Humu stared, stunned. And then something strange settled in his chest—familiar, forgotten. Trust. He hadn't felt it since… Prince Baram.
Maybe… maybe someone up there heard my prayers after all.
Without a word, Humu turned and led Goi toward the princess's inner chambers.
After all, he thought bitterly, who would send an assassin for a girl already dying?
Word had it the Queen herself had thrown a banquet when the news of Somi's collapse arrived.
As they reached the threshold of the princess's quarters, Humu stepped forward first and opened the door. The flickering light of hemp oil lamps revealed a solemn scene: priests chanting, their voices low and urgent; a few maids in tears, wiping cold sweat from the princess's face.
When Goi entered behind him, all heads turned.
Dongjin? That can't be—he's too young!
Confusion buzzed through the room. But Humu raised his voice and gestured toward Goi.
"This man has come to heal the princess," he declared.
Goi laid a firm hand on Humu's shoulder and leaned in.
"Whatever happens," he whispered, "stay calm. Move everyone behind you and guard them well."
Alright, Humu thought. Let's believe—for once, let's believe.
He nodded and barked out his command. "Everyone behind me. Now!"
The maids and priests hesitated, eyes flicking from Humu to Goi—but they obeyed. Maybe it was the captain's voice. Maybe it was the way Goi carried himself. Or maybe it was just that they had run out of hope, and any miracle, even a strange one, was better than nothing.
Goi approached the princess, his expression serene. The bronze bells at his waist tinkled softly, signaling the start of his work.
He reached into his pouch and scattered white beans around her, the bells ringing louder. Goi clasped his hands in concentration, but nothing happened.
A sigh of resignation escaped from behind him. The bells tinkled softly, and Goi nodded in response, clasping his hands again with renewed focus.
Gradually, a golden light emerged from the bronze mirror hanging on his chest, gently illuminating the princess's body.
"Reveal yourselves," Goi commanded.
Evil spirits were drawn out from the princess, manifesting as demonic forms within the beans.
One snarled, "You dare give us empty vessels?"
Despite their threatening intimidation and chilling malevolence, each of them was only the size of an adult's fist.
Even one of the attendants couldn't help but blurt out, "How cute," which was followed by laughter filling the room.
The white bean demons, enraged, began to showcase their power and might.
Some staggered, casting spells toward Goi but toppled backward, unable to withstand their own power.
Others fashioned their hands into cudgel shapes, charging at Goi and striking his leather shoes.
And the others leaped like fleas, attempting to attack Goi but lost their balance mid-air and tumbled to the ground.
Yet, despite their comical actions, the malevolence they exuded was no less than the other demons and devils Goi had encountered.
Goi, unlike others, remained calm and slowly drew his steel blade. The white bean monsters mustered all their strength to attack him. As Goi swung his sword through the air, the bean monsters let out comical screams and fell one by one to the ground.
One of the fallen monsters attempted to gather its power again. After assessing its own strength, it tried to muster more, only to realize that its small form was already brimming with energy, leaving no room for more, and lamented its limitation.
"I still have power, but... not in this small form," one monster grumbled.
Drawing his bronze gladius, glowing with golden light, Goi declared, "Cleansed!" His blade's radiant energy purified the monsters, reducing them to harmless remnants.
Once the white bean monsters were all purified, the bronze bells tinkled softly again. Goi nodded, then took out the black beans and placed them beside the ailing princess. As the bells rang again, Goi clasped his hands together in concentration, and the bronze mirror hanging on his chest emitted a golden light that gently illuminated the princess.
"Reveal yourselves," Goi commanded, and the evil spirits that had infested the princess were drawn out, entering the black beans. The beans bounced around, transforming into tiny bean demons.
The fist-sized black bean demons smirked at Goi.
"You're a fearless one, offering the empty shells to us... hahaha."
Each demon unleashed their full magical power against Goi, but to their dismay, they found themselves completely ineffective, growing increasingly confused and alarmed.
Drawing his steel blade once more, Goi swung it fiercely, causing the black bean demons to collapse helplessly to the ground. The last remaining demon attempted to summon its power multiple times.
One of the attendants chuckled, saying, "Look at that! Just too sweet," causing the demon to glare in confusion.
"I have more power, but I can't use it," it muttered before glaring at Goi.
"Did you deliberately give us such small bodies?" it growled in frustration.
Goi sheathed his steel blade and drew his bronze sword. As the frightened black bean demon tried to flee, Goi swung the bronze gladius.
"Cleansed!" Goi's shout echoed, and with a golden slash, he purified all the black bean demons at once. As the demons disappeared, empty black beans rolled across the floor, coming to a stop on the wooden floor.
The sound of black beans rolling on the wooden floor ceased, and the princess's body began to twist on the bed. As she groaned in pain and thrashed about, a massive evil spirit emerged from her body, flinging the chamber's window open with a loud bang and escaping into the air.
Goi, reacting swiftly to the intense chime of the bronze bells, dashed out of the window after the spirit. The guards and attendants rushed to the window, their eyes wide with astonishment at the scene unfolding in the courtyard below.
"What is happening?"
The princess's voice, now filled with life, startled them all. Turning around, they saw her sitting upright in bed, confusion and concern on her face.
"Why is everyone so surprised?"
Humu respectfully explained, "The holy ascetic is confronting an evil dragon outside."
The princess attempted to rise but sank back onto the bed. As her maids rushed to her side, she waved them off.
"Move aside, I want to see too."
The guards and attendants stepped away from the window, revealing the view of a handsome young warrior facing off against the demi-dragon outside.
A demi-dragon, Oridrakar, with eyes blazing with fury, roared, "How dare you! I had finally found a beautiful human skin!"