Chapter: 518
I was slightly taken aback by the words I had blurted out without realizing it.
“What…?”
As soon as Dang So-yeol heard those words, he almost collapsed, so I hurriedly supported him.
Why did he suddenly faint?
I lifted and held Dang So-yeol’s surprisingly light body. If I had left him like that, he would have definitely fallen to the floor.
Dang So-yeol lay unconscious with a pale face.
Up to this point, it was fine.
No, a person passing out is definitely not fine… There was a bigger problem at hand.
‘…What should I do?’
Now that I was supporting him, eyes began to focus on me from all directions.
Dozens of unmanned personnel were stationed around Dang So-yeol’s residence at the moment the incident occurred.
And there we were, Dang So-yeol and I, lost in our own world amidst them.
“…”
It was the perfect moment to be misunderstood.
The tension in the air intensified. A cold sweat began to trickle down my back.
Swish!
The sound of a sword being drawn pierced the silence.
“Hmm.”
I nodded slightly as I listened to the noise.
It seemed that resolving this misunderstanding peacefully was not going to happen.
Immediately after Dang So-yeol fainted.
Dozens of unmanned personnel were starting to exude an intimidating aura, prompting me to carefully set Dang So-yeol down.
After placing him down, I called over the worried servant and told her to take care of Dang So-yeol. The woman hesitated but then cautiously attended to him.
From there, I had to ponder what to do as I faced off against a crowd of unmanned personnel who looked like they were ready to pounce on me.
I had two immediate options.
Either quietly get captured and explain the situation.
Or subdue them all and leave.
The most ideal choice would be the former, but I didn’t have time for that.
So, do I go for the second option?
‘That sounds a bit annoying too.’
I felt a dilemma creeping in.
It’s easy to kill them all.
But subduing each one was quite a tricky job.
I would have to control my strength so that no one got hurt.
‘… Fifteen top-tier fighters and four peak-tier ones. Plus, one really experienced peak-tier one.’
As expected from a prestigious family, the level of these hired fighters was remarkably high.
It looked like they had taken an entire squad from the Tang clan to serve as guards.
If they decided to attack all at once, it would be a real headache.
Seriously, what should I do?
As I clenched my fist lightly and surveyed the area,
I noticed someone cautiously approaching me.
From the way he moved, I sensed he was the highest-ranked one among the deployed personnel.
As I watched him approach, the man suddenly took a stance before me.
“…I am Seong Ui-hyeok, the leader of the guards under the Tang clan. It’s a pleasure to meet the blood relative of the Gu family.”
Ah, so he was indeed a leader.
His level of expertise was higher than I expected, which made me think he was probably a man of influence.
As expected, he seemed to be the commander of the sword squad.
“This is Gu Yangcheon.”
I introduced myself in return.
The man before me appeared visibly tense.
“…Can you explain the situation?”
Upon hearing that, I silently nodded.
Fortunately, it seemed he wouldn’t randomly start swinging his sword.
“…We were talking when Lady Dang suddenly fainted.”
“The young lady just fainted out of nowhere…?”
“Yes.”
Even if I explained it as is, I could tell his eyes weren’t quite believing me.
Of course, I would have doubted it myself.
If I were in his position, I might have started by breaking limbs.
Conversely, this guy named Seong Ui-hyeok, who was trying to have a rational conversation, was exhibiting some unusual demeanor.
“It might sound unbelievable, but it’s true.”
With an awkward smile, I spoke up.
“No, I believe you.”
Seong Ui-hyeok responded with an unexpectedly firm tone.
You believe me? His statement caught me off guard.
“…Yes?”
“The young lady has spoken a lot about the little matters regarding you.”
Seong Ui-hyeok quietly added, “Enough to make me sick of it,” but I pretended I didn’t hear that.
Little matters, huh…
“There weren’t any bad stories, were there?”
“Occasionally.”
“…”
I had half expected a reply like, “Just kidding.” But no such luck.
I raised my eyebrows slightly at Seong Ui-hyeok, and he couldn’t help but smile sheepishly.
“There were plenty of good things too.”
“…Yes, I see.”
At this point, my feelings were a bit hurt.
It felt rather late to rectify that situation.
As I pouted my lips slightly, Seong Ui-hyeok spoke again.
“…At least from what I’ve heard of you, I believe you wouldn’t harm the young lady.”
Maybe it was because that kind of talk irked me. I replied back with a hint of sarcasm.
“Can you really judge me based on just those words? You, the so-called bodyguard.”
If you’re a bodyguard who guards your master, you shouldn’t rely only on that to form a judgment.
Setting aside the fact that this whole situation seemed like it was happening conveniently, I really wasn’t fond of the idea of the woman who was supposed to protect Dang So-yeol acting this way.
