Chapter 598: North Sea
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 598: North Sea
A day had passed, and dawn was just beginning to break.
Yuri left her quarters and began to walk. She had received a message from Red Feather, telling her to come to his residence at once.
‘Don’t tell me...’
Her pace quickened. He had said he would take a day to think about it, but could he have reached a decision already?
‘I was trying to find a way to persuade him, no matter what.’
The news had arrived while she was still searching for a backup plan in case he refused. Yuri struggled to calm her racing heart. She couldn't afford to show any impatience. Even if he had already seen through her, she had to maintain her composure.
How long had she been walking? Perhaps because of her hurried steps, she arrived at his residence sooner than expected. The moment she stepped inside, she saw a group gathered in the courtyard.
Yuri approached them.
“You’re here.”
The young man, Red Feather, noticed her approach and turned his gaze toward her.
“I thought you’d be late, but you’re early.”
“How could I dare be late?”
“Save the flattery. It won’t get you anywhere.”
His tone was as insolent as ever. She wanted to flick him on the forehead, but the situation didn't allow for it.
‘Hm?’
As she forced herself to maintain her expression, she sensed something was off.
‘For some reason, he looks exhausted.’
Red Feather’s eyes looked particularly weary. Had something happened in the middle of the night? The question arose, but she didn't bother to ask. That wasn't what was important.
As Yuri watched him with a curious gaze, Red Feather spoke.
“What did you say yesterday?”
“Pardon?”
“What exactly is it that I have to do in the North?”
“…Ah…!” Yuri’s eyes widened.
“Tell me exactly. Make it easy to understand.”
“…Please go to the North and lift the curse placed upon our Lord.”
“Nothing else?”
“…No.”
After hearing her answer, Red Feather stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment. Shortly after, he spoke to Yuri.
“If there is even the slightest threat to our safety, I will cancel the request and return.”
Yuri’s lips pressed into a thin line at his firm words.
“Furthermore, I will meet the Lord and attempt to treat her, but if I judge it to be impossible, I will also return immediately.”
“...”
“My orders are absolute. I will be the leader of the party until the request is complete. Do you accept this?”
If a problem arises, I’ll abandon the mission and leave.
I’ll try to treat the Lord, but if it doesn’t look like it’ll work, I’m out.
Until this is over, I’m the boss, and you follow my orders unconditionally.
In short, that was what he was saying. It was obvious that these terms were utterly inappropriate for a formal request. She knew the demand for absolute obedience was particularly dangerous.
However...
“…I… accept.”
Yuri had no other choice. For now, the only thing that mattered was that he had agreed to take the request.
“Including this, you must also fulfill the conditions posted at the merchant association.”
“…I accept that as well.”
Refusal was never an option. As long as Yuri had chosen to come to the Central Plains, this was the natural course of things.
“Good.”
Hearing Yuri’s answer, Red Feather gave a short nod.
“Alright. Then I accept the request.”
“…!”
Finally, the answer Yuri had so desperately wanted to hear. But just as she was about to break into a bright smile—
“The job will be finished within two months. I don’t have much time.”
“Thank you… pardon?” She froze. “What… did you just say?”
“What about it?”
“The time. You’ll finish the request by when?”
“Two months,” Red Feather answered calmly.
Yuri let out a short, sharp sigh. “I thought I misheard… You mean you’re setting aside two months just for the journey, right? Even that would be a bit tight…”
“What are you talking about?” Red Feather’s brow furrowed. “I said I’ll finish everything within two months. What do you mean, two months just for the journey? Are you crazy?”
“No…!”
As Red Feather spoke with irritation, Yuri’s composure, which she had been struggling to maintain, crumbled completely.
“What in the world are you talking about? If you don’t want to go, just say so!”
It would take more than two months just to reach the North from here. Since one couldn't freely travel between the Central Plains and the North, they had to use a secret route, which required even more time than the normal path. The journey alone would take several months.
