It was a massive dome so large that it could easily cover several wide dueling grounds of the cradle.
The stone pillars supporting it were thicker than a bundle of several majestic trees.
Even though we still had quite a distance to go, we were already enveloped in the shadows of the building.
Its presence stood out among the towering buildings in the city center, and despite being something I’ve never seen before, I could instantly tell it was the highest assembly.
A wizard, someone above all people.
It was a place where the most elite of those wizards gathered.
The center of all power, a place where daily struggles and conspiracies unfolded.
“…Hmm.”
At Myeosanga’s words, Sadaeryong nodded heavily.
Before we knew it, the vehicle had arrived in front of the Assembly Hall, and before us spread a broad staircase that could easily accommodate dozens of people at once.
Myeosanga got out first and opened the door. Then it was my turn. After that, the head of the Heukryeon family and his spouse.
Almost simultaneously, a crowd that had been waiting surged around us like whoosh.
“Chairperson! What’s the reason for protecting the noble lady of Jeokhwa all this time?!”
“Are you expressing your intention to return to the highest assembly after 15 years by attending today’s hearing?!”
“Please tell us your thoughts on the 25th regulation proposed by Paecheon! It’s practically a direct strike at Heukryeon’s S&C!”
“What’s your relationship with the recommended student from Heukryeon? Is it true that he’s the only male wizard in Category 1 who has appeared in 18 years?!”
With bang-bang-snap sounds, dazzling lights burst forth from all directions, dazzling my eyes as if dozens of flashbangs had gone off right in front of me.
The sound of film reels whirring filled the air.
As dozens of voices rose in unison, it truly felt like chaos erupted.
“Step back! All questions will be taken after the hearing is over!”
In response, Myeosanga and her attendants shouted loudly, pushing the crowd back down the stairs. It was hard to believe this was the same person who had trouble answering before, as her demeanor was fierce.
The more I observed her, the more capable she seemed.
While I was dazed by my first experience with such a media blitz, the Heukryeon couple appeared remarkably calm, climbing the stairs with tranquil expressions.
“Hehe, looks like you’re quite surprised. You’ll get used to it. This will be an everyday occurrence in your life from now on.”
The host gently placed her hand on my shoulder like a comforting touch.
To be honest, it wasn’t a pleasant experience that I would want to repeat.
Eventually, Myeosanga came to reorder the crowd and led me along.
“Come on, young master, this way. You two can see us later.”
“Mm.”
Then the couple nodded and headed towards a different hallway.
Contrary to the grandeur of its exterior, there weren’t many people wandering around the hallway, which felt oddly deserted.
We could even hear the echoes of our footsteps.
Instead, the number of crows frequently flitting through the high windows was more than enough.
Suddenly feeling something approaching, I swiftly turned my head to see a crow with feathers shimmering like a rainbow, flying past me while carrying a pile of documents.
“Are you two not coming with us?”
“You have designated seats arranged for you. You are both lifetime members of the highest assembly. Even though you’ve been away for 15 years, that doesn’t mean you’ve lost your qualifications. Unless it’s a truly dreadful situation like now…”
Dodging the crow, I asked, and Myeosanga explained in a quiet voice.
I was sure I had read about the cancellation of the lifelong membership of the Yeon family in the newspapers.
“The noble lady of Jeokhwa has informed us of her non-attendance, so only you will be seated in the witness stand today.”
Then she added a reassuring remark, as if to calm my worries.
“But there’s no need to be too tense. Even though it’s called a hearing, it’s more akin to a place for clarification. Well, the opposing side might put up a fight, but…”
“Why are you being so generous? As far as I know, I’m also implicated in Jeokhwa’s crimes.”
“Well, of course, that’s because you have associations with Heukryeon… uh, um. Actually, it’s better for you to hear this directly from them later.”
Myeosanga, who seemed to want to say something more, suddenly cleared her throat.
“Just keep in mind that the opposing side is very wary of directly accusing you. Especially now that rumors are circulating that Heukryeon will return to the highest assembly.”
