“What was their last known location?”
“I heard it was the western forest. But it’s not certain.”
The man answered Dang So-yeol’s question with a worried expression.
“Is there a possibility they went somewhere else?”
“Yes… They often searched areas other than the designated location. So there’s a high chance they did the same this time.”
“Hmm.”
Dang So-yeol slightly bit her lip.
Indeed, if it were those two, there was a good chance of that.
“How long has it been past their return time?”
“About two shichen have passed.”
“Did they send any word about being late?”
“None whatsoever.”
“...Damn.”
Dang So-yeol’s delicate brow furrowed. Two shichen was by no means a short time.
‘Where could they have gone?’
Narrowing her eyes, Dang So-yeol racked her brain.
Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-a’s realms were not low. Because of that, it should have been less of a worry.
Gu Yang-cheon had explicitly told them not to be late for their return time.
Did Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-a break that rule? Even if they did, they should only be a little late, not this much.
‘Did something really happen...?’
She felt strangely anxious. Should she call it a gut feeling? An indescribable sense of unease welled up.
The other squad members were also slowly preparing to start a search.
Once two shichen had passed, protocol dictated they begin a search.
“Vice-Captain... shall we proceed with the search?”
At the member’s words, Dang So-yeol pursed her lips.
Going strictly by the rules, they had to start.
There was no helping it. Sighing, Dang So-yeol began to speak.
“...Proc—!”
Mid-sentence, Dang So-yeol clamped her mouth shut. Then, she rapidly turned her head.
It wasn’t just Dang So-yeol.
The personnel preparing for the search around her also looked in the same direction, with only slight differences in timing.
Moreover, they weren’t just looking.
“......Wh-what is this...”
“...Heok... urgh...”
As a few seconds passed, most of them collapsed to the ground. They wore expressions of sheer terror.
“Uweeek!”
Someone started vomiting on the floor, and a few lost consciousness.
Even those who barely held onto their senses were busy trembling.
The only ones still standing were Dang So-yeol and a few others—all of whom had reached the Transformation Realm.
Even they weren’t in a normal state.
Cold sweat soaked their bodies, gradually drenching their uniforms.
What was going on? Dang So-yeol breathed heavily as she looked straight ahead.
The reason all the members’ minds had broken. It was because of the energy felt from far away.
Dang So-yeol furrowed her brow as she grasped the identity of this boundless energy.
Killing intent.
Killing intent covered the surroundings.
The reason it looked dark despite the lanterns being lit. The reason the members were so terrified. It was all because of the killing intent.
The problem was.
‘How could there be such strong killing intent...’
Its intensity was far beyond imagination. It made her question whether a human could even exude such a level of killing intent.
Just who was it? Who was emitting this killing intent?
Dang So-yeol barely managed to grab the dagger in her embrace. If someone inside the Alliance was emitting this much killing intent, there was no need to even think—they were an enemy.
‘Of all times, when the Ninth Young Master is away.’
Who could it be? Though the question lingered, she first had to escape this killing intent.
“Huu...”
She exhaled and drew up her strength. Just as she tried to shake off the energy in one go, a silhouette appeared in the distance.
Frowning, she tried to identify the owner of the killing intent.
“...Huh?”
Upon recognizing the figure, Dang So-yeol unknowingly loosened her grip.
The culprit behind the killing intent was someone she knew well.
The figure walking slowly toward them.
His uniform fluttered in the emitted killing intent. And his expressionless blue eyes were inexplicably cold.
It was vastly different from the aura he usually gave off.
“...Ninth Young Master...?”
The figure was Gu Yang-cheon.
That boundless killing intent was all Gu Yang-cheon’s? She couldn’t believe it.
“Ninth Youn— No, C-Captain...”
Flustered, Dang So-yeol stammered. At her words, Gu Yang-cheon’s gaze shifted to her.
Flinch.
Meeting his eyes, Dang So-yeol trembled. For a split second, her breathing stopped.
‘His eyes...’
They were boundless.
Just from making eye contact, she felt a deep, bottomless abyss.
A hole that, once fallen into, there was no coming out. She couldn’t even fathom where the bottom lay.
Why did he have such eyes?
Did Gu Yang-cheon always have eyes like that?
Dang So-yeol’s thoughts tangled into a mess.
At that moment.
Huuuu.
The rampaging killing intent suddenly subsided.
It hadn’t disappeared, but it lessened to the point where she could move her body.
However, not everyone was okay. Aside from Dang So-yeol, the others were still unable to regain their senses.
Then, had the killing intent directed solely at her decreased? She didn’t even have time to wonder.
“Vice-Captain.”
“...Ah! Y-Yes...”
Her voice trembled as she spoke. It was fear.
“Report the situation.”
What was she supposed to report? Her thoughts paused for a moment, but she quickly remembered.
“...Squad Member Namgung and Squad Member Wi, who went out on reconnaissance, have not returned.”
“Location and time.”
“It was the western forest. The time... t-two shichen have passed.”
She kept stuttering as she spoke. Her voice shook, and for some reason, she felt like crying.
She held it back.
