Yehyeon invited me inside.
Still holding the bag full of apples, I stepped over the low fence and into the living room. The house was just as it had been — high-ceilinged, cool, and faintly scented with something clean and airy.
On the ivory sofa lay a thin blanket, the kind Yehyeon must have used while napping.
He gestured toward the rattan chair beside the sofa.
“Do you want water or coffee? They’re both in PET bottles.”
“I’ll have water, sir. I can get it myself.”
He didn’t answer, only shuffled lazily across the living room.
A moment later, he drifted back to the sofa with two bottles in hand — eyes half-closed.
He’s about to fall asleep on his feet.
I snapped out of that impudent thought and politely accepted the bottle he held out.
“Thank you.”
“Why were you picking apples?”
He sat down and twisted open his own bottle.
I briefly explained about the apple wine — that I was stealing a few from Newton’s tree to make cider for Samuel.
Yehyeon chuckled softly.
“Samuel will like that.”
“I hope so.”
“You used to brew like that before too?”
I nodded, looking at his rumpled black hair, still mussed from sleep.
“Yes. I’ll make some for you as well, Commander. There were plenty of apples this year.”
Yehyeon smiled faintly.
Murmuring thanks, he took a drink of water.
I waited for him to get to the point.
He wouldn’t have called me in just for small talk. If it had been just out of friendliness, he wouldn’t be speaking so casually.
“Hilde.”
He set the bottle down and turned toward me.
“If you’re not busy, can we talk for a bit?”
“I’m not busy at all.”
“I’ll have to ask you a few uncomfortable questions.”
I smiled faintly.
Surprisingly, Yehyeon was the person I felt most at ease talking to about the past. With him, there was no need to hide anything.
“Ask freely.”
The drowsiness faded from his face.
Morning sunlight, nearing noon, filled the living room through the glass wall. It was always quiet here — quiet enough to make one forget how quickly time passed outside.
That clean, crisp scent again.
Yehyeon fixed his large eyes on mine.
“The Titan I killed — it was absorbing nearby organisms to heal itself. You can do that too, can’t you?”
...Wow.
He started with a heavy question.
I steadied my thoughts.
“Yes. But I’ve rarely used that ability, and I still prefer not to.”
“I figured as much. Why? Does it have side effects?”
“It does. As you know, if you push the ability too long, beyond your limit, your body collapses.”
“So as long as it’s controlled, it’s fine.”
I nodded. As expected, he grasped things quickly.
And that meant he was already considering how to use it...
“Then why don’t you want to use it?”
It was a question I’d been asked countless times — not only on Earth but back in the world I came from. People always asked why I refused to use the so-called blessing of the World Tree’s child. Properly used, it was a formidable power, yet unless I was truly cornered, I never drew upon it.
I’d heard every theory: that I pitied the lives I absorbed; that I couldn’t control it; that I wanted to free myself from the Emperor’s reach; and so on, and so on.
None of it was true.
But telling the truth was always difficult.
And to Yehyeon, I couldn’t hide it.
He needed to hear it all to place the piece called Hildebert in its proper slot.
He didn’t rush me. I moistened my parched throat with a sip of water.
No matter how many times I explained it, I could never find the right words.
Still, I tried.
“The world I came from wasn’t very rational. Violence was an everyday thing, and society was stratified by birth. It was like a medieval world filled with magic and monsters.”
“I see.”
“So...” I hesitated before continuing. “So absurd things happened all the time. Especially in isolated regions — unbelievably backward places, steeped in superstition, lawless.”
“I can imagine.”
“Yes. Do you know the story of the World Tree?”
“I heard about it from Yun.”
“Then I won’t need to go over it again. I reached the World Tree and lifted the curse on the divine wood — that’s how I obtained that ability, what we call absorption. But the problem was that I didn’t understand it myself when I first ended up in a backward region.”
A faint crease appeared between Yehyeon’s brows.
But he didn’t interrupt — only listened, his expression clouded.
He probably already guessed, but I had to say it clearly.
With a self-conscious smile, I went on.
