The Incompetent Hero and Baekho
"That's roughly the situation."
"…"
After hearing everything Yang Jamun had to say, I quietly closed my eyes.
Right. From the moment I'd heard the Sword Demon's claim that Fukhaedaeseong had been sent to the national council, I'd expected things wouldn't go smoothly. I'd understood there would be casualties along the way.
But even so—
"Seriously? That damn Juzaku sat there protecting only the Emperor of Yeom when I trusted her to go?"
Is she out of her mind?
I didn't bother swallowing the sigh that rose unbidden; I let it out as I looked at Yang Jamun. He seemed to share my thoughts, offering an awkward smile before continuing.
"Thanks to Lady Juzaku, at least, no one was able to approach His Majesty the Emperor of Yeom. And if Dokzon hadn't held Fukhaedaeseong at bay, the casualties elsewhere would have been far greater."
"But if Juzaku had stepped in, Dokzon wouldn't have died."
"…That's true enough. But Lady Juzaku must have had her reasons, no?"
"I wonder…"
Juzaku had said she wasn't supposed to freely use her power outside her own domain. Granted, she'd attacked us without warning in Yeomhyeongok, but setting that aside…
The fact that she hadn't attacked those enemies meant they never approached the Emperor of Yeom at all. Something about that felt off.
Had those bastards really timed their raid on the national council to assassinate the Emperor?
"Something's bothering you, I take it."
"You're the one who came all the way to Jo because something was bothering you, aren't you?"
"…As expected, you've noticed."
Yang Jamun's gaze shifted once more to Seollin. Catching his look, Seollin frowned, a note of impatience coloring her voice.
"Again…? Is this about the Dan family?"
"…Yes. I'm sorry to say it, but it does concern the Dan family."
His eyes returned to me as he spoke.
"First, with Dokzon's passing, the young master of the Dan family, Dan Seollyun, has succeeded as clan head."
"That's the natural order of things."
"Indeed. The national council was temporarily halted by Fukhaedaeseong and the Beastman Alliance's assault, but it wasn't completely abandoned. They tried to restore order and resume the council somehow—but the new clan head, Dan Seollyun, requested that the council be set aside so he could hold funeral rites for the previous head, Dan Seolpung. His Majesty the Emperor of Yeom considered that only natural and granted the request."
A funeral for his own father. That much I could understand.
But then…
"After that, however, reports came in of strange movements in Sichuan. Contact with the Haoman agents planted inside Sichuan was completely severed, and we haven't been able to learn so much as a scrap of information about what's happening there."
"That… is definitely strange."
Was there any reason to lock down information for a simple funeral?
"If there's a reason to control information under the current circumstances, there's only one."
"The Beastman Alliance…. So the traitor really was Dan Seollyun."
Dan Seolpung had declared he would find the traitor within the Dan family. And the person he'd suspected first was Dan Seollyun himself.
If Seollyun had cooperated with Fukhaedaeseong to kill Dan Seolpung… and if, after bringing the entire Dan family under his control, he planned to strike from the rear while Yeom Kingdom fought the Beastman Alliance…
"That would be quite a problem."
"Quite a problem indeed."
Thinking that, I looked at Seollin. Dan Seollyun was the young master, but before that, he was Dan Seollin's older brother. She might take it hard, hearing something like family gossip right in front of her.
"?"
Surprisingly, though, Seollin was calm. The same Seollin who'd reacted so strongly to Dan Seolpung's death showed little reaction to this, which struck me as odd.
"Seollin, are you okay?"
"…Yeah. If anything, it feels like things just clicked into place in my head."
What? Has she lost it? What does she mean, things clicked into place?
"Remember? When you stopped by the Dan family and were about to leave, I tried so hard to go with you, and the last question I asked you?"
"…"
That had been the question about the traitor in the Dan family. And the answer to that question had been Dan Seollyun.
Right. Dan Seolpung and I had both suspected Seollyun. As young master, he would have free access to most of the family's poisons, and smuggling them out would have been relatively simple compared to anyone else.
On top of that, he'd gone to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering himself alongside Seollin. If he'd had a way to communicate, he could have continuously reported their location.
"Right. But what about it?"
