Absolute Regression - Chapter 413



Only Noblemtl

Episode 413: I’m worried about the tea-drinking master!

In conclusion, Hanseol couldn’t refuse.

It was hard enough to persuade even one swordsman, but today he had an assistant. It was Ian.

“As I was looking at his body earlier, I had this thought: If we hadn’t gone to find him, would he still be alive?”

Hanseol felt that Ian was angry about his death.

To be honest, Hanseol hadn’t thought about him once until the moment she heard those words from Ian. No, she had completely forgotten about him.

This is the first time she’s seen me here. Does she really care that much?

If it’s hypocrisy, it starts with this. The fact that he came all the way to the North Sea to save the husband of a woman who had just gotten a glass of water.

“Do you think he died because of us?”

“No, he died because of the man who killed him.”

Ian didn’t blame himself for nothing. He had learned so much from Geommugeuk, so he should show this much wisdom.

“However, I don’t want that death to be a meaningless death.”

At times like this, Ian’s belief that kind people live long is shaken. The dead person also showed kindness by showing it to us.

Ian looked at the swordplay and showed another bit of wisdom.

“Please take revenge.”

Because I felt that he was not an opponent I could handle. At times like this, I only moved as the sword dance told me to.

“Okay.”

After answering willingly, he looked into Ian’s mind as well.

“Things like this leave scars on your heart. It may seem like a small wound because it’s the death of someone you don’t know, but it’s a scar that will last forever. You’ll probably think about it forever. You’ll think about it even if you pass by a brewery.”

The Sword Dance Theater knows that sometimes, these wounds can last longer and torment a person than the major wounds he himself inflicted.

“Don’t try to forget on purpose. That will only deepen the wound.”

“Then what should I do?”

“It’s drawn, and drawn again. Another wound is created on top of that wound, and another one is created. So my heart was originally engraved with this pattern, so I accept it that way. Congratulations on the new pattern that has been created on your heart this time.”

A bright smile appeared on Ian’s lips. The only person in this world who celebrates pain, what more could be said?

“If my heart is like this, I can’t imagine what your heart is like.”

Ian thought about the heart of the swordsman. Was it a strong heart with dozens or hundreds of wounds carved into it, so that it could overcome any situation? Or was it a heart that was made of iron and pure from the beginning, without a single trace of wounds?

“You know how my heart feels, right?”

“Huh? How could I? Ah!”

Ian lowered his head. For a moment he had forgotten that the Swordmaster had called himself the Heart, but then the thought occurred to him.

Hanseol, who was watching the scene, felt a strange feeling.

A leader who blames himself for the death of a person he doesn’t know and consoles him for it.

Before, it seemed fake and deceptive. But now, my feelings toward that relationship have changed. Surprisingly, I’m starting to feel a little jealous.

This time, Hanseol’s gaze turned to Chwima. Now that I think about it, didn’t Chwima say he spilled that blood to save them?

‘Am I too inhuman?’

The three people from the Demonic Cult keep making me think about things I’ve never thought about in my life. I feel these feelings because of them, and not anyone else.

Geommugeuk said to Hanseol.

“Please help us.”

“I said I refuse.”

“There is a reason I cannot refuse.”

“What is the reason?”

After a moment, Geommugeuk said.

“I think their ultimate goal is you or your Majesty.”

Hanseol wasn’t surprised. If it was true that Elder Seo was involved in the conspiracy, it was obvious where the blade would be pointed. But she still couldn’t believe it. He was like family to her since she was little. He’s targeting her mother and me?

“Do you really have any concrete evidence?”

When Hanseol asked again, Geommugeuk answered firmly.

“This time, it became clear that you were framing the Master. Seonak is in cahoots with them.”

Hanseol was silent for a moment. The expressions on Chwima and Ian’s faces seemed to indicate that they completely believed Geommugeuk’s words.

“A person’s heart may become like a diamond, but it can also melt away like sugar. He probably didn’t have such a heart from the beginning.”

Whether the Blood King dug into him and changed his mind, or the Blood King dug into him because he had a change of mind, in the end, he changed.

Although she shouted that she would refuse for no reason, Hanseol knew that this was something she had to step up and handle. The person from the Ice Palace was dead, and the enemy was targeting her and her mother.

But can we really trust these minds?

As this distrust gradually faded, Hanseol became more anxious. She couldn’t let her mind relax.

“There’s something I want you to go out and do.”

“What is it?”

“Please meet the eldest son of the Bukhyeolmun clan. I believe the Bukhyeolmun clan is also involved in this matter.”

