Chapter 953: Lost Soul.

“…Damn it….”

When I returned to the prison cell, the guy I saw the first time was nowhere to be seen.

A look of considerable anger and a broken expression.

Even his breathing was ragged from emotion.

Where did the act of cheerful innocence go?

What stood before me was a monster.

‘…Wow, check out that presence.’

As if he had no intention of hiding it now, killing intent radiated from his entire body.

I felt it when I faced him directly, but now it’s even more certain.

The dead of night, centered in the moonlit sky.

Maybe because it was then, Yusa’s aura felt quite different.

It felt like something was about to burst from that small body at any moment.

“Huuuuu-.”

As he struggled to catch his breath, I pretended to be cautious and asked,

“Um, why…. are you like this?”

At my question, he shot a rough gaze my way.

“You. Were you here the whole time?”

“…Yes? Ah, yes…. I was locked up, where else would I go?”

“Really?”

Then, he turned his gaze and looked at Cheonma, who was sitting next to me.

“Hey.”

“…?”

Cheonma looked up at Yusa’s words.

Meeting his eyes, Yusa asked,

“That guy, did he really stay here without going anywhere?”

“…”

At Yusa’s words, I looked at Cheonma.

Holding my trembling breath inwardly.

‘I had forgotten about this.’

For some reason, his words didn’t seem to work on me, but whether that extended to Cheonma was another matter.

In that situation, I worried about what would happen if Cheonma answered honestly.

“…”

Surprisingly, Cheonma shook his head, denying it.

Seeing that, Yusa’s brow furrowed deeply.

“…You’re saying it’s really not true?”

Seeing that, I was convinced.

As expected, that guy was suspicious of me.

‘…Damn, he’s incredibly suspicious.’

It was so much that I almost let out a hollow laugh.

‘He’s suspicious even after I used the power of the Veil to show him?’

To still be suspicious even after using my power to divert his gaze once more.

He was a truly persistent bastard.

However.

‘Fortunately, my power seems to be working well.’

From his reaction, I could tell that my power was effective on those guys.

Meanwhile, Yusa, clearly displeased, kept frowning and called someone from outside.

“Parang-ah, come in.”

What a straightforward name, I thought.

As he called, a handsome middle-aged man appeared from inside.

Rabbit ears on that handsome face seemed unfitting, but that wasn’t important.

“…Did you call for me?”

The middle-aged man who entered with a stunned expression was the Blue Chief.

He was the owner of this mansion, and you could say the father of that crazy bastard who was fawning over Cheonma.

“This kid wants to talk to you.”

At those words, the Chief looked at me.

His gaze clearly asked, ‘Who is this crazy bastard?’

As I met that gaze, Yusa added to the Chief,

“When the talk is over, release these guys and let them out.”

“…Yes? What do you mean by that…?”

The Chief’s eyes widened at Yusa’s words.

Release them? His face showed he didn’t understand.

It was natural. To let go of the guys who beat up his son in front of everyone.

The Chief’s expression flickered at the absurd statement, but.

“I said, let them out. Can’t you hear me?”

Yusa spoke with icy eyes, and the Chief shut his mouth tight.

“I obey the General’s orders….”

He immediately bowed his head, showing his compliance.

It seemed he had no way to act on his displeasure.

“…Huuuuu….”

Yusa seemed unable to suppress his emotions, busy trying to hold back his anger.

He seemed thoroughly provoked.

Then, he looked back at me and spoke,

“…Something came up, so I think I have to go now. Let’s meet again next time, okay?”

It was a forced smile, making for a truly bizarre appearance.

It seemed twisted somehow, and regardless, it was a face I found very off-putting.

Hearing that, I wanted to say I didn’t want to see him immediately, but that wasn’t an option.

“…Alright.”

I also forced a smile and agreed.

Yusa immediately wiped the smile off his face, turned his back, and left.

At that moment.

KWA-AAANG–!!!

A loud sound came from outside the door, and I felt Yusa’s presence fade.

Perhaps because it was night, or perhaps because he was expressing his emotions.

