Chapter 622: Choice and Decision.

He, who had only worn a faint smile or a blank expression.

wore a surprised expression for the first time after hearing the word ‘pureblood’.

“Hoh.”

“Is that correct?”

“How did you know?”

“I guessed half of it.”

I blurted out the hypothesis that seemed most plausible among various theories.

It was just a lucky guess.

“I was going to mention that anyway. It’s no fun when you guess it right.”

It was absurd that he was still looking for fun amidst all this.

[It’s no fun, is it?]

That guy Yuseon also found fun in similar ways.

Anyway.

‘…So that’s why.’

Listening to the Palace Lord, I finally understood the facts that had been unclear.

There was the Ice Crystal, which was blocking the extreme cold. And if the Palace Lord’s life force was what maintained that Ice Crystal.

‘Then it’s not strange for the bloodline of the Ice Palace to be maintained in the Northern Sea.’

I wondered if someone else could seize the throne within it, kidnap and imprison the native bloodline members, and use them solely for maintaining life force.

The fact that it wasn’t like that.

Means that there must be a reason for this as well.

“As the young master predicted. The Palace Lord is necessary to maintain the Ice Crystal. More precisely, for the safety of the Northern Sea.”

I looked at the Palace Lord as he spoke.

The Palace Lord, who was half transformed into a dragon.

After hearing the story, I vaguely understood the reason for his appearance.

‘Dragons have tenacious life force.’

The reason for the curse blossoming and causing dragonization.

Wasn’t it perhaps a forced shedding to maintain the Ice Crystal?

If that were the case….

‘What a fucking bastard.’

I felt like I understood what a son of a bitch the Dragon Emperor was.

On one side, he planted a device to unleash extreme cold.

On the other side, he created a contradiction, making them block that extreme cold using their life force.

Meaning they had to cling to life forcibly to maintain it.

He even implanted power under the name of a curse to facilitate it.

‘…Is the Ice Crystal really that necessary?’

Or.

Was there another reason?

I don’t know which it is, but.

It’s undeniable that he dyed the Northern Sea with extreme cold for centuries for his own purpose.

‘To wait for the ‘pureblood’.’

That was the curse planted for that purpose.

And that pureblood.

‘Me.’

Now, it has become me, and I have found this place.

Regardless of what it is.

It means the current situation correctly points to me.

‘Wait.’

As I was thinking, a question arose from the Palace Lord’s words.

“The Palace Lord’s child. That fellow Yuseon was also a dragon. Does that mean he is the successor Palace Lord?”

Dragonization, like the Palace Lord.

No, he was a guy who was more clearly close to a dragon than that.

Since his state was that of a dragon.

If the Palace Lord’s words are true, wouldn’t that mean he is the successor Palace Lord?

When I asked about this.

“That’s correct.”

“…!”

I had to widen my eyes upon hearing that.

“Although the formal procedures weren’t followed, that would be correct.”

“…You’re saying the procedures weren’t followed?”

“Originally, when the Palace Lord position is passed on, the curse is supposed to be lifted.”

The curse is released when the position is transferred.

This is.

‘…It seems like a rule similar to Yeon Ga’s curse.’

There, the curse was lifted by having a child.

This seemed better.

“And the one who originally held the Palace Lord position dies on the spot when the curse is lifted.”

I thought so, but this also seemed like a fucked-up situation.

After becoming the Palace Lord, enduring by draining life force.

They die the moment they pass on the position?

Isn’t that an incredibly miserable life?

‘So that’s the curse.’

I felt it more strongly listening to the Palace Lord. However.

“But how are you still alive, Palace Lord?”

Even though it was a cruel question, I had to ask.

If he inherited the Palace Lord position, how could he be alive now?

If the Palace Lord’s condition is still like that.

What does that make Yuseon?

In response to my question, the Palace Lord fell silent for a moment with a serious expression.

Was it to choose his words? Or to think?

I couldn’t figure that out.

As I endured the silence and waited for an answer.

Finally, the Palace Lord looked at me and began to speak.

“The Palace Lord position has been passed on. My gradually crumbling body is proof of that.”