Elder Seo, who I treated like my uncle, is joining hands with some kind of power behind the scenes, and the Bukhyeolmun is also part of it?

Hanseol felt her heart sink. If all this was true, then the Ice Palace was in serious danger.

“The Northern Blood Clan Lord and the Western Elder are still too much for the Princess to handle. That’s why you should attack the eldest son of the Northern Blood Clan. He must know something. Whatever it is, you must find out.”

Hanseol didn’t worry any longer. It was a matter of moving and judging.

“Okay, let’s meet him.”

“Show me a taste so cold it will freeze my blood.”

“Yeah.”

As she was about to leave the room, Geommugeuk said.

“Before you go, make sure to meet your mother first.”

Hanseol stopped walking for a moment and left the room without saying a word.

As she left, Ian asked worriedly.

“Can I send the princess out alone?”

“Are you worried?”

“The enemies are formidable.”

“Don’t worry. Why are you worrying about the princess of the Ice Palace in the North Sea? You should worry about our Lady of the Castle who is just drinking tea over there!”

Then Chwima suddenly said.

“Are you planning to go out too?”

The horse’s gaze turned towards the sword dance.

“You plan to focus their attention on her and then deal with her from behind?”

The swordsman said with a smile.

“I’m becoming a genius because I quit drinking! I’m going to quit drinking from now on. It’s a waste of such a good brain.”

“Your head is already soaked in alcohol.”

Ian reproached himself inwardly.

‘I have hair worse than that dirty hair.’

She had no idea that the sword dance was going to be done secretly.

Ian asked the swordmaster.

“What are you going to do when you go out?”

“As you can see from what I just saw, the person behind this is a cheap and ruthless bastard.”

He tried to frame Chwima and killed those who did not know martial arts.

“If they come out like this, we have to deal with them appropriately. We’ll use the method you used.”

“My way? What way?”

“I’m going to kidnap both Elder Seo and the Lord of the North Blood Gate. Once I cut off both of their arms, their torsos will be revealed.”

“Really?”

“Of course I’m joking.”

I really wanted to do that. I didn’t want to kidnap them, I just wanted to get rid of them both.

But that can’t be done. If that were the case, the Blood King would never show up. And he would kill many people in revenge. If you kill two, he’ll kill two hundred people.

“I’m dying to drink. Bring him here!”

Geommugeuk answered Chwima’s words.

“Yeah, once we finish killing all those guys, let’s have a real drinking party. I’ll be a dog that day.”

Ian raised his hand.

“Here’s another dog, extra!”

Geommugeuk made it look like he was sleeping by putting a pillow and clothes on the bed. No one would dare enter this room without permission, but he made it just in case.

“You have to pretend to be here. Then I’ll go.”

“How are you going to get through those people?”

“I asked early.”

No matter how you looked at it, there were numbers guarding the outside that made it difficult to sneak out. Each and every one of them was a master, so they were different from ordinary unmanned personnel who simply watched people.

As he was about to go out, Geommugeuk said to Chwima.

“Oh, hyung. I couldn’t tell you earlier.”

Two gazes filled with kindness and curiosity met in the air.

“It was cool that he covered himself in blood to save those people.”

After saying those words, Geommugeuk went out.

A smile naturally appeared on Chwima’s lips.

Perhaps Geommugeuk knows better than anyone how hard he is working right now.

Someone who appreciates my hard work.

And the person who tells it.

That’s what a sword dance is. That’s what I thought.

‘I really want to have a drink.’

Ian and Chuma watched the sword dance through the window as it left the area. Among the Wind God’s Four Treasures, the Dark Shadow Treasure was activated.

The Dark Shadow is a technique used when sneaking into a place. At first, it can only avoid one person’s eyes, but as the level increases, the number of people it can avoid increases. The Dark Shadow that achieved great success was able to get through the masters who clearly had both eyes open and escape the place.

“What did we just see?”

To Ian’s admiration, Chuma said while drinking tea.

“Ice archery masters who open their eyes and cut off their noses.”

* * *

Hanseol entered the palace.

“Your Majesty.”

When Hanseol visited, Binggungju thought of Geommugeuk’s words.

―I would like to tell you that it is time to look back at your daughter. Fortunately, she seems to be standing behind her for now.

This is the first time the two of them meet alone after hearing those words.

“What’s going on?”

“I came to see you because I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me.”

When Hanseol visited her mother like this, she realized that she didn’t even give her a simple greeting. She always got to the point first.

Naturally, Han Seol also thought of the words from Geommugeuk.

―The problem isn’t whether the relationship between the two of you is distant or close, or cold or warm. The problem is that it’s frozen.

