Chapter 903: Paradise.
It’s an annoying and bothersome word.
“Paradise…”
I sat quietly on the chair, recalling the conversation. My head still felt uneasy.
Paradise (樂園). It’s a word that sounds incredibly beautiful at first, but by now, it doesn’t seem quite so nice.
The issue lies with the one who mentioned it—not other than the Blood Demon.
‘That guy said he dreamed of paradise.’
Did he say he would turn the Central Plains into a paradise? Or did he say he would go to paradise?
That part isn’t quite clear, but I understand that it aligns with his purpose.
But.
‘Man-gye is also referred to as paradise.’
If this place I’m currently in is called paradise, could it possibly be related to what the Blood Demon said?
If there is a connection, how indeed is it linked? That part bothered me.
‘Especially, the Blood Demon’s reaction to my mother was such.’
An enemy, or a warning.
Although I haven’t seen him often, he always looked at me like he finds any situation amusing.
As soon as he spotted my mother, he became extremely wary.
The paradise that Man-gye and the Blood Demon spoke of must be interconnected.
It was a moment when I became entirely certain.
Just then.
Thud.
Something was placed on the table before me. Wondering what it was, I looked and saw a teacup.
“Drink it.”
At the voice, I turned to see who it was. Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t human.
It was a man with black hair and beastly ears.
He looked to be in his early twenties, but judging by appearances alone wouldn’t be fair.
“Who are you?”
When I asked for his identity, the man furrowed his brow.
“…I am the great disciple, Gubong.”
A great disciple.
Upon hearing that, I inadvertently made a strange expression.
‘A great disciple?’
A term that truly sounds like something straight out of a martial sect popped up. No matter how I looked at it, it seemed peculiar, but I didn’t bother to show it.
Actually, it would be apparent, but I think it’s fair to say I held back as much as I could.
“I see. So what is this…?”
“It’s called plum tea. It’s something the Jang Moon-in personally cultivated and created.”
“…”
Hearing that, I couldn’t maintain my expression.
‘…He grows it himself? That old man?’
Is it true that the man renowned for his foul temper had a hobby like this?
If it were something like plum blossom tea, that would be understandable, but calling him Shin Noya just felt quite off.
I couldn’t help but stare at the tea, unable to trust it.
“You should consider it an honor.”
“Hmm?”
The beast-human named Gubong added to my words.
“It’s something that is normally not given to anyone, but the Jang Moon-in has specially… very specially given it to me.”
“Ahh.”
I nodded at those words.
Then looking at Gubong, I said something.
“Looks like you don’t like me, huh? Why?”
“…”
Gubong’s eyebrows moved at my inquiry.
He had an expression that suggested he didn’t know I’d be so blunt.
I was merely curious.
“It seems like we’re meeting for the first time. I guess that’s accurate. I haven’t seen anyone like you anywhere. But why do you dislike me…?”
As I spoke, I took a sip of the plum tea. I was taken aback.
‘This is delicious.’
Surprisingly, the plum tea was clean and fragrant. It was so strange to think of it coming from that eccentric old man’s hands.
“…That’s not it.”
I chuckled at Gubong’s reply.
“No, truly. Just looking at you, with those fiery eyes, could mean you’re ready to kill someone.”
“…”
“I’m not exactly the type to be liked wherever I go, but I really dislike being blamed for something I didn’t do.”
I took another sip. The tea was gone after just two sips. It was so good that I lost control.
“What’s wrong?”
While looking at him directly, Gubong remained silent. He merely intensified the emotions in his eyes.
What the heck? I really wanted to gouge out his eyes.
‘Pull them out?’
I could feel annoyance rising.
I was already so irritated that everything else felt like a hassle.
At that moment, I was pondering whether to just rush at him.
Click.
A tongue clicked as someone stroked my hair.
With rough hands and coarse palms. And the scent of plum blossoms intertwined in the air.
I could tell who it was without any words necessary.
“Why are you causing a ruckus in someone else’s home? If you’re going to fight, take it outside.”
“…I was meeting with Jang Moon-in…”
Gubong bowed his head.
The owner of the hand was, of course, Shin Noya.
Confirming this, I immediately spat back.
“Where have you been? You can’t just leave someone thrown aside!”
