“Just stay put.”

Why did I run off in a fit of pique? Lying face down on the ground, I despaired, wondering if my brain had regressed to the state of a three-year-old.

No matter how I thought about it, I was foolish, stupid, and naive. I could have just called a maid to catch the squirrel or simply asked for new biscuits to replace the ones the squirrel had stolen.

“It’s too soon to give up. Roads eventually lead to somewhere; you’ll probably bump into a gardener if you keep going.”

Having lived for hundreds of years, I have my pride. I quickly regained my spirits, clenched my fists, and roamed the maze.

“The thought of walking a long distance with these short legs is dreadful.”

From then on, I was careful not to get lost or wander aimlessly. So focused was I that I treaded cautiously through the enormous bush maze, adjusting my pace for fear of tripping.

“I really dislike the atmosphere here.”

Despite it being broad daylight, the tranquil and slightly dim ambiance gave off an eerie vibe.

Moreover, whenever the clouds shifted and the sun cast its light in a different direction, the rustling sound made by the wind gave the impression that someone was following me.

Rustle—!

“Is there someone else besides me?”

I thought I had been fooled by the wind noise again, but this time it felt different.

Swish—!

Soon enough, the squirrel that had stolen my biscuits popped out of a nearby bush.

“Aaah!”

Startled, I screamed. The squirrel looked at me mockingly, as if laughing, and scurried away.

“How dare that little thing mock me?”

Forgetting my resolution not to lose my temper, I furiously chased the squirrel.

“You won’t get away!”

I yelled threats while running and eventually arrived at a relatively open space with a single tree.

“So you’ve decided to surrender since you’re at a dead end.”

Very wise.

I stopped and focused my remaining strength on the squirrel, which was showing me only its back. I was elated, thinking of the scolding I’d give it for causing me such trouble.

Whooosh—!

“What’s this? Why is an otherworldly energy emanating from the squirrel?”

Suddenly, a familiar force warped the space around the squirrel. A smoky substance, similar to a galaxy, started pouring out ceaselessly.

“My friend.”

“Why, why are you here? You’re supposed to be in hibernation underground.”

My body stiffened in surprise when I heard the true voice of Yongyang coming through the squirrel.

“Sorry for startling you.”

Finally turning to face me, the squirrel—no, Yongyang—explained calmly.

“The only way to communicate with a recently encountered friend was rather cumbersome.”

His physical form was sealed in hibernation underground, so he had to borrow another body to move outside.

“I know you’re not that weak. How did you become so frail?”

It was unbelievable. Moreover, my intention of scolding the squirrel evaporated. How could I scold Yongyang when he appeared out of the blue asking for biscuits?

“It’s a long story.”

Meanwhile, Yongyang, disguised as a squirrel, closed his eyes and narrated softly.

“After you were trapped in the cycle of reincarnation, I stayed in my habitat for hundreds of years, overwhelmed by a sense of loss.”

Our relationship was similar to that of Ulika, so it wasn’t surprising that Yongyang lived a reclusive life after I disappeared.

“One day, I mustered the courage to go look for you.”
Listening to the story, I felt my curiosity might be satisfied, so I paid close attention. Yurik said he had made a deal with a god at the time due to the changed rules that prevented him from leaving his habitat. Moreover, he accepted the condition of returning most of his power.

Anyway, Yurik said he descended to the surface in a much-weakened state, which made it hard for me to understand. Even if he missed me, how could he impulsively leave the land of gods without knowing where I would be on the surface… It seemed too reckless.

“When I finally found you, your funeral as an emperor in your past life was underway.”

If he had come at that time, it would explain why he didn’t know I was an emperor in my past life and had settled in the Imperial City’s underground. I nodded with a serious face.

“Drowned in sorrow, I was about to leave, but the little power I had left briefly showed me the future.”

Yurik, who said he’d almost returned to his habitat due to the pain of loss found at the end of his sacrifice.

“Thanks to that, I decided to wait, knowing you would appear again.”

He said he had been praying that I would come to where he was, sealing his physical form in the underground while waiting.

“So why did you become an energy source?”

It was the first time I blurted out thoughtlessly.

“I granted it to the human who provided me a place to stay.”

Yurik then gently smiled with his eyes closed.

“Isn’t it also the land where you, my friend, will live? I wished for you to grow up in a prosperous land.”

“You foolish child!”

For some reason, I yelled out, feeling something rise up from the depths of my heart, heating my head.

“You’ve been sacrificing for just that reason?”