And he was saying he would finish the job and return within two months? It was absurd. To Yuri, it felt like he was mocking her.
“No matter how you feel, to treat a person like this—”
“Sorry,” Red Feather cut her off. “I don’t have enough time to spend several months there.”
He understood why she was angry. Given the circumstances, it was only natural.
“When I say I’ll do something, I do it. Stop your noisy muttering.”
Right now, even the time it would take to make her understand felt like a waste. Explaining it with words would take forever—and it was obvious she wouldn't believe him anyway. It was better to just show her.
Red Feather quietly raised one hand.
“Come down.”
“What on earth are you talking about—!”
Yuri tried to continue her protest, but—
Swoooosh—!!
KRA-BOOOOM—!!!
Something crashed down right before her eyes. The ground shook violently, and a blast of wind erupted.
“Young Lady!”
At the sudden impact, Woobeom and Useok moved to shield Yuri, taking a guarded stance. But just as they were about to spring into action—
Fwoosh!
A gust of wind blew, clearing away the smoke and thick dust. In an instant, their vision became unobstructed.
Yuri, who had been trying to calm her racing heart, gasped.
“…Hah…!!”
The ground was deeply gouged from the impact. Something was writhing in the center of the crater.
Grrrrr....
It was the size of a house, covered in shimmering blue scales. A monster with a fiercely contorted face and radiant blue eyes stared back at them.
It was a monster. The most hideous, overwhelming creature she had ever seen in her life—far more terrifying than any demon she had ever witnessed.
“What is that…”
As Yuri clutched her trembling shoulders, Red Feather’s voice broke the silence.
“Ah, damn it.”
He looked around at the destruction and then—
Smack!
Grrrrr—!!
He suddenly swung his hand and struck the monster hard on the head. The creature’s head snapped to the side, and it let out a low whimper.
“Hey, I told you to come down gently. Look at this mess you made.”
Grrr… Grrr….
“What do you mean you did a good job? Are you going to clean this up? I’m asking if you’re going to fix the floor.”
Grrrr….
“Excuses, my ass. Your hands are the size of rat droppings compared to your body. What are you going to clean up with!”
Thump! Thump!
He kept flicking its head as if displeased. Watching the massive monster whimper helplessly as it was scolded like a puppy, Yuri found herself at a total loss for words.
“...”
* * *
I had to sigh as I looked at Ttolddoli, who was spouting all sorts of excuses.
“You think I don’t know you did that just because you wanted to look cool?”
I had clearly told him to come down gently. This bastard secretly enjoyed the attention.
‘No wonder my internal energy was draining faster than usual.’
It seemed he had even made himself bigger just for the entrance. Who did he take after to be so disobedient?
“Is that how I raised you? Huh?”
Grrrr….
“You say yes? This little shit really…”
He was really going through a rebellious phase. I raised my hand, thinking I needed to hit him a bit more.
“…That… um… that… uh…”
I heard stammering from behind me. Yuri was staring at us, her mouth and eyes wide open. Her shocked expression was a sight to behold.
“What… what is that thing?” she asked, barely regaining her senses as she pointed at Ttolddoli.
What is it? I answered simply.
“My ride.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, it’s a ride.”
Much faster than a carriage. A ride that would take me to the North quickly without needing to worry about obstacles. That was this guy.
‘There’s no other way.’
To handle everything within two months, I needed a fast means of transportation. Fortunately, I had something faster than anything else. I’d had to retrieve this guy from Cheol Jiseon over in Hubei.
‘Did Jiseon say he was stuck in Hubei?’
It was an unavoidable sacrifice. That guy would survive on his own. My situation was more urgent.
‘With this guy...’
I didn't know the exact distance to the North, but riding Ttolddoli, it wouldn't take long. He ate like a pig and was disobedient as hell, but as a mount, he was incredibly valuable.
The problem was the reaction.
