I thought about taking her into the room, but it seemed better to just stay here. I went inside and brought out warm tea and some snacks made by Yohwan.
I placed them in front of Sword Saint Na Yerin, who was waiting on the long bench.
“It looks like this conversation might take a while, so how about we chat while enjoying some food?” I suggested.
“You always consider my needs. Thank you. I’ll enjoy it well,” she replied.
She gently picked up the tea cup with both hands and took a sip, then cut into the fluffy snack. Seeing her munching away with a cute animal-like expression made it hard to believe she was one of the top fighters in the world—someone who had suffered a deep emotional wound.
I stared at her for a moment, then took a sip of my tea before speaking.
“You mentioned you had something to say? What is it?”
“How did you manage it?”
What? That’s a pretty vague question.
She continued to gaze at me intensely. “Seomhwa Village is developing.”
“Oh. Well, it wasn’t anything special,” I shrugged.
Honestly, it was nothing special. I just did what anyone in Heavenly Bright Moon would do to establish a base—improve public safety and increase the quality of produced items. I coordinated with the authorities to enhance the quantity and quality of soldiers. I simply followed the beginner’s base enhancement plan from the Heavenly Bright Moon gallery.
“It must not have been easy…”
“It wasn’t something I couldn’t handle.”
“How did you manage that? The costs couldn’t have been trivial…”
“Money is something you can always earn.”
Honestly, making money wasn’t that hard. With a large initial capital and the information and knowledge I had, it became even easier. Particularly, having the advantage of knowing about undeveloped areas made earning money a piece of cake.
Right now, my operational range was limited to this area, but once I could trade with the northern part of the Empire in about three chapters, gaining more money or items wouldn’t be impossible.
“…Impressive.”
“In my opinion, you’re the impressive one, Sword Saint. If you utilized the power you possess, what I’m doing would seem trivial.”
“Haha, that’s not the case. No matter how much strength I have, what one person can do is limited. Especially since I—”
She raised her hand. It was small and white.
“All I know is how to wield a sword.”
Silence filled the space. I looked at her and took another sip of tea.
“Indeed. All I can do is that. I can’t do anything else, and I don’t know anything else.”
Her voice trembled. While Sword Saint spoke to me, the focus of her gaze wasn’t directed at me.
But at the end of that gaze, it wasn’t aimed at me.
“Do you know what essential skills someone leading a sect must possess?”
“Isn’t it strong power?”
“That’s right. But it’s not just that. The ability to read the situation, leadership that can guide everyone, mercilessness enough to be recognized by many, and the judgment to be able to give up for the sect’s sake. The ability to support those who only look out for themselves. And…”
The Sword Saint was bluntly listing the ideal traits of a leader. It seemed she was envisioning a leader of a celestial level.
After listening for a while, I finished my tea and she clenched her fist on the table tightly.
“I only possess one of those traits.”
“I know.”
The Sword Saint sulked.
Well, she hadn’t finished talking yet, so I hoped she wouldn’t sulk too much.
“But what difference does it make? No one can be perfect. The reason people gather is that no one can save the world alone. Isn’t maintaining and developing Hongseong also the same? Especially now, Hongseong has… excellent disciples, right?”
“…You’re right.”
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on the previously stiff face of the Sword Saint. Although the smile was filled with bitterness, it was undoubtedly pride.
Pride in the disciples she had brought and who chose her.
“Gathering and bringing them together was no ordinary feat, you know.”
“…I always feel sorry for my disciples… for everyone. For someone like me to be the clan leader…”
“Sword Saint, that’s arrogance and just your own thoughts.”
“…..”
“The disciples of Hongseong do not think that way at all. To someone, you were their salvation, light, and miracle.”
Yes. To Sayoon, the Sword Saint was salvation, light, and a miracle.
After the downfall of Hongseong, Sayoon overcame hardships and adversities by following the light you had shown her back then.
Even though the prologue twisted to prevent the downfall of Hongseong, the fact remains that the Sword Saint is an important figure to Sayoon.
I said it bluntly, and the Sword Saint looked at me with wide eyes.
“…Ha ha. Is that so?”
There was a little more strength in her voice. Perhaps she had been thinking about that aspect in her own way. That’s why I could tell her this even though she seemed deflated.
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Hmm. It seems you’re getting along well with our disciples.”
“I’m trying my best to get closer. After all, we’re in the same boat.”
“Haha… I’ve been hearing that I’m always in your debt.”
“I’ve heard there’s something going on.”
