Chapter: 608
What did I just hear?
My mind went completely blank, and I couldn’t think straight.
’Who is who?’
And, who did what?
It felt like the world had stopped when those words reached my ears.
“What did you just say?”
I asked the princess back.
I had to ask again.
And it had to be my misunderstanding.
I must have misheard.
It absolutely has to be that way.
I keep wishing and hoping for it to be true, but…
[They said that a man named Jamryong Woohyuk led the rebellion.]
Well, it seems like I didn’t mishear after all.
“….”
Countless words came to mind, but none could escape my lips.
I had to somehow organize my thoughts.
It was incredibly complicated, but it was high time to sort things out, no matter what.
Yeah, it was definitely and absolutely that kind of moment.
’What did that guy Woohyuk say?’
That thought just wouldn’t settle.
It was that shocking, after all.
’What did that little Woohyuk say?’
What did he say? Did he call me an outsider?
I couldn’t tell if it was a name or a title.
But anyway, what I gathered was that this guy named Biwegun instigated the rebellion with the backing of the Binggung bloodline.
That…
’Is that Woohyuk?’
And to top it off, the claim that he was from a well-known family in the North Sea meant he wasn’t of Central Plains blood, but rather from the North Sea.
It was as if a person from Bukhae managed to worm his way into the Central Plains and ended up mingling with the shamans.
How in the world is that even possible?
No, let’s leave that aside for now.
“Is that really true?”
First off, I needed to ascertain whether what the princess said was valid or not.
[Why? You think it’s a lie?]
“It’s not something you can easily believe.”
[I see. That could be possible.]
That caught me off guard.
So, he really was from Bukhae.
And it’s claimed he’s of a prestigious lineage.
And not to mention, the fact that a guy who seemed devoid of any greed or desire turned out to be a traitor…
To me, all that was simply unbelievable.
With such thoughts swirling around, I stared at the princess with wide, bewildered eyes.
[I understand that you find this unbelievable. It must be a sudden revelation.]
The princess continued to speak to me.
But the issue was…
Damn it.
Just then, I heard a peculiar sound in the vicinity.
“…?”
The chill surrounding us became markedly thicker.
The cold looked hazy, almost like fog.
But I could detect its subtle shape shifting.
What had once been round was now becoming sharp.
And the pressure on my shoulders was increasing.
Feeling all of this, I furrowed my brows.
“What’s going on here?”
I glared at the princess, who answered while looking at me.
[As you said, this may come as a surprise. However, the situation isn’t looking good.]
“Ha.”
I let out a dry laugh at that remark.
Only then, amidst the changing atmosphere, could I realize what was unfolding.
I locked gazes with the princess.
Her eyes remained annoyingly piercing. I remarked while looking at them.
“So, you’re saying I have my doubts too?”
[This is just a simple confirmation.]
“Does this look simple? You’re clearly planning to devour people.”
I thought it was quite the emergency, considering the princess sought me out as soon as I woke up.
‘Was the interrogation her intent from the start?’
My mood soured all of a sudden.
It was too rude to call it just a simple greeting.
And it had too much formality to be deemed an interrogation.
Damn it.
Could it be the cold was messing with my senses?
Gradually, I felt a slight freezing sensation starting from my toes.
Woohoo-!
Within me, the ring of the Nine Flame Wheel Gong began rotating of its own accord.
Instinctively, heat circulated to fend off the cold.
What in the world is happening right now?
’Hell, this is a nightmare.’
It’s tough just to keep my sanity intact.
All sorts of ridiculous things keep cropping up.
“Princess.”
Ignoring the biting chill, I spoke to her.
“Do you have any idea why I’m here?”
My voice carried a weight of emotion.
[I do know.]
I burst out laughing again at those words.
“You do?”
I’m a noble who came from the Central Plains to rescue the princess.
It felt downright absurd for me to call myself a noble, but…
To her, I must appear as one.
But then…
“Knowing that, why do you treat me like this?”
The pressure tightened around me to the point that I could barely breathe.
The cold air swirling around my neck was shaped like a blade.
“Is this how you treat your guests? Is this the North Sea’s usual way of welcoming?”
How could one treat the very person who came to save their life in such a manner?
This was practically an act of hostility!
[Lord Confucius.]
The princess addressed me.
I decided against replying.
[I believe you can indeed lift this curse.]
“I don’t know. I have to give it a shot to find out. How could I possibly know?”
I treated Mo Yong-hee quite differently.
Currently, the princess’s condition is miles apart from that past encounter.
As I mentioned beforehand, I couldn’t be certain.
