Cheonma had disappeared.

I suddenly couldn’t see her anywhere. She had definitely been right behind me just moments ago—where did she go?

"Again, without a word."

I frowned. I had brought her along to keep her by my side, and yet she had vanished like this.

And of all times, in this situation?

"Tsk."

It was a headache, but she couldn’t have gone far. Judging by her usual behavior, she was always lingering nearby.

"The problem is that she’s not here right now."

Though, honestly, that wasn’t much of an issue either.

"It’s not like anything would change just because she’s here, right?"

It was only because of the recent conversation that I had unconsciously looked toward Cheonma. Whether she was present or not, it wouldn’t make a significant difference.

So, I turned to the spirit and asked,

"What does it mean for a soul to have a ‘neck’?"

"......."

At my question, a flicker of confusion crossed the spirit’s face. Her expression was as if to say, How could you not know that?

"Would the Lord of the Afterlife deign to ask such a thing...? If this is a test of my insignificance, then—"

"It’s not that. I’m asking because I’m genuinely curious. I don’t have much knowledge of your customs."

"......."

She suddenly referred to me as ‘Lord,’ so how could I not ask?

Moreover, she had said something about embedding a tree into the soul. That was something I simply couldn’t understand.

"......A Divine Tree that serves as the link to complete the world. Since you bear it within you, that is why I spoke those words."

"I bear a Divine Tree?"

Hearing that, I ran a hand ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) over my chest. A Divine Tree, she said. What did that mean?

"...Could it be?"

I frowned, recalling the situation. If I had truly ‘borne’ something, then...

"Is she talking about what I obtained from Yahwol?"

Back then, I had definitely felt energy seeping into me when I touched the Divine Tree. Could she be referring to that?

"Is that why she thinks I’m her master?"

If this spirit woman’s misconception stemmed from that, then it was a plausible explanation.

However...

Perhaps because I continued to act as if I didn’t understand, suspicion was beginning to creep into her expression as well.

She now looked as if she were doubting whether I was truly her master. And if I wasn’t her master, then what was I? Wariness flickered in her eyes.

"Hmm."

Instinctively, I knew—if I continued to make it obvious that I wasn’t her master, the situation wouldn’t unfold favorably.

And as if to prove that point, the ones standing guard behind her were subtly releasing their killing intent.

"...What should I do?"

If I wanted to, I could wipe them all out. It wouldn’t be particularly difficult.

"But I haven’t gained enough yet."

Getting rid of this woman, who clearly knew something, would be a waste.

I lacked information. And I knew that there was a great deal I could obtain from here.

Moreover...

"The Divine Tree before me...."

I looked up.

It was still daytime, but recalling the moon I had seen the previous night...

"There’s not much time left until the full moon."

In just a few days, the full moon would rise. And when that happened, the time my mother had spoken of would come.

"The night of the full moon—she told me to meet her on the hill."

The hill she had mentioned must be this very place in Mareong Valley, where the Divine Tree stood.

The small hill itself served as proof.

"That means I need to stay here for a few days and wait for the right moment."

If that was the case, there was no need to create unnecessary conflict.

Having come to a decision, I spoke to the woman.

"I see... Just as I expected."

As I nodded, she reacted.

"Yo—"

"The test ends here."

I cut her off.

"There was something I needed to confirm, and so I tested you. I apologize for that."

"...!"

A small smile played on my lips as I spoke, and the spirit’s eyes widened in realization.

"As I thought...!"

Her expression showed that she was convinced she had been right all along.

Seeing that, I turned my back on her.

My gaze was fixed solely on the Divine Tree, my back facing the woman.

If this was all an act, I couldn’t let my expression betray me.

"You said your name was Spirit?"

"That is correct, Great One."

"Then, as you said, I am a being from another world."

"Ah...."

Her voice trembled with awe.

Why was she so moved by the fact that I came from another place?

I couldn’t understand, but whatever—understanding could come later.

"I will ask you this. Why are you all bound here?"

Gathered in Mareong Valley, unable to leave—

That meant they weren’t staying here of their own volition.

Speaking as if I already knew the answer, I watched as the spirit immediately clasped her hands together in front of her and spoke.

"...We are the descendants of the Seoksan lineage, the eternal guardians of Mareong Valley."

"The Seoksan lineage?"

"Yes... A branch of the Moonlit Night Tribe, where those with particularly pure blood reside."

"...I see."

Their blood was especially pure. That, I could understand.

"So they truly are part of the Moonlit Night Tribe."

Not just humans with the ears and tails of beasts...

"There are also those who are almost entirely beastlike."

Aside from the fact that they stood on two legs, some of them seemed indistinguishable from wild animals.

But the real question was...

"Then what about you?"

The others, fine. But this one—this spirit—what was she?

Unlike the rest, she bore a striking resemblance to the Moonlit Night Tribe I knew.

Even with her veil covering her face, it was clear she had human features.

Her fox ears and tail confirmed her heritage, but...

"You’re different from the others."

If her explanation was accurate, then shouldn’t she resemble them more closely?

At my words, as if she had been waiting for the opportunity, the spirit spoke.

"...Among the Seoksan lineage, once every thousand years, a new breed is born to inherit the role of the priestess."

