Chapter 463 – The Wandering Nightmare (1)

On a day when the moon hung highest in the heavens, silhouetted by a window.

Operators concealed within an abandoned edifice took their places and inspected their equipment. After securing the belt on their black jackets and adjusting the artifact, reminiscent of a transceiver, their preparations neared completion. An operator brought the transceiver to his lips for communication.

– Clang.

“Preparations complete.”
[Once the signal is sent, initiate the operation immediately.]
“Affirmative.”

After concluding the dialogue with the higher-ups, the operator set down the transceiver. The sound of a click, followed by the spreading of radio waves. For the flow of magic to be favorably manipulated, extensive preparations were necessary.

Moments before combat. The operator steeled his nerves. Then, an adjacent operator grumbled to him.

“However, to suddenly reduce our numbers, what could be the rationale?”
“I’m as clueless as you. If I had an inkling, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”

As one operator offered a cigarette, he naturally took it into his mouth. Shortly after, a dense shroud of white mist began to expand pervasively.

“The Prophet, of all people, dictated that everyone except the elite forces capable of immediate extraction should withdraw.”
“Prajna? If we’re to withdraw, is it implying we might taste defeat?”
“If our adversary happens to be the King, such a scenario is plausible.”

The operator who had been chuckling looked out the window after flicking away his cigarette. From a civilian’s perspective, the horizon was unreachable, barely capturing the entrance to the Descanso Gardens.

“Heh, a King? I honestly reckon there’s a bit of bluster there.”

The entity known as King Mokryeong was an imposing name. Having never faced him, how could one gauge his prowess? News did trickle in from China, but they were riddled with unbelievable details, making a tangible understanding of the King’s power elusive.

“Single-handedly dismantling a drug cartel within a few hours… such a tall tale.”
“Is that even pertinent at this moment?”
“Ha, indeed it isn’t.”

At the operator’s remark, he laughed, carelessly grinding his cigarette into the floor, leaving behind a dark tar stain on the cement surface.

“Yes… our lives hold more significance.”

The operator lifted his head. From the corner, a machine flickered with a red light.

– Beep. Beep. Beep.

One. Two. Three. Silently counting, the operator turned his gaze back to the window. A peaceful city devoid of any disturbance. The car horns sounded amusing, and various noises of life intermingled, gently spreading out.

Yet this tranquility was nearing its end.

“Boom.”

Fireworks erupted in the mansion.

– Whooom!

Like beautiful petals in bloom, hot shards spread out, raining down. The transition from people’s laughter to screams was instantaneous.

Los Angeles. The Descanso Gardens. The world’s largest flower garden was about to disappear from history. The black dots descending in a dance were all operators, identical to him.

– Clang.

The armor draped over his body activated in response to the magic.

The agent unsheathed his sword, lifting his head as he muttered into the connected radio.

“I’m going in.”

* * * * * * * * * *

– Tap, tap.

In the obsidian darkness, only the sound of a knock on the door reverberated, a quiet echo. Despite waiting, the door remained closed. Could something have happened? Camellia, eyes closed, gave a slight shudder.

‘…….’

She was still unable to surrender to sleep, her mind plagued by copious worries. Camellia found herself revisiting the words spoken by Camellia the previous night.

– What if… What if the World Tree refuses to bestow its grace?

The World Tree wouldn’t offer aid. It was the worst-case scenario, an unthinkable prospect for a devoted follower of the World Tree.

‘Camellia… Her voice. It trembled significantly.’

It was clear, even without observing her directly, that Camellia’s psyche was disarrayed when uttering those words.

‘Then I… really am.’

She speculated on her future in secret. Camellia felt the urge to cover her face entirely with the bedsheet.

She moved her arm, heaved up the blanket, over her face. Despite her efforts, the only motion she could manage was the slight twitching of her shoulder joint.

– Procrastination.

The entirety of Camellia was encapsulated in her caterpillar-like dawdling. The only difference between her and a bug was that she could neither transform into a butterfly nor a moth. This perpetual procrastination was her lifelong sentence.

‘…Even if I survive this time.’

