The Ruler Of Darkness - Chapter 606



Only Noblemtl

Episode 606

Part 6: Obsession

“Grand Duke Yeon So-hyeon. He has the same power as that hateful demonic cult.”

A cold wind swept through the night garden once again, but this time.

“… … .”

Rather than shrinking, the outcast Hakunhyung straightened his huge body even more.

The old, thin, and small General of the Royal Household standing before him looked like a child standing before a beast like a bear.

The aura of oppression he displayed as an outsider was truly incredible.

but.

“… … .”

The chief of the internal affairs office looked at the head of the external affairs office, Hakunhyung, without even blinking an eye.

That appearance.

It was like seeing a rock that had stood firm in the same place, even after experiencing hundreds of typhoons over hundreds of years.

“Director General of the Household.”

The foreigner Hakunhyung opened his mouth.

“That is. The story about that mysterious being, the Dark Heavenly Venerable?”

I even stopped using the polite language that I used to use.

From now on, it’s serious.

The governor of the foreign country and the governor of the domestic country.

It was a conversation between people of equal rank.

“Yes, Lord Oewon.”

The chief of the internal affairs office nodded, then looked up at the head of the external affairs office, Hakunhyeong, and added.

“You had an inkling of it, didn’t you?”

“That was just a guess. Just like the heads of the sixteen imperial families. The reason was that the movements of Grand Duke Yeon So-hyeon and the movements of the Dark Heavenly Lord overlapped to a degree that was beyond coincidence. However… .”

The gaze of Hakunhyung, the head of the external affairs department, narrowed as he looked down at the head of the internal affairs department.

“It seems that the Chief of Staff is certain that the two are the same person.”

As usual.

The Chief of Staff of Naewon did not share ‘all’ the information, but the Chief of Staff of Naewon understood.

It was the same for the foreigners, as well as for themselves.

The two men were the heads of an organization and the highest-ranking figures in the family aside from the top members of the Supreme Executive Council.

We can’t be honest with each other in every way.

“… I.”

but.

Today, the Chief of Staff was different from the Chief of Staff before.

It had to be different.

The Taesanggaju Yeongeomun, who seemed like he would never wake up, was receiving treatment, and the Demonic Cult was watching from an unseen location.

Because I was trying to grab the last chance.

“Faster than anyone else. Perhaps, the first. I know when the Archduke used that power.”

“the first…?”

He continued speaking before the head of the household, Hakunhyung, could even say anything.

“Last winter, there was an incident where the Luoyang underworld organization called the ‘Black Bone Clan’ was destroyed.”

“…I know that, Chief Inspector.”

Oewonju Hakunhyeong nodded, then shook his head.

“But. The Supreme Council mobilized the head of the inspection department to investigate the Dark Heavenly Lord. There is no more information to come out of there-.”

“-That wasn’t the first time, Lord Oewon.”

“What is that-?”

“-The day when Grand Duke Yeon So-hyeon, in a very unusual manner, chased away all the subordinates of Won Gak-jeong.”

The Chief of the Internal Affairs Bureau spoke, cutting off the questions raised by the Chief of the External Affairs Bureau.

“And that night, when the maid named Jeong-ah was assigned to Won-gak-jeong.”

The Chief of Staff spoke with confidence.

“That night was the first time that the being who later came to be called the Dark Heavenly Lord appeared in Luoyang.”

“… … !”

The head of the household, Hakunhyung, was deeply moved.

That is a fact that many organizations and groups have failed to properly understand until now.

“But, what does that have to do with the Archduke-”

“-That day.”

The Chief of Staff showed that he had nothing to hide, just on this matter.

Unlike his usual self, he didn’t waste time listening to everything the other person had to say.

“After receiving reports of the Archduke’s unusual behavior of chasing away all his subordinates, I contacted the Chief of the Guards who was in charge of the Archduke’s escort at the time.”

The chief secretary continued speaking without pause.

“‘The Grand Duke may go out into the streets of Luoyang at night. Strengthen his guard.’”

“outing…?”

The foreigner Hakunhyung expressed his doubts.

“Wasn’t the Archduke in seclusion at the time? And he’s going out…?”

“When I feel very suffocated. Without anyone knowing. I change my clothes like an ordinary scholar. I walk around the streets of Luoyang at night while hiding my identity.”

“… … .”

“It was an open secret known to the highest levels of the organizations that governed the inside of the main house.”

“I see. So?”

He asked in a slightly more urgent tone.

“So, what happened? The guards said they witnessed the Archduke becoming the Dark Heavenly Lord?”

