Chapter 529 – Lost for Words?

Traversing the boundary of dimensions, he returns to the realm of the World Tree.

【 What? 】

The World Tree showed its shock as it beheld the battered state of the king.

This was because he, who had been formidable enough to suppress the Forest Keeper without a scratch, now returned beaten and bruised.

【 Who could have inflicted such wounds…. Is there such a being in the present world? 】

“Who permitted you to speak?”

【 …… 】

Silenced by his brutal tone, the World Tree clamped its mouth shut. The king slumped, his body sagging to the ground. A piece of wood that had been growing on his body fell with a thud.

‘Such a great loss.’

Even his crown, already fractured, was now partly broken. It was his own folly to have hastened the invasion due to Shiba’s existence. He had vowed never to be swayed by petty emotions again, but now he had to find a way to heal his wounded body.

But not all was lost. The image of the World Tree entered his line of sight.

【 What are you thinking…? 】

The World Tree quivered.

She too was a female. Once caught in the king’s gaze, she couldn’t help but worry about the future.

Being held captive by the king, she couldn’t even seek help. Regardless of his injuries, killing a defenseless World Tree was no challenge.

The king settled down by a rock, dropping his gaze. His limbs were intact, but his insides were far from it. As he closed his weary eyes, stroking the sparsely grown field, a figure approached him.

【 Who are you…? 】

The World Tree was the first to react with surprise.

Translucent white hair. The elegant dress, reminiscent of nobility, was a sight the king was all too familiar with.

“Sorceress.”

Alba, who halted at his harsh voice, let out a bitter laugh.

“Do you know anything about me?”

“How could I not? You were the one who betrayed me, pushed me to the brink of death.”

At first glance, the king seemed nonchalant, but a silent rage simmered beneath his calm exterior.

“Betrayal… I’m not familiar with that tale.”

“And what changes if you don’t know?”

“I’m unaware of the future events but-“

“Again, you’re playing with words.”

-Krik. Krik?

In response to his emotions, the king’s tentacles sprung forth from his shoulders. The ‘branch’ that reached the sorceress’s eyes in an instant. Despite the sharp horn coming perilously close to her eye, the sorceress didn’t even blink.

“The fact that you’ve stirred from your comfortable perch suggests you’re after something else.”

The king whispered, his eyelids shutting. His gaze pierced through the sorceress, reading her like an open book. His demeanor, refined over time, was that of a dignitary.

Impenetrable and adept at concealing his motives. He possessed the inborn audacity of a gambler. One could only imagine the despair and hardship he’d endured in honing this cunning.

In eyes brimming with suspicion, the king contemplated how to manipulate her, already resembling a prominent magnate. The sage, on the other hand, proffered a somewhat sorrowful smile.

“So, what do you desire? Are you intending to kill me right here?”
“How could I? How could I possibly kill you?”

The sage, placing an index finger on her upper lip, emitted a soft sneeze.

“Shiba.”

At the utterance of the name from the sage’s lips.

– Kihik?!

Fanng!

Seven tendrils attempted to penetrate her body.

– Kigig, Kigig!

A semi-transparent barrier thwarted the attack. The ‘tendrils’ and the sage’s barrier clashed, producing a bizarre sound. It was as though a welding process was underway, with fiery red sparks scattering from the point of contact.

“Attempt to utter that name again. I can finely grind your four years down instantly.”
“…….”

In response to the king’s warning, the sage maintained her impassive countenance.

“You are under a misapprehension. You.”
“Well, would you understand if my daughter’s death was due to your future four years?”
“…….”
“Let me give you another piece of advice. Your four-year plan will dissolve into froth. You’ll lose your emotions and be reduced to a mere shell, only to be consumed by Sephirot.”
“…Truly.”
“Sage, your problem is that you regard everything around you as simple chess pieces. Whether it’s a man, a king, or a flower. Do you know what I’ve regretted the most until I became this wretch?”

– Crunch.

The teeth on the king’s cheek clicked and shattered.

“Trusting you and my subjects.”
“…….”

It was a series of betrayals.

