What’s going on… what’s happening…
I found myself right in the middle of a bustling marketplace.
Slowly, I lifted my head to gaze at the sky.
With not a single cloud in sight, I squinted against the dazzling sun that shone down on me.
After a long time away from it, the sun felt unbearably bright.
All around me were swarms of people and numerous street vendors trying to attract passersby.
Somewhere nearby, steam wafted into the air, accompanied by the mouthwatering scent of dumplings being prepared.
The sounds of merchants shouting to peddle their goods combined with the excited chatter of the crowd created a cacophony, a real bazaar symphony.
This marketplace reminded me of one from my childhood when I lived in a similar region.
How long has it been since I saw a lively marketplace like this? I must have not seen one in nearly ten years.
‘Could this be a dream?’
I could have sworn my heart just shattered.
But if that’s the case, what in the world is happening now?
Am I experiencing a fleeting illusion post-death? Have I longed for this peaceful past without even realizing it?
Given my miserable life, perhaps I had been yearning for such ordinary moments.
“That’s hilarious.”
The unexpected realization that I could actually speak jolted me. Of course, it was surprising since my throat had been injured, leaving me mute for ages.
But it wasn’t just the ability to talk that caught me off guard.
The voice that came out was thin and high-pitched—a child’s voice, no less. That’s when I noticed my hands were smooth and scar-free.
These delicate hands definitely didn’t belong to an adult!
My perspective felt unnaturally low—I was in a child’s body, for sure.
“Is this a childhood memory?”
If so, which part of my early years does this belong to? I hardly ever strolled freely around the marketplace at this age.
As I looked around, I noticed a young man scanning the crowd with an anxious look.
If my memories served me right, he was probably my escort.
And coincidentally, that was exactly the same day I had sneaked out to explore the bustling marketplace.
While aimlessly wandering from stall to stall, I unexpectedly bumped into a kid.
That kid had greeted me with enthusiasm—who could resist the allure of a fellow child?
She reached into a massive basket that looked too big for her and offered me a warm potato, whose origin was a mystery.
“Wanna potato?”
Just like what just happened!
“Huh?”
Lost in my reverie, I didn’t notice when she called out to me.
What a shock—how do I respond to this!?
What did I even say back then?
‘How dare you offer me this?!’
Yeah, I probably said something like that.
If not worse. Maybe I was just a snob who couldn’t appreciate the generous offering from a kid in shabby clothes.
Back then, I was a fool—not much more to add there.
If I had known what that child would grow up to be—or what was in store for me—would I have acted differently?
Honestly, I have no certainty. I was just incredibly immature.
“Um… uh… don’t you like potatoes?”
Seeing my blank response, the girl hesitated, gauging my reaction.
Her clothes were caked in dirt, and I wondered where she had been rolling around.
Not to mention her wild, unkempt hair hid her face entirely.
If someone saw her, they might mistake her for a beggar. I laughed softly at my current predicament.
“If this is the memory that’s being shown to me, I must have regretted it thoroughly.”
“Eh?”
The girl tilted her head, confusion clear on her face after overhearing my mumblings.
Could this kind of fantasy free me of my regrets?
‘Definitely no way.’
Still, I took a potato from her basket.
As I pulled it out, her face brightened with a smile.
There was a gap-toothed smile that made me ponder how she lost her tooth.
While admiring her grin, I said, “Thanks, I’ll eat it gladly.”
Very different from the words I had uttered before.
“Y-Yes… That came from my Grandpa’s farm!”
With that cheerful response, she pulled out another potato and took a big bite.
I followed suit, but the problem was, it was steaming hot!
What a strange sensation.
‘How can I feel heat in a dream?’
Is this some reality? Or just an excessively realistic dream? At this point, I was struggling to take another bite because it was too hot.
“Ahaha! Your face is red!”
She laughed, watching me squirm with the potato.
Even though her own potato must’ve been equally hot, she was munching away without a care.
After a pitiful struggle, I managed to swallow it while enduring the burning sensation in my mouth.
