Chapter 316
Chapter 316
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 316
>Chapter Title: The Man Who Felled the Divine Tree
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A single man stood before a magnificent tree.
It was a colossal tree so massive that dozens of grown men stretching out their arms and joining hands could barely encircle its trunk.
"Hoo...."
The man's name was Yu-hyun.
He was known for doing seemingly pointless things.
He walked the path of the sword, yet no one knew his name. He had no interest in fame whatsoever.
He cared only about the act of surpassing limits in and of itself.
As a child, he had been so frail that he often fell ill. To overcome that, he took up the sword. And even after reaching adulthood, he never let it go.
Yu-hyun looked up at the tree.
"Thanks for your hard work today."
Yu-hyun had a family once.
Not "has," but "had"—because they were all gone.
His mother had passed away, and his father had raised him alone. But his father had met with misfortune while escorting a merchant caravan. Yu-hyun had only heard the news; he never dug into the details.
It was a common death for the poor.
Yet his father had left him something.
This tree.
Or more precisely, it had started as a seed.
This tree was exactly the same age as Yu-hyun.
He didn't know where the seed had come from, but his father had planted it the year Yu-hyun was born.
His father had once tried to cut down the tree.
He thought it was sucking up all the nutrients, leaving Yu-hyun weak.
- That damned cursed tree! Someday I'll chop it down myself, Hyeon-ah!
His father's love for him was immense, but by then the tree had grown too large. Even with every able-bodied man in the village swinging axes, not a single blade could bite into the trunk. This incident cemented the tree's reputation in the villagers' minds as a cursed one.
In the end, his father couldn't keep his promise to Yu-hyun. He had sheepishly scratched his head, and Yu-hyun still remembered those words.
- Well... Y-Yu-hyun-ah, when you're bigger, cut it down yourself. Fell that tree, shake off your illnesses, and head out into the world. Wouldn't that be good?
Easier said than done.
Yet those offhand words from his father became a crucial guiding light in Yu-hyun's life.
He had to fell that tree.
He had to cut it down and move forward.
And today, Yu-hyun walked that path once more.
"Alright! Here goes...."
He didn't just swing an axe blindly at the tree.
Axes couldn't stick into it from the start.
Instead, he wielded a peculiar sword his father had acquired during his wandering days.
It wasn't particularly sharp or flashy. But it was incredibly sturdy.
Even after hacking at the tree all day, the blade showed almost no damage.
Perhaps that sword was the reason he had been able to persist in this futile task for so long.
Hoo....
Claaang-!
"Thanks!"
Claaaaaang-!
"Thanks!"
He brought the sword down in ridiculous poses.
He repeated it until the sun set.
His meals were wild herbs and mushrooms that barely tasted like anything, and meat now and then.
Rumors spread in the village that Yu-hyun had gone mad after losing his father.
"Am I the crazy one....?"
Yu-hyun sometimes muttered to himself, bothered by the gossip.
From the outside, it probably wasn't wrong.
Who spends every day trying to chop down a tree?
If he weren't Yu-hyun himself, he would have dismissed the man as insane too.
It had started as stubborn pride.
Left alone in the world, he wanted to prove he could accomplish anything. To his departed parents, and to the people of the world.
The next day came.
Hoo....
Hoooo....
Claaaaaaang-!
"Thanks... Huh?"
Something strange happened today.
It might be connected to that odd sensation he'd felt recently.
Yu-hyun looked up at the tree.
A god.
A god was surely watching over him.
There was no other explanation.
The sword he'd been swinging endlessly now felt heavier, and though hard to articulate, he felt like he understood the sword a little better.
"Uh... Did I do well?"
No reply came.
The tree couldn't answer.
"Please say something, if I'm not crazy...."
Yu-hyun asked.
"Are you watching over me?"
What would a god's voice be like?
Deep and calm like the sea?
Light and airy like the sky?
If not, had he truly lost his mind?
Yu-hyun shook his head vigorously and muttered to himself again.
"If I'd known you were watching... I wouldn't have slacked off. Up we go...."
