Chapter 337
Chapter 337
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 337
Chapter Title: Hongyeon (2)
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The World Tree's side was being pushed back far more than expected.
If things continued like this, it looked like it would fall before I could even reach the growth-stage World Tree, so I had no choice but to provide direct assistance.
Of all places.
Why there, of all places?
"Why are you there?"
-Boom!
I confirmed her again while picking off the surrounding Flower members one by one.
"...Huh?"
Her eyes widened as she looked at me.
Her pupils trembled faintly, as if sensing something off.
It wasn't an illusion.
It was Hongyeon.
Though time had changed her appearance greatly, she was definitely the comrade I cherished back when I was in Do-won.
Her hair, like red silk, had grown even longer than before—longer than anyone I knew.
A long hairpin secured her braided locks.
She looked more haggard than back then.
Her arms were gaunt, and her face was crumpled with exhaustion.
Her sunken pupils had just begun to quiver.
She stared at me with a dazed expression.
"You... why..."
I stammered as I looked at Hongyeon.
"Why?"
Separate from Do-won's fall, I'd learned shortly after returning from the past via the status window that Hongyeon was alive.
Just like Heavenly Path was still fine, I figured Hongyeon had reclaimed her own life.
It was an optimistic assumption.
At the very least, I hoped she'd live peacefully somewhere. I hadn't planned to worry about it.
"Hongyeon."
You, who must have been deeply wounded by losing Do-won.
Why was this noble-hearted woman there?
It didn't make sense.
I denied the scene before my eyes.
-Crash!
As I unleashed my full mana, the surrounding zealots were flung away.
【Heavenly Terrain Step】
Space tilted.
The zealots knelt under the pressure that shook the ground, vomiting bile.
The World Tree wasn't the issue; I needed to see this for myself to understand.
I approached Hongyeon, the only one not kneeling, one step at a time.
In case she didn't recognize me, I grabbed her chin up close and yanked off her face mask.
From two steps away, I showed her my face.
Hongyeon's face, which had been warily watching me, stiffened.
"...!"
It stiffened, then.
She staggered back, and.
Her pupils narrowed as she looked at my face.
Hongyeon, taking in the sight of someone who'd already died once, couldn't close her mouth.
No words were exchanged. My heart pounded. Hongyeon couldn't tear her gaze from my face.
"Hey."
I asked right in front of her nose, in the arrogant tone she might remember.
"Do you remember me?"
"...".
Light gradually seeped into her dark eyes.
She clutched her arms as if her throat was choked, unable to speak for a long while, her face like she was resisting a massive trauma.
Her whole body trembled as she glared at me.
"Ah, ah-"
Her short utterance echoed.
"Please...".
-Flash!
A blade gleamed from her waist.
I urgently jerked my head back.
-Slash!
The blade grazed my jaw.
With madness-filled eyes, Hongyeon lunged at me.
Her hand, thrusting the sword tip toward me, shook violently.
-Drip, drip.
Blood dripped from my jaw. Her face twisted in pain.
"Haa, haa... haa."
She was showing clear abnormal reactions.
Her breathing grew ragged, and she clawed at her hair with one hand.
The hairpin fell to the ground and rolled. Her disheveled hair stood on end.
"...World Tree...".
Hongyeon's eyes turned sorrowful.
"Dragging even the dead back to the living world... is that how badly you want to kill me!!!"
The air froze cold at the woman's wail filled with grudges.
"You took away my reasons to live and die... why, why, why!"
Tears welled in her eyes. Something was wrong.
Hongyeon couldn't accept this reality at all.
Did I look fake to her?
"Hongyeon-"
"Shut your mouth... don't talk in that voice!"
The pressure sealed my lips.
Pure, chilling hatred bore down on me.
Anger honed over years into a blade finally crossed the line, her grudge stabbing at me like it wanted to kill.
The resentment was heavy. My chest felt like it was tearing.
"You bastard, that one over there. How far...!"
She muttered hoarsely.
Kneeling in despair soaked in pain, she looked at me with a crumpled face.
"How far do you plan to... make me miserable...".
-Drip.
A tear fell to the ground.
*****
It was a rainy night.
"...".
On that day when everyone who followed me lost their lives one by one, under the evening sky swirling with flames.
Having lost everything, I.
Begged with the finely sculpted face of a young child, barely extending my fading lifeline.
'They don't understand words. Scary.'
A mere five-year-old brat.
Yet my thread of life was tenacious.
I chewed rotten meat mixed with dirt and survived fiercely.
Filling my starving belly took priority over efforts to avoid death.
But even that didn't last long.
I lay in an alley corner, my flesh torn by rats as hungry as me.
Squeak, squeak.
The rats' cries echoed several times.
