Chapter 1184: Scorched World.

I was dumbfounded by Hyun Soyeon’s words.

Who did what?

“Missing?”

“That’s right.”

“…Who?”

“Princess Gu Seon.”

“……?”

It just didn’t add up. No matter how many times I heard it.

“…Princess Gu Seon is missing?”

“That’s right. Ah, is my voice perhaps too low?”

“No. It’s just that I couldn’t wrap my head around it, no matter how much I heard it.”

Missing? Just like that? What on earth was that supposed to mean?

It was after dinner. I’d come back alone from the training grounds to buckle down and practice. Jin Yeon-ryeong had said she wished we could eat together, but I really wanted to be left alone today, if possible.

So, after focusing on my practice for a while, I came out.

‘No wonder the Gu residence felt so chaotic.’

When I wondered what was going on due to the unusually noisy atmosphere. Hyun Soyeon, who was passing by, told me.

‘Gu Seon disappeared?’

At the sudden news of Gu Seon’s disappearance, I narrowed my eyes.

“When did Princess Gu Seon go missing…?”

“I don’t know about that… but looking around, that’s the vibe I got.”

“No…”

I couldn’t believe it.

‘It’s not like she’d been missing for days on end.’

Half a day. Not even that much time had passed. It hadn’t been long since I parted ways with Gu Seon, yet suddenly she’s missing.

What kind of ridiculous nonsense was this?

I couldn’t understand.

Something felt off.

‘…Strange.’

The fact that they’d declared her missing, and the current atmosphere.

Something felt off.

‘…I need to check.’

What could have happened? I had to find out about this.

“Miss Hyun. Sorry, but I’ll be going ahead.”

“Huh? Ah, yes, please do.”

Hyun Soyeon replied indifferently. I turned and moved away, leaving her behind.

My destination was where Gu Seong-yeol was.

I moved somewhat hastily.

So I didn’t see.

“…….”

The blue light flickering in Hyun Soyeon’s eyes as she watched me from behind.

---

The residence where the Gu family head was. Arriving there, I could clearly feel it.

‘It’s heavy.’

The energy felt heavy, the sensation dense. It was clearly not ordinary. If even the air could change this much, there must surely be something.

Thump. I deliberately made footsteps as I moved. As if for Gu Seong-yeol inside to hear.

I reached for the door and opened it.

The moment I saw inside the room, I froze. Gu Seong-yeol was standing there, and his appearance was anything but ordinary.

‘…His aura.’

Killing intent was practically radiating off him. That was it. The thing currently pressing down on the air.

The red glow in his eyes sent shivers down my spine. Whatever it was, it was chilling enough to make my insides freeze compared to the hot air.

“Family Head-nim.”

“…….”

Gu Seong-yeol’s gaze snapped towards me at my question. When our eyes met, goosebumps prickled my skin.

Was that killing intent?

A chilling sensation washed over me.

“What’s going on?”

“I overheard some things as I passed by.”

Hwarureureuk.

I could feel flames. No fire was lit anywhere, but strangely, I felt that way.

‘Looks like he got back the fire he lost to his great-grandfather.’

It seemed he’d regained the power he’d lost. Whether his great-grandfather returned it or he took it back, I don’t know.

“I heard Princess Gu Seon went missing. Is that correct?”

“…….”

There was no answer. It’s fine, I can get the answer later.

“The last time I saw her was at the training grounds. That was roughly half a day ago. It hasn’t even been that long, so I came to ask because the ‘missing’ part seemed strange.”

“…The training grounds?”

At my words, his gaze snapped towards me.

“Yes. It seems I was the last person with Princess Gu Seon.”

“You were together?”

“She suggested we go to the training grounds, so I went with-“

Hwaaahak-!!

Gu Seong-yeol lunged and grabbed me by the collar.

“When did you part ways?”

“…….”

I scowled at the intense aura.

“…As I mentioned earlier, it was half a day ago. Before sunset.”

Kkwak.

I pried Gu Seong-yeol’s hand off.

“That’s why I find it strange. What’s wrong?”

Barely half a day had passed. What could possibly have happened in such a short time to make him react like this?

“It’s not even a full day, just that short time, so what’s the big deal…”

“I can’t feel the flame-spark.”

“Huh?”

“I said I can’t feel the child’s flame-spark.”

“Flame-spark…?”

Flame-spark? What was he talking about? Flame-spark?

It was incomprehensible, but I could guess what he meant. Could it be…

“…Can you sense the location of others who possess the Gu Flame Wheel Arts?”

“…….”

Gu Seong-yeol didn’t answer. That silence was confirmation. Damn it.

‘What? He can sense them?’

I widened my eyes.

This is an important issue.

“…Is this your ability, Family Head-nim?”