“It’s tasty, right?”
“Yep… really delicious.”
Not a lie—this potato truly tasted great!
Why could I even taste it in a dream? Yet surprisingly, it was delightful.
As I ate the remaining potato, my escort approached us.
“Young master…?”
He frowned as he eyed the girl in front of me, instinctively placing his left hand on the sword at his side.
“How dare you touch—”
“Do you have any yakgwas?”
“Huh?”
“I said, do you have any yakgwas?”
The escort’s bemused expression was priceless as I interrupted him.
Who would expect an escort to have yakgwas? Surprisingly, he had some!
He handed me the yakgwa, still puzzled.
“Want to try it?”
I instinctively offered the yakgwa to the girl.
Though I couldn’t see her face hidden behind her messy hair, I could tell she was stunned.
“R-really? You’re really giving this to me!?”
“Well, since you gifted me such an amazing potato, this is all I have to give in return.”
Back in those days, I devoured sweets all the time. Maybe that’s why my escort would frantically shove yakgwas into my mouth to keep me quiet during tantrums.
He really had to carry yakgwas around as an escort? I guess he didn’t train in martial arts for this sort of work.
‘Now that I think about it, I do feel a bit guilty.’
Without realizing the turmoil inside me, the girl jumped for joy at the yakgwa.
I was worried that her precious potatoes might tumble out of her basket as she bounced around.
“Thank you! This is the first time I’ve ever eaten something like this!”
“Is that so? Any more left?”
“Uh… that was the last.”
I contemplated offering her another but alas, it was the last.
Notably, my escort watched me with a very confused look, clearly puzzled by my unusual actions.
“Why do you keep looking at me like that?”
“Oh, nothing, Young Master.”
The girl bit into the yakgwa after setting her potato basket down, clenching the treat with careful hands to avoid dropping it.
Her small shoulders seemed to lift as she took her first bite.
“This is… so delicious!”
“I truly am sorry, I wish I could offer you more, but that was the last.”
Upon hearing my words, she shook her head with vigor.
Was that a ‘no problem’ or ‘that’s disappointing’ shake?
In just a few bites, the yakgwa disappeared. It was expected since she devoured that potato faster than I could blink.
Yet, there were tears glistening in her eyes.
“This was my first time eating anything this good…”
“I’m so glad you liked it.”
She picked up another potato and started munching, but the satisfaction was nowhere near what she had after the yakgwa.
Had she already been spoiled by sweetness?
The girl shifted a bit and asked, “Thank you, what’s your name?”
She appeared shy compared to when she offered the potato earlier.
Was asking for a name such a daunting task?
“Gu Yangcheon. My name’s Gu Yangcheon.”
I announced my name clearly.
It felt like ages since I said it out loud.
“Gu Yangcheon…”
The moment she heard my name, a shy grin spread across her face. Just as she seemed ready to speak,
An old man abruptly burst through the crowd, wrapping his arms around the girl.
“Hey!”
“Oh, Grandpa!”
“I told you not to run off on your own, didn’t I?”
He startled her, but she didn’t shove him away. Instead, she cuddled into her grandpa’s embrace.
Then, in a sweet yet mischievous manner, she beamed at him, ready for a scolding.
“I’m fine! The potatoes are just fine too!”
She proudly displayed the basket to her grandfather, still steaming with potatoes.
Ignoring the fact that the potatoes were still hot, the old man gazed at me with trembling eyes as though fearing my reaction.
Maybe my sharp clothes and the possibility that the girl offended me made him uneasy.
The old man’s voice wavered, “My little girl doesn’t know much about the world just yet… I hope she hasn’t crossed any lines to disturb you, Young Master…”
Deep down, I understood he was merely putting on a show of pity.
He was a man of status in the martial world, someone significant enough that even the head of the Murim Alliance wouldn’t dare to treat him poorly.
“No worries at all, Elder. I was quite hungry when this girl kindly offered me a delightful potato. I appreciated it greatly.”
