Chapter 115 – Retreat (2)

There is a saying that I once came across:

“In a happy marriage, the important thing is not how well you match each other, but how you overcome your differences.”

Others might scoff at this, thinking that someone who’s not even dating is foolishly drowning in their own fantasies. It might seem ridiculous for a person who isn’t even in love to be quoting wisdom about marriage. However, the essence of this statement could be interpreted from another perspective:

“If you and your partner get along too well, with seemingly no differences, then it’s something to be suspicious of.”

Could it be that the other person is catering too much to my needs? Perhaps I’m taking advantage of her affection, acting childish toward her. As an older individual, it’s hard not to notice the excessive responsibility that the other person carries.

“Try this, too.”

Se-Young, who persistently suggested foreign-branded snacks, truthfully appeared far from being in a normal state. One could only wonder how grueling her work must have been to cause such dark circles beneath her eyes. Working day and night, and even taking the time to visit me in between, must have been incredibly challenging.

It was endearing and I felt grateful. However, I couldn’t help but wonder why she had bought so many snacks. She mentioned that as she chewed on them while working, they reminded her of me, and she piled them up one by one. Her sentiment was so touching that I couldn’t bring myself to refuse, despite feeling full.

“They say it tastes like pine needles. What do you think?”
“Even as an empty compliment, I can’t say it’s delicious.”
“Really?”

Se-Young, who placed a small green cookie in her mouth as if she hadn’t tried it yet, scrunched her face upon experiencing the bizarre taste. Although I wasn’t particularly picky, the pine needle-flavored cookie was a bit too much. As I teased and giggled, Se-Young joined in the laughter, slyly slipping the remaining cookie into my mouth. It seemed I was responsible for handling the leftovers.

“Yet, as I eat it, it seems to be not so bad…?”

Humans are adaptive creatures.
As I sampled one after another, my palate adjusted before I knew it.
Drinking the pine needle beverage wasn’t so bad after all.
While some people might scorn it for being divisive, there were many who appreciated its unique refreshing taste.
I wouldn’t necessarily spend money on it, but if it was in the fridge, I’d generally drink it.

As I processed the snacks that filled the table one by one, I felt a pleased gaze from the side.
I wondered if this was how squirrels in the zoo felt.
It was like being captured and nurtured by Lee Se-Young.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Just because you’re so pretty. It made me think, ‘So this is what it would be like to raise our child~’.”

Upon noticing my glance, they smiled happily and continued talking nonchalantly.
Usually, Lee Se-Young would tease and playfully step back in such situations, but it was difficult to retort when they responded like that.
Such delightful dilemmas.

It is indeed true that Lee Se-Young’s romantic endeavors have increased notably in recent times. Sometimes I can’t help but wonder. Is it possible? Expectations and unease secretly blossom within me.

“…Did it, by any chance, stop?”
“What did?”

That one nerve-wracking phrase often heard amid romantic relationships among young professionals: I’m not having my period. Se-Young, perplexed at first, quickly grasped the meaning behind my words and, with a blush, slapped my shoulder.

“What on earth are you saying! Is that all you think about?”
“No, I just mentioned it because of the possibility of having a child.”

In the past, after sharing intimacy on several occasions, Se-Young had provided me with some reassurances. One of which was the certainty of using contraception. Ironically, the cautionary words a young man should heed closely resembled her own.

I’m on a safe day.
During the throes of passion, one cannot fathom how enticing these words can be. Similar variations include, “You trust me, don’t you? It’s okay just this once. I’ll do it outside,” and so on.

It’s not that I don’t trust her, but one can never be too careful.

I harbored a strong feeling that this was a rare occurrence.

“…And what if it stops? You’re not going to take responsibility for me?”

Perhaps sensing my doubts, Se-Young openly revealed her unease. Of course, my true intentions were already determined.

“Who says I won’t take responsibility? Of course, I must.”
“Is that all you’ve got to say?”
“Obviously, I must quickly secure you, so no one else can claim you. After all, you’d be a first-rate bride.”
“As if you could.”

Incorporating a touch of exaggeration into the truth, I promptly pinched her nose. Nevertheless, Se-Young seemed quite satisfied with my desperate attempts to smooth things over. Offering her lips with a youthful air that belied her age, Lee Se-Young’s radiant beauty continued to flourish.

Even when compared to her peers who had just turned twenty, she was in a league of her own—surpassing them by far.

‘…No matter how much I think about it, she must be incredibly patient with me.’

And the more I came to understand Se-Young’s heart, the deeper my mental turmoil inevitably grew.

I only recall being in a relationship once, but from that experience, I knew how wildly a woman in love could change.

The Lee Se-Young I knew would be considered that type in the world I had lived in. A woman who shares a room with her partner, their daily lives entwined, with not a single day without passionate love marks. Even while living away from home, she remained incredibly supportive. To be honest, it was more than I deserved.

