BRDM 97

Apostle Trial (2)

[“Random Event: You have completed ‘A Request from <The Snow Queen>’.”]

[As a reward, the rank of ‘Emblem of the Bitter Cold’ has increased. You can now use more sub-skills.]

[You have learned Frost Baptism.]

[You have learned Frost Possession.]

[From now on, you can command the retainers recovered by the <Snow Queen>’s narrative as ice spirits.]

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative expresses gratitude to you.]

The change came suddenly.

They’d been lightly tipsy while discussing plans for what would come next, and when a burning sensation crept across the back of his hand and he checked it, he found a change had already started.

Lee Hyun quickly hid his hand out of sight, worrying others might see.

Whoosh…—

The small crest stamped on the back of his hand expanded until it covered the whole back of his hand.

At the same time, a message rose up.

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative bows her head and apologizes for the delay, saying she can finally take a breather.]

Lee Hyun let out a short, embarrassed laugh.

He wondered why she had been so quiet even after the dungeon was cleared.

It seemed she’d been busy sorting out the retainers she’d recovered.

‘Is it all over now?’

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative answers that it seems roughly so.]
[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative sighs, saying there are still unstable parts and she has many worries.]

Lee Hyun nodded.

That was only to be expected.

Even if the retainers’ loyalty was strong, they’d been twisted for so long by Seo Chang-woo’s (서창우) influence that a lot must be damaged.

Meanwhile, the Snow Queen’s own narrative restoration was still incomplete.

So it would take more time to purge the corruption.

Besides,

‘Not all the retainers have been recovered yet.’

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative narrows her eyes, wondering how many retainers are tied to the enemy.]
[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative expresses strong hatred toward those who treated the retainers carelessly.]

Lee Hyun nodded, then asked.

‘You said I could use Baptism and Possession now. Does that mean I can command an ice legion like you can?’

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative sniffs haughtily and lifts her chin: do I look like I’d allow my retainers to be so casually commanded?]

‘Then what are these messages about?’

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative advises that, due to differences in attribute domination, you may still be lacking in that regard.]
[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative explains that purified spirits, however, can be freely commanded under her authority.]

‘Purified spirits I can command freely?’

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative displays the current situation.]
[Current number of summonable spirits: 2]

‘Two…’

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative says that even if the number is small, each of her retainers is on a different level than ordinary spirits.]
[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative adds that her guard will be your shield and the knight order will be your sword.]

Lee Hyun nodded.

He already knew well the skill and role of the guard and the knights.

‘If your narrative gets stronger, or if my attribute domination increases, the number of summonable spirits will increase too, right?’

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative nods affirmatively.]

‘Then someday I might be able to command your whole legion?’

At that thought, Lee Hyun’s eyes flashed.

If he could really command the soldiers of the <Ice Palace>.

If he could preside over the dungeon that had driven the world to the brink,

no ally would compare to that power.

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative affirms that as long as you keep working together like this, it is quite possible.]

‘Of course,’

Lee Hyun clenched his fist.

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative warns, however, that you shouldn’t be so quick to conclude;]
[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative advises: do not forget that your rival is already a step ahead of you.]

It was obvious.

Seo Chang-woo could casually command the knight order and the guards even from far away.

That meant the part he witnessed was only a small fraction of what the original could command.

So the rival must be much closer to the <Ice Palace> than Hyun was.

All the more reason for Lee Hyun to step up his efforts.

‘Then…’

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative tilts her head.]

‘How about if I could recover your corpse?’

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative opens her eyes wide.]

‘He gained a relic from just one of his hands, and I’ve raised it this much.’

Lee Hyun stroked the Emblem of the Bitter Cold as he thought.

‘If I could retrieve the entire original body, maybe I could restore more of his narrative?’

He imagined the Snow Queen’s corpse said to be stored somewhere in the Ministry of Defense.

He’d heard it was displayed like war trophies, perhaps?

‘It would be good if I could retrieve that…’

In truth, Lee Hyun hadn’t intended to help restore the Snow Queen’s narrative much.

Recently they’d had many occasions to cooperate, but the Snow Queen had still been the main culprit behind breaking the Cheongroe (청뢰).

Yet after meeting Seo Chang-woo in person, his thinking changed.

He needed the Snow Queen’s help if he was to forcefully control Seo Chang-woo’s power.

Thus he remembered the Snow Queen’s body.

It seemed the easiest way to restore her narrative.

Lee Hyun glanced at Lee Gunsan (이군산), whose face had become flushed.

He had no other way to approach the corpse.

Even during his prime with the JET, he’d never visited the Ministry of Defense.

“General.”

“Hm? Why? Need more alcohol? I’ve got some mulberry wine I brewed not long ago—shall I pour you some?”

Lee Gunsan smiled like he had a secret weapon.

Go Jin-woo and Kim Min-jeong also looked up, equally drunk.

“What? General, that’s too much! You didn’t even listen when I asked back then!”

“Am I the same as you and Lee Hyun?”

“That’s discriminatory!”

“I want some too!”

“If our Min-jeong wants to drink, she should come out.”

“Really discriminatory, though?!”

At Go Jin-woo’s high-pitched cry, everyone burst into laughter.

