Chapter: 592
Where did you first know?
The problem initially was the smile that was being painted.
There was certainly nothing wrong with the bright smile.
Yet, somehow that smile felt uneasy.
Why was that? I couldn’t figure out the reason.
It was purely instinct.
If you asked whether I believed in such a thing, I could answer firmly, “Yes.”
Because.
“I have absolutely zero luck.”
My life, where bad premonitions have never missed even once.
That could be what made me trust my instincts.
So, I had to find it.
I needed to discover why the North Sea woman named Yuri made me feel uneasy, to add confidence to my instincts.
[Did you really lift the curse?]
The first thing she brought up was regarding a curse.
From this, it was evident that this woman’s purpose was to lift the “curse” or “heart obstruction.”
“Maybe that’s not the case, though.”
For now, I had to think and approach it this way.
If Yuri’s true purpose was indeed this, a few questions surfaced here.
First.
“Why would a blood relative of the Ice Palace come in person?”
They say treatment can be provided.
It was problematic that the blood relatives from the New Martial Arts Forest came to see me directly.
“I wonder, wouldn’t it be better to send someone first to confirm?”
Did they really come in person, believing in information that hadn’t even been properly verified?
Even in a guaranteed safe situation, they made difficult choices regarding their connection between the Central Plains and the North Sea?
It’s not something you could easily believe.
Ah, of course, there is one thing that could explain this.
Desperation.
The urgency of needing treatment immediately.
When one is in such dire need, you could understand it to some extent…
The second reason I had doubts was related to this.
“She’s different.”
Yuri doesn’t seem like that at all.
Then let’s think of other possible reasons.
Did she say she wanted to see the Central Plains?
Did she really want to come?
Recalling Yuri’s words made me chuckle.
“What a surprise.”
Would someone undertake such risks for such a simple reason?
I might buy that from a woman with a garden on her head.
“That’s not it.”
At first, it seemed plausible.
But looking at her now, I am certain.
The Little Princess of the North Sea is not a fool.
She’s neither naive nor overly cheerful.
Let’s summarize this now.
“Even though she is a blood relative, she came to the Central Plains to personally check on someone who could provide treatment.”
The problem here is that the curse she refers to is something she can control herself.
“In other words, it means that the situation is not that urgent.”
It’s not so urgent that it could lead to death at any moment.
Yet, the fact that blood relatives are coming in person is a serious matter.
This implies immediate treatment is necessary.
“I am not the one meant to receive it.”
This means she is an important figure for her blood relatives to act on.
“So…”
In the rising tension of the atmosphere.
Yuri looks at me and says.
“Is that really the only reason you brought up the princess?”
The glare she gave was quite intense.
Even her tone had drastically shifted.
No.
Rather than changed…
“Is this your original tone?”
It seemed she had revealed her true self.
“…”
Upon hearing the question, Yuri frowned.
Seeing that, I chuckled.
“It’s pleasant now that the mask has cracked.”
“…You.”
“I’ve been feeling unwell for a while. But now, it’s a bit better.”
Might as well call it a little xenophobia.
Though I didn’t particularly have that sentiment.
As I continued, Yuri’s gaze sharpened even more.
“I still haven’t heard an answer.”
“Are you going to reveal it now? I’ll reveal something too, then.”
“Why did you mention the princess?”
There’s no strong reason to mention her.
That’s what Yuri thought.
I felt the same.
For those two reasons, there was too little information to gauge the state of the Ice Palace.
Right.
“If it was just those two alone, then it might explain it.”
If those were the only reasons, I wouldn’t have been so confident.
I shifted my focus.
I glanced at Woobeom glaring at me from behind Yuri. He was aimed at the person next to him.
I pointed at him with my finger.
The person I suddenly pointed out flinched.
“That guy is the third reason.”
“What?”
Yuri questioned the unexpected call-out.
Yuri’s escort was comprised of two individuals.
I hadn’t really focused on them because Woobeom was causing trouble, but there was indeed another.