“I was young, and exhausted... To put it plainly, well, I was captured and went through something not exactly pleasant. It was a long time ago, but even now I struggle to use that ability.”
“Were you... experimented on?”
His voice carried open distress.
I gave a wry smile and stayed silent.
That was answer enough. Shock and worry mingled on his pale face; his dark eyes trembled faintly.
That kind of reaction was exactly why it was hard to talk about.
Still, it was something I needed to tell him — especially since he had seen with his own eyes how dangerous the same ability had been in Rei’s hands. He’d want to understand its full potential and limits.
To calm him, I added softly,
“It was a long time ago. Unless I intentionally use it, it doesn’t even cross my mind now. When I thought I was about to die, or when the Emperor gave an order, I’d use it. So if you wish me to employ it, just give the command.”
“Some things don’t fade, even after years.”
Yehyeon’s voice was low, troubled.
He looked at me like I was a patient in intensive care.
“Let’s avoid using that ability.”
“Well, it’s not the ability’s fault. It’s extremely powerful, as you know...”
“There’s no need for it if we can win without it.”
His tone turned thoughtful.
He fell silent for a while. I sat quietly, eyes lowered, waiting for him to speak again.
Maybe I should’ve softened my explanation.
The Emperor hadn’t blinked even when I told him this story. Kyle had only urged me to get over it — said it was foolish to cling to the past and lose the chance to become stronger when the power was right there.
Most others had reacted the same way.
It was an era without the concept of trauma or psychological scars. Even I hadn’t understood my own aversion, so I couldn’t blame them.
Of course, I was stubborn — I’d chosen to refine my swordsmanship instead of listening to them.
I was lost in those thoughts when Yehyeon’s voice drew me back.
“We’ll begin the territorial recapture soon.”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
“The moment the Center Core opens, the operation begins. Since part of the barrier will be lifted, our defenses will be extremely weak during that period. We’re building a wall along the target zone, but it won’t hold as firmly as the Core’s barrier.”
“I understand.”
“As you’ve probably guessed, you’ll serve as bait.”
“Yes.”
“Four people who know your true identity will be assigned to you.”
That much I’d already expected.
During the recapture campaign, the entire Core held its breath. Normal life would stop completely — commuting, school, even walking the streets was forbidden.
Until the Core closed again, it would be under a semi-wartime lockdown.
Not only Badgers, but the army and police were mobilized for the massive operation. They established positions around the open zones in case every Badger fell to the Creatures.
Nearby hospitals were cleared to receive the inevitable wounded.
Unmanned fighters, combat drones, all kinds of missiles — everything stood by, ready for deployment.
As the day of recapture drew near, everyone was pushed to exhaustion.
According to Ami, the people working on portal construction and those tied to Aitek were practically dying from overwork.
The recapture operation was set for Foundation Day — the day the sky’s locks had been sealed and the First War had ended.
I wondered if Kyle knew about this upcoming battle.
“And I’ll be there too.”
I almost spilled the water I was about to drink.
“...Sir?”
“I said, I’ll be there with you.”
“Are you insane?”
The answer flew out reflexively.
Yehyeon blinked his large eyes.
Normally, I would have turned pale after realizing what I’d just said.
But not this time.
“You should be in the safest place possible, what are you talking about?”
“If I stay back, our overall strength drops too much.”
That was his reply.
If Yun had said that, I would’ve called it an arrogant comment. But coming from him, it just sounded like a factual observation.
Still—
“You said I’ll be the bait.”
“Right.”
“Then why are you coming to my side? I don’t doubt your leadership or anything, and I’m not trying to question your authority, but... generally, generals don’t volunteer to be bait. It’s just... not how this works, logically speaking.”
I tried my best to keep my tone polite.
Apparently, I failed at keeping my expression neutral.
Yehyeon took one look at me and burst into a clear, bright laugh.
After laughing for quite a while, he smiled and said,
“You’re cursing me in your head right now, aren’t you?”