“I will not answer.”

“That means it’s true, damn it.”

The Family Head can sense the location of others who possess the Gu Flame Wheel Arts. This is absurd. This is…

‘That’s practically divine power.’

An inhuman power called divine might. It resembles that. This was something I never knew.

Something like that is even possible?

‘…Then Father too?’

I thought of my father. Does that mean Father could always know my location?

‘No way.’

So during the Sichuan incident too…?

Was that why he rushed over so quickly? But then…

‘In my past life?’

It meant he knew my location even when I disappeared back then.

Did he know, yet not look for me?

‘Why?’

Although I was curious, I didn’t bring that up right now.

What’s important is that Gu Seong-yeol could sense Gu Seon’s location, but currently cannot.

‘So the reason he judged her missing and decided to act…’

…because Gu Seon’s location couldn’t be felt.

‘And furthermore… the reason he noticed me immediately.’

It was because he could sense the presence of Gu Flame Wheel Arts users even from afar.

‘What is this?’

If what he said is true.

‘Where did she go?’

Where did Gu Seon disappear to? It really seemed like she’d been abducted.

‘In that short time?’

The brief moment between parting ways with me and now.

What could be the reason for her vanishing?

‘Kidnapping?’

Who would bother kidnapping a member of the Gu bloodline in this Sanseo region?

‘I don’t know.’

If her very existence vanished, did she die? I couldn’t know.

‘So that’s why this guy…’

…was in such a state.

‘He’s different from my father.’

Unlike my father, who probably wouldn’t have cared if his own child disappeared or not.

This fellow was shaken like this. And yet, he was the Family Head.

“Calm down for now.”

He didn’t look like he’d listen, but I said it anyway.

“If her existence has vanished… mobilizing the Gu family forces probably won’t help much. You know that.”

It was impossible to know ‘what’ had stepped forward.

It would be fortunate if it were human. But could it really be human?

‘I’m not sure.’

This world is full of too many dangerous things.

Knowing there are plenty of non-humans running around, I couldn’t be certain of anything.

So,

“I’ll go look for her.”

“…What?”

Gu Seong-yeol’s eyes widened at my words.

“Why you?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

I let out a hollow laugh without meaning to.

“I don’t exactly need to find her… but something feels off.”

Was it because of the conversation earlier?

Or was it because I saw Gu Yeonseo in her?

Or maybe,

“‘Whatever I do, it will lead me in the right direction.'”

It was also partly driven by a feeling that this might be someone’s intention.

“May I?”

“…….”

Can I get involved?

At that, the Family Head fell silent.

But the silence was brief. He likely knew all too well there wasn’t time for pleasantries.

“Do you have a method?”

“Well…”

If I try, maybe I’ll find an answer. That’s all I was thinking.

I don’t exactly have a solid plan either. Perhaps.

“‘Maybe her fate was to die here.'”

In my memory.

A being for whom there was no information in the world I lived in. I never knew Father had a younger sister.

It might even be the correct sequence of events for her to disappear around this time, but.

“But I’m going to try.”

I have to do something.

My instincts told me so.

“…….”

Gu Seong-yeol’s eyes flickered briefly upon hearing my words.

“…I’m asking you.”

“Mm.”

He said something unexpected.

Hearing this, I scratched the back of my head.

This means I can’t just half-heartedly do this anymore.

“Yes.”

---

I left the residence and went straight outside.

I floated up into the sky and surveyed the surroundings. The location was the last place Gu Seon and I were.

‘Hmm.’

There were too many signs of people. Where could Gu Seon have gone from here?

I don’t know.

Of course I didn’t know, with this many people around.

‘Sssshhh.’

I activated my sensory perception. It immediately spread in all directions, enveloping the entire training grounds.

It was a sensory perception strengthened by having gained the owner’s rank. It was strong enough to reach far beyond the training grounds.

All sorts of information flooded in. Starting with wild animals, information about humans gathered too.

Could I find any trace of Gu Seon within this?

‘No.’

I thought not. With this many people around, where could I possibly find Gu Seon’s trace? That would be impossible for anyone.

So, this wasn’t about finding a trace.

‘More accurately, rather than a trace.’

I wanted to find Gu Seon’s own energy. Gu Seong-yeol had said her flame-spark disappeared, but I couldn’t feel anything like that.

I was just trying to find Gu Seon herself first.

Swaaaaaaaah—!!!

As my sensory perception continued to spread, searching for Gu Seon’s presence.

Tuk.

“Hm?”

Something snagged.

“Oh?”

I widened my eyes.

It was Gu Seon’s presence.

I found it this easily?

While I was wondering about how surprisingly easy this was.

“Found.”

“It.”

‘…!’

A voice that shouldn’t have been heard burrowed into my ears.