Was it because there were so many fun things to do? Sayoon was having a blast, and Hongryeon was also living it up at the festival.
As for me, well, I was also having my fair share of fun.
“Mister!! Eat this!”
“Oh my, I think this would look great on you.”
I was dragged around by Hongryeon and Sayoon, trying on various outfits and munching on snacks. As the night grew late and I was sitting at a stall enjoying drinks with Hongryeon, I noticed Sayoon starting to doze off.
“You look tired.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
No matter how strong her martial arts might be, being back in the familiar Samhwa city and next to the reliable master Hongryeon, Sayoon seemed pretty at ease.
Seeing her lean against Hongryeon while you could almost hear her snores, I downed the last of my drink.
“It’s about time we head back.”
“Hehe, alright. Sayoon, wake up.”
“Ugh… okay…”
Sayoon’s voice was full of sleepiness. I wondered if she still had some alcohol in her system.
“Use your martial arts to shake off the drowsiness.”
“No need for that. Getting some good sleep is important too…”
I extended my hand to Sayoon. As I gently lifted her and put her on my back, Hongryeon looked at me with a hint of worry.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
With Sayoon on my back, I stood up. She didn’t feel like a feather, but she wasn’t that heavy either.
I’ve been diligently training and taking my stamina-boosting tonics, so carrying a girl home was no big deal for me.
“Ugh…”
While smacking her lips, it looked like Sayoon was pretty comfortable being on my back. She wrapped her arms tightly around my neck and began mumbling in her sleep.
“Mister… ugh…”
“This kid…”
“Haha. Don’t scold her too much. I’m really alright.”
I wouldn’t just say it’s alright, though.
I, along with Hongryeon, felt nothing but joy in helping out Sayoon.
“Still, Sayoon looks really comfortable.”
In the end, Hongryeon couldn’t wake Sayoon and slightly pouted, but there was warmth in her gaze.
“This girl has always missed you, Mister.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You probably wouldn’t know, right? Hehe.”
Hongryeon gently stroked Sayoon’s gray hair and took a step ahead. With her hands behind her back and playfully walking, she turned a bit.
“She always hugged the letters you sent and slept with them, smiling happily whenever she read them in her free time.”
“I see.”
“Perhaps for Sayoon, you are the one she looks up to.”
“Look up to? I thought Sayoon looked up to the Sword Saint or you.”
“Hehe, of course, that’s true. But I think those feelings and her feelings towards you are a bit different.”
“Different? How so?”
“It’s a bit hard to explain. You know Sayoon is an orphan, right? That’s why she really envies the idea of family.”
Hongryeon smiled brightly and poked Sayoon’s cheek. Sayoon wrinkled her face slightly, probably feeling ticklish, and began mumbling with her lips.
I frowned and started mumbling.
Maybe it was cute, but Hongryeon burst into laughter.
“Anyway, I’m thinking you’re the reason Sayoon could make it this far. No, wait.”
Her hand, which had been fiddling with Sayoon’s cheek, moved to my face. It poked my cheek, and that soft hand gradually traveled from my cheek to my jaw, then down my neck, finally settling softly on my chest.
“It’s not just Sayoon. It’s me, the Master, and the other sisters too. We all made it this far because you were here.”
“That’s too much praise.”
“Oh? I think you’re underselling it! It’s not just because of the Iron Blood Clan… It’s the comfort of having a Mister like you backing us up, and the stability of having a great supporter like Yu Wol, that allowed us to focus solely on martial arts.”
“With you saying that, I have no reply. Feel free to be thankful.”
“Hahaha! You might just be right. Ah, as the chief disciple of Hongseong Clan, how should I repay this grace?”
Slowly inching closer, Hongryeon stood on her toes and gently placed her lips on my cheek.
I heard a smooching sound as something soft touched my cheek.
“It seems the only way to repay is with the body, huh?”
A truly ambiguous statement.
Whether to repay with martial arts, or in some other way.
I looked at Hongryeon, who licked her lips before stepping back.
“Of course, I want to start repaying right now, but…”
We had arrived near the garden, and I could see the Sword Saint and Chaejin standing at the entrance. Upon noticing their gaze on us, Hongryeon flashed another mischievous smile and winked.
“Those two aren’t just standing around. You better be looking forward to it, alright? Oh, and.”
Hongryeon quietly approached and whispered in my ear again.
“If you can’t hold back, it’s okay to say it in secret. You’re always welcome.”
I calmly gazed at Hongryeon, who threw out those tempting words in her sweet voice.
“How about you hold back on such words if you’re going to get embarrassed?”
Though I said it confidently and suggestively, Hongryeon’s face was as red as her hair. Turning crimson from her ears to her neck, she slightly wavered at my words but remained bold.
“Oh, I’m not embarrassed at all?! I’m full of confidence?!”
“Cough. Anyway, I understand. If I can’t hold back, I’ll say something.”
Only then was Hongryeon satisfied and smiled mischievously, and I nodded at her.
“Why is Sayoon being carried?”
“Looks like she was tired.”
“Well, I can see why. She’s probably relieved.”
As the Sword Saint and Chaejin approached, observing my conversation with Hongryeon, she pointed at Sayoon with a pout as Chaejin asked, and Hongryeon casually replied.
“Then Sayoon will…”
“Oh. I’ll take her. Chaejin, you help too.”
Hongryeon lightly lifted the packages she was holding. Since Hongryeon was also going back to Hongseong Clan, I guess she was saying she would take those along too.
“I guess we’re leaving now.”
