Lobby of the Black Dragon Palace, after using the Messageless Pigeon item to Yoon Yeorang.
While I waited for her, I prepared for the three ascended dragons’ request.
‘More time passed than I expected. I should hurry.’
The ascended dragons told me to go straight to the Black Dragon palace.
They thought the place would be safe since the traitors couldn’t exert much strength there.
Of the five palaces, the Black Dragon Palace’s color changed the least.
Shaman Byeok’s color appeared on the walls but wasn’t very prominent.
If the Black Dragon Palace’s color is least affected, would that mean that the White Dragon Palace is the opposite?
After all, it’s quite easy to dye white with some other color.
‘The shamans stayed at the White Dragon Palace because that’s where they can exert most power.’
As I was thinking about the situation in each palace, useless thoughts also came to mind.
Before parting ways with the three dragons, they tried to give me something in return for doing them a favor.
But since the three of them are superior beings, it’s difficult to gift me something since intervening in the mortal world isn’t something they can easily do.
When I tried to decline for that reason, the three dragons said something weird.
[Do you want to have the Black Dragon Palace? It’s black, just like your energy waves. Let’s give the benefactor a dragon palace.]
Hwangryong and Yong Jegun tried to give me a pillar, but Heukryong wanted to give me a whole building.
He talked about the gold and silver treasures, as well as items hidden in the Black Dragon Palace.
I don’t know what to do with that information though.
Seeing that Heukryong is speaking lightly, it could be that he’s just in a mood wave, but I shouldn’t be swept away by it for no reason.
Contrary to the excited Heukruong, Jeokryong said something.
[You must not know what the benefactor’s other alias is.]
A different alias?
From the way he said it, I don’t think he’s referring to Nameless Supernova.
I had a hunch that Jeokryong would say something I wouldn’t like.
And my foreboding became a reality.
[The benefactor is also called the Red Wall Thief. The word “red” is in his alias, so wouldn’t it be right for the benefactor to take the Red Dragon Palace?]
Even a superior being knows that word.
Is it because my identity spread among the Dragon Clan?
I felt my whole body curl up at the impact of that word that came carelessly from a superior being.
Jeokryong and Heukryong began to use it in conversation from then on.
If they really want to regard me as a benefactor, they should really stop using that word.
I was grateful that Baekryong stayed quiet at least.
Baekryong watched the two and asked me quietly.
[…How about the White Dragon Palace?]
Baekryong seems to want to give me a palace too.
It’s not something that I wish to have, but I can’t phrase it as if I don’t like it.
After all, the symbolic color of my last playable character, Baekho-gun, is white!
In the end, I said that it was difficult to answer because Hwangryong is in charge of managing the Dragon Palace in the mortal world.
[Considering what we’re asking of you, Hwangryong would want to give up his palace too. Don’t worry.]
Jeokryong’s words made me even more worried.
[Good luck! And be careful!]
[We’re leaving it up to you, benefactor.]
With Heukryong and Baekryong’s greetings, the Destiny Skill was deactivated.
The Dragon Palace was greatly changed after meeting the three dragons, but the path to the Black Dragon Palace wasn’t difficult.
Although they were restructured much differently, I knew that the Black Dragon Palace was still up north.
‘I would’ve wandered more if I had to go somewhere other than the Black Dragon Palace, but that’s where I wanted to go anyway. It worked out well.’
My hands ached a little from the cold air of the Black Dragon Palace, but I was at ease knowing that sudden attacks from the shamans were less likely.
When I got ready, someone tapped the window on the side of the road that connects to the Blue Dragon Palace.
It was Yoon Yeorang.
“I’m here!”
“Shush, don’t be too loud.”
“Right, there was an enemy near the Blue Dragon Palace.”
The other two candidates whispered while Yoon Yeorang greeted me energetically.
Still, in a loud voice, Yoon Yeorang spoke again.
“I think it’ll be fine here. The Black Dragon Palace’s color didn’t change that much.”
Yoon Yeorang opened the window and came into the palace, followed by the two candidates who helped each other.
She ran towards me and quipped as if she had a lot of questions about the situation.
“Do you know what’s going on? What happened to everyone else?”
“I know some things. I’m alone right now.”
The faces of the two other candidates blurred when they heard that I was alone.
I’m a teenage high school student, so it can’t be helped that they’re worried.
Then, following the candidates, a palace shaman entered the Black Dragon Palace.
She was still wearing a cloth over her face, but her silhouette belonged to the youngest shaman who accompanied Yoon Yeorang throughout our stay.
‘That shaman is less likely to be a traitor.’
There were many opportunities to observe that young shaman.
At first, I had doubts about the unmotivated shaman’s attitude, but it gradually faded.
If the youngest had played the role of betraying Yoon Yeorang while watching her closely, she would’ve pretended to be a bit more enthusiastic.
Even though Yoon Yeorang called her “unnie” and tried to be close to her, the youngest shaman dismissed and distanced herself.
Still, there’s a big difference between “highly unlikely” and “a hundred percent sure.”
“Hello.”
“…Hello.”
She pronounced the end of that in a slightly disrespectful way.
Even if she was the youngest, she was still an adult so it didn’t matter if she spoke formally to me or not.
But there’s something more important than that.
“Please take off your cotton cloth before coming near.”
The three dragons taught me how to distinguish the traitors.
To look underneath the cloth that covered their faces.
They said that if they ate Imoogi’s scales for a long time, their eyes and skin would’ve changed.
“Why all of a sudden…”
“What? But I heard that the cotton cloth of a shaman is very meaningful.”
The candidates were more confused than the youngest shaman.
I guess they’re worried about friction on this side.
“I guess the guest… -nim knows it too. The Dragon King will permit it if it’s your request… I think.”
“Please speak comfortably.”
