Wei Jeong-han's absurdity was one thing, and Lee Wang-ya's absurdity was another, but no one could be more absurd than Nok-gi right now.
Despite not having lived a short life, Nok-gi couldn't recall a memory more absurd than this.
"You, you want to enter the Eastern Palace?"
"Yes."
"…Right now?"
"Yes. Is that not possible?"
Would that even be possible, you fool?
Nok-gi had much to say, but he was so dumbfounded that his words were completely blocked. Nok-gi, who had barely managed to calm himself, opened his mouth stammering.
"It wouldn't be impossible."
Of course, Nok-gi had no intention whatsoever of accepting Wei Yan-ho into the Eastern Palace. His head was filled only with thoughts of how to toy with this impudent fellow.
"Though you've seen some rough times due to different paths, if a talent like you were to join, we couldn't help but welcome you."
"Hehe, I've been getting cursed at by the whole neighborhood, but I'm endlessly happy that you evaluate me so highly."
"What nonsense…"
Lee Wang-ya, who had been watching the situation, opened his mouth helplessly.
"But the Eastern Palace is not a place ordinary people can enter. Only eunuchs can enter the Eastern Palace. Do you have the confidence to become a eunuch?"
"Cut it off?"
"That's right."
"You mean this thing?"
"Exactly."
Wei Yan-ho looked down at that place with a face bearing all the world's worries.
"It's not like I have anywhere in particular to use it…"
"Hey, you rotten bastard!"
Wei Jeong-han spat fire from his mouth.
"Is that something to say in front of the parents who gave birth to you! What unfilial son talks about cutting that off!"
"Whoa, this old man is going to be in big trouble. Right now Grand Eunuch Nok is in front of us, and if you say such things, what does that make Grand Eunuch Nok! I was just pondering it, but he already cut his off, so if you say that, Grand Eunuch Nok becomes the world's most unfilial son! You can't reattach something that's already been cut off!"
Nok-gi's body began to tremble violently.
"Ahem!"
Hearing this, Wei Jeong-han cleared his throat, thinking that perhaps those words were a bit harsh. But that appearance looked even more detestable to Nok-gi.
'I won't kill that bastard, but I'll definitely sentence him to castration.'
Just as Nok-gi, who had resolved to make him understand with a body like his own, was about to shout, Wei Yan-ho cut in.
"But if the situation flows like this, Grand Eunuch Nok would have greater authority than the Emperor. How… isn't special admission without cutting it off impossible?"
"There are no exceptions."
"My, how resolute."
Wei Yan-ho let out a "hmm" and looked down below.
"Ha, it seems like it would be useless but I'd feel empty without it, and while it wouldn't be needed for rolling around, it would somehow be embarrassing not to have it."
Wei Yan-ho glanced at Nok-gi and sighed.
"Still, it doesn't seem right to fight here over keeping something useless just because I'd miss it. Yes, I'll just cut it off! Cut it off!"
"Wait!"
"It might have a use!"
Wei Yan-ho's gaze shifted slightly.
Then everyone else's gaze turned to those who had shouted. Jin Ye-ran and Lee Seol-hwa, unable to bear the attention focused on them, hung their heads low.
The Emperor, seeing this scene, looked up at the ceiling in a daze and muttered.
"They're all going crazy, absolutely."
It was the first profanity since ascending to the throne.
The atmosphere became a bit strange, but Nok-gi seemed to maintain his composure.
"Let's stop the jokes here."
Nok-gi extended his hand.
"It's not a bad proposal. And right now, it would be a proposal that could reduce unrest. If you're willing to join me, I'm prepared to welcome you."
"…Really?"
"Wealth and beautiful women, and even official positions… I'll give you whatever you want. You're worth that much. If you want, I'll even consider adopting you as my son and passing on my power to you."
"Wow, this… seems like an incredibly bold proposal. Right?"
"Why are you asking me that, you crazy bastard!"
Wei Jeong-han desperately held onto Lee Wang-ya, who was struggling frantically.
"Your Highness, please calm down. Your Highness!"
"Aaaah! I must have been crazy to bring that bastard to the Imperial Palace! Moon Yu-hwan, that son of a bitch, where did he go!"
It was a miserable scene where the Imperial family's dignity fell to the ground, but no one blamed Lee Wang-ya. Just maintaining consciousness in this situation was already impressive for the aged Lee Wang-ya.
"Your answer?"
"Won't you give me time to think?"
"If it were a matter to ponder, I should give you time. But this isn't even a matter to ponder, and I don't have time. If you don't answer immediately, I'll consider you an enemy and eliminate you."
Wei Yan-ho, understanding that this wasn't just empty talk, immediately opened his mouth.
"I once received a similar proposal from your son."
"You mean that Mok-pung bastard?"
"Yes. Though he seems to use a different name in the martial world. From what I saw there, he doesn't seem to think of you as his father?"
"That's the same for me, so it doesn't matter. We only needed each other anyway. Besides, that bastard didn't satisfy my expectations. He was a useless fellow."
"Hmm, is that so? Anyway, when I received the same proposal, what do you think I answered?"
"…What did you say?"
Wei Yan-ho grinned and said.
"I don't remember."
"…"
"…"
Nok-gi looked at Wei Yan-ho with trembling eyes.
Is this guy really insane?
Nok-gi seriously had such thoughts. At this point, he wasn't even angry. Nok-gi, pondering what on earth he should say, watched as Wei Yan-ho grinned.
"Ah, you seem to be misunderstanding something, but you have to listen to the end. The reason I don't remember is that I didn't have any particularly great reason for refusing back then. Isn't that right?"