Hearing my words, Seong Ui-hyeok instead burst into laughter.
This guy, is he laughing…?
“I didn’t say that to make you laugh.”
“Yes, thanks for your concern. However, hearing that actually makes me feel like my judgment is correct.”
“What are you talking about…?”
“You can see it in the way the young man looks at the young lady.”
“…”
“As much as we value the young lady, I trust the young man wouldn’t fall short either.”
I felt like clicking my tongue silently for a moment at Seong Ui-hyeok’s words.
Damn it, he claims you can tell just by looking into someone’s eyes. Does he think he’s a mind reader?
I averted my eyes slightly.
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, I couldn’t deny it.
It was enough to laugh at that reckless behavior.
This time, Seong Ui-hyeok turned his face away from me once more, adopting a serious expression.
“Please take good care of our young lady from now on.”
“…Yes.”
As I replied, something vaguely started to bubble up inside me.
What can I say?
It was a strange feeling I couldn’t quite put into words.
After spending a few moments in contemplation.
I left Dang So-yeol’s place and began to walk away.
“Hah.”
I wiped the slight sheen of sweat from my brow as I walked.
Fortunately, it seemed the situation had been handled rather well.
Although I was slightly concerned about Dang So-yeol’s sudden fainting spell, after holding him briefly and checking his state, it appeared there was no major issue.
If need be, I might have to consult a physician for an examination.
After all, fainting out of nowhere is quite a strange occurrence.
[…No matter how you look at it, isn’t it your fault?]
“What did I do…?”
[Just accepted that it’s in your nature.]
Why is this old man suddenly starting trouble again?
I wanted to retort but caught myself.
Because now wasn’t the time to engage in verbal tussles with Shin Noya.
I realized the ongoing ruckus from the Tang clan too.
I gazed at the jewel I held in my hand and pondered.
‘If Dang So-yeol says she won’t take this…’
What should I do? I managed to snag it from the elder after all.
I had to consider how to utilize this.
‘Should I just eat it?’
Maybe I should just consume it myself. That seemed the most practical use for it.
Truth be told, I’d rather gulp it down myself.
If I had to pinpoint an issue.
‘It’s just that the conditions don’t match.’
Even though there’s a risk of poisoning since I’m not a woman,
I knew that consuming this wouldn’t bring me any problems.
[You’re suddenly so sure.]
“Yes.”
I could sense my energy ebbing and flowing.
I could fully absorb it by consuming this.
Whether that was due to the effect of the Magic Heavenly Absorption or a transformation caused by shedding my shell, I simply knew.
I could eat this.
The amount of energy contained within the jewel was about as much as a White Horse Stone.
That’s a staggering amount for something labeled as artificially refined.
Furthermore, the point stood—if utilized, the toxin got amplified.
However.
‘If it’s poison…’
The potential risk of being invulnerable to poison while having a faint trace of toxic energy permeate through one part of my body was certainly present.
Using it would be an option, yet it wasn’t essential in the presence of magic.
It would be challenging to integrate it into the martial arts I’d been using.
It was impractical to connect it with my flames.
So, for me, eating this jewel would merely increase my vitality, and it held no other significance.
‘The problem is that now isn’t the time to amplify my energy.’
Right now was not suitable for consuming elixirs.
I still had energy yet to be fully absorbed.
Moreover, I’d need strength to synthesize my physical and spiritual aspects.
With that in mind, an excess of energy would only be a folly.
‘Thus, giving it to Dang So-yeol would have been the best course of action.’
If someone with integrity received it, they might have shattered it for the sake of the fallen victims.
But that wasn’t me.
Whether I knew the magnitude of sacrifice that went into this or what it was made for, it didn’t hold any significance to me.
‘Who cares?’
Why would I be bothered with it?
I didn’t need to feel guilty over the mess others made.
[…I’m regretting everything. This brat is my successor?]
‘Are you very pleased with that?’
[This life is done for…]
What is it with a dead person seeking life’s meaning?
I could understand this old guy’s disdain for me, but this was my way.
I examined the jewel in my hand and considered further.
Dang So-yeol had outright said she wouldn’t eat it. If I was unwilling to consume it either…
“Hm.”
I turned my head and voiced my question.
“Then do you want to eat it?”
Shudder!
As I queried, I noticed someone shiver.
It was Nahi. It made perfect sense; I had called her.
Upon making eye contact, Nahi immediately knelt down.
Her expression seemed oddly different from her usual demeanor.
“Don’t want to?”
“…What do you mean?”
“This artifact was crafted by Iljangro. I have a hunch it might relate to you.”
“…!”
At my words, Nahi quickly raised her head to gaze at the jewel.
She also tightly clenched her fists.
Seeing that, it clicked. Nahi seemed to instantly understand what it was.
