〈 Episode 590 〉 The Little Princess of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Before my fingertips touched the end of Ubeom's neck.
During that fleeting instant, I thought of countless methods.
"Should I tear out his throat first?"
To keep him from making noise, should I start by ripping that out?
Or, this guard called Ubeom is right-handed.
Should I shatter it so he can't even dare draw his sword?
No, does any of it matter?
"He's going to die anyway."
If he's going to turn to ash and crumble,
then nothing matters, I suppose.
Just as I thought that and reached to grab Ubeom's neck.
"Stop—."
I froze.
At the voice piercing my ears, I stopped my hand.
"That is enough."
It was Madam Mi's voice.
I turned my head to look at her. Looking at her, I asked.
"Stop?"
Why should I stop?
Is there really any need to?
I even secured justification.
That bastard insulted us with disgusting sophistry.
Despite being an outsider, he tried to draw his sword first.
We might not be direct subordinates of the Martial Alliance,
but through Madam Mi's eloquence, it was clear that we carried out duties 'delegated' by the Martial Alliance.
In other words,
'To touch us is no different than raising a flag of rebellion against the entire Alliance.'
Viewed more broadly, it could even become a war between nations.
And yet.
'Let it pass with just this guard's neck.'
All my actions contained that meaning.
Therefore, killing this shitty bastard meant there would be no problem whatsoever.
Madam Mi would know that better than I.
And yet.
"Why must I?"
I asked for the reason first.
If Madam Mi stopped me,
I judged there would be a rational reason.
Because she was that kind of person.
That killing a guard before the Little Princess would be a problem,
or that touching a figure from the outer martial world could cause issues,
I expected her to speak rationally.
That was what I thought, but.
"The flower you gave me still has its fragrance remaining."
The words from Madam Mi's mouth were not such things.
"Huh?"
"I would rather not see such an unsightly sight in this situation."
It was an unexpected remark.
I couldn't understand it either.
What did the fragrance of a flower have to do with now?
I couldn't understand it at all, but.
"..."
I had no choice but to retract the hand I had stretched toward Ubeom.
Whatever reason she gave,
now that Madam Mi had spoken, I wouldn't have continued anyway.
I returned my hand to its original position.
And I sent a glance toward Dang Soyeol as well.
Srr.
When I sent my gaze, Dang Soyeol also immediately recollected his dagger and stepped back.
Watching that, I laughed inwardly.
'He's fast.'
It didn't mean Dang Soyeol's reaction was faster than mine.
He had been about to tear out Ubeom's throat without hesitation.
But he must have stopped after sensing Dang Soyeol moving.
'Could it be?'
Did he move first because he was afraid I might kill him?
For some reason, that feeling flashed past me.
I didn't think so, but one never knew.
"Huff... huff...."
Rough breathing could be heard.
It was the sound made by the man called Ubeom.
He too probably knew.
Just how dangerous a moment it had been.
The amazing thing was,
'His eyes still aren't dead?'
That bastard Ubeom's eyes still held life.
"You... barbarian...!"
His mouth was still alive too.
"You dare look down on the Northern Sea...!"
Bam!
I drove my fist into his face.
He staggered from the shock and collapsed.
Thud!
Perhaps because of his large frame, the sound of him falling was especially loud.
Drip.
Blood flowed from Ubeom's nose and mouth.
Seeing the blood on his own hands, his eyes showed disbelief.
Watching that, I spoke.
"Shut up for a second. We're in the middle of a conversation."
"Y-you... right now...."
"Should I pluck out your tongue so you can stay quiet more easily?"
Grk.
The sound of him gritting his teeth could be heard. But that was it. The fellow averted his gaze without taking any further action.
It meant he wouldn't step forward again.
What a pity.
If he had said one more word here, I might not have killed him but could have really plucked out his tongue.
I controlled my strength.
It would've been easier if I had smashed all his teeth in.
But I didn't think I should go that far.
"Wow...."
As I dusted off my hands, an exclamation could be heard. It was a sound Yuri spat out.
"I didn't know Ubeom would end up like this. How fascinating...."
For her to react like that when her own guard was bleeding.
My eyes narrowed watching that.
'She rubs me the wrong way.'
Something grated on my nerves.
She had been getting on my nerves the whole time.
At first, it was because she was a figure from the unfamiliar land of the Northern Sea.
Next, it was because she looked identical to Murong Xiya.
And now.
'Just... she grates on me.'
Her very existence was alien and grating.
Yuri looked at me.
