Blessing Curse (Curse of Blessing)
45. Hidden Strategies

I heard that Hyujin had said something before her last breath. He had a vision that the villagers of Chongsu had been moved before the snake monster burned their village. But he did not know for sure where the Chongsu villagers were, he simply said "a large iron bar was holding them."

Who had such large iron bars so that all the residents of Chongsu village could be in the same place.

"I'm sure there will be another hostage-taking in the near future, but who can tease a snake monster that's been asleep for thousands of years just to burn down an empty village?" Jeong Ra expressed his opinion. Like an expert in warfare, he observed the map of Daegun spread out wide on the table inside the hut carefully.

Just accompanied by some candlelight, we tried to solve this still-related puzzle. Outside the rain sounded so heavy yet soothing.

I am indeed not very good at reading tactics, but I can assure you, the one who kidnapped the Chongsu villagers is still related to the one who ordered the snake monster to wreak havoc. While the monster has now managed to escape, more and more of our tasks are ahead.

I think they all have the same thoughts as me.

"He must be a man of great power.The snake monster itself has no master, but he can submit to the person. Obviously he has a big influence on this life..." Chaeyun also commented.

Who is the one who has the greatest influence? or maybe he's not someone?

"Do you have the same thoughts as me? I mean, they're still related, the man behind the Chongsu hostage-taking and the burning of the village.." I asked the princesses who produced a slow and unisonful nod of them "is it possible they-the black magic masters??" add me with a sharp look at them.

"If that's the case, we can't possibly fight it...!" chaeyun exclaimed with her disappointed face.

Others just bow bitterly if that is the fact. They were not opponents comparable to the rulers of darkness.

"The problem is not that at the moment, but the goal is to enslave all residents? what does she want...?!?" ask me to myself. Honestly, I don't know what he's planning to do with all this either.

Daegun has no enemies from other countries, only one is the most powerful among the others, and it is Daegun's greatest threat. He is the master of black magic. It is impossible for any other country that has no business with the black magic lord to help us. Because they don't want chaos in their country.

"Is it possible that they're using the population to threaten us?" Dayeon.

"That's possible, but it seems like a small threat is not his path. I feel like there's something bigger he's planning. Knowing we managed to defeat the snake monster, he must have prepared something else before us." Chu Yi with her observation managed to amaze me.

"Do you have any ideas to convey?" Ji-hyeon seems to agree with Chu Yi and Dayeon, as well as the others.

"Maybe we should figure out first what he's up to?" this time Sazhawa seemed to think hard in expressing his opinion.

"That's true.but we don't have access to black fog country, it's too risky..." Ji-hyeon reveals the facts.

"Why indeed? what's at risk?" to be honest, I don't know much about the black magic lord and the black fog country that they've been talking about lately.

"The black fog negri can only be reached by a soul that has black magic, and the place that lies between life and death is not a place that can be visited or trampled by humans." ji-hyeon obviously told me.

Once again, the silence came back to us, only the sound of the splashing rain was heard to subside a little.

"But I have black magic in me too, doesn't that mean I can enter it?" ask them. Of course I have it, they all know about that fact as well.

"It's not as easy as you imagine Gi Tae. The air that's there can't be inhaled by humans like us. It won't give you a chance to breathe..." mozhawa continued with her shady face.

"I want to give it a try, because there is no other chance, only I have the power of black magic among us. Maybe it will work...!" I'm strict with them. Moreover, what we can do, we can't just stay here, while the master of black magic freely wreaks havoc.

"Gi Tae, we have to think about everything carefully..." Ji-hyeon expresses her worries.

"I agree with his opinion.he might have been able to enter it because within him were flowing two different energies. That's a sign, half of his soul is still fused with the darkness..." Mizhawa crossed both arms over her chest and gave her opinion indifferently.

"Mizha-" Mozhawa was about to scold her sister again after seeing my expression.

"Mizhawa may be right, Mozha" Ji-hyeon prevents Mozhawa from opening an argument with Mizha "who here agrees with Gi Tae?" and this is where Ji-hyeon starts to open up voice gathering.

I'm not angry with Mizha, because what she said is true. Half of me is still part of the darkness. I just looked down weakly to hear back that fact.

If only I had not been born with this curse. Can I have good magic that can be useful to them?

"You're more useful in this way..." Mizhawa conveyed the thing that shocked me with her cold face, making me look at her once again. After that he left the discussion.

"But this is still too risky, maybe we should think about it again" said Dayeon, who looks more worried than usual, ignoring Mizhawa's departure as if it were normal.

"I assure you, this time I will be more careful.." for some reason, after hearing Mizhawa say that, I seemed to gain a new spirit. I mean, what he said was true, right? with the energy from black magic coming from the darkness within me, I had the chance to know more about the darkness.

"Gi Tae, if Hyujin didn't save you yesterday-"

"I will accompany him towards the portal of black fog." Sazhawa prevented Dayeon from continuing her sentence.

It's possible that Sazha kept me from getting back dissolved in my guilt. I'm grateful for that, although I won't blame Dayeon for bringing it back.

"So is this a deal?" Ji-hyeon combs her gaze to the remaining princesses.

They could only sigh deeply and nod slowly.

All right, it's time... Black fog country! I'm gonna set my foot in there.

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POVS. Third Man

Inside the black fog palace, the black magic lord was unable to see the development of Gi Tae and his entourage. Something was blocking his vision.

"Aarrgghhh!!!! Damnit damnit! who would dare to interfere in my affairs! who's blocking my view!"

The black magic ruler continuously shouted furiously. His failure in seeing Gi Tae's situation made him angry.

His followers simply bowed in fear at the sight of their ruler wrath and kicked whatever was nearby, including his own men.

"Find out what they're doing! and announce to me! I don't want them to derail my plan! Haar!!!" with rough and wide eyes, the black magic ruler pointed at some of his followers.

Those who were appointed then nodded and hurried away to execute his orders. They did not want to be the victims of the rampage of the black magic lord anymore.

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