I Will Go To Rescue Them (2)

Seo Mun-Yu, the finance officer of the Four Sects Alliance’s military, stood before the dauntingly high white steps.

He slowly adjusted his attire, tightening his waist cord and hitching up the drooping hem of his trousers.

“Phew…”

Only after preparing did he slowly begin to climb the steps.

Ttak. Ttak.

The sound of his footsteps on the marble echoed down to the vast plaza below.

Some say the marble staircase simply reveals Jang Ilso’s peculiar tastes: an unnecessary stairway, unnecessary splendor, exactly the ostentatious image of Jang Ilso that everyone knows.

‘They know nothing.’

Anyone who has climbed these steps would never utter such a thing; only those who understand the tension felt when approaching Jang Ilso up these steps would know.

Once one ascends the pure white path, a great hall—too vast to be called merely magnificent—greets the climber.

How could those who only look up from below ever comprehend that overwhelming presence?

“Huuu…”

Another deep sigh escaped him. Whether from the blazing sun or the tension, beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

“I have come to report to the Alliance lord.”

The Red Dogs guarding the hall glared at Seo Mun-Yu with gleaming eyes. These hunting dogs bared their fangs at friend and foe alike at Jang Ilso’s command; even those of the Ten Thousand People Clan found facing them difficult.

The Red Dog’s gaze scanned Seo Mun-Yu from head to toe.

He was nothing but a civilian clerk and could not harm Jang Ilso even if he tried, yet the hounds did not relax in front of him.

“Enter.”

Only after the red hounds opened the doors could he finally enter the hall; a faint incense from an incense burner greeted his nose.

The hall was less a place of business than a venue for audiences. In the barren center sat a large jade throne, and on it Jang Ilso reclined obliquely in a red ceremonial robe embroidered with ornate golden dragons.

This hall was by no means large.

Seo Mun-Yu felt that anew.

The hall that had seemed desolate and vast suddenly felt cramped the moment he saw Jang Ilso; if it had been any smaller, Jang Ilso’s presence would have smothered him.

Though he had escorted Jang Ilso for years, bowing in this way never grew familiar no matter how many times he did it.

Swallowing his dry saliva, Seo Mun-Yu stepped forward cautiously.

It would be less nerve-wracking to crawl forward on his belly, but Jang Ilso did not allow such deferential postures within his sight. So he had no choice but to face him head-on.

“…Alliance lord.”

Jang Ilso, slouched on the throne like a bed, slowly opened his eyes.

When his pale, languid eyes revealed themselves, Seo Mun-Yu shivered as if something had pierced straight through him.

“I-I have a report… the ledger for supply distribution.”

Seo Mun-Yu carefully extended the ledger in his hands.

He resented Ho Ga-Myung’s absence in moments like this. The ledger should have been checked by Ho Ga-Myung without it being presented to Jang Ilso, but because Ho Ga-Myung was away, it had to be brought directly to him.

Jang Ilso’s eyes slowly moved to the ledger in Seo Mun-Yu’s hands. Staring at it, he lifted a hand languidly.

At that, the server, who had been waiting, cautiously brought the large seal from the back. The seal symbolizing the Alliance lord of the Four Sects Alliance was wrapped in a golden dragon carving—more ornate than even an emperor’s seal, it seemed.

“I present it.”

The server held the seal before Jang Ilso’s hand. Jang Ilso nonchalantly took it and tossed it forward toward Seo Mun-Yu.

Clang! Thud!

The precious emblem of the Four Sects Alliance clattered onto the hall floor like a worthless stone. Cold sweat broke out along Seo Mun-Yu’s back as he stared at the fallen seal.

Could he dare to pick that up with his hands? Wasn’t touching it itself an act of sacrilege that could cost him his head?

But Jang Ilso seemed not to care in the slightest and turned over indifferently.

“Stamp it properly and go.”

“Y-Yes…? Yes, Alliance lord!”

