Just to double-check, I asked the Doje while sipping my drink if they needed the Seven Star Dagger. But as expected, the Doje didn’t seem too interested.
“Probably just something that’ll cause unnecessary conflicts. It would be better for Yu Seonsaeng to pass it on to someone else rather than keeping it.”
“That does make sense. So, going through the Murim Alliance might be the best choice?”
“Sounds about right. If it comes down to it, I could just toss it to the Murim Alliance when I return.”
Taking the path from Seomhwa Village to Cheongho would allow us to drop by the Murim Alliance. But that’s only if we don’t go through the main roads… When I glanced over, he shrugged his shoulders.
“What’s the big deal about taking a detour?”
“Haha, thanks for that.”
“Forget it. Swing by and visit me in Cheongho when I get a bit more free time.”
With an apathetic attitude, the Doje raised his drinking cup. Watching him sip his drink, Chaejin thought for a moment before asking Hyunhwi.
“Isn’t it needed in Hongseong?”
“We aren’t targets of the Muyeong Martial Arts, after all. Trying to obtain that would go against Hongseong’s teachings.”
Hyunhwi, who said she couldn’t drink during a guarding mission, fiddled with her beverage.
“I’m sure the Master thinks the same…”
“I think so too. I doubt the Sword Saint would actively pursue the Muyeong Martial Arts.”
“So, if we gave it to the Murim Alliance, would they immediately start looking for clues about the Muyeong Martial Arts?”
Not really. To pursue that, a single faction would need to unite the forces harmed by the Muyeong Martial Arts and set out to find it.
Who would trust that mission to someone else?
In Heavenly Bright Moon, after navigating almost all the main storylines and completing quite a few events, increasing goodwill with the Murim Alliance, the Black Demon Corps, and many other factions, the event to find the traces of the Muyeong Martial Arts was something you couldn’t attempt without them.
Naturally, there’s no one around capable of doing that right now.
“Then the remaining problem is…”
Chaejin stared at me intently. I smiled and shook my head at her gaze.
“I’m not thinking this will be resolved with just this one attempt.”
“Well, that’s probably the case. But it’s okay. I’ll keep watch.”
After the drinking session, I returned to my office and sat down, lost in thought.
Earlier, when I interrogated Gyuseon, she mentioned a woman with red hair and one blue eye.
And it was someone who claimed that fire would burn everything who had either kidnapped or ordered my assassination.
“Fire will burn everything.”
That phrase sometimes appeared during cutscenes in Heavenly Bright Moon when a main event occurred.
So, if that was said, it means the woman with red hair and blue eye is either the Iron-Blooded Demon or someone related to her.
In that case, what could their next move be?
Well, to put it simply, they’ll either get someone stronger than Gyuseon to come after me or devise a flanking strategy to get close.
But I’m curious why they want to capture me.
According to Cheonilhwa’s letter, it said that those trying to fight the evil monsters were attacked, but there was no mention of anyone being kidnapped.
So why would they try to take me?
“Hmm…”
I don’t know the answer myself yet. Let’s keep an eye on the situation and make a judgment later.
“Aren’t you sleeping?”
“Ah.”
The curtain hanging in the connecting corridor moved as Chaejin peeked out. Dressed in a rather short and comfortable outfit, she casually sat down on the chair next to my desk, and I nodded at her.
“I was just about to sleep. But why did you come in?”
“I was just a bit worried. But what about Hyunhwi?”
I hadn’t heard a single breath from her for a while, as she seemed to be meditating. Chaejin quietly went to check on Hyunhwi and returned.
“She’s meditating.”
“I see. Then we should talk quietly.”
“Yeah.”
After saying that, Chaejin led me to the bed and made me lie down.
She then brought a chair and casually sat in front of me.
“Go sleep.”
“I’ll wait until I see the innkeeper sleeping.”
“Hmmm…”
I wonder if I can actually sleep with her staring at me like that.
“Thanks for today.”
“Hehe. You’re the interesting one. You seemed just like usual, even nearly getting into danger.”
“Well, I didn’t exactly come unprepared.”
I was prepared and expected something like this. I just didn’t think someone of Gyuseon’s caliber would show up.
“The ones attacking us in the future will probably be stronger and sneakier, right?”
“Probably.”
“Hoo. That sparks my motivation.”
Chaejin reached out and gently grabbed my hand, smiling brightly.
“So don’t worry and go ahead and do what you want.”
With her confident tone, I smiled and nodded.
The next day arrived. I thought there might be a night raid, but whether they were conscious of the Doje or using the first failure to prepare for something else, nothing particularly happened.
So, it seems like nothing special will happen today. The Sword Saint is here, after all.
“Are you awake?”
As I got off the bed, the curtain of the other room shook. Had Chaejin already finished getting ready for Hongseong? She was packing her attire and weapons.
“Didn’t you return the Heukwoldo?”
Among the weapons Chaejin was packing was a longsword as tall as she was. Seeing that, she smiled.
“Oh, this? My father lent it to me for the time being.”
