RG 152

“You’re awake? How do you feel?”

“I’m fine.”

Despite the calm reply, the look Song Ji-un received was a mixture of relief and sadness.

It had been five years since the King lost her mind and wandered the mountains after embedding the jewel into her forehead. It was only natural to feel overwhelmed now, seeing her one and only disciple with a clear mind.

Kneeling on the floor in front of the sofa, Song Ji-un asked cautiously, his face on the verge of tears. “Do you… recognize me?” It was the same question he had asked countless times whenever he encountered the King over those five years.

Even when the King, clinging to the faintest shred of sanity, had fled from him, even when she, overwhelmed by the energy from the jewel, had attacked him without recognizing him, he had always called out desperately, screaming that he was her disciple, begging her to recognize him.

That short question carried all the suffering of those years. Noticing it, the King gave a bitter smile. “How could I ever forget you? Even when that damned energy devoured my mind, I could never forget you.” She patted Song Ji-un on the head, then lifted her gaze.

She looked over Cha Seohu, Cha Sahyeon, and Ryu Seonghyeon, who had followed them into the living room, her eyes lingering particularly long on Cha Seohu and Cha Sahyeon.

“Are they guests who came looking for you? All three seem to be Awakened.”

Even though it was obvious the King was wary of them, Cha Seohu just shrugged, while Cha Sahyeon didn’t seem to care at all.

Smiling awkwardly, Song Ji-un glanced between the King and Cha Seohu before speaking. “They helped me a lot.”

Starting with that, Song Ji-un recounted everything that had happened.

When the King heard about how he had first met Cha Seohu and Ryu Seonghyeon, and how Cha Seohu had removed the jewel, she touched her forehead. She could no longer feel the hard, smooth stone that had once been there.

“That was even possible? The power sealed in that jewel was no ordinary thing. It was strong and sinister enough to seize my mind…”

“Well, it worked,” Cha Seohu answered lightly to the confused King.

“…So you’re telling me you’re not a con artist?”

“Con artist?” Seeing the King glare suspiciously at Cha Seohu, Song Ji-un hurriedly explained in his place, flustered. “Of course not. The snow outside melted thanks to Hunter Cha Seohu. He purified it.”

The King, reacting instinctively, looked out the window. Her silver-blue eyes trembled violently. Cha Seohu couldn’t help but be slightly dumbfounded.

‘Seriously? Is it that shocking?’

He thought back to the moment the King had woken up, accusing him of trying to scam her disciple. To think she had genuinely believed he was a conman…

“Anyway, I’d like to hear an explanation.” Cha Seohu waved a hand lightly at Song Ji-un, signaling him not to worry, and then asked the King, “Especially about that jewel embedded in your forehead, and the energy I sensed from it. I want to know everything.”

“And why should I?”

“If you explain, I’ll tell you what I know too.”

Narrowing her eyes with clear displeasure, the King thought for a moment, then sighed. For the first time in a very long while, she spoke her name. “…I am One Who Walks Above Snow and Painting. I was born and raised in another world.”

She spoke of the mysterious hole that suddenly appeared in the sky, the story of being swept away in the process of dealing with it, how she formed a bond with Song Ji-un, and how she had spent years searching for a way to remove the mixed energy from him.

Song Ji-un, listening quietly, couldn’t hide the sadness on his face when he heard about the King going down the mountain for his sake.

On the other hand, Cha Seohu, who had been listening with apparent interest, nodded as if he understood something. “It’s a northern grand duke story.”

“What?”

“Never mind. So, did you find a way?”

The King shook her head. “I met a strange man. He gave me his business card and said he worked at a small research facility.”

“…”

“From the moment I met him, I felt uneasy. I intentionally released a bit of my energy. It’s naturally dangerous, so it was only a little, but ordinary humans would feel fear and run away. However, he wasn’t afraid. That means…”

“He’s not an ordinary man.” While listening quietly with his arms crossed, Cha Seohu pulled something from his inventory and handed it to the King. “Is this business card similar to the one you received?”

The King, upon receiving the card, was immediately struck with shock. “Why do you have this?”

It was the business card Kwon Taehyeok had given to Cha Seohu in the Gwanghwamun incident.

“I’m chasing those bastards. I owe them a lot.” Cha Seohu, who had been standing like a guard beside Cha Sahyeon, gave him a quick glance before continuing, “This is my younger brother. Both of us were kidnapped by those bastards to a research facility where we were subjected to human experimentation. We barely escaped. They’re still chasing us.”

The King’s gaze turned cold. “Human experimentation, huh. Do you know what these bastards’ purpose is?”

“I don’t know exactly. But it can’t be anything good. They already knew you were a powerful being and approached you because of that.”

Though Cha Seohu knew they were actually crazy cultists dreaming of the world’s destruction, he chose to ignore it for now and take a step back.

