Until the North Sea Ice Melts
"Ughhh... please stop already...."
"Come on, is that all you got?"
It had only been about three minutes since I'd grabbed Baek Ye-hwa by the collar to keep her from running and started beating the crap out of her, but she gave up and forfeited on her own. Even in a life-or-death duel like this, it was ultimately just a test—if the opponent surrendered, their life was guaranteed.
More than the joy of victory, I felt ashamed that I'd looped over a hundred times against a punk like this.
"Ha... all that bluster, and this is it? Get lost."
"H-heek!"
Battered bloody all over, she crawled away on all fours and fled down from the platform.
Having pulled that stunt in front of most of the North Sea residents, she wouldn't be a threat anymore.
So, that leaves just one problem for me.
"Well, now it's just the two of us left."
The last remaining competitor in the palace lord selection ceremony: Han Yu-wol. Beat her, and the throne was mine.
"Um... Sion? I still can't move my body."
"I know."
"?"
I had no idea what she expected, but as a martial artist, going easy on an opponent was a major breach of etiquette. I charged at the downed Han Yu-wol with my sword raised.
"W-wait a second! Just give me a little time...."
"Stay right there!!"
Her indigo eyes darted wildly trying to dodge somehow, but my sword hilt was headed straight for her.
It was winter.
"We hereby declare Baek Sion of the Jeong Hanbaek family as the 33rd Palace Lord of the Great North Sea Ice Palace!!"
"Waaaaah!!!"
With the final test ending in my victory, word spread that a new master of the North Sea had been born.
Jeong Hanbaek family was my cover identity as the previous palace lord's daughter—a name I was getting used to.
Winning too easily is making my conscience itch.
Han Yu-wol, still under the formation's influence, was ridiculously weak, and no upsets happened.
The one lingering worry was that to everyone else, her defeat looked too easy, potentially raising suspicions of match-fixing.
But I'd ended it so fast that ordinary eyes couldn't even follow, so no issue there. Martial artists like the chief elder or grand guardian didn't say a word either.
"I don't know what method you used, but a win is a win. In the North Sea, not caring about means or methods is something to praise."
"She was the top candidate anyway."
"It looked more like the technique Baek Ye-hwa used. Han Yu-wol couldn't move from the moment she raised her hand."
In the harsh North Sea lands, sorcery-like tricks counted as personal skill.
Plus, the sharp ones had already guessed that Baek Ye-hwa was the one who'd deployed the formation, not me.
That's why no one thought she'd actually become palace lord after beating us with it.
And I'd been the highest-rated candidate from the start anyway.
"No upset in the end, huh."
"I thought Anseolhan family had some hidden strength."
Crucially, my two defeated rivals had very weak political bases.
No one would side with Han Yu-wol or Baek Ye-hwa over me, now a sure palace lord—match-fixing or sorcery be damned. Not even their own clans.
"Haha... Your beauty is truly exquisite, Palace Lord."
"Our family imported some cosmetics from the Central Plains this time...."
The moment I stepped down from the platform, bigwigs from various Ice Palace factions swarmed me.
Among them was the head of Anseolhan family, Han Yu-wol's clan. That said it all.
"Palace Lord! Thank you for teaching my daughter a lesson. This experience will make her a better martial artist...."
The uncle who pushed through the crowd introduced himself as Han Yu-wol's father and yapped away.
Coming to me first while his daughter was still up on the platform? Kinda slimy.
"I'm a bit tired, so let's chat later."
"Ah, of course! Then anytime, perhaps tea...."
I walked past him smiling like he was genuinely looking forward to our next meeting.
Becoming palace lord didn't end with the selection ceremony.
Offering sacrifices at ancestors' tombs, bathing in water melted from eternal snow, donning traditional robes, stepping into the palace lord's chambers, and so on.
After days of even more exhausting rituals than the selection, I finally became someone worthy of ruling the North Sea.
"Palace Lord, these are the robes for the coronation."
"Oh, nice. Pretty."
"...You need to try them on."
The last step to full palace lordship was the coronation, in front of all North Sea eyes.
