Chapter 973
“Do you know?”
You know the location of the Sacred Tree? My eyes widened at those words. I asked, but the fact that you actually know was a bit surprising.
“Yeah, I know.”
“… Where is it?”
In response to my question, Noya lightly pointed to the floor with his hand. I followed the tip of his finger, but all I could see was a stone floor.
Just as I was wondering why he was pointing here…
Noya told me, “Underground. The Sacred Tree of Yawol exists deep underground.”
‘Underground?’
If it’s a Sacred Tree, isn’t it like that huge tree on the volcano? I momentarily blanked at the idea that such a large tree exists underground and not outside.
How on earth can such a large tree exist underground?
“I know it’s underground… but I don’t know how it exists. I don’t know how to get there.”
“Is there a separate way to get in?”
“Of course. Considering the value of the Sacred Tree, it’s obvious it’s not easy to approach.”
“… But didn’t you set up the Volcano Sect openly?”
If there’s a need to make it inaccessible, then looking at the volcano reveals the contradiction of that statement.
When I asked in bewilderment, Noya awkwardly laughed and said, “That too was hidden in a way.”
What the hell are you hiding? You can see the old tree from far away!
“I’m telling you, really? Volcanoes are places that are hard to get into in the first place.”
Noya spoke as if he was trying to explain, but I couldn’t believe it. I just nodded my head, as if saying, “That’s how it is.”
“This guy…”
Noya clenched his fists, seemingly displeased with my attitude. Seeing that, I hurriedly said, “So, if you’re saying you don’t know where the entrance is, does that mean I have to find it myself?”
Noya clicked his tongue and lowered his fist at my hasty words.
That’s fortunate. I felt like I dodged a bullet.
Thud—!
“Ugh…!!” Not again! I grabbed my head, wondering if that was really necessary.
“Yeah, I have to find it.”
Maybe because he felt a little relieved after hitting me, Noya continued with a better expression than before.
“But the good thing is, you don’t have to search for it.”
“… What do you mean?”
“What do you think I mean? There’s someone who knows where it is.”
“Someone knows?”
“Yeah.”
Noya said with a smirk. “It’s nothing else. Isn’t there someone around you right now who knows everything about the Night Moon?”
“That’s… ah.”
I was about to ask who it was when realization hit me.
Someone who knows all about what happens in Yawol, or has been involved in events there.
That person is the ruler of this land right now.
“Are you referring to Yusa?”
The ruler of Yawol. General Yusa.
Of course, he would know. That makes sense.
‘There’s no way he wouldn’t know.’
The fact that a Sacred Tree is something bestowed upon a general makes it nonsensical for Yusa to not know where it is.
He would certainly know.
That makes total sense.
“One thing….”
How would I get it from Yusa? I was about to ask that, but I kept my mouth shut this time.
Thoughts raced in my head.
“… Noya, no way.”
I remembered Noya insisting on meeting Yusa in Yawol. I thought he just wanted to cause some trouble.
What did he mean just now?
“… Did you come here to find out the location of the Sacred Tree from Yusa in the first place?”
Was Noya’s real purpose the Sacred Tree from the beginning? As I wondered that, I asked.
“Tch, tch.”
Noya laughed.
It meant I was correct.
*
As dawn broke for sure, there was a commotion in Yawol.
It couldn’t be helped.
Of course, there was news that the leader of the Blue Clan, who controlled the largest trade area in Yawol, had been attacked.
There were also reports that he had suffered fatal injuries and lost consciousness during the attack.
The nobility was under attack.
The atmosphere had already been tense due to the events involving the White Clan last time.
Now that a second attack has occurred, the current situation was stirring up an even more intense atmosphere than before.
The attackers had boldly entered the mansion.
They reportedly confronted the head alone, defeated him, and then vanished.
It was said that during the encounter, they even gouged out the eyes of the young master of that time and toyed with him.
How could that possibly happen?
Not only did they attack a noble reputed for tremendous power in Yawol, but they also mocked him and escaped.
While the people of Yawol were confused by the absurdity, that confusion spread even to the heads of the present nobility.
At the highest point of Yawol Castle stood a mansion.
It was smaller than those of other nobles and was situated at a ridiculously high elevation.
No one dared to challenge its presence.
The mansion was named Yawoljong.
This was a space built directly under the orders of Yusa, the ruler of Yawol.
It served as a venue for the nobility to gather and hold meetings whenever danger or unforeseen circumstances arose within the castle.
It was a place that hadn’t welcomed anyone for nearly fifty years.
In such a place…
“… I never thought I would see your face again.”
The head of the Black Moonlight Clan spoke softly while seated at the round table.
At his words, the giant man in front—the head of the White Clan—gritted his teeth and replied, “Even after such a long time, that unlucky face remains the same.”
