When I returned from the inn, I couldn’t contain my excitement.
It was only natural. I had finally met the mister I had been searching for.
‘He has always been right there beside me.’
As Sayoon climbed Hongseong Mountain, she lowered her head. It wasn’t long after receiving a letter from the mister that she finally met him.
She helped Yu Wol, who was being attacked by someone, and from that moment, she got to know both Yu Wol and the mister.
And they had done many things together.
She had eaten the sweet treats he offered, traveled with him, and…
Not only did he help her and Hongseong, but Yu Wol had done so much for her as well.
‘Ughhh…’
Emotions surged within her, leaving her at a loss for words.
Confusion.
The chaos created by the revelation that the mister was actually Yu Wol.
Questions.
Wondering why he didn’t reveal himself even though he was right there.
Joy.
But ultimately, the happiness that the mister had always been by her side.
Her head was in a jumble with feelings that couldn’t be defined and thoughts that were all over the place.
“Sayoon, what are you thinking so hard about?”
On the way back, she hadn’t said a word, spinning her head around or giggling. Seeing her red face, Yoohee asked. Sayoon opened her mouth to respond but sighed instead.
“I dunno…”
Right.
What on earth am I thinking right now?
It’s all so unclear.
That’s why Yu Wol’s earlier words came to mind.
He told her to sort things out on her own and think.
Even in such a situation, he always showed her the way.
If he hadn’t given her time, she would have just rambled on nonsensically.
‘That mister really…’
Always teaching me, huh?
Sayoon lightly clenched her fist as she watched the Sword Saint release her barrier, letting out a small sigh.
The injuries of the senior sisters had been treated.
The senior sisters chattered about how tough the battle outside Seomhwa Village had been.
They shared their realizations from fighting countless evil monsters.
Some of them headed to the training ground, saying they needed more practice.
As they each went about their business, Sayoon sought out Hongryeon.
She found her at the Sword Saint’s training ground, where the Sword Saint was extending her sword toward Hongryeon.
The atmosphere was tense. Sayoon swallowed hard, and in that moment…
“Haahhh!!”
She watched as Hongryeon’s great sword chased after the Sword Saint.
Sayoon couldn’t help but open her eyes wide at that sight.
And no wonder, for the sword held the shimmering starlight.
It was infused with strong energy.
-Chaeyaaeng!! Chaeyaaeng!! Chaeyaaeng!!
The clash of energies collided. The shockwave created by the impact was destroying areas around the training ground.
The clash of energies. The waves of power created by the collision were destroying parts of the training ground.
A battle of superhumans.
Sayoon watched it blankly.
Unlike the anxious Hongryeon, the Sword Saint appeared quite relaxed.
– Puhak!!
With the sound of leather bursting, Hongryeon was sent tumbling backward. As she struggled to rise, she shot out her energy once more, and the Sword Saint calmly said,
“Even if you’ve learned the energy, if you cannot wield it freely, you cannot truly call yourself a superhuman. Hongryeon, get used to it. You must completely digest the energy as your own.”
“Ugh!!”
The one who walked the path before could provide guidance to minimize trial and error.
The Sword Saint had spent a long time in the realm of superhumans. They were someone who could smile welcomingly at those just entering this realm.
Moreover, although the opponent was a rival, she was nonetheless his disciple.
As a master, he could teach her as much as needed.
“Huuuu…”
As the brutal guidance training using energy came to an end, Hongryeon was left exhausted. While she collapsed and gasped for breath, the Sword Saint thrust his great sword into the ground and turned his head.
“Well then, Sayoon. Do you have something to say?”
As the Sword Saint’s gaze fell upon her, Sayoon swallowed hard.
She worried that she might be interrupting the training, but the Sword Saint reassured the anxious Sayoon that today would be the limit.
The Sword Saint also had something he wanted to ask her.
What on earth had happened that made her cling so closely to Yu Wol at the inn earlier?
He knew that Sayoon respected and followed Yu Wol, but this didn’t seem to be a mere admiration.
Yu Wol had mentioned almost being killed by the Iron-Blooded Demon, but that didn’t seem to be the only reason…
Narrowing his eyes, the Sword Saint looked at Sayoon while sipping the tea Hongryeon had brought.
“Was it something inappropriate while Hongryeon was here?”
Consultation.
An attempt to lighten the burden in one’s heart and seek guidance from a sage.
The Sword Saint thought of Yu Wol.
He had offered counsel to many people. It was tremendously impressive to him.
When you like someone, you tend to want to emulate them. The Sword Saint, who also wanted to show such composure and wisdom, cleared his throat softly and asked,
“Um… it’s not that, you know.”
