Chapter 597 – A Tale of Kings (1)

Within Jung Si-woo’s consciousness, a colossal tree had grown, one vast enough to envelop an entire planet. As golden leaves fluttered down, a vision of a blonde woman filled his mind if he merely gazed upon it. The World Tree of Justice, the most righteous entity in the world.

【 Jung Si-woo. 】

“Yes.”

His silver hair swept back, he responded softly.

“Grant me a bit more time.”

Frankly, he had anticipated confrontation from every angle. Yet, he hadn’t expected to encounter this so soon. Si-woo, who had earned the title of Warrior, was momentarily stunned, but he was left with no choice but to make an immediate decision.

‘Why?’

A hand mirror, barely fitting in one hand. It allowed glimpses into dimensional rifts, and the higher the entity one sought to observe, the greater the force it demanded. But the power of the mirror was confined to the realm of the World Trees, and in the realm of humans, it had the disadvantage of offering no vision beyond the sanctuary.

‘Why?’

In that mirror, Jung Si-woo saw a man.

The King of Trees, a being currently referred to as the greatest catastrophe. Si-woo’s hands trembled at the sight, a mirror image of what could be Lee Si-heon’s future. Doubt clouded his vision upon the first gaze, but no matter how much he tried to clear his sight, the man’s visage remained unchanged.

“… World Tree, you’ve always been privy to secrets unknown to me.”

Jung Si-woo murmured within the recesses of his consciousness.

“So, do you know the relationship between this man and Lee Si-heon?”

The World Tree of Justice remained silent.

“Are you, at some point in time, planning to separate me from my friend?”

Again, no answer was forthcoming.

Jung Si-woo could only interpret the emotions conveyed by the World Tree through their delicate connection, and react accordingly.

“Huff, well, I understand.”

He had already journeyed far. Jung Si-woo placed his hand on his sacred sword. After performing a ritual of dedicating his heart to his chest, he released the breath he had collected. After what seemed like countless sighs, he emerged from his state of consciousness, staggering to rise beneath a waterfall cascading with holy water.

“Did you meet with the deity satisfactorily?”

Isabella, who was scattering flowers upon the still holy water, asked Si-woo.

“…When did you get here?”

“From the moment you first sat here. Now, get dressed.”

“Occasionally, I wonder… why are you so kind to me?”

The Bishop of the World Tree of Prosperity. Now, it is Isabella who is searching for a successor with Lee Si-heon. Despite her nun’s robes becoming soaked, she took Jung Si-woo’s hand and pulled him up.

“Do you help others because there’s a reason? My role is merely the prosperity of the church.”

The prosperity of the church, but that wasn’t it. They were skirting around the notion of church reform.

Jung Si-woo chuckled awkwardly, while Isabella concealed her smile. If there was anyone present who understood the implications of those words, they would have excommunicated Isabella instantly.

“Thank you, always.”

“It’s nothing.”

Jung Si-woo, with a shy smile, changed his attire.
The covert tension between them was akin to a bud, ready to burst open. But when?

“Subjugation?”
“It’s imminent.”

Naturally, the words uttered by Jung Si-woo—distinct from sentiments of love—would undoubtedly reach the ears of Lee Si-heon.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Shiba, arrayed in a miniskirt, was devastatingly adorable and attractive.

“Beep!”

Her verdant hair, radiant with sunlight, sparkled brilliantly.
Her round eyes were vibrant and luminous, visibly reflecting the affection she received.

Shiba, clutching the newly released Galaxy T (Tree) Flip in her hand, scanned her surroundings at the subway entrance. Spotting the king, she hopped on the spot in excitement.

“Mister! It’s been ages!”

Before he could formulate a response, Shiba dashed to his side.
She took hold of the King’s hands, swinging them about as she laughed cheerfully.

“I apologize for the delay.”
“Peehee~ I thought you had cut me off again…”
“Cut off? What do you mean?”
“Well, it means to sever ties.”
“I see…”
“You probably don’t know because you’re not from the MT generation. Peehee.”

