“Hooh. So, you know someone from the Dragon Palace?”
The man arched a brow. Jae-ha offered a vague smile, unsure if it was safe to admit that he knew Hwang-ryong’s Imoogi. He had no idea how many Imoogis existed or what kind of treatment they received, so he couldn’t afford to speak carelessly.
“Well… it just sort of worked out that way.”
“And that’s why you’re looking into the Dragon Palace?”
His tone was pressing, almost accusatory. Jae-ha forced a light grin to play it off.
“The material feels so foreign that I can’t really wrap my head around it. Maybe because I’ve never seen the place myself, it’s hard to imagine. Honestly, the only thing I know is that an Imoogi becomes a dragon once it ascends.”
“Is that so? Well, then…”
The man drew out his words in a strange tone, leaning closer. His long hair spilled forward, casting shadows, while the ornaments he wore clinked softly together. With one finger, he pointed to a section of the book in Jae-ha’s hands.
“When the time comes, a dragon descends to the human realm in search of the Imoogi who will succeed it. No one knows exactly how they choose, but it seems any long-bodied, smooth creature qualifies. Which is why any such being would dream, at least once, of becoming a dragon.”
After reading fluently, the man added with a light chuckle,
“Of course, it can’t be just anything. Dragons must have standards of their own.”
“Most likely, yeah.”
Jae-ha agreed without much thought. Given that the Yellow Dragon had chosen something as small as an earthworm, his criteria were clearly unfathomable.
“Once an Imoogi endures and finally ascends, it inherits the Dragon Palace of its predecessor. Though the palace reflects the former dragon’s tastes, no one knows its interior unless invited. The four palaces in the seas almost never admit outsiders, so there’s very little information about them.”
The man seemed to be enjoying himself now, reading aloud in a smooth, almost lyrical voice. When he looked up, his bright eyes clearly asked if Jae-ha understood. He didn’t seem to realize that hearing incomprehensible text read aloud wasn’t any better than struggling through it silently. Classic “bad teacher” thinking.
Still, since Jae-ha couldn’t read the script at all, at least now he knew the content. Unaware that Jae-ha had already given up on actually deciphering it, the man teased him lightly.
“Unfortunately, for that very reason, it seems unlikely you’ll ever learn much about the Dragon Palace—unless, of course, the person you know is a dragon.”
His voice carried quiet certainty that Jae-ha couldn’t possibly know one. And it was true. Jae-ha nodded easily—then paused. The man had only mentioned the ocean Dragon Palaces.
But hadn’t Su-min said that Hwang-ryong’s palace was in the Celestial Realm? He wouldn’t have lied about just that. Did the Celestial Realm have seas as well?
And Su-min had learned about the Baeksa fruit from guests who visited Hwang-ryong’s palace. So unlike the others, that one must not have been so closed to outsiders.
Were the Dragon Palaces in this book describing something else? Were there different ranks among them? The questions felt too risky to ask, so Jae-ha kept them to himself—just as the book slipped from his hands. The man plucked it away and smiled.
“If you’re done studying the Dragon Palace, may I take this book back now?”
“Ah, yes. Of course.”
So that was it. No wonder—when no one else dared to approach him, this man had. Apparently, if you had business with someone, the perception-dulling spell didn’t apply.
As soon as the book left his hands, the man walked off. Jae-ha stared after him, lost in thought, until suddenly someone grabbed his shoulder.
“Sunbae, who was that guy?”
Hae-hyun’s voice was low and sharp. His guarded tone made Jae-ha shrug.
“No idea. I was just bored, so I borrowed a book. I guess he needed it back.”
Jae-ha gave a rueful chuckle, muttering about his bad luck. Hae-hyun scowled, lips jutting out in open displeasure.
“I told you to stay put. Why are you here?”
“If I stood out at the entrance like some statue, I’d draw more attention. This corner’s less noticeable.”
“He didn’t say anything strange to you, did he?”
Strange? What strange things was he expecting? Jae-ha rolled his eyes.
“No, nothing.”
Hae-hyun scanned his face like a lie detector, then seemed to decide he was telling the truth. Immediately, a stream of muttered complaints spilled out.
