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Chapter 100
"An intruder."
The moment Gaya pressed down on Seol Yo's body, radiating a chilling killing intent.
Boom!
Seol Yo's form shifted into that of a massive black ‌‌‌wolf.
"Grrrrrowl...!"
At the sight of Seol Yo baring sharp fangs and snarling toward Gaya, Jeok Soya cried out in alarm.
"Seol Yo, stop!"
At those words, both Gaya and Seol Yo froze instantly.
When Jeok Soya rushed toward them and extended her arms to Seol Yo, he swiftly transformed into a small tiger cub and bounded into her embrace.
"Seol Yo, why ‌‌‌‌did you follow me here?"
I had deliberately brought no one along, fearing the danger.
Yet somehow he had managed to track me all the way here—Jeok Soya couldn't fathom it.
"Because I'm the warrior who protects you!"
The tiger cub that was Seol Yo declared this from within Jeok Soya's arms.
At his boldness, Gaya raised one eyebrow and questioned him.
"This suspicious creature is the warrior protecting Fluffy?"
"Yes! I'm Jeok Soya's warrior! The big tiger and San Ho said so!"
Seol Yo pointed at Sayeon with his front paw, who was pressing his forehead with one hand and letting out a deep sigh.
"I thought he had grit, but I never expected him to follow so seamlessly."
Sayeon shook his head in disbelief.
To deceive even a Baekho humanoid with such heightened senses and track us here—it was astounding.
"But what exactly is this creature?"
Gaya muttered, eyeing Seol Yo with deep suspicion.
"Not a bird humanoid. Not a wolf humanoid. Not a tiger humanoid."
"I am...!"
Seol Yo couldn't answer readily and closed his mouth. ‌
He himself did not know what he was.
And it was a question he had carried alone in his heart for years now.
Seol Yo's ears and tail drooped sadly.
"Seol Yo is just Seol Yo."
Jeok Soya hugged Seol Yo's body tightly and spoke to Gaya.
For a moment, Seol Yo's ashen eyes trembled faintly.
"Hm?"
"Y-yes, that's right. ‌‌‌I'm just Seol Yo."
Seol Yo nodded quickly in agreement.
Then Gaya, who had been watching Seol Yo with lingering suspicion, let out a soft chuckle and nodded. ‌‌‌
"Well, if that's what Fluffy says, then that's how it is."
He lowered his head toward Seol Yo and gently stroked the tiger cub's head.
"Just Seol Yo. You have teeth, so you'd better protect our Fluffy well. Understood?"
"Growl?"
At those words, Seol Yo bared his teeth and let out a low growl.
Jeok Soya burst into laughter.
* * *
Two days later. The Demon Army extermination campaign.
Jeok Soya and Seol ‌‌Yo each transformed into small birds and hid themselves within ‌‌‌Sayeon's garments.
Sayeon gazed quietly ‌‌upon the Northern Black Lands.
Scattered corpses of demons lay strewn across the desolate expanse.
It was a sight he would have preferred not to show his young daughter.
Beyond those black lands lay deeper territories—the Hyun To Underground Palace, known as the Marsh of the Dead—which they had to reach.
To get there, they would have to break ‌‌through Dool's Demon Army.
As a thunderous war cry echoed across the battlefield, Jeok Soya cautiously poked her head out.
Demons were surging toward them in overwhelming numbers.
Their sheer ‌‌multitude made them ‌‌appear from a distance like a solid black barrier, and Jeok Soya swallowed hard at the sight.
With someone's charge, the battle commenced.
From all directions came the sound of steel cleaving through air, the spray of blood and flesh, and the anguished cries of demons.
Watching the carnage unfold, Jeok Soya unconsciously clenched her beak.
While I was enjoying delicious meals ‌‌‌‌and warm beds at Baek Ho Palace.
The people here had been enduring in this ‌‌‌place for all this time.
Sacrificing their ‌own peace to protect the ‌‌continent's peace.
At that realization, Jeok Soya's heart burned with warmth.
'I want to help these people too. But...'
For now, Jeok Soya had snuck ‌‌‌‌here in ‌secret and could not reveal herself.
There was only one thing she could do for them.
'I must awaken Black Tortoise and defeat Evil to end ‌this war.'
They said that no ‌‌matter how many demons were ‌‌‌slain, they kept ‌‌‌coming endlessly because of Dool, the ferocious beast leading the Demon Army.
If Evil lost its power, then naturally the ferocious beast would also lose its strength, following its master.
For that very reason, Jeok Soya had to break through those demons and reach the Marsh of the Dead.
In the fierce battlefield, ‌‌Sayeon cut down demons with unparalleled strength and elegance.
Though he possessed the Baekho Family's unique ability of 'Steel,' he drew his sword to slay his enemies rather than annihilate them with his bare hands—a consideration for Jeok Soya and Seol Yo hidden within his bosom.
If he had slaughtered them with ‌‌‌‌his bare hands and demon blood splattered, the children would surely be startled.
His blade traced clean arcs as it cut through the demons.
With each stroke he ‌‌‌made, demons fell like autumn leaves drifting to the ground.
Some soldiers even stood mesmerized, watching his prowess unfold.
"Truly, there's no need for cover at this rate."
