Chapter 903

Paradise.

It was a word that grated on my nerves, over and over.

“Paradise…”

I leaned back in the chair, recalling the conversation, my mind still restless.

Paradise.

A word that sounded beautiful, perfect even, but at this point, it didn’t sit well with me.

The problem lay in the fact that the one who had uttered it was none other than the Blood Demon.

‘He said he dreamed of paradise.’

Was it that he wanted to turn Zhongyuan into a paradise? Or that he intended to reach one?

I wasn’t entirely sure of the specifics, but it was clear that was his ultimate goal.

However—

‘The Myriad Realms is also called Paradise.’

If the place I was in now was referred to as paradise, could it have some connection to what the Blood Demon had spoken of?

And if so, what kind of connection could it possibly have? That was the part that kept nagging at me.

‘Especially his reaction to my mother.’

Hostility or perhaps wariness.

I hadn’t seen the Blood Demon many times, but he was always the type to watch situations unfold with amusement, regardless of what happened.

Yet the moment he saw my mother, he became sharply alert.

Mangye and the paradise the Blood Demon spoke of—there was undoubtedly a link between them.

The moment I felt certain of this—

Thud.

Something was placed on the table before me.

I looked at it, curious, and saw a teacup.

“Please drink.”

I turned my head at the sound of the voice. Naturally, it wasn’t human.

The speaker had black hair and beast-like ears.

He looked to be in his late twenties, but appearances clearly couldn’t be trusted here.

“And you are?”

I asked, and his brows furrowed.

“…I am Gubong, the first disciple.”

First disciple.

The phrase made me pull an odd expression without realizing it.

‘First disciple?’

It was the kind of term you’d expect in a martial sect.

No matter how I looked at it, it felt out of place here, but I didn’t let it show—or at least, I tried my best not to.

“I see. And this…?”

“It’s plum tea. The headmaster personally cultivated and prepared it.”

“…”

I couldn’t hide my expression this time.

‘Personally cultivated? That old man?’

For someone as notoriously short-tempered as Noya, the thought of him taking up gardening as a hobby felt utterly incongruous.

If it had been someone like the Plum Sage, maybe it would have made sense. But Noya? It just didn’t fit.

I couldn’t believe it and simply stared at the tea.

“You should consider it an honor.”

“Hmm?”

The beast-man Gubong added,

“The headmaster doesn’t usually share this with anyone. He made an exception—an extraordinary exception—for you.”

“I see.”

I nodded at his words, then glanced at him.

“You don’t seem to like me. Why’s that?”

“…”

Gubong’s eyebrows twitched.

His expression clearly said he hadn’t expected me to ask outright.

It was a genuine question on my part.

“We’ve never met before, have we? I don’t think so. I haven’t come across anyone like you. So why don’t you like me?”

I took a sip of the plum tea as I spoke and was startled.

‘This is good.’

To my surprise, the tea was clean and fragrant—delightful, even. It felt oddly out of place, considering it was made by that cantankerous old man.

“…It’s not that I dislike you.”

I chuckled at Gubong’s response.

“Really? Because your glare makes it look like you want to kill me.”

“…”

“I’m not exactly the kind of guy people like at first glance, but I don’t appreciate being hated for no reason.”

I took another sip, finishing the tea in just two gulps. It was too good to pace myself.

“So, what’s your deal?”

I looked him straight in the eyes, but Gubong didn’t respond. Instead, the emotions in his eyes only grew more intense.

‘Those eyes… They’re begging for a fight.’

I could feel irritation bubbling up.

Already on edge, this was pushing me further.

Should I just confront him head-on?

“Click.”

Before I could act, someone clicked their tongue and placed a rough hand on my head.

The hand was calloused, but the scent of plum blossoms wafted from it.

There was no need to look. I knew who it was.

“Why are you picking fights in someone else’s house? If you’re going to brawl, take it outside.”

“…Greetings to the headmaster.”

Gubong bowed his head.

The hand belonged, of course, to Noya.

Confirming this, I immediately retorted,

“Where have you been? You can’t just throw me into a place like this and disappear!”