When they were no longer needed, they were discarded, kicked, and made to lie prostrate. When the elixir to resurrect Shiba shattered and vanished from the sage’s hands, he found a reason to liberate his rationality without restraint.

Just one thing,
I wished my daughter had survived.

Even his betrayal of purity, siding with the sage.
Even the beheading of the pitiful saint.
He became a villain for that. He was able to retain his sanity even while cutting down innocent civilians.

But what value does a world hold without my child?
The actions intended to protect Shiba only resulted in Shiba’s demise….
And the main culprit was the woman standing before the king at this very moment.

“Weren’t you driven to act today to see your daughter?”

The sage continued her narrative, disregarding all of the king’s words. The king furrowed his brows. What other sugar-coated falsehoods was this woman spewing?

“I can arrange for you to meet her. If it’s what you wish for.”

Ha.

The king’s eyes narrowed into sharp slits.

“Damn you.”

* * * * * * * * * *

My heart feels as though it will shatter.

“…Sob, sob, hick.”

Our fragile Wiki was sobbing, her head thrown back.
Her hands, as small as sunflowers, trembling.

“Why, why are you injured?” Wiki asked, her voice trembling.

“I’m fine, Wiki,” I reassured her. “Really.”

She whimpered in response, her small hands fluttering over my wounds as she desperately tried to summon her magic. Tears streamed down her face, her words stuttering as she struggled to concentrate.

“I promise, it’s okay,” I insisted. “See? It doesn’t hurt at all. I’m already feeling better.”

In response to the overpowering scent of blood and my attempt to push her away, Wiki struck my wrist. Her white nightgown was stained with my blood, the once pristine fabric now marred. She nestled into my chest, her hands exploring my injuries as she poured her magic into me.

It was a high-level healing spell, but even with such power, it was unlikely to fully heal wounds that wouldn’t naturally mend.

She whimpered again, her small hands clenched tightly as she fought back sobs. Whether she was trying to hold back her tears or she had been taught not to show her emotions, I didn’t know. Either way, she stroked my body gently, trying to soothe my pain. Her efforts only seemed to increase her frustration, and she began to hiccup as she pounded her small fists against my chest.

“Why, why do you always get hurt?” she sobbed. Her words were interrupted by her choked cries, and I could tell that she was struggling to breathe.

Although Wiki knew about my circumstances, it was clear that she couldn’t bear to see me in pain. The sight of my injuries seemed to pale her face further.

“I’m okay,” I repeated, but she shook her head.

“No, you’re not,” she argued, her voice growing louder. “Why won’t you tell me when you’re in pain?”

I sighed, using the last of my magic to clean myself up as much as I could and cover the wounds with my clothes.

“Wiki,” I said gently, “you understand what I do, right?”

She nodded in response.

“Are you scared that I’ll leave?” I asked her, and she nodded again, her head bobbing faster this time.

“I’m not in pain anymore,” I assured her. “I’m the strongest person in this world.” I attempted to soothe her, patting her on the bottom gently. I wiped the runny nose from her face and pinched her cheek lightly, and her breath seemed to steady. Still, the hiccups remained.

“Where’s Mom?” she asked.

“She’s out,” I replied. It seemed to surprise her, but then again, I’d returned home half-dead. It must have been traumatic for her.

‘I wonder if this too was orchestrated by the sage,’ I thought to myself. Could it be that the sage deliberately didn’t assign Wiki any tasks to traumatize her with the memories of me?

As soon as you start doubting, there’s no end to it. I had to find out about the sage’s true intentions, even if it meant resorting to force.

As I sighed in frustration, the blackout curtain at the door of Heaven’s room was drawn, revealing my master.

“Ah, Master,” I greeted.

“Hold on. Your body…” Heaven began, her voice quiet but composed. Even though she seemed just as surprised as Wiki, she managed to maintain her calm.

“I am the one who’s spinning, which you should be accustomed to…” Although her countenance bore traces of discomfort, Cheondo swiftly embodied the reassuring visage of a seasoned mentor.

“How did we end up in this situation?”

