Chapter 599: North Sea. (Revised)

“Why aren’t you going?”

My silence lingered at the question asked with such bright innocence, as if they truly didn’t know.

Perhaps it was due to facing such a sudden situation. I found myself without anything to say.

‘What the hell.’

Why is that person here?

I hadn’t even told anyone, intending to slip away quietly.

How did they end up here out of the blue?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind.

Especially now, it was a time I wanted to avoid running into them even more.

‘Because I just sold out that old geezer right before this….’

The ‘things’ I did against the First Horseman came to mind, making it difficult to look at Paejon.

If, later on, they found out I’d used their name to do something…

‘It wouldn’t end with just being folded in half.’

They could rip off my limbs, disciple or whatever, and scatter them into different rivers.

That person would absolutely do that and more.

As I recalled that, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Paejon, seeing my silence, asked.

“Why are you like that? You look like someone caught stealing.”

“…What are you talking about? When did I ever steal anything?”

Their intuition was annoyingly sharp.

“That’s exactly what’s strange–.”

“When did you two decide to become sworn brothers?”

“Right? Haha.”

At Moyong Hi-ah’s interruption, Paejon quickly changed his words.

“Hahaha! Must be the morning; my tongue is acting up.”

“…”

I thought his attempt to cover up afterward was pathetic.

Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud.

“Um, Young Master Bi.”

-Elder.

“Yes.”

-Why, you punk.

“Are you planning to go together?”

-Why would an old geezer like me want to follow you here? Stay put in your house.

“Doesn’t it look interesting? I could be helpful, so please take me along.”

-Shut up and take me.

-If you don’t want to die.

“…”

“Haha.”

I could feel all their hidden intentions in that brief exchange.

Especially that last remark felt particularly chilling.

I could sense Paejon’s determination not to let me go.

If it were up to me, I’d just abandon them and leave.

‘They’re not someone you can just abandon.’

It would take everyone here working together just to barely push them away.

And even if we could push them away, that would be the best-case scenario.

‘In the process….’

My gaze flickered towards Tang Xiaoye and Moyong Hi-ah.

‘I don’t know what that person might do to those two.’

You might think, ‘But they’re your master, why don’t you trust them?’

‘No. Why would I?’

If you were to pick someone in the current Central Plains who knows Paejon well, I’d be among the top ten.

That person sees nothing beyond martial arts.

Even I, used as a disciple, am merely a launchpad for their romantic notions.

Just someone in a righteous sect because they couldn’t be bothered to leave.

That was the Paejon I knew.

“Hoo…”

I let out a quiet sigh.

Since Paejon had decided, there was no escape.

“You absolutely must… behave yourself?”

-Please don’t cause any trouble.

“Living and living, to hear such a warning from Young Master Gu is quite novel?”

-That’s not something I should be hearing from you.

-Are you defying me?

‘…’

Ending the conversation that yielded nothing useful, I clicked my tongue and looked straight ahead.

“…Let’s get going soon.”

Just thinking about going with that person made my head throb already.

What could I do? It was all my karma.

To think the person I chose as my master was someone like that.

My life truly was incredibly unlucky.

Hiding my irritation, I nudged Ttolttol-i.

“Hey, move as fast as possib-“

“Um, excuse me….”

I frowned sharply at the voice from behind.

It was Yuri who spoke.

“What now?”

“If… if we go. How… how are we going…?”

It’s good that we’re riding it, but… Yuri’s eyes trembled, seemingly unsure how we would travel now.

From the looks of it, they seemed to have already guessed.

It seemed they asked hoping their guess was wrong.

Seeing that, I said with a smile.

“Haha, what? Are you perhaps worried we might fly?”

At my smiling words, a glimmer of hope appeared on Yuri’s face.

“Right? Flying through the sky, that’s truly an absurd delusion. There’s no way something like that-“

“Correct. You’re smarter than I thought.”

Thump-.

Without waiting for Yuri to finish, I nudged Ttolttol-i with my foot.

And then.

Whoooosh–!!!

The creature moved its massive body and shot up into the air.

