Trap (1)
Hall of Planes, the Chamber of Summoning.
Beneath the vaulted ceiling shrouded in a grayish hue, a rectangular altar stood solitary at the center of the room.
On this ashen altar sat a beautiful seraph, motionless except for the occasional gentle flutter of her pristine white wings. Her eyes were closed, her face steeped in a sorrow that seemed to be swallowed by the surrounding silence.
“Why… why now…?”
Suddenly, her closed eyes snapped open, revealing jade-colored irises that trembled with a hint of distress. She seemed deeply unsettled, unable to finish her sentences as her wings began to flutter more vigorously, her voice tinged with an unmistakable worry.
“No… it’s too soon…”
Realizing she was powerless to change anything, a fleeting expression of resignation crossed the angel’s face.
“Suhyeon…”
A name slipped from her lips, filled with a yearning that was palpable even though she knew it would not be heard. Despite the futility, her voice carried a desperate longing.
The seraph closed her eyes once more, clasping her hands together as she spoke in a serene voice.
“Please, make the right choice…”
It was a moment of life and death.
In that instant, just before ‘Victoria’s Glory’ clashed with the dragon, everything came to a halt.
Thump, thump. Thump, thump.
The sound of my heartbeat echoed louder than ever.
‘That voice just now… it was…’
I felt a surge of power explode from within my heart just before the clash, but what happened next was beyond my control.
Time seemed to have stopped. A voice, unfamiliar yet not entirely strange, resonated within me, and my heart pounded fiercely.
Overwhelmed by the chaos, I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart. Once I had steadied myself, I opened my eyes again, finally able to grasp the situation.
“Ah…”
Time hadn’t stopped. It was just an illusion. From the moment I heard that voice, time had been flowing continuously. The only thing that had halted was the dragon’s fiery breath, frozen mid-flight.
Ding!
The voice echoed in my mind again, and before I could respond, a message window appeared in the air before me.
『Awakening of Hwajeong, Stage 1, Area Declared - “By the ancient decree.” begins.』
‘Hwajeong? Awakening?’
Reading the message left me puzzled. The awakening of Hwajeong had occurred without any warning or sign. As I stood there, trying to make sense of it all, I licked my lips nervously.
Is this… Hwajeong’s voice?
What’s going on? Why are you suddenly here now?
Though intrigued by Hwajeong’s sudden appearance, I pushed my curiosity aside. I needed to understand ‘why’ this was happening.
But Hwajeong’s response was far from what I expected.
Not much time left?
…What should I do?
I quickly adjusted my thinking in response to Hwajeong’s words. It wasn’t the time for idle conversation, and I didn’t want to waste time when it was running out. Sensing my urgency, Hwajeong’s presence swirled within me.
Do what I want?
Her repeated use of “fool” was grating, but I kept my focus on the scene ahead. The dragon-shaped flames still crackled, dropping embers.
‘Do what I want.’
I had been ready to strike with ‘Victoria’s Glory’ in my right hand, but I slowly lowered it. Instead, I opened my empty left hand and extended it toward the dragon’s flames. The heat no longer bothered me.
If I tell it to disappear, will it vanish?
If I tell it to scatter?
Though brief, I began to understand. It was just a guess, but it seemed that the fiery energy in this area was under my control.
I see. That’s why it’s called ‘Area Declared.’
Feeling the strain. Her words snapped me back to reality. The circuits, which had been highly activated by the sudden surge of power, were calming down. I felt a familiar sensation creeping over me, one I hadn’t felt since my stamina was low.
‘Annihilation? Reversal? Redirection?’
I could do whatever I wanted. The range of choices was so vast that I hesitated, unsure of what command to give.
After about ten seconds, I finally made a decision.
With my left hand already extended toward the dragon’s flames, I willed them upward, watching as they slowly ascended into the sky. Now that I knew I could control them, nothing could stop me. Feeling the strain on my body intensify, I quickly extended my arm to the left.
“Go.”
One word was all it took.
Roar!
With just a word and a gesture, the dragon’s flames, which had been poised to strike the eastern users, roared in response and veered toward Barbara’s fortress. But before I could see the end of it, I felt something ‘snap’ and release around me.
‘This feeling…’
Was it liberation or release? No, that wasn’t important.
The fiery sensation that had enveloped me vanished, and darkness began to creep into my mind. As I swayed, I managed to turn my head toward the fortress, confirming that the dragon’s flames had struck where I directed them.
With Hwajeong’s voice lingering in my mind, I let go of consciousness.
A warm light enveloped me, and I slowly regained my senses.
“Hyung! Hyung!”
“He’s awake! He’s awake!”
‘So noisy.’
