Chapter: 263
Namgung arrived at the banquet hall guided by his attendant.
It was a large building in the center.
Compared to the banquet hall in Guga, it honestly looked at least five times bigger.
‘There are few people, but isn’t it too big?’
Considering the fact that there are only a few people inside the building.
The building seemed unnecessarily large.
By the time I arrived at the banquet hall, not only was the table already set, but the two heads of household and Mrs. Mi were also present.
At least some of them seem to have arrived early…
Why did you all come so quickly?
It looks like the food is still being served.
On Namgung Jin’s side, I saw people I had never seen before sitting.
‘Are they elders?’
Two elderly men who looked quite advanced in age.
Moreover, judging by the ominous aura perceived from each of them, they were quite skilled inspectors.
It seems that they are the elders of the Namgung family.
Are they attending because it’s a banquet?
As I look at it curiously, the eyes of the elderly men turn this way.
It is a blue gaze with a hint of gentleness.
Should we say that Namgung Se-ga has a unique aura?
Enduring those gazes, I walked forward first.
The steps were taken slowly and as honestly as possible.
He stopped in front of Namgung Jin and his father.
“Thank you for inviting me to the banquet.”
He bowed his head slightly and showed his respect.
I was just saying it out of courtesy.
I’m dying from annoyance, why are we even having a banquet?
“You must have had a hard time coming this far. Rest easy.”
“Thank you for your words.”
At Namgung Jin’s comment, I raised my head that had been bowed.
It’s so uncomfortable because we’re talking about things we don’t really mean.
Especially Namgung Jin—it was even more so because I felt a longing mixed in his eyes that was different from his words.
‘I think this person is the one who wants the banquet to end more.’
Namgung Jin is probably more impatient than me.
What kind of enlightenment did you gain from Noya’s words?
Does that person keep looking at me with those eyes?
‘I know that for a person without knowledge, enlightenment is like quenching thirst.’
Since I am unmanned, there are things I do not know.
Even just me right now.
The part where you can’t tell what’s missing.
If someone can help me solve it.
You never know, you might end up like that.
‘Still, it’s annoying.’
Knowing the position didn’t make the annoyance go away.
At least.
‘I can’t solve it right now…’
Even if you knew Namgung Jin’s longing.
It wasn’t something I could solve.
Because this damn old man didn’t seem to have any intention of getting up.
Without Shin Noya, there was nothing that the teachings and Nabal could do.
What I had seen of the Namgung family’s swordsmanship was just what the Demon Sword Master had used in my previous life.
‘That was also superior, though.’
In the end, it will be different from the Noecheon Ichiken sword that Shin Noya saw.
First, I turned away from Namgung Jin’s gaze and greeted his father and Madam Mi.
I went to the empty seat at the end and sat down.
It was a place that looked just like my seat to anyone who looked at it.
Judging from the empty seat across from me, it seems that’s where Namgung Bi-ah will sit.
‘Hasn’t she arrived yet?’
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t seem to have arrived.
Surely she’s not asleep?
Given her personality, it might be enough.
‘In the meantime.’
I tried hard to pretend not to notice, but I felt eyes on me from all sides.
I didn’t bother to raise my head to check though.
The look in their eyes seemed somewhat speculative.
‘Is he an elder, or who else?’
I don’t know what they’re trying to see, but as expected from another Sega, it’s full of inconveniences.
Don’t they know that I will notice?
That could be the case.
If it had been at last year’s level, it might not have been known.
I felt the same way, but I didn’t want to bet on it in response.
Then again, I could see in advance that there would be a lot of trouble.
I slowly lifted the tea in front of me.
I was thinking of taking a sip and calming down.
There was a noise outside the banquet hall door.
Then the attendant waiting at the door spoke.
“Your Lordship, the Ilgongja is entering.”
At the attendant’s words, I glanced toward the door.
He’s the one and only son of the Namgung family.
When I looked for the Namgung clan, I didn’t see him, so I thought he wasn’t in Sega.
It seems like it happened unexpectedly.
My sister went to her parents’ house, but she didn’t show up.
That guy didn’t answer.
‘It’s been a year.’
It’s been over a year since I last saw you.
It was the appearance of our cute little dragon.
Someone comes into the banquet hall entrance.
I immediately moved my gaze.
He’s a handsome young man reminiscent of Namgung Jin with his white hair and blue eyes.
That guy’s good-looking face was still there.
‘I don’t like it.’
My temper was still the same, getting irritated whenever I saw a pretty face.
I looked at him sideways.
There wasn’t really any particular reason.
I was just checking to see if something had changed.
Looking at it that way, surprisingly, there was a change.
‘It’s stable.’
