Side Story 50. Heroes Gathering (3) (2/2)

“Aren’t we right in front of enemy territory? Then shouldn’t we start right away here? Giving that thing more time isn’t going to help.”

Agreeing wholeheartedly, Seol Jihu took out a white divine tool in the shape of a tree branch. He planted it in the soil, which was still faintly pulsating with life, and then looked back.

Receiving his gaze, Yuirel and Taihi planted a seed near the divine tool and went on their knees to pray.

Soon… Hwaaaaaak! The divine tool let out a blinding light, and then… Boom! It suddenly spat out a massive pillar of light that pierced into the sky.

The divine tool multiplied in size and transformed into a giant ash tree.

The process of moving the World Tree began.

Meanwhile, Seol Jihu stared at the dark imperial palace in the distance.

It was the start of a war.

*

Same time.

Suna, who was reading a fairytale book at home, showed signs of discomfort. It was because of one woman who kept stealing glances at her, grinning.

Mercedes, the second commander of the Purgatory who served a king named Permasnow. Suna kept her by her side, unlike Gehenna and Hwajung, because of how courteously Mercedes treated her, but she was getting on her nerves today for some reason.

“What? What are you looking at?”

In the end, Suna asked angrily.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Mercedes tilted her head innocently and smiled.

“I sent him back. Do you have a problem with that?”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t dare.”

“Hmph, it would be ridiculous of me stepping up anyways.”

“That’s true. Though you did give him a word of advice.”

When Suna glared at her, Mercedes quickly averted her gaze.

“Of course, it’s not too late, and he is acting very quickly… but how should I say this… he’s cutting it a little close? It was okay when the first team failed, but the second team’s failure was quite impactful.”

“What do you want me to do about it?”

Suna snorted.

“That’s something he needs to take care of himself. It’s none of my business.”

“If that’s what you think, I won’t say anything else.”

Mercedes, who was speaking with a broad grin, suddenly held up an index finger and rested her chin on it.

“It’s such a shame I won’t be able to eat his ramen anymore…”

Suna’s eyes narrowed.

“Ah~ It was so good~ It almost made me think I wasted the countless years I lived without tasting it~”

Suna frowned and then flipped over a page. She was saying she wouldn’t act no matter what Mercedes said.

“What should I do?”

However, Mercedes was tenacious.

“What if the Golden Constellation perishes here~?”

“....”

“Even if he doesn’t perish, what if he declares he won’t make ramen ever again from the shock~?”

“...Keuk!”

Suna gritted her teeth.

“It doesn’t matter. I have already tasted it once.”

“That’s true, but his ramen skills should only improve as time goes by~”

“Eeeek!”

In the end, a frustrated eek came out of Suna’s mouth.

“If you want to help him so much, why don’t you go do it yourself?”

“I’d love to, but…”

Mercedes turned her head toward a tightly shut door. It was Kim Soohyun’s room.

“He and I are currently in a deep relationship. I cannot go against his strict command to not interfere with other worlds.”

“Then ask him yourself!”

“Oh my, but you know his personality. I don’t want to fight my husband and have him hate me.”

Mercedes shrugged.

“But~ It just happens that this hard-headed man has a lovely daughter he absolutely adores~ What if she asks him instead?”

“W-What was that?”

Suna’s eyebrows went up.

“No, I’m just saying.”

Detecting danger, Mercedes quickly got up and scurried away, murmuring, Let’s get tastier~

It didn’t end with just Mercedes.

“Hmm. Today feels like a ramen day. Together with kimchi, blowing on it to cool it down….”

Gehenna, who appeared out of nowhere…

“Before you go, why not have a bowl of ramen?”

And Hwajung, who also appeared out of nowhere, walked around Suna and blabbered on.

“You three…!”

Gritting her teeth, Suna forced herself to focus on the fairytale.

“....”

Of course, she could not concentrate for long.

Because honestly speaking, Seol Jihu’s ramen was good.

It was a bit ridiculous to think that a lofty being such as herself would be shaken up by mere ramen, but now that she tasted it once, she had no choice but to acknowledge it.

‘D-Damn it! Those three put this thought in my head…!’

Mercedes’ talk about how Seol Jihu’s ramen would only get tastier in the future played the biggest role.

Suna had seen and experienced it herself. After failing once, the Golden Constellation did not give up until finally achieving success.

He managed to get everyone, including herself to acknowledge him. Suna could not allow herself to abandon his potential.

Not to mention, he even diminished the darkness inside the Chaos Constellation.

‘R-Right. This isn’t because I want to eat his ramen. It’s for Daddy…’

Justifying herself, Suna became absorbed in figuring out the solution to the problem.

As she said before, this matter was not something she should take care of directly. She wasn’t in any position to. Since she put on such heavy airs, she also had to think about saving face.

That meant she had to get her servants to take care of the matter. However, even that came with considerable concern.

Despite being a Heaven-rank 10 being, she did not want to go as far as breaking the principle upheld by her cherished person to do as she wished.

To put it bluntly, she didn’t feel comfortable with it.

Of course, it would be a different story if she asked and got his permission beforehand… but that wouldn’t be so easy.

Once the Martial God said no to something, he absolutely did not change his mind. Knowing this, Suna had to adopt a special measure.

“....”

In the end, there was only one thing she could do.

“Haaaa….”

Heaving out a rarely seen deep sigh, Suna closed the fairytale book and got up.

First, she used her power to chase out the pesky eyes watching her.

As she made her way over, she asked herself, Do I really have to do this? But before she could arrive at the answer, her body was standing in front of the door.

After hesitating for a long time, Suna raised her baby-like hand and knocked.

—Who is it?

A familiar voice rang out from inside.

Kuhum. Suna cleared her throat. After taking another deep breath, she pinched her cute, tiny nose. Then…

“Daddyyy~~”

She spoke with a nasal voice...

“It’s Suna~ I want to ask Daddy for something~ Can I come in~?”

...and an extremely shameful face.