Chapter 418 – Terminus of Tribulation – (Part 1 Concluded)

In the cavity, the thread is sewn and sewn into a bundle, akin to a root.
As unyielding as arrowroot and wisteria entwined. If the thread signifies humanity and the cavity signifies relationships, then the bundle, the skein, is the embodiment of conflict.

An unidentifiable melody reverberates.

– Thump, thump.

Someone is approaching from behind. Despite instinctually discerning danger, my mind remains void of thoughts.

“Ah.”

I must rise now.
Yet power refuses to flow into my limbs.

It is as if someone has yanked away my spirit, leaving my mind numb and cloudy.
My chest feels hollow, as if gouged by a blade.

Zodiac, White Peach, and Heaven, ensconced in my embrace.
Could I have saved these three? I was reckless. One emotion gives birth to another in a relentless tide. The ceaseless echo in my mind refuses to shatter, despite my efforts.

– Executioner~!

Memories of my mentor from my youth resurface.
Even then, I watched him from the sidelines, contemplating his youth. Zodiac, eternally cheerful; White Peach, possessing a temper as dirty as hell.
I even found myself laughing at these thoughts once.

I had assumed my mentor could abandon me.

He was out of touch. I had surmised he would desert me if I asked.
Should I have convinced him to mask his impending death and act independently?
No one would understand this.

No, actually,
I just wish to rest quietly for a moment.

‘……’

– Swisshhh.

Rainwater overflows, pooling upon the ground. The floodwater laps at my mentor’s waist.
His lips remain sealed, even in death.
Heaven’s smiling visage is no different from her youth.

Cinemas and popcorn.
What a simple desire it had been…

Knowing fully well her death was imminent, she toyed with my emotions.
She worried for me till the very end.

From our first meeting, I trusted her enough to entrust my life to her, and followed her.
My respect for her has grown, not diminished, since her departure. It’s now beyond words.

I let myself drift a little longer.

Just five more minutes.
No, eight. Perhaps, ten.

Have I dwelt in the rain too long? The sound of steps heard long ago is now almost upon me.

“The conflicts of mankind, they remain unsolvable~”

The shadow of a large white parasol envelopes me.
The parasol, large enough to shelter both my mentor and me, halts the rain from falling upon me.

“Hmm.”

A familiar voice resonates in my ears, mixed with the harsh notes of a song.

A hand, white as jade, lightly clasps my shoulder.
I do not turn my head.

“It has been a while, Si-heon. It’s our first meeting since the cradle, isn’t it?”
“……”

Long white hair brushes my forehead.
The strands tickle the tip of my nose.

“Once again, you’ve had to bear the brunt.”
“Cease your empty platitudes.”
“… … Caught, have I? It’s your calamity at work. Everything you now witness.”

Countless lay dead, each bearing arms against the other.
A thread destined to be severed, but by my hand nonetheless.
I was marked for death anyway, so what did it matter if I was resented or not?

Then, the sage’s hand lovingly caressed my crown.

“Just consider. Had it not been for you, the death toll would have been unimaginably higher.”
“… … .”
“There is no value to rank life, but to have a global catastrophe end in a truce with so few casualties… Such an event is unheard of in the annals of thousands of years.”

What does that have to do with me?
I clung tighter to my master.

“Certainly. There were sacrifices, including the World Tree of Prosperity. But you, Siheon… your feigned death, it has held back a catastrophe predicted to claim hundreds of millions in its wake.”
“And so?”
“…You have done well. Or don’t you understand?”

– Slap. –

The rain-soaked dress dances in the cascading rainfall.
The sage, kneeling in the mud, cradled my head against her chest, unconcerned about getting soaked.

“A man who could have been remembered as a villain, yet outdid himself.”
“… … .”
“You will be remembered as a villain, but I recognise your true nature. I know everything. The disaster you have brought upon us… it will steer us towards the most appropriate future.”

Her voice, once sweet, no longer feels the same.
Everything feels numb.

“In truth, had you only saved your own life, you might have lived longer. But then, the war between the World Tree and the Flower would have worsened… Not to mention your lovers. It would have resulted in countless civilian casualties.”
“……I didn’t even consider that.”
“I know all. It was through your intervention that the dungeon was thrown into chaos. It was this chaos that brought about the truce. Was this not written in King Mokryeong’s tome? You interpreted it well.”

My tear ducts are dry, no tears to shed.
The sage’s gentle hand caressed my forehead.
Cheeks, nose, lips. Ears. Her roaming hand finally settled on my neck.
I feel her embrace tighten.