A body type that looked much smaller and thinner compared to the hefty Woobeom.
That guy was the third reason.
“This is ridiculous, what reason would you find in an escort—”
“Infiltration, escape. I’m not sure about assassination, but anyway, that guy is from that kind of martial arts background?”
The man’s reaction to what I said was a bit excessive.
It had to do with body types.
Martial artists change according to the type of training they’ve undergone since childhood.
The inspectors tend to have relatively light and balanced physiques.
That’s why assassins tend to be small and thin.
Usually, martial arts types training for external skills are generally robust.
There are exceptional cases, like mine, where congenital problems lead to not growing up.
“This is a peculiar circumstance unique to me, so let’s skip over it.”
Even I, being like this, share certain martial artist characteristics.
Ah, well, now that I’ve just shed my outer shell, perhaps it’s not present.
In any case.
The characteristics of the physique and the thin presence felt are evidence of this.
That guy specialized in stealth and infiltration.
Identifying this, I mentioned it.
“Heh.”
Yuri gave a short chuckle.
It felt faintly mocking.
“What’s the issue with that?”
Right.
There wasn’t really a major problem.
Whether their escorting member is a martial artist or not, what’s the difference?
As long as they play their role well.
Moreover.
“Since they’re coming to Saewoemurim, anything could happen.”
It’s a situation where unforeseen events might unfold.
It’s best to think of it as a means to protect the blood relative in such circumstances.
As a way to escape safely if necessary.
But.
“Yet, why was he injured?”
“…”
The words I blurted out made Yuri’s eyes go wide.
She stared at me with eyes as large as lanterns.
Exactly, that guy was injured.
I could sense his breathing was slightly disordered, indicating he was hurt quite badly.
Typically, people attempting to sneak around have trained to endure various tortures.
Their pain tolerance would be higher than an ordinary person’s.
That man is struggling this much means.
“I’d say he’s sustained serious injuries.”
It’s safe to conclude that his insides are practically wrecked.
Yuri, looking flustered, kept gazing at me.
“It’s my internal injury, what can I do?”
It’s a standard occurrence for an escort to get hurt while protecting their charge.
That’s not particularly surprising either.
In fact, one might argue they fulfilled their role as an escort.
“But if that’s the case, then why did you come here?”
That indeed had become an issue now.
I redirected my gaze towards Mo Yong-hee.
“Was there a separate altercation on your way here?”
“…I don’t recall any.”
“Then, you’re saying it didn’t happen?”
I’m not sure how far Mo Yong-hee ventured to accompany Yuri, but if they hadn’t fought after meeting, then it must have taken place far earlier.
If, by any chance, there had been a conflict back in the Central Plains…
“They must have turned back.”
They would have likely headed straight to the North Sea.
There are those after you in the unfamiliar Central Plains.
If they had merely been common rascals, I wouldn’t care.
I narrowed my eyes at the man.
“That escort comes from the Hwagyeong class.”
The man with the internal injuries was considerably stronger than that guy, Woobeom.
He was quite capable for a mere escort.
Well, since he’s a blood relative of the ruling family, it makes sense to have strong warriors around.
Let’s not dwell on that for now.
“That something could injure someone of his caliber. And in the Central Plains?”
Had they figured that out, they should have aimed for the North Sea unless they were dense. Yet they hadn’t moved.
Which brings us to the conclusion.
“That injury was not acquired here.”
It’s greatly likely.
Then, where did it happen?
If it wasn’t here, it’s evident.
“You’re suggesting he got hurt in the North Sea, instead of the Central Plains…?”
In the first place, they wouldn’t have brought a sick individual as their escort.
This indicates something major occurred in the North Sea.
“You came to the Central Plains despite all that.”
“…”
“The urgency for treatment is high. Or…”
I turned to look at Yuri.
“I needed refuge.”
“…”
Maybe, it was a scenario where there was a need to flee to the Central Plains.
Clench.
At my words, Yuri clenched her fist.
I didn’t let that slip past me.
