Chapter 22
“Ugh!”
I was folding my arms to put on my clothes when the pain from my wounds made my body twitch. After all, I had suffered such chaos and lost a whole basin of blood last night—my body couldn’t possibly be in perfect condition.
“What in the world happened?”
Teraden’s question drew a detailed account from me of everything that had unfolded last night.
“…At the right moment, you arrived. But you know, that person—no, that yokai—wasn’t as tough as iron.”
The word “iron” made Blanser tilt his head in puzzlement.
“Iron? It tingled a bit, sure, but not to that degree. I think the yokai’s Ineung hardened its body. And Teraden-nim neutralized it with your Plunder ability, right?”
Hm? That explanation had a surprising amount of logic.
Teraden’s gaze naturally turned toward him, as though silently urging the response.
“T-That could be right!”
After a wry chuckle at Teraden’s awkward reaction, I endured the familiar ache and finished dressing. As always, Yebaek appeared at the inn. Yet his face bore an uncharacteristic flush of excitement.
“Haru-nim! The fugitive estimated to be a human-shaped monster last night slipped through the hands of our forces beyond the North River, but we’ve luckily located the suspected entrance to their hideout. Right now, we’re working with the Eastern King’s Domain to set up a perimeter around the area!”
The news of finally grasping a thread of the mystery made me forget even the pain and leap to my feet. Wait a second, the North River? The other side of the North River belonged to the Eastern King’s Domain… but at this point, that wasn’t important.
“Good. Let’s depart immediately.”
Teraden started to shove his chair back, clearly in no mood to linger, but I urgently caught his arm.
“Wait. Before we go, there’s something I need to say to everyone.”
By grabbing Teraden, I halted the entire group that had been following us. Every eye turned our way. One by one, I met their gazes and spoke slowly.
“Don’t let your guard down. Maybe because this is our first mission, you’ve all been far too excited. The reason I survived yesterday was thanks entirely to that yokai’s complacency. If it hadn’t let its guard down, there might have been no ‘me’ today.”
My seriousness earned slow nods from the group.
“Oppa, are you sure you’re okay? The wounds haven’t healed yet, right? I hope you don’t go, Haru.”
Maru looked troubled, but I gently brushed her hair and coaxed her into compliance.
“I’m fine. Yebaek-nim, please lead us there right now. We’ll be able to rescue them soon.”
* * *
Floating Lake, the continent’s largest body of water, lay just a short distance east of the center of the mainland. One of its tributaries, the North River, marked the boundary between Dongye and the Eastern King’s Domain.
That was why doubt had immediately crept in when we learned the yokai’s hideout had been discovered beyond the North River. A kingdom capital’s outer district—yet they had established a proper base here? It was like having a tumor right under your jaw. Who in their right mind would have imagined such a thing?
“Here it is.”
Just as noon approached, Yebaek guided our party to the mouth of a cave. Dense undergrowth that reached past our ankles proved this place had seen no human footsteps for quite some time.
As we drew nearer, an artificial quality emanated from the entrance.
“What’s with this sloppiness? Is this really the yokai’s lair?”
Teraden’s words proved spot-on. The suspected hideout of the yokai was embarrassingly crude, leaking steam at every seam. Scattered traces of daily life and an utter absence of basic defenses… Ah, now that made perfect sense. They couldn’t have expected us to anticipate a base beyond the North River, so their complacency felt natural. I finally understood why we had wasted so much time.
“Jojang-nim!”
A trio of Yebaek’s subordinates rushed out to greet us amid the bustling activity.
“Since we established our perimeter around here, nothing suspicious has occurred. Our search teams are scouring the surrounding area for other possible hideouts in case more exist. The ring is slowly tightening.”
Blanser, who had received last night’s report from the concealed subordinates, bounced energetically beside me.
“What should we do, brother? Charge in right now? Or wait a bit? Huh?”
…Look at this guy. I had just warned him not to let his guard down, yet he had already forgotten. A day without a fight was like having a thorn in my side, so why was he so eager? Since I didn’t know what mischief they might commit inside, I had better keep them outside.
“We can’t just wait for the perimeter to reach this spot. Only Haru and I will go in. The rest of you stay behind.”
Blanser’s eyes lit up like lanterns at the terse reply.
“What?! Brother! Why? Then what about me?”
“You stay here to prepare for the unknown. Maru can handle her share, but just in case, you guard her.”
With Blanser wearing the face of someone who had lost everything, Teraden tossed the newly lit torch into the cave. It flared brightly, hissing as it illuminated the darkness.
“It’s burning well, so I guess there’s nothing fishy with the air. I’ll go first.”
Whoosh.
Teraden’s figure vanished into the cave’s shadows.
“Sigh. In such a hurry.”
“Haru-nim. I pray for your safe return.”
“Brother, think it over once more…”
“Then I’ll head in too. Ah, Yebaek-nim, please keep an eye on him so he doesn’t cause trouble.”
I lightly ignored Blanser’s pleas and followed Teraden into the cave.
Inside, the space felt like a maze. Endless circular stairs spiraled downward, their stone floors smooth and polished like those of a newly built structure—each step echoing hollowly.
“How could there be such architecture underground? Were the yokai even responsible? And why is it so dark?” Relying on Teraden’s bright light, we walked through the dim corridor. At its end we entered a vast hollow, where a crowd waited for us.
