"Daughter?"

I stood there for a moment, stunned, at the words Noya had # Nоvеlight # just spat out.

‘Daughter?’

Shin Noya had clearly said that Yarang was the daughter of my mother.

"...What is that...?"

No matter how I tried to say something, my mouth wouldn’t move, almost as if it were broken.

Could it be that shocking?

That my mother had another child?

If that was the case, I thought it was childish and petty to be so shocked.

It must have just been pure surprise.

As I blinked, unable to form words, Noya, who had been cutting the grass with a sickle, added another comment.

"That’s what your mother said. I don’t know the details of it."

Noya lowered the sickle as he spoke.

"The important thing is that this Yarang is your mother's eyes and ears."

"...Eyes and ears?"

"Yes."

Noya, having carelessly tossed the sickle aside, started picking up his clothes that had been left in a heap on a nearby rock.

"In this world, there’s nothing Yarang can’t see or hear. That’s the power they have."

"That’s some ridiculous kind of power..."

Nothing that can’t be seen or heard? That’s not just about expanding your perception, is it?

"Of course, that's not really everything. It’s still within the realm of power, after all."

While speaking, Shin Noya pointed to somewhere with his finger. It was the spot where the plum tree, full of blossoms, stood.

"Where there is the sacred tree, no power can be used, so it can’t be seen."

"...Eh? Really?"

That was something I didn’t know.

No, I guess I couldn’t know since it had never been told to me before.

‘So, you can’t use powers where the sacred tree is...’

Did such a thing exist?

"So, generally, powers can’t be used inside places like Yahwol Palace or others."

I frowned slightly upon hearing this. There was a part that didn’t quite make sense.

"Noya."

"Yes?"

"You just said that you can't use powers where the sacred tree is located, right?"

"Yes."

"But then, when you said you can't use it in other places... does that mean there are sacred trees in those places too?"

Are there sacred trees in places like Yahwol Palace too? I asked with that doubt in mind.

"It seems so."

"...Did they stick something that big there?"

I didn’t see such a tree when I went to Yahwol Palace. No matter how vast the interior was, I should’ve noticed something that large.

At my words, Noya looked at me with a disappointed expression.

"Do you think all sacred trees are that big?"

"...Aren’t they that big?"

I didn’t know since it was my first time seeing one. Someone should’ve told me.

"Sacred trees aren’t always that big. There are smaller sacred trees that might not be visible or could be hidden."

Not all sacred trees are that big, and some might be hidden. I suppose that makes sense. If all sacred trees were that size, I should have noticed.

But...

"Are there more of these big sacred trees in this world...?"

"If you look for them, you’ll find them. Probably, there are exactly three more, besides this one."

"Three more?"

"Yes. There are four sacred trees in total. The same number as the generals."

The same number as the generals.

I focused on that part.

"So, you’re saying there are as many sacred trees as the number of generals?"

"Strictly speaking, it’s more accurate to say there are other regions, but... there probably won’t be any in one place."

"Why?"

"Why, you ask?"

Like he had pointed out earlier, Shin Noya pointed to the plum tree.

"I stole it and planted it here."

"..."

I couldn’t help but wash my face with cold water after hearing that. What is he saying so confidently?

I had heard it before. He had stolen the seed of the sacred tree and went through a lot of trouble because of it.

"So, you probably won’t be able to see inside here. But the outside might be different."

Noya began to gather the crops he had harvested into his arms.

Watching him, I asked.

"...But, why did you steal it?"

Why would he go through the trouble of stealing that sacred tree?

Not understanding, I asked, and Noya calmly replied.

"I needed it."

"The sacred tree?"

"Yes. But there was no other way to get it, so what could I do?"

"So, you stole it?"

"Of course."

That was such a bold response. Almost absurd.

"So, that sacred tree belongs to Yarang, that woman. And you stole it and planted it here?"

"Yes."

"And that’s why she’s trying to find it?"

"Probably."

"Why do you sound uncertain at the end?"

"Probably"—what does "probably" mean?

At my remark, Noya, with an awkward expression, said.

"It could be something else, that's all."

Could it really be something else?

Yarang, the one who had come before and now again... It’s strange, isn’t it?

Cheonma had said she came to see me, but why does it sound like the general came to see me?

I remember her trying to capture the dragon last time.

If that were the case, they should have fought immediately upon seeing each other.

‘What if they are more cautious than expected?’

If they’re avoiding direct confrontation, that’s possible, but it didn’t seem like that to me.

‘Could it be that Yarang is strong enough to hurt Cheonma?’

Cheonma had fought alone against three of the great beings and still stood firm.

Though, of course, the Cheonma of the past and the current one feel completely different, but still...

I never imagined that Cheonma would come back injured.

I think back to Cheonma, bleeding from the chest.

‘Are the generals different?’

Yarang, the daughter of my mother...

For some reason, a sense of discomfort began to rise in me.

Is it because I have a sibling I didn’t know about?

Or is it because Cheonma came back injured?

I’m not sure, but what’s clear here is...