Lee Hyun asked,

“Do you think you’ll have to go to the Ministry of Defense soon?”

“To the Ministry…? Haha. I guess so. There are always reasons to go. Though I’m retired, I still give advice as a reservist.”

Lee Gunsan seemed to sense what Lee Hyun meant and gave a strange smile.

“What do you want me to do?”

“If you have to go, I’d like to tag along.”

“You too? Haha. That wouldn’t be difficult. There are still many who miss you over there.”

Lee Gunsan poured more soju into Lee Hyun’s cup and said,

“They’re in the mood to hand out medals now that we cleaned up the Ulleungdo affair… I’ll try to make some room.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Haha. I should be the one thanking you.”

A faint smile hung at the corner of Lee Gunsan’s mouth.

“There’ll be more checks and obstructions from now on. And if we’re going to catch the traitors, we must strengthen our forces, right? Instead of useless decorations, use what’s necessary. Right, right.”

So he knew.

He was impossible to fool.

‘Then this side is settled…’

[The <Snow Queen>’s narrative clenches her fist.]
[The <Saheun>’s narrative demands that its own revival not be forgotten.]

‘Don’t worry. You’re in luck — I already have something in mind.’

Lee Hyun intended to finish all the postponed tasks at once.

After the drinking party ended,

Go Jin-woo went to his room and fell into a deep sleep; Kim Min-jeong called a cab and left.

Only Lee Hyun and Lee Gunsan remained.

They dispelled the drunkenness with mana and headed to the underground bunker’s laboratory.

“You’re really a workaholic.”

“Me?”

“You just finished a mission and immediately went at it again without resting?”

“I learned it from you, General.”

“I’ve always been a Scrooge-like miser. And you…”

“It sounds grand to call it ambition, but I finally have a dream.”

Lee Hyun smiled lightly.

“If I’m going to take the Cheongroe without worrying about others’ eyes, there’s a lot to prepare.”

“That’s true.”

Lee Gunsan, knowing Lee Hyun’s drive, no longer worried.

He’d always been that kind of kid—he wanted to watch how far he could go.

“Here it is.”

Opening the lab door, Lee Gunsan let out a wry laugh.

“This thing just keeps growing — I wonder if it’s okay to leave it be.”

The dragon egg had grown to at least 1.5 meters.

The pattern on its shell was vivid.

“Growth is insanely rapid. But the problem is we have no idea what it actually is.”

Lee Hyun listened to Lee Gunsan’s explanation and slowly approached the egg.

“It’s definitely from an upper-tier summoning lineage, but it blocks further inspection. It even has anti-demonic power of its own, so every time we try to peer inside it repels us.”

“……”

“For now, we speculate it’s related to mana or attribute domination. Since there’s clear consciousness, it must be highly intelligent.”

Lee Hyun nodded and closely examined the egg.

The sheen made it look as if the creature were proudly showing off its health.

Lee Gunsan continued from behind.

“However, a worrying point—though not confirmed yet—”

“Do you mean that unlike the growing body, it might lack a soul?”

Lee Gunsan’s eyes widened.

“You already knew?”

Because the anti-demonic defense system prevented a deep probe, Lee Gunsan had only discovered that fact with help from his healer wife.

He was surprised that Lee Hyun already knew.

“I had another way to investigate. First, this egg is likely a dragon.”

“A dragon!?”

Lee Gunsan straightened in surprise.

[‘Open the Sacred Relic: Hwaan Geumjeong’ to inspect the egg’s interior.]
[The anti-demonic power generated inside the egg forcibly repels the interference.]
[A stronger mana is poured to ignore the anti-demonic power and retry observation.]
[The repulsion has been canceled.]
[The interior is revealed.]

Lee Hyun nodded.

Now he could more or less see the creature inside: a baby dragon curled up asleep in full form.

“Yes. There are many dragon species, so I can’t be certain which one,”

“……”

“But since it seems to derive from fossils, I suspect it’s an ancient species.”

“Ancient species… haha. Whatever comes out, once exposed to the public it’ll be a huge uproar.”

Lee Gunsan let out a bitter laugh and shook his head.

Dragons were, alongside gods, demons, and giants, a kind of Logos that ruled the heavens.

In countless myths and legends they could plunge the world into ruin or control weather to bless crops — a race with dual aspects.

A kind that is hard to describe simply.

And such a thing might be inside that egg.

So of course they were surprised.

“Where on Earth did those noble families get something like this? There must be a source.”

Part of him worried about being involved in incidents related to this.

They already had enough to worry about; they didn’t need more trouble from this.

“For now, we’ll just pretend we don’t know. Everyone’s attention will be focused on the Gwe-roe (귀뢰) anyway.”

“Heh. True enough.”

Lee Gunsan laughed, thinking of the commotion over the recently vanished Gwe-roe.

“But since you noticed the lack of a soul, you must have a method, right?”

Lee Gunsan’s gaze shifted strangely.

“You have a plan?”

“You can’t fool the General’s eye. In truth, I’d been waiting for this egg to grow a bit.”

Lee Hyun put his hand into his inventory and took something out.

A cube-shaped object.

It was Benu’s heart.

With a whoosh!

The cube glowed red.

[The <Saheun>’s narrative awaits revival!]

Lee Hyun smiled.

“From now on, I’m going to give a soul to this.”