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“…Damn it….”

When Yusa returned to the prison, the guy I had seen before was nowhere to be found.

A quite furious expression with a broken demeanor.

Even his breath was disrupted by emotions.

The cheerful pretense was nowhere to be seen.

What stood before me was a monster.

‘…Wow, look at that presence.’

It seemed like he had no intention of hiding it now, as Qi was seeping out of his entire body.

I had felt it when facing him directly, but it was even more certain now.

The moonlight lit up the dark sky.

Maybe it was because of that; Yusa felt significantly different now.

It seemed like something might explode from that small body at any moment.

“Whew—.”

As he desperately composed himself, I tentatively asked, “Why… are you like this?”

At my question, he shot a rough glance my way.

“You. Have you been here the whole time?”

“…Yes? Oh, yes… Where else could I go while being trapped?”

“Is that so?”

Then he turned his gaze to the Heavenly Demon sitting beside me.

“Hey.”

“…?”

The Heavenly Demon lifted his head at Yusa’s words.

Locking eyes, Yusa asked, “That guy, really hasn’t gone anywhere and has been here?”

“…”

I glanced at the Heavenly Demon in response to Yusa’s question.

Holding back my trembling breath inside.

‘I had completely overlooked this.’

For some reason, it felt like that guy’s words didn’t reach me, but whether it would connect with the Heavenly Demon was uncertain.

I worried what might happen if the Heavenly Demon answered honestly.

“…”

Surprisingly, the Heavenly Demon shook his head in denial.

Seeing that, Yusa’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“…Are you sure that’s not the case?”

Watching that confirmed my suspicion.

That guy was definitely doubting me.

‘…That little brat is quite suspicious.’

It was enough to provoke a wry smile out of me.

‘Even after showing him the power of my ability, he still doubts me?’

Even though I had used my ability to look away once, he was still suspicious.

He was infuriating.

However.

‘Fortunately, my power seems to work on them.’

From that guy’s demeanor, I realized my power indeed had an effect on them.

In the meantime, Yusa, seemingly displeased, constantly frowned and called someone from outside.

“Lang, come in.”

How straightforward that name was.

As he called out, a handsome middle-aged man appeared from inside.

His well-groomed face adorned with rabbit ears seemed quite mismatched, but that wasn’t the important part.

“…Did you call for me?”

The middle-aged man, with a blank expression, was the Blue Chief.

The master of this estate and the father of the madman who had been flirting with the Heavenly Demon.

“This guy wants to talk to you.”

With those words, the Chief looked at me.

His gaze clearly indicated, Who is this madman?

Facing such eyes, Yusa added to the Chief, “Once the conversation is over, throw them out.”

“…Huh? What do you mean…?”

The Chief widened his eyes at Yusa’s words.

Throw them out? He seemed unable to comprehend that instruction.

Of course, it was unreasonable to let someone who had attacked his son go free.

His expression briefly scrunched up at the ridiculous remark.

“Throw them out. Can’t you hear me?”

As Yusa spoke with a frigid glare, the Chief clenched his mouth shut.

“I will heed the orders of the General…”

Immediately bowing his head, he gauged the reactions.

It seemed there was nothing he could do, even if he was displeased.

“…Hoo….”

Yusa was still struggling to manage his emotions, constantly suppressing his anger.

It seemed like he had been thoroughly ruffled.

He then looked back at me and said, “…Something came up, so I think I need to go now. Let’s see each other again sometime?”

The forced smile looked truly bizarre.

It seemed a bit twisted, and whatever it was, it was an unwelcome expression.

Hearing that, I wanted to directly say I didn’t want to see him again, but I couldn’t do that.

“…Understood.”

I forced a smile and expressed my agreement.

Immediately, Yusa erased the smile he wore and turned on his heel to leave.

At that moment.

Boom—!!!

A deafening sound came from outside, and I felt Yusa’s presence fade.

