Chapter: 508
“Show me the process and results of using the White Horse Stone on Jegal Hyuk.”
This was what I demanded of the God.
To be honest, I was quite curious. The White Horse Stone was nothing short of an incredible elixir to me.
This effect, however, was only applicable to me—the one who possessed the power known as the Magic Absorption Heavenly Sword.
To everyone else, it was just a white stone, a mere rock.
But…
‘To think you can do something with this.’
The idea that there were alternative uses for the magic stone piqued my interest significantly.
Of course, that doesn’t mean…
‘I didn’t really intend to find out like this.’
This wasn’t something I wanted to know through force.
As I mentioned earlier, this was more about Shin Noya’s wishes than my own.
‘What did he say again?’
Before I went to meet the god, Noya had directly instructed me to make this request.
It was odd. Even though Noya found my actions preposterous, he had never given such direct instructions before.
I had often felt uneasy about the living being interfered with by a dead person.
‘I suppose that means it’s essential.’
If Noya acted this way, it must indicate that it was something of utmost importance.
I made up my mind to carry this out without further retorts.
As for the results, let’s get straight to the point.
‘Half success.’
That’s precisely what I would classify it as—a partial success.
The reason I call it half success is that God initially rejected my request outright.
The main reason was that even if I acquired the White Horse Stone, putting it into practice right away would be a challenge.
Though he said that, I felt a reluctance to fully trust me, along with a hesitation to take action.
I thought about just accepting that and moving on, but recalling that Noya had intervened made me take a firmer stance.
So, as I stumbled slightly while negotiating with the White Horse Stone, God let out a deep sigh and started to ponder.
The time for contemplation wasn’t lengthy at all.
Just long enough for me to sip a bit of tea—slurp.
As that little moment passed, God brought forth a condition.
The first requirement was that I execute this from a safe location, and the second noted that there would be a need for time to gather the remaining materials after obtaining the White Horse Stone.
And then, the third was…
‘Taboo.’
A prohibition that demands silence. The god claimed he would implant it directly into my body.
Is a member of parliament even supposed to do such a thing? Curiosity tickled me a bit.
The issue arose when, at that stark point, it turned out to be Shin Noya who put a roadblock in my plan.
[No further information is necessary. This isn’t something you need to know while walking toward Geumjeong.]
Although Noya told me to drop it, having come this far, I wasn’t going to back down.
“I’ll do it.”
Ignoring Shin Noya’s remarks, I responded to God.
At that, the god wearily nodded, seemingly resigned to my determination.
That concluded our conversation.
If I wanted a safe spot, I could choose Gugaro. My home didn’t appear particularly safe either.
Yet technically, it was the better option.
Without further delay, I handed over the White Horse Stone to God as soon as our talk wrapped up.
It might have been risky, as I hadn’t yet fulfilled the conditions, but I trusted that God wasn’t the type to just consume the stone and vanish into thin air.
Perhaps it was because the White Horse Stone had been so hard to obtain, but God gazed at it with eyes that seemed to finally find some relief.
Was it truly that vital? That I had to endure all this to get it?
‘Will that really cause Jegal Hyuk’s voice to shine?’
What on earth would happen if it did? Just recalling my past life as a wandering soul made bitterness rise within me.
Really…
‘Should I have killed him after all?’
Jegal Hyuk stood at a sort of crossroads for me.
He was a landmark in recognizing and accepting that this place was a different time, freeing me from past life memories.
It was also the spur for me to live differently and to accept those around me.
Not killing Jegal Hyuk meant that to me.
But…
‘Is it truly okay?’
I found myself mulling over the matter.
Is it genuinely fine? Can I really count on Jegal Hyuk not becoming a future threat?
If there’s even a minuscule chance of that, wouldn’t it be safer to eliminate him now?
As I pondered, my heart grew colder with each thought.
“…you.”
The voice of the god quietly broke the silence.
“He lacks special skills, and his temperament makes him quite unappealing.”
“…Why are you suddenly swearing at me?”
His words pierced through me like a striking knife, crinkling my face in annoyance.
Is he going to chide me for being a bully with the White Horse Stone? I was about to grimace even harder when…
“I do not view you negatively.”
“…”
His composed yet firm words made my body tense up slightly.
Because what he just said was entirely different from his earlier insults.
“A person who can’t even hold himself together properly, yet still tries to care for those around him.”
No, that was a misconstrued picture; I was just maneuvering chaotically.
That way, I’d survive in the long run, after all.
“It’s also foolish to mistreat others but carry a sense of guilt and hesitation about it.”
Not once had I felt such guilt.
Those who were meant to be struck down were struck down; those who were to be handled with care were folded in.
I didn’t recall a moment of restraint due to my temperament, so I wondered just what had prompted such assertions from him.
I wanted to retort immediately, yet my words failed to escape my lips.
Why was that?
“Knowing this, I believe there’s a reason behind your actions.”
The actions I took regarding the god and the White Horse Stone.
The god implied there had to be a rationale behind that.
Was it because of that? The thorns embedded in my hand felt especially sharp at that moment. Battling back the rising pain, I addressed the god.
