Chapter 123 – The Past (2)

“…Master?”

Is this a dream or reality?

“Yes?”

The girl tilted her head to the right.

“Master, you say?”

Even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, it was still Heaven. Her distinct features and eyes, which appeared as if they were drawn with a brush, were all reminiscent of the Heaven I knew. Despite her young age, the dignity emanating from her posture was not far behind the girl I was familiar with.

She could easily be mistaken for a grade school student. Taking her height into consideration, she might be around a second-year middle school student.

“I’m not quite sure what you’re talking about.”

The doll-like girl in front of me was speaking. She blinked her round eyes several times, a mix of curiosity and bewilderment in her gaze. I lowered my eye level to shorten the distance between us. Upon sensing her magical power close-up, I realized a significant amount of magic was densely concentrated within her.

I had thought she might be someone connected to Heaven, but she wasn’t.

If I had checked up to this point, I could be certain.

“Cheondo.”
“…!”

As the girl’s name fell from my lips, Cheondo’s face visibly hardened.

“How do you know my name? I haven’t even told my maternal relatives…”

Because I came from the future.

At that moment, when such a thought crossed my mind, I felt an intense pain in my chest.

-Thump!

-Mention of the future is forbidden.

A terrible pain seemed to warn me. If I were to reveal the truth, my life couldn’t be guaranteed.

I hadn’t even intended to say it, but a warning… Now I understand why mentioning the future, as the World Tree of Time had said, is not allowed.

“Whew…”

I took a deep breath, steadying my mind and body, and collected my thoughts. It seemed that I was overly excited upon seeing the young Cheondo.

Regardless, I had to find my purpose.

The World Tree of Time had brought me before Heaven, and I couldn’t help but think that she must be the reason it had sent me to the past.

Once more, I looked down at Heaven. Her eyes, which I had believed would never waver even if the whole world were to burn, were trembling fiercely in my presence and no one else’s.

For some reason, seeing her like this stirred a wicked sense of satisfaction within me.

*Tuk-tuk.*

Just then, someone tapped my shoulder with a threateningly coarse hand.

“You’re a new face around here. How did you get in?” they asked.

I turned my head and saw two adult men dressed in black, their brows furrowed in suspicion.

This place was Do-won’s private property.

“Ah.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? State your name. What’s your purpose here? Or… you didn’t enter without permission, did you?”

I came from the future; how could I not have? But I knew such excuses would not suffice.

The warriors seemed to make a quick judgment based on my complexion, lowering their voices and reaching for their respective weapons at their waists. Despite coming from beyond time, here I was an intruder with no status. This place, where Heaven’s disciple, Heavenly Demon, resided, must be under strict control even in a place called Do-won.

‘…Hmm.’

I glanced at Heaven once and then at the warriors.

I had no choice. I summoned mana throughout my body.

In a flash, too quick to detect, I gathered mana at the soles of my feet and leaped powerfully into the sky.

“What…?!”

I soared like a bird, conjuring a levitation spell.

– Whooosh!

Wind magic, like a whirlwind following a feast of acorns, lifted me higher. My field of vision contracted, then expanded. From midair, I gazed down at the vast expanse of Do-won where I had just been standing.

Do-won inhabited the entire vast mountain range, with rows of grand, antiquated buildings stretching from the base to the summit.

‘…It’s too expansive to pinpoint coordinates.’

As she plummeted from the sky to the ground, Hae-nul searched for a suitable location to cast spatial magic, but none presented itself. One false move, and she might be captured. Although they were her master’s kin, she had no desire to be adversarial.

‘Should I resort to prayer?’

She slowed her descent using the wind and adjusted her course, finally alighting on the roof of a building.

[Ah, can you hear me?]

At last, the voice of the World Tree resonated within her mind.

‘The World Tree of Time?’
[Apologies. Due to insufficient magical power… If you desire, I can bring you back to the present world at any time.]
‘That’s not the issue right now. What am I supposed to do here?’
[Apologies. I am unaware.]

…Madness.

Although I was already aware of the situation, I couldn’t help but curse under my breath.

‘Let me call upon it again.’
[Understood.]

With a thunderous clap and a flash of light-

“Capture him!”
“How dare you enter Do-won without permission? If you’re caught, you’ll pay dearly-“

The warriors who had climbed onto the roof to pursue me vanished from sight in an instant.

My body had been transported to the place where I had originally encountered the World Tree.

The desolate wasteland I had seen before, with a single, solitary tree standing tall.

I collapsed onto the ground, heaving deep sighs. My body was caught off guard by the sudden depletion of mana.

Seeing my apparent distress, the World Tree spoke as if to offer an explanation.

[The role assigned to me was merely to send you back in time.]
“I know. I just called upon you to gather my thoughts. Can we return to the past?”
[Until the very end of my life, I can do so at any time. However, it’s limited to about 5 days.]

A little less than a week had passed.
It was precisely during the training retreat.

