Chapter: 926
He left the tea house, strolling with a broad smile on his face.
“Great.”
I felt unusually good. That’s because the problem I had been mulling over on how to obtain it had finally been resolved.
“Just as I thought. It was a matter of order.”
Soft.
I gently stroked the beastly ears attached to my head. The squishy sensation was so distinct; it seemed well-made.
“This isn’t bad.”
It felt a bit less than when the turtle had done it, but I figured this level was just fine.
The important thing is that I don’t have to worry about when it might come undone; it’s not about the level of completion.
‘When the turtle did it, he said it would take three days.’
He mentioned that if I move around vigorously, it might come loose.
So, I got accustomed to it.
‘I feel like I need to do this… It’ll be annoying if it comes undone halfway through.’
To finish it as quickly as possible, I required that many processes and situations.
After wrapping up my conversation with Noya, I immediately started dissecting the spell that was on my body.
During that process, I learned a few things.
The root of this spell is the heart, and its scope is all-encompassing.
Tail and ears are sprouting, but how does it affect the rest of the body?
Surprisingly, the energy spread throughout my entire being.
It wasn’t just about creating ears and a tail; it felt like forming a curtain.
Not showing but rather hiding.
It was more about erasing presence.
‘It doesn’t feel just like erasing the sensation.’
How should I put it? There’s an overlay on the physical form… Let’s go a step further.
‘Overlaying the soul?’
A feeling of enveloping the very essence of the soul.
In reality, the ears and tail are merely additional forms.
There were more fundamental and intricate processes and techniques at play.
‘I was left wondering why they had to place something like this on me.’
Digging deeper certainly yielded clearer understanding.
This was absolutely necessary.
Overlaying the soul means transforming one’s very essence into another.
It was on an entirely different level compared to simply wearing a mask or using gas translation techniques.
It blurred the very essence.
Trying it out for myself, I now understood for sure.
‘…This is some damn difficult magic.’
I knew it was tough, but it ranked among the hardest things I had attempted.
It didn’t even take a day to grasp just how hard it was.
A whole day, indeed.
‘Everything else took just a few hours, didn’t it?’
I had to pull an all-nighter just to figure this out.
What a challenging technique this was.
Suddenly, the turtle, who had casually placed this on me, seemed impressive.
‘Did that guy actually create it?’
If he made rather than learned it, I would have to respect him.
Moreover…
‘What on earth is he doing?’
What kind of person, seemingly unrelated to swordsmanship, is acting as an elder here?
He isn’t even part of a sect, just running a tea house in the village.
It baffled me.
‘I think I need to pay him another visit next time.’
This is knowledge I’m lacking.
I was in dire need of information related to magic, and it worked out well.
Of course, even if I visit, it’s uncertain whether the turtle will share anything with me.
But still, I had to give it a shot.
‘I need to understand magic better.’
The more I learn, the clearer it becomes.
Connecting Gu-Yeon-Hwa-Lun-Gong with Tu-A-Pa-Cheon-Mu.
For that, I certainly needed the power of magic.
Thus, I couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.
I should capture a turtle and interrogate it later. I thought that while I walked.
“…Um, Your Majesty?”
“Huh?”
Gubong asked me a question.
“…Where are you going now?”
I glanced around at his words. As it turns out, I was already outside.
“Oh.”
I was just lost in thought, wondering where I was, and almost forgot.
“Right? Where should we go?”
So, when I asked Gubong for directions, his expression soured.
“…Why are you asking me that?”
“Because you know the way, and I don’t.”
“No, you should have first told me where you wanted to go.”
“I already mentioned it.”
I had indicated right from the start of our conversation.
“Yawol Palace. That’s where I’m headed.”
Upon hearing that, Gubong’s eyes widened.
“Right now?”
“Yep. Right now.”
“At once?”
“At once.”
“…”
Gubong continued to frown. Are we really asking to go back to Yawol in just one day?
His expression looked utterly incredulous, yet I was serious.
Of course, I was sincere.
If I weren’t, I wouldn’t drag along someone I didn’t even like.
It would be far more efficient for me to go solo rather than endure uncomfortable company.
I’m enduring this to go together.
Why?
‘Because it’s necessary.’
From my perspective, I needed him—now and in the future.
“So, no more chit-chat, just guide me.”
I said, irritation spilling over, while Gubong bit his lips.
I thought he might vent his frustrations or something, but he merely forged ahead.
“This way…”
He began leading the way.
Seeing that made me chuckle lightly.
“Is the complaining over?”
“…”
Honestly, there was no need to ask. Asking would only lead to bad vibes.
It could come across as sarcastic after all.
I inquired despite knowing that.
“I’m still discontent. However, if this is what the Lord wishes, I will comply.”
“Hmm.”
