Chapter 719
[Quest: Would you like to accept [Corrupted Divine Object]? Y/N]
The hologram window that suddenly appeared before my eyes wasn’t the only one.
I quickly scanned the newly generated quest information.
[Corrupted Divine Object]
The Divine Stone that once protected this land has already lost its original form. Corrupted by Demonic Energy, it has become another seed of disaster, and you must dispose of this Corrupted Divine Object in some way.
Rank: Transcendent
Restriction: Jin Taekyung
Mission: Dispose of the Corrupted Divine Object (Incomplete)
Reward: Varies depending on the method of completion
Failure: Increase in the Demonic Energy of the Corrupted Divine Object
After reading the quest window to the end, I quietly muttered to myself.
‘Accept.’
[You have accepted the quest, [Corrupted Divine Object]!]
Unlike some quests that had been forced upon me until now, this time there was a clear choice.
But for me, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.
‘I can’t just keep suppressing the Demonic Energy forever.’
The Divine Stone—or rather, the [Corrupted Divine Object] corrupted by Demonic Energy—was like a bomb that could explode at any moment.
It was fortunate that the person holding it was Beast Miao King. Even a highly skilled expert would not have been able to handle the Demonic Energy contained within it.
‘Just like the quest window says, I have to deal with it somehow.’
How much sacrifice had to be made to close the Gate?
Even considering the Guardian Spirit who threw himself in at the last moment, I had to prevent that bomb from exploding.
And at this moment, I wasn’t the only one thinking that.
“This level of Demonic Energy is unacceptable.”
Jeok Cheon-Gang frowned as he muttered, then gestured to me and Beast Miao King.
“Stand back. This old man will take care of it.”
As if guessing the meaning of Jeok Cheon-Gang’s words, Yal Mok’s eyes widened.
“Jeok No, you don’t mean…”
“That’s right. If there’s a possibility of it becoming a problem, we should nip it in the bud.”
“But this… it’s not something that can be easily destroyed.”
Jeok Cheon-Gang’s answer to Beast Miao King, who expressed concern, was short and concise.
“That’s just you.”
“I can.”
A truly manly way of speaking.
With a brief word, Jeok Cheon-Gang, who had silenced even Beast Miao King, slowly reached out his hand.
Scorching Yang Energy gathered along his hand, emitting a terrible heat. The shimmering waves rising in all directions even gave the illusion that space itself was distorted.
But—
“Noya.”
A word that suddenly popped out after a lot of deliberation.
Jeok Cheon-Gang, who was about to make a move, stopped.
“What is it?”
“I don’t think you should do that.”
“Why?”
“I’ve been thinking about it, and if you touch it carelessly, it might not be fun.”
“What?”
At my serious voice, Jeok Cheon-Gang’s eyes widened.
“No, are you saying you’ve been thinking?”
I was speechless.
Jeok Cheon-Gang looked at my bitter expression, cleared his throat, and opened his mouth.
“If we leave it like this, it will become a problem someday. It’s right to deal with it as soon as possible.”
“I know that too.”
“Then why are you doing this? Do you not trust this old man?”
“Oh, come on. Why are you saying that? Who do you think I trust if not Noya?”
That was what I said, but to be honest, I partly meant it.
To be more precise, it wasn’t that I didn’t trust Jeok Cheon-Gang. It was because of one concern.
‘What if he can’t completely destroy it?’
The current [Corrupted Divine Object] is… for example, like a teacup in front of me.
If the cup is intact, the tea won’t overflow. But if the cup breaks, the tea will spill everywhere.
‘If I can’t keep the Demonic Energy suppressed, it’ll be a mess again.’
No matter how much a crazy tiger jumps around, you can still catch it. But once Demonic Energy spreads, it becomes a headache.
No, it would be fortunate if it ended with just a headache.
So I had to stop Jeok Cheon-Gang.
No matter how much I trust him, I can’t put other people’s lives on the line in this gamble.
‘Even if it’s a one in a thousand chance, a one in ten thousand chance, not now.’
Too much blood has already been shed.
Dying valiantly in battle, dying as monsters after losing their reason, and even those who had never held a sword in their lives died in the process of escaping that hell.
Perhaps if the Guardian Spirit hadn’t sacrificed himself to close the Gate, the damage would have snowballed by now… wait.
‘Guardian Spirit?’
With a sudden sense of déjà vu, those three letters swirled in my mind.
Memories from the day I first met him until now brushed past my eyes and ears, and finally ran toward a glimmer of realization.
And then—
“Ah.”
A small exclamation leaked from my lips before I realized it.
Jeok Cheon-Gang and Beast Miao King, who were looking at me as if asking why I was suddenly acting like this, opened their mouths in turn.
“Yeah, why are you suddenly acting crazy all by yourself again? Let this old man know too.”
“Could it be that you’ve come up with some brilliant plan?”
Well, I don’t know if you can call it brilliant.
At least not yet.
But if the guess I have now is true… it’s worth a try.
‘At least there’s nothing to lose.’
Muttering inwardly, I looked at the quest window that was still open, then at the two people waiting for an answer, and shrugged.
“Both of you. Let’s go for a walk with me for a while.”
—
The number of people running while cutting through the wind was small. No, if you only looked at the number, the word “group” itself might be a misnomer.
Three tigers and three people.
But if you looked closely at their faces, the story changed. Just the two people running next to me were like that.
