Chapter 1188: Scorched World.

“Hello.”

The voice buried in my ear made my bones tremble. Indifferently, and chillingly so.

Time had passed so long ago that I couldn’t even count the days, yet it was a voice I had never forgotten.

I missed it.

Because I couldn’t see you, I longed for you, and it was subtly poignant.

Forgetting it thoughtlessly without realizing, I ironically came to know what I hadn’t known.

I.

I wanted to see you.

Whether it was you plural or you singular, without considering such things, I just wanted to see you.

Even while struggling desperately like that, buried in damn fate, screaming silently.

I knew what the reason was for gritting my teeth and enduring as if about to break.

“You…”

I feel my voice trembling unconsciously. What leaks out uncontrollably seems clumsy and stupid.

However, I didn’t compose myself.

I didn’t even have the leeway for that.

“…….”

They were blue eyes.

Beautiful pupils, I mean, the kind I’d compared to the sea or the sky when looking at her, transcending indifference.

Where had Hyeon Soyeong, who seemed to have a pleasant face, gone? Now, on a face utterly expressionless, were eyes that gave no clue as to what she was thinking.

As the expression disappeared, beyond the revealed cold impression, I asked the person I wanted to see.

“…Why are you here?”

If you’d been well.

That I missed you.

I shelved those unhelpful feelings.

Because even if I poured them out, they were words that couldn’t be picked up, and words that would have no meaning to me now.

And yet, they were words I couldn’t say.

Hearing my question, the woman with blue eyes seemed to find that thought amusing.

“I… wanted to see you.”

“…….”

She brought out words I couldn’t bring myself to say without hesitation.

At those words, my body stiffened. Of its own accord.

I held back a sigh I almost let out. I stopped something from bursting out.

After pressing it down again and again, I said, pretending my insides weren’t calming down.

“Why are you here?”

My composed voice barely gained strength.

To be precise, I was pretending to have strength. If I didn’t do this, at least, I felt like I would sway and collapse.

“Why in Hyeon Soyeong’s body… Do you even know what that body is? No, fundamentally, how did you get to this world…”

“I don’t… want to know.”

“What?”

The woman. Perhaps Namgung Bi-ah, widened her eyes as she heard the words.

You don’t want to know?

“…I don’t want to know things like that.”

“What does that mean? Why you don’t want to know-“

“I’m not curious. I… I’m not curious about things like that.”

“…….”

Before I could utter a reply, Namgung Bi-ah takes a step closer. As she approaches, I sense a scent from her.

Although it was clearly the same scent, it felt somehow heavier, one level deeper.

Just like that, her snow-white hand came up and caressed my cheek.

“…Are you hurt anywhere?”

“…….”

“Is your stomach…”

At best, is that what she’s asking? A breath escapes me. Ironically, heat rose within me.

My insides, which had been empty for a while, ridiculously fill up at those words.

Somehow, the sharp hunger filled up abundantly.

Even though it was just words.

“…What are you worried about? Do I look sick?”

The foolish and dense me put on a brave front again today.

Petty pride was busy peeking out, trying to assert itself even when it didn’t exist.

“Not that. I asked what you are.”

Because your worry would make me weak. I’m busy pretending not to know.

Even in this situation.

“How are you here? This place…”

It’s a world only for me.

A false world my mother created and my ancestor interfered with.

For Namgung Bi-ah to suddenly appear in such a world.

Moreover.

‘Why specifically in Hyeon Soyeong’s body.’

She possessed Hyeon Soyeong, presumed to be Namgung Bi-ah’s mother.

Could this be pure coincidence? I thought it wasn’t.

“What did you do?”

How did she come? This isn’t a place one can come to just by wanting to.

I ask Namgung Bi-ah, but.

“I found you.”

“What?”

“I found you because I wanted to see you.”

“…….”

As always, Namgung Bi-ah’s words were like that.

“…Yes, I get that you found me, but how did you find your way here?”

You, who should be in the Central Plains, how did you get here? I ask, suppressing my frustration.

“…….”

Namgung Bi-ah stares intently at me instead of answering.

As silence flowed like that, after a little while.

“I won’t tell you.”

“What?”

Namgung Bi-ah said something unexpected.

“You won’t tell me?”

“I won’t tell you.”

“What crazy talk is that? Why would you tell me that?”

“…I’m not allowed to tell you.”

“What the…”

“It’s a promise.”

“…….”

At the word ‘promise’, I frowned. A chilling sensation ran down my spine. A promise?

‘…A promise?’

What kind of promise makes it so she can’t speak? Considering Namgung Bi-ah’s characteristics, the meaning of ‘promise’ was singular.

‘A restriction.’

She calls it a promise, but it means restriction. As far as I can see, that’s what Namgung Bi-ah mentioned.

‘…A restriction?’

Namgung Bi-ah is under a restriction? And based on that, she could cross over here?

This means…

‘No way.’

Grab-!

As the thought occurred, I immediately grabbed Namgung Bi-ah’s shoulder.

“Who did you make a contract with?”

It’s a world created by the owner’s power. If they allowed passage through here, squeezing in.

