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Chapter 661: The Villain and the Hero

I left the streets of Hanam and headed toward my lodging.

By that time, the sun was gradually setting.

The path to the lodging was familiar to me, so finding it wasn’t too difficult.

I only spent a bit of time buying various snacks.

‘You said you weren’t going to eat, yet you sure are enjoying those snacks.’

If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have let her skip the meal in the first place.

But still, it was better than not eating at all, so I was relieved.

The sun sank lower, and I could see the evening twilight giving way to night.

My hands were full.

I ended up buying so much that I couldn’t avoid this situation.

To be honest, it was tiring to carry everything, and I thought about using my Body Transformation Technique to make things easier, but that would have drawn too much attention, so I had to endure it.

Even worse was that—

‘She’s carrying even more than I am…’

Wi Seol-Ah, walking beside me, was lugging a heavier load.

Her bright smile indicated she was enjoying herself immensely.

Seeing that expression made me feel like whatever the situation, it didn’t matter.

‘But right now…’

As I walked, my mind wandered back to the previous incident.

It was about Bi-hyeonhwa.

‘I was so surprised I completely forgot.’

I had intended to infuse some Demon Energy into Bi-hyeonhwa but lost track of it due to Wi Seol-Ah’s sudden appearance.

‘What a waste.’

I already had some set up for Beomdong, so it wasn’t a huge issue in terms of my plans.

Still, I couldn’t shake off the disappointment.

Especially since—

‘That darn girl, leaving without even paying for her tea?’

I had to cover her share because she scampered off without paying.

‘If I ever see her again…’

I’d make sure to take ten times what she owed. Even now, it seems like a loss.

‘Damn it, why is tea so ridiculously expensive?’

It’s just tea, not alcohol, yet it was absurdly pricy. What is wrong with people who keep paying for it?

I figured this was something Moyong Hi-ah planned out, but I never expected it to work so well.

Who would spend that much money just to eat snacks and drink tea at an inn?

Yet they seemed to enjoy it immensely.

It tasted pretty good too.

I bought a bunch, fully knowing it was overpriced.

‘Will they enjoy it?’

Wi Seol-Ah liked it, which was expected since she typically enjoyed such things.

But I was worried about whether the others would also appreciate it.

Of course.

‘If they don’t eat it, Wi Seol-Ah will finish everything herself.’

I didn’t have to worry about food going to waste.

Should I consider that fortunate…?

As I slowly walked along, I heard a rustling sound.

When I turned towards the sound of the flickering lanterns in the forest, I perceived a presence.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Tang Soyeol burst out from the bushes.

She had somehow gotten leaves stuck in her hair, as if she hadn’t come along the path.

I wasn’t startled by her sudden appearance.

I had sensed her energy long before she emerged.

“Prince!”

As soon as she spotted me, Tang Soyeol brightened up with a huge smile.

Since my hands were occupied, I used my energy to brush the leaves off her hair and then asked,

“Where have you been?”

I had felt her presence near the inn, but at some point, she had vanished.

I figured she must have had something to do, but it seemed like she had been wandering around instead of heading straight back.

“Oh, I just had some errands to run.”

Tang Soyeol replied with a grin.

After I heard that, I nodded, but my thoughts remained unsettled.

‘There’s a faint scent of blood.’

There was a slight but definite smell of blood on Tang Soyeol. She had probably tried to cover it up.

With my realm enhanced and my shedding complete, my senses were heightened to the extreme.

I could easily catch a scent like that.

So while I didn’t know what she had been up to, I could tell it wasn’t anything peaceful.

She was just hiding it well.

‘There must be a reason you’re not telling me.’

After considering that, I asked her,

“Did you eat?”

“I didn’t.”

“Why not? It’s this late, and you haven’t eaten at all?”

“I was waiting to eat with you, Prince.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? You know meals are supposed to be three times a day. If I’m not around, are you just going to skip all three?”

“That might be… uggh!”

I gave her a playful tap on the head for that ridiculous excuse.

Since my hands were tied, I had to use my energy to do it.

“Stop saying weird things.”

“Eek….”

Tang Soyeol made a pained expression, which I conveniently ignored.

Noticing that, she wrinkled her nose and got back up, heading over to Wi Seol-Ah.