Perhaps it was because it was night or due to the emotional outburst.

Yusa’s presence was particularly overwhelming.

Once Yusa left,

“…”

“…”

I was left alone with the Blue Chief, who still didn’t seem to grasp the situation.

He, too, seemed bewildered by the storm-like events, failing to manage his expression and breath.

“What on earth…?”

He still hadn’t regained his composure. Now was my chance.

“Excuse me, Chief?”

“…”

At my call, the Chief looked at me.

Receiving his gaze, I pulled something from my pocket.

It was the token given to me by the Black Clan Leader.

“That’s…!?”

The moment the Chief saw the token, his eyes lit up like lanterns.

Honestly, I had only intended to show I had ties with the Black Clan, but I hadn’t expected such a reaction.

Why?

As those questions rose in my mind, he spoke to me.

“Why do you have the Young Master Token?”

“…Huh?”

Young Master Token? What’s that?

I had heard of it. I knew that the Chief’s children were called Young Masters.

Does that mean—

‘…Is this a seal given to his child?’

Was it some kind of badge they give to their own offspring?

I had thought it was just a guest certificate.

But it seemed it was something much more significant.

“…Are you the Black Clan Leader’s son?”

“Uh… No, that’s not it.”

“Then how do you have that?”

As the Chief looked at me suspiciously, I hastily explained.

“Oh, it’s just that. The Black Clan Leader wanted to relay a message to you, so he gave me this token to speak on his behalf.”

“…The Black Leader?”

The Chief frowned deeply. He looked completely unconvinced. But.

“…What message did he want to convey?”

Despite his doubts, he asked.

It seemed that due to the power the token possessed and because of Yusa, he was inclined to listen.

“It’s nothing special… He just asked to come see him before it’s too late.”

“What?”

At my words, the Chief chuckled humorlessly.

“Are you saying the Black Leader sent you just to convey such trivial words? And even gave you a token?”

“Exactly.”

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

Indeed. Even I thought it was ridiculous. But.

“Yes. If you don’t believe me, why not visit him directly and ask?”

“…Huh….”

What if he doesn’t believe me?

Even if he didn’t trust my words, that guy wouldn’t be able to do anything about it either.

He can go ask if he’s curious. I’m just conveying what I heard.

Having firmly contained that meaning in my question, the Chief gritted his teeth.

Creek.

I could see his power leaking out.

It seemed he was by no means weak.

‘In terms of momentum, he might be similar to the White one.’

Considering it was still night, the White Clan Leader might be even stronger.

“You better be aware that if you’re lying to me, you will be stirring a great storm.”

“Lying? I wouldn’t know how to do that.”

“…”

At those words, I could feel the Heavenly Demon’s gaze upon me.

I ignored it as much as I could.

“Although there were some mishaps while delivering the message, I assure you, my words are true. The General knows I went in and out of the Black Clan today.”

“The General knows?”

“Indeed.”

That was the truth. I had indeed entered the Black Clan with the General’s guidance.

The only problematic part here was my altercation with the Chief’s son, precisely the Heavenly Demon.

“…”

Even that, the Chief couldn’t blame me for now.

Because.

‘The General ordered me to be released.’

Even if he were suspicious.

Or if he had not yet imposed punishment on me.

Since the General said to let me go when the conversation was over, he wouldn’t have a way out.

‘It seems the General’s influence is exceptionally strong here.’

And to prove my thought,

“…Open the door.”

Even while gritting his teeth, the Blue Chief commanded the soldiers.

Immediately, the soldiers beside him approached, opening the prison door and releasing our shackles.

“Wow. Now I can finally breathe.”

Having regained my freedom, I smiled as if I felt good.

“Can I leave now?”

As I smiled, the Chief’s expression crumpled further.

“Although I’ll let this slide because the General has shown mercy to you, I will never forget this incident.”

