Lately, Chaeran’s gaze has been suspicious.
Not long ago, Chaeran stayed at the inn and sometimes looked over at me intently, almost painfully so.
When I asked why she was staring, she just smiled sweetly and changed the subject, leaving me unable to pry further.
Therefore, Chaejin sought someone to confide in.
“What do you think?”
Of course, Chaejin’s confidant was Yu Wol. After all, he was wise and always pointed out the right direction.
“Well, wasn’t she like that before?”
“That’s true, but it’s a bit much when she keeps looking at me with that pleased expression.”
Yu Wol was always busy.
As such, she couldn’t dedicate time for a consultation with him. So, Chaejin swatted his hand away, albeit reluctantly, because it was also part of her training in Jin-Nassu.
As she continued her practice of Tai Chi and Jin-Nassu, teaching Yu Wol, she felt her heart race when he suddenly grabbed her right hand.
And when he pulled her in, she really should have held her ground, but unconsciously, her strength gave way, and she found herself nestled against him.
“Oops.”
Nonchalantly, he grabbed her waist, trying to push her away and lift himself. Chaejin braced herself and, using the force he provided, sank deeper into him.
The rich scent emanating from him made her dizzy, but this was time for their training.
As a diligent teacher and for his sake.
And to become second nature to him, she had to teach him properly.
“Yap.”
Even though Yu Wol was taller and bulkier, she didn’t need to use any internal energy to lift him.
Chaejin understood that Tai Chi included tactics to use an opponent’s strength or counter a large force with minimal effort.
With that understanding, she caught Yu Wol and effortlessly lifted him into the air. As his spinning hand reached for her shoulder, she seized him by the collar and yanked him down to the floor.
“Ugh.”
“Watch out for floating in the air.”
Her slender leg hovered next to Yu Wol’s face. If this were a real fight, he would have been attacked right there. Chaejin extended her hand, and Yu Wol took it.
“Let’s go again.”
“Hehe. I’m ready for as many tries as you want.”
Although she couldn’t shake off Chaeran’s joyful gaze, it was a quite enjoyable and happy time for her.
After finishing Yu Wol’s training and stepping into the inn for a break, Chaeran approached. That ever-present smile of hers was rather annoying.
“Why are you smiling so much?”
“Ahh~ me? Just… By the way, Innkeeper, your skills have really improved, huh?”
“Um? Yeah, I think so.”
“It seems so.”
“It’s definitely grown. Seeing her comfortably respond to attacks she couldn’t have handled not long ago.”
As Chaejin nodded seriously, Chaeran’s eyes sparkled.
“In that sense, can I teach the Innkeeper too?”
“Can you?”
After flicking Chaeran’s forehead with her finger, Chaejin stepped into the backyard and took her stance. While she prepared for her training, Chaeran stood up and said, “By the way, I’m glad the Sword Saint overcame Simma safely.”
“Yeah, right?”
Chaejin recalled when she was in the Mirror Realm. Back then, while she was trapped by the Illusions, did she suffer like the Sword Saint?
It made her stomach turn to think that it was Yu Wol who watched over her.
Did he also grieve?
Did he worry about me?
As she bit her lip in useless fear, Chaeran nonchalantly said, “Do you think the Sword Saint was helped by the Innkeeper? I mean, she’s quite extraordinary…”
“…Huh? What do you mean? Is that even possible?”
“There’s no way to enter someone else’s Mirror Realm, but seeing how she overcame Simma all at once, it’s like…”
This was the first time she heard such a possibility.
Chaejin’s eyes widened as she asked, and Chaeran stared at her for a moment before snapping her fingers.
“Oh. Well, this is rare, so… Using the Heart Convergence, it’s possible to enter another person’s inner world. That way, you can rescue someone trapped in their mind… What? Why’s your face like that?”
Chaejin gaped at her, mouth agape.
Wait.
No, that can’t be.
It must not be.
Besides, he doesn’t even have the Heart Convergence, right?
Chaejin felt her heart racing uncontrollably.
But what if, back then…
If what helped her was not a mere illusion created in her mind by Yu Wol, but the real Yu Wol coming to her aid?
As memories of what she did back then flooded her mind, she felt her legs give way and she sank to the ground.
“Ah, ah-wah-wah…”
“…What’s that moaning sound?”
She couldn’t concentrate on her training. Maybe that was why? Instead of practicing the dull routine she usually did, she continued her training in the technique she was familiar with.
But even that, she couldn’t focus on at all.