In this aspect, she was like Heaven. Whenever I had a question, she would patiently explain it to me over the phone. Her kindness made me rely on her without even realizing it. Strangely, her presence always lifted my spirits. Thus, despite her many sacrifices, I failed to notice them, becoming too accustomed to her support.

It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate her efforts. I was simply pondering how to reciprocate.

Asking her directly might have been acceptable between us, but if it were Se-Young, the conversation would likely end with a casual suggestion to have some fun. To avoid this, I subtly steered the topic away, making sure she wouldn’t notice.

“Where is this training retreat being held?”
“Shikoku, Japan.”

Lee Se-Young kindly answered my question.

“It’s where the World Tree of Time once took root in the past. Well… it’s dead now.”

A place with a great historical and religious reputation.
It is said that the World Tree, which governs the concept of ‘time,’ has been the place where it lived its entire life.

It makes one wonder if the World Tree, which is treated as a god in this world, has reached its life’s end, but it didn’t die of natural causes. When I asked why, a familiar name suddenly emerged.

“King Mokryeong. Do you know who he is?”
“I know of him, but I don’t know the details.”
“Well, then listen carefully.”

King Mokryeong. Who is he?

From 1900 to the early 2000s.
It is said that there are exactly two people who have brought about tremendous changes to this deep and lengthy history.

King Mokryeong and the Heavenly Demon.

Both of them were connected to me in some way, so there were many parts that made me feel uneasy while listening to the story.

Especially King Mokryeong. I didn’t even know, but I was driven mad because I was stuck with a peculiar characteristic.

“King Mokryeong was a great man who completely reformed the caste system. It was an age when authority and honor were determined by the concentration of the World Tree’s blood.”

A great man. It’s in the past tense, but some people still consider him a remarkable reformer. Even today, when the status-based society has somewhat loosened, the World Tree is still treated as an absolute deity. I wonder what the past was like. It’s a humorous expression, but it is said that humans who had not even a trace of the tree’s blood mixed within them faced persecution beyond imagination.

“Being a commoner was difficult, let alone becoming a slave. But who would dare to say anything? The god is the World Tree, and the tree people are those who inherited the god’s blood.”

And it was King Mokryeong who cast a question mark on the caste system. Centered around a single nation, he began a revolution to establish a human-centric society rather than one focused on the tree people. However, there were many aspects that didn’t make sense when merely listening and moving on.

Even if he didn’t know who King Mokryeong was, could an ordinary person dare to contemplate resisting a god?

“You don’t seem to be an average fellow with guts.”
“…You might be the only one to describe King Mokryeong like that. Well, it’s half true. But no matter how weak humans are, they can never be dismissed when their numbers are united.”

That’s right.

The force of numbers.
Its power cannot be ignored, even by the nobility.
In this world, even if one stood alone and invincible, the majority of the regular army was still composed of humans.
Most of them had turned their backs, so they had no choice but to suffer the consequences.

‘It’s not easy to persuade so many humans to start a revolution.’

As someone with a bit of understanding of politics, one couldn’t help but wonder about the exceptional speech he must have delivered. Honestly, it piqued one’s curiosity.
It was said that even some of the nobles were swayed by his speech and took his side.

“How fiercely must you have gritted your teeth?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Lee Se-Young’s words.

“The revolution was successful. It toppled an entire nation.”

And so, the ideological revolution that occurred was bound to spread to other countries. The philosophy that challenges the caste system and the one that advocates for it – when these two irreconcilable ideologies collide, war is inevitably sparked.

A single purpose for war is enough.

Their ideas are so antiquated that they must be changed. When their power swells and their influence becomes comparable, they enter a cold war and begin to clash. As for King Mokryeong, his qualities as a national leader were so exceptional that it was difficult to find a lost battle; thus, he must have embarked on a global expansion.

From the sea to the mountains, there was no place untouched by the blue flag symbolizing humanity.

“In a word, a human became the king.”

Hence, King Mokryeong. It is only natural for him to stand above humans, and beyond that, to even rule over the wooden people.

“…But then, doesn’t the World Tree usually intervene?”
“Of course it does. Do you know why the World Tree cannot properly grow in this era?”

The reason why those who are praised as gods cannot step forward, even though terrorists are actively rampaging, is because the previous individuals, King Mokryeong and Heavenly Demon, have completely withdrawn.

“What happened in the 19th century… It’s a state secret, so I only know a little about it, but from what I’ve heard, King Mokryeong must have possessed some great power.”

The power to absorb the energy of the World Tree or the wooden beings. Se-Young giggled, finding the idea absurd. Of course, it is said that he even possessed abilities that can be obtained only when reaching the pinnacle of human potential, but the notion of absorbing the power of the World Tree was even more ridiculous.

From my perspective, it was hard not to laugh. In reality, my own power belonged to that category. Having formed a relationship with the World Tree of Healing and gaining power from it, I had a sense of the extent of my abilities.

