Move, Kim Sung-Yeol, and I'll spare you.
Just kill me. Or regret it the rest of your life!
No!
Take cover.
Let's go.
Hurry up, Naeuri!
He couldn't be far. After him.
Yes!
Scholar.
Naeuri.
I don't know how to help him.
Don't let him leave until nightfall.
Can you ride a horse?
I learned when I was young.
Head towards the setting sun.
Past Gobong Mountains
is a small province.
There's an empty house on the hillside.
That place...
There's an ally.
There's something I need to do
so look after Naeuri while I'm gone.
We lost them.
Everyone is to stay silent
on what we saw today.
Naeuri.
Naeuri...
Soo-Hyang, Soo-Hyang!
You're alive!
Naeuri and I worried about you!
But what do we do?
He went without his garb
and I can't find him in the forest!
Naeuri escaped safely, so don't worry about him.
He must've suffered.
Who was it?
Who took Master's garb off him?
I have an idea who took it.
Who was it?
I assume Naeuri ran out on full moon night...
blinded by his hunger?
How'd you know that?
You weren't there
and Naeuri hadn't fed for some time.
But who stole the garb?
I want you to steal his black garb.
It was the queen.
What, the queen?
The queen is Gwi's slave.
His Majesty has arrived.
It was as you told me.
However, he escaped death and fled with Seo Jin.
Let me ask now.
How'd you know about Kim Sung-Yeol
and how'd you get his black garb?
Let me explain.
I had a minor encounter with Kim Sung-Yeol
before I became queen.
He mistook me for his long-lost love
and demanded my identity.
My father was aware of this
and dragged me in front of Gwi.
You were in the dungeon?
That man my father serves
commanded me to steal the garb from Kim Sung-Yeol.
If I refused,
he threatened to turn me into a vampire.
Is that true?
So I had no choice but to seek Kim Sung-Yeol.
What did you intend?
Luck was with me.
I found him disoriented on the roadside.
He again mistook me for his lost love
and I stole his black garb.
Why'd you bring it to me?
Though I fear Gwi's threats,
this must remain out of Gwi's hands.
If Gwi finds out you helped me,
he won't stand for it.
He must never find out I got the garb.
Tell him Kim Sung-Yeol went off with it.
But that puts you in danger.
If Gwi gets the garb,
you and I...no...
the entire kingdom is in danger!
I'll face him in the dungeon.
No, don't go there.
But Gwi is...
I command you.
The king returned.
I assume empty-handed?
I believe so.
What's the queen up to now?
About that...
Since she became Queen,
she hasn't spoken to me.
Both refuse to appear to me?
Father.
Father, please!
It's okay.
Father.
No, don't go there.
But Gwi is...
It's an order.
Is your candlelight wavering
or your heart?
Is it okay for you to venture here?
My delivery didn't arrive
so I had to come myself.
Did you get Kim Sung-Yeol's black garb?
I confronted Kim Sung-Yeol
but he couldn't be fooled.
He knows I'm not his Myung-Hee.
So you failed?
You think I believe you?
He forgot his lost love.
His heart belongs to Forbidden Quest's girl.
I can no longer move Kim Sung-Yeol's heart.
Isn't it wise you let go the past as well, Elder?
You grew bold after becoming Queen.
Don't you know I could remove you at any time?
What's the meaning of this?
You arrived, my King?
Let her go.
What if I refuse?
Did I not pledge you my allegiance?
Why'd you intrude on the queen
and threaten her?
Seeing how bold you are,
did you capture Kim Sung-Yeol?
We located him and made a move.
But despite the sun being up,
he ran off in broad daylight!
That so?
How can a vampire cross through daylight?
You didn't mention this!
I'll send guards throughout the land,
and I'll find Kim Sung-Yeol.
So spare the queen.
Your Majesty!
Are you shocked?
Hak-Young, you...!
That's as far as you go.
Although I'm in control,
I may lose it if he gets closer.
My...
Do you see?
If you defy me, I won't simply grant you death.
So I advise you to behave.
Your Majesty.
Unless you want your queen to end up like this.
Let's go.
Hak-Young...
Are you okay, Your Majesty?
I won't grant him a swift death!
One day he'll experience my heartache!
What is it? Let's go.
