Chapter 110
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 110
“You ask what became of the Evil that fled?”
The White Tiger Mountain Lord answered So-ya’s question.
“Hmm, let me see. Well, since it lost its host, it’s likely wandering somewhere on the earth right now, stripped of its power.”
“What if the Evil returns?” So-ya asked, her voice tinged with worry.
This was the concern that had been weighing on her ever since the Evil escaped.
Before leaving the Northern Land, she had spoken to Sa-eon.
[I know what you’re worried about, Father. And I’m not ready to reveal myself to the world yet.]
So-ya had told him that she didn’t want the world to know she was the Owner of the Oracle.
[So, I’d like to keep it a secret between us for just a little longer.]
If the fact that she was the Owner of the Oracle became known, her future might be decided regardless of her own will.
Perhaps—just perhaps—she might have to enter the palace as the Son of Heaven’s consort. Even if that wasn't something that would happen immediately.
So-ya thought of Yi-rim, who would be in the Imperial Palace.
It wasn’t that she disliked him. But…
The idea of becoming someone’s bride still didn’t feel real to her.
It was such a strange feeling that she wanted to think about it… a little later.
When she was older and could truly understand what it meant to love someone in that way.
[Alright, let’s do that. Let’s keep it a secret between our baby and her daddy for a while longer.]
Sa-eon had chuckled and ruffled So-ya’s hair.
At his touch—clumsy yet delicate—So-ya had smiled brightly, her eyes crinkling.
And though she hadn't told Sa-eon that day, there was a second reason why she didn't want to reveal her existence to the world yet.
‘Because the Evil hasn’t completely vanished.’
The day the Hyeon-to Underground Palace collapsed, the Evil had fled when Hyeon Ra-baek’s spirit core shattered, but it hadn't been perfectly annihilated.
“Do not worry too much, Baby Bird. It won’t be able to reappear so easily,” the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden explained this time.
Every living thing on earth required both a body and a soul.
This was a rule that had existed since the creation of the world.
Therefore, the Evil, which had been stripped of its body a thousand years ago and remained only as a soul, could not exert its power without a host to replace its physical form.
Thus, the method the Evil chose was to parasitize the bodies of strong beastkin—specifically, the spirit cores of those possessing the densest essence.
“The way the Evil seizes a beastkin’s body is incredibly insidious,” the Dragon God of Cheonghae said in a calm voice.
“It burrows into the gaps when a person’s mind is weakened, drawing out their inner malice. It never gives up until they are finally stained by evil and surrender their body—and eventually, their entire self.”
“Then isn’t it dangerous? If the Evil takes over someone else’s body, just like it did with Hyeon Ra-baek…”
So-ya, who had been listening quietly, asked with a look of sudden dread.
“But the bodies of ordinary beastkin cannot withstand that massive evil. Only someone at the level of a Clan Head of the Four Great Clans could barely endure it.”
“And even then, they would meet a gruesome end as their spirit core cracks and shatters, much like the leader of the Black Tortoise Tribe who died from the strain.”
“…”
So-ya fell into thought for a moment before speaking again.
“Then, Divine Beasts… just in case.”
With a serious expression, So-ya knit her brows and asked, “What if the Evil takes over the body of a beastkin who isn't just ordinary, but incredibly strong and sturdy? For instance, what if a beastkin stronger than the Clan Heads of the Four Great Clans appears and has their body stolen?”
At So-ya’s worried question, the White Tiger Mountain Lord and the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden burst into laughter.
“Our Baby Bird has many worries. But such strong beastkin are rare. Unless they are the incarnation of the Yellow Dragon who rules the world, or one of the Four Divine Beasts themselves…”
“And usually, as the body is strong, so is the mind. They wouldn't lose their body to the Evil so easily.”
“But Hyeon Ra-baek was a strong beastkin, and he still had his body stolen, didn’t he?”
“That is…”
The voice of the White Tiger Mountain Lord, usually so boisterous, grew somewhat somber.
“Because sometimes, tragedies that are too much to bear occur in the world of humans. Tragedies enough to shatter and break even the clearest, purest of souls.”
“…?”
So-ya tilted her head.
It felt as though he was talking about someone other than Hyeon Ra-baek.
‘I wish the Evil would just never show up again.’
So-ya glanced at the Shield of the Black Tortoise once more.
Since Hyeon Ra-baek, the only remaining direct descendant of the Black Tortoise, was dead, the path to awakening the Black Tortoise seemed distant.
‘What exactly is the Heart of Destruction?’
It felt strange that the White Tiger’s divine object, which possessed a heart that protects, was a sword meant to pierce, while the Black Tortoise’s divine object, which possessed a heart that destroys, was a shield.
‘Is it different from simply wanting to defeat someone?’