Yusa’s presence felt unusually strong.

After Yusa left like that.

“…”

“…”

I remained with the Blue Chief, who hadn’t yet grasped the situation.

He too seemed bewildered by the storm-like events, unable to control his expression or breathing.

“What in the world is this….”

He still hadn’t recovered his senses.

This was the chance.

“Um, Chief-nim?”

“…”

At my call, the Chief looked at me.

Meeting his gaze, I pulled something out from my clothes.

It was the token I received from the Black Chief.

“That…!?”

As soon as he saw the token, the Blue Chief’s eyes widened like saucers.

Honestly, I just wanted to show I had a connection with the Black Chief, but I didn’t expect such a reaction.

Why?

Just as the question arose, he said to me,

“How come you possess the Young Master’s Token?”

“…Yes?”

Young Master’s Token? What’s a Young Master’s Token?

I had a feeling I’d heard it before. I knew they called the Chief’s children ‘Young Master’.

Does that mean, perhaps…

‘…This was like a seal given to his own son?’

Was it a seal given to his own children?

I had simply thought it was something like a verification pass given to guests.

It seemed to be more than that.

“…You, are you the Black one’s son?”

“Uh… No, I am not.”

“Then how do you have it?”

The Blue Chief looked at me strangely, so I hastily said,

“Ah, it’s nothing else. The Black Chief-nim said he had something to tell the Blue Chief-nim… He gave me this token to convey his message in his stead.”

“…The Black one?”

The Chief frowned deeply. He clearly didn’t believe it. But.

“…What message did he wish to convey?”

Putting his suspicion aside, he asked for now.

It seemed likely due to the token’s significance and also because of Yusa.

“It’s nothing major… He said to come see him before time runs out.”

“What?”

At my words, the Chief let out a hollow laugh.

“You’re saying the Black one sent you just to deliver that message? Even giving you a token?”

“That’s right.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

Right. Even I thought it was absurd. But.

“Yes. If you can’t believe it, why don’t you go ask him yourself?”

“…Hmph….”

If you don’t believe me, what are you going to do about it?

Even if he didn’t believe my words, there was nothing he could do.

If you’re annoyed, go ask him yourself. I’m just relaying the message.

As I asked with that firm meaning, the Chief ground his teeth.

Grind. Grind.

I could see his fighting spirit leaking out.

Certainly, this guy wasn’t weak either.

‘Judging by his aura alone, he’s similar to the White one.’

Considering it’s night, the White one might even be stronger.

“You… If you happen to be lying to me, you better realize you’re causing serious trouble.”

“Lying? I’m the kind of person who doesn’t know how to do such things.”

“…”

I felt Cheonma’s gaze on my words.

I tried my best to ignore it.

“The message delivery was interrupted by an incident, causing some friction with your son, but… my words are truly the truth. Please verify. The General-nim also knows that I entered and exited the Black family’s domain today.”

“The General too?”

“Yes.”

It was actually true. I was indeed guided by the General to the Black family’s place.

The only problematic part here was me. Or rather, Cheonma having had friction with his son.

“…”

Even so, the Chief couldn’t blame me for that right now.

Because.

‘The General told him to let me out.’

Even if he was suspicious.

Or even if there was still a punishment he hadn’t given me.

Since the General ordered me to be released after the conversation, he had no choice.

‘Because the General’s influence here seemed unusually strong.’

And, as if proving my thoughts.

“…Open the door.”

The Blue Chief clenched his teeth but still gave the order to the soldiers.

Immediately, the soldiers nearby approached, opened the prison door, and even removed our shackles.

“Wow. Now I feel like I can finally breathe.”

Regaining freedom in my hands, I smiled contentedly.

“May we go now?”

As I said with a smile, the Chief’s expression crumpled further.

“I’ll let this slide because the General-nim has shown you mercy. But I will never forget this.”

“Oof. Scary. I’ll be more careful next time. Now, you apologize quickly too.”

“Sorry.”

“This one says sorry too. Please try to understand.”