“Kyaaaaaaaah—–!!!”

The sudden jolt caused Yuri to cling tightly to my back, screaming.

It was quite noisy.

Wind brushed against my face.

The speed was still something I couldn’t get used to.

As Ttolttol-i barely stabilized the recoil and assumed a forward-facing posture.

Only then did the scenery unfold before my eyes.

It was scenery I still couldn’t adapt to.

The lands of the Central Plains spread out wide beneath the clouds.

The wind brushing my cheeks and the cool sensation, unbelievable for summer.

‘Not bad.’

It was one of the few sensations I enjoyed in my current life.

Of course.

“Ughhhhh…!!! We’re flying! This is insane, what is thisaaaaaa!!!”

Though the person behind me seemed utterly disgusted.

Grrr-!

Ttolttol-i gradually increased its speed.

Because I had told it to go as fast as possible.

At the same time, I erected a protective barrier in front.

The wind was strong, so I had to block it to prevent falling.

‘At this speed. How long will it take?’

I couldn’t calculate precisely without knowing the distance, but roughly, a month would be needed for the round trip.

It would be faster if we could fly continuously, but that wasn’t possible.

At the very least, we had to rest once every three days.

That’s the time calculated based on that.

So.

‘That means I have a little less than a month to resolve the issue.’

Since I had to return within two months.

It meant everything had to be finished within that timeframe.

Will it be possible?

I don’t know.

But I had to do it.

This was something I started with that mindset.

Just as I was steeling myself and organizing the plan step by step.

“Ugh…. I think I’m going to vomit….”

“…”

I closed my eyes at the voice from behind.

Should I knock them out? The impulse struck again, but I had to resist.

Because dealing with someone unconscious here seemed more troublesome.

‘…We’ll get there eventually if we keep going.’

As always. If you endure, things tend to resolve themselves.

I spent time thinking that way.

Fortunately, we arrived at our destination earlier than expected.

One day, seven days and nights later.

We had arrived at the North Sea.

---

We passed mountains and crossed seas.

If I were to recount everything that happened, the stories could fill the night, but…

It was still too complicated a time to bring them up.

This wasn’t exactly an easy journey.

I had expected it, but it was vastly different from traveling by carriage.

The speed was tens of times faster, but the biggest issue was fatigue.

Since we couldn’t sleep properly day or night, we had to stay awake.

It wasn’t that someone had to stand guard; everyone had to remain alert, doubling the accumulated fatigue.

While we called it a rest for Ttolttol-i once every three days, seeing as it was long-distance, it became a rest for us too.

The speed was good, but personally, it was an experience I wouldn’t want to repeat.

If we had traveled with more leeway, it might have been fine, but the rushed pace made it particularly grueling.

Even with a body that had reached the Hwajing realm, it was this taxing.

“…Ugh….”

Yuri, who was only at the first-rate level, looked miserable every day.

They seemed to be trying not to show their hardship, but…

It wasn’t at a level that could be hidden.

At least they didn’t whine about being tired, which was good.

‘They probably have nothing to say.’

After all, I was taking them directly to the Ice Palace, which was in chaos due to the commission.

What reason would Yuri have to complain?

They just had to keep quiet and follow obediently.

If they had whined throughout the journey, even slightly.

‘I would have abandoned them right there.’

Whether it was mountains or seas, I would have truly thrown them away.

Since they didn’t, I let it slide.

‘Still, the fortunate thing is…’

Whoosh-!

Feeling the wind brush my cheeks, I frowned.

It was such cold wind.

An unusually chilly aura for summer.

Feeling this, I slowly lowered our altitude.

As we did, clouds brushed past, slowly revealing the view.

On the day that marked seven days and nights since departing the Central Plains.

We had arrived at the outer martial world, the North Sea.

It was an earlier arrival than I had expected.

“Wow…”

Tang Xiaoye exclaimed in admiration at the revealed sight.

Snow was falling all around.

Snow in the middle of summer.

It was such an alien sight.

And below?

Piles of snow covered the ground completely.