“‘Kay.”
The youngest shaman spoke informally as if she had been waiting and happily removed the cloth, perhaps because it was frustrating to wear it.
From what she said, I guess she also saw that the other shamans’ faces had changed.
The face that she revealed was ordinary.
Her expression was common but exhausted, something that is plastered on tired commuters’ faces during rush hour.
There were no scales on her face, and her eyes were normal.
“The Dragon Palace is dangerous right now, so Euishin oppa, I mean, Euishin sunbaenim must’ve tried to check it out!”
“You can call me comfortably.”
“Ah, okay. Euishin oppa!”
Yoon Yeorang also seemed to be waiting for it.
The youngest shaman and Yoon Yeorang were at odds, but they’re quite similar.
Anyway, I confirmed what I wanted to check.
‘Then there’s five of us here.’
None of us were hurt or injured.
As long as Yoon Yeorang is accompanied by the other candidates, I judged that there would be no great danger.
But I also worried that they’d be affected if the shamans were to use a lot of energy waves and they had to defend themselves.
I wanted to be conscious of myself if that happens, but things are still okay for now.
“I have a favor to ask of you all.”
I opened my palm and showed it to the four, and their eyes opened wide when they saw it.
“Dragon scales!”
“Wow, I can feel a strong dragon energy from it!”
“Those are scales from Jeokryong-nim, Baekryong-nim, and Heukryong-nim.”
The youngest shaman was correct.
Even though she was the youngest, she seemed to have extraordinary skills as she is the only normal palace shaman here.
“Yes. From now on, using these scales…”
Jiiik, jiiiik…!
Before I finished speaking, we heard a crack from the distance.
After that, a loud “kuuuuung!” sounded and an unusual pressure weighed on my body.
Except for Yoon Yeorang, the candidates shook and couldn’t stand properly.
“The Dragon Palace’s boundary is shaking. They must be up to something.”
The youngest shaman looked up at the ceiling.
She must’ve activated an intuition skill as her eyes were filled with energy waves.
Her expression became serious, and Yoon Yeorang also felt a great danger as her complexion darkened.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to do with the ascended dragons’ power, but before that, the Dragon Palace’s boundary will be destroyed.”
“I don’t think we should stay like this! But I think it’s dangerous everywhere outside.”
Yoon Yeorang’s words were similar to her last lines in PMH just before her death.
She avoided being assassinated several times with her outstanding ability to evade crisis, but she eventually died.
This is because the shamans made brutal moves that were difficult to avoid that Yoon Yeorang couldn’t escape even if she knew it.
The shamans must be doing something to threaten the Dragon Palace’s boundary.
‘Do they think that they can survive with God Imoogi’s power no matter what happens to the Dragon Palace?’
But this is still okay.
I took into consideration the possibility of the palace’s boundary being attacked.
I didn’t know exactly the intention and how they were doing it, but I prepared a countermeasure because I knew what they were after.
“You don’t have to worry about the boundary.”
When I spoke firmly, Yoon Yeorang looked a little relieved.
I trusted my plan and explained the request made by Jeokryong, Heukryong, and Baekryong.
***
Between the Yellow Dragon Palace and the Blue Dragon Palace.
Jeokho was carrying Cheongryong with him.
Jeokho found Kim Shinrok standing with Nwiho among the black ashes.
“Son! You’re safe!”
Just in time, the shamans retreated their power and the Water Mirror lost its shape.
Kim Shinrok took his eyes off it and looked at Jeokho, relieved that he was safe.
He tried to calmly say that he was okay, but contrary to his will, Nwiho ran toward Jeokho.
Nwiho, who ran with an afterimage of lightning, groaned while peering to see if Jeokho was hurt.
The latter felt proud.
“You must have a good relationship with your father.”
Hwangryong said so, and Kim Shinrok felt as if his face was burning.
In the meantime, as if bragging about his strength, Nwiho looked alternately at the Bear clan minions and Jeokho.
Jeokho immediately understood and gave praises.
“There must’ve been a lot of them judging from the ashes. I can’t believe you knocked them down at once! It hasn’t been long since you figured out this power. You are really excellent.”
Jeokho stroked Nwiho emotionally, and Cheongryong almost fell.
Cheongryong asked Jeokho to drop him since he managed to recover his strength while on the move, but he still staggered to stand on his own.
“You missed it, Jeokho.”
“That’s what I’m saying. But more importantly, look around here. If I hadn’t lost time cleaning up those garbage tiger traps in the Blue Dragon Palace, I could’ve seen my son’s performance.”
As if he was dissatisfied with wasting time fighting while on the move, Jeokho spoke in a half-complaining-half-bragging tone.
Then…
An ominous energy spread throughout the Dragon Palace.
With the Yellow Dragon Palace at the center, cracks began to form in the boundary between the deep sea and the Dragon Palace.
Jiik, jiiiik…!
The shamans were attacking the boundary.
Hwangryong couldn’t take his eyes off the threat posed to the Dragon Palace which he had been protecting for years.
Hwangryong lamented sadly while staring at the boundary.
“They’re going this far?”
His voice made Kim Shinrok feel sad at the same time.
He wanted to do something for Hwangryong, but there was nothing he could do because the energy wave link and Nwiho were effective because of him.
Still, he wasn’t discouraged.
Jo Euishin had a lot of plans set in place.
‘I can’t believe that Jo Euishin thought of that.’
Hwangryong also knew about it.
He stared in Jeokho’s direction.
Behind him, to be exact.
“The time has come to ask the unnoticed guest a favor.”
Among the people of the Tiger Clan who visited the Dragon Palace, the unnoticed guest spoke for the first time.
“You can lift the fog, Jeokho.”
With that, Jeokho complied.
As the red fog dispersed, a teenage boy in the form of Hwangho appeared.
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