Chapter: 289
It’s an unfamiliar ceiling.
As I lift my heavy eyelids, an unfamiliar ceiling greets me.
“… Ugh… .”
How long has it been since I’ve felt this heavy?
At least this is the first time I’ve experienced something like this after reaching my peak.
‘… I feel like I’m going to throw up.’
Is it because I placed too many bets yesterday?
What’s more, I blasted out instead of recovering.
I felt a prickling sensation in my dantian.
Should this also be called muscle soreness?
I forced my creaking body to rise, enduring the sharp pangs of pain.
Only then did I realize that the ceiling I was staring at was indeed the guest house we were staying in.
I could tell it was a little past morning.
“Ugh.”
Looking at this, it seems I collapsed as soon as I got back yesterday.
Well, considering how I turned the testing venue into that state, it wouldn’t be strange if I passed out from exhaustion.
‘The testing venue must have dealt with it somehow.’
Just before it exploded.
The actions taken by the geomhu as he spewed out the bet were none other than surrounding the review indices that would likely get swept away.
As expected, he was the person closest to being a proper politician.
‘If I had known that, I would have been a bit more moderate.’
Meanwhile.
I was worried that others might get swept up in that mess.
So I made the calculation to avoid being caught in the explosion while triggering the bet.
If I hadn’t done that, my dantian wouldn’t be screaming right now.
It would have been better if it hadn’t blown up in the first place.
‘I can’t stand seeing that.’
As I mentioned before, I’m not the type to have a wide heart.
If I’m furious, I should vent it in time to feel better.
After that, I stood there in a daze with my body raised.
Rather than being dazed.
It was to check if the energy in my body was moving properly.
‘Hmm.’
As I drew up the energy from my dantian a few times, I quickly understood.
‘I won’t be able to move much for a while.’
I felt pain in my dantian and in my bloodstream.
Is it swollen because I suddenly used my skills?
I needed a break.
“Tsk.”
Maybe I should have held on a bit longer.
Grr…
I can even hear my insides complaining about hunger.
My head started to hurt all by itself.
Since I spent all my energy yesterday, it seems the beggar inside me is feeling famished.
“Hold on and don’t rush me; I’ll feed you plenty tomorrow anyway.”
Grr…
If things go as expected, I’ll have to face a monster tomorrow.
This was originally supposed to be dealt with yesterday.
‘It got postponed because I caused a ruckus.’
Last night’s chaos pushed the exam date back.
I don’t really feel guilty about it.
If I were to blame anyone, I’d think it’s the geomhu’s fault.
“I unexpectedly have some free time.”
Thanks to that, I now have a little bit of extra time today.
Honestly, I had a vague premonition that this would happen if I caused a commotion.
‘I didn’t think it would actually come true.’
After all, it’s an event hosted by the Murim Alliance.
Would they really postpone the schedule just because one latecomer caused an accident?
I never thought they would actually put this off.
But still, thanks to this.
‘I guess I can make good use of one day.’
I’ve been given some time to clear up the lingering worries I’ve had.
It’s somewhat fortunate for me.
But before that.
‘If I remember correctly from last night.’
There was someone I needed to see first.
Squeak—
I opened the door and headed down the stairs.
The sounds around me were the very essence of quiet.
It wasn’t early morning.
Nor was it quite lunch yet.
It was just early enough that there were not many people around.
As I descended the stairs.
A person sitting at a corner table caught my eye.
To be exact, it was multiple people.
I guess the reason this guest house felt so calm was not just the time, but those women contributing to it.
“You’re awake.”
Did she hear my footsteps coming down?
The woman quietly sipping tea turned her gaze toward me.
It was Mo Yong-hee.
“You seemed very tired.”
“… A bit?”
“I heard the news. They say the Confucius made quite a stir.”
“That spread quickly. How long has it been?”
“The sound reached us where we are.”
Sure enough.
It was such a loud roar that it would be strange if they didn’t hear it.
“How did that happen?”
Mo Yong-hee asked, looking somewhat puzzled.
Even amongst the crowd of people, I guess it seemed odd to her that such a disaster could occur.
“It’s just that something angry happened.”
That wasn’t all, of course.
I decided to let it go like that.
“Nonetheless, it was impressive, Your Honor!”
That was the word from Tang Soyeol.
Now that I think about it, wasn’t she from a different inn?
