Chapter 920: So in the end.

I looked up at the sky.

The sun was setting, and the sunset was gradually consuming the sky.

I felt it last time too, but time was passing so slowly.

It should have already turned to night, but seeing the sunset now, I could really feel it.

‘So, for night to arrive….’

I estimate it’ll take about two shijin? Around that much, I think.

Only then would night arrive.

So, I was checking some information before the moon rose.

As I did, there were things I learned.

-Volcano? Where is that?

-I think I’ve heard of it…. Was there such a place?

And the fact that most people didn’t even know where this place called Volcano was.

-Ah, you know. The swordsmen who work as mercenaries.

-Ah… those half-wits….

-Hey!

Even if they had heard of it, they didn’t think much of it.

‘Mercenaries?’

It felt strange somehow, so I looked into it as well.

Then, one of my lingering questions was answered.

-What, mercenaries? What are mercenaries?

-Where are you from, asking that?

The people who were looking at me suspiciously for a moment nodded as if they understood something after seeing the clothes I wore.

-Ah… you must be from that Volcano thing too.

When I asked how they knew, a man with deer-like ears replied as if asking ‘what are you talking about?’.

-In Yawoolgung, only people from Volcano wear clothes like yours.

I understood that part, but I wondered what that had to do with them figuring me out.

I asked about that too.

-Well, that place is also where most mercenaries in Yawool work, so I thought you were another newbie who came looking. Aren’t you?

I said that was correct for now.

Then the man pointed somewhere.

It was a large building visible in the distance. It was four stories high and, as expected, the architecture was somewhat different from that of the Central Plains.

Seeing it, I approached that way.

Without entering or getting close, I examined the building itself while hiding my presence.

I could feel several presences inside.

I focused on grasping them bit by bit, using all my senses. Among them, I wrapped my energy around my hearing.

-The job this time too….

• Sahyung, that part….

-Next time, we should also speak to the Sect Leader….

Hearing that much, I withdrew my senses. There was no need to listen further.

‘That’s it.’

Just from the short conversation, I could tell they were disciples of the second generation doing other work.

What were they doing?

If it were up to me, I wanted to find out more, but.

‘For now, I know the location.’

That was enough for now. After finishing my assessment, I turned my back.

I leaped briefly and climbed onto the top of the tall building.

Beyond the brightly spread view, the appearance of Yawoolgung came into sight.

“Hmm.”

I gained various things besides the recognition and information about the Volcano Sect.

First of all.

-This place is ruled by a guy called Yu Sa (劉死) among the Generals.

Under the Lord of Man-gye, there are a total of four Generals, and each has their own nation.

And the guy named Yu Sa is in charge of Yawoolgung.

Under him, there are four families called nobles.

These were families composed of White, Blue, Gold, and Black.

Among these, White was the one that guy named Baek-ul, whom I met earlier, belonged to.

He was in charge of partial troops of Yawoolgung and a few commercial districts, wasn’t he?

‘So that’s why they contract with Volcano to supply foodstuff periodically.’

This guy Baek-ul used this to pull off some bullshit.

Even though the contracted amount was already paid, he said they wouldn’t send it unless more was paid on the day, right?

Naturally, it was something that shouldn’t have happened normally, and enough to argue about.

‘That guy Baek-ul seemed to intend that, actually.’

‘Argue if you want. If you wish to cancel the contract, I’ll even pay the penalty.’

‘Go ahead and try whatever you want,’ his attitude was exactly like that.

It was as if he preferred the contract to be canceled?

And.

‘That guy Gu-bong too.’

It bothers me that I called him Heukya. Doesn’t it seem like they know each other?

‘Looking at it that way, it seems like there’s something going on….’

What’s the connection between the two? This part wasn’t particularly important, so I didn’t delve deep.

After all, if I wanted to, I could just torture Gu-bong later to get the information, so it shouldn’t be that difficult.

What’s important here is.

‘Why do they have to procure foodstuffs specifically from that White family.’

Judging by that alone, Noy’s Volcano seemed quite out of favor.

The reason they were struggling, unable to break the contract despite enduring such insults from that guy Baek-ul, seemed to be due to that as well.

At least they were given a contract here.

