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Chapter 622: Choice and Decision.

He, who had only shown a low smile or a dull expression, made a surprised face for the first time after hearing the word “Pure Blood.”

“Huh.”

“Is that correct?”

“How did you know?”

“I just took a wild guess.”

I blurted out the hypothesis that seemed the most plausible among various theories.

It was simply a stroke of luck.

“I was about to mention this point, but since you guessed it, it’s no fun.”

Finding amusement in such a situation was absurd.

[Isn’t it boring?]

Even that guy Yu Seon found humor in it.

Anyway.

‘…So, was that the case?’

Listening to the Gungju’s words, I finally understood the fact that had eluded me till now.

There’s the Ice Spirit, blocking the harsh cold. If the Gungju’s life force is what maintains that Ice Spirit, then—

‘It’s not strange for the Bloodline of the Ice Palace to endure from the North Sea.’

I had my doubts about whether someone else held the royal power and was abducting and confining the Taesaeng bloodlines just to maintain life forces.

But that didn’t happen.

This also indicates there’s a reason for it.

“As you predicted, the Gungju is necessary to maintain the Ice Spirit. More specifically, for the safety of the North Sea.”

I looked at the Gungju who spoke those words.

Half in a state of a dragon.

Now that I thought about it, I could vaguely understand the reason behind that appearance.

‘Dragons have resilient life forces.’

It seemed the curse blooming had to do with forcibly shedding scales to maintain the Ice Spirit.

If that’s the case…

‘What a damn bastard.’

I realized how much of a scoundrel the Dragon Emperor was.

On one side, he instilled mechanisms to unleash a harsh cold.

On the other, he created a paradox by forcing the maintenance of life forces with that same cold.

To sustain it, one has to cling to life forcibly.

He even embedded powers under the name of a curse to make it run smoothly.

‘…Does that mean the Ice Spirit is that essential?’

Or was there another reason?

I didn’t know which was true but one thing was clear.

For his purposes, he had drenched the North Sea in harsh cold for centuries.

‘To wait for a Pure Blood.’

That curse was sown for that reason.

And that Pure Blood was—

‘Me.’

Now, having come this far, I had arrived here.

Regardless of what it meant.

The fact that it was me in this situation held true.

‘Wait.’

While I was thinking, a question arose from the Gungju’s words.

“The Gungju’s child, that Yu Seon was a dragon as well. Does that mean he is the future Gungju?”

Since he had transformed closer to a dragon than anyone else.

If the Gungju’s words were accurate, did that mean he was the future Gungju?

Upon asking about it, the response was—

“Correct.”

“…!”

Hearing that made my eyes widen.

“Though he hasn’t followed proper procedures, that should be the case.”

“…So you’re saying he didn’t follow the procedures?”

“Normally, when passing the Gungju position, the curse would be lifted.”

If the position is passed, the curse is lifted.

That is—

‘…Similar to the Curse of Renka.’

There, the curse lifted upon having a child.

Seems here might be the better option.

“And the one who originally held the Gungju position dies upon lifting the curse.”

I tried to think that through, but that seemed like an absurd situation as well.

After becoming the Gungju, struggling to suck up life force for survival, and then dying the moment the position is passed?

Wasn’t that just a miserable life?

‘So that’s the curse.’

Listening to the Gungju made me feel that all the more. However.

“But how is it that you’re still alive?”

It might be a cruel question, but I had to ask it.

If that bastard inherited the Gungju position, how could he still be alive?

If the Gungju remained in such a state,

What was Yu Seon then?

The Gungju fell silent for a moment, his face serious.

Was he choosing his words, or contemplating?

I couldn’t figure that out.

Enduring the silence and waiting for a response,

Finally, the Gungju looked at me and spoke.

“The position of Gungju has passed. My decaying physical body is proof of that.”

Hearing those words, I scrutinized the Gungju’s form again.

A body gradually collapsing.

‘So that body is a problem caused by the position of Gungju being passed on.’

Immediately after being told it happens instantly,

Contrary to those words, the Gungju was slowly approaching death.

“The cause is likely because the procedures weren’t correctly followed.”

The Gungju elaborated on my question right away.

“It’s not an assignment, but usurping, hence the issue with the rules.”

They forcibly seized the position.

And the curse had a problem in that process.

‘So, the gradual decay is because of that.’

Which meant.

‘That Yu Seon forcibly took the Gungju position.’

What could be the reason for that?

‘What’s the benefit to it?’

By the looks of it, there seemed to be little benefit to taking the Gungju position.

Once seated, the curse activates, transforming into a dragon, of course.

Even if the body strengthens, the life force gets drained by the Ice Spirit.

Was there really a need to forcibly take it?

‘If he concealed such matters from his offspring, it could be a possibility.’

Going by what Yuri mentioned.

Not perfect, but he must know something to a degree.

In such a situation,

I still didn’t understand why Yu Seon had to act like that.

At that moment.

“The Gungju is correct.”

The Gungju added while I was thinking.

