Ch.175Chapter 175 – Sometimes, You Need to Set Aside Your Pride

Following Pathos to the Imperial Dragon Fortress, Baek Yu-wol was sipping alcohol at a tavern near the imperial palace.

The number of empty bottles beside her was about five.

Moreover, the liquor she was drinking was so potent that even seasoned drinkers would pass out after just one bottle.

“Haah…”

After downing a full glass of liquor in one gulp, Baek Yu-wol let out a sigh.

Her eyes, as she sighed deeply enough to make the world crumble, were filled with intense regret.

‘Why did I do that…’

Like her empty glass, her gaze toward the outside was vacant.

Normally, she would have celebrated her visit to the capital by exploring various places, having fun, and reuniting with old friends to catch up.

But now, she was just sitting in this restaurant, endlessly drinking.

“I’m not getting drunk at all…”

Baek Yu-wol was drinking in hopes of getting intoxicated enough to forget about recent events.

Pathos Severio, Count.

A man from the Gelebrio Empire, an honored guest invited by the Emperor.

And… someone who either possessed the ability to heal her hands or was a liar with enough self-confidence to deceive her.

This was the conclusion she had drawn about Pathos.

“How annoying… why did I foolishly say such things back then…”

Despite drinking such strong alcohol, her body, having reached the rank of one of the Fifteen Great Masters, showed no signs of intoxication.

This was because the pure inner energy residing in her body had flame-like properties that burned away all the alcohol that entered her system.

If she truly wanted to get drunk, she would need to drink alcohol specially made for those with inner energy.

However, such drinks weren’t available in the taverns of the Imperial Dragon Fortress, which were mostly frequented by people with no connection to martial arts.

So Baek Yu-wol kept holding onto drinks that couldn’t intoxicate her.

“What a fool I am…”

If only she could borrow the effects of alcohol, she would have poured out all her inner thoughts.

Perhaps she would have felt relieved if that man had been a liar and punished for insulting the Emperor.

But after hearing information from the Han Dongbaek family members working at the Imperial Dragon Fortress, Baek Yu-wol’s heart was burning with regret.

‘I heard that the man from the Western Continent whom you escorted is going to receive a great reward. And seeing the three strict ministers saying he should be rewarded… something unusual is happening.’

‘Moreover, the three ministers voluntarily stepped forward to be his guarantors, so it seems an enormous reward will be bestowed upon him.’

‘Not only that, other great families besides ours also seem interested in that person. It’s concerning to see them digging around for information everywhere.’

‘One strange thing is that there are rumors that the three ministers look much younger than usual. And the cause is said to be the honored guest from the Western Continent.’

After compiling the information provided by the Han Dongbaek family members, Baek Yu-wol became convinced that he wasn’t a liar.

Who in the Imperial Dragon Fortress possessed power and authority greater than the Emperor?

It was the Finance Minister, Administrative Minister, and General Affairs Minister.

These three led their own factions, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that most officials, except those directly employed by the imperial court, belonged to one of these three factions.

Now, with the heads of each faction stepping forward to be Pathos’s guarantors, Baek Yu-wol could no longer think of him as a liar.

‘Then, it means he really has the ability to heal my hands.’

Baek Yu-wol looked down at her hand holding the wine glass.

The burn marks caused by training with the Vermilion Bird’s feather.

In her weaker days, she wore gloves to hide these scars, but after reaching the rank of one of the Fifteen Great Masters, she no longer wore them.

It was a way to shed her weak past and show that she was now proud of her scars.

However, recent events had shaken her resolve.

‘Could I also have beautiful hands?’

Female masters around her age, unlike her, had very delicate and beautiful hands.

Having slender and elegant hands was considered an essential requirement for female masters.

This was because of “Poison Flower” Dok Jin-hye, who was still regarded as the greatest female master.

The martial art she practiced was Poison Art.

Literally using natural poisons, practitioners of Poison Art all had hands stained by poison.

This was a natural consequence of practicing Poison Art, so practitioners wore special gloves to prevent harm from their poisoned hands in daily life.

However, Jin-hye, the greatest female master, didn’t wear gloves.

This was because despite mastering the fearsome Poison Art, she maintained hands that anyone would recognize as delicate and beautiful.

“Isn’t it the mark of a true master to control even poison at will? Under any environment and condition, maintaining beautiful hands is essential.”

Because of Jin-hye, who maintained beautiful hands despite practicing Poison Art, it became expected that all female masters should have elegant hands.

So Baek Yu-wol, whose hands had been disfigured by burns, couldn’t even dream of having such delicate hands.

If she had learned the “Taiji Jade Hand Art” created by Jin-hye from a young age, perhaps her hands wouldn’t have become so disfigured…

‘How could the heir to the Han Dongbaek family’s martial arts learn another’s techniques privately! Don’t even dream of it!’

She was blocked by Baek Dan-hyeop, who showed an unusual obsession when it came to martial arts.

Unable to learn the Taiji Jade Hand Art, Baek Yu-wol’s hands remained in their disfigured state.

‘I too… I too wanted to have delicate and pretty hands…’

It’s human nature to pursue beauty rather than ugliness.

Baek Yu-wol found vicarious satisfaction in advancing her martial arts, but deep in her heart, she still yearned for beauty.

She harbored a sense of inadequacy for not being able to maintain beautiful hands while mastering martial arts.

‘Maybe… I should have just been honest that day.’

She had rejected his offer out of pride, and after that, Pathos never mentioned healing her hands again.

If she had set aside her pride and asked him then, wouldn’t her hands have already been restored to their beautiful state?

“I really am such a fool…”

Baek Yu-wol slumped over the table, uttering self-deprecating laments.

“What makes you say you’re a fool?”

And behind her stood Pathos.

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After the reward was decided, I went out to find Baek Yu-wol.

“Count, I’ve been informed that Miss Baek Yu-wol is currently drinking at a tavern.”

Since I wasn’t familiar with the Eastern Continent’s language, Seon Yu-hwa accompanied me as both interpreter and guide to the Imperial Dragon Fortress.

“Do you know where it is?”

“Yes, I do. I’ll guide you there.”

Since Seon Yu-hwa said she knew where Baek Yu-wol was, I followed her to the tavern where Baek Yu-wol was drinking.

“How annoying… why did I foolishly say such things back then…”

What I witnessed was Baek Yu-wol, with a mountain of empty bottles piled up, berating herself.

“What a fool I am…”

Seeing Baek Yu-wol disparage herself made me uncomfortable.

Why was she saying such self-deprecating things?

“I really am such a fool…”

“What makes you say you’re a fool?”

I spoke to her to prevent her from spiraling further into self-criticism.

“Eh…? Count Severio? How did you…?”

“Miss Seon Yu-hwa here told me. She said you’ve been drinking here continuously.”

Upon hearing my words, Baek Yu-wol’s face turned as red as autumn leaves.

Could it be? Has she drunk so much that her face is flushed?

Did she really drink all those bottles piled up like a mountain?

Concerned, I approached Baek Yu-wol and took her hand.

“Miss Baek Yu-wol, I’m worried about your health. I think it would be best if you stopped drinking for today.”

“You… you…”

Hm? What is she saying?

“What do you know about anything!”

With her outcry, silence fell over the tavern.