Who's there!
Oh, this is...
Thank you. Thanks so much.
No need to thank me.
I'm indebted to Scholar.
If you need help, come to the village.
Okay?
You're awake now?
Stop.
I'm fine.
Drink my blood.
If I drink more,
I'll lose control and drain you.
This won't do.
Let me find blood for you.
What are you doing?
Um, the chicken...
Why didn't you say you're hungry?
My goodness.
Here, take these leftovers.
Ah, um...
I don't need meat.
Oh...
This is for Scholar. It's fresh cow blood.
How'd you know...?
I said I'm indebted to him.
My daughter was almost kidnapped by hoodlums
and he rescued her.
We call him Night Scholar.
If you need blood, come here.
But are you Madam Night Scholar?
Oreoboni...
Myung-Hee.
The black garb mustn't fall into Gwi's hands.
Come inside.
How'd you find this place?
Did you meet Soo-Hyang?
She said she'd be back after taking care of something.
It's a relief she's safe.
If you need blood, tell me.
Luckily, folks here respect you.
Royal Guards won't come this far
so hide here for now.
I'll assess the situation and come back for you.
You can't even move.
When you're healed, do as you like.
Until then, you can't take one step out of here.
A few drops of your blood revived me.
Is it to do with your maternal lineage?
Please read what's there.
And from now on,
the Royal Council takes place after sundown.
Who drafted this?
I did it for the Elder.
Chief Counselor, you know what a Proclamation entails!
If you have a problem with this,
take it up with the Elder.
Chief Counselor!
I understand.
I'll issue it.
It slanders the late king and declares it to the people!
Your grandfather would turn in his grave!
And my Hak-Young is...
I'm aware of that.
Heaven knows our intentions.
And I'll handle any business in the dungeon
so don't go there again, Advisor.
It doesn't burn.
I relayed your order.
The days feel too long.
Within these walls...
no, across the land, I will bring darkness.
What's Su-hyang up to?
I'll find out.
Here. Now the Elder presented you with riches,
you can go where you want the rest of your days.
In case the Elder needs my services again,
I'll re-open Hwayung-gak.
What?
Elder spared your life, but he's no pushover.
Or do you have other ideas?
Isn't it natural to be drawn to power?
Or why else did you sacrifice your precious daughter
to the Elder?
I'll be easier to work with than your daughter.
Chief Counselor,
please use my services for the Elder.
Over there.
Chief Counselor.
Why's the Royal Council scheduled
in the middle of the night?
Royal order above royal order.
That's all you need to know.
"And the king declares"
"the late king's rule was not in alignment with the people."
"Heaven punished him."
"As the new king,"
"I have responsibility to recreate this kingdom"
"and rule with the iron fist of law."
"And insurgents like Forbidden Quest"
"will no longer appear."
"Furthermore..."
That man...at the banquet...
He'll hear you!
Carry on.
"Furthermore, I decree among all the provinces"
Your Majesty!
Forgive me
but the day you proclaim this,
there will be a revolt of the people.
Then capture every one of them.
Or declare martial law.
No more than 10 persons may assemble unauthorised.
And I want everyone in black garb arrested.
- Yes. - Keep at it. - Yes. Goodbye now.
Sister!
I have plenty of blood.
This is for you.
I'll enjoy it.
But when can I meet Scholar?
No, it's nothing.
That adorable child Bomi
reminds me of my sister Dam-yi.
She's dreaming how beautiful the Scholar must be.
I told her to forget it.
But, Scholar.
May I ask you a question?
The king claimed I'm the key to defeat Gwi.
Is it true?
Is it about the maternal line?
No.
But I heard him say I must be given to Gwi.
Didn't I say 'no'?
The king was mistaken about you.
Scholar, will you keep fighting Gwi?
You've been fighting so long.
How much longer will you carry on?
It's just...
Can't we be together for a while?
How long are you talking about?
10 years?
20 years?
No, just 50 years?
Isn't that just a short while for you, Scholar?
My body weighs heavily...
but you lightened my heart after such a long time.
~my heart is speaking~
~my two eyes are speaking~
~I am lying again~
~thinking I’d be left with only tears~
~thinking you might hurt more~
If I embrace you now, I may hurt you.
