Chapter 524 – Resentment (4)

In this twisted paradise, the homeland of the World Tree, it regularly rains infused with magical energy.

From the blood-red downpours,
to the occasional pure green fox rain.

This rain is so abundant in magical power that it easily fills the energy reserves of most trees. However, even this is insufficient to replenish the punctured reservoir of the great king.

-Shuaaaaaa!

Rainwater pools on the dirt road, seeping into the man’s feet.

As the wet soles of his feet swell and burst, the animals gathered nearby scatter in fear of the rain.

“…”

The king clenches his unresponsive hands and repeatedly blinks his eyes, which are on the verge of losing their sight.

The unknown World Tree, which had yielded its place to the king, asks him in a voice filled with terror:

【When do you plan to leave?】

As of today, it has already been a month.

The king sat on a rock, motionless.
He never touched any food, as if he felt no hunger, and never lost consciousness, as if sleep was unnecessary.

“Not yet.”

The king replied in a dry voice.

【Are you trying to recover your power?】
“Yes.”

Recovering strength takes time.
No one knows whether it will take a day or a year.

The king clenched his fist, letting the falling rain drench his head.
Rainwater trickled down his slender jawline.

His life force flowed like a dragon showing defiance, but if one must describe his appearance, it could never be deemed repulsive, even considering his battered body.
Even with a demonic form far removed from humanity, he was an irresistibly captivating man.

【I understand you came to this world through King Mokryeong’s trial.】
“…”

【But, I see a purpose in you. It’s not merely a trial; it’s even more dangerous than the original king-】

The World Tree quivered with fear as it asked him.

【What are you doing all this for… Are you gathering power?】

Even the unthinking king could not easily dismiss the question.

“For what…”

The king closed his eyes.
A child’s doll appeared before him, but he feigned composure as he spoke.

“There’s no need for you to know.”
【……】

The king carefully caressed the large confetti necklace draped over his shoulder.

The precious child flickering before his eyes was his one and only offspring.

– Beep?

‘Shiba…’

He could hear his child’s habitual speech.
His adorable child, with fluffy, light green hair carrying a fresh scent, always smiling brightly, and striving never to fall from his embrace.

Although he was often a crybaby and prone to childish antics,
upon realizing, he was a more dignified and self-assured child than anyone else.

Shiba,
she was the treasure that had always embraced him, and the very purpose of this lengthy journey.

‘If only I could turn everything back.’

Bark falls from the king’s jaw. Dark gray, withered husks seep into the ground, fertilizing the soil.

A chilling aura emanates from near the king’s shoulder.

Could it be because he’s recalling his deceased daughter?
The magical energy, vibrating solely with the emotional fluctuations, created a noise that spread far and wide.

【Do you truly… intend to destroy this world?】

The World Tree burned with quiet animosity, but there was nothing she could do.
For now, she was indebted to the king, who had risked his life to treat her.

– Tick.

As the king flicked his hand nervously, the World Tree tensed up.

The World Tree closed its mouth in humiliation, and the king closed his eyes once more.

‘…’

Shiba.

Could she exist in this world? All the shattered dimensions so far had been worlds where Shiba was dead. In this relatively intact place, there was a possibility she might still be alive.

‘If only once…’

How wonderful it would be to see her face.

The king had never let Shiba slip from his embrace.

Not even when Shiba almost perished due to the World Tree of Resentment’s ploy. Nor when he faced a single decisive battle with the World Tree of Justice. He never let go of Shiba, and ultimately, she died in his arms.

“Pah! Bee-hee-hee.”

“Dad?”

“Are you hurting?”

“Dad, don’t be in pain… Pieng…”

The lingering attachment to the past was enough to make him reflect on his once resolute heart.

-Startled.

For the first time in a month, the unmoving king stirred.

【 Where are you going? 】

The silent king.

The hem of his sodden gray robe trailed behind him with each step.

* * * * * * * * *

– Whiik!

Shiba’s nimble body dashed forward, tracing a half-moon arc in the air. The longsword, swung with a powerful rotation, struck Suyu’s armor with a blunt thud.

– Kang!

Ishiba, in the midst of a tempestuous growth.

Perhaps it was his resemblance to his father that allowed him to seamlessly integrate Cornus’ swordsmanship, wielded by Suyu, into his own body.

Initially, he had some leeway when facing Sansuyu; but lately, he had been toying with Suyu, who refrained from using magical powers.

“Not bad,” Suyu remarked, wearing a helmet and responding to Shiba’s movements.

“…Hmph!”

Nevertheless, the disparity persists.

Though it’s not to the extent of being incapable of landing an effective blow, it falls short of delivering a fatal strike. Shiba, invigorated, retreated and accelerated rapidly.

Lowering her center of gravity to the point where her chin nearly touched the ground, Shiba increased her speed and reached Sansuyu’s embrace in an instant.

– Whoosh!

A velocity capable of generating a sonic boom. Her gray magical power entwined around her arm, the sword, transcending the singularity, cleaved through space. A phenomenon commonly seen in swordsmen with an S-class Hunter certification.

Shiba’s body, having attained unity with her weapon, aimed for Sansuyu’s life like a swift arrow.

“!”

Astonishment flickered across Sansuyu’s pupils.

– Flinch!

Streams of sword energy poured forth. Shiba’s subsequent surge of fighting spirit engulfed Sansuyu completely, and her blade pierced Sansuyu’s chest.

