Chapter 248
Chapter 248
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 248
>Chapter Title: Tomaku's Miracle
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Time had passed since the iron golems entered the mine.
Even though the miners had already been rescued, people had gathered thickly around Sodung Mine, waiting for news.
"The elevator—it's moving!"
"It's stirring up trouble again, isn't it?"
"No! Something's coming up from below."
The mine owner, Seongchi, along with the rescued miners—everyone held their breath, waiting for the elevator to reach the surface.
How many nights had passed and how many days had dawned just to witness this moment?
Yonghwa Bangjae, along with the recorders involved in this incident, were also watching the mine entrance.
Seolhong could not die here.
She was too valuable a person to perish in a place like this. And the same went for her dragon stone, bound to her by fate.
However, Bangjae and the recorders knew the gravity of the situation. With the seal on the great evil spirit Adokshini broken, this had long surpassed what individual power could handle.
"Has the Grand Sorcerer arrived yet?"
"It's only been a short time since departing from Hongyeon, so it will take a while to reach Tomaku..."
"Tch! If Seolhong's words are true, Adokshini has emerged into the world. How can they be so nonchalant?"
As Bangjae conversed with his subordinate, the mine entrance grew noisy.
"They're coming! She's here!"
Clank...
Clank...
Iron golems stepping out from the darkness before the crowd. With their considerable number, it was quite the spectacle.
Everyone searched only for the iron golem carrying Seolhong.
If this miracle ended with her death, the people of Tomaku might abandon their faith henceforth.
"There she is!"
"Seolhong has returned alive!"
"There's one more in the cockpit?"
"It's Seolhong's dragon stone bearer! He's alive too?"
Hiss...
The cockpit opened, and Seolhong and Kang Seol descended. Unable to wash after going in and out of the mine, Seolhong's face was smeared black. Kang Seol's was the same.
The difference in their faces was that Seolhong's had clear tear tracks where the soot had been wiped away by constant tears.
The fire artists, who relayed the news, raised their fire orbs.
They wielded sorcery to depict scenes.
They now held their brushes, waiting to capture this pivotal moment.
Soon, the moment they anticipated arrived.
With a thud, the mine owner Seongchi not only bowed his head but prostrated himself on the ground.
"We shall regard this as grace bestowed by the heaven, earth, and spirits who pitied the lives of us moles. Truly, thank you."
"Seongchi."
"You have suffered greatly. I shall never forget the grace bestowed upon us by Yonghwa in my lifetime."
"Waaaaah! Seolhong!"
"Seolhong! Look over here!"
Seolhong, who had lived unloved.
No one had ever seen her off when she left the Dragon Palace.
A past life where being distant from everyone's attention seemed natural.
"Over here! Here!"
"You've returned!"
"It's a relief! Such a relief! Sob..."
The present, surrounded by countless people, was something she could never have imagined back then.
"Seolhong!"
"Brother Bangjae."
"What happened? I see your dragon stone bearer is safe. But wasn't there a critical issue?"
Bangjae asked, hoping to hear the truth from Seolhong's lips.
"What of Adokshini? That thing..."
"It has fallen."
"...What?"
"Adokshini has fallen."
As if it had died of natural causes.
Bangjae stared at Seolhong for a moment before his gaze shifted to Kang Seol.
"Surely... not what I'm thinking?"
"......"
Seolhong told Bangjae the truth. Hiding it would only breed unnecessary suspicion.
"The abnormal yin energy in Sodung was all due to Adokshini, we presume. Once Adokshini was eradicated, the yin energy subsided to the point where protective suits are no longer needed."
"Seolhong... is it true? Adokshini is dead? The iron golems' weapons..."
The commander approached and shook his head.
"By the time we arrived, the situation was already over."
That meant Kang Seol had defeated Adokshini alone. A bombshell statement.
Bangjae turned away with an expressionless face.
"The recorders will verify the details. The truth will come out then. You did well, Seolhong."
"Thank you, brother."
"Rest now."
