Chapter 983: Lost Soul.

It’s a tree.

There was a tree.

The tree, not particularly large, had impressive, lush foliage.

At first glance, it looked like a plum tree, but the flowers blooming on it seemed different.

When I caught a falling leaf, it had a shape like a feather.

It was a tree I’d never seen before.

A tree with a light purplish-red hue.

I gazed at the tree for a moment before shifting my gaze.

‘Where am I now?’

Suddenly, the space shifted. It was a place I’d never seen before. There was a clear lake, and at its center stood the tree.

Perhaps because the leaves kept falling, the ground was covered in piles and piles of foliage.

The faint scent of blooming flowers tickled my nose incessantly.

Especially.

‘This scent.’

The scent around me was familiar. Where had I smelled it before? Mid-thought, I turned my head.

My eyes met Yarang’s, who was beside me.

Right, this was the scent I always smelled from Yarang.

As I smelled it, I felt an inexplicable warmth spreading inside me.

Trying to suppress it, I asked.

“Why did you bring me here?”

What was the reason for bringing me to this place? When I asked, Yarang, as always, remained unresponsive.

“……If someone speaks, could you answer?”

My tone shifted as annoyance began to set in. Just then.

Swoosh.

Yarang, who had been still, moved. Seeing that, I narrowed my eyes. I couldn’t be sure.

Just as I didn’t know what my current master might do to me due to their memory loss.

The current Yarang was no different, so I immediately became wary.

Rather than doing something to me, she took action upon herself.

Her hand went up and grabbed her mask.

And then.

Click-!

“……!”

She suddenly pulled off her mask. Yarang’s hidden face was revealed.

It was the same as last time. She still bore the exact same face as Shin-geom.

Brown hair and golden eyes.

The only difference from the her I knew was the hair color.

No, wait.

‘If I recall, her hair was originally brown.’

It wouldn’t be wrong to consider that her original appearance.

Remembering that, I stared at Yarang and said.

“So what?”

So what was the reason for taking off the mask?

I thought she’d do something since she took it off so abruptly.

She didn’t show any particular reaction. She just stared blankly at me.

Seriously, what am I supposed to do?

My furrowed brow showed no sign of relaxing. I spoke, channeling my emotions.

“If you have something to say, hurry up and say it.”

If you have something to say, spit it out.

If you’re going to draw your sword, just do it.

I really didn’t like this frustrating situation.

Even after I said that, Yarang remained still.

Unable to stand it any longer, I took a step forward.

“Say something……”

The moment I approached her, intending to confront her.

Fwoosh.

Wind blew from somewhere, binding my feet.

It wasn’t a physical restraint. It was likely instinct that made me stop.

It felt strange. The petals were still scattering, but.

‘There’s no wind.’

There wasn’t really any wind blowing in this space. So what did it mean for the leaves to scatter?

‘It means this is an artificial space.’

I hadn’t thought it was natural in the first place, anyway.

The problem was.

‘What’s the purpose.’

The purpose of bringing me here. That was important.

I hoped they weren’t planning any tricks.

‘I’m already half-dead from this injury.’

I’m in no condition to fight. The deep internal injuries are the biggest issue.

It meant I’d be in serious trouble if anything happened.

As I glared at Yarang, heightening my vigilance and tension.

She moved slowly, once again.

She reached out and touched the tree trunk.

At that moment.

Thump-!

Something suddenly dropped in front of my eyes.

Without thinking, I startled and took a step back. I lowered my gaze to examine the fallen object.

‘What is this.’

What appeared suddenly was a round fruit. A round fruit with a purplish-red color, just like the leaves.

Why did this suddenly pop out?

Looking at the fruit, I glanced at Yarang as if asking what it was.

“So what……?”

So the fruit fell, now what?

What was I supposed to do with it? As I stared, unable to comprehend, Yarang thankfully reacted this time.

Wasn’t she poking the fruit in mid-air with her hand?

That action… could it be?

“Pick it up?”

Nod.

Yarang nodded at my words.

At that reaction, I looked back at the fruit.

Is it okay to pick this up?

I hesitated for a moment, but.

My hesitation was pointless as my arm casually picked up the fruit.

Swish.

I felt its texture. It wasn’t particularly special.

Meaning, it felt no different from picking up an apple or a similar fruit.

“Now what? Should I eat it or something?”

“……”

“……Ah, you want me to eat it?”

It seemed picking it up wasn’t the end goal; she wanted me to eat it.

However.

“That’s a bit much.”