“… What, you saw it?”
Group 1 can’t just waltz into Group 2’s testing ground.
If caught by the instructor, it could lead to a deduction of points.
It’s something that can be done without being caught.
Even if the instructors don’t seem too imposing, they’re not to be underestimated.
Did Tang Soyeol leap through that to come to Group 2?
My curiosity about this was piqued.
“No, I didn’t see it!”
“But how do you know?”
“I figured you must have looked fantastic!”
“….”
I often think this, but to me, Tang Soyeol is undeniably the strangest.
Especially her eyes.
“… Well, did everyone enjoy themselves?”
Both Mo Yong-hee and Tang Soyeol tilted their heads at my words.
It felt like they were saying it wasn’t obvious.
These people…?
‘Is it really that obvious?’
Nowhere else.
Being a member of one of the Four Great Families, maybe I should view them in a different light.
‘Does this mean that I, who fell in my previous life, have been a total fool?’
Yep.
It really does make me feel like a loser.
Why bring this up now?
My gaze shifted from the two.
I looked at the woman who had her head resting on the table, squirming.
Namgung Bi-ah seemed to be sleeping, as always.
‘There’s no point in asking her.’
Namgung Bi-ah never considered the thought of being eliminated even once.
Unless she voluntarily threw a tantrum to avoid it.
Because the probability of Namgung Bi-ah being eliminated was practically zero.
“By the way, Your Honor, Ah-hee has come and gone.”
“… Huh?”
I expressed my confusion at Tang Soyeol’s unexpected comment.
Ah-hee? Are you talking about Peng Ah-hee?
“She showed up too?”
“Yes! Yes.”
Though it was odd she didn’t come, I was surprised to find out she had been here.
‘If that’s the case, will all the Four Great Families be present?’
How unusual.
No wonder there’s a stir with all this talk of meteor generations.
The pieces are falling into place quite nicely.
In my previous life, it was Jang Seon-yeon who snagged the top spot in this scenario.
There must have been many conversations revolving around him.
Of course, not just the Four Great Clans.
Including the Gupaeilbang concerning the Oryongsambong back then.
Since it was Jang Seon-yeon who secured the top position, he must have drawn much attention.
Thus, it raises questions.
I can accept that other kids could attain that.
But how did he manage to claim the top spot with both the Sword Dragon and Sleeping Dragon around?
‘What kind of trick did he pull?’
I’m certain he did something.
Otherwise, how could he have claimed that top spot?
So.
This time I plan to prevent that from happening.
‘While I’m at it, why not tackle that too?’
If I intend to go for it, then I might as well.
It’d be delightful to deal with him inside the Shinryongwan.
That was the plan.
“By the way.”
Shudder.
Did it finally dawn on me I was about to speak about myself?
The figure quietly cowering in the corner shuddered.
I nodded internally while absorbing the sight.
‘So it really wasn’t a dream.’
In the hazy memory of having exhausted all my strength.
I recalled Namgung Bi-ah dragging someone toward me.
If the memory wasn’t a delusion or a dream.
“Have you eaten?”
That was undoubtedly Wi Seol-ah.
I asked the woman who still seemed reluctant to unveil herself from under her veil.
After a moment of hesitation, she replied.
“Um… No.”
Fortunately, her response reached my ears.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
I wondered if she was still like this.
Then suddenly, an old memory popped into my head and I blurted out.
“Want a potato?”
“…?”
Out of the blue, a potato, really?
–Do you want potatoes?–
Wi Seol-ah’s eyes widened as if that old memory came flooding back through the shadow of her face.
Seeing that, I let out a chuckle and added, “If you don’t want it, feel free to say so.”
Wi Seol-ah didn’t respond to my offer.
But there was no aversion in her expression.
Unfortunately, for what it’s worth.
It seems there were no steamed potatoes in this guesthouse.
What a pity.
Afterward, I stepped out of the guesthouse and walked down the street.
The area outside the inn was still packed with people.
As I walked along the street, I occasionally glanced back. More so, I scrutinized the figure walking beside me.
If all had stayed like it used to, she’d have bombarded me with countless questions like “What’s this? What’s that?”
Yet now she walked quietly, keeping her distance.
I watched her in silence for a while, before I finally sighed and asked.
“How long are you going to keep doing that?”
It wasn’t anything else.
That was the most irritating part.
