Chapter 609: Biwegun
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 609: Biwegun
As I took a step forward, a strange sensation flooded my vision.
I wondered what my pupils looked like now. They likely mirrored the Lord’s own.
[…Huh?]
Seeing this, the Lord’s eyes widened in surprise.
I looked him straight in the face and growled, “If you’ve laid so much as a finger on them... to hell with treason or whatever else you're planning. You’ll die by my hand first. Understand?”
[Haha.]
As I approached, radiating waves of intense heat, the Lord let out a short laugh.
What was so funny? Seeing him laugh only stoked the embers of my rage.
[Do you truly believe you can?]
No matter how much my power had been suppressed by the curse, my opponent was the Lord of this palace. He was the ruler of an entire region, and I could tell instinctively: the Lord was stronger than me.
Overwhelmingly so.
Even so.
“So what?”
What difference did that make?
Fwoosh.
Energy began to coil around my hand. The power gathered and spun, instantly manifesting a Flaming Sphere above my palm.
“So? Am I supposed to bow and scrape before you just because you're strong?”
My temper was far too foul for that. I’d already held back more than enough.
Besides.
“I don’t consider anyone who touches my people to be human.”
No matter how powerful they were, if they touched what was mine, I would hunt them to the ends of the earth and rip their throat out. Even if it was some 'god' that may or may not exist.
The blue-tinged Flaming Sphere spun relentlessly. I could feel its intensity mounting with every rotation. This was the power of rotation I had inherited from my father. The sphere whirled, radiating heat while simultaneously devouring the surrounding cold.
[...]
The look of shock on the Lord’s face didn't fade.
Maintaining the Flaming Sphere, I spread my senses through the hall. I didn't let my guard down for a second, wary of when that freezing energy might strike. I let my anger show, but I kept my head cold and calculating.
When should I unleash it? How should I strike?
Just as I was focusing solely on the kill...
[Haha.]
Watching me, the Lord suddenly broke into another laugh.
“You’re laughing?”
Did he think this was a joke? I scowled, about to take another step toward him, when—
[My apologies.]
The Lord’s apology caught me off guard.
[I have made a grave mistake.]
“What did you say?”
[I have done nothing to your companions. I swear it on my honor as the Lord of this palace.]
I retorted immediately with a sneer. “What honor does a man sick enough to be holed up in a back room have?”
[You have a point. In that case, I, Yucheon, swear on my name. Nothing has happened to your companions.]
The Lord admitted his state nonchalantly and even swore upon his name. Hearing that, I suppressed my energy slightly. Inwardly, I was surprised; I hadn't expected him to concede so easily.
Of course, I didn't dispel the Flaming Sphere. As I continued to glare at him with heated eyes, the Lord spoke again.
[You truly must be his son.]
He said I must be my father’s son? Hearing that in this situation... it certainly didn't sound like a compliment. It sounded as if he’d dealt with a similar headache before.
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue. Then, I flung the Flaming Sphere I was holding toward the entrance behind me.
Instantly.
Fwoooosh—!! Kraaaang—!!!!
An immense explosion erupted from the doorway. A quick glance showed the heavy iron door had been dented, leaving a small gap.
‘I tried to control the output, but still...’
It had taken a direct hit from the Flaming Sphere, yet it was only dented. That meant the iron door was no ordinary object. Honestly, I’d thrown it with the intent to blow the way open, so for it to survive was a little embarrassing.
Just then.
Screeeech—!!
The dented iron door groaned open, and a man burst in. It was the man from before—the one they called the Black Lion. He threw the door open and scanned the room.
“My Lord—!”
As soon as he took in the scene, the man unleashed a torrent of killing intent. I was standing inches from the Lord, radiating heat. It was a situation ripe for misunderstanding... No.
‘It’s not a misunderstanding.’
I had openly threatened the Lord, so his reaction was justified.
“You bastard…!”
The man’s face twisted like a demon’s. It looked like things were about to get annoying.
In that moment.
[General.]
The one who stopped the man was the Lord himself. At the Lord’s call, the General froze.
[Stand down.]
“My Lord…?”
[I was the one who was discourteous first.]
The Lord admitted his own fault and addressed the man firmly.
[Return to your post at once. That is an order.]
When the man still didn't move, an immense pressure poured out from the Lord. It was incomparably heavier than the pressure he had directed at me earlier. Seeing that, I had to re-evaluate him.
‘This guy...’
He had been hiding even more of his power. It was a level of strength I couldn't even begin to grasp.