The Sword Saint chuckled softly and took a sip of tea, moistening her dry lips.
A brief silence. It felt like it was time to change this heavy topic.
“That’s right. Anyway… Did you come here because of that story? To commend us for developing Seomhwa Village?”
“That’s part of it, but… I was really just curious how you managed to do that. I once wanted to try something like that myself…”
Most of the things she attempted for Hongseong ended in failure.
She wanted to help by following the will of Hongseong, but thanks to Hongseongsan, monsters didn’t come out, and it wasn’t a place where bandits were frequent either. Even when they did come, the authorities nearly blocked them all.
Martial artists also stayed away because of Hongseong, so there was nothing the Sword Saint could do.
The things her Master planned and Senior Sister said were feasible…
She couldn’t realize a single one.
Everything fell apart.
Because of the Senior Sister who killed everyone in the sect.
Because of herself who killed that Senior Sister.
Everything the Master hoped for at Hongseong turned to dust.
“How about working outside like Hongryeon?”
The Sword Saint shook her head.
“The more my reputation grows, the heavier it will be for Ryun.”
Well, as they say, “Old officials are wise for a reason.”
Though only with martial arts, the Sword Saint could be called the best among all the past leaders of Hongseong.
As she built her reputation through external activities, the chances of Ryun being compared to her when she became the leader increased.
And that could become an excessive burden for Ryun.
Was she retreating while thinking of such things?
“Of course, if it’s truly unavoidable, I’m willing to go out. I want to help in any way I can. But… that would only be as Na Yerin, the disciple of Hongseong, not as the Sword Saint.”
The Sword Saint hung her head gloomily, her shoulders drooping.
Who would look at that diminished woman and think of her as the Sword Saint?
“And… until Ryun realizes her strength and reaches the level of a transcendent, I plan to do my best. And once she realizes her strength and reaches the level fit for the leader, I’ll fight for Hongseong as its disciple from that moment on.”
This was quite a pleasant surprise. After all, having a powerhouse like the Sword Saint on the move would make achieving my goals much easier.
However, there was one thing that bothered me.
“They say transcendent beings who realize their strength seek to become even stronger and reach the realm of immortals as their ultimate goal. Don’t you wish for that, Sword Saint?”
“Isn’t that the goal? Doesn’t the Sword Saint wish for it?”
Around part 3 of Yura’s main event, there was a scene where she talked with Namhae Noong. While he was realizing the river and catching sea evil monsters with a fishing rod, he had said when invited to join, “Well…”
“Superhumans desire above all else to sever ties with the mortal realm and ascend to heaven to become immortals.”
The reason they wish not to be entangled with the world is precisely that.
Hence, Namhae Noong offered only a few teachings, equipment, and elixirs, but did not accompany her.
Based on that information, when asked, the Sword Saint shook her head.
“Not everyone is like that. Besides, I have far too many ties to the mortal realm; how could I abandon them and ascend to heaven alone? Also… no, there’s no need to discuss this.”
After a brief reply, she slowly lifted her head.
“Anyway, I am not someone who deserves that.”
Her smile, illuminated by the sunset, was tragically beautiful.
So I said, “Well, if you’re giving up on righteousness because you think your ties are too precious, that’s one thing… but if we’re talking about deserving, I’d have to disagree there.”
“…One.”
“As the clan leader of Hongseong, you’ve done everything possible and continue to do so, right? As I mentioned earlier, a person can’t do everything alone. Thanks to your efforts, the Hongseong has grown, and you’ve paved the way for further growth.”
“….”
“I think you’re certainly someone who can do that. You’ve worked so hard, haven’t you?”
The Sword Saint just stared at me with wide eyes, not uttering a word.
Until her patrolling disciples came to find her.
*
Stumbling along, the Sword Saint was lost in thought.
The words she’d heard earlier kept resurfacing in her mind.
Since gaining the title of Sword Saint, she had never been comforted or recognized like this by anyone.
Let alone by someone who had accomplished what she could not, telling her she had worked hard.
“Master?”
“…Ah.”
When her eyes met Sayoon’s, the Sword Saint smiled softly. In response, Sayoon tilted her head.
“Is something good happening?”
“Hmm… yeah. Something good. It’s not really bad at all.”
Being comforted by someone she thought was unrelated was…
Being consoled by someone who was accomplishing what the Master had advised her to do.
“…Yeah. It’s better than I thought.”
Her face was a bit more lively compared to when she had come down to the village.
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