Chapter 861 – 852 Emperor Hwanin’s Labyrinth
=Triguard Beast?=
=Oppa, are you a guardian animal?=
「… ?」
In response to his murmur, Hwanin gave a signal to the lovers to wait a moment and gazed at the spirit creatures in front of him with a subdued gaze.
This was because the voice that only reached his ears was coming from a spirit creature, and because he felt a kind of premonition from the word that the spirit creature called itself a guardian beast.
— Ask again. You are heaven A big presence. The reason we called our guardian. Want answer.
‘It’s not a voice, it’s a sense of a signal. Is it because I haven’t become a divine beast yet?’
A signal asking why a heavenly being called us.
A signal of tension and determination to die came from an owl with a yellow cross shining in its eyes, sitting on the head of a blue-maned bear the size of a house.
Not only the owl, but also other spirit creatures are sending a message that they will die together if they have to.
When the women also felt this and raised their guard, Hwanin opened his mouth in a soft tone telling them to lower their guard.
『I would like to apologize first. My purpose is to gather things with intelligence and wisdom above a certain level, and I had no intention of calling you, the guardians.』
— …
『Before that, I wasn’t even aware of your existence.』
Due to Hwanin’s sincerity, the determination to die that had been conveyed by the spirit creatures subsided to some extent. However, he does not fall below his guard and still keeps his distance from Hwanin.
— … We go back. Forest, don’t destroy it.
『Before that, I have a few questions for you. Would you please listen?』
— Suhosu. Nothing to say.
『If you go back, I may have to destroy this forest.』
Whoa…
At the same time as Hwanin’s story, he again expressed his determination to die and spoke in a gentle tone to the guardian beasts who were now causing him to die.
『Dialogue between the two groups is an important factor in determining behavior. If we learn through dialogue that there is a justifiable reason not to destroy or push away this forest, we will not implement it, but if we do not know, there is no reason not to destroy and push away the forest. This place is known as a dangerous labyrinth full of monsters.』
— …
The spirit creatures exchange glances with each other and seem to be thinking for a moment, then the small and agile spirit creatures turn and hurried away somewhere.
The remaining ones were a 1-meter tall owl, a 3-meter tall white rabbit, a black leopard as slender as a sports car, a red bear as big as a house, and finally, a blue flame tiger and a blue flame tiger.
— We cannot speak. Difficult to speak for a long time.
“It’s okay. If we talk calmly, there is nothing we can’t understand. Is there anything I can help you with before we start the conversation? Like getting rid of demons like just now, or treating and purifying injured trees or festering soil.』
— It is our duty.
So, you don’t need help from here.
Hwanin nodded his head and gestured to the lovers. Then, the lovers took out mats or folding chairs and sat down to rest.
However, rather than resting among her mother and aunts, Yua carefully approaches Hwanin’s side and looks at the lakes with bright eyes from his side.
After patting the infant’s head once, Hwanin gave the owl spirit a calm look, putting away all her pretense and asking for her core.
『Why are you protecting this place?』
— … What to say. The end.
『…』
Hwanin’s eyes deepened after listening to and interpreting the owl’s spirit signal for 20 minutes.
The great beings higher than the sky, the ones who protect that branch…
The spirits called themselves Triguard Beasts, beasts that guard the trees.
If it were a great being higher than the sky, wouldn’t it be referring to a huge continent floating outside the atmosphere, a giant white tree in God’s Garden – the World Tree?
Did you say your name was Giliami? When it comes to Giliami’s branches, it seems to refer to the roots. Are you saying that we are protecting those branches here?
‘Is that why the meridians are blue, not red, and why some of the guardian beasts’ body hair is blue?’
Hwanin sat down and looked at Cheongyeomho with a blue haze flowing from his eyes for a moment and then closed his eyes.
There is a high possibility that the tree is the reason why the strong water energy was felt here. Then…
‘It will be difficult to secure the water.’
The strength of each spirit creature is weaker than that of the norns. It won’t be difficult to defeat it if you want to, but if the branch is really the root of the cosmic tree, you can’t touch the root, which must be the divine tree.
…
After organizing his thoughts, Hwanin opened his eyes and spoke to the spirits.