“The Ice Spirit must choose for the position to be attained.”

The Ice Spirit’s choice?

“Typically, the Gungju chooses, and then the Ice Spirit accepts the result.”

Swish.

The Gungju stretched out his hand and stroked the circular Ice Spirit.

“The fact that it has come to this means the Ice Spirit chose that child.”

The Ice Spirit chose Yu Seon.

What difference would that make?

I had no way of knowing.

What mattered was.

“So, what are his aims? And what am I supposed to do here?”

What is Yu Seon aiming for in gaining the Gungju position?

And what was the Gungju’s purpose in bringing me here?

To that, I asked.

“What is a Pure Blood?”

The most crucial question.

What on earth is a Pure Blood?

What is it that the Dragon Emperor placed the Ice Spirit here for?

And has been waiting for the existence of the Pure Blood?

‘Why am I that role now?’

It was time to resolve all questions.

At the question, the Gungju smiled.

“A Pure Blood refers to one who has not changed through awakening, but has enlightened themselves.”

“…”

“Breaking the filled vessel and climbing to become a dragon with their own power. That is what a Pure Blood means, or so it has been passed on.”

I frowned at those words.

‘Breaking the vessel with one’s own power?’

That’s ridiculous.

It was the furthest thing from me.

Not becoming a dragon through curses or awakening.

If that’s what a Pure Blood signifies, then while it might make some sense,

‘It’s the exact opposite of me.’

I am a mixed breed, having swallowed countless opportunities and harboring unknown entities within me.

I am the one least suited to the term ‘self.’

‘But am I a Pure Blood?’

That couldn’t be true.

“To put it bluntly, merely breaking the vessel doesn’t make one a dragon…. Gu Gongja. A hidden lineage that could achieve that must exist within you.”

Then that meant I wouldn’t have needed to find my way here in the first place.

If he hadn’t anticipated my regression,

There was no way he would have set up such a situation.

This implies.

‘Someone else was supposed to arrive here instead of me.’

I recalled the Gungju’s words.

After all, was there not a person who left the Ice Spirit here?

The Dragon Emperor.

No.

‘Blood Demon.’

The Ice Spirit was his possession.

Whether he was a Pure Blood or whatnot remained uncertain.

But if—

‘What if he placed the Ice Spirit here, anticipating his own revival?’

Or he intended to send someone else to come across this?

‘It’s likely he did not expect me to arrive here. That’s the highest probability.’

That means,

‘It would be correct to think of this as a safety measure left by the Blood Demon.’

In fact, the Blood Demon was already using another’s body to work behind the scenes.

So that would be the most fitting perspective.

‘Perhaps he didn’t even know.’

That someone would achieve the designated conditions and become a Pure Blood dragon.

That things would unfold this way to arrive here. He might not have known.

That thought crossed my mind.

A complicated path.

Given that it seems impossible to reach a conclusion,

“…So, what are Yu Seon’s real aims? It’s not merely about rebellion, is it?”

For now, I decided to ask about Yu Seon.

“If he has gained the Gungju position, and you said you are dying because of that, then it can’t just be mere rebellion, can it?”

“…”

It was evident that what he did wasn’t merely for the sake of obtaining the Gungju position.

That was something I could discern from the current Gungju’s explanation.

So what could be the reason Yu Seon, having transformed into a dragon, was in this situation?

“That would probably be.”

The Gungju pointed again towards the Ice Spirit.

“That Ice Spirit is what he desires.”

“Excuse me?”

I had to express astonishment upon hearing that.

“He wants the Ice Spirit?”

“If he was chosen and became a dragon, to become more complete, he would need this.”

What does that mean?

To be more complete, he needs this Ice Spirit?

Moreover.

“Then you shouldn’t be here at all.”

I found something odd in the Gungju’s statement.

“If he wants the Ice Spirit, then this place shouldn’t be his hideout…!”

Ah.

While I spoke, I began to realize.

Could it be?

“You….”

From the very beginning, the Gungju was—

“Waiting here?”

Are you saying that the Gungju is waiting for Yu Seon here?

Not fleeing to a hideout, but rather waiting?

The Gungju neither negated nor affirmed my words, but I was already convinced.

I was right.

“For what purpose…? Why are you waiting?”

“Because I must right what has gone awry.”

“Then you should have received treatment from me instead.”

Your body is worsening.

I’m not sure if I could lift the curse, but I should have at least attempted to do something.

Yet the Gungju had clearly rejected any healing I offered.

Said he would consider that pointless.

“If I did that, I wouldn’t be able to stop that child.”

The Gungju acknowledged that he was waiting for an enemy in this place.

“What do you mean?”

“Once you become the Gungju, you learn many things.”

A tremor appeared in the Gungju’s hand that was touching the Ice Spirit.

“Do you know what is contained within this Ice Spirit? How it is designated as both an egg and the heart?”

Moreover.

“When this Ice Spirit hatches as an egg, certain events will unfold.”