I turned toward the voices and met familiar faces. Exhaling the breath I’d been holding, I looked up to see the ivory tent ceiling. It seemed I’d been moved to a private tent after losing consciousness.
“How long was I out?”
As I struggled to sit up, I felt gentle hands on my shoulders. Turning, I saw Jeong Hayeon rising with me.
“You weren’t out for long. Thanks to you, Suhyeon, the unit retreated with minimal damage. So, please, rest for now.”
Despite the gentle pressure urging me back to the bed, I shook my head and removed the hands. Silently, I called out a name.
Hwajeong.
But there was no response. As before, she had appeared and spoken at her whim, only to vanish again. I tried calling out for a while, but it was like shouting into the void.
Sighing, I began to assess my condition. I worried I might be in bad shape again, but thankfully, I was in surprisingly good health. My head was clear, and my mana circuits flowed smoothly without any damage. Though I felt a slight stiffness in my joints, it was nothing I couldn’t recover from.
“Clan Lord, how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. Nothing seems wrong.”
“That’s a relief. Your brother-in-law and the Sword Queen gave us some good herbs. Not quite an elixir, but…”
“My brother and the Sword Queen?”
In response to my question, Jung Ha-yeon nodded repeatedly before adding, “Both of them were here just a moment ago. They left for a meeting…”
I could understand my brother being busy, but the Sword Queen too? I tilted my head in curiosity, then finally noticed the crowd gathered in the tent. They were all members of the Mercenary Clan, each wearing a worried expression. It seemed they had rushed over upon hearing I had lost consciousness.
Seeing some familiar faces after so long sparked a brief sense of warmth, but their intense gazes made me feel oddly pressured. So, I cleared my throat a couple of times and decided to change the subject quickly.
“Ahem. I see. Well then…”
Just as I was about to inquire about the outcome of sending Yongyeom back to the city, a strange sense of unease washed over me. I quickly realized what it was—one of the Mercenary Clan members was missing.
“Where’s Shin Sang-yong?”
“Ah…”
I had tossed out the question without much thought, but I didn’t miss the subtle shift in the clan members’ expressions. It was as if they were reluctant to speak. Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
“Don’t tell me… did he die in the last battle?”
“No, no, he’s not dead,” Ahn Hyun replied. But his hesitant tone only made me more suspicious.
“Then what?”
“Well…”
Ahn Hyun scratched his head awkwardly, then smacked his lips before continuing, “Sang-yong’s not doing too well right now.”
“In what way?”
“Uh… haven’t you heard the rumors?”
“Rumors?”
Rumors about Shin Sang-yong? This was news to me, and I felt the need for a more detailed explanation. Sensing my curiosity, Ahn Hyun opened his mouth to speak again, but then—
“Hyun, stop with the unnecessary talk. Be quiet.”
Jung Ha-yeon shot him a sharp look, and Ahn Hyun quickly clammed up. She then turned back to me with a calm demeanor, as if nothing had happened.
“He’s just having a hard time adjusting to the war. But he’s trying his best, so please don’t worry too much, Clan Lord. For now, you should rest…”
“User Jung Ha-yeon.”
“Yes, yes?”
I interrupted her and stood up. A few clan members reflexively rose with me, but when I gave them a steady look, they awkwardly sat back down.
After a moment of silence, I spoke quietly, “Where is User Shin Sang-yong right now?”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
I have a lot to say about Hwa-jeong’s awakening. However, I think it’s better to reveal it gradually rather than all at once. I’ve been using this technique often lately. For example, the picture on the last card that was briefly mentioned will appear in the next chapter. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
Devaran: Congratulations on being first. It feels like I see you in first place often now. Haha.
Jabet: Fool. Idiot. I’ll think about whether to reveal the secret or keep it hidden as we go forward.
ClumsyHooni: I’ve postponed the interesting conversation with Hwa-jeong for another time. :)
Uigi2010: In terms of rank, Yongyeom can’t even speak to Hwa-jeong. If Hwa-jeong is the grandmother, Yongyeom is like the great-great-great-great-great-great-grandchild. (?)
TearsRiver: When I was planning Hwa-jeong, that’s how I envisioned it. Of course, even within the same flame category, there are ways to counter it.
ThunderGodDragon: There are those who use fists or feet, but not many. :D
Thanatos: Wow, you guessed it right away. Unless the stamina reaches 101, Hwa-jeong will continue to hold Kim Soo-hyun back. Even if it hits 100.
KireiAutumn: It was a warning not to mess with Kim Soo-hyun.
SmokedSnail: After the war, I plan to reveal some of Hwa-jeong’s secrets. You’ll get a better sense of her identity then. :)
HealthySummoner: Hmm. A new survey, huh? That sounds intriguing. :) I’ll consider it.
Thank you for always reading. I hope you enjoy the story with a relaxed mind.