“…”

The Chief’s eyes showed no intention of understanding.

Seeing that, I ignored him as if disappointed and walked away.

Even then, the Chief and the soldiers couldn’t stop us.

As we stepped out from behind the bars.

“Hmm….”

I looked at the large hole created in the floor.

It seemed to be the aftermath of the shockwave created when Yusa jumped up.

‘…He just jumped up, but the shockwave was this big.’

Taking that in, I grabbed Cheonma and headed outside.

******************

After walking for quite a while after that, outside Ya-wol.

We were finally at a location where the castle was barely out of sight.

The moment we entered the dense forest and stood at the path back to Hwasan.

“Cough-!”

I vomited the blood I had been holding back.

Drip, drip-! The blood flowing from my mouth soaked into the dirt floor.

As if exhausted, I knelt down, placing my hands on the ground for support.

“Kuhuk….”

As I collapsed in pain, I felt a touch on my back. It was Cheonma’s hand.

“Take it away… I’m fine…”

“…”

His hand withdrew at my words. Feeling that, I circulated my internal energy.

“Hooook… Hooook…”

After vomiting a mouthful of blood, I used my energy to soothe my insides.

Even using this method, the pain remained the same.

‘…Damn it.’

If I had lasted just a little longer, I would have collapsed and vomited uncontrollably.

It was fortunate I managed to hold on until we got here.

Wiping the blood from my mouth, I recalled.

‘…I didn’t realize enduring would be this difficult.’

Back then, when I confronted Yusa in Cheonma’s form.

The problem was using a power similar to Dragon Speech on him.

‘At best, I can only endure for a mere moment.’

When I tried to suppress him, my insides twisted, and I almost passed out.

Worse, because it released midway, I even allowed him to attack me.

‘I was genuinely terrified then.’

When the pressure suddenly released and Yusa swung his arm.

At that time, perhaps due to the backlash of the power I used, I couldn’t even move my body properly.

So, I thought I was done for, taking the attack head-on, but.

‘It was a close call.’

My power, bursting from the shadows, devoured his arm.

That definitely wasn’t my intention.

I had no intention of summoning Tam.

‘But this guy appeared on his own.’

Tam, who suddenly appeared, bit down and swallowed his arm. This means.

‘…Tam not only reacts to them, but I can also use it on them.’

I thought it only activated for Dragons, but.

Tam, perhaps…

‘Does it react to powers?’

Could it be reacting to the powers they possess?

Such a thought crossed my mind.

No, this was a certainty.

Because.

‘The moment Tam ate his arm. I could discern the guy’s power.’

In the instant Tam took a bite.

I was able to grasp what Yusa’s power was.

‘Devour.’

Devour.

This was the name of his power.

The power to devour anything.

Furthermore.

‘To maximize the scent and presence of prey to eat.’

When hungry, not only all five senses, but all of his physical abilities drastically increase.

This could be used until the power consumed something.

Not only that, but the power itself has separate strengths, but.

‘Even considering all that.’

Tam could nonchalantly chew up and swallow his power, rendering him powerless.

In other words, no matter what power he possessed, it was meaningless to me.

“…Hoooooo….”

I wiped the remaining blood and stood up.

It still hurt, but I felt refreshed nonetheless.

“This way, I’ve definitely got a handle on things.”

I had only set the goal, but the process was rather vague.

Now, the path is clearly laid out.

First,

‘I’ll bring Yusa down.’

I need to take down one General first.

And for that.

‘…I’ll need to meet Turtle.’

I’ll likely need a bit of shamanistic power.

‘…Hmm.’

As I figured that out, something felt subtle.

It was because I remembered what Turtle had said.

What did he say again?

‘He said I’d know when I came back to find him, didn’t he?’

Turtle definitely said that…

‘Perhaps… he didn’t anticipate this too?’

The situation where I would come back to find him.

This isn’t the situation he was talking about, is it?

Thinking that, I tilted my head.

‘…To call it a coincidence.’

The feeling that it fit too perfectly was strong.

It felt unsettling, somehow.