Last time, the Sword Saint, who had been exhibiting some strange behavior, returned to her original self just when it was her turn.
But wait, should this even be called her “original” self?
“Hehe.”
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m just enjoying myself.”
While I was out in the backyard puffing on a cigarette, the Sword Saint came and plopped down next to me—closer than before. She kept staring at me and grinning, so I finally asked and she just shot back with that.
Well, it can’t be all bad, right? They say good luck comes with a smile.
“But… isn’t the smell of that cigarette bothersome?”
“This much is fine.”
Well, what can I say? I asked her again about it, and the Sword Saint, who had been staring intently, cautiously opened her mouth.
“Is that, by any chance, something Ren gave you?”
“Yes.”
“I see…”
Nodding slightly, her eyes sparkled with interest.
“Do you need anything, perhaps?”
“Needs? I have plenty, but most of it I can get myself, so there’s really nothing I’d need to ask the Sword Saint for.”
“You’ve been working hard, so how about I give your shoulders a rub?”
“No, that’s alright.”
“U-Um, then how about something to drink? I can get it for you.”
With a look of desperate fidgeting, the Sword Saint stared at me, seemingly eager to do something for me, as she bounced around nervously.
“If you’re thirsty, why not have a cup of tea? I’ll make it for you.”
“…I was hoping to do it for you…”
Drooping her shoulders with a sulky expression, she looked like a pouting kid. I felt like I’d committed some crime when I hadn’t done anything wrong!
“…I keep taking from you and, with what I mentioned last time, you still…”
“AHAHAHA! I happen to be really thirsty!”
“I’ll get it for you right away!”
With her eyes sparkling, the Sword Saint leaped up from her seat and dashed inside. Meanwhile, the Doje, who had been watching us burn the cigarette from the other side, shook his head in disbelief.
“Why is she acting like that? Yu Seonsaeng, do you have dirt on that girl or something?”
“Haha…”
If you call it having dirt on someone, then maybe I do. I shook my head with a smile, while the Doje chuckled while puffing on his cigarette.
“That rascal is like a docile lamb in front of Yu Seonsaeng…”
“Rascal?”
“Hm? Oh, you wouldn’t know. That girl may seem quiet now, flaunting her Sword Saint title and all, but it wasn’t always like that. Do you know about the time she fought the Gukhon Clan’s sect master?”
Was there such an incident?
As I looked at him with curiosity, the Doje grinned widely.
“If you ask anyone at the Murim Alliance, they’ll know all about it. That little girl once tried to rally forces at the Owal Hall founded by the Gukhon Clan to fight against the Sa-pa.”
“There was a time when I fought with them.”
“Oh… that story?”
“I know about it too.”
“The Sword Saint really smashed those who tried to use Hongseong.”
“It was just mentioned in Heavenly Bright Moon, so I don’t know the details either.”
When I showed interest, the Doje chuckled.
“Back then, it was no joke…”
“…What are you talking about right now?”
At the sound of a voice laced with killing intent from behind, the Doje shrugged. The Sword Saint, who had placed a cup on the tray next to me, looked at me with trembling eyes.
Then, she quickly turned her head and growled at the Doje.
“What do you think you did to the Sect Leader of the Taehuh Clan, who tried to drag Moonjeong in to boost their power? Or should I also hope you’ll tell me about what you did to those opposing Moonjeong?”
I shook my head, listening to the two super-beings growling at each other.
“Please, enough already.”
“Ugh….”
“Tsk.”
Honestly, I was curious, but listening to it here would only lead to wounds—no, it would definitely be a story that would harm each other.
Right now, they weren’t fighting to save my face, but the relationship between the Sword Saint and the Doje wasn’t exactly great either.
After a brief lull, the Doje discarded the cigarette he had in his mouth, extinguished it, and spoke indifferently.
“Anyway… I should start heading back to Cheongho.”
“Huh?”
I couldn’t help but be puzzled by the Doje’s words.
“Are you leaving already?”
“Honestly, I want to stay a little longer… but it seems I need to take the Seven Star Dagger to the Murim Alliance. Plus, I’ve received a message from the Murim Alliance.”
The Doje took out a letter from his pocket and showed it to me. It contained a request to come to a meeting soon in the Murim Alliance.
“I think they’re going to discuss movements from the demonic side…”
“Ah. We also got that in Hongseong. Of course, we’re not attending this time.”
“Right. Just make sure to take care of my drinking buddy.”
“You don’t even have to say that; I intend to do so.”
After the conversation ended, the Doje said he had something to do at the Murim Alliance branch and left. I sipped on the drink the Sword Saint had brought me, and she sat next to me, fidgeting.
“I… I couldn’t help it back then.”
That must refer to the time when the Murim Alliance caused an uproar. Naturally, they tried to drag in their own sect and the precious Hongryeon to satisfy their own greed, and the Sword Saint wouldn’t just sit back and watch that.
No matter how much she loathed going out, after all.
“Yes. I understand.”
“Ha…”
I nodded in response, and the Sword Saint gazed at me intently. Her eyes were trembling. Slowly, she leaned her head on my shoulder.
