episode_0078

“Roughly, that’s the situation.”

“….”

After hearing the whole story from Yang Ja-mun, I quietly closed my eyes.

Yeah, from the moment I heard about the Sword Demon sending Bokhae Daeseong to Gukui, I expected that Gukui wouldn’t proceed smoothly.

I understood that there would definitely be damage in the process.

But,

Still,

“Seriously, that damn Vermilion Bird, I didn’t trust her and didn’t go, but she’s really just sitting there guarding the Blazing Emperor.”

Is she crazy?

I didn’t swallow the sigh that came out on its own and let it out as I looked at Yang Ja-mun.

He seemed to be thinking similarly to me, as he gave an awkward smile and continued the story.

“First of all, thanks to Vermilion Bird, no one could approach the Blazing Emperor. And if the Solitary Paragon hadn’t held Bokhae Daeseong down, there would have been many sacrifices on the other side.”

“But if Vermilion Bird had stepped in, the Solitary Paragon wouldn’t have died.”

“…That’s true. But Vermilion Bird must have her own reasons, right?”

“I don’t know….”

Vermilion Bird said she shouldn’t use her power recklessly outside of her defense.

Considering that, she seemed to attack out of nowhere at Yeom Hyeong-ok, but let’s just skip that….

The fact that Vermilion Bird didn’t attack them means they didn’t approach the Blazing Emperor at all.

That’s why I feel a strange feeling.

Did these guys really time their attack on Gukui to attack the Blazing Emperor?

“You seem to have something on your mind.”

“You’re the one who has something on your mind, so you came all the way to Jo, didn’t you?”

“…I see you noticed.”

Yang Ja-mun’s gaze turned to Seol-rin once more.

Seol-rin, noticing his gaze, frowned and said in a slightly impatient voice.

“It’s me again…, is it something related to the Tang Clan?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry to say this, but it is related to the Tang Clan.”

Yang Ja-mun’s gaze returned from Seol-rin to me, and he opened his mouth.

“First of all, with the Solitary Paragon passing away, Tang Seol-ryun, the young master of the Tang Clan, has inherited the position of head of the family.”

“That’s a natural course of events.”

“That’s right. Gukui was temporarily halted due to the attack by Bokhae Daeseong and the Beastman Alliance, but it wasn’t completely stopped. They tried to somehow handle the situation and continue Gukui, but Tang Seol-ryun, the new head of the Tang Clan, requested to give up Gukui in order to hold a funeral for the previous head, Tang Seol-pung. The Blazing Emperor thought that was also a natural thing and accepted Tang Seol-ryun’s request.”

A funeral for his own father.

Yeah, I can understand that much.

But….

“But after that, there were reports of strange movements in Sichuan. Contact with Hao Mun, which was planted inside Sichuan, was completely cut off, and we couldn’t get a single piece of information about what was happening inside Sichuan.”

“That’s…. definitely strange.”

Is there a reason to control information like this for a simple funeral?

“If there’s a reason to control it, there’s only one in the current situation.”

“The Beastman Alliance…. The traitor was Tang Seol-ryun after all.”

Tang Seol-pung had declared that he would find the traitor in the Tang Clan since before.

And the person he suspected the most was Tang Seol-ryun.

If Tang Seol-ryun cooperated with Bokhae Daeseong and killed Tang Seol-pung….

And after completely taking control of the Tang Clan, in order to ambush from the rear while Yeom-guk is fighting a war with the Beastman Alliance….

“It would be quite troublesome.”

“It would be quite troublesome.”

Thinking that, I looked at Seol-rin.

Tang Seol-ryun is the young master, but before that, he is Seol-rin’s brother.

She might be very concerned about me badmouthing her family in front of her like this.

“?”

But surprisingly, Seol-rin was calm.

Seol-rin, who had reacted so strongly to Tang Seol-pung’s death, wasn’t reacting so strongly to this, so I said, wondering.

“Seol-rin, are you okay?”

“…Yeah. Rather, I feel like my head is cleared up.”

What is it? Is she crazy? What does she mean her head is cleared up?

“Do you remember? When you briefly visited the Tang Clan and were about to leave, I tried to go with you, and the last question I asked as a final hurdle.”

“….”

It was a question about the traitor in the Tang Clan.

And the answer to that question was Tang Seol-ryun.

Yes, Seol-rin and I were suspecting Tang Seol-ryun. If he was in the position of young master, he would be able to freely use most of the poisons of the Tang Clan, and it would be relatively easier for him to smuggle them out compared to others.

