In the Heavenly Bright Moon, I had gained a certain level of fame and had recently gone through a big event related to the dark sect, so I wasn’t too surprised when I was summoned by the royal palace. But everyone around me was in shock.
“The royal palace?!”
“Wow! That’s amazing!”
Chaerin and Chaewon were praising it out of pure admiration. While they celebrated, I turned my eyes to Yura.
Going to the royal palace is one thing, but I needed to speak my mind.
“Why is that?”
“Although I understand that the Iron Withdrawal Immortal wants to enter Moonjeong… are you not aware that there are many people seeking entry to Moonjeong right now?”
“Ah…”
“So you’ll have to keep that in mind. I received a letter from Moonjeong saying that because of the high number of applicants, the entrance exam has become more rigorous.”
“Is there an entrance exam at Moonjeong?”
“They do have exams to differentiate between external and internal disciples. Anyway, give it a shot. If you pass, you’ll become my junior sister, huh? Haha. Will I have to call you ‘Eldest Sister’ later?”
Imagining her friend calling her ‘Eldest Sister’ made Chaerin smile. Meanwhile, Yura let out a small sigh and spoke in a calm tone.
“Anyway, I’m planning to visit Cheongho after this battle ends, Senior. If you need anything…”
“Oh, no. Even though I caught Yu Jangmok, the context involved Yu Wol and there’s been a lot of help from Hongseong and Seonhwa, so it would be a bit inappropriate for you to thank only me.”
“Excuse me?”
Chaerin explained the situation calmly, starting from the way to prepare for the attack by the dark sect, including her Dragon Form information.
As Yura listened intently, she couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Wow. That’s really amazing. You truly are the Shinsan Seonja.”
“Not that big of a deal.”
Considering the current situation with the dark sect and the enemies related to the event, anyone with a little common sense could have predicted it.
“I feel like I understand why Sayoon respects and admires you so much. Whenever I talk to her, she always brings you up.”
Sayoon had always looked up to me, even when she didn’t know I was just an uncle. Now that she did, it was only natural for her to cling to me.
I didn’t mind at all.
I mean, who would dislike having their favorite character stick to them like that?
“Anyway, you’re heading to the royal palace… Even if you’re taking an official carriage, it will be quite the long journey.”
“I suppose so. Anyway, I have to stop by the office first, so you should take a break. By the way, aren’t you supposed to return to the battlefield?”
“That’s right. I plan on resting today and heading back tomorrow.”
It’s really commendable of her to come all the way here just to express her gratitude and her intention to enter Moonjeong.
What a dedicated person.
Sayoon must be a great friend.
I looked at Chaerin as she held hands with Yura, and then I said to Chaewon,
“Let’s go too.”
When we arrived at the government office, Seongju was waiting. Despite going through so much, he appeared quite tense about the royal palace’s call.
“Are they maybe considering you a dangerous individual and calling you for a trial?”
He was worried that I, who was gaining fame rapidly, might be designated a dangerous person by the royal palace to keep me in check, much like how King Seonjo kept an eye on Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the Imjin War.
“I doubt that’s the case.”
“Is that so? I hope so, right? Just say that.”
“Yes, indeed.”
The anxious one finally placed the order on the table and sighed.
“Anyway, I need to prepare if I’m going to the capital next month.”
“Yeah. Right?”
“Who are you planning to go with?”
“Hmm…”
I’ve got Yu Jangmok for sure, and the demonic faction is busy fighting with the military and Murim Alliance, so they won’t be moving much.
Since there’s also no special movement from the Black Lotus side, it’s better to bring anyone who wants to come along.
I looked at Chaejin, and she nodded as if it was obvious.
“I’ll go with you. There are definitely those who will target you.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it~.”
“If Chae Lady is going, then escorting shouldn’t be a problem. So are you just taking Chae Lady? I feel like the Sword Saint and Nak Ilseong would want to follow too.”
They probably will. I nodded with a smile, while Seongju sighed bitterly.
“It will seriously weaken the power of Seomhwa Castle, but we can’t stop those who want to go.”
“Still, the Thunderbolt Sword King will be here for the time being. So it shouldn’t be a huge problem.”
Namgoong Cheon is staying here to reduce his notoriety and avoid burdening the Namgoong Clan, but that doesn’t make him a bad person.
