Interlude III: Audience at Yeomhwang Castle
At the heart of the Yeom Kingdom lay its capital.
And the place the Yeom clan held in its grip was none other than Beio.
As befitting the capital of a vast empire, a riot of buildings sprawled beneath immense, glittering walls. Yet even among that throng of structures, one fortress stood out — a colossal castle painted a deep, commanding red.
Built so vast and so grand it seemed to look down upon every other building in the capital, this was Yeomhwang Castle: the fortress the first Emperor of Yeom had raised when he laid the foundations of the kingdom, and the place where the Yeom clan still resided.
Deep within that castle, in the Emperor's audience hall, a handful of officials stood before a young Emperor who still carried the air of a boy. They were receiving a mission report from a certain man — none other than Yang Jamun, the same man Leon had met in Shinhyeon City.
"Our verification is complete. He is indeed one of those known as Heroes in the Western Continent. However, as the Sichuan branch reported, it also appears to be true that he is called the Incompetent Hero."
"The Incompetent Hero… is that going to be a problem?"
"After examining his various deeds, the claim that his abilities fall far short of the other two Heroes seems to be treated as established fact among the common people."
"Hah…!"
At Yang Jamun's report, anxious murmurs rose among the officials.
The power of the Yeom clan was already waning. In that fragile state, reports had come in of the Beastman Alliance making ominous moves — and to counter them, Yang Jamun, commander of the Jaryong Unit, had taken it upon himself to appoint a foreigner as a member of that unit and grant him every convenience.
But if the man he had brought in as an ally was truly incompetent, that was a serious problem.
"The Jaryong Unit is our Yeom clan's special force. Its members hold the authority to issue direct orders to Yeom military units stationed across the realm."
"To hand such a position to a foreigner without any proper selection process — is that not an exceedingly dangerous judgment?"
"And to think he is the one they call the Incompetent Hero…!"
As the officials heaped bitter criticism on Yang Jamun for his supposed misjudgment, the young Emperor raised a hand.
At once, the general standing at his side struck the floor lightly with his sheathed sword and barked out a command.
"Silence!!"
"You stand before His Majesty the Emperor!! Compose yourselves!!"
The Emperor's sword and shield — Right Protector Baek Ripung and Left Protector Dan Rigang. At their roar, the officials glanced at them and shut their mouths.
Once the hall had fallen quiet, the young Emperor finally spoke.
"Yang Jamun. In many ways, I place great expectations upon you. And you have never once failed those expectations. According to your report, he achieved outstanding results at the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, demonstrating that the strength of the Yeom army is not yet wanting. And through the training manuals you brought back, we have been able to rebuild the army's fundamentals thoroughly and raise its overall skill. That is an achievement beyond compare."
The Emperor paused, drawing a quiet breath, then continued in a measured voice.
"It is because you are such a man that I ask you this. In your eyes — is he someone we can trust?"
"Yes. Without question."
"What utter nonsense is this! Did you not just say he is the Incompetent Hero!"
"How can a man like that possibly be trustworthy!"
The officials' outcry continued, but Yang Jamun said nothing. Only when their voices had spent themselves did he speak, his expression full of quiet confidence.
"Well. I understand your concerns perfectly. Allow me now to explain the reasons for the trust I have placed in him. May I?"
"You may."
Young as he was, the Emperor was still the Emperor. With his command given, the officials had no choice but to fall silent.
"First, regarding the title of Incompetent Hero… in my judgment, he has been concealing his true power."
"Concealing his power?"
"Yes. I witnessed the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly with my own eyes. His skill is nowhere near a level that could be called incompetent. If he truly were as weak as that title suggests, then the martial artists of the Western Continent would be dozens — no, hundreds of times stronger than those of our Yeom Kingdom. Of that I am certain."
"Th-that much…?"
Yang Jamun's words were so extreme that the officials swallowed hard. But he seemed to relish their reaction, the corner of his mouth curling as he went on.
"But of course, no such absurd gap in power actually exists. Which means the man they call the Incompetent Hero is, by any measure, abnormally strong. So why would someone that powerful be branded incompetent? There is no explanation other than that he has been hiding his strength."
"Continue."
"As you command, Your Majesty. Further evidence can be found in the Haoman report from the Sichuan branch. Have you seen it?"
"I have. It stated the following."
He fought the head of the Dan family — Dokzon, Dan Seolpung — to a draw in a duel.
"As you all know… there are only three martial artists in the Yeom Kingdom who bear the title of 'Sovereign.'"
"Sword Sovereign, Blade Sovereign, and Poison Sovereign."
"And that title of Sovereign was an honor bestowed upon the three martial artists who survived the campaign against Baekak — the yokai that wrought such devastation upon the Yeom Kingdom decades ago. But those of you present here will know this as well: this world holds many other yokai with the power to plunge the world into ruin, not merely Baekak. They simply sleep, either sealed or subdued according to the legends of old."
The officials all fell silent. It was knowledge kept from the public to prevent panic — information known only to high-ranking officials and the heads of the great martial sects.
In other words… was the man called the Incompetent Hero skilled enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the only three Sovereigns in the Yeom Kingdom?
That was what the officials were thinking when the next words made their eyes nearly bulge from their sockets as they stared at Yang Jamun.
"And among them — one of the beings known as the Seven Demon Kings. Fukhaedaeseong appeared. And he is said to have engaged Fukhaedaeseong in combat and returned alive."
"!!"
"F-Fukhaedaeseong?!"
