Chapter 255
Chapter 255
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 255
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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“My God….”
“Isn’t that Seolhong?”
“That’s Seolhong?”
The one stepping down from the black horse-drawn carriage was Seolhong.
Tap…
The blue traditional attire gave Seolhong a refined elegance she’d never had before.
Seolhong had neatly tied up her hair and pinned a golden hairpin on top, draping an outer robe of the same vibe over her exposed skin.
It wasn’t overly flashy, but it had this strangely captivating pull that kept drawing the eye.
Seolhong lifted her gaze slightly from the ground.
“Oh….”
“She even did her makeup?”
“Y-Yeah….”
Her already flawless skin, enhanced by subtle makeup, firmly captured the crowd’s attention.
At that moment, another person stepped down from the carriage.
It was Chiwu, dressed just as sharply.
“Isn’t that Chiwu?”
“Chiwu’s coming too?”
“I heard he was, yeah….”
“Damn it….”
Chiwu took Seolhong’s hand and headed toward the banquet venue.
Kang Seol quietly followed Seolhong and Chiwu out of the carriage, then watched them from a short distance away.
- I’m so happy~
- I get the dad sobbing at the wedding now!
- Don’t make it weird lololol
- Good job! Sniff…
- Look at everyone staring lololol Perfect couple!
The viewers’ reactions were a bit exaggerated, but the banquet’s atmosphere wasn’t much different.
Even those who hadn’t cared about Seolhong or Chiwu turned to look—they were shining that brightly.
- Heh heh heh… Where there’s light, there’s shadow…
- Snowman stays quietly in the shadows today too…
- Snowman… Hwang General mode ON
The first step was a success.
Seolhong kept glancing back at Kang Seol, anxious.
Each time, Kang Seol gave her a faint smile to reassure her, but she still looked like she was walking on thin ice.
Kang Seol followed Seolhong and Chiwu into the banquet hall. A little time passed after that.
Already, people were swarming around Seolhong and Chiwu nonstop.
This was a good sign.
‘Is it because Taeyul isn’t here?’
Normally, far more people would be clinging to Taeyul, who always took the lead.
But he hadn’t been invited to this banquet. Rumors swirled that the hosts had deliberately left him out for some reason.
In any case, they were reaping the benefits—attention that would’ve gone to Taeyul was now focused on Seolhong and Chiwu.
‘Oh, right, she’s here too.’
Shinyo, the woman hot on Taeyul’s heels.
Compared to Taeyul, she was a talent with hardly any flaws.
Her looks shone, and her personality was cautious.
A crowd had gathered around her too, naturally.
But the vibe was a bit different from Seolhong’s—Shinyo didn’t seem all that pleased by the approaching well-wishers.
Kang Seol didn’t know much about Shinyo, but based on their one prior encounter, her reaction somehow felt par for the course.
Kang Seol turned his gaze back to Seolhong.
Her initially awkward movements, tense from nerves, had improved a lot.
She seemed to be exchanging light jokes with people here and there, smoothly sharing tidbits about the Dragon Conflict.
‘Am I the one who hasn’t adapted?’
You’d know how to act in a place like this if you’d been before, but Kang Seol had only ever participated in nobles’ banquets through words alone, so he was clueless about all the little etiquette rules.
That’s why he was grateful for Chiwu.
From Chiwu’s perspective, he didn’t really need to fuss over Seolhong. Even without the Dragon Conflict, his martial prowess put him second to none among the Dragon Flowers, so people flocking to him was natural.
Yet Chiwu put up with the hassle to help Seolhong ease into the banquet culture bit by bit.
‘What’s he really thinking…?’
As Kang Seol watched from afar, he overheard some nearby nobles’ jealousy.
“Look at her, stuck right to Lord Chiwu, wagging her tail!”
“Exactly! Without him, she’d be huddled in a corner, the nerve!”
Kang Seol glared at them for a moment.
“Eep….”
“My stomach suddenly….”