"I suppose so."
"So it's the same this time too. I just don't like it for no reason."
Nok-gi said weakly.
"Weren't you the one who asked to be let into the Eastern Palace first…"
"Hey, the feeling is different when I ask to be let in versus when you ask me to come. I'm a rather expensive man, you know."
Nok-gi let out a helpless laugh.
Then he turned his head to look at Lee Wang-ya. A subtle sense of camaraderie was formed between the two lifelong enemies.
'You've had your share of hardships too.'
'How your heart must burn, having only such a fellow to rely on.'
The two, who had comforted each other with their eyes, glared at Wei Yan-ho again with murderous looks.
"I don't have time to exchange jokes with you…"
At that moment, Wei Yan-ho extended his hand.
The palm energy that shot out from Wei Yan-ho's hand flew toward the Emperor. In an instant, the Emperor's face turned deathly pale upon confirming this fact.
But the palm energy that seemed to be flying toward the Emperor split into five branches in mid-air and burrowed under the throne.
Kwang! Kwaaaaang!
As the explosive sound erupted, the Emperor felt his body floating up into the air.
"Uh, what?"
After coming to his senses, Lee Wang-ya was holding the Emperor.
"Well done! You bastard!"
"You were cursing quite colorfully just a moment ago?"
"Ahem, wasn't appropriate acting required at that point?"
"There was a lot of emotion mixed in though?"
"You wouldn't know if you weren't an adult!"
"Tsk."
Wei Yan-ho pouted.
"Always saying adult, adult whenever you speak… Where's anyone here who isn't an adult."
"Kaaaack!"
"Yes, yes, I got it."
Wei Yan-ho shrugged his shoulders and looked toward the throne. At that moment, the Emperor's throne shot up into the air, and five black-clad figures revealed themselves from under the throne.
"You bastard…"
One of the black-clad figures contorted his face.
Wei Yan-ho saw this scene and chuckled.
"If you're pointing swords right underneath like that, people get scared and can't even speak properly. Now that preparations are finished, let's begin."
"Do you think you alone can handle everyone here?"
"My, what a serious misunderstanding."
"What?"
"You seem to greatly overestimate yourselves, but the reason I didn't beat you all up yesterday wasn't because I was afraid of you, but because I thought it could be resolved through dialogue. And… who said I'd handle it alone? We have plenty of vigorous gentlemen on this side too."
"Of course."
Starting with Wei Jeong-han, the others began cracking their necks and loosening up their bodies. Their actions looked exactly like thugs rolling around in the streets.
'Yet somehow they feel reassuringly dependable.'
The Emperor straightened his posture.
"Your Majesty."
"Yes, older brother."
"Your subjects are waiting for Your Majesty's command."
"Mmm."
The Emperor looked around with a somewhat excited face. Until just moments ago, he had naturally thought he would lose everything. But the fact that there were still people who would stand by his side and fight for him made his heart surge.
'How foolish.'
What problem could there be with his health?
When there are those who remain loyal to him until the very end.
Ah, of course, except for that bastard.
The Emperor opened his mouth solemnly.
"Suppress the rebels!"
"We receive Your Majesty's command."
As soon as the Emperor's command fell, everyone except Lee Wang-ya began charging forward. Those who couldn't fight gathered around the Emperor.
And Wei Yan-ho shouted from the very front.
"His Majesty's safety is secured, so hurry up and start!"
The answer came from outside the great hall.
"We were waiting anyway!"
The voice that rang out loudly from outside the great hall colored the faces of those inside with bewilderment.
Everyone was confused by the situation, but excluding Wei Yan-ho, only one person accurately recognized whose voice was coming from outside.
"That friend Yu-hwan!"
A great commotion seemed to arise, and sharp weapon sounds began to be heard from behind the Imperial Guards who were blocking the doors.
Wei Yan-ho watched this scene and put on airs.
"It's not wrong to say the Imperial Palace is a dragon's den and tiger's lair."
What was it called? The Confucian scholars?
Not only the Imperial Palace warriors, but even the scholars who looked like they couldn't wring a chicken's neck were hiding such skills. Who would dare invade the Imperial Palace?
"You, you bastard!"
Nok-gi, realizing the situation was serious, shouted.
"What are you all doing! Cut off his head immediately!"
Even at the very last moment, Nok-gi couldn't bring himself to say aloud that he would cut off the Emperor's head.
Wei Yan-ho nodded as he watched those charging toward him.
"I don't know if you can hear my words, but…"
Wei Yan-ho stretched his arm straight back over his shoulder.
'What did Master say?'
He remembered.
"Don't think that you'll naturally have a sword in your hand at every moment you need to fight. As you make a name for yourself, there won't be just one or two bastards who'll come running to kill you. If you had a gentle personality like me, it might be different, but I can already clearly see how much resentment you'll accumulate in the martial world. There will be plenty of bastards who won't choose their means and methods to kill you. You can't take a sword even to the toilet. Then there's only one method. It would be nice if you had a sword. But if you don't, you just need to become the sword yourself. It's a simple matter."
'It's not simple at all, Master.'
Master always gave advice that seemed helpful but wasn't really helpful. But Wei Yan-ho, being a kind and faithful disciple, followed his master's words exactly.
Sharp sword energy began to gather at the fingertips slowly extended forward.
"A sword is a sword…"
Wei Yan-ho's half-opened eyes swept over the hall, swept over the world.
"And I too am a sword."
Light burst forth from Wei Yan-ho's fingertips. A dazzling radiance as if it would fill the entire world.