The Dragon King returned to the divine world after the new year.
It was a long advent for him, but it seemed too short for the dragon people as they shed tears when the Dragon King left.
Even after the shamans headed to bed because it was late at night, some of the dragons were still depressed.
“The Dragon King will not be at ease if we grieve. Don’t forget that there’s still work to finish.”
At Cheongryong’s words, the dragons made up their minds and prepared to head to the Black Dragon Palace where the demoted shamans were located.
The dragons decided to leave their interrogation to Kim Shinrok.
All the dragons in the palace are set to visit, but not because they don’t trust him.
It was to hear what the people who they once regarded as family members would say.
When the dragons regained stability, Jeokho urged them.
“My son went to the Black Dragon Palace first. Don’t make him wait for long please.”
“I see. Come, let’s go.”
“I’ll guide you.”
While we were headed to the Black Dragon Palace with Hwangryong’s summoned Unryong, Hwangryong spoke to me.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
I was thinking about X and Heukho, and it must’ve been very obvious.
Hwang Jiho also nagged at me a while ago.
Something about thinking useless thoughts, consuming too many energy waves, etc…
I think he said something more, but I wasn’t listening.
“The Dragon King was worried about you until he left. I worry about you too. Tell me if anything happens.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t say that to get an apology.”
While exchanging brief conversations, we arrived at the Black Dragon Palace.
The cold hit my body the instant I stepped in.
As we followed Unryong to the depths of the palace, the air became even colder.
Before our body temperatures dropped too much, Hwangryong wrapped clouds around us to block out the cold.
“We’re here.”
“We are?”
A cellar covered in black ice, in front were Kim Shinrok and Yong Jegun waiting.
While looking at the ice prison, Cheongryong asked about the shamans.
“Did you torture them already? They don’t seem to be in a good state of mind.”
“I said I’d grant their wish before, right? We talked about that a little, that’s all.”
Instead of Kim Shinrok, Yong Jegun answered freely.
He seems to have had a great time as he turned the former shamans’ hearts inside out.
“I was busy fulfilling the Dragon Clan’s benefactor’s wish last time. That’s why I withdrew what I said before.”
“Don’t use the Tiger Clan’s benefactor as an excuse.”
Yong Jegun’s ridiculous excuse was met with even more ridiculous words from Hwang Jiho.
He tortured them with the hope that at least one person would be rescued, but then pushed them into despair.
Yong Jegun was mischievous towards the traitors, but none of the dragons paid mind.
Instead of Yong Jegun, they spoke to Kim Shinrok.
“The Dragon Palace is still full of the Dragon King’s power, so you won’t die of any trouble. Do as you please.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Even though Cheongryong’s words were clear, the former shamans didn’t react much.
Their faces with festering scars and wrinkles looked quite relaxed.
They must be energized by the hope that they will still live a long time even though they’ll be left in the Black Dragon Palace to freeze.
‘Some of the traitors should realize there’s something wrong. But the others are taking it easy and think that there will be no problem.’
Once Kim Shinrok “does his best” to torture them though, I don’t think it would stay that way.
Kim Shinrok pointed out the traitor who lost her hair and had minor injuries to her body.
“I want to assess their physical and mental strength first. I will experiment with those who seem to have little information.”
Kim Shinrok took out a pen, eliciting snorts from the ladies.
When Kim Shinrok used the tip of the pen to cut off the muscles that moved their eyeballs, the ridicule soon stopped.
Kim Shinrok calmly continued his experiment, observing as the traitors screamed.
“They don’t faint at this level of pain. I’ll check if they faint from bleeding.”
They wanted to continue the elegant life they enjoyed as shamans forever.
It wouldn’t have been a betrayal for a life where they can’t die but live in pain and shame.
True to this, the traitors soon begged Kim Shinrok to just kill them.
Answering the traitors’ wish for death, Yong Jegun and Cheongryong spoke.
“You changed your mind. I thought you wanted to live a long time? If you want to die though, you have to ask the Dragon King, not Shinrok.”
“Yong Jegun is right. His close friend isn’t strong enough to kill anyone beloved to the Dragon King.”
Kim Shinrok was torturing them just enough for them to want to die but not actually kill them.
Even though not much time had passed since the start of the torture, they quickly confessed what they had done.
But most of the information they gave was already known.
If there’s any information that I could use, it was that the former Shaman Yoohwang was in charge of all contact with ‘that person.’
“I think this will take some time.”
The former Shaman Yoohwang, who holds most of the important information, took more work than the other shamans.
I couldn’t figure out why she was so stubborn even though her pain would only be prolonged.
Thinking that it would take too long, I suggested something.
“Can we see the butterfly?”
“Of course. I’ll accompany you.”
“This body will go too.”
Hwangryong and Hwang Jiho accompanied me to see Nabiryeong’s minion.
In consideration of Hwang Jiho who has to stay within the country’s border, the torture of the shamans was carried out in an area close to the east, and Nabiryeong’s minion seemed to be within the border as well.