MT.
Not the kind that college students attend.
Millennium Tree Generation. A term gaining popularity among the middle-aged, denoting a desperate attempt to appear youthful by chasing fleeting trends.

Of course, the King wouldn’t be familiar with such parlance.
He had long forgotten trivial everyday knowledge.

“What have you been up to? You seem different.”

The King hesitated momentarily at Shiba’s inquiry, then replied evasively.

“Searching for a job. Found a place to stay.”
“Really?”

If that were the case, she could surely understand. There’s nothing more crucial to a homeless person than a new beginning.
Shiba felt the bitterness of their lost connection being washed away.

“How did it go?”
“…It went well.”
“Beep! That’s a relief!”

Innocent and radiant—

Shiba’s pure smile made the King’s lips twitch. Despite growing up fatherless, how had she blossomed so beautifully?
The King found a sense of nostalgia in Shiba’s presence.
A longing for his own daughter he’d lost long ago.
Seeing Shiba, the survivor, he felt a peculiar sense of despair.
Compared to himself in this world, he felt profoundly insignificant.

“….”
“Mister?”
“No, it’s nothing. What are we doing today?”
“Well, we have a lot of stories piled up. Let’s go to our café.”
“Alright.”

This time, it’s my treat.
A phrase that nearly slipped from his cracked lips.
The King shut his mouth once more and closed his eyes.

Entering the café, Shiba prattled on about her friend.
About the personality and antics of her new friend Bam.
About the whole day she spent at an amusement park with that fellow named Bam.

Lately, there’s something peculiar about her mother’s demeanor.

Although Shiba’s words were a puzzle, upon seeing her smile, he felt the need to feign comprehension. The king managed a chuckle.

“It seems your mother and aunt hold a profound affection for you.”

“Hmm… At times, it seems rather overwhelming. They even resort to threatening the children at the academy.”

No, she needs more protection than she realizes. The world has yet to stretch its grasp towards her.

A bitter smile crept onto the king’s face. Whenever he saw the lively Shiba, a thought would surface, filling his mind with unease.

‘What if…’

If I were to claim to be her father, to usurp that position by revealing the truth here, what then? As this fleeting thought passed, the king came to a decision and shook his head.

‘…No.’

Becoming the father of this child, I have already strayed too far on a divergent path. Take a look at me now. My hands are so large that even lifting a small coffee cup demands careful consideration. Each bitter drop that passes my lips tastes of regret.

I may not show it, but I am a monster. A catastrophe as the world perceives, a menace that will be vanquished one day. Nevertheless, in a perverse irony, I yearn for a fleeting moment as a father, to behold my daughter’s face a little while longer.

‘Surely, I must…’

Must I kill this child? Is this the purpose of the power I’ve gathered?

【Fulfill the contract.】

The king recalled a voice he once heard.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The pursuit of an S-class hunter is a harrowing ordeal that sends shivers down one’s spine.

“Push them back! Kill or not, I don’t care! Catch them, no matter what it takes!”
“…Damn!”

Despite the king’s formidable power, the World Tree’s response was swift. He hadn’t yet acquired the strength to topple an S-class. Lee Si-heon, in a state of urgency, infused magic into the artifact he hastily produced.

A modest magic generator, encapsulating the intricacies of spatial magic. Incomplete due to inadequate skill, its success rate is a mere fifty percent.

-Clink-

He prayed in silence, but alas, it failed. As the light of the rose-colored stone in his grasp faded, he felt the light of life dimming in tandem.

“Damn it!”

A gust of wind magic severed his forearm. A searing pain surged, and his brow furrowed. Si-heon, lying prone, grimaced as he clutched his wounded arm.

What did I do to deserve being hunted like this? It’s been a while since I’ve discarded such thoughts.

Now, his sole aim was survival.

“Heal. Heal!”

Poring healing magic onto himself, Si-heon regained his momentum. Unlike his heart, his wounds mended at a leisurely pace.

