Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 185

185. The Ice Queen’s Courtesy

“This is Seo Gi’s Yun Hyun. Oh, I’m sorry. You said just Yun Hyun, not Yun Hyun Yun Hyun, right?”

The Ice Queen said with a smile.

Even if he didn’t understand the language of the Northern Sea, Yun Hyun understood that she had said his name twice.

Yun Hyun forced a smile and bowed politely.

He also pretended not to notice the suspicious gazes of the Three Palace Lords, who were staring at him without even bothering to translate.

The people in the banquet hall soon turned their attention away from Yun Hyun.

Or rather, they tried to.

“Oh, and.”

The Ice Queen added, as if she had almost forgotten.

“Young Master Yun will be providing security while the Twelve Ice Blades of the Northern Sea and the Three Palace Lords are helping the Ice Lord recover.”

A silence fell over the banquet hall.

It wasn’t a silence born of shock, but rather one created by the sudden declaration.

“What?”

And soon, anger swept through the banquet hall.

“Impossible!”

“Unacceptable!”

The banquet hall was filled with anger and shouts.

The tribal chiefs, the young palace lords, and even the warriors of each tribe were furious.

“Are there no warriors in the Northern Sea? How can you entrust the Ice Lord’s protection to an outsider?”

“This is a disgrace! Ice Queen, withdraw that decision immediately!”

“We absolutely cannot accept this!”

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was truly ominous.

It was then.

“The Ice Lord was ambushed because,” the Ice Queen said in a calm voice.

“Was it because there were no warriors in the Northern Sea?”

No one could answer.

Looking down at the banquet hall, the Ice Queen wore a mocking smile.

“I cannot trust anyone right now. As I have already said.”

“In that case!”

The Eighth Palace Lord shouted.

This was an opportunity he couldn’t miss, as he sought to make up for his earlier mistake.

“Can we trust that man?”

It was a question everyone had in their minds.

All eyes turned to the Ice Queen.

“Yes.”

The Ice Queen’s answer was without hesitation.

The Eighth Palace Lord’s face contorted.

“What does that mean…….”

“Because,” the Ice Queen said firmly.

“He is the heir to the Sword Saint.”

Thud.

The shock spread through the center of the banquet hall.

Greater astonishment swept through the people than when they had heard of the Ice Lord’s ambush.

Even the First Palace Lord, who had maintained a stern expression, couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Oh…….”

Je Gal Gi Ho said with an awkward smile, as if whispering.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but it seems like we’re in big trouble?”

He couldn’t help but feel that way.

Because at this moment, everyone in the banquet hall, except for the Ice Queen and the Three Palace Lords, was sending Yun Hyun intense looks.

It was hatred.

Some were filled with anger, while others were filled with fear and astonishment.

Gazes filled with all sorts of intense emotions poured down on Yun Hyun.

Swish.

It was no wonder that Dokgo Rang stepped forward as if to shield Yun Hyun.

Even Dokgo Rang’s usually bold expression was stiff at this moment.

The young palace lord’s warning that ‘we may have to cross a river of blood’ was by no means an exaggeration.

“……He.”

The one who spoke was the First Palace Lord.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Yun Hyun as he said with a stiff face.

“Is he really the heir to the Sword Saint?”

The First Palace Lord couldn’t erase the confusion and doubt in his voice.

However, the Ice Queen was calm.

“Ask Bingseol if my words are true.”

Swish.

The eyes of the First Palace Lord and the people focused on Bingseol.

Bingseol is the first of the Twelve Ice Blades of the Northern Sea.

To ask her meant that Bingseol and Yun Hyun had already fought.

The first of the Twelve Ice Blades of the Northern Sea and the heir to the Sword Saint had already clashed.

“Young Master Yun,” the Ice Queen said, looking down at those gazes with a somewhat arrogant expression.

“Is the new master of Nagil [a legendary sword] and the one who defeated Bingseol.”

The people’s confusion was now beyond control.

No one opened their mouths, but their eyes were shaking like reeds caught in a storm.

“Originally, the Sword Saint was the only warrior recognized by the Ice Lord. So he is,” the Ice Queen said in a slightly trembling voice.

