Chapter 954
I returned to the Volcano Sect.
It wasn’t an immediate return; I had to wait as long as possible until sunrise before making my way back.
This was because I remembered the advice against traveling at night being a potential issue.
Re-entering wasn’t difficult.
Since I recalled Gubong’s actions from last time, I had already prepared some turtle shell powder in advance.
The real challenge was finding the entrance.
‘Here it is.’
That part wasn’t difficult either.
It was clearly visible to the naked eye.
I narrowed my eyes slightly as I observed the distortion in space.
‘It wasn’t visible at first.’
Initially, I had to focus intensely with my spiritual eye just to catch a glimpse, but now it seemed strangely clear.
Was there a specific turning point for this change? Or…
‘Did something happen with the barrier?’
I accumulated questions but chose not to ponder too deeply; this wasn’t the time for such distractions.
Tap tap.
I lightly sprinkled some powder on my body.
Like last time, it felt incredibly uneasy every single moment I applied it.
‘… Turtle shell powder…’
It was akin to gathering some dead skin and dusting it over myself.
Quite uncomfortable indeed, but I had no choice—so I bore it with gritted teeth.
After dabbing it on myself a few times, I attempted to spray it on Cheonma as well.
“…I don’t want to do this.”
Cheonma, unusually showing this much disdain, recoiled.
“What do you mean you don’t want to?”
I grabbed her arm, utterly baffled by her reaction.
“No!”
Thwack! The Heavenly Horse swatted my hand away.
What on earth was her deal?
“So, what then? Are you just going to stay here?”
“No.”
“In that case, you have to spray it. If you don’t, you can’t get in!”
Before I could finish my sentence, Cheonma made a bold step forward.
“Hey, wait!”
I called out urgently.
Just like that, Cheonma swaggered up to the barrier.
Whoosh-!
“Huh?”
She vanished right before my eyes. What the heck was that? My eyes widened in shock for a moment.
Could it be?
In a moment of panic, I followed her toward the barrier.
Swish-!
Just as before, the light flickered, and the scene in front of me shifted. By the time I realized it, I had already entered the Volcano Sect I was familiar with.
And Cheonma was there too.
“You…?”
I gazed at her with startled eyes.
She simply stared back at me with her trademark blank expression.
“How did you do that?”
“….”
I asked out of curiosity, but she had no reply.
She merely continued to fixate on me.
Then, she stepped closer with determined strides.
Crash-!
“Ugh?!”
Suddenly, she stomped down on my foot.
I quickly pulled away, the sharp pain making me fear that my foot might actually get crushed.
“You crazy woman…! What the hell are you doing?!”
I clutched my injured foot, cursing, but Cheonma just scoffed at me and took off like a rocket.
“Huh?”
I let out a breath as I watched her leap away into the distance.
“Why is she acting up again? Ugh….”
All I could do was glare at Cheonma’s retreating form in a fuming silence.
Anyway.
She was an existence I simply couldn’t comprehend.
*
Having returned to the Volcano Sect, the first place I headed to was, of course, where Noya was.
As usual, Noya was busy farming in the plot behind her dwelling.
“Oh, you’re back…”
The moment she saw me, Noya squinted her eyes.
“…What on earth happened to make you look like that?”
“Oh my.”
I awkwardly chuckled at Noya’s question.
Ah, I hadn’t wanted to get caught, but it seemed my cover was blown right away.
‘Is it impossible to hide it?’
I had been trying so hard to control my energy, but it looked like deceiving Noya’s eye was impossible.
“I was already feeling unwell, but this time you really went to hell.”
“… It’s not that bad. It’s just a little messed up inside, the outside is fine.”
“Ha! Is that what you would call it?”
Noya kept clicking her tongue while giving me a long look. Was it really that terrible?
‘I am feeling a bit off, but isn’t it bearable?’
Honestly, it didn’t quite feel like the aftermath of a battle.
