Chapter 1252: Scorched World

I needed to conserve my energy. Even though I knew that all too well, killing intent spilled out. Uncontrolled emotions mixed with my energy, scattering in all directions.

“Kkuh……!”

“Huk…….”

The warriors who were guided here with me grabbed their chests and collapsed.

“Baek…… Gongja-nim……”

Poison Phoenix called me with a trembling voice.

Seureureung-!!

The commander of the Iron Dragon Unit drew his sword and aimed it at me. His tension was palpable. Regrettably, as the atmosphere gradually heated up, I could only stare intently at Mi Hyoran.

She seemed slightly surprised too, but for some reason, she just looked at me with calm eyes.

I, too, looked into her eyes and slowly killed my emotions. This wasn’t anger directed at Mi Hyoran.

So I had to kill,

Seueueu.

As the killing intent slowly subsided, sighs of relief could be heard from the surroundings. After barely managing to gather my energy, I looked at Mi Hyoran and asked.

“What kind of bullshit is that?”

My tone hadn’t changed from before. Hearing this, Mi Hyoran narrowed her eyes.

“You probably already understood.”

“I understood. But I’m asking because it doesn’t make sense.”

My father is dead? That’s the biggest load of crap I’ve ever heard.

“Why do you think that?”

To her question of why I didn’t believe it, I chuckled. There might be many reasons if you were to analyze it, but there was only one thing I wanted to ask her now.

“If the commander had died, Mi So-jeo’s reaction wouldn’t be like this.”

“……Ha.”

At my words, Mi Hyoran sighed as if it were absurd.

“What do you know about me?”

“I probably don’t know most things. I’m just saying what I know.”

“This is ridiculous.”

Her gaze sharpened. It felt like I had crossed a line.

“Whatever you think, nothing will change. The person you’re talking about is dead.”

“Hmm…….”

I observed Mi Hyoran’s expression. It was expressionless, making it hard to know what she was thinking. However.

‘I can’t believe it.’

My thoughts remained the same. If my father were dead.

‘Could she say it with that kind of expression?’

It was something I couldn’t know.

Jeobeok.

I took a step forward. At that moment.

Shwik.

A sword touched the base of my neck. The commander of the Iron Dragon Unit had brought his sword to my neck.

“Don’t move.”

His fighting spirit was considerable. It seemed his vigilance had reached its peak due to my killing intent just now.

“Further approach is forbidden.”

Heeding the warning, I took a step back.

“Looks like I can’t get any closer.”

“Yes. Our guards are quite competent.”

“Guards, huh.”

To use the commander of the Iron Dragon Unit, the best in the world, as a guard. It was laughable, yet I couldn’t laugh.

“Let’s leave it at that for today.”

Mi Hyoran said to us.

“I just wanted to see your face since I heard you were alive. Since you’ve come a long way, please rest a bit for now, and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

It was a dismissal order, full of meaning, telling us to leave. She called me just to check on me? Without uttering a word in response, I created distance.

“Please show us to our resting quarters.”

Mi Hyoran also stood up, spoke, and turned her back.

Our meeting with her ended like that.

Something.

‘Is strange.’

It was the distinct feeling that something had changed.

---

Guided, we entered a building. It was a space that could hold about ten men. Naturally, there were no separate rooms.

“Haaaa…….”

As soon as we entered, everyone let out the sighs they had been holding back. It felt like our tense bodies were relaxing.

“……Now we can finally rest.”

“I really feel like I can live now.”

These were days spent fighting monsters. Since we endured that and came here, it’s not strange that they’re acting like this.

In the meantime, I looked at Poison Phoenix and asked.

“Is this place really something made in just one year?”

The walls, the buildings inside… Seeing it after coming inside myself, it had a decent level of completion.

“That’s right.”

“How is that possible?”

“The people building the structures were all warriors too… and the Young Master’s efficiency was good.”

She seemed reluctant to say it, as if it hurt her pride, but her tone acknowledged Mi Hyoran nonetheless.

‘Good efficiency, huh.’

All the builders were warriors. So if that’s why it was fast, it’s not that strange.

‘It feels like Mi Hyoran deserves a lot of credit.’

I wonder how she managed that. And.

“This is the northern hideout, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Why did you hate it so much?”

“…….”

I just quickly asked what I wanted to ask. It was a question I had held back for days.

“That’s because…….”

Poison Phoenix seemed unable to answer for a moment, showing hesitation. Did she not want to answer? I thought I should ask something else, but then.

“It’s because she used people like chess pieces.”

“……Cheongi-ya.”

The answer came from Tang Cheongi.

“Chess pieces?”

