Chapter 007 : Small Snow Squad Captain
“Phew.”
I almost froze.
I, Hyeokryeon Yeom, who had melted Seol Ye-rin's Ice Arts by raising flames, gave instructions to Baek Mu-yong.
“Baek Mu-yong, take the Young Palace Head outside along with Wi Ji-yeong.”
“Pardon? Me, sir?”
“Because I feel I should have a talk with Eun-bin alone.”
At my words, Baek Mu-yong, who let out a sigh, moved immediately.
“Young Palace Head, I think you will have to leave for a moment.”
“Are you ordering me right now?”
“I apologize, but the Palace Head has instructed that for orders related to the Young Palace Head, we should follow the Small snow squad Captain's orders first.”
When Baek Mu-yong used the Palace Head's name, Seol Ye-rin's expression hardened.
Of course, that was a story Baek Mu-yong made up on the spot.
The quick-witted Baek Mu-yong arranged a place where I could converse with Eun-bin alone.
“Now now. Young Palace Head. Perhaps you have curiosities about the Young Master? I will tell you everything, so if you have anything you are curious about, let us go talk!”
Wi Ji-yeong used my name to lead the Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin, outside.
‘Seol Ye-rin probably will not move just because they talk about me?’
Contrary to that thought, I saw Seol Ye-rin's ears perk up.
“…I will listen to the story.”
Like that, Seol Ye-rin was led out by Baek Mu-yong and Wi Ji-yeong.
I approached Eun-bin, who was still clutching his shoulder.
“How is it? It must be a face you are seeing after a long time.”
“……You look good.”
Eun-bin's gaze was still directed toward the door Seol Ye-rin had exited.
“Now, shall we have an honest talk? I intend to remain in the North Sea and to do that, I must receive the Palace Head's acknowledgement and win the Young Palace Head's heart.”
“Why are you going so far? Did you really take a liking to the Young Palace Head or something?”
As if it was an important issue, Eun-bin looked straight into my eyes.
I nodded.
I had been thinking of seducing Seol Ye-rin even before arriving at the Ice Palace.
Since I told the Heavenly Demon that I would take the Wish-granting Jewel and return.
Of course, that was not my sincere intention.
‘Because if the Young Palace Head dies, the justification to remain in the North Sea no longer disappears.’
Hyeokryeon Geuk will definitely target me in this life as well.
Because he is a guy who is satisfied only when dangerous elements are cleanly disposed of.
It is clear he cannot move directly right now because he is wary of Father.
That is why he probably mobilized the Thunderbolt Demon Clan.
To openly kill me.
Although it was also to save me, the Cult Leader, Hyeokryeon Hwi, wanted to establish a cooperative relationship with the Ice Palace using this arranged marriage as a bridgehead.
It worked out well.
‘Because from my perspective, becoming a bridgehead is advantageous for survival.’
In that sense, the fact that I was born with an Extreme Yang Body was truly fortunate.
Since it seems I left a good first impression.
Furthermore, I succeeded in persuading the Palace Head and was able to create a unit solely for myself.
“I fell in love at first sight. Since we are in the same situation, there are parts I empathize with, and also, feeling that only I can solve the Young Palace Head's Heavenly Punishment, it is just a heart that wants to be a comfort to the Young Palace Head.”
There were no lies.
Because it was true that I felt the pain of shared suffering.
I spoke sincerely to Eun-bin.
If I felt the pain of burning everything by possessing an Extreme Yang Body, Seol Ye-rin would have felt the pain of freezing everything by possessing an Extreme Yin Body.
I told him I wanted to melt that coldness.
“Come to think of it, you said you also had a special constitution like the Young Palace Head.”
At Eun-bin's muttering, I felt that Eun-bin's attitude had strangely changed.
Is it because he saw the Young Palace Head's healthy appearance?
His expression has softened a little.
Anyway, I nodded and extended my hand to Eun-bin.
“You also have not properly experienced me yet, Vice Captain. I wish you would give me a chance too.”
“That is…….”
“Good, then let's hold hands like this.”
“…I do not have a hobby of holding hands with a man?”
“It is a hand that has held the Young Palace Head's hand.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“Hold my hand and endure my Yang Qi. If you endure the Yang Qi, Vice Captain, I will reconsider the matter of the Small Snow Squad Captain.”
I extended my hand with those words.
Eun-bin stared blankly at the hand I extended.
“Why? Can't I hold it?”
“It is not that. Before holding this hand, there is one thing I want to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Why do you want to appoint me as the Vice Captain?”
Eun-bin is the former Captain of the Small Snow Squad.
If I intend to establish a new unit, I do not necessarily have to keep Eun-bin.
If I did not know that Eun-bin was the shield protecting Seol Ye-rin's life, I surely might have cast Eun-bin out as well.
But having already experienced a past life, I know that Eun-bin is necessary to protect the Young Palace Head.
However, I cannot tell the truth as it is.
“Because I heard the Small Snow Squad is a unit for the Small Snow.”
Small Snow means the small master of the Ice Palace.
Does it make sense if Eun-bin, who can even offer his life for Seol Ye-rin, is missing from the unit for the Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin?
“Is that saying that you, too, can do anything if it is for the Young Palace Head?”
