Subdued Soul Chronicle

To think that the highest leader of the Hwarangs, the Governor left all the weight over to a young Aide and was walking around leisurely.

He was using his power, and that was a scene that his parents caught.

Moreover, in the original world, these were the parents who had died at a young age in an unknown accident.

Even Zaha, who had no fear in the world, was shocked.

“This is a misunderstanding. After all, I spent more time carrying all the…”

He began to make an excuse but…

Seol Young’s parents didn’t care and smiled.

“When I think of my immature son, I cannot get myself to look at the face of the Governor, but since Master Baek San told me he was returning to the city after a long time and meeting Seol Young was possible….”

“My husband and I also found our way here. Has the Governor been well?”

The clothes of their son and his higher-up were odd. In addition, the fact that they had veiled hats was even more odd.

However, Seol Young’s parents pretended like they didn’t see them, and they just casually looked over them.

“Ah. Yes….”

Zaha received their greetings with an awkward smile, and Seol Young’s parents looked at their son.

“….”

Seol Young stood calm, but his heart skipped a beat. The child became an orphan at the age of two and had never seen his parents—not even a portrait.

And to suddenly meet them in another world confused him.

‘No. They are not my parents but the ones of this world’s Seol Young.’

He managed to calm his heart, but then he had another thought.

‘What if they find out I am not their real son?’

Seol Young averted his gaze, unable to look them in the eye.

“I am…”

He thought he should act naturally, but his voice cracked.

“I will head first.”

He mumbled and followed Zaha through the gate.

‘They aren’t my parents.’

He continued to think about that and tried to control his pounding heart, but he couldn’t.

His parents seemed to be talking as they moved with the lanterns.

Bibi said,

“No. Still in Yunnan? My husband and I do the same. You lost your only son for over 10 years, so if he comes home this late, you are bound to worry.”

“No. I wasn’t worried since he had the Governor beside him. It is our long standing habit to go out and meet like this….”

He could overhear their conversation.

‘Even when it is a celebration, they didn’t went inside and only chose to bring some lanterns.’

Seol Young stood there for a while and put the luggage down, making Zaha turn to him.

“What is it?”

Only then did he come to his senses. And Seol Young responded,

“I was just a bit shocked. My parents in this world are alive… I heard they died of an attack from an evil spirit. What happened to that? Was it related to the God of Cataclysm?”

“There could be a connection, but indirectly.”

Zaha said.

“They say the world became chaotic with numerous spirits and demonic beings coming out, and the spirits that attacked my father could be one of them.”

“Anyway, it isn’t important now…”

Seol Young turned to Zaha.

“Are there even times when the High Governor is shocked?”

“Shocked? I was just a bit taken aback, thinking that your real parents would find out you are a fake.”

“Do not lie. Well, there was no need to panic at all. Also, my theory is right. Everyone is used to this because it is normal for you to harass me.”

“Or it could be because your parents are good people who don’t care about such things.”

Zaha had a mischievous smile.

“You didn’t even look and turned away. Are you even a bit curious? Why don’t you go take a look while they are here?”

“…”

“You think too much.”

Zaha said and walked away. Meanwhile, Seol Young was lost in his thoughts.

‘Come to think of it, isn’t there something that cannot be avoided? And I will leave soon.’

Even if this was a different world, he was curious what kind of people his parents were. When his teacher was alive, he heard a couple of things.

Both his father and mother were from official families and had no ties to swords. Because their spiritual power was low, they couldn’t even see the ghosts that others saw.

It was truly odd for such a couple to have Seol Young.

As soon as their son was born, they brought him to Baek San, who was elated to know the child had amazing spiritual power.

They hoped he would be a Hwarang and the three of them put their heads together to name him Seol Young.

‘Both were upright and good people. If they were alive, they would b the ones doing good for the people.’

Remembering the words of his teacher, Seol Young looked at his parents walking on the opposite side.

His heart was beating wildly.

‘If my parents were alive, they would have looked like that.’

He was told to resemble his mother, but he had the attitude of his father. And his father had a clean, scholar kind of look.

His calmness in being able to draw the line between what was right and wrong was firmly established. On the other hand, his mother looked like a noble from Silla, and she had a face that would never show her true feelings.

Even though he seemed indifferent, his eyes were shining from time to time showing he was someone who wouldn’t be caught off guard…

Anyway, when they smiled, their faces looked warm.

“Seol Young, when we came to see you at the last festival, you left this in your room. I don’t know what it is, but it seemed to be important.”

His father took a stone from his sleeve and handed it to him. It seemed that his other self in this world went to his family for the festival like the other Hwarangs.

“….”

He just stood still, accepting it, and his mother said,

“What is this? You still didn’t get kicked out, and you carried the luggage as ordered. Isn’t it nice for you to be living here as well as helping the Governor?”

“… Uh?”

“At this rate, it wouldn’t just be a dream. Your teacher, and hyungs were hoping for this, but… if you as a native of the White Tigers, succeed the Governor position in the future, you will be able to repay the favor by glorifying the honor…”

“Lady, this is just a correction habit. This guy is not afraid of the Governor and runs wild, so he must take drastic measures. How can this child lead the other Hwarangs who are talented?”

“I know that, but isn’t a dream supposed to have freedom?”

Seol Young’s parents laughed and spoke. Both his parents had just one child, and the bond between the couple was deep as they also didn’t have any siblings.

“….”

Seol Young, who had been listening to them talk, came to his senses.

‘Well, they didn’t notice I am a fake.’

They moved to the garden, which was the front yard that was noisy.

The lights were lit as bright as day, and everyone was playing in the middle.

“Seol Young, you are here?”