This was directed at Wi Seol-ah, still swathed in her windbreaker.
I was out and about with Wi Seol-ah.
Since I had a free day today.
I stepped outside the inn to address some matters.
It was during this time that I invited Wi Seol-ah to come along with me.
In between, Tang Soyeol tried to tag along.
Nope.
Namgung Bi-ah caught Tang Soyeol to stop her.
Mo Yong-hee seemed to grasp the atmosphere as well and this time refrained from stepping in.
“… Should I take it off?”
“If you don’t want to, it’s no harm. But why are you using it even in the guesthouse?”
“That’s….”
Outside, Namgung Bi-ah and Mo Yong-hee also wore veils, so it didn’t really matter.
Wi Seol-ah naturally attracted attention, given her good looks.
It’d probably be better for her to just walk around like that.
I couldn’t fathom why she insisted on concealing herself in front of me for no reason at all.
“You can’t see clearly, can you?”
At my comment, Wi Seol-ah slightly lifted her veil to reveal her eyes.
How ridiculous.
Through the shade, I caught a glimpse of her golden pupils and let out a soft snort.
Were you intentionally teasing me?
‘And, in the meantime, there are those golden eyes.’
The fact that her pupils bore that color meant Wi Seol-ah’s skills had reached a certain level.
I don’t know much about the martial arts of the sword masters.
Recalling that in her previous life, Wi Seol-ah had golden hair and golden eyes.
It seems to change according to her mastery level, much like me.
When I last saw her, her hair had been tinged with a hint of gold.
‘Just as I thought, Wi Seol-ah is still Wi Seol-ah.’
Meeting Wi Seol-ah after a long time, she had surpassed the walls and become a true master.
Considering she had barely been wielding a sword for three years, it’s astounding.
‘… I have no words left.’
Her talent forced me to abandon any thoughts I had.
As is often the case with me.
When contemplating someone’s ability.
It’s for reasons like this that beings like Cheonma or Wi Seol-ah are excluded from the considerations.
From the get-go, they’ve been on a different plane than mere humans.
That’s precisely why I keep grappling with this realization.
To take on her legacy means I have to shoulder her burdens.
It implies that I must amass power equivalent to the divine swords of my previous life.
‘What a mess, really.’
Even simply imagining it felt overwhelming.
How much—or what—should I even undertake?
How could I possibly know that?
The future appeared dim.
Of course.
‘But that doesn’t mean…’
Now that she has her sword, I have no intention of asking her to take the load again.
Perhaps if we walk together, it might become clearer to us.
If I had planned on leaving her to her own devices, I wouldn’t have even started.
“Hey.”
“Yes…?”
“Do you want to eat that?”
Suppressing my frustration, I pointed with my fingertip, causing Wi Seol-ah’s head to turn as well.
There was an array of food stalls lining the road.
I pointed at a vendor selling common skewers.
“I’m hungry. Let’s eat those.”
Since I hadn’t had a proper meal before leaving.
Moreover, it was food that Wi Seol-ah enjoyed.
When I suggested it, Wi Seol-ah hesitated before finally answering.
“I’m not really hungry…”
“You?”
“…”
She averted her gaze at my words.
What is this? Is she embarrassed?
‘First, is it embarrassing to eat too much?’
Her?
In just a handful of years.
What could have transpired to change her like this?
As I pondered this, I said, “If you don’t want to eat, just follow me and let me eat by myself.”
I grabbed Wi Seol-ah’s hand and pulled her along.
“Ah!”
Surprised by the sudden grip on her wrist, she seemed startled.
Yet Wi Seol-ah didn’t seem inclined to shake off my hold.
We wove through the throng until we reached the stall, where I picked up two skewers.
One was meant for me, of course.
The other was clearly Wi Seol-ah’s share.
“…”
Wi Seol-ah simply watched my offering.
Ultimately, she couldn’t refuse and accepted it.
“Eat. Don’t act like that for no good reason.”
Pausing long to contemplate before taking the skewer, I took a bite myself.
As soon as I did, Wi Seol-ah cautiously took a bite out of her skewer.
‘Has she been surviving all this time on mere scraps? Why the reluctance?’
Or, quite the opposite.
Could it be that her appetite had completely vanished?
If that were the case, I might have pressured her to eat too much.
‘Should I tell her to stop eating now?’