– Thud!

A moment where the slightest difference threatened life itself. Considering this was merely training, Shiba’s display of aggression bordered on discourtesy.

Sansuyu managed to overpower Shiba by unleashing a surge of mana for a brief moment.

“Pip?!”

Landing a blow to Shiba’s vulnerable spot, who had been certain of her victory.

– Bahak!

“Byeah!?”

Shiba, emitting a peculiar and adorable sound, collapsed gracelessly onto the floor.

“Bip! Where did using magic come from?!”
“An accident…”
“Bip!”

Nonetheless, it marked significant progress.

After the training session, Sansuyu handed Shiba a towel. They spent the day wiping away sweat and exchanging awkward glances, which had become a customary part of their routine.

“……”
“……”

During training, the rising heat made conversation easy. However, not a single word was exchanged as they cooled down their heated bodies.

As Shiba wiped the perspiration from her nape, she suddenly recalled one of her quests.

The Path of the Insider:
A simple quest, requiring one to make three friends.

The criterion is met if two people consider each other friends, and at present, Shiba has only one friend.
Even that friend had been kidnapped…
Camellia was her sole friend.

‘Should I try striking up a conversation?’

Shiba removed her armor and asked the hunter who had tucked her arm into her chest.

“So, how did the raid go?”
“It didn’t go well.”

A terse response followed immediately. This made it awkward to continue the conversation. There should be a subsequent sentence to provide a proper response or lead further.

But she had thought they’d grown closer during their training. Was it only her who felt that way?

“Be careful.”
“…!”

Shiba tensed up and vigorously shook her head at Sansuyu’s words.

“Ah, did I ask something sensitive?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Huh?”
“Watch your back.”
“…!!!”

The warning was doubly frightening as it came from a typically cool and expressionless hunter. Instantly, Shiba crouched down like a small sprout.

The “hunter” cocked his head upon seeing Shiba like that and took a step closer to her.

“Do you have something to say?”
“Uh, no, nothing.”
“Liar.”

Sansuyu set down the towel and sword, then approached Shiba.

“But, what you just said is true.”
“Beep…”
“Shiba, someone has their sights on you.”

There’s someone targeting her.
Could it be that the ‘hunter’ is attempting to convey a different truth?
Shiba swallowed nervously.

“Someone’s targeting me…?”
“Yes. Quite a few are after you.”
“Why?”
“Well…”

Sansuyu, having spoken, rested her chin on her hand and feigned deep thought.
Then, with a rather charming smile,

“Is it because our Shiba is incredibly adorable?”
“?”

From Shiba’s perspective, it was an incomprehensible statement.
They were targeting her because she was cute?
What a frightening thought. Anxiety began to creep in.

“Besides that, it seems like you have some concerns.”
“Ah…”

“Will you tell me?”

At Sansuyu’s words, Shiba closed her mouth tight.
Worries.
Naturally, it was about the quest she was undertaking.

After Sansuyu’s insistent question, she slowly leaned her face toward Shiba. Unable to bear it any longer, Shiba opened up about her concerns.

“Friends?”
“…Yes.”
“Do you not have any friends?”
“Beep, it’s not that I don’t have any…! Just, well… you know, a genuine friend. Beep! Rather than a friend like beep, I’d say I want a friend like bee~p.”
“Hmm… Bee~p?”

This time, it was Sansuyu’s turn to raise a question mark.
Beep! What kind of friend is that, and what kind of friend is bee~p?

“Anyway, you want to make close friends, right?”
“Yes. Do you have any… advice?”

Sansuyu smiled and nodded her head.

“If you have a power struggle, you become very close.”
“Power struggle…?”
“It’s a match with swords. And, perfectly mimic the opponent’s technique.”

Perfectly imitate the opponent’s skills?

“Then the other person will be interested.”
“…Ah?”

Although I didn’t quite understand, the ‘Hunter’ who usually has many people clinging to her, is probably right. Aren’t there only a few people in the Hunter world who know her better than she knows herself? The ‘Hunter’ on TV was friendly with people and often displayed an insider-like demeanor.

“Beep. I’ll give it a try.”
“Yep, I became close with that yellow-haired guy the same way.”
“Did we become close…? Like that?”

Has the ‘Hunter’ ever been close to Byul? After visiting the tower, Byul has been drinking a lot lately. My memory of seeing her face has become hazy as I’ve been increasingly busy these days.

Shiba, who absentmindedly nodded her head, opened her eyes wide as she glanced back at both Cornus and Byul simultaneously. There was a question that had been lingering for a long time.

“By the way, who’s stronger, Auntie or the Hunter?”
“…Hmm, maybe me?”

A somewhat uncertain answer.

“Maybe? So you’re saying Auntie Byul is weak?”

Sansuyu shook her head at Shiba’s ongoing words.

“I don’t know because I’ve never truly fought before…”

Sansuyu pursed her lips.

“He’s incredibly strong.”

* * * * * * * * * *

The trial was in motion.

The ‘Demon of Trials’, which first revealed itself in the dimension, was moving toward a specific location that was easy to pinpoint.

Extracting vast amounts of data,
several potential destinations were deduced based on the king’s movements.

Among them, a place near Azalea’s house.
Byul, twirling daggers in both hands, let out a coarse curse.

“Damn it, those things.”

All sorts of sinister speculation surged from her body.

The monstrous figure draped in a black robe, traversing the shadow-drenched alley, arrived before the star.