Chapter 1215: Scorched World

“……I don’t think I’m okay.”

Words I shouldn’t have said in the first place.

That I wasn’t okay. That it was hard.

That I wanted to quit.

I should have died before saying such things.

Because saying them was useless, meaningless, and only made me weaker.

What did I even do to not be okay?

Where did the karma for the things I did go?

When there are people who died by my hand and people who died for me, right there.

Knowing them, how could I dare say such things?

No.

I shouldn’t have been like that.

But.

“I’m okay.”

I couldn’t do that in front of Jin Yeon-ryeong.

“It must have been very hard, right?”

‘Son. It was really hard, wasn’t it?’

Because the words my mother said to me in the Central Plains came to mind.

It seemed I couldn’t hold back in front of Jin Yeon-ryeong, who looked at me with the same eyes as her.

“……Yes.”

My trembling fingertips hid.

“……It was a little difficult.”

“I see… How difficult must it have been.”

What was difficult.

Why I was struggling.

Jin Yeon-ryeong didn’t ask about such things. She just patted my shoulder.

“How hard must it have been at such a young age.”

“…….”

My conscience pricked me. I wasn’t young at all. It was just how I looked. Because I had lived long enough.

“I don’t know Young Master Baek’s circumstances well. I want to ask, but if you can’t speak of it, that’s okay too.”

“…….”

She must know about the manifestation of my otherworldly power.

If so, even if I’m not the family head’s child, she must recognize that I’m someone of direct lineage.

Just seeing that it reacted to Father’s blood would suggest that.

“If it’s hard, take a rest. That’s okay too.”

Jin Yeon-ryeong truly didn’t ask anything.

“If you’re hurting, say you’re hurting. If you can’t tell anyone else, I’m here to listen anytime, if that’s okay.”

“……But, why would Madam Jin.”

“Mothers are people who are meant to hear things like that.”

“…….”

“I told you. You can call me Mother.”

She said it with the brightest tone in the world. Besides, a mother isn’t someone meant for that, and I couldn’t possibly do that to her.

‘Technically, she’s more like a grandmother.’

Still. This world is, after all, a constructed space.

I couldn’t do anything more for her.

“……Thank you.”

I just managed to say thank you. It was the best I could do.

“Would you like to eat some Yakgwa?”

“……I’ll eat well.”

I carefully took it and took a bite.

The patting hand was steady and gentle.

‘That’s it.’

The Yakgwa was sweet.

As expected, I didn’t seem to like sweet things much.

Realizing this once again, I still swallowed the Yakgwa whole.

“……It’s delicious.”

“Oh my, I’m glad.”

Somehow.

It felt like I had to.

After swallowing the Yakgwa given to me, I got up. Seeing me stand, Jin Yeon-ryeong stood up too.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes. Ah, you didn’t have to get up. I’ve been very rude.”

“Was I helpful?”

“……Yes.”

I don’t feel completely refreshed. However, my mind has cleared a bit, as if something has been released.

“I’m glad.”

Jin Yeon-ryeong said with a smile.

“Thank you.”

I bowed my head to her, showing respect.

“Thanks to you, I feel like I can live.”

It was sincere.

It was sincere for the first time in a very long time.

---

A day passed. Time flew by, and morning came.

“Handle it carefully!”

“Make sure the position is right!”

Noisy sounds could be heard from the morning. It was the sound of loading luggage onto a carriage.

“Tsk.”

Someone clicked their tongue watching that. It seemed to be Pae-jon.

He kept getting angry, looking at the carriage as if displeased.

“Damn it. I went through the trouble of paying a hefty price for information and bringing him here. To think that guy wouldn’t have a solution either. What kind of damn body is this?”

He kept clicking his tongue looking at me. I had to shrug my shoulders.

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“You’re reacting like it’s none of your business.”

“What can I do? Even the Central Plains’ top physician has no solution.”

It was about the physician. It was right after the physician who examined me last time said this was a ‘living corpse’ with no hope.

Since even the Central Plains’ top physician declared there was no solution, Pae-jon seemed frustrated.

“Still, thank you. I didn’t expect you to go to such lengths.”

I was calm. I had experienced this once before. It was more surprising that Pae-jon had brought a physician.

“……Bringing someone so expensive and getting no help. This is fraud, what else could it be.”

“Fraud? You’re speaking nonsense.”

Someone poked their head out of the carriage. It was a physician who looked quite young.

“I clearly said I didn’t want to come. You dragged me here against my will, and now you call it fraud? Are you crazy?”

“I brought you because I thought you had the ability. But if you lack the ability, isn’t that fraud?”

“This guy…?”

The physician scowled, seemingly getting angry. Just as I thought the two old men might start fighting again.