“Oh? Then what is it?”
Hongryeon was equally curious. After all, Yu Wol was someone she liked. It complicated her feelings a bit to see Sayoon, like a younger sister, clinging to him.
Under the gaze of the two beautiful women, Sayoon hesitated and let out a small sigh.
“…Well… Mister, you see…”
“Oh my? Did a letter arrive for Mister?”
At Hongryeon’s question, Sayoon shook her head.
I shook my head.
“…It was the innkeeper.”
“……..Huh?”
Hongryeon tilted her head. What does this mean? Mister is Yu Wol?
The Sword Saint, who glanced at the puzzled Hongryeon, nodded slightly.
“I thought so too.”
“What?!”
“Seriously?!”
Hongryeon and Sayoon stared at the Sword Saint in shock. The Sword Saint could hardly hide her pride at their gazes.
“What’s with all this surprise? Huh. You all forgot that this wise master can see the world truthfully. You should learn to have a similar perspective and wisdom to understand the world like me.”
Hongryeon and Sayoon stared at the Sword Saint blankly. In response to their glares, the Sword Saint sulked.
“…Say something…”
“Oh! Sorry. You were so confident that I lost my words.”
After barely soothing the sulking Sword Saint, Hongryeon looked at Sayoon. Sayoon is always serious when it comes to “Mister.” There’s no way she would just say something weird.
“How did you know?”
Sayoon calmly explained what she had seen. And that he had confirmed it when she asked him.
While confused Hongryeon was lost in thought, Sayoon cautiously spoke up.
“…You mentioned that you’d answer any questions we had…”
“And?”
“I don’t know what to ask.”
How do you know so much?
Why have you been hiding your identity?
Why…
Did you help me?
Countless questions threatened to overflow and explode.
So, to organize those thoughts, I wanted to get help from the Sword Saint and Hongryeon.
“Hmm… Questions, huh. There’s definitely a lot to be curious about. But don’t forget what’s important. He definitely helped us and helped you.”
“Yeah… I also think Mister didn’t do it with bad intentions.”
“That’s good enough.”
“But it feels like that can’t be the end… So, Sayoon, why don’t you start with the question you’re most curious about? They say it’s best to tackle the big ones first.”
“Um….”
The biggest question…
There was only one choice left.
The reason Mister extended his hand.
That was what I was most curious about.
“Uh, um. And while I’m at it, can I ask one more thing?”
Recalling that Yu Wol would answer all of Sayoon’s questions, the Sword Saint grinned.
“When are you going to get married, for instance? I mean, it’s about time you did.”
“…I’m really curious about that too. So please make sure to ask!”
“Uh? Oh… Yes.”
Sayoon could only nod in response to their intense gazes.
“Sayoon?”
“Oh. S-sorry.”
Sayoon gulped.
She had been thinking about it ever since that day. Why did he help her? Why did he send the letter?
And.
Did he really like the things she sent him?
Taking a deep breath, Sayoon opened her mouth.
“Mister… I mean, should I call you Innkeeper?”
“Call me whatever you like. Mister, Innkeeper, or Yu Wol. In the end, it’s all referring to me.”
“Then… um, I’ll go with Mister…”
“Sure.”
As Yu Wol smiled and nodded, her heart raced.
She had always dreamed of the day she could call ‘Mister’ just that.
Now that she was face to face with the person she had longed to meet, her heart was pounding wildly.
Is this what it feels like to meet someone you’ve admired for so long?
Before coming to Hongseong, when she lived as an orphan beggar, she remembered how excited people would be when they met someone they respected.
Back then, she had wondered what that feeling was like, but now that she was experiencing it, her hands and feet felt tingly, and her head was spinning.
Even though she had prepared so much.
She couldn’t stand the dizzying feeling and the quickening breath.
Then, something warm touched her head.
A big, rough hand.
Sayoon watched blankly as the man smiled, gently stroking her hair, and she gulped again.
Her heart was starting to settle.
“…Why?”
“Hm?”
“Mister, why did you reach out to me?”
With a hint of tension, she looked at him and asked, and Yu Wol answered casually.
“Because I hoped you would.”
“…Huh?”
“I wished to help you.”
Sayoon’s eyes widened at his words.
“That’s the most important thing. I wanted to help you; I didn’t want you to go down the wrong path. I didn’t want you to be unhappy.”
“……”
“So, I sent you the letter and helped you.”
Yu Wol’s eyes didn’t waver. Sayoon stared blankly at him as he spoke sincerely, and she bowed her head deeply.
Warmly looking at her, Yu Wol added one more thing.
“You deserve to be happy.”
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