Chapter 1263: Scorched World

About two shijin had passed since the apostle hunt began.

We continued until it felt like the sun would rise any moment.

We could only stop when the sun truly began to rise far in the distance.

“Kuaaaaaa……!!!”

Another apostle disappears, screaming.

Watching the bastard slowly crumble, I finally brushed my hands off.

Tuk tuk.

After brushing off the dust on my palms, I swept my hair back.

“Hoo.”

A tired sigh escaped me.

Having spent two shijin just fighting, fatigue was starting to creep in.

“This is tough.”

My whole body aches.

It felt like I’d moved hard for the first time in a while.

I clenched and unclenched my fists, checking my internal state.

‘Good.’

My empty dantian was completely full.

Although I’m tired, my body feels better than it has in recent times.

“As expected… you need some energy.”

Hwaruruuk.

Feeling the flames burning in my hand, I smirked.

How long has it been since I had this much energy?

Maybe because it’s something I gained from nothing, I feel pretty good.

Just as I was chuckling at this feeling.

“Is it over?”

Amwang asked me.

He was leaning against the wall again, just watching me.

“Ah, yes. Thanks to you.”

“…….”

At my words, Amwang approached.

Amwang strangely didn’t ask me anything.

How exactly I caught apostles like this.

What I gained from doing so.

Amwang didn’t ask me anything.

It was as if he wasn’t curious about anything in the first place.

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes.”

With Amwang’s help, we hunted a total of three apostles.

Only after catching those three could I completely fill my energy.

Hoooook-!!

Black energy emanated from Amwang, enveloping us.

Suuuuk-!!

By the time I realized it, we were back at the hideout I had left.

---

Back at the hideout, I roughly washed my face.

Since I had clothes ready to change into, I finished changing.

Then I asked Amwang, who was waiting.

“Amwang.”

“What is it?”

Amwang replied in a nonchalant tone.

“I have something I want to ask.”

“Is it something I have to answer?”

“You don’t necessarily have to, but I’d appreciate it if you could.”

“Speak.”

Permission was granted.

Hearing that, I finally asked him.

“About that black energy you use to move through space. Does it have casting time, usage limits, or distance restrictions?”

“…….”

It was a question about the power Amwang uses, the power to move through space and travel back and forth.

It’s a strange power.

For one, it wasn’t a martial art.

‘From what I can see, it’s related to Authority.’

Naturally, what he uses is part of his Authority.

Considering he’s a Half-Yong, it’s probably power from there.

‘It’s also something I’ve never seen before.’

The Amwang I knew never used such power.

Of course, he might not have told me everything about the powers he uses…

‘If he had such a useful power, I wish I’d known about it sooner.’

It was strange that he hadn’t.

Because Amwang usually told me things.

To my question, Amwang said:

“This power comes from a curse.”

‘Oh.’

It seemed like something he could answer, at least.

Moreover.

‘So it is the power of a Half-Yong after all.’

The Yong’s Authority stemming from the Blood Demon’s curse. My guess seemed correct.

“So that’s also Authority, you mean?”

“…….”

Amwang stared intently at me when I used the word ‘Authority’ so openly.

“You know a lot.”

“Just happened to. So, can you keep using that Authority?”

“Originally, no.”

“Originally… you say…?”

It was a rather puzzling statement.

“The power was originally just for moving or retrieving small objects. But it changed when I entered this world.”

My eyes widened slightly at his words.

The Authority changed?

“You mean you can now move yourself or people around after coming here?”

“Yes. There are some distance limits, but they aren’t short, and there are no usage limits either. The condition is that I must have visited the area once before.”

“Ha.”

What kind of broken ability is that.

‘……Can it really have so few restrictions?’

I don’t know if that’s also a result of the Authority changing, but the important thing here is.

‘The fact that the Authority evolved.’

It meant the Authority he possessed evolved upon coming to this world.

‘Is that even possible?’

Can Authorities even evolve?

Whether that statement is true or not, if it is true…

‘……I need to check.’

I had to find out if my own Authority had changed too.

“Then, Amwang.”

“What is it?”

“So, you can only go to places you’ve visited before, meaning you can’t use it elsewhere?”

“Correct.”

“……So, any other apostle hideouts you know of……”

“There’s only one place left now.”

“……Hmm.”

Amwang hasn’t figured out much more than I expected.

