“Oh dear! Welcome!”
Jeomsoi greets the incoming guest with a loud voice. A pair of martial artists, a man and a woman, who seem to be passing through the area, happily chat and head to their seats. While Jeomsoi quickly moves to serve them, I’ve finished the calculations and spoke up.
“Fifteen coins for two silver coins, but please just give me two.”
“Thank you!”
“And since you enjoyed your meal, please take a mooncake each on your way out.”
Even if they look like martial artists, nobody would reject free mooncakes. Discounts work the same way.
The two drunken men laugh heartily, wish me well in business, and walk out with the mooncakes I’ve given them.
Hmm. Business is good today as well.
As I looked around the inn filled with customers, I subtly shifted my gaze elsewhere. In the open area next to the inn, several martial artists were laughing and chatting happily in a space I had set up as soon as spring arrived.
Recently, the number of martial artists visiting Seomhwa Village had increased.
The reason was very simple. It was due to the newly established Murim Alliance branch set up not long ago.
Previously, to accept requests from the Murim Alliance, one had to travel quite a distance to the branch at Cheogwanseong, but now that the Murim Alliance branch was in Seomhwa Village, martial artists active nearby or around Yangweseong could now come here for requests and to complete them.
At least it’s fortunate that there are mostly righteous martial artists here, which means fewer incidents, and since Seomhwa Village falls under the jurisdiction of Hongseong Clan, they tend to be cautious as well.
However, I couldn’t let my guard down. Just a few days ago, prideful righteous martial artists had gotten into a spat and almost drew their weapons.
Of course, they’re not entirely clueless, as they didn’t fight in the inn but rather dueled in the backyard before parting ways.
Still, with excitement and drunkenness, blade fights could easily break out, so I had to consider a response for that.
No matter how much Chaejin is here, there will surely be those who ignore her or want to fight her.
I need to stay sharp.
“Innkeeper!”
Just then, a soldier stepped into the inn. Definitely… a soldier responsible for the wall construction.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m here to book lunch and dinner for next week at the southwest wall construction site.”
“Got it. Please make a separate payment request to the government office.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Reservations for lunch and dinner at the southwest wall construction site, huh? Must be for feeding the workers.
After checking the inventory of ingredients, I shouted at Jeomsoi. That’s when two women covering more than half their faces with veils walked into the inn. They looked around the inn and then asked me.
“Is there no separate seating?”
Their attire looked nice, and people who walk around with veils…
Those types of people require special guest rooms.
“The guest room is available.”
“Then take us there. And make sure others don’t approach.”
“Understood.”
A moment later, a woman in a red gown with a veil entered the inn along with other veiled women who seemed to be part of her entourage.
Looking at their attire and the ornaments tied around their waists, they seem to be martial artists from Cheonhwa Palace, one of the renowned clans for women in Heavenly Bright Moon.
Especially prominent is the long sword hanging from the waist of the highest-ranking red-clad woman, known as the Cheonhwa Sword, a blade that only the small palace master of Cheonhwa Palace can wield.
So… that red-draped lady must be the Cheonhwa Sword Maiden, Joo Yeryeong.
She’s a character often appearing in the main stories of protagonists, sometimes clashing with them, but she’s definitely not a villain or anything.
In reality, while Cheonhwa Palace can be somewhat aggressive, they are still a righteous faction, after all.
By the way, why did Cheonhwa Palace come all the way here?
I was watching them enter the guest room when I felt a poke at my side and turned to look.
“Huh? Hongryeon. When did you arrive?”
It was Hongryeon. Probably because spring has come, she was dressed lighter and now stood before me with a bright smile.
“Just now. But why are those women staring so intently?”
Even if the Murim Alliance branches have been established, Hongseong still had the responsibility to patrol the village.
It looks like she came down for that patrol, as she addressed the women entering the guest room.
“Do you know? Those people…”
“They are from Cheonhwa Palace.”
At that moment, Chaejin approached. Seeing her walking from the corner of the inn, Hongryeon asked with a serious expression.
“Did you see?”
Is she talking about them being from Cheonhwa Palace? Chaejin seemed to know, nodding slightly.
“Don’t worry. Even though martial artists have been causing a lot of trouble in inns lately… I’m here, after all.”
Even if fights were about to break out, she often managed to mediate them.
Of course, there are some martial artists who ignore her mediation and fight anyway, but it’s true that she’s quite helpful.
I nodded at the proud Chaejin, and Hongryeon looked between us before chuckling softly.
“Alright then, Yu Wol. I’ll be back soon.”
Hongryeon gave me a slight nod and went out to patrol with the disciple from Hongseong waiting outside.
Watching her leave, Chaejin calmly asked, “By the way, why did Cheonhwa Palace come here?”
“It could be because of the Murim Alliance branch, or perhaps they came to communicate with Hongseong.”
Recently, as Seomhwa Village has been growing, stories about Hongseong have started spreading.
With rumors of Hongseong beginning exchanges with the Amipa, it’s become common for others to visit Hongseong for communications.
Cheonhwa Palace was one of the factions that used to communicate with Hongseong in the past, and since that exchange was cut off, perhaps they’ve come to reconnect now.
“If they wanted to communicate with Hongseong, they’d go directly there. Why come here?”
“Come for some food on the exchange? Doesn’t really work that way, does it? Besides, our inn has been gaining some reputation lately.”
“Haha. That’s true.”
Yohwan’s culinary skills are no joke, and aside from the expensive dishes, the prices aren’t too steep either.
Her culinary skills are out of this world, and it’s not like her prices are through the roof unless you’re looking for something fancy.