“I told you I’d be gone for a bit. How long could I possibly have been gone for you to already be picking fights?”

“I wasn’t fighting! Can’t you tell? I was being provoked.”

“Funny. Kid, how many people in the world do you think would provoke you unprompted just by looking at your face?”

“Well, you’d do it.”

“Want to get hit?”

“No.”

I quickly cut off my words as I felt his hand press harder on my head. The real problem, however, was—

‘That look.’

Gubong’s glare only intensified as he watched.

What was this? Jealousy? No, that didn’t seem right.

‘If not jealousy, then…?’

It felt like something else entirely.

“Gubong.”

“Yes, headmaster?”

“You’ve done well. Leave us for now.”

“…But…”

“I’ll handle the rest. Go take a break. You might lose a finger if you stay too long around this brat.”

“You’re really treating me like an animal now…?”

“You’re not human anyway.”

“There you go again, old man.”

“Mind your words.”

“Hmm?”

As I was bickering with Noya, Gubong interrupted.

“Address the headmaster properly. Show respect.”

Judging by his tone, it seemed my casual reference to Noya as “old man” had struck a nerve.

“Exactly, kid. What kind of brat calls me an old man? No manners at all.”

And yet, Noya seemed to enjoy the situation, chuckling gleefully.

Grinding my teeth, I replied,

“Yes, headmaster. Now stop teasing and have a seat.”

“Fine.”

“Damn it.”

“I heard that.”

Noya dragged a chair and sat down across from me.

“You’ve done well. Now go.”

“…”

“Gubong.”

“…Understood.”

Gubong bowed respectfully to Noya and exited, but not without throwing me one last glare.

‘Damn those eyes…’

As I frowned and started to grumble, Noya burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha!”

I turned to him, half-annoyed, half-serious.

“What’s with that guy? Why’s he acting like that?”

“Don’t be too harsh on him. His blatant hostility is almost endearing, isn’t it?”

“Endearing? My ass. I was this close to gouging his eyes out.”

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have held back. But this was Noya’s domain, and something about Gubong’s emotions felt like they stemmed from his connection to Noya.

“You’ve got a temper, don’t you?”

“So, would you have let it slide if it were you?”

“If it were me, I’d have cut his head off.”

“…And you’re supposed to be a sage?”

I didn’t plan on killing him, but this old man wouldn’t hesitate.

“Anyway, let it slide for now. That kid’s got some… excesses.”

“…”

I didn’t reply. Next time, I wouldn’t let it slide.

Noya didn’t press the matter further.

“Did you like the tea?”

“…It was fine.”

“Judging by your face, it was delicious. Click, click.”

“…”

He caught me.

I wanted to say it wasn’t, but the tea had been undeniably good.

“How have you been?”

“Not well.”

“Good to hear. I haven’t been bad myself.”

“…Why do you ask if you’re just going to ignore my answer?”

“Honestly, I don’t care much, but it’s polite to ask, isn’t it?”

"Such a careless answer."

“Where did that black-haired girl go?”

“I don’t know. She left suddenly.”

“…And you’re okay with not knowing?”

Noya looked at me, incredulous.

Of course, he’d react that way—he knew the girl was Cheonma.

Normally, this was something I should’ve paid more attention to.

“…It’s fine.”

Without thinking, I dismissed it.

Not good. This was something I should’ve given more thought to.

‘I’m getting swept up in the situation.’

With everything in chaos, I must’ve unconsciously pushed it aside.

“Hmph.”

Noya tilted his head slightly as he looked at me.

The more I saw him, the sharper his features seemed.

But…

‘Damn, he’s annoyingly handsome.’

He looked like someone who had been remarkably good-looking in his younger days, which irritated me for some reason.

“What’s with that weird look in your eyes?”

“I just remembered something I don’t like.”

“While looking at my face…?”

“It’s a misunderstanding. I just happened to look, and your face was there.”

“…You…”

Noya seemed to debate whether to get angry but eventually sighed and spoke.

“…Forget it. It’s too tiring to get mad over every little thing. Ask what you want to ask.”