“Hatch…?”

At the Gungju’s words, I, too, looked at the Ice Spirit.

Hatch? Are you saying that thing is also used for eggs?

If that’s true, then what is contained within it?

“If that child’s goal was simply to obtain the position of Gungju, I would have given it freely. But—”

The Gungju spoke, his vertically divided eyes sparkling.

“I understand. His goal is not the position but the hatching.”

Yu Seon aims to revive the Ice Spirit.

And he would come here to do that.

“So, you aim to stop Yu Seon from coming here? With that deteriorating body?”

“That’s the surest method.”

Rather than fleeing, the Gungju was waiting at this stronghold, in front of the iron door.

That was the reason.

Then.

“What was the reason for bringing me here?”

Ultimately, what was the purpose of bringing me here to the Ice Spirit?

That question circled back to being the most important one.

What was I meant to do here?

So I asked.

“For that, I also do not know.”

“What?”

I had to show a dazed expression at the answer I received.

“You don’t know? Then why did you call me?”

“Purely due to karma, I brought you here. Beyond that, I cannot tell you.”

“This is a migraine-inducing nonsense.”

I knew I was a Pure Blood, so I was brought here, but the reason behind what to do here was unknown?

What was up with that?

At that time, the Gungju spoke.

“The fact that I don’t know means you do.”

“If I knew, then why would I ask you!—”

“Simply because you have not made your decision, you are unaware.”

“…!”

“The fact that you cannot find your bearings simply indicates that.”

The Gungju’s words made me bite my lip.

“Because you can’t pin down what you want, you cannot see it.”

[Ah, I see. So.]

It echoed with what Yu Seon had claimed.

‘Because I couldn’t make a decision, I don’t know the answer?’

Am I a dragon?

Or am I still human?

I don’t know which I am, and that’s why I don’t know what to do here.

Is that really the case?

Even in this situation, it was forcing me to make a choice.

What a miserable predicament, but—

I had already known.

That it was far too late.

Whether the Gungju’s words were genuine or not, regardless of that.

[How trivial.]

Even though I had lost for being indecisive,

I was still standing at a crossroads with this annoying hesitation.

“…Are you hoping for me to choose, Gungju?”

“I do not know. I cannot discern your life. I can neither offer advice nor meddle. All I know is—”

His vertically split pupils gazed at me.

“You seem to be lacking in many aspects to achieve something.”

“…”

Merely failing to hold onto a mindset.

What makes it so difficult that it burdens me so?

I couldn’t understand.

I didn’t want to know.

However.

‘Damn it.’

The moment I met Yu Seon, I already understood.

Feeling helpless as I lost Woo Hyeok.

After waking up and meeting Nangong Bi-ah, I experienced a fear that someday Nangong Bi-ah might be taken from me too.

Feeling that way, I realized.

Even if I indulged my desires, I was laden with inadequacies.

‘I claimed I’d stop at nothing, yet I haven’t acted that way.’

There was only one reason.

—I want to live as a human.

That pathetic desire.

In my past life, I had been human but hadn’t lived like one; in this regression, I wished to do it differently.

Even if I became a dragon, I want to be human.

That longing ran deep.

That cowardly hesitation was what had shackled me up till now.

‘…’

I gazed at the Ice Spirit.

Though my eyes were on it, my mind wandered to others.

Flashing thoughts of several people, I simply closed my eyes.

“…Could you grant me a moment, please?”

I heard no reply.

It was more fitting to say I hadn’t heard one.

I kept pondering.

Even if I erased my hesitation and reached a conclusion, what would change?

I held that uncertainty close.

Ridiculously, I already knew how to make a choice.

I had simply been looking away.

Pretending to contemplate, I wished to postpone it a little longer.

After closing my eyes and opening them once more.

“…”

I stood atop a world charred black, reduced to ash.

There was no need to question where this was.

‘I already knew.’

This place is within my heart.

I could have gone there anytime.

I could have faced it whenever.

But the hesitation I felt was this place.

In a world where everything burned away, leaving nothing,

A very small space where I barely remained unscathed stood.

I walked towards it.

[Hoo…Hoo…!]

A crying sound reached me.

[Hooeereee…!]

In this world burning with only flames, a child’s cries resonated.

Crunch.

I walked through the ashes, heading towards the sound of crying.

[…Mommmy…Mommyyyy!]

In the wrecked world, a child, terrified that even the slightest movement would see them consumed by flames, cried out for their mother.

I stood upon the scorched earth, gazing at that child.

[Huhhhh…uhhhhhh…Noooo….]

The child had a fierce look for their age.

With tear-streaked, puffy eyes and a trembling body from fear, they curled up.

It was the visage of my younger self.

Moreover, it represented the last remnant of my hesitation as a human.

[Mother…!! I’m scared…!! Where did you go…!]

“…”

Seeing that pitiful crying made me smile wryly.

“Glad to meet you.”

And I said.

“Shall we have a chat?”

Now, it was time to finally end this.

 

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