『I want you to see that branch. Could you please guide me?』
— No.
『I will not harm the branch. My name is Hwanin, and I promise as a god who ascended to the throne of God under the guidance of the God of Mercy.』
— … !
A chaotic commotion spreads among the spirits.
Huh? Ooh, ooh, ooh ooh ooh. Kung.
The spirit creatures, who were chatting as if they were having a conversation, soon became quiet and began to stare intently at the hwanin.
Meanwhile, Cheongyeomho approached with a gliding gait characteristic of a cat and sniffed at Hwanin.
Finally, as if remembering something, he raises his head and looks down at Hwanin silently.
Flow…
With a cry, white smoke flows out from the slightly open snout and spreads around.
『Do you remember me?』
Blue Flame Tiger blinked once as if answering, then turned and passed by the spirit creatures.
— This way.
As the owl spirit creature flaps its wings and flies up, other spirit creatures begin to follow Cheongyeomho.
Hwanin also nodded to the lovers who were already ready to leave and began to follow them.
As I was walking along the guardian trees, the surrounding scenery became slightly blurred, then clear, then blurred, then clear again.
=You’re using the forest path right now, right… ?=
=I guess it’s because they are guardian beasts…=
=It seems like it’s moving about 20 times faster…=
=I walked for 30 minutes, so 600 minutes… It’s like walking for 10 hours… ?=
=This place is also very spacious…=
Women whisper quietly behind the scenes. =A forest path within a labyrinth.=, =Since this is not a labyrinth, it might be natural for there to be a forest path?= Whisper, whisper, whisper.
Adnevila walked up to Hwanin’s side with a slightly shocked face and said.
=I don’t really want to go to a place with a fork.=
Adneville, who learned the story of this place in the context of the questions he asked her spirit creatures, honestly said that her premonitions were not very good.
There is a high possibility that that branch is connected to the garden of the gods, because if an order comes through the branch saying, ‘You, come up to Orvinci right away,’ you have to ascend to heaven without a single sign.
Hwanin, who sensed her feelings, smiled briefly and patted her white, round head.
“I don’t think an order will be given to the Imoogi, which is not a white blue dragon, to come up to God’s Land.”
=… Do you think this body will always be an imoogi? No, you are trying to drag this body away too!=
In her anger, Ad Neville, who caught her punch, opens her eyes and points a finger at her disapproving Norn behind her.
=Besides! Even if you do what you say, who knows if that little boy would want Shinsu?! Huh!?=
“Even if he wanted to, God wouldn’t speak to him directly. Even so, it would go through the Dradeers tribe. “If that’s the case, I can stop it.”
=No! No matter how much of a god you are, your opponent is five gods! And Ashin, do you think you are the only one in this world?!=
“Aren’t they seniors who have ascended to the divine realm and are with causality? It seems unlikely that the people who support the world will come down to take away a spirit creature and a divine beast. Even so, the God of Love will gladly give me as a pet.”
=… ?=
Adneville, who had a puzzled expression for a moment, soon realized that the spirit was referring to her and, unable to control her anger, began biting his arm.
No matter how much I ask about the clothes he is wearing, I cannot cause him any pain since I am no different from an ordinary woman, but I cannot relieve this anger without biting.
=Eeeee~! I got sick of my damn strong clothes and got stronger!=
However, rather than being relieved, the anger builds up.
Her Cheonryung, which she gave as a gift, was her garment that accompanied him at the place of her deification. It has gone beyond a holy relic and has become a sacred object. No matter how much you ask, there is no feeling, like biting a cloud.
Jihyul, Anne, and Isilite came to the side of Adneville, who was furious.
=Master, I also sympathize with Adneville’s concerns… It’s not just me, but Iseul, Yul, and my younger siblings all feel the same way. =
“If the branch has spread its roots here, it means that the passage is connected. Is it okay for me to come this close?”
“Maybe I can’t see it with omnipotent eyes.”
“If you look at anything related to God carelessly, it’s a good idea to turn into a mummy and die.”
=Master…=
Hwanin, who pushed Adneville away at Isilite’s sorrowful eyes, comforted her by caressing her cheek and ears.
