Chapter: 964
I looked at the hand that was stopping me.
A thin and slightly pale hand. My body trembled as Noya held on tightly.
I tried to move, but in the end, I couldn’t budge.
It was not just Noya’s strength holding me back; there was also my own stubbornness trying to endure.
Crackle.
My bones ached. I was barely managing to breathe, desperately holding it together.
“Hss…”
Somehow, I managed to stop it. But even so, my gaze lingered on those who had just passed behind me.
“Calm down.”
Noya gripped my shoulder and spoke.
“…”
I didn’t respond. I simply stared blankly as I confirmed the two people’s disappearance into the crowd.
“What is it…?”
I was able to ask Noya.
“Just now. What I saw. Was it real?”
What I witnessed just moments ago—well, it wasn’t exactly sight, but rather a sensation.
In response to my question, Noya frowned slightly and replied.
“How would I know if you asked me? I’m equally confused.”
It seemed Noya didn’t understand the situation either. To prove that, Noya’s expression wasn’t very pleasant.
That meant…
‘So, you’re saying I wasn’t mistaken.’
The sensation I just experienced.
It reassured me that it wasn’t just my imagination.
Then…
‘Why…?’
Why am I here? I found myself wishing it was merely a figment of my imagination. If it wasn’t, we had bigger problems on our hands.
Crunch.
“…”
I pressed my hand against the sensation, recalling its memory.
I shouldn’t meet my mother right now. At least not in this state.
I kept thinking about that. Noya must have had a reason for saying it too.
“Damn….”
It wasn’t as easy as I imagined.
It was even more difficult with it right in front of me.
Regardless of why I encountered them here.
‘Just let it go like this?’
I had to keep my eyes fixed on the direction in which the two had vanished for a long time, contemplating.
“Hmm?”
A woman walking down the street suddenly halted. Then she turned her head to look behind her.
“What’s this?”
Feeling something unusual, she looked back, but all she could see was a throng of people.
“Hmm….”
The woman pondered while observing. Should she lift the fabric and check?
She considered it but then shook her head slightly and continued looking ahead.
Now wasn’t the time to unveil the cloth.
The moment she did, unnecessary chaos would surely ensue.
Having come down after a long while, she preferred to remain as quiet as possible before leaving.
Of course.
‘Something feels… off.’
Something about it felt peculiar.
An intuition whispered that I shouldn’t just pass by.
What had I passed by so far?
Having walked past so many children, I couldn’t recall any of them.
Within the fabric covering her face, her jewel-like purple eyes shifted.
Those glimmering eyes moved slightly as they spotted the woman beside her.
“Daughter.”
“…”
The masked woman called out. Yarang turned to look at her.
“Have you seen anything strange?”
At the woman’s call, Yarang paused in silence before quickly shaking their head.
“Really?”
The woman smiled as if she had understood without any doubts.
“I see. From now on, you must truly be my eyes and ears. Lead me well.”
Yarang nodded again at the woman’s words.
However, Yarang’s expression was still focused on the path they had walked.
After surveying the crowd for a moment, the woman began to move again, prompting Yarang to follow her.
“Hmm.”
The woman wandered, scanning the surroundings.
“You’ve changed a lot since I last saw you.”
When was the last time I laid eyes on her? It felt like ancient history.
Back then, it was merely a thicket, so the existence of something like this was rather astonishing.
“As always, time flits by, doesn’t it?”
Yarang nodded in agreement with the woman’s words.
Time changes in a blink.
Mortal time never aligns perfectly. Time simply exists.
The flow that comes with it held little significance for the woman.
Thus, it followed.
That’s why.
‘I guess it’s something you don’t care about.’
Time is meaningless because it is infinite.
Meaning, ultimately, becomes beautiful because it is finite.
For the woman, it wasn’t like that. Hence, the essence had faded.
So even as she gazed at the transformed night sky, it was wondrous, but she felt no excessive emotions.
“Hmm.”
As she looked around, the woman displayed her uniquely beautiful eyes, but the light within them had dimmed somewhat.
What was she looking at now?
She tried to behold it, but it didn’t seem particularly beautiful.
No, perhaps she didn’t want to capture it at all.
After all, even if she captured it, it would be pointless. There was no need to ascribe meaning to it or remember it.
This was the world where she belonged and the place she needed to protect as an existence.
That was all.
That was how this land felt to the woman.
I wish to remember and capture it.
When was the last time I felt that way?
