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Chapter 102
Jeok Soya, who had grown ‌‌‌in an instant, clenched her fists as she stared at the woman.
―The problem is the phantoms of the dead. They lure visitors and try to trap them in the swamp.
―Many fall into ‌the ‌‌‌swamp after becoming trapped by these illusions, so you must be careful, little one.
The words the Divine Beasts had spoken moments before echoed through her mind.
'A phantom of the dead....'
This woman before me was already the illusion of someone long deceased.
When Jeok Soya was younger, she had always been curious about this woman, always longed to see her.
But even as ‌‌a child, she could not easily reveal that she missed her mother, fearing it would sadden her family.
So all Jeok Soya could do was secretly embrace the things her mother had left behind beneath her ‌‌‌‌‌blankets before falling asleep.
"Soya?"
Sensing the shift in Jeok Soya's demeanor, the woman offered an awkward smile and reached out her hand toward her.
But Jeok Soya took a step back.
The woman's hand, unable to reach Jeok Soya, fell away.
Looking directly at the woman, who had frozen for a ‌‌moment, Jeok Soya spoke ‌‌in a measured voice.
"The mother who gave birth to me left this world worried about ‌me until the very end."
I knew that the moment I spoke these next words, the phantom before me would vanish.
Now that I understood it was an illusion....
"Why are you like this, my dear.... Did mother make a mistake?"
The woman's worried expression, her eyes drooping sadly as she looked at me.
That expression made Jeok Soya's heart ache with sorrow as well.
If she had truly been alive, would she have worn such an expression looking at ‌me?
The warmth of that ‍‌‌hand stroking my hair and the embrace that held me so ‌‌‌tightly were as comforting and tender as I could remember.
As comforting and tender as everything Jeok Soya had longed for all this time.
Perhaps that is why ‌even this phantom was so heartbreaking.
"So you, who are trying to trap me here...."
Now I will never see you ‌‌‌‌again, not even as ‌‌‌‌a ‌phantom.
Yet knowing this, Jeok Soya still had to speak.
Because....
Father is waiting for me out there.
My greatest love in this world, my most reliable shelter.
Even now, he waits for me while facing the legion of demonic forces pouring down upon him.
"You are not my mother."
In that instant, the woman's eyes trembled greatly, and then....
Splat.
Plop. ‌‌‌Plop plop.
The woman's body melted away into black mud.
As I watched the black mud fall like tears, a violent sound of ‌water reached ‌‌‌my ears. ‌‌‌
Whoooosh―
The black swamp that had risen to the top receded downward, and at last, the hidden view was revealed.
―Baby bird, are you alright!
―Baby bird!
―Baby bird!
The Divine Beasts' voices calling out to ‌me urgently reached my ears.
"Divine Beasts?"
―We kept calling for ‌‌‌you, but received no answer, so we grew worried, baby bird.
It seemed they had worried greatly while I was ensnared by the ‌‌‌‌phantoms of the dead.
Especially seeing how even ‌‌Cheong Hae Yong Sin, who typically expressed emotions far less openly than the other two Divine Beasts, had sought me out with such concern ‌‌‌in his voice.
"Thank you."
Feeling the emptiness in my heart fill once more with warmth, I gazed forward.
A modest palace stood upon the rippling black ‌‌waters that reached ankle-height.
"This place is...."
―The palace of the Hyunmu Clan. You have overcome the phantoms of the dead and arrived here safely.
The Hyun To Underground Palace—a palace hidden beneath the black earth by the water authority passed down to the clan's patriarch.
Unlike the other three great houses, the Hyunmu Clan that rules the Northern Region was formed when multiple tribes gathered to become one.
Among them existed seven dominant tribes, and the strongest of their seven tribal leaders would ‌‌take turns becoming the next patriarch of the Hyunmu Clan.
And this place, the Hyun To Underground Palace, was where that patriarch dwelled.
The Black Tortoise, the Divine Beast ‌‌‌of the Northern Region, bore another name: "the Devourer."
Thus his power constantly sought to consume all living things, and the Hyunmu Clan hid this palace beneath the black earth so that the creatures inhabiting the Northern Lands would not fall under that influence. ‌‌‌
I ‌gazed upon the desolate expanse of the ‌‌‌cold, black palace.
Just ‌as with the ‌world outside, I felt no presence of people whatsoever.
Until merely a decade ago, countless beastfolk had lived upon the Northern Lands.
But when Hyun Rabaek, who had conspired with Evil, summoned forth demonic ‌beasts, the beastfolk were either slaughtered or driven south.
Hyun Rabaek did not stop there—he personally executed the seven tribal beastfolk who ‌‌‌‌had fled to sever his direct bloodline.
According to rumor, among them were even his own wife and child....
'How could he do such a thing.'
To harm even his own child with his own hands, no matter the circumstances.
