Chapter 283

After witnessing Bloodrot’s end, we first chased after the generals who had departed to their respective factions and focused on handling the aftermath.

Fortunately, their faction territories were intact; it seemed there had been enemy attacks, but the scale was manageable enough.

‘Perhaps it was just to buy time, half of it was likely a bluff.’

Maybe, because we arrived here earlier than Bloodrot had anticipated, he was forced to gamble somewhat hastily. Somehow, I felt that way.

After all the cleanup was done, we still had one remaining matter.

“So, I’d like to hear the detailed circumstances before and after.”

“Yes. Of course, I’ll tell you everything.”

It was time to question the Thousand Transformation Specter, who had been forcibly imitating Sophia under Bloodrot’s control, about the truth.

“…Meeting her was truly a coincidence. Spiritual energy so densely filling her entire body that it was hard to believe she was human! Drawn by that, I unconsciously began following her and gradually started imitating her appearance.”

Eventually, she was discovered by Sophia, interrogated about her identity, and faced the risk of losing her life.

“But she let me go. On the condition that I wouldn’t harm any innocent person from then on and that I would fulfill one request.”

“What was it?”

“It was to continue living in her form and, if I ever discovered her companions, to convey news of her to them.”

Well, if she took on Sophia’s appearance, it would have been easier for us to make contact through any means.

Although she was exploited by Bloodrot, didn’t she actually facilitate that meeting?

As I nodded in understanding, the Thousand Transformation Specter continued.

“During that process, somehow Bloodrot found and captured me, and I ended up having to live day by day imitating the clan’s Divine Maiden… Honestly, I thought everything was over until I met all of you.”

“Did you hear any information from Bloodrot?”

“That person was originally just chasing Sophia-nim; it seemed he only realized I was a Specter imitating her appearance after directly confronting me. I think he changed his plan at that moment and came up with the current scheme.”

I roughly understood what she meant. But there was one problem.

“…So, you ultimately don’t know where Sophia is?”

At Arietta’s narrowed-eyed remark, the Thousand Transformation Specter fidgeted and averted her gaze.

“W-well, that’s true, but I still have some information, so I think it might be helpful.”

“What information?”

“The place where I first met her was Yongju, and where we parted was Baeksan. She said she was heading south from there… With that, you can somewhat infer her destination, right?”

Having lived with Hochoong and familiarized myself with the local geography, I could roughly gauge the locations of the areas she mentioned.

And if it’s south from Baeksan, it’s definitely…

“Isn’t it in the direction of Cheongra?”

“Huh? W-well, it depends on how far she went, but that’s probably not wrong.”

The city I first visited, where I met Kongha and formed connections with the Taoist Masters of Daehwarim.

It seemed Sophia had headed there a bit later.

‘Then, there’s a high chance she received the message to head to Jinyeonsan from the merchants around there.’

Even if not specifically Cheongra, among the merchants active in that area, quite a few are cooperating with us.

If nothing major happened, Sophia likely also confirmed our whereabouts.

“How long has it been since you parted with Sophia?”

“A little over two months? I was captured and brought here only about a month ago.”

Then, assuming Sophia checked the message near Cheongra and headed for Jinyeonsan, she might have arrived in that vicinity by now.

There was no separate message from Hochoong, but perhaps we might see her by the time we return?

It was still just a hopeful thought, but it was a positive sign nonetheless.

“In that case, should we first return to Jinyeonsan?”

“We’ve found Haon too, and only two people remain, so there’s no need to push ourselves unnecessarily, Oppa.”

As Cheong Joohwa and Han Seoa said, if we could just confirm Sophia’s whereabouts, there was no reason to search other places.

Seo Jian was still out there, but she said she would find us on her own after completing her objective. At least, there was no need to obsess over it immediately.

I nodded and responded to the group.

“…For now, we’ll return to Jinyeonsan and wait for Sophia.”

Once a conclusion was reached, there was no need to hesitate.

We conveyed our intention to leave to Ha Shiyool and the generals of the Hawon Clan, and soon most of us gathered in one place for a farewell.

“…Honestly, I’m still confused. It would have been better not to know.”

As General Ocheon of the Two Origins Faction said, it was certainly a truth difficult for them to accept.

But now, it seemed everyone had steeled their resolve; I could glimpse their individual determinations.

“Most of the clan is still ignorant of such truths, so now is precisely the time we must become their pillars.”

