As Sayoon returned to Hongseong with Chaeran, I settled into my office.
In our scenario, Sayoon mastering the great sword technique was a long way off—at least something I had in mind for next year.
It turns out that Sayoon is weak not because she lacks talent, but because she hasn’t had anyone cheering her on from behind!
I knew I wasn’t wrong…!!
I tried to suppress the rising excitement. Then, I instructed Jeomsoi to bring me a bottle of alcohol.
Just as I was about to prepare a solo celebration for myself, the door opened, and the Sword Saint walked in.
“Why are you drinking alone?”
As I was about to pour myself a drink, the Sword Saint approached, surprised. She lightly snatched the bottle from my hand and filled my glass.
“Is there something bad happening?”
Seeing the concern in the Sword Saint’s eyes, I smiled and shook my head. Something bad?
Everything is flowing smoothly, and everything is falling into place.
Right now, the drink I’m having is a celebratory toast to confirm that we weren’t wrong, and it’s a cheering toast for us to do even better in the future.
However, there’s no need to say all that. So, I smiled back at the worrying Sword Saint.
“I’m just happy.”
“…Haha. Is that so?”
A smile hung on the Sword Saint’s face as well.
“Well, I too am happy.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Seomhwa Village is growing, and there’s talk that it will become a fortress soon.”
That’s something I’ve heard too. The construction of the fortress, which started a while ago, was approaching its finishing stages.
Also, perhaps due to what I’ve done at the inn, the number of martial artists visiting Seomhwa Village increased.
Small merchant groups coming to deal with the martial artists, along with more people moving in looking for jobs or farmland, have contributed to this growth.
Naturally, Seomhwa Village could surely be elevated to a fortress.
“That’s one of the things you hoped for, isn’t it, Master?”
“Is that so?”
“Well… and.”
The Sword Saint gently took my hand. With a warm smile, she spoke calmly.
“All of this is thanks to your efforts.”
“Haha…”
“It’s truly astonishing. Just a while back, it was something we couldn’t even imagine.”
I could understand why the Sword Saint said that. After all, before I got involved, Seomhwa Village was just a nondescript, rural village.
And while Hongseong held strong martial arts and the power of the Sword Saint, it was still a sect without significant influence.
was a sect that had power but not great strength.
But now, so much has changed.
Seomhwa Village will become Seomhwa Fortress, and with the special product of fragrant pouches made from the thousand-day plum blossoms, along with the beautifully grown herbs by the Hongseong clan, it has become a place famous enough to be recognized even in the capital.
“Also, the growth of the disciples… truly…”
The Sword Saint, holding my hand, tightened her grip. Her tiny fingers intertwined with mine. Still holding my hand firmly, the Sword Saint gave her usual gentle smile.
“I just checked Sayoon’s skills earlier. It was said to be the secret of Hwagaung, right? I don’t know what experience she had there, but… Sayoon has already become strong enough to learn the Great Sword Ceremony.”
“Congratulations.”
I tried to reach for a cup beside me, but the Sword Saint brought the cup in front of me to her side and looked at me, so I grabbed the bottle.
-Glug glug…
Clear liquor filled the cup. Watching this, the Sword Saint, without releasing my hand, grabbed the cup with her other hand and downed it in one go.
But that’s the side I just drank from.
Well, at this age, reacting to an indirect kiss is funny enough.
“I… ah.”
The Sword Saint reacted. Perhaps realizing that she drank from the side her lips touched, her face turned red.
“Um…”
Stuttering, unable to separate her lips, she carefully set the cup down and subtly poured liquor back into it. Then she gazed at me with a mix of anticipation in her eyes.
So, I drank, and only then did the Sword Saint smile brightly.
“Ah, ugh… anyway. You’ve been a great help in achieving all this.”
“I see.”
“Indeed. Therefore, it’s completely natural for us to celebrate and rejoice together. So… um.”
The Sword Saint fumbled, her gaze dropping to the cup. I poured liquor into her cup again, and after she gulped it down, she exclaimed.
“To celebrate that, after the martial arts tournament, can we, you know, step out for a bit?”
“Just the two of us? Where to?”
“Just like the last time, going for a stroll around Seomhwa Village would be nice…”
“Let’s do that.”
There shouldn’t be any problem. After the martial arts tournament, there shouldn’t be anything major happening.
However, since there’s a competition, it might be difficult for the Sword Saint to find time.
Well, will she figure that part out herself?
I had no intention of pouring cold water on her visibly excited demeanor, so I simply nodded in agreement.