“…Since you always understand… I get greedy and start to expect things…”
Maybe it’s because she got closer? A pleasant scent tickled my nose. I looked down at her and smiled.
“Is it just me, or is there a sweet fragrance tickling my nose as she gets closer?” I looked down at her and smiled.
“Everyone has expectations, and they want answers that match those expectations.”
“…So?”
“I feel the same way towards the Sword Saint.”
“….Hmm.”
With a pouty face, the Sword Saint looked at me. Ah, right.
“Na Yerin. There are many things I expect from you…”
“Ugh…”
Only then did she nod with apparent satisfaction, but her expression was flushed.
Even as she fumbled for what to do, trying to maintain a sweet smile while looking up at me, it was quite cute.
Just then, she swallowed hard and seemed ready to say something.
“We’re here!!”
At that voice, the Sword Saint jumped back and distanced herself from me. Wow, the Sword Saint is really something, she backed off that quickly!
Meanwhile, I found out who the bright voice belonged to.
Sayoon was walking over… and behind her…
“Huh?”
“Hehe. Surprised?”
It was Hongryeon.
I could understand Sayoon being here, but why was Hongryeon?
“Did you not say you’d be off patrol for a while?”
The Sword Saint, Hongryeon, Ryuhyun, and Hyunhwi. I had heard they were temporarily exempt from patrol duty since they took turns staying at the inn. When I expressed my confusion, Hongryeon smiled and handed me a piece of paper.
“I’m just trying to help my junior sisters train a bit more.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. So, as the Senior Sister, I naturally need to support my juniors, right? That’s why I decided to lend a hand with patrols. Hehe. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Not at all! It’s wonderful to see you always thinking of your juniors.”
“Uhuhuh…”
Hongryeon laughed contentedly. As she approached the Sword Saint, I turned my attention back to Sayoon.
“Sayoon, how have you been lately?”
“I’ve been working really hard! I promise to bring victory to the Innkeeper! Please look forward to it!”
“Haha. That’s excellent! But…”
Ever since returning from Arimpa, I had been trying to feed them well, but maybe due to their tough training, she wasn’t gaining any weight. She seemed to be growing taller, though.
“Stop by after your patrol. Let’s have some tea together.”
“Is that okay?”
Hongryeon beamed.
“Of course! Right, Master?”
“Mm… Sure, that’s fine.”
The Sword Saint slightly nodded. Observing this, Hongryeon took Sayoon’s hand.
“Then we’ll head out on patrol. Oh, and Master.”
“Yes?”
“Hehe.”
With a soft giggle toward Hongryeon, the Sword Saint paused in thought, closing her mouth for a moment before smiling.
Sayoon, seeing their reactions, tilted her head and came closer to me.
“Doesn’t it feel a bit strange between the Master and the Senior Sister?”
Well…
I just feel like I need to do better.
“Let’s work hard.”
“Huh? Ah. Yes!”
The Doje, back from the Murim Alliance branch, immediately packed their things. Like, seriously, that was fast!
“I thought you would take a day off.”
At least I thought Chaejin would come and say goodbye.
“Haha. I wish I could, but if I did, I’d be too lazy to leave tomorrow. When the heart moves, you have to act right away, don’t you?”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Let’s meet again in Cheongho.”
“But what about the Black Moon Blade…”
“Right now, Jin needs me more than I do.”
The Doje chuckled and glanced at the Sword Saint standing next to me.
“…What are you staring at?”
“It seems like you’ve found a rare moment to relax. Just don’t go losing it by doing something weird.”
With a snicker, they casually flicked the sword they brought back from the shop.
“Well then. See you next time.”
With a relaxed tone, they sauntered off. They came like a gust of wind, and now they’re leaving just as breezy.
“Hmm… Since the Doje has left…”
“Yes.”
The Sword Saint nodded.
“I should stay close and keep watch a bit longer.”
Her gaze was quite intense, and I met it head-on.
After a long exchange of glances, she eventually looked away.
“…Ugh.”
“Haha. Well then. Shall we go up? How about a cup of tea?”
“…Hmm. That sounds good.”
“And there’s a story I’d like to hear.”
“Me? What kind of story would you like to hear? I can tell you anything…”
“I’d like to hear about what the Sword Saint was like in the past. The Doje said you weren’t this calm back then…”
There wasn’t much information about the Sword Saint even in Heavenly Bright Moon. So, I had a lot of questions and figured this was a good opportunity to ask.
“…Ugh, that author…! Huh. Back in the day, given the circumstances, I couldn’t help but be a bit excessive. I know you dislike fighting, but in the Murim, there are times you have to wield a sword. But, that’s not the case now, and also…”
“Haha. Didn’t I tell you?”
I couldn’t betray the gaze filled with fear and anticipation.
She was flinching and looking at me desperately, so I smiled and said,
“I understand completely.”
“…Really?”
Just a moment before, she had been fumbling and wearing a dark expression, but it brightened up to the point of almost bursting with joy.
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