episode_0046

The heart and capital of the Yeom Kingdom.

At the same time, this is where the Yeom family has taken hold: Bayoda.

As the capital of the massive Yeom Kingdom, it is very large, and various buildings are situated beneath the splendid ramparts.

However, even among these buildings, there is a huge, red-painted castle that stands out.

This castle, built large and grand as if looking down on the other buildings in the capital, is said to be the Yeomhwang Castle, built by the first Yeom Emperor when he created the foundation of the Yeom Kingdom, and where the current Yeom family resides.

Inside such Yeomhwang Castle.

In the audience chamber of the Yeom Emperor, there were several officials and a young Yeom Emperor who still had a trace of youth. The Yeom Emperor and the officials were receiving a mission report from a certain man, and the person giving the report was the man named Yang Ja-mun whom Leon had met in Shinhyun City.

“As a result of the confirmation, he is certainly the person called a Hero in the West. However, it also seems to be true that he is being called an Incompetent Hero, as reported by the Sacheon branch.”

“An Incompetent Hero…, is that alright?”

“As a result of verifying various past actions, it seems that the story that his abilities are far inferior to the other two Heroes is almost a foregone conclusion among the people.”

“Heo-eo!…”

Worried voices grew among the officials at Yang Ja-mun’s report.

Currently, the power of the Yeom family is weakening.

In this situation, a report came in that the Beastmen Alliance was showing ominous movements, and in order to overcome this, Yang Ja-mun, the leader of the Jaryong Unit, appointed a foreigner as a member of the Jaryong Unit based on his personal judgment and provided various conveniences.

But if an incompetent person was brought in as a collaborator, that would be a clear problem.

“The Jaryong Unit is our Yeom family’s special unit. It is a position with the authority to issue direct orders to the Yeom Kingdom army spread throughout the country.”

“Isn’t it too dangerous a decision to entrust such a position to a foreigner without any screening process?”

“Even worse, he’s someone called an Incompetent Hero!…”

While several officials criticized Yang Ja-mun for his misjudgment, the young Yeom Emperor raised his hand.

Then, the general standing next to the Yeom Emperor tapped the floor lightly with the sword in its scabbard and shouted.

“Silence!!”

“This is before the Yeom Emperor!! Be quiet!!”

The swords and shields that protect the Yeom Emperor.

Woo Ho-beop, Baek Ri-pung. Jwa Ho-beop, Dan Ri-gang. At the two men’s scolding, the officials looked at their faces and shut their mouths.

When the audience chamber became quiet, the young Yeom Emperor finally opened his mouth.

“Yang Ja-mun. I have great expectations for you in many ways. And you have never let me down. According to your report, he achieved excellent results at the Yongbong Gathering, letting us know that the Yeom army’s strength is not yet insufficient. And through the textbook you brought, we were able to build a thorough foundation for the Yeom army and increase overall skill. This is a clear achievement that cannot be compared to anything else.”

The Yeom Emperor paused to catch his breath after speaking that far.

Then, he slowly continued the next words quietly.

“So I ask you, since it’s you. In your opinion, is he trustworthy?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“What nonsense is that! Didn’t you say he was an Incompetent Hero!”

“How can such a person be trustworthy!”

The officials’ outcry continued, but Yang Ja-mun didn’t say anything special.

And just as their words were coming to an end, he said with a confident expression.

“Well, I know what your concerns are. Now I will tell you the reason for the trust I mentioned. Would that be alright?”

“I permit it.”

No matter how young, the Yeom Emperor is the Yeom Emperor.

Since the Yeom Emperor’s command had been issued, the officials had no choice but to shut their mouths….

“First of all, regarding the Incompetent Hero…, I think he is hiding his power.”

“Hiding his power?”

“Yes. I saw the Yongbong Gathering myself. And his skills are by no means at a level that can be called incompetent. If he was at a level that could be called incompetent, then the skills of the martial artists in the West would be several tens…, no, several hundred times higher than those of our Yeom Kingdom.”

“T, to that extent?”

