Chaejin, the heir of the massive Moonjeong Sect, along with Na Yerin, the Sword Saint and the clan leader of Hongseong, and Hongryeon, the next clan leader and grand master of that place, were quite the fancy crowd.
Their statuses might be impressive, but they were like oil and water when it came to mingling with me, just a mere innkeeper.
So, naturally, I felt that I needed a status that matched their grandeur.
While gazing at Hongryeon, I slowly raised my hand. I patted her head, and maybe it was the surprising touch, but the burning desire in her eyes started to simmer down.
“It’s tough right now.”
“Why?!”
“Because I need some preparation too.”
To gain that status, the best bet was to enter the government, no question about it.
Of course, I didn’t think they would object to my status, but still, I should at least care about how the world sees me, right?
I said in a calm tone, “So please wait a little longer.”
“For how long?”
“…Hmm.”
Cradling her, I rummaged through my desk. It was a letter that Cheonilhwa had sent me not long ago.
As I handed it over, Hongryeon briefly examined it, and I lightly wrapped my arm around her waist in the meantime.
“Eek…”
That gasp was weaker than one would expect from someone who had stepped into the realm of the superhuman. Hongryon knew that my touch posed no threat to her.
Yet, the tremble she felt wasn’t just from fear, burden, or discomfort.
If it were, I’d have had a sudden explosion on my head.
“Can you wait a bit longer?”
Hongryeon nodded slightly with a flushed face.
Once she left, I turned my attention to the letter.
Cheonilhwa’s letter indicated that someone from the military would soon be coming.
The position I was set to take was that of a military advisor, a post known as the Case Advisor, just as I had anticipated.
In wartime, I would even have the authority to act as a general.
That was probably the highest position they could give me.
It also signified that the military was taking me seriously.
Well, the Case Advisor position was precisely what I wanted, so no issues there.
Now, what was left…
Hmm…
By the way, how should I handle this?
Na Yerin, Hongryeon, Chaejin.
Would it really be okay to tell all three of them, “Let’s all live happily ever after together”?
…I had to avoid endings where I end up kidnapped and tortured, or an ending where I kill one of them and happily live forever alone.
The next day came.
And down came the Sword Saint.
I had eliminated all five leaders of the Iron Blood Clan, yet danger still loomed over me.
After all, it wasn’t just the Iron Blood Clan that was aiming for me.
No, if anything, it was likely that more martial artists than members of the Iron Blood Clan had their sights set on me.
So, it was no surprise that the Sword Saint had come down for protection…
But I gazed at her intently.
“Uh, ahem, why are you looking at me like that?”
Twisting her body, the Sword Saint spoke softly. I smiled and shook my head at her.
I shook my head.
“It’s nothing.”
“By the way, it’s unfortunate that the inn has stopped operating.”
“Well… that could happen. I guess I’ll think of it as taking a break for now.”
“Ahem. Is that so? Then…”
The Sword Saint gently approached me and lightly grabbed the edge of my sleeve.
“Could you spare some time for me?”
“Of course.”
I went outside with the Sword Saint. Was it because of the lingering tension from the last battle? There weren’t many people wandering the streets.
“It’s quiet for a place that’s been through such events.”
“Well, we handled it well, didn’t we?”
If we hadn’t been able to fend off the attacks from the Iron Blood Wood and the Evil Monster, even this silence wouldn’t exist. I saw passersby politely greeting me and the Sword Saint.
In the past, the Sword Saint rarely ventured out of Hongseong.
As a result, the villagers of Seomhwa Village were so afraid of her that they couldn’t even approach her.
But now it was different.
Though not often, she had strolled through Seomhwa Village with her disciples.
Moreover, when she came to the inn for protection, many had seen her smiling happily while munching on sweets, which made people feel quite friendly towards her.
And since this was already the second time she had saved Seomhwa Village from danger, it seemed to add to that sentiment.
“Hongseong has completely integrated into Seomhwa Village.”
“Haha… it’s all thanks to you.”
The Sword Saint gently grabbed my clothing. Though it was gentle, it was strong enough that I couldn’t easily get away.
“Aren’t you going to ask me?”
If Sayoon knew, the Sword Saint would naturally know as well. So, it was a fair question, but the Sword Saint just calmly walked beside me.
“About your Mister status? Well, I do have a few questions.”
“Like how you know about Hongseong. Or why you helped Hongseong?”
“I’m not interested in that. You’re called Shinsan Seonja, so you must have found out something from somewhere. Hongseong has a deep history. If I compare it to documents from other places, I don’t think it would be impossible to uncover things I don’t know.”
It wasn’t like I had actually looked at any documents to say that.
“What’s important is…”
I gulped. The Sword Saint, who was at the realm of a superhuman being, someone revered and respected by many martial artists, was now looking at me with a tense expression.
“…how long do I have to wait…”
Fidgeting.
A person in the realm of a superhuman.
Someone who was a figure of respect and awe to countless martial artists.
Was afraid of my answer.
“Uh… well. I don’t mean to put pressure on you. There must be a lot to do now that the inn is like this. I’m just asking! Just!”