“no.”

In contrast, the Chief of Staff slowly shook his head and said:

“Far from witnessing such a sight, reports came back that the Archduke did not go out that night.”

“Then, why-?”

“-But.”

The narrowed eyes of the chief of the inner court were directed at Hakunhyeong, the chief of the outer court.

“That night, a strange report arrived from a long-time informant of Naewon who lives in Luoyang.”

The chief of staff continued speaking without hesitation.

“They say that they saw someone who appeared to be Grand Duke Yeon So-hyeon at a nearby inn where the night market was held.”

“… … .”

It just so happened that in this huge city of Luoyang, the Grand Prince was discovered by an informant from the Royal Family.

for a moment.

Hak-un-hyeong, who had been opening his mouth slightly, soon nodded in understanding.

As a foreigner, he is fully aware of what is happening throughout the Central Plains.

If it’s something that happens in Luoyang where the head office of the Royal Secretariat is located,

It would not be an exaggeration to say that I understand it in more detail than anyone else.

“… I see. Grand Duke Yeon So-hyeon was found shaking off his guards and in an inn on the streets of Luoyang at night. However, that alone is not enough-.”

“-The weird part starts here.”

The chief of staff recalled the memories of that day.

With his eyes closed, he put into his mouth the report he had heard.

“At that inn, the Archduke ate all the food that would have been difficult for dozens of men to eat.”

“Dozens…? As usual, this isn’t an exaggeration-?”

“Later, I investigated the inn owner and confirmed the information. According to him, his appearance was like that of a ‘hungry ghost.’”

“crotch….”

The chief of staff sighed softly.

“That was also why the informant of the palace discovered the Archduke. Everyone who was in the inn at that time clearly remembers that scene.”

“but….”

Oewonju Hakunhyung smiled faintly, not fitting the atmosphere.

“It would be hard not to remember if you witnessed such a mysterious glutton.”

“-Oewonju.”

The deep voice of the chief of the inner court interrupted the banter of the chief of the outer court, Hakunhyung.

“According to my own investigation, at that time, everyone who witnessed that scene suffered from fear, terror, and confusion of memory, to varying degrees.”

“… … !”

The eyes of the foreigner Hakunhyung wavered.

“That symptom is…!”

“Yes. Those symptoms are….”

The chief of the general affairs department slowly opened his eyes and nodded.

“All of them, later on. They match the symptoms that those who witnessed the Dark Heavenly Lord or the Demonic Cult commonly suffered from.”

Gulp.

Oewonju Hakunhyeong swallowed dry saliva.

“… … .”

A chill running down his spine must have been creepy.

It wasn’t just because the weather had gotten suddenly colder.

“…but.”

Hak-un-hyeong, the head of the household, shook his head, trying hard to control his emotions.

“That alone doesn’t prove that the Grand Duke is the same person as the Dark Heavenly Lord.”

“-exactly.”

The chief of staff readily admitted it.

“As the exocentric theory says. But that alone is not enough.”

“then-.”

“-so.”

The chief of the royal household said this, hitting the cane that was supporting his body on the floor.

“In order to get closer to the truth of that day, I conducted a full-scale investigation.”

“… … !”

Oewonju Hakunhyeong was slightly thrilled by the obsession displayed by one of the oldest figures in the family.

“But it wasn’t easy.”

The chief of staff continued speaking without even noticing him.

“By the time we recognized the real threat of the Dark Heavenly Lord and began investigating, a considerable amount of time had already passed. The witnesses were showing symptoms of memory loss, both large and small. The pursuit was bound to be even slower. Furthermore, the investigation was conducted outside the sight of the other intelligence organizations of the clan. However… .”

“… So, did you finally find something?”

Short but substantial.

The chief of staff put one word into his mouth.

“Mask.”

“A mask, you say…?”

“exactly.”

The chief of staff nodded.

“The testimonies describing the appearance of the Dark Heavenly Lord are inconsistent in almost every aspect, but on the contrary, there is something that most of them mention in common.”

“They say that the Dark Heavenly Lord is wearing a white mask….”

“Yes. And I found the source of the mask. It was a famous mask craftsman’s family from long ago.”

“Director General Naewon. How can you be so sure of that?”

The foreigner Hakunhyung raised a question.

“According to eyewitness accounts, the mask is white, but there are conflicting accounts about its detailed form.”

“At the mask craftsman’s house, I checked the grave mound where his family, who were apparently slaughtered, were buried together. And that’s where I found this.”

