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Chapter Something: Uninvited Guests

“What the… out of nowhere?!”

Gu Bong, abruptly taken, is caught off guard, yet his hands remain bound.

Even though he desperately tries to escape, the grip is so strong that he can’t move an inch.

“Ugh!”

Thanks to that, he needed to arrive somewhere before he was fully awake.

At last, his hold loosens, and Gu Bong rolls onto the floor.

He barely manages to break his fall, landing awkwardly.

Immediately rising up, Gu Bong grimaces as he glares at Gu Yangcheong.

“What in the world is going on here?!”

“You’re finally awake?”

Despite Gu Bong’s words, Gu Yangcheong merely chuckles in response.

“What the hell is this…?”

“I told you. I need you to help me with some work.”

“What do you mean by that?”

It’s utterly absurd from the crack of dawn.

Suddenly barging in and asking to work? It’s a situation he cannot comprehend, nor does he wish to.

‘How can a person be so…’

So reckless and rude?

Gu Bong gritted his teeth. He was already in a bad mood from dreaming about the past.

‘This guy is really the one the Sect Leader has been waiting for?’

Biting his lip while looking at Gu Yangcheong, Gu Bong struggled to accept it.

Especially if that guy is the author.

– He ran away.

The words he had said kept circling in his mind.

“If you’re going to do something, then at least explain—”

He barely held back his frustration when—

“Ah, you talk too much.”

Gu Yangcheong interrupted him again, his voice laced with vague annoyance.

“Since you seem to know more than anyone here, I’m saying I need your help. I got permission from the Sect Leader, so just do it.”

“…The Sect Leader gave permission?”

Gu Bong’s eyes widened at Gu Yangcheong’s statement.

The Sect Leader gave permission?

“What for…?”

“I needed to borrow you because I have to use you.”

“…”

It’s not like he’s an object to be borrowed.

Gu Bong’s anger flared, but the previous justification shut his mouth tight.

The Sect Leader had permitted it.

Just that single statement restrained all of Gu Bong’s actions.

“Hmm.”

Gu Yangcheong casually shot him a glance and added more.

“I should clarify, it’s not like I like you or anything.”

“…Then.”

“But I figured you’d be the best option.”

“…”

What does he even mean by that? If he doesn’t like him, then he’s free to choose someone else.

He couldn’t understand why he was being pointed out as the best choice.

“Just stop sulking and get up. I’m a busy person too.”

“What on earth are you doing…?”

Gu Bong staggered as he forced himself up. Watching him, Gu Yangcheong said.

“Nothing special.”

It really was nothing special.

“I think I need to take care of some nobles. I don’t have much information.”

“Eh?”

“But you should know. So spill the details.”

That wasn’t just about Gu Bong.

“What do you mean… taking care of nobles?”

“I think we need to organize them, but I lack information.”

Oh, so he wasn’t hearing things wrong.

“No…”

But why wasn’t this something he misheard?

Gu Bong stared at Gu Yangcheong in utter confusion.

“Why suddenly deal with them?”

He managed to maintain his sanity while asking. To which Gu Yangcheong answered.

“Because it’s annoying.”

That response was completely irrational.

“Don’t you find it annoying?”

“That…!”

Gu Bong wanted to explain that it was not about being annoying.

He could feel it, the flames around him were incredibly intense.

Always burning, just being nearby made Gu Bong feel like he might just catch fire himself.

“Noble… nobles…”

Due to that, Gu Bong desperately tried to argue back, but—

“I thought you would know better.”

“…”

With that follow-up sentence, he froze like a stone.

There was a subtle prickling in what seemed like innocent words.

Gu Bong continued to gaze at Gu Yangcheong, who merely smirked and turned away.

“Or not, whatever.”

“Noble.”

Did he know something about him? Gu Bong’s voice trembled slightly as he tried to ask.

“Who’s causing a ruckus in front of someone’s house?”

Suddenly, a voice cut in, blocking Gu Yangcheong and Gu Bong’s conversation.

Gu Bong’s eyes widened as he saw who it was.

“Is that you, Elder?”

It was a turtle. Only then did Gu Bong notice the surroundings.