Eating it seems impossible.

“You want me to eat this without even knowing what it is?”

It’s absurd enough that I was dragged here.

And now you want me to eat an unknown fruit? It’s ridiculous.

Naturally.

“There’s no way I’d eat this-“

Crunch-!

“……Hmm?”

I frowned at the sound that interrupted my words. Crunch?

Where did that sound come from?

Crunch. Crunch.

I heard it again. It sounded very close.

What is this? I wondered about the sound, and then a sweet taste spread in my mouth.

Huh, what?

I quickly covered my mouth with my hand and checked the fruit.

There were exactly three bite marks on the fruit.

As I saw that, along with my surprise.

Gulp-!

My Adam’s apple moved on its own. I swallowed something.

“Crazy.”

I didn’t need to think about what I swallowed. It seemed I had eaten the fruit.

How did this happen?

‘Who decided to eat this.’

My body moved on its own and bit into the fruit, swallowing it.

Shit. Should I throw up?

What on earth did I eat?

As my eyes widened in shock at the unexpected situation.

Thump-!

My heart reacted.

“……!”

I clutched my chest with my hand. It wasn’t excruciating pain.

It was just that.

Whoooosh—!!!

Energy began to surge, starting from my abdomen and moving towards my heart.

Should I say my heart was sucking in the energy generated in my abdomen?

The amount of energy being generated was immense.

And my heart was devouring all of it.

“Gack……!”

This level of pressure alone could create pain where there was none.

Especially since I was already injured internally.

“Kuhh……”

Trembling uncontrollably, I sank to my knees.

“Hah… Hah.”

I couldn’t even manage a proper groan. Yarang stood before me, calmly looking down.

“You… what the hell…”

What did you make me eat?

Why did you bring me here?

I wanted to ask that, but I couldn’t even do that.

Gooooooo—-!!!

The amount of energy kept increasing.

‘What the hell is this, really.’

What kind of crap is this?

Grinding my teeth in frustration, there was nothing I could do but endure.

What’s worse,

‘……Tam has activated.’

The fact that the energy being devoured wasn’t by Madocheonheupgong, but by my own power, Tam.

Why? Why would Tam, which only reacts to my powers, activate now?

‘Is this fruit somehow related to my power…?’

How could a fruit be a power? And why is it devouring things so crazily?

The fundamental nature was different.

This couldn’t be described as absorption.

It was literal gluttony.

Tam kept devouring the energy.

Crack! Crunch!

As if dining, Tam, residing in my heart, endlessly indulged in the energy.

The harder it became to endure.

“Kch…!”

My body, barely holding on.

Crunch.

Tam finished devouring all the energy.

Burp.

Reacting with satisfaction, my strength immediately gave out.

Because of that, my body slowly collapsed.

‘……Damn it.’

It meant I had lost consciousness again.

---

Thump-!!

Gu Yangcheon’s body fell to the floor like that.

The woman looked at Gu Yangcheon, who was only managing shallow breaths.

“……”

She said nothing. It was the same as the first time. Though she uttered no words,

Swish.

her movements changed despite her silence.

The woman, who hadn’t shown any particular actions until now,

carefully approached him after Gu Yangcheon collapsed.

Then, kneeling down to get closer,

Rustle.

she reached out a white hand and stroked his hair.

“……”

Once like that.

And then twice.

Despite her expressionless face, her touch was infinitely gentle.

As the woman continued touching him for a while,

-I understand your feelings, but.

a voice reached the woman’s ears, and only then could she stop her hand.

-It’s time to go now.

“……”

Hearing the words, the woman gave a slight nod.

Then she stood up.

Her actions clearly held a sense of regret.

The woman, who had been staring intently at Gu Yangcheon, eventually turned and walked away.

After taking a few more steps, when the woman’s toes touched the lake,

Fwoooosh—-!!!

Light poured down, and the space transformed.

It was the place where Gu Yangcheon and I had originally arrived.

The woman looked up at the sky.

As time passed, it was evident that night was gradually approaching.

It was truly time to return.

-Do you want to see him a little longer?

The voice asked the woman. At the words, the woman shook her head.

She wanted to see him more if possible, but she knew well that would be greedy.

More importantly, she knew that the owner of the voice now wanted it more than she did, so there wasn’t much she could do.

Just looking at him briefly. That was all she could do at this point.

In an instant.

In less than a few seconds, the woman glanced briefly at the fallen Gu Yangcheon and then.

Tuck.

lightly leaped and soared into the air.