Chapter 948: Bow down.

Crack…

Dust and dirt kicked up.

The wind wasn’t blowing much, but this was artificially generated air pressure.

Crackle…

Cracks spread across the floor.

What started cracking slowly began to spread, endlessly.

The problem wasn’t just that it was cracking.

Saaaaaaah–!!!

The floor started to blacken and char.

And it started from the tips of one woman’s toes.

“You.”

Cheonma said, her violet eyes gleaming.

“Do you want to die?”

With every word she spat out, vibrations began.

Gugugugung-! They were shallow, but they didn’t stop, so people started reacting as they felt them.

“W-what is this?!”

“The ground is shaking…?”

“The, the noble has fallen…!”

Some felt anxious about the situation itself.

Others were panicking towards the fallen Cheongseon.

And then.

‘Oh, shit.’

Watching the situation unfold, I had to run a hand down my face.

Kugugugung-!!

Cheonma advanced, emitting dark energy.

At her appearance, I couldn’t help but swallow dryly.

Each step she took was heavy.

Her gaze, fixed ahead, was utterly emotionless.

She radiated a murderous aura, so I quickly braced my heart.

Thump-! It wildly pulsed, channeling energy into my body.

With that, I forcefully blocked the energy Cheonma was scattering.

If I’d left it unchecked, everyone nearby would have lost consciousness.

Managing to barely block the power like that.

‘…Damn.’

The power was stronger than I’d anticipated.

Tzereuzek–!!!

The energies clashed, creating friction.

I was merely blocking it from leaking out, but…

The intensity almost made me laugh hollowly.

Thanks to that, a forgotten fact hit me anew.

‘…Right.’

The woman I was watching was Cheonma.

The very Cheonma called the Absolute Being in my past life.

She seemed like a weakling in this life, but seeing her like this made it real.

‘I was too complacent.’

Because she had changed so much.

I had subconsciously thought of her as a completely different being, but seeing her like this, I knew that thought was wrong.

Kkigigig.

Cheonma kept walking, breaking through the energy.

Her destination was surely where the flung Cheongseon was.

“Keuheo… Heueok…”

As if to confirm it, Cheongseon staggered to his feet from where he’d collapsed.

His cheek was flushed red, indicating he’d been hit, and blood trickled from his mouth.

Moreover, his expression, showing no awareness of what had just happened, was truly a sight to behold.

“W-what… this is…”

He staggered as he got up.

Then, Cheongseon’s eyes widened in alarm as he saw Cheonma approaching him.

“What the hell…! You bitch, who are you…!”

“What did you say you’d do to my limbs?”

“What…?”

“What did you say you’d do to my limbs?”

Kkigigig.

‘Damn it all.’

With every word she uttered, the energy grew stronger.

It was becoming overwhelming just to block it.

“Kkeueuk…!”

Besides, no matter how much I blocked, Cheongseon, who was nearby, was definitely receiving that energy.

He started trembling violently.

His eyes held sheer terror.

The energy was potent enough to warrant it.

“Whose limbs….”

Even seeing that, Cheonma kept walking.

“What were you going to do…?”

She finally reached Cheongseon.

Saaaaaaah…!!

The energy flowing out gradually took shape.

Like dew forming, it took the shape of droplets.

The released energy piled up in the air.

It looked dangerous just by sight.

The moment I saw it, I gritted my teeth.

First, I lunged forward and hugged Cheonma from behind.

Wham-!

“…!”

As I embraced her, Cheonma’s body stiffened.

I could feel her energy wildly fluctuating.

“Are you crazy? What are you trying to do? I told you to stay put!”

Did I manage to stop her?

I added more words, but Cheonma remained still, not replying.

I think it’s having an effect.

The reason being, I could see the rising energy wavering.

Feeling the diminished energy, I slightly loosened my grip.

I gently let go. Thankfully, she didn’t move.

I then grabbed Cheonma’s wrist.

The touch was rather cold, too cold for a human.

I cautiously watched Cheonma, worried she might explode, but…

‘She seems alright?’

Unlike before, she was showing a somewhat calmer reaction.

