Chapter 291

It was a somewhat unreasonable statement, but the party nodded as if they had expected it, not particularly surprised.

“Hmm, it’s true that coming all the way here and just retreating does feel a bit off.”

“When has there ever been a time without danger? In the end, nothing changes.”

The decision was made. We would remain here for the remaining month or so, uncover the secrets of Polar Night, and find a way to counter it.

Seeming pleased by those words, Hochoong nodded and opened his mouth again to relay a message to us.

“Patrons, while an unforeseen situation has occurred, it’s not as if we’ve gained nothing at all.”

“Did you realize something?”

“Yes. Through this incident, I was able to deduce several facts.”

There were three things Hochoong focused on from the recent situation.

First, the Polar Night that awoke in Pyeong Eunha’s body, the Polar Night Hochoong confronted and sealed in the original history, and the Polar Night contained within the Oracle Bone Casket were all the same entity.

“In other words, the Polar Night you patrons will face upon returning to the outside world will be the Pyeong Eunha of the original history.”

That was certainly true.

Considering the timeline, it would undoubtedly be so.

Therefore, we had to turn this crisis into an opportunity.

“Secondly, it’s about why the future me sent you patrons to this point in history.”

Now that we know Polar Night awoke in Pyeong Eunha’s body, we can roughly guess the reason as well.

“I suspect the point in time where the original Pyeong Eunha exists is the core of the problem.”

There might be something that can only be done at this point, or perhaps he wanted to convey something to us through it.

We’ll have to gradually uncover that part as we become entangled with Polar Night.

And finally.

“…Due to this incident, I have a guess regarding one of Polar Night’s secrets.”

“What is it?”

It was a surprising statement.

It meant we now had a clue to approach Polar Night, an enemy whose true nature was utterly unknown.

Regarding that, Hochoong began like this.

“It’s a story connected to the previous question: why did the future me seal Polar Night in the Oracle Bone Casket instead of exorcising it after subduing it?”

And back then, Hochoong had said. He didn’t know the reason, but perhaps killing Polar Night would ultimately be problematic.

Furthermore, through this incident, Hochoong seemed to have intuited something.

“According to past records, Polar Night was severely defeated by Liu Gong, a descendant of Taoist Master Liu Xue, and went into hiding to recover. But isn’t it strange? Why did Polar Night use such an inefficient method as hiding within a human girl’s body… That was the initial question.”

Of course, it might have been to avoid the notice of other Taoist Masters while recovering its strength. Even Seo Cheonye, this era’s most outstanding Exorcist, failed to detect its presence at all.

But Hochoong shook his head at that.

“There are too many unsatisfactory points to think so simply. First, Pyeong Eunha’s body was merely nineteen years old, which would mean Polar Night has switched human bodies multiple times since its defeat. At that point, the risk of exposure would be high, and it would be an exceedingly troublesome affair.”

Moreover, even if that were the case, needing such a long time to recover its strength is also unnatural.

“I couldn’t help but naturally consider one possibility from that part. The content is that perhaps Polar Night is an entity that revives even after meeting death.”

An entity that resurrects from death.

Everyone who heard that flinched in surprise and focused their gaze on Hochoong.

“Hey… is that even possible? Ruling over all Specters and constantly reviving on top of that, it’s unreasonably absurd.”

“That is certainly true. However, Polar Night actually revealed itself again after time passed, despite being defeated twice by Taoist Master Liu Xue and Liu Gong. In the present, where the story from that time is only passed down orally, there’s no way to know what happened.”

Certainly, thinking that way, the future Hochoong’s act of sealing Polar Night becomes understandable.

If that creature is an entity that constantly revives, then of course exorcising it however many times would be meaningless.

“After being sealed, Polar Night skipped over countless eras and is only now trying to reveal itself in the outside world. It might be something worthy of blame from you patrons, but perhaps it was the best choice at the time.”

It certainly makes sense.

After hearing it all, it’s a convincing story.

“So, does that mean Pyeong Eunha’s body became the foothold for its resurrection this time?”

“Whether Polar Night itself was born as Pyeong Eunha, or a soul revived from death seeped into Pyeong Eunha’s body and swallowed its essence, I cannot hastily judge. However, if that is the case, then simply exorcising Polar Night would not be a solution to the situation.”

We uncovered one plausible secret, but in reality, the difficulty has only increased.

As the situation progressively worsened, everyone in the party let out a sigh with hardened expressions.

“If the future Hochoong met a final end of mutual destruction, that means even simply exorcising it would be extremely difficult…”

“Ugh, this is getting more and more hopeless!”

Moreover, even that was only possible after sealing countless powerful Specters through the Oracle Bone Casket to weaken Polar Night’s power.

Now that Polar Night has begun to act, we must also move in some form, but it’s a situation where we can’t grasp any leads at all.

“What should we do first to stop Polar Night…”

“It might be a cruel thing to say, but perhaps focusing solely on gathering information about Polar Night, regardless of what happens to this place, might be the correct answer.”