I had no intention of throwing cold water on her, so I just nodded my head.
The preliminaries were over, and it was time for the main event. Quite a few people had come from far and wide, thinking this martial arts tournament would just be like a village festival.
I was surprised to see people not only from around Seomhwa Village but also from nearby Yangwiseong and further sects coming to Seomhwa Village as I headed to the government office.
“Where should I go?”
At the back of the government office, where a while ago Hongryeon and Chaejin had their final match, there were already quite a number of people gathered.
Among them were some who recognized me along with the Sword Saint.
“W-What an honor to meet the Sword Saint!”
For those who wielded swords, especially those using great swords, the Sword Saint was nothing less than a being from the heavens.
As a result, the warriors with great swords hurriedly stood up and bowed their heads to the Sword Saint, who then shot me a sideways glance.
“Impressive.”
“H-hahaha, I’m just this good.”
As she casually accepted their greetings and puffed up with pride, I nodded in agreement. Maybe my reaction wasn’t enthusiastic enough? She pouted her lips slightly.
“It seems the main participants should head to that tent over there.”
“Looks like it.”
From the direction of the tent I pointed at, a strange fighting spirit was rising. I could feel a competitive tension there that could burst with just the touch of a needle. Hongryeon, glancing at that spot, lightly grabbed my hand.
“You’ll cheer for me, right?”
“Of course.”
“Oh! Me too! Me too!”
“That goes without saying.”
Chaejin also held my hand. The Sword Saint, who was looking at me with a bit of dissatisfaction since both my hands were taken, spoke in a small voice.
“If I participate, it’ll be a win.”
Well, that’s obvious.
I patted Hongryeon and Chaejin on the shoulders, cheering them on, and they both smiled brightly before heading to the tent.
With them gone, I turned my eyes to Sayoon. She seemed less tense today compared to the last time.
Looking at the martial arts arena with calm eyes, I smiled and asked her.
“Are you still nervous?”
“Ah, no.”
“Maybe your nickname will be determined here.”
A martial artist’s nickname is decided when they achieve a significant accomplishment and many people witness it.
Previously, when I asked Hano, it turned out that the other protagonists of Heavenly Bright Moon had already established their reputations in the martial world.
They had already showcased their skills in the Murim to the extent of earning titles.
But Sayoon had yet to show any noteworthy performance.
I looked at Chaeran beside me.
“What’s up?”
“Chaeran Soja’s title…”
“Oh. It’s Howol (Fox Moon). It’s an officially recognized title by the Murim Alliance, but she doesn’t really use it much.”
In reality, Chaeran had earned her title through exploring secret techniques and discovering artifacts, rather than through martial arts like Chaejin, so she didn’t receive a title related to martial arts.
Perhaps that was why she didn’t seem thrilled about it. However, Chaeran’s martial arts level was definitely not low, so later she would probably earn a title from Heavenly Bright Moon.
It would likely be something like Doksim (Mind Reader), as if she fought reading her opponent’s heart.
“Today is the day you can prove yourself.”
I smiled at Sayoon, and she looked at me for a moment before nodding her head.
“Yes.”
“Good luck.”
I gave Sayoon’s back a light tap. As I watched her head toward the barracks with a serious expression, the Sword Saint gently grabbed my arm.
“Sayoon is going to earn a title… what do you think it will be?”
“Not sure.”
I thought of Sayoon’s title in the Heavenly Bright Moon.
Blood Star Sword.
Because wherever she passed, only blood remained.
Wherever she passed, only destruction was left.
Even while injuring herself and spitting blood, she never stopped seeking revenge.
The title given to her was terrifying and heart-wrenching.
“…I hope it’s a good title.”
I just hoped it wasn’t the title we knew.
As time approached, the organizers began to move. Hyeonryeong, I, and the Murim Alliance’s Young Ryu Pil, Yoon Gak.
After the three of us announced the opening remarks, the main tournament began.
“Let the first match begin!”
When Yoon Gak shouted from the combat arena, two girls emerged from the barracks.
One calmly ascended to the combat arena holding a single sword—Sayoon.
And next to her, holding a whip lightly, walked Seon Soo Yeon.
As the two girls stood in position, Yoon Gak shouted fiercely.
“Sayoon of Hongseong!! Seon Soo Yeon of Cheonhwa Palace!!”
As he called their names, cheers erupted.
Hongseong and Cheonhwa Palace.
As the excitement grew with the clash of two well-known righteous sects, Yoon Gak stepped back and shouted.
“Start!!”
With his shout, Sayoon and Seon Soo Yeon lifted their weapons.
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