Eat The World Tree

Chapter 338: Hongyeon (3)

My father once said:

Human emotions were like flowers; they withered after blooming.

He wasn’t wrong, but there’s no returning to the way things were.

Under resignation, sadness evaporated. Beneath it lay an empty dam of emotions.

I wanted to ask my father how to fill that dam. But by the time I realized my hollowness, his eyes had already closed forever.

“Listen!!!”

The anguished cry of the Young Demon pierced the sky.

From the partially rebuilt houses of Dowon, martial artists of Dowon burst out barefoot, shouting their emotions.

“Waaaahhhhh!!!!”

“I… I—”

Draped in the Black Dragon Robe inherited from her father, she stood tall with sorrow but squared her shoulders with determination.

“I will inherit the power of the Demonic Sect and lead Dowon to paradise.”

With eyebrows furrowed into a fierce shape, she shouted with anguish.

“I am the Cheonma!!!”

The shoulders of the teenage Cheondo were firm and broad.

It felt as though I was looking at him—the person from back then.

‘She’s just like him.’

The corner of my lips lifted gradually.

Though my father had passed, an extraordinary figure had risen in his place. Dowon’s young blood was awakening.

Some chaos was to be expected, but they would overcome it.

I would ensure it, and Cheondo wasn’t weak either.

Watching Cheondo’s figure giving her speech, I found tears welling up again for no reason.

“Unnie, don’t cry. Hiiing.”

“…I’m not crying.”

“Liar! You are crying. Sniff, sniff. Hongyeon unnie is a crybaby!”

“And aren’t you the crybaby here? Come now, into my arms.”

“Ughhh. Sniff sniff. I miss oppa….”

Hwangdo snuggled into my arms, sobbing.

Really, why did children grow so quickly? After not seeing her for a while, she had grown taller and heavier.

I gently smoothed Hwangdo’s tear-dampened hair.

“Unnie.”

Next to Hwangdo, Baekdo, who had been silently watching Cheondo, spoke.

“What is it?”

“Teach me martial arts too.”

Baekdo had also changed a lot. Her determined expression and tightly bitten lips were evident.

“Of course. If you wish to learn, I’ll teach you as much as you like. Although, I must warn you—I’m not exactly gifted in martial arts.”

When I delivered the news of Dowon’s death, Baekdo had spent days in shock, unable to compose herself.

But that had been the same for everyone.

The figure of that Young Demon had imprinted itself vividly in the minds of all who had lived in Dowon, more so than anyone had anticipated.

Baekdo clenched her fists tightly, tears brimming.

“I will become the greatest under heaven.”

It was an abrupt declaration, some might say.

Even with the emergence of the Cheonma of this era, to claim the title of the greatest under heaven was bold. Yet, I understood why.

“…I want to protect others too.”

That’s right.

You two can accomplish anything.

I will ensure it. I’ll let you do anything you wish.

I knelt down and embraced Baekdo.

“Well done.”

“……”

“Whether you become the greatest under heaven or the greatest of all time—Baekdo and Hwangdo, you two can do anything.”

Carrying the blood of the Cheonma and her innate talents, I can say this with certainty.

“You’re my siblings, after all.”

The one who would now lead Dowon was me.

Until Cheondo adjusted to her new role, I must hold it together.

“Go inside. I’ll explain things slowly later.”

“Yes.”

“Okay… sniff.”

Just as Father and Dowon had done.

I would prepare for the next generation, ensuring they could escape any danger.

Even if a crisis arose, I would protect these three no matter what.

Because those who came before had done it.

“Cult leader!”

Cheondo descended after finishing her speech, sweat dripping from her brow. She seemed unprepared for the attention and was trembling slightly.

With long hair cascading past her shoulders, her youthful face made it hard to believe she was Cheonma.

But the Black Dragon Robe draped over her shoulders was unmistakably the symbol of Cheonma.

“Let us go inside, Cheonma.”

Hongyeon knelt and greeted Cheondo. Cheondo, unsure how to respond, looked flustered—but even that was endearing.

“May I ask the cult leader something?”

Cheondo awkwardly smiled.