“Yes, sir.”

I forced an awkward smile and got to the point. There were mountains of questions I wanted to ask and countless things to figure out, but…

“Is there a way to return?”

In the end, the most important question was how to get back.

The problem was…

‘Does that old man even know?’

From what he’d said, he’d been stuck here for 150 years. Could he possibly have an answer?

I asked, trying to mask my unease.

“There is.”

“…!”

To my surprise, Noya said there was a way.

“What’s with that face? Didn’t think there would be one?”

“Of course not. If there was, why…”

Why hadn’t he returned? I was about to ask, but—

“There is a way, but it couldn’t be used.”

“…What?”

What did that mean?

“You know this is a different world, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

How could I not?

Not only were there non-human beings roaming around, but there were also two moons in the sky. It was impossible not to notice.

“Once you’ve crossed into another world… to leave, you need the permission of that world’s master.”

“…Permission?”

The world has a master, and their permission is required to leave?

I didn’t get it. If that were the case—

“Then why was I able to come here—”

Why had I crossed over so easily? I was about to ask when—

“That’s because Zhongyuan has no master.”

Noya cut me off before I could finish.

“You know this, don’t you? That’s why Zhongyuan is in the state it’s in.”

“…”

I didn’t want to admit it, but he was right.

‘…So that means.’

His words could only mean one thing.

“To return, I need this world’s master’s permission?”

“Exactly.”

“…The master…”

The master of this world. If I got their permission, I could return to Zhongyuan?

“It’s not a certainty, but it’s my best guess.”

“…”

Hearing this, a certain someone came to mind. If the master of this world was who I thought it might be…

“That’s right.”

Noya spoke.

“It’s your mother.”

“…!”

“You probably already suspected it, didn’t you?”

“…I wasn’t sure.”

Noya chuckled at my response.

“You weren’t unsure. You just didn’t want to believe it.”

That, too, was true.

The master of Mangye.

Combining what Muah and the Blood Demon had said, it all pointed to one conclusion.

My mother was the master of this world.

‘If that’s the case…’

The revelation was shocking, but in terms of getting back, it seemed straightforward enough.

At least, that’s what I thought.

“I know what you’re thinking, but it won’t be that easy.”

Noya must have read my thoughts because he cut in quickly.

“It won’t be easy?”

“A world’s master rarely wants their children to leave for another world. And with Mangye, it’s even less likely.”

“…Why?”

“This part will take a while to explain, so I’ll tell you later. For now, just know this: if you’re hoping for maternal affection from her, you should let go of that expectation.”

Why? The question popped into my mind immediately.

It wasn’t like I had hoped for much, but there was a part of me that had considered it.

Yet now he was saying to abandon even that faint hope? And saying it would be meaningless?

“Why?”

I asked aloud, and Noya answered with a hesitant look.

“She may be your mother, but… she probably doesn’t see herself as such anymore.”

“…What?”

“Especially given her hatred for dragons. You mustn’t meet her. If you do, things could take a disastrous turn.”

“What do you mean?”

Hatred for dragons? She’s my mother but isn’t anymore?

“I don’t understand, Noya.”

“Well, that’s…”

Noya began to speak but then suddenly straightened up, his expression sharp.

“It seems it’s awakened.”

“…What?”

“I’ll explain on the way. Get up.”

“Again…?”

Why were we always going somewhere? I’d just arrived at the residence, and now he wanted me to move again?

“What’s the matter? Are you tired already? It’s not far, just up ahead.”

Noya pointed out the window.

The place he indicated was one I’d noticed earlier—one that had shocked me.

“Something down there has awakened. Let’s head there first.”

“Awakened?”

What, was something sleeping? Just as I wondered this—

“Yes, it’s awake.”

Kugugung—!!!

“…!”

The ground shook violently, and goosebumps rose on my arms.

At the same time—

[Groooar.]

A deep, resonant cry echoed.

I immediately looked up.

That sound—could it be?

“The master of this land’s darkness.”

[Kruoooaaar.]

Kurung roared.