‘Though I can’t be sure because I didn’t see it properly.’

Generals are probably stronger than I expected.

‘That leader guy, too.’

The level of power is hard to gauge. That’s why it’s difficult.

‘I can't move carelessly.’

To finish this quickly, I need to know more for sure.

I also need to try contacting their general.

‘Sigh...’

The path isn’t deviating, but it’s a bit suffocating.

It feels stifling, and there’s some sort of discomfort.

In the midst of this growing mental strain...

"Kid."

Noya spoke to me. I shifted my gaze toward him.

Noya was already dressed and ready to go.

"If you're done, let’s go."

"Eh? Where to?"

What does he mean by suddenly going somewhere?

Taken aback by his sudden words, I asked, and Shin Noya grinned and spoke to me.

"It’s been a while since we saw each other. Don’t you think I should see how much you’ve grown?"

"...Eh?"

"Follow me."

With those words, Noya jumped.

Flower petals exploded and vanished.

I stared blankly for a moment, then came to my senses.

Noya was drawing the path in the air with flower petals.

"Ha..."

I had to stare at it in disbelief.

What is going on here?

But...

"..."

I silently watched it and then focused my feet.

It was ridiculous, but I think I was smiling at that moment.

*******

Following the petals, I arrived at an open area not far from where I had been earlier.

It was a place that looked similar to where I had been beating up Gubong.

By the time I arrived, Noya was already standing in the center of the field, hands behind his back, eyes closed, calmly enjoying the breeze.

I clicked my tongue as I watched him.

‘I don’t want to admit it...’

But he looked impressive.

A tall man, with his mouth shut, standing like a neat old man—he really did look quite cool.

I cautiously approached.

Even then, Noya kept his eyes closed.

"What are you trying to do, coming all the way here?"

At my words, Noya just slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.

"Didn’t I say this earlier?"

I could see the fluttering of his clothes.

"I said I wanted to see how much you’ve grown."

I sighed heavily and replied.

"Is now really the time for that?"

We were talking, and suddenly, he says something like this while we were farming?

This was such a strange situation.

What kind of nonsense is this?

"Don’t want to? I brought you here because you looked so stifled."

"Not that I don’t want to, it’s just too sudden."

"Seems like it."

Suddenly, Noya relaxed the posture of his hands behind his back.

"I thought you might want to release what’s inside you. Was I mistaken?"

"..."

I didn’t answer.

I didn’t think his words were wrong.

I had indeed felt some kind of mental and physical suppression recently.

"So, come on over. I’ll at least indulge you for a little while."

"Indulge? This feels a little too rough to be called indulging, doesn’t it?"

"Haha."

Noya laughed loudly, as if he found my words amusing.

"Kid, you really think too highly of yourself."

As he spoke, Noya opened his eyes.

The moment he did...

Hoo—woooouuuuuuu—!!!

"...!!"

I felt the hairs on my body stand on end.

My body tensed up, and my hands began shaking involuntarily.

Instincts were raging inside me.

The moment I met Noya’s crimson eyes, I found myself stepping back without thinking.

"No matter what you do, it will only be a little amusement for me."

"..."

"So, do your best, as much as you can."

It felt like the whole world was warping around me.

"That way, maybe I can enjoy it a little bit too."

My ears were ringing with Noya's voice.

His voice wasn’t loud, but the energy wrapped in it was more than enough to make my ears ache.

And I understood it fully.

‘...So that was truly him letting me off easy back then.’

The Shin Noya I had met in the Wind Plains... that had been a completely different feeling than anything I had experienced before.

It felt like I was the prey, with a predator in front of me.

I shivered.

And without realizing it, the corners of my mouth lifted into a smile.

Am I crazy? Laughing while feeling something more terrifying?

Crunch!

I clenched my fist tightly.

Thud.

My heart pounded hard, and heat surged through my body.

Giiiii--!!

The rings of the Nine Flames Firewheel began spinning wildly.

"Hooh."

Noya reacted with interest as he watched.

"Hoo..."

Even his exhale was filled with heat.

He was compressing all that force, ready to explode at any moment, as he calmly absorbed it into his body.

"Noya."

"Yes?"

I spoke as I watched him.

"Don’t you use a sword?"

"A sword?"

At my question, Noya chuckled, clearly mocking me.

"Well, if it’s worth it, I might think about it."

"...Ah."

To think the Sword Master wouldn’t even draw his sword to fight. It felt like he was stomping on his own pride.

Normally, I’d curse and get angry at something like this.

"Then, let’s see."

This time, I wasn’t angry. I thought Noya was someone who could, and should, say things like that.

With a deep breath, I bent my torso.

And then, I focused my strength into my feet.

Crack—!!!

As the power surged, the ground beneath me caved in.

Hwoosh—!

At the same time, blue flames surrounded my entire body.

"I’ll show you a little fun."

Boom—!

With all my might, I charged at him.

Kwahhhhh—!!!

Flames exploded from me, showering Noya like a sea of fire.