Beyond the Barrier
“How’s the emperor investigation going?” I asked Ronald Count, who had come to the mansion for an additional report.
“There really is a torture chamber underground in the imperial palace, complete with instruments and tools. And……”
“And?”
“We’ve confirmed it’s connected to the disappearance of the imperial guards. Weapons belonging to those who were reported dead in accidents were found in the torture chamber.”
“No way they were still there?”
“Yes. You can’t imagine how shocked everyone was.”
“Idiots.”
“We got lucky, actually. The investigator spotted it thanks to scratches inside the scabbard. Otherwise, we never would’ve found it.”
“That’s pretty damning evidence. What’s the emperor doing?”
“Well……”
Ronald Count hesitated.
“Speak. This won’t leak out.”
“He’s showing no reaction at all. Despite the evidence, he’s calmly receiving the investigators.”
“He’s got something up his sleeve, then.”
“Seems like it. We suspect Duke Solarion is pulling some strings.”
He’s probably banking on the armies starting to move from the provinces.
“We’re still digging for more evidence that he tortured Her Imperial Majesty the Empress. But there’s one thing that worries me.”
“What?”
“Her Imperial Majesty’s safety. Where is she?”
“That’s a secret. Just between me and that friend of mine.”
Ronald nodded knowingly at the word friend.
“Ah, Lady Emily took her, then.”
“Right. I don’t even know the exact location.”
“It’d be wise to be cautious. But without Her Majesty’s testimony……”
“It won’t be a fatal blow.”
I knew that. But I couldn’t bring the empress out right now. The investigation was ongoing, and there was the trial date to consider—but the biggest reason was that she’d lost her memories from back then and couldn’t testify.
So, I’d hold off on bringing her out until she’d fully recovered.
“I’ll bring her when the time is right. Don’t worry about it.”
“Understood, Minister. But……are you sure this is okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I warned the nobles to watch the troop movements, but if this escalates to a real civil war……”
Ronald seemed hesitant to even mention war.
“Don’t worry. I have a plan.”
“You don’t actually plan to use the Magic Department’s magical armaments, do you?”
“No.”
“But the Dmitry family has no territories left to raise troops from right now.”
“That’s not it either.”
“Then?”
“I’m heading north.”
Ronald stared at me in stunned silence before his eyes widened in shock. He knew who was in my house.
Baekseol. The princess of the northern barbarians, the Crui tribe. And one of my military cards.
“You can’t mean……the barbarians?”
I didn’t answer. And he knew that silence was answer enough.
“That’s insane! Bringing in barbarians, of all things!”
“I can control them.”
“How? They’re a people without common sense! Plunder is baseline for them, and they don’t hesitate to kill.”
“I know.”
I had no intention of sugarcoating their atrocities.
“Then why?”
“To use strong forces, you don’t pick and choose your methods.”
To beat an emperor who wouldn’t hesitate to resort to black magic, I had to try anything.
The emperor’s the type who’d try dark magic if he had to.
“Do you have a way to control them?”
I thought of the person inside the mansion. Ronald seemed to think the same, furrowing his brow.
“What I’m thinking of?”
“You know it well.”
“It’s reckless. Will they even listen to Lady Baekseol?”
“I know the Crui tribe better than anyone.”
They craved strong power. They yearned for a strong leader. And I had the qualifications to stand above them—with power stronger than any, and their chieftain’s daughter, Baekseol, at my side.
“Very well. I’ll trust you, Minister. How long will it take?”
“Three days to settle things. A week to move the army.”
“The border’s the real issue. How will you handle that ironclad wall?”
“I’ll break through.”
Tear it down or make them open the gates themselves. There’d be backlash, sure. But I had my aces.
Ronald clicked his tongue, staring at me in awe.
After sending Ronald off,
“Baekseol.”
I went looking for her.
“Ah, Morris!”
Baekseol, who’d been embroidering, lit up when she saw me.
“Busy?”
“No, my lord. I was just making a gift for you.”
The embroidery she’d been working on was probably it.
“I’m looking forward to it. But first, we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“Let’s go up north together.”
“Where do you mean, my lord?”
“Your homeland.”
Baekseol’s homeland. A place of biting winds and blizzards. Beyond the Northern Barrier.
She looked surprised at my words.
“Why, my lord? Are……are you sending me back?”
I shook my head.
“I need your tribe’s strength.”
“My tribe’s strength?”
“That’s why I’m using you to bring them to my side.”
“Are you aiming for the chieftain’s seat?”
“If I have to.”
Of course, Baekseol would sit there, not me. An imperial citizen couldn’t take that position.
“That’ll mean fighting your father, the current chieftain.”
“That’s fine. I’ve been waiting for it.”
She even looked thrilled. Why?
