Chapter 1246: Scorched World

A ceiling that looked rough, without a single pattern visible. In reality, light didn’t enter well, so I couldn’t even see what was there clearly.

I let out a sigh, surveying my unpleasant surroundings in the strangely humid air.

Looking at the ceiling made of stone, I thought.

“Ah… life.”

Why does it always turn out like this? Nothing has ever gone well even once.

Chink.

The pressure felt in my hand. Chains, tied like restraints, were there.

I let out a sigh, looking at it sullenly.

“…Damn it all…”

The words that echoed quietly brushed past the space. As if answering that, someone spoke to me.

“Are you alright?”

At the clear voice, I lifted my head.

Poison Phoenix was standing there, looking at me with worried eyes.

“…Yes. Well, I’m alright.”

It’s stifling, but for this much, it’s okay.

“I’m sorry.”

Poison Phoenix apologized. Hearing that, I tilted my head.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“…If I had blocked better, you wouldn’t have been there.”

“That’s a bit different.”

What would have changed if Poison Phoenix had stepped forward? I was sure it wasn’t the case.

“There was nothing you could have done in that situation, Miss.”

The reason I ended up imprisoned here.

That iron plate.

The iron plate I used to check if I was an Apostle reacted, and immediately everyone went into combat readiness.

What I could do then was to surrender for the time being.

As I surrendered completely, they tied me with chains and locked me up here.

‘…This is driving me nuts.’

Why did that react suddenly and cause all this fuss? It was absurd.

‘Damn it.’

It makes me sigh that it reacted, even though it looked like a rare artifact. I thought about just denying it, but…

‘It wasn’t the kind of atmosphere where they’d believe me.’

The bigger problem is.

‘Even I understand it.’

When it reacted, I myself accepted it. The iron plate reacts to Apostles.

In this regard, there wasn’t just one or two things that were suspicious.

‘Whether it really reacts to being an Apostle. Or…’

I don’t know if it reacts to not being human, but…

Whatever it was, suspicion definitely existed.

So even though I ended up like this, I’m stuck here for now.

“By the way.”

I asked, looking forward.

“Is it alright for you to speak to me like this?”

“What?”

“Miss Dang, do you still believe me?”

It was the moment the iron plate reacted. At the same time, Tang Cheongi and the other martial artists immediately turned their backs on me.

It was quite puzzling that only Poison Phoenix kept coming to see me.

They could have not believed me or felt betrayed, but…

“Why on earth are you doing this?”

“Hmm…”

Poison Phoenix pondered for a moment and asked.

“Young Master Baek.”

“Yes.”

“Are you an enemy, like our anxiety?”

“No. I am not an enemy.”

If you had asked if I was an Apostle, I might have hesitated for a moment, but if you asked if I was an enemy, the answer was no. Because I had no intention or purpose to do so.

“Then that’s fine.”

“…With just this?”

“Yes. You said you weren’t.”

“You tend to believe people quite easily.”

“What? No. I don’t trust people. What else is there that can be trusted less than people?”

Poison Phoenix smiles brightly. Even though she said it while smiling so innocently, I could feel the sincerity.

It means it felt like a fake smile.

I was reminded of the Tang Clan’s existence once again. The meaning of that smile was likely something vaguely felt.

“…But why do you believe me?”

“I know, right? I don’t really know either. Ah, by the way.”

As if changing the subject, Poison Phoenix asked something else again.

“How long are you going to stay like that?”

“What?”

“If you wish, you can come out, can’t you?”

“…”

That belief is also absurd. Why does she think I can do that?

What has she seen of me to think that?

But.

‘…The funny thing is.’

It’s the part where I can actually leave, meanwhile.

“Even if I go out now, the suspicion will only grow. Rather than the situation worsening, it seems better not to go.”

“Hmm…”

Poison Phoenix nods.

“If Young Master Baek sees it that way, alright. I’ll try to persuade them towards the most peaceful outcome.”

“Will persuasion work? You don’t have to try something that won’t work.”

“I don’t know. I’ll try it first… If it doesn’t work, shall we escape, the two of us?”

“I’ll ask you to focus on persuasion.”

“…Yes.”

Reacting as if disappointed, Poison Phoenix paid her respects and went up.

After sending Poison Phoenix away like that.

“Hmm.”

Leaning against the wall, I thought about the situation.

“What should I do?”

Of course, just thinking didn’t bring any brilliant ideas.

“Being a year apart…”

The fact that I entered with a time difference, unlike the others.

“And the Apostle.”

Upon entering, starting from the Sword Empress, they had fallen into becoming half-demons and were hunting other demons.

“…What’s problematic here is.”

That identity as an Apostle and the purposefulness of the actions being carried out.

