Absolute Regression - Chapter 404



Only Noblemtl

Episode 404 What Made Her Frozen?

“Of all the hyungs I’ve ever met, this is the coolest one I’ve ever seen.”

Whenever I heard something like that, I would just take it as a joke.

“We haven’t met yet. Considering the remaining coolness of my appearance, we’ve only just met. Nice to meet you, Young Master.”

He likes to act like a brat and expresses his feelings honestly, so sometimes he seems like a person with a weak sense of humor.

But no. Chwima is stronger than anyone else. I think he is stronger because he is a person who wavers. Because his wavering is a wavering to find his place.

And he is the loneliest person of all. Whenever I see him, the image of him sitting alone on a boat and drinking alcohol comes to mind.

I looked down at Ian, who was standing next to the carriage, and said:

“My brother said he’d take care of everything. This time, let’s just relax and enjoy the view. Find a place that cooks delicious food. Let’s try everything while we’re here.”

Ian said with a smile.

“First, eat these noodles.”

She came flying up with the noodles.

We sat side by side on the roof of the carriage and ate noodles.

“Huh? It’s delicious? Why is it so delicious?”

Added to the excitement of the horse’s admiration.

“Really? I was surprised too. I thought the head of the Cheonmajeon secretly came and went.”

Ian laughed happily.

“I’ll make it tastier next time.”

So we emptied everything from the roof of the carriage to the soup.

“Okay, now that we’re full, shall we go?”

“I’ll drive the carriage.”

Ian jumped down and sat down on the bench.

“We are departing.”

I was just on the roof of the carriage with my horse. If I had gone inside, there would have been some ugly guys sleeping there. It was cooler and nicer here.

The horse spoke from the moving carriage.

“Maybe this incident at Bukhyeolmun is related to Wonju’s death.”

I nodded. It could have been an isolated incident that happened by chance, or it could not have been. One thing is certain: the Blood King is behind this. The Blood King who is extremely difficult and dangerous to deal with.

“You’ll eventually find out the whole truth. We’ll resolve both the Bukhyeolmun Gate and the Bukhae Ice Palace and then return.”

I added a teasing tone while looking at the horse nodding its head at my words.

“Oh, my mistake. My brother will take care of it and go back.”

The carriage quickly crossed the endless snowy fields towards the North Sea Ice Palace.

* * *

Geommugeuk, Ian, and Chwima went up to the palace with Hanseol’s guidance.

Since the North Sea Ice Palace accepted the deal, I want to formally greet the Ice Palace Lord.

Ian, who was very nervous about his first meeting with the Ice Palace Lord, was amazed at the circular staircase that changed color depending on the light.

“It is truly so beautifully built.”

Unlike her, Geommu-geuk felt a subtle killing intent on these stairs. It was not a killing intent from a human being.

‘It’s an institution.’

It was so transparent that it seemed as if there were no organs anywhere. It was hard to imagine how these beautiful ice walls, stairs, and pillars could possibly protect against intruders.

This is art, not an institution.

That’s why I had a feeling that it would be more dangerous than any organization I’ve ever experienced. Even Ian, who was a master of the Bicheon Sword Technique, had no idea about the existence of this organization.

So the three of them followed Hanseol up to the palace.

“Meet the princess.”

First, Geommugeuk bowed politely.

The Ice Palace Lord also showed courtesy towards the Young Sect Leader.

“Welcome, Young Master.”

Geommu-geuk had met her before in his life before his regression. It was much later than now, though.

At that time, the cold woman was shedding hot tears.

In the face of his daughter’s death.

On the other hand, Binggungju met Geommugeuk for the first time today. It was the moment when he finally met the protagonist who had surprised him endlessly with the reports of the three artists.

The Ice Palace Master carefully observed the gaze and prayer of Geommu Geuk. Did this young man really do all that?

Geommu-geuk did not completely hide himself, but he did not reveal himself excessively either. He reached a state of perfection that was more natural and more perfect than completely hiding himself.

My daughter said she was skeptical about the sword dance. She wanted to wait a little longer and check. I thought that was natural. It was not easy for even myself to read it.

“How is the leader?”

When the Ice Palace Princess asked about her father’s well-being, Geommugeuk smiled and asked back.

“Have you ever met your father?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”

I saw him only once, but he was someone I couldn’t easily forget. Perhaps it was because his eyes were so intense.

“I hope you are doing well.”

“You’ve had a big run this time, haven’t you? I heard you were the one leading the effort.”

The Jeongsa-ma meeting was not held in secret, but was held in Magachon. It is only natural that Binggungju would know about it.

“Now that we have met the princess today, will the princess attend the next meeting? I plan to invite the leader of the Pungcheon sect at that time.”

Although it was unclear whether it was a joke or serious, Binggungju nodded calmly.

