Chapter 488: The Upper Realm (XIV)

His mother withdrew her hand and returned to the table.

With a casual motion, the overturned chair righted itself, and the broken teacup vanished. A fresh cup appeared in its place, filled with the same fragrant tea.

"Would you like another?"

"No."

"You’re still angry?"

"Should I be thanking you?"

She looked at him for a moment before smiling.

"Perhaps not."

Gray returned to his seat, although he chose one farther away from her on purpose.

His mother noticed the small gesture. Rather than commenting, she simply watched him with a tender expression.

It was an unusual sight.

She looked at him as though she wanted to remember every detail of his face.

Her eyes followed his movements, occasionally settling on his crimson-black eyes or the features he had inherited from her.

There was... clear affection in her expression.

But something else was mixed into it.

Something Gray couldn’t quite identify.

"Gray."

"What?"

"How have you been living since leaving the family?"

"Without any particular difficulty."

"Have you been eating properly?"

He stared at her.

"...Yes."

"Sleeping well?"

"Most of the time."

"Has anyone mistreated you?"

Gray’s eyebrow twitched.

"Mother, are you planning to ask me about every meal and every night I’ve spent away from home?"

She chuckled.

"I’ve missed so much. Surely I deserve a few questions."

’You haven’t been around for any of it.’

He kept the thought to himself.

"Fine. Ask."

The woman seemed pleased with his answer.

"Then tell me about the people you’ve met. Have you made any friends? Are there people you trust?"

"...A few."

’Only Jasmine...’

"Good. What about your companions outside?"

Gray’s expression changed slightly.

He immediately understood whom she was referring to.

"Scarlett and Elira?"

"Those two girls?"

Her voice remained gentle.

"Yes. They’re accompanying me during the expedition."

His mother nodded.

"How lovely. They’re both quite beautiful."

Gray stared at her.

’Where is this going?’

"How did you meet them?"

"Underworld."

"And how long have you known each other?"

"Several weeks...?"

"Several weeks..."

She repeated his words, lowering her gaze to his chest.

More specifically, to the Heartbound Pendant hanging beneath his clothes.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Those girls have established a spiritual connection with you."

Gray glanced down.

"Ah. The pendants."

"You’ve exchanged bonds with them?"

"Not quite.... they’re simply artifacts. They allow us to sense one another’s general location and share a little energy during emergencies."

"I see."

His mother nodded.

For a moment, her expression remained perfectly normal. Just then, she asked another question.

"Are you involved with either of them?"

Gray paused.

"...What?"

"Are either of those girls your romantic partners?"

He stared at her.

The question had come so naturally, so casually, that he almost wondered whether he had heard her correctly.

"My love life?"

"Yes."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"You’re at an age where such things become important. I was curious whether my son had found someone special."

Gray leaned back.

’What a strange question.’

He wasn’t particularly interested in discussing his personal relationships with a woman who had appeared out of nowhere, admitted to placing a curse on his soul, and then restrained him with one arm.

Still, he decided to answer.

"Scarlett and Elira are friends. We’re cooperating during the expedition."

’...For now.’

"Friends?"

"Yes."

"Nothing more?"

"Nothing worth discussing."

’At least, not yet.’

His mother smiled.

Then, very quietly, she asked:

"Have either of them kissed you?"

Gray blinked.

The silence stretched for a moment.

"...Excuse me?"

"Have they?"

Her tone hadn’t changed.

She was still smiling, her posture remained relaxed, and her fingers rested delicately around her teacup.

But the atmosphere had become different.

Gray noticed it first through his heightened senses.

A thin trace of killing intent had appeared around the woman.

It was faint at first, almost imperceptible. Yet, as soon as he focused on it, he realized something was terribly wrong.

The killing intent wasn’t directed at him.

It was directed somewhere beyond the sealed chamber.

More specifically, toward the two princesses.

’Oh?’ Gray’s eyes narrowed.

His mother tilted her head.

"Well?"

"No."

"Have either of them confessed their feelings?"

"...Not directly."

"Have you held their hands?"

Gray glanced at her.

"Yes."

Her smile remained.

"How many times?"

’What the hell is happening?’

He watched her carefully.

The killing intent continued to grow.

A faint silver ripple spread across the floor, and the ancient symbols engraved along the walls began to glow.

The structure itself seemed to react to the woman’s emotions.

Gray placed his teacup down.

"Mother."

"Hm?"

"Your killing intent is leaking."

The woman blinked in confusion before she looked down at her teacup.

"Oh my..."

The silver ripples immediately disappeared.

She smiled apologetically.

"I’m sorry, dear... I guess I got a little distracted."

Gray stared at her.

’A little distracted?’

He had seen countless people unleash killing intent throughout his life. He had also witnessed powerful cultivators lose control of their emotions.

This was different.

Her killing intent had been so dense that even the formation maintaining the chamber had reacted.

And she had released it while asking whether two girls had kissed her son.

Gray slowly rubbed his forehead.

"Mother, why are you asking me these questions?"

"Because I’m curious about your love life."

"That’s not what I meant."

She smiled.