"Don't tell me the Beastman Alliance has even drawn in one of the Seven Demon Kings!!!"
Chaos deepened. Each of the yokai known as the Seven Demon Kings was a catastrophic being capable of overturning the world single-handedly. The news that such a creature had entered the fray left the officials — already bracing for war with the Beastman Alliance — unable to shake their dread.
"Subsequent investigation suggests that only Fukhaedaeseong is cooperating with the Beastman Alliance, and that the other Demon Kings have not joined. Of course, this is not confirmed intelligence and requires further investigation… but one fact becomes clear from this. The man I brought in as an ally possesses the ability to contend with a being out of myth."
"Th-that can hardly be taken at face value…"
"I-indeed. Mere words…"
"These are not mere words."
Yang Jamun cut the officials off with firm finality and pressed on.
"You have already received reports through the Haoman that the Beastman Alliance has been illegally manufacturing Geogeonhwan and smuggling it to neighboring nations. Further investigation confirmed that one of their distribution routes runs through the Dandong region, and we dispatched him there to investigate. What we subsequently learned is this: the Beastman Alliance had co-opted the pirates operating in Dandong, using civilians those pirates had abducted to produce and smuggle Geogeonhwan."
"They used pirates…!"
"Correct. He succeeded in acquiring Geogeonhwan that could not be sold due to the Jo Kingdom's isolation decree. Furthermore… a Haoman operative gathering intelligence there identified Fukhaedaeseong as the one cooperating with the pirates. During the subsequent pirate purge, he encountered Fukhaedaeseong, engaged him in combat, and used that clash as cover to escape successfully."
The account was so detailed that the officials could find nothing to say. And yet, having received the information only through written reports and spoken words rather than witnessing it themselves, they could not bring themselves to believe it easily.
Yang Jamun had anticipated exactly this reaction, and now he produced the words he had prepared.
"And so, Your Majesty. I have one request."
"What is it?"
"Would you consider accompanying him into Yeomhyeongok?"
In an instant, the atmosphere in the hall flipped on its head.
"Do you have any idea what kind of place Yeomhyeongok is, to say such a thing?!"
"Yang Jamun! Can you take responsibility for those words?!"
"That secret palace was left by the first Emperor—!"
"Indeed. It is the secret palace left by the first Emperor, said to hold every treasure he left behind. But I am also well aware that no one has ever fully conquered it."
Yang Jamun looked steadily at the Emperor alone.
"Your Majesty. After the previous Emperor's untimely passing, you were never able to fully master the exclusive martial art passed down through the imperial line — the Great Flame Heaven Technique. Surely the secret palace left by the first Emperor may contain the complete form of that technique. Therefore…"
"Hold your tongue!!"
"How dare you tell His Majesty to go to his death! Have you truly lost your mind?!"
"Your Majesty! Strike that man's head from his shoulders at once!!"
"Even as commander of the Purple Dragon, this is beyond the pale!!"
They all turned on Yang Jamun with furious voices, looking to the Emperor. The young Emperor closed his mouth, shut his eyes for a moment, then opened them quietly and spoke.
"Yang Jamun."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I believe I understand what you wish to say. But this is not a matter that can be decided lightly."
"I understand."
"Therefore… I wish to meet him myself."
The officials who heard those words cried out in alarm, remonstrating that it must not be so — but the Emperor's decision did not change.
Instead, as the Emperor's gaze met Yang Jamun's, the two of them shared a faint smile that no one else in the hall noticed.
"L-Lord Fukhaedaeseong! Even so, this is far too sudden…!"
"Hey now. Wasn't our deal that y'all keep me entertained, and in return I help y'all out? Ain't that right?"
"Th-that's correct. Which is precisely why I'm asking — what was it that displeased you? If you would only tell us…"
"Well, it ain't that y'all ain't fun. I just found somethin' more interestin', see. So I don't need y'all no more, do I?"
A beastman was practically groveling before Fukhaedaeseong. The Dragon King frowned as if annoyed and waved a dismissive hand, but the beastman — desperate not to lose such a formidable asset — clung to him with everything he had.
"Lord Fukhaedaeseong."
"Hm? And who're you?"
"I am called Potian of the Red Oni."
"Red Oni? Ahh~ Y'all still ain't gone extinct?"
At Fukhaedaeseong's question, Red Oni Potian paused for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Who can say. I've been operating apart from my clan, so I have little knowledge of how the others have fared."
"Ahh, that so. So what's a Red Oni pup want with me? You been helpin' these lot too?"
"Yes, something of the sort. In any case… we had plans built upon Lord Fukhaedaeseong's power, and your sudden departure is critically damaging to us."
"So what d'you want me to do about it? Wanna try me?"
He drew up his aura. Even with his body far from peak condition after the battle with Leon, the killing intent alone was enough to make ordinary beings faint on the spot. But the Red Oni endured that crushing pressure and spoke with a smile.
"How could we possibly dare to oppose Lord Fukhaedaeseong? And since you yourself once pledged to aid us — how about this arrangement?"
"I'll hear it, then decide. Speak."
"Just once more. If you would help us one final time, we would be most grateful."
"Once, huh… Fine. Just walkin' off cold ain't got no heart to it. I'll help y'all once. So what do I gotta do?"
"Nothing for the moment. Simply… when we are ready, if you would assist us in destroying the Dan family and securing the blood of the Imoogi — that alone would be more than enough."
At the Red Oni's words, Fukhaedaeseong's mouth curled into a grin.
"Alright. I'll help y'all."