〈 Episode 651 〉 Back to the Central Plains.
As I brought up the topic, the room instantly fell silent.
With silence added to the already cold space, it felt stifling.
Fortunately, that silence didn't last very long.
"Young Master Gu."
"Yes."
"Do you know what you just said?"
"I know half, and I don't know the other half."
From the Palace Master, who said she could give me a reward, I requested information about the spell, and the transfer rights for the idiot who would be imprisoned in the underground dungeon.
I didn't know how important the former was, but I certainly knew about the latter.
"You are currently asking me to hand over the ringleader of the rebellion."
The idiot who is probably stuck in the underground dungeon, starving.
That guy is Woo-hyuk.
Naturally, if he had come here so brazenly, the situation he would face was imprisonment.
Regardless, he was undoubtedly one of the figures who led the rebellion.
'Dumb bastard.'
I told him to come later, but I didn't expect him to come so openly.
'No, the one who came in that body was Namgung Myeong, so isn't it that guy's fault?'
I briefly thought so, but I knew that if it were Woo-hyuk, he would have crawled here on his own anyway.
Anyway, they are incomprehensible guys.
'They could have just run away or come quietly.'
Why do they live like such pushovers? It's just frustrating.
Seeing that frustration right in front of me pisses me off even more.
'What can you do. It's the price of making the wrong friend.'
I can let it slide a couple more times.
Because I received a lot in my past life.
I could do at least that much.
"Hah."
I heard the sound of someone exhaling a hollow breath.
It wasn't the Palace Master; it was from behind.
It wasn't the Black Lion either. It was someone I was seeing for the first time.
'Another Grand General.'
A bald old man with a white beard.
He was glaring at me, his face deeply contorted.
"Even if you helped save the North Sea... How dare you, in front of the Palace Master-!"
His voice grew louder, clearly showing his displeasure.
Seeing this, the Black Lion raised his hand to stop him, but.
Tap.
My hand had already moved.
Kwuuung--!!
"Gack-!?"
Striking the empty air with Heart Intent, the bald man was swept up by the Heart Fist and slammed into the wall.
"Oh."
Seeing that, I let out an involuntary exclamation of admiration.
I only adjusted my strength moderately, yet it had this much power?
It made me realize once again that my realm had increased.
'I'll need to spend a bit more time if I want to control it properly.'
It seemed it would take more time than expected to get used to my suddenly increased strength.
"...Kugh...!!"
The bald Grand General, who had been knocked down, pulled himself up.
At the same time, he drew the long spear from his back.
Clank-!
Not only him, but most of the others drew their weapons, about to resist me at that very moment.
"Stop..."
The Palace Master intervened with a soft voice.
"I am still in the middle of a conversation with our guest."
"Palace Master-! But, that man...!"
"White Eagle. Do you intend to defy my orders?"
"...!"
The bald old man's name seemed to be White Eagle.
'A bald eagle because he's bald?'
Recalling such a trivial thought, I almost burst out laughing.
"Young Master, as well. I ask that you please exercise restraint."
"Yes, I apologize. I did it without thinking."
Truthfully, I could have held back, but I tried it once.
'It felt like doing so would set the stage well.'
And, just as expected, the stage I wanted was set.
Actually, I had hoped the Palace Master wouldn't stop it even in this situation, but that would have been wishing for too much.
"...I apologize for failing to control my subordinate during our conversation."
The Palace Master spoke, staring at me with a stiff expression.
"However, you must know the weight of the words you just uttered."
"As I said earlier. I know half."
"Which half are you referring to?"
"Obviously, Woo-hyuk... No, I mean Bioegun."
"..."
Saaah.
I felt the room's temperature drop.
'Umm.'
I clearly took all the Ice Crystal's energy from the Palace Master.
Even though her physical condition shouldn't be good, this level of pressure...
'...This is more than I thought.'
It seemed the Palace Master's realm was higher than I had anticipated.
Having regained the level of my past life, I could see it more clearly.
The Palace Master was a strong person.
Much more so.
'Does this mean she's in that state even after having her energy stolen?'
It was fascinating.
She should be in a weakened state right now, yet she felt strong.
'It would be more accurate to say the curse was actually holding her back.'
The Dragon Personification was lifted, and the curse was broken.
