Chapter 1274: Scorched World

After a short time had passed, when people sensed something strange and went to find Namgung Jin again.

“Huh?”

“What happened here…?”

Everyone’s eyes widened upon seeing Namgung Jin’s suddenly changed appearance. No, upon seeing Namgung Jin returned to his original human form.

“Young Master Baek. How did this happen?”

Taehoan asked me. Seeing that, I scratched the back of my head and replied.

“…Well, uh… things turned out this way while I was experimenting with something.”

“Experiment? What did you do to turn an Apostle into a human?”

Hwareureuk.

I conjured white flames from my fingertips. Taehoan’s brow furrowed upon seeing the pure white flame.

“That’s what I mentioned earlier…”

“Yes. It’s a power that gets consumed by Apostles… I thought maybe I could use it to turn him back into a human, so I tried it.”

Of course, that was a lie. I used demonic energy (maki), and didn’t even use the perming flame.

‘If I had burned Namgung Jin with the white flames, there wouldn’t even be bones left.’

‘If being an Apostle is an inhuman power, he would have been erased completely by the white flames.’

However, there was no easier excuse than this right now. It’s because Mi Hyoran had already laid the groundwork.

I used the white flames to resist Apostles. I used that to create an excuse.

And so.

“…That power can even turn an Apostle back into a human?”

It started to work. In fact, seeing Namgung Jin’s condition, he had already returned to being human. They had no choice but to believe it.

The only problem was.

“What exactly is that power?”

I had to explain what my white flames were. I had prepared for this in advance too.

“I cannot say.”

“What?”

‘Can’t say.’

In reality, this was the best method.

“You can’t say…?”

“Yes. It’s difficult to explain. It’s difficult, and I can’t do it.”

“What do you mean you can’t… Ah.”

As I was speaking, Taehoan reacted as if he had realized something.

“…A restriction?”

“That’s correct.”

Fortunately, it seemed his thoughts reached the conclusion I wanted.

“So it’s under a restriction. What on earth have you been doing for the past year-“

A year’s gap.

And the power to resist Apostles.

Not just resisting, but even being able to turn them back into humans.

All those factors combined gave plausibility to the statement about a restriction.

As Taehoan frowned, deep in thought.

“…Now is not the time to ask about such things.”

Mi Hyoran, who was beside me, stepped forward.

“Young Master Namgung. Young Master Namgung…! Snap out of it.”

Mi Hyoran approached Namgung Jin and spoke to him. Seeing that, I noticed Tang Cheongi and Poison Phoenix subtly tense up.

It was because you never know. You never know what might happen the moment Namgung Jin regains consciousness.

As they were trying to wake him for quite some time.

“…Kkuhk…”

Namgung Jin let out a pained groan and slowly opened his eyes.

‘He’s awake.’

I felt a slight sense of relief seeing this. It was because I hadn’t had time to properly examine his condition and couldn’t figure it out.

‘…The energy expenditure was enormous.’

‘What I had created by capturing Apostles, I spent a long time using it to turn that guy back.’

Although it was successful in the end.

‘Using more of it wouldn’t be cost-effective.’

I was certain. This is a power that doesn’t need to be used. It’s better to just kill Apostles and gain their energy, rather than going out of the way to turn them human.

‘Furthermore. I couldn’t even attempt to turn him back into a demon (mein) again.’

‘I wanted to see if it was possible to turn him back into a human and then into a demon (mein) again. It was a shame I didn’t have the leeway to do so.’

“Young Master Namgung.”

“…Where is this…”

At Mi Hyoran’s words, Namgung Jin slowly regained his senses.

“…Miss Mi?”

Next, Namgung Jin’s eyes widened as he looked at Mi Hyoran.

“Where is this…?”

He looked around with a bewildered expression. Then, Namgung Jin made eye contact with me.

“Baek Yangcheon? How did you…?”

“Looks like you don’t remember anything?”

“Even the Divine Dragon Brigade Leader?”

Namgung Jin’s face was full of confusion. His eyes seemed to say he didn’t know why he was here.

“I don’t remember…”

“…It’s because… my head hurts…”

“What’s your last memory?”

“…The last thing… Kkuhk…”

Namgung Jin clutched his head as if in pain. Seeing that, Mi Hyoran frowned.

“…We should probably let him recover first.”

“Let’s do that.”

Taehoan wordlessly fastened shackles onto Namgung Jin. Seeing this, Mi Hyoran didn’t say anything either.

‘Even though he became human.’

‘The fact that they had placed restraints just in case. It was awkward to comment on it.’

