Novel Full Chapter 202 : Chapter 202
Chapter 202. Isn’t This Enough? (4)
A dreadful silence.
In its midst, the disciple looked down at his own two hands and spoke.
“Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon.”
He clenched one fist.
“Double Dragon, Patrick Schneider.”
He clenched the other fist as well.
With both fists clenched as if holding something precious, he spoke.
“I’ve grown attached to both lives. But I can only choose one.”
“……”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what to choose. This disciple truly does not know.”
“……”
“So, Master. Please tell me. Please lead this lacking and foolish disciple onto the right path.”
I knew.
The Master before my eyes was not my real Master.
He was merely an existence within an illusion, like a mirage.
But I sought an answer with a desperate voice.
And my Master broke the heavy silence and spoke.
“Do you believe I can give you the answer?”
“Yes.”
“Why is that?”
“Doesn’t Master always give the right answer?”
That’s right. The Master I knew was always righteous.
It wasn’t that my Master was competent.
Nor was he wise and sagacious. But the answers my Master gave were always right.
Yes. They were just the right answers.
Even the sect leaders of the Nine Sects One Gang, the clan heads of the Five Great Clans, and the renowned figures of Murim would cover their eyes and block their ears for profit, making wrong decisions.
But my Master was not like that.
He did not bow to threats, nor was he swayed by temptation, and simply pursued what was right.
Even if I searched the entire Jianghu Murim, there was no one as righteous as my Master.
That righteousness became the milestone of my life.
So, this time too…
‘Please…’
To my desperate self, my Master spoke.
“There is only one choice you must make.”
“……”
“Return as Patrick Schneider.”
At my Master’s words, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Right. If my Master said so, then that must be the right path. But I wanted to ask.
“Why is that? Why must I abandon the life of the Radiant Dragon Great Master?”
“……”
“Why do you tell me to go back?”
“……”
“Please tell your disciple the reason.”
To my desperate plea, my Master smiled benevolently and said.
“Both lives have already become precious to you. I wouldn’t dare decide which of the two is right.”
“Then why…”
“But Cheon-ah.”
“……”
My Master spoke in a gentle tone.
He continued as if to say, ‘Don’t you know as well?’
“Is this truly a crossroads? Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon and Double Dragon Patrick Schneider. Is it a situation where you must choose one of the two?”
“……”
“No. It is not so. Don’t you know as well?”
“……”
“Is this about you being intoxicated by the past and collapsing? Or is it about you getting up and moving forward?”
“……”
“It is one of those two.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Because the words of my illusory Master pointed out a fact I had inwardly known but had been ignoring.
And my Master continued.
“My disciple, Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon, is never one to collapse and give up.”
“Master…”
“Isn’t this rest enough?”
“Ma… ster…”
“Go. Do not yield. Even if you fall, rise again. Show me your form, continuously moving forward.”
“……”
“That is the image of my disciple that I was most proud of.”
I straightened my posture.
And respectfully…
I bowed to the existence before me with the utmost respect.
After making such a deep bow, I finally raised my head. Now, there was no trace of anguish on my face.
Instead, a cheerful smile hung there.
And I said.
“It was good to see you after a long time, Master.”
“The pleasure was mine.”
“Farewell. Your unworthy disciple will now take his leave.”
“Stay healthy.”
I smiled.
And I drew my sword and took a stance.
The time for a fleeting spring dream was over.
Now, it was time to wake up.
[ Twin Dragons Eight Sword Forms: First Form: Black and White Twin Dragons Dance ]
The Black Dragon in my left hand and the White Dragon in my right danced and spread in all directions.
And the black and white twin dragons dispelled the illusion wherever they touched.
A sword that erases falsehoods and reveals the truth.
Patrick’s will firmly rejected the happy illusion of this moment.
And at that moment when the sword dominated all territory…
Jjaeaeng!
With a clear sound, this false world crumbled.
The Twin Dragon Sect I missed…
The people I missed…
All of them faded away.
“……”
A space of nothingness where everything had disappeared.
Within it, Patrick extended his sword, pointed to a spot, and said.
“Come out.”
Then, from the other side of the void, someone appeared.