Time would clear it automatically, but as an A-rank dungeon, it wouldn't be that simple.
"So, who the hell is 'that man' anyway...."
The mystery guy who'd taught Baek Ye-hwa about the formation and how to use it.
His identity was still a total blank, so something had to be left lurking.
Baek Ye-hwa, the only one who knew him, had vanished right after the selection—total mess.
"Sigh, whatever. Not like thinking about it will solve it."
Of course, I'd reported this 'man' to Cheonam Guild and Hyeji sunbae. Everyone was scrambling to investigate.
I'd done what I could; now just wait.
But sitting idle was boring, so I needed someone to hang with.
"Palace Lord, Han Yu-wol of Anseolhan family has arrived at your summons."
"Let her in."
That's why I'd called Han Yu-wol the night before.
Hyeji sunbae and the deputy were busy investigating, so I called the closest friendly face.
"...The wench of Anseolhan greets the Palace Lord."
"Hey, no need to be so formal—it makes me uncomfortable."
I'd summoned her at midnight to the Hokage office... er, palace lord's chambers. Only maids around, private meeting, so casual talk should be fine, but she stayed low-key.
"Anyway... reason I called is nothing big. I felt like I went overboard at the selection."
"It was my own failing that led to defeat under the formation Your Ladyship deployed—not something to mention. Please withdraw such undeserved words."
"Uh... really?"
Why I cared about Han Yu-wol? Simple.
While looping deaths to break Baek Ye-hwa's formation, one run had something special.
Why'd she have to go and do something so creepy....
Pure coincidence: she'd taken a flying dagger meant for me.
Probably couldn't control her body due to the formation... but her eyes were on me.
And that faint relieved expression on her face stuck with me.
"Thinking back, I feel like my attacks were a bit much during the selection."
"Nonsense. You spared my life—I'm grateful...."
"Just my feeling. Kinda sorry, so wanna help you out."
"...Help, you say."
Indigo eyes looked up at me.
Lit by lantern light, I smiled and replied.
"I'll help you recover fast from your selection injuries."
"If you're offering aid, I'll gratefully accept."
"Then take off your top first."
"...Pardon?"
Back when I-hwa sensei beat me daily to teach martial arts, she'd heal me after spars with chugung acupuncture.
I'd been shocked at how pressing points with her fingers melted away fatigue and wounds.
I'd picked up the basics peeking over her shoulder, so I could mimic it.
"I'll show you the power of chugung acupuncture. Stash your clothes over there."
"Er... I don't need such grand help...."
"No refusing. Hurry up."
She reluctantly started untying her robe knots.
I swear, zero ulterior motives.
This was purely to heal her external wounds with chugung acupuncture... whoa, she has a mole on her left collarbone?
"Is... this alright?"
"Yeah. Perfect."
"Pardon?"
"No, lie down on this bed."
Han Yu-wol carefully prone on the bed I pointed to.
I straddled her, infused mana into my fingers, and started chugung acupuncture. Shoulders first....
"Hyaaang?!"
"Whoa, you scared me!"
Just like I-hwa sensei—starting at the shoulders—but her reaction was off the charts.
Way different from when I got it... but medical procedure, can't stop. Shoulders.
"Hyaat!"
Then both arms.
"Heugrt?!"
Waist.
"Haaaang!!?"
"Hey, that sound is weird!"
"It just... slips out...."
At the time, I didn't know.
My internal energy was extreme yin—pure yin qi from the eternal ice crystal—giving women an aphrodisiac-like effect, unlike sensei's.
"Eunghaaek-!♡"
"This is driving me nuts."
Her voice echoed through the North Sea's long night without end.
"Hey hey hey!! Baek Sion!"
"Call me Palace Lord."
Next morning, amid coronation prep chaos, Yu-jin showed up.
Unlike Han Yu-wol, I'd never told her to be casual—why treat me so freely?
"You, yoooou...."
"Something wrong?"
Caught that mystery man? Another variable?
"Did you really sleep with Han Yu-wol?!"
"What."
Somehow, we'd ended up in yin-yang union.