“You maintained your schedule despite something significant happening on your way from the North Sea. Right?”
“That….”
“That’s a grave matter for the daughter of the Ice Palace Lord. Initially, I thought you might have fallen out of favor with your father.”
This was also one of the predictions I had.
Because it seemed more plausible that something else was happening, I had dismissed it.
“Or, since they appear to have many children, could they be offing each other fighting for power?”
As is common among renowned families over succession issues, it wouldn’t be different in the North Sea.
“If not this, perhaps an outside force could be targeting you.”
Not necessarily another blood relative; it could be an external faction.
But what’s crucial now is.
“In that situation, you arrived in the Central Plains.”
Ultimately, this was what mattered.
“Furthermore, you came seeking a cure for the curse.”
Even amid such chaos, the fact you arrived here seeking to cure your curse.
It’s fair to interpret it as being for someone else, not for oneself.
Alright then, let’s wrap this up.
Blood relatives are unprotected.
They came to foreign land even after being attacked in their own territory.
The person coming this far to find me is someone seeking treatment for their kin’s illness.
It’s not a situation that suggests a desperate need on her part.
So, what kind of circumstance would bring that woman’s position to unease?
There were two possible answers.
One.
“The Ice Palace Lord is attempting to kill you.”
The second:
“Conversely, there are situations where the Ice Palace Lord can’t protect you.”
“…”
Having this concern myself.
Yuri came to me for a cure.
I had only one route remaining.
“…So, you mentioned the princess?”
I directly drew out the topic of the Ice Palace and awaited her reaction.
By voicing this and observing Yuri’s response, I was able to affirm my hypothesis.
“At the outset, I was half-certain, so it was merely for confirmation’s sake.”
There was indeed a problem with the Ice Palace Master’s condition.
That problem was likely tied to the curse Yuri had mentioned.
Some sort of force seized the opportunity to intervene.
Thus, Yuri sought safety for herself.
“You came to the Central Plains after hearing my tale of curing the heart obstruction. Would that not be the case?”
That was the expected outcome.
After I simplified the narrative, Yuri looked at me and momentarily fell silent.
And after a while, she opened her mouth once more.
“…That might be somewhat reasonable, but I could have faked my reaction, couldn’t I?”
Her reaction upon hearing the Ice Palace’s mention could very well be an act.
Listening to Yuri’s words, I pointed at her finger.
“What?”
She examined my fingertip. It was the ring she was wearing.
“That ring.”
I said while looking at it.
“No matter how I review it, that doesn’t seem like a common artifact.”
Currently, it seemed that ring was what was making the room feel cold.
Moreover.
“That artifact was concealing the man’s internal injuries.”
An unknown chill clouded the area.
That’s why I was delayed in grasping the depth of the man’s internal wounds.
That ring must have been what she used to make her escape earlier.
“It was a gift specially given to come here. I believe it was the Ice Palace Lord who provided it.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“It’s an intuition.”
“What?”
Honestly, it was just intuition.
It felt that way to me.
“That kind of thing could be commonplace in the North Sea.”
However, I doubted that.
If it were something they had prior, I wouldn’t have questions.
“I simply have that feeling.”
I figured the only one who’d willingly part with such an artifact was the Ice Palace Lord.
I might not know the exact power of that artifact.
“…”
After hearing all the final words, Yuri looked at me with an incredulous expression.
It appeared she was at a loss when I concluded with it’s an intuition after explaining everything with such depth upfront.
“But what can I do?”
It truly was just an instinct.
The silence hung for a while.
A void where no one spoke.
I merely stood and gazed at Yuri.
Then, a moment passed.
“Ha…”
A sigh mixed with exhaustion escaped Yuri’s lips.
“…Even if Baek Yeo-woo’s words are incorrect, they’re woefully wrong.”
She said, wiping her forehead as if tired.
“They called me a cute puppy, but there’s nothing but a venomous snake.”
“…?”
I had to frown at those words.
What kind of puppy…?
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