It was like going against the Emperor’s decree when the emperor personally designated an auspicious date.
In other words, we had to get married on the specified date, and anyone who tried to interfere would be punished by the emperor’s order.
As I was lost in thought while returning from my meeting with the emperor, Hongryeon gently grabbed my hand.
“Hehe. So now, you can’t run away, can you?”
“I had no intention of running away or hiding.”
“I was just saying. But if we want it to be quick… when do you think it will be?”
“If we consider the auspicious date, it would likely be by the end of next month at the latest.”
There was a slight thrill in Sword Saint Na Yerin’s voice. Meanwhile, Chaejin had been staring at me silently for a while now.
“Stop staring at me like that! Seriously, Master, control your expression.”
“Heh, hehehe.”
“Uhuhuhuh…”
Chaejin and Yerin chuckled softly. Just as Hongryeon was about to say something, Chaejin quickly jumped in.
“But you’ve been smiling too!”
“Ah.”
Yeah, ever since the meeting ended, the three of them had been giggling non-stop. I shook my head as I watched them. I mean, laughing is good, right?
“Well, now that we’re here, let’s do some sightseeing before heading back. It feels a bit off to come all the way to the capital and just turn around, doesn’t it?”
The three of them just kept on laughing. No matter what I said, they would react the same way, so I turned to Sayoon.
“Sayoon, do you have any places you want to visit?”
“Um. I don’t really know much about the capital… Mister, do you know any?”
“Of course, I do.”
After touring some tourist spots and good restaurants in the capital, we returned to the palace where the emperor had arranged accommodations for us.
Yerin, Hongryeon, Chaejin, and Sayoon shared a room while I got a separate one. While they rested, I took the ingredients I had brought outside.
“Where are you going?”
It was Yerin. Looking at the box in my hand, she cleared her throat lowly.
“Ahem. Um, is that…?”
“What do you think it is?”
“…Is it, is it for me?”
With hesitant words and expectant eyes, Yerin asked carefully, and I nodded with a smile.
“Indeed.”
“Really! Um, I didn’t mean to put any pressure on you. Should I do something for you too?”
“It’s fine. It’s not a burden for me. Besides, the most important ingredient was obtained from the Dragon Shrine, so don’t worry about that. More importantly… um, would you like to come with me?”
“Is that okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
Yerin, delighted, walked beside me.
The path was filled with many exotic plants and the elaborately decorated buildings reminded me of Heavenly Bright Moon.
As we strolled around, I noticed some guards spotting Yerin and looking utterly shocked.
As we were walking, I noticed a few martial artists freaking out at the sight of me and the Sword Saint.
“…Haha. I never thought my past would come back to haunt me like this. If I had known, I would’ve held back a bit.”
But honestly, even holding back would have caused chaos. I looked at the slightly intimidated Sword Saint and wrapped my arm around her shoulder.
“Oh.”
“It’s okay.”
“…Hehe. Do you know how powerful your words are to me?”
The Sword Saint gently rested her head on my shoulder, and we headed towards our destination.
The women’s quarters.
As we entered the place where clothes for royals and nobles were made, I spotted a middle-aged woman standing there, just like back in Heavenly Bright Moon.
“Welcome.”
“I’m Yu Wol, and this is…”
“The Sword Saint, I know about that nameless one quite well.”
The middle-aged woman, looking a bit weary, pointed at the box in my hand. As if she realized it contained materials, she took the box, opened it, and smiled brightly.
“With this material, we can create a pact.”
“A pact? What’s that?”
The woman, about to explain, merely moved her lips and requested to go inside. Moments later, she came out with a set of clothes.
“Oh, oh my…”
It was a flashy outfit. A deep-cut high-leg costume that exposed shoulders and cleavage, complete with stockings and high-heeled boots.
This ridiculous outfit suited the nonsensical world quite well.
“It’s an outfit made only for precious individuals in the royal court, reserved for special women on special occasions. Without the materials, it couldn’t be made. By the way, it must have been quite a challenge to gather these materials… You truly are Shinsan Seonja.”
“It was nothing much. But how long will it take to make?”
“I can make it in a day. Until when will you be staying at the palace?”
“I plan to leave tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll have it ready for you by morning.”
Bowing politely, she took the materials and went inside, and the Sword Saint couldn’t hide her awe at the ‘pact’ laid out.
“Can I… wear this?”
“Doesn’t it look fine? It suits you well.”
Looking at the navy and white outfit that matched her navy hair, I thought to myself. Yeah, it would definitely look good on her.
As I nodded, the Sword Saint beamed and playfully traced her finger over the fabric.
“The pact continuously restores one’s internal energy while wearing it.”
“That’s impressive. But uh, isn’t this too revealing?”
Pointing at the lower part, the Sword Saint gulped.
But honestly, the outfit of the Hongseong Clan’s leader wasn’t exactly modest either…
Alternating glances between the pact and me, she smirked and then stepped closer, placing her hand on my chest.
“Hehe. Do you know what it means for a man to gift a woman clothing? Were you really longing to see me wear this?”
“Did you miss me?”