"Yes."
A few days later, rumors of Adokshini's demise spread from Tomaku to neighboring regions and eventually across all of Kan.
Yet rather than rejoicing, people trembled at the fact. For Adokshini's resurrection—an event that should never have occurred—had indeed happened.
It was tantamount to saying the legendary evil dragon Hagrumu could revive as well.
Kan’s Grand Sorcerer arrived at Sodung Mine, inspected the traces of battle, and declared:
- Adokshini’s resurrection is true.
And concluded:
- As is its death.
Accompanied by images of soot-covered Seolhong, Seongchi bowing to her, and several iron golems standing behind, the Grand Sorcerer’s words spread the miracle that had occurred in Tomaku to Kan’s citizens.
* * *
"You summoned me."
"...Come in. Moon Shadow."
Dragon Emperor Hongcheon had called a man in the dead of night. The attire of the one summoned by the Emperor was peculiar.
His clothing was no different from the Emperor's retainers, but the eyepatch tightly bound over his eyes stood out starkly.
The man, Moon Shadow, was of the Spirit Eye Tribe.
The Spirit Eye Tribe held deep roots in Kan and had produced talents worthy of history.
Spirit Eye tribesmen go blind upon their coming-of-age rite.
Not metaphorically, but truly losing their sight.
In exchange, they gain extraordinary abilities unlike others. The tribe's deep involvement in Kan’s history stemmed from these powers.
"Were you reading the heavens?"
"Indeed. Not as well as you, but I can pretend to read them."
Moon Shadow could read the stars.
Having forsaken sight, he could gauge the energies of the sky.
Thanks to this ability, he held the position of Astronomer in Kan.
"I couldn't make sense of it. That's why I called you."
"I shall check."
Moon Shadow stood beside the Emperor for a moment, gazing at the sky.
Though he could not see, he could behold.
"So, what do the heavens say?"
"It is not good."
"Clear as day."
"The great star's energy has waned. It wasn't this bad just days ago..."
"You know it too. That star is mine."
"......"
"Yes... so it is."
"Your Majesty's energy has dimmed temporarily before. Perhaps due to recent health..."
"It's not a health issue. It's natural for soil long depleted of nutrients to become barren. I never thought I'd say with my own mouth that some things in this world cannot be defied, but it is true."
The Emperor looked at Moon Shadow.
"I am crumbling."
"...Have you not overcome everything?"
"What I overcame was but a single wave, not the current itself. Have you heard of the power of eras?"
"I recall an elder of the tribe mentioning it once."
"The power of eras—I call it era force. I believe those who led great changes on the continent possessed this. How does an era change? A tiger can become king of a mountain, even the apex predator among beasts, but it cannot change the era."
The Emperor's words, laced with regret, continued.
"Throughout, new eras on this land have been shaped by beasts with reason—humans, that is. Of course, this doesn't mean every human can change eras. New waves always have a source. The origin where the wave begins."
At this moment, Moon Shadow understood the Emperor's recent actions.
"Surely, this Dragon Struggle..."
"Yes, preparation for the next era. Finding the child who creates the wave so Kan is not swept away by it. Cracks are already forming in Pandea—Adokshini’s revival is one such small fissure."
"But Your Majesty is still so hale. Why summon the dragon flowers thus..."
"I am aged. After 300 years, how could I remain unscathed? I am breaking down."
The Emperor spoke bitterly.
"Lately, my mind often feels foggy. This is no mere aging phenomenon, probably..."
"The dragon's blood!"
"Yes. Hagrumu’s blood extended my lifespan but seems intent on denying me a peaceful end. Heh heh... Listen, Banghyu."
Swoosh...
Banghyu emerged from the shadows.
"Yes. Awaiting your command."
"Invite the flowers contending in the Dragon Struggle to the Dragon Palace. Treat them not as my offspring, but as guests who will make Kan great."
"I shall prepare grandly. However, conflicts may arise among them."
"No need to intervene. Those unable to resolve even such trifles will achieve nothing."