“Leave you alone for just a minute and you… even when I tell you to stay put…”
His voice was too low and quick to catch every word, but it was definitely backtalk. Jae-ha caught him by the nape with a laugh.
“All right then, let’s see what incredible thing our Hae-hyun accomplished after ditching me.”
“…Here.”
Hae-hyun’s defiance vanished instantly. He meekly handed something over. Jae-ha took it and found a long jade pass, an elegant orchid carved in relief at the center like a piece of art.
“What’s this?”
“An access pass.”
“…Access to where?”
“Not sure. A restricted area, maybe?”
He should’ve asked where it came from, but the words stuck in his throat. Jae-ha squeezed his eyes shut, then asked,
“Where did you get this?”
Avoiding his gaze, Hae-hyun mumbled,
“Just… well, I think he’s a general of Myeongheoseong, so his clearance should be high.”
“A general? Don’t tell me—General Beomgye?”
“How do you even know that, Sunbae?”
Because he’d overheard not long ago that the man was Myeongheoseong’s top general.
“Hae-hyun, you can’t just steal things.”
He hadn’t wanted to believe it, but he really had swiped it… and of all people, from one of the strongest generals. It felt like turning your back for one second, only to find a mischievous puppy had gotten into trouble.
Sure, they did need to search the castle for the Hwanggwaju and the Cheonrok, but outright stealing was another matter. At Jae-ha’s mild rebuke, Hae-hyun only shrugged.
“It’s fine. There’s a banquet soon in the rear garden to entertain the guests, and that general will be there. He won’t notice the pass is missing.”
“…Really?”
Well, if they weren’t caught… Jae-ha’s conscience swayed at once. The castle lord didn’t seem like the type to flaunt the Hwanggwaju openly, so an access pass would definitely be useful.
“Most people didn’t seem to know anything about the Hwanggwaju. Hardly anyone mentioned Baeksa fruit either…”
So even while pickpocketing, Hae-hyun had been dutifully gathering intel. Jae-ha himself hadn’t overheard a single word about the Hwanggwaju. Clearly, the reception hall held nothing useful. He jerked his chin.
“Let’s head out then?”
“Yeah.”
The two slipped out of the hall and walked carefully through the winding corridors. The polished wooden floors barely echoed under their feet.
As they rounded a corner, a sweet scent drifted in the air. Jae-ha sniffed a few times, then glanced at Hae-hyun.
“Don’t you smell something delicious?”
“Smells like fruit.”
Like apple, maybe peach—but unmistakably fruit.
It was reckless, but they had no better lead. Without a word, they shared a look and moved together.
The trail led them to a guest room with the door slightly ajar. Hae-hyun strode ahead.
“Hold on.”
Strange words slipped from his lips, and a golden shadow rippled beneath his feet. It slid through the door crack, and a few seconds later, he nodded.
“Empty. Let’s go.”
How long had it been since they’d entered Myeongheoseong? Already theft and now trespassing had been added to their crimes—multiplying as naturally as breathing. Sorry about this, Jae-ha thought sheepishly toward the unknown room’s owner as they stepped inside. The hinges creaked smoothly, and the door opened wide.
The castle lord’s tastes were lavish.
At the center of the spacious room stood a massive bed. In front of the large window sat a richly decorated couch and table. Chests, drawers, a decorative bookshelf, ceramics, lamps… Even a porcelain bathtub peeked out from behind a golden folding screen.
Clothes draped over the couch and the rumpled blankets on the bed made it clear someone was already staying here. Jae-ha slipped further in, scanning the room. Along the wall stood a row of large trunks, big enough to hold even him and Hae-hyun. Their exteriors were painted with peony and camellia designs.
He lifted the lid of one where a piece of fabric poked out. Inside were clothes and trinkets scattered loosely—a guest’s belongings.
Rummaging through someone else’s things felt wrong, but with their lives at stake… Jae-ha shut his eyes tight, then opened them and reached in. Digging carefully so as not to disturb too much, he found a box buried among the cloth.
“What’s this?”
Hae-hyun bent over, snapped the clasp open, and began lifting the lid—when Jae-ha froze.
Footsteps echoed faintly across the floor.