Hearing that, I examined the Palace Lord’s body again.

A body that was gradually crumbling.

‘So that body’s condition is a problem that arose as the Palace Lord position was transferred?’

Even though I heard they die immediately.

Contrary to the words, the Palace Lord was slowly approaching death.

“The cause of this is likely a problem that arose because the procedures weren’t properly followed.”

The Palace Lord immediately continued to explain the question.

“Because it was usurpation, not bestowal, the rule must have encountered an issue.”

He forcibly took the position.

And in that process, the curse encountered a problem.

‘Meaning that the slow death is also caused by that.’

That means.

‘That fellow Yuseon forcibly took the Palace Lord’s position.’

What could be the reason for that?

‘What’s so good about it?’

From what I’ve heard, the Palace Lord position seems to offer absolutely no benefits.

Not only does the curse activate upon taking the seat, causing dragonization.

Even if the body strengthens, life force is drained by the Ice Crystal.

Was there really a need to forcibly take it?

‘If he kept these matters secret from his children, there might be a possibility.’

Looking at what Yuri mentioned.

It means she knew to some extent, if not perfectly.

Given that situation.

I still don’t understand the reason why Yuseon would have done that.

Just then.

“About the Palace Lord position.”

The Palace Lord added, looking towards me as I was thinking.

“It’s a position obtained when the Ice Crystal chooses.”

The Ice Crystal’s choice?

“Normally, it’s the Palace Lord who chooses, and the Ice Crystal accepts the outcome, but.”

Srrk.

The Palace Lord reached out and stroked the circular Ice Crystal.

“The fact that things turned out this way means, in my view, the Ice Crystal chose that child.”

The Ice Crystal chose Yuseon.

What difference would that make?

I wouldn’t know.

What’s important is.

“So, what is that guy’s objective, and what am I supposed to do here?”

What does Yuseon intend to do after obtaining the Palace Lord position?

What is the Palace Lord’s purpose in bringing me here?

And on top of that.

“What is a pureblood?”

The most important question.

What on earth is a pureblood?

Why did the Dragon Emperor place the Ice Crystal here for it?

And waited for the existence of a pureblood?

‘Why is that role mine now?’

It was time to resolve all questions.

The Palace Lord laughed at this question.

“A pureblood means someone who awakened and ascended on their own, not through change via blossoming.”

“…”

“One who shattered the filled vessel and ascended as a dragon through their own power. That is what a pureblood is. That’s what has been passed down.”

I had to frown upon hearing that.

‘Shatter the vessel with one’s own power?’

It’s laughable.

It was the furthest thing from me.

Not becoming a dragon through a curse or blossoming.

A being who became a dragon by shattering the vessel.

If that’s what they call a pureblood, then even if it’s semantically correct.

‘It’s the most different thing from me.’

I am a mongrel who lived by swallowing all sorts of fortuitous encounters and harboring unknown beings within my body.

Meaning I am the person least suited for the word ‘self’.

‘But I’m the pureblood?’

That couldn’t be.

“Besides, one cannot become a dragon just by awakening the vessel…. Young Master Gu, you must have had bloodline hidden within you capable of achieving this.”

Hearing this, I thought of Blood Demon (血魔) and my mother.

“I believe you finally reached it because you possessed the talent to awaken the vessel.”

‘Bullshit.’

I almost swore at the Palace Lord’s words, but.

I barely held back.

Something was wrong.

In my past life, I couldn’t even become a dragon.

I had never even reached the Northern Sea.

That means, ultimately, I wouldn’t have had any reason to find this place.

Unless he predicted that I would regress.

He wouldn’t have created this situation.

This means.

‘There was someone else who should have come here instead of me.’

I recall this as I listen to the Palace Lord’s words.

Isn’t there the person who left the Ice Crystal here in the first place?

The Dragon Emperor.

No.

‘Blood Demon (血魔).’

The Ice Crystal was his item.

Whether he was the pureblood or whatever, I don’t know, but.

What if.

‘What if he placed the Ice Crystal here in advance, anticipating his own resurrection?’