At Arietta’s words, Seo Cheonye flinched again, but this time she too did not raise any particular objection.

Surely, various worries must be swirling incessantly inside her.

There was much to do, but rather, it was too much, and I didn’t know what to do first.

“Shouldn’t we first weaken Polar Night’s power through the Oracle Bone Casket as well?”

“But Haon, we have too little time given to us.”

As Seoa said, regardless of Hochoong or Seo Cheonye, we must leave this World of Forbidden Techniques in a month.

At that moment, unable to do this or that, it was Seo Cheonye who voluntarily stepped forward.

“…If that’s the case, then give the Oracle Bone Casket to me. I’ll reduce its power, even if just a little.”

Indeed, even knowing this is an observed world, for her who seeks to maintain balance, that would be the best choice.

Also, since it wasn’t a losing choice for us either, Hochoong, who had been pondering, nodded.

“Taoist Master Seo Cheonye is sufficiently qualified to handle the Oracle Bone Casket.”

“Well, thank you… It’s not that I don’t support your endeavors, so since we’re at it, do your best.”

Leaving a somewhat bashful greeting, Seo Cheonye left the Pyeong Clan mansion after hearing the location where Hochoong stored the Oracle Bone Casket from him.

And we too, before leaving, sought out Pyeong Wonmyeong, who was left alone for the last time, and had a conversation.

“Any clue, however small, is desperately needed. Do you know anything more about Lady Pyeong Eunha?”

“I… still don’t really know. Even now, all of this feels unbelievable.”

Perhaps the shock of losing Pyeong Eunha, who had been with him all along, was great, as Pyeong Wonmyeong had lost all vitality, making his once mighty spirit seem pale.

However, soon Pyeong Wonmyeong, even in that state, handed us a booklet and left a final request.

“It’s a diary the young lady personally recorded. I found it while searching her room earlier. I think it’s unlikely… but perhaps you might find some information here.”

“Was there anything strange when you read it yourself?”

To my question, Pyeong Wonmyeong responded with an extremely bitter expression.

“…I couldn’t read it. I’ve lived my whole life not knowing fear, but somehow, this time my hands wouldn’t obey.”

Perhaps he feared the diary might contain something that negates the Pyeong Eunha he knew until now, or that he might learn facts he didn’t want to know.

Such anguish from Pyeong Wonmyeong was extremely human and natural.

“…Thank you for entrusting it to us. We will do our best to find a way.”

With that, we left the Pyeong Clan mansion.

And while tracking Polar Night’s traces, I continued to read Pyeong Eunha’s diary given by Pyeong Wonmyeong.

[Today was a clear day filled with the scent of flowers. I talked a lot with a boy my age in a dream, and though I don’t remember the content, I recall it being very enjoyable. After noon, I studied Seolchun’s Pilgyeongbakri, and thus conclude the day.]

[A guest visited. Seeing the unpleasant expression of Minister Wonmyeong, did they bring unsettling news? I wish I could grow up quickly and become a support to the family.]

[Today again, I greet a new day with a feeling slightly different from usual. I’m always afraid and weary of when I might mutate into a demon, but I find great comfort in everyone’s hearts. Surely, everything will work out well.]

It was truly a pity, but the diary itself offered no special clues.

It purely recorded the years from Pyeong Eunha’s perspective, and rather, only feeling the vivid pain experienced during the process of becoming half-human, half-demon left a bitter taste.

“Junior, any progress?”

“I’m not sure… The content is vast, so there might be parts I missed, but at least after skimming once, there was nothing that caught my attention.”

Thinking it might be a valuable clue, everyone in the party wore somewhat disappointed expressions.

As time passed little by little, perhaps feeling bored, Sophia suddenly blurted out a remark.

“Hmmm. But why can Polar Night only dominate Specters?”

“Well, isn’t it because it’s called the king or something of Specters?”

Cheong Joohwa answered nonchalantly, but Sophia, as if struck by something, continued to tilt her head as if pondering.

“You know, it’s like… it might be inappropriate to say this, but generally speaking, humans are inferior in terms of racial power. If it has enough power to dominate all Specters, shouldn’t the opposite be possible too…?”

“That may be so, but aren’t they completely different types?”

“But even aside from Polar Night, there were many Specters that manipulated or controlled humans, right? There must be some reason, but it just feels a bit strange.”

It was a sudden question, but certainly, the more I thought about it, I did feel somewhat that way.

Hochoong also seemed to sense something, twitching his clear eyebrows as he began to focus on Sophia’s words.

“Even so, wouldn’t it be the same? If it takes and uses the ability of Specters that control humans, it ultimately amounts to the same thing.”

“…That’s certainly true? But for something called the ruler of all Specters, abilities in that area are so emphasized, yet I’ve never heard of it dominating humans.”

At that moment, as if united, everyone’s gaze pointed at Sophia.