This means they couldn’t even consider trading with other places….

‘Hmm….’

I narrowed my eyes and racked my brain.

‘What should I do.’

If it were up to me, I just wanted to do things halfway, but.

‘It seems Noy knew all this and sent me.’

The person who threw me out here saying ‘go see for yourself and think about it’ probably sent me knowing this to some extent.

Also.

‘It’s not just about looking.’

‘Might as well earn your keep while you’re out.’

Such an intention was strongly felt.

It’s a delusion, but I’m half convinced.

‘Shin Noy cannot enter other castles. That part was strange from the start.’

Because of that, Noy wouldn’t know anything? Gu-bong’s words still seem ridiculous when I think about it.

‘There’s no way he wouldn’t know.’

Noy must know. Or perhaps he sent me because he anticipated this.

To report the situation in his stead. Or.

‘To solve it.’

It was truly a cunning wish.

And I, who am doing this because I agreed to it.

‘But I’m sorry, but….’

Looking at the houses sparkling under the sunset and the numerous people, I thought.

‘Solving it seems difficult?’

It’s too much to do something right away.

It’s not like it’s nothing; the aftermath of smashing that guy Baek-ul must still be around.

I glanced towards the entrance of the castle and chuckled.

‘It’s not just ‘around’. It’s already happening.’

The place they had entered. An anomaly was visible there.

-Stop! Entry is forbidden from now on!

The guards stopped people who were moving freely.

Perhaps it’s to prevent people from Volcano from taking the foodstuffs? I judged so.

It could be for other reasons, but who knows?

Swoosh.

I got up.

‘Well then.’

How should I approach this?

Should I just leave it be? That doesn’t seem too difficult.

Even if I just returned to Noy’s Volcano and reported what I saw, there wouldn’t be much of a problem, but.

‘I do bear some responsibility.’

Even though Gu-bong’s words were shitty, if I had really endured it, nothing would have happened.

So, it feels a bit off to just ignore it completely.

‘Hmm.’

Just as I was standing still, contemplating a method.

-Get out of the way!

A sound came from the east.

-It’s a family movement! Make way-!!

Shifting my gaze, I saw several people moving in a group.

Counting the numbers, about six.

They weren’t riding carriages or horses. They simply walked the path.

Their destination, directionally speaking….

‘Seems to be where the Volcano Sect is.’

The old building in the corner of that alley. It was the place where the disciples of the Volcano Sect used to gather.

Flap-!

The banner the group was carrying. I focused my gaze on it.

‘That symbol.’

A fang-shaped symbol painted in white.

I wondered where I’d seen it before, and it was the same symbol drawn on the clothes that guy Baek-ul was wearing.

Recognizing this, I looked at the figure walking at the front.

It was a white-haired man with a huge build.

Rough muscles, and ears and a tail protruding from his ears. It was the same as what Baek-ul had.

The difference was.

‘It’s just on a different level?’

Compared to the presence that guy Baek-ul had, the difference between him and this person was like heaven and earth.

Of course, even compared to Gu-bong.

The quality was just different.

‘He’s one of the few I’d count among those I’ve seen since coming here.’

It’s a bit funny to say.

You might ask how much I’ve seen to make such a judgment… but it meant he was that formidable.

And.

‘Is that him?’

For starters, similar to Baek-ul, but with a much greater presence.

And the aura he exuded, even the subtle momentum.

A considerably high-ranking figure in the White family.

I suspected he might even be the head of the family.

‘For someone like that to move in that direction….’

His intentions are obvious.

The situation Gu-bong worried about, and the one I secretly hoped for, must be unfolding.

‘Hmm.’

Seeing such a situation, I nodded.

Now, what should I really do?

‘Just show up recklessly?’

That seems a bit risky.

Even that guy Baek-ul… I haven’t properly confirmed the potential impact if I mess with that guy too.

No matter how bad-tempered I am, directly confronting him again in this situation could be dangerous.

More importantly.

‘I’m just wearing Volcano’s clothes. I’m not part of the Volcano Sect.’

Intervening further as Volcano would cause problems.

‘In that case….’

After pondering for a moment, I opened my eyes wide.

‘Isn’t it fine if I’m not Volcano?’