I hadn’t fought directly; I had sustained injuries while trying to use Cheonma’s technique, so I had taken care of my body.
However.
‘The issue was capturing the general.’
I felt somewhat twisted while suppressing that guy.
It was a sensation that struck me to my very soul.
This annoying, prickling discomfort just wouldn’t fade away.
Of course, my insides were pretty wrecked…
‘What is with this…’
When had my body ever been in such a pitiful state?
At this point, it seemed like a little spit would help!
Anyway.
“I had some business to attend to.”
“Business?”
“Yes.”
I continued speaking while glancing at Noya.
“I went to see the general in person.”
“…!”
Noya’s eyes widened at my words. Noticing her reaction, I slowly elaborated on my explanation.
*
After hearing my entire account, Noya set her sickle down and rested her chin on her hand.
Her expression had changed to one of deep seriousness.
I hadn’t shared that much information.
I simply visited the night market and met Yusa.
And the that I had a confrontation with the Blue Family afterwards.
That was about it.
“…Yusa appeared, huh?”
“Do you know much about Yusa?”
“I’m not an expert, but I know a little.”
“What kind of guy is he?”
“Hmm.”
When I inquired about Yusa, Noya contemplated for a moment before replying.
“He’s a pureblood of the Moonlight, and has reached the top of it.”
“The top?”
That was an intense announcement. When referring to the Moonlight, it must mean all beast-men.
To reach the top among them?
‘Well, makes sense.’
That didn’t sound wrong. The Yusa I faced was indeed that formidable.
‘It was even more so under the cover of night.’
Once his presence fully descended, the power of the general I faced exceeded my expectations.
Essentially… yeah.
‘He isn’t just an ordinary expert…’
I would say he’s on the level of the Three Lords.
At least in terms of presence, there didn’t seem to be a significant difference from the Heavenly Lord I encountered in my previous life.
‘… So, can we consider that the general is at the third rank?’
Not having seen any other generals, I’m not entirely sure.
However, to me, Yusa seemed to possess that level of power.
Only if we were to analyze sheer combat capability, though.
While reflecting on Yusa this way, Noya swiftly added her insights.
“He prefers crude approaches. That intensity makes him strong. He possesses great intuition and is not easily tricked. While he pretends to be innocent, his true nature resembles that of a serpent.”
“So, he’s strong but infuriating, huh?”
“After giving you an elaborate explanation, you shortened it right away….”
“Is that wrong?”
“… No. You’re absolutely right.”
Noya nodded as if resigning to the truth.
‘Just as I thought.’
Now that I had some certainty, I began to understand. He was indeed an irksome individual.
“So, you met that fella, and that’s how you ended up like this?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t even fight?”
“Ah… yes, we definitely didn’t fight. But that guy was doing something a little weird.”
“Something weird?”
I provided a brief explanation of the encounter.
That he attempted to restrain me with mere words, and that after hearing that, I found a way to use it back against him.
And from that point, I subdued him for a time.
…”
Upon hearing that, Noya regarded me with a peculiar expression.
“What’s with that look?”
Is there something wrong? I inquired, subtly anxious, and Noya quickly shook her head.
“No. Are you saying you really used it on Yusa?”
“Yes. Do you know what that means?”
“I don’t know everything, but from what I gather, it’s about command.”
“… command? Like commanding someone?”
“Exactly.”
“What an embarrassingly simple name.”
The way to issue a command was simply called a command.
So I pondered why they had to shorten it to just one character.
Anyway, let’s set that aside for now.
“A command is a power that forces complete obedience.”
First, I had to carefully listen to Noya’s explanation.
The ability to command unyielding obedience.
The explanation alone didn’t quite register for me.
“Unyielding? That sounds like a pretty ridiculous description.”
Who in the world possesses such a capability?
I had never heard of a force that could be wielded unconditionally.
‘If it were a kind of divine power, I’d get it. Even divine powers aren’t that ridiculous.’
For example, my desires operate like that.
