Chapter 962

"I wonder what you saw."

The woman stood on the tips of her pale feet and slowly walked toward Yarang.

As she drew closer, the scent of flowers in the room grew ever thicker.

Yarang, her head bowed low, moved her hand.

It looked as though she was about to write something on the floor.

"Stay still."

At the woman's words, Yarang's movements froze.

She remained still, obedient to the command.

The woman reached out and gently stroked Yarang’s hair.

"My daughter."

“…”

"I think it’s better if I see for myself this time."

She smiled as she spoke, and Yarang lowered her head even further—almost as if adjusting her posture to make it easier to be touched.

With her now properly positioned, the woman ceased stroking her and instead placed her palm firmly on the crown of Yarang’s head.

And then—

Sssssss—!!!

A current of energy rose from Yarang’s head, trailing up the woman’s arm.

A beautiful violet-red aura.

The aura slowly seeped into the woman.

“Hmm.”

She let out a quiet hum, swallowing down the energy completely.

Then, after a brief silence—

“How strange….”

Her eyes, which had been closed, reopened and fixed upon Yarang.

“Truly strange.”

Yet Yarang did not lift her head.

Watching her, the woman murmured softly—

"Why can’t I see it…?"

A slight furrow appeared between her brows, a rare look of discomfort settling on her face.

She had just absorbed Yarang’s memories, intending to directly witness what she had seen.

And yet—

'I see nothing.'

To her surprise, the usual clarity of vision she had when reading memories was absent.

No, not completely absent.

She could still see Yarang moving.

She could hear what Yarang had heard.

She could perceive the scents, the sensations—everything that should have been ingrained in memory.

She had absorbed most of Yarang’s recollections.

'…Hmm.'

But curiously, some pieces were missing.

Most notably, the very end of the memory was almost completely empty.

She saw Yarang heading somewhere—saw the gaze she had directed at something.

She saw the space that gaze had settled upon.

But then—

Right at the moment where Yarang seemed to discover someone, a thick black mist descended, shrouding all of the remaining memory.

By the time the mist dissipated, all she could see was Yarang walking alone in the rain.

“Hmm.”

The woman tilted her head in curiosity.

This was a first.

For memories to be obscured…

Even within the sacred realm of the Divine Tree, such a thing had never happened before.

'What is this?'

What kind of situation was this?

She could not understand.

So, she lifted her hand and placed her fingers under Yarang’s chin.

She tilted Yarang’s masked face upward.

Then, with her other hand, she reached forward—

Srrk.

The mask slid away.

Beneath it, a stunning face was revealed.

Thud.

The mask fell to the ground as the woman gently stroked Yarang’s cheek.

"My daughter."

“…”

"What is happening here?"

Even as she asked, she received no answer.

But she was unfazed.

She had expected as much.

"You’re not lying to me, are you?"

The possibility that Yarang was deceiving her…

It wasn’t impossible.

And yet, the woman found it unlikely.

If that had been the case, she would have known immediately.

"Hmm."

What exactly had happened?

Had Yarang really seen something?

Doubt began to take root in her mind.

Whoosh.

She withdrew her hand from Yarang and turned her back to her.

As she moved, the tails surrounding her stirred.

But then—

The massive tails filling the room began to shrink.

Bit by bit, their size diminished—until they were so small they could no longer be seen.

Settling herself back down, she turned her gaze toward Yarang once more.

"My daughter."

“…”

"It seems something has happened, doesn’t it?"

Again, there was no response.

But this time, the woman sensed something was off.

Silence was normal for Yarang.

But usually, even in silence, she would respond through actions.

Yet now—

Yarang simply stared at her, unmoving.

Seeing that, the woman's eyes narrowed slightly.

There is something.

She was certain.

"Hmm…."

Should she force the answer out of her?

Or was there a reason Yarang couldn’t speak?

Under normal circumstances, a servant who failed to answer should simply be discarded.

That was the natural order of things.

And yet—

She couldn't do that.

She might do so with anyone else.

But not with Yarang.

—No matter what happens, treasure her as you would a daughter.

Those words were engraved upon her very soul.

She had never questioned them.

There was no need.

To her, it was natural.

She had never even considered doubting it.

Ssskk.

The woman rose from her seat and stepped forward.

Yet instead of leaving, she moved to stand beside Yarang.

"My daughter."

Her voice, now quieter than before, called to her.

"Rise."

Yarang obeyed.

And the moment she stood—something fell over her.

A cloth.

A veil that covered her entire body, even her head.

The same veil draped over the woman as well.

What was happening?

Yarang silently looked at her for an answer.

"It has been a long time since I last took a walk outside. We must prepare."

“…!”

Yarang’s eyes widened.

The ruler of the heavens—

Had just declared her intent to descend to the mortal world.

**************

By the time the torrential rain had eased somewhat, I found myself heading back to Mount Hua.

It would have been fine to head straight to Yahwol, but given what had happened, I needed to report it—at least as a formality.

But even beyond that—

‘I have to tell someone what I saw.’

I needed someone to talk to about what had happened.

And in this world, there was only one person who could fill that role for me.

—“…Why the hell are you back? Weren’t you supposed to be gone?”

Shin Noya shot me a glare as he sipped his tea inside his quarters.

Beside him sat Gubong, whom I hadn’t seen in a while.

—“It was raining outside, wasn’t it? But you—why the hell do you look completely fine? …What happened?”