The chief of staff took something out of his bosom and handed it to me.

“A sculpture of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva…?”

The scholar Hakunhyeong of Oewonju examined the sculpture by illuminating it with a lantern.

And soon.

A slurp escaped his lips.

“… This is, without a doubt. It is the work of the Archduke.”

The art of Grand Duke Yeon So-hyeon has been famous since ancient times for its unique level.

furthermore.

The numerous Buddhist statues he carved in the past to honor his mother, the medicine fairy Yaksoyu.

Even today, she can be easily found in shrines honoring her throughout the Central Plains.

“But, this is….”

His hands, which had been turning the piece over and examining it closely, stopped when one part was revealed to the light.

“mask….”

Instead of the face of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, there was a carved mask without eye holes.

“Yes. And after investigating with those who were acquainted with the mask craftsman, it turned out that the mask had a story behind it.”

“And this mask was not found in the mask maker’s house, you say?”

“Yes. It’s been quite some time. That abandoned house was considered to be haunted, so even thieves didn’t bother to touch it after that.”

Amcheonjonja, Yeonsohyeon at that time.

There, they tortured members of the Black Bone Clan who had come to search for those who had lost contact the night before.

and.

It was left as it was, even after time had passed, due to rumors spread by neighbors who vividly remembered the terrible screams and terror outside.

“As a result of the search, the mask alone was not found. However, it was difficult to be certain. Because the house had already been badly damaged by those who had come to collect the debt. They were said to be the ones who had killed the mask craftsman’s family. So, after finding out who they were-”

At this point, it seemed like Hak-un-hyeong, the head of the household, knew what was going to happen next.

“-They were the Black Bone Clan.”

“… That’s right.”

The Naewon General, who had received the sculpture of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva from the Oewonju Hakunhyeong, looked down at the sculpture and continued speaking.

“And not long after, the Black Bone Clan was completely erased by the Dark Heavenly Lord.”

“… … .”

Oewonju Hakunhyeong looked up at the night sky slowly, speechless.

Perhaps because of the clouds, the moon that was shining on the ground was once again hidden.

“…and after that.”

The chief of staff continued speaking in a calm tone.

“I have kept my distance from Grand Duke Yeon So-Hyeon and have been observing his condition. I have even met him with my own eyes to confirm his condition.”

“… It was said in the Valley of Sins during the time when the second prince, Yeonjacheong, and the grand prince were in conflict.”

At that time, that place.

It was a place set up to recover the funds embezzled by the Daeseon Trading Company of the Lee Gongja Yeonjacheong from the Luoyang Sword Family.

“exactly.”

“…so?”

The foreigner, Hakunhyung, asked.

“Director Naewon, you should see for yourself. What was the condition of Grand Duke Yeon So-hyeon at that time?”

The chief of staff answered immediately without even avoiding eye contact.

“He was the same Grand Duke Yeon So-Hyeon that I had known since the past.”

The outsider immediately asked questions.

“Then, since then. Has Grand Duke Yeon So-Hyeon ever displayed any strange behavior? To the point where it should be of great concern?”

“At times, his mental state seemed unstable, but it was not enough to cause great concern.”

“Director General Naewon…”

The foreigner felt suffocated and stepped forward to speak.

“You probably remember better than anyone the words of advice that the Grand Master always gave you. In fact, those words were along the same lines as when the Grand Master confirmed the Grand Duke as his successor.”

“…exactly.”

“Then what the hell are you talking about?!”

Bam.

After enduring for a long time, a voice filled with anger burst out from the mouth of Hak-un-hyeong, the head of the household.

“Even if the Grand Duke is the Dark Heavenly Lord! Even if he wields powers similar to those of the Demonic Cult! Right now, in this situation, why is the Sword Master distancing himself from the Grand Duke?!”

“… … .”

The chief secretary kept his mouth shut.

And a little later.

The chief of the royal household, who had been looking up at the dark sky with eyes that could not be read until the end, slowly opened his mouth.

“that….”

And then,

A third person’s voice was heard.

“I think it would be best to hear that story from him himself, Lord Oewon.”

“… … !”

“… … !”

The head of the external affairs department, Hakunhyung, and the head of the internal affairs department looked in the direction where the voice came from almost simultaneously.

Thud, thud.

Soon, with the sound of brisk footsteps.

The two could see the face of the figure that had entered the dim light of the lamp.

“… … .”

“… Your Highness.”

Yeon So-hyeon smiled at them.

“The weather has gotten a lot colder. I guess it’s fall.”