The guy who had just developed brain power was unstable for a long time.
What’s more,
Because he had other energies in his body, it was a mess with energies that he couldn’t control with his own will.
Now, those violent feelings had calmed down somewhat.
Namgung Cheonjun’s gaze, as he entered the banquet hall, also turned this way.
The expression on that guy’s face as he found me was impressive.
Even though his energy has changed, it seems his personality is still the same.
However, the expression on his face was stiff.
In an instant, it changed to a smug smile as if nothing had happened.
What’s more, he even spoke to me as he passed by.
“It’s been a while. Gu So-hyeop.”
“Okay. Long time no see, brother-in-law.”
I said that with just a hint of a tease.
Namgung Cheonjun’s expression doesn’t change.
‘Oh…?’
I see you can take it.
Have you been training in that area for the past year?
Namgung Cheonjun, with a big smile on his face, walks past me and towards the upper seat.
He also wanted to be polite to the owner first.
I just quietly watched that guy’s back.
To be exact, I looked closely at the guy’s body.
‘Has the blood energy… disappeared?’
The aura of the blood demon that I felt from Namgung Cheonjun in the last non-combat.
At that time, I semi-forcibly absorbed that kind of energy and took it with me.
Perhaps because of what happened back then, no blood energy was felt in Namgung Cheonjun’s body.
‘It’s properly disappeared… huh?’
When I tried to turn my head, thinking that it had all been absorbed and vanished.
There were subtle differences.
If Namgung Cheonjun had blood energy, it should’ve been felt in his dantian.
‘What’s this?’
Something is different.
Shhkkk.
I could feel the difference so much that the change was revealed in my side instead.
I felt heat in my lower abdomen.
…Krrr…Rrr…
In addition, my lazy little guy, who had been sleeping since a while ago and had no intention of waking up, also showed a reaction.
I looked at Namgung Cheonjun’s back.
I realized why my body was reacting this way.
‘That kid…?’
The moment I opened my eyes wide and saw the guy.
Another sound is heard from the entrance.
“Your Ladyship, please enter.”
There was news that Namgung Bi-ah had arrived.
I turned my head and looked at the entrance.
Someone came in with a gentle breeze.
What a truly light step.
The slightly lowered gaze and the slightly clasped hands created an elegant atmosphere.
Her hair, neatly braided and tied up, sways lightly.
An appearance that I always thought was excessive.
It seemed as if she sprouted wings because she was slightly decorated, and she flew higher.
‘This is crazy.’
How could the feelings that had become somewhat familiar after seeing the face all day in the past be completely shattered?
The heat that was rising little by little as I looked at Namgung Cheonjun.
I got to the point where I couldn’t even remember Namgung Bi-ah’s face after seeing it just once.
I wonder if I’m the only one who thought this way.
Everyone in the banquet hall’s eyes were turned towards Namgung Bi-ah.
Mrs. Mi, in particular, seemed quite surprised.
Her eyes were twice as large as usual.
Namgung Bi-ah approached the table with calm steps and slowly bowed her head.
“Sorry I’m late.”
It’s not too late.
Because not much time has passed yet.
Nevertheless, Namgung Bi-ah took her etiquette seriously.
Namgung Jin, who is quietly watching this, shows that he is okay with a gesture made with his hand.
After that, as expected, Namgung Bi-ah takes a seat across from me.
If it were normal, she would have spread out and laid down right away.
Namgung Bi-ah, sitting in the most neat posture possible, somehow felt refreshing every time I saw her.
‘I wonder if she’s really enduring the discomfort inside.’
Actually, judging by the small twitching of her pupils.
She looked quite uncomfortable as she had no one to lean on.
Aside from that.
‘That’s bad.’
Yes, that would be exactly right.
So damn pretty.
She even added a little makeup to her already bright face.
The result was a bit excessive.
If she keeps going out like that, she might end up in trouble.
It’s to the point where you don’t know what will happen.
Right now, Namgung Bi-ah’s surname was Namgung.
If only the level had passed its peak.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been a disaster.
There’s a saying that the presence of a beautiful woman can ruin a country.
Namgung Bi-ah was really at that level right now.
If we compare it to the Demon Sword Master in my previous life.
The appearance wasn’t much different from now.
Eyes that looked at the world blankly as if it were broken.
Compared to when she was standing there expressionless, it was like she had a breakdown.
I think it would be right to see her as a completely different person now.
‘I’m glad I told you about this and that.’
Whether it’s using your energy to hide your presence.
I’ve been told to do this and that, like using cotton, so it’ll be better.
At that time.
“Hey…”
A noise was heard.
It was from Namgung Bi-ah, who was sitting on the other side.
