“Why would you ask me then if you don’t want to talk about it? Were you going to shut up after getting information from me?”
“Yes, that was what I wanted to do. What a shame.”
The two clan heads don’t intend to budge.
Thanks to them, I’m not put in a lot of trouble.
There aren’t many secure routes based on Moon Saeron’s Focused Coverage skill and the information obtained by Jeon Muyeong.
It just so happens that those two are in the way as if it was planned.
‘I want to scootch by. What should I do?’
I think I could use Jeon Muyeong’s light skill that even Hwang Jiho couldn’t properly sense.
However, I can’t just recklessly use up precious energy waves and light skills, especially since I’m inside the enemy’s territory.
‘Should I just pass by?’
Those two technically aren’t hostile subjects.
In this situation, they’re a nuisance at best, but they wouldn’t cause much harm.
For Seodol, he even communicated with me personally and expressed that he wants to give me his order.
Of course, I don’t have any other connection to Heukma other than our encounter at Hongcheon.
Still, since Heukma is allied with the Tiger Clan, she wouldn’t dare harm a student from Eungwang High.
On top of that, she knows that I’m close with Maeng Hyodon, her benefactor.
‘But walking in front of them is kind of…’
While I was hesitating, the war of nerves between Heukma and Seodol continued.
Seodol would occasionally throw in a word that would scratch Heukma, and the latter doesn’t hesitate to throw a remark back.
“It’s a shame that I’m not impressed by your puns, Prankster. I’m glad I could cause you disappointment.”
“It’s not such a disappointment, to be honest. It’s true that I’m curious as to why you’re here, but there’s something much more interesting than that right now.”
“Oh, it’s a relief that I’m not the one you’re most interested in. I’m busy, so I’ll go now.”
“Wait a minute. I still want to guess why you’re here.”
“You think I’ll stay just because you want me to? No.”
Seodol tried to hold back Heukma and began to guess the reason why she was in this place.
The two casually spoke in Korean, not showing any sign of paying attention to their surroundings.
Seodol talked in an upright manner, and Heukma had a contemptuous look at him for continuously using formal language.
“In order to locate this place, one needs to have an exchange with the Demon Race or have collected extensive information. Or it could be that your network is wide. But I don’t think any of those applies to you.”
“You’re right that I haven’t had an exchange with the Demon Race. What makes you so sure that the other two aren’t correct?”
“Didn’t you neglect to manage your personal connections because of the continuous attacks of the Demon Race? And how can you afford to do extensive research on Britain when you’re so busy in Korea, warding off those demons?”
Heukma looked like she wanted to throw Seodol on the line between life and death, but it doesn’t seem like Seodol minds.
“Well, it looks like you’re more lax now. Enough for you to abandon your post as clan head. I’m sure the Demon Race isn’t stopping with their attacks, so there must be an important reason why you’re here. Your influence on the Korean Peninsula is increasing, and the clan with overlapping names as you will not leave you alone.”
Seodol spoke as he looked straight into the black mane mask of Heukma.
His gaze was persistent, trying to look for a slip from the other clan head.
“Perhaps you’ve joined hands with another royal lineage? Who could it be? Maybe it’s one of those people who don’t get along with the Demon Race as well?”
Seodol’s guess was correct.
Although it’s not widely known, Heukma and Hwang Jiho formed an exclusive alliance.
I’m probably the only one who knows this fact outside the Horse Clan and Tiger Clan.
‘Heukma can move more freely now because of the alliance with the Tiger Clan. I guess the people Hwang Jiho dispatched are doing their job well.’
Seodol hasn’t figured out that it was the Tiger Clan, but he guessed correctly about the existence of an alliance between Heukma and another royal lineage.
He hit the bullseye, but Heukma wasn’t showing any signs of agitation.
“Prankster, you keep talking nonsense that you forgot an important thing. I already said I don’t have any intention to tell you why I’m here.”
“Yes, I know, that’s why I’m trying to guess it.”
“Mind your own business. Are you that jobless?”
“Actually, I don’t have that much free time. There’s actually someone I’m more interested in than you.”
He says he’s not that interested in Heukma, but he keeps running his mouth.
“Really? If you’re trying to pick a fight, I think it’s better for you to be honest about it.”
“I’m not trying to pick a fight. So about the reason why you’re here. Perhaps a superior being make a revelation to you?”
I think Seodol and I have the same guess.
When I saw Heukma, I immediately thought that there was a superior being involved.
“I have two candidates in mind.”
I only guessed that it was Epona, a goddess of horses, but Seodol must be thinking of another one.
Seodol explained his reasoning.
“First, Morrígan from Tuatha Dé Danann. It is said that the name of Morrígan, the goddess of war, is related to the word “mare”. Mares are horses, correct? It’s related to you.”