Seo Mun-Yu nodded vigorously.

With trembling hands he opened the ledger and carefully picked up the seal from the floor, as if afraid the golden seal might crumble.

After repeatedly wetting his lashes and wiping the sweat from his eyes with his sleeve, he forced himself to stamp the seal.

It’s over. Now he could finally leave this place.

An involuntary, brief sigh of relief escaped him—truly only a moment.

But after a moment, when he raised his head, Seo Mun-Yu saw that Jang Ilso, who had been turned away, had already returned his gaze to him.

A cold chill poured down Seo Mun-Yu’s spine in an instant.

“Hmm.”

The corner of Jang Ilso’s lips, painted blood-red, lifted in a faint smile. With an unreadable expression, he stared intently at Seo Mun-Yu and spoke slowly.

“Come here.”

“…Yes?”

“Bring that here.”

Seo Mun-Yu’s face turned ashen. Jang Ilso smiled a little softer and said,

“Hurry.”

In the end Seo Mun-Yu approached as if bewitched by the man. He cautiously extended the ledger he held; Jang Ilso took it with slow fingers and skimmed it.

“Hmm.”

A faint, oddly amused sound escaped him.

After a moment, with a soft thud he closed the ledger and looked up at Seo Mun-Yu with a smile.

“You don’t understand, do you.”

“…”

“This sort of thing simply doesn’t suit me; even if I look at it, it doesn’t sink into my head. Do you understand what I mean?”

Seo Mun-Yu nodded repeatedly.

“I wonder how Ga-Myung does these things. People of the clerk breed are impossible to fathom.”

His tone was playful and light.

But Seo Mun-Yu shrank even further; Jang Ilso’s eyes fixed on him showed no amusement at all.

“Tell me.”

“W-What should I say…?”

“Is this ledger accurate?”

“I-it is, Alliance lord!”

Seo Mun-Yu, pale as a sheet, began to babble hastily.

Even answering things Jang Ilso hadn’t asked.

“H-How could there be lies in a report presented to the Alliance lord? Not a single number or particle in the ledger is wrong! I’ve verified one by one that the figures in the ledger match the items currently within the Alliance!”

“Hmm?”

“There has been not the slightest negligence! Please believe me.”

Seo Mun-Yu bowed his head almost as if driven into the ground. Seeing this, Jang Ilso let out a strange smile.

“It matches exactly…”

His once-sharp eyes grew languid again. He nodded slowly, appearing bored by everything.

“Then that’s fortunate.”

Seo Mun-Yu’s body sagged as if all strength left it. His clothes were damp with sweat.

“Ga-Myung being absent must have made things hard for you.”

“I am doing my utmost to fill the commander’s position, even if feebly.”

“Good answer. But that alone is not enough.”

“…Yes?”

Jang Ilso smiled faintly.

“What Ga-Myung does isn’t merely balancing ledgers. Those who come into direct contact with me should know better what kind of person I am.”

Seo Mun-Yu looked at Jang Ilso with baffled eyes. Jang Ilso’s gaze drew a soft curve.

“Do you understand what I’m getting at?”

“I-I don’t really…”

“Oh my, oh my. You mustn’t be this ignorant.”

Jang Ilso reached out. His thin, pale fingertips and long nails touched Seo Mun-Yu’s forehead and slowly traced downward, skimming the eyebrow and down to the cheek.

“Remember this: I do not dislike those who try to deceive me.”

“A-Alliance lord. I…”

“What I dislike is…”

A sharp sting.

A sharp pain flared where Jang Ilso’s nail touched his cheek; the nail had pierced his skin. Yet Seo Mun-Yu could not even blink.

“Those who cannot deceive me.”

Jang Ilso’s smile widened grotesquely bright. It was a truly uncanny laugh.

Snap.

The nail sank deeper and deeper. The sensation made Seo Mun-Yu’s mind reel—perhaps not from the pain but from the terror of what he might suffer next.

