episode_0059

“Emperor Yeom!!”

“Are you not hurt?”

“How could I not be hurt when solving the arduous Secret Palace? It’s nothing life-threatening, so don’t worry.”

Emerging from the Yeom Hyeongok, I saw Emperor Yeom’s two bodyguards, Baekryeon, and Seollin.

The bodyguards, Baekryeon, and Seollin must have seen us coming out of Yeom Hyeongok because they rushed over.

The bodyguards especially cared for Emperor Yeom first, but thanks to the various elixirs inside the treasure vault of Yeom Hyeongok, the wounds Emperor Yeom sustained inside Yeom Hyeongok had neatly healed, so there were no wounds that warranted their concern.

“Young master. Are you not hurt?”

“Your clothes seem a bit burnt; what on earth happened inside?”

“A lot, if you call it a lot, and nothing, if you call it nothing.”

Hearing Seollin’s words, I examined the clothes I was wearing. Because I bought them for a pretty penny, they weren’t completely burnt by the Vermilion Bird’s flames. However, it seems they couldn’t fully withstand the heat, as there were traces of burning here and there.

I should throw these clothes away and buy some new ones.

“By the way, who is that woman behind you? If I’m not mistaken, it looks like she came out of Yeom Hyeongok with you?”

“That’s right. I wanted to ask too. Somehow… she’s a bit hard to deal with, should I say? Or scary to look at… anyway, that’s the feeling I get.”

“Really?….”

This is a bit interesting. Baekryeon doesn’t feel anything, while only Seollin reacts sensitively.

Is Seollin’s ability to sense energy higher than Baekryeon’s? Or is it just that Baekryeon, being a descendant of the White Tiger, which is on par with the Vermilion Bird, is less affected by the Vermilion Bird’s pressure?

Either way is fine.

“It’s the Vermilion Bird.”

“?”

“What did you say just now?….”

“I said it’s the Vermilion Bird.”

Seollin was the most shocked by my words. Baekryeon didn’t show it, but she seemed quite surprised as well.

Of course, the Vermilion Bird, regardless, approached Emperor Yeom with a gait full of elegance and nobility.

“Emperor Yeom. Are these the ones who protect you?”

“Who are you?”

“Someone of unclear identity, do not approach Emperor Yeom.”

“?”

However, the bodyguards who hadn’t heard about the Vermilion Bird blocked her from approaching Emperor Yeom, and Emperor Yeom looked at the bodyguards as if dumbfounded.

“What is it?”

“That is correct.”

“Identify yourself.”

“….”

The Vermilion Bird frowned unpleasantly at the bodyguards’ reaction and looked at Emperor Yeom.

But Emperor Yeom chuckled and dismissed the bodyguards.

“It’s alright, you can step back.”

“But….”

“Her identity is certain, so don’t worry. She is an important figure who lent her strength to the founding Emperor Yeom.”

“?”

It’s already been over 1000 years since the founding Emperor Yeom died, so there’s no way that helping such a person would make sense.

Of course, Emperor Yeom himself already knows that, but…

It seems like he’s just trying to play a little prank on the bodyguards by making the explanation ambiguous….

Then should I join in?

“That’s right. Even if you all attack at once, you can’t win, so don’t waste your energy unnecessarily.”

“….”

They seem offended by my words, but what can I do.

It’s their fault for being weak.

Well, whatever. The Vermilion Bird’s expression wasn’t good, as if her displeasure was soaring because a human had ignored her.

Then, she glared at the two bodyguards who were blocking her and said.

“Did you ask who I am?”

“That’s right, but….”

“I am the Vermilion Bird.”

“?”

The two’s expressions momentarily turned blank. It seems like they don’t know if she’s serious or not.

Glancing at Emperor Yeom, he chuckled and nodded.

“This person is one of the Four Symbols. The Vermilion Bird.”

“!!”

Only then did the bodyguards turn pale and quickly step back.

Baekryeon, who was watching the scene with amusement, asked me.

“Young master. Did you perhaps fight with the Vermilion Bird?”

“Huh? Why do you think so?”

“No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem like there would be a dangerous trap that would burn the young master’s clothes…, so if the young master’s clothes were burnt, it would be reasonable to assume that you fought against someone of that level. Before, when you fought against the Kyo Ma Wang, your clothes were tattered because of his attacks. If it’s someone with that level of power…, the only one who comes to mind other than the Vermilion Bird who came out of Yeom Hyeongok is….”

That’s a very sharp judgment.

I lightly nodded, not wanting to hide anything in particular.

“That’s right. She attacked first, so I attacked too. And I won.”

It’s important, so I’ll say it twice. I won.