[Of course, even that requires a certain amount of magical power supply.]
“Magical power supply?”
[You need to divide your magic power little by little and share it. I don’t have any means to recover my magic right now.]
“Well, I can manage that.”

Since we decided to cooperate…

I reached out and infused magic into the rotten roots protruding from the ground.
After transferring about 50% of my magical power, the World Tree expressed its gratitude by fluttering its leaves.

The leaves appeared more vibrant than before.

[Thank you, Lee Si-heon.]
“It’s repulsive, just speak informally.”
[No, I cannot do that.]

Now, it was showing utmost respect.
I asked the World Tree, which I had been curious about all along.

“…Why is the tree killed by King Mokryeong helping me?”

[As I mentioned before, those who inherit the power of King Mokryeong can transform into absolute beings at any time. It’s best not to deviate from the start. It wasn’t like that before, but… This time, we must change from the roots. And it will be beneficial for you too.]
“No. That’s not it. Are there any personal grudges or anything like that?”
[…….]

A leaf fell from the sky.

[It’s inevitable for the greater good.]
“…Out of all the World Trees I’ve encountered, you’re the most true to your nature. Although I don’t fully comprehend the concept with my common sense.”

If only the other World Trees were like that too.
They know how to target my life.

Most of the others are untrustworthy, always scheming. Except for the World Tree of Purity, there hasn’t been one that approached me with such benevolence.
The World Tree of Healing… She’s just like me in every rape.
The World Tree of Time was a celestial maiden.

“…Ah, speaking of the World Tree, it reminds me. Do you know who the World Tree of Purity is?”
[I don’t know either.]

As expected.
He clicked his tongue and rose from his seat.

By now, would Lee Se-Young have met Azalea? He decided to set that thought aside for a moment. He couldn’t afford to make a grave mistake because of his immediate relationships. After all, there was no guarantee that this matter wouldn’t determine the course of his life.

The image of young Heaven’s face was still vivid in his mind. From his prior experiences, it was evident that this matter was somehow connected to his master. But how should he approach it?

“Are the locations the same?”
[No, the time and place change each time. As for where we’re going… I don’t know either.]
“Considering it’s your ability, there’s quite a lot you don’t know.”
[I apologize.]

He had to accept it as fate.

Still, it was fortunate that there was no entity attempting to forcibly harm him like last time.

“If we continue like this, just how disastrous does the future become that even the World Tree has to step in?”
[…I cannot answer that at the moment.]

“I’m talking to myself.”

I sat still and meditated for a few minutes.

What should I do in the past? My actions could alter the present.

[No, the present will not change.]

The insight of the World Tree that pierced my thoughts.

[It’s a complex issue to explain… It’s good for you to know this.]

It was concluded that the World Tree, which emerged to change the future, could not alter the present. I was curious about the contradiction, but if that was the case, it was comforting for me. There was no need to restrain my actions.

It didn’t take long to reach a conclusion.

If there is no objective, then I shall follow my heart. I will convey any messages I wish to share with the young Heaven, or anyone else, and leave them all behind. It would be good to gather all the information I can from that place. I might even learn something about Flower. And since it has come to this, I also intended to see the one named Heavenly Demon.

“Send me back to the past.”

[…Understood.]

The World Tree’s magic enveloped my body once more.

My vision shifted. How many times had this happened? The numerous spatial transitions had given me a headache.

-Thud!

I landed in a cozy, dimly lit place. Where was I, and what time was it?

As I reached down to touch the floor, I felt the warmth radiating from the heated panels. A lantern flickered to life with a soft click, casting a warm glow throughout the room.

“…?”

It was but a moment.

Just then, my eyes met Heaven’s.

The time was dawn, and I found myself in a bedroom.

Heaven had seemingly just bathed, as her hair was wrapped in a large towel, the size of her body. The white towel draped down her neck, making her resemble a rabbit. She was wearing light clothes, but in this situation, I’d be lucky if I didn’t die, let alone provide an explanation.

An unidentified stranger had fearlessly entered Heavenly Demon’s bedroom, his identity unknown.

“…”
“…”

Cheondo could only blink, still shaking her head as if she couldn’t come to terms with the situation she found herself in.

“…You.”

Why was the timing always like this? She called upon the World Tree of Time, but received no response.

It seemed she was in quite a predicament.

* * * * *

Inside the hotel’s special suite.

– Gurgling.

Se-Young grinned as she skillfully served Azalea a cup of freshly brewed flower tea. The table was laden with a mountain of sweet treats.

“You don’t mind sweets, do you?”
“No.”

Azalea swallowed her bitter saliva instead of indulging in the treats, while she studied Se-Young’s expression. Her hands, politely clasped together, trembled like a willow in the wind.

The reason they had gathered here today was to discuss their relationships with one particular man.

Given the nature of the topic, Azalea couldn’t shake off her unease, despite her best efforts.

“You must have read all the messages.”
“…”
“What do you think?”

Lee Se-Young was the first to break the silence.