The mountains visible here and there…. Perhaps, are they entirely ice?

‘They said it was a wondrous sight to people from the Central Plains.’

That saying was spot on.

When it’s this alien, how could it not be wondrous?

The land stretching out far into the distance.

In the scenery visible so far away, there wasn’t a single spot where snow wasn’t falling.

Everything was white.

A strange sensation emanated from the sight.

It was certainly a beautiful scene, yet…

‘Something feels unsettling and unpleasant.’

Could it be the motion sickness I wasn’t getting from flying so much?

‘Tsk.’

I tried to ignore it and scanned the surroundings.

As I did, I asked Yuri behind me.

“Hey, where do we need to go?”

“Ah…”

At my words, Yuri seemed to snap back to attention.

I had initiated the departure, but Yuri was guiding the direction.

“You said there was a safe location.”

“F-from here…. W-we need to go west.”

Grrr-.

Hearing this, Ttolttol-i turned in the indicated direction.

“If you go west, you’ll find a large ice mountain. Warriors will be waiting there….”

Yuri, who had looked half-dead for days, seemed to regain some vitality now that we were back in the North Sea.

Their stammering speech was gone, and their eyes held a spark.

After five days, they were practically no different from a corpse.

‘A large ice mountain.’

Was it there that the Ice Palace’s army was stationed?

Hearing this, I asked Yuri.

“How did they know when we’d arrive to be waiting there?”

“I made sure they would maintain their position until I returned.”

“…For a period that could last months?”

How could they possibly know when Yuri would return to keep waiting?

Especially now, when it’s wartime.

“…I ensured the hiding place would never be discovered. We also stocked it with enough food and supplies to last half a year.”

“Half a year. So that was the limit.”

“…Yes.”

Half a year until the Young Princess who left for the Central Plains returned.

It means they were enduring and holding out for that time.

This means…

‘The Young Princess’s role was that crucial.’

And also.

Even with the rebellion having occurred.

‘There was confidence they could hold out for half a year.’

That seems like the correct assumption.

We slowed our speed slightly as we moved.

Partly to find the location.

Because as soon as we entered the North Sea, I had placed a protective barrier around Ttolttol-i.

It was to make its presence less conspicuous.

This guy is quite large; moving carelessly risked detection.

As we were moving like that.

“It’s over there.”

Yuri pointed towards a spot.

Just as she said, compared to the surroundings, a large ice mountain came into view.

Grrr.

Upon confirming it, we immediately descended.

Whooosh-!

As Ttolttol-i landed on the ground, wind mixed with snow billowed out.

This time, at least, it landed obediently.

After being nagged so much, it finally felt like it was listening a bit.

Thump.

As I stepped onto the ground, my leg sank in deeply.

Meaning, a considerable amount of snow had accumulated.

Grrr….

Ttolttol-i gave a short growl, then gradually began shrinking its body.

Dozens of times smaller than its original size.

It seemed a bit tired from using so much energy.

“Rest around here somewhere.”

Grrr.

Hearing the command, Ttolttol-i flew off somewhere and disappeared.

I’d heard there were demonic beasts in the North Sea too, so it would likely pass the time on its own.

Leaving it like this, I could just summon it later when needed.

I channeled energy into my legs.

And took another step.

This time, my foot didn’t sink into the snow but landed on top of it.

It felt like stepping on solid ground.

This was to avoid leaving footprints in the snow.

Not to mention Paejon and Tang Xiaoye. Seong-yul was already doing it discreetly.

Seeing that, I used my energy to send it to Yuri.

Vwoom-!

“…!”

Yuri’s body floated up.

I had intentionally lifted them with my energy.

Caught off guard, Yuri clamped a hand over their mouth.

It seemed they were about to scream.

It was a method beyond the capabilities of a first-rate level, so I had to do it this way.

‘I didn’t want to carry them directly.’

Yuri probably understood the situation too, which is why they remained silent without uttering a word.

As expected, they were perceptive.

Swish.

Yuri pointed somewhere with a finger.

Seeing that, I nodded.

Are they telling me to go that way?

