Chapter: 401
Cheeks covered in freckles.
He’s shorter than me and about two years old.
At first glance, he seemed just like an ordinary attendant, but I could tell.
‘He’s the Dark King.’
That man’s true identity is the Dark King.
I felt uncertain until I heard his voice, but after that transmission, I was convinced.
Plus,
‘There’s a sense of incongruity all over.’
Once I realized that, I could feel a strange dissonance.
The vibrations I sensed in my arm mirrored that feeling.
‘… What the hell is this?’
Is there a heart in that scaly part? It’s pounding like crazy.
Why is it like this?
I made an effort to ignore the vibrations and looked at the Dark King.
The Dark King appeared flustered under my gaze, breaking into a cold sweat.
No, he was just pretending.
‘Why are these people such great actors?’
Both the Venerable Pae and the Dark King had incomprehensible acting skills.
As I stared at the Dark King, my gaze naturally shifted to Venerable Pae.
It was as if I was wondering what the heck was going on.
I even started to question if Venerable Pae was aware of this situation.
‘This old man…’
Seeing the smirk on Venerable Pae’s face as he looked at me made it obvious.
This man knew something too.
‘So the Dark King and the Venerable Pae have some kind of connection?’
I don’t know what kind, but it didn’t seem normal.
Moreover, I was completely baffled about why the Dark King was here.
Trying hard to avoid the Dark King’s gaze, I asked Venerable Pae.
– What’s going on…?
– What are you talking about?
– I’m asking why he’s over there.
– Don’t worry about it. He’s just one of the attendants.
– What does that mean…? Are you feeling ill?
I know he’s the Dark King, yet he tells me to ignore that and think of him as a servant.
What kind of insane nonsense is this?
Dumbfounded, I pressed him for answers, but Venerable Pae just replied casually.
– Well, I happen to have a favor to ask, so that’s why.
– A favor…?
At Venerable Pae’s words, my mind spun wildly.
A favor from the Dark King?
– Who the hell are you planning to kill?
That was the only thought that sprang to mind.
Honestly, I thought the only thing I could ask of the Dark King would be something like that.
Hearing my remark, Venerable Pae frowned slightly, then stared at me.
– How can you be thinking… Hmm…
He started to blurt out a retort as if I was talking nonsense, but then he tilted his head with a thoughtful expression.
Why is he acting like that?
– …It’s probably somewhat similar?
– …Excuse me?
– Hmm, I guess it’s roughly similar. Just think of it like that.
What on earth does that mean?
So, are you saying that the Dark King is indeed going to kill someone?
It felt bizarre that Venerable Pae would ask such a thing from the Dark King.
I didn’t bother to pry any further.
Everyone has their own circumstances. For me, all I had to do was learn martial arts from Venerable Pae.
He mostly just hoped I’d fully develop my martial arts skills, so that was the extent of our relationship.
Should we say that it’s awkward for us to call each other master and disciple?
At least that’s how I perceived my relationship with him.
A mentor-mentee relationship forged out of necessity.
A truly peculiar relationship I had never encountered before.
So, it did leave me a bit concerned that the Dark King was mingling with this group and heading to the Four Heavenly Kingdoms together.
If it weren’t connected to me, it would have been fine.
But still,
‘Could it really be unrelated?’
I mused, just a smidge curious.
‘The Dark King hails from Yeonga, after all.’
It’s not just any random circumstance; I discovered that the Dark King is actually a descendant of Yeon Il-cheon, and Sacheon was a place that still bore traces of Yeonga.
With the Dark King heading there, I had to feel a peculiar sensation for multiple reasons.
‘But… am I right about this?’
As I contemplated each detail, the state of the group leaving for Sacheon felt slightly off.
From the Poison King, head of the Tang family—known as the ruler of Sacheon—to the Dark King, the King of Assassins.
Even Venerable Pae, one of the three highest-ranking figures among the Central Plains warriors.
When I noticed that everyone departing for Sacheon resembled a band of misfits up to no good,
‘At least we won’t get ambushed.’
As far as safety goes, it was at a certain level.
In this situation, unless the Dark King suddenly decided to slaughter everyone, there was little else that could go wrong.
Besides, who would be crazy enough to attack the Tang family’s convoy?
Even if that were to happen, I figured there wouldn’t really be much to worry about.
It seemed the Poison King had brought an impressive force to escort the criminals to Sacheon.
Had he known that both the Venerable Pae and the Dark King were part of this group, I wondered if he would have assembled such a hefty force.
Probably not, right?
As I contemplated this, I began to distance myself from the Dark King.
Just then, someone approached and wrapped their arms around my neck.
“…?”
Rather than embracing, it felt more like being restrained.
Just as I was about to push them away, I hesitated upon catching a familiar fragrance wafting from behind.
“Brother, are you really going?”
This scent belonged to Gu Hee-bi.
“What are you doing, sis?”
“Are you really going to such a far-off place? Aren’t you coming home with your sister?”
“I have to go.”
“Home?”
“No, to Sacheon.”
At my response, Gu Hee-bi tightened her grip around my arm.
“What on earth are you doing?”
“Oh, you’ve been wandering outside too much. You really went through puberty the wrong way. You used to be so cute.”
Hearing Gu Hee-bi’s words left me dumbfounded.
