Chapter 349: The Next Morning
Listen While Reading: xxδ44nature
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The next day finally arrived, and I couldn’t help but wake up quite early in the morning. I didn’t really need to sleep that much since my ascendancy into an immortal anyways, so sleeping a couple of hours was more than enough to feel completely refreshed.
I immediately jumped out of the bed, waking up my many familiars as I ran to the bathroom, where I took a quick warm bath, washed my hair, and then walked out half-naked, quickly drying my body and rapidly wearing my favorite clothes from this world.
It was a long black dress with a red dragon in the middle of my chest, crossing from my hips to my shoulders. It was really cool, and it fit me nicely! Though I also wore some loose black pants with it.
“Ah, Murim’s clothes are a bit complicated to wear, but once you get used to it, they’re really nice!”
I sighed in relief as I saw myself in the mirror, tying my hair into a long ponytail… Remembering how I looked when I entered the trial, I had really become different.
I was much taller and slender than before… I had very hard abs now, and my arms and legs were also rather decently muscular looking.
My face was a bit leaner too, more mature looking, although I still had my baby face, giving me a cute appearance despite how strong I might look.
No matter how I try to get burly and buff, I can’t escape my curse, the incredibly high Charm Stat, it simply modifies my body to look adorable no matter what I try to do.
So technically, I don’t think I can even get buffer than this; this is my limit! And if I don’t explicitly tighten my muscles and show it to someone, nobody would guess I’m packed…
“Oh well, it was never my goal anyways…”
It’s not like I’m a muscle freak or something, so I didn’t really care about it. It was nice to get taller at the very least. Though I think I’m still not as tall as my big brother, he’s a huge walking mountain.
But we’re definitely getting there!
“Woof!”
Snow barked at me, acting like a dog despite being a wolf monster.
“Hey, you’re already awake, baby? How are you? How is my good boyyy?”
I hugged him tightly as he began licking my face while wagging his tail.
He was too cute! I kissed his forehead like a dozen times.
“Are you a hungry boy?”
“Woof! Woof!”
“Let’s go eat something then!”
As he barked loudly, Shiro and Violet ended up waking up; these two had quite the heavy sleep sometimes.
Oh, and about Goldie? He was already sitting over my head…
I think he got over my head the moment I finished taking a bath.
I don’t know where he goes when I sleep, but he definitely likes flying around and exploring on his own.
Once they woke up, I suddenly noticed two creatures stepping from the window.
It was the primordial beasts, the little lion, Yaoyan Taiyang, and the little wolf, Wuyue Zhiye.
“Where were you guys this whole time?” I wondered. “Were you outside doing something else?”
“Gaaaooo!”
“Woof!”
They made cute little growls and expected me to understand a thing of what they were saying, which I obviously didn’t.
“Well, I suppose you were training or something; let’s go.”
They would usually train in the mountains, hunt monsters, and eat their martial beast cores to strengthen themselves a bit.
So I guess that’s what they were doing.
I stepped outside of my room and quickly joined everyone else for breakfast. They were already here too, probably just as nervous as I was.
“Good morning, everyone!” I said. “Today’s the big day.”
“Yep, it is,” nodded Wai Tian. “I’m a bit nervous even though I might not do anything…”
“Me too…” Yin Sheng sighed. “I don’t know why.”
“I guess we all share the same feeling,” said Fang Shuan. “Did you sleep well, young lady Anna?”
“I did; everything’s alright,” I nodded, sitting between Wait Tian and Zero One. “Good morning, Zero One, how are you doing?”
“I’m doing alright,” she smiled. “Zero Two already went out to set things up with her Mother. We’ll be joining them in a bit.”
“Alright then, nice…” I muttered, feeling nervous as well. “Ah, I’m really nervous, dammit.”
My hands were sweating constantly, and I was also moving my legs all the time when I sat down, accidentally bumping them with Wai Tian from time to time; she didn’t mind, though.
“Me too! Even though I am a machine… I never thought I could feel this strange sensation of nervousness and anguish… Ahh, it’s indeed quite annoying,” she said.
