BRDM 173

chapter 173

The Queen continued her explanation calmly, as if she had known this moment would come someday.

According to her, the Overlord Bokhae fell one day into this world, which the dungeon giants called the White Sea (Baekhae).

He took the form of a long, massive dragon.

The dungeon giants were at a loss, unsure how to deal with him.

His breath was barely holding on, yet his injuries were so severe that no one could predict when he might stop struggling.

“How severe were his injuries?”

“His bleeding was so extreme that most of the nearby White Sea was dyed red.”

“…….”

“On top of that, a poisonous miasma spread, damaging many crops. At that time, we lived peacefully in the Black Sea… that is, we had no interactions with humans on the surface, nor did we struggle with the sea itself.”

The Queen smiled bitterly as she spoke, and Son Oh-gong pressed his lips tightly together.

“Of course, suddenly encountering Bokhae was terrifying. Even though we all emphasized that we are warriors, we had never seen a being so enormous and imposing before.”

It wouldn’t have been merely imposing.

Hundreds or even thousands of yokai must have merged to form the dragon’s shape.

And, on top of that, its intense poison and foul stench.

It must have been grotesque and repulsive.

At that moment, it was the Queen’s father, the previous king, who stepped forward.

“He said we should save him.”

Rescuing the lost, healing them, and sending them back home—that had long been a part of their culture.

From that point, the dungeon giants treated the Overlord Bokhae with utmost care.

And then, he opened his eyes.

“Fortunately, unlike his true form, his humanized form seemed noble. He expressed gratitude politely and often shared items or knowledge we needed from what he had…”

Lee Hyun glanced subtly at Bungma-wang.

Bungma-wang gave a bitter smile and nodded.

“That’s right. He was the second elder brother. Unlike his siblings who dressed freely, he always wore a black robe and an Osamo hat, keeping a neat and proper appearance.”

Compared to his rough, oceanic true form, his humanized appearance resembled a proper scholar.

At that moment, Son Oh-gong asked the Queen:

“So, you were taught by that Bokhae fellow around that time?”

“Yes. That’s correct. He taught me many things, and I followed him closely.”

A bitter smile crept across the Queen’s lips.

“But…….”

“That was all a ploy for betrayal, wasn’t it?”

The Queen flinched in surprise.

It was harsh words toward her brother.

Yet Son Oh-gong merely listened impassively.

‘Something is definitely going on.’

The Queen, sensing his gaze, continued.

“I don’t know when you noticed, but it seems he had been keeping an eye on the treasure we’ve hidden for centuries, waiting for the opportunity to approach.”

“If it really is the ‘true’ heart of Ymir, it’s understandable to covet it.”

Son Oh-gong’s eyes deepened.

[Ymir]

The first giant and ancestor of all beings in the world. Also known as Imir, Aurgelmir, Brimir, etc.

According to the Edda, the chief god Odin killed him to create this world: his blood became the sea, his flesh the land, his bones the mountains, and his hair the trees and grass.

• Origin: Norse Mythology, Poetic and Prose Edda

Son Oh-gong, like Lee Hyun, thought it strange that Ymir’s heart would be in this dungeon.

‘Jack and the Beanstalk has no connection to Norse mythology. Even the suspected original “Jack the Giant Slayer” is closely linked to Celtic myth.’

The Queen sighed, reading their expressions.

“Even our royal family doesn’t know how this treasure came into our possession. It has merely been passed down from the previous generation, so we keep it…”

“That’s not the main point. So… Bokhae took it?”

“Yes. During the guard’s shift change… it was in the treasure chest that the Black Sea wizard was trying to open.”

Lee Hyun looked at the empty chest.

The aura of the Golden Key was gone.

“He must have regained some strength. Next, he would have tried to ‘consume’ those who saved him, right?”

The Queen’s face stiffened, the same expression she had shown earlier.

Son Oh-gong clicked his tongue.

“This is the problem with yokai. Gratitude is one thing, but self-preservation always comes first.”

“……”

“Especially this fellow—by his nature, he needs to increase the number of subordinate units in his swarm. He’s already a bit sly, so it fits him all the more…”

The Queen did not respond.

“But you didn’t just let him act freely. Bokhae must have taken a fatal hit in the process and fallen to the surface you call the Black Sea, right?”

“……There was reinforcements at that time.”

“That figures. Alone, you wouldn’t have been able to stop him after he consumed Ymir’s heart. Who was it? Okhwang? Shiva? Odin, since it’s Ymir?”

The Queen shook her head in confusion.

“I don’t know who they were, but no.”

“Then?”

“Angels.”

“An… angel?”

Completely unexpected.

Son Oh-gong’s eyes widened slightly.

The Queen nodded gravely.

“One of the four archangels, Raphael, and his angelic legion descended.”

“……!”

Son Oh-gong’s golden eyes flashed.

After all the explanations, she said:

“Kid, continue what you were doing here. You can find Geunduun on your own, right?”

Son Oh-gong seemed to have already made up his mind. Bungma-wang and Sa Oh-jeong were also prepared to follow.

“Are you going to the Black Sea?”

“First, we have to find it. Inseong may have messed things up this time, but brothers are still brothers.”

Son Oh-gong gazed at the massive beanstalk outside the window.

Lee Hyun’s mind replayed the shocking revelations the Queen had told him.

