Chapter 1196: Scorched World.

A violet egg.

Its size was far larger than the red egg I saw at the front line. By proportion alone, it looked about three times bigger.

Between the iron bars. The large egg contained within. Looking at it, I sank into peculiar thoughts.

‘What is this?’

It wasn’t simply because of the egg’s existence.

‘What in the world is going on?’

The presence emanating from that egg.

The problem was the unique energy that I could recognize instantly, despite my lacking spiritual sense.

This is.

‘Demonic energy.’

Demonic energy.

And not just any.

‘The Demon King’s demonic energy.’

The source energy that the Demon King would possess. That energy was being felt from that place.

The violet egg. Looking at it, my heart pounded wildly.

Thump-thump! Thump-thump!

Amidst the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.

Thump-thump! Thump-thump!

It felt like it was coming not from my heart, but from the egg beyond. It was resonance. That thing was reacting to my sound.

While that resonance continued, something was reflected in my eyes, the inside of the violet egg. A small shadow could be seen within it.

Thump-thump!

‘So that’s it.’

I knew it the moment I saw it. The vibration I felt now was coming from that shadow.

It felt like a mother embracing a fetus; sound and presence were felt from that place.

Looking at that, my eyes trembled.

“…What is this?”

I asked, looking at Do-cheol. Recalling what that person had said.

“That this is the curse Gu Clan inflicted upon Do-ga…?”

“That is correct.”

“…What in the world is that?”

“That thing is…”

Do-cheol said, looking at the egg with a distorted expression.

“It is a curse, and a disaster.”

“…A disaster?”

It was a familiar word. Hearing it, my brow furrowed.

Was the disaster Do-cheol was talking about the same disaster I knew? Or was he simply using the word?

“What does ‘disaster’ signify?”

So, I decided to ask. What disaster were you referring to? When I asked that, Do-cheol answered without hesitation.

“A being that will pose a threat to this world.”

“…A threat.”

It was a vague answer.

“What is that thing that makes it a threat? Furthermore.”

I distorted my face and said to him.

“…And what about the fact that that is the curse Gu Clan inflicted upon Do-ga?”

The violet egg. That was one problem. But the fact that it was connected to Gu Clan was the issue.

What connection could the Demon King’s energy have with Gu Clan? Wondering, I asked the question.

“Young Master Baek.”

“Yes.”

“How much do you know about Gu Clan?”

“…Well?”

I thought I knew quite a bit, in my own way. But seeing this, even that certainty vanished. What kind of family is this? Dig into it, and something else always comes up?

It truly felt unreasonable.

“Gu Clan… is at the center of the strange occurrences happening in the world.”

“…Strange occurrences?”

“The appearance of monsters. Disasters and calamities occurring in the world. Along with the bloodshed caused by humans, it means they are at the center of all events unfolding in the Central Plains.”

“…Ahh.”

I scratched my cheek. It was hard to completely deny it, but it was also difficult to agree entirely…

‘…Wouldn’t it be a bit strange to say it’s all?’

That’s why I thought that. No matter how poorly I thought of Gu Clan, this felt rather ambiguous.

“You don’t seem to believe me.”

“It’s rather hard to believe, isn’t it?”

“I understand. For human common sense, the current situation must be bewildering.”

“…Ah, yes.”

I wasn’t particularly bewildered by that part. The reason I was bewildered wasn’t the situation itself, but because I could feel the Demon King’s energy so strongly.

I’d lived seeing all sorts of bizarre things, so something like this was hardly surprising.

‘I even ate an egg before coming here.’

I had consumed the energy of the Sacred Tree, called a seed, before coming.

So that part wasn’t strange.

‘…Then.’

Could it be that this egg, containing the Demon King’s energy, was actually a seed of the Sacred Tree? Such a thought occurred to me.

‘That’s strange.’

Viewed that way, it was indeed strange.

‘The seeds of the Sacred Tree are ultimately linked to the birth of their master, or so it’s said.’

The disaster of the Central Plains.

The seed from the front line was prepared for that. Then.

‘What is this then?’

What is that egg?

If that too were called a seed, the explanation would become convoluted. And even connected to Gu Clan?

“So, if I understand Head of the Do family-nim correctly… Gu Clan is the mastermind behind all incidents. And that seed was prepared for some incident?”

“That is correct.”

“…Hmm.”

I agree that the egg is a disaster. I knew instantly it was no ordinary object, whatever it might be… So.

“What did Gu Clan do to Do-ga with that?”

What they did with it. That was more important to me. What was the reason for keeping that thing sealed away in this mysterious underground prison?

To my question.

“…It would be faster to show you than to explain.”

Swish.

Do-cheol abruptly began to undo the front opening of his robe. And after a moment.

“Huh?”

Seeing his revealed upper body, I let out a gasp. His upper body was strange. His physique was slight for a warrior, and…

‘…What is that?’

Black energy was wrapped around his body. At first, I thought it was demonic energy. But it wasn’t. It didn’t feel like demonic energy. That was…

‘The unpleasant feeling is different.’