I saw pupils the same as Murong Xiya's.
"Amazing. Are you a person from the merchant group too?"
"Something like that."
"Oh...!! Incredible!"
What exactly was so incredible?
I let out a low sigh and asked her.
"What was that earlier?"
"Hm?"
"The talk of marriage."
Why did such a strange conversation happen? I was a bit curious.
No matter how I thought about it, there was no occasion for such words to come up.
"Ah. That."
At my question, Yuri smiled.
"Um... isn't that how it normally is?"
"...What do you mean by that?"
Normally?
What? Was there some crazy culture in the Northern Sea where you proposed to the person who beat you up?
No, was there really such an insane culture?
Just as I was starting to have a slightly bad opinion of the Ice Palace.
"I'm sure it was in a book."
Yuri took up the words.
'Book...?'
What book?
As questions arose at the sudden talk of books.
"'The woman who struck me was the first... will you not marry me?'"
"...?"
"I'm sure in that book, a Central Plains person said that to the person who beat them."
"What the..."
What kind of dogshit was that?
What kind of book did she read for such a shitty development to happen?
Without realizing it, I made a disgusted expression, and rather, Yuri made a surprised face.
"Huh? You really don't know? This is a tremendously famous masterpiece?"
"So in the end, you just tried out some line from a book you don't even know. Is that it?"
"But I didn't know the reaction would be this lukewarm."
Then what reaction was I supposed to show?
No matter how I thought about it, I didn't know.
Should I have hit her? Yeah, that seemed right.
I should've hit her. I was an idiot for not doing so.
"Especially since someone as pretty as me is saying it. How could you do that?"
No. Let's hit her now.
Just as I thought that and moved to act.
"Kuhuk... kuhuk. Kuhum...."
A dry cough was heard from behind.
It was the sound of Murong Xiya coughing.
When I looked, Murong Xiya had her head deeply bowed, hiding her ears that had turned bright red.
I wondered why, but I soon realized the reason.
Seeing a person who looked exactly like herself spout such words, she seemed to be embarrassed for her own sake.
Holding back a sigh that was about to burst out, I looked toward Madam Mi.
"...Madam Mi."
"Speak."
"So, what am I supposed to do?"
Everything had become annoying.
I just wanted to flip the table and leave, but I hadn't even heard the main topic yet.
Therefore.
'What am I supposed to do?'
What connection did I have with this shitty fool?
As I spoke with doubt contained in my words.
"Hm? What more do we have to do together?"
Yuri asked me.
Yeah, I had been wondering that too.
'Why is this girl so bright and cheerful?'
Right now, her own guard was sitting behind her as a bloody mess.
But why on earth was she acting like this?
It was getting a little scary.
"Ah right, Chief."
"Please speak."
"So, when exactly will Red Feather arrive?"
"...Ah."
"We can't talk until that person arrives, right?"
Red Feather.
A title that had come up earlier as well.
It didn't seem like it was a real name no matter who looked at it, and it felt more like a nickname somehow.
'Though it feels a bit...'
It gave off a considerably strange feeling.
Moreover.
'Who else is coming?'
It seemed like everyone was gathered. Who was she referring to?
"Is there someone else coming?"
I asked Madam Mi.
Since she would know best about the personnel.
"Called Red Feather. Do you know this person?"
"Th-that...."
But Madam Mi's reaction upon hearing the question was quite strange.
Wondering why she was making such an expression.
"Aren't you a person from the Central Plains? You don't know Red Feather?"
Yuri suddenly flared up out of nowhere.
What was this girl's problem now.
"...Must I know?"
"Of course. You said you didn't know anything else but knew Red Feather...!"
What is Red Feather?
Is it a chicken? A demonic beast with red feathers?
Was there such a thing among red demonic beasts?
Just as I was thinking all sorts of things.
"His flames reach the heavens."
Flames? Right. There are demonic beasts that breathe fire.
"He values righteousness and chivalry and cannot stand injustice."
...It's not a demonic beast. Listening to that, it was surprisingly a person.
A person using such an embarrassing nickname? He must be crazy.
So he's a person who values chivalry and righteousness, and uses fire, meaning he uses fire arts.
Was there a martial artist in Haenam who was skilled at using fire arts?
'I don't know.'
Fire-using martial artists weren't common to begin with.
Among the Ten Great Experts, there was the Flame King, but that fellow was someone who hadn't appeared even when the Blood Tribulation erupted.
He was someone who might already be dead, so I'll pass.
Who on earth was Red Feather.
