Chapter 62: Shadows of Strategy

I was moved to my quarters and collapsed into sleep. My eyes closed on their own.

I slept deeply. A very deep sleep.

The one fortunate thing was that my hypersensitive senses dulled during sleep.

“Ah, I slept well. But I’m going crazy.”

I slept too much. My head hurt. Waking up refreshed makes the day easier, but not this time.

The chills persisted. It wasn’t even cold, yet I shivered. It was an unpleasant feeling. To live like this forever made me resent Emperor Taizo again. That old man really saddled me with a wretched body.

Anyway, I needed Jongmeoki Flower. Now.

So I called for Han Naegwan. As expected of a retainer, he was quick-witted. He knew why I called and had already prepared Jongmeoki Flower tea.

Slurp.

The yellowish liquid slid into the porcelain cup.

Its distinct, bitter grass scent filled the room.

Having nearly died without it, I was overjoyed.

“Han Naegwan.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Really… how would I live without you?”

Han Naegwan chuckled, pleased. Seeing him smile lifted my mood too.

I drank the Jongmeoki Flower tea he brewed. Its effects were slow to fade but quick to kick in. Within moments, my body felt lighter. After finishing, I thought of the soldiers who vanished when the monster appeared in the cave.

Are they alive? Did they return?

“By the way, Han Naegwan.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I caught his gaze and lost my words for a moment. His eyes looked like a father’s watching his child. I’d never received such a look myself, but having seen it often, I knew fathers felt such affection for their kin.

It felt suffocating.

Like I was a thief.

This wasn’t mine.

I barely found my voice.

“Do you know what happened to the soldiers who went to the mountain with me?”

His face darkened quickly.

“Those soldiers…”

He knew something. And I could guess why his face darkened.

They abandoned me and fled, so they wouldn’t look good in his eyes.

“I heard there were ten, excluding Your Highness and the guide.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Excluding the guide and the one called Hondon, the rest of the expedition abandoned Your Highness in the cave and fled.”

“Well, that’s about it.”

To me, they were despicable. We climbed the mountain with the same goal, yet they abandoned their group. It wasn’t about me being a prince—it was about being part of the same team.

We ate together, slept in the same tent. How could they leave without a word? It felt bitter and disappointing.

Han Naegwan’s face grew redder.

It was the flush of anger.

“Those… vile traitors!”

He vented with surprising fury.

“Whoa.”

I widened my eyes.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

“I didn’t know you could get angry.”

“What?”

“I thought you never got mad. Your face barely changes, so I figured you only knew how to smile.”

Han Naegwan sighed softly.

“Even a retainer like me has a temper… but I’ve had no reason to show it to Your Highness. How could I dare show anger or disgrace before you?”

I felt a bit sheepish. I got angry easily too, and the mad prince must’ve been worse. If anger is disgraceful, that guy was truly shameful.

“Hm. Is that so? So, what happened? Are they alive? Dead?”

He spoke reluctantly.

“I heard they were disciplined and demoted.”

“Demoted? That far?”

I widened my eyes. I thought Bukgye’s custom of shunning outsiders was normal, but they seemed to uphold some honor. Or maybe it was the Lord of Wolhanseong’s special measure.

Han Naegwan seemed to think the punishment was too light.

“They intended to harm Your Highness. They deserve no mercy.”

He spoke firmly.

“They should be grateful their heads are still attached.”

“Whoa, their heads?”

I joked lightly. But the law is the law. Their crime of abandoning me was serious enough to be punished heavily, so I could afford to be relaxed.

“That’s how it should be.”

“You’ve gotten fiery lately, haven’t you?”

“I’ve always been the same, Your Highness.”

“Hm.”

I decided to meet the Lord of Wolhanseong. I needed to report the nest. Deokbong probably spoke already, but his timid nature likely made it incomplete. I’d better summarize it myself.

“Did you rest well?”

The moment we met, the Lord of Wolhanseong frowned deeply. What’s that about? Do I smell? But I bathed before coming. No way I smell.

Before I could ask, he relaxed his expression.

Couldn’t ask, but it felt off.

Pushing the unease aside, I answered.

“Hm, I rested well.”

I nodded once.

“Thanks to you.”

“My honor.”

Aside from the sudden frown, his expression wasn’t great. The soldiers’ desertion must’ve stung, and Deokbong’s report about the monster horde was likely a worry.

A big worry.

“Did you get the report?”

He nodded.

“Yes, Your Highness. I heard from the guide, Deokbong.”

Deokbong must’ve been busy, despite carrying me.

“Hm. Deokbong and Hondon were a big help.”

“…Deokbong is a skilled guide, but I suspected Hondon wouldn’t be much help.”

If you knew, why send him?

“I’ll ensure Deokbong is rewarded.”

“Good. I owe him a lot.”

“He’s duty-bound to serve Your Highness.”

“Hm. What did Deokbong say?”

He answered quietly.

“He said it wasn’t a normal habitat.”

“I don’t know what’s normal, so I can’t say much.”

“What did Your Highness see?”

I answered simply.

“I saw what Deokbong saw, but I only saw the monster when trapped in the cave.”

“What kind of monster?”

“A bird-like beast, unable to fly, about ten feet tall. I fought an injured one, so it wasn’t hard to kill, but one soldier likely died. Right?”

His face darkened again.

“Yes.”

“A horde would be tough to handle.”

“Indeed.”

“Deokbong said it’s an unknown species. You probably haven’t seen it either.”

I joked lightly.

“Should’ve caught one to show you.”

“Impossible.”

“Impossible. It’s not dead, but capturing it alive isn’t feasible.”

I smiled awkwardly and got to the point.

“I think those monsters migrated from elsewhere.”

“Migration…”

He repeated my words gravely.

It was just a theory.

For now.

“Even animals without reason migrate. Why not monsters? Maybe they were pushed out in a territorial fight.”

His eyes grew more serious.

“And with this new species appearing nearby… the original monsters might’ve lost their habitat and moved elsewhere.”

The crease in his brow deepened.

“You mean… the recent monster incursions into our territory are due to this?”

I nodded.

“That’s what I think.”

“It makes sense.”

“But it’s just my thought, lacking evidence.”

He nodded slowly.

“Still, I’ll consider Your Highness’s words deeply. An unknown species makes it plausible.”

“Hm.”

But the evidence is still weak.

“Why were they pushed out? From where? By what? Those questions are unanswered, and that’s the issue. What do you think?”

“I know those answers are key.”

No one knows what lies beyond Bukgye’s border. A land with a deadly forest, uninhabitable. Long-term exploration there would cost too much.

Especially lives.

Reclamation would need too many people. Near impossible.

Who knows? If a new nation swallowing Mokryeo, Tohyeon, Geumra, Suseo, and even the self-proclaimed Hwawi Empire emerged, maybe then we could explore that unknown territory.

But that’s far off.

We need to solve the immediate problem. What does the lord want? More time?

I was talking about battle. Maybe a war.

Spending too much national strength here worried me, but if this achievement came to me, I’d want to fight now.

Plus, if I could gain Bukgye’s support post-battle for the throne, it’d be a perfect outcome.

At least my participation would ensure they wouldn’t side with Grand Prince Ikwon.

That alone was a gain.

Then I need to gather forces. A chance to unite Bukgye’s troops under me.

But first, a report.

“I’ll write a letter.”

Time to send one to King Bonhyeon.