Stepping up onto the fortress wall, he could see the Yongrin moving busily about to take their places. His fingers somehow felt numb, and he clenched and unclenched his fist — Hwi took hold of Yunseo's hand. Yunseo glanced at Hwi and asked.

"When did Your Majesty first come here?"

"I must have been around nine."

"That early?"

"I had to know exactly where this power was to be used."

"Did you personally lead the campaign then as well?"

"Sometimes."

To think he had come to the Hell Realm in person even before taking the throne — and a child of nine years at that. He could not believe it and did not want to believe it. When Yunseo looked at Hwi with his brow deeply furrowed, Hwi gave a short laugh and rubbed his furrowed brow with his thumb.

"There is no need to look at it that way. At any rate, it was simply undergoing a little early the rehearsal that had to happen."

"……It was too harsh on you, Your Majesty."

The fact that young Hwi had personally led the campaign even when the late emperor was clearly still alive was no different from an abdication born of irresponsibility. As Yunseo's lips twisted, Hwi's hand came down to his chin this time.

"The walnut again."

"……"

"Thanks to that, even ascending to the throne at a young age, I was able to establish discipline among the Yongrin without difficulty. There are advantages and disadvantages to everything.*"

"I am angry."

Yunseo took in each and every one of the Yongrin fighting the monsters pouring out and bit back a sound of suppressed anguish. Every time he came here, a grieving anger accumulated, but since he did not know where to send it, he could only swallow it again and again.

It was not even a full year since he had entered the palace, and yet he himself felt these emotions — how much greater must the confusion and anguish have been for others? But since there was no way to resolve it cleanly, perhaps one simply had to grow accustomed to it.

"Use that anger as a driving force. It will be fuel that does not go out — in that, too, there are advantages and disadvantages."

Hwi's gentle voice quelled the fury that had surged for a moment. Being consumed by this emotion in the face of a disaster without end would be of absolutely no use. How to handle this anger — that was what was important for mere mortals who must continue to live their lives.

Yunseo breathed deeply and focused on the guardian star in his lower abdomen. Could he push this power into that Hell Realm? If by doing so it could close the Hell Realm even a little faster, it would be of great help. He hoped desperately that it would work……

As time passed, the momentum and numbers of the monsters also dwindled. Since it had been decided for safety's sake that they would go in as the Hell Realm neared closing, now was the right moment. When Yunseo wrapped his arm around Hwi's neck, Hwi took him into his arms.

Hwi stepped lightly down from the fortress wall and kicked off the ground, bounding like he was flying. Each time he leapt nimbly, the wind flowed along the hem of his robe. As they drew near the chaos, the Yongrin who had been lined up behind surrounded Hwi and Yunseo.

The leading Yongrin cut down the monsters charging toward them. It was the first time he had seen these things up close like this, so Yunseo tensed and stiffened his fingertips. But strangely, he was not that afraid. He kept his eyes wide open and watched until the end — how they moved and how they were destroyed.

Escorted by the Yongrin, they at last reached the entrance of the Hell Realm. Hwi knelt while holding Yunseo, lowering himself into position. Yunseo stared into the cave where no light or form could be seen.

"The Yongrin cannot enter within, but you may be different. So let us start from the surrounding area."

Directly touching the cave carried great danger. Yunseo nodded and slowly extended his hand downward.

When he pressed his palm down onto the ground right in front of the cave, a throbbing pulse was felt at the center of his hand. This was not his own pulse. Yunseo drew in a deep breath and gathered his guardian star.

The guardian star surged greatly and flowed out rapidly through his fingertips.

In that instant, he felt a "gaze." Goosebumps ran down his spine. The monsters that had been locked in combat with the Yongrin turned their bodies in unison and lunged toward this spot.

Yunseo was quite taken aback, but calmly focused on whatever his guardian star had made contact with. What he had touched was something like, metaphorically speaking, a root or a leaf vein. Through it, the Hell Realm was absorbing the guardian star. And simultaneously he sensed lines — edges. The edge of the entrance. The sensation of that cave's maw slowly closing.

This time, a pleasant shiver ran across his entire body. A slanted joy settled at the corner of Yunseo's lips.

Hwi drew a dagger from his hip in a flash and threw it. A monster that had been creeping overhead was struck by the dagger carrying a decisive blow and fell. A quiet chaos spread out in a circle around Yunseo. The Yongrin watched each other's backs and skillfully tore the monsters apart.

Yunseo condensed his guardian star with conviction. He pressed his palm steadily against the ground and sent out even more guardian star in a straight shot. The force roiling in his belly was like a friend with whom he had been in sync for a long time.

Close. And sleep.

The living guardian star poured out with an even livelier vitality than ever before, surging forth like a tide. The Hell Realm narrowed its maw as if receiving and drinking in the guardian star. He condensed his strength once more and bore down on the vein. The slowly shrinking edge was plainly felt.