“…I’m… supposed to ride this?”
Yuri wasn't the only one looking horrified. Tang Soyeol and Moyong Hi-ah also had shocked expressions. It was probably because I had never shown Ttolddoli to them before.
For the record, Lady Mi didn't come. I had asked her the night before not to.
‘Besides that, I was dead tired from running around everywhere.’
My body was steeped in fatigue from moving around all night. The matter with the Unyielding Demon had ended with him agreeing to my terms, but the result was somewhat unsettling.
‘Why did the Dishonored Venerable’s name suddenly come up?’
I didn't fully understand the situation, but when I affirmed him, the Unyielding Demon said he would carry out the task without another word. I didn't place a restriction on him; I judged that it didn't quite fit the situation. But I couldn't just leave it be, so I asked Nahee to keep an eye on him.
If anything unusual happened...
‘Kill him.’
That was the order I had left. If he couldn't be used, he had to be dealt with.
Now, all that was left was to go to the North and check on Namgung Bi-ah’s condition. The Lord of the Ice Palace and all that crap wasn't important. My sole purpose was her. Going to the North was merely a pretext. Who gives a damn about the future of the Ice Palace? Whether they lived or died wasn't my problem.
As I organized my plans, Moyong Hi-ah approached me with a stunned expression.
“Young Master… what in the world is this…?”
“It’s something I picked up and raised,” I explained.
“Picked up…?” Moyong Hi-ah’s expression became strained. “No matter how I look at it, that’s a demon, isn’t it…?”
“It is.”
“You picked up and raised a demon?”
Her face showed she couldn't comprehend it. For ages, the one thing the Alliance had never succeeded in was taming demons. It was understandable that she would be flustered.
“Anything will listen if you beat it enough,” I said with a smile.
This wasn't the time for a long explanation, so I glossed over it. If there was a reason I had called Moyong Hi-ah over, it was this: I was planning to show her soon anyway, so this was a preview.
Prepare yourself. That was the message. And thankfully, she seemed to have understood.
“Haa…” The deep sigh she let out was proof.
Just then, Yuri spoke to me with a trembling voice. “Wait a moment… Ride it? By ride… do you mean we’re going to ride this monster?”
“Watch your mouth. You’ll hurt Ttolddoli’s feelings.”
“Ttolddoli…?” Yuri flinched. For some reason, her ears turned slightly red. Why were her ears turning red? “No, anyway… you’re saying we’re going to ride that… that thing to the North?”
“Of course.”
“That’s ridiculous. How can we ride that—”
“I told you before,” I cut her off. It was annoying having to repeat myself. “If you don’t like it, then get lost.”
“…!”
“If you’re not going to listen to me, then piss off.”
I had said it from the beginning. If she was going to question my methods, the request was off. I didn't have the luxury of wasting time. I infused my voice with power, and Yuri bit her lip.
“…I apologize. I… momentarily forgot my place.”
Yuri’s choice was swift. She knew she had no other options. She slowly walked over.
“Should I get on right now?”
Her acceptance was as quick as her decision. Like how she had slapped her own cheek yesterday, I had to give her credit for her resolve.
As Yuri tried to get closer to Ttolddoli, her guards rushed forward.
“Young Lady! It’s dangerous…!”
I immediately unleashed my pressure.
Fwoooosh—!!
“Keuk…!”
“Guhk…!!”
The guards, crushed by the weight of my intent, staggered. I looked at them coldly.
“This is as far as you go.”
“Wh-what are you talking about…”
“We’re over capacity.”
Weight was an issue, but more importantly, I had no intention of bringing extra baggage.
“Nonsense…! Are you saying we should just send the Young Lady alone!?”
“That’s right. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“There’s no way we can accept that…!”
“Haa…”
Right. It would be hard to accept. But—
“What are you going to do if you can’t accept it?”
“…!!”
