Chapter 1269: Scorched World

Miss Hyeon.

At Hyeon Soyoung’s words, my body suddenly stiffened.

‘What’s this talk about Hyeon Soyoung all of a sudden?’

Do you know her whereabouts? This means…

‘It means you don’t know where Hyeon Soyoung went.’

She’s missing. At Mi Hyoran’s words, Tae Hoan’s face stiffened.

“Young Master So. Regarding that part, as I mentioned last time……”

“I know. I know you said Commander Shinryong wouldn’t know, but I asked with the feeling of grasping at straws.”

“I understand your feelings, but my answer won’t change. I do not know her whereabouts.”

“…….”

“Her disappearing after the incident occurred, and the matter of Geomryong too. It’s regrettable, but it’s a part where it’s difficult to help……”

“……I see. I’m sorry. I asked something useless.”

“No. Rather, I am only sorry for not being able to help.”

Tae Hoan smiled wryly.

“……First of all, you must have had a hard time coming a long way, so it would be good for you to rest a bit. It seems like it would be better to have the remaining conversation after resting.”

At Tae Hoan’s words, Mi Hyoran nodded.

“I will do so.”

Thus, the conversation ended. Afterwards, I was guided to a room.

As soon as I entered the room, I asked Mi Hyoran.

“Now, won’t you tell me?”

“…….”

I asked what I had been holding back. I had to demand an explanation from Mi Hyoran about the things I had just heard.

“What was that? The conversation you just had with Commander Shinryong.”

“It’s just as you heard.”

“Hey, you can’t just say that. Do you think I said all that just to hear that?”

“…….”

“What is Geomryong, and what’s this about Miss Hyeon?”

It wasn’t just some casual conversation. It means it wouldn’t be resolved with such a simple explanation.

“Won’t you explain?”

If you’ve come this far, you had to explain it to me.

“…….”

At my words, Mi Hyoran frowned. Mi Hyoran, who had been unable to speak, finally spoke to me with a sigh after not long.

“…It’s something from the past. It’s from when Geomryong hadn’t become an Apostle yet.”

Her words, spoken slowly, were permeated with a sense of stuffiness.

“It was when a large number of personnel were gathered at Commander Shinryong’s hideout. It was at a different location, not here, and Miss Hyeon was also there.”

“How long ago was this?”

“It’s been about half a year.”

“Hmm.”

It was a long time if you thought of it that way, and a short time if you thought of it the other way.

“At that time, it was right after Lord Pae disappeared, and it was a time when we felt the danger of Cheolhyeol Busun becoming an Apostle…”

“…And then?”

“Following that, the attack that retaliated happened to be here. Several Apostles started attacking this place.”

“Hmm.”

Several Apostles attacked this place, huh? I had to react to the fact that not just one or two, but many had attacked.

‘They survived even after that.’

‘The problem is.’

It implied there was something more to their endurance.

It didn’t seem like they simply overcame the Apostles.

“If it had been left as is, the hideout would have been in danger of being pushed back and disappearing. No, it should have disappeared originally, but…”

“Something must have happened.”

“That’s right. At that time, the Apostles said… pointing at Geomryong, ‘Become an Apostle. Then we’ll spare the hideout.'”

“Hmm?”

They told him to become an Apostle, pointing at Namgung Jin? Then.

“Did they come targeting Namgung Jin from the beginning?”

“…I expect so.”

“Why?”

“Why Namgung Jin specifically?”

‘What reason could there be to make Namgung Jin an Apostle, not Tae Hoan?’

I was puzzled. If you asked if Namgung Jin was strong, he wasn’t.

Although he becomes the Sword King later, that’s 70% due to the Namgung family’s influence. Namgung Jin himself wasn’t such a great martial artist.

‘Why specifically… pick Geomryong as an Apostle?’

It was an incomprehensible matter for me.

“So, perhaps Geomryong, who was chosen…”

“Yes.”

Mi Hyoran nodded.

“He chose to become an Apostle. And we survived then.”

“…….”

Wow.

‘…Geomryong?’

He made a sacrifice? That’s even more baffling. Is that guy the type to sacrifice himself? I didn’t think so when I saw him.

At that moment.

‘Ah.’

A thought flashed through my mind.

“…Miss Mi.”

“Yes.”

“That, perhaps… is it because of you, Miss Mi?”

“…….”

At my words, Mi Hyoran faltered.

Seeing that reaction, I was convinced.

‘It must be.’

Geomryong Namgung Jin sacrificing himself to become an Apostle. If the reason he was captured by them was because of Mi Hyoran, it made sense.

‘…How devotedly romantic.’

