The Truth is Always One
"Haaah... good morning."
The morning of the final exam dawned. I tossed aside Yu-jin, whom I'd been using as a pillow, and got up.
"Maybe it's because it's the last day, but it feels a bit different."
"Uuuu...."
A voice came from behind me—the human pillow who still hadn't woken up—but I ignored it.
Today's mission I need to focus on is the final stage of the palace lord selection.
"Sion, you're up?"
"Oh, Senior."
As I stretched to shake off the sleep, Kim Hyeji senior came in through the door.
She was dressed neatly in martial robes, fully prepared. Probably because today marked the end of the raid, she'd put extra care into her outfit.
"Come out once you're washed and ready. Han Yu-wol has something to say."
"Huh, that woman?"
"Yes. They say last night's attackers were from another family... but don't let your guard down."
Our relationship with Han Yu-wol, the candidate we'd originally supported, was a bit awkward now.
I'd gone from being just a supporter to the overwhelming frontrunner somehow. On top of that, Cheonam Guild had switched their support from her to me recently, so it was only natural she'd feel awkward.
"Uh... I'll finish getting ready and come out."
"Take your time. It's not that urgent."
Last night's attack had been fully handled by Teacher I-hwa with no casualties, but they hadn't uncovered who was behind it.
Low probability, but it could be Han Yu-wol.
"Hmm... should I really think it was her?"
"Nah, probably not."
"Whoa! When did you wake up?!"
As I sat on the edge of the bed pondering, Yu-jin, who had woken up at some point, spoke to me.
"I've known that bitch for a while, and she's not that stupid."
"Stupid?"
"If she wanted to kill you, she wouldn't have done it so sloppily."
She'd been playing the fool lately, falling for my pranks like a pushover, but she was originally a promising talent from one of the three families.
Maybe that's why—her eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence.
"If Han Yu-wol really saw you as an enemy... she'd have gone the political route. That gives better justification."
"Why tell me this?"
"From the way things are going, you're basically the palace lord already. Think of it as me earning some points in advance."
With that, she naturally walked out the door.
"If you have the bandwidth to check Han Yu-wol... worry about Baek Ye-hwa first."
"Pardon?"
She left behind those meaningful words.
"Does the tea suit your taste?"
"It's a bit bitter."
"Haha, that's typical of North Sea tea."
After finishing basic preparations, I met with Han Yu-wol.
The exam started in the evening, so we had time, and I had questions for her anyway.
"Han Yu-wol. I'm not used to beating around the bush with formalities, so I'll ask directly."
"Yes, go ahead."
"Last night's attackers. Do you know who sent them?"
It could come off as rude.
Asking one of the prime suspects about the incident basically meant I suspected her.
"No idea. If we knew, we'd have told you first."
"I see."
"Well... I get what you're thinking. It's suspicious, sure."
But she seemed to read my mind and opened her mouth calmly.
"If I wanted you out of the running for palace lord, wouldn't there be cleaner ways?"
"What do you...?"
"You only became a candidate because of me in the first place, right?"
"..."
Her logic was simple.
If I'd wanted to block you, I would've exposed that you're not the palace lord's daughter instead of this brute force approach.
It was a straightforward statement, but it was spot-on.
"...Got it. At least we're still allies for now."
"Glad the misunderstanding's cleared up."
Good that she wasn't behind the attackers, but the real culprit remained a mystery.
Common sense said it wasn't Nam Young Yu family, since their daughter was with us... So maybe Gucheonbang family, one of the remaining three? Honestly, no clue. I'm not the scheming strategist type.
"Don't worry too much. Security's been beefed up after last night, so no more attacks coming."
"Yeah... probably."
I took the teacup from Han Yu-wol and sipped to cool my head.
Yeah, the Ice Palace side had already taken measures, and the seniors would handle it.
More importantly, her nape is so white... what lotion does she use?
"Hey! Where are you looking?!"
"Nothing..."
Ha... she's so close to my type, and being a woman today just makes it worse.
"Then, let the final exam of the palace lord selection begin!!"
A few hours after my private talk with Han Yu-wol, we climbed onto a massive platform in the city center.
The remaining candidates: me, Baek Ye-hwa, and Han Yu-wol.
