Promise
Promise
Are the Three Great Families a powder keg?
It was a question worth serious consideration.
'Just how many curses are tangled up across the generations?'
Hong Yeon-jun, whom I met on the Reverse Side, is the half-brother of the current head of the Calamity Flame, Hong Jin-seon.
Lee Ji-ah, who came into range of my Observation, is the current head of Taesan.
"Ha-yul, but why aren't you using Calamity Flame?"
And Baek A-rin, who's holding me in her embrace, is the current family head's eldest daughter and the heir apparent.
'Are the Three Great Families truly dogged by ill fortune?'
One arm wrapped around my waist, I felt Baek A-rin's fingers absently kneading my cheek as I forced myself to cool my head and think.
Is it simply because their attributes happen to match the Tower Masters invading us? Or do they have some actual connection?
Why is it that only within the Three Great Families do people cursed by Tower Masters keep appearing one after another?
'I never met Hong Yeon-jun in the original story.'
The Tower Master of Purgatory I faced in the original story was only the true body, after the Tower had revealed itself to the world and completed its descent.
I don't know whether he bypassed it by descending into a vessel before that.
'Lee Ji-ah...'
The head of Taesan, Lee Ji-ah, was an ally.
Not that I had raised her Affection very high, but she was a reliable superhuman who led the Taesan family even in a chaotic world.
That remained true even after the Tower Master of the Dead descended.
'Why?'
And yet this same Lee Ji-ah was stricken with the Curse of the Dead.
It's changed from the original. I've caused so many changes by now that it shouldn't surprise me, but this was a different kind of problem.
Because it meant the Tower Master of the Dead's entire course of action had diverged.
And it was threatening.
Lee Ji-ah's martial might is arguably the greatest of the former generation. And with her status as the head of Taesan, how much could she accomplish?
'What a powder keg this is.'
Even individually, these were the world's strongest major powers, and they were all bunched together in this small patch of land. It really was a terribly dangerous powder keg.
'The Calamity Flame family is the least badly off, at least.'
In the Calamity Flame family, neither the former head, the current head, nor Hong Yeon-hwa as the future head are connected to any curse.
But in Taesan, the current head is the target. In Azure Sea, it's the future head.
It's almost laughable.
The Calamity Flame family, known as the most dangerous of the Three Great Families, is actually on the safest side of things.
"I asked why you aren't using Calamity Flame?"
- Rrrustle... Rrrustle...
My train of thought snapped off at that moment.
Somewhere along the way, the hand that had been around my waist slipped beneath my clothes.
Her cheeks faintly puffed, Baek A-rin gently stroked my stomach with her cool palm.
[Sorry, I was distracted for a moment.]
[But what do you mean, Calamity Flame?]
"Ha-yul, you can use both Calamity Flame and Azure Sea on your own and control the side effects, can't you?"
[I could melt it with Calamity Flame, of course, but I'm trying to get a bit used to this state.]
The Azure Sea that had fully settled within me.
Setting aside its properties, just like the Calamity Flame and Taesan before it, 'my' Azure Sea was also a calm and docile innate talent.
Side effects don't arise easily. Even when they did, they weren't extreme.
'After all, I was fine despite producing that much output and range.'
To others I might have looked like an ice statue, but internally there was no real problem.
The replaced cold energy? Honestly, there's no need to even invoke Calamity Flame. I could restore proper balance quickly just by managing Azure Sea on its own.
But there might come a time when I can't conveniently balance things out.
No matter how tame my Calamity Flame is, if I remove its restrictions and raise its output, it will burn my body.
So I mean to adapt in advance to a state where Azure Sea's side effects have already occurred.
'Nnngggh...'
The night was growing steadily darker. Recalling the memories up to being cradled in Baek A-rin's arms, I shivered.
After I returned to land.
Even before I met Baek Wol-seon, I was gathered into Lee Ha-sol's arms and transferred to my room.
What awaited me inside were the irises of various colors, all staring at me with eyes sharpened like hatchets.
It was only then that my frozen brain managed to grasp the situation.
From my perspective, I had been perfectly at ease.
But from everyone else's view, it must have looked like I just charged headlong at a 3rd-Rank Alpha monster in the unfavorable terrain of the ocean.
'It's a relief I wasn't injured, at least...'
Fortunately, I was granted mitigating circumstances.
Because I actually didn't have a single injury. And there were witnesses like Daera and Lee Ha-sol, and the fact that I returned in perfectly fine shape worked in my favor.
- Even so! No matter how strong Ha-yul is, what are you doing charging straight at a monster like that?
- Urrrggghh...
So the matter ended with me receiving a light scolding.
...More precisely, it was deferred to next time out of consideration for my fatigue just after returning.
"Did Yeon-hwa just let you go without melting it?"
[I've already been melted several times.]
Azure Sea's side effects had been resolved right then and there by Yeon-hwa.
Trapped in her embrace, whooosh... I was kneaded like glutinous rice cake and melted over and over again.
But when I said I wanted to get accustomed to the properly manifested state before the summit, her lips formed a pout, but she understood.
I smoothed over those pouting lips with a kiss.
"Mmnn..."
Letting out a soft hum, Baek A-rin nodded to herself.
Then she pulled the hand that had been rubbing my stomach back out, and adjusted me where I sat sideways on her lap so I was facing her.
I stayed still.
Whatever the position, it was comfortable for me.
Her soft thighs gently supported my bottom, and the arm wrapped around the small of my back held me steady so I wouldn't wobble.
The skin touching mine was cool, but supremely soft.
As I rested my head against the full swell of her chest cradling my face, slender fingers gently tilted my chin up.
Even in the dimmed room, her clear blue eyes were vivid. Her gaze fixed on my lips.
