Chapter: 851
“Last known location?”
“I heard it was the West Forest. I’m not sure, though.”
The man answers Dang So-yeol’s question with a worried look on his face.
“Is there a possibility they went the other way?”
“Yes… There have often been cases where they searched outside the designated area. It’s likely that this time is no different.”
“Hmm.”
Dang So-yeol slightly bites her lips. It’s certainly possible those two would have pulled something like that.
“How long has it been since their return time?”
“About two hours.”
“Any word about being late?”
“None at all.”
“…This.”
Dang So-yeol’s delicate brow furrows. Two hours is definitely not short.
‘Where on earth could they have gone?’
Narrowing her eyes, Dang So-yeol ruminates. Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah are no pushovers. So there shouldn’t be too much to worry about, in theory.
But this is the same Guyangcheon who explicitly said not to be late for the return time.
Did Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah break that rule? If so, they should’ve just been a little late, not like this.
‘Is something truly going on…?’
A strange, unwarranted worry creeps in. Call it intuition? An inexplicable sense of anxiety settles in.
The other members are also starting to prepare for an investigation.
With two hours having passed, protocol dictates they should start a search.
“Commander… Should we proceed with the search?”
At the Dae-won’s words, Dang So-yeol licks her lips. According to rules, they had to begin.
There’s no choice. Letting out a sigh, Dang So-yeol speaks up.
“…Proceed…!”
Dang So-yeol, who had been speaking, suddenly clamps her mouth shut and whips her head around.
It wasn’t just her.
The members preparing for search were all gazing at the same spot, even if the time difference varied.
Not merely looking, mind you.
“… What on earth…?”
“… Huh… Ugh…”
After a few seconds, most of them crumple down. Their faces twisted in sheer terror.
“Whoa!”
Someone starts spewing on the ground, while others lose consciousness.
Even those barely holding onto sanity are trembling uncontrollably.
The only ones still standing are Dang So-yeol and a few others—all of whom have reached Hwagyeong.
Even they don’t appear normal.
Cold sweat soaks through their bodies, and their uniforms gradually become drenched.
What on earth is happening? Dang So-yeol takes heavy breaths, staring straight ahead.
The reason every member seems to have cracked under pressure is the ominous energy coming from a great distance.
Dang So-yeol furrows her brow as she grasps the identity of this distant energy.
It’s a killing intent.
Killing intent envelops the surroundings.
The reason everything seems dark despite the lights being on. The cause of the fear gripping the members. It’s all due to that intent.
The kicker is…
‘How can someone exude such intense killing intent?’
Its magnitude exceeds imagination. It’s questionable whether a human can even produce such energy.
Who could it possibly be? Who is radiating such murderous intent?
Dang So-yeol barely manages to hold onto the knife hidden in her robes. If this killing intent is emanating from within the Alliance, there’s no need to question who the enemy is.
‘Of all times, when the old prince isn’t here!’
Who could it be? Doubts linger, but first, she needs to escape this suffocating energy.
“Phew…”
Exhaling, she gathers her strength. Just as she attempts to escape the oppressive energy, a figure appears in the distance.
Frowning, she tries to confirm the owner of that intent.
“… Huh?”
Upon seeing her target, Dang So-yeol inadvertently releases her tension.
The source of the distress is someone she knows well.
A figure walking slowly towards her.
The uniform billows with the murderous intent it radiates. A pair of emotionless blue eyes look colder than usual for some reason.
It feels drastically different from how she had always perceived him.
“… Is it Prince Gu…?”
The figure was Gu Yangcheon.
All that ominous energy belonged to Gu Yangcheon? She couldn’t believe it.
“Gu Prince… no, great lord…”
Dang So-yeol stammers, flustered. At that, Gu Yangcheon’s gaze shifts to her.
Flinch.
Dang So-yeol trembles at their locked gazes. For a moment, it feels as if her breath hitches.
‘Those eyes…’
It feels like a bottomless pit.
Just by making eye contact, she senses a deep, unfathomable abyss.
A hole from which you can’t escape once you fall in. It’s impossible to comprehend how far the bottom extends.
Why does he look like that?
Was Gu Yangcheon always like this?
Dang So-yeol’s thoughts spin into chaos.
Just then.
Phew.
The surging killing intent abruptly calms down.
Though it isn’t entirely gone, it becomes enough for her to move her body.
However, not everything is alright. The others remain lost in shock.
So, has the killing intent directed only at her lessened? She has no time to ponder.
“Commander.”
“… Ah! Yes…”
Her voice quivers. It’s fear.
“Report the situation.”
What should she report? Her thoughts halt for a second, but she quickly recalls.
“… Team members Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah, who went out on recon, haven’t returned.”
“Location and time?”
“It was the West Forest. Two… two hours have passed.”
She stutters mid-sentence. Her voice shakes, and for some reason, tears threaten to spill.
She holds back.
“According to the Alliance’s rules… I was about to issue a search order.”
