"Troubled times…"
Gwon Geuk closed his eyes with a dark expression.
'Must we repeat that terrible carnage once again?'
He had seen enough of those endless fields stained red with blood. Such sights were not meant for human eyes.
Yet the Divine Strategist was saying those troubled times would come again.
"Of course, if I could only make predictions without offering countermeasures, I wouldn't be qualified to sit in a strategist's position. We won't simply wait with folded hands, so don't worry too much."
"Yes, that's right. That's what we must do."
But Gwon Geuk's expression remained grim.
'If I could prevent that terrible world from unfolding again, I would gladly throw away this life without a second thought.'
The wounds the war with the Demonic Cult left on the martial world were too deep. Those wounds had only just begun to heal, and if another war broke out, even the barely mended wounds would tear open again.
That must never be allowed to happen.
"In any case, since things didn't go according to their intentions this time, we've bought ourselves time. If we can make good use of this time we've gained, we might be able to block their plans early."
"Well, Yeon-ho certainly did something big."
Gwon Geuk chuckled heartily.
Having no children of his own, he felt more than an uncle's affection for Wei Yeon-ho. He was the son of Wei Jeong-han, whom he regarded as a brother—how could he not be dear to him? That alone would make him loveable, but that boy was also a true gem filled with the virtues of a martial artist.
"He defeated the Dark King, didn't he?"
"There are also reports that Do Wan was defeated."
"Kuhuhuh, it's somewhat regrettable that Do Wan was humiliated, but it's excellent that he humiliated the Dark King. Those Thousand Clothes Alliance bastards must have had their noses completely flattened."
"Not only that, but Wei Yeon-ho apparently stopped someone called Gwang Mu-ryang."
"Gwang Mu-ryang?"
"He's said to be one of the Demonic Cult's bishops."
"…He stopped a Demonic Cult bishop? You mean he defeated him?"
"Yes. Though he wasn't one of the old demons who made their names in the past, considering that the position of Demonic Cult bishop isn't one that can be reached without considerable skill…"
"They were inhuman creatures."
Gwon Geuk shuddered as if he didn't want to think about it. The Demonic Cult's bishops were only those with unshakeable skill and reputation, even within the Demonic Cult where powerful demons gathered.
Though Gwon Geuk hadn't personally confirmed their abilities, a Demonic Cult bishop could never be weak.
"But you're saying Yeon-ho caught that bishop."
"That's right."
"Hehe, that boy is quite something."
Gwon Geuk smiled broadly. He was one of those who knew Wei Yeon-ho's abilities best in the world.
'Was he that strong?'
Still, he had doubts.
The Wei Yeon-ho he had experienced wasn't at the level to capture a Demonic Cult bishop. That meant either Wei Yeon-ho's abilities were stronger than he thought, or the Demonic Cult bishop was weaker than expected… Either way, it wasn't bad news.
"Moreover, thanks to that boy's activities, we were able to crush the Hundred Swords Castle's ambitions as well."
"Crush them?"
"What else could they have been after but to show themselves defeating the Demonic Cult and firmly imprint their name in people's minds? But thanks to Wei Yeon-ho defeating the Dark King and Gwang Mu-ryang, Wei Yeon-ho's name is now resounding throughout the world. Isn't this wonderful?"
"That's right, yes. Hahaha!"
The two looked at each other and laughed together.
"Hehehe. Yes, that's right."
After laughing for a while, Gwon Geuk suddenly frowned.
"Wait a minute. Is this something to be happy about?"
"…Excuse me?"
"That boy didn't intentionally scheme to make fools of them, did he? Then just by being there, all their carefully prepared plans were completely shattered…"
"That's right."
"Then where's the guarantee that such absurd misfortune won't befall us? Can we really trust him with important positions?"
The Divine Strategist began to stammer.
'What am I supposed to say when you ask me that?'
No matter how much the Divine Strategist was said to see a thousand li while sitting, Wei Yeon-ho was like… a loach hiding in a mud puddle. No matter how hard you tried to look, you simply couldn't see him, and if you reached into the mud to find him, before you knew it, you'd be submerged—that kind of loach.
"He's the son of Jeong-han, so he's endearing… he really is endearing, but still."
That endearment sometimes approached eeriness.
Gwon Geuk shook his head from side to side.
Just then.
"B-big trouble!"
A loud voice came from outside.
"What's the matter?"
Jo Hyeon asked calmly without frowning. Just because subordinates were making a fuss didn't mean superiors should act hastily too. Whatever happened, he had to maintain his composure.
"The Red Eagle has arrived."
"Red Eagle?"
Even the Divine Strategist's face, which had been maintaining expressionlessness, showed undisguised surprise.
"Red Eagle… you mean Wei Jeong-han? Quickly bring the Red Eagle!"
"Yes."
The Divine Strategist let out a deep breath.
The Red Eagle was a specially trained messenger hawk of the Orthodox Alliance. It was a messenger hawk created by specially trained Gyrfalcons imported at great expense from the East.
The messenger pigeons people often talked about were almost fictional. While not impossible to use, they were too difficult to employ. If you sent a messenger pigeon carrying important information and it got caught and eaten by a hawk or eagle while flying, that message would be lost.
But the Red Eagle was a divine creature among divine creatures that could kill even other hawks. Of course, even divine creatures were still birds. While you could use their homing instinct to make them fly to the Orthodox Alliance, it was impossible for them to return to their original location.