“Causality is more than you think. Divine beings use the power of law just to move and speak. If you are someone like me who has just achieved divine status and has barely revealed your divine status…”
It has been calculated that an Asin who has accumulated some Yul power in the few years since he achieved godhood will consume a huge amount of Yul power to act in the lower world.
The Godhead is only a few years old, so what about the five gods who can be said to be the pinnacle of it?
“… Anyway, God can be everywhere and can be seen everywhere. So you can say you know everything. Nevertheless, not conveying one’s message to those below, whether they are the Drathers or divine beasts, is the same as not having the will to do so.”
Above all, I only plan to check from afar.
“Check what? To see if it’s a real space tree?”
“No. Just… I thought it was my last chance to check my roots. “It is also the last way to find out how to secure the secret to give to Baek Ryeo-gang.”
The women could barely calm their agitation as he listened to his story.
If God really wanted him, he wouldn’t be doing this.
After walking for about 10 more minutes, the women realized that the surrounding scenery had suddenly changed. And the scenery is no longer blurred.
The flood that had a somewhat mysterious atmosphere with blue clouds has now turned black with the grass, trees, and ground, literally becoming a black forest.
=It looks like the path in the forest has ended… Is this the destination? … ?=
=Something… It doesn’t feel dirty or gloomy, but it feels as wonderful as the night sky…=
=It seems like space water is affecting the surrounding terrain…=
=… Wise sister. It would be better not to touch it carelessly… ?=
“Why is there a saying that if you stay still, you will get halfway?”
=Neng…=
Hwanin, who was looking around while listening to the women whispering, stared at the black rock and black tree in front of him, then took out a Celtic stone ax from Jaebo’s coffin, and the spear holder of a black spear that he had kept with him after the spear blade broke.
And compare it with the colors of those rocks and trees.
“…”
Did the Hobbs make weapons from the stones and trees here?
But… Didn’t they say that this material sometimes comes from labyrinths blessed by the Earth God? I remember it as the black tree of Helan.
No, forked means not one. I guess there are more places like this on the continent.
I feel like I’ve finally figured out the reason for the abnormal durability that is absolutely not like ordinary rocks and trees.
At that time, ‘it’ appeared in front of the group.
A lone source of vivid white in a place where everything is black… A huge, twisted tree, roughly as thick as a 50-story building.
However, it is unclear that it is a tree. Although the rough surface is like tree bark, its shape is different from other ordinary trees.
It was as if the dimension was extending out from a broken place like glass and sinking into the ground.
— Here.
『Thank you for the guidance.』
The spirits scattered around begin to watch the women intently, as if on guard.
Hwanin accepts it because he promised to do so as a god, but he doesn’t seem to allow the women who don’t know him to come near.
Some women were sad that they couldn’t get close to that mysterious white tree. I’d like to take a closer look… !
“…”
Hwanin, who encountered the ‘fork’, was convinced that it was part of the fine roots of Giliami that stood tall ‘there’.
It is a white sacred tree that appears to be hundreds of kilometers tall. The branch in front of you has a circumference of over 100 meters and a height of over 200 meters, but compared to the main body, it is only a small root.
Hwanin slowly approached the fork, erased his distracting thoughts and carefully stretched out his hand. And the moment my hand touched the surface of the prongs…
‘… This feeling.’
The white bark of the forked tree felt warm and had a throbbing pulse, like the skin of a living person.
However, the texture feels somehow familiar.
I tried to think about where I had experienced it, but as the time attached to the branch became longer, I could tell through my skin that the spirits’ nerves were becoming sharper.
Since I had confirmed everything I wanted to check, I retreated to the place where the spirits were sighing softly and opened my mouth for a moment.
Hwanin found out where he felt that touch from his memory drawer and took out a wand from Jaebo’s coffin.
At first glance, it’s an ordinary walking stick made of brown, slightly thick twigs.
The deer antler staff owned by the Hob Shaman that gave him the opportunity to awaken. When I took out the wand, I could clearly feel that the spirits were paying attention to the wand.
『Is this part of the branch?』
— … Correct.
『… Do you want me to return it?』
— …
The owl spirit creature did not answer. It’s a little annoying, but it seems like it’s inevitable that they’ve fallen out.