Of course, according to what I heard on the way up to the surface after Emperor Yeom and the Vermilion Bird had a conversation about the covenant,

The Vermilion Bird is currently said to have some of her power sealed by the Black Tortoise due to a contract with the founding Emperor Yeom…, but I had plenty of leeway, so even if she wasn’t sealed, I would have been the one to win.

“Are you crazy?! Why fight with a Four Symbols beast!”

“I told you, she attacked first.”

“Ah, are you not hurt?!”

“Of course not. I told you, even if that Kyo Ma Wang is targeting you, if you’re within my sword’s reach, I can protect you.”

As I said, shrugging my shoulders, Seollin blushed and avoided my gaze.

“Emperor Yeom.”

“Hmm, is that you? What’s the matter? Perhaps you didn’t find what you wanted in the treasure vault?”

“No, it’s not that, but…, I wanted to ask about the future. You said we would wage war against the Beast Alliance, and that we needed a clue to complete the Yeomcheon Grand Art in Yeom Hyeongok first.”

The Yeomcheon Grand Art will be completed because we have the Vermilion Bird.

Then, the next step.

After completing the Yeomcheon Grand Art, what will we do after declaring war on the Beast Alliance?

Emperor Yeom nodded slightly, as if he understood my words, and said.

“First, the regular national assembly will be held soon. We will make the war with the Beast Alliance more clear there. And after that, we will have to gain the cooperation of each sect and family, and if we successfully gain cooperation, we will have to increase our forces and concentrate our troops in Cheonsan.”

“How long do you think that will take?”

“Why are you asking? Do you have to leave your position?”

“Yes.”

Before starting a full-scale battle with them, there is something I need to settle.

I glanced at Baekryeon and turned my gaze to Emperor Yeom.

“I have something to finish. I think I should head to Jo.”

“Jo, you say? But currently, Jo is….”

“I know. That’s why I need Emperor Yeom’s help. Please help me head inside Jo.”

“….I owe you a lot. Also, I will need your strength in the war against the Beast Alliance in the future, so…, I understand. But keep in mind. Jo is currently under a national isolation order, so even I can’t be sure if I can get you in.”

That’s enough for now.

First, I’ll try to go as legally as possible. If it doesn’t work, I’ll just break through.

Still, we have Baekryeon, so if we have a certificate written in Emperor Yeom’s own hand, we should be able to get in somehow.

After talking with Emperor Yeom and returning, Baekryeon, who had heard my conversation with Emperor Yeom, looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Young master. Why are you trying to go to Jo? Could it be….”

“….Yes, that’s what it is.”

Baekryeon trembled at my words.

Then, as if she couldn’t believe it, she looked at me and said.

“That person…, that person is in Jo?”

“I don’t know either. Shouldn’t we slowly look for traces?”

“What’s going on? Could it be?….”

Seollin had heard about Baekryeon to some extent, so she frowned and looked at me.

“That’s right. It’s time to settle things. Let’s go find the Red Devil. In the first place, since that guy is also cooperating with the Beast Alliance, he’s just one of the targets we need to deal with.”

It’s been so long since I was possessed that I can barely remember, but one thing is certain: the warrior Leon and Baekryeon meet the Red Devil in a village on the Chui Hill in Jo. However, that was after the Yeom Kingdom had already fallen, that is, after Emperor Yeom declared war on the Beast Alliance here and started the war, but was destroyed by the power of the Heavenly Demon.

I have no certainty that the Red Devil will be there now….

But the White Tiger will definitely be there.

“The place we need to go is Baekdu, Chui Hill.”

* * *

Emperor Yeom’s work was very fast.

Whether it was because it was simple since he just had to write a letter, or something else, I don’t know, but thanks to that, we were heading to Jo as a kind of envoy delivering Emperor Yeom’s words to the king of Jo.

“….”

“Baekryeon, are you okay?”

“Ah…. S, sorry. Seollin, what did you say?”

“No, it’s not that, but….”

However, the closer we got to Jo, the worse Baekryeon’s condition became.

She seemed quite shocked by the fact that she hadn’t noticed her enemy was so close, and she often looked dazed.

Seollin often looked at her with a worried expression.

I also felt that I couldn’t continue to leave Baekryeon in that state.

What should I do….

After much deliberation, I came to a conclusion and picked up Baekryeon and laid her down on the bedding.

“???”

“!”

Baekryeon looked at me with a startled and bewildered expression.

At the same time, Seollin was also startled and slightly covered her face with her hand. However, peeking through her fingers was very much like Seollin.

“Y, young master?”

“I know how you’re feeling right now, but aren’t you going to pull yourself together?”

“Ah…, I’m sorry.”

“I can’t let this go. Baekryeon, you need to be punished a little.”

“P, punished?….”

I sweep back Baekryeon’s bangs.

Only then did Baekryeon realize what I was trying to do and her face flushed red.

“Y, young master?….”

“Let’s pull ourselves together after I release all your strength once, okay?”