[General. Are you disobeying my order?]
“No, my Lord…. I will obey.”
At the Lord’s warning, the man retracted his fighting spirit. However, the gaze he leveled at me remained sharp enough to cut. I watched this silently, then...
Thump.
I turned my back on the Lord and began to walk away as I pleased.
“How dare you…!”
The man started to snap at my arrogance, but...
[General.]
The Lord stopped him once more.
As I walked past the man toward the open door, I turned my head to look back at the Lord.
“About that question you asked me earlier.”
The question the Lord had asked—whether I was still friends with Woo Hyuk.
“Do I have to answer that now?”
[Yes?]
“I’ll answer later.”
It was more of a declaration than a request. It was difficult to give an answer right now.
The reason being...
“I’m not fond of hearing only one side of the story.”
If Woo Hyuk really did start a rebellion as a Biwegun, I first needed to know why.
‘That guy wouldn't have done something like that without a reason.’
There had to be a cause. That was my first thought.
When I said as much, the Lord asked, [So, you intend to find the Biwegun and speak with them?]
“Yes.”
I’ll find him and ask him myself. If he really did it, and if so, why. That was the only way to be sure.
Hearing my words, the Lord smiled and asked another question.
[And if you find the Biwegun’s actions convincing, what will you do then? Will you join the rebellion as well?]
I scowled at the suggestion.
“Am I crazy? Why would I get involved in something so troublesome?”
If I’m convinced, I’m convinced. Helping him was another matter entirely.
“Do whatever you want with him. I don’t care.”
I just wanted to know why he had to make that choice. And if it turned out he did it for a reason I couldn't accept...
‘I’ll have to beat some sense into him.’
I’d beat him until he came to his senses. I could at least do that much for him. After all, in my past life, that bastard Woo Hyuk did the same for me whenever I strayed too far.
With my thoughts sorted, I started walking again. The cold air still lingered behind me, but I felt nothing more, nor did I hear the Lord’s voice calling me back. It meant he wasn't going to stop me from leaving.
I kept walking.
As I stepped out, I realized what a mess this was. Where should I even start looking? In a situation like this, finding that bastard Woo Hyuk was a priority, but...
Before that.
‘Before any of that crap.’
To hell with the rebellion. I had to take care of the reason I came to the North in the first place.
I thought of the accessory hidden in my clothes. Namgung Bi-ah. I didn't know where she was or what kind of danger she was in. I had to find her first.
‘Where in the world is she? What is she doing?’
Could something have really happened to her? Anxious thoughts flooded my mind. They said there was no body where the accessory was found, which meant she could have just dropped it and fled.
‘With just an accessory like this, there’s no way to track her...’
Halt.
I stopped in my tracks.
‘An accessory.’
The accessory Namgung Bi-ah dropped. Thinking of it, a realization suddenly struck me.
“Why did I forget about this?”
A way to find Namgung Bi-ah’s location when I didn't know where she was. As it happened, I had exactly one such method.
Vmmm—!
Vmmmm—!!
A faint vibration came from her waist.
Feeling the subtle sensation, the woman opened her eyes.
“...”
Though she had woken up abruptly, she didn't act hastily. She lifted her heavy eyelids and surveyed her surroundings. All she could see was a dark, cramped space.
Where am I?
Her eyes hadn't adjusted yet, leaving her vision blurred.
Clank—!
“…!”
The woman flinched at a cold touch. Something was bound to her wrists. She checked and found heavy iron shackles. Wondering what they were, she tried to shift her weight.
“Ugh…!!”
She let out a soft groan. A sharp, stabbing pain shot through her waist. She remembered now—she’d been wounded by a sword in her side. Seeing that it was wrapped in clean bandages, it seemed someone had treated her.
Should she consider this fortunate? She wasn't sure.
As she barely endured the throbbing pain...
Vmmm—! Vmmmm—!
Feeling the vibration again, the woman frowned and turned her head. A jewel-studded rod at her waist was vibrating continuously.
It was Thunder Fang.
Seeing this, a strange light appeared in her eyes.
‘…Why is it…?’
Why was Thunder Fang suddenly reacting?
Just as the question formed in her mind...
“It seems you’re awake.”
“…!”
A voice came from the shadows in front of her. The woman’s head whipped around.
There...
“How is your body?”
...stood Woo Hyuk, his eyes like chips of ice.
No.
The Biwegun of the Blue Wolf was looking down at Namgung Bi-ah.