Chapter: 956
Rumble…
It sounded like thunder.
The air twisted and an unknown energy seeped in.
Thump-!
My heart pounded violently, and energy surged up uncontrollably.
It was a defense mechanism. Not only did my body respond on its own, but the energy spread throughout my entire body through the meridians.
Of course, I was surrounded by a self-defense aura.
Whirring—!!!
The ring of the Nine Flame Wheel began to expand and rotate.
Heat surged, and my scalp felt scorched.
‘…What is this…?’
What is this feeling?
It’s too strange to just define it as hostility or murderous intent.
But, calling it purely an external sensation felt familiar.
‘Is it sorcery?’
I decided to think of this feeling as a type of sorcery.
If that’s the case, should I express it as indulging in speculation through magic?
The manifestation of speculation is betting and emotion, and its intensity depends on the level of the practitioner.
Then, the energy needed to manifest sorcery is something different entirely.
‘So, this is the result.’
Speculation as sorcery.
And the anomaly intertwined with the turtle’s realm.
If that’s the current situation…
‘This is interesting.’
Regardless of why the turtle exhibited such a reaction, I found the current situation fascinating.
Sorcery is a complex power, and it was an unknown force to me.
‘So, this is how you can use it.’
Realizing that sorcery can be utilized like this changes everything.
‘What’s the difference?’
The pressure continued to intensify and gradually affected me.
I focused all my attention to discern how it was manifesting.
‘It’s fundamentally different than betting.’
In that case, the method of expression must also differ.
Should I approach it from the perspective of sorcery?
Thump.
I concentrated and initiated a thread of sorcery from my heart.
It didn’t feel like a direct pressure, as though I were using a bet.
If I had to analyze it further…
‘Disarray. Or anomaly.’
And alteration.
Transforming truth into lies.
Or making lies into truth.
That’s the logic and power of sorcery that I understood.
‘In the end…’
Rather than applying pressure as speculation, isn’t it rather about creating an appearance of pressure as sorcery?
It seems like an utterly common pun, though.
Swish—!
I moved my energy according to my realization. In that instant.
Clash—!
“…!”
The phenomenon created by the turtle cracked.
They clashed as if friction was taking place.
“Ah…”
I grinned with delight at the sight.
“So, this is how it’s done.”
“…Huh.”
Grind—!
In the midst of the clash of phenomena,
the turtle looked at me and chuckled.
“…What an utterly absurd guy you are.”
In frustration, the turtle expressed that the pressure I had been feeling seemed to wane.
I clicked my tongue in dismay at that.
‘I think it could have gone a little further.’
Just a bit more.
If I could have felt more energy, I was certain I could grasp it fully.
‘Should I just hold back for now?’
Given the circumstances, I had to endure it for the time being.
Then,
“What are you thinking about right now?”
The turtle’s words brought my wandering thoughts back.
“Oh. Right. What were we talking about?”
“…”
The turtle looked at me with an utterly stunned expression.
“…We were talking about how your mother is the owner of the universe.”
“Ah, right.”
That’s what we were indeed discussing. I nodded, recalling it.
I had mentioned that I needed to learn sorcery in order to visit my mother.
Hearing this, the turtle said,
“Did you call her Yo-ho?”
He referred to my mother as a Yo-ho.
“Is that your mother’s name?”
“…You don’t even know your mother’s name?”
“She wasn’t particularly called that. It could be different here.”
“…”
The turtle’s expression turned inscrutable at my casual comment.
Because he had such an emotionless demeanor, it was hard to read him.
A moment passed like that.
“…That’s not it. Calling her Yo-ho is merely a nickname.”
“Is it a nickname just the elder calls her? Or…”
“There might be others who refer to her that way. However.”
Tap, tap.
The turtle poked the floor with the stick he was holding.
“I wonder if she’s still alive.”
“…”
It was a voice that sounded cold and mournful.
Not good.
‘If that’s the reaction…’
Doesn’t it imply that our mother had done something?
‘Hmm.’
What could my mother have possibly done?
I felt a nagging curiosity about that but didn’t want to pry too much.
‘I feel like asking may not be a great idea.’
Best not to inquire unless she volunteers the information.
“…Phew.”
The turtle exhaled repeatedly, as if trying to sort through his complicated feelings.
I quietly stared at him as he breathed.
“…This is ludicrous.”
Finally, the turtle looked at me and released a frustrated voice.
“You can clearly tell that I don’t harbor good feelings towards your mother. Do you still intend to sit here?”
“No, what…?”
If you really think about it, this was something I already knew.
“It’s not my fault. Even if it is, it was my mother’s doing.”
“…”
The turtle looked dumbfounded at my bold statement.
“You’re quite shameless, aren’t you?”
“Shameless? I’m simply being assertive.”
I shrugged and replied.
“I was equally shocked when I found out my mother is a major figure here. I hardly even wanted to come.”
This was partly a lie. The promise made with my father when the Nine Flame Wheel achieved full power came into play.
– If you master the Nine Flame Wheel, I will reveal where your mother is.
That was the deal my father and I made. As soon as I heard it,
‘I was going to find my mother.’
I intended to go where my mother was.