Or, what if he intended to send someone else to see this?

‘It’s unlikely he created it anticipating my arrival. That’s the most likely possibility.’

That means.

‘Is it correct to think of this as a failsafe left by Blood Demon?’

Indeed, Blood Demon was already manipulating things by borrowing others’ bodies.

It would be more accurate to see it that way.

‘Perhaps he didn’t know either.’

That someone would achieve the conditions and become a pureblood dragon.

And arrive here.

Perhaps he didn’t know either.

That’s what I thought.

It’s a complex path.

As I couldn’t reach a proper conclusion.

“…So, what is Yuseon’s objective? You’re saying it’s not simply rebellion, right?”

First, I decided to ask about Yuseon.

“He obtained the Palace Lord position, and if you are dying like this as a consequence, then it’s not simply rebellion, is it?”

“…”

It wasn’t an action taken to obtain the Palace Lord position.

This was something I could tell from the explanation the current Palace Lord gave.

Then what is it?

The reason why Yuseon, having become a dragon, is doing this.

“That is probably…”

The Palace Lord again pointed to the Ice Crystal with his hand.

“It’s to obtain that Ice Crystal.”

“Huh?”

Upon hearing that, I immediately expressed my doubt.

“You want the Ice Crystal?”

“If one became a dragon by receiving the choice, they would need this to become more complete.”

What could that mean?

Needing this Ice Crystal more to become complete.

Moreover.

“Then, shouldn’t you, conversely, not be here?”

I discovered something strange in the Palace Lord’s words.

“If one wants this Ice Crystal, they shouldn’t choose this place as a hiding spot…!”

Ah.

As I was speaking, I realized it.

No way.

“You….”

The Palace Lord, in the first place.

“Are you waiting?”

Here.

Does it mean the Palace Lord is waiting for Yuseon?

Did he not come here to hide, but rather to wait?

The Palace Lord neither denied nor affirmed my words, but I was already certain.

That I was right.

“For what…? Why are you waiting?”

“Because I must correct what is twisted.”

“Then you should have received treatment from me instead.”

A worsening body.

Although I’m not sure if I can lift the curse, it’s something you should have at least tried.

Back then, the Palace Lord clearly refused my treatment.

Meaning he had no intention of receiving it.

“If I accepted that, I couldn’t stop that child.”

The Palace Lord admitted he was waiting for an enemy here.

“What does that…”

“When one becomes the Palace Lord, they can know many things.”

A slight tremor appeared in the Palace Lord’s hand as he touched the Ice Crystal.

“What is contained within this Ice Crystal. Why it is referred to as an egg and a heart.”

Also.

“What will happen if this Ice Crystal hatches as an egg.”

“Hatch…?”

At the Palace Lord’s words, I also looked at the Ice Crystal.

Hatch? Does that really mean it’s used as an egg too?

If that’s true, what’s inside it?

“If that child’s objective was simply to obtain the Palace Lord position, I would have gladly given it up. However.”

The Palace Lord spoke, his vertically split eyes gleaming.

“I can know. That the child’s objective is not the position, but the hatching.”

Yuseon’s objective is to revive the Ice Crystal.

And that he will come here for it.

“So, are you saying you will stop Yuseon when he comes? With that broken body?”

“Because that is the surest way.”

Not hiding, but waiting.

That was the reason the Palace Lord was waiting at the shelter, right in front of the iron gate.

Then.

“What is the reason you brought me here?”

Ultimately, what is the reason for bringing me to the Ice Crystal.

This was the most important question, circling back.

What I need to do here.

What the Palace Lord hoped for by bringing me. When I asked.

“That, I do not know.”

“What?”

I had to wear a dumbfounded expression at the answer I heard.

“You don’t know? Then why did you bring me here?”

“I merely brought you here according to karma. I do not know anything beyond that.”

“This is another headache-inducing crazy statement.”

Knowing I was the pureblood, he brought me to this place, but he doesn’t know what I’m supposed to do here.

Just when I was wondering what I was supposed to do.

“The fact that I don’t know means that you know.”