As we chatted, we soon arrived at a certain door.
The door opened sideways, and without a handle, it was so tall that it could almost match the combined height of several adult men.
The heavy black paint on it seemed designed to instill a sense of intimidation rather than for decoration.
“I’ll stop here. Only relevant persons can enter the main assembly.”
She stopped and waved gently at me. As if trying to boost my courage, she added one last remark.
“Though our country has adopted a republic, Heukryeon is among the most powerful families. They stand behind you. Please keep that in mind.”
“…Understood. Then I’ll be back.”
After exchanging goodbyes, I started walking towards the door. Just then, something came to mind, and I turned back to walk toward Myeosanga.
And in a hushed tone that others couldn’t hear, I whispered in her ear, which wore a puzzled expression.
‘You don’t have to worry about that. I won’t tell anyone that it was the team leader who brought me the medicine.’
“Hu, huh?!…”
As soon as I finished speaking, Myeosanga let out a bizarre sound and shivered. Did I surprise her with an unexpected topic? Well, at least she wouldn’t be trembling in anxiety now.
I wrapped up my words and headed straight for the black door.
–Kachung!
As I stepped on the threshold, it opened inward by itself. It felt like a monster’s gaping mouth beckoning me inside.
Walking down the dark, winding passage for quite a while, I eventually began to see a wide-open space ahead.
In front of me, emerging from the monster’s throat was a bizarre sight I had never seen before.
The dark main assembly room, devoid of any windows, barely had starlight lamps scattered everywhere, dimly illuminating the surroundings.
The towering staircase went up infinitely and stretched all the way to the faded bronze dome I had seen earlier.
Seated on each step were… a bizarre crowd of hundreds wearing grotesque masks.
Unlike my smooth, shiny mask, theirs was ragged and bumpy, with a chaotic appearance.
The features carved into them were extremely wild.
Their bulging eyes seemed poised to pop out, noses were either thick and hooked or elongated, and their full mouths curved unnaturally, making it hard to find their natural positions.
Overall, they resembled ancient masks more than anything.
A low, heavy murmur filled the dark hall, but the moment I appeared, their chatter suddenly ceased.
“…”
Is this truly a place where people live? I wondered, glancing around. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for me to spot someone waving at me in the distance, which eased my mind.
Although she wore an ugly mask, her demeanor and gestures were unmistakably those of the Heukryeon host I had been with just moments ago.
I made my way toward the small platform at the end of the passage.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Soon, a solemn bell tolled three times in succession.
Someone wearing a bald elder’s mask stepped up onto the central platform and held a megaphone to his mouth.
A heavily modulated male voice echoed throughout the room through the amplifier.
“We will soon begin the hearing regarding the Jeokhwa incident, so I kindly ask the assembly members to take their seats and remain silent.”
*
The crimes committed by Yeon Jeongmun could not be denied, but the crucial point was whether Yeon Minha had conspired in that plot or not. Along with my allegations.
Despite being labeled a hearing, the atmosphere felt more akin to a heated debate.
“…!”
“…!”
The masked figures shouted noisily at each other, pointing fingers with altered voices.
The man who had initially called for silence was now standing with his arms crossed, seemingly having given up. Even I wasn’t being bombarded with as many questions as I expected.
And then someone who had been requested as a witness by the Heukryeon couple appeared, and I easily recognized the identity of the witness.
“Oh! It’s him! The brother in the mask!”
It was a small girl who had been rescued from the claws of the demon lords on the second night at Jeokhwa’s estate.
The child went on passionately singing my praises for quite a while beyond her speaking time before being forcibly restrained and leaving the witness stand.
With her appearance, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
Leaving legal discussions aside, it was illogical to consider someone involved in a conspiracy bravely battling demon lords to rescue a victim.
Naturally, it shifted to a discussion regarding Yeon Minha’s allegations.
If she were a conspirator, she wouldn’t have brought an outsider like me to her estate without everything being set up yet… that became the main argument.
