Chapter 153 – Socheonma, Dowon (2)

“…Excuse me?”

Hong-Yeon couldn’t believe her ears. She placed her hands on the floor, raised only her face, and asked the Heavenly Demon for clarification.

“Did I misunderstand?”

The old man retrieved a smoking pipe from his bosom with a rigid expression. Smoke began to rise from it.

The pungent smell of unfiltered tobacco filled the air.

“It must be quite a relief for you. The person you detest is dying.”

Hong-Yeon held her breath and tried to calm her trembling heart. Her hands, resting on the floor, were shaking.

“You won’t need to worry about the succession problem any longer, will you?”

The old man’s words rang true. As Socheonma was on the verge of death, concerns surrounding the succession issue had dissipated.

However… if he dies, even more significant problems would arise. Did this man have any idea how much Socheonma had done for this place up until now?

Dozens of children had survived by his grace. Hundreds of women remained uninvolved in crime.
The extent to which Do-won would be shaken by his death alone was immeasurable.
The matter was far too grave to simply dismiss as a fortunate turn of events.

“Gap, are you referring to yourself?”

Naturally, Hong-Yeon’s own heart was not at ease either.

“Yes.”
“Tell me why, why! What on earth…?”

Hong-Yeon raised her voice as if to question him.
A perplexing expression that appeared as though she had not yet grasped the reality of the situation. The words were too cruel to accept all at once.

Nevertheless, she instinctively knew.
She had made a terrible mistake.

“You don’t need to know the reason. He was destined to die from the very beginning.”

He had been far too brilliant a talent to die.
It couldn’t simply be considered a tragedy for someone with nine wings to spread in the future to meet their end.

“Wait a moment…”

Her desperation exceeded mere urgency.
The old man frowned and coldly recited.

“Don’t whine. It has already been decided.”

The old man rose from his seat and passed by Hong-Yeon, scattering cigarette smoke as he went. In desperation, Hong-Yeon turned her head and grabbed the hem of the old man’s robe. With just one step, the old man easily shook her off.

– Creak.

The sound of the door opening up ahead. Even though it was near, the sound felt as if it came from a distant place.

Hong-Yeon, still unable to escape her shock, stared blankly. Then, at the sound of the door, she raised her head again.

Just before the door closed, she managed to shout.

“Father…”

The closing door came to a halt.

“…please.”
“……”
“Why does he need to die? Where on earth is the need for that?”

Her mind raced at a breakneck pace. Even her brilliant mind couldn’t properly grasp the current situation.

“Is it because of the succession issue? If that’s the case, I was mistaken… When he becomes the Heavenly Demon.”
“Hong-Yeon.”

The emotionless elder, coldly indoctrinating his beliefs.
Hong-Yeon gasped for breath.

“You are the leader of Do-won.”
“…Yes.”
“Since when have you been able to question my decisions?”

It was impossible.
As leader, Hong-Yeon’s role wasn’t to advise.

“I’ve transferred total authority of Do-won to you. Are you trying to mess things up by getting entangled in petty emotions?”
“……”
“What you should be doing is not changing what has been decided, but cultivating Do-won’s future. You need to handle any arising issues in advance.”
“I understand.”

Harsh as it was, his words rang true.
Hong-Yeon felt as if her heart was being torn out.

“Are you curious about the reasons? What can you change by yourself?”

At least her curiosity would be satisfied.
Believing she could change things was arrogant and overconfident.

The old man stood for a while.
Hong-Yeon’s face appeared half-dazed.

Was it because her expression caught his eye?

“To prevent the outcry, Socheonma sacrifices himself for Dowon. That’s all.”

– Thud.

The old man left those words as his last and departed. An outcry. They had assembled a group to subdue the Heavenly Demon from outside. The reason Dowon had been unharmed until now was due to not being invaded, since the Heavenly Demon’s lifespan was nearing its end. Yet, it seemed the outsiders were secretly making their move again.

Hong-Yeon, who quickly understood the external situation, exhaled a sigh.

“…Ha.”

It was half mockery.

“Ha, haha. Hm.”

The face of a man passing through Hong-Yeon’s thoughts. Now she was beginning to understand what he had said.

‘Leaving in three months. Was this what he meant?’

Just how far had he looked ahead and acted? It was as if he had known from the beginning that things would turn out this way.

The fact that he suddenly took action and rapidly helped Dowon grow. Now, he was prepared to die for Dowon.

‘…What a peculiar man.’

Hong-Yeon giggled, covering her eyes with one hand.
Her wiped-off makeup left a faint white residue on her hand.

‘I haven’t even had a drink yet.’

The handcrafted liquor, made especially for him, rested by the head of the bed at home. It had been prepared for the day they might part ways, but now it had become useless.

They may never meet again.
And she couldn’t imagine facing him with an impenetrable facade.

-Slap!

Hong-Yeon forcefully struck her own cheek.
To clear her head, using all her strength.

“Whew.”

She lifted her chilled face and steadied her trembling breath.
Hong-Yeon was a leader.
Even if he were to die, Do-won would still exist.

She had to remain composed and make the right decisions going forward.
She had been taught from a young age not to be ruled by her emotions.

Raising her body, Hong-Yeon took a step forward.

-Chin.

However, Hong-Yeon’s determination faded, and she couldn’t lift her feet as her legs weakened, causing her to fall to her knees.

“…Ugh.”

‘I need to calm down.’

But the pain in her heart only intensified.

Her pounding heart tormented Hong-Yeon like a hand squeezing it tightly. She missed the man’s hand that would tap her head whenever she made a mistake.