“Please call me.”

I answered it as a joke, but Geommugeuk checked it again.

“If the Oza talks are really held, will you attend?”

The leaders of the Jeongsama clan who gathered once are gathering again? And the leader of the Pungcheon clan is there too? Is that even possible?

“Please tell the message.”

“I look forward to that day.”

After exchanging greetings with Geommugeuk, I next greeted Chwima.

“You’ve come a long way, Amazon.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you again.”

“You remember.”

“Of course.”

Chwima met the Ice Palace Princess a long time ago. It was when he was not a demon lord, and she was not a princess either.

At that time, she didn’t feel like this. Now, she feels like an ice statue whose insides are completely unreadable, but at that time, the Ice Palace Princess was a pure woman who looked good in pure white clothes.

What could have frozen her like this? The cold winds of the North Sea? Her difficult life of trying to protect the Ice Palace with her womanly body?

“Time flies so fast, life is so fleeting.”

Binggungju nodded at Chwima’s words.

Finally, Geommu Geuk introduced Ian.

“This is my subordinate.”

The Ice Palace Lord had already been informed that the Sword Master had brought the subordinate who had done this. At first, he couldn’t understand it. Why did he reveal it like this when it was hard to hide it?

“Meet the princess.”

At Ian’s greeting, Binggungju looked at her carefully again.

Was it because her beauty was excessive? Ian attracted the gaze of the Ice Palace Master more than necessary.

“Why did such a beautiful person have such an accident?”

“I’m sorry. I’m still inexperienced, so I’m not good at handling Kang-ho’s affairs.”

Although he had a lot to say, Ian apologized politely. After all, it wasn’t something he had to hold the Ice Palace Lord responsible for.

The person who replaced Ian was Geommugeuk.

“I was as careful as I was inexperienced. I was able to bring back the kidnapped people safely.”

Geommugeuk added, staring intently at Binggungju.

“On the other hand, the experienced and skilled Bukhyeolmun didn’t do that. Why do they treat human life so lightly?”

Then, Geommu-geuk examined the expression on the face of the Ice Palace Lord. Did the Ice Palace Lord know about what was going on at the Bukhyeolmun Gate? He had brought that up on purpose to find out.

“I don’t really understand what you’re saying.”

Just by looking at his expression, he really looked like he didn’t know anything.

“That happened. I’ll tell you more about it later.”

Geommugeuk didn’t pursue it any further. Now was not the time to provoke Binggungju, but to investigate Wonju’s death.

It is just as important to relieve the mind of the drunkard as it is to deal with the Blood King. No, it is more important.

While dealing with the affairs of the horse, the Blood King is dealing with them as a side issue. Even if the North Sea is drowning in blood, Geommu-geuk has decided to deal with this matter with that kind of heart. Evil is trivial, and life is important.

The Ice Palace Lord asked Hanseol.

“Is Prince Yang safe?”

“yes.”

“Bring both princes and guide the three of them to their lodgings.”

“All right.”

The Ice Palace Princess finally spoke to Chwima.

“You want to know about the death of Wonju in Baekjuseolwon?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a shame that he died, but I don’t think we can afford to spend too much time investigating.”

It meant that we didn’t know when the curfew would be issued.

“I will try to hurry as much as possible.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

This is how our first meeting, a silent exploration of the past and present, ended.

* * *

Yang Jung, the second son of the Bukhyeolmun clan, woke up feeling cold.

He was sitting on a chair. He looked around and saw that the walls and pillars were all made of ice.

“Are you awake?”

A woman stood in front of me with her back turned.

“Who are you?”

The woman turned and walked towards him. She was the princess of the North Sea Ice Palace.

“Your Majesty?”

Yang Zhong was surprised when he recognized her. To his surprise, this was the palace of the Bukhae Ice Palace.

“How is your body?”

“It’s okay. But why am I here?”

He received such welcome news.

“We made a deal with the Demonic Cult and took out both princes.”

Yang Zhong’s expression brightened as he realized that he was alive.

“Thank you, Your Majesty! I thought I would die at the hands of that demon.”

Although he was spouting out careless words that didn’t need to be said here, Binggungju’s expression didn’t change.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

Yang Zhong couldn’t understand. Why did he save himself from the Ice Palace?

At that moment, a middle-aged man entered the place. With his sharp eyes like a beast, his square jaw, and his sturdy physique, he was a man who looked strong at first glance.

Yang Zhong’s face hardened as he confirmed who his opponent was. The person who had entered was none other than his father, the Bukhyeolmunju Yang Shin.

The reason he was able to raise the Bukhyeolmun to become one of the three major powers in the North Sea was not only because of his martial arts skills that he had mastered the Bukkwon Twelve Calls. Although he looked like a bear, he was a man with a sharper mind than anyone else and had great ambitions.