‘If.’

The Apostles were the same as my past life’s situation.

‘Their movements would have a reason.’

Recalling that the being sent to this place was the Blood Demon, the thought that it might not be entirely so also crossed my mind.

Above all.

‘It’s strange that there are many Apostles.’

Multiple Apostles, not just one.

It was said that multiple Apostles existed, starting from the Sword Empress’s fall.

‘What is it?’

I narrowed my eyes. It was difficult to grasp the current situation properly. How many were transferred, and how is it all working out?

‘Hmm.’

Chink.

Looking at the chains bound to my hand, I pondered. Should I escape first?

So, it seems prioritizing understanding the situation is important, but…

‘For now.’

I thought there might be a need to wait a bit, as of now.

Rather than Poison Phoenix being a problem.

‘I think I can get more information.’

Isn’t there more I can gain here? That was the intention.

“Hmm…”

I closed my eyes. Is it because I’m tired? Drowsiness suddenly washed over me.

Since I’m tied up anyway and there’s nothing to do, I decided to sleep for a bit.

How much time passed after that?

“You can sleep even in this situation, I see.”

At the angry voice, I gently opened my eyes.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Tang Cheongi was visible in front of me. He was looking down at me with annoyed eyes.

“Is it mealtime?”

“You’re talking nonsense. Do you think there’s food for you?”

“I was just trying to joke.”

“Hah.”

The look of dislike towards me is still evident.

“Your shamelessness is beyond a joke. After pretending to be human despite being an Apostle, what’s with that attitude?”

As expected, he doesn’t believe me. Of course. Because even I wouldn’t have believed it.

“Even if I say I’m not, you won’t believe me, right?”

“The artifact reacted. That’s more accurate than your tongue. I don’t know how you charmed my sister, but I will never believe your words.”

“Hmm.”

It seemed likely. Even if Poison Phoenix tried to persuade him, it wasn’t a situation where it would work.

Rather, the fact that Poison Phoenix believes me itself is a strange thing.

“So. Are you going to keep me tied up like this?”

“Be grateful that I haven’t killed you.”

“Can you even kill me?”

As I said with a smirk, Tang Cheongi’s face contorted sharply.

“…Disgusting bastard.”

A strong emotion was felt in his words.

“I don’t like you.”

“I know. It’s obvious from a glance.”

It was like that from the first time I saw him. Tang Cheongi didn’t like me.

As for me, since I had contact with the Poison King of this life, I didn’t hate him much, though.

It’s the same now.

However.

“But, at least as a martial artist, I thought he was decent.”

“Hmm?”

“Even when I first saw him, I thought it would be good if he wasn’t an Apostle. Because now is when I need your help too.”

Hearing that, I looked at Tang Cheongi with strange eyes.

Because disappointment was clearly visible in his eyes.

“…But in the end, you too are the same as that trash.”

Squeeze.

Rough wrinkles formed in my clenched fist.

“That I expected anything even for a moment must have been my mistake.”

Saying that, Tang Cheongi also turned his back.

“I don’t know what your purpose is, but do whatever you can. Because we will never fall into corruption like you.”

“…”

After saying the last words, Tang Cheongi disappeared.

Seeing that back, I clicked my tongue briefly inwardly.

“Never fall into corruption, my ass!”

I saw through him.

“Why are your eyes shaking like that?”

Unlike his seemingly firm words, Tang Cheongi’s inner anxiety was visible.

Is he already at his limit?

It’s questionable what happened in the past year that made him become like that.

“Hmm.”

Tap tap.

I gently tapped my thigh with my fingers.

-It’s disappointing.

Perhaps because it’s been a while since I heard it, it felt fresh.

It was strange that there was a human who had expectations of me, and it was amusing that he was disappointed all by himself in the meantime.

What else is as futile as baseless expectations?

“Ah, screw it.”

I should just go back to sleep.

I closed my eyes again. It’ll only be a day or two.

I felt like I should go do what I need to do after staying just that long. Because staying any longer seemed meaningless.

Just as I was about to sleep again.

RUMBLE—!!!

A large vibration echoed through the cave.

“It’s an attack!”

“…”

It seemed like something happened, so I had to open my eyes again.

“An attack?”

What attack is this, suddenly?

“It’s the Apostle…! The Apostle has appeared…!”

The cries of the martial artists penetrated all the way here.

“Apostle?”

It meant the Apostles I mentioned earlier had appeared.

“Really?”

I lift the corners of my mouth.

Snap.

I forcefully broke the chains bound to my hand. Shackles like those could be broken even with just my body.

The Apostle has appeared…

“I had many questions too.”

They came here on their own.

It seemed like perfect timing.