“Is this… okay?”
Unlike me, Chaejin’s expression didn’t look too good. Well, it makes sense, doesn’t it? There are those who aim for the ones we’re supposed to protect.
As Chaejin gnashed her teeth while staring hard at the letter, I chuckled and said.
“Even if it’s an attack, it would only be a mere assassin or so.”
“‘Mere assassin’? That’s not it!”
“If Miss Chae is having a hard time, we can request more personnel from Hongseong or the Murim Alliance…”
“Who said I’m struggling?”
Chaejin replied hastily. So, I laughed and held her hand.
“I know that the Moonlight Sword technique is good for blocking attacks related to assassination. Besides, I haven’t just been playing around until now.”
As the population of Seomhwa Village increased, it was developing in various ways. And, naturally, patrols to protect important figures like me and Hyeonryeong were frequent, making it not easy for assassins to infiltrate.
“We often meet martial artists while consulting. If they were to attack…”
“Then you just need to stay by my side.”
No matter how close the attack, Chaejin is skilled enough to sense if her opponent is hiding their true power. If a strong opponent appears that feels dangerous, she would be cautious, and she could likely fend off any sudden attacks.
“And at night…”
“I’ll have to sleep in the office for a while. Conveniently, there’s a bed here.”
I pointed to a corner of the office. Whenever I got tired from work, I would often sleep here. Since people coming from Hongseong are sleeping in the adjacent room, I could respond immediately if any issues arose.
“I would also like for Miss Chae to move her room a bit.”
“Uh, where to?”
“There’s another guest room next to the office that’s empty, how about you sleep there?”
“Um…”
“Of course, if you don’t want to, that’s fine. And… I’d like to create a passage here.”
I tapped on the wall of the office. I’d make a door by breaking through the wall to prepare for any emergencies.
Later, I could just seal it back up, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
“Ah. Of course, if you don’t want it…”
“There’s no way I won’t!”
It was a request to move from a familiar room to an unfamiliar one, yet with the assurance that she could come and go anytime, Chaejin accepted it immediately.
“Then I’ll ask for that.”
With the poison risk being minimized thanks to the increased defenses, all that remains is to block long-range attacks, right?
Of course, people around me could be taken hostage to attack me.
But if I considered my reactions to increase caution and protection in that process, it’s better to exclude that, right?
“How about we add some escort personnel from somewhere other than Hongseong or the Murim Alliance? Calling Ryuhyun or the Moonlight Sword members…”
“Well…”
It wouldn’t hurt to increase the escort here to block off the danger, but it might be better to pretend I don’t know that I could be attacked while trying to catch the one who wants to strike me.
Currently, there are only two remaining executives of the Iron Blood Clan. The one in the North, Iron Blood Wood, likely won’t have much influence here, so it’s the other one.
I might be able to catch the tail of Iron Blood Fire.
Of course, I don’t think catching this tail would mean I could drive out Iron Blood Fire.
But it’s at least an opportunity to reduce Iron Blood Fire’s power, right?
I can’t let that slip away.
“Honestly, I think the current level of escort is sufficient.”
“Got it.”
Chaejin paused for a moment before nodding at my judgment.
Alright. Then it looks like I’ll have to stay on edge for a while.
I hinted lightly to Yohwan and Doje just in case, but they didn’t show much of a reaction.
Maybe these two experienced ones were expecting it.
“Both of them probably know that gaining notoriety isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.”
“That’s true. Now, let’s get started.”
Chaejin took the stance and, with just a few light swings, created a passage by cutting through the wall.
“I didn’t think it would be completely silent.”
“Well, this is basic.”
While she smugly said that, the other wall was also sliced away.
From that side, Ryuhyun emerged with a slightly bewildered expression.
“But is this really okay?”
“We’ll hang a cloth, and if it’s an issue, we can just put a door there… if you feel uncomfortable.”
“No, it’s not that…”
Since I had already given Ryuhyun a heads up, she didn’t express any major complaints.
“Anyway, we only come into this room at night. And for just one day, it’s fine if we don’t sleep. I’m just worried about you, Chaejin.”
In Hongseong, they take turns for the escort, but not Chaejin.
To Ryuhyun’s mention, Chaejin confidently replied.
“It’s fine. I’ll catch some sleep here and there.”
“Then that’s good.”
After all, for the masters, just doing breathing exercises is enough to recover stamina.
Let alone if it’s Chaejin, who’s better than me, Ryuhyun simply nodded.
I looked at the wall that had been cut through. It was neatly sliced without a single speck of dust flying, so it should be easy to fix it up.