“I wondered how fast a beast could be, but this isn’t too bad. The saddle is comfortable too.”
At the sight of Jeok Cheon-Gang looking at the tiger running hard with an interested expression, Beast Miao King, who was running on the left, answered promptly.
“He is one of the most valiant and fastest in our Southern Barbarian Beast Palace. He is also a descendant of the one who participated with me in the Great War of Justice and Evil back then.”
“Oh ho. The big guy crouching in front of that barracks? I remember. I thought he looked familiar.”
Yeah. Left Azure Dragon, Right White Tiger is nothing.
With this crazy lineup of Left Fire King, Right Miao King, my chest naturally swelled.
A terrifying force that could chew up the Southern Demon Empress alive if she ever came back to life.
Their conversation continued, and it felt more reassuring than rice soup.
“The more I look at this guy, the better he is. Good stamina, fast feet, and he looks smart at first glance.”
Beast Miao King smiled contentedly.
“I raised him with special care. He suffered so much when he was a cub because he had a small appetite, but every time, I even fed him milk by hand.”
“What? You did it yourself?”
“…That’s just a saying. It’s not what Jeok No is thinking now.”
Jeok Cheon-Gang, who was carefully examining Beast Miao King’s large pectoral muscles, nodded.
“Right. Let’s just say that.”
“No, if you say it like that, something is strange…”
“Anyway, that’s it. I’ll take this guy.”
At that moment, the smile that had been on Beast Miao King’s lips disappeared.
“Yes?”
“Why are you asking back? Then were you thinking of making him run like crazy all the way back to the Central Plains?”
“Th-that’s definitely not the case, but the one you’re riding now is the one this Hubae raised like a child in his old age…”
“Give.”
“No, that…”
“Do it.”
“If you really don’t want to, I’ll take that guy. He looks like a Mystical Creature at first glance.”
Beast Miao King, looking at “that guy” pointed out by Jeok Cheon-Gang, hurriedly shook his head.
“Gasp. That guy is a no-go. I only borrowed him for a while in the first place.”
“What if this old man says so?”
“I-I didn’t raise him directly, and how can a father send away the one his son thinks of as a brother?”
“The sky is clear today. The tongue is long.”
Beast Miao King fell silent for a while, then answered in a gloomy voice.
“…I understand. I’ll give you the one you’re riding now.”
“Since you’re offering so much, I can’t help it. I’ll accept your kindness.”
As I tried to calm my swelling chest, the tiger carrying me let out a low cry.
Grrr.
Looking at the way he even made eye contact with me, it was clear he knew he had just barely escaped from the clutches of the dog butcher called the Fire King.
Feeling sorry for him, I gently stroked his trembling white fur.
“It’s okay, you survived.”
Squeak.
Muyaho, who let out a mournful cry like a lost puppy, slowly slowed down.
It was clear he instinctively realized that showing off his skills in front of Jeok Cheon-Gang would only increase the chances of being dragged to the Central Plains.
Fortunately, Jeok Cheon-Gang’s attention had shifted elsewhere.
“That is…”
The end of his sentence gradually blurred.
At the end of the direction Jeok Cheon-Gang was looking, there was a bare mountain that had been completely burned down.
No, even that unsightly bare mountain had a name.
Mount Aino, a name that those who live in this land cannot help but know.
And at the moment I was about to explain, Jeok Cheon-Gang widened his eyes and shouted.
“How dare some bastard burn down the precious mountains and rivers!”
In an instant, I exchanged hot glances with Beast Miao King, and answered in a voice full of anger.
“Dark Heaven.”
Sometimes, certain truths are more beautiful when they remain unknown.
Jeok Cheon-Gang finally realized that the unsightly bare mountain was our destination, and he frowned right away.
“Did you come all the way here to plant trees?”
“…I’m asking because I’m genuinely curious. How crazy do you think I am?”
That’s ridiculous.
Today is not Arbor Day, and even if it were, I wouldn’t plant trees.
The purpose of me bringing these people to Mount Aino was decided from the beginning.
“This way.”
And Beast Miao King soon realized where I was heading.
“Poison-Blooded Land. No. Should we call it Sacred Land now?”
It would be stranger if Beast Miao King didn’t know. Even if the details weren’t clear, he would have heard roughly what happened from Great Chief Yohee.
But I shook my head at his muttering.
“It’s different. Poison-Blooded Land is Poison-Blooded Land, and Sacred Land is Sacred Land.”
The two spaces are clearly separated.
If Poison-Blooded Land is a land of death built by humans, Sacred Land is the heart and land of life of the Southern Barbarians.
‘Yes, life itself.’
Muttering inwardly, I placed the [Corrupted Divine Object] I was holding onto the ground.
Demonic Energy like fog flowed out, and Muyaho let out a low cry.
But even if it was corrupted by darkness, its essence did not change.
Swoosh.
The ground pulsed like a beating heart. Along with it, another world that had been hidden for a long time peeled away.
And at the same time, it appeared.
Another space full of warm radiance everywhere. In the center, a small pond shining more brilliantly than anything else.
“Ah.”
“That is…”
The exclamations uttered by Jeok Cheon-Gang and Beast Miao King scattered without finishing.
But I knew what they felt.
And I knew what I had to do now.
‘Purification.’
Today is the day a new Divine Stone is born.