Chapter 109
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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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Chapter 109
Jeok Soya listened quietly to the explanation before asking.
"Does that mean the war is ending now?"
"Dool still lives and remnants of the Demon Legion remain. But their power has weakened, so the war should end soon."
"...!"
Jeok Soya's face brightened with radiance.
The thought that my victory over Hyun Rabaek had not been in vain flooded me with relief and an overwhelming sense of emotion.
"My little cotton ball—no, my grown-up cotton ball has accomplished something truly magnificent. You're amazing."
Sayeon spoke while gently stroking Jeok Soya's hair.
Jeok Soya laughed softly, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons.
Sayeon, whose eyes had widened in response to his daughter, took a few more steps before his smile suddenly faded.
"And Soya."
He spoke with a more solemn tone.
"Until now, I told you that your power had to be hidden to protect you from Hyun Rabaek, but that's no longer necessary."
"Ah...."
"If you wish, when I report this matter to His Majesty, I will reveal everything that happened between you and the Divine Beasts."
Sayeon had kept Jeok Soya's abilities carefully concealed all this time.
As a result, even the people of Baek Ho Palace could only vaguely guess at Jeok Soya's extraordinary nature without knowing it clearly.
"But I don't know what kind of reaction the Imperial Palace and the world will show if they learn that you are the bride of the Yellow Dragon. Of course, I will protect you from oppression in any circumstance, but...."
Jeok Soya sensed what Sayeon was worried about.
The bride of the Yellow Dragon.
For a long time, that title had also referred to the consort of the Son of Heaven, so he must be concerned that my future might flow in an unwanted direction because of it.
"But I don't want to hide you against your will just to protect you. So I will follow your decision."
"...."
Jeok Soya fell into thought for a moment.
"I...."
And shortly after, Jeok Soya's lips opened.
* * *
At the same time, the Imperial Palace.
Tae Irim, sitting upon a long throne with an expressionless face while turning through documents, suddenly stopped his hand.
Rising slowly from his seat, he walked toward the window.
Then he slowly lifted his gaze and looked up at the sky.
The sky was clear without a single cloud.
But then the sky suddenly flashed, turning pitch black before brightening again, repeating the cycle.
The startled sounds of palace attendants in confusion reached even this place.
And shortly after.
"...Evil has fled."
Looking at the sky, now clear once more, I murmured as if I had foreseen the situation.
Flicker.
A lonely light settled in my eyes as I gazed toward the northern sky.
He had been standing by the window for quite some time when it happened.
"Your Majesty. Are you unwell?"
His guard found him with an urgent voice.
"An anomaly occurred in the heavens just moments ago. I trust there is nothing troubling you...."
"If you are concerned for my safety, is it not already too late?"
At Tae Irim's retort, the guard lowered his head with a shamefaced expression.
"Do not worry. I am not one to relinquish this life so easily. There remains much I must protect in this lifetime."
Tae Irim turned from the window and made his way back to his seat.
The guard's eyes, still downcast, trembled slightly.
He had spotted a black scale that had fallen where Tae Irim had passed.
"Your Majesty. Your draconic form has not yet fully recovered."
Tae Irim paused for a moment, regarding it with an indifferent gaze before resuming his steps.
"What manner of being do you take me for?"
"...."
"Within these palace walls, you alone concern yourself so deeply with the Yellow Dragon's wellbeing."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head.
Ever since the Dragon God Festival, when he had ventured alone to the Eastern Lands without his guard, the guard had been particularly anxious.
The falling sparks that had adorned that dark night sky were his own creation.
He had manipulated the timing of the Falling Flower Beacon, reverting it to before it had been soaked by water.
The Yellow Dragon—symbol of authority and harmony.
'Time' was one of the few powers granted to the Yellow Dragon, yet it was also one of the fundamental forces that composed this world itself.
Having wielded that forbidden power, he had to pay the appropriate price.
The black scales that fell away, festering with searing pain, were the price he was destined to bear.
The reason he had pushed himself to act so recklessly was because of a promise made long ago with that child.
A promise that once they recovered, they would surely go together to see the spring Festival next time.
That child would not remember, but I could never forget that promise.
At some point, Tae Irim could no longer trust promises that spoke of "next time."
He had broken such promises far too many times, crossing through countless veils of time.
In his memory, the very first promise he had ever broken was that one.
[Do not be sad. I will return soon. And when I return....]
[I wish to take you to the Imperial Palace. If you will permit it.]
That promise to return soon.
That promise to free you from that hellish estate.
Yet in the end, he could not keep that promise.
Because when he had finally tried to go retrieve Jeok Soya.
Jeok Soya was already dead.
* * *
Regrettably, Jeok Soya had to bid farewell to Gaya.
Though Evil had fled and Dool had lost his power, weakening the Demon Legion alongside him, they had not annihilated them all.
Gaya had to remain here to bring the war to its conclusion.
"I'll be back soon, so even if you miss your older brother, you mustn't cry, Softsofty."
"Yes, older brother. I'll wait bravely without crying until you return safely."
"Hmm?"
At Jeok Soya's spirited reply, Gaya raised one eyebrow as if something displeased him.
"That won't do. Even if I tell you not to cry, you should cry."
"What?"
Toward Jeok Soya, who blinked in confusion, he broke into a grin.
"I think I'll cry because I'll miss Softsofty."
"Oh my, older brother isn't even a baby—how could you cry?"
At that playful retort, Jeok Soya burst into bright laughter.
"Hmm. I'm being serious. Softsofty seems to treat my words as a joke."
Gaya, who had been sulking deliberately, soon chuckled and gently stroked Jeok Soya's head.
"I really will be back soon, so I hope you don't grow too much while I'm away."
"Why? Wouldn't it be better if I grew up strong and healthy?"
Jeok Soya tilted his head, unable to understand Gaya's meaning.
"That's something babies don't understand."
"I'm not the baby—you are, older brother. Even if I miss you, I shouldn't cry too much. You understand, right?"
As Jeok Soya giggled and shot back, Gaya replied in a sulky voice.
"I don't care. I'm going to cry. A lot, even."
"That won't do. Then I'll send you plenty of handkerchiefs. You must use them to wipe your tears well."
"Oh. Handkerchiefs from Softsofty, you say? That's not so bad, is it?"
Only then did Gaya drop his deliberately sulky expression and smile gently.
After parting with Gaya in this way.
Jeok Soya, just as when he had arrived, nestled into Sayeon's embrace and returned to Baek Ho Palace.
Jeok Soya's daily life upon returning to Baek Ho Palace resumed its ordinary rhythm.
He ate delicious meals, took walks in the warm sunlight, and studied diligently.
The journey through the Marsh of the Dead and to the Underground Palace felt like nothing more than a dream.
Some demons still remained, and the war was not yet over.
Yet whenever such thoughts arose, Jeok Soya would gaze at the black shield placed in the corner of his chamber.
It was the Black Tortoise Iron Shield that Seol Yo had brought.
'If only I could have awakened Black Tortoise, it would have been better.'
Jeok Soya felt a slight regret, remembering that he had failed to awaken Black Tortoise at the final moment.
"But Divine Beasts..."
As Jeok Soya stared intently at the shield, a sudden thought occurred to him, and he asked the Divine Beasts.
"What became of the Evil that escaped?"
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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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