Baek San shouted loudly.

With just a couple wrinkles on his face, Seol Young’s head felt so lost looking at the appearance of the man who looked so different.

He calmed himself and said,

“Yes, Teacher.”

“Stand there. Let us see how hard you practiced.”

“Seol Young, run.”

Song Ok and Hyo Wol spoke with exhausted expressions.

“I heard that the Japanese people began to run at the sound of the word ‘Baek’ these days. How is he becoming like this? I thought he would be tired running around the capital day and night….”

“It looks like he can stretch his legs and only sleep if his disciples are knocked down first.”

“If I were a hwarang, he would have done the same to me.”

Jin Rim intervened and laughed.

“You should have seen it, Seol Young. Hyo Wol-rang flew all the way there and greeted the rock. Song Ok-rang was spread out on the roof like laundry, and the couple had to pick him up. Baek Eon-rang barely escaped flying, but…”

Seol Young sat down and looked at Baek Eon, smiling. Come to think of it, this man hadn’t moved until now.

“It looks like he will have to do cultivation to get rid of the paralysis. I am not a Hwarang, so I don’t know.”

At Jin Rim’s words, Baek San burst into laughter.

“Didn’t I tell you to hold on, though? I told you, right? And I was told I don’t care for my son.”

“You are really too much!”

Song Ok and Hyo Wol shouted. And even Baek Eon bit his lip as he was unable to speak.

“….”

Seol Young was shocked as he looked at them.

No matter how gentle Baek Eon was, how brave Song Ok was, or how mischievous Hyo Wol was….

He had never seen them smile this brightly.

‘Will they be able to make such faces if there was no God of Cataclysm…’

Just standing there blankly, Baek Eon looked worried. He was unable to move, so he tried hard to ask,

“Tired?”

Seol Young, who heard that, stopped thinking.

“No. I am fine.”

“Where did you go today, and what did you do to come this late?”

Baek San asked, looking curious.

“Ever since the Aide changed, the two of them are making a mess out of the kingdom each night. The monsters and ghosts must be going insane.”

To which Jin Rim smiled.

“How did they even get to know each other? Even if a knife is put to his throat, nothing would chang. Seol Young-rang, what are you doing around him?”

Everyone would faint if he said what he did.

“Just my job.”

Seol Young was confused.

“But where is…. the Governor?”

Hyo Wol answered.

“He said his clothes were uncomfortable, so he would change them.”

“Ah, then me too.”

“Right, you thought well. Get out here now.”

At Hyo Wol’s words, everyone burst into laughter. Seol Young moved, leaving them behind. It felt like he would go dizzy with what he was seeing if he stayed too long.

The moment he went into the main hall, he stopped. There was a towering rook that could be seen in the darkness.

It was a two story pavilion.

Originally, Zaha’s home didn’t have that.

There was this golden tower that had a glass roof. All the lights on it looked red and had a silver pattern.

Zaha was leaning against the railing on the upper floor of this new building, and when he found Seol Young, he waved his hand.

‘As expected, he ran away.’

Seol Young went up.

“What are you doing here?”

“Observing.”

The scene of the banquet below could be seen from here and their conversations could be heard too.

“You came at the right time.”

Zaha lifted what was next to him. and it was an alcohol bottle.

Seol Young was irritated.

“Alcohol was banned, right?”

“Look down. I wonder if it would work if I said no to alcohol anymore.”

“True.”

“If you want to drink, then drink Seol Young-rang.”

Zaha handed him the bottle, but Seol Young didn’t take it.

“Miss Jung Myung said she would contact us soon. I cannot drink now.”

“Is that so? It isn’t much. I will pour myself a drink then.”

“Uh? You said you quit? What will happen if your demonic qi goes out of control?”

“So what? It isn’t even my world, so who cares what breaks?”

Zaha said, smiling. This man could never not say anything.

Seol Young poured alcohol into the glass.

Did he really want to drink? He did, and Zaha actually drank it.

“You gulp it straight down.”

“My wish. Isn’t it strange, though?”

“What is?”

“Drinking. There is no way I would have won.”

“What do you mean?”

“You drink to get drunk and not win. That is my usual mindset, so I can just get drunk right away. Even if I catch someone in the middle and bet, I will lose.”

Zaha held the empty glass out.

“It wouldn’t be any different in this world. What happened to the bet that day? It is strange, no matter how you think about it.”

Seol Young poured the drink and said,

“What is the use of even thinking? Isn’t that someone else’s task?”

“Right. Seol Young-rang is smart.”

“I cannot believe you are already drunk.”

Zaha laughed and emptied the glass again.

“Everything is someone else’s task. Still, looking at things like this, it isn’t so bad. It’s like watching the painting someone else drew.”

The second drink was enough to make his vision blurry, and he didn’t feel like having more.

At that time, something pulled on Seol Young’s pants.

Did this house raise dogs?

With that thought, he looked down but it was a living wooden doll.

It was the wood spirit that served the Great Mother.

“I heard that even a tiger will come when I call. Miss Jung Myung is calling.”

Seol Young pointed down, and Zaha looked at the doll.

His blurry vision became clear in an instant.

“Good.”

He grumbled as he got up.

“Actually, I was thinking all this while. What other words will come from the mouth of hers.”

“Well….”

Seol Young shook his shoulders.

To say that there was a way to return to their world, Jung Myung seemed uncertain about it. And it wasn’t that Seol Young was fine with it…

“We didn’t think our way out would be comfortable either.”

“True, but I am telling you, prepare your mind Seol Young-rang.”

“Thank you for the concern, but sober up from the alcohol.”

The doll guided them, and the two climbed over the fence and went out of the mansion without making a noise.