Chapter 975: Lost Soul.

Blackened, scorched hair. A white mask worn. Dark gray clothes resembling the hair.

Quite a tall height with muscles that looked ready to burst.

Along with a faintly emanating dangerous aura.

“…”

Heuksaek couldn’t say anything while looking at the man in his room.

‘Seriously.’

The more I look, the stranger it gets.

It felt like I was being sucked into those violet eyes looking at me.

‘…It’s like they absorb light….’

As if absorbing the surrounding light and spewing darkness.

Only the area near the man looked particularly dark.

What should I call this feeling?

Alienation. Disconnect. The words wouldn’t come to mind properly.

So, Heuksaek tried hard to recall it, breaking through.

‘Ah.’

Before long, one word lodged itself in his mind.

‘Discomfort.’

It’s uncomfortable.

Just by being in front of that existence. It was so uncomfortable. And also.

‘Ominous.’

It was ominous.

Just seeing it made such feelings surge.

Heuksaek spoke, trying hard to suppress those feelings.

“…Since when have you been here?”

[It hasn’t been long, so don’t worry.]

As he spoke, the man naturally pulled out a chair and sat down.

Another person sat casually in the seat meant for the leader.

Seeing that, Heuksaek didn’t say anything particular.

One reason was that the man looked too natural to say anything about it.

Another cause was that his mouth strangely wouldn’t open.

Afterward, the man sitting quietly in the chair.

[So.]

Suddenly looked at Heuksaek and started speaking.

[How was it?]

“…”

A subtle voice.

Heuksaek frowned at the voice.

Did he perhaps not realize where this was? This place was his territory, not somewhere else.

It was a place even other leaders wouldn’t carelessly come to.

Even though the reason they didn’t often leave their own territories was related to this place.

‘How bold.’

Truly, extremely bold.

‘Is he confident?’

Does he mean he can win anytime, even after entering my territory?

Heuksaek narrowed his eyes and looked at the guy.

Dead eyes that seemed to mean nothing.

Nothing could be felt, yet an unusual brilliance was visible.

As if consuming darkness and emitting light.

His eyes were strangely burdensome.

What could be the reason for such boldness? Heuksaek racked his brain to figure it out.

‘Right, the place where Cheongsaek was defeated was also my territory.’

When recalling that. Even if this is currently inside my territory.

‘It must be proof of just how confident he is.’

That man can kill me anytime if he wants. Isn’t that because he possesses such confidence?

Furthermore.

‘It’s a sensation I haven’t even felt from the General.’

It was a sensation not even felt from General Yusa, one of the four rulers and a strong one of the Man-gye.

Should I call it distant?

Or perhaps numb? This too was an indescribable sensation.

While Yusa felt ferocity and the fear of being devoured if things went wrong.

From the man, nothing could be felt. A feeling like he wasn’t there, even though he was right in front.

The discomfort stemming from that strange feeling was relentlessly tightening its grip on Heuksaek’s throat.

‘…Just what…’

Is his identity? What is that person’s identity?

Why is he doing this? It was a series of incomprehensible events.

Just as Heuksaek frowned, recalling that.

[Can you not hear Bonjwa’s words?]

“…!”

The man asked.

[I asked how it was. Didn’t I?]

Hearing the words, Heuksaek stiffened slightly. Because a subtle anger was permeating the man’s voice.

As soon as he felt that, his body reacted on its own.

Dangerous.

The being in front is a dangerous being.

His instincts kept warning him of that.

[Hmm.]

Since there was no answer, the man tilted his head.

Afterward, the moment he tried to slowly rise.

“…I did as you said.”

Heuksaek said to the man.

Hearing that, the man settled back into the chair.

[You did as Bonjwa said?]

“Yes. Just as you said….”

Heuksaek paused silently, chose his words, and said to him.

“…At the banquet, I told the General. That you have a purpose. And that you would go find other leaders to achieve that purpose…”

[You said to use that?]

“Yes.”

Hearing Heuksaek’s words, the man let out a short chuckle.

What was so funny? Heuksaek frowned slightly at the sight, but.

[I see.]

The man quickly wiped the smile away.

Tap tap. Fingertips tapped the desk. His gaze was momentarily drawn there, but.

[You followed Bonjwa’s words. Correct?]

“…”

At the man’s subsequent words, Heuksaek could only bite his lip.

[Does that mean it’s safe to assume you want to get on board?]

At the laughter-mixed tone, Heuksaek’s frown deepened immensely.