Just projecting his aura was enough to pressure ordinary folk.
“See? That guy just looked at me.”
“Oh, my bad. It was me.”
“He’s decent-looking, but not my type—you take him.”
“Hey, he’s not mine either.”
- Snowman, mysterious “your bf just passed by” event lololol
- Has he ever suffered such humiliation?!
- Killkillkillkillkill
Snap.
The music filling the banquet hall cut off briefly.
As the orchestra prepared the next piece, the party’s energy would simmer down a bit.
“Seolhong, smile a little?”
“L-Like this?”
Seolhong forced a smile at Chiwu’s words.
It was pretty funny.
“Haha! That’s hilarious! Keep it up.”
“D-Don’t tease.”
Seolhong finally smiled comfortably.
Like a baby turtle facing the ocean for the first time, she’d truly let go.
This was Seolhong’s first real brush with the world she lived in.
Now, whether the gazes held jealousy, disgust, or affection, she had to get used to them.
She was gradually becoming natural.
Truly turning into a noble among the Dragon Flowers.
She even shifted conversation topics on her own now, leading them without a hitch.
Seolhong, surrounded by Dragon Flowers and other VIPs, beaming brightly. Then her eyes met Kang Seol’s, watching from far off.
Seolhong looked a bit flustered.
- This feels so weird…
- She got stolen! Give me back my Seolhong!
- Stop obsessing! Let her go!
- Waaaaaah ㅠㅠ
Kang Seol didn’t react to the gaze.
He didn’t need to chat with Seolhong at all. He knew exactly what kind of heart the woman Seolhong had to be there.
- Let’s now hold a deep discussion on whether we should let Seolhong go like this from here on.
- Oppose! We oppose! Moderator! Give us more time!
- We’ll give a bit more time. Anything to say?
- Oppose! We oppose! I oppose!
- Noted.
‘End of the Long March’ sponsored 2,000 Madness!
[Seolhong… well done… I’ll be going now…]
- Don’t ascend to nirvana! Not yet!
- Don’t go! Mister!
‘My Addiction’ sponsored 1,500 Madness!
[My little Dragon Flower Seolhong, sob…]
- Snowman did all the hard work, why are you guys feeling fulfilled lololol
- Our hearts were with him!
- You didn’t do the hard work!
- Snowman handles the hard stuff just fine!
Kang Seol gazed at Seolhong’s back for a moment, lost in thought.
‘Is this what Yuwha wanted?’
He pondered deeply, but couldn’t find the answer.
‘Someday, when I get the chance, I’ll ask the hand mirror. Not sure if it’ll answer.’
Still not satisfied?
How much farther does Seolhong need to go to satisfy you?
And if that answer comes…
If it’s that she’s satisfied…
‘What will I do?’
If he fulfilled Yuwha’s legacy, would he have to leave Seolhong right away? Did he want that?
‘If it were Yuwha….’
No, Kang Seol was Yuwha.
So the lost answer came back quickly.
Seolhong could go even farther.
With affection and care, she definitely had the power to thrive. Yuwha would probably want Kang Seol to stick around a bit longer.
Swoosh…
“What are you thinking about in such a festive place?”
Kang Seol turned to look.
A burly man and a woman.
“Uhahaha! Even at a Dragon Flower banquet, you’re brooding like that—I thought you were the star. You stand out too much?”
It was Shinyo and Jangdu.
If Seolhong was a sudden rising star, Shinyo was the moon that had always lit the night sky.
The true star of this place was Shinyo; Seolhong had just borrowed a sliver of that attention.
‘Still a long way to go.’
Shinyo noticed Kang Seol lost in other thoughts even with her right there and asked.
“Is the seat uncomfortable?”
“No.”
“Haha! Our Lady Shinyo went out of her way to see you at this ban….”
Crack-!
In an instant, energy flashed, and smoke coated Jangdu’s mouth.
Mmph…
Jangdu couldn’t continue.