I mumble incoherently, overwhelmed by the repetition of meaningless actions.

“You are the World Tree of the Bystanders, aren’t you?”
“Huh? That’s not me.”
“What?”

Even I couldn’t help but question at that point.
The sage spoke in a slightly more playful tone than before.

“I’m no longer a sage. You’ve triggered the dungeon’s frenzy…. Now, I must do my part and save as many people as I can.”
“Oh.”
“So, thank you. I will handle the aftermath. You will forever remain in my mind, a noble man.”

The sage gave my chest a gentle tap.

“So, you must rise now. You have much to do, don’t you? After all, you instigated this disaster from the start.”
“Oh… yes.”

The sage seemed dissatisfied with my response.
She let out a deep sigh.

“Good heavens.”

The wizard, garbed like a high-ranking noble, had an unusually expressive countenance, a stark contrast to his usual restraint. His exuberant demeanor was so different from the man I knew.

And soon, words spilled from his mouth.

“If you don’t answer correctly… Will you not save your master?”

I momentarily doubted my hearing.

“Pardon…?”
“Did you mishear?”
“Are you… Are you serious?”
“Why this sudden urge to cry? Didn’t you anticipate this?”

-Clatter!-

I turned around. The sage, upon my first glance, was soaked, his white garments clinging to his body, hinting at what lay beneath.

The undergarment beneath his robes, even the underwear adorned with a grinning bear. He appeared oblivious to his exposure, but that didn’t matter.

My arms encircled the sage’s shoulders roughly, causing him to stumble and fall.

“Ugh!”

He fell onto the ground, eyes wide in surprise.

“I understand you’re startled, but easy on the strength…”
“You said… you could save her? Is that true?”
“Yes… It was your power from the beginning. So, please let go of me!”

-Pinch-

The pain in my shoulder was negligible, but I reluctantly stepped back. The sage, his hair sopping wet, tossed it back, revealing his pale forehead and biting his petite lips.

“Quickly… Hurry…”
“Siheon… Why are you so excited?”

It wasn’t excitement, rather my heart was on the verge of bursting. Or perhaps, it was already in tears. Seeing my restless face, the sage chuckled lightly.

“Alright. Just unbutton the front of your clothes. Don’t remove it completely… Take it slow.”

Initially intending to disrobe completely, I instead loosened my front buttons and pulled my master close to me. The sage sighed deeply, stood behind me, gripping my shoulder with one hand, and reaching for my chest with the other.

“…Remnants of the World Tree.”

A singular power, whose purpose I was unaware of. The remnants of time.

With his hand, which formed hundreds of minuscule magical circles, the sage tapped my chest and skillfully extracted a vibrant yellow petal.

A petal, radiating with light, shimmered vibrantly on the sage’s pale palm. It was adorable, even sacred in its own way.

A miracle, perhaps, I would never be able to replicate. The sage’s left hand suddenly clasped my wrist, delivering the petal to me.

“The foolish disciple, your master, Siheon, and that peach enthusiast, correct?”
“…Yes.”

I swallowed, my trembling hand gradually moved closer, and the petal infused itself into Heaven’s heart.

-Scream!-

As the surroundings brightened, warmth started to return. Heaven’s body began to breathe, showing subtle signs of recovery.

“The remnant of time. It merely halts a body at the brink of death.”
“What does that mean…?”
“It means it will take a very long time to see your master again. Healing will take time. At least a few years.”
“……”

That would suffice.
No… thank you.

My arms were trembling fiercely.
My sight was blurred due to dampness.

“Why are you crying again, Si-heon? Goodness, you’re just like Sephirot.”

Thanks to this, I can depart with ease.

“I told you. If you assist me, I’ll give you a gift.”
“…Ah.”
“This is what’s called karmic retribution. A good deed is repaid by a good deed. If Si-heon has done something wrong, it will return as it is.”
“…And the treatment?”
“Leave it to me. Is that all? With Cornus. And the others. I’ll handle the major issues.”

The more I heard, the more my gratitude grew, but so did my curiosity.
Why is this sage going to such lengths?
Even violating the agreement with the World Tree

“Why, why go to such lengths?”

To my question, the sage feigned contemplation for a moment, then chuckled.

“Si-heon and I are in the same boat. You caused a disaster, I saved those affected by your disaster. This way, we can minimize the damage.”
“…Just for that reason?”
“Um, there are other reasons too. But… It’s a bit awkward to reveal them.”