“Of course. I will do my best to treat the Young Palace Head's Extreme Yin Body.”
Suddenly, the memory of holding hands with the Young Palace Head comes to mind again.
The sight where Yang Qi and Yin Qi mixed appropriately and formed harmony.
I wanted to feel again the memory where I seemed like I would realize something, yet almost didn't.
Naturally, my gaze turned wistful.
Eun-bin, who was watching that appearance, opened his mouth.
“I hope those words are true.”
Soon, Eun-bin reached out and grasped my hand.
Smirk.
“Wake up and make that judgment, Vice Captain.”
The meaning of holding hands meant Eun-bin would acknowledge me.
I pushed Extreme Yang Qi into Eun-bin through the grasped hands.
-Cough!
Why push in Yang Qi when I received acknowledgement?
Because there was a need to properly imprint the fact that I am the Captain of the Small Snow Squad into his head.
“Aaaargh!”
Flare!
Eun-bin's whole body began to burn.
“Do not worry. You will not die.”
However, every single hair on his body will be completely burned away.
Hiss-
Eun-bin, who caught fire, collapsed on the snowy ground.
Eun-bin was already in a state of fainting.
I quite liked the appearance where even his hair was singed.
“Congratulations on becoming the Vice Captain of the Small Snow Squad.”
***
Palace Head's Hall.
“I report.”
The North Sea Ice Palace's Head Manager, Seol Su-hyeok, made a bitter expression in front of the Ice Palace Head, Seol Baek-ho.
“Young Master Hyeokryeon Yeom won in the duel with the Small Snow Squad Captain, Eun-bin.”
“Eun-bin's condition?”
“He is fine except that his hair caught fire and burned away without leaving a single strand remaining.”
“Kuhahaha!”
“It is not a laughing matter, Palace Head.”
The Ice Palace Head, Seol Baek-ho, spoke while wiping away tears.
“I knew he was a bold fellow, but to make the child Ye-rin cherishes the most bald, I could die of laughter.”
“Do you intend to leave him be like this?”
“Is there any problem? Is it not truly grateful that not only did he save Ye-rin, but he is striving to become a live-in son-in-law?”
How could he not know?
Seol Su-hyeok was one of the people Hyeokryeon Yeom bothered the longest these days.
The atmosphere of the Palace Head's Hall became heavy as Seol Baek-ho's laughter calmed down.
Seol Su-hyeok looked at the Ice Palace Head sitting on the throne with a still hardened expression.
The existence of Hyeokryeon Yeom was like a hot wind that blew into the North Sea.
Seol Su-hyeok's mind was complicated on how to handle this outsider shaking the cold order of the Ice Palace.
“Palace Head.”
Seol Su-hyeok opened his mouth.
“To speak honestly, it is difficult for me to trust this person called Hyeokryeon Yeom. I acknowledge that he melted the Young Palace Head's ice, but I cannot predict his actions after that at all. Making Eun-bin like that is one thing, and wielding the Small snow squad as he pleases is another. If you leave him like this, the martial artists of the North Sea will not stay still.”
Seol Baek-ho answered leisurely while resting his chin on his hand.
“Head Manager, I understand your worried heart. But isn't that guy quite something?”
“Just because he strives does not mean everything works out.”
Seol Su-hyeok refuted firmly.
“He is an outsider. For someone without the blood of the North Sea flowing in him to become the Young Palace Head's spouse and lead the Small snow squad could be something that touches the pride of the Ice Palace's martial artists. Right now, everyone is keeping their mouths shut because it is the Palace Head's order, but if complaints pile up, we do not know when they will burst.”
Seol Baek-ho's eyebrow raised slightly.
“Then what do you want me to do, Head Manager? We cannot undo bringing him here after deciding to form a blood alliance with the Demonic Cult. Furthermore, he seems to be the only one who can melt Ye-rin's ice.”
“I am not saying to undo it.”
Seol Su-hyeok shook his head.
“I am saying there is a need to review whether he is truly a necessary figure for the North Sea and whether he has the qualifications as the Young Palace Head's spouse. We cannot just let it pass just because he became the Small snow squad Captain, can we?”
At Seol Su-hyeok's words, Seol Baek-ho fell silent for a moment.
Hyeokryeon Yeom was certainly a bold and unpredictable man.
But even Seol Baek-ho had no choice but to acknowledge the will and ability hidden within that boldness.
Just looking at how he suppressed Eun-bin and seized the Small snow squad, one had to recognize Hyeokryeon Yeom's ability.
“Certainly, if he is a person who will become Ye-rin's spouse, he should do other activities rather than just devoting himself to treatment.”
Seol Baek-ho muttered, then slowly opened his mouth.
“The Head Manager is right. To become Ye-rin's husband, he must receive the North Sea's acknowledgment. It is not the end just because he snatched the Small snow squad Captain position. He must establish merit that the martial artists of the North Sea can accept.”
Seol Su-hyeok nodded and asked.
“If you say merit?”
Seol Baek-ho rose from the throne.
The chill emitting from his huge physique made the Palace Head's Hall even colder.
He looked at the snowy field of the North Sea visible beyond the window and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
“It wouldn't be bad to entrust him with the horse bandits that are causing headaches.”