He grabbed his trembling legs and stood, striking the tree once more.
Hoooong....
Taaaaang-!
"Thanks!"
Hoooong....
Taaaaaaang-!
"Thanks!"
* * *
High in the heavens.
"Snowman, what are you doing?"
"Ah, Plump Paulownia Tree."
"Huh? An inspector this time?"
O-dongtongtong O-dongnamu, a heavenly resident close to Kang Seol.
He had helped during the time Kang Seol raised the grave robber Gollun. As he approached and asked, Kang Seol answered.
"Yeah, but it's kind of...."
"Oh? Ah... Oof... You picked a bad one."
"......"
"Whoops! You hate the word 'picked.' Hmm...."
Plump Paulownia Tree covered his mouth as he checked the status window of the horse Kang Seol was raising.
"Hmm... Hmm...."
"Just say it."
"Can I say something harsh?"
"No. They can hear you."
"Heehee... Really?"
Plump Paulownia Tree scratched his head, gauging Kang Seol's mood.
"Earthbound spirit, persecution complex, weakling too. Did you pick up a hobby collecting negative quirks?"
"Hey! That's just how he was born."
"Can't swap him out, huh... Ever thought of quitting the adventure? Seems like a pointless waste of time...."
"......"
Honestly, he had considered it.
This Yu-hyun, bound to a massive tree and endlessly hacking at it, was feeble.
If births had ranks, he'd deserve the lowest.
He excelled in nothing—not environment, talent, or anything else.
"Yeah, you're right. Quitting would make sense...."
"But Snowman never quits until it's truly over."
"...That's not why I'm watching."
"...Then?"
"He's just... fun. Really."
"Hm? Fun? In what way?"
"Wanna watch from the side?"
"Sure."
Thud....
Plump Paulownia Tree sat beside Kang Seol and quietly observed Yu-hyun. Kang Seol watched too.
Some time later.
"Isn't that overkill?"
"Hm? Ah...."
"He's pounding that tree all day? When does the adventure even start?"
"The weird thing is, his stats go up nicely from all this tree-pounding."
"...And his abilities?"
"......Coming later."
"You saw the future?"
"I asked Yu-hyun myself."
Snowman grinned.
"But why does this guy mutter to himself every swing?"
"Yu-hyun's fate seems tied to this tree. He thinks it's a god."
"Hmm... But which part is he thanking?"
"No idea. Seems like he's grateful for everything...."
"Sounds totally bizarre the more I hear. Hm?"
Yu-hyun's words as he looked up appeared as dialogue script.
- Thanks! How was it? Am I better than before?
"...Who’s he talking to?"
"Probably the tree... and... me?"
"I get why you're hooked. Well, this kind of thing is fine once in a while."
"Yeah, Yu-hyun feels like... he's hearing me. That's why I like it."
Plump Paulownia Tree shook his head and left.
After that, Kang Seol kept raising Yu-hyun. It wasn't particularly harder than other horses.
And it grew on him.
Strangely, Yu-hyun got stronger.
Rapidly, after Kang Seol started watching.
And finally.
Craaaack....
[You have felled the Heavenly Divine Tree with a sword.]
[Special achievement 'I'm All Better Now' accomplished.]
[Special title 'The Overcomer' obtained.]
[Enlightenment! Awakening a new ability.]
[Ultimate: One-Heart Slash awakened.]
[Ultimate: One-Heart Slash created!]
Craaaack....
Craaaaaaaaack....
The massive tree toppled toward the forest.
Thud....
"...Huh?"
For some reason, tears welled in Kang Seol's eyes at the sight.
Though he hadn't done it himself, his chest swelled with emotion.
- Thank you! Thank you....
Yu-hyun had finally toppled the tree that bound him to this land.
He set out into the world with mere scraps of Heavenly Divine Tree, two days' worth of packed lunches, and a single sword.
This was the record of Yu-hyun before he became the Yaksha.
The Night Raven, transformed into a Yaksha—no, Yu-hyun finally revealing himself—fell into thought.
- Weakling... Don't push me out.
"Shut up! Be quiet!"
