Hey, Father… what do you mean you're good at cooking medicine?"
"You're pretty average to me."
"Shh. Be quiet, you idiot," the man snapped. "Unlike you, I can actually help people with illness. Hehehe. Try becoming a little smaller."
"Hahaha! Even if you cooked," the voice mocked, "your weight would crush the world. Continue, jerk."
"But Father, I'm a robot. What do you expect me to do then?"
"Ahh, be quiet, Shibai! Even your mouth stinks."
"But Father, weren't you the one who created me without a mouth?"
"I don't care, you—"
Renewal's eyes snapped open.
Above him, the moon slowly rose through the dark sky, its pale light brushing his ears.
If it had been anyone else, the sound of voices so close would have triggered alarms—scanning the area, heightening alertness. Night was the most dangerous time, after all.
But Renewal was different.
He felt something strange in his chest.
Frowning, he looked down.
His clothes were torn open. A large leaf rested on his bare chest—sticky, damp, and unpleasantly warm. Saliva clung to its surface.
"…What?"
He turned his head.
Behind a nearby tree, someone was clearly hiding.
"But Father," a voice whispered loudly, "aren't you strong? Why are you running away from Renewal?"
The man immediately snapped back, "Shut up! I am not someone who messes up so easily! I'm a very cautious person!"
Renewal's eyes sharpened the moment he heard that voice.
Slowly, he picked up the leaf, glanced at the tree, and spoke coldly,
"Whoever has the guts—come out."
"Father!"
Renewal looked up.
His pupils shrank.
Standing before him was a massive robot.
It towered over sixty feet tall, its body incredibly robust. Six veiny arms were wrapped in rough, rock-like armor that faintly glowed with light. Its chest plate was woven with metallic strings like a tapestry, and its helmet—rusted and ancient—covered its head.
The giant robot froze… then awkwardly bent down, trying to hide behind the tree.
"…You're terrible at hiding," Renewal said flatly.
Then he laughed.
"Hey, you actually look pretty nice. What are you, exactly?"
"That guy is my creation," a voice said proudly. "And he's very precious."
Renewal turned around.
A tall man—well over six feet—stood there calmly. His skin was pale, almost glowing. Messy white hair curled and fell around his face. He wore a ragged white robe, tied at the waist with a belt, and leaned casually on a golden staff.
Renewal smiled.
"Weren't you just insulting your own creation?"
The man shrugged.
"Shouldn't I tell the truth? Some of my inventions are flawed. And you're no different."
A brow lifted.
"Are you talking about the bounty on my head?"
The man shook his head.
"No. I mean how you killed your father. Quite horrific. But hey—at least you got what you wanted."
Renewal's smile didn't fade.
"Maybe. But tell me—what did you put on my chest?"
Shibai's voice boomed from above.
"He used saliva and leaves. Thought it was good medicine."
"…It was average," he added.
Renewal chuckled.
"Fool. Sour leaves don't work. That's just stupidity."
The white-haired man nodded seriously.
"Ahahaha! I see. You simply lack the intelligence to understand my other inventions. I am the Mortal Ruler of this world—"
"What did you say?" Renewal interrupted.
The man nodded proudly.
"Yes. The Mortal Ruler."
Renewal grinned.
"Hehehe… huh?"
Suddenly, his legs gave out.
Pain exploded in his chest.
He clutched at himself, his face twisting into a grotesque expression.
"This… shouldn't hurt this much
Pain exploded through his chest.
Renewal collapsed to one knee, fingers digging into his skin as his breath hitched violently. His vision blurred, the world twisting as if something cold was gripping his heart from the inside.
What is happening ," he muttered.
"…?"
The Mortal Ruler watched him quietly.
Then he smiled.
"…It seems you caught a cold."
Renewal's eyes widened.
He grabbed his throat as a sharp burning sensation crawled upward. His face stiffened, veins bulging slightly as his breathing turned rough.
"Agh—!"
He staggered to his feet, clutching his neck.
"My throat… it hurts."
He spat onto the ground.
Yellow saliva splattered across the grass.
"…Damn it," he hissed. "Looks like the food stash I've been devouring lately wasn't exactly clean."
