Chapter: 593
Red feather.
He was quite a famous figure in the North Sea, or more precisely, within the Ice Palace, for a while.
[There’s no one in the Central Plains who doesn’t know that friend.]
The ‘friend’ explaining the story to himself wore a particularly joyful expression.
Although it had been over a decade since we last met, he was still bright and refreshing.
[By the way, he’s a remarkable friend, right?]
I wonder if it’s just the passage of time.
That friend, who had been completely absorbed in his own pride, had now vanished from sight and was busy bragging about a new buddy.
[He’ll definitely become someone big. So, there’s no one in the Central Plains who doesn’t know him.]
[You mean the red feather?]
[Exactly. The red… chuckles… feather.]
Although the sound of his breathing was somewhat distracting, I didn’t make much of it.
Because my friend was usually a bit odd anyway.
However.
If that strange friend is praising someone to that extent…
I, too, felt a budding curiosity.
So, I decided to ask.
[White fox.]
When I called out to Yuri, the ‘escort’ behind her turned his head.
Tall and slender for a woman.
Yet, her curvy silhouette stood out.
She was commonly known as the White Fox.
Always wearing a white fox mask, no one knew the face behind it.
My friend mentioned she covered her face because of a horrible scar from a childhood burn.
Since I heard that, I hadn’t insisted she take off her mask.
[Do you know about the red feather?]
[…]
When I posed the question, the White Fox nodded.
Her words were especially sparse.
Yuri also rarely spoke, and there were even fewer people like her.
In fact, it was rather comfortable that way.
She didn’t throw around unnecessary flattery, nor did she show signs of fatigue.
In fact, she was said to be a martial warrior of the Central Plains with immense power.
Yuri liked the White Fox.
She disliked the fact that the White Fox said she would soon leave for her hometown.
[If you know about it, it must be a really famous person.]
[She probably knows even if the red feather isn’t famous.]
[Hmm?]
Yuri tilted her head at her friend’s words.
I was puzzled about what it meant.
[Well, that makes sense, the two of them…]
Clank.
Just as my friend was about to say something…
A sound erupted from the White Fox’s waist.
She had unexpectedly tightened her grip on the sword handle.
Seeing that, my friend flinched momentarily.
[Ah… so you’re… friendly.]
[Oh.]
Yuri didn’t notice this.
[Close, huh.]
Is the White Fox a well-known figure in the Central Plains too?
That made sense.
After all, it’s impossible for such an exceptional person not to be famous.
Yuri nodded and asked her friend.
[Are you famous too?]
[I… am.]
My friend pondered over Yuri’s words for a moment.
[…a little?]
[Oh, I see.]
Well then, that must be the case.
Yuri chose to believe her friend. At the very least, she thought he wouldn’t lie.
That’s why she was curious.
Could it be that the red feather is truly that impressive?
How impressive could he possibly be? A question lingered.
[What kind of person is he?]
This is what Yuri asked the White Fox.
Since the two were close, she thought she might discover something interesting.
Upon hearing this, the White Fox fell silent for a moment.
[He’s a puppy.]
[…Huh?]
That word came out unexpectedly.
[Cute puppy.]
For some reason, she had a firm demeanor.
In stark contrast to what I heard from my friend, she gave off a refreshing vibe.
Could this mean he’s genuinely a pure and kind-hearted character despite his power?
Just as Yuri attempted to interpret it that way…
Pfft… Pfft… Ugh…!!
The friend beside her turned away, desperately stifling his laughter.
You could see his shoulders shaking from his struggle.
Since Yuri already knew he wasn’t entirely sane, she chose not to pay it any mind.
[Just a puppy…]
[Cute.]
Baek Yeo-woo’s words merely echoed in her head.
A superhuman capable of manipulating fire.
A compassionate person who cannot walk past the weak and injured.
At once a hero hoping to save the world.
A remarkable genius destined for history.
Yet he also possessed an endearing puppy-like charm.
[I’m curious.]
Yuri smiled as she said this.
The tales from the Central Plains were always intriguing.
That’s why this was all the more unforeseen.
A few days later…
The bloody winds of the North Sea would start to rage.
Who would have anticipated that she would travel to the Central Plains to find a man she called a cute puppy?
As she sat at the quiet table, Yuri muttered.
“…A cute puppy, they said.”
Her tone was filled with grievance.
How could she not feel wronged?
“Not only has there never been a puppy, but there’s never been a snake as venomous as that.”
Where on earth is the puppy?
If you look closely, he resembled a ferocious beast, and if you squint, he seemed like pure evil.
Yuri had never encountered such a violent figure in her entire life.
What about his speech and gaze?
It felt like he would overturn everything in an instant if angered.
A lone child.
Or a reckless fool.
A word she had never come across before floated into her mind.
