Chapter 531 – The Summoning of Sephirot (2)

“Mother. What’s troubling you?”
“…….”

At Wiki’s cautious query, Alba’s hand, which was immersed in a book, paused momentarily before resuming its motion.

“Why do you ask?”
“I perceive a subtle change, just a slight shift from the norm.”

This acute intuition is an innate ability, a gift born from the shared lineage of Lee Si-heon and Alba. Although it’s sporadic, it’s potent enough to discern the inner turmoil of Alba, her mentor and mother.

Feeling upset was inevitable. Regardless, her feelings for Lee Si-heon were genuine, as she herself had come to realize.

“I’ll depart for today. I’m in a rush.”

The words she had spoken to herself,

“There’s no need to hurry.”

The words she had shared with Wiki.

Those words she had heard then were bound to inflict wounds, even upon a sage as wise as herself, despite her awareness of her own misstep.

“Wiki?”

Alba looked down at Wiki, her face expressionless and cold. A chastised Wiki lowered her gaze.

“Ah, I… I apologize for diverting the conversation. You seemed particularly lonely today, propelling my words. I assure you, it won’t happen again.”

Wiki’s apology, methodically detailing reasons, was far beyond the comprehension of an average child. Alba finally softened her expression, soothingly caressing Wiki.

“…It’s alright, Wiki. More importantly, how far have we progressed today?”
“Up to the operational mechanism of the system.”
“We’re close to the finish, aren’t we? You’ve done well. Let’s push forward a bit more.”
“Yes! But… will I be able to do it well?”

To Alba, Wiki, his progeny, was a child so adorably innocent and kind-hearted that her heart would soften simply by observing her.

She wished to shower her with affection for a lifetime, but reality posed challenges.

“Wiki.”

Alba drew Wiki into her embrace. She gently stroked the hesitant Wiki’s head, and Wiki closed her eyes, comforted by the softness of her mother’s bosom. The warmth of a mother’s embrace was unfailingly soothing.

“You can do it.”

Wiki’s latent potential was one of the rarest across all dimensions. She could be considered a worthy adversary for the languid Sephirot.

Despite being only four, she exhibited traits surpassing her own. A fully matured Wiki could achieve the impossible. She was confident of that.

Therefore, Wiki needed to be educated with a strictness beyond the norm. Great power and knowledge were always accompanied by great responsibility. Lee Si-heon might scoff at such a notion, but exceeding limits had its own set of implications.

The sage spoke to Wiki.

“I’m sorry. Always.”
“No, Mother.”

If Wiki were to deviate even slightly, the moment she employs her power and knowledge to fulfill her own desires, she would be irreparably damaged.

The purity and innocence passed down through generations of sages were reversed due to Lee Si-heon’s blood. Unlike previous sages, Wiki, inheriting human genes, was capable of harboring misguided ambitions.

If his proficiency in wielding power and knowledge were to grow, it might unleash a catastrophe greater than the King of Trees he had glimpsed that day.

Even the smallest of sweets should not be dispensed with ease,
A being most akin to Sephirot.

It was a decision dictated by reason.

[Never aspire to become a sage.]

Alba recalled the age-old counsel her mother had once imparted. Her mother had been right.

[Your intellect is luminous, but you will channel that wisdom elsewhere.]

She relinquished her sagehood to nurture a child, even daring to impart wisdom to a child not destined to be a sage, a forbidden act.

“Wiki.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“How did you feel today when Father returned home injured?”
“…It hurt, hurt immensely.”

From the sage’s perspective, the only entity capable of rendering the world whole was Wiki.

“So, I must learn more swiftly from Mother.”

A resolute will flickered in Wiki’s eyes. Wiki’s ambition intertwines with her affection for her father. Such a sentiment is acceptable, as it fuels motivation. The essential point being that one must not be consumed by greed for wealth or power.

‘……’

Lee Si-heon resisted the idea. Treating Wiki merely as a means to an end was tantamount to his own rebellion.

To ensure no mishaps, the plan should not be shared. Wiki also wished for this.

“I apologize for my forcefulness.”

In three years, Alba had softened greatly. She had spent considerable time with her lover, Lee Si-heon, but the major factor was undoubtedly the presence of her daughter, Wiki.

She had endured a century of solitude. She was weary from the sorrow of losing someone precious.

She could not bear to lose her most beloved daughter as well. If Wiki’s discipline deviated even slightly… she would be exposed to Sephirot, lured and consumed by a single instance of greed. Wiki must never perish. She must ascend.

To Sephirot and the Origin, and the existence beyond them.

Originally, it was a realm that Alba herself should have sought. After the birth of Wiki, she resolved to spend her years elevating Wiki to that position. It was also a way to keep Wiki alive. It didn’t deviate much from her plan.

“Yes.”

Wiki understood her destiny well.

At first, she didn’t fully comprehend, but as they grew to understand each other’s circumstances, she came to a natural realization. Wiki, with her sagacity akin to a sage, understood that she was the fitting candidate for the ‘Origin.’

“Mother, it’s harsh, but I understand.”
“……”

A ripple of disturbance etched itself into Alba’s eyes.

“But, can’t you get along better with Father?”
“Wiki.”
“You’ve done something to incur Father’s displeasure again.”

Wiki’s gaze was far-reaching. Facilitating contact between the King and Shiba. The King, after all, cannot kill Shiba. Instead, it would eventually ensnare him, leading to his downfall.

“Tell me what you’ve come to understand, Wiki.”

