To the Eoraha's Palace

The moment I stepped into the grand corridor leading to the Eoraha's palace, a strange pressure wrapped around my entire body.

It felt like dozens of invisible eyes were boring into me from every shadow. The air itself seemed heavier, as if the very atmosphere of this place rejected outsiders. My steps slowed without ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me realizing it.

Damn it. Why does this feel so ominous?

I'd come here on urgent business, yet my instincts were screaming at me to turn back. Still, I couldn't afford to hesitate. Not when lives were on the line.

Just as I reached the inner gate, a cold mechanical voice echoed directly inside my head.

The voice was mechanical and emotionless, yet it carried an unmistakable threat. My body froze mid-step as if bound by invisible chains.

What the hell? A system message here? In the middle of the palace?

I tried to push forward again, but an overwhelming force slammed into my chest like a massive wall. The impact sent me staggering backward several steps.

"Ugh...!"

My vision blurred for a moment. When it cleared, I saw faint golden runes flickering in the air around the gate — a formation array designed to repel intruders.

Lethal countermeasures? Are you kidding me?

I clenched my fists. This wasn't just some ordinary palace security. The Eoraha's residence was protected by ancient powers that even I, with all my accumulated strength, couldn't easily bypass.

But I had no choice. The information I carried could change the fate of the entire kingdom. If I turned back now, everything I'd fought for would crumble.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered my inner energy and stepped forward once more. The runes flared brighter, and the pressure intensified tenfold.

"I am Han Young-hoo! I come bearing critical news for the Eoraha! This is no idle visit!"

My voice echoed through the corridor, but the barrier didn't waver. Instead, a new message appeared, this time burning in crimson letters before my eyes.

The temperature around me began to rise rapidly. Tiny sparks of golden fire danced in the air, growing larger by the second. This wasn't a warning anymore — it was a death sentence in motion.

Shit. This is bad. Really bad.

I could feel the power of the formation locking onto my vital points. One wrong move and I'd be reduced to ashes. But backing down now wasn't an option. Not after everything I'd been through in this alternate world.

Just as the flames began to converge, a soft voice cut through the tension like a gentle breeze.

"Hold."

The golden flames froze mid-air. The oppressive pressure vanished in an instant, as if it had never existed. I turned toward the source of the voice and saw a woman in flowing silk robes standing at the inner gate.

Her beauty was otherworldly, with long black hair cascading like a waterfall and eyes that seemed to hold the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wisdom of centuries. But what caught my attention most was the faint smile playing on her lips — a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"You are... the one they call the Reclusive Master?" she asked, her voice carrying a melodic yet dangerous undertone.

I swallowed hard. "That's right. And you are?"

She tilted her head slightly, studying me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

"I am the one tasked with guarding this palace in the Eoraha's absence. You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠may call me Court Lady Seol."

Court Lady Seol... The name rang a bell from the original story. She wasn't just any attendant. She was one of the most dangerous yandere figures in the palace — beautiful, devoted, and utterly ruthless toward anyone who threatened what she considered hers.

"I need to speak with the Eoraha immediately," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's about the northern border situation. The information cannot wait."

Her smile widened, but there was something unsettling about it. "The Eoraha is currently in meditation. No one is permitted to disturb him. Not even you, Master Han."

The way she said my name sent a chill down my spine. It was too familiar, too possessive.

"Then at least let me leave a message. Lives depend on this."

She took a step closer, her silk robes whispering against the marble ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠floor. The air around her seemed to shimmer with hidden power.

"You intrigue me, Master Han. So bold. So... persistent. Most men would have fled the moment the barrier activated."

Her eyes gleamed with an emotion I couldn't quite place — was it curiosity? Obsession? Or something far more dangerous?

I took a careful step back. "Look, I didn't come here to cause trouble. I just need to deliver vital intelligence."

"Vital intelligence," she repeated softly, almost tasting the words. "Or perhaps you came seeking something else? The Eoraha's favor? Or... perhaps mine?"

Oh no. This is exactly the kind of yandere trap I wanted to avoid.

The golden runes around the gate began to fade as she waved her hand. The barrier was lifting, but I had the distinct feeling that stepping through it now would be even more dangerous than facing the flames.

"Come," she said, extending her hand. "I will escort you personally. But know this — once you enter the inner sanctum, there is no turning back. You will be bound by the palace's secrets... and by me."

Her smile was sweet, almost angelic. But behind it lurked the shadow of obsession that could easily turn deadly.

I hesitated for only a moment before taking her hand. The die was already cast. If I wanted to protect those dear to me in this world, I had to see this through — even if it meant walking straight into the spider's web.

As we crossed the threshold together, the system message appeared one final time, this time in softer, almost mocking tones.

Yeah. No kidding.

The heavy palace doors closed behind us with a resounding thud, sealing my fate within the Eoraha's domain. Whatever happened next, one thing was certain — my peaceful days as a reclusive master were officially over.