“Got me. Yes, I am.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll mostly be commanding while under your protection. And if things get really dangerous, I already have a retreat path prepared.”
“You could just command safely from headquarters.”
“There’s a high chance Kyle will come for you.”
He spoke calmly, still wearing that faint smile.
“If he starts rampaging like a tenth-stage, everything will collapse.”
True.
If a child of the World Tree began burning their body, the devastation of the First War could repeat itself. The technique was that powerful — terrifying even when controlled, unstoppable when unleashed at full force.
But still—
“Who else would you assign? Yun can’t leave; he’s needed for the new Core creation. Richard doesn’t fully understand the tenth-stage, and as a leader, he’s too valuable to assign anywhere else. William Walker is best suited for Core machinery defense. Jason Trevain? Do you really think he could stay calm if he faced Kyle?”
“You’re the Commander-in-Chief.”
“For the recapture, even Center Core’s beloved John Mühlen will be on-site.”
Yehyeon answered without losing that subtle smile.
His tone had shifted — all business now.
The casual, sleepy man from earlier had vanished.
“It’s humanity’s total war effort.”
Still...
All the more reason for him to stay where he could command safely, wasn’t it?
He must’ve seen the doubt on my face, because he let out a small chuckle.
He straightened his back, glancing at me sitting stiffly in the rattan chair.
“The /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Elders’ underlings will be hidden around me for protection anyway, so you don’t need to worry.”
Well, if that’s the case...
“I want to confirm one thing. The absorption ability — it’s different from controlling Creatures, right?”
“Yes. Controlling Creatures is something quite a few people can do. That ability’s called ‘subjugation.’”
Yehyeon went silent again.
He pressed his fingertips together, thinking deeply. I leaned back against the rattan chair.
Would Kyle show himself on the day of the recapture?
Would the others appear with him?
Faces surfaced in my memory — the ones who had glared at me with hatred when I raised my sword against them.
Hekate, Rei...
“You said you were young back then.”
His quiet murmur pulled me back to the present.
And to my surprise, the man who moments ago had seemed every bit the stern commander now looked like he was worrying over a child.
His dark eyes were softened, searching mine.
“How young?”
Ah.
I rifled through unpleasant memories.
“Pretty young. Around twenty.”
Yehyeon drew in a sharp breath.
I lifted my torso off the chair’s back and studied his pale face.
Resting my clasped hands on my knees, I said quietly,
“After I turned a hundred, I stopped counting my age.”
“...And your point?”
“My point is that it was a very long time ago, and I’m really fine now. You don’t have to worry.”
But Yehyeon’s expression didn’t ease.
Now I completely understood what Ricardo meant when he’d said this man was far too soft in private. Honestly, he could stand to learn a little ruthlessness from Kyle or the Emperor.
Even a bit of Lee Seunghyun’s cruelty might’ve helped.
“I know those kinds of wounds don’t heal just because time passes.”
He’d even switched back to formal speech now.
“I’m still drowning in something that happened seventy years ago. You think you’re any different?”
“Seventy years ago?”
That would mean... around when he was nine?
Yun’s words flashed through my mind — about his guardian having been abusive.
I furrowed my brow and leaned forward.
“Were you abused? And Lee Seunghyun didn’t know?”
Yehyeon’s eyes widened.
But I didn’t regret asking. If that was true, it only made Lee Seunghyun’s behavior toward his son even more unforgivable.
Even if Yehyeon wouldn’t answer, I was going to confront that bastard later.
He couldn’t even apologize or atone to his own child— that damned—
Smack!
“Ah!”
He flicked me hard on the forehead.
“Take care of yourself for once.”
His voice came back sharp.
“You never look after your own body.”
What—
Why was he suddenly angry?
I sat there dumbfounded, rubbing my stinging forehead, while he stood and glared at my abdomen as if he could see straight through it. Then, without another word, he strode to the refrigerator.
Apparently, he’d decided he needed to feed me something.
He ignored my insistence that I was perfectly healthy.
In the end, that day I had to return to the cabin with my arms full of apples and nutritional supplements.