“Will I—ah! I mean… can I do well?”

-Chuckle.-

“Of course.”

I prayed earnestly. May this child live safely, without scars, and navigate the world well.

Because raising the girl whom Father and Dowon had protected was now my responsibility.

After the succession of Cheonma and the grand festivities,

I did not return to my chamber.

It had been a long time since I’d gone inside my own home.

With Dowon gone and most of the officials dead, it was unthinkable for the cult leader of the Demonic Sect to rest.

-Thud.

In the same office as always, sitting right in front of Dowon’s usual spot where we used to exchange drinks, I stared at the martial arts uniform he had worn and hugged it tightly.

“…Dowon.”

To be honest,

Even now… it didn’t feel real.

How quickly he came and went, yet managed to occupy such a large part of my heart.

-Can I do well?

Cheondo asked me this. I believed she could.

Even if I didn’t know, I had faith in that child.

I buried my face into the martial arts uniform that no longer smelled of blood.

It seemed as though even a faint trace of his scent remained. Tears fell.

“Dowon… can I do well?”

The weight on my shoulders feels unbearable.

“Can I lead this place properly? I want to ask… but whom can I even ask anymore?”

The dampening uniform. My choking voice. I had lost count of how many times this had happened.

Yet whenever it got tough, whenever I doubted myself, the tears came again.

I couldn’t show this to anyone else. But you…

At least you, who understood and supported my work better than anyone else, would know.

“Cheondo is doing well. But me… I can’t feel confident. Am I even meant to be in this position? How can I protect Dowon, which will soon crumble?”

I wanted to be like you—

“…Dowon, what would you have done? How did you manage so well?”

I was not perfect.

I was not as strong as my father was.

I was incomplete. Just barely past my twenties, woefully lacking the ability to protect Dowon.

“…Sometimes, I dream that you’re alive.”

It was nothing but imagination.

A simple fantasy of Dowon suddenly appearing in front of me, living together and overcoming trials.

It was not something I could tell anyone else.

“If only you were here….”

The void left by my father wouldn’t have felt so vast.

The lingering emotions would have been poured out.

Perhaps, if you had even the slightest thought of accepting me…

“I think I could do better than I am now. Even just a little better.”

I clutched my pounding chest as though trying to tear it apart. It ached. My mind blurred from the relentless pain.

“There’s no place for you in my Dowon anymore.”

After the sadness came resignation.

The empty spot left atop the dry dam would no longer be filled by anyone.

-Gulp.

Blood trickled from my lips. I woke from the dream and frantically looked around.

“Gah… ugh… cough, cough. Urghhh!”

I spat out blood and vomit. What had happened?

A crimson light had fallen from the sky. Hunters had invaded. As I tried to block it, I was struck by a blade.

“Ah… ugh.”

The pain in my abdomen was excruciating.

A long sword was impaled through my body.

“Damn it. Damn it!”

Curses burst out of my mouth. One of my legs was mangled and wouldn’t move.

-Drag.

I crawled forward, over the pool of blood I had spilled.

My memories were blurry. The overwhelming shock had left me unable to recall how the situation had deteriorated to this point.

“Please… please… damn it. Father, please.”

I begged as I crawled.

Clutching at rain-soaked weeds, pulling myself forward until they tore from the ground.

Each movement of the blade within me sent searing pain through my abdomen.

“Ah… ughhh!”

My consciousness threatened to slip away again. If I passed out now, I would surely die.

I bit my lip and forced myself to climb the hill.

“Please….”

Just a little further.

Move faster.

As my consciousness dimmed, my memories grew clearer.

The Hunter Association and the World Tree cult had attacked. They invaded Dowon to destroy the Peach Tree family entirely and sever the root of the problem.

I knew it was coming and had prepared.

This… this was the result of my preparations.

I thought I had done everything I could.

And yet, here we were again….

“Please… move.”

The blood trail stretched like a red carpet behind me. My ice-cold arm refused to budge any longer.

Why… why was my final dream the one where that child became Cheonma?

My vision wavered as the sensation in my body faded.

-Crack.

“…I can’t die. Not like this. I… I… how could I….”

