Chapter: 927
A commotion is brewing from the gatekeeper’s side.
I waited quietly, keeping an eye on it.
Gubong was fidgeting for some reason, but that didn’t matter.
After all, I was holding onto his arm to make sure he couldn’t run away.
“Your Highness. What the—!”
The guy looked flustered as I held him captive, but I had to do it.
“You never know. Maybe for safety’s sake, in case you decide to run away?”
“…Where would I even run off to suddenly…?”
“I wouldn’t know about that.”
Besides,
“It’s not like there aren’t chances of catching you if you do escape… but that’s just a bit annoying.”
“…”
To be honest, Gubong’s expression soured almost instantly.
Just around the time we were in a non-fight argument,
Ugh. What’s that?
…Why are they…?
The already calm and cool atmosphere plunged into further stillness.
I could see fear creeping onto everyone’s faces, and the people around us suddenly began to part, making way.
Though it was a voluntary act, it was closer to a panicked retreat to avoid confrontation.
The commotion seemed quite forced and appeared stiff.
And then, beyond the path created,
Thud—!
I spotted someone approaching.
A flag attached to a tall pole, with about a dozen people trailing below it.
I tilted my head as I looked at them.
‘It’s different.’
It’s unlike the White Family or whatever I saw yesterday.
The colors were completely opposite.
They were figures clad in extremely dark black.
What was odd was that all of them had their faces covered, so I couldn’t see their features.
What a bizarre bunch. What is that? I stared at them with confusion.
“…Damn….”
Gubong sighed at the sight of them. I could feel him tensing up in the arm I was holding.
“Why are you acting like this? You said you wouldn’t run.”
His reaction was unusually intense compared to what he just told me.
I chuckled at it.
“Well, you can’t escape anyway, so just stay still.”
“…Let me go. This is not the time for jokes—.”
“Jokes? Who’s joking?”
“…Your Highness?”
He looked at me wide-eyed after hearing my words.
It seemed like he sensed something from my reaction.
“No way….”
“Oh, don’t look at me like that.”
That gaze of his was really burdensome.
“I didn’t mean it intentionally… Well, kind of halfway. I just didn’t know which side was which.”
I didn’t really care about what it was based on the color.
Plus, I didn’t exactly predict it would turn out like this.
It was just that,
“I had a tiny bit of hope.”
It wasn’t a matter of prediction, but rather hope.
The kind of hope that said, “It’d be great if it could go this way.”
This was the moment that hope was realized.
“You…!”
After hearing my answer, Gubong twisted his face and attempted to break free, but I wasn’t planning to let go.
“Oh, just stay still. What are you going to do here anyway?”
“You have no idea… Whatever you’ve figured out, this isn’t going to help the volcano at all…!”
If anything, it’s going to be more harmful.
Gubong shouted that, but
“That’s right. That might be true.”
I cut him off since I already knew that.
“Whatever secret you’re hiding, and even if that secret is poison for the volcano… Yeah, that could be possible. But—”
I lowered my gaze to Gubong.
“But what does that have to do with me?”
“…What?”
“Don’t get it twisted. I’ve never had a single bad intention towards the volcano here.”
Yesterday, I was even furious with them.
At the same time, I’m ready to show my anger towards Gubong.
If you think it was all out of feelings for the volcano, you’re mistaken.
“I am.”
I was angry for Noya.
“I’m not really interested in the volcano.”
I don’t care much about the place you’re staying.
Ruined or not, doesn’t matter to me.
Upon hearing my retort, Gubong’s eyes shook. At the same time, anger began to build in his gaze.
Seeing that, I shrugged my shoulders.
“Anyway, don’t worry. The old man asked me for something, so I’m not planning to mess it up.”
“Really…!”
Gubong couldn’t hold back anymore and tried to blurt out something.
“Long time no see.”
“…!”
At the sound of the voice that interrupted him, Gubong had to shut his mouth.
It was a blunt tone, devoid of emotion, almost like talking from the bottom of a well.
Gubong’s gaze turned.
It was the one in the front from those who had walked earlier.
The face was still hidden, completely clothed in black.
I kind of liked the getup.
“Your Excellency, the Black.”
“…”
Gubong bit his lip and trembled in response to the man’s words.
“The chief is looking for you.”
After hearing that, Gubong forcibly opened his mouth to respond.
“…I… am not the Black Spirit. I will no longer use that name.”
The man didn’t seem to react much to Gubong’s denial.
He simply fell silent for a moment before calmly adding,
“You said you had something to ask regarding this. Let’s go together.”
“Haven’t you heard? I’ve abandoned that name, so I am no longer part of that side.”
Gubong raised his hand to his waist as if making a firm stance.
He seemed ready to draw his sword if necessary.
“I… will not go there anymore. Not even in death.”