An emergency messenger hawk that could only be used once.
The arrival of the Red Eagle meant something urgent had occurred.
'The fact that he sent the Red Eagle, which wasn't even used when the Demonic Cult attacked Mount Hua, means something happened that even Wei Jeong-han's power couldn't resolve.'
If it was something Wei Jeong-han couldn't handle even with Wei Yeon-ho and Wei San-ho accompanying him, this was no ordinary matter.
The Divine Strategist waited for the Red Eagle with an anxious expression.
"H-here it is!"
Seeing the Red Eagle the adjutant brought, the Divine Strategist shot up from his seat.
"The message! Quickly!"
"Yes!"
The adjutant took out the rolled message from the message tube tied to the messenger hawk's ankle and handed it to the Divine Strategist.
The Divine Strategist immediately unrolled the message and began reading.
After silently staring at the message for a long while, the Divine Strategist looked up.
"What is it! What on earth!"
When Gwon Geuk asked urgently, the Divine Strategist answered in a somewhat dazed voice.
"He says he's going home."
"…Huh?"
Gwon Geuk tilted his head, not understanding what the Divine Strategist was saying.
Going home—what did that mean?
"Home?"
"Exactly as I said. He says he's going home. He's departing immediately for Guangdong and can't escort the children, so he'll have the instructors escort them instead."
"…W-wait a minute."
Gwon Geuk frowned.
"You're saying that was sent urgently?"
The Divine Strategist muttered blankly.
"What on earth is he thinking?"
"That's what I'm saying. What's so important about this…"
"What on earth is he thinking, going home!"
Gwon Geuk flinched and closed his mouth.
'Ah, I guess that's not it.'
This was why talking with smart people was tiring. When opinions differed, only he ended up looking stupid.
"I-is going home a problem?"
"A problem? Did you just ask if it's a problem?"
The Divine Strategist looked ready to literally breathe fire.
"What! Right now the Demonic Cult is attacking, and we can't even properly grasp what's happening internally, but if he takes Wei Yeon-ho and goes home, what are we supposed to do! When every single person is precious!"
"R-right, yes. You're absolutely right! I was thinking the same thing. Wei Jeong-han, this fellow has no sense!"
"Wei Jeong-han, Wei Jeong-han… No, that's not right. Wei Jeong-han wouldn't do something so irresponsible. Then it's not Wei Jeong-han but Wei Yeon-ho who's the problem…"
"…I also thought Wei Yeon-ho would be the problem. Jeong-han is someone whose sense of cooperation is well-known. But to be so irresponsible…"
"No! That's not right either! No matter how much Wei Yeon-ho throws a tantrum, as a father, being unable to control just that one thing and meekly going home would be utterly irresponsible."
'Which tune am I supposed to dance to, man!'
This was why smart people…
From now on, he'd have to resolve to receive written reports after situations were sorted out whenever possible, Gwon Geuk decided.
What kind of situation was this when he'd just made one comment asking if he didn't have the right to know?
Whether Gwon Geuk's mood was uncomfortable or not, the Divine Strategist seemed uninterested. Watching Divine Strategist Jo Hyeon start muttering something frantically to himself, Gwon Geuk trembled.
'This person's personality is strange too.'
Still, curious about what he was saying, Gwon Geuk quietly listened.
"Home? Going home? He says he's going home? That won't do. I can't stand to see that. Where does he think he's going to comfortably go home and rest by himself? If he has that ability, he should put it to use. I'm not going to watch him slip away alone and laze around. No way. I'll use him. I'll use him somehow. Damn young punk! Don't underestimate me!"
Gwon Geuk closed his eyes.
'What on earth did Wei Yeon-ho do?'
The time Wei Yeon-ho and Jo Hyeon had met was only an extremely brief moment compared to the life Jo Hyeon had lived, so how could such great animosity accumulate in such a short time?
This was truly a mysterious thing.
And at the same time, it was quite a sad thing.
Divine Strategist Jo Hyeon was leading the current Orthodox Alliance, and Wei Yeon-ho was supposed to become the center of the future Orthodox Alliance. With their relationship so bad, what kind of future could be expected?
'Actually, it seems like only this side is full of animosity.'
Whatever Gwon Geuk was thinking, Jo Hyeon continued muttering something.
"Should I go? No. He's not the type to bat an eye even if I go. Then what should I do? What would make that guy stop? Someone who can give orders that even he can't ignore…"
Suddenly, Jo Hyeon's eyes flashed with light.
"There is! There is someone!"
"…What is there?"
Jo Hyeon's head whipped around.
"I'll be back shortly."
Overwhelmed by Jo Hyeon's momentum, Gwon Geuk unconsciously nodded. Then, immediately realizing his mistake, he shouted.
"W-where are you going!"
The Divine Strategist waved his hand dismissively as if annoyed and answered.
"I need to meet the Governor of Luoyang. There's only one person in the world who can make that guy unable to move!"
Ominous.
Too ominous.
This was the first time he'd felt such an ominous feeling since the war with the Demonic Cult. Unable to bear the anxiety creeping up his spine, Gwon Geuk tentatively asked.
"…It's not who I think it is, right? Not that person?"
"Of course it is!"
Watching Jo Hyeon rush outside, Gwon Geuk wiped the corner of his eyes with his sleeve.
'Why is everything getting so strangely twisted?'
Warm sunlight descended comfortingly onto Gwon Geuk's shoulders.