“…”

I stared at her, then gently backed away while holding her hand. Thankfully, Cheonma followed obediently.

Managing to put some distance between Cheongseon and Cheonma like that.

“Kkeue… Keuheoheok…”

Cheongseon finally exhaled the breath he’d been holding.

I saw him gagging, but since he wasn’t spitting blood, it seemed…

his insides weren’t damaged.

“Y-you bastards… you bastards…!”

When I first saw him, he was dressed neatly and looked quite dashing.

Perhaps from taking a hit, his appearance was now a mess.

His long hair was disheveled, and his clothes were covered in dust and whatnot.

“I will never forgive you…. You, and you too…!”

“Hey, why me…?”

It was incredibly unfair that he blamed me even after I stopped her.

He seemed oblivious to what might have happened if I hadn’t intervened.

“What are you doing?! Seize those two at once…!”

Cheongseon shouted.

Only then did his guards seem to snap out of it, and I saw them starting to approach us.

“…Hmm….”

What should I do?

‘Should I run? Or fight?’

Escaping right now wouldn’t be too difficult.

However, thinking about what would happen afterward was a bit bothersome.

And beating them all up before leaving…

‘That’s not a good idea either.’

Dealing with them like I did with the White family would be too much.

‘No, I could do it if I wanted to, but…’

There’s just something holding me back.

So, what should I do?

Should I just ditch this?

I pondered deeply.

My eyes darted around as I fell into thought, when suddenly…

the sky caught my eye.

The sunset was fading fast; it looked like night would fall soon.

I stared intently at it, and then…

“Ah.”

Something occurred to me, and I nodded.

“That’s right. It is.”

A good idea struck me.

I immediately turned my head to Cheonma and said,

“Hey.”

“Hm?”

Cheonma’s attitude was much calmer now.

The only difference was that her cheeks were slightly flushed, perhaps from being so angry?

Since she had pale skin to begin with, it was more noticeable.

That much would probably fade with time, so I decided to ignore it.

“Listen carefully from now on.”

I whispered quietly and used my energy to send a telepathic message.

“…”

And Cheonma, having received the message, soon nodded.

“…F-from now on, we will apprehend the criminals who harmed the noble….”

Seeing the approaching figures, we calmly extended our arms.

Cheolgeok.

And just like that.

Shackles were naturally fastened onto us.

“I will never…. Never let this go.”

Finally, Cheongseon, clutching his cheek and trembling,…

…we were dragged away by their guards towards the Azure family.

---

The Azure family manor was located furthest from the street we were on.

It was practically at the very end of the city walls.

This was why, unlike the White or Black families, it was difficult to get a grasp on them.

‘It seems the biggest, though?’

Of the places I’d seen, the Azure seemed to possess the largest scale.

Not just its size, but the mansion itself looked a whole story taller.

I don’t know much about such things,

but if just looking at it felt wondrous, perhaps it was built with considerable care?

That thought crossed my mind.

However.

‘Putting aside its beauty, it looks like it would break easily.’

The building’s durability didn’t seem great.

It also felt like the interior was hollow.

Like it would crumble if you just tapped it.

‘Hmm.’

I kind of want to tap it just a little. A simple desire to break it welled up.

If I really had my way, I would have tapped it a few times.

‘Tsk.’

It was a shame I couldn’t, given the current situation.

“Follow properly-!”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

The soldier pulled, applying force to the shackles they’d placed on me.

I followed along limply.

‘Got bold right after putting on the shackles.’

As soon as they bound me and Cheonma, their attitude changed. Before, they treated us like bombs about to go off.

‘Are these shackles the problem?’

I had worn shackles like these before, back at the Black family’s place.

They said they were made of a special kind of stone, right? Apparently, they prevent you from using your energy properly or make your body go limp.

‘Indeed.’

As soon as I put them on, I felt issues both externally and internally.

They interfered with the flow of energy, and perhaps restricted muscle movement?

In any case, it felt overwhelmingly unpleasant, but…

‘It’s not entirely unbearable.’

I could break them anytime if I wanted, so it was just slightly bothersome.