Crack! Craaack!
Yu-hyun smashed the Yaksha's mask with his fist again.
It was the final battle Kang Seol had awaited so long.
When a tragic rhythm drags on, the moment feels like breath itself will stop.
Seeing Yu-hyun's flesh through the cracks in the shattered Yaksha mask tore at Kang Seol's heart.
'Yu-hyun....'
Swoosh....
Yu-hyun naturally assumed his stance.
Kang Seol knew it.
The One-Mind Sword had only that one starting form.
Followed by at most two or three techniques.
But those weren't Yu-hyun's main sword arts.
The true power of the One-Mind Sword lay in that One-Heart Slash. A motion unleashing devastating force capable of felling the Heavenly Divine Tree in one strike.
To clash with it would mean breaking.
'What to do....'
Swoosh....
Karen assumed her stance too.
"I'll give it a try."
"......"
"Watch."
Roooar....
Lament, Karen, and Kang Seol focused all their senses.
'It's coming!'
Whooooosh....
The entire space felt like it was being torn apart by Yu-hyun's sword.
'Now!'
[The Yaksha uses Ultimate: One-Heart Slash.]
[Cuts the target.]
Fwooooooooom-!
Was the distance right?
Were the steps solid?
Was the breathing steady?
Was the power distribution even?
Sword.
Yu-hyun's sword flew like a beam of light.
Slaaaaaash-!
Spurt!
Roooaaar....
"......"
The Night Raven couldn't meet that power head-on and dodged.
One arm felt empty.
The Primordial Bone couldn't absorb that force, nor could the armor from imperfect combustion. Yu-hyun's swordsmanship transcended it all, severing the Night Raven's arm.
"Ha...."
"...Hahaha!"
"Heh...."
Pain shot through Karen and Kang Seol too.
Battle adrenaline dulled it somewhat, but agony was agony.
Still, they laughed.
At that absurd power.
And they paid respects to the one who unleashed it.
Squelch-!
The Night Raven pressed the severed arm to the stump, and Primordial Blood reattached it cleanly.
If the Yaksha—no, Yu-hyun—was a monster, then Kang Seol was one too.
"Incredible...."
"...Can't dodge it?"
"You can dodge. But...."
Karen's expression hardened.
"Then you can't win."
Kang Seol nodded at Karen's words.
A decision was needed. As Two-yeok-si said, perhaps retreat and wait for another chance.
But.
"He's crying... that guy's crying."
"Lament?"
"I want to save Lament."
Karen tapped the hilt.
"Kahaha! We agree for once, huh?"
"Will you help?"
"Well... the master...."
Kang Seol answered firmly.
"Let's settle it here."
"We'll have to go all-in on the next move... Back off if you're scared. There'll be another chance. We've got a lot to lose?"
Kang Seol shook his head.
"I've always gone all-in, so it's fine."
"......"
"You know that doesn't mean I don't care if we lose, right?"
"Heh... Yeah!"
Karen laughed in response.
They absolutely could not lose this fight.
Pop-!
Maegu, tormented by relentless Seolhong and Chui, charged at the Yaksha.
"Yaksha! The situation's bad—fall back first and...."
Spurt!
"......"
"No way...."
Maegu's head flew clean off.
Even in death, bewilderment lingered in Maegu's eyes.
"Uwaaa... Scary... So scary...."
The Phosphorescent Ghost clutched his head in terror at Maegu's gruesome end.
Now, only Kang Seol could stop the rampaging Yaksha.
Hooo....
Hoooooo....
That breathing.
He remembered.
Every breath of Yu-hyun's.
"Kang Seol, if you're gonna do something, hurry. Time's... short."
Jamad looked badly hurt from successive boundary shifts, blood trickling from his mouth.
Nod....
The Night Raven assumed his stance.
Not much different from Yu-hyun's.
Whoooosh....
The Night Raven absorbed the flames accumulated in Lament.
[Imperfect Combustion reaches its peak.]
Hoo....
Hoo....
Breath caught in his throat.
A clash of pure power.
This one move had to end it all.
