The Black Lion's New Heir
Through long, delicate lashes, a golden hue like an autumn field ripples. Someone might willingly risk ruin just to earn her love. The natural beauty a girl her age exudes… I could say with certainty that it carried that much power. Yet no one would ever imagine that the same girl was the one who had hurled such vicious, heart-rending insults moments ago.
"Um… I saw earlier that you had a wound on your arm. Does it hurt…?"
When no answer came, her voice returned, laced with an unmistakable mix of impatience and anxiety. I had spent a long time pondering the purpose behind the attitude she was showing me now, but in the end, there was only ever one conclusion. She only ever revealed her true self when no one else was watching. In a place like this, where so many eyes were upon us, it was only natural that she would act this way.
"…"
"Haha, it seems my daughter was quite worried about you."
As my silence stretched on, the head of the Paechen family interjected with a lighthearted remark. "Why not accept her concern graciously? After all, this situation arose from official matters. You'll be seeing each other often from now on, so I'd prefer you not hold any grudges."
"…It's fine. Thank you for your concern."
Brooding over it alone wouldn't change anything. Even so, returning a mere courteous reply to a courteous worry wasn't exactly easy. "…And I hold no grudges at all. Senior simply did what was necessary, after all."
"Hahaha! That's the spirit befitting the Black Lion's bloodline. Thank you. I'll make sure to compensate you appropriately for this matter later."
Baek Il-yong, the head of the Paechen family, laughed heartily and clapped me on the shoulder. "Ah…"
But the girl standing behind him showed no sign of satisfaction. If anything, her expression carried a faint trace of melancholy, as though it might dissolve into tears at any moment. It lasted only an instant before vanishing, yet I could clearly sense the emotion she had harbored. It felt so natural that I almost resented myself for noticing it. No matter how much I thought about it, however, I couldn't reach the source of that feeling.
Regardless, Baek Il-yong turned away and resumed his conversation with the couple from the Heukryeon family. "By the way, Senior. Are you truly planning to return to the Supreme Council?"
"Even if I were, what concern is it of yours?"
"…That's rather harsh. No matter how you look at it, it can't be said to have nothing to do with me."
For the first time that day, a faint trace of hostility passed through the man's voice. "It was a decision made so that no more innocent people would suffer. The shame belongs only to me and this person."
For some reason, it felt as though Sa Dae-ryong's gaze brushed lightly over the top of my head. "Thanks to someone repeatedly crossing the line, the decision came easily. Or am I wrong? Using the past as a shield doesn't justify everything."
"It seems there's some misunderstanding. Article 25's regulations were proposed solely to prevent market monopolies by certain corporations. We can't very well cause further harm to an already struggling populace, can we?"
"Words can be twisted to fit any purpose. Further conversation will only lead to more empty talk. If we're done here, we'll be on our way."
"Ah, my apologies. I seem to have kept a busy person for too long. Then again, it has been fifteen years since your return, so perhaps that's to be expected."
At Sa Dae-ryong's words, the man finally stepped back, signaling the end of the conversation. He flashed a bright smile, as if nothing had happened, and offered his final farewell. "Well then, take care on your way back. Once again, welcome back to the Supreme Council."
"Thank you. Come along, child."
After exchanging the expected pleasantries, the couple resumed walking. The corridor remained empty, the only sound the flapping of crows' wings. I followed behind them. The sudden encounter had left my mind in disarray, so I needed a topic to calm it, however slightly.
"Um… What did you mean when you said the principal isn't here…?"
Sa Dae-ryong answered. "Ah, Hae Wolhwa went down to the south. It seems she left on the same day the Red Fire family departed and never received the news."
"What? Why would she go to the south…?"
"From what I know, the southern command requested support. There's apparently going to be a large-scale subjugation in the uninhabited zone soon."
The lady of the house picked up the explanation. "The military sees this as a golden opportunity now that the PLF's First Regiment has been wiped out. Especially since the master of the Southwestern Plains, which had been blocking expansion, has been confirmed to have reached the end of its lifespan. They'll want to expand humanity's territory even if it means overextending themselves."
The mention of the master of the Southwestern Plains brought something to mind. When I had gone south, a soldier on the ramparts watching the sunset with Yeon Minha had told me about it. A Tigas variant, enormous enough to rival the height of the ramparts, was said to inhabit the uninhabited zone beyond. Its special-grade monster identification name had clearly been the master of the Southwestern Plains. It was a massive turtle-like monster that carried rocks on its shell. The memory was especially vivid because the soldier who had told me had been killed shortly afterward, his chest pierced by a black mage.