“…”
At Gubong’s words, the man looked out from behind his mask and focused his gaze on Gubong.
It seemed like he was contemplating something for a moment.
“The chief said,”
He spoke again to Gubong, as if his contemplation was over.
“If he doesn’t listen, bring him by force.”
“…”
“We just follow his orders.”
“So… in the end, you’re saying you’ll drag me away even if it means using force?”
Crack—
Gubong tightened his grip on the hilt he was holding.
Immediately, I heard a sound coming from the scabbard.
“I am a person of the volcano.”
I could sense determination in his gaze.
It was distinctly different from the last time.
“…I will no longer hold any weak hearts—!”
Boom—!
“Ugh!”
Gubong collapsed before he could finish his words.
That was because I knocked him out from behind.
I caught him as he was rolling on the ground and lifted him roughly.
Then I gave the man a look of disbelief.
“No, this kid was eager to kneel last time, so what’s with the sudden pride now?”
Why is he acting out now when he didn’t balk back then?
So annoying.
“People should have consistency. Seriously, don’t you agree?”
I looked at the man as if expecting agreement, but he only stared blankly at Gubong lying on the ground.
“No reaction. How boring.”
Tsk. I clicked my tongue lightly and threw Gubong aside.
The man caught Gubong effortlessly, as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
Then, at last, he focused his gaze on me.
“What? Do you want to say something?”
“Your Excellency…”
“Did you tell me to bring you too?”
“…Yes.”
“Was it precisely me, or did you want me to bring someone else if they were around?”
“…”
No answer.
It meant he wouldn’t tell.
Well, I wasn’t particularly keen on knowing, anyway.
It was clear he didn’t intend to reveal.
Honestly, I didn’t give much thought.
“Let’s go. Let’s go see that chief or whatever guy.”
I intended to follow along regardless.
That was the whole point of setting this up.
I slowly blended into the crowd.
And followed them toward some deeply hidden destination.
While Gu Yangcheon and Gubong were moving along with someone,
On top of the high fortress walls, someone stood still, watching the scene below.
The eyes vaguely discernible behind the black mask looked down calmly, as if they could take in the whole castle.
Let’s go. Let’s go see that chief or whatever.
Not only did the brown ears perk up in response to the voice, but the tail of the same color attached also flicked.
Without uttering a sound, she watched Gu Yangcheon moving.
He would eventually grow distant and disappear into the depths, out of her sight and sound.
What should she do?
If she continued like this, she’d miss him.
Especially if he entered that darkness; she wouldn’t know what would happen next.
“…”
The woman, silently observing, slightly raised her posture.
She had to follow.
She couldn’t let him get away like this, and she didn’t want to lose him.
With that thought, she intended to slip into the castle.
“Hey.”
“…!”
She quickly distanced herself from the voice that sounded next to her.
However,
“Why do you keep following me?”
Even from a distance, the voice reached her.
Bam—!
“–!!”
Someone’s hand gripped her mask.
And just like that,
Whoooosh—!!!
She shot away from the wall at an incredible speed.
Enduring the wind pressure, she rapidly distanced herself, losing track of just how far she was flung.
Darting out of the territory, when she finally registered, she found herself rolling on the ground.
Her body tumbled across the earthen surface.
As she barely regained her balance, she noticed someone standing right in front of her.
“Hello.”
A woman with black hair gently waved her hand.
“I saw you last time too.”
“…”
“I let you go then.”
The woman tilted her head.
Her expression declared her confusion.
“Why did you come back?”
“…”
“Why are you watching that person?”
“…”
“You.”
In that instant,
“Do you dislike that person?”
Aaaaaaaah—!!!
An enormous energy burst forth from the woman’s shadow.
The erupting force enveloped the ground, causing the dirt floor to start changing color to black.
“…”
The woman remained quiet even while witnessing such a spectacle.
She simply spread her hands, and at that moment, energy began to gather within.
Zzzzzzing—!!
The gathered power soon took the shape of a sword.
“Hmm….”
As she observed it, her purple eyes glimmered.
What a fascinating sight.
Moreover, it seemed familiar, as if she had seen something like it before.
Where was that? She couldn’t quite remember.
It probably wasn’t that important.
The black-haired woman watched and then spread her hands too.
Zzzzzzing—!!
The energy bursting from the ground formed and gathered in her palms.
Eventually, that too transformed into a sword.
“This one seems different.”
Something felt off. She could tell just by looking at it.
Yet,
“It doesn’t matter though.”
Even if it was different, it wasn’t an issue.
Just because the process was different didn’t mean the outcome would be different.
“You. Are you that person’s enemy?”
“…”
No response.
“Is that so?”
With that, she took it as a yes.
“Then that won’t work.”
As she announced this, the woman took a step forward.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!!!
The night bloomed under her feet like flowers.
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