“According to the Alliance’s rules... I was just about to issue a search order.”
“...”
Dang So-yeol bit her lip. At the same time, she slightly averted her gaze.
The eyes she had so desperately wanted to see usually, were now too difficult to meet.
Because he looked like a completely different person. Dang So-yeol struggled to bear it.
“I see.”
Gu Yang-cheon nodded.
“Two shichen. Western forest.”
Repeating the report a few times as if confirming it to himself, he then turned his head to the left.
“Do you know something?”
The way he spoke was strange. It sounded like he was talking to someone, but Dang So-yeol couldn’t see who.
It was because the killing intent had completely messed up her senses.
“No answer. Is my voice too quiet?”
When no voice replied, Gu Yang-cheon turned his body to follow his gaze.
“I’m talking to you. So answer me.”
Grrrk...
“...!”
The killing intent thickened once more.
“Before I capture you and drag it out of you, open your fucking trap, you bastard.”
With his rough speech, his aura exploded. Beyond just shaking the surrounding objects, it felt like an earthquake had struck.
Kkkrrrk—!! Just as it started to affect the quarters and buildings—
“Stop.”
Another person appeared, piercing through the killing intent.
It was the direction Gu Yang-cheon had been looking.
Dang So-yeol frowned at the figure. The person who appeared was Il Cheong-geom.
Why was the Azure Dragon Captain suddenly here?
“Sage King. What is the meaning of this...! Emitting such killing intent inside the branch.”
Il Cheong-geom’s face was full of dismay. Was it because of the killing intent? Or because his stealth had been seen through?
She didn’t know the reason, but whatever it was, it seemed strange.
And. Why did Gu Yang-cheon go out of his way to call out to Il Cheong-geom like that?
“I said stop right now!”
“I’ll ask again. Do you know something?”
“What are you even asking about?”
Il Cheong-geom scowled.
“...Anyway, I don’t know what you’re asking. I just came because I had something to say. But you’re the one acting out of line! For someone who is a Captain of the Alliance to emit such thick killing intent—!”
His tone clearly conveyed an emotion of sheer disbelief.
Hearing that, Gu Yang-cheon fell silent for a moment.
“Right, that’s how it should be. You have to say that. That’s the correct response... Then I should also play along and pretend I don’t know...”
“...What?”
At Il Cheong-geom’s words, Gu Yang-cheon muttered with a somehow exhausted face.
This too was a first for Dang So-yeol.
She had never seen Gu Yang-cheon with such an exhausted expression.
“...Young Master...?”
Dang So-yeol approached with a worried face.
The killing intent was terrifying, but her dedication wasn’t low enough to hesitate over it.
As she tried to approach Gu Yang-cheon like that—
“Aah... Never mind... I’m tired of this now.”
Gu Yang-cheon quietly whispered a word, then vanished from his spot.
She couldn’t perceive it.
Where did he go? Dang So-yeol urgently searched for his presence.
Smack—!
A sound rang out not far away. Dang So-yeol’s head snapped around.
There.
“Ugh!?”
Il Cheong-geom could be seen staggering with his head turned, along with Gu Yang-cheon.
With his head turned to the maximum, Il Cheong-geom widened his eyes.
‘What did I just get hit with?’
A cheek? Did he really just get slapped? By this guy?
His cheek was hot. He felt pain. Feeling this, Il Cheong-geom gritted his teeth.
“How dare you—!”
Thud—! Crack—!
“Kuheok!”
This time, it was his stomach.
It felt like something had shattered.
Stumbling, he took a step back. At the same time, he focused power into his dantian and sent his hand to his scabbard.
He had to draw his sword.
But.
‘Huh...?’
He grabbed nothing at his waist. What? Il Cheong-geom looked at the spot where his sword should be. The sword that was supposed to be there was nowhere to be seen.
“What the...”
“Looking for this?”
“...!”
At the voice, Il Cheong-geom looked at Gu Yang-cheon.
And his jaw dropped.
His sword was in Gu Yang-cheon’s hand. Just when—
Kwang—!
“Keugh!”
Gu Yang-cheon struck him across the face with Il Cheong-geom’s own sword.
His head snapped back, and blood splattered. He barely managed to hold onto his consciousness.
He needed to create some distance first. Il Cheong-geom tried to step back, but his feet felt tied and wouldn’t move.
Gu Yang-cheon was already stomping on Il Cheong-geom’s instep.
At that moment.
Smack—!
“Keok!”
His head turned once more. The impact was fiercer than before.
The energy in his body dissipated in an instant, affecting even his legs.
Thud. Il Cheong-geom collapsed.
It felt as though his skin was being ripped off.
What had happened? Why was he on the ground?
His mind wasn’t working properly.
Il Cheong-geom couldn’t comprehend the current situation.
Drop. A sword fell in front of the fallen Il Cheong-geom. It was his sword.
“I’ll ask one last time.”
At the voice, Il Cheong-geom looked up.
Gu Yang-cheon was looking down at him.
“Was this. Your doing?”
His expression was the same as it was in the beginning—completely devoid of emotion.