Episode 1342. I’m going to save you. (2)
Seo Mun-yu, the finance officer of the Military Department of the Sapae-ryeon, was standing in front of a long white staircase.
He slowly adjusted his uniform. I tightened my waist strap and lifted up the loose hem of my pants.
“Whoa…”
Only after getting ready did I slowly climb the stairs.
Sigh. Sigh.
The sound of footsteps on marble echoed throughout the large square below.
Some say that the existence of this marble staircase is the result of Jang Il-so’s bad taste being revealed. Stairs that are not necessary. Extravagance that is not necessary. It is exactly like the noisy Jang Il-so known to the public.
‘Those who don’t know anything.’
Anyone who has climbed these stairs in person would not be able to describe something like that. Anyone who understands how nervous I must feel every time I go up these stairs to face Jang Il-so.
After climbing up the white single path, a huge Daejeon, so grand that it is not enough, greets those who climb the stairs.
How can those who only watch from below understand the overwhelming feeling?
“Whoa…”
A deep sigh escaped me once again. Sweat was beading on his forehead, perhaps because of the scorching sun or nervousness.
“I’ve come to report to you.”
The red dogs guarding the front of Daejeon glared at Seo Mun-yu with shining eyes. In Jang Il-so’s name, hunting dogs show their fangs regardless of friend or foe. Facing them was not easy, even for members of the same Maninbang.
Hong Gyeon’s eyes scanned Seo Mun-yu’s whole body.
Since he was just a civil servant, no matter what they did, they would not be able to put even a scratch on Jang Il-so’s body, but even so, they did not relax against Seo Mun-yu.
“Go in.”
It was only after the Hong dogs opened the door that I was finally able to complete the long process and enter Daejeon. The faint scent coming from the incense burner reached my nose.
Daejeon is simply a place for audience rather than a place to conduct business. There is a large throne in the center of this desolate space. And there, lying at an angle, was Jang Il-so, dressed in a red long robe embroidered with a gorgeous golden dragon.
This battle is by no means a big one.
Seo Mun-yu realized it once again.
Daejeon, which seemed desolately large, actually felt narrow the moment you saw Jang Il-so. If Daejeon were smaller than it is now, Jang Il-so’s presence would have made it difficult to breathe.
He had been taking care of Jang Il-so for several years already, but no matter how many times he repeated this, he could not get used to it.
Seo Mun-yu swallowed dry saliva and carefully walked forward.
I think it would be less stressful if I approached him with my body bent and prostrate, but Jang Il-so did not allow me to be rude in the area where his gaze rested. So I had no choice but to face it head on like this.
“⋯⋯Ryeonju.”
Jang Il-so, who was lying diagonally on a bed-like throne, slowly opened his eyes.
As soon as the pale eyes that looked drowsy and bored were revealed, Seo Mun-yu shivered at the feeling as if something was piercing him.
“Reporting… “It is a ledger of supply and demand of materials.”
Seo Mun-yu carefully held out the ledger in his hand.
At times like this, I felt resentful of Hu Jia-myeong, who was absent. Originally, this ledger had to be confirmed at the line of the household name without the need to go to Jang Il-so. However, Ho Ji-myeong was away and Jang Il-so had no choice but to do it himself.
Jang Il-so’s eyes slowly moved and landed on the ledger in Seo Mun-yu’s hand. Jang Il-so, who was looking at the ledger, slowly raised his hand.
Then, the waiting civil servant came carrying the large seal that had been carefully placed behind him. A dragon carved in gold was wrapped around the outside of the seal, symbolizing the chain of Sapae-ryeon. The emperor’s royal seal seemed to be less extravagant than this.
“Colonel.”
The Sibi held out the seal he was holding right in front of Jang Il-so’s hand. Then he lifted the seal with an indifferent hand and threw it in front of Seo Mun-yu.
Empty! Teuong!
The priceless treasure that symbolizes the Sa-Pae-Ryun rolled on the floor of the civil war hall like a handful of worthless stones. Cold sweat broke out on Seo Mun-yu’s back as he looked at the seal that had fallen in front of him.
Would I dare to hold that with my hand? Isn’t that in itself a blasphemous thing and something I have nothing to say even if I’m thirsty?
