By Zephyria 
Stop trying, he said…
Did Seong Mu-yeon, Bang Gyeom, and even Jegal Un, who sent him, truly believe that Demon Subjugation Valley could be conquered?
‘They’ll all die because of that foolish belief.’
Seong Mu-jae thought. However, his mind and body were acting independently.
“…Once the enemy enters the first line of defense, we will collapse the tunnels on both sides to induce them to be crushed to death.”
His mouth continued to chatter on its own.
“Once the battle begins, you must never set foot inside Demon Subjugation Valley. Especially you… you have to think of your family waiting for you.”
Seong Mu-jae had been unmoved by Seong Mu-yeon’s numerous persuasions and coaxing. Yet, Bang Gyeom had achieved in a few words what the other had failed to do.
His ill-tempered youngest brother was also someone he ought to protect, but Bang Gyeom was different.
Bang Gyeom was the person who had shared the dark period that followed when Seong Mu-jae’s life—which had been lived without hardship, like a flower in a greenhouse—plummeted completely into the abyss. Such a person inevitably comes to hold a special meaning.
The moment Bang Gyeom appeared, all other problems became trivial and were pushed to a corner of his heart.
“Do not worry. I plan to withdraw to the rear after delivering the information to Young Master Jegal. I cannot make my wife a widow.”
“Yes, you shouldn’t…”
Seong Mu-jae gave a feeble smile.
“…And since there are dozens of retreat paths leading to the opposite side of Demon Subjugation Valley, it would be better not to expect to root them out entirely here.”
“Our goal is solely to safely rescue the Sixth Young Master, the Seven Sons, and Young Master Peng Do-hwan. The rest will be handled by the others. By the way, how is Young Master Peng Do-hwan? Is he alive?”
“Don’t worry. He’s alive. I don’t know for sure, but he’s likely safer than I am.”
“That is enough. Is there anything else to be mindful of? Is Yakseon Daein also here?”
“That man is…”
While answering Bang Gyeom’s questions fluently, Seong Mu-jae’s mind was a complete mess. Without even realizing what he was saying, he mechanically laid out the information he knew.
“…I see. Understood. I wish I could stay by your side and protect you, but the other side needs to know the internal circumstances to set their strategy with peace of mind, so I must go before it is too late.”
After scanning the surroundings to ensure no one was watching them, Seong Mu-jae handed Bang Gyeom any random box.
“Carry that and follow me. I’ll make sure you get out safely.”
Once Bang Gyeom was ready, Seong Mu-jae intentionally scolded him loudly so that everyone could hear.
“Didn’t I tell you not to bring this item here? Follow me! I’ll show you the correct location! There must be no such mistake next time!”
“Yes.”
Bang Gyeom carried the boxes stacked high enough to cover his face and followed Seong Mu-jae. As they left the warehouse and crossed the complex mine tunnels, no one suspected them.
They soon reached a secluded exit. After confirming there were no people nearby, Seong Mu-jae pushed Bang Gyeom’s back.
“Go on, hurry. If you follow this passage, you can get outside. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to return, as we plan to close it soon.”
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I’ll be able to leave safely. Then… I will see you later.”
“Just go, go!”
Bang Gyeom moved forward hesitantly, repeatedly looking back with reluctant steps. Seong Mu-jae stood still and watched until he completely disappeared.
“Sigh…”
Finally, as Bang Gyeom vanished from sight, a long sigh escaped him.
‘The Peng family alone isn’t enough.’
Though he had joined forces with Bang Gyeom as if drawn by an invisible power, his heart was conflicted. He was about to commit an act as crazy as betting his entire fortune on a gambling table with no chance of winning.
But on the other hand, another thought occurred to him.
‘Since when did I become such a coward?’
He hadn’t originally been such a cautious person. Just as he had enjoyed the dizzying tension of gambling, he had inherently loved perilous adventures.
However, after experiencing one great tragedy, the man had changed. Having lost everything, he was now struggling desperately to protect the little he had barely managed to grasp.
This game was larger than any gambling table he had ever known. The odds of winning were low, and the stakes he would lose if he failed were fatal. This was because not only his own life, but the lives of many others were on the line.
But as great as the risk was, the reward was bound to be equally great.
‘If only I could behold it just once.’
A scene from his imagination suddenly pierced his heart and refused to leave his mind.
A cozy and sturdy thatched house, though not large or fancy, and a happy family. There would be no day without laughter at the antics of a small child who had just started speaking.
The reason a gambler jumps into a dangerous game is simple.
