Crunch...

Dust rises sharply into the air.

The wind wasn’t blowing that hard, but the sudden pressure felt entirely artificial.

Crack.

The ground begins to splinter.

What started as a small crack slowly expands, spreading endlessly.

The problem isn’t just the cracking.

Sssaaaahhhh--!!!

The floor begins to blacken, as if charred.

And all of it originates from a single woman’s toe.

“You.”

Cheonma’s amethyst eyes gleam as she speaks.

“Do you want to die?”

Her voice resonates, the vibrations growing stronger with each word.

Rumble—! Though faint at first, the trembling doesn’t stop, forcing those around to react.

“What—what’s happening?”

“The ground... is shaking?”

“A noble collapsed...!”

Some people felt uneasy about the situation itself.

Others were panicking at the sight of Cheong Seon, who had already fallen.

And then.

‘Oh, fuck.’

I couldn’t help but rub my face as I surveyed the scene.

RUMBLE—!!!

Cheonma strides forward, radiating a dark, suffocating energy.

Unknowingly, I swallow dryly at the sight of her.

Every step she takes is heavy.

Her gaze, fixed ahead, is utterly emotionless.

Her aura pours out in waves, deadly and oppressive, prompting me to focus all my energy on my heart.

Thump! My heart pounds wildly as I channel my energy into my body, forcibly resisting the aura Cheonma exudes.

If I hadn’t intervened, everyone nearby would have lost consciousness on the spot.

As I barely manage to suppress her power:

‘...Shit.’

Her energy is stronger than I expected.

CRACK--!!!

The collision of energies sends out shockwaves.

I’m only blocking to prevent the energy from spilling over, but the sheer intensity of it is almost laughable.

In that moment, I’m reminded of something I’d foolishly ignored.

‘...Right.’

The woman I’m staring at is Cheonma.

The same Cheonma who was once called an absolute ruler in my past life.

She might have seemed like a fool in this life, but now, seeing her like this, I can feel it.

‘I’ve been far too complacent.’

She’s changed so much that I unconsciously thought of her as someone else entirely. But seeing this, I know I was wrong.

Screech.

Cheonma pushes through the resistance, continuing her deliberate steps.

Her destination is clear—the spot where Cheong Seon lies after being flung aside.

“Ugh... ah...”

From the collapsed position, Cheong Seon staggers to his feet.

His cheek, flushed red from a slap, and the blood dripping from his lips clearly tell the story.

His expression, though, is utterly bewildered, as if he can’t comprehend what just happened.

“This... this can’t be...”

He stumbles as he rises, and when his eyes meet Cheonma’s approaching figure, they widen in terror.

“What—what is this? You dare, you wretch—!”

“What were you going to do to someone’s limbs?”

“What...?”

“What were you planning to do to their limbs?”

Screeeech.

‘Oh, for fuck’s sake.’

Every word she speaks only intensifies the aura.

By now, even holding her back is becoming a struggle.

“Grrr...!”

No matter how much I block, Cheong Seon, standing closer to her, is undoubtedly feeling the full force of her aura.

His body begins to tremble violently.

His eyes, filled with fear, show just how overwhelming her presence is.

“Whose limbs were you planning to—”

Even as she sees his state, Cheonma continues walking.

“—do what to, exactly?”

Finally, she reaches Cheong Seon.

Sssaaaahhh...!!

The aura that had been pouring out begins to take form.

Like dew forming into droplets, the energy starts coalescing in midair.

It looks dangerous at a glance.

Seeing it, I grit my teeth.

Without hesitation, I lunge forward and grab Cheonma from behind.

Clench!

“...!”

As I wrap my arms around her, her body stiffens.

I can feel her aura thrashing violently.

“Are you out of your mind? What the hell are you trying to do? I told you to stay calm!”

Did it work?

I add more words, but Cheonma remains still, refusing to respond.

I think it’s having some effect.

The proof? The swirling energy begins to waver.

As her energy subsides, I cautiously loosen my grip.

