He said that this year will also mark her eighteenth birthday, and the chief monk of the volcano plans to soon send her out of the volcano to gain experience. That’s usually the age at which disciples embark on their first journey of valor.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, so while meeting her might not be too difficult… if you wish to have a longer conversation in a more favorable circumstance, I will do my best to arrange it. You can stir up confusion by involving the high orders or sects related to the volcano, and then lure her away separately.”

The leader leaned further back in his chair.

“Hmm.”

He had thought he should meet her at least once, but after hearing it, he felt fickle.

It wasn’t that he merely wished for an extended conversation. Even if he wanted that, he couldn’t immediately bring her here. A conversation now could only provide temporary satisfaction. On the contrary, it might even fuel… a sense of rejection.

Though he hated to admit it, that was the truth.

It was only years after the actual event occurred that he heard she had managed to break free from the mental restraints.

The chief monk of the volcano had thoroughly concealed this fact. Even the person writing this account had only found out by overhearing a conversation between the chief monk and an elder.

This meant that the volcano didn’t intend to cast her away or reject her.

Since she had lived there all along without being cast away, she must have grown quite fond of the place. She probably built a reasonably good relationship with the people there too.

The plan to mentally restrain her was already distorted. It’s too late to ruin the volcano through her hands now.

Wouldn’t it be better to wait patiently for a proper meeting instead?

‘I’m the only one who can tell her what kind of being I am, and what destiny she’s entangled in.’

The leader slowly exhaled a long breath.

However, it would be a shame to miss a convenient opportunity…

“This time, it would be fine to send my son.”

“…You will send the young lord?”

“It seems like the time has come for him to verify things for himself.”

The man was momentarily surprised but soon accepted.

“Understood. I will inform the young lord right away.”

“Go ahead, then.”

The man slowly rose to his feet. Though he kept his gaze lowered, a glimpse of his master flitted across the edge of his vision.

Strangely, black hair tinged with blue.
In the Central Continent, people had a different hue. Even compared to those from far-flung lands, it was different. He had seen shades close to brown or bright like gold several times, but the bluish tint was unique to his master.

It was impossible to know what the face above looked like. The same went for the color of the eyes. No one dared to raise their heads in his presence.

After bowing deeply, the man carefully took each step to move out of his master’s sight.

The door closed. Silence pervaded once more.

In the quiet room, a boy leaning back in a solitary chair tilted his head and asked,

“Shanglok?”

“Yes, it is in the southern part of Seomseo.”

“A long way off, then.”

The boy, muttering, had a face too vibrant for the room’s barren interior. His hair was black, but a fleeting shade of blue tinted his pupils, giving him a slightly different look from the people of the Central Continent.

The man did not respond to the boy’s mutterings but continued his explanation.

“I’ve heard that they won’t send him too far from the beginning. Considering the temperament of Hwasan or the Sword King, if problems arise within Seomseo, there is a high chance he will be sent there. Additionally, the weather is still cold, so they will likely choose a time after Keungchil (驚蟄).”

“Ah.”

“So when I considered places in Seomseo related to Hwasan, I recommended Shanglok. They say the eldest son there is reckless and foolish; it would be easy for you to use him to create just the right kind of trouble that would lead Shanglok’s chief to seek Hwasan’s help.”

“Hmm.”

The boy blinked his eyes with a dull expression as the man spoke. The man standing before him had to earnestly remind himself that this boy was the only child ‘left behind’ by the sect’s master.

Though the boy had no authority or position within the sect, he was the only direct descendant of the master.

He was clearly designated for a specific future role.

The man calmed his mind and chastised himself for any momentary irreverence, lowering his eyes. At the same time, the boy opened his mouth along with a sigh.

“Do we have to go to such lengths?”

“It’s the sect master’s directive.”

“Ah, I see.”

The boy let out another sigh.