"I've been thinking about it since then. About my brother. And some things started to become clear. Oppa… I think he was jealous of me and my younger sister for being able to use Blood Awakening."
"That…"
"Yeah. It seems the Beastman Alliance has a technique for forcibly triggering Blood Awakening. Maybe Oppa wanted to get Blood Awakening through them."
The possibility was high. And even if she was wrong, it didn't matter. Digging into it would turn up something either way.
"Sorry, Baekryeon."
"Hmm…?"
"I hate to give you time and then snatch it away, but decide. Will you leave Jo with me, or will you stay here?"
"!"
I'd meant to give Baekryeon enough time to think, but the current situation wouldn't allow it.
"You heard the situation, right? The Dan family is a time bomb right now. It's a problem that has to be dealt with before the decisive battle with the Beastman Alliance. If we don't handle it properly now, we'll just be marching onto the battlefield with a knife at our backs."
"…I know. Worry not. My mind is already made up."
Baekryeon nodded as she spoke.
"I shall follow Doryeong."
"Oh? It seems the conversation has already ended."
"Your Majesty?"
"Ah, the Queen of Jo. Please forgive me for not first paying my respects to His Majesty the King of Jo—circumstances left me no choice. The situation in Yeom Kingdom was urgent…"
"It is of no consequence. Our heart is as deep as the distant Eastern Sea; We can understand all."
The Queen waved off Yang Jamun's apology as if it were nothing. Then she surveyed the situation at a glance, the corner of her mouth lifting.
"Judging by the look of things, We understand well enough. You shall remain. We will need to discuss the extent of Jo's support for Yeom Kingdom's coming war."
"Of course, Your Majesty. If anything, I would be the one requesting it."
Yang Jamun bowed his head in reply. Apparently satisfied, the Queen nodded and turned her gaze toward us.
"And you lot appear ready to depart."
"Yes. Exactly that. It's about time… we finished what needs finishing."
"Hearing you say so, one almost gets the impression you could end it whenever you please."
The Queen said it with a curl of her lips. I didn't rise to the bait—just shrugged instead. She pouted slightly, as if finding that dull, and continued.
"So, it would seem you are going to see Lady Baekho one last time."
She reads the room with terrifying accuracy. Insight worthy of someone who sits on a throne, I suppose.
"Conveniently enough, word has come that Lady Baekho has awakened. Best you go see her now."
Talk about perfect timing.
At the Queen's words, we headed for the royal infirmary. As a bonus, the Queen left with Yang Jamun to discuss the matter of support.
And inside the infirmary—
"…"
A woman with a striking mix of pure white and black hair, and golden eyes. A beauty so striking the thought rose unbidden was staring blankly up at the sky. Sensing our presence, she turned her head and looked at us.
"Lady Baekho!"
"…Baekryeon. You've come. And…"
"…"
I had carried Baekho all the way here from Baekdu, but she'd been unconscious at the time, so she'd never properly seen me. And after arriving, even once Lucy had pulled her through the crisis, the timing had never lined up—I'd never seen Baekho awake. This was our first true meeting face to face.
"…So you are the Hero? Baekryeon has told me a great deal. It seems I owe you a considerable debt."
"It was nothing. More importantly—are you all right?"
"Mm… Aside from a lingering heaviness in the body and some residual heat, I am fine."
So Lucy's treatment actually worked better than expected.
But admiration could wait. Explaining the situation came first.
"For now, we have to leave."
"Leave…? To where?"
"Yeom Kingdom. And there, the ones who did this to you—who killed Baekryeon's family—and who, as a Hero, I am obligated to face."
"!"
At my words, Baekho's body trembled. After so long imprisoned and subjected to such brutal torment, her body must have reacted on its own.
"Baekryeon has decided to join us on that journey."
"Baekryeon… has?"
Baekho looked at her. In that gaze was a silent question—is it true?—and Baekryeon gripped the sword at her hip tightly and nodded.
"So we came to pay our respects to you before we leave, Lady Baekho, but…"
"I shall go as well."
"…?"
What the hell is she talking about now. Go where, you lunatic patient?
"I have debts to repay them… Though my power is not whole, I shall not hinder you so much as that."
No. You absolutely will hinder us.