But Jang Il-so calmly turned around and lay down, as if that had nothing to do with it.
“I’ll just take some pictures and cover them up.”
“Yes…? Yes, Lord Ryeon!”
Seo Mun-yu nodded vigorously.
He opened the ledger with trembling hands and carefully grabbed the seal that had fallen on the floor. Like a person who is afraid that a golden seal will break.
Only after continuously wetting my eyelashes and wiping the sweat that got into my eyes with my sleeve did I apply the seal with great difficulty.
It’s over. I can barely get out of here now.
Without realizing it, a short sigh of relief escaped me. It was really just a sigh that lasted only a moment.
But after a while, Seo Mun-yu looked up and saw. Jang Il-so, who had been lying with his back to him, had suddenly returned to him.
At that moment, a cold chill poured down Seo Mun-yu’s back.
“hmm.”
The corners of Jang Il-so’s lips, painted blood-red, slightly turned up. Jang Il-so, who was staring at Seo Mun-yu with an expression whose meaning he could not guess, spoke slowly.
“This way.”
“⋯⋯Yes?”
“Bring that here.”
Seo Mun-yu’s face suddenly turned pale. Jang Il-so smiled a little more softly and said.
“hurry.”
In the end, Seo Mun-yu approached Jang Il-so as if he were possessed. Jang Il-so carefully held out the ledger he was holding and slowly took it with his hands and looked through it.
“Hmm.”
A strange sound of laughter escaped.
After a while, Jang Il-so closed the ledger with a thud and smiled as he faced Seo Mun-yu.
“I don’t know.”
“⋯⋯.”
“This is because it doesn’t suit my spiritual aptitude. Even if you look at it, it doesn’t get into your head. Do you understand what I mean?”
Seo Mun-yu nodded repeatedly.
“How on earth does this guy with a pseudonym do something like this? “I don’t know anything about the Munsa tribe.”
It was a playful tone and a light voice.
But Seo Mun-yu actually shrank more. Because Jang Il-so’s eyes staring at him were not smiling at all.
“Tell me.”
“What… do you mean…?”
“Is this ledger accurate?”
“Of course, Lord Ryeon!”
Seo Mun-yu turned pale and hurriedly picked it up and started serving it.
Even about things that Jang Il-so didn’t even ask about.
“How can there be lies in the report I give to you? Not a single number in the ledger or token is wrong! “We have also carefully checked whether the numbers written in the ledger and the number of items currently in the kit match exactly!”
“Hmm?”
“Not a single bit was neglected! Please believe me.”
Seo Mun-yu lowered his head as if he was almost stabbed. Jang Il-so, who saw this, let out a strange laugh.
“It fits exactly…”
Jang Il-so’s sharp eyes became drowsy again. He nodded slowly, looking like he was bothered by everything.
“Then that’s a relief.”
The strength in Seo Mun-yu’s body suddenly disappeared. Before he knew it, his clothes were damp with sweat.
“You must be having a hard time because your pseudonym is away.”
“We are doing our best to fill the military positions, even if only in a small way.”
“That’s a good answer. But that alone is not enough.”
“⋯⋯Yes?”
Jang Il-so smiled.
“The job of a pseudonym is not simply to keep the ledgers together. “Those who come into direct contact with me should know better what kind of person I am.”
Seo Mun-yu looked at Jang Il-so with incomprehensible eyes. Then Jang Il-so’s eyes draw a soft arc.
“Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
“I’m fine…”
“Oh dear. “It’s okay if you don’t know.”
Jang Il-so stretched out his hand. The long, thin, white fingernails touch Seo Mun-yu’s forehead and then slowly move down. Grazing the tip of the eyebrow and reaching the cheek.
“Just know. “I don’t hate anyone who tries to deceive me.”
“Lord Ryeo. “I…”
“What I don’t like is…”
Stinging.
A sharp pain was felt on the cheek where Jang Il-so’s nails touched. My fingernails dug into his skin. But Seo Mun-yu couldn’t even blink.
“These are the things that cannot fool me.”
The corners of Jang Il-so’s mouth widened to the point of being grotesquely bright. It was truly a funny laugh.
Fighting.