“Don’t piss me off. Should I just kill you now so you don’t have to worry about her?”
This wasn't a warning. If they pushed me one more time, I would kill them and leave.
As I cracked my knuckles, Yuri spoke to her guards from behind me.
“…Woobeom, Useok. I’m fine.”
“B-but, Young Lady…!”
“I heard the conditions of the request, and I accepted them. His words now are no different from my own will.”
The guards fell silent at Yuri’s firm tone.
“I’m sorry to leave the two of you in a foreign land like this.”
“Don’t worry about us…”
“Stop with the melodrama and just get on already.”
As things were about to drag on, I grabbed Yuri and tossed her upward.
“Kyaaah!”
Yuri screamed as she flew through the air, but she landed safely on Ttolddoli’s back.
“The party will be her, you, and you. And me.”
I pointed to Yuri, Tang Soyeol, and Seong Yul. That was the smallest possible group. I needed Seong Yul to check on various things, and his skills weren't bad. As for Tang Soyeol, she had reached a level where she could finally keep up.
The guards from the North looked displeased, but I ignored them. Those guys were just baggage. One had reached the Fusion Realm but was internally injured; there was no point in bringing them.
Just as I thought we were set to go, Moyong Hi-ah spoke up.
“Then, what am I supposed to do?”
“Huh?”
“You called me all the way here just to show me this big snake?”
She seemed quite annoyed about being called out at the crack of dawn only to be left behind.
“…Um.”
Good question. I did call her to show her in advance, but if I wasn't taking her, I probably shouldn't have bothered her this early. I was too tired to think that far ahead.
“You’re right. Why did I do that?”
“…Are you kidding me right now?!”
“Maybe I just wanted to see you?”
“...” Moyong Hi-ah, who was about to explode, clamped her mouth shut.
“We met after a long time, and I guess I felt like I hadn't seen you enough, so I called you. I’m sorry.”
I smiled sheepishly. It was my mistake. At my words, Moyong Hi-ah sighed and swept her hair back.
“…So annoying…”
Looking at her expression, I asked cautiously, “Want to hit me once?”
At my offer to let her vent, her eyes turned sharp. “Do you think I’m like you, Young Master? Beating people up whenever I feel like it?”
“…When have I ever gone around beating people up?”
“Really, I must be crazy. How did I get tangled up with a person like this…”
“Hey…”
Before I could defend myself, Moyong Hi-ah threw something at me. I caught it—a small, red orb.
“The Leader sent it.”
“Lady Mi?”
“Yes. She said to use it if you’re ever in danger.”
“…Hmm.”
In other words, a treasure. I felt a bit uneasy. I already had so many treasures on me, and now another one. I wanted to complain, but I didn't. I shoved the orb into my inner pocket.
“Any other message?”
“Hmm.” Moyong Hi-ah thought for a moment. “'Travel safely. If you get hurt, you’re in for a real scolding.'”
“…?”
I tilted my head. That didn't sound like Lady Mi’s way of speaking at all.
“What? Does it sound like a lie?”
“No… um… it’s nothing.”
Moyong Hi-ah was glaring at me so fiercely that I dropped the subject. I climbed onto Ttolddoli’s back. As I settled in, something gripped my waist tightly. It was Yuri, her hands trembling. She looked pale.
I decided to ignore it and faced forward.
“Hold on tight. You’ll die if you fall.”
“Yes… Yes? Die…?”
“Yep.”
“Understood.”
“Alright, let’s go.”
“We’re going now… huh?”
I was about to tell Ttolddoli to move when something felt off. A strange sensation made me turn my head.
There were supposed to be three people behind me. But I could faintly see a fourth person squeezed in at the very back, sitting behind the expressionless Seong Yul.
‘What the?’
As I stared, a head popped up and met my gaze.
“Why aren’t we leaving?”
“...”
“I’ve grown tired of waiting. Let us depart at once.”
It was the Dishonored Venerable.