What’s going on that you’re even using phonetics?
I looked at her face to find out why.
Namgung Bi-ah was looking at me with a somewhat anxious look in her eyes.
“How do I look?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you think I’m pretty?”
That’s why.
What the heck is she talking about?
I wonder what keeps happening.
Not quite understanding, I frowned slightly and looked at Namgung Bi-ah.
Namgung Bi-ah, with a slightly flushed face, asked me.
‘Can I see you in the eye?’
She turns her head slightly and asks.
I looked at her, taken aback by the sudden question.
This is a question she must have asked me at some point.
However, at that time, I hesitated and didn’t even ask.
She didn’t even avoid my gaze.
Same question as now, though.
But her attitude is different.
With utmost shyness.
It’s as if she’s asking with anxiety.
I felt a well of emotions.
“Um…”
Compared to her, I’m still the same as ever.
Is it because I didn’t know how to ask such a thing?
I was unable to give any answer to Namgung Bi-ah, who was still unable to meet my gaze.
Should I spit out some great sentiment?
But I changed my thoughts, my lips quivering in embarrassment.
Because there was only one word that came to mind.
“…You’re pretty.”
For someone like me who is not good at speaking, this was the only option I had.
One, fortunately I wasn’t wrong.
Namgung Bi-ah smiled brightly upon hearing this.
She said it with a sense of relief, as if it were a blessing.
I also felt a sense of joy and warmth inside.
Looking at that smile.
I found myself laughing without realizing it.
I don’t know why, but it just happened that way.
And that Namgung Bi-ah.
Namgung Cheonjun watched quietly.
The banquet ended without any particular incident.
Not only do the heads of household not enjoy drinking.
In the first place, if you are a martial artist who has reached that level, you are not particularly affected by alcohol.
As it was simply a celebration of Guga’s visit.
It didn’t last long.
It wasn’t particularly enjoyable.
‘It still stings, maybe because of the gaze.’
I tapped my shoulder with my hand.
Was it because I felt gazes from all sides?
I feel a little tired.
‘Just watch it moderately. It’s becoming more and more obvious.’
Was it because I pretended not to care?
Of course, the elders who were there, as well.
It seemed like some martial artists were staring at me.
I don’t know what they’re trying to find out by looking at me that way.
It wasn’t a very good impression.
“…phew.”
As soon as it was over, I got out and walked along the street.
I’m walking while getting some fresh air.
Someone next to me speaks.
“Are you tired…?”
“I’m fine.”
Namgung Bi-ah was also there with me.
I was about to go straight back to my residence, but Namgung Bi-ah followed me and asked to walk with her.
Thanks to that, I was able to stop Namgung Jin from approaching me.
Originally, I was thinking of quickly getting tired and running away.
This would be better.
My eyes naturally went to Namgung Bi-ah’s head as she spoke carefully.
Between her pretty braided hair, I could see the ornament I had given her as a gift.
Maybe it was because I suddenly saw it.
I asked Namgung Bi-ah.
“Are you going to keep using that?”
“…huh?”
“If it’s not enough, you can just throw it away and use something else.”
It was significantly cheaper than the ornaments I have.
The question was whether it would be better to use something else that had the right value.
“…”
Namgung Bi-ah looks very hurt for a moment.
Huh?
“…Sorry.”
When I saw that, I spat out an apology without realizing it.
It’s my first time seeing that kind of expression.
“…yeah.”
Fortunately, my quick apology worked and her expression returned to normal.
I felt like the atmosphere had become somewhat awkward.
Did I do something wrong?
The road, where the moonlight shines and the lanterns are lit, is especially beautiful.
Because the atmosphere is so gloomy, it is not easily noticeable.
“I think I said something wrong….”
I tried to add an excuse in a hurry.
Because Namgung Bi-ah’s expression is not easily erased from my mind.
I was going to continue talking like that.
“It is a day when the moon is truly bright.”
I had to stop talking because of the voice in my ear.
Across the street.
A point where a faint light barely blocks out the darkness.
It was a voice heard from there.
“I feel like I didn’t greet you properly earlier. I came here.”
The uninvited guest says so.
The tone was full of courtesy.
The unusually thick mask is clearly visible, making me feel bloated.
“I hope you’ve been well.”
I turned my body to look at him.
When I made eye contact, he was looking at me with his clear blue eyes in the darkness.
Then he looks at me and opens his mouth.
“Brother-in-law.”
Even though it feels like you’re chewing on a knife, it’s still painful.
The uninvited guest, Namgung Cheonjun, was still smiling.
As I look at him, words come out of my mouth without me knowing.
“What are you talking about, you pee-pee guy?”
Oops.
It was a mistake.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.