"Understood."
* * *
Bubble bubble...
Bubbles rose from the warm water.
"You're really better now?"
"Rang tribe bodies differ from humans'! Of course we recover in an instant. How about that! Hahaha!"
Chiwu glanced at Kang Seol, who was soaking in the hot spring with him.
"Ha... ha... damn it..."
Kang Seol, no Rang tribesman, had a body as clean as if he'd faced no ordeal.
No one would guess he'd fought Adokshini.
"Thanks, Chiwu."
"...Hmph."
"Where's Bangjae?"
"Bangjae doesn't like hot water, it seems. That's why it's so cold over there? A real man should enjoy a hot spring like this."
Kang Seol and Chiwu relaxed in the open-air bath.
The Dragon Struggle had paused due to Adokshini’s revival. The recorders had told them to rest until further notice.
"Ugh... so hot."
"Ha..."
Kang Seol found Chiwu's uncle-like exclamation absurd.
'No, it's been a while for me too?'
With more than half his body submerged in the warm water, he zoned out briefly.
Blorp...
Bubbles rose around Kang Seol.
【Glub...】
Splash...
Bitan popped out from there.
"...What are you doing?"
【Three minutes! I held out for three whole minutes!】
"...Impressive."
Kang Seol said it politely, but there was another person present.
"What the hell, you punk! A little thing like you bragging about holding your breath for three minutes?"
【Bitan is on the larger side among Bitans, you know?】
"There are multiple Bitans?"
【No! There's only one Bitan. So the average is whatever Bitan says!】
Strange logic.
But the opponent was Chiwu.
"Hmm, true. Not so small after all? But the king of breath-holding is me! Three minutes? I can do five!"
【Try it! I'll break my record too!】
Kang Seol sighed as Chiwu suddenly dove into a breath-holding contest with Bitan.
Kang Seol hadn't yet checked the items from this adventure. He'd been dragged around due to Adokshini matters, and the danger had subsided for now.
'Still, I should check before the next trial.'
Early in the Dragon Struggle, he'd have prioritized rewards. Back then, with only summoning, he needed new powers fast.
'Not anymore.'
Splash...
Kang Seol pulled his hand from the bath and stared at it.
Sometimes he couldn't believe he'd felled Adokshini alone.
Had he ever hurt so much in life? He'd died once before, yet the pain from Adokshini was worse.
'This battle yielded much.'
Unconfirmed rewards aside, whatever they were, they paled against what he'd gained personally.
'Unlocked two ultimate arts at once...'
He'd unlocked Dark Thread alongside Asura.
Asura was another term for hyper-sensitivity.
His skin felt expanded like a vast parasol.
Sensations spread, instantly reading info on anything entering that domain.
Could someone infiltrate and ambush within it?
Kang Seol shook his head.
There was reason it was deemed an ultimate art despite being sustained.
And the offensive Dark Thread.
If Night Sea struck a wide area at once, Dark Thread slipped through gaps for a powerful slash. Its power was proven in Adokshini’s end.
Gaining these, Kang Seol had shed his old skin. No longer a summoner bad at summoning—he was now skilled at it too.
- Who would've thought Fistjob's grown this much, ugh...
- Stood tall on this land with bare fists!
- Feels like watching a founding myth lololol
- Miss Karen, Ur, Jamad...
- Huh? Who's that?
Kang Seol left the still-submerged pair and stepped out.
He'd come out for night air, but a chill wind seeped through his collar.
It felt a bit stifling.
Peaceful, yet uncomfortable.
Pondering how to describe it, Kang Seol nodded.
'Because I haven't fully recovered yet.'
The gap left by his summons lingered.
Even Karuna couldn't handle everything alone.
"Ur, disappointing... Was I expecting too much?"
Right then, a voice echoed in Kang Seol's mind.
- Hey.
"...Huh?"
Not Karuna's voice.
- Hey.
"...Ur?"
- Can you hear me?
It was unmistakably Ur's voice.