It is because something that triggers an irrepressible desire is placed as the stake. Something that, if obtained, would make one feel as if they possessed everything in the world.
‘…There must be something I can do.’
Seong Mu-jae stood blankly for a while before finally regaining his senses and moving his feet.
“Why are you empty-handed? Where is my dongpo pork!”
Lost in thought, he had walked until he reached Peng Yuan-jin’s quarters.
At the sound of Seong Mu-yeon’s shrill shout, Seong Mu-jae snapped out of his dreamlike delusion.
The owner of the room was nowhere to be seen. Since Peng Do-hwan had recovered, the brothers had been busy running around everywhere, so Peng Yuan-jin rarely returned to this room.
Seong Mu-jae dismissed the monitoring subordinates with various excuses.
“What is it?”
Seong Mu-yeon looked at him with suspicious eyes. Sensing an atmosphere different from usual, he seemed tense.
“Youngest, there’s something I’m curious about. If, just hypothetically…”
“Ah, stop stalling and just say it. It’s frustrating.”
“….”
As Seong Mu-yeon impatiently urged him, Seong Mu-jae stared at him with a reluctant expression.
Was he always like this? It seemed Seong Mu-yeon had decided to throw away even the minimum amount of decorum.
“It’s just a hypothesis, so don’t misunderstand. If, by some chance, I had tried to escape this place according to your wishes, what method do you think you would have used?”
“…Why? Have you changed your mind? Now? Are you joking? Look at me! What am I supposed to do in this state?”
“I told you it’s just a hypothesis! Just tell me!”
Seong Mu-yeon pouted his lips and glared at him for a long time with dissatisfied, dead-fish eyes. The thought ‘Do you think being born first is everything?’ was clearly written on his face.
“…The terrain is too disadvantageous to attack from the outside, isn’t it? I thought if we could overturn and eliminate the advantages of Demon Subjugation Valley, we would have a chance.”
“How?”
“…If I answer, are you just going to run off and tell the Left Horse General? Forget it.”
“You little brat!”
Seong Mu-jae wanted to smack the head of the obnoxious Seong Mu-yeon, but he barely managed to endure it with superhuman patience.
“…Actually, Bang Gyeom infiltrated Demon Subjugation Valley a short while ago and contacted me.”
When he finally confessed, Seong Mu-yeon was startled.
“Bang Gyeom? Did he say he’s doing well? How did he know to come?!”
“I’ll tell you the details later. He said the Peng family plans to strike this place tonight. He came to check on your situation and tell you to take refuge in a safe place until the fight is over.”
Seong Mu-jae continued, knitting his brows.
“But the Peng family alone is not enough. If there’s a way we can help, shouldn’t we try everything? That’s why I asked.”
Seong Mu-yeon seemed flabbergasted by his attitude, which had changed as easily as flipping a palm, but he soon nodded.
“If that’s the case… fine. If it were me, I would have set fire to the depths of Demon Subjugation Valley.”
“Fire?”
“Yes, and a very large one. If it’s hard to get inside, we just have to make the bastards inside come out on their own. As long as they don’t have the topographical advantage, each individual is nothing more than a snack for our Master Baek.”
He said ‘our’…
Seong Mu-jae got goosebumps at the term of endearment.
It was understandable since Baek Ryeo-il and Seong Mu-yeon had traveled together for a long time and were deeply entwined. However, the expression and tone Seong Mu-yeon used when saying ‘our’ were strangely cringeworthy.
“And I cannot stand to see these bastards escape safely and be gleeful again.”
Seong Mu-yeon’s eyes sank cruelly.
“….”
Whenever this happened, Seong Mu-jae felt his youngest brother was a stranger.
At times he acted like an immature adolescent, and at other times he became infinitely generous. Then, at other times, he would unhesitatingly reveal a cruel and dangerous gaze. Just like now.
“I was almost giving up because I needed Brother’s cooperation for that. A drive-hunt would only be effective if one knows the internal structure well.”
Seong Mu-yeon beamed.
“Wa-wait a minute. I understand the part about setting fire to Demon Subjugation Valley. Fine. But what about us? Won’t we also be in danger because of the smoke?”
Seong Mu-yeon’s smile became abruptly awkward.
“…I didn’t think that far.”
“You lunatic.”
“Well, couldn’t we just hold our breath or somehow manage it with spirit? So, when do we start? How much oil is there? Also, couldn’t you untie this first? My nose has been itching so much I’m going crazy.”
…As expected, he shouldn’t have trusted this brat.
Seong Mu-jae pressed his hand to his forehead.