At Yang Ja-mun’s shockingly unconventional words, several officials held their breath.

But Yang Ja-mun, as if enjoying that reaction, raised the corners of his mouth and said.

“But in reality, such an abnormal level of difference will not occur. In other words, I judge that the one called the Incompetent Hero is strangely strong. So why was such a strong person called the Incompetent Hero? There is no explanation other than that he hid his power.”

“Continue.”

“Understood. Yeom Emperor. In relation to this report, it can also be seen in the Hao-mun report from the Sacheon branch. Have you perhaps seen it?”

“Hmm. I saw it. It was certainly written there like this.”

In a non-martial contest with the leader of the Tang family and the Poison Sovereign, Tang Seol-pung, he achieved a draw.

“As you all know…, there are only three martial artists in the Yeom Kingdom who use the title ‘Sovereign’.”

“Sword Sovereign, Blade Sovereign, and Poison Sovereign.”

“And this Sovereign title is none other than the honorable title given to the three martial artists who survived after embarking on the subjugation of the White Evil, a monster that caused great damage to the Yeom Kingdom decades ago. But those of you here will know. There are many monsters in this world that have the power to plunge the world into destruction in addition to the White Evil. It’s just that they have been subdued or sealed and are sleeping according to past traditions.”

The officials all closed their mouths. It is a story that is not known to the public in order to prevent public confusion, but it is information that is known only to high-ranking officials or those who are leaders of each sect.

In other words, is the one called the Incompetent Hero a person with the skill to stand shoulder to shoulder with the martial artists who exist only three in the Yeom Kingdom?

The officials, who were thinking that way, looked at Yang Ja-mun with their eyes about to pop out after hearing the story that followed.

“And among them. One of the beings called the Seven Demon Kings. Bokhae Daeseong appeared, and he fought with Bokhae Daeseong and came back alive.”

“!!”

“B, Bokhae Daeseong?!”

“Could it be that the Beastmen Alliance has even brought in the Seven Demon Kings!!!”

The confusion intensifies.

The monsters called the Seven Demon Kings are dangerous monsters, each of whom can easily overturn the world.

With such a monster participating, the officials who are facing a war with the Beastmen Alliance could not shake off their anxiety.

“Afterwards, according to additional investigations, it seems that only one person, Bokhae Daeseong, is cooperating with the Beastmen Alliance, and the other Demon Kings are not participating. Of course, this is not confirmed information, so additional investigation is needed…, but there is a fact that can be learned here. His abilities, whom I brought in as a collaborator, are at a level where he can stand up to mythological beings.”

“T, there’s no way we can believe that as it is….”

“T, that’s right. With just words….”

“It’s not just words.”

Cutting off the officials’ words firmly, Yang Ja-mun continued.

“You must have already received a report through Hao-mun that the Beastmen Alliance is illegally producing and selling Huge Root Pills to neighboring countries. Later, through additional investigation, it was confirmed that one of the sales routes was in the Dandung area, and we sent him to the Dandung area and asked him to investigate it. The facts that were identified after that were that the Beastmen Alliance had recruited pirates who were active in the Dandung area, and had them produce and sell Huge Root Pills using kidnapped civilians.”

“Used pirates, you say!….”

“That’s right. It is said that they succeeded in obtaining the Huge Root Pills that could not be sold due to Cho’s policy of national isolation. Also…, a member of Hao-mun who was gathering information there identified Bokhae Daeseong, who was cooperating with the pirates, and later, in the process of wiping out the pirates, he encountered Bokhae Daeseong, and succeeded in escaping by taking advantage of the gap between him and Bokhae Daeseong in combat.”

The officials could not say anything special because the story was so detailed.

But it was just information that they had received as text and words without seeing it themselves, so they could not easily believe it.

Yang Ja-mun had anticipated this situation and brought up the words he had prepared.

“Therefore, Yeom Emperor. I have one thing to ask.”

“What is it?”

“How about going to the Yeomhyung Prison with him?”

The atmosphere was instantly turned upside down by that remark.