“The only one who can be entrusted with the Ice Lord’s life at this moment.”

The Ice Queen turned to Yun Hyun.

And bowed deeply.

Swish.

Her luscious black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

It was courtesy.

The Ice Queen of the Northern Sea had paid her respects to someone other than the Ice Lord in an official setting.

If the other party had been someone else, it would have been an act of degrading the authority of the Ice Palace.

However, it was different if it was a courtesy to the heir of the Sword Saint and the master of Nagil.

Since the Ice Lord had permitted it long ago, no one could object to this.

A heavy silence settled over the banquet hall along with astonishment.

And the person who was actually bewildered was Yun Hyun.

Suddenly, a torrent of tremendous anger and hatred had poured down on him, and now everyone was staring intently at him.

The hostility had certainly decreased, but he couldn’t understand why they were paying so much attention to him.

“It’s the Ice Queen of the Northern Sea’s courtesy,” the Third Palace Lord said quietly in a low voice.

Swish.

She turned her eyes to Yun Hyun.

“……What are you going to do?”

Yun Hyun realized that the question contained a very important meaning.

He couldn’t help but feel that way.

The fact that she was asking what he was going to do when the other party was showing courtesy, and the gazes of the people who were still looking at him, told him so.

‘Hmm.’

Yun Hyun hesitated for a moment.

It was natural to respond to the Ice Queen’s courtesy.

However, Yun Hyun didn’t know what meaning his ceremonial greeting would have and what results it would bring.

So he couldn’t help but hesitate.

But that hesitation didn’t last long.

Swish.

Yun Hyun bent his back.

As politely and respectfully as possible.

And the result once again exceeded Yun Hyun’s expectations.

“Oh oh.”

“The, the heir to the Sword Saint…….”

People let out light exclamations, one after another.

The heir to the Sword Saint and the new master of Nagil had received the Ice Queen’s courtesy.

Just as the Sword Saint had accepted the Ice Lord’s favor long ago, he had accepted the Ice Queen’s courtesy.

The meaning was by no means small.

Low murmurs spread among the people, and the tense atmosphere quickly subsided.

The hostility and astonishment had disappeared, and now gazes mixed with curiosity, surprise, and doubt were pouring down on Yun Hyun.

“……You did well. I don’t know what it was, though,” Je Gal Gi Ho said, nudging Yun Hyun.

Yun Hyun also gave an awkward smile.

Anyway, it was fortunate that the tension seemed to have eased.

“As for the new master of Nagil,” the Ice Queen’s clear voice echoed through the banquet hall.

The people’s eyes turned to the Ice Queen, and she straightened her body and continued to speak calmly.

“The Ice Lord will decide. And the disposition of the impudent traitors who dared to attempt to ambush the Ice Lord will be the same.”

A cold air spread through the banquet hall.

The Ice Queen smiled.

“So until then, I hope everyone will refrain from acting rashly.”

She said it with a smile, but it was a warning.

A chilling warning that a bloodbath would soon occur in the Northern Sea.

The young palace lords and tribal chiefs hardened their faces.

The master of Nagil who came from the south, and the ambush of the Ice Lord.

No one could predict what kind of storm, and what kind of bloodbath, would blow through the Northern Ice Palace in the future.

Swish.

The Ice Queen sat down in an elegant posture.

Only now had the banquet truly begun.

However, there was no festive atmosphere to be found.

Rather, people spoke in low voices, as if whispering.

Their expressions and eyes were full of fear about what was to come.

‘Amazing.’

Yun Hyun was sincerely impressed by the Ice Queen.

As much as her fatal charm, the Ice Queen was an amazing person.

The young palace lords of the Northern Ice Palace, the tribal chiefs, and the warriors of the battlefield were all being played by her words without knowing what to do.

The expressions on the people’s faces, which changed from moment to moment at the Ice Queen’s words, were truly comical.

Of course, it would be nothing short of terror for those involved.

‘Is the young palace lord going to become like that later?’

Yun Hyun suddenly met the Ice Queen’s eyes.

The Ice Queen, who had been watching the banquet hall with a haughty gaze, smiled brightly at Yun Hyun.