However.
‘I didn’t plan to see her solely for her sake.’
The goal wasn’t just to see my mother.
It’s true that I yearned for her deeply.
‘But other more important matters took precedence.’
At this point, there were pressing issues ahead of my longing for my mother.
‘…I needed to know what was happening with my tail.’
I felt sure that my mother must know. Additionally,
‘I had to verify matters regarding the Divine Sword as well.’
When I saw her traces at Shinryongwan,
it was the first time my mother had appeared and intervened in the situation.
She told me to absorb the dragon into my body.
‘But I don’t know what happened after that.’
She hadn’t appeared again, leaving me in the dark about the whereabouts of the Divine Sword.
That’s why I came to see my mother.
Yet.
‘…It feels off not being remembered by her.’
Isn’t it too much to possibly be killed by your own mother without recognizing her son?
It was just as clear that this situation was also unfair for me.
So.
“Please help me.”
I needed the turtle’s power.
“…How did the conversation turn to this?”
The turtle furrowed his brow at my words. The conclusion seemed strange to him.
What was strange?
“I need to see my mother. To do that, I need to learn sorcery, and you’re the only one who knows.”
“No, but… why should I help you?”
“Come on, you could lend a hand.”
“…So you think I’ll just cater to your whims?”
You’re sharp.
As the conversation progressed, the confusion on the turtle’s face began to fade.
“You have ill feelings towards your mother, yet you want me to assist you, her son?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a decidedly bizarre thing to say, even for you.”
“It is strange.”
I wouldn’t deny it. It was indeed an unreasonable request.
However.
“Therefore, let’s make it a deal, instead of just asking me.”
“A deal?”
Now I became interested in the expression on the turtle’s face.
“Yes, a deal.”
“What kind of deal are we talking about?”
“Elder, teach me sorcery, and I will fulfill any requests you have.”
“…What?”
In an instant, all interest vanished from the turtle’s face.
“I have nothing to ask of you, so how can that be a deal?”
“Something will come up.”
“Wha—?”
“Whether it’s a request related to your mother or something about yourself, Elder, I will grant it.”
“…”
One of the turtle’s eyebrows twitched, and I focused on it.
Such nonsense.
How could that be a deal? The turtle could argue this point easily.
But right now, he was pondering rather than disputing.
What this indicates is,
‘You must have something you want to ask me.’
Or maybe he might.
I wouldn’t let this opportunity slip by.
“As long as it’s not something like, ‘Kill my mother’ or ‘Fight,’ I’m open to hearing it.”
“…Huh? Kill? You’re out of your mind.”
“Right? That seems a bit unfilial… .”
“No matter how many times you die and come back, you can’t kill your mother.”
“…”
Ah, that seems to be the issue.
I rubbed my cheek awkwardly.
Is my mother truly that formidable? Then again, she is the ruler of a realm…
‘So is she stronger than the Blood Demon?’
I wondered suddenly, but pushed it aside.
This wasn’t important.
Yet.
“…Isn’t it.”
The turtle pondered for a moment, recalling what he had said.
Subsequently, he appeared deep in thought.
“I see. Perhaps… it may not be the case.”
“What are you saying all of a sudden?”
“…You said you would grant a favor, didn’t you?”
“Yes, as long as it’s not the previously mentioned matters.”
“Or anything really?”
“Mentioning anything makes me a bit nervous.”
“Be clear about it.”
“I’ll hear you out later, and if it seems, ugh, awful, I’ll refuse. But I’ll accept most things.”
“…Really? Alright, I understand.”
The turtle reacted as if he accepted. I saw this and raised a question.
“Are you really okay with rejecting it after stating ‘if I don’t like it’?”
What that implies is, if it doesn’t suit me, I’ll decline.
Yet the turtle responded as if he was fine with it.
“It’s fine. Just make sure you don’t decline me.”
“…Oh.”
Wow, isn’t that a little eerie?
Should I back out now? I thought for a moment.
“I will certainly regret this in the end.”
The turtle informed me.
“My stubbornness has tempted me into stepping where I shouldn’t venture. But perhaps this is fate.”
With a squeak, the turtle rose from the chair where he had been sitting. At that moment.
Whooosh—!
Suddenly, the surrounding scenery shifted.
The teahouse I had been in seemed a distant memory; I found myself standing on a plain.
A verdant field, vibrant and pulsating with life.
There, the turtle and I stood together.
“I will ask.”
The turtle spoke to me.
Strangely enough, his voice resonated with sincerity.
It felt like it was slowly entering and burrowing deep into my heart.
“What do you wish to attain from me?”
It was chilling. And sticky.
The lively fields seemed as though they could morph into a swamp at any moment.
The confrontation with a master felt as sharp as two swords clashing.
Facing the turtle felt as if the four seasons were colliding.
Sometimes cold.
Sometimes hot.
Sometimes refreshing.
And other times damp and dark.
A banquet of twisted senses awaited.
The encounter with the turtle was indeed a transformation.
Feeling this way, I responded to the turtle.
What do I wish to obtain? The answer had already been decided.
“Everything.”
Not a single thing shall be left behind.
I intended to seize all from him.
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