episode_0075

After finishing the audience with Queen Jo, Seolrin stretched, loosening her tense body.

“Ugh~! Whew…, that was nerve-wracking.”

“I did all the talking, why were *you* so nervous?”

“Of course, I was nervous! She’s the queen of a country! You’re the one who’s strange.”

Seolrin answered curtly to my words.

Then, Seolrin hugged Baekryeon lightly and said.

“Anyway~ we missed Baekryeon’s enemy, but we still saved White Tiger, so we’ve finished everything we need to do here, right?”

“S-Seolrin! If you suddenly hug me like this in a place like this, other people will see!”

Of course, Baekryeon’s face reddened as if she was embarrassed by Seolrin’s actions, and she looked around.

There were a few soldiers stationed around, but they didn’t seem to care much.

Seolrin also confirmed the reactions of those around her and smiled gently.

“What’s wrong with it~ friends can do this too.”

“Hmm…, it’s a little embarrassing though….”

“It seems like the story is all over.”

And Jangsan, the swordsman with the brown bamboo hat, appeared as if he had been waiting.

He stood before us, leading several White Tiger members.

“As you heard, His Majesty has decided to support the Salt Country. He will send an envoy to the Salt Country once more in the near future.”

“Perhaps, Jangsan, are *you* coming? If you, the leader of the White Tiger unit, come to support, it would definitely be a great help!”

Jangsan shook his head at Baekryeon’s question.

It seemed that he couldn’t give up guarding her, as there had been an assassination attempt.

“But other members of the White Tiger will go, so you don’t have to worry about support.”

“Even if all the other guys gather, it won’t be as much as you.”

“…Haha.”

He just replaced my words with laughter.

Of course, the other members, who were scratched by my words, frowned and glared at me, but they only glared, as if they had heard the story from Jangsan in advance.

“By the way, I haven’t heard much about the assassination attempt. What happened? I heard that an assassin from a place called Tayo Country was hired.”

“I’ll explain that.”

“No, when did *you* get here?”

Lucy was standing near me at some point, smiling brightly.

Is she an assassin instead of a nun? Why is she walking around so silently?

“Tayo Country is an island country that can be seen across the East Sea of this Jo Country. Perhaps because it is an island country, its unique natural environment is its characteristic.”

“You know it well?”

“I’ve been there once a long time ago. Anyway…, it is also a place where quite a few monsters live. They call them Yokai, and the humans who live there live in coexistence with the Yokai.”

“The story is long, so that’s enough. Just explain the situation.”

Lucy pouted at my words.

She made a face that said, “I’m sulking~!”, so Baekryeon smiled awkwardly and said.

“T-Terrific. You must be a person from the Western Regions, but you know so much in detail.”

“…Hehe, I have several places I’ve looked up to travel around after I retire or go on vacation. I’ll share them with you later.”

“T-Thank you.”

“Anyway, to continue the explanation, they basically kill the enemy with their first strike after suppressing their presence. Because, basically, the physical difference between Yokai and humans is clear. So, they are quite adept at assassination.”

Suppressing one’s presence and killing the enemy with the first strike.

One of the ways to win against a strong enemy is surprise.

If you can land a fatal blow with the first surprise attack while the enemy is defenseless, the chances of winning increase.

They’re doing assassination work by taking advantage of that characteristic.

That’s novel.

“And you saved her?”

“Ta-da~ I saved her~”

“….”

I really don’t know if she’s an amazing person, no matter how I think about it.

“Well, that’s the story. The people who targeted His Majesty have already been quietly dealt with, so rest assured.”

Quietly dealt with.

She’s saying something chilling without batting an eye.

“Since you said they were dealt with, I won’t ask any more about it. I want to see White Tiger’s condition, is that okay?”

“Of course. I think I’ve taken up too much of your time.”

* * *

When I went to the royal physician’s office, I saw White Tiger lying soundly on the bed prepared there.

And the doctor who was in charge of White Tiger’s treatment came next to me.

“Have you come to see White Tiger’s condition?”

“Yes. I think we should leave soon….”

“White Tiger’s condition is becoming very stable. His breathing is normal and his complexion has returned a lot.”

Certainly, it looks like it.

Just a few days ago, he was pale and his breathing was unstable.

“Ahem.”

“….”

It would have been better if there wasn’t a nun next to me sticking out her small chest as if to say, “You know this is all thanks to me, right?”