“…”
Dang So-yeol bites her lips. Then she averts her gaze slightly.
The eyes she has longed to see are now too difficult to meet.
It feels as if she’s facing a different person. It’s tough for Dang So-yeol to bear.
“Alright.”
Gu Yangcheon nods.
“Two hours. West Forest.”
Then he repeats the details several times like a mantra, before turning to his left.
“Do you know anything?”
His words are strange. They seem directed at someone else, but Dang So-yeol can’t see anyone else.
That’s because the pressure around them has left her senses in shambles.
“There’s no answer. Is my voice too quiet?”
As silence lingers, Gu Yangcheon turns his body to follow the gaze.
“I’m talking to you. So answer me.”
Creeeeak…
“…!”
The killing intent deepens again.
“Before I grab you and bury you, open your mouth, you little punk.”
His harsh language causes the air to thrum. It feels like an earthquake, the surrounding objects trembling in response.
Creeeeak–!! Just as the structure begins to tremble.
“Stop.”
Another figure emerges through the veil of killing intent.
It’s in the direction Gu Yangcheon was looking.
Dang So-yeol quirks an eyebrow as she recognizes the new figure. It’s Ilcheonggeom.
Why is the Blue Dragon Lord here all of a sudden?
“Your Majesty, what on earth is going on…! Is it appropriate to unleash such killing intent here in the branch?”
Ilcheonggeom’s face is filled with confusion. Is it due to the killing intent? Or because he noticed Gu Yangcheon was hiding?
For whatever reason, it feels off.
And what reason could there be for summoning Ilcheonggeom like this?
“Stop it immediately!”
“I’ll ask again. Do you know anything?”
“What in the world are you asking about?”
Ilcheonggeom’s expression scrunches up in disbelief.
“… In any case, I have no idea what you’re asking. I just came here to say something. But you—how can the Grand Lord of the Alliance exude such intense killing intent?!”
His tone is laced with disbelief and suspicion.
Having heard this, Gu Yangcheon falls silent for a moment.
“Yeah, that makes sense. That’s how it should be said. It seems right… So, I guess I’ll just play dumb and go along with it…”
“…What?”
Responding with a fatigued tone, Gu Yangcheon mutters softly.
This is the first time for Dang So-yeol to see Gu Yangcheon’s weary expression.
She has never seen him look so worn out.
“…Your Highness…?”
Dang So-yeol approaches with a concerned expression.
While fearful of the killing intent, she’s not cowardly enough to hesitate.
But as she attempts to approach Gu Yangcheon…
“Ahh… No, forget it… This is getting tiresome.”
Gu Yangcheon whispers a solitary word, then vanishes from his spot.
She doesn’t even perceive it.
Where has he gone? Dang So-yeol frantically scans for any sign of movement.
Creeeak-!
A sound rings out from a nearby spot. Dang So-yeol’s head snaps around.
There they are.
“Huh!?”
Ilcheonggeom and Gu Yangcheon stagger with their heads turned.
Their heads whip back in place, and Ilcheonggeom’s eyes widen.
‘What did just happen?’
A slap? Did he just slap me? By this guy? His cheeks burn, and pain flares up. Grimacing, Ilcheonggeom grits his teeth.
“How dare you–!”
Bam-! Thud-!
“Ugh!”
That time, it’s his stomach.
It feels like something inside is breaking.
Reeling back, he takes a step back. Simultaneously, he channels energy into his danjeon and reaches for his scabbard.
He needs to draw the sword.
But…
‘Huh…?’
Nothing finds its grip around his waist. What’s happening? Ilcheonggeom glances down to where his sword should be. The sword that should be there is completely gone.
“What…?”
“Looking for this?”
“…!”
At the sound of the voice, Ilcheonggeom looks at Gu Yangcheon.
As his mouth parts open.
Gu Yangcheon is holding Ilcheonggeom’s sword firmly in hand. What the heck—
Boom-!
“Gah!”
Gu Yangcheon strikes with Ilcheonggeom’s sword, slamming it into his face.
Ilcheonggeom’s head jerks back, and blood sprays out. He barely keeps his wits about him.
First, he needs to put distance between them. Ilcheonggeom tries to back away, but it feels like his feet are glued to the ground and won’t budge.
Gu Yangcheon is already stomping down on Ilcheonggeom’s instep.
At that moment.
Creeeeak-!
“Geh!”
His head spins again. This time, the impact is far greater than before.
Energies flee his body all at once, affecting his legs too.
Thud. Ilcheonggeom crashes to the ground.
It feels as if his skin is tearing apart.
What on earth is happening? Why am I lying down?
His mind is a complete haze.
Ilcheonggeom can’t comprehend the current situation.
Thud. His sword clatters to the ground in front of him. His own sword.
“I’ll ask you one last time.”
Ilcheonggeom drags his gaze upward towards the voice.
Standing there is Gu Yangcheon, looking down upon him.
“This. Is this your doing?”
His expression remains the same, utterly blank.
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