I recounted the situation in as much detail as I could. How I sensed the estate’s strangeness, how Minha and I secretly investigated, and how the Paecheon and Seongsan’s eradication squads arrived during our confrontation with Yeon Jeongmun.
“Then how could you have fought against the eradication squads? That doesn’t make any sense!”
“It was a natural exercise of self-defense in a situation where I couldn’t grasp my surroundings! Would you have me wait with my neck exposed in that situation? Knowing well how Jeokhwa and Paecheon stood?”
“If that girl indeed tried to stop her father, that’s no direct justification for the association. Moreover, she is the last descendant of Jeokhwa. We cannot let such a prominent family vanish like this…”
In the midst of such loud exchanges.
“Regardless, what Yeon Jeongmun has done is no ordinary crime! Both that child and the noble lady of Jeokhwa deserve thorough investigations!”
One of the figures with a mask whose features were all out of whack slammed the walnut-colored table in frustration.
He had firmly opposed us the whole time from the opposite side.
“And that girl is not even a direct descendant, just a recommended student! Thus, the covenant of the five families doesn’t apply to her. She should be immediately detained here…!”
“What sort of nonsense is that! Not a direct descendant?!”
However, his final outcry got abruptly cut off by a thunderous rebuke.
Even with a voice altered through the mask, I could immediately tell he was the father of the girl from earlier.
As he yelled, unexpectedly, the host sitting beside him touched her mask and bowed her head.
All of this seemed to flow like a well-rehearsed play.
Her action oddly reminded me of a girl embarrassed in front of others. I couldn’t help but feel that her cheeks might well be blushing beneath the mask…
But the words that followed were completely unexpected, something I had never heard before.
“Hyun is our second child!”
*
“Hey, this way…!”
After the tedious hearing lasted for several hours, I exited back through the corridor. In the distance, someone waved and called out to me with a familiar voice.
There stood the Heukryeon couple, each holding an ugly mask.
“Hehe, it was tough, wasn’t it? Come on, let’s go.”
The host gestured to me with her signature elegant smile.
Noticing where my gaze had landed—on the mask dangling from her fingers—she continued to explain.
“It’s the attire that members of the council must wear. The masks symbolize equality, while our clothing represents our traditions. Even if no one believes it…”
I followed them out of the Assembly Hall.
All this was a simple matter of perception; on the other side, they could easily tie us together.
Yet the one who continually thwarted these attempts was none other than Sadaeryong, who emitted a tremendous sense of presence just by being there.
Even though he wore that ridiculous mask, once he opened his mouth, no one dared voice opposing opinions.
The results of the hearing would be announced three days later, but with the overall atmosphere in the main assembly, I felt hopeful for a fairly positive outcome.
Still, my mind was swirling with complexity. The reason was none other than the words spoken by the head of Heukryeon earlier.
Second…?
“Um… about what you said earlier…”
“Let’s go first. I’ll clarify everything once we return…”
Just as the host seemed poised to respond as if she could read my thoughts, a voice suddenly echoed from the back of the main corridor.
“Senior members! It’s been a while since you’ve arrived, and are you just leaving like this?”
With a click-clack of shoes, a well-dressed middle-aged man approached us.
His deep and substantial voice appeared trustworthy, and he had a face that looked remarkably kind, reminiscent of someone who must have had considerable popularity in his youth… perhaps similar to someone I knew.
However, the moment he spoke, the expression on the Heukryeon couple shifted to one of complete disapproval, as if they could never genuinely endorse that sentiment.
And it turned out he wasn’t the only unexpected visitor.
I soon noticed someone lurking behind the well-dressed man like a shadow.
When I recognized their identity, my heart sank with a thud.
Hair sparkling like the night sky, eyes beautifully gleaming with golden grains,
rivaling anyone in loveliness… now became my nightmare.
That someone stood here, looking back at us with an awkwardly restless expression, stealing quick glances our way.
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