Chapter 612: Biwegun (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 612: Biwegun (4)
This memory.
It was about a promise made long ago.
A story from a time when I was even more insignificant than I am now.
When we were both young.
A memory from a time when we knew nothing, when we could still look at the falling snow without a trace of hatred.
[“This Young Lady read something in a book recently.”]
[“Oh, yeah?”]
No matter how many times she tried to talk to him, his only response was one of annoyance.
But the girl, ever cheerful, struck up a conversation with the boy anyway.
[“They say the people of the Central Plains are truly great.”]
[“All of a sudden?”]
At the mention of the Central Plains, the boy finally showed a reaction.
The girl knew. She knew it was a reaction born of his inability to tolerate her pestering any longer.
But that was fine. Even a conversation like this was enough for her.
[“It was written in a book.”]
[“What kind of book are you reading this time?”]
[“The Greatest Beauty of the Central Plains Meets the First Young Master of the Ice Palace.”]
[…]
It was the title of a book the maids secretly enjoyed reading. It was also the book the girl had been completely engrossed in lately.
When she told him the title, the boy frowned as if he had misheard.
[“Isn’t that a prohibited item?”]
In the North Sea, any items related to the Central Plains were forbidden from being traded. He was asking if this book was one of those contraband items.
[“Ahem!”]
The girl huffed at the boy as if in a fit of pique.
[“This was written right here in the North Sea! Therefore, it is not an item from the Central Plains!”]
[“Ah, right.”]
Just as the boy was about to let it go, thinking that must be the case, he spoke up again as if he couldn't hold it in.
[“…So, what’s with the way you’re talking?”]
[“Hm? Is it strange?”]
[“Very.”]
[“But this is how they spoke in the book…”]
She had been trying to imitate the way the noble characters in the book spoke. Apparently, it just sounded bizarre.
[“Where on earth do people actually talk like that?”]
[“The First Young Master in the book did.”]
It was a warm and slightly risqué story about a cold, handsome young master who changes after meeting a woman from the Central Plains. That was the personality of the male protagonist.
A thought suddenly occurred to the girl, and she spoke with a serious expression.
[“You are the first woman to ever treat this young master so.”]
That was a line straight from the book. And right after that, surely…
[“Will you not marry me?”]
She thought she remembered that being the very next line.
[…]
Hearing her words, the boy froze for a moment and stared at the girl in disbelief. His lips twitched as if he had something to say.
But.
[“Ah! It’s snowing!”]
In the end, the boy couldn't say what he wanted to say. The girl had already become excited by the white flakes beginning to drift down from the sky.
[“Look, Cheonga! It’s snow!”]
[“…Yeah, it’s snow.”]
At her excited shout, the boy could only offer a bitter smile.
She didn’t even listen to my answer. Then why did she ask?
[“Huh? What did you say?”]
[“Nothing. It’s nothing.”]
He brushed it off with a smile.
She is not someone a guy like me should dare to desire.
Once again, that was the only thought the boy allowed himself.
[“The snow is especially pretty today, isn’t it?”]
[“It is.”]
The girl looked at the snow.
[“It’s pretty.”]
The boy was looking at the girl who resembled the snow.
Yes. This was a memory from a time when the falling snow wasn't something to be hated.
* * *
I walked on, piercing through the blizzard.
How long had I been walking? In terms of time, a little over two hours had passed.
I continued to press forward, gliding over the snow. Naturally, my feet left no prints.
Thrum—!
I turned my head, following the vibration I felt in my heart. My speed wasn't particularly fast.
‘It’s not easy to move while sensing the vibration.’
My heart was anxious, but control didn't come easily. It was the first time I had ever used this ability in such a way.
Namgung Bi-ah's Thunder Fang was somewhere far away. I had to constantly feel the vibration emanating from it. It was subtle, yet clear. A contradictory sensation, but that was the perfect way to describe it.
This was an ability I had realized I possessed in the years since my Shedding. I could sense the aura of treasures.
To be precise: ‘Only the treasures I have personally used.’
I could feel any of them if I tried, as long as I had personally experienced their power. If you were to ask how I found out about this…
‘…I found out while trying to find something I lost.’
I had once lost the mask the Dark King gave me. While I was sweating over how to find it, I discovered this method by chance. When I asked the Dark King about it, what did he say?
‘He said it might be a trait of a dragon, I think.’
I wouldn't know. What on earth were dragons, anyway? To think they lived with an ability like this as a mere "trait."
If I had to guess a reason…
‘The fact that treasures were originally obtained from dragons.’
All the White-Grade demons were described as dragons. And the initial treasures were all items they had spat out. Perhaps that was why I could do this. That was all I could surmise.
I'd have to meet another dragon to know for sure.
‘Ah, I have met some.’
There was the Dark King, who was turning into a dragon due to a curse. The form of the Palace Lord I had just faced was also similar to that. If not them, then…
The image of someone with red eyes flashed through my mind.
‘Blood Demon.’
My three encounters with the Blood Demon. During those meetings, he had said things that led me to suspect he was a dragon. Moreover, I still remembered the words Blood Qi had spoken.
‘Something about the Dragon Emperor, I think.’
What did that mean? Did it simply mean the leader of the dragons? Or was there something else to it? And was it correct to assume it referred to the Blood Demon?