In other words, if something major happens to Seomhwa Castle, he will step in, so there’s no need to worry.
“The disciples from Hongseong Clan will also stay, along with Chaeran and the Moonlight members. We should be able to respond if something happens.”
“Is that so… I understand. Oh, and I’ll prepare the carriage, so just let me know when it’s time to leave.”
“Got it.”
After finishing the conversation with Seongju, I left the government office and headed straight to Hongseong Clan. As I climbed the stairs of Hongseong Mountain, Chaejin spoke with a serious expression.
“But, just like Seongju said, nothing like that will happen, right?”
“It should be fine. Let’s not think too seriously about it.”
I smiled at Chaejin, and she finally seemed relieved enough to smile back at me.
Once inside Hongseong Clan, when I told the Sword Saint and Hongryeon that I was going to the imperial palace, Hongryeon grinned.
“Sure! I’ll go too.”
“I figured you would say that. So what about the Sword Saint… hmm?”
The Sword Saint became serious. As I looked puzzled, along with Hongryeon and Chaejin, she awkwardly chuckled and hesitated.
“Ah, hahah. Well, you see…”
“What’s the matter?”
“Umm… the relationship with the imperial family isn’t very good.”
“Eh?”
I, Hongryeon, and Chaejin couldn’t help but be curious.
Are there martial artists besides the demonic faction who don’t have a good relationship with the imperial family?
When I demanded an answer, the Sword Saint sighed softly.
“Well, it’s an old story. I was once invited to the imperial palace.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of that. Um, did you perhaps kill a member of the royal family back then?”
“I didn’t kill anyone!”
“…But you hit them, right?”
“…That person was quite rude.”
“Wow… as expected of the Sword Saint! To do something that not just anyone can do without a care! I’m thrilled! I admire you!”
Chaejin exclaimed, and the Sword Saint laughed awkwardly.
“Haha, compliments are… Anyway, that’s why they might not like me at the palace… I’m just unsure if I should go.”
“What did that royal do?”
“Umm… well, they called Hongseong Divine Art the craft of a demon. It’s true that Hongseong Divine Art is strong, but if a disciple goes crazy and kills the clan leader along with other disciples, can someone that dangerous enter the imperial palace…”
“Is it really okay for such a dangerous person to walk into the Imperial Palace when they can kill everyone on sight?”
“The Thunderbolt Sword King and the Doje? Even those two superhumans treat the old Sword Saint like a reckless brute… And she disrespected the Hongseong Divine Art?”
“Just not killing anyone is already a maximum courtesy from the Sword Saint towards the Royal Family.”
“…So she didn’t kill them?”
Hongryeon and Chaejin were just as baffled, and the Sword Saint shyly murmured.
“Truth be told, I almost did, but the Doje and the Thunderbolt Sword King stopped me.”
“Haha…”
“The Royal Family told me not to worry about it, but… after I totally wrecked the Emperor’s brother, it can’t help but be awkward between us.”
“So there hasn’t been much said from the Royal Family after that?”
“Hmm.”
Even though she battered a member of the royal family almost to death, apparently they didn’t blame the Sword Saint since it was the royal family’s fault in the first place.
“If they haven’t said anything until now, maybe the Royal Family has been hoping for that.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The Emperor’s brother is a significant threat to the Crown Prince’s succession. How many years ago was that?”
“About ten years ago… right?”
“Since the current Crown Prince is in his early twenties, he would have been a teenager back then. It was definitely a critical time for establishing authority, and considering the special status of the Emperor’s brother, that makes sense. Anyway, given that it’s been so long since that incident with little said, there’s probably nothing wrong.”
“R-Really?”
“That’s how power works.”
People will draw swords against their own siblings, parents, or children just to seize a handful of power.
So, from the Emperor’s and Crown Prince’s perspective, having the power focused on the current Crown Prince while decimating the threat posed by that royal brother is surely advantageous.
Especially since the problem originated from that royal brother.
“What happened to that royal brother, by the way?”
“Well, I’ve only heard he’s been bedridden for years and nothing after that.”
That must have been enough time for the factions aligned with that royal brother to either disband or get absorbed by the Crown Prince.
“Has the Royal Family said nothing about it?”
“Um… After a bit, they did grant support funds to the Hongseong Sect. They said it was a token of gratitude. And they received honorary positions as the Imperial Sword Protector and Imperial Sword Master.”