They show overwhelming effectiveness against those with abilities, yet, on the flip side, they have no particular weight against those without power.
But is this “command” thing saying I can compel anyone?
“… Regardless of how strong or weak they are?”
“In principle, yes.”
“That can’t possibly be true.”
No matter how much I pondered it, it didn’t make any sense.
Could such a scam power even exist?
Of course, I suppressed Yusa using this ability… Ah.
“But he also tried to use some bent power against me. It didn’t work.”
“Yeah, that’s the conundrum.”
“What’s troubling you?”
“Aesong-ah, even that so-called unyielding command clearly has its conditions.”
“Oh, so it’s not unconditional-.”
“Quit nitpicking and just listen.”
“… Yes.”
Just as I was about to interject, I found myself effectively silenced.
Wait, why is he grumpy about a term he himself just used?
While I munched on my own words, I heard Noya continue.
“When your level of existence surpasses that of the other.”
“… Huh?”
“In this full moon, the command applies only to those of lower rank. Only the generals designated by the master can utilize it.”
“… What?”
Are you saying only generals can give commands?
Then that means…
“…So, what about me?”
How on earth could I issue commands?
Not only did I activate it, but I even used it against a general.
Although I was left quite wrecked by the backlash during the process, the fact I had used it stands unchanged.
Curious about this, I asked Noya.
“Well, naturally. It’s because you are at a higher rank compared to the general.”
“Am I actually at a higher rank than a general?”
“Why wouldn’t you be?”
Noya gestured at my body, her eyes narrowing.
“Recall who your parent is.”
“…!”
That statement made me think of someone—not my father, which left only one possibility.
No way…
“… Are you implying I have power because of my mother?”
“I don’t know if that’s the reason you can use that ability, but the fact that the general fell for it suggests it’s likely linked to her.”
…”
I am the master of all realms.
As my mother’s offspring, it’s plausible I’m at a higher rank than a general.
That’s what Noya was alluding to.
But.
“Surely, it’s not guaranteed. If you could use it, that likely suggests a strong possibility. If that’s not the case….”
“If it’s not?”
“You mentioned your mother played a part in how you got here. Perhaps she made some arrangements for you.”
Upon hearing Noya’s words, I frowned slightly.
That indeed could be the case.
‘… The moment I faced the Blood Demon, I realized my mother sent me here.’
In that moment, my mom had said something.
“Never. No matter what happens.”
‘She told me not to seek out myself.’
The worried warning from that day echoed in my thoughts.
From Noya’s words, I realized that my current mother is not the same person I knew.
The thought of potentially dying at her hands if we meet again was also rather disturbing.
The problem is, despite that…
“… Ultimately, it looks like I’ll have to meet with my mother.”
The certainty only grew stronger within me.
“… As I mentioned before, Aesong.”
“I’m aware. There’s a good chance my mother won’t recognize me.”
Noya gazed at me with concerned eyes.
I hadn’t realized it before, but now I understood those eyes reflected worry.
“But what can I do? I need to see her to return. And even aside from that, it would be quicker considering the request you made.”
“…”
“Besides.”
I eased my throat a bit as I spoke.
It was a long-held habit; regardless of physical or mental fatigue, I’d do this once in a while to release tension.
“I intend to see her, even if it means some trouble.”
“… Trouble? What do you mean?”
“Here I am, wanting to meet someone after decades, but the fact that she won’t even recognize me is just infuriating. I need to see her and have a word or two.”
“… Huh.”
“Anyway, that’s how it is. I’ve reported everything, so I’m heading out now.”
“Where are you leaving for again?”
“Oh, I’m going to visit Mr. Turtle.”
I had made up my mind.
Though I’d decided on this a few days prior, I felt more resolute now.
My previously sluggish body had become tolerable.
My fraying mental state was also regaining its sharpness.
“Before visiting my mother, I need to spruce myself up a bit.”
“…”
Noya looked at me like I was out of my mind, but I brushed off her familiar gaze without a concern.
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