Because she was a wood nymph. This body had to endure another 200 years. If fortune favored her, perhaps 300 years. With advancing technology, possibly even 400 years.

“Phew.”

Camellia chuckled softly, her laughter scattering droplets of saliva onto her sternum. It was the outcome of a future she desperately denied.

Even without spending time pondering, she was aware the future would soon reveal itself. Camellia suppressed the surge of emotion welling up deep within her.

– Knock, knock.

The sound of the door ringing once again.

– Young Master? “Come in.”

At Camellia’s acquiescence, the door swung open. Soo-yeon entered the room. Fully armed, she stepped into Camellia’s boudoir, a sword at her side.

– Click.

The scabbard struck the belt as the door closed simultaneously. Hearing the sound, Camellia tilted her head slightly to the side.

Soo-yeon’s slender, pale neck immediately caught her eyes.

“What’s the matter?”

Camellia inquired.

“It’s about the additional manpower.”
“…Yes.”
“They’ve decided to arrive first thing tomorrow. However…”

Soo-yeon’s voice faltered, hesitating.

It seemed as if she was struggling to convey something potentially disrespectful. Even without seeing her expression, Camellia could sense that Soo-yeon was likely wearing a pained look.

Perhaps, it was not what she had anticipated.

This could have been the very thing that shattered Melia’s spirit.

Unable to contain herself, Shiba asked.

“Excuse me, may I ask one question?”
“…Yes.”

Lying on the bed, Shiba spoke with ease. After all, she couldn’t escape now.

“Are they coming to protect me… or perhaps…”

-Click.

“Are they coming to kill me?”

A pungent aroma of incense. Soo-yeon hesitated for a while before responding in a voice that seemed to leak out of her.

“I was instructed by the World Tree to harm you.”

Time seemingly froze, then flowed slowly. Shiba’s body jerked slightly.

Ah.
So that’s how it is.

“I did initially refuse. But I don’t have the authority to prevent the one who’ll come next.”

Shiba understood.

“…I see.”

Yet, oddly enough, there was a refreshing feeling welling up inside her. Was it relief at the thought of her coerced life ending? Or was it a sense of absurdity that filled her with energy?

“That… haha… I see… yes… I understand.”

Rambling. Shiba then feigned nonchalance and smiled.

“If the prophecy is correct… my death could change the tide of events. Because they’ll have to capture us all.”

If she were to die with her eyes shut…

“From their perspective, it’s much more advantageous to eliminate me, a weed. They wouldn’t even have to waste manpower.”

Shiba could have become a war hero. She would likely receive the highest praise under the World Tree’s name.

“Since I was nurtured under the World Tree’s benevolence… it’s time to repay… that benevolence.”
“My Lady.”

Shiba’s lips quivered. She drew in a breath to calm herself, her lips dry.

“I apologize. Honestly… I don’t understand the World Tree’s policy.”
“…Don’t say that. Could you, by any chance, bring me a prosthetic leg? And a wheelchair.”
“Yes.”

-Creaking.

Soo-yeon, who brought a wheelchair, prosthetic leg, and prosthetic arm, carefully lifted Shiba. Her body, made light due to the loss of limbs, was chillingly numb.

-Thump.

One on each thigh. She attached limbs that were only shapes, immobilized. Shiba, sitting in the wheelchair, raised her head and murmured in a composed manner.

“Today, there might be an outbreak of events. Melia seemed to be preparing something urgently.”
“…”
“…By any chance, Soo-yeon, does Shiba know about this?”
“No.”
“That’s a relief. Shiba is an extremely innocent soul… Please don’t say a word.”
“Yes.”
“What about Melia?”
“We have not been able to contact her yet.”
“……”

Shiba fell silent. She paused for 30 seconds, then curved the corners of her mouth into a crescent. It was, however, a gloomy crescent.

“Can you kill me right now?”
“…My Lady?”

“No, it’s just… given it’s dawn, the pain might be slightly less. Perhaps my mind will change when I see you later…”
“I… I cannot.”

Kim Soo-yeon chases her own sense of justice. However, up until now, her standards have never contradicted the World Tree’s will. Soo-yeon is currently in a profound conflict.