Ryu Seonghyeon, Song Ji-un, and the King, who Song Ji-un trusted as his teacher—the three of them were reliable, but at the same time, Cha Seohu had history with two of them and had once been manipulated by cultists in a past life.

Now was not the time to reveal everything.

“They’re despicable and vile to the core.” The King, glaring at the words “Nox Bio” on the business card, ground her teeth in anger. “They take their own kind, perform human experimentation, and then try to make me cause chaos in the world. I can’t forgive them.”

The King’s eyes gleamed fiercely, and a cold, intense chill burst from her, sharp enough to pierce the skin. As the energy exploded outward, just before it reached Cha Seohu, Cha Sahyeon quickly stepped forward to block it, and shadows surged from his body as well.

The shadow, rippling and growling as if it were ready to kill the King, was about to explode when Cha Seohu urgently shouted, “Calm down!”

Fortunately, before Cha Sahyeon lost his patience, the energy subsided.

Though it felt like only a moment, in less than two seconds, the living room was covered in frost, and the windows froze over.

“Ugh…” With a pale face, the King touched her forehead and sweated coldly. “I-I’m sorry. I’ve never been this emotional before, but right now, I just can’t control it…”

“It might be a side effect. To be exact, you’ve been in a state of rampage for the past five years,” Cha Seohu said calmly.

It wasn’t exactly comforting, but it was the truth.

Rampaging was a dangerous behavior that involved releasing energy without self-control, which put a huge strain on both the body and the mind. Even a few hours of rampaging could lead to trauma and side effects. How severe must the King’s condition have been after five years of it?

‘Honestly, controlling it this much is impressive.’

Her mental fortitude was truly remarkable. Those frauds who shattered her will were the real danger.

After a few deep breaths, the King turned her gaze to Song Ji-un. “I’m sorry to you as well. I didn’t fix your body; I just caused you harm instead.”

“Why are you saying that, Teacher? I’m fine,” Song Ji-un replied.

“No. This isn’t just about you. This involves your future and your bloodline.” The King clenched her lips anxiously, then suddenly jumped up from her seat. “This isn’t the time. I need to go down immediately.”

“What? Teacher, please wait! I really—”

“If you’re worried about me, don’t be. My mind is clear, and my body has recovered enough. I won’t fall for the same tricks again. You stay here and wait. I’ll find a way to return your condition to normal.”

“Teacher!”

“Vicemaster.”

Song Ji-un grabbed the King in panic, but it was too late to stop her. Cha Seohu had no choice but to ask Ryu Seonghyeon, who was standing by, to do something. 

Without needing further words, Ryu Seonghyeon noticed Cha Seohu’s intentions and quickly erected a tall golden barrier in front of the entrance. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to halt the King’s steps for a moment.

‘Since she’s the guildmaster’s teacher, I have to show her respect.’

That’s why he asked Ryu Seonghyeon instead of Cha Sahyeon. Cha Sahyeon would have likely attacked or bound the King with shadows without hesitation.

As expected, the King stopped in her tracks and scowled at Cha Seohu. “Move it.”

“Why are you so impatient? At least hear us out before you go.”

“If there’s something to say, it can wait. Even if there’s more to say, we’ll talk later. The most pressing issue is something else.” The King was fidgeting in anxiety.

This wasn’t a time to be leisurely. Even if she rushed down the mountain, it was impossible to know how long it would take to find the information they needed. Could her disciple’s remaining bloodline hold on? She had to hold on.

‘Unless… in those five years…’

If that were the case, the King would have committed a horrible sin against her disciple. Just as the anxiety and depression that had tormented her for so long resurfaced, a clear, firm voice sounded in her ear.

“He’s recovered.”

The King, who was about to push the barrier out of her way to leave, froze.

“The mountain keeper has already recovered completely. I purified him.”

“What…?”

“I purified all the energy in the jewel, and the energy you put into his body.”

The King’s face twisted in disbelief. “That’s impossible. If that were possible, why would I have spent so long searching for information? There’s no Support in this country capable of handling my energy…”

“Maybe because not only purification, but also a healing skill to treat the heart is needed?”

“…!”

“The energy of an Awakened one originates from the heart. The mountain keeper, whose energy was mixed with yours, practically had a disease in his heart. Even if the energy is restored with purification skills, the heart wouldn’t be able to withstand it. So, to keep him from dying, a healing skill to restore the heart is also necessary.” 

Cha Seohu slowly began to gather his energy. A brilliant white glow appeared around his body, and large wings made of light spread wide. 

“I can do it.”

He smiled at the King and Song Ji-un, who were staring at him in stunned silence, then began using his divine power skill in earnest. As he did, the frost that had accumulated from the King’s anger and the frozen windows quickly melted away. Warm and refreshing air filled the living room.

Feeling Cha Seohu’s energy, Song Ji-un unconsciously placed a hand on his chest. Before the healing, his chest had been filled with sharp, icy energy. But now, he felt only warm and soft energy—a sensation given to him by Cha Seohu.