The old man looked at me in shock at my formal speech despite my age.
Did I overdo it? But since it’s just a dream, what does it even matter?
“The only thing I could give her as a thank you was a small yakgwa… so it’s actually me who should apologize.”
In silence, the old man continued to study me, now with a more serious gaze. Did I say something wrong?
A brief silence hung between us amidst the bustling crowd.
Soon, my escort broke the tension.
“…Young master, it’s time to return now.”
It’s funny how calm his words sounded while his eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets from confusion.
At his words, I gradually eased my posture.
“Already?”
“Yes, if we delay further, we will return after the sun sets.”
“Alright, then we’d better head back.”
Once I turned back to face the old man, his demeanor shifted to one of sorrow again.
“Elder, it appears I must take my leave.”
He was about to respond, but the girl spoke first.
“You’re leaving already…?”
The girl, still held by her grandfather, looked at me with disappointment, but that’s as far as it went.
The reconstructed memories of my past and all the shortcomings of my life had finally met their end.
‘Time to wake up.’
I’ve done enough.
If someone were to ask what changed, I’d say ‘nothing.’
If they asked if I felt relieved, I’d say ‘not at all.’
Yet, thoughts like that would soon dissolve.
With a smile, I looked at the girl and said, “If we ever get the chance, let’s meet again. The potato was truly delicious.”
As I waved lightly, she beamed, joyfully waving back with both hands.
The old man kept bowing in apology, but it only made me more apprehensive since I already knew his true identity.
The old man lifted the small girl in his arms and vanished into the crowd.
“…I’m completely freaked out.”
The old man’s name is Wi Hyogun.
He was the first to unite the chaotic martial world and plunged a sword into the heart of the Black Dragon while symbolizing the hope of justice.
For decades, he held the title of the Murim Alliance’s leader and instilled terror among those who dared challenge him.
He was often referred to as the Sword Emperor.
He had mysteriously vanished after passing the leadership to his successor.
Which left me utterly baffled at how he was raising a child while portraying himself like such a pitiful figure.
Nobody would have suspected that this ragged old man was one of the three revered figures in the world.
After staring at the spot he disappeared for a while longer, I finally turned along with my escort.
Whether he was actually the Sword Emperor or not wasn’t that essential in the end.
What lingered in my mind was the little girl, waving goodbye while nestled in her grandfather’s arms.
The girl who had handed me a potato and smiled beautifully, was now a stark contrast to the woman who had coldly severed the Heavenly Demon’s neck.
Celestial Sword Wi Seol-ah.
That little girl was none other than her.
And this was the first moment we met.
Naturally, in my original memories, our farewell had been far less pleasant.
Originally, I had cruelly discarded the basket of potatoes she tried offering me.
Young Wi Seol-ah had wept in sorrow, while I merely laughed at her before turning away.
Childishness aside, my actions were unforgivable.
“…Now I should take my leave, too.”
I had no idea why I was able to view this as I stood on the brink of death.
But whatever it was, I wouldn’t have any regrets now that I had re-enacted this memory to my satisfaction.
I couldn’t vouch for it entirely, but I hoped that it was the case.
“Yes, let’s head back.”
A bitter smile crept across my face on hearing my escort’s reply—he probably thought I meant going back home.
The truth is, I couldn’t even recall the way home.
‘Come to think of it, why am I still not waking up?’
I felt finished with everything here. Shouldn’t I have woken from this dream by now? I don’t recall any dream lasting this long.
“Young master? You’re going the wrong way.”
Walking aimlessly along the winding path, I realized I kept veering off course.
My escort’s reminders turned into guiding lights as I meandered homeward.
‘Whatever, this should wrap up soon.’
I began to resent this seemingly endless dream; it made me experience illusions I was already prepared to forsake. Yet, I was left with no way out.
I surrendered myself to the current, believing this dream would soon come to an end.
But after a few days, I came to a startling realization…
“…Why isn’t this lousy dream ending?”
I finally figured out—I was not in a dream at all.
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