“Yeah.”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what it means.”

Tang Cheongi scrunched up his face.

“The Young Master wanted to escape this place and had researched ways to escape. So naturally, they had to find a way and form a search party.”

“And?”

“One day, the search party returned. They were attacked by Apostles; four out of seven died, one was captured, and only two returned alive.”

It seems a battle broke out, causing casualties.

“Do you know what the Young Master Mi said to the survivors who returned then?”

“What did she say?”

“‘That’s unfortunate. Let’s give up on the captured one and form a new team with others.'”

“…….”

As soon as I heard that, I narrowed my eyes.

“What did she think people were to say something like that? It’s an attitude of seeing humans as chess pieces, all while she herself was resting comfortably in that sanctuary.”

“Are you saying people left because they didn’t like that?”

“Yes. Can you understand that? Showing such an attitude out of consideration for the dead.”

Tang Cheongi reacted as if still angry. Seeing that, I asked.

“What’s the problem with that?”

“What?”

The atmosphere around us suddenly turned cold.

I asked because I genuinely didn’t understand.

“I don’t know how she said it back then, but I don’t see what the problem is.”

“What are you talking about? You don’t know what the problem is?”

“Then what should she have done back then?”

“What……?”

“People died. Should we stop the search and do nothing because we’re devastated? And the captured guy? Should we go rescue him? He’s clearly bait, so what can you do? It was the most rational decision.”

“Do you really think so?”

Tang Cheongi looked at me with a disgusted expression. I clicked my tongue inwardly at his gaze.

“It’s the role of subordinates to grieve. If even the person controlling the personnel grieves, nothing will improve.”

That’s why I don’t want to be in charge.

“Then, do you think it’s right for her to say that while resting comfortably in the sanctuary?”

“Then, what difference would it make if that weakling Young Master joined the search party? You said it yourself, Tang So-jeo, that the Young Master’s abilities are great. Do you know what that means?”

If you break it down, it’s very simple.

“There isn’t a single intelligent person who can replace her. So if she dies, the situation will go to shit.”

There’s no one to handle things.

“That’s why it’s better for her to issue orders from the sanctuary than to go out anywhere.”

“Ha. That’s just forcing it to fit. And you’re saying she doesn’t see the people around her as chess pieces? What the hell do you know.”

“I don’t know. I’m just saying what it looks like to me.”

Besides, it reminds me of the past.

‘Moyong Hi-ah was like that.’

A similar situation.

A similar person.

Moyong Hi-ah back then spoke as if she didn’t care what happened to those surrounded by monsters.

Because of this, there were many conflicts with Wi Seol-ah, the Little Sword Saint.

I was no different. I really disliked her back then.

But I understand now.

‘People like that.’

To make the best choice, they even put themselves within that framework.

If the situation improves only after they die.

‘They wouldn’t hesitate for a moment.’

They would readily give up their own lives.

Because it’s the best course of action.

So.

‘Is Mi Hyoran any different?’

To me, she looked similar. That’s why.

‘My arm keeps bending inwards.’

That’s also why I reacted against Tang Cheongi’s words. Because Moyong Hi-ah came to mind, and because I thought Mi Hyoran wasn’t that kind of person deep down, I ended up arguing back.

“You……!”

Tang Cheongi was about to get angry at me.

“Cheongi-ya. Stop it.”

Poison Phoenix stopped him.

“Noona……!”

“Baek Gongja-nim, please stop too. You don’t know our situation, and speaking like that doesn’t look good.”

“That’s true.”

I nodded.

“I apologize.”

It was a sincere apology. Even looking at it myself, I couldn’t deny that I hadn’t balanced the scales properly. I had no choice but to admit it.

“……Baek Gongja-nim.”

“Yes.”

“Was that rumor perhaps true?”

“Rumor?”

“The relationship between Baek Gongja-nim and Young Master Mi…….”

“No.”

I recoiled. Damn it, that rumor existed.

“We have no relationship and no feelings for each other.”

“Is that so……?”

“Yes.”

“I thought maybe that’s why you acted that way.”

“……No.”

I sighed and denied it again.

‘Anyway.’

I roughly understood the situation. Although it wasn’t enough to grasp it properly, I understood the general feeling.

Also.

‘There’s something more.’

I thought, looking at Poison Phoenix.

She was hiding something. There seemed to be more than just the reason Tang Cheongi mentioned.

Keeping that in mind, I rested for the time being.

When night fell.

“The Young Master is looking for you.”

I received a summons from Mi Hyoran.

However.

“Baek Yangcheon. Just you.”

I was called out alone.

And secretly, at that.