"A new breed?"

"Yes. The Lord of All Realms bestows their blessing, sending forth a child that bears their likeness."

"...What?"

Hearing that, my expression twisted as I looked at the spirit.

"She bears the master’s likeness?"

That meant...

"She resembles my mother?"

White hair, white ears, and a white tail.

Her veil concealed her face, and even when I tried to pierce through it with my senses, it remained impenetrable. That meant the veil itself was an artifact, likely a spiritual tool.

"I apologize. I do not reveal my face because it resembles that of our Lord. It is forbidden to show it carelessly."

Because she bore the face of the Lord of All Realms, she covered it with a veil.

That was the meaning behind it.

But...

"For what purpose?"

The Lord of All Realms—why did they create their kind, designating them as priestesses and bringing them into this place?

That question still remained unanswered.

The spirit, her voice tinged with melancholy, continued to explain.

"...Originally, this place was meant to be a land where our master’s will could be spread and delivered."

Her gaze swept over the surroundings.

"Even Mount Marryeong was not always like this. It was once a much more vibrant and beautiful place."

At a glance, it was still a fair-looking forest, but beyond its borders, it was different. Outside, there was nothing but barren rock—no signs of life, no vitality to be felt.

"So it wasn’t always like this?"

Had it not always been nothing but stone?

"But around two hundred years ago... when our master’s words ceased to reach us, a great change occurred."

"A great change?"

"A being calling itself the ‘General’ appeared... and when the Chief came, all life on this mountain was erased."

"...Huh?"

The Chief appeared, and life was wiped away?

"He began capturing all those who originally lived in Mount Marryeong. For reasons unknown, the mountain lost its vitality bit by bit. We had no choice but to flee."

"...You fled from this General?"

"That is correct... Since there was nowhere to hide from his gaze atop this mountain, we had no choice but to use the fragment left behind by our master."

"A fragment?"

The spirit carefully revealed something in her hand. A shard of stone with a deep crimson hue.

"It is a divine relic sent by our master to the priestess."

"......."

The moment I saw it, I understood.

"...What the hell is that energy?"

The sheer amount of power contained within that small fragment was absurd.

An overwhelming force, yet something alien.

The instant I laid eyes on it, my body instinctively reacted.

"So you used this to create this space?"

"That is correct... This land is a refuge we created using the power granted by our master."

"Why didn’t you try to escape?"

"...Because we cannot. Without the Chief’s permission, we cannot leave Mount Marryeong...."

"Hmm."

So when the Chief seized control of Mount Marryeong, its life force faded.

He captured all those who had originally lived here.

And to escape, they used the fragment’s power to carve out a hidden sanctuary.

After hearing all this, a question arose.

"Then why do I only sense your presence during the day?"

I had noticed the problem with this space. Their presence was undetectable at night, but became apparent during the day.

If they were truly trying to hide from the Chief, they shouldn’t have been releasing any traces of their existence at all.

"There’s no way that bastard wouldn’t notice."

I had already experienced how sharp his senses were.

If these people had truly fled from him, then allowing their presence to be known was practically inviting him to storm in.

At my question, the spirit answered,

"...The General of Mount Marryeong does not move during the day."

"What?"

Now that was useful information.

"He never takes action while the sun is up. He only begins moving once night falls. Knowing this..."

"You let your presence be felt more freely during the day?"

"That is correct."

"...If that’s the case, then I assume it’s to conserve energy?"

"Y-yes... that is correct."

When I guessed the reason, the spirit looked surprised.

Even though that fragment held an immense amount of energy, it was ultimately a finite resource.

To make it last as long as possible, they had to ration it.

"So when the Chief is inactive—or unconscious—during the day, they lower the density of the space to save power."

That explained why I could only detect their presence during the day.

With that thought, I crossed my arms.

I had a rough understanding of the situation. Up to this point, at least.

"Then, one last thing."

I looked at the spirit.

"You said you were waiting for me. How was that possible?"

All this talk of a ‘great being’—the way they acted as if they had been expecting me.

The way they reacted as if they knew I would come.

That was the most important part for me.

Because of that belief...

"They’re freely giving me all this information."

The reason they were offering me so much the moment I acknowledged myself as the Lord of the Afterlife—

That answer had to be hidden within this question as well.

As if she had been waiting for this, the spirit immediately responded.

"...Our master left us with a message."

"The master?"

"Yes. Two hundred years ago, when our master last spoke to us... they expressed regret for the trials to come and, along with the fragment, left us with one final promise:

That another Lord of the Afterlife would one day come to find us... and grant us salvation."

As she spoke, the spirit clenched her hand around the fragment.

"...At last, the time has come."

Her voice trembled, heavy with emotion.

"...O Great One."

She lowered her head as far as it would go.

"Please... Please, save us."

The small figure of the spirit prostrated herself before me.

"...Hmm."

I scratched my cheek as I looked at her.

"No."

"Thank you very mu—... Huh?"

The spirit lifted her head, startled.

Her veil fluttered slightly. Even without seeing her face, it was impossible to miss her shock.

So I smiled and repeated myself.

"I said no."

"......."

Her entire body went rigid.