Furthermore, he went to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering himself with Seol-rin.

If there was a way to communicate, he could have continuously informed them of the location.

“That’s right. But why?”

“I thought about it afterwards. About my brother. So, I saw something. My brother…, seemed to be envious of me and my younger sister, who could use the Blood Awakening.”

“That story is….”

“Yeah. The Beastman Alliance seems to have a technology to forcibly manifest the Blood Awakening. Maybe my brother wanted to get the Blood Awakening through that.”

The possibility is high.

Besides, it doesn’t matter if it’s wrong.

If we search directly, we’ll find something.

“I’m sorry, Baek-ryun.”

“Hmm?….”

I’m sorry for giving you time and then taking it away, but please decide. Are you going to leave Jo with me? Or are you going to stay here?”

“!”

I was going to give Baek-ryun enough time to think, but the current situation is preventing me from giving Baek-ryun time.

“You heard the situation, right? The current Tang Clan is like a time bomb. It’s a problem that needs to be solved before the final battle with the Beastman Alliance. If we don’t deal with it properly now, it’s like going to the battlefield with a knife at our backs.”

“…I know. Don’t worry. I’ve already made up my mind.”

Baek-ryun nodded and said.

“I’ll follow you, young master.”

* * *

“Oh, it seems the story is already over.”

“Your Majesty?”

“The Queen of Jo. Please understand that I couldn’t see the Young King of Jo first because I was in a hurry. The situation in Yeom-guk was urgent….”

“It’s okay. My heart is as deep as the depths of the East Sea far away, so I can understand everything.”

The Queen waved her hand as if Yang Ja-mun’s apology was nothing.

Then, she glanced over the situation and raised the corners of her mouth and said.

“I see the situation, so I understand. You stay, I think we should discuss the support of Jo for the war in Yeom-guk to some extent afterwards.”

“Of course. Rather, I would like to ask you.”

Yang Ja-mun bowed and replied.

The Queen nodded as if satisfied with the sight and turned her gaze to us.

“And you guys are thinking of leaving now.”

“Yes. That’s right. It’s about time to…, end it.”

“Hearing those words, it sounds like you can end it anytime.”

The Queen raised the corners of her mouth at my words.

Of course, I didn’t react to the Queen’s words and shrugged my shoulders instead.

Seeing that, the Queen pouted her lips slightly as if it was boring and continued her words.

“So, it seems like you’re going to see White Tiger for the last time.”

She guesses it so well that it’s amazing.

Is that the insight of someone who has risen to the position of queen?

“It’s perfect timing. I heard that White Tiger has woken up. It’s good to go see her now.”

It’s really perfect timing.

After hearing the Queen’s story, we headed to the Royal Infirmary. As a bonus, the Queen left with Yang Ja-mun to discuss support.

And inside the Royal Infirmary.

“….”

A woman with golden eyes and unique hair color mixed with pure white and black hair. A beauty who made me think she was incredibly beautiful was blankly looking at the sky. As if she felt our presence, she turned her head and looked at us.

“Lady White Tiger!”

“…Baek-ryun, you came. And….”

“….”

I had carried White Tiger all the way from Baekdu Mountain, but at the time, White Tiger was unconscious, so she had never properly seen me.

And at the same time, after arriving here, I hadn’t seen White Tiger awake after the crisis thanks to Lucy, so it was my first time meeting her in person.

“…Are you the hero? I’ve heard a lot about you from Baek-ryun. I’m very indebted to you.”

“It was nothing. More than that, are you okay?”

“Well…, I’m fine except for feeling a bit tired and having some heat left.”

Surprisingly, Lucy’s treatment was effective.

But let’s save the admiration for later, explaining the situation is the priority now.

“First of all, we have to leave.”

“Leave?…, Where to?”

“Yeom-guk. And there is someone there who made you like that, who killed Baek-ryun’s family, and at the same time, who you must fulfill your duty as a hero against.”

“!”

White Tiger trembled at my words.

Is it because her body is reacting on its own due to being trapped for a long time and suffering various harsh tortures?

“Baek-ryun has decided to join that journey.”

“Baek-ryun…, did you say?”

White Tiger looked at Baek-ryun.

In the gaze containing the question of whether it was true, Baek-ryun nodded, holding the sword at her waist tightly.

“That’s why we came to say goodbye to Lady White Tiger before leaving….”

“I will go too.”

“…?”

What is this nonsense again.

Where are you going, you crazy patient.

“I have things to repay to them…, although my strength is not complete, I won’t be enough to hinder you.”

No, you are hindering me.