The Palace Lord said to me.

“If I knew that, why would I ask you, Palace Lord-“

“It’s simply because you haven’t decided, that you don’t know.”

“…!”

“Isn’t that so?”

I had to shut my mouth tightly at the Palace Lord’s words.

“It means you cannot see because you haven’t found your direction.”

[I see. So that’s why.]

It overlapped with what Yuseon had said.

‘Because I couldn’t decide, I don’t know the answer?’

Am I a dragon?

Or am I human?

Because I couldn’t decide that, I don’t know what I need to do here.

Could that really be true?

The situation, even coming this far, was still urging me to make a choice.

It’s a damn situation, but.

I already knew.

That it was long past the right time.

Whether the Palace Lord’s words were true or not, setting that aside.

[It’s pathetic.]

Even though I was robbed because I couldn’t choose this.

It means I’m still standing at a crossroads, harboring pathetic hesitation.

“…Do you also wish for me to choose, Palace Lord?”

“I do not know. Since I do not know your life, I cannot offer advice or meddle. All I know is.”

His vertically split pupils turned towards me.

“That you seem to lack much to achieve anything right now.”

“…”

Just failing to grasp a single mindset.

Why is it causing such difficulty?

I couldn’t know.

I didn’t want to know either.

But.

‘Damn it.’

It’s a fact I already knew right after meeting Yuseon.

The feeling I had when I slumped powerlessly and had Woo Hyuk taken away.

And the anxiety I felt when I opened my eyes, met Namgung Bi-ah, and hugged her, thinking she might be taken away someday.

I realized it while feeling that.

That I am full of shortcomings when it comes to pursuing my own desires.

‘Even though I said I’d stop at nothing. I didn’t.’

There’s only one reason.

-I want to live as a human.

That one pathetic desire.

In my past life as a human, I couldn’t live like a human, so I wanted to live differently now that I’ve regressed.

Even with a dragon’s body.

I want to be human.

That was the yearning.

It’s a pathetic and miserable hesitation.

That’s what’s holding me back and dragging me along until now.

‘…’

I thought while looking at the Ice Crystal.

My gaze was directed at the Ice Crystal, but.

In my mind, I was thinking of others.

I recalled a few people in passing.

And then closed my eyes.

“…Can you give me a moment, please?”

No answer was heard.

It would be more accurate to say he didn’t hear.

I continued to think.

Hesitation about whether anything would change even if I erased my hesitation and reached a conclusion.

Although I held that within me.

Ironically, I had known how to choose for a long time.

I was just avoiding it.

Pretending to ponder, pushing it back a little more, and then again.

I just wanted to postpone it for even a moment longer.

Whoooosh-!

When I closed my eyes again like that and opened them.

“…”

I was standing on a world burned black and turned to ashes.

There’s no need to wonder where this is.

‘Because I already knew.’

This place is inside my mind.

I could go anytime.

And I could face it anytime.

This was the hesitation that prevented me from doing so.

Within this world.

In a world burned to nothingness, where nothing remained.

A tiny space that had barely survived without burning.

I walked towards that place.

[Huuu… Huuuuuu…!]

I heard a crying sound.

[Huuuuhuuuuhuuu….]

In a world where only flames burned.

A child’s crying echoed.

Crackle.

I stepped on the ashes and walked towards the crying.

[…Mom… Mommmmmm!]

In the ruined world, in the place that barely didn’t burn.

A child, fearing they would burn and disappear if they moved even slightly, was crying out for their mother.

I stood on the burnt ground and looked at the child.

[Huuuuhuuuung… Huuuuhuuu… I don’t wanna….]

Eyes that looked fierce for a child.

Eyes and nose swollen red from crying so much.

A body curled up in fear, trembling.

It was a depiction of my childhood.

Also.

It was the form of my remaining hesitation as a human.

[Moooom……!! I’m scared…!! Where did you go…!]

“…”

I had to smile bitterly watching the pitifully crying figure.

“Nice to meet you.”

And I said.

“Shall we talk for a bit, big brother?”

Now.

It was time to end this.