Her expression contorted in distress.
I don’t know all the details of how she ended up trapped in servitude by the elder.
All I know is that she was one of those being used as a test subject.
She appeared youthful, yet she had to be of considerable age.
Moreover, she was said to be currently bound by the elder’s constraints.
I hadn’t bothered to ask her more about other matters since I didn’t find them particularly intriguing.
‘I had already broken her marks.’
Having overcome the golden seal along with various bindings by utilizing magic, she should be free from the elder’s restrictions now.
“Do you need this?”
“…”
Nahi’s eyes were now glaring at me, noticeably reddening.
Her expression brimmed with contempt.
This is absurd.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Why was she glaring like that?
In response to my slightly bemused inquiry, Nahi spoke in a gravelly voice.
“…How could I… possibly eat that…?”
“What’s stopping you from eating it?”
“I remember those who passed for it. Yet… you want me to consume something forged from their blood and flesh…!”
Nahi’s voice rose as she shouted.
That could understandably be an excruciating thought for her.
Both Dangdeok and Nahi shared a fierce vengeful spirit towards the Tang clan, especially against those who orchestrated this event.
Revenge for the fallen, perhaps? Something along those lines.
I could understand her mindset.
I grasped the feeling she carried within her.
“So, what’s the reason preventing you from eating it?”
“…You…!”
Crackle!
“Ugh…!”
In retaliation to my words, Nahi was about to retort when the constraints activated, constricting her heart.
The magical bindings prevented her from directly opposing me.
Watching that, I stepped a bit closer to her.
She had her wish; the elder was dead.
The remaining leaders and their henchmen would likely meet a similar fate.
‘I wasn’t the one who did it though.’
I had laid out all the groundwork, but my father had merely stepped in and dealt with it.
In the end, things turned out alright, so it all worked out.
The Tang clan was shaken to its core.
If it reached the Central Plains, it could trigger a storm, possibly displacing the Four Great Houses from their positions.
This incident was substantial enough.
“Hah… Hah…”
Nahi coughed harshly.
I raised her chin with my hand and gently said.
“Honestly, I was just contemplating consuming it myself. But that’d be a waste; I have to check one last thing.”
If it weren’t for Dang So-yeol, the only suitable candidate around here for this would be Nahi.
Looking at the trembling Nahi, I considered.
‘Perhaps the reason Iljangro allowed Nahi to live even with knowledge of her existence is this very matter.’
It was likely she was left alive for potential use as an experiment later on.
If there was one thing that raised a flag, it was.
‘Her age might exceed twenty-five.’
Reflecting on her relationship with Dangdeok, that could be a valid assumption.
Even if I said she passed that mark.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
The emergence of issues wouldn’t be that relevant.
If something problematic arose, I had my own pressed intentions.
Furthermore, even if consuming it led to dire consequences and my demise, ‘it still wouldn’t matter.’
Unlike my gaze toward Dang So-yeol, I now stared at Nahi with a far less empathetic eye.
Had she detected something in my gaze?
Nahi bit her lip.
“…Are you truly going to force me to eat that?”
“Don’t like it? If you consume this, you can become immensely powerful.”
“That’s preposterous! If I had to eat that, I might as well…! I’d rather die at this very moment!”
Nahi’s expression was serious.
Although it might not align with the revenge she sought, ultimately, the people she wished to kill had perished.
A gold medal that explodes your heart?
At this point, it didn’t matter when she died.
Feeling that way, I couldn’t help but grin.
“Why? Now that your revenge is satisfied, it seems like you think it’s okay to die?”
“If you know…! Right now…!”
“Who said your revenge is finished?”
Pause.
Nahi’s countenance stiffened at my words.
“That… what does that mean?”
“The elder has passed away. More nameless old bastards will likely follow. So do you really think your revenge is over?”
“What are you trying to tease me with now…?”
Nahi’s eyes were shaking.
It felt like she was on the verge of collapsing at any second, but she was clearly wavering at my words.
This struck me as amusing.
“Don’t get deluded. Those old geezers were nothing to begin with.”
“That’s utter nonsense…! I witnessed it firsthand…!”
“Sure, you saw something. But what do you really know by just seeing that?”
It was a plan executed without the house owner being informed.
No matter how significant the roles of the elders or the other leaders were within the Great Family,
Could they truly mobilize such plans independently?
Through multiple decades, the events had transpired.
From the time when a figure named Dokgun was around right up until now.
Just by examining that, you could ascertain.
‘You mean to tell me that the Dang clan could secretly ferry that many testing subjects? What lunacy.’
That very assertion was downright laughable.
In retrospect, it’s now possible to link the dots.
Indicating that there might be more to the reason why Dangdeok ended up disgraced.
“No matter how grand the clan, handling such business in secrecy is simply impossible.”