As the Sword Saint shouted while looking around, a few people nearby turned to look at us. But she didn’t care about such gazes. She just stared at me with burning eyes.
I looked at her. But the Sword Saint didn’t care about such gazes at all. She just looked at me with fiery eyes.
I met her gaze and couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Why are you laughing…?”
“I just found you cute.”
“C-Cute…!!”
Her face turned bright red. The Sword Saint, flustered, started to glance around in circles. I lightly patted her shoulder.
“It shouldn’t take too long.”
“R-Really?”
We started walking again. I stopped by the government office to meet the Hyeonryeong and discuss our future plans.
I heard that if we were recognized for battling the colossal foe known as Dool, it would only be a matter of time before Seomhwa Village was promoted to a castle.
It was already a matter of time, to be honest.
Still, hearing that it would speed up, I looked at the Sword Saint.
She seemed quite pleased.
“Everything is coming together, one by one.”
“That’s right.”
Yeah. We just need to tackle things one step at a time.
As I left the government office, I spoke while walking back with the Sword Saint.
While we walked through a street gradually losing people, the Sword Saint started glancing around before tightly embracing my arm.
“H-Hey… if it’s uncomfortable or anything…”
“It’s not uncomfortable.”
“Hehe…”
The cheerful Sword Saint gently held my hand. She seemed to ignore the gazes of those around but definitely paid attention at moments like this. It was both cute and a bit pitiful, so I smiled at her.
“I like your smile.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s why I always prepare jokes.”
Ahem. The Sword Saint cleared her throat and began a joke in a small voice.
Of course, it’s difficult to find it funny in a typical sense, but the way she laughed after delivering it or glanced at me nervously while turning red was just hilariously entertaining.
So, I laughed, and the Sword Saint joyfully unleashed more jokes.
When we returned to the courtyard, the Sword Saint suddenly stopped walking.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“Well… you haven’t called me even once today…”
“Yerin. Let’s go.”
She puffed her cheeks with a slightly sulky face and stared at me blankly.
So, I stretched out my hand and said something. The Sword Saint, who had been gazing at me for a while, squatted down on the ground.
“Are you okay?”
“…How could I be okay?”
And then she grabbed my collar. My waist bent.
Her lips were sweeter and softer than any candy, befitting her love for sweets.
“…Sigh. You really make it hard to resist.”
Gently releasing my collar, the Sword Saint gazed at me intently before breaking into a soft smile.
“…But I’ll trust your words that there’s not much left. Well… I might not be good at household chores or anything, but…”
She softly grabbed me, her ears turning bright red, yet she spoke earnestly without avoiding my gaze.
She said seriously, without doing it.
“I’ll always make you smile…”
But that didn’t last long.
The Sword Saint, speaking softly as if creeping in, glanced at me while finishing her sentence.
“…I’ll always be waiting, so don’t feel pressured. Just follow your heart… um, it would be nice if you came to me, you know. No, you have to come. If you don’t… uh, what’s that… hmm.”
Thinking about how to threaten me, she paused and said.
“…I’ll cry.”
What a cute and terrifying threat.
No crying now.
“That’s a bit difficult.”
“Right?!”
The tension and pouty face of the Sword Saint melted away as she took a cheerful step ahead. Having entered the courtyard before me, she reached out her hand and winked.
“So… I’m counting on you. I may be lacking in many ways… I’m not good at anything except martial arts. But still.”
As I held her hand while we went inside, the Sword Saint beamed with a bright smile.
“I’ll always make you smile.”
It was while we were having dinner and sipping tea with the Sword Saint that a message arrived from Hongseong.
They wanted the Sword Saint to watch over Hongryeon and Chaejin, who were currently training.
Hongryeon and Chaejin were at a crucial time. It made sense. They were stepping into the realm of superhumans. A single misstep could lead them down the wrong path.
Thus, it was only natural for the superhuman Sword Saint to help them.
When Ryuhyun, Hyunhwi, and Sayoon came down to take the Sword Saint’s place, she looked at me with a gloomy expression.
“Off you go.”
“Ugh…”
I stamped my feet, but since it was for the sake of the two, I couldn’t refuse.
Finally, the Sword Saint announced she would be back the next two days and returned to Hongseong, while I continued my work with the unusual escort of three.
I had an interesting talk after meeting Hyeonryeong.
The Sword Saint, Hongryeon, and Chaejin.
A place with three superhumans would soon be promoted to a castle.
Moreover, since I was close to them, Hyeonryeong mentioned that she would personally create an estate for me.
It wasn’t a bad offer. Until now, I had just lived in an inn, but moving forward, having a separate house would be better.
Coincidentally, there was land in a nice location, so I could build something there.
Having received a few blueprints for the estates provided by the government, it was time to add or remove as needed.
-Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Standing there was a girl with gray hair.
I nodded at her, who looked quite nervous.
Yeah.
You’re the only one who can ask me.
I smiled at the girl, Sayoon, who was staring at me.
“Care for some tea?”
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