After realizing that someone really tried to ambush me yesterday, I lent Chaejin my Heukwoldo. Well, it looks like I’ll have to treat her to a drink again.
Chaejin lent her black moon sword to me. Well, I guess I owe her a drink now.
“Anyway, having this should make things a bit easier.”
“That’s true, but we’re going to Hongseong today.”
“Yes. It’ll be good for the duel.”
Looks like she really wants to have a proper duel. I nodded as I observed her confident expression.
“Shall we head down then? I wonder if Hyunhwi is up yet?”
Chaejin went to the next room and quickly returned downstairs with Hyunhwi, who was already awake and all set. I headed to the backyard too, and while I was warming up, Sword Saint Na Yerin entered the backyard just like last time.
But her expression seemed a bit… troubled, as if she had something on her mind.
“Hyunhwi, good job. Did anything special happen?”
Was it because of my gaze? The Sword Saint quickly regained her usual demeanor and spoke to Hyunhwi, who then looked at me.
Is she asking me to say it for her?
“Someone attacked me yesterday.”
“Oh, I see… what?”
The Sword Saint nodded, but her expression stiffened. With eyes wide open, she seemed to be asking for an explanation, so I recounted the situation.
“Oh, no, you should’ve told me yesterday!”
“There wasn’t anything else, was there?”
“Still…”
“If any issues arose, I planned to blow this up… Sword Saint, it wasn’t something to take seriously.”
I pulled out a powder keg from my pocket. The Sword Saint seemed to have a lot to say but ended up just biting her lip lightly.
“After something blows up, it’s too late.”
“No need to use a knife meant for pigs on a chicken, right?”
“That’s true, but… sigh. If you judged it that way, then so be it…”
The Sword Saint shook her head.
“Well, we’ll take our leave now.”
“Ah. Have a safe trip.”
Chaejin and Hyunhwi left the inn. The Sword Saint, watching them leave, turned to me with a serious expression.
“I’ll need to stick close for protection for a while.”
“That’s why I rearranged the layout of the room a bit yesterday.”
“Oh, really?”
The Sword Saint tilted her head and then bounced a bit. When she landed, her face was slightly flushed as she said,
“Uh… there’s no door, though.”
“Yes.”
“…Are you really okay with that?”
“I’m fine.”
The Sword Saint swallowed hard. Then, while staring at me for a moment, she suddenly jumped back in surprise.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um… no, it’s nothing.”
Seems like something’s up? I looked at the Sword Saint, but she just shook her head slowly.
With the Sword Saint around, it really was a pretty ordinary day. At lunch, the Doje and the Sword Saint had a bit of a spat, but it wasn’t anything serious.
There was a bit of a spat between the Doje and the Sword Saint, but it wasn’t a big deal.
However, one strange thing was that the Sword Saint kept staring at me.
“Is there something on my face?”
I asked the Sword Saint, who was gazing intently at me while I was working in my office. She pondered for a moment and shook her head.
“I was just looking because I wanted to… Is that a problem?”
“…It’s not a problem.”
“Can I take that as permission…?”
“Uh, yeah, sure.”
Her gaze was burning through me!
But I figured if I said no, she would pout like a child, so I just nodded.
And ever since, she kept doing this.
If looks could eat people, I’d have been devoured dozens of times already.
I set down the papers I was looking at and stood up.
“Care for a cup of tea?”
*
Being with her made it hard to keep a straight face. No matter how much I tried to hide it, I couldn’t conceal my twitching lips.
“Care for some tea?”
“Hmm, would you pour it for me?”
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The Sword Saint spoke briefly and stared intently at him. In the books she read, it was said that one’s gaze sticks to someone they like, almost as if it were glued on.
Proving that point, as soon as he came into view, she couldn’t focus on anything else.
That’s how the Sword Saint was able to calm her boiling feelings.
How dare they try to touch him?
I don’t know who those guys are, but if they get caught, I’ll smash them for sure.
Even her anger towards them was sinking in front of him.
“Na Yerin.”
“Ugh.”
Before she knew it, the tea had arrived. She smacked her lips at Yu Wol’s worried gaze directed at her.
Then, she accepted the teacup he handed her.
As the bitter yet warm tea lingered in her mouth, the Sword Saint looked at Yu Wol. Sitting up straight, he sipped his tea as if nothing happened.
Maybe she was fascinated by his consistency.
The Sword Saint absentmindedly followed him with her gaze, and when their eyes met, Yu Wol smiled brightly. Unable to face such a smile directly, the Sword Saint slightly lowered her head.
Seeing her reflection in the teacup, she lightly bit her lip.
That face resembled the expression Hongryeon had while making his clothes back then.
She lifted her head and looked at Yu Wol again, but her lips wouldn’t move.
No, it seems she didn’t want to ask.
She probably didn’t want to touch on something uncertain.
Just.
She was afraid.
“Do you have something to say?”
“…No. Not right now, it seems.”
Right.
Since it isn’t certain yet.
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