Blonde hair and light green eyes.
Skin so white it put white jade to shame.
Even for Patrick, who had seen many beauties in his life, this was the first time he had seen such beauty.
She was a woman so beautiful that just looking at her felt sacred.
She wore clothes made of leaves, a belt made of branches, and a vibrant flower crown on her head.
Her pointed ears might suggest she was an Elf, but the faintly glowing things on her back were fairy wings.
Patrick knew her identity immediately.
Because the aura she exuded spoke of her identity all too clearly.
“Are you the World Tree?”
“Nice to meet you, Patrick Schneider.”
A woman of such beauty that she could mesmerize anyone who saw her.
Even with such a woman before him, Patrick’s expression showed not a hint of wavering.
Rather, his face showed displeasure.
“Tsk tsk tsk.”
‘What is a woman of her word doing dressed like that? Her skirt is so short her thighs are all showing. And her chest is more than half-exposed. Tsk tsk tsk, the world is ending.’
As a result of briefly experiencing the culture of the Central Plains, Patrick’s fuddy-duddy level had gone up a notch.
In any case, Patrick spoke to the World Tree.
“Why did you test me?”
“You knew it was a test?”
“I didn’t feel any malice like a trap, so I had to think of it as a test. But…”
Patrick bared his teeth and said.
“I’m the kind of person who hates those shitty tests more than traps.”
“You’re making things difficult for me.”
“Tell me the reason. If I don’t get a proper answer, you’ll regret it.”
At Patrick’s words, the World Tree let out a small sigh and said.
“I couldn’t help it. For a mortal like you to meet me, a trial of corresponding difficulty was necessary.”
“A trial, you say?”
“You and I are of completely different standings. So for you to meet me, you needed to prove your worth. That’s why the trial was given.”
“……”
“Even those who overcome pain and suffering with a strong will tend to succumb to the happiness they truly desire, but you overcame it splendidly.”
“……”
“So now you are qualified to face me…”
“Hey, lady!”
“La… lady…”
The great World Tree was flustered.
And Patrick, with the face of a very displeased delinquent, spoke.
“You think you can get away with anything just because you have a pretty face and a good body?”
“Excuse me?”
“You think if you come dressed a little provocatively and talk like you’re all that, people will just buy it? Huh?”
“……”
The World Tree’s jaw dropped in bewilderment.
Then she suddenly tugged down her short skirt and covered her chest with her arms.
And sparks flew from Patrick’s eyes as he spoke.
“It looks like you’re trying to get by with your looks, but I’m an egalitarian. Huh? If you mess with me, it doesn’t matter if you’re a man or woman, old or young, your status, whether you’re ugly or beautiful, your race, or your species. Everyone gets a beating. Got it?”
Was that what egalitarianism was?
It didn’t seem so.
Patrick continued speaking, as if he were about to breathe fire.
“I never asked for any damn trial, you know? You sneakily draw someone in and then what? A triaaaal? Qualificatiooooon?”
“I understand your anger. But…”
“Buts and ifs, I don’t care. It seems you don’t know my temper, lady…”
As he said that, Patrick’s aura surged.
“I’ll show you from now on. What kind of guy I am.”
Seeing Patrick draw his sword with determination, the World Tree moved urgently.
“I’m sorry.”
She bowed deeply and apologized.
“……”
The god of the Elves.
The primordial tree.
A cornerstone of the creation myth.
Such a great being bowed her head and apologized.
Patrick watched the scene with a sullen expression, and the World Tree said urgently.
“I did it because it was absolutely necessary. To determine whether you were the real one or not, I had to look into the deep scenery of your mind.”
“……”
“Please understand. If you were offended, I will definitely repay this debt.”
Patrick continued to watch with a sullen expression.
But unlike his expression full of dissatisfaction, the fighting spirit he had built up to start a fight at any moment had subsided.
It was difficult to strike an opponent who bowed down so honestly.
“Tsk, you’re making things difficult.”
Patrick clicked his tongue, sheathed his sword, and said.
“Please answer my questions obediently. Let’s start there.”
“Alright.”
The atmosphere became suitable for conversation.
Patrick asked calmly.