Thinking about that, it makes sense that word of mouth has turned my inn into a hot spot—just like the Murim Alliance said.
So, with that in mind, it’s not too surprising that someone from Cheonhwa Palace came to my inn.
“I’ve guided you to the VIP room, so there shouldn’t be any friction.”
You know, the classic situation where women in veils and the guys trying to catch a glimpse cause drama—it’s practically a rule of the universe.
Of course, to prevent any trouble, I sent them off to the VIP room, so it should be fine.
“Alright. Let’s get back to work.”
Chaejin returned to her seat, and I focused back on my tasks. Just as the busy lunch rush wound down and things became a bit quieter…
“Hello!”
The cheerful voice made me jolt up from my seat.
I must not have heard that wrong, right?
“Oh~. Who do we have here?”
I wasn’t the only one reacting to that voice. After the rush, I was relaxing with tea alongside Chaejin when Yohwan smiled and waved.
And standing there was none other than Chaeran.
“Welcome!”
“What’s up with that dull reaction? You look tired. You don’t look as good as when I last saw you.”
“No, it’s not that bad! Um, maybe I should have been more dramatic? Oh! Welcome! Thanks for making the long trip!”
“Oh wow, look who’s rolling out the welcome mats.”
Even though I’m busy these days, it’s manageable.
As I chuckled in response, she pouted playfully and shrugged her shoulders. She then set down the bag she was carrying and said,
“I might just reward you with a gift.”
“Ha. You brought a gift?”
“Of course! Here you go.”
What she presented was a small jar. Is it tea?
Looks like it’s some precious tea only found in Amisan. As I accepted it, she offered a gift to Yohwan as well.
“Oh… what is this?”
“It’s a spice from your region, Yohwan. I heard you liked this?”
“I did. I was planning to buy it later since it’s pricey, but I didn’t expect you to bring it.”
“Why not whip up something delicious with this?”
With a cheeky smile, Chaeran glanced away. Noticing Chaejin fidgeting her fingers, she stretched and said,
“Ah, I’m so tired. Should we head to bed soon?”
“…Let’s see what you can do.”
Chaejin’s pouty voice made Chaeran giggle. Then she pulled out a book from her bag and handed it over.
“Don’t be sulking over a little prank.”
“I’m not sulking!”
With her face turning red, Chaejin shouted back, but both Yohwan and I knew she was upset for not getting a gift herself.
But what difference does it make to mention it?
Chaeran casually laughed as she handed over a book, and upon receiving it, Chaejin tilted her head in confusion.
“‘The Martial Arts of the Unlearned’?”
“It’s a martial arts manual written by the legendary martial artist, Amikum’s Seomha Monastic.”
“Uh…”
Chaejin was stunned to discover that Chaeran’s gift wasn’t just any old item but a martial arts manual. Chaeran shrugged in response to her amazement.
Chaejin stared at the completely unrelated Mu-Hak book in surprise. In response, Chaeran shrugged her shoulders.
“What are you so surprised about? Just because I read that and gained some insight, do you think I can’t beat you?”
“…Your confidence is amazing. Alright, follow me.”
“Fufu. Let’s take a break and do it in the evening.”
Chaeran, clearly looking tired at a glance, shrugged her shoulders and looked at me. Of course, there was a room available.
“Is it okay if it’s the room I used before?”
“Of course.”
“But… what happened to everyone else?”
“They said they would come down right after going to Hongseong.”
Well, it makes sense that reporting back to the sect comes first when you return.
“Yohwan, I would appreciate it if you could prepare something.”
“Don’t worry.”
Yohwan went straight inside. They had come back from a long journey; I had to make sure they were properly fed.
Chaeran smiled brightly.
“Then I’ll eat with you when it’s time.”
“If you’re hungry, you can eat first, though.”
“Still, it’s better to eat together. I’ll take a nap, so please wake me up later~!”
With a cheerful laugh, she went upstairs. Watching her, Chaejin fiddled with the Mu-Hak book Chaeran had given her.
“Isn’t she getting a bit bigger?”
“She’s in her growth period…”
If Chaeran is getting bigger, then Sayoon must be too, right? It had only been about two months since I’d seen them.
I was looking forward to how much she had grown.
How much time had passed?
After training with Chaejin and doing some chores upstairs, I came down to smoke a pipe.
I heard a presence from the backyard.
“Innkeeper!”
It was a lively voice, incredibly familiar.
I turned my head in that direction.
A gray-haired girl, holding a bunch of things, entered the backyard with a bright smile.
“Have you been well?!”
Seeing a girl with not a trace of shadow on her face, I couldn’t find any words to say.
“Uh… P-Person of the Inn?”
Oh, this isn’t right.
“Welcome. Have you been well?”
“Hehe…!! Yes!”
“You seem to have grown a bit.”
“Not just taller, but I’ve grown overall.”
A voice came from behind Sayoon. A beautiful woman with dark blue hair, apparently accompanying her, spoke with an incredibly serene smile.
“I checked earlier… You’ve really grown a lot.”
“It seems so. Anyway, thanks for your hard work. What about the others?”
“They’ll be here soon. Senior Sister Hyunhwi and Senior Disciple Yoohee are escorting Senior Sister Hongryeon right now.”
“Okay… Anyway, thanks for your hard work. Come on, let’s go in. As the Sword Saint is here, let’s have something to eat.”
“Uh… I-I’m fine, though.”
“Don’t say that.”
I thought as I led the Sword Saint into the Inn.
I mean… did they not feed her in Amifa?
She’s grown taller, but her face looks half gone.
This won’t do.
I need to feed her properly again.
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