Gently, I release her. Fortunately, she doesn’t resist.

I grab her wrist instead.

Her skin feels cold, almost inhuman.

Wary of her reaction, I glance at her.

‘She seems okay, though?’

Unlike before, her demeanor is calmer now.

“...”

Seeing this, I step back, leading her with me.

Luckily, she follows quietly.

As the distance between her and Cheong Seon increases:

“Gaaah... haaah...!”

Cheong Seon finally exhales the breath he’d been holding.

Though he looks like he might retch, at least he’s not coughing up blood. His insides seem intact, thankfully.

“You... you bastards... you bastards...!”

When I first saw him, he was pristine and composed, his appearance refined.

But now, after a single slap, his disheveled state is pitiful.

His long hair is tangled, and his once-clean clothes are now covered in dust and debris.

“I will never forgive you... both of you...!”

“Why am I being included in this?”

I feel utterly wronged.

If I hadn’t intervened, who knows what might have happened to him?

“Seize them! Capture those bastards at once!”

Cheong Seon shouts.

At last, his guards seem to regain their senses and begin approaching us.

“...Hmm...”

What should I do?

‘Should I run? Or fight?’

Escaping wouldn’t be difficult.

But the aftermath would be annoying.

Beating them all up...

‘That’s not the best idea either.’

It’s not like the time with the Baek family.

‘Not that I couldn’t do it... but still.’

Something about it feels off.

Should I just run?

I ponder this, rolling my eyes in thought.

Then, suddenly, the sky catches my attention.

The sun is setting, and soon it will be night.

As I stare at the sky:

“Ah.”

An idea strikes me.

Nodding, I turn to Cheonma.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

Her demeanor is much calmer now.

The only hint of her earlier fury is the faint redness in her cheeks—probably from anger.

Her pale complexion makes it even more noticeable.

"That much will settle itself with time," I thought, deciding to ignore it for now.

“Listen carefully from now on.”

I whispered softly, then used energy to transmit a message directly.

“...”

Cheonma, hearing the transmitted message, nodded quietly in understanding.

“...From now on... we shall apprehend the criminals who have harmed the noble...”

As the approaching figures closed in on us, we calmly extended our arms.

Clink.

And just like that, the shackles were placed on us naturally.

“I will... I will never let this go unpunished.”

Cheong Seon, clutching his bruised cheek, trembled with rage as we were dragged away.

Thus, we were taken into custody and escorted to the Cheong family estate.

****************

The Cheong family estate was the farthest location from the street we had been on.

It was almost at the edge of the city walls.

Unlike the White or Black families, whose locations were easier to grasp, this one felt elusive.

‘It seems to be the largest, though.’

Among the estates I had seen, the Cheong family’s was by far the largest.

Not just in land size—the mansion itself was a level taller than the others.

I wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about architecture, but even at a glance, it was clear a lot of effort had gone into its construction.

Still, one thought lingered.

‘It’s beautiful, but it looks fragile.’

The building didn’t seem durable.

Its interior looked hollow, and it gave the impression that a light push might cause it to crumble.

‘Hmm.’

The urge to test that theory rose within me—a simple desire to break it apart.

If it weren’t for the current situation, I might have tried.

‘Tsk.’

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the right time for that.

“Keep moving!”

“Yes, yes.”

The soldiers tugged at our shackles, pulling us along.

We followed sluggishly.

‘They sure got confident as soon as the shackles were on.’

Their attitudes shifted the moment they restrained me and Cheonma.

Earlier, they treated us like walking bombs.

‘It must be these shackles.’

I’d worn similar restraints in the Black family’s territory before.

Apparently, they were made from some special type of stone. The restraints supposedly disrupted energy flow and sapped physical strength.

‘It’s true.’

As soon as they were locked on, I could feel both my internal and external energy flow falter.

It not only disrupted my energy but also seemed to restrict my muscles.

The sensation wasn’t pleasant.

‘But it’s not completely unbearable.’