They were in his tea house.

The turtle frowned deeply, its long eyebrows twitching slightly as it looked at them.

“Do you know what time it is? You’re disturbing an old man’s sleep from the crack of dawn…”

It was apparent that the turtle was quite displeased, as it spoke with evident irritation.

“If you’re going to fight, do it somewhere else.”

Waving its staff, it made it clear for them to leave.

Gu Yangcheong stepped forward, saying.

“We’re not fighting. I just have to talk to the Elder about something—”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

The turtle cut him off sharply and turned to go back inside, but—

Bam—!

“…Huh?”

Gu Yangcheong quickly caught the door before it closed. The turtle let out an exasperated breath.

You caught it?

“You… how could you…?”

“About that last time… could you please help me again?”

“What?”

“Regarding the ears and tail.”

The turtle scrutinized Gu Yangcheong.

Then it realized that all the modifications had completely vanished.

“…What happened? Where did they go?”

Seeing that, the turtle was taken aback.

It had only been a day.

It should have lasted at least three days, and yet they were gone?

“Ah, about that.”

Gu Yangcheong remarked sheepishly.

“I was just fiddling with it yesterday… and… accidentally released it.”

“What did you say?”

Released? You mean nothing worked?

The turtle was incredulous, asking again.

“Are you saying it was released?”

I warned you that excessive force would cause it to release; it seems that actually happened.

That was pretty strange though.

It shouldn’t come undone without a significant cause.

And by ‘significant’, it meant under the Sect Leader’s standards. That crazy guy was the benchmark.

Gu Yangcheong shook his head at that thought.

“Oh no, I released it.”

“…Released?”

“Yeah.”

“How?”

That wasn’t something you could just undo at will.

That was a curse he created himself.

It’s not something you can just will away.

But he undid it?

The turtle simply could not comprehend, prompting Gu Yangcheong to awkwardly scratch his head and reply.

“No… I thought if I knew how to do it, it would come in handy, so I tried to investigate a bit… and when I lightly touched it, it released. Hahaha…”

“…”

Hearing that, the turtle stared at Gu Yangcheong as if he were a madman.

You touched it, and it released?

That can’t be right.

“There’s no way. It’s not like it could just be released from a little touch.”

“That’s just it; it shouldn’t release, but when I touched it, it did… so I thought maybe you could help me again…”

“…No.”

What kind of nonchalant nonsense is he saying?

The turtle had a bunch of things it wanted to point out but had to bite its tongue.

It finally realized.

‘How to judge this monster…’

What was standing in front of it?

It was something even it could not comprehend.

As the Sect Leader had said, it was a matter of a hair’s breadth.

If it twisted just a little from that point, calamity would be unleashed.

No one could stop it.

Honestly, it was already inconceivable that it was even restrained in the first place.

From its logical standpoint, it couldn’t be perceived.

But if it had to find a possible reason…

‘The quality possessed by the soul.’

A soul that shines exceptionally bright.

It has the vessel and light to counterbalance the laws.

It didn’t seem like he understood that quite yet, but the turtle knew it better than anyone.

‘What a shame.’

Thus, it was even more regrettable.

‘If only he had been born in his own world…’

If that monster had been born where it belonged, in its own world…

There might have been a flicker of hope.

Such thoughts flashed through the turtle’s mind, but—

“The Sect Leader’s request ended yesterday. Now get lost.”

It was a meaningless reverie. The turtle shook its head and exerted more force to close the door.

However—

“…”

“…”

The door remained entirely still. No matter how much the turtle trembled and pushed, it wouldn’t budge.

At last, the turtle shouted at Gu Yangcheong.

“Let go this instant!”

“If I let go, you won’t help me, right? So please! Help me out; you looked alright yesterday.”

“This damn rotter?!”

The turtle’s face flushed a deep red.

This rascal was starting to get on its nerves, resembling someone else very familiar.

While the two were caught up in their quarrel, Gu Bong finally caught up and interrupted Gu Yangcheong.

“Noble…! What are you doing to the Elder right now?!”

“Are we supposed to just leave it like this? We can’t just ignore it!”