Even though I never desired that ability, it was a power I had possessed from the very beginning.

‘What in the world?’

What connection could there be between King Mokryeong and me? Se-Young carried on with her story, seemingly unable to read my thoughts.

“As the war raged on, it happened. They killed the World Tree. Literally.”

Starting with the World Tree of Time we were currently seeking, dozens, perhaps even hundreds of World Trees were utterly consumed by flames.

Could this be considered a sort of Ragnarok? There was a reason why only five World Trees held the position of the Supreme God.

“When they forced the nation to surrender, the following sentence was written at the top of the signature line: ‘The World Tree is merely a large tree!’ Puhahaha.”

Lee Se-Young laughed heartily. Although she was a wooden person herself, she didn’t seem overly concerned. For some reason, the sensation of pent-up frustration I had been feeling seemed to dissipate.

Was it because I had suffered so much at the hands of the World Tree? I found myself increasingly drawn to King Mokryeong.

However, King Mokryeong is a figure whose historical outcome has already been determined. It’s a bit disappointing from my perspective.

“So, in the end, he lost?”

At the words that break the atmosphere, Se-Young shakes her head.

“The World Tree, the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Son. Along with tens of thousands of elders. The war was lost… and King Mokryeong vanished.”

They couldn’t even kill him. Honestly, it’s hard to grasp the extent of his power. If he were to face the Heavenly Demon, who is said to have appeared after King Mokryeong, could he really hold his own?

“However, his ideas persisted. King Mokryeong may have disappeared, but the movement continued. Eventually, the strict caste system began to crumble.”

Though Korea still has a caste system, it is said that there are also countries without a caste system in some places. The areas that were significantly influenced by King Mokryeong are said to be prime examples. It’s truly astonishing.

In any case, that damned King Mokryeong is considered an unforgettable figure in today’s society.

The Death of the World Tree.
Due to this, extraordinary phenomena arise when the near-miraculous power amassed by the World Tree is unleashed into the world.

Dungeons and monsters. These remain unsolved mysteries to this day.

“So, is that how it is? If we attribute every occurrence in the world to King Mokryeong, half of them would be accurate.”
“Correct.”

That’s why this world cannot forget the existence of King Mokryeong. From a human perspective, it is somewhat understandable that he is seen as a hero.

“Do you understand now?”
“Yes.”
“That’s why I’m worried about you.”

The gods of this world, the world itself.

They fear the appearance of another King Mokryeong, one who does not live up to his renown.

The gods are dead.
It has been revealed that they can be killed.

Now, it is comprehensible why the World Trees harbor such skepticism towards my existence.

‘Humans possessing excessive talent are dangerous.’

Though my power was not perfected from the beginning, it was close to that of King Mokryeong. There was no way the World Trees, having experienced it once, would not know this. However, it was not yet confirmed, and currently, the World Tree could not reach deeply into reality.

‘When the World Tree of Resentment targets me, even straining itself to do so, why have the World Trees not made any significant moves?’

Perhaps my death would be more beneficial to them. They merely observe with a vile gaze.

‘I see the bigger picture now.’

A fact that I alone was unaware of. Both Lee Se-Young and Cheon-do must have already known this and acted accordingly.

As I turned my head to look at her face, Lee Se-Young seemed to read my thoughts. She playfully poked my cheek and leaned her head on my shoulder.

“Do you understand the situation now?”
“It would have been a hundred times better if you had told me earlier.”
“Anyway… Don’t panic, no matter what happens later.”

If they truly fear the existence of King Mokryeong.
From one day on, it was uncertain if the World Tree would suddenly target me and attempt to take my life.

If I were to become a religious villain.
Perhaps even someone I know might thrust a sword at me.

Jung Si-woo is also the husband of the World Tree. And most of the wooden people and humans in this world regard the World Tree as their god.
No matter how much it has faded, its essence remains unchanged.
This fact felt bitterly poignant.

“Hey.”

Did I reveal my emotions too openly?
Se-Young, leaning her head and poking my chest with her fingernail, eased my mood with a single word.

“I’m on your side for the rest of my life, asshole.”

The sight of her trying to say something embarrassing while mixing in a curse made me laugh and raise the corners of my mouth.
I subtly reached out and embraced Se-Young’s shoulder.

When we’re close together, even lengthy moments pass by in an instant.

The warmth spreading through hands and body. A conviction of never parting.
That feeling was something one would never want to let go of.

– Ugh!

The ears muffle for a moment.
Se-Young, with her eyes closed, seems worn out from earlier events, leaning against me and already drifting into sleep.

‘Sleeping now, only to wake up soon.’

Five minutes of rest probably wouldn’t make a difference.
As I turn my head to gaze out the window revealing the scenery, an exclamation escapes involuntarily.

The smallest of Japan’s four islands, adorned with beautiful Baekyang trees, holds a history of the World Tree being fiercely oxidized.
Finally, we have arrived.