The Sword Saint relaxed as her disciples emerged from the secret realm.
As the water flowed back into the well, restoring it to its original state, she surveyed the faces of her disciples.
Even just from one trip to the secret realm, some of the disciples had visibly grown.
“Reflect on what you’ve gained today, accept it, and then get some rest.”
Despite their fatigue, the disciples didn’t take the Sword Saint’s advice lightly. Her words about martial arts were never wrong.
Some moved alone, while others headed to their places to spar.
As the disciples departed, the Sword Saint approached Sayoon, who was holding two swords.
“Was that the reward from this secret realm?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to take a quick look.”
Sayoon promptly offered the sword she had just obtained. Receiving it, the Sword Saint drew it from its sheath and reflected it in the moonlight.
The straightened sword blade was perfectly crafted, with an exceptionally balanced center.
“Master?”
“It’s a good sword.”
“Yes!”
With a bright smile, Sayoon received a gentle pat from the Sword Saint as she headed to her room. Following her was none other than the senior disciple, Hongryeon.
“Master.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you alright?”
Hearing the concern in her voice, the Sword Saint momentarily paused.
Am I alright?
“Of course! More importantly, did you gain anything from the secret realm?”
“I witnessed my junior sisters’ growth. That’s enough for me.”
“Hehe. That’s good then.”
With a light step, the Sword Saint approached Hongryeon and patted her head before continuing onward.
Into the darkness.
To where she was meant to be.
.
.
.
Today was a day filled with events. It was the day a visitor, a male guest, came to our Hongseong clan.
This person has helped our Hongseong clan a lot. Not just me, but the other senior sisters have also received considerable help from him.
And this time, we were fortunate to receive even more significant assistance. If things go well, it might greatly reduce the burden on the senior sister.
Every day has been filled with gratitude lately, and each day is overflowing with happiness.
Not just me.
Yoohee and Ryuhyun feel the same way. Hyunhwi and Oh Sejin, too.
Everyone has been smiling a lot lately. Ah, it’s not like we didn’t smile before, though.
I wondered when this started, and it was after the Mister’s letter arrived.
Aha, isn’t that peculiar?
But I often think it might really be so.
Not just me, but the other senior sisters seem to think similarly, so maybe that’s the case?
No, I’ll just think that way.
A long time ago, Yoohee mentioned that the god of happiness walks around with their face hidden.
They don’t know when or where they’ll appear, nor when they’ll vanish, so they hide themselves and bring happiness to others.
In that sense, the Mister seems very similar.
He has brought us happiness.
However, it’s also true that I feel regret.
Because I don’t know the Mister, I can’t do anything for him in return.
It feels like he only gives while I only receive. That’s quite disappointing.
When will I be able to repay the Mister?
P.S.
I went to the secret realm mentioned by the Mister and obtained a sword. This sword will become my precious treasure along with the letter he sent!
So here’s the thing.
Could you give a name to this sword?
“I’m done.”
Sayoon placed her brush on the worn inkstone, glistening with moonlight. After reading the black characters etched onto the crisp paper once more, she nodded briefly.
While waiting for it to dry in the breeze, she glanced around the room.
After finishing their late-night training, the faces of the Senior Sisters sleeping looked peaceful.
Hoping that tranquility would continue, she smiled softly, placed the letter on the table, and closed her eyes.
It was something she always did after writing a letter.
Imagining about ‘Mister.’
Who could Mister be?
It’s a thought she always had, but it was just shadowy and unclear.
In those times when she had to live in the gutter.
When she could only look up at the world with dead eyes.
There had been someone she envied the most.
A girl wearing patched-up old clothes.
That girl was the one Sayoon admired the most.
The reason was simple.
She was the one who would scratch Sayoon’s head with a big hand, filled with affection, after her trips to the school.
Her father, who she no longer remembered the face of, would protect her from nasty folks on their way back home.
A person who loved his daughter more than anyone in the world and wanted to cherish her above all.