In her mind, there was the Mirror Realm.
The things she did to him in her imagination kept replaying repeatedly.
It was a blessing.
What would I do if it were really him?
The moment I imagined it, my face turned as red as a tomato, probably with a sound like “pop!”
Chaejin finally set down her sword.
Her mind was wavering, and she knew that swinging the sword like this was just a pointless exertion of energy.
“Ah, really…”
Chaejin’s gaze unconsciously drifted to the third floor of the inn where Yu Wol’s office was.
The best thing would be to go over and ask him.
After hesitating for a while, she eventually nodded.
– Thanks.
Just by kicking the floor lightly, she could easily step onto the roof. Arriving at his office window, Chaejin opened her mouth to speak but ended up staring at him blankly.
There he was, as always, moving his brush with a poker face, jotting something down on a document.
He pulled out a book, read it for a moment, and promptly wrote it down on paper.
His slight frown while organizing the accounts highlighted the charm of a diligent man.
The rugged veins visible beneath his slightly rolled-up sleeves made her heart race, and his deep gaze kept shaking her feelings.
“Ahh…”
“Hmm?”
She unconsciously let out a sound. Chaejin rushed to cover her mouth, but he had already noticed.
He raised his head, looking at her with a gaze that felt like it could pierce her heart, just like always.
“I actually had a favor to ask you. You came at the perfect time.”
Chaejin swallowed hard at his pleasantly low voice.
And then…
“Ah, um, you know, uh…”
“Come in. Let’s have a cup of tea.”
As always, he smiled gently.
Unlike before, when the adults at Moonjeong would get irritated every time she stumbled over her words, he always waited with a smile.
Is that why?
The tension in her heart gradually subsided.
Gently stepping onto the window frame and entering the room, Chaejin accepted the tea he poured for her.
As she sipped the warm, slightly bitter tea, she hesitated and then finally spoke up.
“…Y-Your skills have improved a lot lately?”
“My master is quite excellent.”
His words carried a genuine feel. Maybe that’s why? The tightening feeling in her chest intensified.
Every time she looked at him, her feelings for him grew stronger.
Chaejin squeezed her eyes shut and let out a big sigh, attempting to gather her thoughts.
At that moment, he spoke first.
“If you haven’t sorted out what you want to say, can I go ahead? Chae Soja, I have a favor to ask.”
A favor? From him to me?
“Really?”
Chaejin was getting enchanted by the trust he placed in her.
Nothing could be sweeter than the word ‘request’ that came from him.
The fact that he trusted her so much meant she could set her own matters aside.
“What is it?!”
She would do anything.
For him.
To become someone who is naturally there for him.
As Chaejin’s eyes sparkled with urgency, Yuwol spoke in a calm tone.
“I want to investigate a secret place and come back.”
“…Excuse me?”
She thought she might have misheard.
*
If Sayoon were to go to Amipa soon, there were a few things she wanted to pass on before heading out.
Right now, Sayoon didn’t have any proper armor, so she needed to get decent equipment.
Fortunately, the secret places where she could get the necessary materials were not far from Seomhwa Village, and the difficulty wasn’t too high.
Of course, being a secret place, I couldn’t just go alone with my Taijiquan and Ogumhee, having only barely learned them.
But if I couldn’t make it, I could just go with someone else, right?
Since Chaejin was around and Chae-ran, who loved exploring secret places, was also here, I thought to ask them.
“A, a secret place? Isn’t it dangerous?”
“I’ve got places I’ve researched on my own. It’s based on stories from someone who came from Cheonil Village. It sounds interesting.”
To be precise, I was looking for a secret location based on legends said to be about half a day away from here in Cheonil Village.
I roughly knew the location and how to find it, and since Chae-ran had done similar research, we could quickly locate the secret place together.
“They say people who can’t do martial arts can also go investigate secret places… So wouldn’t it be fine for me to go too?”
“Ah, no, still.”
“Could you go with me?”
I spoke seriously to Chaejin, and after some hesitation, she nodded.
“…If the innkeeper asks that, I can’t refuse…”
I smiled at her.
Among the things we could get from that secret place, there would be things for Chaejin too, so it wouldn’t be bad for her.
When I explained the situation, she let out a small sigh.
“But will we get anything for you there, innkeeper?”
“There won’t be anything.”
I didn’t really need anything.
“…Really, every time… Sigh. Fine. But when are we going?”
The tension that had been there earlier completely disappeared from her. After pausing to think, I replied with a grin.
“We’ll go tonight.”
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