“Even with the passage of time… it remains unchanged.”

“Ah, but it seems you’re now able to walk?”

Once confined to her bed, Cheondo was now able to venture beyond the room. Her rehabilitation appeared to be progressing steadily, a sight that once again stirred gratitude towards the sage in my heart.

I wished only for consistency in her demeanor.

“Your blood is flowing. Come here.”

“The bandages are fine. Blood, after all, continues to regenerate… We need to expel the stagnant blood, having depleted much of our magic energy.”

“Isn’t Wiki watching?”

“Ah….”

Indeed, it was a dilemma to bleed continuously in front of our child.

“Then, I shall rely on your aid.”

Together with my mentor and Wiki, I entered the room to receive traditional treatment.

“Come forth.”

I wound the bandage and ingested the medicine. After hurriedly gulping down the potion, there was hardly any visible sign of injury. Cheondo’s eyebrows furrowed in a melancholic gesture as she placed the bandage in the vacant slot of the first aid box.

“You always manage to unsettle my heart.”

Cheondo’s gentle hand lightly clutched my wrist. Her soft hand, devoid of calluses after a three-year respite… It seemed as if I could touch it for eternity without ever growing weary.

“You’ve sustained severe internal injuries. Who was your adversary?”

“It was me.”

“What?”

“To be precise, it was another version of me. I was summoned from the King’s Trial, twenty years in the future.”

“That’s more astonishing than anticipated.”

“Yes.”

I avoided mentioning the conflict with the sage as much as possible. I removed my clothes and hung them nearby, baring my upper body completely. A thrilling sensation surged when Cheondo’s hand brushed against my chest.

“…Twenty years from now, an unimaginable epoch.”

“By then, I wonder if you would harbor some affection for me.”

“Isn’t it a given that I am fond of you even now?”

Despite knowing that wasn’t the intended implication, I unknowingly attempted to hasten my pace, but the sensation in my leg deterred me from continuing my sentence. Wiki was still clutching my leg. Perhaps due to her excessive crying, she was nodding off to sleep. It seemed a characteristic of young children to fall asleep after a bout of crying.

“Where was the battle situated?”

“Seoul.”

“…Was it a catastrophe? It could have been an opportunity to significantly weaken the power of the Hunter Association and the World Tree.”

With just fragmentary information, Cheondo was able to surmise the situation roughly.

“I had no choice as someone precious resided there.”

“That’s just like you.”

“I could even endure such a situation for your sake.”

“You should take care of yourself better. I don’t want to witness you getting hurt.”

After wiping the blood clot with a tissue, Cheondo struck my chest.

“It’s over. Will you depart? Or would you like to share a cup of tea?”

“I cherish our tea sessions the most… But I’ll decline this time.”

Cheondo’s lips protruded in a pout, appearing aggrieved. My mentor is truly adorable.

Battling the surge of nausea and pain, I managed to muster a bitter smile.

“I have someone awaiting my return.”

* * *　* * * * *

A white dress fluttered and skimmed the doorway, slipping gracefully through the gap. A man, his form drenched in blood, sat on the bed, his uniform stained crimson. Blood continued to seep from the bandages binding his body. The eyes of the woman entering the room narrowed in sorrow.

“You. When-“
“Alba.”

Should I press her now?
No, there is no need to rush.

The King of Trees is also on the brink of death; it would be acceptable to put pressure on him after calming his body.

Alba, upon seeing Siheon, closed her eyes, then opened them, as if bracing her heart for what was to come. What she was going to say, and how she would respond. Alba had evaded Lee Si-heon’s inquiries thus far with a litany of excuses, and would likely continue to shirk from providing a direct response to this matter.

Siheon shrugged.

Nothing to say at all?

It was the question the sage anticipated, the words Lee Si-heon should have spoken.

Yet, the words that escaped Lee Si-heon’s lips were quite different.

“Sister, I have arrived.”

The sage was taken aback when met with silence.

“…Today was somewhat overwhelming.”

At those words that quickened her heartbeat, the sage firmly pressed her parched lips together.