“Hoho, isn’t it that the work we must do hasn’t changed anyway?”

“Well, hearing the story, it seems the outside world isn’t particularly better off either…”

Paeyong, Geumsahyang, and Nachal chattered away, and soon Ha Sadam approached us, offering a handshake with a smile.

“For now, we must focus on strengthening the clan’s foundations, but I’ve certainly learned that you have a greater cause. Should a moment of need arise, the Hawon Clan will always be on your side.”

“…Thank you for all your help. If we need assistance, we will definitely ask for your hand.”

Thus, we left the Hawon Clan’s residence and finally embarked on the return journey.

And when about two days remained to Jinyeonsan, we received some very joyful news.

“The Shikigami left with Hochoong-nim has sent a signal.”

“Really?”

A special-purpose Shikigami, just like the one given to Seoa, that sends a signal to me upon vanishing.

And its meaning was predetermined.

“…It means that while we were away, one of our companions visited Jinyeonsan.”

“Yes. Exactly.”

Sophia, who had received the message, had come to Jinyeonsan.

That was the only way to think about it.

“It seems we should hurry back a bit more.”

Feeling the sensation of puzzle pieces slowly falling into place, we began to quicken our pace.

With less than half a year remaining, I vowed to obtain everything within that time.

“Ah, it really is Kangyoon!”

At Jinyeonsan, where we finally returned, Sophia, looking exactly the same as before, was waiting for us.

To be precise, the clothes she wore had changed to fit this era, but her appearance itself was so distinctive that it only felt familiar.

“That’s a relief. Nothing happened, right?”

“Umm, well, there were things…? But I managed to get through them somehow.”

Everyone happily welcomed Sophia, and she too smiled and told us about her experiences.

Thanks to already having gathered so much information, there weren’t any particular new gains, but we could sense that she too had undergone many adventures.

Conversely, when we shared the information we had obtained, Sophia instead widened her eyes and sighed.

“S-so that’s how it was. I seem to have caused unnecessary worry. If I had been there, I could have helped…”

She seemed regretful about not being able to contribute during the crisis, but she quickly regained her vigor and vowed to help from now on.

“Don’t worry! From now on, I’ll help with whatever it is.”

“Right. Thank you.”

Indeed, her joining was an immense source of strength.

It resolved one major concern and was akin to adding a firepower specialist to the group.

After that reunion, I had to face another unexpected person.

“This is Soyool. I heard you’ve met Kangyoon before too? She helped a lot in getting this child here.”

“Long time no see. Oppa.”

Soyool, still with an indifferent expression, greeted me and bowed to the group as well.

It was such an unexpected meeting that I asked with curiosity.

“I thought you had settled in Cheongra?”

“…After Oppa left, a powerful Specter appeared near Cheongra, and the shop suffered damage. During that time, I met this unnie.”

It seemed Soyool had also heard about my companions’ characteristics and recognized them at a glance.

Thus, Sophia subjugated the Specter that had settled in Cheongra and guided her all the way to Jinyeonsan.

While nodding at that, I checked her information with the Appraisal function once more, just in case.

There hadn’t been anything strange before either, but the words I heard from Hongrim kept surfacing in my mind.

Ding!

【Soyool】

▶Level 19

Indeed, no issues. With that, I lightly patted her head and told her she had worked hard.

Shin Pyoeul, who had been watching that scene fondly while organizing luggage, spoke up.

“So, how should we proceed now?”

We had subjugated Soul Enchantress and Bloodrot, two of the five Great Specters, and successfully reunited with Yoo Haon and Sophia.

Though worries about Seo Jian remained, since we decided to trust her, the immediate options divided into three paths.

“We could meet Seo Cheonye to obtain information about Docheol and target it, or ignore it and search for information about Polar Night.”

Alternatively, there was the option to focus on training for the time being, sticking to the original goal.

Especially since Docheol’s strength was an unknown, perhaps it would be correct to raise our levels as much as possible before acting.

“Both sides seem reasonable, so it’s difficult…”

“The problem is that only half a year remains. Moving now leaves unease, but raising strength first feels rushed.”

Ultimately, since there was no correct answer, we had no choice but to check each individual’s opinion.

“Let’s decide by vote.”

We gathered together, intending to decide our immediate goal through a vote.

And soon, as our intentions intersected, a result was derived.