Camellia spoke as casually as she could.

“You brought the sword.”
“This is-“
“Please tell Shiba that I made it to the fortress safely. Camellia will likely realize it soon enough. So tell her the truth.”

Soo-yeon clenched her eyes shut and unsheathed the sword from her waist. The difference between a life lasting just one more day or not. Perhaps relieving Camellia of her struggles is the better option now that she’s made up her mind.

“You need not worry.”

“From the moment my body turned into this, I was as good as dead.”

No. This situation was incomprehensible.

Why must she die? Because of the damn king? Does a good person have to die over one king?

– Grit.

The sound of metal grinding resounded as Soo-yeon’s sword extended straight and touched her shoulder.

A brief moment to strike at the neck. Tick-tock, in sync with the clock.

– Boom!

The mansion shook.

“!?”

The trembling sword missed Camellia’s neck and fell to the floor. Soo-yeon clutched her pounding chest. What was I trying to do? Her eyes spun in confusion.

“What happened?”

Dongbaek asked, and Soo-yeon replied.

“Perhaps, it’s an ATU. It seems like an attack from the Flower.”
“Now of all times…!”

Camellia, her face twisted in frustration, urgently yelled at Soo-yeon.

“Kill me now and save Shiba…Save Shiba and Camellia, please. I don’t care!”

As her outcry echoed, the surroundings flickered and the windows in the room distorted.

– Clang!

Bang! An arrow flying towards her almost impaled Soo-yeon.

Soo-yeon, raising her sword to deflect the arrow, hurriedly grabbed a wheelchair and pulled it towards her. As her mind cleared, Soo-yeon finally realized what she had been about to do. She had nearly killed Camellia.

– Whoosh!

A massive surge of magical energy. A young boy with blue hair, nonchalantly stepping on sharp shards of glass from the window, turned his head at a right angle.

[Brother.]

His teeth were missing a fang. However, the intimidation displayed by the boy was enough to send a shiver down one’s spine.

[There’s someone here.]

– Tap.

A man sitting cross-legged next to the boy tapped the boy’s temple.

[Let’s kill, let’s kill!]
“We won’t. We’ll secure them. You can kill the one next to him though.”
[Really?]

A brown-haired man wearing a thin mask. A being possessing a similar level of danger to the executive of the Flower, who holds Northern Europe and Germany within his grip.

“…A.B.”

Soo-yeon murmured the man’s name.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

– Crash!

The mansion’s roof descended.

Servant quarters were crumbling. A dying scream erupted.

The wildfire, in no time, had ravaged the entire garden.

The spring garden, once praised even by the gods, had begun to burn its last, ignited by the arsonist.

“Block the entrance- Gah!”

A mercenary’s desperate cry died in one corner.

Combatants within the mansion exerted all their strength, rushing to prevent the intruders, but the outcome remained the same.

– Thump!

A pitiful death, not a scratch on the agent’s armor.

A line of severed heads followed the long stretch of bloodstains on the floor.

Following along, the corridor was strewn with blood-soaked towels.

Chunks of shattered mana stone and steel beams pierced through the broken ceiling.

The floor held traces of blood, smeared along the tiles.

The system, overwhelmed by the swift destruction, was immediately paralyzed.

The worst-case scenario had unfolded in a flash.

But why?

“……”

“Stay still.”

The agents didn’t venture into the mansion, instead maintaining a vigilant perimeter.

– Thud.

Something was approaching.

A man, clad in nothing but a pure white shirt, his eyes devoid of any light, was walking calmly towards them.

“…Shoot?”

“Not yet.”

An agent, about to signal the team, was stunned by the man’s demeanor.

The man’s head turned towards the agent.

As if he knew he had been there from the beginning.

“But I used…stealth.”

“What now?”

“Shoot. Now. Right n-“

– Shatter!

A deafening blast.

The agent’s voice was swallowed by the roar.

The body of his colleague on the right, armor and all, was cleaved in silence.

Seeing this, another agent mumbled in shock.

The traces of crackling energy were unmistakably shot from the edge of the sword.

“…Sword.”

– Thud.

He didn’t feel his head splitting.