“Going where? Where on earth are you going this morning?”

“Where else? I need to go to the place from yesterday. Everything should be there.”

“…You don’t mean you’re going back to Yawolgung, do you?”

Gu Bong’s remark made Gu Yangcheong frown.

“Well, why else would I be causing this ruckus? Do I look bored to you?”

“…”

It’d be better if he were bored, Gu Bong thought silently.

After silencing Gu Bong, Gu Yangcheong looked back at the turtle.

“The Sect Leader has given permission, so please help me out?”

At Gu Yangcheong’s statement, the turtle scowled.

“The Sect Leader gave permission?”

“Yes. He told me to go get you. He said you’d help.”

Could this be some ridiculous joke?

“That’s nonsense. The request ended yesterday. The Sect Leader can’t possibly be unaware of that!”

The turtle genuinely felt uncomfortable.

There were boundaries that needed to be respected.

The Sect Leader wouldn’t cross them first. What on earth does this even mean?

This couldn’t just slide by. The turtle immediately grabbed its staff and was about to unleash its anger on Gu Yangcheong.

“Ah, instead of that, if you just agree to help me once, he said he’d add another month related to plum tea.”

“Another three days then?”

“Yes? Oh, yes.”

The turtle’s demeanor changed almost immediately, and Gu Yangcheong looked at it in disbelief.

The pressure it had used to push against the door had vanished.

Why is plum tea causing such a stir?

It was just an ordinary tea, after all.

If that was the case, he could have just mentioned the plum tea initially.

The turtle began to pick up its staff again.

“Weren’t you looking for the Young Girl?”

That was a question regarding the Heavenly Demon.

Upon hearing that, Gu Yangcheong nodded.

“No, I’m not taking her. She’s been a nuisance, and I’ve no desire to bring her along.”

Given how she had been pranking him endlessly, he didn’t want to deal with her today either.

So perhaps leaving her behind would be for the best.

“Well.”

The turtle moved its staff as it listened to the response.

At that moment.

Thud—!

A strange energy coursed through Gu Bong’s heart.

Gu Yangcheong focused on it.

It wasn’t spreading through his body.

Instead, it was coiling around his heart, swirling in a circular motion.

It felt alien.

Something unpleasant yet bearable.

As he concentrated for just a moment.

Swoosh—!!

He felt the ears and tail of a beast growing from him once more.

Unlike the last time, when they had suddenly sprouted without him noticing, this time was different.

Soft.

As he touched the ears with his hands, they felt like last time.

Soft, soft.

He touched them again and again, giggling at the sensation. The turtle watched Gu Yangcheong with a raised eyebrow.

“All set. The cautionary measures are the same as last time. Now hurry and go. Don’t ever come back—”

Just as the turtle was about to issue that warning, it paused, seeing something.

Fizz—!!

The ears and tail appearing on Gu Yangcheong vanished like smoke in an instant.

“What the—!!”

Seeing that, the turtle’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Did something go wrong with the sorcery he cast?

No, it wasn’t that.

‘He undid it.’

Just now, Gu Yangcheong had released the curse right there.

It was clear now that his claim about undoing it hadn’t been a lie.

But even after having granted him the abilities, he went ahead and undid them?

“What on earth are you doing…?”

The turtle was about to demand answers when—

“Oh, that’s how it works!”

Gu Yangcheong clapped his hands, as if realizing something.

Clap—!

Thud.

“Eh…?”

With the clap, the ears and tail sprouted again.

This wasn’t his doing.

“…You…!”

The turtle stuttered, feeling utterly confused.

In stark contrast, Gu Yangcheong wore an extraordinarily cheerful expression.

“I’m finally starting to understand now. Ah, I thought if I experienced it just once more, I’d get it; that felt just right!”

“No.”

“Now that I’ve learned it, I guess I don’t need to come back. I’ll use this well; thanks. Let’s go.”

As if having lost any lingering attachments, Gu Yangcheong stepped away from the door and approached Gu Bong.

“…”

The turtle could only watch Gu Yangcheong in silence, not able to say a word.

His name was Sorcery.

He was the fallen king of sorcery.

 

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