Chaejin briefly looked at me and Sayoon before casually picking Sayoon up on her back.
“See you tomorrow~!”
“I’ll come down around evening.”
With only the Sword Saint left behind, the three of us departed. I stole a glance at the Sword Saint, and she quickly averted her gaze.
“I didn’t say that. I just asked Chaejin to keep me company today and tomorrow. And…”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“……..”
I looked at the Sword Saint, and she instantly turned expressionless.
But she couldn’t hide her red ears.
The next day arrived. The festival had ended yesterday, but the crowds didn’t seem to dwindle.
Especially since the inn was opening today, there were quite a few people around it.
“I’m going to enjoy the chef’s cooking again!”
“By the way, the inn’s gotten bigger and more luxurious.”
“Isn’t this on par with the main hall of Cheonghwa House?”
I did think big when I built it. I acquired land from others nearby as much as I could to expand my own property.
I worried it might be too large, but since it’s the only inn in Seomhwasung, I thought it was necessary.
“But what about the hot spring installation…”
“Oh, it’s right there. Yesterday, Chaejin and I infused our energy into it.”
Since I hadn’t seen it, having met the Seongju right away and enjoyed the festival, I figured now was a good opportunity, so I placed Yohwan in charge and headed to the back of the inn.
There were layers of barriers set up behind the inn. That just goes to show how important it was.
The Sword Saint took me through the sacred gate and brought me inside the barriers, pointing at the red orb at the center.
“They said we need to infuse our energy into that. The redder it gets, the better, so I was told to check it.”
“So it’s fine for now. How effective will that be?”
“About a month?”
With masters like the Sword Saint and Chaejin infusing their energy for a month, it was definitely going to be tough without them.
“I’ll be counting on you in the future.”
“Hmm. Don’t worry.”
She said confidently, but then muttered in a quieter voice.
“It’s just something I should do as the innkeeper.”
If you’re going to say that, at least say it confidently. I chuckled at her fidgeting with her fingers and her flushed face.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I laughed because you’re cute. Now, let’s get going. I want to eat Yohwan’s food again and check the rooms…”
Plus, I had to move my belongings from the back.
Thanks to the busy movement of the servants, myself, and the Sword Saint, the move was completed smoothly.
I sat down in the now neatly arranged office on the fourth floor of the inn, chewing on a piece of food.
“Are we going out today as well?”
“Since we promised, we should, right?”
Seeing the number of guests, the Sword Saint spoke worriedly. But that didn’t last long. When I smiled and spoke, her expression noticeably brightened.
“Innkeeper!!”
If it weren’t for Jeomsoi bursting in through the door in a panic, that smile would have lasted longer.
It must’ve continued like that.
I saw Jeomsoi, who came rushing up, panting and filled with confusion as he spoke in a bewildered tone.
“Uh, a guest has arrived!”
What’s so special about a guest? Just as a sense of relief was about to show on the Sword Saint’s face, he shared a story that would surprise even me.
“The Thunderbolt Sword King of the Namgoong Clan has come!”
Huh?
Namgoong Cheon?
Why on earth is he here?
I was startled by the mention of Namgoong Cheon, one of the top ten martial artists like the Sword Saint.
“Oh.”
Now that I think about it, he did ask to meet once.
I gently held the Sword Saint’s hand.
“It’s probably nothing special, so don’t worry. It’s a sudden visit, so he’ll understand if it’s just for a day.”
“… Do you really think that old man would do so?”
I calmed the Sword Saint and headed downstairs.
The inn on the first floor was crowded, but everyone was silently gazing at one side.
An old man with a huge frame fit perfectly with the term ‘wind of a typhoon’.
I had seen him even in Heavenly Bright Moon.
He was Namgoong Cheon, the true head of the Namgoong Clan.
“Hmm… Nice to meet you for the first time. I am Namgoong Cheon.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Yu Wol.”
I casually returned his greeting. Namgoong Cheon twitched his white eyebrows and glanced briefly at the Sword Saint standing behind me before refocusing on me.
“Would you be able to spare me some of your time today?”
His voice was firm, heavy with dignity, holding a king’s power that didn’t allow for refusal. I smiled and replied.
“I apologize sincerely to someone who has traveled a long way, but I have prior commitments today, so it won’t do.”
Whether it was the king’s power or whatever, I couldn’t just change my plans at will.
“Is this promise more important than me, Namgoong Cheon?”
The old man, Namgoong Cheon, looked at me in disbelief.
“Who could it be with?”
I brought out the Sword Saint, who had been hiding behind me. He looked at her intently and calmly said.
“Quickly leave. If that young one goes wild, it’ll be a headache for me too.”
“Oh. Yes.”
I went outside with the Sword Saint and asked her.
“Doje… As for the master, that’s one thing, but it seems the relationship between Hongseong and the Namgoong Clan isn’t that bad… What on earth did you do to him?”
The Sword Saint subtly averted her gaze.
“Well, back then I was a bit too hot-blooded and couldn’t see my surroundings…”
“Hmmm… as long as you didn’t kill anyone from the Namgoong Clan, it’s fine.”
“…..”
“… You didn’t kill anyone, right?”
“Oh, I didn’t kill anyone. Just… gave a few slaps.”
“… That’s okay then.”
One or two people, what’s that matter…
“… And maybe a few more people than that… Don’t look at me like that…”
Well, it’s ‘common sense’ for martial artists to fight if things go south.
I looked at the worried Sword Saint and held her hand. Finally, she smiled in relief.
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