The curse being broken was a good thing, but she should be weakened as much as the Dragon Personification was lifted.
The Palace Master's presence had grown stronger than when I first saw her.
Of course.
'Even so, she must be weaker than me right now.'
If she were in perfect condition, it might be different, but the weakened Palace Master could be defeated in her current state.
That was all that mattered to me.
"I know that Bioegun is your close friend. But he was the ringleader of the rebellion, and he is currently imprisoned as a criminal."
"I am aware."
"And you are asking me to hand him over?"
"Yes. That is correct."
"...Young Master Gu."
A stinging aura radiated from her.
Feeling this, I furrowed my brow.
"As much as I want to reward you for saving the North Sea and do the best I can, this is crossing the line."
"I know that too, but since you said you could give a reward, I merely told you what I need the most."
"Regarding the spell... it is something granted only to the bloodline, but with the Palace Master's authority, I can permit you to view the information."
Not bad news.
Since it meant I could obtain the spell information one way or another.
"However. Matters concerning Bioegun have exceeded the permissible range."
"Yes, I suppose so."
It was only natural.
I said it knowing she wouldn't agree.
What kind of crazy person would agree to this?
However.
"Palace Master. But, you see."
"Speak."
"If you don't grant it, I will have no choice but to become your enemy."
"...!"
I drove the point home without turning back even a speck.
Perhaps because the impact of my words was significant, not only the Palace Master but even the Grand Generals stiffened rigidly.
Looking at the Palace Master, I continued speaking.
"I know that bastard did wrong. I figure he had his reasons. But I don't care about that, and it's true that he caused a mess in the end."
I don't know with what intention Woo-hyuk committed this act and stuck with Yuseon to prepare this.
I didn't have the time to listen.
Furthermore, even if I had heard all his circumstances, the fact that Woo-hyuk was in the wrong wouldn't disappear.
But.
"That has very little to do with me."
"Young Master Gu...!"
At my words, the Palace Master's expression finally crumpled.
"I tried to say it nicely. But it seemed like this would be the fastest. I understand your situation, Palace Master. But if you don't hand him over, I will take him by force."
It was a clear threat.
It was also a firm declaration that I wouldn't accept any negotiation.
Hand him over. If you don't, I will extract him by force.
Because I have the power. And because the entire Ice Palace, including the Palace Master, was in a weakened state, I could say this.
In reality, even if everyone here swarmed me, I could break through them without difficulty.
'Three at the Hwa-gyeong realm, and a few Absolute Masters deployed outside.'
It was hard to gauge the Palace Master's realm, but given her current state, she could be counted as part of the Hwa-gyeong realm. So, four?
It might be a bit difficult on my own, but I had Seong-yul with me.
The only variable here.
'Is if Pae-jon blocks me, but otherwise, there is none.'
The possibility of that was slim, so I intended to go the easy route, even if it was a bit forceful.
'Using my head is annoying, anyway.'
Even if I tried to rack my brain, this would have been the method in the end.
'Besides.'
I quietly stared at the Palace Master's distorted expression.
From the moment I first brought up Woo-hyuk, I could see a faint sense of unfamiliarity in her light blue eyes.
Shring.
I heard the sound of a sword being drawn.
No need to look.
It was the sound of Seong-yul drawing his sword.
However, he wasn't the first to draw.
Suuuu--!!
Feeling a sensation pricking my back, I let out a faint smile.
Murderous intent.
Seong-yul reacted because he sensed the murderous intent seeping from the Grand Generals.
Feeling this, I also focused power into my heart.
At that moment.
Kwuuuuu--!!!
"Keuh...!!"
"Heup-!"
Pressure radiating from the tip of my foot began to fill the room.
'It's been a while since I've done this kind of thing, so it feels a bit refreshing. Not a bad feeling.'
I fiercely erupted my energy so that no one could move carelessly.
Amidst this, I also had to control it so that Seong-yul and the Palace Master would be pushed aside.
That would make it easier for the Palace Master to move.
Swish.
The Palace Master rose from her throne and locked eyes with me.
The distance wasn't very far.
Five steps, at most.
Looking at her, I spoke first.
"I understand. That's why I don't really want to use force either."
The daughter who initiated the rebellion met her death.