I wondered if I should turn my words around just as I was about to.
“Honestly, you don’t have to eat if you don’t want to… but you’ve already finished it.”
“… What?”
“When did you finish it…?”
Didn’t she just take a bite?
How on earth is the skewer void of all meat now?
Did she devour it all in such a short span?
Seemingly, it didn’t appear she had lost her appetite.
Upon noticing that, Wi Seol-ah seemed to have realized she had emptied her skewer.
A somewhat flustered reaction crossed her.
“What…! Where has it gone…?”
“Maybe your mouth has devoured it all?”
“That can’t be true… I really didn’t have an appetite… it’s real!”
“Right, right, of course you didn’t, right? Do you want to eat one more?”
“Honestly… seriously…”
Wi Seol-ah moved her hands and feet as if she felt wronged.
However, that did not mean a skewered treat would come back around.
“So then, are you going to eat more?”
After a long moment of fussing with her hands and feet, Wi Seol-ah halted at my question and pursed her lips.
This time, I wasn’t going to make the suggestion first.
I picked up another skewer and watched her closely.
Wi Seol-ah hesitated while glancing at it, before finally spilling the words.
“… I want to eat.”
“Good job.”
Once I received the answer I sought, I handed over the skewer.
Despite her appearance of grievance, I was quite satisfied.
This part, at least, didn’t seem to have changed.
“Oh, also. Why is it already halfway gone…?”
“Yes…?”
“No, finish eating and tell me. Did something happen yesterday?”
“…”
The moment my query slipped out, Wi Seol-ah, who had been biting her skewer, froze.
It was never my intent to impede her eating.
I was simply curious.
Namgung Bi-ah had been the one who brought Wi Seol-ah over yesterday.
The fact that Wi Seol-ah, who used to avoid me, was now back here quietly piqued my interest.
I thought for sure there was a reason.
If nothing else.
I had to hear this.
Wi Seol-ah gulped down the food in her mouth and faced me.
Her gaze held a vague ambiguity.
“Is it something you can’t share with me?”
“… No. I can manage.”
Thank goodness, as I would’ve felt somewhat awkward if she couldn’t share.
So does that imply she needs time to sort her thoughts?
The Wi Seol-ah who had seemed innocent and slightly muddled.
While I felt a bit saddened by her transformation, I was also glad to see she was evolving positively within the world.
While I mulled over these thoughts and waited patiently.
Wi Seol-ah began answering.
—Last night… My sister and Prince Jang met.
It was somewhat surprising that it was a full-on meeting.
But what startled me even more was the next bit.
—…Who met with who?
—Jang Gongja and… Sister Bia.
This was definitely an unexpected turn of events.
Out of nowhere, why did that kid meet Namgung Bi-ah?
—My sister said she came looking for me because she didn’t get to say hello.
—So.
—However, she happened to interrupt a conversation with Duke Jang.
What kind of conversation were Wi Seol-ah and Jang Seon-yeon having in the meantime?
I was stuffed with curiosity.
—So…?
Wi Seol-ah’s explanation, in a sense, felt quite simple.
Namgung Bi-ah interjected their conversation.
Jang Seon-yeon remarks, and
Namgung Bi-ah, having no recollection of Jang Seon-yeon, outright told her not to approach because it smells bad.
‘…’
To tell someone to back off because they stink is rather Namgung Bi-ah-ish.
She wasn’t the type to care much about what others thought.
And yet.
‘Smell bad.’
This is the level that even Jang Seon-yeon would find insulting.
‘Nice.’
If that’s the case, then great.
—So, what happened next?
—Then… . Jang Gongja grimaced and drew his sword.
Jang Seon-yeon’s face crumpled…?
It must have been a serious insult.
I get it.
Bearing that level of insult would have been bizarre.
If it were me, I’d have probably just seized him and burned him.
Just the hair.
‘But I didn’t hear any stories about an actual blade fight.’
I hadn’t heard anything from Namgung Bi-ah.
Not a single mention at all.
Even if the punk had drawn first blood.
Halfway through the conversation, Namgung Bi-ah had insulted her by saying it smelled bad.
It was a scenario where there was at least a justified motive to fight.
—So did they end up clashing?
—No.
Wi Seol-ah answered firmly.