“Didn’t I say I’d just be a moment? Besides, what’s going on with all the fuss when I’ve barely been gone?”
“Who’s fighting? Can’t you see? I was the one getting picked on.”
“You’re amusing. How many people do you think would pick a fight with you just by looking at your face?”
“I think Noya would be one of them.”
“Do you want to get hit?”
“No.”
I interrupted my words as the hand stroking my head tightened its grip.
The problem is.
‘Look at those eyes.’
Gubong’s gaze, observing all this, seemed to intensify a bit more.
What could it be? Jealousy? No.
‘It feels more like…’
Something distinctly different.
“Gubong.”
“Yes, Jang Moon-in.”
“Thank you for your hard work. Please step outside.”
“…As you wish.”
“I’ll handle the remainder, so you rest a bit. This fellow has such a foul temper that staying together might infect you.”
“You’re treating me like a dog now…?”
“You’re not even human.”
“Here we go again…”
“Be careful with your words.”
“Huh?”
While I was bickering with Shin Noya, Gubong interjected.
“Please show respect when addressing the elder. Maintain the proper etiquette.”
Hearing that, it seemed the problem lay in calling him old.
“Yeah, you little punk. Tsk tsk, how rude to call me an old man.”
Meanwhile, Shin Noya joined in, laughing merrily. It’s utterly ridiculous.
I grit my teeth and said.
“Yes, Jang Moon-in. Stop messing around and just sit in front of me.”
“Alright.”
“Damn.”
“I can hear everything.”
Shin Noya walked over and dragged a chair to sit in front of me.
“Thank you for your hard work. Please head out.”
“…”
“Gubong.”
“…I apologize.”
Gubong bowed to Shin Noya as he exited. Even as he left, it appeared he didn’t forget to glare at me.
“Damn those eyes…”
I scrunched my face in annoyance when Noya erupted into loud laughter in front of me.
“Hahahaha.”
Hearing that, I asked Noya, as if questioning him.
“What’s dealing with that guy? Why is he acting out like that?”
“Don’t say too much. Isn’t it adorable when he openly shows his malice?”
“It’s not cute at all. I just wanted to gouge out his eyes.”
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have held back. But this place was also a space created by Shin Noya. I bore with it because it seemed the guy’s feelings were founded upon Noya.
“That guy has quite the temper.”
“Then, if it were you, would you have tolerated it?”
“If it were me, I’d have taken off his head first.”
“…That doesn’t exactly sound like something a genuine Taoist would say.”
I had no intention of killing him, yet this guy was thinking about doing it without hesitation.
“Anyway. Just overlook it. That kid is a bit excessive.”
“…”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t think I could endure it again if it happened.
Noya remained silent on this.
It was vague to interpret it as permission. It seemed he merely intended to let it slide.
“Is the tea alright?”
“…Yes, well.”
“From your expression, it seems it was delicious. Tsk tsk.”
“…”
Busted.
I wanted to claim it wasn’t tasty, but it genuinely was.
“Have you been doing well?”
“No.”
“Glad to hear you’re fine. I wasn’t too bad either.”
“…I said no, why did you ask if you were just going to disregard it?”
“Honestly, I wasn’t really curious, but one must do something vaguely, shouldn’t they?”
Such vague responses.
“Where has that black-haired girl gone?”
“I don’t know. She just suddenly left.”
“…Would it be too much to know?”
Noya looked at me as if he found it absurd.
Of course. Noya must know that she’s a demon.
It might be wise to employ more vigilance here.
“…It’s fine.”
I unintentionally brushed it off. It wasn’t great. It was something that required a deeper reflection.
‘I was too caught up in the situation.’
Everything felt so chaotic at the moment that I think I simply forgot about it without realizing.
“Hmm.”
Noya nodded as he observed me in that state.
The more I looked, the more I felt he indeed had a sharp demeanor.
But.
‘He is annoyingly attractive.’
I really disliked the sense of charm that seems to stem from his youthful looks.
“What’s with those strange eyes?”
“I merely recalled something unpleasing.”
“While looking at my face…?”
“It’s a misunderstanding. I merely glanced and saw Noya’s face… No, just your face was there.”
“…No.”
Should I be angry or not? Noya, who had been pondering this, eventually sighed before speaking.