She then took one side of the load that Wi Seol-Ah was carrying.

It seemed so natural that I raised an eyebrow.

“When did you two meet?”

“Yes?”

“Huh?”

At my question, Tang Soyeol and Wi Seol-Ah both widened their eyes in surprise.

They didn’t even exchange greetings, like asking how one another was doing.

Their seamless exchange was somewhat bizarre.

As far as I remembered, there hadn’t been a moment where they could have greeted each other.

I stared at them, puzzled about what this was all about.

“…Uh, that… well.”

Tang Soyeol seemed flustered for some reason.

What would cause such a reaction?

“We exchanged greetings earlier.”

In contrast, Wi Seol-Ah answered me in a flat voice.

“When?”

“Um, it was before we went to the inn where you were.”

“…Huh?”

I assumed she meant the place where we had met Bi-hyeonhwa.

But when did they greet each other?

I shook my head in confusion, unable to come up with an answer.

“They greeted each other back then.”

Wi Seol-Ah said with a big smile.

Don’t ask more. The unspoken message was clear on her face.

“Uh, yeah, okay. I guess that makes sense.”

My instincts warned me.

I shouldn’t press any further.

So I decided to drop it.

It probably wasn’t a big deal… Surely it wasn’t.

After returning to the lodging, I changed clothes and hastily wrapped up my meal.

As soon as I got back, I had been keeping an eye out, ready to flee due to the Master of the Martial World’s presence, only to find that, amusingly enough, he wasn’t in the inn at all.

He apparently had something to deal with and said he’d come later.

It felt like I’d just dodged a bullet.

Later, I noticed a few surprised expressions when Wi Seol-Ah unexpectedly joined us.

But since they were all familiar faces, I brushed it off.

Moreover, it seemed like the Upper House already knew Wi Seol-Ah would be arriving since they prepared an additional room for her.

There were some people who came from the North Sea, so they needed to split the personnel up a bit.

However, Nan Gong Bi-ah and Gwaeseon, who were currently ill, needed to be placed in Shin Yi’s quarters.

“Showing up after a month and making the old man work like this? Are you out of your mind?”

Shin Yi’s expression showed his irritation at suddenly being put to work.

“Well, you’ve been a bit idle lately anyway. Might as well do something.”

“That’s what people mean when they say to enjoy life…!”

“Don’t you think it’s fine to be busy in your old age? I’ve heard you’ve been just playing Go all this time.”

“Damn brat…?”

Despite my earlier retorts, I knew how dedicated Shin Yi was to treating his patients.

“How’s it going?”

“What ‘how’s it going’?”

Patting and grinding the medicinal herbs vigorously, Shin Yi responded.

“They’re both martial artists, so their regeneration abilities are high. It shouldn’t be a significant problem. They might have some scars, but I’ve treated them well enough, so there’s nothing for me to worry about.”

“…I see.”

Since I had rolled out some bets along the way to help with the treatment, and given what I had set up before we left, it seemed like no issues were present.

“It will probably take about three months for both of them to fully recover… but within a month, they should be able to move around without issue.”

“Thank you.”

Three months?

That feels like a short but long time.

For a martial artist to need that much time implies a serious injury.

‘…Maybe I should’ve hit him more?’

Perhaps I should have considered that.

As I was clenching my fist, thinking about Woo Hyeok.

“By the way, you…”

Shin Yi called me.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Huh?”

“Your body.”

“Oh.”

Right, I remembered that my condition had been poor before we departed.

I had thought I would barely make it until the Martial Arts Tournament, but seeing how things stood now, I was fully recovered and even healthier, which might confuse Shin Yi.

“I just had a little opportunity.”

“Every time you have an ‘opportunity,’ you come back fully healed. Tsk tsk, is that why all the physicians are going to die off?”

Even in a chaotic world, I doubt physicians would just die off…

It was quite amusing hearing that from someone who barely did any work.

‘Opportunities don’t happen that often.’

An opportunity is something you receive maybe once in a lifetime.

I was the unusual one for having multiple in such quick succession.

“Ahem, anyway… you didn’t encounter any problems, did you?”

“Having disappeared to the North Sea and asking that question seems a bit off, don’t you think?”