'Then that child died by the hands of the father who gave them life.' ‌‌
I remembered being consumed with fury at that terrible ‌‌‌‌and horrifying tale.
"But where is Seol Yo.... Seol Yo!"
I looked around searching for Seol Yo, spotted him, and rushed over.
Seol Yo sat blankly on the ground, his beastfolk transformation already undone.
"Seol Yo, are you alright?"
"...."
"Snap out of it!"
I grasped ‌‌‌‌his shoulders and shook him, but Seol Yo remained unresponsive, as though his spirit had fled.
'The phantoms of the dead have seized Seol Yo. If this continues, he will be in danger....'
A chill ran through me.
My face hardened as I glanced downward.
The black swamp that rippled at ankle-height had ‌‌transformed into the shape of a human hand, grasping at Seol Yo's ankle.
Jeok Soya swiftly conjured purifying flames and set the darkness ablaze.
Where the fire touched the black hand, it dissolved into mud and crumbled away.
"...!"
Seol Yo's eyes ‌‌snapped wide as consciousness returned in an instant.
"Seol Yo! Are you alright?"
"Jeok Soya...?"
Seol Yo's face, gazing up at Jeok Soya, was pale with terror as though he had witnessed something dreadful.
Poof!
Trembling, Seol ‌‌‌‌Yo transformed into a small tiger and leaped into Jeok Soya's embrace.
"Jeok Soya...!"
"Seol Yo?"
Seol Yo's body quivered uncontrollably.
"What's wrong, Seol Yo? Did you see something truly frightening?"
"...."
Seol Yo could not answer, squeezing his eyes shut as he burrowed deeper into Jeok Soya's arms.
Fat tears gathered at ‌‌the corners of the tiger cub's ‌‌‌tightly closed eyes.
"It's alright, Seol Yo. Everything you saw was not real. It was merely an illusion conjured by the Marsh of the Dead."
Jeok Soya patted Seol Yo's ‌trembling form, trying to soothe him.
"So there's no need to be afraid."
"...."
Seol Yo lifted his misty gray eyes and looked up at Jeok Soya.
Jeok Soya, who had always been weak to tigers, felt a pang of sympathy at Seol Yo's frightened appearance.
"Seol Yo. If you're scared, I can go alone and you can wait outside. Would you like that?"
"Kyeeing, kyeeing...."
Seol Yo pressed his lips together firmly and shook his head vigorously.
"Alright, alright. Let's go together, Seol Yo."
Jeok Soya gently stroked Seol Yo, watching as ‌the tiger cub gripped his garment with his thick front paws, as if to say he would never let go.
As Seol Yo's trembling gradually subsided, Jeok Soya cast a glance at the black ‌palace looming before them.
Through the desolate and silent air, ‌‌‌‌‌the occasional cries of demonic beasts echoed faintly.
'I must find the Black Tortoise's divine relic within that place. To do that....'
Jeok Soya looked down at the now-calmed Seol Yo and asked.
"Listen, Seol Yo. By any chance...."
* * *
Meanwhile, deep within the underground palace, a pale man with long black hair cascading to his feet sat upon a throne.
"Dochul... ‌‌‌harbors thoughts of betrayal."
With an indifferent expression, he tapped the armrest absently, then tilted his head and murmured.
"It seems he seeks a new master while I am weakened."
The connection with Dochul had ‌‌‌grown murky of late.
He was well aware that Dochul harbored discontent toward him.
"Well, it matters little. A trivial concern."
The man's ‌‌‌‌‌lips curled into a crooked smile.
"Whoever becomes the vessel for Evil—if it means I can topple this world, it matters not."
His purpose was singular and absolute: the annihilation of this realm.
Even ‌‌‌if it meant his own obliteration in the process.
"You share that conviction, don't you, Siyeon?" ‌‌‌‍
In that instant, he turned toward empty air with a gentle smile and ‌‌‌‌posed the question.
Naturally, no answer ‌‌‌‌came, yet his eyes widened further still.
As though he gazed upon something infinitely precious before him.
But the sound of water that followed made his expression stiffen with dread.
His ashen eyes darted downward, their gaze sharpening to a lethal edge.
"...An ‌intruder."
The black waters that had risen to ankle height trembled ‌‌‌in fine, warning ripples.
"How rare—we receive a visitor in the Underground Palace."
* * *
The Underground Palace lay silent and desolate, devoid of living souls, inhabited only by demonic beasts. ‌‌‌‌‌
And into the black palace stepped a single demonic beast whose gait seemed oddly awkward compared to the others.
Between its plush black fur, a small bird poked its head out, its tiny bean-like eyes ‌‌‌surveying the interior of the ‌‌Underground Palace.
At the sound of a passing demonic beast's footsteps, it quickly concealed itself.
This suspicious pair—the small bird and the black demonic beast—were none other than Jeok Soya and Seol Yo.

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