If I wanted to, I could break free easily enough, so it was more of an annoyance than a real problem.

As we continued walking, I took the opportunity to observe the estate.

After what felt like forever, we arrived at a destination.

Creak.

As the door opened, a wave of damp air and stale odor hit my nose.

The sight of iron bars inside made it clear this was a prison.

“...”

I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

‘Why do I feel like I’m visiting these places too often?’

Ever since arriving in Mangye, I’d been to spaces like this far more frequently than I cared for.

I wasn’t fond of prisons, perhaps because of memories from my past life.

‘Oh well.’

There was no avoiding it now, so I stepped inside quietly.

Well, not exactly quietly—the soldiers shoved us in like sacks of grain.

“You’ll remain here until your punishment is decided. Stay put and don’t cause trouble,” one soldier said, his voice laced with irritation.

I smirked and replied, “I’ll do my best.”

Crack.

The soldier ground his teeth at my words.

I couldn’t help but find his reaction amusing.

‘Their whole demeanor has changed.’

Not just their attitude—it felt like their very temperament had shifted.

They were rougher, more aggressive than they had been during the day.

This wasn’t just because we were prisoners.

‘Is it because it’s night?’

The moon was out now.

Could it be related to that?

‘The Moonlit Night Tribe grows stronger at night.’

Their regenerative abilities and strength increase after sundown.

If their temperament also becomes more violent, that would explain a lot.

“The young lord will come for you soon,” one soldier declared.

“Tell him to hurry up, then—”

Bang.

He didn’t bother listening to the rest of my sentence, slamming the door as he left.

“Impatient, aren’t they?”

Scratching my head awkwardly, I glanced to the side.

Cheonma was already lying on the floor, rolling around lazily.

“...”

How could she look so relaxed?

“...Hey. What are you doing?”

“Hmm?”

At my question, Cheonma tilted her head.

“What?”

“Not ‘what.’ Do you even know why we’re here right now?”

“Why?”

“Because of you, obviously.”

If she hadn’t attacked Cheong Seon so suddenly, we wouldn’t °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° be in this mess.

Of course...

‘If she hadn’t hit him, I probably would’ve.’

Not that I was going to say that out loud—it’d only backfire on me.

“You couldn’t just keep calm and avoid making a scene?”

“...”

Cheonma pursed her lips, looking displeased.

“He said something weird.”

“What did he say?”

Honestly, he’d spoken crudely, but not enough to warrant her stepping in like that.

“He said he’d cut your limbs off.”

“That was directed at me, not you, you idiot.”

“Exactly.”

“...”

Cheonma’s calm response left me momentarily speechless.

So, she had hit him just because he insulted me?

“...What the hell?”

I couldn’t wrap my head around her reasoning and shook my head.

“Why would you even get involved in that?”

“...”

“If anyone should’ve been mad, it was me. It wasn’t your place to interfere.”

Even before coming to Mangye, I’d noticed it—Cheonma’s strange behavior.

Back during the Blood Demon incident, and even now, she kept stepping in on matters that involved me.

It was unsettling and, frankly, annoying.

“If all you’re going to do is cause trouble and mess things up, just stay out of it. Or disappear somewhere.”

“...”

Cheonma pressed her lips together tightly, as if holding back words she wanted to say.

I clicked my tongue and looked away.

The situation was frustrating, and the shackles only made it worse.

‘Should I just break them?’

I considered freeing myself but decided against it for now.

Instead, I sat still and closed my eyes.

‘How long will it take?’

I wondered how long it would be before the person I was waiting for arrived.

Just as I began to lose myself in thought:

Creak.

The sound of the door opening caught my attention.

I opened my eyes.

And then—

“Hello?”

A cheerful voice greeted me as someone stepped inside.

“It’s been a while.”

The bright, familiar voice immediately drew my gaze to the newcomer.

“Do you need my help, by any chance?”

Standing there was none other than Mongmong—no, Yusa, the ruler of Yahwol Palace and the very person I had been waiting for.