And even came here by imposing a restriction with it.

“…You, really…”

What kind of being must one contract with for something like this to be possible?

I asked Namgung Bi-ah with trembling eyes, but.

“…….”

She just looked at me with clear eyes.

There’s no answer. Is this also a restriction? Just as frustration and irritation were about to rise.

Swish.

Namgung Bi-ah caresses my cheek again.

“It’s okay.”

“What’s okay about it?”

Anger surged.

“Just stay still. What did you do again?”

If you got involved with an unknown entity, it’s bad.

I know all too well now how arbitrary and messed up those non-humans are.

If Namgung Bi-ah got involved with guys like that, it would be a disaster.

‘To prevent that from happening-‘

That’s why I was struggling to death in this field.

Gritting my teeth like that, as I looked at Namgung Bi-ah.

“I’m okay.”

Namgung Bi-ah smiled.

“I saw you.”

“Stop talking bullshit. How is that okay-“

Heat rising, I tried to speak. But.

“This time.”

Namgung Bi-ah cut me off.

“I will save you. So wait.”

On her expressionless face, bearing an unknown desire,

“I. Definitely.”

She said that to me.

“I will do so.”

“…….”

What was she talking about, suddenly saying she’ll save me? The moment I tried to speak in confusion.

Crackle.

“Ah.”

The demonic energy rising on my skin.

Seeing that, Namgung Bi-ah reacted.

“See you later.”

Quick words. Before I could even react to hearing them.

Thump-!

“…Huh.”

Namgung Bi-ah’s body. More precisely, Hyeon Soyeong’s body, collapsed right there.

I hurriedly caught and supported her.

Feeling the limp body held in my arms, I hardened my expression.

It was because I remembered what my ancestor said.

‘…Namgung Bi-ah’s appearance was not intended.’

An unexpected anomaly, not the intention of my mother and ancestor.

‘Who is it?’

What choice did this child make?

Grrr.

My hands clenched. Whoever it is, if they dared to mess with Namgung Bi-ah.

“I’ll rip them apart.”

Whatever it may be, I will grind them up alive and erase them from the world.

Despite having no energy, my body expands on its own.

Just as killing intent began to manifest in my body.

Rustle.

At the sound of someone behind me, I turned my head. There, a young man with a familiar impression was looking at me.

Startle-!

As soon as our eyes met, the guy’s eyes widened.

‘Namgung Jin?’

The young man was Namgung Jin. Why is this guy here…?

I was flustered by his sudden appearance. Because my senses were dulled, I couldn’t sense him approaching.

Then, Namgung Jin looked at me and scowled heavily.

What the?

Just as I wondered why he had that expression.

‘Ah.’

I realized who it was I was holding in my arms right now.

‘…Hyeon Soyeong.’

Namgung Jin’s fiancée. I realized I was holding her.

“No… that is…”

Stuttering, trying to explain to Namgung Jin, but.

“…This guy and that guy. Tsk.”

Namgung Jin clicks his tongue, filled with irritation, and turns away sharply.

With an attitude as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t have, I swallowed hard.

‘Damn it.’

It seemed like I had gotten into another strange misunderstanding.

---

After taking Hyeon Soyeong, who had lost consciousness, to my quarters.

I moved immediately. Although Namgung Jin was a concern, I had somewhere I needed to go first.

“…Is your body okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Jin Yeon-ryeong looks at me and Gu Seon with an even more worried expression. It was an overly burdensome attitude. My father stood beside them.

Gu Seong-yeol didn’t come. He must have something going on.

“…….”

Jin Yeon-ryeong, who was checking on me, frowned and spoke looking at Gu Seon. Seeing that, Gu Seon made a strange face.

“…No, the face you had looking at my sibling just now is too different from the face you’re giving me.”

“Young Master Baek is the one who saved you, and you’re the one who caused trouble.”

Smack-!

“Ouch!”

Gu Seon, having been hit on the back, screamed.

“Mom! I’m a patient!”

“Won’t you be quiet!?”

Seeing him yelling, fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t actually hurt.

While I was watching that, Gu Seon glances sharply at me.

“…Are you smiling?”

“I wasn’t smiling.”

“Lower the corners of your mouth and speak. You’re not planning to lie, are you?”

“…….”

Oh no, did I get caught? This is why people who are quick-witted…

“Don’t blame Young Master Baek, who is a patient, for no reason.”

“…No, I’m a patient too. Even if I’m sick, I’m sicker…”

“Hush.”

“…….”

At Jin Yeon-ryeong’s reaction, Gu Seon shuts his mouth tightly. He looked quite wronged, but seemed to have nothing to say.

Just then.

“He will be fine.”

My father, who had been watching quietly, suddenly spoke.

“What do you mean?”

“That Baek Yangcheon is not in such a critical condition.”

‘Huh?’

Suddenly talking about me? What does that mean?

As I wondered.

-I heard you were hugging Miss Hyeon just before. Your body seems fine.

“…….”

At my father’s message, I swallowed dryly.

‘…That bastard Namgung Jin.’

He snitched to my father in the meantime…?

The misunderstanding deepened immensely.