“Right? Well, let’s just eat and feel better after that! Nothing beats a delicious breakfast,” I said. “Right Song?”
“Right!”
Song came running from the kitchen with his parents; both of them had cooked together with their son, which was surprising!
“Good day, everyone,” said Mom. “Have a good meal before we depart.”
“Let’s eat; I’m starving,” said Dad.
As we ate the huge feast of Murim’s endemic food, which was like a mix of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean food with a bit of Indian food mixed into the whole thing, we talked a lot.
And I mean a lot; everyone was desperately talking, just so we could stop thinking about if things could go wrong and everything goes to shit.
Eventually, once we finished our meals, it was time…
“Everything is ready by now,” said Zero One. “Zero Two just reported to me.”
“I see, good,” nodded Mom. “Then, shall we go? Anna? Zero One?”
“Sure,” I nodded. “Let’s go, Mom.”
“Hmm… Ah, I can’t help it; I really don’t feel nervous,” laughed Dad. “I guess I lost such emotions long ago. Even if it goes well or badly… I’m fine with either of the two.”
“What? You can’t say that, Dad!" said Song. “Don’t ever think about it!”
“Hmm,” he nodded. “Okay, sorry. It’s just something that can’t be helped, ultimately.”
“I suppose I agree with the old crow,” Mom nodded. “Let’s go.”
She opened a wide portal outside, and we moved towards the island of the Heavenly Empress.
There, we walked towards the Mechanical Tree, waiting for us patiently and silently.
Across the island and the forest, there were hundreds of machines looking from afar.
They had been told what was going to happen now, and they were perhaps expectant of what would be the future of the Venerables.
Most of them looked worried, or I think they did? They all look like huge mechanical bugs, so it’s hard to tell either way!
Each step I took felt heavier, as if I was approaching a way of no return…
Somehow, I felt more nervous than when I fought the Bleeding Scream or the Demon King.
Yet, I felt a calming breeze washing over my body as Mother patted my shoulders gently.
“It’s okay.” She said. “It’s alright.”
She never said, “It will be okay” or “It’s going to be alright,” nor did she even say, “We’ll do it no matter what.” No, she didn’t lie about the result.
She didn’t tell me they would make it; she simply said it was okay… that it was fine, alright.
“What if you two…?” I muttered. “I won’t be able to do it all on my own…”
Mom smiled gently.
“I know you will, Anna. I know you will.”
“But I lack training; it’s not enough for me to…”
“Trust yourself. You’ve surprised me many times already… It’s fine, even if we live or we die… You and Song will be there. This world is already… in good hands, the hands of the next generation.”
“B-But…”
I was about to cry like a dumb child, but she patted my head.
“Don’t cry. Save those tears when they’re truly needed,” she smiled. “Whatever happens, happens… That is the will of the universe, the flow of fate, and the heavenly will.”
“…”
I remained in silence as I glanced at the interior of the Mechanical Tree.
Inside, there were two long tables made of metal and a huge machine attached to hundreds of gigantic tubes connected to both of these tables… or beds?
Zero Two was there, alongside a dozen other machines, small and human-like, although they weren’t Androids.
“Welcome back, you’re finally here,” she said. “Venerables, sit down here. Both of you. Anna and Zero One, come to my side. Everyone else, please remain outside for now; we can’t have any more people as it could disturb the flow.”
“Wait, but what about Song?” wondered mom. “He’s our son; can’t he stay?”
“I… No, he can’t,” said Zero Two. “I’m… sorry, but he needs to stay outside for now.”
“C-Can I help? I have powers…” said Song. “Maybe you could need me!”
“But you’re a child,” said Zero Two. “Inexperienced. Your training is lacking, and so is your control over your abilities, Song. So please, remain outside… It’s for the best of your parents.”
“B-But…” Song sighed.
He really wanted to help.
But is it really right to let him help when he’s inexperienced?
One small mistake, and everything could be ruined…
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