"Even so, it's unusual. That person has never left the capital for anything short of an emergency since her youth."
"The nickname 'Lazy Hae Wolhwa' wasn't given for nothing. Perhaps she's grown a bit more diligent with age…"
"…"
Even after bringing up the topic, I couldn't focus on their conversation. The once lively voices gradually faded into a meaningless hum. The only thing I could truly feel was a pair of golden eyes still fixed on me.
"I'll be returning to the Cradle now. The Red Fire family will never forget the kindness the Heukryeon family has shown us."
"Child. Are you truly all right…?"
When Yeon Minha bowed deeply at the table, the lady of the Heukryeon family looked at her with concern and tried to dissuade her. "Think it over once more. Given your current situation, you could easily receive an exception. You don't have to graduate from the Cradle to inherit the Red Fire family's business…"
"No."
Yeon Minha simply shook her head firmly. "I don't want to give our enemies even the smallest opening."
Seeing her resolve, the lady let out a small sigh and nodded reluctantly. "…Very well. If that's your decision, how could I stop you…"
The Red Fire incident that had stirred up the capital for days was finally beginning to settle. Yeon Jeong-mun's crimes were unforgivable, but Yeon Minha had been recognized for trying to stop him to the very end, allowing the Red Fire name and the status of the Five Families to barely continue. Still, punishment was punishment. The corporations and foundations once owned by the Red Fire family were to be redistributed to new owners, but they had all fallen into the hands of the Heukryeon family, which had declared its return to politics after fifteen years. This was largely due to Yeon Minha's strong influence as the barely surviving heir. After all, it was far better than letting the mines fall into the hands of the Paechen family and its faction.
"Understood. Don't worry too much about the Red Fire family's businesses. I'll begin the return procedures as soon as you graduate from the Cradle. Just focus on your studies."
"…Thank you."
After expressing her gratitude again, Yeon Minha finally brought up the topic she had been curious about for some time. "Um, may I ask you something…?"
"Hm? What is it?"
"That… H-Hyun, is he really the Heukryeon family's…?"
Still unaccustomed to saying his name, Yeon Minha stumbled slightly over the pronunciation. The lady, however, merely shook her head slightly instead of answering. That small gesture alone was enough for Yeon Minha to guess the answer.
"But I would like to think of him that way. And in a way, it's not entirely wrong. My husband and I have already accepted him as our second son."
"Why? Why go so far for someone who's essentially a stranger…"
"…To avoid repeating the same mistake twice."
Yet the lady's answer only made it harder for Yeon Minha to understand. The deep sorrow in her voice still concealed its true meaning. Before Yeon Minha could begin to speculate, the lady changed the subject with a slightly playful smile. "By the way, you seemed to get along quite well with our son. It didn't look like an ordinary senior-junior relationship at all. Am I right in what I'm thinking?"
"Huu…"
Yeon Minha's face instantly turned as red as a ripe strawberry. The question she had just been pondering had long since flown away without a trace. She stammered out a jumbled response in a tone that didn't suit her at all. "It's true that he's a precious junior, but… we still need to get to know each other better, and it feels a bit rushed…"
"Huhu, that's enough. I think I understand without you saying more."
Realizing she was being teased, Yeon Minha quickly changed her expression. She cleared her throat and steadied her breathing, while the lady looked at her with a smile tinged with melancholy. "Ahem, ahem…"
"Still, I'm glad. It doesn't seem like you'll make the same mistake we did…"
She gently took Yeon Minha's hand and made a request. "Please get along well with him."
Without needing to be told twice, Yeon Minha slowly but surely nodded. "…Yes."
***
"Hm~ hm~"
A female student hummed softly as she strolled through the streets of the Cradle. Her hair was bleached yellow. Her skirt was shortened to the point where her pale thighs were fully exposed. She had the unmistakable air of a troublemaker. On the name tag matching her uniform color, the name "Yu Sera" was written.
Everyone else was making a fuss about black mages and demons, but she had no interest in such headaches. She had been lucky enough to get into the Cradle, so her only thought was to make connections with students from good families and graduate with a diploma.
"Huh…?"
Suddenly, something caught her eye, and she reflexively turned her gaze. The large letters on the newspaper stand beside the store sign had somehow drawn her attention.
-The Red Fire Incident Takes an Unexpected Turn… The Veil Lifts on Heukryeon's New Crown Prince… (First Report)
"…What on earth is going on?"
The girl frowned slightly as she read it. She recalled a certain masked male student she had gone on an external request with last time.