‘Since Blood Qi was obtained from the Blood Demon, it must be him.’
Then did that mean the Blood Demon was the leader of the dragons?
‘I need to figure out the meaning of that for sure.’
Of course, this was not the time to be thinking about such things. Just as I was walking slowly, following the aura…
"There's no way Biwegun would have done that."
A voice came from behind me. It was a voice that had been muttering the same thing for a while now. Hearing it, I let out a small sigh.
"…Biwegun."
"You've said that more than ten times. Shut your mouth. It's distracting."
"…"
Only then did it get quiet. I needed to concentrate, but her constant muttering was getting on my nerves. I could feel her head hang low. Her gloomy feelings reached all the way to me.
"I only brought you because you wouldn't stop whining for me to take you, and now look at you. What's with this pathetic act?"
The person on my back was none other than the Young Lady of the North Sea, Yuri.
Right after we met at the cave entrance, we ended up traveling together, though not by choice.
"You said you wouldn't be a burden, at least. If this isn't a burden, what is?"
"B-But…! You told me to get on your back, Young Master…!"
"I told you to get on my back because you can't even do the Steps properly. If you could, do you think I would have told you to?"
"…"
The Steps was a technique that involved delicately controlling one's internal energy to ensure mobility in any situation. Walking on surfaces like water or snow required not only fine control but also a considerable amount of internal energy. It was something a first-rate martial artist like Yuri couldn't manage.
That was why I was carrying her.
‘Normally, I would have just left her at the entrance.’
The problem was the conversation I overheard at the entrance. She had pleaded so desperately, insisting that Biwegun wouldn't do such a thing and that he had made a promise to her that he wouldn't break. I had decided to hear her out for a moment.
Woo Hyuk had shown interest because of the connection to him, and because of that…
‘Things have gotten a little twisted.’
The situation had become a bit troublesome. I looked at Yuri on my back and spoke.
"Let me say it again. I am not on my way to find the Biwegun you're talking about."
When I had asked Yuri what promise she had made with Biwegun, I received no answer. Instead, she had looked at me and said:
[Please, take me with you. I'm begging you…]
Where on earth did she think I was going that she would speak with such desperation?
"…I know."
"Then why did you ask me to take you?"
I asked, changing direction. I hadn't said I was going to meet Woo Hyuk. I had clearly stated I was just leaving. But Yuri, realizing I was heading somewhere specific, had even grabbed onto my pant leg.
"And why, Young Master, did you take me with you?"
"Hmm."
Why did I bring her? I thought about the reason for a moment. The answer came quickly.
"Good question."
I didn't really know either.
"What?"
"Come to think of it, there was no real need to bring you."
It was, quite literally, a useless companionship. Whether I was moving stealthily or traveling a long distance, Yuri’s presence would only be a hindrance. Yet, knowing all that, I had brought the desperately pleading girl with me.
If I had to come up with a reason for it…
"You just looked so insanely desperate."
It was an incredibly simple reason. Because the voice searching for Woo Hyuk was so desperate. Because she was searching for hope with eyes that couldn't believe what had happened. That's why I brought her.
"…For just that reason?"
"It's my punishment for having a friend like him," I said with a smirk.
My life was so pathetic that I couldn't even count all my friends on one hand. This was the trouble I was going through because of a guy I could barely call a close friend.
"So, what's the promise you made with him?"
"…"
"You're not going to tell me?"
Including this time, I had asked about three times. What had they promised that made her believe Woo Hyuk wouldn't do such a thing? I was curious, but…
"…"
This time, too, Yuri remained silent. It meant she wasn't going to answer. Seeing this, I said:
"If you don't answer, I'm going to leave you here. Still not going to talk?"
"…!"
As I spat out the threat, Yuri's body flinched. What would happen if I just dumped her here and left? It probably wouldn't be a very pleasant situation. Yuri must have known that as well.
Squeeze.
Yuri only tightened her grip and still didn't answer.
‘She’s not talking.’
Did she think I wouldn't actually leave her? Curiosity tempted me to just dump her and go, but I let it slide for now.
"Then, just tell me your relationship with him. You can at least tell me that much, can't you?"
What was the relationship between Woo Hyuk and Yuri? To wail like that, I figured there must be something between them.
"Perhaps, lovers…"
"We are friends. Very old ones."
"I see."
Friends. Very old friends, at that…
‘The Young Lady and Woo Hyuk are friends.’
If it was long ago, just how long ago did she mean? I had heard that Woo Hyuk was from the North Sea, but I had no idea he was a childhood friend of the Young Lady.
‘Ah, come to think of it.’
There was something Woo Hyuk had said that I recalled.
"Then, do you know who his fiancée is?"
"…Excuse me?"
It was something Woo Hyuk had mentioned once. That he had a fiancée.
‘Back then, I wondered what a Taoist was doing with a fiancée.’
And even if he had one, I thought she would be someone from the Central Plains, but if things turned out this way…
‘Maybe she's not in the Central Plains, but here in the North Sea.’
That thought also crossed my mind. Of course, whatever the case…
‘Not that a fiancée means anything now.’
This was just a question born of curiosity about what I had heard. However…
"What… does that… mean?"
"Hm?"
"A fiancée?"
Hearing my words, Yuri's voice was anything but calm.