"His appearance is also so outstanding that he sets fire to the hearts of many women."
"Red Feather."
"Yes...! I came here to see that person!"
At her confident shout, I was at a loss for words.
I really felt like I should go home now. I didn't want to get involved anymore.
I should just run away.
Just as I was thinking that.
"The Red Feather of the Central Plains. Ouyang Tian...!"
"Hm...?"
"I want to see him quickly."
"...?"
At Yuri's words, I whipped my head around.
Our eyes met.
Yuri, meeting my eyes, tilted her head.
"Why? Did you fall for me now? It's a bit late for tha--."
"What did you just say?"
"What?"
What did this girl just say?
"...Who? Who did you say?"
"Aah~!"
Seeing my reaction, Yuri spoke delightedly.
"See, you know him after all, don't you? The Red Feather, Ouyang Tian."
"..."
"What's wrong?"
Silence flowed.
I thought I had misheard, but that wasn't it.
Damn....
How was I supposed to react to this.
I thought for a moment.
Could there be another Ouyang Tian besides me?
There probably was, since if it were the Gu clan of Shanxi, there might be other Gu clans somewhere.
Then there might be another Ouyang Tian in there.
But.
'...This.'
No matter how I looked at it, it didn't seem to mean anyone other than me.
Whether the others had noticed that as well, the silence flowing in the narrow room was likely due to that.
"Hm? What's wrong with everyone?"
Yuri made a strange expression at the changed atmosphere.
I could feel the people around looking at me with incomprehensible expressions.
Having confirmed that, Yuri's gaze changed as well.
In particular, her gaze looking at me had changed.
Unfortunately, Yuri didn't seem to be the type lacking in perceptiveness.
"Ei."
Yuri laughed and sent a hand gesture.
"Right?"
In the voice she spat out laughing, desperation swirled.
She spoke as if pleading for it not to be so, but.
Not a single person denied it.
"...Right? Why, why is no one answering?"
Her pupils shook.
They were slender and charming eyes, yet they could get that wide.
"I-it can't be...."
Despair settled into Yuri's expression where desperation had vanished.
"Surely, it's not you?"
"Pardon?"
"You're Red Feather?!"
"...What is that."
"It can't be. It definitely can't be?"
For it to be this shocking.
Her pale skin turned blue-white.
"T-there's no way that person looks like this."
The fuck?
Suddenly getting attacked on a personal level?
I was just standing here, why was she hitting me out of nowhere?
I looked at Yuri with a dumbfounded face.
At that moment.
"He doesn't look like he has any righteousness or chivalry like the rumors...!"
Yuri began speaking arbitrarily, unable to calm down.
"He's not even handsome...! He even looks scary! Baek Yeowoo definitely said he was a cool person...."
"No... calm down for a second."
"But how are you Red Feather?! This is nonsensical--!!"
Thud!
"Kyak!"
Yuri's head shook.
It was because I had slammed my fist down on her crown.
Yuri, letting out a shriek, wrapped her hands around her crown.
"You're noisy, really."
"Uugh...?"
"Won't you shut up?"
"...I-it hurts...."
"Tch. I'm already annoyed to death. Why do you keep whining."
I controlled my strength more than before.
The fellow called Ubeom was fairly high-level, so he was fine.
But if I struck that small head and couldn't hold back, it would obviously burst.
However, perhaps even that was a bit strong.
"Uu... uugh."
It seemed to hurt quite a bit as tears gradually welled in Yuri's eyes.
Soon after.
"Oww... it hurtsss...."
She started crying like a child.
She looked like she wouldn't bleed even if stabbed with a knife, yet water dripped from her eyes incessantly.
For a moment, a whimsical curiosity flashed by — would Murong Xiya cry like that if she cried?
I pondered briefly.
What should I do.
I didn't know she'd cry from being hit a bit.
Moreover, she was crying so sorrowfully it was becoming troublesome.
Since she was shedding tears that looked like they would burst forth soon, I moved my hand first.
Thwack!!
"Ugeuk?!"
Yuri collapsed with a thud.
Like when we first met, I struck the back of her neck and knocked her out.
Seeing this, the guards waiting behind widened their eyes and reacted, but.
I merely spoke flatly while looking at the collapsed Yuri.
"Why is a person suddenly crying and throwing a fit."
I hated it most when people shed useless tears.
It might have been a bit excessive, but this was the fastest method.
It definitely wasn't because she said I wasn't handsome at all.
Or that I looked scary.
Absolutely not.