Losing was unthinkable, but witnessing Yu-hyun's power made that future haunt him.
Failure meant this moment would be his last breath.
Step....
Step....
Thud-!
He pushed off.
No turning back now.
Yu-hyun's sword began to descend.
- Wait! I....
Ignoring the Yaksha's words, Yu-hyun thrust forth his greatest enlightened strike.
Fwooooooooom-!
It felt like his entire body was being sucked into that sword.
Yu-hyun's sword was a twinkling star.
It looked exactly like that.
Slooooow....
Time slowed.
The twinkling stars took on forms.
To Lament, someone weeping.
To Karen, a wall-like Lein.
And to Kang Seol, a brightly smiling Yu-hyun stood there.
Paths diverged, but the destination was one.
The three paths had to converge into one.
"Uwaaaaaaaa!"
With Yu-hyun's shout, the slash poured forth.
[The Yaksha uses Ultimate: One-Heart Slash.]
[Cuts the target.]
Hooooooong....
A wall pressed in.
A shock like his heart flipping upside down, spilling everything inside, hit first.
Ruuuuumble....
A wall that must be overcome.
A person that must be saved.
And Yu-hyun.
Paths may differ at the start, but all end the same.
All three roared the same as Yu-hyun.
"Uwaaaaaaaa!"
"Aaaaaaaa!"
"Kraaaaaaaa!"
Roooaaar....
Explosion.
For an instant, Lament felt like it was exploding. The Night Raven's flames converged into a massive blade.
The flames in Lament's form pushed back Yu-hyun's slash, sweeping down in a diagonal.
He could see it.
Beyond the sparkling stars, the final step remained.
- See? You can do it if you try.
Lein.
- You came....
The weeping Yaksha.
- ....
The smiling Yu-hyun.
And so, arriving there, they finally reached it.
A new world.
[Night Raven: Trinity complete!]
[A great step forward! Karen steps into the Supreme Realm!]
[Meteor Shower pours down! Enlightenment comes after battle ends.]
[Enlightenment! Karen awakens a new ability.]
[Ultimate: Sunset Sketch evolves into Ultimate: Perfect Combustion.]
[Ultimate: Perfect Combustion created!]
Roooaaaaar-!
"......"
"......"
Yu-hyun and the Night Raven crossed.
"Thank... you...."
Yu-hyun remained ever the same.
Crack....
Cracks spread across the Yaksha mask.
Spurt!
Yu-hyun's body was bisected at the waist.
- No... Nooooo!
The Yaksha desperately tried to reattach his ragged body. Grotesque mucus extended from the upper half, groping for the lower.
Kang Seol approached the fallen Yu-hyun.
The dark mask's eyeholes.
Yu-hyun's sparkling eyes shone within.
"Thank... you...."
"Yu-hyun...."
"My name... Yu... hyun...."
Yu-hyun fumbled in his bosom.
He extended something toward the direction of Kang Seol's voice.
He gripped it so tightly that identifying it was difficult.
"This is...."
A crude wooden statue.
The peculiar thing was its facelessness.
As if carved while imagining someone whose face he didn't know.
It was a statue made from the Heavenly Divine Tree.
Gasp....
Realizing it, Kang Seol's eyes reddened.
"You really... came...."
"...What?"
"I'll... definitely... save you... so wait...."
"......"
"Wait... wait...."
- I'll definitely save you! ...Wait!
- Please... wait... wait....
It was exactly what Kang Seol had shouted in the game board after losing Yu-hyun to the Yaksha.
"...Did you really hear me?"
"I waited... You're late... but... you came...."
Yu-hyun's breathing grew faint.
"...Thank you."
His breath stopped.
Swoosh....
Kang Seol removed the mask.
Yu-hyun's terribly distorted flesh appeared.
Gently, he closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Kang Seol blankly stared at his own statue made from the Heavenly Divine Tree.
[Yaksha defeated.]
[First achievement 'A Great Step Forward' accomplished.]
[First title 'Supreme Realm' obtained.]
[Midway settlement of the Great Expedition occurs.]
[Yaksha's belongings acquired.]
……