The Imperial Sword Protector was a position I knew about. It was an honorary title meaning the protector of the royal family.
With that title, one could sit at the head of any official’s table and use the highways for free. Plus, they could buy items from the royal family’s store at half price.
In many ways, it was beneficial, but for the Sword Saint at the time, it likely held little meaning.
A Sword Saint would be favored anywhere, and most of the royal family’s goods were luxury items. Considering they were barely managing the sect, would the Sword Saint be in the mood to buy luxury goods?
Moreover, the royal family’s store was only in the capital, so she wouldn’t be able to use it anyway.
“And they said if it’s not against the Royal Family, there’s no need to worry. Hmm. But I still did what I did…”
If the Royal Family said that much, then there really shouldn’t be a problem.
While she hadn’t been concerned living a life unrelated to the Royal Family, now that she had to return to the capital, the Sword Saint seemed a bit uneasy.
Then, it looks like I need to gather more information on this matter.
“…I’m just worried I might end up tying you down unnecessarily.”
Seeing the anxious Sword Saint, I pulled her into an embrace.
“Eh?!”
“You won’t be tied down, and even if you were, it wouldn’t matter. How can someone who can’t solve this kind of problem claim to accept superhumans as partners?”
“How can someone who can’t even solve such a trivial problem say they can accept superhuman allies?”
“Haouu…”
The Sword Saint, who had been trembling in my arms, melted away like ice. I set her down on a chair, and with a glance from behind, I opened my arms and hugged both of them once.
After returning from Hongseong and doing some work, I went downstairs to find Namgoong Cheon drinking alone.
“Care for a drink?”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you? Whatever for.”
With a relaxed smile, he offered me a drink and chuckled as I took my seat.
“Why the long face?”
“Oh, just thinking about some things. Also, I plan to visit the Imperial Palace around next week.”
“The Imperial Palace? Ah, with everything you’ve done, I suppose it’s fitting for you to go.”
“Is that so? Do you happen to know much about the Imperial Palace?”
“Well… roughly?”
“And what about the wasteland where the Sword Saint was struck before…?”
“Haha. That? Honestly, if you look at it from just the events that took place, there’s nothing remarkable. It’s just a story about teaching a rude brat a lesson. But the issue is that the brat was the Wasteland Prince… But honestly, no one in the palace cares much about it since that guy ended up ‘dying in an unfortunate accident.'”
Taking a sip of his drink, he set the glass down. In that moment, a curtain of secrecy wrapped around us. The conversation we were about to have was confidential.
I poured more into his glass, and after he drank it, Namgoong Cheon spoke calmly.
“This is a secret. Don’t tell anyone. Not even the doje knows about this.”
“Understood.”
“I’m only telling you because it’s you.”
Feeling rather generous, he downed his drink in one go and said seriously, “That guy was preparing a rebellion.”
Huh? Seriously?
“It’s not like he intentionally got that brat to beat him up, but he managed to suppress an unfortunate incident ahead of time, so the palace wouldn’t make a fuss about it.”
“But the Sword Saint seems unaware of this…”
“Well, I didn’t tell her. And honestly, even if I did, she’d probably just respond, ‘So what?’ Besides, I had no obligation to share that information.”
Well, right now, Namgoong Cheon is a bathhouse regular, but back then, he was only focused on the Namgoong Clan, so he wouldn’t have felt the need to go seek her out and share the news.
“Oh.”
“And as far as I know, the palace has offered that brat an official position. It subtly indicates there’s really nothing to worry about.”
“The reason you didn’t announce it publicly is that if it were known that the Wasteland Prince attempted a rebellion, it would lead to unnecessary conflicts and chaos, right?”
“Exactly. His Majesty the current Emperor prioritizes stability over chaos. Of course, he decapitated all the instigators and kept their subordinates in the dark, making them loyal to the Crown Prince.”
“Hahaha… I see. But, the Sword Saint is worried.”
“Oh? At this point? And if she heard this, she’d probably just shrug it off, right?”
“Still, she might end up being a hindrance to me…”
Namgoong Cheon looked at me with a funny expression and shook his head.
“Seriously, what kind of sorcery did you use to turn that reckless brat into such a well-behaved one?”
“Who knows?”
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