Slowly opening her eyes, she grasped the sword she had just acquired. It was a fine sword. Some said it was plain for something obtained after breaking through a secret realm.
But to Sayoon, it was more splendid and magnificent than anything else.
Thanks to Mister.
Thanks to the stars.
Embracing the sword again, she closed her eyes. Although it was a cold sword, holding it made her feel like she was next to Mister, whose face she didn’t even know.
“…I miss you.”
Yearning for Mister, whom she had never met even once, Sayoon laid down on the bed.
What kind of person was Mister really?
She imagined the faceless Mister, who would pat her head, and slowly drifted into sleep.
*
The next day arrived.
For some reason, it was a really refreshing morning; maybe it was because she could go to Hongseong Clan again.
If only she hadn’t struggled to pry away Chaejin, who clung to her and wanted to go too from the morning, it would’ve been even more refreshing.
After finishing her morning duties and climbing Hongseong Mountain, Sayoon was waiting at the mountain gate.
“Hello!”
She greeted me with quite a lively demeanor. Hmm. This feels like it’s going to be a good day too.
“Uh… you could’ve just come. Did you bring something again today?”
“It’s not polite to come empty-handed for official business.”
Actually, that was a lie.
She just brought more because she liked seeing me enjoy the sweets from yesterday.
“Don’t feel burdened. Hongseong Clan and I are in the same boat business-wise.”
“Uh… is that so?”
Sayoon seemed unsure about that part, merely tilting her head. But that was short-lived, as she wore a bright smile and guided me.
Once we passed the mountain gate and entered, Ryuhyun and the other disciples were waiting. I handed over the entire batch of sweets to Ryuhyun.
“You really could have come empty-handed…”
“Today, I’m being treated to lunch again, so how can I show up empty-handed? Besides, since we’re now in business together, the disciples of Hongseong need to do well for me to earn too.”
“Well, if that’s the case.”
In the end, Ryuhyun couldn’t say much and accepted the box.
After finishing the meal, I headed to where I buried the White Jade Tile yesterday.
“Hmm…”
Fortunately, I guess I’m not that unlucky. When I dug up the buried White Jade Tile, the pure white tile was stained with deep demonic energy.
“Do you know what kind of magic this is?”
“Based on the letter received from the Local Leader… let’s see. It has traces of the White Bone Technique. And there’s also the Heavenly Demon Technique. I need to check elsewhere too.”
During the process of examining the White Jade Tiles, I found not only magical techniques I saw in Heavenly Bright Moon but also some I didn’t know about.
But that was something I didn’t really need to worry about just yet.
“Is this everything?”
“Um.”
The last White Jade Tile seemed to have failed and showed no change. But with this much, I didn’t see the need to come back.
“Then shall we go straight to eat? Everyone will be waiting.”
It seemed I had spent quite a bit of time retrieving the White Jade Tiles. I accepted Sayoon’s suggestion and headed straight to the restaurant.
The place was an old, shabby restaurant, but it looked clean enough.
As I entered, smelling the savory aroma of meat, all the disciples were already sitting at the table.
“Welcome. Have you finished what you needed to do?”
“Yes, I think this is enough for confirming the magical techniques.”
“Haha. Then let’s eat quickly. Everyone has been waiting for you, and I’ll grill the meat…”
“I’ll take care of that.”
“…I can grill meat well too.”
The sulking Sword Saint cast a glance back at Ryuhyun, but she didn’t seem willing to hand over the tongs.
In the end, it was Ryuhyun who grilled the meat on the large grill.
“Eat while it’s hot!”
The perfectly grilled meat was placed in front of me. Taking a bite, I found it surprisingly tasty. When I was surprised, Ryuhyun smiled brightly.
“Hehe. I’m really good at grilling meat.”
That’s quite impressive.
While I was munching on the meat, the restaurant door swung open.
A woman with red hair casually walked in, carrying a large cauldron.
“Hey, guys! Grab the bowls…”
Huh? What’s this?
The red-haired woman met my gaze.