“Mother’s stratagem is to summon the Yellow Sister here, then introduce her to the King of Trials, isn’t it?”
“Why?”
“The King is beyond Father’s ability to kill. In a protracted battle, Father is the inevitable loser. The greatest weakness of those once human is their emotions. That is the vulnerability she seeks to exploit.”

Of late, Cornus has grown suspicious of the Sage.
Should the Sage call upon Lee Si-heon, Cornus will without a doubt bare her true colors.

“Moreover, Yellow Sister can be utilized in the subjugation tactics with Father. Just as Father’s power has a certain compatibility with the King’s, her power also proves a fitting match against the King. That’s why I’ve provided the Yellow Sister with information about Father.”
“…You’re correct.”

Wiki comprehended every nuance.
Even those that lay beyond the obvious.

“In the end, all this relies heavily on Father’s patience.”

Shiba was being used as a tool in the King’s subjugation.
This might have been an efficient strategy when all emotions were excluded, but for Lee Si-heon, it was not the case.

Why had he renounced everything to form an alliance with the Crown?
The answer was simple. For his daughter and his lovers.

Alba’s actions seemed nothing less than an attempt to shatter Lee Si-heon’s resolve.

And as Lee Si-heon’s patience began to wear thin,
It felt akin to Wiki’s own dwindling tolerance.

“……”

It was not Wiki’s desire for her parents to drift apart.
If this deficiency took hold of Wiki, it could skew the disposition that Alba had so cautiously guarded against.
In the end, Alba had created another unsettling factor.

Knowing this,
The Sage had judged this to be the only viable course of action.

Wiki respected her mother’s intentions, but could not fully understand them.
Wiki, intelligent yet with a heart still so young.

“Mother, I exist.”
“Say no more.”

Unless it was before her father, raw emotions were to be kept under wraps.
In accordance with the Sage’s teachings, Wiki held her tongue.

Wiki was a child who couldn’t even properly express her love.
Even though she understood love, she could not convey it. That truth was heartrending.

“I know everything.”

Alba was the Sage.
She knew far too much.

Each moment had been a gamble for her, and so far, she had triumphed.

Rather, to forget everything and innocently cherish someone, that was the wish she harbored.
But that could not be.

“I apologize.”

Wiki closed her eyes, her face etched with melancholy.

Would this gamble pay off?
Would Father’s patience endure?

If Father were to betray Mother…

‘….’

Wiki swallowed the emotions that surged within her,
Just as her mother had advised.

Personal feelings were not to be revealed to anyone other than Father.

Even in the solitude of her own presence.

* * * * * * * * * * *

To some degree, I comprehend.

Explaining facts known solely to oneself, who could possibly understand?

Alba was hesitant to disclose her plans to me. Evidently, her plot included actions that would likely irk me.

‘As long as the outcome is favorable, it’s considered a success.’

Understanding is difficult when one’s knowledge is no greater than that of a sage.

Shall I provide an example? If I were to claim knowledge of next month’s lottery numbers, could I possibly convince someone that these numbers are indeed the winning ones? Clearly, it is impossible until the results are revealed.

This simple matter has grown significantly more complex. It’s a conclusion arrived at after comprehending countless inexplicable logics, causes, and risky actions. Until the results are seen, I cannot comprehend the sage.

As the sage herself is not without flaws, I harbor doubts about her in my heart, and I fear taking risks.

To pacify me, the sage has always affirmed,

“…I am not your adversary.”

Consistently.

‘I have committed similar deeds in the past.’

I executed an inexplicable plan, and although the result was favorable… I betrayed my lovers.

“Hmm.”

These thoughts weaken me once again. Regaining my senses, I open a dimensional rift.

Eden, having arrived using a gap previously created by Marronnier, appears unchanged.

– Pat, pat, pat!

A small child is toddling over from a distance.

“Tree, hi!”

It’s Sephirot.

Initially, she seemed purely adorable, but now that I know the truth, her appearance is somewhat unsettling. The realization that those innocent eyes could have been the cause of tens of millions of deaths is chilling.

“What brought you here, Sephi?”
“Blanche is lonely~ Give me a hug first!”
“Blanche?”

Regardless of the core issue, Sephirot has been a close confidant since the olden times. Even the sage, who once wore an iron mask, was taken aback by my friendship with Sephirot.

A little girl with hair sweeping the floor like Rapunzel. Sephirot cuddled against me and gently placed her buttocks on my arm.

There’s something in Sephirot’s hand.

“What’s that?”
“Blanche!”

Is this Blanche?

Upon closer inspection, it turns out to be a piece of cloth. A depiction of a blue cat shedding tears. It’s a pair of panties, slightly stained.

“Blanche’s panties!”
“Oh… Why are you holding these?”
“I’m giving them to Tree.”
“Ah, I’ll receive them gratefully.”

Even without bringing it to my nose, a faint scent of soft vanilla emanates from the slightly damp spot.

– Tap, tap, tap!

“Sephirit, please! Please give it to me!”

Just then, Marronnier who had come in, stretched out her arm towards Sephirot and screamed.
Perhaps unaware of my presence, our Bam, who emerged in a fluster.

“My panties-“

Upon seeing me, she freezes.

“…Mon Cheri?”
“Ah, hello.”

She freezes, as if her soul had left her body, upon seeing the panties that both Sephirot and I were holding.
Like a piece of rice cake left next to the refrigerator for 24 hours, she had hardened and showed no signs of movement.

Marronnier’s lower half, which I hadn’t seen in a long time, was clad only in underwear.
Her top was simply a white shirt.

Her underwear was designed with a see-through section at the crotch, and a zipper for easy access.
Brand new underwear, with the tag still intact.

“……”

Marronnier, her face flushing a deep red, let out a scream.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”