“…What are you…!”
“Unless someone intentionally overlooked it, it’s impossible.”
“….”
Nahi clamped her mouth shut.
Seeing that, I let out a mirthful chuckle.
“You already knew, didn’t you?”
“…!”
At my blunt declaration, Nahi flinched.
Of course, she must have been aware as well.
Even a simpleton like me could surmise certain things from mere fragments.
Unless one was utterly oblivious, it was impossible not to know.
Being cognizant while claiming revenge is concluded inferred that:
“You simply gave up because it seemed overwhelming to continue.”
“…That…!”
Although she was ready to retort and rise in defense, I got my words in first.
“Revenge? On your own? You think that taking down the guys right in front of you can be called revenge? What a ludicrously petty sentiment. In that case, do me a favor and die. I don’t need you here.”
If she wasn’t going to pursue it, it became irrelevant.
Considering I’d only planned to use Nahi temporarily, I could simply discard her now without worry.
As I stated that, I attempted to rise.
“Then what should I do…?”
Nahi screamed.
The seal didn’t activate.
That was possible due to my intentional adjustment to ensure the seals would not be triggered.
“Do you even comprehend who you’re talking to when you say this…! That place is one you can’t mess with…!”
“It’s the Murim Alliance.”
“…!!”
Nahi’s expression widened in shock at the casual proclamation.
Catching sight of that, I let out a laugh.
“Why the surprise? It’s an obvious observation.”
Yeah, that fact was self-evident.
It also accounted for the Tang clan’s ability to manage such clandestine operations. Additionally, it explained how they could conduct such rampant experimentation for as long as they have.
In the end, it indicated an impossibility unless the Murim Alliance chose to ignore it.
Naturally.
‘You mean to tell me that while all those experimental subjects disappeared, not a single missing person case was investigated?’
Though the Tang clan may be affluent, their influence has its limits.
As long as they remained part of the proper faction, they were under the Murim Alliance’s purview.
Given that a grand experiment like this was in the works, the Murim Alliance would have inevitably caught wind of it.
Yet the experiments have been able to continue unhindered thus far?
Then it was merely a surmise.
‘This matter is also intertwined with the Murim Alliance.’
This revelation wasn’t too shocking.
Because I knew that they too were rotting from within.
Nevertheless, Nahi’s reaction to my words was one of sheer astonishment.
“What’s with that look?”
“…How can you say that with such certainty?”
Is my assertion about the Murim Alliance’s involvement really that astounding?
‘Well, I suppose.’
It wasn’t completely unfathomable.
The Murim Alliance, at its core, was an organization representing the upright faction. At least, that’s how it appeared on the surface.
In that context, it would come as little surprise that I, being a part of the righteous sect, directly declared that the Murim Alliance had significantly implicated itself in this vile affair—no wonder Nahi was taken aback.
‘It perplexes me a tad, yet…’
I knew exactly how power-hungry and selfish such people could be.
I just hadn’t expected them to stoop this low.
‘So that’s why Dangdeok turned to the Dark Order.’
The aspiration of Cheonma was to dethrone the Murim Alliance and claim dominion over the world.
It would seem Dangdeok was led here after recognizing that joining the Dark Order would grant him the means to dismantle the Tang clan while simultaneously bringing down the Murim Alliance.
Granted, that remains a hypothesis.
‘Then, this might turn out well.’
It wasn’t a bad proposition.
I turned to Nahi once more.
“In light of this situation, do you still think your revenge has come to a conclusion?”
As I spoke with a playful grin, I could hear the grinding of Nahi’s teeth from across the way.
“…Our adversary is the Murim Alliance. It wouldn’t be something the Young Master is in a position to assist with, would it?”
“It’s a bit odd to say that I’d assist.”
“If you do… then I simply…”
“I have to handle that in any case, so I might as well invite you along.”
“…Yes?”
Upon my casually blurted words, Nahi, who had been growling just a moment ago, wore a blank expression.
She looked as if she had misheard something.
Should I repeat myself?
Then I’d have to clarify again.
“I intend to strike down the Murim Alliance.”
“…!”
“So, if you’re going to seek revenge, do it right.”
I intended to strike the Murim Alliance down.
When I first learned of the Tang clan’s corruption and how the Murim Alliance was connected to it, I resolved that this must be done.
Since the Blood Demon was somehow related to the Murim Alliance, it would be unreasonable to just let it lie.
Therefore.
“Stop pretending to keep your little pride. Just eat what you’re given and assist with the task. Don’t irritate me.”
I had no desire to engage in any further meaningless sentimental dialogue with Nahi.
That had always been the case, and I had never offered Nahi any other options.
If I instructed her, she would comply.
That was the only remaining choice for Nahi, labeled as a pawn.
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