“What do you mean, ‘wrong way’?”
I wasn’t even at the age to be going through puberty!
Besides, whatever strangeness applied back then, the claim that I was cuter during those times was something I couldn’t wrap my head around.
I let go of Gu Hee-bi’s arm casually and looked at her.
She frowned deeply, clearly displeased.
Seeing that expression made me sick, as it felt like she was merely pretending to be cute.
Has she completely forgotten her age?
Why is this grown woman acting like this?
“I really don’t like it…”
“My older sister.”
“Huh?”
“Are you ever getting married? Isn’t it past the right age?”
“…”
I asked that out of sheer curiosity, pondering Gu Hee-bi’s age.
Her expression changed instantly upon hearing the question.
It was as if I’d provoked a vengeful spirit.
Confirming that look, I took a small step back and said,
“… No, I just… asked out of curiosity…”
“Little brother, do you want me to burn your hair? Just say the word; I’m quite good at that.”
“Sorry.”
She seemed genuinely furious; her expression was not one to brush off.
I was merely curious—it seemed my inquiry had been taken the wrong way.
‘Well, it’s not the age but that crazy personality of hers that makes her undateable.’
Though the desire for marriage was bursting at the seams,
Gu Hee-bi hadn’t been engaged or married… or rather, she wasn’t able to be.
Recalling how she didn’t marry in my past life made me ponder if she planned to grow old as a spinster.
Though that might not have mattered as such characters were reportedly widespread among warriors,
Her intense reaction hinted that she must have been concerned about such matters.
“If you say you’re going home, I’ll let you go.”
“That’s impossible.”
“How firm! It’s infuriating.”
Gu Hee-bi clicked her tongue at my reply, turning her head away.
She walked off toward where the Gu Clan members were gathered, as if she had nothing more to say to me.
“Come or go, do as you please.”
The sharp tone she shot back while walking away remained unchanged.
When in the world will that girl soften up?
It’s probably unlikely.
‘It’ll probably remain unlikely.’
If she was born with this personality, I figured it wouldn’t change.
Right after Gu Hee-bi departed,
Someone emerged as if they had been waiting for their turn: Iljangro.
Why do they keep coming one after another? It would have been more convenient if they all arrived at once.
I frowned as I looked at Iljangro approaching me. He, too, frowned upon seeing my expression.
“…Your face has soured the moment you lay eyes on me. What kind of manners is that?”
“What are you trying to give me now? I’m not accepting anything.”
“Hah, do you think I’d give you a gift because you’re so charming?”
“Whether you give it or not, the real problem is that it’s not really a gift.”
Whenever I met Iljangro, I couldn’t help but recall that every single item he offered brought about some kind of trouble.
It was obvious that it would be the same this time; I adamantly resolved to refuse him.
I glared at Iljangro with that determination, and just as expected, he pulled something out from his robes.
Upon seeing that, I immediately shouted at him.
“Oh, I won’t accept it! Hey, hey! What are you giving me this time?”
“What’s wrong with you? Do you think I’m doing this because I want to!?”
“Then just don’t give it to me!”
I got into a pointless quarrel with Iljangro.
Whatever that item was, I resolutely refused to accept it.
Why does this guy keep offloading his problems onto me?
As I struggled to escape from accepting whatever it was, Iljangro tossed me a parting remark.
“This isn’t from me; it’s from your father.”
“…Excuse me?”
“It’s a shame for a pair of father and son to be so useless. Making an old man run errands for them.”
Though Iljangro complained, my mind was fixated on what he held in his hand.
‘My father?’
Why on earth is my father giving me something?
As I contemplated his words, I glanced over at my father. Our gazes met, as he was looking this way too.
In that brief moment, our eyes locked, but he averted his gaze from me first.
Seeing that, it seemed that Iljangro’s words might be true after all.
‘What on earth is this?’
After verifying that much, I accepted the item. If it wasn’t Iljangro giving it, I supposed it wouldn’t be an issue.
…It looked like an ordinary metal plate.
“What the heck is this?”
“I don’t know. The head of the family asked me to pass it to you.”
“Then why don’t you just deliver it yourself? What…?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. If you’re really that curious, you can go ask him yourself.”
“No, that sounds….”
“Ha ha… Rich folks arguing endlessly.”
Iljangro shook his head, looking exasperated.
It had improved compared to before, but it still felt awkward asking my father such a thing.
‘… There must be some purpose to giving this.’
Thinking that, I carelessly tucked the plate into my robe.
Surely, I didn’t think they’d give me anything harmful.
“What will you do when you return, Elder?”
“What do you want me to do? I’ll just lounge around and sleep.”
“…Ah, I see.”
Now that I think about it, if you had to choose the busiest person in the family, the first place would go to my father,
And the second would be Iljangro.
The old man was so lively in his old age that it seemed he was always heading out for tasks.
While observing Iljangro, I pointed discreetly at someone with my fingertips. This was a personal inquiry.
“Then… are you really taking him with you?”
Iljangro’s gaze followed my finger’s direction.
At my finger’s tip stood none other than Gujeol-yeop, wearing a rather grim expression.
Upon seeing that, Iljangro’s expression slightly twitched.
The reason I specifically asked about Gujeol-yeop was that he mentioned he wouldn’t be joining this trip to Sacheon.
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