“…Fine. I’m too lazy to get mad over every little thing. Just ask whatever you want.”
“Okay.”
With a slightly awkward expression, I turned to Noya.
There were still heaps of things I wanted to know and far too much to grasp.
“Is there a way back?”
Ultimately, the most important thing was how to return.
The issue was.
‘Does that old man know?’
Listening to Shin Noya, he has been here for one hundred and fifty years already. Did he even find a way back?
Thus, I asked with some anxiety.
“There is.”
“…!”
Surprisingly, Noya said there was a way back.
“What? You don’t look like someone who knows the way isn’t there?”
“Of course, if there were…”
I was going to inquire why he hadn’t returned yet.
“It is indeed there, but it can’t be utilized.”
“…What?”
What is that supposed to mean?
“You should be aware that this is another world, right?”
“Yes.”
How could I not?
Things not of this realm walked about, and there were two moons. How could I not be aware?
“Since you have come to this other world… to go to another place, you ultimately must receive the permission of the master of this world.”
“…Permission?”
There is a master of this world, and only with their permission can one go anywhere?
I couldn’t quite understand. So even if…
“Then, why was I able to just come here—.”
So easily? I was about to ask that when Noya spoke up faster.
“That’s because there isn’t a master in the Central Plains.”
“Ah.”
Noya’s words arrived quicker.
“Don’t you know? That’s why the Central Plains are in such a state right now.”
“…”
I hated to admit it, but it was valid.
‘…That means.’
Ultimately, the meaning boiled down to one sentence.
“So I have to get the master of this world’s permission to return?”
“Correct.”
“…Master….”
The master of this world. If I obtain their consent, I could go back to the Central Plains?
“I can’t be sure, but that’s my assumption at least.”
“…”
Upon hearing this, I envisioned someone. If that being is the master of this world…
“Correct.”
Noya confirmed.
“It’s your mother.”
“…!”
“Surely, you’ve already figured that out, haven’t you?”
“…I was not certain.”
At my words, Noya chuckled.
“Surely, you just didn’t want to believe it.”
That’s true enough.
The ruler of all realms.
The Blood Demon’s and Mu-a’s words converged, ultimately becoming one.
My mother is this world’s master.
‘Then.’
While it was shockingly intriguing, I thought it might also be a straightforward method.
At that moment.
“I can tell what you are thinking, but it’s not so simple.”
Noya seemed to read my thoughts and immediately jumped in.
“Not easy?”
“The master of the world generally does not want their offspring to wander elsewhere. It’s said they don’t get along that well. This is especially true for Man-gye.”
“…What do you mean?”
“This part… is a bit long, so I’ll explain another time. Just know that if you expect maternal affection from her, it’s a meaningless expectation—best to set that aside.”
Why? That thought crossed my mind.
While I hadn’t strictly hoped for that, it was something I had in mind to some extent.
But to cast that aside entirely? It irritated me, especially the part that stated it was ‘meaningless.’
“Why?”
So, I asked Noya, who replied with a slightly troubled look in his eyes.
“She is indeed your mother… but she likely isn’t that now.”
“…What?”
“Especially considering her disdain for dragons. You must not meet her. If you are not careful, the situation could drastically change.”
“What do you mean?”
Disdain for dragons? Yes, she is my mother, but then it’s a matter of distinction?
“I do not understand, Noya.”
“That’s… ah.”
Noya, who had started to speak, suddenly rose.
It seemed he noticed something.
“I think someone has awakened.”
“Really?”
“I’ll explain as we go. Get up.”
“Again…?”
Where could he possibly be going?
I just arrived at my locale, so why the fuss?
“Is the young man tired already? It’s not far. Just ahead.”
Noya gestured out the window.
Beyond it lay a location that startled me the moment I laid eyes on it.
“Let’s first go there since the person below seems to have awakened.”
“Awoken?”
Was there something sleeping? Just then, a thought struck me.
“Yes, they have awakened.”
Rumble—!!!
“…!”
The ground shook, sending goosebumps crawling up my arms.
Simultaneously.
[Ugh.]
I heard a wailing sound.
At that, I immediately raised my head.
Could this cry be true?
“The master responsible for the darkness of this land.”
[GROOOOooo!]
The beast let out a roar.
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