Shin Noya had begun speaking casually, but the moment he saw my face, his tone shifted.

His change in demeanor made me subconsciously touch my face.

Do I look that bad?

Forcing my expression to calm, I replied.

—“…It’s nothing serious. Something happened, so I came to speak with you.”

—“Something happened?”

Shin Noya narrowed his eyes.

—“Yes.”

—“I’ll step outside.”

The moment I confirmed it, Gubong rose to his feet.

It seemed he had learned from past experience that this was not a conversation he should be present for.

He nodded toward me before leaving.

Something about his attitude felt different from before.

What’s with him?

I wondered for a moment, but Gubong wasn’t the issue right now.

With just the two of us left in the room, I turned to Shin Noya.

And then, I began explaining everything that had just happened.

**************

After my brief explanation, Shin Noya frowned deeply and asked,

—“…You’re saying Yarang was that child?”

Yarang—one of the Generals of Mangye, was the Divine Sword.

When I explained it that way, his reaction was immediate.

—“Yes.”

—“…”

As I nodded, Noya let out a long sigh.

—“…Brat.”

—“Yes.”

—“You always say it’s nothing, yet you keep bringing me the most insane things.”

—“…”

Hearing that, I gave an awkward chuckle.

Now that he said it, it was true.

—“Ever since you arrived, there hasn’t been a single peaceful day.”

Should I apologize for that?

I hesitated, unsure of what to say.

Then—

—“…Are you absolutely certain?”

Noya’s voice grew heavier.

I nodded once more.

—“Yes. I’m sure.”

It wasn’t just a matter of resemblance.

Others might not have noticed, but I knew.

The feeling I got when I looked at her, the aura she exuded—

And the way she fought against Cheonma.

Everything pointed to Yarang being the Divine Sword.

When I explained this to Noya, I saw his expression grow even more serious.

—“How could this be possible?”

—“You mean you didn’t know either?”

—“How the hell would I know? If I did, don’t you think I would’ve told you?”

—“…”

That was a fair point.

—“Then… do you know how long Yarang has been active?”

—“Not too long, from what I understand. But she’s been around longer than me.”

So Mangye existed before Noya arrived.

That meant it had to be at least a hundred years old.

‘What the hell is going on?’

How could she exist here?

Logically, the simplest explanation was that it was just someone who looked like her.

But no.

I refused to believe that.

Those eyes. That aura.

And the feeling I had when I saw her.

Everything told me that Yarang was the Divine Sword.

—“That child… hmm.”

Noya stroked his chin, lost in thought.

His fingers traced over his jaw, his brows furrowed in deep contemplation.

Then—

—“…Alright, but let’s set that aside for now.”

He turned his gaze toward me.

—“Regardless of all that, what do you intend to do now?”

—“…Excuse me?”

—“If you’re certain she’s here, what’s your next move?”

—“…”

It seemed Noya was less interested in whether Yarang was really the Divine Sword and more focused on what I planned to do about it.

But my answer had been decided long ago.

—“I have to meet her.”

I had to meet her. No matter what.

Even if I was convinced, I needed to confirm it with my own eyes.

And more than that—

I needed to know why she was here.

Why she looked like this.

To find out, I had to meet the Divine Sword once more.

When I gave my answer, Noya immediately asked another question.

—“So? Are you planning to wait? Until she shows up again?”

—“…”

I hesitated this time.

I needed a moment to think.

But not long.

—“…I’ll go find her.”

Wherever she is, I’ll track her down.

She had been lurking nearby before, so waiting might bring her back.

But I’m not patient enough for that.

Besides—

—“If I want to understand what’s going on, I need to find everyone involved.”

Even if I caught Yarang and questioned her,

I already knew—there was someone else behind this.

That time.

The last time I had faced the Divine Sword.

The moment she had tried to disappear—

Someone had told me to hold her in place.

My mother.

My mother—

And the highest being in Mangye.

If anyone knew what was happening, it had to be her.

It had to be.

‘In the end…’

The reason I had come to Mangye.

The connection between Mangye and the Blood Demon.

The truth about myself.

And now, the mystery of the Divine Sword.

To uncover all of it, I needed to meet my mother.

‘I have to move faster.’

To see my mother, to handle Noya’s requests—

I needed to pick up the pace.

At this rate, I wouldn’t get anywhere.

Ever since I had seen the Divine Sword again,

I had felt it.

The creeping urgency. The fire rising inside me.

—“…Anyway, that’s the situation. If even you don’t know anything, Noya, I’ll just have to factor that in.”

Having said all I needed to say, I stood up.

If there was nothing more to learn from Noya, I had no reason to waste time here.

—“Where are you going?”

—“Yahwol.”

There was something I had intended to do there before all of this happened.

I had to go back and take care of it.

As soon as I stated my destination—

Shin Noya suddenly stood up as well.

—“…Noya?”

—“Alright, let’s go.”

—“Huh?”

Go?

Where?

I blinked in confusion, and Noya, with his usual impassive expression, elaborated.

—“I said, let’s go. To Yahwol.”

—“…You’re coming too?”

—“Yes.”

Pat. Pat.

Dusting off his martial robe, he spoke in a casual tone—

—“Seems like I need to go this time.”

—“…”

The look on his face said it all.

‘…He definitely looks like he’s going to beat the shit out of someone.’

One thing was clear—

He wasn’t going with good intentions.