The injured guests and Jeomsoi, along with the staff, had moved to another area. Watching them fade away under Yohwan’s guidance, Sayoon spoke to Yu Wol.
“Innkeeper, let’s go up.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. And…”
He glanced at the girl in the red clothes. Was it because there were those targeting her outside the inn? The girl was trembling in fear.
“Let’s go up together.”
“But—”
“There’s no guard, you see.”
After a moment of hesitation, she followed him upstairs.
As soon as they entered the inn’s third-floor office, Yu Wol seated her and headed towards the window.
“Sister Chaejin, will it be alright?”
“I’m fine.”
There was a strange aura in his words. No, it was always like that.
Yu Wol always acted with confidence in his actions, and there was always good intent behind them.
That’s probably why so many people respected and followed him.
Sayoon glanced at Yu Wol.
His face looked a bit gaunt.
He always had a deadpan expression, but the smiles he occasionally flashed brought a sense of warmth.
“Don’t worry.”
He might seem weak.
But can a person’s strength be measured solely by martial arts?
Sayoon stared at him intently.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ahaha… even in this situation, the innkeeper remains calm.”
Now, the only one who could protect him was herself.
Of course, Sayoon knew she had become stronger through training and growth.
But compared to her master, the Sword Saint, the Senior Sister Hongryeon, and Chaejin down there battling powerful foes, she could definitely say she was weaker.
Yet, he showed no fear at all. Just as indifferent as usual.
The strength of his heart was quite fascinating to Sayoon.
“How are you so strong, Innkeeper?”
At her question, Yu Wol paused for a moment. What was he thinking?
As she nervously swallowed, Yu Wol replied in his calm voice, which always steadied them.
“I just hope to achieve one goal.”
“Goal?”
Sayoon tilted her head. In such a short time, Yu Wol had gained remarkable power that resonated throughout the world.
And he had always succeeded in investments and development.
Moreover, he was someone who generously shared what he had gained.
To think all of that was for one single goal.
What could it possibly be?
Just as Sayoon was about to voice her questions, Yu Wol spoke again.
“And Sayoon.”
“Yes?”
“Attack the daughter of the rival family.”
No sooner had Yu Wol’s words ended, Sayoon quickly drew her sword.
As soon as the words of the moon ended, Sayoon quickly drew her sword.
Just a moment ago, the girl in the red clothes, trembling in fear, was now on the move.
In her hands were two gleaming daggers.
The girl in red brandished the hidden twin daggers with cold eyes fixed on us.
“You…!”
Slowly, the jewel of the enemy family unveiled her veil and silently stared at Yu Wol.
Yu Wol, in turn, merely gazed back in silence.
“…Were you an enemy?”
At Sayoon’s remark, the girl laughed. Her curiously twisted smile was a clear sneer.
“So what did you think I was? More importantly, Shinsan Seonja Yu Wol, you don’t change your expression even in this situation.”
“There’s just too many enemies. I was just considering the possibility.”
Yu Wol considered everyone except those he trusted to be an enemy.
Therefore, even if she was the jewel of the enemy family, he merely acknowledged the possibility of her being an enemy.
“And what I was sure of was earlier down below. When Chaejin took the two of them away, you didn’t say a word. Even after all the chaos you caused, you easily let down your guard in this situation. If you were a capricious lady, no matter the situation, you would surely have ordered one of those two to protect you.”
“…Hah.”
“It seems you tried to minimize the number of those who could protect me as if they shouldn’t be with me.”
“…Was that all?”
“I told you. I believed everyone other than those I trust to be an enemy. To be honest, I only considered the possibility; I wasn’t sure. And you gave me that certainty.”
Sayoon, revealing her intent to fight, reacted with tension.
Realizing that her own blunder was mixed with the revelation of her identity, she clicked her tongue softly, her eyes sparkling with energy.
The girl’s movements quickened.
I had heard the enemies used spears, but her dagger skills were more dazzling and rapid than most masters.
Blocking her, Sayoon shouted.
“Innkeeper!”
“I believe in you to get it done. And it doesn’t matter if the office gets destroyed. Go all out.”
The words “Run away” nearly escaped his throat.
But his last line of defense was himself.
So he could not back down.
“Huhuhuh…”
Yu Wol turned his body.
He wasn’t looking at her, but gazing out the window.
Seeing that, Sayoon bit her lip slightly.
He believed he would win, that he would overcome this danger.
He was confident.
Would she crush that expectation?
Sayoon glared at the girl, whose gaze had flickered towards Yu Wol as she twirled and moved slowly.
Was she waiting for an opening to strike Yu Wol the moment she made a move?