“Tell me.”

Jang Ilso’s gaze was utter chaos.

Something indecipherable churned relentlessly, never still for a moment.

Merely standing before those eyes tightened his chest.

“What Ga-Myung is up to…”

Jang Ilso’s blood-red lips parted slightly, revealing white teeth.

“What on earth that guy intends by even deceiving me.”

All Seo Mun-Yu could do was nod frantically.

After a moment.

Jang Ilso leaned back on the throne with his chin propped and tapped his temple with his fingertips as if amused.

“To Southern Island?”

“Y-Yes!”

Seo Mun-Yu bowed so low his head nearly touched the floor.

He knew Jang Ilso disliked formal etiquette, but he had no energy to dwell on that; he could only bow desperately and repeatedly.

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso emitted a faint hum and then fell silent for a while.

Seo Mun-Yu dared not guess what was passing through his mind; he couldn’t even attempt it.

“Ha… hahahah.”

A small laugh finally escaped Jang Ilso—part incredulous, part strangely delighted.

“…So this is the scheme you’ve set in motion.”

His voice was noticeably more animated than before.

“Mount Hua’s Sword Saint, is it.”

Seo Mun-Yu swallowed dryly; his throat, parched from tension, felt as if it would tear.

Before Jang Ilso, one had no choice but to reveal everything—everything he knew.

But this was not strictly his fault; after all, had not the time promised by Ho Ga-Myung not yet passed?

And it was not a time to heed Ho Ga-Myung’s instructions. No matter Ho Ga-Myung’s requests and Seo Mun-Yu’s duty to follow the commander’s orders, the fact remained that Ho Ga-Myung had deceived Jang Ilso.

If Ho Ga-Myung himself had delivered this report, Seo Mun-Yu might have avoided wrath. But not now. If Jang Ilso became angry, all that fury would fall squarely on Seo Mun-Yu.

Seo Mun-Yu’s every nerve was fixated on Jang Ilso; he didn’t even notice the old wound on his cheek reopening and bleeding.

But Jang Ilso, as if sinking deep into closed eyes, remained silent for a long time.

How much time had passed like that?

After what felt like an eternity to Seo Mun-Yu, Jang Ilso opened his eyes.

“Ga-Myung…”

His pale pupils gleamed with a strange light.

“You’ve undertaken quite an audacious affair. Amusing, really.”

Surprisingly, there was no anger toward Ho Ga-Myung in his voice—only a peculiar heat, like a child who had found an entertaining toy.

Jang Ilso slowly rose to his feet.

His blood-red robe trailed long across the floor.

“Mount Hua’s Sword Saint… Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.”

Gazing past the prostrate Seo Mun-Yu to some distant place, Jang Ilso laughed softly—a twisted laugh.

“If you’re willing to come out this far, I simply can’t help but welcome you. Right?”

Jang Ilso took a step. Seo Mun-Yu cowered and bowed, but Jang Ilso, as if Seo Mun-Yu meant nothing, strode past him toward the door.

The earlier languor and boredom were gone; each of his steps brimmed with a conqueror’s ferocity.

Bang!

With both hands he flung the doors open, and the waiting red hounds bowed in perfect unison.

Jang Ilso gave an order.

“Summon the Captains. And every Red Dog!”

“Yes, Alliance lord!”

The Red Dogs hurried out. Paying no heed to those who had already departed, Jang Ilso stood at the top of the stairs. Beyond the grand Four Sects Alliance headquarters, the vast land spread out before him.

“Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.”

A chilling curve formed in Jang Ilso’s eyes.

“I’ll indulge your petulance only to this point.”

A world that looked endlessly peaceful.

But Jang Ilso saw clearly.

He saw the sight of flame, red like blood, rising in the far south and spreading to engulf the world.

Once those flames were kindled, they would not die down until they had consumed the world and reduced it to ashes.

Never.