The karma of the bloodline that protected the Ice Crystal for centuries had finally been released. This also meant that there was no longer a need for the Palace Master's bloodline to sit on the throne, using their sacrifice as collateral.
In other words, it meant there was more justification to continue the war.
"So, please let this go smoothly."
I spat out with a smile.
What a truly selfish statement.
It was a vicious tactic of pinpointing and exploiting the opponent's situation to extract what I wanted.
Even I thought it was pretty harsh, but this was the role I had to play right now.
"If you don't, the only one who suffers a loss is you, Palace Master. You know it, don't you? That you can't stop me right now."
"..."
I pressured the Palace Master, radiating killing intent.
No, I pretended to pressure her.
Only by doing this could the Palace Master secure her own justification.
"Ugh...!"
One of the Grand Generals enduring the pressure let out a stifled groan.
They couldn't move rashly.
Partly because Seong-yul was blocking the front, but also because one wrong move and I might slit the Palace Master's throat.
That was also the reason I was emitting this pressure—to make them realize that.
Like that, a few seconds.
Or perhaps tens of seconds passed, but since there was still no answer, I quietly spoke to the Palace Master.
"Or should I dispose of the Grand Generals behind you first and then think about it?"
"...Huuu..."
Hearing that, the Palace Master let out a low sigh.
"...I will accept it."
At the words she seemed to barely spit out, I immediately released my energy.
Hwaaak-!!
"Ugh!"
As the energy was released, the Grand Generals who had been enduring it staggered and steadied themselves.
Their gazes toward me were filled with dismay, but I pretended not to notice.
The Palace Master's expression was full of distress.
It fully contained her wretched feeling of having to let a criminal go like this.
'She's good at acting.'
If I hadn't known, I would have been completely fooled and felt a fingernail's worth of guilt.
'Considering she laid out the board as soon as I brought it up.'
Looking at her, I let out a hollow laugh and thought to myself.
This board wasn't just laid by me; the Palace Master laid it out together with me.
To someone who didn't know, it might seem like nonsense, but regardless of my intentions, the Palace Master created the flow of the situation.
A situation where she had no choice but to hand over Woo-hyuk.
The important thing here was 'had no choice.'
To be more precise.
'Solidifying the Palace Master's position so there would be no political issues.'
That had to be created.
And the current board did exactly that.
A strong expert that the weakened Palace Master couldn't block.
Such a person radiating killing intent, declaring that if not handed over, he would kill them all.
Even amid that, the Palace Master held her ground against the killing intent, but eventually, with her subordinates taken hostage, she had no choice but to accept.
Thanks to that.
"...I know that I must accept, as there must be no further casualties."
"An excellent choice."
"Palace Master...! How...!! Because of us-!!"
"Kugh...!"
I had gone from being the benefactor who saved the North Sea to a vicious thug threatening the Palace Master.
'It doesn't really matter, but it's a bit unpleasant.'
Maybe it's because I was on the receiving end so often in my past life, but being treated like a villain even here left a bad taste in my mouth.
'But if I can get what I want by doing this, I don't care.'
This much seemed about right.
Thinking it was roughly settled, I looked at the Palace Master, waiting for her next words.
"However... there is a condition."
The Palace Master continued.
Saying there was a condition for taking Woo-hyuk.
An explanation followed.
After hearing it all, I lightly nodded.
"That much... Well, I don't think it'll be a problem."
Fortunately, it wasn't a difficult condition.
******************
Afterwards, the place I headed to after leaving the audience chamber was the prison.
The meeting with the Palace Master was over, so now it was time to do the most important task of the day.
Perhaps because the cold air hadn't fully dissipated yet, the path down to the underground was strangely cold.
Descending the seemingly endless stairs, I finally saw iron bars guarded by several people.
And I could see a familiar figure among the guards.
"What are you doing there?"
I called out with a puzzled expression, and someone flinched.
This princess of the North Sea.
No, it was Yu-ri, who was now the First Princess, standing here.
"Ah... I greet the benefactor."
Startled by my sudden appearance, Yu-ri widened her eyes and bowed to me.
'Looks like she came to see that guy.'
Beyond the iron bars, there was a handsome young man sitting calmly.
Woo-hyuk was sitting there with an indifferent expression.
Seeing him, I asked Yu-ri.
"Should I come back later?"
"No... I will step back first."