Is she trying to attack Yu Wol?
She swallowed hard.
The overwhelming pressure, the fear of facing danger made her body tense.
“I believe in you.”
At that moment, without even looking this way, Yu Wol casually said those words.
He believes in me.
Right.
He was trusting me.
It was the same when we first met.
Gak-jun, the martial artist from the Sa-pa.
Even during his first real battle, Yu Wol stayed by his side.
And he didn’t run away when fighting him.
It was the same now.
He wasn’t running away. He was just believing in me and staying here.
Because of that, Sayoon’s lips started to curl up.
She had always thought that the expectations placed on her were heavy.
What if she let those expectations down?
What if she disappointed him?
But even so, there was something she couldn’t avoid.
Then she just needed to accept it.
“Haah!!!”
The girl unleashed her dazzling attacks.
Calmly blocking them, Sayoon swung her sword, flinging the girl back. Like a cat, she jumped into the air and landed on Yu Wol’s desk, attempting to launch an attack on him.
Hongseong Divine Art Sword Technique. Non-Existence.
The starlight of the sword sliced through the air, halting the girl’s advance. Once again, she tried to dodge with strange movements, but Sayoon’s sword easily pursued her.
Ultimately, the girl was forced to retreat, grinding her teeth in frustration.
“You said you had skills, but you’re pretty good, huh?”
“Does Hongseong look that easy?”
“Hmph!!”
-KUWOONG!!
Now, is this the real deal? A surge of energy burst from the girl. She seemed to be of similar age, yet had such skill.
But.
Sayoon wasn’t afraid.
She stood before Yu Wol, gazing straight at the girl.
Mister.
Please, lend me your strength.
I need to protect this person.
Silently murmuring, Sayoon slowly drew her sword.
Light began to radiate from the blade given to her by Mister.
What a beautiful light. Of course, this light wasn’t going to help in battle.
But just that was enough to calm Sayoon’s heart.
Holding the sword Mister gave her, she protected Yu Wol.
With only that thought in mind, she swung her sword.
-CHAEEAANG!! CHAEEAANG!!
Terrifyingly fast daggers targeted her. Head, legs, and back to the head.
Each attack packed with lethal energy was wreaking havoc on Yu Wol’s office while applying pressure on Sayoon.
However, Yu Wol didn’t care if his office got destroyed.
He simply looked down, glanced towards Sayoon, and then turned his attention back to Chaejin’s fight.
Looking down, I briefly turned my eyes toward Sayoon and then focused solely on Chaejin’s battle.
“Hah!!”
With a fierce battle cry, the fight between the girl and Sayoon continued.
Sayoon’s attacks were relentless, and eventually, the girl gritted her teeth.
“Dammit!!”
“Not anymore!!”
With a roar, the girl’s momentum surged. But even so, Sayoon didn’t back down.
“Hah!!”
Was it her all-out attack? The energy surrounding her was wreaking havoc around her.
With gritted teeth, Sayoon swung her sword at it.
-KWA-AAM!!
With a deafening noise, the girl’s body was sent flying. Destroying walls, floors, and objects, she rolled onto the rooftop outside the office as Sayoon jumped to catch her.
-Fwoosh!!
The moment her sword plunged into the girl’s heart, Sayoon realized that the safe in Yu Wol’s office was half-destroyed and rolling next to her.
I must have fought too hard.
But since he said it was okay, there shouldn’t be a problem…
“…Huh.”
Sayoon’s eyes shook.
Fragments of a box tumbled out.
Next to it was a familiar incense pouch.
And letters. Letters. Letters.
All those things were familiar to her.
Why are those in Yu Wol’s safe?
With trembling hands, Sayoon picked up the fallen letter.
As the fluttering plum blossoms reflected the moonlight and dropped like dewdrops, I picked up a brush.
Normally, it would be time to sleep for the training scheduled at dawn, but with my heart pounding…
I can’t forget.
It was the letter I sent to Mister for the first time.
My head is in turmoil.
Why does Yu Wol have the letter I sent to Mister?
This incense pouch was the first one I made and sent to Mister.
Why does Yu Wol have this?
At that moment, along with a gentle aura of guidance, I felt my qi, depleted from fighting the girl, begin to recover.
There was no way Sayoon wouldn’t know that this was the energy of the bodhisattva she obtained in Amifa.
What I sent to Mister.
Was here.
And that meant.
“…Mister.”
Sayoon lifted her head suddenly. I have to see.
The one I had longed to see for so long was up there.
What should I say now?
What words should I use?
Sayoon couldn’t hide her confused feelings and quickly kicked off the wall and jumped up.
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