~I want to be rain falling by your side~
~as much as my heart won't stop~
~I’ll crumble the more you fill me~
~but I love you regardless~
~my eyes well up just looking at you~
~my heart is aching for you~
I couldn't handle any of this without you.
So the king read what you ordered to be written?
I guess you're feared, Elder.
Are the Sungkyunkwan scholars in an uproar?
With the order against unauthorized assembly,
what can they accomplish?
At this rate, the entire kingdom will denounce the king.
Am I wrong?
It will turn out the way you want, Elder.
What is it I want?
A puppet king without public support.
Ohoh. You know nothing!
No, this child is correct.
That's the king I want,
but I can't seem to achieve it.
Is there anything you're not capable of?
I need to capture Kim Sung-Yeol.
With recent events,
he won't be back anytime soon.
About that...
I thought of a way to lure him back.
If the useless king and his people
are thrown into deeper despair...
I don't think Kim Sung-Yeol will sit back.
So you'll capture Kim Sung-Yeol
and reverse public sentiment?
"Catch two birds with one stone".
Now maidens must be handed to the palace?
It's the end times.
How'd our kingdom get like this?
Does this make sense?
Hey, you there.
- What? - What did you say?
Come here; hurry up.
What are you doing?
We're ordered to inspect every black robe.
What's my black robe to do with the law?
This won't do.
You have to come with us.
Let go of me!
I said let go of me!
Those dirty dogs!
Why don't you just announce Gwi rules this kingdom?
Be quiet!
Let's go.
Someone is here for you, Your Majesty.
My Queen.
What are you here?
With all due respect, I have a proposition.
I understand.
Keep a lookout.
Is it true you took my lord's black garb?
You're here about that?
I know nothing about that.
I know you've been visiting the dungeon
for some time now.
I can't figure out if the king knows about you.
Are you threatening me?
Please return the garb. If you don't...
I don't care what you do!
If you get between me and my king,
I'll hand the garb to Gwi.
Why are you going this far?
Why are you currying Gwi's favour?
Don't you fear him?
I've served Kim Sung-Yeol for many years.
I'd do anything for Naeuri.
I'm this land's queen!
If my king can become a better king,
there's nothing I won't do.
So shouldn't you focus on defeating Gwi?
Why'd you weaken Naeuri
instead of joining forces with him?
If Kim Sung-Yeol hadn't opposed the king and hidden Jo Yang-Sun,
Gwi would be dead already.
What's so important about that child Yang-Sun?
Gwi's own child will return one day to destroy him.
It's a story I heard since I was young.
Jo Yang-Sun is Gwi's descendant
and the secret key to destroying Gwi.
Do you know where she is now?
I don't know.
If you really care for Kim Sung-Yeol,
think about what's best for him.
This is all you're offering?
I gave her more because she's pretty.
Oh, did you hear the news?
The king demanded we hand over our daughters.
That's ridiculous!
It's posted everywhere!
If we don't present a maiden to the palace
by the end of every month, taxes will double.
Life is already hard.
But isn't palace life better?
You're ignorant. Don't you know about the palace resident?
They're being offered to that vampire!
Vampire?
But the only young maiden in our village is my Bomi.
Sister.
We know she lives here!
You have a 16-year-old daughter!
No.
I'm not even married.
Look, if your records are falsified,
that's a crime!
You got the wrong idea.
That girl is the only maiden in this village.
You can't fool me!
This place will be in flames in days because of you.
Let's go.
Father, are you okay?
Yeah, yeah.
Do you feel better now?
If you value your life,
how could you enter the palace?
Were you worried about me?
Now's no time to worry about me.
Gwi is behind this?
It's a ploy to lure you into the palace.
You mustn't get involved.
Put Yang-Sun in front of Gwi.
I heard she's the key to defeat Gwi.
You mustn't.
I'm part of the key, so I'll handle him.
Are you saying
you'll risk your life in your current condition?
I'm living on borrowed time.
After my love died in my arms,
I waited for the day to avenge her.
But must I sacrifice another for my vengeance?
If it requires my becoming a monster like him
to destroy him, I'd rather die facing him.
So you overheard?
It's true I'm the secret key?
Why else would the king and Naeuri struggle over you?
Gwi...
I lost a father twice because of him.