“We’ll talk again once his mind has recovered a bit. Young Master Baek. Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

Taehoan expressed his gratitude to me. I accepted it with a smirk.

“That’s right… Thank you so much.”

Even Mi Hyoran thanked me. I was taken aback. I never expected Mi Hyoran to speak with such sincerity.

‘…What is this.’

‘Mi Hyoran is thanking me this much? Is it because the strange guilt has disappeared? Or is there another reason?’

‘If it’s another reason…’

‘Nah, it can’t be.’

‘I wondered if she might have developed feelings for Namgung Jin. Ah, that wouldn’t be good.’

‘No matter how messed up my family is.’

‘Even if it’s another world, going that far is a bit much.’

Just as my face contorted with unease.

“And…”

Mi Hyoran stopped me and spoke quietly.

“Can we… Can we talk privately for a moment?”

“Ah. Yes.”

I agreed and followed her.

---

After going a little deeper into the cave with Mi Hyoran.

Woowoong.

I used my energy to create an energy barrier.

“Thank you.”

“Not at all. But why?”

I put up the barrier because it seemed like words that shouldn’t leak out. Fortunately, it seemed to align with Mi Hyoran’s intentions.

I wondered if there was a reason she needed to talk to me alone. As I pondered this.

“The method to turn an Apostle back into a human… Did that white flame really solve it?”

At Mi Hyoran’s follow-up question, I narrowed my eyes.

“Is that what you were curious about?”

Just as I wondered if that was the question.

“No. That’s not the important thing.”

“Then what is?”

“…The important thing is whether it works on others too.”

“Please explain in more detail. What do you mean?”

What could the meaning of ‘works on others too’ be?

“To be precise… just like what happened to Young Master Namgung. I was wondering if it could be used on Young Master Gu too.”

“…”

Hearing her question, my eyes widened.

‘Aha.’

I understood. And I comprehended.

‘It was an unnecessary worry.’

‘I was worried she might have developed feelings for Namgung Jin. But contrary to that worry,’

‘It was just useless, stray thoughts.’

‘I finally understood why Mi Hyoran reacted so noticeably when I turned Namgung Jin human.’

‘She must have hoped it could be used on her father too.’

‘Hoping that her father could also be restored that way. That must have been her expectation.’

“Well. I guess we’ll only know if we try.”

“Are you saying you’re not sure?”

“Yes, I suppose so. It was my first time trying it too.”

“…I see…”

Disappointment appeared on her face.

Seeing her face, I said with a sigh.

“I don’t know if it’s completely impossible or not. I’ll have to meet them later to even attempt it.”

“…I understand.”

“Well, it’s resolved for now, right?”

“Ah, yes…”

“When Young Master Namgung wakes up, make sure to ask him properly.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“Ah, I’m not going anywhere far.”

I glanced towards the cave entrance.

There.

“I have something I need to check quickly.”

Beyond the barrier, the Dark King (Amwang) was quietly hiding his presence.

---

“Kyaaaaaaaa–!!! Kyaa-!!”

Monsters were screaming and roaring incessantly. Their roars were filled with longing, as if they had lost something.

“Kyaaaa-!!”

Above the monsters filling the space, Eulryeong Sword Queen, who had been sitting gracefully, opened her eyes.

Sararak.

A black tail swayed behind her. At her slight movement, the roaring monsters fell silent as if dead mice.

“My…”

Her alluring eyes held a hint of bewilderment.

“One of my precious children has disappeared.”

My fingers tingled. It was because the energy of one of the children I had shared much power with had vanished. What could have happened?

“It was a child who should have been fine even traveling alone.”

If they had died completely, I might have been able to figure out their location or situation, but for their energy to disappear like this was strange.

The only fortunate thing was.

“I believe the location was said to be west.”

‘The child of the lightning mind. I knew well the place that child frequented obsessively, so I knew the location.’

If so.

“I’ll have to send someone again.”

‘Should I send the child of wrath again this time? I wasn’t sure if that would be okay, though.’

“Can you exert yourself a bit this time?”

Eulryeong Sword Queen decided to make a different choice.

Kugugugung.

At her words, the space behind her trembled. The area shook violently. From there, someone gradually walked out.

“Although I’d rather rest a bit longer.”

It was an old man with a large build. He was drenched in deep fatigue, his eyes clearly showing exhaustion.

“I’ve let you rest plenty. Please help with the work.”

Eulryeong Sword Queen was resolute.

“…Sigh. I guess I have no choice.”

The old man sighed at her words and replied.

‘The old man who had steeled himself. No.’

“Where do I need to go?”

The number one under heaven, Iron Blood Master, asked.

This was his first appearance in months, since his conflict with Lord Pae.