It was a discomfort and unpleasantness that felt slightly different from the unpleasantness associated with demonic energy.

At first glance, it looked like burn scars. But the blackness also gave the feeling that the skin itself had burned into ashes.

“…What is this?”

“This is proof of the curse. A mark of the curse received from Gu Clan since many long years ago.”

“…A mark of the curse? You mean that scar is something Gu Clan did?”

“That is correct.”

“By Gu Clan?”

I couldn’t comprehend it. Could Gu Clan do something like that? Moreover.

‘For what purpose?’

What did that scar signify?

“What is the meaning of that scar that makes you call it a curse?”

“…”

To my question, Do-cheol showed me with action instead of words, as usual. He suddenly took a step forward and headed towards the iron bars.

Swoosh.

He reached out his hand.

Then.

WHOOSH–!

“…!”

Energy erupted from the egg and enveloped Do-cheol’s body. Simultaneously.

Sssshhh–!

“…Kuhk.”

Energy flowed out from his dark scar, mixing with the other energy. At that sight, my eyes widened.

‘It’s being sucked in.’

I could see the energy from Do-cheol’s scar gradually seeping into the egg. It seemed quite painful, as Do-cheol kept suppressing groans.

“Kuhhh…”

After enduring the pain, and enduring it…

Thud.

The flowing energy stopped, and Do-cheol immediately knelt down.

“Hoo… Hoo…”

Do-cheol, catching his breath exhaustedly while even sweating cold sweat. Looking at him, I asked.

“What did you just do…?”

“…I gave it feed.”

“Feed?”

“That’s right… This is the reason for the scar Gu Clan inflicted upon us.”

Do-cheol pointed to the egg with an exhausted look.

“If one is born into the Do family bloodline, they must feed that thing every day until they die. That feed is the Do family’s energy.”

“What kind of-“

“If one doesn’t, this scar will gradually eat away at the body, eventually taking even their life.”

“…”

Do-cheol’s words left me speechless.

‘That’s…’

It was almost in the realm of taboo. Not just any taboo, either, but comparable to a prohibition imposed by the Demon King himself.

But then.

‘And that’s a curse passed down through generations?’

I’d heard something like that before. Where had I heard it?

‘Ah.’

I remembered.

‘The Shadow King…’

The curse the Shadow King possessed.

I recalled that curse inflicted upon the Yeon family. The curse of becoming a half-demon, forced to live without being able to die.

‘Is it a curse of that nature?’

I suspected the curse Do-cheol received might be something like that. If his words were true, that is.

“…Are you saying Gu Clan inflicted such a curse?”

Gu Clan inflicted the curse. That was the reason I found it difficult to believe Do-cheol.

“That is correct.”

“When?”

“It must have been several centuries at least.”

That long?

But why don’t I know about this?

“…For what reason?”

“To nurture that disgusting thing.”

“…”

My gaze turned towards the egg.

Gu Clan used Do-ga to nurture that? Well…

‘Is that really true?’

Gu Clan certainly had many questionable aspects that I knew of. But even so.

‘Even something like this?’

I was puzzled. More than anything…

‘Does Gu Seong-yeol know about this?’

It was possible that the current head of the family, Gu Seong-yeol, might know about this matter.

“You don’t seem to believe me.”

“It’s rather difficult to believe easily.”

“It is the truth. Gu Clan used Do-ga to nurture a disaster that would throw this world into chaos, making them live like slaves for their entire lives.”

“…”

Right. If that statement is true, I can understand their resentment.

To be born and have to live their entire lives giving energy to an egg like this. Even I would have hated it.

“So, you’re asking me to join you in revenge.”

“You’ve heard of Gu Clan’s wicked deeds, haven’t you? If Young Master Baek shares our feelings. Please, help us achieve our liberation.”

“Hmm…”

I stroked my chin. I had heard the explanation. If the Do family’s words were true, then Gu Clan were indeed wicked people.

“It’s not an easy choice. I’ll need some time to think about it.”

I felt the need to investigate this matter further.

Hearing my answer, Do-cheol’s expression instantly turned cold.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I apologize, but I feel I need to verify things on my end too.”

“…”

“I’m not saying I won’t do it. I just need some time to think…”

“As expected. The clan members of Gu Clan are useless.”

“What?”

Just as I was about to frown upon hearing that.

BANG!

“Huh??”

Suddenly, bars sprang out from the floor and trapped me.

“What the…”

What is this now?

“…Fine. I didn’t expect anything from Gu Clan’s clan members anyway.”

“What are you doing?”

“It’s regrettable that it isn’t Gu Seong-yeol or the young head of the Do family, but a great opportunity has indeed come, so I’ll be satisfied with this.”

“What are you talking about…”

“Curse the fact that you inherited that family’s bloodline.”

Muttering the words to himself, Do-cheol turned and left. Watching him, I grasped the bars. Trying to escape.

Zzzzt!

“Oof.”

I felt a pain in my hand and let go of the bars.

This thing… it seems like.

“Crazy?”

I seemed to be trapped.