"Then what did you mean?"

Gray looked directly into her crimson eyes.

"Why did you react as though I had told you someone was trying to assassinate me?"

The woman remained silent.

For a brief moment, something strange passed through her expression.

Then she gently placed her teacup on the table.

"Gray, you’re my son."

"...I’m aware."

"You’re precious to me."

"An interesting thing to say after placing a curse on my soul."

Her smile faltered slightly.

"That was different."

"How?"

She didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, her gaze returned to his pendant.

"Those girls are rather close to you."

"They’re my companions."

"They’ve already formed a bond with you."

"It’s an artifact."

"They’ve touched you."

Gray stared at her with a perplexed look.

[Whoa... damn.]

Jasmine whistled.

’... I can’t believe I’m actually going to say this...’

[Pfft...]

’Shush.’

"Mother..." he called out, looking at her with suspicious eyes.

"Yes?"

"Are you jealous?"

The room fell into complete silence at once.

The woman’s expression froze.

Gray raised an eyebrow.

Then, after a few seconds, she smiled.

"...Jealous?"

"That’s what it looks like."

A soft laugh escaped her lips.

"How silly. Why would I be jealous of two young girls?"

Gray looked at the faint silver cracks spreading across the armrest of her chair before turning back to her.

"...Right."

His mother followed his gaze.

The cracks vanished.

"Ahem..."

She cleared her throat.

"Anyway, I hope you won’t let anyone take advantage of you. You’re still young, and there are many people who might approach you with ulterior motives."

Gray leaned forward.

"That’s rich coming from someone who concealed my potential, cursed my soul, and refused to answer half my questions."

"Gray..."

"Besides, I doubt Scarlett and Elira are the ones I should be worried about."

His mother smiled again.

"Are you saying you trust them?"

"Not really... but I do trust my judgment."

"That’s good."

She paused.

"Though, if either of them ever hurts you..."

Her expression remained gentle.

"...Tell me."

The words were soft.

Almost affectionate.

Yet, for a split second, Gray felt an overwhelming pressure settle over the chamber.

It wasn’t an ordinary threat. Her killing intent had returned, but this time it was controlled, concentrated, and directed toward an imaginary target.

"I’ll take care of them."

Gray stared at her.

’...She’s serious.’

He slowly leaned back.

"Mother, I appreciate the concern, but I’d prefer you didn’t kill my companions."

"Why?"

"Because they’re useful."

The woman blinked.

"...Useful?"

"Yes. They’re strong, resourceful, and have been helping me during the expedition. Killing them would be wasteful."

His mother looked at him.

Then her lips curved into a small smile.

"Is that the only reason?"

"Is there supposed to be another?"

She didn’t answer.

Instead, she reached across the table and gently patted his hand.

Gray immediately moved it away.

Her fingers stopped in the air.

For a moment, she looked slightly disappointed.

Then she withdrew her hand and smiled as though nothing had happened.

"You’re still so distant... that really hurts my heart, you know?"

"You’re still a stranger to me."

The woman’s smile disappeared.

The words had been blunt, but Gray hadn’t intended to soften them. He had no reason to pretend otherwise.

She lowered her eyes.

"...I suppose I deserve that."

Gray watched her quietly.

’Now she’s acting like the victim...’ he rolled his eyes.

He wasn’t particularly interested in playing along.

"Since we’re finished discussing my love life, let’s return to the curse."

His mother looked up.

"Of course."

"How soon are you going to teach me the Soulbound Mirror?"

"Once you understand your soul well enough to use it safely."

"Define well enough."

"Once you reach the threshold of the next major stage in your soul cultivation."

"Which stage?" Gray frowned.

She smiled.

"One you’ll need to reach on your own."

"You’re being deliberately unhelpful."

"I’m trying to keep you alive."

"Then give me the knowledge needed to stay alive."

His mother laughed softly.

For a few moments, the strange possessiveness from earlier seemed to have vanished. But as Gray stood up, preparing to return to Scarlett and Elira, she suddenly spoke again.

"Gray."

He stopped.

"What now?"

She looked at him with an expression he couldn’t quite understand.

"Don’t forget something."

"What?"

"No matter how many people you meet, no matter how many friends, companions, or lovers you gather..."

Her black eyes softened.

"...You belong to me first."

Gray went completely still.

The sentence had been spoken in a gentle, almost motherly tone... and yet something about it sent an unpleasant chill down his spine.

He slowly turned his head.

His mother was smiling.

Not the polite smile she had worn throughout their conversation.

This one was different.

It was warm, affectionate, and strangely satisfied, as though she had finally said something she had been holding back for a very long time.

Gray stared at her for several seconds, and suddenly laughed.

"Pftt... Mother, you’re quite an interesting person."

She smiled wider.

"Am I?"

"Yes. Though I think I’ll keep my distance for now."

He turned toward the sealed exit.

Behind him, the woman watched his back without moving.

The smile remained on her face.

Only after Gray reached the door did she quietly speak again.

"That’s fine, sweetheart."

Her black eyes followed him.

"You’ll come back to me eventually."