“Don’t spout nonsense, Jangdu. I came to meet Seolhong.”
Nod.
Jangdu nodded helplessly.
“I wanted to talk with you.”
Jangdu made a sly face from behind.
Kang Seol caught it and felt a bit awkward.
Shinyo closed her eyes and grumbled.
“I’ll kill you, Jangdu.”
“Your training’s lacking, milady. Hahaha! Young folks should stick together! I’ll go that way and pig out.”
- OK Jangdu nice
- Social awareness 100!
- Shinyo! I love you! Take me, waaah ㅠㅠ
Jangdu backed away with a suspicious grin.
“Sigh, that bulk of his… Hoo… It won’t be pleasant talk. Might even sour your mood.”
“Stopping here would make it worse.”
“Then.”
- Right, cutting off mid-convo just leaves the listener…
- In suspense! I’ll continue! Good job?
- Good job!
Music filled the banquet hall once more.
The melody lightened the weight in Shinyo’s words.
“What do you think lies at the end of the Dragon Conflict?”
“…….”
It was still heavy.
“Everything of the Khan’s. The one who reaches the end takes it all. Which is as good as saying they’ll succeed Hongcheon.”
Shinyo wasn’t showing respect to Hongcheon right now.
She equated herself to him.
Meaning she believed she’d reach his position. Revealing that even to Kang Seol, who wasn’t close, took serious confidence.
Kang Seol smiled faintly.
“It’s not taking everything.”
“…What?”
“It’s shouldering everything.”
“…….”
“Isn’t that right?”
Shinyo’s lip curved up.
How many times had Kang Seol drawn out expressions she’d forgotten?
“That might be true. Interesting. Let me ask you.”
“Go ahead.”
Kang Seol and Shinyo’s eyes drifted to Seolhong enjoying the banquet. But their words were for each other.
“Would you ever think of turning that force you’re directing at Seolhong… toward me?”
“…….”
“I acknowledge your abilities.”
“Lady Shinyo, Seolhong needs time.”
“So it’s an outright refusal. But one thing I’m curious about. Needing time for Seolhong means her potential is sufficient?”
“At the very least, her heart is vast.”
“…You don’t know Seolhong’s weak side.”
“Do you, Lady Shinyo?”
“Yes… I know even what you don’t.”
Shinyo voiced an old memory.
To let Kang Seol know.
“S-Stop….”
“I’m sorry…. Please stop….”
Young Shinyo stood beside an even younger Seolhong.
Shinyo watched the kneeling kids coldly, while Seolhong fidgeted anxiously.
Seolhong had been bullied by them. Exploiting her lack of any basic protection, these Dragon Flowers had done vile things. Finally unable to stand it, Shinyo crushed them with her sorcery.
Had she helped Seolhong?
Or maybe it was Shinyo venting.
Overturning the world’s lowly parts, then dodging responsibility.
Shoving all the blame onto Seolhong.
“Seolhong, you decide. What should we do with them? The same as they did to you?”
“…”
“What?”
Seolhong pleaded.
“Forgive them, Sister Shinyo.”
“…….”
“Please. I don’t want anyone suffering more because of me….”
…
Kang Seol broke the rare recollection.
“Is the story over?”
“After that, I didn’t meddle in Seolhong’s affairs. Those kids slunk away in fear of me. But was all that right?”
“…….”
“Seolhong only ever has one path to choose. Always has. You think that’s virtuous? That frail behavior, forever….”
“There’s no rule she’ll stay that way. Seolhong is learning right now.”
“Really… Is she?”
“All things grow. Seolhong has that potential too. Like flowers blooming after rain.”
Shinyo hardened her expression and turned away.
“…Interesting. That was an enjoyable talk.”
After Shinyo left, more time passed.
As the banquet’s heat died down, Jangdu and the other Dragon Stones had visitors too.
Step…
“Lord Jega has prepared a gift.”
“A gift?”
And they came to Kang Seol as well.