After that, we walked for quite a while, looking around the premises.

It took a long time before we arrived at a certain space.

Kkiiik.

As soon as the door opened, a damp aura and a musty smell hit my nose.

Seeing only iron bars filling the inside, it seemed like a place for imprisoning criminals.

“…”

Looking at it, I couldn’t help but lick my lips.

‘It feels like I come here often.’

Since arriving in Mangye, this is a space I’ve seen quite a bit.

Due to things that happened in my past life, I’m not too fond of coming to prison, but…

‘Can’t be helped.’

It wasn’t the time to be picky about things, so I obediently entered.

Ah, not obediently. The soldiers shoved us into the prison as if throwing us.

“The judgment will come shortly. Until then, stay put quietly.”

At the annoyed tone, I chuckled and replied,

“I’ll try my best.”

“Ppudeuk.”

At my words, the soldier clenched their lips.

I tried being nice, and look at that reaction?

Unbelievable.

‘Their attitude has completely changed.’

Or rather, their entire disposition seems to have changed.

Much rougher and fiercer than during the day.

This doesn’t seem to be just because we were captured as criminals…

‘Is it because it’s night?’

The moon had risen now. That’s probably why, I guessed.

‘They said the Moonlit Tribe gets stronger at night.’

Increased regeneration and strength.

If their disposition also becomes more savage along with that, it fits perfectly.

“The Young Master will find you soon.”

“Then tell him to come quickly….”

Bang.

The soldier left without even hearing me out.

“They’re quite impatient.”

Still wearing the shackles, I awkwardly scratched my head and looked beside me.

Cheonma was already lying on the floor, rolling around.

“…”

Why does she look so comfortable?

“…Hey. What are you doing?”

“Hm?”

At my question, Cheonma tilted her head.

“Why?”

“Not ‘why.’ What are you doing? Do you even know who got us here?”

“Who got us here?”

“You! Who else?”

If she hadn’t just gone and punched Cheongseon, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

Of course.

‘If Cheonma hadn’t hit him, I probably would have.’

Bringing that up would only hurt me, so I decided to keep quiet for now.

“You couldn’t stay put and caused this whole mess?”

“…”

At my words, Cheonma pursed her lips.

“He spoke strangely.”

“What did he say strangely?”

Honestly, he did speak like a total jerk, but I don’t recall him saying anything that warranted Cheonma intervening like that.

“He said he’d cut off my limbs.”

“That was directed at me, not you. You idiot.”

“Yeah, so.”

“…”

Cheonma said that so calmly, my jaw dropped for a moment.

What she meant was…

Did she just run over and slap him because he insulted me?

“…What are you talking about.”

I couldn’t comprehend it at all, so I shook my head.

“Why did you step in for that?”

“…”

“What makes you so special?”

“No….”

“Then, if anyone’s going to get angry, it’s me. You shouldn’t have interfered.”

I’d felt this even before coming to Mangye.

That Cheonma is somehow strange.

It was the same with Hyulma.

She kept intervening in matters related to me with unusual frequency.

It made me uncomfortable, and frankly, annoyed.

“Besides, if you’re going to interfere and ruin everything, just stay put. Or get lost.”

“…”

Hearing my words, Cheonma mumbled with her lips.

She seemed to have a lot she wanted to say, but couldn’t find the words.

“Tsk.”

Watching her, I shifted my gaze.

The situation was stifling, and my arms felt constricted too.

‘Should I just break free?’

The shackles were quite bothersome, so I considered breaking them, but decided to endure for now.

I sat still and closed my eyes.

‘How long will it take?’

Just how long until the person I’m waiting for arrives?

As I pondered this with my eyes closed for a moment…

Kkirik.

Before I could even finish thinking, a sound came from the door.

Hearing it, I opened my eyes.

At that moment.

“Hello?”

Someone opened the prison door and walked in.

“It’s been a while.”

Hearing the cheerful voice, I looked at the person.

“Perhaps. Do you need my help?”

The young man who appeared was none other than Mongmong… no, Yusa.

The current ruler of Yaseong City, and the person I had been waiting for.