Min Yeongyeong was staring at a certain place with a pleased gaze.
The ice tiger and Cheongha, which seemed to have gotten quite close.
Of course, although there was still a huge wall called the wooden floor between the two, Cheongha seemed to be satisfied with just being able to look at the ice tiger up close like this.
'Thank goodness.'
Although it would have been better if the fruit of love had been firmly tied, if Cheongha was satisfied with this, Min Yeongyeong didn't particularly mind.
Because Cheongha could be said to be the happiest she had ever seen it.
Seeing Cheongha so happy, Min Yeongyeong's mood also improved.
"That's a relief."
At that moment, a voice was heard from the side.
Cheon Myeong, who was now sitting next to Min Yeongyeong.
Discovering him, Min Yeongyeong's two eyes widened in surprise.
"Y-Young Leader..."
"I was wondering what would happen, but it seems the ice tiger doesn't dislike Cheongha."
"Ah... thank you. This is all thanks to you, Young Leader."
"No. It's a result that Cheongha has obtained because it tried."
Cheon Myeong really thought so.
Because when Cheongha had not given up even after being rejected by the ice tiger, Cheon Myeong had also cheered for it in his mind.
This could be said to be a cheer that was filled with sincerity, apart from the plan.
"..."
But that didn't mean that Cheon Myeong had forgotten his original purpose.
Wasn't the reason why he had arranged this meeting to find out the whereabouts of the Three Sacred Treasures?
Since her guard against him would have been lowered quite a bit by this, Cheon Myeong was trying to slowly approach Min Yeongyeong.
"By the way, Miss Min, no, is it more comfortable to call you Young Palace Lord?"
"You can call me as you are comfortable, Young Leader. And our Beast Palace doesn't have a Young Palace Lord."
"You don't have a Young Palace Lord?"
Cheon Myeong asked with a puzzled face.
If she had come here as a representative of the Beast Palace, wouldn't he naturally think that she was the Young Palace Lord?
Since her age was also similar to his, Cheon Myeong had been thinking that way without realizing it.
"The Beast Palace is a place made up of several factions."
"..."
"The Palace Lord is a method where one of the representatives put forward by each faction becomes one."
In a way, it could be said to be similar to the current Demonic Cult.
The disciples of the leader, including Cheon Myeong.
Just as they all became Young Leader candidates, in the Beast Palace, one of the representatives put forward by each faction would become the next Palace Lord.
"Then the reason why Miss Min came here as a representative of the Beast Palace is..."
"I am the representative of the Yeongtong faction. Of course, it wouldn't particularly matter if a representative of another faction came... but since our faction is the largest, I came as the representative."
"Oh, is that so?"
Just like the Ice Palace, it could be said that there was almost no information known to the public about the Beast Palace.
As Cheon Myeong was listening to the story as if it were interesting, Min Yeongyeong began to speak with a slightly excited voice.
"Yes, besides the Yeongtong faction, there are also factions such as the Baekbyeong faction and the Biik faction. Each faction has its own role and characteristics."
"Then what role does the Yeongtong faction, where Miss Min is, play?"
"The Yeongtong faction mainly communicates with animals... Ah!"
At that moment, as if she had realized something, Min Yeongyeong was startled and covered her mouth with both hands.
Why on earth was she telling an outsider the information of the Beast Palace in such detail?
Perhaps because Cheon Myeong had approached so naturally, Min Yeongyeong belatedly realized that fact.
"What's wrong?"
"...I'm sorry. I don't think I can say any more."
"Ah, I think I was too insensitive."
Cheon Myeong said that and lightly bowed his head as if to apologize.
"I'm sorry. I definitely did not ask to dig up information about the Beast Palace."
"Ah, no! You don't have to apologize that much..."
"No. If you think about it the other way, it's the same as the information of this cult being leaked to the outside, so it's a matter that I should naturally apologize for."
As Cheon Myeong said that and apologized, it was rather Min Yeongyeong's side that was flustered.
At the same time, a sense of guilt was pushed in.