“Sssht, Hah…”

As my vision fills with the hue of despair and crimson blood is strewn everywhere, Si-heon had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure. He had to escape, somehow. He couldn’t die. It wasn’t desperation, but a feeling bordering on a sense of duty that held together even his shattered bones.

‘Without me…’

My daughter, Shiba, will die.

A twinge.

Blood trickled from the corner of Si-heon’s mouth as he lunged forward. An S-class battle, an impossible fight to win. Yet, he had always been compelled to withstand such battles.

When the church’s knight first targeted his throat, or when a few hunters, bound by the decree of the World Tree, attacked Shiba. His adversaries were always superior, and there was no one to shield him.

Because they were all dead.

His fate was solely his own to bear.

A shriek.

After such a brutal melee, the memories of the aftermath would sever and vanish. Awakening to find his body mangled like a desecrated corpse, the pain was beyond words.

A groan.

The few minutes it took to heal using the power of the crown were excruciating, as if being devoured by insects. Despite the risk of losing consciousness from such torment, Lee Si-heon crawled through the field of corpses towards home. Without any status, even finding his way back home was a Herculean task.

He had to evade the World Tree’s gaze, and the airport was inaccessible. It would have been swift and easy if he could contact the agent implanted by Tae-yang, but such instances were rare.

A creak.

And so,

Upon entering the old studio apartment,

“…Peep!”

Shiba, as adorable as a newborn, rises from the dust-laden mat to welcome him. The mere sight of her was enough to wash away all the pain in his body.

“Paa…?”
“Shiba. Daddy’s home.”
“Peep, Peep! Peep!”

Not ‘Peep’, but blood.

Whenever her pure eyes welled up with tears, Si-heon had to cleanse himself using a hose from outside.

“Peep, Peep… Don’t be hurt….”
“No, it doesn’t hurt! It doesn’t hurt, okay? This is paint. Look, there are no wounds, see?”
“Peep, Peep… Is it paint?”
“Yes, paint! Daddy’s really good at painting, isn’t he?”

He wasn’t good at painting.

But if he gave such desperate excuses, Shiba would cease crying.

“Paa…”
“Uh, yeah…”
“Shiba wishes… Daddy wouldn’t get hurt.”

Such excuses didn’t seem to work as well these days. Shiba, her eyes welled up with tears, extended her arms for an embrace, and Si-heon held his little daughter close, his face moist.

“Is it because Shiba is bad…?”
“No.”
“Why do people… hate Daddy?”
“They don’t hate him. They are just bad people.”

Shiba was learning to speak.

Perhaps because excuses no longer worked, or perhaps because she was understanding the world quicker… She no longer wanted to let her father out into the world. Concurrently, the progression of the venom quickened, looming the inevitable death ever closer.

What does a father feel as he watches his daughter on the brink of death? More powerless and wretched than he’s ever felt before.

“Dad can conquer it all.”

Despite the harsh reality that necessitates these words to be said with such determination, it hits him all the more brutally.

“If our Shiba is a good girl, Dad becomes incredibly strong, right?”
“Daddy…?”
“Yes.”
“Beep. Shiba will behave well.”

Shiba nods her head, wipes her runny nose, and nestles her face into Si-heon’s embrace.

“Shiba, soon… you’ll enjoy eating bibimbap too.”

Her tiny hands tenderly encircle his neck.

“I won’t even throw a tantrum for you to come… to sister Tae-yang.”
“……”
“Shiba, the pain will all go away…”
“…Will it?”

How wonderful would that be?

“That’s why, don’t be sick…. Daddy, if you’re hurting… Shiba hurts too.”

If I’m in pain,
Then my daughter is in pain too.

“I won’t be in pain anymore.”
“Beep… Really?”
“Because Daddy loves Shiba. You won’t be hurt. Shiba, you love Daddy too, right?”

With a face moistened by tears, she extracts her head from his arms and suddenly looks up at him. She swallows her runny nose and smiles, a fresh-faced child.

“Shiba loves you too.”

I love you. I love you.

Her voice, as sweet as a fresh apple, lingers in his ears.