I couldn’t recall that either.
‘Memory.’
Is there a need to remember something?
Had I ever exerted effort towards that?
While the woman wandered, lost in her thoughts.
“Ah.”
Suddenly, she widened her eyes at something she discovered. Then.
Thud—!
In a sparse area, something seemed to descend from the air.
It was a young man with light green hair. The woman looked at him with an expression that was quite neutral.
“…I greet my master….”
Yusa, appearing tense, prepared to show respect.
“It’s been a while.”
As the woman spoke in a soft tone, Yusa swallowed nervously and bowed deeper.
“Why has your esteemed self come to this humble place…?”
“Humble, you say.”
The woman chuckled lightly at Yusa’s words.
“Where on this earth is there a truly humble place?”
“…”
Yusa’s lips twitched as the scent of flowers wafted by.
It seemed he had made a slight verbal blunder.
“…I apologize. How could I….”
“It’s okay. I didn’t intend to accept an apology.”
Flick. The woman stepped closer to Yusa. A sensation devoid of anything.
The feeling was akin to nothingness.
Yusa’s eyes widened at the almost imperceptible sensation.
How could it feel so indifferent?
“Lift your head.”
Upon her command, Yusa raised his head.
And there, he met the woman’s jewel-like pink eyes.
Swipe.
The woman stroked Yusa’s cheek with her white hand.
“Is it a problem for me to have gone out of my way to find you?”
“…Surely that would not be an issue. There is no place on this earth where my master is unwelcome.”
Yusa’s confident words brought a hint of a smile to the woman’s face. Then she remarked.
“That’s a relief. Then may I ask you some questions?”
“…I will listen attentively.”
Yusa nearly sprawled out flat on the ground in deference.
His previously swaying tail had calmed long ago, and his perked-up ears hung dejectedly.
He had assumed a position of utmost respect.
Observing that, the woman inquired.
“I heard there was something interesting that happened recently.”
“…!”
Yusa’s tail flicked slightly at her words.
“It might have been an event, but… it feels like I’ve never heard this story before.”
“…That’s not the case. It’s just that we are nearing the end of the verification process. I will report once I’ve compiled accurate information.”
“Is that true?”
“That is indeed true….”
[Is it true?]
“…!”
Clash! Yusa’s body trembled at the woman’s voice.
His heart. Even the soul within felt a jolt.
The choking feeling around his throat was reminiscent of a command.
“…It is true.”
“I see.”
After managing to provide an answer, the pressing weight eased.
Only then did Yusa regain the ability to breathe properly.
“Then, does it mean you will share your words later?”
“…If you wish, I could tell you right away.”
“No, that won’t do.”
The woman dismissed Yusa’s response.
“She says she will tell me when the time is right. I shall wait.”
Waiting mattered not to her, for time was trivial.
Like I said earlier, for the woman, time meant nothing.
“I needed to hear your response. I apologize for interrupting you.”
“Not at all….”
“How long do you intend to stay here?”
What an odd question to ask about how much longer she would remain in her homeland, but there was a purpose behind it.
“I will depart first thing tomorrow.”
For the woman had matters set aside for Yusa.
“Alright. Then rest easy.”
The woman turned her back as if she had nothing more to say.
Seeing that, Yusa hastily spoke up.
“Will you… be returning now, my master?”
“Um, no.”
The woman shook her head lightly at Yusa’s question.
“Not immediately….”
The woman, pondering her answer, glanced at Yarang beside her.
“I’m just planning to take a stroll.”
“A stroll… you mean?”
“That’s right. A stroll.”
The woman stated as she walked slowly away.
She seemed to be moving away from Yusa without any attachments.
Yusa watched Yarang follow the woman and bit his lip slightly.
Later, the woman and Yarang headed towards a park located in the center of the fortress.
A rare oasis of quiet in the chaotic castle.
They strolled calmly, taking in the surroundings.
Passing through the buildings, arriving here felt slightly surreal.
Yarang followed closely behind, quietly observing her.
How long?
How much longer?
For what purpose?
These could have been asked, but Yarang remained silent.
Even if they could ask, it wasn’t something they could pursue.
They merely gazed quietly at the woman.
At that moment.
“Daughter.”
The woman spoke to Yarang.
“It seems there is something.”
As always, her tone was gentle yet serene.
Beyond her softly articulated voice, she added.
“It seems it’s time to change the captain.”
Contrasting her tender tone, it was a somewhat chilling statement.
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