Gucheonbang's candidate still hadn't recovered from injuries sustained in the first exam at the Eternal Ice Well, and Yu-jin had voluntarily withdrawn after losing our bet, leaving just three.
"This final exam will be conducted with the residents of North Sea Ice Palace, so keep that in mind."
The elder pointed to the crowd below the platform.
A huge throng of people had gathered, mostly commoners who didn't practice martial arts.
Pretty fresh for a murim-style event.
"Previous exams evaluated talent as a martial artist and knowledge as a scholar."
"However! The palace lord is the head and representative of North Sea Ice Palace. Most importantly, they must have the power to represent us."
"The final exam is a pure contest of martial force! The three candidates will clash!!"
The grand elder and grand protector announced to the commoners with inner power in their voices.
The final exam of the palace lord selection: a simple fight.
Well, 'simple' might not be the right word.
"The fight continues until there's a victor! Any action is allowed otherwise!"
If no one surrendered, it was a deathmatch until one died.
Yeah, now that's murim style.
"Well... no one plans to surrender, right?"
"Of course not."
"Long or short, we'll see when we fight."
Three of us on the platform.
Me, Han Yu-wol, Baek Ye-hwa.
Not one of us backing down, we each drew our weapons and assumed stances.
"I'll show you the power of the three families."
"Come at me!!"
Han Yu-wol swung her sword, navy hair flying, while Baek Ye-hwa countered with a fist strike.
Toward them, I drew my sword and unleashed the Tianxia Sanshiliu Jian.
Infusing it with mana, the hilt felt heavy—but the blade's tip moved even faster.
I deployed the most perfected form I could manage.
"First Form, Rainbow West Heaven!!"
No real need to shout the name, but I did it loud.
It's murim style, and I'd always wanted to.
"That idiot really...!"
Kim Hyeji senior facepalming in the distance? Must be my imagination.
"Urk...."
"Kyaaak!"
The goofy shout didn't diminish the peerless technique's power.
It pushed both back in one stroke, leaving wounds on their abdomens.
"Haha! Surrender nicely!"
I taunted them, riding the momentum.
Honestly, what I hoped for deep down.
They were rivals, but I didn't want to kill people I was on decent terms with.
"You...!"
"You, why suddenly?!"
But their reactions were odd.
Not annoyance or fear—bewilderment and worry.
"What are you staring...?"
I opened my mouth questioningly, but no words came.
My body stiffened slightly, drowsiness hit...
Suddenly the sky darkened, and the platform rushed up at me.
You have looped!
"Haaah... good morning."
The morning of the final exam dawned. I tossed aside Yu-jin, whom I'd been using as a pillow, and got up.
"Maybe it's because it's the last day, but it feels a bit different."
"Uuuu...."
A voice came from behind me—the human pillow who still hadn't woken up—but I ignored it.
Today's mission is something else.
"Why the fuck did I die?"
I'd looped.
Without even knowing why.
Something or someone killed me before I could even notice.
"Fuck. No matter how I think about it, nothing stands out..."
Scenario 1. Some super expert appeared and one-shotted me in 3 seconds. But then Baek Ye-hwa and Han Yu-wol wouldn't have reacted like that. Their shock was at me suddenly collapsing, not some intruder.
Scenario 2. Poisoned.
Impossible. I hadn't even had a sip of water before ascending the platform for condition management.
"What the hell... fuck!"
No matter how I racked my brain, nothing.
If you're gonna make me play detective, at least leave clues, damn it.
"What? Something wrong?"
"I'm solving the hardest puzzle of my life, so don't bother me."
"Talking nonsense again."
Not poison, not an expert.
Then what killed me?
"Here, eat this and cheer up."
"Whew... thanks."
I ate the peach Yu-jin handed me after waking up and cleared my head.
Regressors need mental strength most of all. Let's recharge with some sugar and think.
"Sweet? They said this year's harvest was good."
"It is sweet... wait a sec."
Fuck, why are there peaches in the North Sea?
"What's this? Peaches don't grow in the North Sea."
"We grew them."
"In this barren snowy field?"
"Old news. Nowadays we can grow most crops with formations. Of course, they're expensive, so commoners can't afford them."
Her words hit me like enlightenment.
Why didn't I think of that?
"Yu-jin, you're a genius."
I'd found the clue to this absurd mystery game.