The sage, who had been beating around the bush, flicked my forehead.

“Anyway, I’m no longer a sage. Just a wandering wizard.”

The sage, who had used magic on Heaven, who was barely breathing with her eyes closed, closed her own eyes.
She patted my shoulder, assuring me not to worry.
Perhaps she’s concerned I’ll feel anxious when we part ways.

“Ah. Now I’m nameless. What would be a good name?”
“……Wiki.”
“Quiet.”

The sage’s fingers moved and traced a four-letter alphabet.
Alba

“That’s my name. My mother gave it to me. But in this world, only Si-heon knows.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I said we’re in the same boat.”

The sage smiled faintly and rose from her seat.
She magically dried her soaked dress and removed the umbrella that had been sheltering me.
As the rain began to fall again, the sage bowed her head.

“Well, I’ll see you later. I have lots of tasks to tackle. I need to save my disciple. Next time I encounter Zodiac, I’ll need to ponder how to train her.”
“……Thank you.”

I was sincere.
I had doubted her so much, and when she approached me, I doubted her again.
In the end, I would have collapsed without her.

With my head bowed to the ground, I continued in a trembling voice.

【 King, don’t bow your head!! 】

At that instant, a voice thundered in my ears.
My own voice didn’t emerge due to the ‘character’s’ defiance.
I forced my head up, and the sage, who had been observing me, tilted her head.

“…Oh, my. That one seems to be a bit cheeky.”

Does she know even this?
She’s an entity that shouldn’t be engaged in a battle of wits. How far does her insight reach?

I chuckled uneasily. The sage had been laughing since our initial encounter, but unlike the start, that laughter now carried a chilling undertone.

“Anyway, till we meet again.”

With one hand resting on the lower region of her chest, the sage waved the other and vanished in a flash.

Now, it was only me left. All traces had been wiped clean due to the chaos caused by Sisyphus and me.

The proposal extended by The World Tree of Prosperity just before it made the ultimate sacrifice, and the offer Gu-seul presented to me.

I lifted my hand, wiping the mud smeared across my face.

“Sigh…”

The frustration, the tears, all chased away, leaving behind a clear mind.

– Thud.

A piece of clothing soaked in blood fell from the sky, draping over my shoulder. Was this the sage’s work? It was the Black Dragon Robe of the Heavenly Demon, embossed with a rising dragon.

‘…Now.’

It was my turn.

* * * * * * * *

【 To the new students who have become a part of El Academy’s family. With the war’s end, the era of the Hunter has dawned again. On behalf of the Academy’s faculty, we sincerely congratulate you on your admission! 】

Three years.

The day when Flower and The World Tree of Prosperity initiated a war through sheer force. The day when all those deemed heretical met their death simultaneously.

The world faced another round of turmoil due to the sudden change in the quality of magical power worldwide, in addition to the overlapping dungeon rampages.

The governments of Flower and The World Tree of Prosperity, both striving for egalitarianism, had much to lose if they proceeded with the war. Thus, following an armistice, they entered a Cold War state.

It had been a mere three years, a relatively short period. Yet, little by little, exchanges were happening.

While Flower and The World Tree of Prosperity continued to remain adversaries, the concept of a nation became less efficient when it divided the world in half.

El Academy, which had paused its intake of cadets due to a series of events, was also beginning to restart.

【 Korea!!! Representative of the Freshmen!!!! 】

The new principal’s robust words echoed throughout the auditorium.

A woman, donning a cloak embroidered with redwood trees, climbed onto the podium with an air of confidence.

“…Is that her?”
“The valedictorian? Yes, that’s her. She’s the eldest daughter of the Jinmok Group, you know?”
“But… why is her name like that?”

【 The pride of El Academy’s golden generation! Lee Shiba!! 】

She moved forward with determination. A girl with lime-green hair, leaving her imprint on the red carpet, placed her hand over her heart.

“Pledge.”

A promising candidate. A scholar.

And among them, she was at the top.

This symbolized her place at the topmost rank, among cadets of all grades worldwide.

Shiba’s single word stirred ripples in the surroundings.

His unparalleled beauty, a sight none could match, surely contributed to the stir.

Branches overhead.
Eyes of lucid hues. Malleable cheeks.

Shiba cast a glance around, then exhaled sharply.

“Beep.”

A charming, pulseless sound that emanated from the microphone.

“Everything is abysmal!”

A bombshell dropped from the mouth of the endearing maiden.