Hongryeon, the Great Disciple of Hongseong, instantly stopped speaking. Then she stared at me blankly.
With the meat still in my mouth, I boldly asked, “Is there something on my face?”
“Uh. Uh. Ah! Yes!”
She seemed to be flustered, making strange sounds.
Did I really have something on my face?
“No, that’s not it. Why are you suddenly…”
Avoiding my gaze, she scooped rice into an old bowl. It was a mix of rice, barley, and other grains. Healthy, I guess.
While the disciples eagerly dug in, Hongryeon slightly moved closer to me but couldn’t even look me in the eye.
Stumbling, flinching, like a puppy that did something wrong, she finally spoke in a hushed tone.
“…I guess I owe you again.”
Ah, no wonder she was acting like this.
Well, as the Great Disciple of Hongseong, leading the sect, she might feel embarrassed if she thought the other disciples had to struggle because of her shortcomings.
“Well, the other disciples might feel embarrassed thinking I worked hard.”
“It’s completely understandable that you’d be surprised to see me involved in that matter.”
“Don’t say such things. Also, this is a legitimate transaction between me and Hongseong, so you don’t need to feel burdened. Why don’t you leave this to me and focus on your training? I heard you’re getting guidance from the Sword Saint.”
There was no response to my words. She just stared at me blankly.
But that stare didn’t last long. Hongryeon’s face turned red again, and she quickly stepped back and said to Yoohee.
“Yoohee! Make sure the Innkeeper feeds you well!”
“Huh? What about you?”
“I’m not hungry! I ate enough earlier! You guys eat a lot! Don’t leave any meat behind!”
Saying that, Hongryeon dashed out of the restaurant.
Sigh.
What a wonderful big sister.
Giving up food for the other disciples just in case there wouldn’t be enough meat.
Receiving a meal at Hongseong was quite an honor for me. It was even more so since Sayoon was sitting in front of me.
The meat was delicious, probably from a good cut, and the soup and side dishes made by Hongryeon didn’t bother my taste buds, which were used to strong flavors. No, it was actually quite tasty…?
Anyway, after the meal, it was about time to discuss the contract, so I reluctantly moved my feet. Today, Sayoon didn’t escort me.
Plodding along without hiding my disappointment, I arrived at the Inn and sent away the Hongseong disciple before stepping into my room.
In front of my room, the doorkeeper was waiting.
“What is it?”
He held a box and a letter.
The letter was… from the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild. As I opened it and read, they wanted to meet for a brief discussion next week.
I was supposed to see them regarding the Hongseong matter anyway, so it seemed fortuitous.
But going alone felt a bit awkward…
“Chaejin! Chaejin!”
“Huh? What? At this hour? Are you planning to train?”
“No. I need to visit Yangwiseong nearby. Can you come with me?”
“What’s so difficult about it? Let’s go.”
Chaejin said nonchalantly as if she didn’t have anything else to do. After she left, I turned my gaze back to the box.
Did Sayoon send this? Or was it from someone else?
Curiously, I checked the name on the box and was surprised.
There was a name I never expected to see.
“Hongryeon…?”
Why is she sending this to me?
I opened the box and discovered a piece of paper and a bundle inside.
As I unwrapped the bundle, I found a long smoking pipe.
It’s something used for smoking rolled tobacco, and I’ve seen it in Heavenly Bright Moon before.
But it was different from what I remembered.
Instead of being plain without any design, it was beautifully decorated with intricately engraved blooming lotus patterns, resembling a work of art.
Did Hongryeon carve this?
She really has good craftsmanship. To create something like this…
Wait, is she trying to ask if I can supply this kind of product?
While inspecting the smoking pipe, I shifted my attention to the paper.
“…Ha.”
It wasn’t a request for product sales.
I stuck a rolled tobacco into the pipe and lit it.
Faint smoke filled the room.
As I inhaled the bitter scent mixed in, I tapped the paper that Hongryeon had written.
– Always grateful.
I chuckled at the short line.
Grateful, huh?
“I’m the one who should be more grateful.”
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