“father!”

Even though he knew that he had abandoned him, he was still happy to see his father. Could it be that the ice palace was moved because his father asked him to? If he looked into it, could it be that his father had a grand plan? That hope was fleeting, and Yangshin spoke bluntly.

“I’ll be leaving soon, so go down first.”

Yang Joong felt his heart sink. He hadn’t even asked his son, who had been kidnapped and returned, if he was okay? It was the moment when the glimmer of hope that his father might have saved him disappeared like a bubble.

‘Yes, my father abandoned me. The moment I refused to exchange hostages, that woman could have killed me on the spot.’

Yang Zhong’s heart was filled with a mixture of resentment and hatred. Both Bukhyeolmunju and Binggungju felt what he was feeling, but they pretended not to know.

Yang Joong turned around and came down the ice stairs, leaving his father and the Ice Palace. He glanced up, but he could only vaguely see them standing side by side talking, and he couldn’t hear what they were saying.

‘What on earth are you planning, abandoning your own son? What deal did you make to save me from the demonic cult?’

When Yang Joong came down to the entrance of the palace, there was a man standing there with his back turned. Naturally, he assumed that he was a subordinate and spoke to him.

“Where is the carriage?”

The man didn’t answer and just looked up at the sky.

“Where is the carriage!”

The sparks of intense emotion that had been building up because of my father were flying towards an innocent person.

“Even if I come back alive, it won’t be the same as before, right?”

The moment he heard the voice, Yang Joong was startled. The man who had turned his back and was standing there was none other than Geommu Geuk.

“You promised me that when I opened my eyes, it would be your room, but you didn’t keep that promise. But you did see your father, so it’s okay, right?”

The head of the sheep group said this. I have just been released, so there is no need to provoke the interest again.

But he was a man who lived with his heart rather than his head. He became especially angrier when his father was mentioned.

“I will never forget the humiliation I suffered this time!”

There was this belief in his loud voice. He had made a deal with the Ice Palace, so he would not be caught here.

“Of course it should be like that if you’re unmanned. Be sure to come back next time for revenge.”

I knew you wouldn’t be able to come!

Yang Joong was in a bad mood because he couldn’t shout like that. The only thing he could think of was this.

“Those who are captured will never be released.”

I’m talking about those people that your subordinates kidnapped and tried to save.

“You haven’t heard yet? You killed all those people. You barely saved one person.”

At that moment, Yang Joong felt that the air around him had become as cold as Geommu-geuk’s eyes.

“It would be fair if only one of you survived, right?”

Is that you? Is that your father?

Although he didn’t say anything, Geommugeuk was asking that with his eyes.

I’ve been threatened my entire life, but I’ve never been threatened before. I was being threatened for the first time.

At that time, the Bukhyeolmunju, who had finished talking with the Binggungju, came down there.

He recognized the sword dance and greeted him politely.

“Nice to meet you.”

Yang Zhong was surprised at the polite greeting. Even if he was the leader of the Demonic Cult, wasn’t his father one of the top three people in the North Sea?

The sword dance was held and he received his greetings.

“I have heard of your reputation.”

“It cannot be compared to the Little Leader.”

He seemed to treat me as if I was special, but he was calm as if he was treating someone else. Geommu-geuk knows how difficult this is.

Unlike his son, he is not a man who is swayed by emotions. The moment Geommu-geuk saw him, he knew that he would never hand over his position to this second son.

“We will soon formally welcome the new leader to the main text.”

“I will be waiting.”

The Bukhyeolmunju walked first, and Yangjung followed him.

The sound of the sword dance reached him.

– I guess if only one person survives, it will be your father.

It was a word that poured oil on the flames of hatred toward his father. This word will continue to linger in his mind, causing discomfort and division between the two. The Sword Dance Theater will never make them comfortable.

Yang Joong glared at Geommugeuk with an angry face and then walked away with brisk strides.

Geommugeuk, who had been coldly looking at her back, suddenly spoke.

“Why aren’t you curious?”

Then Hanseol came out from behind the building behind her. She had been there for a while. She wasn’t hiding on purpose, but she just couldn’t find the opportunity to come out.

“What do you mean?”

“Tell me what they are up to.”

“Why do you assume I’m not curious?”

The swordsman looked back at her and asked.

“Are you curious?”

“Of course I’m curious.”

It was a lie. In fact, I wasn’t curious. I thought their intentions were obvious. To become stronger. So, to maintain and expand their hegemony in the North Sea.

Because I thought it was something my mother would have to deal with anyway. She would know everything. I couldn’t plot this in the North Sea without my mother’s knowledge.

But Geommugeuk thought differently.

“This time, I think your mother will really need your help.”