The topic concerned Lee Si-heon, a man not present in the room. The contents of Lee Se-Young’s messages were all shocking to Azalea, who had confessed her love to him just last night.

She had learned about Lee Si-heon’s entangled relationships with other women, including his involvement with Lee Se-Young. Each piece of information was heart-wrenching and difficult to hear with a clear mind. As a result, Azalea had struggled to maintain her composure since entering the room.

“Professor Lee Se-Young.”
“Don’t be so formal. I was once your professor, after all. Speak more casually.”

With ease and sincerity, Azalea hesitantly parted her lips, leaving flattery aside and filling her words with heartfelt intent.

“…To be honest, I’m not quite sure what you’re trying to say.”
“Which part?”

Lee Si-heon’s relationships with women were far from healthy, as seen through the eyes of Azalea, who had fallen deeply for him. Anyone else who observed him might have cursed, saying he was a man who toyed with women.

Naturally, the reason for his behavior had been known to Azalea for quite some time, as she had heard it from Lee Se-young.

“The husband of the World Tree… I don’t know why you didn’t tell me, but I understand.”

Due to unfortunate circumstances, the World Tree had targeted his life, compelling him to embrace other women as part of his quest. As he continued these relationships, the number of women in his life grew. He was so affectionate that it was challenging for him to part ways with anyone he became involved with, and Azalea suspected this would lead to trouble.

Polygamy… she honestly thought it didn’t matter. She loved him, after all. It was inconceivable that he would show favoritism to just one other person.

From Azalea’s perspective, it was good news. It was an incredibly enticing proposal – one that any woman who loves a man would find hard to resist.

Of course, as an individual, Azalea yearned to have that man all to herself, but that was only a lingering regret. Regardless of the circumstances, the present situation presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to forge a closer bond with him.

However, the human heart is ever fickle.

Because she cherished him, she could envision things from his perspective and tried her utmost to empathize.

…Setting her emotions aside, she put herself in that man’s shoes once more.

– Thump.

The more Azalea pondered his viewpoint, the more her heart ached with a chilling sensation.

It pained her to admit it, but Lee Si-heon harbored feelings for Se-Young. He had even confessed his love, leaving no room for doubt.

Undoubtedly, he must have agonized over his confession for a considerable time before gathering the courage to declare his feelings.

Yet, Lee Se-Young had vehemently rejected him.

“But, Professor, why did you reject his confession?”

Now, Azalea found herself questioning Lee Se-Young.

Why did she refuse him?
For what reason?

To be guaranteed the love of one person for the rest of your life.
No matter how much the social atmosphere changes, the eternal one-on-one love remains a love story that everyone dreams of—a tale between a man and a woman.

Azalea told him she would stake her whole life on it, and her words were sincere, without a trace of falsehood.
There’s a kind of heart one can only know because they’ve confessed.

“I don’t know.”

That one sentence she heard back then—she couldn’t fathom how much it ached.

It was too painful to even put into words.
It felt as if her heart had been pierced by a knife, her legs trembled, and tears sprung forth without any excuses or expectations.
Still, she didn’t want to lose the other person, so even though everything in front of her eyes seemed like an abyss, she babbled incoherently. The words that came out couldn’t be normal, but she knew that, and still, she carried on. Because she loved him.

If someone could gracefully overcome a rejection after confessing,
either they weren’t truly sincere in their love, or they possessed incredible mental fortitude.

Perhaps that was the reason Azalea felt angry at Lee Se-young for rejecting his confession.

“…It’s not like we’re toying with him.”

Emotions seeped through her voice.

“What is this all about?”

To Azalea’s eyes, the relationship between the two appeared that way.

“You rejected his confession, but then vaguely hinted at accepting it later. You keep meeting him and leaving room for hope.”

Her hands trembled fiercely.

“And yet, you keep urging him to see other women…”

The frustration she felt while reading the message was present there.

“If you like him that much, just accept his confession and stay together for life. You do like him, right?”

Lee Se-young quietly listened to Azalea’s words, not even taking a sip from her tea cup. She appeared solemn, as if absorbing profound advice.

“Think about his feelings too… If it were me…”

“If it were you?”

“…I wouldn’t have let him endure so much stress.”

It should have been a story where the confession was accepted from the very beginning. In such a case, the collapse of one’s love was a secondary concern.

To Azalea, Lee Se-Young’s stubbornness appeared selfish. Like all people, Azalea herself was selfish as well.

Despite being aware of it, her obsession shifted when it came to Lee Si-heon. She loathed herself for not having realized it until now.

Azalea’s fixation was directed straight at Lee Si-heon.

“So, that’s what you were curious about,” said Lee Se-Young, offering Azalea a gentle smile and speaking with a tinge of bitterness.

“I have an excuse. It’s not that I’m right—it’s just an excuse. I don’t know if Si-heon will understand or not…”

It wasn’t a significant matter.

“Keep it a secret. If he finds out, there’ll be hell to pay.”

“…”

Se-Young continued the conversation with a forced laugh and a giggle.