“…That…”

[It’s too late to say no. You know that well, don’t you?]

Grind.

He cut in. He was getting angry, but couldn’t think of a rebuttal.

[How about it. Are you coming to your senses?]

“…Just what is your purpose?”

[Hm?]

Finally, Heuksaek asked.

“Who are you, and what exactly are you trying to do?”

Heuksaek recalled the time this man had come looking for him before he went to the banquet.

Quietly. Without anyone noticing.

Looking at the man who had somehow entered the room, Heuksaek couldn’t react at all.

There wasn’t even time to react. Not only had his back already been grabbed.

What was even more surprising was.

[Well. If I’m to tell that story.]

The man said, looking at Heuksaek.

[Sit down first.]

“…!”

Clatter-! Heuksaek’s moving body sat down in the chair on its own.

Feeling this, Heuksaek was aghast.

It’s just like back then.

‘…A command…!’

An absolute power that only those of General rank or higher in the Man-gye could use.

It was a power akin to authority, directly touching the soul to make it obey.

‘This guy…!’

Just like back then. The man in front was using commands casually.

It was surprising that he used it, but being able to use it.

‘Means this being is at least General rank or higher.’

It meant he was a General, at minimum. Furthermore.

‘…Could there be a case where he’s higher than that?’

The possibility of this being being higher than the General was impossible.

In the end, it concluded that he was the same level as the General.

‘…Indeed.’

A question arose in Heuksaek’s mind.

Then what about Yusa’s reaction at the banquet?

‘Why.’

Why did he show that reaction?

Yusa’s reaction didn’t make sense.

It couldn’t be just that he was flustered meeting another General-level being. Because his gaze was strangely different.

As Heuksaek was becoming somewhat confused, recalling that.

[Bonjwa knows what you want.]

The man says to Heuksaek.

[As I said earlier. The reason I sought you out is the same as the beginning. Bonjwa will grant your wish.]

“…What are you talking about.”

At those words, Heuksaek asked, suppressing a tremor.

“I don’t want anything.”

[Nonsense. A guy who wants nothing, why did you listen to Bonjwa?]

“That’s….”

[You already admit it yourself, don’t you? That if it’s the being in front of you.]

Screech.

The man leaned his upper body forward, making eye contact with Heuksaek.

[He might be able to grant one’s wish. That’s what I mean.]

“…”

Grip. Heuksaek quietly clenched his fist.

[You keep backing out, shall I guess for you?]

Hiss. The man spoke along with a sound of laughter.

[You want to become a General. Right?]

“…!”

At those words, Heuksaek’s eyes widened.

[Because you want it so badly. You couldn’t hold back the moment the lifeline appeared, right?]

I must deny the words just spoken. Furthermore, I must cut him off so he can’t continue speaking.

Even while thinking that, Heuksaek couldn’t speak.

[You must dislike Yusa.]

He started badmouthing the General, of all people.

I must stop that too.

[Of course you dislike him. He hasn’t shown up often for decades. Yet he appears occasionally, acting like a ruler. You must be furious. Aren’t you?]

“…I….”

[You also dislike the other leaders. They’re all idiots, so you don’t want to be on the same level, or treated the same. That too, right?]

“…”

The words he kept bringing up.

Heuksaek couldn’t deny any of those words.

It wasn’t just because they were true, but the way the man spoke them with certainty, and his gaze, kept Heuksaek’s mouth shut.

[That’s true.]

The man’s eyes shone even brighter.

[It is true.]

His gaze kept drawing Heuksaek’s attention.

[You are special. Different from the others.]

As he spoke, the man pointed his fingertip towards Heuksaek.

[That’s why Bonjwa chose you.]

Screech.

The man stood up completely.

Positionally, the violet eyes now looked completely down at Heuksaek.

Realizing that, Heuksaek tried to move his legs again, but.

[Stay still.]

—!!!

His legs froze like stone once more.

[Bonjwa is still speaking….]

Reached out and gently grasped Heuksaek’s neck.

As if he could snap it anytime.

[What did you ask Bonjwa earlier? Ah, yes.]

Even so, his gaze was straight.

I wanted to avoid those eyes.

I felt like I should look away immediately, but my frozen body wouldn’t allow it.

[I believe you asked what Bonjwa’s purpose was.]

A laugh could be heard.

[Bonjwa’s purpose… is to change this Man-gye into a perfect paradise.]

Hearing that, Heuksaek’s pupils trembled.