The "hearts" of the other three Divine Beasts weren't difficult to understand, but the "heart that swallows living things" was too difficult for So-ya.
‘If I had awakened the Black Tortoise, I could have perfectly annihilated the Evil instead of just driving it away.’
So-ya felt a bit upset, thinking she hadn't been able to wake the Black Tortoise because her heart was lacking.
“Don’t be so upset, Baby Bird. In truth, we hoped you wouldn't have to know the Heart of Destruction.”
“Pardon…?”
So-ya’s eyes went wide at the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden’s words.
The Heart of Destruction was essential to wake the Black Tortoise, yet they hoped she wouldn't know it? It was a strange thing to say.
“I agree with the old bird.”
“Me too.”
The White Tiger Mountain Lord and the Dragon God of Cheonghae chimed in.
“Until recently, you were cheering me on, saying I must wake the Black Tortoise and that I could do it!” So-ya cried out, her voice laced with a sense of betrayal.
At that, the three Divine Beasts cleared their throats and glanced at So-ya, sensing her mood.
“Did you all lie to me?”
“It’s not that, Baby Bird…”
The first to speak to the pouting So-ya was none other than the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden.
“The Heart of Destruction is a heart that wishes to break and eliminate. While not exactly the same, it resembles what humans call ‘killing intent.’ But you are still too young to harbor such a heart.”
“Hmm?”
“Indeed, Baby Bird. You are still young, and there are many shadows you will have to face as you grow in the world. We didn't want you to know the dark parts of the world so soon.”
“Huumm?”
“Even if the Evil appears again, we can just defeat it once more, just as we did this time.”
“Huuuumm?”
So-ya crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow every time the Divine Beasts added a word.
The Divine Beasts were exchanging glances, not knowing what to do, when—
“I don’t quite understand what you mean, but I know you’re saying this because you care about me.”
So-ya, who had been pretending to be upset, gave a bright smile.
Relieved to see she wasn't actually angry, the three Divine Beasts let out a collective sigh of relief.
“I thought my heart was going to drop, thinking you were truly mad, Baby Bird.”
“My liver shrank to the size of a bean because of you.”
“You don’t even have hearts or livers!”
So-ya burst into a peal of laughter.
Her mood felt much better now.
“We just don’t want you to be too upset over it. You’ve already done something truly incredible.”
‘That’s right. Like they said, I’ve already done something incredible.’
Talking to the Divine Beasts always made her heart feel warm and secure, just like when she was with her father.
“But I have one more thing I’m curious about.”
“What is it, Baby Bird?”
“Ask me! I shall tell you, Baby Bird!”
“Tell us anything, Baby Bird.”
As if trying to make up for earlier, the three Divine Beasts crowded around So-ya, their eyes sparkling.
“The thought form I saw in the cave of the underground palace mentioned a ‘Veil of Time.’ What is the ‘Veil of Time’?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
The three Divine Beasts fell silent all at once.
“Is this something you can’t tell me either?”
They shared everything generously with So-ya, but occasionally, they would shut their mouths as if by some prior agreement.
So-ya now knew that such things were related to Heavenly Secrets.
“Have you ever heard of a timeline?” the White Tiger Mountain Lord finally spoke with some difficulty.
“Originally, only one timeline was meant to exist in this world. But because of those who broke taboos, numerous Veils of Time were created, overlapping one another.”
“Broke taboos…?”
“Yes. They covered the previous timeline with a Veil of Time and created a new one.”
“Is that even possible?”
“It is an act of challenging the authority of the Heavenly God. The price is incredibly severe.”
“Who would do such a thing, and why…?”
“Did I not tell you earlier? Sometimes, tragedies that are too much to bear occur in the world of humans.”
The White Tiger Mountain Lord said no more.
As if that was the extent of what he was permitted to reveal.
* * *
Meanwhile, ever since returning from the North with So-ya, Seol-yo had been giving off a slightly different atmosphere than before.
The first to notice this was Ga-yul.
Though he lacked tact, Ga-yul had highly developed animalistic instincts and felt that Seol-yo’s behavior was strange.
For instance, he had become even more taciturn than before, or he would occasionally be lost in his own thoughts.
And even now…
Seol-yo, who rarely left So-ya’s side, was walking through the garden alone. It was very strange.
“Seol-yo! Are you sick?”
“…?”
“You’ve been really weird for a few days now. Are you keeping a secret by yourself?”
Flinch.
Seol-yo’s body gave a very slight tremor.
But Ga-yul wasn't one to miss it.
“What is it, what is it! What’s the secret!” Ga-yul asked with a look of great interest.
“…”
But Seol-yo kept his mouth shut, then abruptly turned his head and walked away.
“Huh. Maybe he’s hit puberty.”
Ga-yul scratched his head and muttered to himself.