Being angry or not angry means that it is not for a bad reason.
After thinking for a moment, Hwanin turned his gaze to the roots of the space tree.
If this is a fragment of the cosmic tree, it wouldn’t be good to bring it to Earth.
I approached with the intention of sticking the cane around the fork, but perhaps by coincidence or inevitability, my eyes were drawn to the unnaturalness of a certain part of the fork.
A place that looks as if something long has been broken and torn out.
Hwanin walked there and carefully raised his cane. Then he naturally comes together as if it were where he was supposed to be.
Slurrr—
Then, the broken parts are connected together as if alive, and the brown cane quickly turns white.
At that moment, the memories of the stick began to flow in reverse order like a panorama before Hwanin’s eyes.
The scene where he returns here and returns his wand.
The scene where the Millennium Castle is erased from Marianol and the main culprits of the Gyeolmyeonghoe are punished.
A scene where they meet and talk to the God of the Earth.
The scene where the incident that occurred in Colaido is resolved.
Even in the sequence of scenes, there was something that caught Hwanin’s attention.
The moment I entered God’s domain. When I was talking with the Drathers. The moment when the ordeal was handed down in Palatum. Scenes of the Spiritual Scripture approaching and then moving away and returning from Earth.
The memories embedded in some of those branches eventually led to the moment when it was held in Hwanin’s hands.
Only then did Hwanin understand.
The reason why Yeongseonggyeong came especially close and showed interest and then moved away, the reason why he had a unique experience walking along the river of light the moment he touched the staff, the reason why he was able to handle spirit beads like Hob, which he had struggled with at first.
The memory then shows how the staff that left Hwanin’s hand became detached from Giliami’s roots.
Hundreds of years of being passed from hand-to-hand by all kinds of monsters due to the mysterious power contained in ‘part of the fork’.
That time was enough for some of the white branches to turn brown.
As if rewinding time, part of the prongs slowly turn white from the tip.
And the moment it became completely white, part of the prongs fell off from a lightning strike on a stormy day, and it was rewound in reverse order.
The gaze has now begun to climb up the fork.
As the field of view enters the dimensional mirror surface, the mirror surface, the universe suddenly unfolds and the field of vision begins to move as if crossing the universe.
The sense of speed gradually increases until it reaches the speed of light, entering a world of sublight where starlight stretches and converges at one point.
A world where only pitch-black darkness exists, except for the rainbow-colored circle of light in front of you.
‘… !’
In that world, several glass cracks suddenly appeared and began to slowly pass by.
Hwanin instinctively realized that it was a dimensional mirror with prongs sticking out.
Even if several dimensional mirrors pass by, they appear again in front and approach. When I came to my senses, countless dimensional scenes, far and near, covered the heavens and earth.
Hwanin looked at the closest dimensional mirror and realized that each one was a different dimension, a different world.
A world with only people.
A world where people and monsters live together.
A world with only monsters and no people.
There were places that looked similar to the Earth, places like Nionebres, and there were places that were Earth no matter how you looked at them.
There were places where there was nothing but Mother Nature, and there were also worlds where everything seemed to have fallen into ruin, cracked like a turtle’s shell or filled with nothing but sand.
Although such a world goes beyond billions, trillions, and even kyung units, Hwanin understood that the world was divided into ten categories.
At that moment, my vision sank into a sphere of light.
I close my eyes from the dazzling light, but my vision does not change.
The place where the pure white world continued for a while and then escaped… It was the land of the gods where Cheonwon and the Ujung Tree stood tall.
A blue dragon large enough to engulf a planet. A giant firebird burning like the sun. A huge turtle that seems to be carrying a planet on its back, a beast that looks like it could chew up a planet, and a yellow dragon wrapped in a veil of brilliant light that seems to embrace all distant creatures.
And as if encompassing all of that, a huge pure white tree whose size is indescribable flutters its leaves as if in the wind.
Leaves measuring billions, trillions, and even pounds.
For some reason, Hwanin got the feeling that a woman with only a faint outline was smiling in the shape of the tree.
It’s mysterious, but… It wasn’t a bad feeling.