We slowly walked in the direction Yuri indicated.

After walking about five hundred steps, we reached the large ice wall we had seen earlier.

Upon arrival, Yuri extended their right hand and pointed forward repeatedly with their left index finger.

Are they telling me to send them forward?

Acting on the implied intent, I sent Yuri forward.

Yuri approached the wall and placed their right hand on it.

Then.

Wooooong—!!!

The ice wall reacted.

A slight vibration. And a faint light emanated.

As I watched for a moment, wondering what it was.

Grrrrd-!

The wall’s surface moved, creating an opening.

A square-shaped space.

I knew it instantly.

‘An entrance.’

That what lay before my eyes was an entrance.

I stepped forward without hesitation.

Thud.

As my foot landed, a resonance occurred.

I walked slowly along the passage.

It wasn’t very long.

As I was able to exit the passage shortly after.

Exiting the passage, I arrived in a certain space.

A large, circular space.

A few crates were visible, and the warmth I felt from the passage seemed to intensify.

Still, it was just as cold as the Central Plains.

Moreover.

“Ah!”

“Young Princess…?!”

Two figures already inside came into view.

Upon spotting us, the men immediately got to their feet.

Looking at their attire, I thought.

‘Fur coats.’

Fur coats meant to withstand the cold.

On top of that, they wore something peculiar, like processed iron layered over it.

Perhaps an appearance that was somewhat cumbersome for using martial arts.

While I was observing this.

“They are warriors from our palace.”

Yuri relayed to me.

Their tone was full of relief.

At those words, I carefully lowered Yuri.

“The Young Princess has arrived….”

“It’s such a relief. Is the Young Princess injured anywhere?”

As the warriors slowly approached, Yuri spoke upon seeing them.

“I’m alright…. Fortunately, the task I intended to accomplish went well. How is the Palace Lord?”

“The Palace Lord…”

One of the men identified as a warrior wore a crestfallen expression.

“…Their condition is not very good.”

“What…!”

At the warrior’s words, Yuri’s expression crumpled.

Following that, Yuri, looking urgent, asked the warrior.

“But the deadline hasn’t passed yet…! What happened?”

“Well that is…”

“First, rather than explaining, it seems you must return to the palace immediately.”

“Ah….”

With a somber voice, Yuri continued, looking at me.

However.

“I apologize…. It seems like an urgent situation right now. We must escort you lords to the palace first…”

I wasn’t listening to those words.

I merely nodded and looked at the men.

At that, Yuri slightly furrowed their brow.

“Um, the red flag…”

“What shall we do about one of them?”

Just as Yuri was about to speak to me, Paejon interjected.

Hearing that, I said to Paejon.

“Are you planning to step in?”

“Mm, my body was feeling stiff anyway, so I’ll help.”

“Then the left. It seems easier to question that one over there.”

“Right, I figured as much.”

“Um, what are you two talking about….”

Yuri, overhearing the conversation, expressed confusion.

At that moment.

Whoosh-!

I darted towards the warriors.

“Gasp!?”

“What the–!”

The men, startled, tried to draw their weapons, but…

It was too late.

I grabbed the neck of the one on the right.

Crackle-!

“Gurgle…!”

And twisted.

Thump-!

The man whose neck was twisted fell heavily to the ground.

Instant death.

I glanced to the left.

The other one had apparently already been subdued by Paejon.

Paejon was holding the unconscious man by the collar.

The situation unfolded in the blink of an eye.

Seeing this, Yuri’s eyes widened, and they shouted.

“W-what are you doing!? Why are you attacking the warriors…!”

“Warriors my ass.”

I looked at Yuri like that.

“Do these guys still look like your warriors?”

“Huh?”

Yuri reacted as if they didn’t understand.

Seeing that, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

They said the hiding place would never be discovered, but ‘never discovered’? What a load of crap.

Irritation surged.

To arrive all the way in the North Sea only to witness this mess made my insides churn.

Tap, tap.

Tapping the dead man with my toe, I said to Yuri.

“These guys.”

These guys.

“Are enemies.”

They weren’t on our side.