“Why did you pull me inside?”
“I needed help.”
“Then, couldn’t you have just told me without giving me some trial?”
“As I said before, I needed to know if you were the real one or not.”
Patrick scowled and said.
“Just a moment ago, you said you needed to see me to tell if I was the real one or not, right?”
“Yes?”
“What does ‘the real one’ mean?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t say that yet.”
Patrick scowled.
Looking at the World Tree, who seemed like she wouldn’t tell him anything important, his hand slowly crept towards his sword.
Then the World Tree quickly bowed and said.
“Please. It’s not that I won’t tell you. It’s that I can’t. So please…”
“……”
Patrick sighed.
In fact, if the Elves were to see this scene, they would be horrified.
The being revered as the god of their race was bowing her head, pleading, and begging a mere human multiple times.
If he went out and told them, would they even believe it?
Patrick squinted his eyes with an expression of incomprehension and said.
“This is strange.”
“What is?”
“Why are you being so submissive?”
“……”
“You’re the god of the Elves, aren’t you? So why are you bowing so submissively to an ordinary human like me?”
“An ordinary human…”
The World Tree made a complicated expression.
Her face strongly conveyed the meaning, ‘What part of you is an ordinary human?’
And she sighed and said.
“First of all, I am not a god.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I am just the first tree. I am a being created in the age of myths, but I too am a creature created by Him. I am by no means immortal.”
“……”
“It is my children who serve me who consider me a god. But I am not a god. I have never called myself a god.”
“Hmm, well, you do lack a certain gravitas to be considered a god.”
“……”
The World Tree looked at Patrick with a hurt expression.
And she sighed and continued.
“The reason I bow my head to you is…”
The World Tree hesitated for a moment, then, with a look that said, ‘Let’s just be honest,’ she spoke.
“Because you’re the one in charge.”
“Huh?”
“And we are the subordinates.”
“……”
To Patrick, who was looking at her with an expression of incomprehension, the World Tree smiled bitterly and said.
“I will tell you everything someday. But that time is not now.”
“When is that someday?”
“It will be after you have defeated all of Kallaron’s apostles.”
“Kallaron’s apostles? Me? Why?”
“That is your destiny.”
The World Tree said with a serious expression.
And Patrick scowled.
If he pioneered the Great Forest according to his plan, he might encounter those apostles of Kallaron.
But in fact…
‘I don’t plan on fighting them.’
If I didn’t know, it would be a different story.
I had already confirmed the being called the Walking Calamity at the Tower of Truth.
To be honest…
Well, how should I put it?
I hate to admit it, but if I were to analyze it objectively…
‘He might be a tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiny bit stronger than me.’
Look at this sore loser making excuses.
We clashed with all our might in a virtual world.
I went into the fight with my strongest technique, one that couldn’t guarantee my life even just by unleashing it in the real world.
And yet, I couldn’t gain the upper hand.
What would happen if we met in the real world?
Having confirmed such a being, Patrick had secretly revised his plan.
From the original plan of complete conquest of the Great Forest to pioneering only a part of it, within a range that would not provoke it.
So very cunningly.
But now, hearing what the World Tree was saying, it sounded like he had to take down all those monsters.
“Why me?”
“That is your destiny.”
“Fortune-tellers’ bullshit is the twenty-fourth thing I hate…”
“Why on earth do you hate so many things?”
“Ahem!”
“……”
The World Tree looked at Patrick with a weary expression.
‘Why is a human like this the only hope?’
The number of sighs she had heaved after meeting this human probably outnumbered all the sighs she had heaved in her thousands of years of life.
The World Tree, knowing that cursing fate was of little use, spoke calmly.
“There is a reason why you must defeat Kallaron’s apostles.”
“What is that reason?”
“I cannot tell you the reason.”
“That excuse is about to be registered as the seventy-sixth thing I hate…”
“……”
I really hate this human.
The World Tree struggled to compose herself and said.
“What is certain is that I can be of help to you.”
“Now that’s something I like to hear.”
“I will give you all of my children. I hope that my children will be of help in achieving your will.”
“……”
This was groundbreaking.
So much so that even the great Patrick was momentarily at a loss for words.