I thought she'd want me to come later, but Yu-ri slightly bowed her head to me and walked away, disappearing.
So, I looked at Woo-hyuk and asked.
"Were you talking about something important?"
"...It wasn't anything that important."
"Right, sorry if I interrupted."
Like hell it wasn't.
Her expression said otherwise.
'Where is he trying to spin his lies.'
I could tell the moment I saw them that their relationship was subtle.
I have a knack for these things.
Not that I'd show it.
Hiding my laughter inside, I looked at Woo-hyuk and spoke.
"You look ridiculous. Are you comfortable?"
"Haha..."
"So smart, so smart. You should've just stayed hidden quietly. Why did you crawl out here and get caught?"
"..."
Ignoring Woo-hyuk's silence, I reached my hand out to the iron bars.
"Hey! Wai-!"
The guard saw this and urgently tried to stop me, but chiiiik-! The iron bars in my hand melted from the heat and were torn apart.
I did it so effortlessly that the guard wore a dumbfounded expression.
Seeing that, I added an explanation.
"I've received permission from the Palace Master, so you can just stay where you are."
"Pardon...?"
Ignoring the guard, I stepped into the cell. Entering the cell, I said to Woo-hyuk.
"I'm returning to the Central Plains tomorrow. That's what I agreed on."
"...You..."
At my words, Woo-hyuk looked surprised, bit his lip, and shook his head.
"...I, am not going."
Even after hearing him, my expression remained the same. I knew he would answer like that anyway.
Still, I asked out of courtesy.
"Why?"
"...Because I committed an unforgivable sin. I must pay for my crimes."
It was such a Woo-hyuk-like answer.
"True, you did cause quite a big mess."
I didn't deny it either.
I'd offer comfort or empathy if it were a somewhat big mess, but this one was hard to do so.
"...So, I won't go to the Central Plains."
Woo-hyuk spoke firmly, as if he wouldn't change his mind.
Seeing that, I nodded.
"You could do that."
"You understand..."
"Before that, there are two things I want to ask first."
Setting aside Woo-hyuk's thoughts, I had to finish the main reason I came here first.
I held back from asking this for three days.
At my words, Woo-hyuk tensed up, his expression hardening.
He probably thought I would ask why he did it, why he committed such an act.
However.
I wasn't the least bit curious about such things.
"Was it you?"
"...Huh?"
Woo-hyuk panicked at the question, which seemed meaningless.
"I'm asking if it was you."
"What? What are you suddenly talking about..."
Seeing his genuinely confused face, I spat out clear words at Woo-hyuk.
"Red Feather."
"Ah?"
"The one who spread the rumors about Red Feather or whatever. I'm asking if it was you, you bastard."
Hearing that, Woo-hyuk paused. It was a momentary flinch. After a brief pause, Woo-hyuk added words as if nothing had happened.
"Haha. Red Feather? I don't know what you're talking about."
He belatedly continued, but it was already too late.
"You guys."
"No."
"It was you after all."
"I'm hearing it for the first time. What is that?"
"Of course it's your first time hearing it. You probably only talked about it."
Seeing his reaction, I silently moved my hand.
I carefully fit the melted and torn iron bar pieces back into the hole.
Then, I heated the edges with my fingers and melted them back together.
Chiiiiik---!!
"...Why are you putting it back together..."
Seeing the iron bars blocked again, Woo-hyuk spoke with an uneasy expression, but I cut him off again and asked.
"And. You."
Red Feather, whatever.
This was the most important thing.
"I heard you put a needle in Namgung Bia's body. Is it true?"
"..."
"Friend. Answer me."
"...I'm sorr-"
Pang-!
Woo-hyuk's head snapped to the side, and his lifted body slammed into the wall.
Kwung--!!
"Keok!"
From the impact, Woo-hyuk vomited blood and collapsed.
Even as his body trembled, I could see him instantly healing.
It meant the power of regeneration was activating properly.
Seeing that, I thought it was a relief.
"I need to ask why you caused this mess first. But before that."
At least, it seemed he wouldn't die easily from a beating.
"Let's start with you taking a beating. I have a lot piled up, so as my friend, you'll have to understand."
Crack.
I approached Woo-hyuk and clenched my fist.
I had a lot of 'stories' to let out on Woo-hyuk.