It was an almost innocent expression, but Yun Hyun could only respond with an awkward smile.

And he subtly avoided her gaze.

“I’m sorry.”

Yun Hyun turned his head at the sudden voice of the Third Palace Lord.

The Third Palace Lord said, biting her red lips.

“……I was careless.”

The Ice Lord’s ambush, revealing Yun Hyun’s identity, and even the Ice Queen’s courtesy were all unplanned events.

The Third Palace Lord was just as shocked by the sudden events.

Moreover, neither the Ice Queen’s courtesy nor Yun Hyun’s choice were things she could intervene in.

However, the Third Palace Lord did not make excuses.

“I’m sorry. I will definitely take responsibility for this…….”

The Third Palace Lord was about to bow her head and apologize to Yun Hyun.

“No.”

Yun Hyun quickly waved his hand to stop her.

“There’s no need for the young palace lord to apologize. Actually, I still don’t really know what’s going on.”

Yun Hyun said with a smile.

“Anyway, it seems like it turned out well as a result.”

At those words, the Third Palace Lord couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

“Turned out well?”

Could it really be said to have turned out well?

Now, the eyes of the Northern Sea would be entirely focused on Yun Hyun.

What would happen if something happened to the Ice Lord at this point?

The anger of the Northern Sea, having lost the Ice Lord, would inevitably turn to Yun Hyun, the heir to the Sword Saint and the new master of Nagil.

Blaming the Ice Queen was complicated and difficult, while being angry at Yun Hyun was simple and easy.

Moreover, Yun Hyun was essentially an outsider, and the grudge against the Sword Saint was still deep and great.

As a result, Yun Hyun would be solely responsible for all the risks.

Precisely because of the Ice Queen’s scheme.

‘I’ve been completely had.’

Faint.

The Third Palace Lord bit her red lips.

She couldn’t do anything.

She realized the consequences of the Ice Queen’s scheme, but it was already too late.

There was nothing she could do in the uncontrollable situation.

Self-reproach for her own helplessness and anger at the Ice Queen were consuming her heart at this moment.

“It’s okay.”

“What’s okay…….”

The Third Palace Lord said sharply without realizing it.

And the moment she raised her head, she met Yun Hyun’s gentle gaze towards her.

“It’s okay,” Yun Hyun said once again, looking at her.

“Because the young palace lord won’t stand still. Right?”

What allowed Yun Hyun, who had been conflicted by the Ice Queen’s courtesy, to make a decision was precisely her, the young palace lord.

Even if his choice was a mistake, she would definitely do something about it.

It was that belief that made Yun Hyun accept the Ice Queen’s courtesy.

And Yun Hyun’s words awakened the young palace lord from her confusion.

‘Ah!’

Why had she forgotten?

The Ice Queen was by no means an easy opponent.

And hadn’t she been fighting against such an Ice Queen without giving in until now?

Even while experiencing those countless defeats?

The young palace lord gritted her teeth.

It wasn’t self-reproach for her own powerlessness.

Because there was no time to be immersed in a sense of defeat now.

“Yes,” the young palace lord said, looking straight at Yun Hyun.

“I will, absolutely not stand still.”

Her eyes were shining.

As always, beautifully and brilliantly.

“I knew you would.”

The young palace lord chuckled at Yun Hyun’s smiling appearance.

He said he knew, but Yun Hyun actually didn’t know anything.

Neither the meaning of what happened in the banquet hall a little while ago, nor the weight of the words he had given her now.

He probably didn’t even realize.

That he had pulled the young palace lord’s heart out of the mire [a situation or state of difficulty, distress, or suffering].

‘Hmph.’

The young palace lord chuckled.

Yun Hyun was still looking at her with eyes that didn’t know anything.

But because that gaze was so comfortable, the young palace lord stood still, looking at Yun Hyun.

Because of that, the young palace lord didn’t know.

That the Ice Queen was watching her and Yun Hyun with an interesting gaze, and that the First Palace Lord was gnashing his teeth and glaring at her.

Gritting.

The First Palace Lord gritted his teeth lowly.

The eyes of the First Palace Lord, who had not lost his composure, were now uncontrollably flickering with jealousy and hatred.