Had someone in the North Sea seen him, he would surely be executed.
“Of all people…”
But of all things…
At this very moment, Yuri needed him.
Thud.
She slammed her thin hand on the table.
“Your Highness.”
The person before Yuri reacted to her actions.
Woobeom spoke cautiously.
“I’m sorry…”
The first thing he expressed was an apology.
Yuri shifted her gaze to Woobeom’s remorseful eyes.
“I didn’t execute my duties correctly.”
Unlike the chaos he previously created, Woobeom now had a serious demeanor.
Observing this, Yuri spoke.
“Don’t apologize. It’s entirely my fault.”
“How could…!”
“I failed to grasp the situation.”
It was entirely wrong from every angle.
Every action she took to appear utterly foolish had utterly failed.
“…I ruined the situation that Woobeom had so diligently set up.”
The path to the summit, even the chance to escape that place, were all crafted by the power of the ghost and by Woobeom and Wooseok.
Ultimately, the following circumstances were an outcome of Woobeom’s sacrifice.
Woobeom purposely acted like a vain and arrogant figure to draw attention.
There were several reasons for this.
One was to make others think she was a worthless princess with an escort like this.
Two was to redirect attention from Wooseok, who had been injured.
All of this was planned to steer negotiations into a favorable direction.
“…Not a single thing was executed properly.”
“Your Highness…”
“I truly didn’t expect this at all.”
That the so-called red feather wasn’t a cute puppy was just the beginning.
“He was far smarter than I ever imagined. He was relentless.”
This was yet another reflection of her own failure.
She had made several blunders, all discovered without exception by the other party.
What this signifies is.
‘He may act mad, but he isn’t incompetent.’
He was fully aware of his strength and talent, maintaining a somewhat arrogant demeanor.
It indicated that he had the strength to back it up.
This was troublesome.
Yuri perceived him as a difficult and wary individual in another sense.
‘Those born to be emperors.’
Most who possess such a demeanor usually do.
Those who are destined to sit above others.
Those meant to be the head of the dragon.
These were exactly the beings Yuri feared most.
Yes, like that.
‘…Like a princess.’
The red feather she had encountered was akin to a father figure for her.
The way he gazed down at her.
The aura emanating from him.
The unwavering confidence that nothing could obstruct him.
Yuri couldn’t shake off the impression she had from the young man she encountered just before.
[Little Princess.]
Before heading towards the Central Plains.
Her father’s warnings echoed in her mind.
A caution her father had given about avoiding the Murim Alliance at all costs.
Right after that, he had said something.
[If you ever meet a fire wielder from the West while in the Central Plains…]
[Do whatever it takes to run away.]
Yuri had been astonished by those words.
He always encouraged her to fight in any situation, so for him to suggest she flee was unexpected.
[He must be middle-aged by now. A man who wields flames. Remember.]
His tone was far more serious than when he spoke about the Murim Alliance.
Having heard this, Yuri couldn’t help but probe further.
[Who on earth is he for you to sound so grave?]
How could the ruler of the North Sea speak in such a manner?
When Yuri voiced this in question,
[He.]
The Ice Palace Master replied to her.
[He’s the supreme ruler of the Central Plains.]
His tone was so firm, it seemed like he wouldn’t entertain any contradictions.
Perhaps that’s why…
Strangely, memories of that time resurfaced.
She had also heard that the red feather wielded fire.
To the west.
Where exactly did he come from? This thought brushed her mind briefly.
‘If they said he’s reached middle age, then it can’t possibly be him.’
When comparing their ages, it surely wasn’t the case.
Her father’s excursion to the Central Plains with her grandfather had occurred long ago.
Perhaps it happened before the red feather was even born.
The person her father warned her about could not have been that young man.
‘Now is not the time to agonize over such matters.’
Yuri repeated dry washing as if feeling weary.
Indeed, now was not the time for such worries.
“Ahh…”
At the moment when all plans had gone up in smoke.
In a convoluted state, red feather addressed Yuri.
[It seems that the situation has changed a bit. Wouldn’t it be better to discuss everything in detail tomorrow?]
His voice was laced with amusement.
And Yuri couldn’t help but sense that the laughter was mocking.
He knows.
[If you’re going to ‘negotiate,’ I suppose you need to prepare what you’re going to say.]
That life had completely flipped.
Initially, she had arrived seeking a request.
Now, it seemed like it had morphed into a fervent plea.
That indicated a change in the relationship.
From requester to requestee.
In a dynamic of employer to employee.
Unquestionably, the employer would be the red feather, while Yuri would become the employee.
“Ah…”
This was not a good situation.
Such a condition would make discussion arduous. Naturally, the other party must be aware of this.
‘…Right now the North Sea is in turmoil.’