If I’m not from the Volcano Sect, that’s enough.

And also.

‘A third party that nobody knows.’

Wouldn’t that be enough?

Having thought that far, I chuckled and reached into my pocket.

It felt like it would be fun for the first time in a while.

---

“Is this it?”

The head of the White family. Baek-wol stopped his steps in front of an alley.

At his words, a servant standing behind him nodded with a tense expression.

“…That’s right. I heard they are often sighted here.”

“Hmm.”

Hearing this, Baek-wol smiled, revealing his fangs.

Disgust welled up the moment I saw it. It was a dark and murky alley.

Not only was it messy everywhere, but insects were visible through the gaps in the collapsed walls.

It’s ugly and disgusting.

It’s the perfect place for scum to stay. Baek-wol slowly moved his steps towards such a place.

The scoundrels were here.

Unlike the one I serve, they were incompetent and ugly half-breeds.

‘Disgusting things.’

It was utterly laughable to Baek-wol that these beings, lacking in power and potential, dared to touch his bloodline.

That the scum, not knowing their place, had touched the noble bloodline.

And even his own foolish child, who fell defeated by that scum.

‘I need to change my thinking a bit.’

As the eldest, I was considering preparing to hand over my position soon, but seeing this changed my mind slightly.

If they could be defeated by such lowly beings, it seemed better to give the position to another child.

It must be so.

Only then will we not provoke the General’s displeasure.

Baek-wol recalled that and reached out to the alley wall, casually touching it with his fingers.

Kwaduduk-!

His fingertips penetrated the wall as if it were nothing.

Kwagagagag–!!

As he walked on, five lines were drawn on the wall.

The shape was like a beast scratching fiercely.

This was also Baek-wol’s way of expressing his anger.

The figures behind him trembled in fear watching Baek-wol like that.

Because when their master showed such a demeanor, an entire group had been torn to shreds like horses and disappeared that very day.

Something would surely meet the same fate and die today.

And that would likely be the people from Volcano.

The servants were convinced of that.

“…Hmm?”

Baek-wol suddenly stopped in the middle of the alley.

At the same time, he retracted the hand that was scratching the wall.

“Who’s there.”

Baek-wol’s blue eyes looked straight ahead.

It was strangely dark. It felt so alien.

The space, which should have gradually darkened, was suddenly pitch black as if a line had been drawn.

It wasn’t as if light couldn’t reach that far, so what on earth was that?

Despite the strange situation, Baek-wol simply laughed ferociously.

“What pathetic fooling around.”

Grrr.

A low beastly growl came from Baek-wol’s mouth.

“Is it Volcano? Are you guys from Volcano?”

As if already convinced, Baek-wol’s blue eyes emitted light.

“Do you know who I am to block my path? Show yourself at once.”

He clenched his fist tightly, as if intending to destroy everything.

Baek-wol, having built up his momentum, spoke towards the darkness again, but.

“I am the head of the White family. Baek….”

[Silence.]

“…!”

With the voice heard from the darkness, Baek-wol’s mouth snapped shut for an instant.

It wasn’t his will. Baek-wol panicked and touched his own mouth. What had happened?

The moment Baek-wol was about to panic.

[I was enjoying the silence. Stop chattering noisily.]

Thump.

Along with the following voice, someone revealed themselves from the darkness.

[I don’t care who you are.]

Baek-wol frowned as he looked at him.

He wasn’t from Volcano.

His clothes weren’t what they wore.

They were pitch-black clothes, uncolored by any hue.

His long black hair, along with the black ears and tail attached to his head, indicated he was of the Wolya tribe.

Through the cracked mask, only his violet eyes shone.

Seeing that, Baek-wol spoke, wiping the smile off his face.

“…Who the hell are you….”

The composure from earlier disappeared.

It couldn’t be helped. From that person….

‘What is this? I feel absolutely nothing.’

It was astonishingly devoid of any sensation.

Is it possible to be this colorless and odorless?

As Baek-wol thought that, his face gradually contorted.

[I am the darkness born of the heavens and the son of Man-gye.]

The fellow said.

[I am Cheonma (天魔).]

Hearing those words, Baek-wol’s eyes flared with fighting spirit.