I shouldn’t obsess over this?”

“If you want to be ripped to shreds, you can do that.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have that kind of preference.”

Who would like being torn apart? Ah, if I looked hard enough, maybe someone would, but certainly not me.

‘Hmm.’

I stored the words one by one in my mind.

What I was focusing on now was none other than this.

‘In the end, he knows some method.’

That the turtle actually knew something about this.

“Then, are you saying no one has achieved results without their soul being torn apart?”

I asked after taking a sip of tea.

“…You keep asking useless things.”

“It was something I was curious about. It would be good if you told me, considering our relationship.”

“What relationship?”

“Perfectly complete strangers bound by a transaction.”

“…”

“Give what you give, receive what you receive. How clean is that?”

“What a relationship that doesn’t feel an ounce of genuine affection.”

“Some call it a clean relationship. So, can’t you just speak comfortably?”

“Why? Are you thinking of trying it if you think it’s possible?”

The turtle asked, showing his wariness.

Asking if I was going to try it? At those words, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“No. I have no intention of doing so. And probably never will.”

I have no interest right now.

No, perhaps in my past life I might have shown interest, but not now.

‘I’ve already experienced it, why would I do it again.’

If I could go back, could I call that an opportunity?

Maybe it would be a little different. But.

‘To go through this exact same thing again. That’s too fucked up.’

The people who just got to know me, in a world where everything is forgotten and unknown.

I would have to desperately strive to build it up again to extract different results.

It was a shitty thing to go through once, and now again? I couldn’t do it.

Therefore, I am certain it would be like this.

‘Still, what I’m curious about.’

Was not my own regression.

“You’re curious even though you have no intention of doing it? That statement is truly contradictory.”

“It’s just a young person’s small curiosity.”

“…”

The turtle looked at me with a reluctant gaze. It seemed he had no intention of telling me.

At this point, I felt it would be pointless to ask further, so just as I was thinking of moving on to the main topic.

“It’s impossible.”

The turtle said to me.

“Impossible?”

“Yes, it’s absolutely impossible not to have your soul torn apart, and even if you accept being torn apart, there won’t be any beings who can succeed.”

“What is the reason for that?”

“Because there won’t be any beings who can withstand the process and the results.”

The turtle’s voice was utterly resolute.

The conviction and belief that it would never be wrong were evident.

“Even if you offer what has pierced the heavens through the accumulated karma in your soul, you are often rejected with your soul torn apart. To obtain results while maintaining your soul? That is too arrogant a statement.”

A faint sadness permeated the words spoken with a smile.

Hearing those words, I had to frown.

“Does that mean it’s possible if you offer something?”

“…Do you not understand what I’m saying?”

“No. I understand. From what I see, it seems there is some possibility or method to try.”

However.

“Even if I don’t know what that method is, it means no one can withstand it properly when used.”

“…”

“Did I understand correctly?”

I asked bluntly, but the turtle did not answer.

As I always felt, silence was affirmation.

“Hmm.”

Feeling that, I crossed my arms. And nodded my head back and forth.

There was still something I hadn’t asked.

“But Elder.”

“…What is it.”

“What if there was?”

“What?”

“No, what you said earlier. What if there was someone who succeeded?”

“Didn’t I say there wasn’t?”

“But there could be. You can’t know everything about the world, after all.”

“…What have you been wanting to hear since earlier?”

“Just as I said. If someone succeeded…”

“That will never happen.”

BANG-!

The turtle struck the floor with the staff he was holding.

At that moment, the surroundings shimmered like waves.

The calm tea house began to warp as if melting.

Just as I was frowning at the strange atmosphere.

“Leave.”

The turtle said.

“Huh?”

“I said leave.”

“No, I haven’t even finished asking my questions…”

I haven’t even started on the important spells, and he’s telling me to leave?

“At least today, I don’t want to talk with you anymore.”

“What the…”

“If you don’t want to leave, I’ll make you leave. Do you want that?”

Grrrrr-!

Within the continuously swirling space, the turtle’s eyes deepened.

At that moment, I felt an inexplicably strange sensation from his body.

Giiiiiing.

The five rings coiled in my heart trembled.

It felt like they were sending a danger signal.

“…”

Feeling that, I quietly looked at the turtle and stood up.

“No. I will leave on my own.”

I could feel that staying longer would only worsen the atmosphere.

It seemed I had touched a nerve with the turtle.

“…”

Hearing my words, the turtle tapped the floor once more with the staff he was holding.

Then, the shimmering surroundings instantly returned to their original state.

“I won’t forget about our transaction, so come find me later.”

“…When is ‘later’?”

“Well.”

The turtle turned his gaze towards me and added.

“You’ll probably know when the time comes.”

“…”

After those words, the turtle said no more.

Seeing that, I too moved my feet and came out of the building.

“Hmm…”

I scratch my head.

I thought I might gain something regarding regression. It seemed that wasn’t the case.

‘…Or maybe not? It doesn’t feel like I gained nothing at all.’

The fact that he knew information.

And from the information the turtle possessed, that there was something preventing time travel so absolutely that it was impossible.

I could say I gained at least that much.

“…It’s not impossible.”

In the end, regression exists.

It’s not just hearsay from someone.

I experienced it, so how could I not know?

The turtle asserted it was absolutely impossible, but.

I, standing before him, was living proof of its possibility.

I experienced regression.

That’s why I was even more curious.

‘The turtle said it. That no matter how great a thing you offer, time travel is impossible.’

If you rephrase this.

‘If you offer something far greater than that… then ultimately, time travel is possible, isn’t it?’

Even if I don’t know what the method is, or what must be offered.

If the value of that offering is right, doesn’t it mean regression is possible?

That’s how I interpreted it.

“…”

I fidgeted with my hands for a long time while thinking.

My steps, which had been walking indifferently, stopped for a moment.

I see a being walking towards me up ahead.

A familiar face with vacant eyes.

She was clearly looking around, searching for someone.

It was Cheonma.

She walked lightly, shifting her gaze, then saw me and waved.

“Oh, found you.”

“….”

It seemed she was looking for me.

Confirming that, I frowned.

‘Regression is not possible without any cost.’

That means.

‘What on earth did you offer?’

What did the Cheonma of my past life offer to make me regress?

Furthermore.

‘Why did she do it?’

Why did you make me regress?

What did you hope for, and what were you trying to achieve?

I had always been curious ever since I learned that Cheonma was the one who made me regress.

Even now, as time flows.