“Do you know what kind of place the Yeomhyung Prison is, that you’re saying such a thing!!”

“Yang Ja-mun! Can you take responsibility for what you’re saying now!!”

“That Secret Palace is what the First Yeom Emperor left behind!…”

“That’s right. It is the Secret Palace left behind by the First Yeom Emperor, and a place where all kinds of treasures that the First Yeom Emperor left behind are said to be piled up. But I know that no one has ever succeeded in completely breaking through it.”

Yang Ja-mun looked only at the Yeom Emperor.

“Yeom Emperor. I know that you have not fully mastered the Yeomcheon Great Art, a unique martial art that has been passed down to the Yeom Emperor, after the previous Yeom Emperor’s too early passing. Surely there may be a complete version of the Yeomcheon Great Art in the Secret Palace left behind by the First Yeom Emperor. So….”

“Shut up!!”

“How can you tell the Yeom Emperor to go to his death! Are you really out of your mind!!”

“Emperor! Cut off that man’s head immediately!!”

“Even if he is the leader of the Jaryong, this is an unacceptable story!!”

Everyone looked at the Yeom Emperor, rebuking Yang Ja-mun with angry voices.

The young Yeom Emperor quietly closed his mouth, closed his eyes quietly, and then opened his eyes quietly and said.

“Yang Ja-mun.”

“Yes. Emperor.”

“I think I know what you want to say. But this doesn’t seem like an easy issue to decide.”

“I understand.”

“So…, I want to meet him in person.”

The officials who heard those words were startled and advised the Yeom Emperor not to, but the Yeom Emperor’s decision did not change.

Rather, as the Yeom Emperor and Yang Ja-mun’s eyes met, they faintly smiled, a smile that no one noticed.

* * *

“B, Bokhae Daeseong-nim! Still, even so, so suddenly!….”

“Weren’t, wasn’t the contract you guys and I had not this. You guys entertain me, and I help you guys in return. Wasn’t it this.”

“Y, yes. That’s why we’re saying this. What didn’t you like? If you just tell us, we’ll….”

“Well, it’s not that you guys aren’t fun. I found something more fun. So I’m saying you guys are no longer needed.”

A certain Beastman was begging and groveling to Bokhae Daeseong because it was annoying, Bokhae Daeseong frowned and waved his hand, but the Beastman, who could not afford to lose the great force called Bokhae Daeseong, desperately grabbed Bokhae Daeseong.

“Bokhae Daeseong-nim.”

“Huh? Who are you?”

“I am Jeokgwi Po-cheon.”

“Jeokgwi? Ah-hang~ Still not extinct?”

Jeokgwi Po-cheon paused for a moment at Bokhae Daeseong’s question, then smiled.

“Well, I don’t know how the other clans are doing because I’m working separately from the clan.”

“Ah-hang, that’s right. So what’s the matter, Jeokgwi’s kid? Were you also helping those guys?”

“Yes. I guess so. Anyway…, since we also had plans that we built on the basis of Bokhae Daeseong-nim’s power, Bokhae Daeseong-nim’s sudden departure is too fatal.”

“So what are you gonna do? Wanna try me?”

He raises his energy. Despite the fact that his physical condition was not normal due to the battle with Leon, ordinary beings felt a sense of oppression that would make them faint just by drawing out their murderous intent. But Jeokgwi endured such oppression and said with a smile.

“How dare we oppose Bokhae Daeseong-nim? Also, since Bokhae Daeseong-nim also promised to help us, how about doing this?”

“I’ll listen and think about it. Tell me.”

“It would be appreciated if you could help us just once in the future.”

“Once…, well, alright. It would be a bit heartless to just leave abruptly. I’ll help you about once. So what do I have to do?”

“It’s alright for now. Just…, when we are ready in the future, it would be appreciated if you could help us destroy the Tang family and secure the blood of the Imoogi.”

Bokhae Daeseong raised the corners of his mouth at Jeokgwi’s words.

“Alright. I’ll help you.”