The meals they had shared together in the guesthouse had been so warm for her, who had always worked alone and settled for cold food.

She hadn’t realized her methods were wrong, as there was no one smarter than her. She had learned a great deal from the man as well.

She couldn’t count the times he had secretly comforted her.

Her life had been filled with long, lonely nights, working on documents by the frost-covered windows during winter. The memories of the days they had stayed together, working side by side, came flooding back.

Though they never spoke about it, being together warmed her heart.

“…Ah, sob.”

But now he was gone.
Unable to meet him again.
Perhaps, for the rest of her life.

That might be why she felt this way today.
Five minutes. No, let’s stay like this for just ten minutes.

Hong-Yeon sat and stared blankly at the floor.

– Knock, knock.

Circular water droplets appeared on the floor.
For some reason, it seemed like it would rain today.

* * * * * *

When people have nothing to do, they sometimes engage in madness.

– Tadak, tadak.

“This is kind of fun in its own way.”

She stirred the campfire with a poker.
She was finding a small pleasure in this activity.
Sparks flew along the branches, and black ash scattered in the wind.

‘The World Tree of Time.’

[What is it?]

Sixteen hours had already passed since I began spending time in this place. As someone who was always occupied, being alone now left me no choice but to entertain various thoughts.

For instance, an unexpected fantasy.

‘If I possess King Mokryeong’s power, wouldn’t it be possible to seize your abilities?’

[…]

A tempestuous coupling of wood.

I said it out of sheer boredom. Lately, my mind has been in a state of unrest, particularly in regard to my sexual desires. Without rolling about in a frenzied state, such vulgar thoughts would incessantly plague me.

[To steal my power… are you suggesting… that act?]

‘Indeed… No, never mind. It’s been a while since I’ve been possessed by a lewd spirit.’

[If it were you… No, that’s not it.]

What?

[I understand your words, but my true form is currently under the management of the Japanese government.]

So, access itself is impossible? What if I were to force my way in and carry out the deed? The thought crossed my mind, but it remains a difficult endeavor.

Even though one may abandon their humanity to covet the power of the World Tree, he didn’t have the nerve to go that far.

[Even if it is taken away, it’s uncertain how it will manifest itself.]

“Really?”

[And I don’t intend to let it be taken away, hehe.]

The World Tree of Time laughed.
He furrowed his brow at the irritating laughter.

[Even King Mokryeong in the past couldn’t take away my power. In fact… It’s just that I wasn’t plundered because I sealed my body at the last moment.]

“I’ll accept that you’re an inexperienced, old virgin.”

[…That’s too harsh.]

The ability to defy time or space. Although it’s tempting, it’s also true that there’s no way to achieve it.

Come to think of it, how strong is the World Tree? It is said that the flame burning just before death is the brightest. It’s certain that it won’t be as powerful as during its prime.

I have no idea what level it must have been in those days.

[Back then, there were few trees that could compare.]

“Remarkable.”

Tap. Tap.

I placed the ash-covered black branch next to the rock, gazing up at the moonlit sky.
Is it going to rain?
Dark clouds were gathering in the distance.

“Do World Trees possess powers from birth?”

[Be it human or tree, when they reach a certain level, they gain a single ability. They are said to govern a concept that is easy to name.]

The World Tree of Time, having the ability related to time.
The World Tree of Healing, possessing the power to heal.

As they governed concepts, the naming convention seemed apparent. However, the World Tree of Purity and the World Tree of Resentment didn’t appear to be directly associated with abilities.

[The cases differ. Many World Trees undergo transformations and change their names. Of course, their roots remain unchanged.]

“Roots?”

[It refers to the tree species.]

“What kind of tree are you?”

[…….]

The World Tree of Time remained silent.

[Are you curious?]

Of course I’m curious. There are species among the World Trees, after all. How could one not be interested in a world where the World Tree reigns supreme?

The World Tree seemed to hesitate, eventually uttering a single name.

[Baekyang… It is a Baekyang tree.]

The language of its flowers represents time and the past. It perfectly mirrored the current situation, as if looking back on days gone by.

“So, your name is Baekyang?”

[Names do not exist.]

“Don’t be so stiff.”

There isn’t much time left before we meet, so there’s no need to be overly formal. I’ve received many favors from him, and he will soon find himself indebted to me as well.

“Baekyang.”

[…Sigh. Yes.]

In the end, Baekyang answered with a sigh, as if reluctantly accepting the name. It wasn’t just my imagination that I could sense a hint of embarrassment in his response.

“Before I leave, I wanted to say thank you.”

Not all World Trees are feeble.
These beings have thoughts, and they act according to their own wisdom.
He was the one who made me realize this truth.

And she was the one who bestowed the opportunity to change the future, a gracious gift.

[I am grateful as well. I will remember this for the rest of my life, even if I wither.]

That makes it all the better.

“I never thought I would truly forge a friendship with a tree in my lifetime.”

[How wonderful it would have been if the previous King Mokryeong had been someone like you.]

It seems that the habit of repeating cryptic words does not change.
It feels as though something from the past is being revisited, but inquiring about it seems inappropriate.

I slowly raised my legs while gazing into the distance.

*Plunk.*

Raindrops fall.
A faint trace of magical power lingers.

A familiar old man’s voice emanated from behind me.

“Let’s get moving, slowly.”

“Have you finished sharing the story?”
“Only with Hong-Yeon.”

It seems that Heaven hasn’t heard it yet.
… I wish to see her tearful face and comfort her, but there isn’t enough time.

“Understood.”

With a stern expression, I clenched my fist.
Preparations for battle had long been completed.