Chapter: 613
What is it? Why is he reacting like that?
“Your fiancée…? Do you know who she is?”
“How would I know? I just heard that there is one.”
“Ah….”
He doesn’t look so good.
I have no idea why he’s acting like this, but it’s clear he didn’t even know he had a fiancée.
Does this guy really have one?
“Well, this isn’t an important conversation, so let’s move on.”
“No, I think we still need to discuss this…!”
“Is there anyone who still raises suspicion?”
I asked while increasing my pace a little.
At this, I could feel Yuri’s grip tightening on her collar.
Suspicion—that’s what I asked Yuri when I first came to the North Sea.
At this point, with things twisted this badly, it seemed likely there was someone in the bloodline who participated in the rebellion. I asked if there were any suspicious figures.
When I asked, Yuri answered there was no such person.
“Things might have changed by now, right?”
“…”
It’s now become certain there’s someone among the blood relatives plotting treason.
So, I asked again.
“…That…”
Yuri’s reaction was strange.
“I guess someone does come to mind?”
It seemed like there was indeed something lurking in her thoughts.
“…No.”
“I’m serious. If you don’t tell me, I’ll really leave you behind.”
“…”
I really meant it this time.
If you aren’t even going to say this, then it might be better to just drop it entirely.
“Hmm.”
Still, no answer came.
At that moment, I was just about ready to let it go when—
“Well, that’s not a definite story.”
Only then did Yuri decide to speak.
“It’s just a suspicion…”
“What are you dodging for? I asked earlier if anyone seemed suspicious.”
Who asked for the right answer? It was a choice-based question from the start.
“…”
Yuri hesitated a moment at my words, then finally hesitantly said something.
“…Lee Gongja.”
“Lee Gongja?”
Isn’t that the person said to be the second child of the princess?
“Why?”
“Because he’s the most likely…”
After hearing Yuri’s words, I nodded slightly.
It was convincing enough reasoning.
Most of the time, the eldest son inherits the position in the family.
The tale of the second son drawing his sword to obtain that position.
It’s a story told far too often.
The second son, harboring resentment, helps the rebellion.
In some ways, that’s the most sensible conclusion.
“You’re not suspecting him just because of that, are you? Right?”
“…”
From Yuri’s reaction, it didn’t seem likely that was the only reason.
That’s what I meant when I inquired.
“…My older brother, Lee Gongja, has always been quite dissatisfied.”
That’s right.
As expected, Yuri continues to elaborate on her reasoning.
“Although Prince Il-gongja was already assigned the position of princess consort… in terms of talent, Lee Gongja was more outstanding.”
“So, that’s why he was so dissatisfied.”
“Yes. He often lamented that he couldn’t become a princess because it was decided for him right from birth.”
So after hearing that blood relatives participated in the rebellion, did she immediately think of Lee Gongja?
‘That certainly makes enough sense to be suspicious.’
The second son is remarkably gifted.
The first son, despite being less talented, still received his place simply by being the eldest.
Thus, the second son becomes resentful and rebels.
‘I’ve heard this tale too many times.’
I nodded.
This is information worth storing in memory.
I added a little strength to the hand I was about to let go of.
“Ha…”
At that moment, Yuri sighed.
It seemed she realized she could be in danger.
I noticed it last time too; she seems to have quite the intuition.
Time has stretched to around half an hour, maximum.
As a surge of energy built up, I decided to pick up the pace a little more.
“…Can I ask you something?”
In the meantime, Yuri directed a question towards me.
“What is it?”
Is she going to ask about the engagement?
That’s what I thought for a moment.
“How did you manage to leave the hideout?”
“What?”
My focus almost shattered from the unexpected question.
“What do you mean? How did I come out?”
I just came out, so how does one elaborate on that?
As I expressed my incredulity, Yuri continued with a strange expression.
“The hideout… it has high-level magic woven into it. Unless you’re blood-related or know the designated path, entering or moving around would be quite challenging…”
“…What?”
I frowned at Yuri’s words.
Magic? It’s not merely a tactic; it’s magic.
‘Isn’t that something used by a deity?’
A few years back, I witnessed this technique when treating Zhuge Hyuk with the White Horse Stone.
I recall it feeling similar yet distinctly different from what I’ve seen others use.
It didn’t follow complicated calculations like an algorithm.
Instead, waving my hands a few times conjured a mystical sight alongside the energy.
Immediately thereafter, the White Horse Stone used as a sacrifice vanished, and Zhuge Hyuk could speak.
Despite Shin-ui being unconscious for more than half a month, there was no denying it was a remarkable power.
How could that happen? I had asked that question, yet the deity did not provide an answer.
Such power.
‘You were in that cave?’
I felt nothing at all?
It wasn’t merely difficult to navigate; it felt shockingly easy to trot about and even locate the entrance.
‘…Wait.’
While I pondered this, a memory of when I parted from the White Lotus Sword surfaced.
On the day I left, the White Lotus Sword seemed to have chosen not to follow for some reason.