Gaya chuckled beside him as he cleared away demons, and when his eyes met Jeok Soya's, he winked with one eye.
Sayeon pursued the demons deeper into the territory, then subtly altered his direction.
The sounds of ‌‌‌demon cries and ‌‌‌clashing blades from the battlefield grew distant, and a ‌‌profound silence descended.
Jeok Soya and Seol Yo ‌‌‌burst ‌‌‌forth from within Sayeon's garments.
He settled the two small birds upon his shoulders and began to venture deeper, searching for the Marsh of the Dead.
Boom!
The earth trembled as a demon beast clad in black armor materialized before me.
"Halt, Baek Sayeon."
A voice rough as grinding metal descended low and heavy.
"...Demon Army Commander, Dool."
My eyes narrowed as I recognized Dool, the ferocious beast leading the Demon Army of the Northern Lands.
"You cannot proceed any further."
Dool ‌‌‌‌leveled his blade toward me.
Noxious smoke coiled lazily from the dark ‌‌sword's edge.
"...."
Rather than draw my own blade, I assessed the situation with ‌‌‍a cold gaze.
Dool's ability was to tear through space with that infernal sword and summon demon beasts. ‌‌‌
The moment Dool moved, our path would be ‌sealed.
Then what I must do in this moment is....
"Cotton ball. Do you trust your father?"
I asked Jeok Soya, who sat tensely on my shoulder, in a low voice.
"Father...?"
"Seol Yo! Take ‌‌Soya and flee at once!"
With my cry, Seol Yo transformed into a massive wolf, seized Soya in his jaws, and bolted deeper inside.
"Father!"
I flashed a grin at Soya's startled cry.
"Your father will hold this line, so be careful on your way, little cotton ball." ‌
"You cannot ‌‌‌‌go any deeper!"
Dool, belatedly grasping the situation, swung his blade and tore open ‌‌space.
From the ‌‌rift he created, demon beasts poured forth, blocking the path of Soya and Seol Yo.
"Kiiieeeek...!"
"Gwaaaagh...!" ‌‌
As Seol Yo faltered for an instant before the sudden deluge of demons.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrgh―!
The earth convulsed as a massive white tiger, pristine as fresh snow, materialized and descended upon the demon beasts.
The demons blocking Soya and Seol Yo's path were torn to unrecognizable shreds in an instant.
'Father...!'
Soya was momentarily entranced by the sight of my beast form, which she beheld for the first time.
Seol Yo, recovering his wits ‌‌‌first, seized Soya once more and resumed his desperate flight.
Seol Yo ran deeper and deeper, onward without pause.
Tap, tap. Tap. Tap-tap.
Only the urgent rhythm of ‌Seol Yo's footfalls echoed through the silent expanse.
At last, Seol Yo's steps came to ‌‌a halt.
As Seol Yo set down the small bird he had carried, Soya released ‌‌‌‌her beast form and stood before the marsh.
"This is... the Marsh of the Dead."
A vast black marsh sprawled before their eyes.
Jeok Soya gazed at the water's surface, where dark bubbles ‌‌‌‌rose in a gentle, rhythmic pattern.
Perhaps because of its name—the Marsh of the Dead—she ‌‌‌‌felt ‌‌‌a chill creep through her.
"There are stairs here, Soya!"
Seol Yo had discovered the staircase.
Stone steps carved with the images of a tortoise and a serpent descended beneath the black marsh.
―If you follow these stairs down, you'll find the Hyunmu Clan's palace beneath that marsh, child.
The Divine Beast's voice resonated in her mind.
"Beneath the marsh?" ‌
―Yes. This marsh is ultimately an illusion, so breathing poses no problem. The true danger lies in the phantoms of the dead. They ‌‌seek to ensnare visitors and trap them within the marsh.
―Many have been caught in these illusions and drowned in the marsh, so you must be cautious, little fledgling.
Jeok Soya took a shallow breath and positioned herself before the stairs.
"Seol Yoya, let's go."
"Okay!"
As she descended one step, the black water engulfed ‌‌her feet.
Though she knew the rippling black water was merely illusion, an eerie sensation still gripped her.
Yet Jeok Soya grasped the railing firmly and descended, step by step, deeper and ‌‌‌deeper.
Her body gradually sank ‌‌‌‌further into the depths.
Past her ankles and calves, ‌beyond her knees, the ‌‌‌black marsh slowly swallowed her until it reached her neck.
One more step, and her face would be submerged entirely.
Jeok Soya felt a sudden surge of fear.
In that very ‌‌‌moment when doubt began to bloom within her heart.
She recalled the fierce battlefield she had witnessed moments before.
Thinking of those who had forsaken their own peace for the continent's sake, standing ‌‌‌against the endless tide of demons—courage suddenly bloomed within Jeok Soya.
'It's alright. I can do this.'
Her grip on the railing tightened with resolve.
'I will bring them all home.'
Just as everyone at Baek Ho Palace awaited Gaya's return, these soldiers surely had families waiting for them as well.
She understood the heart of those who wait for family better than anyone.
And so Jeok Soya found her courage.
'Besides, Father stands guard behind me.'
At last, she descended one step further, and the marsh swallowed her completely, covering even her head.
Glug. Glug.
The sound of air bubbles whispered past her ears.

---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy ‌‌the ‌‌‌‌latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------