Just a little more, just a little more……

Rumble — the earth shook and the cave pulled another dark curtain over itself. The remaining stragglers fell rapidly.

At last the pulse that had been beating against his palm stopped. The guardian star that had been rushing out pooled at his fingertips and bounced about as though bewildered.

And then silence.

The rough breathing of the Yongrin cutting through that silence.

All eyes turned toward Yunseo. Yunseo slowly lifted his palm and then clenched and opened his hand. His fingers tingled. The sensation running along each and every line of his palm was pure joy and a sense of achievement.

When he turned his head, his eyes met Hwi's. What covered Hwi's face was not the same emotion as Yunseo's. He looked at Yunseo with an expression that could not be put into words, and then opened his mouth.

"You did it."

"Yes."

The silent stirring of the Yongrin surrounding them on all sides reached him. In truth neither Hwi, nor Yunseo, nor the Yongrin had expected this plan to succeed on the first try, nor had they particularly anticipated it, which made it all the more astonishing.

"I trust you all know without being told that this matter must be kept secret."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

At Hwi's order of silence, the dumbfounded Yongrin stiffened their expressions and bowed their heads. Their faces gradually became stained with wonder. Hwi made a gesture and they barely concealed their elated air, confirmed the remains, and all returned together.

Hwi readjusted his hold on Yunseo and slowly rose. Yunseo studied Hwi's expression and stroked his nape.

"Were you surprised?"

"Yes."

Hwi caressed Yunseo's forehead and cheek and then took hold of his hand. The touch that brushed the earth from his palm and checked each and every fingertip one by one was delicate.

"How is your body? If there is any difference from usual, even a little, say so."

"There is none. It was no different from giving treatment."

"I see. Even so, when we return I will call for a physician."

Yunseo said he understood and tried moving his fingers. A sensation of what seemed to be a lingering heartbeat was still there, but this would just be an afterglow.

He was about to suggest they head back when Hwi was gazing at the closed Hell Realm. He stared with an expressionless face for a while and then spoke.

"When we somehow manage to hold back the Hell Realm, some people would say that the gods give us only trials we can bear."

Hwi's gaze turned to Yunseo and warmth bloomed in those previously impassive dark eyes. That change felt as beautiful as a flower reaching full bloom, and Yunseo met his gaze as though enchanted. Hwi raised his finger and tickled Yunseo's cheek.

"But the one who determines both that thing and my power, and who erases my pain, is your hand — so if there is any existence I should serve and revere, it is you and you alone."

Hwi reverently pressed his lips to Yunseo's forehead. Being able to understand some portion of the complex emotions he felt, Yunseo smiled softly and gripped Hwi's fingers tight.

"I am glad to be able to be of even a little more help."

They now knew a new way to close the Hell Realm, which meant opening another path forward. Though it would be difficult to use when the monsters were at their most vigorous, by finishing things off — by closing the Hell Realm sooner — they could buy the Yongrin some reserve of strength.

If the time and strength gained that way could be used where needed, it would create a good cycle. Walking forward step by step like this, perhaps they could light this road a little more brightly.

The wind blew in a gust, but it could not cool the warmth of the two men. Yunseo and Hwi tangled their gazes and then smiled and pressed their lips together.

* * *

The weather being cool made it a truly excellent day for playing outdoors. Yunseo checked several times to make sure everything he had prepared was properly in order.

Seeing the courtyard filled with vitality again was heartening. A different excitement from when the polo match had been held circulated through the courtyard this time. Noticing that the Yongrin and Yeongchunhwa looked even more neatly put together than usual, laughter spilled out inevitably.

Yunseo's plan to create a space for the Yongrin and Yeongchunhwa to come together had progressed earlier than anticipated. It was the result of both the need to lift the dampened morale from Jeongjoo's incident and the need to change the atmosphere converging at the right moment. Fortunately, whether the intent had come through, an energetic wind had blown through the Yongrin Guard and Yeonwiwon in the days before the event was held.

The spectator seats were divided into black and white sections, with Yongrin and Yeongchunhwa seated intermingled together. The sight of them gathered in one place was something that could not easily be seen outside of Geumju Fortress, and felt unfamiliar. Perhaps the participants themselves felt the same — some were only rolling their eyes awkwardly and stiffly.

"It is fortunate the atmosphere is good."

"After the event, training will have to be carried out more thoroughly."

Hwi clicked his tongue and swept the Yongrin with sharp eyes. Yunseo held him back, saying there had to be occasions like this too, and took in those entering the courtyard.

*Author's note: 호유장단 (互有長短) — each having its own strengths and weaknesses. National Institute of Korean Language, Standard Korean Language Dictionary.