Back then, I thought it was simply due to a lack of intent to keep me tethered.
‘What if it just lost track of me?’
If it missed me because it couldn’t catch up, then that logic held.
Moreover,
‘No wonder I felt there were too few escorts around.’
It felt as if there were strikingly fewer guards stationed inside and outside the hideout.
Initially, I thought it might be attributed to the need for a hurried evacuation, reducing their numbers.
However, if this too was feasible thanks to magic, then it squares with what I felt.
The problem is.
‘Why didn’t I feel it?’
If what Yuri said is accurate, I should’ve sensed something.
How could I have sensed nothing?
As doubts passed through my mind,
Tap.
I halted my stride abruptly.
“Old ball–?”
“…Stay quiet.”
Yuri cut off my inquiry.
“I believe we’ve reached the destination.”
“Yes?”
Upon hearing me, Yuri widened her eyes.
“…Here?”
“Yep.”
“There’s… nothing here?”
Snow was still raging beneath the blackened sky.
It obscured the view, preventing even an inch of sight.
In the midst of that, only a vast snow-covered plain surrounded us, so it was only natural for Yuri to regard it as strange.
“No. This is definitely the right place.”
I could tell.
Whoosh.
I reached out.
Waving my hand forward slightly.
Thud—!
I felt something at my fingertips. At first, I believed it was a barrier, but contrary to that, it felt like rippling waves.
Is this a formation?
Or something else?
I’m not sure yet, but there’s one thing for certain.
‘Can you feel this?’
The very fact that I am sensing subtle sensations coursing through my body that I wouldn’t have felt before is evident.
Instead, I must stare at Yuri with curiosity.
How can she not feel such rich and vivid sensations?
No, originally, I wouldn’t have felt this either.
When Namgung Bi-ah severed the formation of the Black Night Palace.
When Woohyuk discovered the secret entrance of Shinryonggwan.
Unlike them, I could not sense such things.
If this is how I feel now…
Something feels different.
Tsk…
The moment I roused my true self, something seemed to have shifted within me.
How fascinating.
‘Is this what it feels like?’
What do you hear or smell amid the formation?
Previously, I could not comprehend this bizarre talk. Recently, however—
‘No, I still can’t wrap my head around it.’
The smells, sounds, and words are still lost on me.
At least I feel a vague understanding of it now.
Immediately, I looked at Yuri and asked.
“Do you know where this is?”
“…I don’t know.”
Yuri shook her head in response.
Given our surroundings of purely snowfield, there was no way she could pinpoint this location.
Especially having walked relying solely on energy, it’s understandable she couldn’t know.
“Really, this is the destination you’re sure of?”
“Yes.”
It lies beyond this point.
Boom—! Boom—!
I began to sense vibrations assuredly beyond this point.
Whew—!
I released my energy and spread it out.
It may be wise to check for enemies lurking. Sadly, I didn’t feel any.
I swirled the rippling waves with my hands a few more times.
Afterward, I thought about diving deeper.
Crackle-!
An unknown pressure pushed my hand away.
“Hmm.”
What should I do?
It seems I can’t just walk in.
‘Can’t I squeeze through like those fellows?’
Like Namgung Bi-ah and Woohyuk did by slicing through it?
With that intention, I gazed at the waves ahead.
‘No matter how much I look, I can’t see a way…’
Sadly, I didn’t see anything like that.
Then what should I do?
I can’t simply let it pass.
I don’t see any openings to breach through.
Should I give dismantling this a shot?
I found it certain that trying that kind of stuff would likely end up in failure, let alone furthering my success tonight.
Then what should I do?
Should I head back like this?
‘That can’t be.’
Since I’ve come this far, there’s no turning back.
Moreover, I can feel the vibrations coming from beyond.
The essence is sensed beyond this membrane.
Am I supposed to head back knowing that?
How could that be logical?
“Old Confucius…?”
I twisted my waist slightly.
Clenching my fist.
‘Will this work?’
I’m not sure.
Even while taking action, I questioned myself.
How to wield this? Can I wield it again? I’ve yet to realize or understand any of it.
I simply believe.
I believe I can pull this off.
That’s all there is to it.
“When all else fails…”
I’ll just take the simplest route.
If the brain can’t fathom, just smash it.
That has always worked best for me.
Vroom—!
Something surged forth from my heart, enveloping my fist.
In an instant, an overwhelming emptiness engulfed me.
Feeling it.
“Just go primal.”
I directly extended my fist towards the waves.
Heart Technique.
WHAM-!
A catastrophe erupted from the tip of my fist.
KUUUUNG—!!
Suddenly, a massive vibration rippled through the surroundings.
As a result…
“…!”
Namgung Bi-ah, who had barely been asleep, jolted awake.
Then she shot up and stared at something in awe.
“Ah…?”
For a brief second, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened.
It made sense.
The repulsive odor, which had started seeping out after losing the ‘mask’, was no longer present.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.