And I almost lost Scholar!
What else must I give up?
Why can't I live a quiet life with Scholar?
Do you know what that would entail?
A daughter born of you two,
regardless of generation,
must one day be sacrificed to Gwi.
Maternal lineage?
Isn't this a family tree?
What did you say?
A family tree.
This one and this one married.
This is their offspring.
Yes.
Maternal lineage.
That's the key!
If not, Gwi will torment the people forever.
And they'll hunt your bloodline to destroy Gwi.
Why...?
Tell me why!
Yes, this is happening
because you're a child of Gwi.
I want to wear a pretty dress too, Father.
Jin, no one must ever know you're a girl.
Why not?
Because people will harm you.
These clothes are uncomfortable.
But they're wrong.
The prince will find another way for us.
Why are you so late?
Scholar.
Did something happen?
Not at all.
I'm about to take a walk.
Would you join me?
Yes.
Oh!
This is...
Sit down.
Were you working late every night to buy these?
So did you find out what you want to do?
I can't be a book merchant any more.
And I'm not a good novelist.
I want to leave everything behind
and live a simple life here with you.
I'm rather disappointed.
Pardon?
Am I the only one looking forward
to the Night Scholar sequel?
The Night Scholar I imagined was mysterious,
dreamy and justice-minded, but it was unrealistic.
As I learn more about you,
it's harder to imagine your burden.
My stories pale in comparison.
Now I can distinguish fantasy and reality
and see it's impossible to change reality.
However, a world without imagination
would be cold and unrelenting.
Imagination can't change reality
but it changes people, which in turn changes reality.
When the world becomes peaceful one day,
it will no longer need people like the Night Scholar
but rather people with imagination...
just like you.
Why are you looking at me like that?
You are beautiful.
What?
What you just told me ...is your heart.
No.
You haven't fully recovered.
I want to see if I've recovered
so don't refuse.
Here.
Scholar, aren't I heavy?
Seeing you're light as a feather,
your heart seems to be lighter too.
How did you know?
Naeuri searched this place high and low
but he found no clues.
Miss Jo...
No, did Seo Jin's father know about the lineage?
It explains why he hid her.
If only I'd arrived sooner...
Then did Seo Jin's mother die around that time?
That's correct.
What, what?
How am I so blind?
What... what are you saying?
I must see the king right away.
Look here!
Aren't you going too far?
Don't you have children of your own?
Is everyone going to let this happen?
It's a Royal Order!
Arrest anyone who resists!
That's enough!
I know how you feel, but recklessness is foolish.
Hyungnim!
Hyungnim.
No, no...
How could you send Sister!
I had no choice.
You're my daughter; she's not!
No, no...
What are you saying?
Where's Yang-Sun now?
Take my life!
I asked where she is!
I deserve to die!
Where is she!
The palace demands we hand over our daughters.
She offered to go in my daughter's place.
Please kill me, Naeri!
It's not your fault.
Leave us.
This black garb mustn't end up in Gwi's hands.
Where are you, Kim Sung-Yeol?
The spectacle has begun
so now we await our guest.
You mustn't, Yang-Sun!
You can't!
Naeuri.
Ho-Jin!
Naeuri...
Naeuri!
Naeuri, you recovered already?
Soo-Hyang said you hid.
Yang-Sun was taken to the palace.
Miss Jo's been taken?
It was her choice.
She knows she's the key.
Naeuri! That's...
They got it all wrong!
What do you mean?
Hunter Baek told me
Yang-Sun's real parents were devoured by Gwi.
That means Gwi has tasted the maternal bloodline.
And he's still alive.
I knew it!
We must stop Yang-Sun!
This way.
Gwi and a mortal woman had a child
but why's it you?
I don't envy your fate.
But there's no choice.
Your bloodline is unique.
I didn't choose this birth.
But I choose to die like this.
Scholar, please take care of yourself.
~angled steeply in my life~
~knife edge sharpens my fate~
~like a dream, like a painting~
Scholar saved me; I'll repay him now.
He flew at the guards from all directions.
He went to save the maidens.
He wears black.
He's in black and comes from everywhere?
Is it Kim Sung-Yeol?
Capture him!
We'll meet soon.
Scholar, I love you.
I'll take these feelings with me
so please forget me.