I looked at the broken wall. The cut was so clean that I could just tidy it up without any dust flying around.
Since I could get materials from the construction site of the annex, I decided to finish up the rest tomorrow.
I hung the cloth I brought from the storage in the corridor connecting each room.
“Alright. Then, please rest comfortably.”
I lightly said as I sat down at my desk. It was late at night, but I had work to do and materials to review.
Ryuhyun greeted me and returned to her room, but Chaejin was different. She quietly sat in the chair next to my desk.
“Wouldn’t it be better to get some sleep?”
“Um. Sure.”
She lightly replied and leaned on the corner of my desk instead of sleeping. Instead of resting, she just stared at me.
Come on, get some sleep.
Knowing that her staying awake was for my sake, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything else.
“Thanks as always.”
“Hehe. It’s nothing much.”
The next day passed without any particular incidents.
Of course, the enemy doesn’t announce when they’re going to attack, but still, it was a bit draining that nothing happened.
“Perhaps, Yu Seonsaeng, they might be waiting for you to go outside.”
Lunchtime arrived. Chaejin, who had been sparring with Hyunhwi, urged me to eat first, so I had lunch with the Doje while enjoying a drink, and he smiled back as he replied.
“That might be the case.”
“If they want to catch you off guard, would it be a good idea to step outside for a bit?”
“That doesn’t sound bad.”
“If anything happens, you know what to do. That thing.”
Ah, that thing.
I took out the powder keg from my robe. It was something I received from Hyeonryeong before; she said that if anything urgent came up at the inn, she would come rushing with troops.
“With that young one around, if anything happens, she’ll come down immediately.”
Considering the Sword Saint’s lightness of foot, it wouldn’t take long for her to come down from Hongseong to Seomhwa Village. Plus, with Chaejin going along, it would be safer.
“They might poke around here too. If something unexpected happens, I’ll step in.”
If they attack the inn, does that mean the Doje will lend a hand? How generous.
“Then I guess I can leave it to you. I actually had things to do at the sword guild and the government office.”
Might as well get some work done while I’m out.
Once I finished lunch with him and Chaejin and Hyunhwi wrapped up their late meal, I gathered the documents I needed to take to Hyeonryeong’s office.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
“Is it going to be okay?”
“It’s daytime, and the Murim Alliance is on patrol… There shouldn’t be any problems, right? And even if there is, we have the Moonlight Sword and the formidable Chaejin with us, what’s there to worry about?”
“I really appreciate your trust. Sounds good.”
Chaejin wore a confident expression. The Doje smiled at her.
“Take this.”
He tossed her a longsword. Unlike her usual weapon, this sword was mostly pitch black and was almost as long as she was tall.
“…Father.”
This was the Black Moon Sword, a family heirloom that amplified the power of the Moonlight Sword techniques. As Chaejin was touched by the gift, the Doje blandly remarked,
“I hope you won’t need it, but we should prepare just in case.”
Despite his indifferent tone, Chaejin’s eyes sparkled with emotion. The Doje cleared his throat softly as he looked at her.
“Go and come back.”
“Yes.”
Nodding, Chaejin slung the Black Moon Sword over her back. She strapped her own sword to her waist and looked at me.
It’s just a trip to the local magistrate, but look at her all geared up like that.
I suppose I should be on my toes too.
With the Doje and Hyunhwi seeing us off, Chaejin and I headed towards the magistrate’s office.
It was a familiar street. We used to walk here together often just for a leisurely stroll.
Maybe she was also reminiscing, as a smile crept onto her lips.
“It brings back memories. It hasn’t been that long, though.”
“Haha. Once things calm down a bit, let’s go for a walk again.”
“Sounds good. Hehe. By then…”
Chaejin gently took my hand. Her fingers intertwined with mine, tightening slightly, and her eyes looked up at me full of affection.
“We can walk hand in hand like this, right?”
“We’re holding hands right now.”
“Hehehe…”
Just as she burst into bright laughter,
“…Are you Yu Wol?”
A figure in a straw hat blocked our path, speaking in a calm tone.
I paused for a moment and replied,
“You have the wrong person.”
– Clank.
The man in the straw hat did not respond. He simply drew the sword hanging at his waist slowly.
“I won’t kill you.”
“Wow. A live capture. At least I won’t die.”
“…You really are something, aren’t you? Alright. Who sent you?”
Again, there was no answer. He just walked calmly towards me.
In response to his bold demeanor, Chaejin snorted and slowly drew her sword.
“I wonder if you’d answer if I take off an arm or two?”
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