How could he glean such information from that brief encounter?
It had already been uncovered by that point.
The North Sea was in chaos.
It had been upset by treachery and rebellion, with the cold air intermingling with the scent of blood.
‘The cause of this situation was entirely…’
The once steadfast figure of her father.
The issue was the change within the Ice Palace Master’s body.
They were attempting to hide and thwart it somehow, but there wasn’t much time left.
To change her position now, one needed the power to lift the curse that the red feather held.
It must be a falsehood.
That should not be the case.
The issue was that everything had spiraled out of control.
The mounting complexities increasingly fatigued Yuri.
“…I suppose I’ll need to contemplate this.”
Though it was just a short conversation.
Yuri could ascertain one thing for certain as she gazed at the red feather.
He is.
“He’s not a person who operates on principles of justice and harmony.”
He was far from the hero described by her friend.
He was exceedingly rational and cold.
An individual who wouldn’t budge unless it benefited him.
Conversely.
‘A person who will become merciless should harm arise.’
His words and actions may suggest one thing, but his eyes reveal an entirely different truth.
He was by no means a benevolent being.
‘He isn’t a person swayed simply by sympathy or circumstances.’
To persuade someone, conditions must appeal to reason and be inducive to change.
Without those, it would be utterly pointless.
Yuri gazed out the window.
The daylight had faded, and sunset was upon them.
He said they would have a detailed discussion tomorrow at noon.
That merely meant there wasn’t much time left to think this through.
Hence, she resolved to acknowledge her situation first.
She needed to accurately grasp her position and understand the topic at hand.
Only then could she make a more precise judgment.
‘The night is brief.’
She needed to think it through before noon.
Somehow, she had to devise a strategy to gain his cooperation.
At that time, while Yuri was preoccupied with her thoughts.
Goyangcheon had just returned to his accommodations.
Originally, he had plans to have dinner with Mrs. Mi afterward.
He even planned to take Tang Xiaoyeol and Mo Yongxi to tour the castle.
Yet, Goyangcheon deemed it necessary to abandon everything and retreat to his quarters.
“Hmmm…”
His expression was one of seriousness.
His fierce gaze seemed even more acute, making him appear particularly intimidating.
Gu Yangcheon was observing something with narrowed eyes.
An unfamiliar piece of paper clutched in his hand.
This was the cause that altered Gu Yangcheon’s course.
Just as he had completed his conversation with the little princess.
It was then he was about to exit after saying to meet tomorrow.
[…Wait a moment.]
At that instant, Yuri caught Gu Yangcheon’s arm.
Wondering if she had any further business, Gu Yangcheon turned to face her.
She retrieved a letter from her attire and handed it to Gu Yangcheon.
[What is this?]
He stared at the seemingly random object with a puzzled expression.
[Your friend sent it to you.]
At Yuri’s words, Gu Yangcheon widened his eyes.
The friend she referred to.
Someone with enough connections to send letters in the North Sea.
Immediately, several names sprang to mind. How did this little princess come to possess it? Suddenly, a troubling thought crossed his mind.
Especially since he had already been unnerved by problems brewing in the North Sea.
On the spot, Gu Yangcheon took the letter, unfolded it, and read.
[…!]
His eyes narrowed tightly as he read the contents.
It was certainly impactful writing.
Because of it, he had to cancel all his plans and remain confined to his quarters.
“…”
Srrk.
In a dark room that remained unlit.
Within that obscurity, Gu Yangcheon’s blue eyes gleamed sharply.
The darkness was so profound that none of the words in the letter were discernible.
Yet, it didn’t matter to Gu Yangcheon.
Even amidst that veil of shadow, it all appeared startlingly clear.
Thus, he read and reread.
[Sorry. I’m late.]
A single brief line.
[But don’t worry.]
Then two lines.
That was all.
A phrase conveyed in merely two lines.
At first glance, it looked like inconsequential words.
“…”
As Gu Yangcheon beheld this, he felt his heart chill further.
The only person who might send such a letter to him was one.
An individual who had become more precious than his own life.
A mischievous woman who disregarded his pleas to stay back and simply left.
This was the letter she had sent.
Why the bewildering reaction to such a seemingly innocuous letter?
There was only one reason.
The words inscribed within the letter.
[Don’t worry.]
That was the issue.
What was troubling about this?
It was the fact that those words felt utterly out of character for her.
A message dripping with skepticism.
This weighed heavily on his heart.
Earlier this year.
Meaning before spring, or at most by summer, she had promised to show up.
‘Now she’s suddenly late?’
Upon contemplating this, he thought.
There’s no way.
‘Could she be entangled with the incidents occurring in the North Sea?’
At that moment, crack.
A rough sound emerged from the fist he had clenched.
A deeply unsettling prediction hung over him.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.