“Yes.”
“Oh. Uh. If that’s the case…”
With her flushed face, she slightly nodded and turned away. The nape of her neck peeked through her long navy hair, turning red.
“Ugh…”
Eventually, she crouched down, fidgeting. I patted the head of the Sword Saint and helped her up.
“Alright. Let’s head back then.”
“…Phew.”
Finally calming down, the Sword Saint walked outside with me. During our walk to the lodging, she didn’t say a word.
It was only when we arrived at the lodging that she seemed to gather herself and lightly grabbed the hem of my sleeve.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
“Of course.”
The Sword Saint and I went to the garden next to the lodging and sat on the chairs there. After staring blankly at the sky, she let out a small sigh and opened her mouth.
“I’ve been thinking about stepping down from my position as Clan Leader.”
“Are you alright with that?”
“Well…”
She slightly nodded, tightening her grip on my clothing.
Tension, relief. Joy, regret, satisfaction.
With mixed emotions, the Sword Saint gazed at the sky.
“Everyone must have known. That I wasn’t fit to be the Clan Leader. I’m not someone who can protect and care for everyone; all I know how to do is fight.”
“But you’ve done well up until now. All the disciples of Hongseong respect and follow you.”
“Hehe. Always saying such nice things.”
Her gaze, which had been fixed on the sky, slowly turned to me.
Her navy eyes shimmered faintly.
“But it’s enough now. It’s time for me to take off the ill-fitting clothes and wear something else.”
“I see.”
“Thank you. Really… however much I express my gratitude, it won’t be enough.”
Slowly leaning against me, she spoke in a more relaxed tone.
“From now on, I won’t treat you as the Clan Leader, but as the Sword Saint… no, not that. As Na Yerin.”
With a childlike demeanor, she leaned into me, whispering softly.
“Please accept that…”
I nodded at her.
After that, there was nothing left to see in the capital. What I gained were a lucky date and a few gifts from the royal family, as well as the ‘oath.’
But it wasn’t bad. It just seemed that the three of them looked at me with intensified gazes. But then again, so what?
It’s not like they’d eat me alive.
“Ugh~! We’ve finally arrived.”
Sayoon said with a bright smile as she stretched and looked at the box beside her. It contained the gifts she had bought with her pocket money for the Senior Sisters, Chaeran, and Yura when we visited the capital.
Looking at it with warm eyes, Sayoon turned to me and said with a cheerful expression.
“Are you really okay, Mister?”
Sayoon wanted to buy me a gift too, but I stopped her. It wasn’t like I particularly wanted anything, and I knew that the cost of those gifts would be quite significant.
No matter how much money Hongseong was making lately, the allowance was still limited.
Since she spent it all, Sayoon would have to twiddle her thumbs for a while.
Unless it was for me, of course.
“I’m fine. But what are you going to do now that you’ve spent all your money?”
“Yeah. Didn’t you spend too much?”
Hongryeon chimed in, sounding a bit disappointed. In fact, the cost of those gifts was supposed to be covered by the Sword Saint or Hongryeon. But what could they do when Sayoon insisted on buying them herself?
Despite everything, the Sword Saint and Hongryeon were quite soft on Sayoon.
“Hehe. It’s all good.”
“If you say so, I guess…”
“I’ve been to the royal palace, climbed Cheosukdae, and visited Gyeonghwaru. I’m satisfied. I’m just a bit sad that the other Senior Sisters, Chaeran, and Yura couldn’t come along.”
“Has Chaeran been to the capital a few times?”
“Yeah, but she hasn’t entered the royal palace, has she?”
“That’s true.”
“Exactly. Hehehe.”
Seeing her act selflessly for others warmed my heart.
It wasn’t bad in Heavenly Bright Moon, but Sayoon’s kindness had increased quite a bit.
“Even so, you shouldn’t think only about giving everything away. Got it?”
Worried that she might be looking at the world through rose-colored glasses, Hongryeon spoke seriously. Of course, she wasn’t naive enough to not know the difference, but it was a concern I agreed with, and Sayoon smiled brightly.
“Of course! And just like you said, Mister, I’m always training to distinguish between friend and foe.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Just like you, Mister. Warm to allies, thorough with enemies.”
“Haha. Are you trying to follow Yu Wol already?”
The Sword Saint laughed leisurely, and Sayoon nodded, blushing.
“Mister is my ideal person…”
“Well, Yu Wol does have that side to her. At least when it comes to strength.”
Chaejin nodded seriously at Hongryeon’s words.
“Right. So we should increase the training time from now on.”
Our all-star instructor was planning the training schedule.
“…Please be gentle about it.”
“Ufufufufu. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you can’t think of anything else…”
“That won’t be necessary.”
As Hongryeon and Chaejin began to debate how to conduct my training, the Sword Saint interjected.
“From now on, I’ll be sticking around.”
“Huh? But Master, you…”
“It’s about time.”
The Sword Saint calmly stated, gazing at Hongryeon.
“I’ve decided to step down as the clan leader. And…”
Slowly taking my hand, the Sword Saint gave a smile filled with happiness.
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