As he had said, Min Yeongyeong had suspected for a moment that Cheon Myeong was trying to dig up information about the Beast Palace through her.
But since that side had apologized first, wasn't she rather sorry?
Perhaps because of that, Min Yeongyeong's suspicion towards Cheon Myeong had now completely disappeared.
"Please raise your head! It's really okay, I'm telling you!"
"..."
"Rather, I'm sorry. No, I'm very sorry!"
Saying that, Min Yeongyeong bowed her head until her forehead was about to touch the wooden floor.
Swish-
At that moment, Cheon Myeong, who raised his head as if he had been waiting.
Soon, with a meaningful voice, Cheon Myeong looked down at Min Yeongyeong and said.
"Are you really that sorry?"
"...Pardon?"
"You just said you were sorry to me. Did I hear that wrong?"
"..."
Although those words were not wrong... Min Yeongyeong could not say anything for a moment at the sense of unease felt from Cheon Myeong's tone.
Cheon Myeong's tone, which had changed subtly.
Although Min Yeongyeong was slightly taken aback by that change, since it was true that she had done something wrong, she nodded her head and answered.
"That's right... I was wrong."
"Then can you do me a favor?"
"...A favor?"
"Yes, a very trivial favor."
Cheon Myeong said that and smiled.
On the other hand, Min Yeongyeong's expression, where a sense of being taken aback was felt.
Something is strange.
Should I say that it felt as if the conversation had naturally progressed to this side, as if water were flowing?
If it had been really natural, she would not have felt this way, but this felt as if someone had artificially made a path and the water was flowing.
'...Yes, I can grant a trivial favor.'
In the end, Min Yeongyeong shook off the sense of unease she had felt and made that decision.
Hadn't Cheon Myeong also granted her request before?
Considering that point, this could be said to be a natural duty.
"Okay."
"..."
Hearing Min Yeongyeong's answer, the corners of Cheon Myeong's mouth went up slightly.
However, as if she had not discovered that, Min Yeongyeong continued to speak to Cheon Myeong.
"So what is your favor?"
"I will not say that now."
"Pardon?"
"I will tell you later."
What on earth was he going to ask of her to say that?
If she didn't confirm it right away, it seemed that she would lose sleep tonight.
"What on earth is in your favor..."
It was then.
As soon as Min Yeongyeong said that to Cheon Myeong, Heo Cham, who was walking to the place where the two were, as if he had been waiting.
At the same time, a strange man was walking with Heo Cham.
"...?"
Cheon Myeong's gaze turned to Heo Cham and the man next to him.
A face he had seen once before.
Although he had seen it almost in passing, so he did not remember it immediately, Cheon Myeong recalled that it was the person who had been following Min Yeongyeong with Cheongha.
"...?"
As if she had felt the presence, Min Yeongyeong's gaze also turned to Heo Cham and the man.
"What is it, Gwak Seong? I told you to wait outside."
"I'm sorry. But since there was a message from the Martial Alliance, I had no choice but to disobey the order."
Hearing those words, Min Yeongyeong looked at Cheon Myeong for a moment and then soon walked close to the man.
And Heo Cham, who had approached Cheon Myeong.
Just as the man was now speaking to Min Yeongyeong, Heo Cham also spoke cautiously to Cheon Myeong.
"Young Master, a message has come from the Martial Alliance."
"Speak."
"They say to bring you, Young Master, immediately."
"..."
"It seems that the representatives of the other places have also received the same message as us."
At that moment, a strange light flashed in Cheon Myeong's two eyes.
To think that the message would come so quickly.
Since he had thought that he might have to wait for a few days, this news sounded quite welcome to Cheon Myeong.
'Can I now hear the reason why they called me here?'
Don't tell me they're going to bring up the absurd words 'a place of harmony' again this time.
If they were to do that again, it seemed that even Cheon Myeong himself would not know what he would say in that place.
"Young Leader."
At that moment, Min Yeongyeong approached and called Cheon Myeong.
"Did you also receive the message from the Martial Alliance, Young Leader?"