My molars cracked under the pressure. My vision turned crimson. Like one possessed, I searched my body.

Finally, I found a broken pill-shaped potion. I gathered the pieces into one hand and stuffed them into my mouth, chewing.

-Crunch, crunch.

Pieces of the potion fell from my mouth. I picked them up, dirt and all, and chewed them again.

Panting heavily, I scanned my surroundings.

“Hah… hah….”

I rose, pulling the sword from my abdomen.

Without even screaming, I dragged myself forward.

Finally, I crested the hill I had struggled so desperately to climb. I gazed upon Dowon, or what was left of it.

Unsurprisingly, the sight before me could no longer be called a village.

“……”

Thud.

Something broke inside me.

The armory we had painstakingly rebuilt. The orphanage that protected parentless children.

The market and the tile-roofed houses.

All of it lay in ruins, toyed with by the cult members who wore those cursed robes.

“……Ah.”

At the closest edge of my vision—

The bodies of two people lay on the ground.

Soaked in blood, unmoving. Snow-white hair. Orange hair.

Their familiar martial arts uniforms—no, no, it couldn’t be.

Why… no, this wasn’t—

What?

“Aaaaahhhhh!!!”

A scream tore from my throat.

With trembling hands, I crawled to their forms and embraced them.

Their cold, lifeless bodies left me unable to breathe.

“My… my sisters…. Please, Father, please…. Why? No, no, it can’t be. Sniff, hic… gulp, gulp….”

So much.

They were so precious to me, no different from a part of myself.

“…What… what did I do? Why is this happening to me? Why me… just me….”

Everyone left me behind.

Despite enduring unwanted malice, stubbornly clinging on no matter what, I only ever wanted to cherish this place.

Even that was taken from me. Did they hate me so much?

“…Please. Kids, wake up, please…! Sniff, sob….”

Their pale eyes were still filled with fear. They hadn’t even realized they were dead,

simply lying there, crying even in death.

How much pain must they have endured?

“You should’ve just… killed me instead….”

No thoughts came to mind.

I couldn’t accept reality. My expression didn’t change as I silently stared at the two bodies.

And then, I cried again.

“…Why do I even exist?”

Born, raised, only to lose everything.

I used to have reasons to live, but now I don’t even have reasons to die.

There was nothing left.

I pressed my blood-covered hands against my face.

-Step, step.

A cultist approached, holding a sword.

In my daze, I didn’t even think to avoid him.

-Clink.

He unsheathed the blade and extended it toward me.

A man whose name and origins I didn’t know, someone I had never met before, was about to take my siblings’ lives and mine.

Maybe dying…

Would be easier.

“…Why are you… doing this?”

My voice was hoarse, barely audible. My throat was cracked, and blood spattered as I spoke.

The man looked at me indifferently and gave a small smirk.

“I don’t know.”

“……”

Of course, that would be the answer.

“It is the will of the World Tree. Following its will, you will return to fertile soil. You’ll simply go back to the earth. So don’t bear too much resentment.”

He didn’t know.

It’s the World Tree’s will.

“…This.”

I had lost so many dear people, only to hear such hollow words.

“…Why, because of your will….”

-Grit.

Summoning my remaining magical power, I extended my hand.

The sword that had been stuck in the ground far away flew toward the cultist, striking the back of his head.

“Guh!?”

Without sparing a glance at the priest’s lifeless body, I held my siblings close again.

Their bodies, growing colder and colder, no longer seemed savable.

Even the tears wouldn’t come anymore.

I just sat there, dazed. Surrounded by corpses, I stared at the rainy night sky.

The umbrella spokes that once shielded me were nowhere to be seen.

The pouring rain soaked me to the bone.

-Drip, drip.

-Whoosh!

The torrential rain was cold.

“…….”

Raindrops fell into my eyes.

Each drop, like needles, pricked at my eyeballs, but I didn’t close my eyelids.

As if I were truly a dead person, my entire body felt numb.

No words came to mind.

The unexpected thing was that my tears hadn’t dried yet.

All I could do was sigh at the salty taste filling my mouth.

At the moment Dowon fell.

-Drip.

I did nothing.