A wordless question approached. I gauged her mood for a moment, then pressed my lips softly to the corner of her mouth.
- Smack.
"Still not yet?"
It seemed that was not the answer she wanted.
Fine brows drawing together prettily, Baek A-rin abruptly lowered her head. Her slightly parted mouth sank her teeth into my neck.
[Ticklish.]
[Cold.]
My skin felt cool already, but her lips on my neck were even colder.
A chill crept from the teeth pressing gently into my skin.
My shoulders trembled softly.
Glancing sidelong at my complexion, Baek A-rin's eyes curved. A wordless expression full of mischief and teasing.
Before I could react in any way, the mouth that bit my neck began sucking at my skin.
[Nnnggh.]
[It tickles.]
[Happy?]
The trembling spread past my shoulders and through my whole body. The tips of my toes curled.
As my body gave a small squirm, the arm around the small of my back pulled me deeper into her embrace.
Having effortlessly subdued my squirming, Baek A-rin sucked at my neck with even greater persistence.
"Pwah..."
Only after some time had passed did the mouth withdraw. Baek A-rin inspected the neck she had bitten and sucked.
"It left a mark."
[Yeah]
Slender fingers traced over the mark left on my neck.
The pale skin had flushed red with heat, faint tooth marks remaining.
Only that spot, amid all the cool skin, held heat. Baek A-rin's eyes curved in deep satisfaction.
[...Are you done?]
"Who knows?"
An ambiguous answer. Gauging the mood, I cautiously lifted my body a little and leaned my head forward.
- Smack.
I pressed my lips to Baek A-rin's pale, lovely neck first. I didn't bite and suck as she had done, but just pressed my lips, smack smack...
"Are you trying to get out of this with aegyo?"
[Yeah...]
...Like they say, acting cute. I kept kissing at the slope of her neck, as if asking her to let go of her anger with this.
Blinking, Baek A-rin shot me a sideways look and moved her hands.
The arm that had been around my waist slid lower, and then one hand took hold of my undeserving bottom.
- Tight...
[Hik.]
Even with my senses dulled by the cold, the sensation transmitted clearly enough to make my body shudder.
In the end, surrendering my bottom to her, I pressed my lips to various spots on that slender, pale neck.
Two different sounds overlapped.
As I employed my awkward aegyo, Baek A-rin's dissatisfied look began to soften.
I had been waiting for that moment.
Wrapping both arms tightly around Baek A-rin's neck, I nuzzled my face against her with enthusiasm.
[You are mine, Baek A-rin.]
[I've already told Chief Administrator Kim Yu-yeon as well.]
"...What? No, wait, you even told the Chief Administrator, my mother?"
The expression on Baek A-rin's face grew strange before her eyes went perfectly round.
Her displeasure seemed to have dissolved, one way or another. Having nodded firmly, I buried my face against Baek A-rin's chest.
- Thump... Thump... Thump...
Straining my hearing, I caught a heartbeat fainter and slower than most people's. I brought Observation and Detection to bear and examined deeper inside.
The Curse-Lifting Jewel.
The fully settled Calamity Flame and Azure Sea.
The gifts I had given to Baek A-rin.
'I'm ready.'
I had done everything I could to prepare.
'Yeah, doing it right now would still be a problem.'
Of course, safety is paramount, but I also have to sever it cleanly so there's no next time.
All that's needed for that is the right situation.
'......'
I let out a deep breath and expanded my Observation.
Seolgyeong came within range. I expanded it further. A vast expanse of snowfield and a long, stretched-out mountain range came into focus.
Numerous cities, many dungeons and monsters, information on countless lives flooded in.
- Creeeeak...
I observed one particular space: a massive vortex rippling in midair. It was the entrance to the Special-Grade Dungeon that had thrown the Changhae family into turmoil.
'...Well hidden.'
A faint chill seeping from the vortex. The amount was so extremely tiny that even Observation had difficulty, but it was enough to raise suspicion.
[Please wait just a little longer.]
[I promise, no matter what, I will save you.]
I didn't even realize it myself, but I have a fiercely strong possessiveness.
Whatever Baek A-rin's original intentions were when she first approached me, it doesn't matter anymore.
She came to me however she pleased, looked after me, helped me, treated me well—so I'll claim her as mine however I please.
Even if the world should split in two, I will never tolerate someone taking what's mine.
How long have I prepared for this?
No matter what happens, I will save Baek A-rin, perfectly unharmed. Since it's something I absolutely must do, there was no room for doubt.
As if swearing to myself, I operated my necklace.
[Promise約束]
- Woom!
The Confession Necklace vibrated.
The words I spoke were the truth.
And even if they aren't, I'll make them into truth myself.
.
.
.
A summit where the heads of the Three Great Families would formally gather in one place—a considerable event.
The issue that prompted the summit was an unprecedented matter as well.
As is only fitting for such an occasion, a certain amount of preparation is required—at least for the moment of entry.
...On that reasoning, I had been led by the Changhae family attendants since early morning and seated before a large mirror.
It felt strange that I was now somewhat used to this sort of process.
"Young master? What is this mark on your neck..."
One of the attendants saw my neck reflected in the mirror and blinked rapidly. The woman beside him promptly jabbed him in the side with her elbow.
"Shh."
"Huh? Oh, ah..."
In the room where over ten people were gathered, everyone's voices vanished in an instant.
This silence was not a familiar one.
[......]
Last night, maybe because of the Azure Sea's side effects, I'd acted and said things shamelessly, without any embarrassment.
- Don't hide this mark. Here, promise?
'A-rin, you...'
I forcibly steadied a face that was about to crumple into a crestfallen look. I covertly manifested Azure Sea and cooled the heat rising up past my neck.
* * *
[The Confession Necklace is changing.]