“Why are you happy? Your father—your family—might lose the chieftain’s power.”
“I was already sent to you as a gift, my lord. From that moment, I forgot my family. To me, family is……”
Baekseol glanced at me.
“……you, my lord.”
“……I see.”
“Yes.”
“Crui customs are hard to understand.”
“Don’t try to. Just focus on winning, my lord. I’ll handle the rest.”
There wasn’t a hint of deceit in her voice. One thing was clear: Baekseol was on my side.
“Got it.”
“Are we going right now?”
“Is that a problem?”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Then let’s go.”
I took Baekseol and teleported. I had her wear warm furs enchanted with insulation magic—no cold would touch her.
We’d use a teleport gate to head north. But using the one in the Magic Tower would leave a trail. Instead, I’d use the hidden portal in the backyard—one hard to trace.
I’d originally planned to repurpose it from linking to the succubus dungeon. The destination: a outpost near the Northern Barrier.
“Ready to move?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
Baekseol gripped my hand tightly. Her hand felt warm and soft in mine.
“Don’t let go. And don’t worry. I’ll protect you, no matter what.”
“Yes, my lord.”
We stepped into the portal.
The outpost was deserted. An abandoned ruin, littered with broken gear.
“Wow, a place like this exists.”
Even in the flesh-cutting blizzard, Baekseol spoke casually, unfazed.
“It used to block Crui advances.”
Not anymore.
“Why was it abandoned?”
“They built a taller, sturdier wall.”
I pointed to the massive barrier rising in the distance—the one dividing the Crui tribe from the empire.
“Ah.”
Baekseol nodded in understanding.
“Let’s move. It’s far, so it’ll take a while to fly.”
“Understood, my lord.”
I scooped her up and flew toward the Crui village. As we soared into the sky, Baekseol burrowed deeper into my arms.
How long did we fly through the icy winds? Eventually, we reached the Crui tribe’s village.
“Hey? It’s the princess.”
“Why’s the princess here?”
“Didn’t she go to the empire?”
“Did she succeed?”
“Idiot, that guy next to her is the man. Morris, the empire’s war hero.”
“Then……she failed?”
“No way.”
As we dropped from the sky, all eyes turned to us. They stopped their work, staring at me and Baekseol, murmuring.
Their chatter was giving me a headache. Ignoring them, I strode toward the chieftain’s tent.
No one dared block my path. Even those who didn’t know my face stepped aside upon seeing Baekseol with me.
“Didn’t expect you to come first.”
Bendan Kru, chieftain of the Crui tribe, propped his chin, eyeing me.
“Same here.”
“What brings you? Doesn’t look like you’re here to formalize the betrothal. And my daughter……”
His gaze shifted to Baekseol.
“……couldn’t even fulfill her mission properly. What an idiot.”
He clicked his tongue.
“Watch your words. She may be your daughter, but she’s my woman. And I hate anyone insulting mine.”
Bendan Kru shut his mouth.
“I came with a proposal.”
I broke the silence first.
“What is it?”
“Help me. Join the fight against the empire’s emperor.”
“Isn’t that treason……?”
“Not quite. He’ll draw his sword first.”
“Even we, whom you call barbarians, know that. But will the empire’s people accept it? I hear they care about public opinion.”
“Public opinion doesn’t matter.”
“You have a plan?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Bendan Kru leaned forward, clearly intrigued.
“If they’re barbarians tamed by the Magic Minister who conquered the north, opposition will drop sharply.”
“……No way?”
“I came to challenge you. For the chieftainship of the entire Crui tribe, in a sacred duel.”
His brows twisted at that.
“A foreigner dares speak of the sacred duel? Even if I acknowledge your strength, this insolence is unforgivable!”
“Why can’t I?”
“What?”
“Don’t I have Baekseol, your gift? Isn’t she the legitimate Crui princess?”
Bendan Kru whipped his head toward her, glaring.
“You wench, surely not?”
“I’m just her proxy.”
“Baekseol! Is that true?”
His face darkened menacingly. Though he looked ready to kill, Baekseol met his gaze steadily.
“Yes. I came to claim my rights. Morris will fight in my stead.”
“Hah. The child I sent for the tribe’s prosperity comes back to ruin it.”
“No. Under Morris, our tribe will grow stronger.”
“Ha! Ridiculous! Even if he’s strong, how’s a man who lived in the warm south going to lead us?”
I’d been listening to their exchange and clicked my tongue.
“The mighty Crui chieftain has a long tongue. Scared?”
“Scared? Me? Don’t make me laugh!”
Bam! Bendan Kru slammed his throne. The armrest snapped with a crack.
“This time, I’ll face you seriously.”
He glared at me with bloodshot eyes.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I smiled softly back at him.