Although Morrígan has a connection to horses, she’s more associated with crows, being a crow goddess.
I know that Sidelentium’s agent is here, so it’s possible that Morrígan would’ve contacted Sidelentium if his agent interferes with the auction.
Unaware of Sidelentium’s intervention, Seodol guessed that Morrígan is related to Heukma.
“The second is Epona of course. I think Morrígan is more likely considering her personality as said from the myths, but Epona will surely intervene, depending on the treasure that will be up for auction.”
Heukma silently listened to Seodol’s words.
She seemed unwilling to properly deal with Seodol until now, but she looks engaged already.
“Well then Mr. Prankster, let me take a guess too.”
“You’re going to guess about me? I don’t really like things like that.”
“Then I have to do it. The subject of interest that you have here is the intruder of the party.”
The tip of the mouse-shaped mask in Seodol’s hand became slightly distorted, perhaps from the added force from his hand.
The mask was the color of a mouse.
The dull color didn’t go well with the white clothes that Seodol was wearing.
“There are two intruders, but I guess you’re more interested in the one with the swan mask — the Phantom Thief Neon who sent a colorful announcement. Merlin’s disciple isn’t well dressed, and I know that part is important for you. That’s why you became a designer to send clothes to people that you like.”
Come to think of it, only those who put particular thought into their clothing are the ones Seodol is interested in.
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Hong Gyubin, who doesn’t let his coat be wrinkled even though he’s drowning in long hours of work.
Kwon Jein, who pulls off the dresses prepared by the Lake of Eternity team members.
Hwang Jiho, who always matches interior design and fashion to the season.
All of them were neat-looking and well-dressed.
Compared to them and Phantom Thief Neon, Goo Seulbi didn’t pay much attention to her clothes.
“Well, that’s true. Oh, by the way, I think the suit that you’re wearing is okay. I don’t like the dark color of it, but I think it matches your personality. Is that why?”
Seodol is implying that Heukma has a dark personality.
He technically praised her, but Heukma didn’t look happy about it at all.
Rather, she seems to feel unpleasant being evaluated by Seodol.
“And I could think of a superior being related to swans.”
“There’s probably more than hundreds of them related to swans, both in Eastern and Western mythology.”
“There’s only one that comes to mind considering this auction though. Didn’t that swan mask person receive Midhir’s revelation?”
The Celtic God Midhir.
There is a story that he infiltrated a castle in the form of a swan to regain his lover.
Some say he turned into a swan after a long ordeal and adventure, and that he was with his lover who he couldn’t be united with in the end.
He does remind me of a swan, but I thought of something else.
Midhir is known as the genius of Fidchell, a game known as Celtic Chess.
In the myths, Midhir famously challenged the king to a chess match to regain his lover.
I remember reading about him when I was a chess player.
‘…I can’t believe I’m hearing his name in here.’
Phantom Thief Neon and Midhir.
The two names being mentioned in the same sentence didn’t seem compatible.
I suddenly remembered the image of the man in a swan mask and a chessboard cufflink.
On top of that, the information is from Heukma, who possibly has a connection to Epona.
The Phantom Thief in PMH was never associated with a superior being, but Neon in this world could be related to Midhir.
“You didn’t answer right away. I guess I’m right.”
“It’s not particularly because of what you said.”
Seodol’s tone changed.
He wore his mask again, and I saw a mouse-colored bead on his wrist.
‘That’s Seodol’s weapon when he broke Hwang Jiho’s boundary back in China…!’
I remember how the golden boundary was shattered when his mouse-colored beads went into contact.
He’s taking it out now, which means…
He wants to fight Heukma?
Hesitating if I should stop them or use this opportunity to run, Seodol suddenly moved.
Fwaaa!
The mouse-colored bead in Seodol’s hand rose in the air.
It split into dozens and rushed into shadows flying toward Heukma and Seodol.
I haven’t sensed those shadows at all.
At first glance, the shadows seemed to be darker and larger, but when they lost their shape because of the beads…
“How dare you intervene in a conversation between clan heads?”
Seodol narrowed his eyes and looked down at the shadow.
The shadow disappeared and the fragmented body of the enemy was revealed.
Perhaps she also sensed the enemy approaching, Heukma didn’t look all too shocked.
“Why is this thing going around? I thought only the gloved hands were allowed in here.”
“It must have something to do with this place, right?”
Seodol put his hand on the wall and released an energy wave.
Heukma put her hand on the wall as well and gasped as if she identified the space we were in.
“The space seemed to be getting more and more distorted from before, but it’s completely different from earlier…!”
“How outstanding. Where did the Fomorians get this technology?”
“There’s no doubt about it. This place is an otherworld. This place is the Fomorians’ garden!”