“What exactly were you doing here? You’re no ordinary person… Ah, you’re definitely not human at all.”
“…”
The yokai gave no answer even to Teraden’s question.
“It seems we’ve found the right place. The yokai we saw yesterday isn’t here, and there are no kidnapped people. Since we can’t leave enemies behind, you lot can handle these while I take the others and move on.”
“You haven’t forgotten what I said earlier, have you?”
“What, don’t let your guard down? Of course not.”
“Good. Stay safe.”
After assigning them to Teraden, I turned toward the next corridor. The yokai swarmed around him alone.
“Thanks to you, we nearly died in Seo-Wangdo. Truly grateful, you bastards. I’ll repay you properly once we’re all inside.”
Kwaang!
Teraden’s thick curse heralded the first clash in the hollow.
* * *
The second hollow we reached after leaving Teraden behind differed markedly from the first. While the previous space had been vast and empty, this one, though smaller, was cluttered with all manner of junk.
In one corner, something burned fiercely atop a pile of debris, and beside it sat a familiar figure.
Turning my gaze to the opposite corner, I spotted several people slumped casually inside iron cages.
The yokai sat on a chair, eyes fixed on us. I ignored that stare and approached the cages. …Five, six, seven. The numbers and faces matched perfectly with the missing persons. Had they been imprisoned here?
Their skin was deathly pale, eyes sunken, lips devoid of color. They had clearly endured immense suffering, yet their shoulders rose and fell with irregular breaths, so breathing at least appeared possible.
Should I have brought Blanser? No. If I had asked them to move the others, they would have complained even more. Leaving them behind was the correct choice.
“Hmph, you’ve come. Alone, though?”
Tap-tap.
A familiar voice joined the footsteps from behind.
Kwaaak.
My grip on the cage tightened without my realizing it.
“Huu…”
After a light exhale, I slowly rose and turned.
“Not alone, but you need only face me.”
“Hmph, no one who used yesterday’s Ineung? You’ll struggle alone?”
“Perhaps. Our bodies are both far from ideal. If we fight one-on-one without interference, I doubt I would lose.”
Though I bore many wounds, the opponent’s left arm, wrapped in bandages, moved unnaturally. It looked as though they were far from full strength.
Moreover, since Teraden had neutralized their Ineung, they were probably even weaker than I.
“Arrogant brat. I was worried you’d swarm, but you’ve saved me the trouble. Today you die because of your unnecessary meddling and courage.”
“I can’t stand owing anyone. I’ll settle yesterday’s humiliation and take these people with me. Of course, I have no intention of dying quietly here.”
* * *
“Maru…”
“No. You said Haru is outside.”
“That Yebaek…”
Blanser, coldly rejected by Maru, approached Yebaek with sparkling eyes. Yebaek merely shook his head in refusal.
“Aaaah!”
Blanser collapsed to the ground, clutching his head in agony. Was it really that tragic?
But soon, the scattered yokai hiding in other hideouts began to arrive. His face lit up instantly.
“As I thought! Brother foresaw this and entrusted me with the task! Maru, follow my orders and stay put. Got it?”
Blanser slammed his fists together, spun his arms like propellers, and charged forward. Protecting Maru? That would be madness.
“Eheo. I can’t live like this. Really.”
Even fools avoided fools like this. Deeply sighing, Maru wielded her hammer and clashed with the approaching yokai.
“You brats! Stop staring and help the others!”
Yebaek, having been goaded by his subordinates, drew his sword and struck the ground.
The moment his shout rang out, the subordinates snapped to attention and followed him unevenly with their weapons.
Meanwhile, in the forest northwest of the cave where Haru was battling, the leaves rustled steadily.
A group in identical uniforms dashed southeast without pause.
“By now we should have eliminated everything that could serve as a clue. First, merge with the others quickly, deal with the human who possesses ‘that Ineung’ and the rest, then slip away northeast.”
Jubern, hidden behind a tree, listened in silence as he carefully observed the leader.
‘The one who gave the order just now looks stronger than yesterday’s yokai. If they all join forces, our lord won’t be able to hold them back. I suppose I’ll have to intervene myself.’
“The crisis you warned about is exactly this. My lord keeps surprising me in so many ways.”
Thud-thud.
After his internal monologue, Jubern stepped out from the shadows and blocked the group’s path.
“Halt.”
“Who are you?!”
Whoosh.
After a long absence, the world’s gaze fell squarely upon Jubern’s blade, gleaming brilliantly in his hand.
“You were unquestionably the leader of all the yokai lurking in Dongye.”
“Move!”
One yokai charged at him with momentum, but
Chwaak! Thud!
Jubern’s heavy sword swept gently, bisecting the reckless yokai at the waist.
“I have been granted the title of Lord’s Escort. If any of you wish to harm my lord, you must first obtain my permission—regardless of who you are.”
The leader of the yokai witnessed his subordinate split in two and realized something had gone wrong.
“Ugh. Where did such a person come from…! The city promised there were no such strong individuals.”
The yokai’s pained murmurs grew as Jubern’s prowess became clear. They slowly retreated while the leader berated them.
“Snap out of it! There’s only one enemy! Everyone, take him on together!”
“Yes. Come all at once. I’ll bury you all.”
“Charge!”
Soon, a battle between Jubern and the yokai erupted in the nameless forest, unseen by the outside world.