“Enough. Bi-ju. Talking to you just makes me angry.”

The physician shook his head and sighed.

“I’ve done everything I could, so don’t forget what we promised.”

“Tsk…”

“Don’t call me until the carriage departs.”

Slam.

The window closed shut.

‘What we promised.’

I focused on the physician’s words. I had found this out during my previous conversation with Pae-jon.

It seemed the physician was looking for someone again this time.

‘Judging by the term ‘information.’

It seemed to be a rather important figure. Of course. That’s why this physician got involved.

“Anyway, what a nasty temper.”

The world’s most ill-tempered gentleman was talking to a ill-tempered person. This was practically spitting on his own face.

“……What kind of eyes are those?”

“What?”

His intuition was still sharp.

“Your eyes look strange… No, never mind. Call me when you’re ready to depart.”

Pae-jon moved as if annoyed. He leaped lightly and disappeared somewhere.

After he left, I surveyed the surroundings.

Then, I saw Namgung Jin not far away.

He was walking towards me with an expressionless face.

“Seon-.”

I tried to speak to him as I saw him, but Namgung Jin walked right past me. It was blatant disregard.

‘Hmm.’

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. Perhaps because I had heard his words last time, I wasn’t particularly angry at Namgung Jin.

Then, I saw So-yi this time.

“Seon-.”

I tried to greet her again this time. But she also saw me and walked right past.

‘…….’

Damn it.

It just feels like everyone hates me?

Tch.

I nodded vaguely. Just as I was pretending to accept it.

“What are you doing?”

Hyun So-yeong appeared and asked me.

“…….”

I stared intently at her.

“……What’s with those creepy eyes?”

Then she clutched her chest and took a step back.

“……I was just looking because I was grateful, what’s with that reaction?”

“No… they really were creepy.”

“You’re being harsh.”

I thought she wasn’t ignoring me, so I was looking at her out of genuine gratitude.

“Anyway, that’s beside the point.”

Hyun So-yeong also seemed to be joking, relaxing her stance, and asked me a question.

“I heard that Captain Do can’t go with us.”

“……Ah.”

“Did something happen?”

“Roughly, yes.”

It was about Do Yoon. He couldn’t participate in this return trip. It was obvious.

‘How could he come when he’s locked up in prison?’

There was also what Do Cheol did. And it was around the time Do Yoon himself entered the state, as if surrendering. I don’t know what will happen to those two, but at least the trip to Hanam would be impossible.

‘I am a bit concerned about Do Yoon’s situation.’

But I had no intention of worrying about others. Because I had also set my course.

‘First.’

I need to meet Mother.

And.

‘Find the Blood Demon.’

I had to meet him, the culprit behind all this.

‘……Before that, I need to find strength too.’

Recalling my great-grandfather who warned me, I had to find strength.

Because I had to prepare, not knowing what might happen.

I’m looking for Mother to make that preparation.

The reason was simple.

‘I feel like I have to.’

My instincts tell me.

If there’s someone who knows my problems best, I need to find a similar existence.

There aren’t many similar existences in this Central Plains.

The Blood Demon, or Mother. And Great-grandfather?

Excluding Mother, they are all undeniably dangerous types.

‘Sigh.’

I scratched my head. It was frustrating.

Thump.

As I was scratching my head vigorously, I sensed someone’s presence. Looking beside me, it was Father. And next to him.

“Brother. Hello? Good morning.”

There was Gu-seon, smiling brightly.

Seeing her, I immediately scowled.

“Wow. Look at that expression. It’s just like the Family Head’s. How can he look like that? Look, Brother.”

“……What are you saying to my face?”

“Well, then don’t look like that.”

“What kind of crazy talk is this?”

She’s not just telling me not to make that expression, but not to look like this.

What kind of dog-shit talk is this?

I looked at Gu-seon, dumbfounded, but she just laughed at me, finding it so amusing.

“Is this funny?”

“Of course? It’s totally exciting.”

“…….”

I shouldn’t talk to her anymore.

Just as I was holding back the curses about to burst out.

“Baek Yangcheon.”

“Yes?”

I looked, wondering what it was. Father took something out of his robes and handed it to me.

“What is this?”

“It’s something Mother asked me to give you.”

“……To me?”

“Yes.”

Jin Yeon-ryeong? What is she giving me all of a sudden? I received the item. I felt a round shape inside a pouch.

‘What is it?’

Curiously, I opened the pouch.

Inside.

“……Huh?”

There was a very familiar red bead inside.

This is.

‘……Didn’t Madam Mi give this to me?’

It was the same bead Mi Hyoran gave me back when I left for the Northern Sea, telling me to use it if I was in danger.

It was the same as that.