[Indeed, certainty is not something to be assumed.]
“Is that the crux of the issue?”
Not knowing if I could treat her appropriately was a concern.
Was that what was bothering her?
[No, that’s not really a problem.]
With that statement, the cool breeze thickened yet again.
[In the first place, whether or not treatment was possible, that wasn’t what mattered at all.]
“What do you mean by that?”
[He’s not foolish enough to trust his body to someone he suspects whatsoever.]
The princess’s vertically split light-blue pupils gleamed ominously.
[I never intended to seek treatment in the first place.]
“What?”
Hearing that, I involuntarily replied.
Wait, what did that person just say?
’Not intending to seek treatment?’
What kind of strange nonsense is this?
It didn’t quite compute.
If the princess truly has no intention of being treated…
“Then, why did you come to me?”
What brings me here right now?
“Did you really seek me out for interrogation purposes?”
Did she come looking for me just because I’m connected to Woohyuk?
As various questions buzzed in my mind…
[The initial reason was curiosity.]
I heard the princess say.
[I was curious about you as mentioned by the princess and, remembered a familiar presence I felt ages ago.]
Oh, familiar presence?
’Is she referring to the Nine Fire Wheel Gong?’
So she’s met my father! That makes sense now.
[The second reason was because of the mention of friendship.]
“Does this mean you’re implying this is an interrogation?”
[I believe confirming this won’t hurt.]
The princess didn’t reject my implications.
Now it seemed the situation indeed warranted an interrogation.
‘Please do answer correctly,’ she added.
Now it had thickened to the point where I could literally feel it on my skin.
Damn it.
It was starting to feel frosty.
An unsettling and annoying sensation crept over me.
It felt like insects crawling on my skin.
And it’s just cold air, yet somehow, it feels revolting!
[I don’t want to harm a friend’s child.]
“…”
Now that was a chilling threat if I ever heard one.
It seemed the princess was not merely threatening me; her aura had intensified, aimed directly at me.
Looking over the scene, I asked.
“You said you were friends with my father, yet is it acceptable for you to act this way?”
[Even if he is my friend, that doesn’t obligate me to spare Prince Gu.]
“What a painfully cold response.”
A friend is a friend, and a son is a son. That’s the message, right?
Just as expected from the Ice King; drawing lines like it’s his hobby.
[I must inquire.]
[Are you truly friends with Biwegun?]
Hearing that, I nodded cautiously.
It seemed like a somewhat peculiar question.
If Woohyuk is indeed part of Biwegun, then he must be aware I’m friends with him too.
So, the question here would be… whether I ‘participated’ in the rebellion led by Biwegun or not?
But wait, that wasn’t it. Are we really friends?
Look at this?
Squinting, I gazed at the princess.
Why is she asking in such a convoluted way?
The conclusion struck me quick.
That’s likely the real inquiry.
’Are you still friends even now? Is that what you’re asking?’
Even knowing about the treason…
Does that mean we’re still buddies?
The princess’s question would pertain to that.
To phrase it more discerningly…
Will I sever ties with Woohyuk and side with her?
Or will I maintain the friendly bond we have?
That would seem to be the more fitting perspective.
With that in mind, I directly inquired of her.
“If I say I’m still friends with him, what would you do?”
[Hmm…]
Damn it-!
The ice creeping up my feet solidified further.
[Well, I hope you’re not too curious about it.]
“Ha ha.”
I think I got the idea without needing you to spell it out.
If I say ‘yes’ here, it pretty much suggests she’s not going to let me off the hook without a fight.
I nodded knowingly.
Up to here, it makes sense.
Then…
“Princess.”
[Please, go ahead.]
“By any chance, did you have my friends interrogated in this very same manner?”
Upon posing the question, I noticed a minute change in the princess’s gaze.
She looked as though she hadn’t anticipated such a question from me.
A brief silence fell over us.
Meanwhile, I maintained my focus on the princess’s eyes.
After waiting a few more seconds…
She furrowed her brow for a moment, and at last spoke.
[If that were the case, then what would I…]
But before she finished her sentence…
“Then you, die here with me.”
Heat exploded forth from my body.
Whoosh whoosh—!!
Deep within my heart, the Nine Flame Wheel Gong spun rapidly, puffing out against the chill around me.
A burst of blue flames erupted across my shoulders.
Hwaruk-!
The blue flame spread out, consuming the cold air aimed at me.
Smash-!
The ice binding my feet shattered, unable to halt my advance.
I marched forward defiantly and declared to the princess:
“Answer correctly. I can genuinely kill you.”
I could hardly contain myself.
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