"Yes. It seems that it's the same for you, Miss Min."
"..."
At that moment, Min Yeongyeong's gaze turned to the side where the ice tiger and Cheongha were.
Cheongha, who was still looking at the ice tiger as if it were happy.
Looking at it, as if she had made a decision, Min Yeongyeong looked at Cheon Myeong again and said, "Young Leader, is it okay if I leave Cheongha here?"
"..."
"I don't know for what reason the Martial Alliance is calling us, but I will take Cheongha with me when that is over."
Originally, she would have taken Cheongha with her.
But wouldn't Cheongha be happier to stay here with the ice tiger than to go with her?
Since it seemed that only boring talk would continue if it went with her anyway, Min Yeongyeong was trying to leave Cheongha here in the meantime.
"Of course."
Since it was not a difficult request, Cheon Myeong answered immediately.
Min Yeongyeong, who was giving her thanks in succession.
Until then, a smile was on Cheon Myeong's face. However, the moment Cheon Myeong moved his steps, the smile had soon disappeared.
"..."
Pacheongyo.
Cheon Myeong was once again repeating that name in his mind and was moving his steps.
***
Inside the room where a huge round table was placed.
The people had gathered again in that place where they had first seen each other's faces.
However, if there was a slight difference from that time, it was that now, only one person who could be called a representative from each group was here.
"..."
Originally, Cheon Myeong had been thinking of bringing Heo Cham to this place as well.
However, since he had been stopped at the entrance of the hall, in the end, only Cheon Myeong could come in.
Now, in this place, only the representatives and, exceptionally, Jegal Jeong were present.
'Only the representatives can enter...'
As soon as he heard those words, a thought came to Cheon Myeong's mind.
Why on earth had the Martial Alliance restricted entry in this way?
There was only one thing that could be guessed, and it could only be thought that the Martial Alliance side had restricted entry to talk about something that only the representatives should hear.
And of course, that talk would be the real reason why the Martial Alliance had gathered them.
Although Cheon Myeong had been thinking that to some extent before coming here, he was now almost certain of that thought.
Thump-
A teacup placed in front of Cheon Myeong.
Soon, a teacup was placed in front of all the other people.
As the maids placed the teacups and went outside, Jegal Jeong finally began to open his mouth.
"Although it must have been a sudden call, thank you for gathering like this right away."
"..."
"How was your sleep yesterday?"
No one answered that question.
Only an awkward silence was filling this space.
As that current seemed to continue, in the end, Howonjae opened his mouth.
"It seems that everyone did not like their sleeping arrangements very much."
"..."
"Let's get straight to the main point. It seems that everyone is wanting that now."
At the same time as those words, the current flowing in the room changed in an instant.
As Howonjae had just said, everyone's interest was only one.
Why on earth had the Martial Alliance prepared a place like this?
Due to Howonjae's remark just now, it was no different from making it a fait accompli that the Martial Alliance side had some purpose.
"I understand."
After answering Howonjae, Jegal Jeong looked at the people again.
The gazes that were now all directed at this side.
After a brief silence, Jegal Jeong looked at the people and said.
"The Sea King Family of the East Sea. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult of the Western Regions. The Beast Palace of the Southern Barbarians. The Ice Palace of the North Sea. And the Martial Alliance of the Central Plains."
"..."
"It would not be an exaggeration to say that the martial world is made up of these five forces."
No one particularly refuted those words.
Of course, although there would be people who did not think so, this could be said to be the general consensus of the people of the world.
The thoughts of the representatives gathered here were, of course, the same.
"So I will make a proposal to you."
"...?"
"The Martial Alliance, the Ice Palace, the Sea King Family, the Beast Palace, and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. An alliance... made up of these five forces."
"...!"
"I will now propose an unprecedented alliance in the history of the martial world in this place."
This was the reason why the Martial Alliance had created a place like this.
As if no one had expected such words to come out of Jegal Jeong's mouth, only silence began to flow in the room again.
(End of Chapter)