“…You’re seriously delusional. I’m simply a bad person, that’s all. You’re adding absurd reasons to my behavior.”
Regardless of the reasons behind my actions toward God, I must not append any rationale.
Whatever the cause, I bear the responsibility for my deeds.
I wished for God to comprehend that and not to intervene.
I can face whatever comes my way.
That, I believed, was right.
At least for someone like me.
In the eyes of the god gazing at me, I somehow sensed a glimmer of pity.
The thorns within me were expanding in size.
I swallowed them down, ignoring the discomfort.
Just a few seconds, sharing a brief glance with God.
As soon as that fleeting moment passed, the god averted his gaze and spoke to me.
“If you say so, then it must be true. If the conversation is over, you may leave.”
At those words, I cautiously rose to my feet. Having expressed all I needed to, whether to take God to Gugaro would be a topic for another day.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, and evening was upon us, pushing me to hastily return to my quarters.
‘…Because my father would be waiting.’
Ah, I didn’t want to go. That thought flickered through my mind.
As I prepared to exit the god’s premises with a long face…
“This serves as a warning to you, wicked one.”
Just before stepping out, God uttered this.
“…Huh? A warning?”
“Your Majesty. That old man is within these premises. Be careful.”
“…”
The Heavenly King is here?
The sudden pronouncement startled me, causing a wave of surprise within.
Afterward, I struggled to suppress a laugh at God’s words.
“Isn’t that more of a worry than a warning from a god?”
“Get out of here!”
“Sure.”
I laughed lightly as I opened the door, the sound echoing in the corridor.
Before leaving, I slightly bowed my head in respect to God.
Creeeak Thud.
Once the door closed behind me, I set off back to my quarters.
Night had arrived, and lights flickered throughout the winding streets.
Perhaps it was the last conversation we had that weighed on my mind?
It felt as though a stone was settled upon my heart.
‘…Tsk.’
Should I say that the emotions I had kept submerged were forcibly dragged to surface by God?
Those conflicted feelings that arose as I grappled with the thought of whether or not to kill Jegal Hyuk.
Those sentiments lingered on, leaving a disquieting residue.
Smack-!
A sudden slap to my face! Had I struck too hard? A taste of blood filled my mouth as I hastily wiped my cheek clean with the back of my hand.
“Get it together, you idiot.”
Ever since my body changed, I had sensed a shift in my mental state.
Perhaps this was the most profound influence of all.
The more it persisted, the more I needed to gather my wits.
I couldn’t let these emotions cloud my judgment.
‘Who am I?’
This wasn’t some philosophical musing or silly pondering about the nature of existence.
I was the scoundrel of the Gu Clan.
I mustn’t forget that straightforward and clear nickname. That alone remained fixed in my mind.
[…Young one.]
‘Don’t refer to me like that. I’m doing just fine.’
I could sense a thread of worry in Shin Noya’s voice.
I urged him to refrain from such thoughts.
I wouldn’t crumble under such triviality.
Not because I was strong.
I simply wouldn’t collapse because I could not afford to.
I continued on my way, keeping my posture straight, and struggled to calm my mind and body, even while evoking an indifferent facade.
This should suffice.
As I thought that, I found myself arriving back at my quarters.
“…”
I halted.
The moment I stepped into the abode, my steps stilled.
I felt it.
‘It’s warm.’
There was an unmistakable rise in temperature inside the residence.
Cautiously entering, I noticed the intense heat.
The servants outside greeted me with respect, their faces brimming with tension.
But where had the guards from the Tang family, who had been stationed here, gone? That remained a mystery.
At present, that wasn’t of utmost concern.
Navigating the squeaky stairs, I grasped the doorknob and turned it.
The room was undeniably dim, yet somehow it appeared luminously bright.
Two tea cups sat on the table.
And there, in poised stillness, sat someone.
Even just the sight of the piercing red eyes in the shadow told me it was my father.
“…”
Acknowledging this, I tentatively stepped forward.
At that moment—
Fwoosh!
The room suddenly illuminated. A small flame flickered into existence in the air.
Though small in size, its brightness was quite significant—bright enough to make me squint slightly.
Gritting my teeth, I focused on my father.
My father, however, did not direct his gaze towards me; instead, he promptly retrieved something from his robe.
“…!”
Watching him retrieve that object made me involuntarily hold my breath. For the item in his hands was none other than a nightshade.
Why on earth was that in my father’s possession…? My pupils seemed to flutter as if an earthquake was occurring with the startling reveal.
Then, my father pivoted and locked eyes with me.
The moment I met his fierce, bloodshot stare, I felt my body freeze in place.
With my mouth sealed in silence, I gulped down dry saliva.
My father spoke, commanding me, “Sit.”
“…”
At those commanding words, my petrified body moved of its own accord, settling gently into a seat at the table.
Even my knees buckled without my consent, my hands clasped humbly together.
So too did my father take a sip from his teacup as we sat across from one another.
As a tense atmosphere enveloped us, hinting at potential chaos, something ominous was brewing.
Thump.