While walking in the hallway, Hwangryong asked Hwang Jiho.
“How are things going up there, Hwang Jiho?”
“Many people are sad that Jo Euishin didn’t return yesterday.”
Hwang Jiho gave an answer that had nothing to do with the question.
I don’t think he was asking about that, but the broad-hearted Hwangryong just laughed it off.
Soon enough, Hwang Jiho fortunately began to explain the situation in the Red Lion building.
They safely captured the demons without much damage and obtained the items that they were aiming for.
“The demon priest has a nuisance trick to transfer information even when he’s tied up. We sent a Spiritual Word user from our school to completely block him.”
Avaritia’s priest has moved an “eye” before, so measures have been taken to prevent the same thing from happening.
They struggled, looking for room for information to be leaked, and then he called Gong Cheonghwon to restrict all movements at once.
‘Gong Cheonghwon is getting more and more involved with the Tiger Clan.’
Unlike Hani, Gong Cheonghwon seemed to be feeling something toward the Tiger Clan.
Gong Cheonghwon may have his feelings from when he was Shin-in.
Hwang Jiho was talking about something very important and suddenly switched to something strange.
“The Gram, a weapon of dragon slayer that we got from the ground, will be given to Jo Euishin. There’s no disagreement, right?”
“Of course. I can trust and leave it to the Dragon Clan’s benefactor.”
Why did he decide to give me ownership of such an important mythical weapon without consulting me first?
With Hwangryong’s response, it seems like it’s set.
If it was only Hwang Jiho, I would’ve said “Never mind,” but I couldn’t speak disrespectfully in Hwangryong’s presence.
“We’re here.”
Standing in front of the door, I put on a crow mask and activated my light skill to disguise myself.
When he confirmed that I was ready, Hwangryong summoned clouds and turned one side of the wall into glass.
In the dark, narrow chamber, a butterfly was emitting a faint light.
The butterfly folded its wings and looked this way.
‘It’s been waiting.’
No matter how solid a prison is, Nabiryeong’s butterfly can pass through boundaries even of dreams and reality.
That butterfly still being here is according to her will.
[I’ve been waiting for you. Hwangho, Hwangryong, and…]
Nabiryeong’s minion looked at me before continuing.
[The dark and terrible star, we meet again. I can recognize you even without your mask.]
I’ve only encountered her in Seokcheon Lake once when I wore a crow mask, but what is Nabiryeong talking about?
Is she confusing me for someone else?
[Do you still have something precious to you?]
Nabiryeong said the same thing before.
She recommended that I cooperate with her instead of Hwang Jiho and said,
— That’s weird. Is there something precious to you?
She’s got my identity right.
What on earth does Nabiryeong see me as?
Now she’s called me a dark and terrible star.
Did she find out my alias and the color of my energy waves?
Even so, I didn’t bother to talk because my answer hadn’t changed.
“Don’t be ridiculous. If you don’t have information to offer, you’ll be out.”
[Huhuhu, scary. Well, I’m in a hurry too.]
Hwang Jiho expressed that he would destroy Nabiryeong’s minion.
Nabiryeong briefly explained the self-inflicted situation in which the Black Screen intervened in the Dragon Palace.
The timing or method I can’t understand, but most of them were expected.
At the end of her words, Nabiryeong said something that bothered me.
[That person couldn’t take the Yongsae, but they can still touch it. Without those shamans knowing, this butterfly put a special Jin on it. Its shape and senses will be relayed to that person.]
“That means the conversation we have will also be conveyed.”
[That person is very careful. When he got what he wanted, he broke the Jin.]
Hwangryong’s expression was blurred as he listened to Nabiryeong quietly.
The words lead to the conclusion that the Black Screen would harm the Dragon Clan again.
Now that I know that information on the Yongsae has been leaked, something has to be done.
[He brought the demons to their knees under the pretext of a contract. Thanks to that, the demons who went to the Demon World came back.]
“Your mouth is lighter than last time. What the hell are you doing?”
[Huhuhu, it’s the result of weighing my safety and dreams.]
Nabiryeong seemed to have made up her mind that even if it becomes somewhat dangerous for her, the Black Screen can only be stopped by leaking information.
That’s why she left her minion to contact Hwang Jiho.
‘The hints from Nabiryeong are related to the Demon World scenario. I think the difficulty level will increase even though we still have people who can deal with demons and have set negotiations with the Black Forest.’
It made my head ache, but it was much better than not knowing.
During the exchange, the light emitted by Nabiryeong’s minion weakened.
The Black Screen seemed to be calling her.
If she goes in front of the Black Screen now, there’s a risk that she’d be found to have left her minion in the Dragon Palace.
Nabiryeong pulled out her minion without hesitation.
[Bye now.]
“Stop. I still need to hear—”
Hwang Jiho tried to get information by risking Nabiryeong’s safety, but the minion disappeared without regret.
Support Ex-Rank