“Has he ever woken up?”

“He has woken up, young master. I even had a conversation with him.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He said thank you.”

I looked at Baekryeon, who was smiling sincerely, for a moment.

“Baekryeon.”

“Yes? What’s wrong? Young master.”

“What are you going to do?”

“…Huh? What does that mean? What do you mean by that?”

Baekryeon tilted her head, asking as if she really didn’t know.

Seolrin was also looking at me, wondering what I was talking about.

“I’m asking what you’re going to do from now on.”

“Th-That… I don’t understand the intent of the question. What do you want to say?”

“We missed Crimson Devil, but we were able to save White Tiger. And even though White Tiger’s condition may have improved, I don’t think it will be easy to follow the schedule from now on. It would be better to stay here for recovery. So, I’m asking. Baekryeon, are you going to stay here and watch over White Tiger? Or are you going to follow me?”

“Ah….”

Only then did Baekryeon flinch, as if she had realized, and looked back and forth between me and White Tiger lying down.

I sighed deeply at her expression that she hadn’t thought about it at all and said.

“I’m not telling you to say it right away. Think about it. Anyway…, there’s something I haven’t told you, but I think I need to return to the Salt Country soon….”

As if cutting off my words, someone hurriedly entered the royal physician’s office.

It seems to be a member of the White Tiger unit, but I don’t know who it is.

“You were here! A story that needs to be urgently conveyed to you has been delivered from the Salt Country.”

“?”

“From the Salt Country?”

Ah, no way….

“It’s been a really long time since I’ve seen you all.”

Following the White Tiger unit member is the man we first met in the Salt Country, who made us contact the Hao Gate.

When I think about it, wasn’t all of this this man’s plan? He is a person with an excellent talent for guiding people.

“Perhaps you haven’t forgotten me? I’m Yang Jamun.”

“It’s certainly been a long time…, but judging from the situation, it doesn’t seem like a good story.”

“That’s right. First of all, I heard about the situation here. As expected of Grand Hero. Your work is excellent. The Salt Emperor will definitely be pleased.”

Yang Jamun, who had said that far, looked around and said to me.

“First, let’s change the place to talk.”

“Okay.”

The place we moved to was the place where I was staying.

Those who are here now are Yang Jamun, me, Baekryeon, Seolrin, and Lucy….

“You, get out.”

“Why! We’re going to be together anyway!!”

“Was that really a thing you said?”

I sighed deeply and looked at Yang Jamun.

“How did the state rites go?”

“You knew?”

“Yes. I ran into a member of the Beastman Alliance over here…, probably a top executive.”

“!”

Jamun looked at me, greatly surprised by my words.

His eyes were asking for a more detailed story.

“There wasn’t much. In the process of dealing with things here, they were related to those guys, and there was a battle. I failed to settle the situation due to the situation at the time, and it ended in a draw…, but then that guy said. He sent the Mad Demon King to the state rites.”

“?!”

“I-Is that true?! But why didn’t you say so! Young master!”

Seolrin trembled as if she was having a seizure at the word Mad Demon King, and Baekryeon looked at me in confusion.

After looking at Baekryeon for a moment, I sighed and said.

“If I had said it? Let’s abandon White Tiger and return to the Salt Country? It was Baekryeon who said let’s go to Hyeon Kyeong saying there might be a chance to save White Tiger.”

“Th-That’s…. That’s true, but….”

Baekryeon quickly turned to Seolrin, shrinking at my retort.

Seolrin was trembling for a while, but she seemed okay for now.

Perhaps my words that I would protect her worked effectively.

However, Yang Jamun rather looked at such Seolrin for a moment and closed his mouth for a while. Then he continued.

“First of all…. That’s right. As Grand Hero said, there was a sudden attack while the state rites were in progress. I don’t know how they infiltrated, but the state rites were temporarily suspended due to the sudden attack by the Beastman Alliance with the Mad Demon King.”

As if recalling the events of that time, Yang Jamun continued speaking with a bitter expression.

“And in that situation…, Zhu Que protected the Salt Emperor above all else, so the Salt Emperor was able to be safe.”

“…That story sounds like there was damage on the other side, is that right?”

“….”

Jamun’s gaze moved to Seolrin once again.

Then he said quietly.

“The head of the Tang Family, Poison Sovereign, has passed away.”