The Mortal Ruler walked over and casually sat beside him.
"Hey, ugly human," he said cheerfully. "Want to be friends?"
Renewal slowly turned his head toward him.
His face twisted into pure disgust.
"…And why would I be friends with you?" he snapped. "Aren't you the one who despises humans? That's what I learned."
The Mortal Ruler burst out laughing.
"Aren't you the one who sees your own race as nothing more than something to exploit—or kill?"
Renewal's expression darkened.
"There is nothing worth keeping in this world," he replied coldly.
"People either become corpses used by others… or corpses leading others."
His voice lowered.
"I was the corpse that sacrificed himself for his people."
As he pause.and he stare in the sky with a blank epressiln
"And I hated them for it but it wasn't the cause of there downfall it was just for my own benefit "
"So I killed them."
The Mortal Ruler reached out and casually removed the leaf from Renewal's chest.
He smiled.
"Let me teach you something about humans."
Then he stood up and began walking forward—his figure slowly fading into the forest shadows.
Renewal looked up instinctively.
The giant robot bent down, its massive form creaking softly.
"You're quite funny, human," Shibai said. "I like how ugly you are."
Renewal smirked weakly.
"You're one to talk."
He spat again.
Shibai tilted his head, then raised one enormous hand, spreading five fingers.
"Then let me teach you why I am beautiful."
"…This bastard," Renewal muttered, waving his hand dismissively.
Then let me teach you why I am beautiful."
Renewal waved his hand dismissively.
"Tch. This bastard… what can you even do?"
He studied the towering machine with narrowed eyes.
He's surprisingly easy to talk to, Renewal thought.
Easier than the people I once valued.
A robot might not have emotions—but at least it was programmed to speak honestly.
Before he could finish the thought—
"Okay, I'm back!"
The Mortal Ruler suddenly slid in on one knee, stopping right in front of Renewal. In his hand was another leaf—fresh, vibrant, and far stronger than the last.
He proudly held it up.
Renewal immediately brushed it aside.
"I have no interest."
The Mortal Ruler grinned.
"See? The spit on that leaf is gone. I plucked a new one and threw the old away."
Renewal stared at him, expression twisted.
"…Old man, you're really starting to annoy me."
"What are you even trying to explain?"
The Mortal Ruler sighed deeply, rubbing his temples.
"Isn't this how humans are?"
Renewal froze.
"…What do you mean?"
Another sigh.
"I thought you'd be at least somewhat smart."
"Ahh—stupid bastard, just explain!"
The Mortal Ruler chuckled.
"Humans are like a small boat full of cracks, drifting down a raging river."
He gestured with the leaf.
"The boat is constantly flooding, yet it keeps moving forward. The monkeys inside believe the river below is nothing but death."
"But in truth," he continued calmly, "the river is transparent—filled with luxury, fruit, and treasures."
Renewal frowned but stayed silent.
"The boat is steered by a frightened monkey," the Mortal Ruler went on.continue to explain
"He's terrified of falling in, so he paddles desperately backward not daring to even look at that river ."
"Other monkeys try to help," he said, tapping the staff against the ground.
"But each has their own fears, their own beliefs, their own way of seeing the river."
"The smartest monkey knows something lies beneath the water… but does nothing."
"The fiercest monkey wants to jump—but fears the fall."
"The leader hesitates."
"The followers simply obey."
"And then," the Mortal Ruler smiled, "there's one more monkey."
Renewal slowly lifted his head.
"He isn't the smartest. Nor the bravest."
"He's just… curious."
The Mortal Ruler looked down at the leaf.
"So he asks himself a foolish question."
What happens if I fall?
"He hesitates," the Mortal Ruler continued.
"Gambles with his life."
"He tries to convince the others—but they don't listen."
"So in the end…"
The Mortal Ruler dropped the leaf.
"He jumps."
Renewal's brows furrowed.
"And below," the Mortal Ruler said softly,
"he sees the truth."
"Fruits. Treasures. A world far greater than the boat. There was even a kingdome made of stone with a carving monkey head on it "
"But there's a problem."
He clenched his fist.
"It's too far."
"The monkey reaches for the fruit… and ignores the cliff beneath him."
And regretted his decision .
