Chapter 180 - Naturally

Teren focused on the woman who calls herself Nature. Since she does not hold any malice towards him, it was a bit hard sensing how she uses an ability.

But what he did not expect was that... he didn't sense anything. No matter how much he tries to, he was unable to sense that this woman was using a Spirit.

He looked around and saw that faint shadows were looming over the surroundings. He doesn't need to look at the sky to know that it is indeed becoming cloudy.

'She's the second person who can use an ability without activating a Spirit. Is this person created by him as well?'

Teren thought but soon, he released some of those thoughts..

"Is it to your liking now?"

"If it's a bit windy..."

But before Teren finishes his words, a breeze of wind, not too cold nor too warm, began to blow.

"Thank you."

Teren said.

"Human preferences are complex. But that's what makes it beautiful."

"I think so too."

"..."

Afterward, Nature didn't reply and Teren didn't know what to say too. Him, saying that they should talk was just a spur of the moment. However, in a conversation, it's inevitable to ask questions. If Teren can't ask questions then him initiating a talk will be limited.

'But I shouldn't think too much about it.'

Teren was about to speak but Nature spoke before him.

"This is awkward."

She frankly said with no expression.

"Do not misunderstand. You can ask questions. When I said, I don't answer... I mean I don't answer specific questions. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding but talking while in a form of a tree is hard."

"So, what kind of questions can I ask?"

"Anything. Try it. I'll see if I can answer it."

Teren looked to the side first before making eye contact again.

"Do you know my father?"

"I know him."

Nature responded.

"Then can you tell me about him?"

Teren asked with a serious expression. However, to his dissatisfaction, Nature shook her head.

"Your father is not someone I can tell to you."

"..."

"Then I'll ask the same question. Do you know my father?"

Teren, this time, was visibly shocked. So he replied after a brief moment-

"... no?"

"Oh, but I can't tell his existence to you too. What a shame."

"Then... why did you ask me?"

"Shouldn't that be the case? Humans communicate to work together, sometimes to sympathize with one another. You ask me one thing, I shall ask you the same thing. Is that what not humans do?"

'This will be hard...' Teren thought. But then, he thought of something to talk about.

"Do you know about the world's affair?"

"I would appreciate it if you specify it."

"The Spirit War and everything around it."

"Spirit War... Teren Hark, are you sure you want to talk about that?"

"Why not?"

"..."

Nature paused for a while before responding.

"If... you hide it from yourself, I don't have the right to tell it to you."

"... I hide it from myself... I see, the Great Spirit of Mind-Altering still has some remaining effect. Don't worry about it, it was a mistake. I want to know."

"I'm not talking about that."

"Eh...?"

Teren needed to pause to follow what this woman was saying. However, even with time, he didn't know what she was talking about.

"If you're unaware of it. I'm sorry but I can't talk about it."

"... you seemed to respect me." Teren asked what he just noticed, "Are you like that to other people as well?"

"No, I am akin to a God to these people. I, the world itself, am the one who should receive respect and worship."

"Then... do you know that you're an Aberrant to them instead?"

"Aberrant, I'm aware. They just see me as someone who shapeshifts. They think I have Spirits within me."

"You're okay with it?"

"I don't really have any emotion. I'm not the one who gets angry. But in this form, I feel something... yet, that doesn't matter. How about you? Have you been feeling emotions lately?"

At that moment, Teren felt that the two of them were on the same page.

"Well... I have."

"Tell me about it."

Teren scratched his cheek.

"I think I'm in love...?"

"... Really?"

Teren then began to recount all his experiences with it. almost forgetting why he was there. Of course, he didn't tell  everything, just his experiences.

"That's... then I must congratulate you, Teren Hark."

"Huh? Why?"

"Repeating what your father said - Love is the most stupid thing to exist, it shouldn't even exist in the first place."

"I can imagine him saying that." Teren's face darkened.

"Love is irrational and will lead your mind into disarray. He said."

Nature added before continuing.

"However, you still attained it. From your experiences, I could see that it is indeed stupid."

"Urgh..."

"Is that why you have been making mistakes lately?"

Nature suddenly asked which twisted the atmosphere.

"Mistakes?"

"You could've killed her there and then. But because of this stupid affection... you let her go. You let other people go... very unbefitting for the Devil Himself."

Nature began to talk harshly as if criticizing Teren.

"You know that moment?"

"Of course..."

Nature didn't say anything more.

"So killing her was the right thing to do?"

"That, I cannot answer. Right or wrong, I cannot tell. I am Nature and... you are as well."

"You've been confusing me from the very start."

"I'm sorry for that. It's not that I'm testing you but rather, the answer should come from you."

"What a cliche phrase."

Nature tilted her head again.

"Then, I hope you can answer this. What will happen if I kill her?"

Teren asked with a heavy heart.

"... you will kill me afterward and kill your father and... we would win."

"... what?"

"I can say that we will win because you are the one who remains in the end and the other side is gone, that means winning, am I wrong?"

"No, but I don't understand why you would also win, and about my father, I have already killed him."

Teren felt like banging his head on that stone table right now.

"Killed him? I don't remember you have the capability for that, Devil Himself. You will only have the power to kill your father if you kill Iesa Hun and then me, then some others as well if we're not enough."

"Wait..." Teren's breathing began to become heavy, "Are you saying my father is not dead?"

"Naturally."

Nature said as if it was a matter of fact.