The Black chief looked at him quietly as he snarled.
Then he burst into laughter.
The White chief narrowed his eyes upon seeing this.
“… Are you laughing?”
“Oh, forgive me. I didn’t mean to laugh. It just slipped out.”
“What do you mean? What’s so funny?”
“How could it not be funny? Just moments ago, you were holed up, lost in your own world, and suddenly you’re back to acting all proud again.”
“This brat—!”
Grind! With the Black chief’s words, the White chief stood up, pushing the table aside.
At the same time, a surge of energy resonated all around them.
Most of the energy came from the White chief, but the Black chief’s aura also steadily began to rise, not wanting to be outdone.
The tension in the air was palpable. With just a slight misstep, a battle could erupt.
“…Can you all just settle down?”
A fragrant voice cut through the tension.
In an instant, whoosh!
The energy that had become entangled suddenly unraveled and scattered all around.
The Black chief and White chief exchanged glances in response to the unfolding situation.
Though they shot sharp glares at her, the woman shrugged it off as if nothing were amiss.
“You called everyone together to talk, yet this is how you behave upon seeing each other?”
“… Red.”
The woman’s hair was crimson.
She was Hong Jeong, the head of the Red Clan.
Ignoring the reactions of the two men, she continued speaking.
“Let’s remember why we gathered here, gentlemen?”
Her words were soft, yet her gaze was anything but gentle.
With a fierce gaze, the Red leader addressed the two, her eyes burning.
“The Blue Clan may have been weak, but they certainly didn’t deserve such a fate, right?”
“…”
The White chief frowned at her statement.
“That clan is on the brink of death, wounded with a pierced heart. Their heir even had one of his eyes gouged out! What’s there to admire about that?”
Hee hee hee.
She chuckled as she directed her words at the White chief.
Although the relationship between the Black and White clans wasn’t particularly friendly, things had been worse between the Blue and White clans.
There was even a story of a time when they fought to the death and the Blue Clan lost.
Upon hearing those words, the White chief fell silent.
His demeanor completely differed from earlier when he had bristled at the Black clan’s remarks.
“Besides, even if there was an intrusion, it was said that they fought valiantly inside their own estate. With that happening right in their territory, seems they have nothing left to say.”
“… What exactly are you trying to convey?”
“Rather than recounting events…”
Hmm.
The Red chief nodded slightly and clapped her hands as she spoke.
“I think a dangerous individual is on the rise. That’s what I wanted to imply.”
“Ha… Are you frightened?”
“Huh?”
Red’s eyes widened at the White chief’s mockery.
“Oh my, big brother, aren’t you scared?”
“What?”
“You mentioned a demon? You’ve been beaten by him already and now look at this ugly state of yours. How can you claim to be so confident…?”
“…!”
“Big brother, such unnecessary pride can end up looking quite shabby.”
“This little brat…!”
Apparently fueled by her comments, the White chief’s face flushed with anger.
In a flash, he tried to express the same energy as before and retaliate.
“Oh come on.”
Red laughed.
At that moment…
Rumble—!!!
A powerful aura began to emanate from her body.
“Brother, you see, this is always the issue, right?”
A chilling malice surrounded her smiling face.
“Why do you keep baring your fangs? I want to pull them out. Or are you keen to see how your own skin looks? If you’re curious, just ask.”
Hong Jeong, the head of the Red Clan, had another name.
“I’ll give you a chance to see it for yourself.”
The strongest noble.
Her name gradually transformed into something more intimidating.
Seeing this, the Black chief briefly clicked his tongue.
Only moments ago, he had been urging calm, yet now he was provoking the simmering rage of the White chief.
And all the while, he was enjoying the show.
‘That’s one dangerous woman.’
It always felt that way.
By age, she wasn’t that different from my son. Not only did she ascend to leadership at such a young age, but she also possessed immense power.
And that perilous personality as well.
It certainly reminded me of past rumors that she had killed her siblings and parents to seize her position.
‘So bizarre.’
It’s evident every time I see it. The White clan appears nothing more than foolish.
Red, on the other hand, embodies danger.
Feeling that way, the Black chief was just about to rise to diffuse the situation when—
“Hmm.”
Suddenly, Red’s eyes widened.
At the same time, she retracted the energy she had been holding.
What’s going on? Just as the Black and White clans found it strange—
“Take your seats.”
A voice rang from the center of the round table.
Above it, someone had suddenly appeared and was surveying the surroundings.
Upon recognizing who he was, the White chief quickly sank back into his chair. Red settled into her seat as if she had never been angry at all.
The one who issued the warning was a young man clad in green.
He was the one who had summoned this meeting.
“I’ll say this in advance.”
Known as a general.
“I’m in a foul mood right now, so try not to irritate me. I might just kill you. Got it?”
He was the apex predator of Yawol.
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