"He dies."
Silence filled the forest.
Renewal stared at him blankly.
"…What the hell does that even mean?"
The Mortal Ruler raised a finger confidently.
"I don't know."
Renewal nearly snapped—
But the mortal ruler wave his hand
Calm down young one
The monkey reaches for the fruit… and ignores the cliff beneathe him don't that ring a bell for you !
"The others never learn what was beneath the river," he continued.
"They only remember that the monkey fall ."
Renewal stared at him, his expression unreadable.
"…What is even the point of the story ?"
The Mortal Ruler raised one finger, completely serious.
"I don't know."
Renewal opened his mouth to shout—
Then stopped.
Something warm stirred in his chest.
Not pain.
Not sickness.
Warmth.
A slow, unfamiliar warmth spread through his heart, like an old memory resurfacing after being buried for years. He hadn't felt it in a very long time.
Someone… teaching him.
Not commanding.
Not judging.
Just talking.
Renewal lowered his head, one hand clutching his chest as a crooked, unsettling smile crept across his face.
"…Tch."
The Mortal Ruler burst out laughing.
"That's an ugly smile."
"Hey!" Renewal snapped. "I'm not ugly—you are!"
The Mortal Ruler stood up and held the leaf between his fingers.
"This leaf represents the monkey drifting in the river."
He crushed it.
The leaf tore apart effortlessly.
Renewal frowned.
"…And what's the point of destroying it?"
The Mortal Ruler opened his palm.
"That destruction was my decision," he said calmly.
"Just like humans."
"They make choices believing they're right."
"Sometimes they are."
"Sometimes they're not."
He turned his back.
"But the outcome," he said over his shoulder,
"is always theirs to bear."
Renewal watched him walk away.
Then the Mortal Ruler stopped and pointed toward the sky.
"I promise you one thing."
"I will be the one who brings the mortals to the Nine Heavens.and also it would be the best day of humanity "
"I will change our destiny."
He glanced back.
"So… believe in me."
Renewal's eyes widened.
His body froze.
Is this… the one I was meant to meet?
A second passed.
Renewal threw his head back, laughter tearing from his chest in sharp, uncontrolled bursts.
"Hahahahahaha! Ahahahaha!"
Tears streaked his cheeks, but they weren't from pain—they were from a feeling he hadn't experienced in ages.
Shibai, standing silently beside them, tilted his massive head.
"Hey… why are you laughing at my father's words?"the giant robot mutter out as the voice rumbled in the air . "
Hey What he said makes perfect sense."
Renewal wiped the tears from his eyes, still smiling through the mess of emotions flooding him.
"I never expected… never imagined… that someone could be a true friend to me… one day."
He turned to the Mortal Ruler, voice trembling with sincerity.
"Mortal Ruler… today, I would lay down my life for you!"for you great joked !
The Mortal Ruler froze for a moment, clearly taken aback.
"Fool! You don't trust people so quickly," he said, shaking his head. "You should spend more time… truly testing them first."
Renewal's grin only widened.
"Where should we go next, then?" he asked eagerly.
The Mortal Ruler sighed and slapped his forehead.
"Just follow me. Every step of the way."
Renewal nodded, heart pounding with something he hadn't felt in years.
So this… a true friend… exists.
Excitement surged through him like wildfire. Every nerve, every muscle, every thought—alive, sharp, and ready.
The Mortal Ruler smiled knowingly.
"First, let me heal you."
Before Renewal could respond, Shibai swung his massive palm downward, grabbing him effortlessly.
"Stupid monkey—try and catch me if you can!"
The ground trembled as Shibai took off running.
Renewal laughed, holding his chest as adrenaline and joy battled the lingering sickness.
"Ahahaha! I was right—your weight is too much for this world!"
The Mortal Ruler scooped up his golden staff from the ground and sprinted after them, a grin plastered across his face.
And so began the true friendship of Renewal, the Mortal Ruler, and Shibai.
The laughter of one, the excitement of another, and the silence of the giant—together, they formed a bond stronger than any force in the forest.
Present Day
Renewal stood tall, gripping his katana.
Those days… those moments… were only the beginning of their friendship.
A new journey, a new era—and a bond that would never break.