If that was the reason, and if Mi Hyoran knew it, carrying guilt because of it.

‘It seems about right.’

The circumstances were fitting together more and more. The parts that didn’t make sense started becoming clear in my mind.

Then.

“What about Miss Hyeon’s situation?”

Setting aside Namgung Jin’s condition, I asked, wondering what it meant regarding Miss Hyeon’s whereabouts.

“…It’s because right after Geomryong disappeared, Miss Hyeon also disappeared.”

“What?”

My face twisted. Hyeon Soyoung disappeared? What is going on?

“…Not kidnapped or anything, she just disappeared?”

“That’s right. Really… she suddenly disappeared the next day, like someone who was never there.”

“Hmm.”

What does this mean? Can someone just disappear like that?

Then.

“Miss Mi, do you think Miss Hyeon’s disappearance is also your fault?”

“…No.”

She takes a long pause before saying no. It seemed like even in her own thoughts, it was true.

‘I wondered why she bothered to come.’

Is that the reason for her guilt? I didn’t know Mi Hyoran harbored such guilt.

‘I thought she was someone who wouldn’t blame herself.’

I guess she’s young, so maybe that’s why.

It felt like seeing a flaw in a person who should be perfectly sharp. How unexpected, Madam Mi also had a human side when she was young.

“Then, speaking of which.”

Looking at Mi Hyoran like that, I asked the next question. I roughly understood the situation, but…

“From what I heard earlier, it sounds like Geomryong will attack this place ‘again’. How do you know that?”

Geomryong’s attack seemed certain. Mi Hyoran wanted to suppress Geomryong, not kill him.

Then, how can she be so sure Geomryong will appear?

To that question, Mi Hyoran said.

“She said a letter was sent to the hideout.”

“A letter?”

“Yes. She said she sent the timing. The specific time she would appear.”

“…An Apostle, you mean?”

Sent a notice in advance? What kind of crazy talk is this?

‘Setting the exact date and time she will appear, and attacking on that day?’

It was an unfathomable course of action.

“I know it’s strange, but there was already an attack that proceeded like that once before.”

“That means there’s a precedent.”

“That’s right…”

It means because it happened once before, it could happen again this time.

‘…Okay, so.’

Let me summarize.

‘Half a year ago, the Apostles attacked the hideout, wanting to make Geomryong an Apostle.’

In the process, Geomryong chose to become an Apostle to protect Mi Hyoran.

‘Afterwards, Geomryong became an Apostle and disappeared, and Hyeon Soyoung, who was at the hideout, also disappeared.’

Mi Hyoran carried guilt because of the events then.

‘Time passed, and Geomryong appeared to attack the hideout.’

Even sending a notice in advance and attacking, Tae Hoan requested help from Mi Hyoran, meaning that’s how we ended up here.

‘Hmm.’

I roughly understand. As I organized it, I understood it somewhat, but…

“When is the attack time?”

“…Time-wise, it’s three days later.”

“Three days?”

Hearing that, I frowned. No wonder she was trying to come quickly; if I had been caught in the vines, I would have missed the timing completely. It was understandable why she was so impatient.

“Three days…”

There isn’t much leeway. While I was thinking about this.

“Miss Mi.”

I called Mi Hyoran again. Mi Hyoran responded to my call.

“Yes.”

“What do you want to do?”

“…Pardon?”

At my words, Mi Hyoran’s eyes widened.

“The conversation with Commander Shinryong is one thing. Regardless, what is the direction you want, Miss Mi?”

Now that I understood the situation, it was time to solve it.

“What do you want me to do?”

“…….”

I waited for her answer.

I could feel Tang Cheongi and Poison Phoenix unable to join our conversation, just watching cautiously. I didn’t pay attention to their reactions, because only Mi Hyoran’s words mattered.

At that time.

“…I already told you my wish.”

Mi Hyoran cautiously said to me.

“Please subdue Geomryong.”

“Does that mean don’t kill him?”

“Yes. If possible, I hope you can subdue him. Is it possible?”

Subduing.

It was the thing I was worst at.

‘Just killing him would be easier.’

Subduing… I guess thinking about it, it seems like I’d have to capture him intact. That was also something I wasn’t good at.

The only kind of subduing I know how to do is…

‘Breaking something and then capturing him.’

Can I capture him intact? Honestly, I’m not sure, but…

“I’ll try.”

I uttered the answer casually.

Whether it’s difficult or not was something I’d only know after trying.

‘Just then.’

I also had something to ask Geomryong.

‘Hyeon Soyoung.’

If she says Geomryong became an Apostle and disappeared.

‘There must be some connection.’

Because there must be something tied to Geomryong.