Or rather, maybe it’s because it’s Amwang that he figured out even this much.

‘Beyond that, the distance is too far, or…’

‘…I haven’t been there, so I can’t use it.’

“Understood. Then I’ll ask you to handle the remaining place tomorrow.”

“…….”

Amwang disappeared on the spot without answering.

After confirming his disappearance, I immediately headed to Mi Hyoran’s quarters.

Because there was something I needed to ask her.

---

“What is it?”

When I arrived at Mi Hyoran’s quarters, she happened to be coming outside.

Her face, looking extremely tired, was quite striking.

“Ah, it’s nothing else. I just have something to ask.”

“……If it’s something like that. Come back later. I’m a bit busy right now.”

“Is something going on?”

She clearly looked busy.

Other warriors seemed to be gathered here, having some kind of conversation.

“……It’s nothing major.”

“Really?”

Anyone could tell it was something major, but since she seemed unwell, I decided not to pry.

“Well then, I’ll come back later.”

I shrugged and went outside.

After waiting outside the door for a short while.

Everyone who was inside came out.

It didn’t take as long as I thought.

When I re-entered Mi Hyoran’s quarters.

She was pinching the bridge of her nose, looking deep in thought.

“Can I speak now?”

“…….”

At my appearance, Mi Hyoran looked at me with a weary expression.

“……What is it?”

“Like I said before, I have something to ask.”

“Hooooo……”

Her expression clearly showed annoyance, but I wasn’t the type to be swayed by such a small thing.

I have my own objective, you see.

“Speak……”

Permission was granted.

So I smiled brightly and asked her.

“It’s nothing much.”

“If it’s nothing much, then later……”

“Do you know why Young Master Gu became an apostle?”

“…….”

At my question, Mi Hyoran froze.

At the same time, her face contorted.

“That’s actually a very big deal.”

“Oh, really? I asked quite casually.”

“Just because you ask lightly doesn’t make the heavy truth any lighter.”

“Aha?”

“…….”

Mi Hyoran stared at me incredulously at my nonchalant reaction.

I tried to speak lightly out of respect, but it seemed that didn’t work.

“Anyway… I was wondering if you, Miss Mi, know the reason why he became an apostle.”

“…….”

Her frozen face continued to stare at me.

“……Why are you curious about that?”

“How could I not be curious?

Someone who absolutely shouldn’t have ended up like that.”

“……Hoo.”

Mi Hyoran ran a hand through her hair.

Her fair skin showed a mix of emotions.

“……You said you met Young Master Gu before, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

I almost died when I met him.

If it weren’t for Amwang, it would have been quite dangerous.

‘……I can’t believe my Probe didn’t work.’

Unlike with other apostles, my probe didn’t work on Father.

I tried catching apostles to confirm this, but it didn’t seem like a problem with the probe.

It was just…

‘Father is the strange one.’

There must be something else about Father.

“What did Young Master Gu seem like to you?”

“……What did he seem like? Just…”

He was similar.

Except…

“He was filled with killing intent.”

A blank expression.

His flames had changed color.

And the killing intent filling his body.

There were many differences, but I saw more similarities.

So I was curious.

“What happened to Young Master Gu?”

What on earth happened to make Father like that?

“…….”

Mi Hyoran just stared at me without answering my question.

A frustrating amount of time passed like that.

“Are you that curious about it?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m asking, after all.”

“Fine. I’ll answer you.”

“Oh…… then.”

“But first.”

Mi Hyoran closed the fan she was holding and continued speaking to me.

“Do me one favor. If you accomplish it, I’ll tell you.”

“……A favor?”

What kind of ominous favor is this?

Just as I started feeling uneasy about her setting conditions instead of just saying she didn’t want to tell me…

“……Bring me one apostle.”

“What?”

“It’s an apostle residing in the north. They capture warriors to feed to monsters, raising monsters.”

“……Huh?”

That sounded familiar… or rather, I think I’ve seen it before.

Could it be…

“By description.”

“……Is it the guy with deer antlers on his head?”

“Deer’s…… what did you say?”

Mi Hyoran paused mid-sentence.

Hearing that, I clapped my hands.

“How could you possibly know that?”

“That guy. I killed him?”

“……What?”

Mi Hyoran wore a bewildered expression, quite unlike her usual self.