Nails gradually become deeper. That feeling made Seo Mun-yu’s mind infinitely confused. No, it may not be the pain that is taking his mind, but the fear of what he will have to go through in the future.
“Tell me.”
Jang Il-so’s eyes were chaos itself.
Something that cannot be interpreted continues to boil over. It is changing without stopping even for a moment.
Just looking at those eyes in front of me made my heart tighten.
“I wonder what the pseudonym is doing…”
Jang Il-so’s blood-red lips slightly parted, revealing his pure white teeth.
“What on earth is that kid trying to do by deceiving me?”
All Seo Mun-yu could do was nod frantically.
After a while.
Jang Il-so, who was leaning on the throne with his chin resting, tapped his temple with his fingertips as if he was interested.
“In Haenam?”
“That’s right!”
Seo Mun-yu bowed so hard that his head almost hit the floor.
I knew that Jang Il-so hated Gwa-rye, but I didn’t even have the energy to think about it and think about it right now. I can only desperately bow down and bow down again.
“Hmm.”
Jang Il-so, who made a faint nasal noise, remained silent for a while.
Seo Mun-yu did not dare to guess what was inside. No, I couldn’t even try to guess.
“Ha… hahahaha.”
Soon, a small laugh escaped Jang Il-so’s mouth. Even though it seemed absurd, it also seemed like he was infinitely happy.
“⋯⋯I was wondering what you were doing.”
Jang Il-so’s voice was clearly more excited than before.
“It’s called the Volcanic Swords Association.”
Seo Mun-yu swallowed dry saliva. My throat, dry from tension, felt like it was being torn apart.
I had no choice but to reveal everything in front of Jang Il-so. Everything he knows.
But this cannot be said to be his fault. Hasn’t the time that the household name promised in the first place passed?
And it was not a situation to worry about instructions for household names. No matter how much Hu Ga-myeong was instructed and that Seo Mun-yu was in a position to follow the military’s orders, it is true that Ho Ga-myeong deceived Jang Il-so.
If the person who posted all these reports was Ho Ga-myeong himself, Seo Mun-yu Man might have been able to avoid the anger. But not now. If Jang Il-so is angry, all of that anger will be poured out on Seo Mun-yu, who is here.
All of Seo Mun-yu’s attention was focused on Jang Il-so. I didn’t even notice that the once dried wound on my cheek had reopened and blood was flowing.
However, Jang Il-so remained silent for a long time, as if he had already closed his eyes and settled down somewhere deep.
How much time has passed?
After what felt like eons to Seo Mun-yu, Jang Il-so opened his eyes.
“The pseudonym is…”
The light-colored eyes glowed with a strange light.
“You did something quite presumptuous. “Funny enough.”
Surprisingly, his voice did not contain any anger towards Hu Jiaming. There is just a strange excitement, like a child who has found something fun to play.
Jang Il-so slowly stood up.
His blood-red long sleeves hung down to the floor.
“Volcanic Swordsman Association… “Hwasan Sword Association.”
Jang Il-so, who was looking somewhere in the distance beyond the prone Seo Mun-yu, laughed quietly. It was a somewhat twisted laugh.
“If you come out like this, there’s no way I won’t welcome you. huh?”
Jang Il-so took a step forward. Seo Mun-yu bowed his head in horror, but Jang Il-so passed him by and headed for the door as if he didn’t care about Seo Mun-yu.
The boredom and drowsiness that was visible just a moment ago seems to have been washed away. Every step he took was full of defeat.
bang!
He opened the door with both hands at once, and the waiting dogs lowered their heads in unison.
Jang Il-so ordered.
“Call the owners. Even all the red dogs!”
“Yes, Lord Ryeon!”
The red dogs ran out quickly. Jang Il-so, not even paying attention to those who had already departed, stood at the top of the stairs. Beyond the magnificent Sapaeryeon headquarters, the wide-spreading land came into view at a glance.
“Hwasan Sword Association.”
Jang Il-so’s eyes drew an eerie line.
“This is the end of accepting foolish behavior.”
A world that appears infinitely peaceful.
But it was clearly visible in Jang Il-so’s eyes.
The sight of blood-red flames rising from the far south covering the world.
Once the flame has lit up, it will not be extinguished until it engulfs the entire world and turns it into ashes.
never.