The moment Jang Seon-yeon drew his blade,
—[If you don’t put that back…]
Namgung Bi-ah, with her usual inscrutable expression, told him,
—[You will die…]
She supposedly directed that toward Jang Seon-yeon.
The aura radiating from Namgung Bi-ah.
A blend of determination and aura of death.
For Wi Seol-ah, who had only known Namgung Bi-ah’s usual demeanor.
It was a rather shocking revelation.
‘That’s intense.’
It could be an exaggeration from an outsider’s view.
However, just hearing about it takes me back to the era of the Demon Sword Master.
—[… Tsk.]
As a result, Jang Seon-yeon ultimately sheathed his sword and took his leave.
‘So he was frightened.’
Looking at Namgung Bi-ah, who I could only presume was not certain to win if they faced each other.
Given the unpredictable nature of the chaos, if he inadvertently acted out, his plans could go awry.
He probably endured it while gritting his teeth.
‘So in the end, it means that he was indeed scared.’
For me, that essentially captured whatever it was.
‘Afterwards, did Namgung Bi-ah lead Wi Seol-ah here?’
One aspect that piques my curiosity.
Having avoided this much,
A peculiar point raised, how did she end up arriving here quietly with Namgung-bi Ah by her side?
“…”
As I pondered this,
Wi Seol-ah recalled the night prior, when Namgung Bi-ah aimed to take her away.
—[Sister…! Wait…!]
She sensed the timing wasn’t right.
She felt resistance against coming along.
In response, Namgung Bi-ah spoke powerfully.
—[If you flee now, there won’t be a next time for you.]
Clench.
When I think of that conversation, my fists involuntarily tighten.
What feelings must Namgung Bi-ah have harbored when she spoke those words to Wi Seol-ah?
It’s hard to comprehend.
Nonetheless, Wi Seol-ah knew that what was spoken then was sincere.
Amidst my thoughts, just then.
“That’s a shame.”
“Huh?”
Wi Seol-ah reacted to the unexpected voice’s intrusion.
“I run away like crazy, and yet she brings you here without delay?”
“Ah, no, Master…!”
Almost instinctively, Wi Seol-ah was about to utter “Master” but quickly shut her mouth.
Now she seems to realize that’s no longer suitable.
“It wasn’t like that… I just…”
“I know.”
She was squirming more every second; I opted to cease the teasing.
“Having claimed she’d protect me and all, but now she’s like a wet towel.”
“… A wet towel?”
“Wet and droopy.”
“….”
At least that wasn’t the sight I wanted to witness.
At minimum.
I wouldn’t want to see Wi Seol-ah looking just like she did in her past life.
‘Back then, she was beyond simply wet.’
She was frozen stiff.
A perfectly icicle-like state.
And thankfully, it appears to be better now.
At this threshold.
It seems like I could still warm her up with heat.
I handed Wi Seol-ah another skewer, and now she doesn’t seem to reject it.
“That’s the question I’ve been meaning to ask.”
Taking a bite, I posed my question to Wi Seol-ah.
This really was the thing I wanted to find out most.
In fact, I brought Wi Seol-ah out here to glean this information.
Once I briefly organized my thoughts, I faced Wi Seol-ah and asked her point-blank.
“Do you know why your grandfather led you to go get married?”
“…!”
At my inquiry, Wi Seol-ah flinched.
It appeared she knew something.
“That’s…”
“Is it something you can’t disclose?”
“….”
Wi Seol-ah’s lips trembled.
She seemed to be pondering quite a bit.
Even so, I had to learn.
To know why the Sword Master took Wi Seol-ah to get married in this new life.
That way, I could determine more precisely what plans to put into motion moving forward.
“That…”
As a brief silence wrapped us both.
The instant Wi Seol-ah was poised to open up to me.
Woosh.
There came a buzz from my left hand, or more specifically, from the ring on my finger.
[Crrr…]
Simultaneously, the entity within my body responded.
“… Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue upon sensing that.
Of all times, it had to be now.
Upon noticing my frown, Wi Seol-ah, who had been about to speak, wore an expression of surprise instead.
“Your Honor?”
Thinking she was curious about what was amiss, I replied.
“Usually, I’d leave you here for a moment and step out. But I’m concerned you might run off somewhere.”
Tightly.
I grasped Wi Seol-ah’s hand.
“Just come with me for a bit.”
This would mark my second venture outside today.
Somehow, it seems I’ve definitely taken the bait.
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