My leg stung from bites. Blood flowed. My wretched, sickly form.
"...Ah."
My reflection in the stagnant, rotten puddle didn't look alive at all.
"...".
-Splashhhh.
I thought that was the end of my life.
-Swish.
The cold moon was obscured, and the fabric of a warm umbrella came into view.
Before me, an old man's eyes looked down.
"Child. What are you doing there?"
"...".
I couldn't understand his words.
"Are you in the same boat as me?"
The old man knelt without another word. I passed out there, dropping my head.
What stuck in my memory especially was the old man's straw sandals, standing firm in the downpour unlike me.
....
That was where my life changed.
The world wasn't always cruel to me.
When I opened my eyes, there was a roof with holes. The old man. And properly cooked rice.
Just one scrawny fish and dried vegetables, but how delicious it was.
I still smile thinking about it.
"Tasty?"
"...?"
"Can't talk, huh? Like a feral Wood Person. Hmm. You'll learn slowly."
The old man had a stern face, but he was kinder than anyone I'd met.
Always strict, yet always on my side.
I wolfed down two bowls of piled rice every night like it was porridge, and clung to the old man for hugs because I craved human warmth to sleep.
"...Hello, sir."
"Good."
I learned to speak.
"Keep your fist straighter there."
"Hup!"
"Tch, you have no talent for Fist Arts. Want to try the sword?"
"Yes, Dad!"
There were setbacks too.
"Come, child. Look at this."
I learned about life.
The space in the mountains the old man showed was vast.
Beautiful peach blossoms in full bloom, winding rivers too lovely for words—my small world.
My home.
My homeland.
A world I couldn't forget even for a moment: Father, me, and my siblings'.
"This is Do-won."
"Do-won...".
"Small now, but you and I will raise it. Few people, hard to maintain. But you're clever; you'll do well."
The place where I'd devote my life to everything.
The old man stroked my head with his large, wrinkled, scarred hand and smiled faintly.
"Haven't given you a name yet."
Father was gentle.
"Hongyeon."
"Hongyeon? What does it mean?"
"Who knows. They call maples that elsewhere. No big meaning. You'll make your own."
"...Hongyeon!"
I got a second name.
I rebuilt the ruined village by hand, watched the market grow.
Cultivated fields, read outside books to ponder how to lead Do-won better.
Never skipped Father's training. Later, I grew strong enough to be recognized as successor, earning praise.
"A bit more, hang in there."
-Waaah!
Though Mother had passed, three adorable siblings were born.
One seemed so frail I thought she'd die, but she was destined to be the Young Heavenly Demon.
One was spirited but stubborn.
Another too full of affection.
I marveled how triplets from the same womb could differ so much.
No mother? I'd fill her role.
"My siblings."
No matter what, I'd protect them.
To me, though not blood-related, they were dearer than anyone.
As lives were born, Do-won grew.
Work increased, but joy didn't fade.
Siblings grew so fast; my smile reached my ears daily.
'This place is truly precious to me.'
Demonic Cult Leader—a position outsiders might point at—but it was my whole world.
Precious.
Thus, outsiders who could threaten it must be guarded against.
I grew from girl to adult, but tasks only multiplied.
Do-won's people always fell short of ideal talents, so I shouldered much.
Occasional frustration, but mere whining.
"...Cough."
Father's life might end soon.
I worked harder.
So he could rest easy at the end.
As their big sister, and Do-won's future leader's worthy partner.
I planned to give everything, but being human, anxiety flared sometimes.
"Hey."
Love came suddenly.
The man I saw as a rival—he who called my beloved Do-won itself—hilariously nearly killed each other at first meeting.
'A weird guy.'
Suddenly appeared, rose to Young Heavenly Demon.
Soon earned everyone's trust.
He soothed my weary body and mind from heavy duties.
Or half-threats, really.
"Sigh, kid. You think overworking raises efficiency?"
"Wh-what?"
"Whatever. Get up. Go sleep properly."
"Wait, just finish this first."
"Want a beating or just sleep?"
"...I'll sleep."
He worked brilliantly, eyes flashing. Eased my fatigued mind.
Wondered where Father found him; his insight amazed.
My own obliviousness embarrassed me awhile.
"...".
Still, somehow I grew fond.
Like draping the Black Dragon Robe only the Young Heavenly Demon could wear over me when I dozed off.
Rough words, but always caring.
Cold drinks in heat. Tasty food when out. All good.
When I stuttered on business, he stepped in.
"Drink."
Sharing drinks, why did my heart race so?
Didn't know love then; realized after losing him.
"...".
I hadn't known before losing.
He left no body, just blood-soaked uniform.
I never confessed.
Even as I lost all, gave up everything, nearly let go—that lingering feeling.
Regret for not saying I loved you.
That was it.