There was a hint of blind loyalty toward Shin Noya in his response.
I had sensed it since last time, but it bordered on obsessive.
Should I point it out? Or address something else?
I pondered momentarily but had already settled on my response.
“Fine then.”
I dismissed it. Engaging in that would be pointless.
I had no desire to get involved either.
I didn’t care if that had been his nature all along or if it had worsened since my arrival.
As long as he didn’t impose unnecessary discomfort on me, I’d let it slide.
I gestured ahead with my hand.
“Lead the way.”
I had plenty to take care of as always.
*
I stepped outside. Exiting the volcano turned out to be easier than I had expected.
I could traverse back and forth by sprinkling powder like the method I used to enter before.
This means…
‘It was a mistake to tear down the barrier so recklessly.’
There was a proper method, but tampering with it proved problematic in itself.
‘…Then please just tell me next time.’
Crazy old man, honestly.
How much easier would it be if he just explained before throwing? Why does he keep executing without even a word?
I genuinely didn’t get it.
“Haah.”
I let out a deep sigh as I walked. It was approaching noon outside.
How long did I walk?
As I mentioned before, I couldn’t run, so I had to maintain a comfortable pace.
It felt like I had walked quite a distance.
‘I just want to fly off.’
Seeing no choice, I trudged on silently.
For reference, I hadn’t spoken a single word to Gubong.
I simply felt no need for chit-chat.
Gubong kept quiet, leading the way as I followed behind, lost in my thoughts.
‘How long will it take?’
How long would it take for the tasks I set out to resolve?
And…
‘Even if this succeeds.’
Of course, if it goes according to plan and everything falls back into place.
Even if I actually managed to return to the Central Plains.
‘I wonder how much time has passed?’
Time flows differently here and in the Central Plains.
Even though I had only spent a few months, it appeared that Shin Noya had experienced a hundred years here.
I was pinning my hopes on this, yet…
‘Still, the sooner, the better.’
It was essential to hurry as much as possible.
I had no allowance to linger here any longer.
Especially…
‘Being with the Heavenly Demon. That in itself poses a problem.’
There were too many concerns to address.
There were heaps of matters requiring attention. I had no intention of wasting meaningful time here.
Thus, I needed to prepare to escape, pronto.
However…
‘Before I go, I’ll fulfill my obligations.’
I needed to take care of the requests made of me. It had put me slightly off-track, but I could manage this much.
If it involves Noya, then for sure.
“…”
I scratched my chin.
As I bring this up, something clicks.
‘So.’
After helping Noya like this.
Once it all wraps up.
‘Will Noya be coming with me?’
That thought crossed my mind.
It had been lingering since Noya had asked me last night.
If Noya is requesting this level of assistance, it’s evident he holds strong feelings for the Hwasan Sect.
In terms of time, he mentioned it was a hundred and fifty years.
That’s longer than the time I spent with him.
Perhaps even longer than the time Noya spent in the Central Plains.
Once I finish everything and it’s time to return, will Noya accompany me to the Central Plains?
Such questions swirled in my head.
‘Tsk.’
The thought made the tip of my tongue tingle slightly.
For some reason, I could already predict Noya’s response.
I bit down on the increasingly sensitive tip of my tongue.
At the same time, I didn’t wish to dwell on it, so I brushed it away from my thoughts.
At that moment…
“We’ve arrived.”
Gubong, who had been walking in silence, announced.
I raised my head.
“Oh. I see.”
In the distance, I could see the Yawol Palace we had visited last time.
We walked in silence for just a while longer.
We returned to Yawol Palace, the same place we had come to the day before.
*
The atmosphere at the entrance was quieter and more subdued than before.
The lively atmosphere that came with the crowd had vanished.
A sense of wariness hung heavily in the air.
It was inevitable.
‘There were bound to be aftereffects from yesterday’s attack.’
Considering I was dealing with my own mess, I had expected this outcome.
The issue was that I hadn’t anticipated returning so soon.
“…Who are you?”
When I approached the gatekeeper, just like before, they raised their weapons.
Last time, they seemed merely annoyed, but this time, they appeared fully alert.
“I’m from the volcano.”
“…volcano?”
The gatekeeper’s expression twisted at Gubong’s words.
I noticed him freeze upon hearing it.
It wasn’t merely a case of being a foreigner. There was something distinctly different.
Gubong narrowed his eyes, noticing it too.
“What’s going on?”
“W-wait a moment. Hey!”
His demeanor changed significantly compared to before. The gatekeeper frantically waved his hand to signal someone in the distance.
Seeing this, Gubong’s expression shifted to one of concern.
But I couldn’t help but smile back at it.
This seems to be…
‘Good, very good.’
Fortunately, it seemed that things were unfolding just as I hoped.
There’s more to come…!!
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