“…Oh dear. That sounds scary. I’ll be more careful next time. Come on, apologize quickly.”

“Sorry.”

“He says he’s sorry. Please forgive us.”

“…”

The Chief seemed completely uninterested in showing forgiveness.

Seeing that, I shrugged nonchalantly and walked out. Even at that moment, neither the Chief nor the soldiers attempted to stop us.

Once we stepped outside the bars.

“Hm….”

I gazed at the large hole in the ground.

It looked like the shock caused by Yusa’s leap had created that.

‘…He just jumped, and it caused such a big impact.’

Capturing that sight, I seized the Heavenly Demon and headed outside.

After walking for a while, we finally got outside of Yawol.

We were finally at a position where we could hardly see the castle.

As we entered the dense forest, standing at the path back to Hwasan,

“Cough—!”

I spat out the blood I had been holding back.

Dripping down—! The blood flowed from my mouth and seeped into the dirt.

Feeling exhausted, I knelt down and placed my hands on the ground to stabilize myself.

“Cough….”

As I collapsed painfully, I felt a sensation behind me. It was the Heavenly Demon’s hand.

“Move away… I’m fine…”

“…”

At my words, his hand retreated. Feeling that, I turned internally.

“Whew… whew….”

After vomiting a handful of blood, I circulated my Qi to calm my insides.

Even using such methods, the pain remained just as intense.

‘…Damn it.’

If I had stayed a little longer, I would have vomited uncontrollably.

I was thankful to have made it here.

Wiping the blood that had stained my lips, I recalled.

‘…I never imagined that holding on would be this hard.’

When I faced Yusa in the form of the Heavenly Demon.

The problem had been the use of the Dragon Word-like strength.

‘In reality, I could only hold on for a fleeting moment.’

While trying to suppress that guy, my insides twisted up, threatening to make me faint.

Moreover, since I had loosened my guard in the middle, I allowed him to attack me.

‘That was truly terrifying.’

When the pressure had unexpectedly released and Yusa swung his arm.

At that moment, whether it was due to the aftermath of the power I was using, I couldn’t move properly.

Thus, I thought I would be struck down.

‘It was too close.’

The moment my power emerged from the shadows, it consumed that guy’s arm.

That was certainly not my intention.

I had no desire to call Tam.

‘But that guy acted on his own.’

Suddenly appearing, Tam bit into his arm. This implied that.

‘…It responds to them, and I can use it as well?’

I thought it only activated with dragons.

But what if Tam reacts to other people’s powers as well?

Such thoughts flickered through my mind.

No, this was certainty.

The moment Tam devoured that guy’s arm, I could ascertain his strength.

‘Devour.’

Devour.

This was the name of his power.

A force that can consume anything.

Moreover.

‘He can amplify the smell and presence of his prey to sense them better.’

When he’s hungry, all his senses and physical abilities dramatically enhance.

This power could be used until he consumes something.

There were further powers within the ability itself.

But in spite of that,

Tam could chew and swallow his powers, rendering him powerless.

In other words, no matter what ability he possessed, it held no meaning to me.

“…Whew….”

After wiping the remaining blood, I stood up.

Though it still hurt, I felt refreshed.

“This definitely clarifies my course of action.”

While my targets seemed a bit muddled, I now had a firm grasp.

First of all,

‘I’ll take Yusa down first.’

I needed to bring down that General.

And to achieve that.

‘…I need to meet the Turtle.’

I thought I might need a bit of sorcery power.

‘…Hmm.’

As I reached that conclusion, something felt off.

It was because I recalled what the Turtle had said.

What had he said?

‘You’ll know when the time comes to seek me out.’

He had certainly said something like that…

‘Could it be that he anticipated this?’

A situation where I would seek him out again.

Was the scenario he mentioned something like this?

Thinking that, I tilted my head.

‘…It feels too coincidental to call it just a coincidence.’

Somehow, it felt decidedly uncomfortable.

 

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