When I actually came here, I realized that that wasn’t the problem.

‘Do I want to break free from that frozen relationship?’

I realized that it was a matter of will. My mother might not want to be in that kind of relationship with me.

Looking at his daughter, whose eyes were filled with many thoughts, Binggungju felt that she was different from usual.

While I was thinking about these things, the conversation continued.

“I plan to meet the eldest son of the Bukhyeolmun clan.”

“Why him?”

“The young sect leader believes that the Bukhyeolmun was involved in this incident. I will check to see if that is true.”

It was a strange yet encouraging experience, as it was the first time my daughter had taken the initiative to investigate something.

“Is this something you want to do?”

As he spoke, the Ice Palace Master realized that his choice of words was wrong. What he had just said was like asking, ‘Are you doing this because the Young Leader told you to?’

“Because I wanted to.”

There was silence for a moment.

-Don’t misunderstand, I was just asking because I had never done anything like that.

-It’s okay. I guess I can’t help but be influenced by the cult leader.

This kind of candid conversation goes on and on.

-I’m sure you can do it.

-Thank you for trusting me.

How nice it would be if such encouragement and gratitude were exchanged, but this is the reality.

“If you touch the North Blood Gate incorrectly, you could run into trouble.”

“Yes, I guess so.”

Silence flows again.

If it were original, Binggungju would have said, ‘It’s still too early.’

But when my daughter came here and said she wanted to do something, it was not easy to say no.

“Do you still want to try?”

“yes.”

Both of them didn’t know until now. Since they had always had conversations like this, they lived without knowing anything strange.

But it was really awkward to open up to the other person and talk while being conscious of each other.

“I will now take my leave.”

Hanseol greeted him and turned around.

As I was walking slowly up the stairs, the Ice Palace Master spoke from behind me.

“Have a cup of tea and go.”

The first one to muster up the courage was Binggungju. Yes, even if she had to turn her head, she had to turn first as she was the mother.

Hanseol was inwardly surprised. When was the last time she sat down with her mother and drank tea? She couldn’t even remember.

“I’ll have a drink when I get back.”

Embarrassed, he refused and the Ice Palace Master did not make any more suggestions. There was no need to feel disappointed, Geommu-geuk said. Even if he looked back again and again, he said that seven or eight times out of ten, he did not even notice that he had looked back.

And this attempt was clearly effective. Hanseol regretted it as she came down the stairs of the palace.

Should I have just had some tea and left?

* * *

match!

Yang Seok, the eldest son of the Bukhyeolmun clan, slapped the concubine on the cheek without mercy.

“I was wrong, Your Majesty!”

Yang Seok, who was walking quickly, almost bumped into Sibi, and the water she was holding spilled, splashing a few drops onto her clothes.

“Am I going to make the princess of the Ice Palace wait because of you? Or should I meet the princess in these wet clothes?”

It wasn’t that the water splashed enough to make a mark. It was just that I was upset that something was blocking my way to meet the princess.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Clap! Crack!

Despite her apology, Yang Seok mercilessly hit her. Sibi’s lips burst and a red handprint appeared on her cheek.

“We don’t have time for this.”

Yang Seok hurriedly left the place at his subordinate’s words.

The only good thing is that he was able to defeat her without any internal energy. The princess of the Ice Palace came to see him, but he couldn’t kill her, so he just left.

After Yang Seok left, a while later.

Someone came back there again. It was Ha-gyeol, the guard of Yang-seok. He was the one who had earlier told me that there was no time.

“Let’s see.”

Ha-gyeol picked her up and examined her wounds. Blood was flowing from the torn wounds on her mouth and cheek.

Ha-gyeol wiped the blood away with his hand.

“I’m fine.”

Although his touch was burdensome, I couldn’t dare to push away Ha-gyeol’s touch. Moreover, if he hadn’t stopped me earlier, I don’t know how much more I would have been beaten.

“Fortunately, it seems like he wasn’t hurt.”

Sibi felt that Ha-gyeol’s hands were really hot. She didn’t know. What changes were happening to her face and eyes right now.

“If you catch Confucius’s eye, you will be in big trouble, so stay in your room today.”

“thank you.”

Shibi, who had returned to her room, looked at her face in admiration.

When I got hit, I thought a lot of blood was flowing out, but after a while, all the blood on my face disappeared.

There wasn’t even a trace of blood left.

‘You just wiped it off with your hand, how could this happen?’

She was so focused on her face that she didn’t see a red circle forming around her neck and then disappearing.

He never knew that his life was no longer his own, that he had given so much for such a small kindness.