• Archangel Raphael and his legion had attempted to subdue the Overlord.

• The Overlord’s resistance was fierce, leading to a prolonged struggle…

• Ultimately, the previous king sacrificed himself to pierce the Overlord’s heart with a sword.

The Queen’s face showed clear sorrow.

The loss of her father and the killing of her mentor—she had effectively lost two fathers simultaneously.

• The heart’s absorption hadn’t finished yet, so a rampage occurred…

• The Overlord, fallen to the Black Sea, was sealed by Archangel Raphael.

• But the seal wasn’t perfect. His true persona could be sealed, but the subordinate units were too numerous to fully contain.

• That’s why seawater kept pouring out of the incomplete fissures.

• Recently, the seal weakened, seawater increased, and the Sea King occasionally appeared… the Black Sea has been under constant surveillance.

The Queen concluded that the Overlord’s seal was gradually weakening.

It was also why Son Oh-gong decided to take action personally.

“Bokhae’s resistance is one thing, but Raphael likely couldn’t manifest for long due to karmic limits. The seal’s completion would have suffered because of that.”

Raphael symbolizes the East and healing, but also specializes in sealing techniques, as seen in myths where he sealed demons Asmodeus and Azazel.

“I wonder why it’s <Malakh> this time, not Okhwang… We’ll know more when we meet Bokhae.”

<Malakh> is a divine society of angels centered on Metatron, described in the Bible.

They didn’t try to kill or seize the Overlord like Okhwang. Their intention was to ‘save’ him—secretly, avoiding other divine societies’ attention.

Son Oh-gong sensed something unusual about <Malakh>’s intentions.

‘Ymir’s heart, then <Malakh>… there’s some complex flow at the base. What could it be?’

Lee Hyun thought of Michael Shepherd, descended from Gabriel, another of the four archangels.

Does he know something?

‘Wait… the Astra director has been wanting to meet me repeatedly. Could this be connected?’

Believing nothing in the world happens by pure chance, Lee Hyun’s thoughts deepened.

“Take care out there.”

“Care? Hah.”

Son Oh-gong waved his hand with a light laugh and moved outside, exchanging casual glances with Sa Oh-jeong and Bungma-wang.

Whoosh—

Pat—

The three disappeared…

Lee Hyun glanced at the [Dice left behind by Fortuna] in his hand.

He felt a bad premonition and checked them.

The total of the two dice was 4.

Meaning: ‘Precarious balance.’

Opportunity and risk are intertwined; one must be cautious or fall.

Not exactly a good number.

‘Hope nothing bad happens.’

He tossed the dice back into his inventory and turned his gaze to the Queen.

She finally exhaled after Son Oh-gong left.

“How can someone keep traveling with those people?”

Her gaze at Lee Hyun went from admiration to a wry smile.

“Perhaps you’re already used to it and feel no difficulty? Maybe you’re far greater than you appear.”

“Perhaps.”

Lee Hyun didn’t respond at length, aware that his abnormal growth had been thanks to traveling with Son Oh-gong’s group.

“By the way, I had a question while listening.”

“What is it?”

Lee Hyun raised his head.

The Queen, though sitting, was so tall that he had to look up.

“Geunduun… did the Overlord ever locate it?”

The Queen’s eyes deepened.

“He… did.”

“Then why couldn’t he take it?”

“……”

The Queen pressed her lips tightly.

Despite explaining everything else, she refused to reveal this. Her determination was clear.

This, in turn, heightened Lee Hyun’s suspicion.

“So there was another reason. You didn’t tell Daeseong.”

“……”

“She explained about the Overlord but tried to hide that part. Even if it’s discovered, it would be revealed as late as possible.”

Beneath the mask, Lee Hyun’s golden eyes shone even more intensely.

“The reason the seawater kept invading the White Sea while the Overlord was sealed… must have been Geunduun.”

The Queen stiffened, her expression matching her body.

He saw her slowly reach for the warhammer beside her foot.

“Unconsciously, there’s a thought that Geunduun must be recovered. Whether the Overlord seeks Daeseong or for another reason, Geunduun is essential. Likewise… you also need it.”

“……”

“If it’s taken, even the fragile survival rights you cling to would vanish. Right?”

“You… you know everything and still… say that…!!”

The Queen clenched her teeth, standing with determination.

Ku-ku-ku-ku!

She seemed ready to fight Lee Hyun to the death here.

Even if Son Oh-gong discovered it later and she died, she would overcome the crisis at this moment.

Seeing that,

“As expected.”

Lee Hyun’s certainty deepened.

The reason he hadn’t been able to find hints about Geunduun upon arriving at the White Sea…

Even when peering with his golden eyes, the world was filled entirely with golden waves.

Because

“The White Sea supporting your giant fortress… the entire cloud was Geunduun.”

“……!!!”

The whole world of this realm had been built upon Geunduun.

Just as the Queen, with a contorted face, tried to dash at Lee Hyun,

“If I become your savior—”

He paused.

The Queen froze slightly.

“……What?”

“Didn’t you say it yourself that I am the savior? If I truly become your savior… if I take Geunduun, end the seawater, and still preserve your world safely,”

“……!?”

Lee Hyun’s eyes deepened.

“What will you give me then?”

“……!!”