Joon-Woo Exploring the Palace Corridors
The palace corridors stretched endlessly before Joon-Woo—quiet, vast, and breathtakingly grand.
Sunlight streamed through tall stained-glass windows, scattering shades of gold and crimson across the polished marble floors. Servants moved carefully through the halls, carrying wooden boxes and sealed packages, their footsteps light and disciplined. Guards stood posted everywhere, alert and unmoving, their presence reminding anyone who passed that this was the heart of royal power.
Padding silently in his fox form, Joon-Woo wandered deeper into the palace.
He had spent most of his time confined to Prince Leon's chambers. Now, moving freely through the inner halls of the kingdom felt unreal—beautiful, overwhelming, and filled with secrets hidden behind every corner.
That was when—
He saw him.
A man stood near the far end of the corridor, partially concealed behind a stone pillar. His posture was stiff, his dark cloak pulled too tightly around his body. His eyes flicked left and right, sharp and restless, as though he feared being watched.
Something about him felt… wrong.
A chill crawled down Joon-Woo's spine.
At that exact moment
[System Notification]
Side Mission Detected
Objective: Investigate the suspicious individual
Task: Discover his plan and stop it
Reward: Mystery Box
(Contains a random rare reward)
Failure Condition: Unknown
Joon-Woo's gaze hardened.
So… you're the problem.
The man began walking briskly toward the outer gates. Keeping a safe distance, Joon-Woo followed, careful not to draw attention. The man exited the palace grounds—and after a brief hesitation, Joon-Woo slipped out after him.
It was his first time leaving the castle alone.
Beyond the gates stretched the capital city—wide streets filled with life. Carriages rattled over stone roads, merchants shouted prices from colorful stalls, and crowds flowed endlessly between buildings.
But slowly, the scenery changed.
The lively streets narrowed into shadowed alleys.
Clean stone gave way to cracked pavement.
Soon, Joon-Woo found himself in the city's oldest district—a forgotten place where time itself seemed broken. Crumbling buildings leaned toward one another, dim lanterns flickered weakly, and the air carried the scent of damp stone and danger. Poor families huddled in corners, while suspicious figures watched silently from dark doorways.
Moving carefully, Joon-Woo followed like a ghost.
The man finally stopped before an abandoned shop and slipped inside.
Joon-Woo followed, hiding behind broken shelves and shattered furniture.
Voices echoed through the darkness.
"The guards change shifts at the third bell," the cloaked man whispered.
"And the west gate?" another voice asked.
"All that information has to be delivered to Mr. J."
Joon-Woo's eyes narrowed.
Security details…
They're planning something during the princess's birthday ceremony.
His heart began to pound.
I can't let this happen.
In a flash, Joon-Woo transformed.
Silver light burst around him, reshaping his body. In an instant, he stood in human form. Nearby lay a discarded blanket, some old clothes, and a cracked mask. He grabbed them quickly, covering his face and body.
Then—
He attacked.
Water responded to his will instantly.
A sharp crack echoed through the shop as a whip of compressed water tore through the air, striking the first man across the chest and slamming him violently into the wall. Before the second man could react, the floor beneath his feet exploded upward in a surge of water, throwing him off balance and crashing him onto his back.
The cloaked man screamed in panic and tried to flee.
Joon-Woo stepped forward, his eyes cold and focused.
Another wave surged forward, crashing into the man's legs and sweeping him off his feet. Ropes formed instantly from hardened water, binding all three men tightly before they could even cry out again.
Breathing heavily, Joon-Woo snatched the scroll from the cloaked man's hand—the document containing palace routes, guard schedules, and security weak points.
To ensure suspicion would not fall on the palace, he tied the men securely and carefully placed Prince Leon's ring and several royal-marked items beside them, making it appear as though they were ordinary thieves who had stolen palace property.
Outside the shop, a poor young boy had gathered after hearing the noise. Fear filled his eyes as he stood frozen in place.
Joon-Woo approached gently and placed a gold coin into the child's trembling hand.
"Run to the guards," he whispered softly. "Tell them thieves are hiding inside."
The boy nodded quickly and ran.
Joon-Woo slipped back inside, transformed into his fox form, and silently followed the child from a distance.
The boy kept his promise.
Moments later, armored guards stormed the shop. Steel clanged, orders were shouted, and the criminals were dragged away in chains.
Joon-Woo released a slow breath.
Good…
Without wasting another second, he rushed back through the city, slipping unnoticed through the castle gates. His heart pounded as he raced through familiar corridors, returning to Leon's chambers just before anyone noticed his absence.
He curled up neatly on his cushion, forcing his breathing to slow.
Footsteps approached.
Prince Leon was returning.
Joon-Woo closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, his heart still racing.
He must not find out that I left…
But deep inside, he knew—
This was only the beginning.