“…”

I awkwardly scratched my cheek.

I had something to ask him, but due to unforeseen events, I had to dash off to the North Sea in a hurry.

So it wasn’t unreasonable for Shin Yi to be displeased.

“Still, I set things up while I was away.”

“…”

Shin Yi didn’t have much to say about that.

“…And that’s why I’m curious. What exactly happened?”

“Just about. I managed to block things off in my own way.”

“Ah.”

Shin Yi had requested I stop the descendants of the Jiegal Clan from plotting a rebellion, and I had merely obliged.

At least, that was how it appeared on the surface.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure nothing you’re concerned about happens.”

As I said that, I subtly rose to my feet.

“Please take care of everything.”

I dusted myself off and began speaking about Nan Gong Bi-ah, causing Shin Yi to look at me.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes. It’s time for me to go to work.”

“Work?”

It was getting late.

‘Honestly, I want to rest more.’

I had only just returned.

I wanted to unwind from my fatigue and even take things slow a bit.

But.

‘I need to get moving.’

That wouldn’t do.

I knew my place well enough not to waste my chances.

To protect what needs protecting, I had to stay active. That thought alone was enough to get me moving.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

After bowing to Shin Yi, I stepped forward.

Less than a month until the Martial Arts Tournament.

‘In that time.’

I had to finish all my preparations.

As the reddening dusk faded away.

A crescent moon floated against the backdrop of the black sky.

The moment the moon rose over the lake’s surface, I walked along the path.

This was the same path I had taken before.

It was a location not far from Hanam.

It remained relatively undeveloped.

Chirp-chirp—!!

The sound of insects softly tickled my ears.

It was serene and tranquil. A peaceful atmosphere enveloped the forest, as always.

But.

‘What a setup.’

I knew that this entire scene was crafted.

Step, step.

As I walked straight, I slightly changed direction.

Behind me, Seongyul was following along.

I had brought him along just in case.

One.

‘Maybe I could come alone next time.’

It didn’t feel necessary to bring Seongyul with me anymore.

I had memorized the path.

Well, to be precise, I could finally see the path clearly now.

In this artificially twisted space, I could finally see a discernible route.

I set my footsteps guided by that path.

Things I couldn’t see before became visible. Things I couldn’t feel started to be felt.

Was this purely due to my realm’s rise?

I thought not.

I could instinctively tell.

‘This doesn’t seem like a formation.’

I reached my hand out slightly and waved it through the air.

Wuuuum.

I sensed something.

‘Sorcery, maybe?’

This strange power I had discerned from the North Sea.

I believed that this twisting space was caused by sorcery.

Though I didn’t have absolute certainty.

As I continued walking, slowly uncovering the way,

I felt a presence ahead, and someone suddenly appeared, kneeling before me.

“…I greet my Master.”

A woman with light green hair and purple eyes, not unlike Tang Soyeol.

Now transformed into a demon, Nahi.

Seeing her, I couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

She probably hadn’t been doing too well.

I had given her plenty of tasks to complete.

I didn’t bother listening to Nahi’s reply and glided past her.

Like a reflex, Nahi got up and followed me.

“I think you did well. Not bad at all.”

“…Thank you.”

“As for the situation… handle it and bring it to me later.”

As I walked, I pulled out a broken mask from my robe.

At the same time.

Krrrggghh-!

Using the Body Transformation Technique, I gradually enlarged my body.

In just a few seconds, I transformed into a figure just under eight feet tall.

Since I had initially worn a martial robe a bit larger, it fit my now enlarged body perfectly.

Snap.

As I donned the mask to cover my changed face, it hit me that it was time to get back to work.

[Nahi.]

I spoke to Nahi in a much deeper voice.

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

[Go tell the Great Lord of Ten Thousand Heavens.]

To the master of the Demonic Sect, who would be hiding in the Enclave.

To the Pildu Ma.

[Prepare to receive me, as I have returned.]

“…I understand.”

With that, Nahi vanished as mist.

[…]

I came to a halt, raising my head to look up at the crescent moon.

And unknowingly, I thought.

‘…That was kinda cool, right?’

For a moment, I felt a little proud of myself.

I nodded, subtly filled with satisfaction.

 

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