Having just finished his tea, my father set down his cup and instructed, “Explain.”
“…”
Hearing that, I thought to myself.
No matter the perspective, this should have transpired much sooner.
“Explain.”
I found myself at a loss for words in response to my father’s demand.
I took a deep breath and began to speak as slowly as possible.
As I did so, I wrestled in my mind to combine multiple thoughts into a coherent account.
I had fabricated some excuses beforehand, but I needed to ensure there were no slip-ups as I spoke.
‘Of course, it’s just an excuse.’
Damn it.
Who would’ve guessed that my father would retrieve the nightshade I had handed to Baekhwasangdan?
When on earth did he go and collect it?
Because of that, I had to rearrange my explanation on the fly as I spoke.
Thus, the tale (excuse) I spun for my father began with chance, explaining how I had accidentally fallen into the lake and stumbled upon the Tang family’s memorial tablet situated there.
From there, I somehow acquired a surplus of nightshade and Dokcheon-dan, claiming that consuming the Dokcheon-dan had led to my transformation.
Furthermore, I had even managed to carry the nightshade out and sell it to Baekhwasangdan.
But then troubles brewed.
I gathered intel that the Tang family was embroiled in some peculiar affairs at their memorial site.
Fearing that my companions would be caught in whatever mess was unfolding, I sought to warn the Poison King in order to prevent it.
“…”
As I continued weaving my narrative, letting one word lead to another.
Deep down, however, I recognized that it was all a farce.
My account was riddled with inconsistencies and gaps.
Simply put, transforming from consuming Dokcheon-dan was no piece of cake. Why on earth did I trek all the way to Dokcheon Lake only to fall into it?
Moreover, how did I even stumble upon the memorial site after falling into the lake?
What led me to deduce that Tongmun was engaging in strange activities at a site I had no notion of prior to this?
The more I spoke, the more I felt like I was in trouble.
If I were my father, he would likely be astounded by the utter absurdity of my claims.
Additionally, stating I’d sold the nightshade procured from the Tang family at the upper tier made it akin to confessing I had stolen their goods.
‘…This is going sideways.’
I truly hadn’t anticipated my father showing up, prompting me to initiate this messy affair. Had I known it would become this convoluted, I would have sought out a different strategy—even if it took longer.
‘Now what?’
Finally, having delivered my account, I glanced at my father’s expression.
He hadn’t interrupted my explanation once; instead, he silently listened throughout.
Only once my tale finished did he take a sip from his tea.
Having moistured his mouth, he narrowed his eyes and looked at me.
At that moment, it felt as if all manner of tension made itself known to me.
There was a good chance I’d be in for a scolding. The last time my father hit me was during our last spar—we might just add one more to my record in this life.
I began scanning my surroundings, pondering upon ways to bear the brunt of any impending punishment with as little pain as possible.
“How is your body?”
“…Huh?”
The question that slipped from my father’s lips caught me off guard.
“How does it feel?”
“I heard I’ve had a complete transformation… The condition is favorable, according to…”
I was momentarily bemused by the unexpected query, stumbling slightly in my response.
“…The deity took my pulse and told me everything was okay…”
It wasn’t a lie; I had indeed just visited God moments ago.
“Understood.”
Father nodded, seemingly pleased with my answer as his narrowed eyes relaxed slightly.
But that sense of reassurance proved fleeting.
Crunch.
I felt a tightening sensation around my heart. The air thickened.
As I opened my eyes wide, I met an unknown dread.
“It’s also true that someone administered poison to you,” my father said.
“Third.”
“Ehh… Yes.”
“Taking measures as a means to ensure the Poison King had a reason for such actions was wise.”
That’s right.
I felt my shoulders slump under the weight of his unyielding presence.
The pressure from my father bore down on my frame.
‘…Crap.’
I’d thought I had grown significantly stronger, yet here I was, still unable to withstand the pressure, biting down on my lip.
“I’ll need to reprimand you for attempting to poison yourself for such a cause.”
“…I’m so—”
Ah, so thrilling yet ominous.
As I contemplated that, my throat constricted tightly.
SWISH.
Suddenly, my father stood up. I thought he was about to strike me, and I quickly raised my gaze to follow him.
“First.”
His gaze, however, was directed not at me but towards the door.
“Before that, it seems someone else desires to administer punishment to you first.”
“…My lord?”
I called out to my father, sensing something peculiar, but he remained silent as he stepped out the door.
Whoosh! The door that was untouched swung open on its own.
Creeeak.
The moment my father took a step into the doorway—
Fwoosh—!
“…What?”
Light poured in.
I could clearly see it.
The dark sky that had been hosting the moon had suddenly transformed into a cerulean brilliance.
The sun.
That same sun that should have been resting at this hour now loomed in the air without warning.
I stood there, dumbstruck at such an absurd sight.
“Wait here.”
With his characteristic expression, my father looked at me and commanded.
Whoosh.
Gradually, my father’s black hair changed color, turning to the same crimson hue as his irises.
It was a battle stance of my father—one I had never before witnessed, even in my past life.
“I’ll return before your tea cools.”
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