I went inside and examined the ingredients. Luckily, I had enough ingredients to whip up a dish I learned from Yohwan not long ago.
I heated some oil in a large pot, added garlic, ginger, and a few spicy seasonings, then stir-fried the clams I had soaked.
After adding some wine and steaming it, I tasted it and found it to have a spicy, salty flavor with a hint of the wine—perfect for a drinking snack!
While making it, I also prepared stir-fried chives and meat, along with a simple vegetable salad. Bringing everything out, I said,
“I’m sorry it’s so humble.”
“Hmm. It looks delicious! And it smells great.”
“If it’s lacking, I can make more.”
“I don’t think it will be. But this clam dish doesn’t seem like something you’d find at an inn.”
“That’s right. It’s not something you’d sell at the inn, just something I learned recently from Yohwan to use as a drinking snack.”
“Oh wow. So am I the first to try this?”
It was indeed the first time I was serving someone. I nodded, and Hongryeon smiled as she lifted the clam and sucked out the meat, beaming at me.
“The clam meat is chewy and flavorful. It’s delicious! I think you could sell it.”
“Haha. Thanks for the compliment. Now, let’s have a drink.”
I poured some wine into her glass. Unlike the strong liquor that drunkards like Hano would drink, this was a milder wine. Perfect for slow conversation while eating.
With a slightly flushed face, Hongryeon propped her chin on her arm on the table and gazed at me.
“So? What do you want to say?”
“About the upcoming fight with the Sa-pa. Well… as you probably know, they might have the Iron Blood Clan behind them.”
“…That’s right.”
Having already heard the situation, Hongryeon straightened up and sent me a serious look.
Currently, our forces consisted of Hongseong, the soldiers we received from Cheonilhwa, and the officials led by Hyeonryeong.
And just Gi Noya and Wiyeol besides that.
Of course, this isn’t bad, but if we think of a proper response, we might reduce the damage.
“Especially considering the Iron Blood Clan. Hongseong has faced them before, after all.”
“That’s true.”
“They must know that Hongseong will participate too. They’ll have realized that Hongseong and Seomhwa Village are now inseparable partners.”
Unless they’re idiots, that is.
And the enemy surely isn’t an idiot.
I wish they were foolish, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“In the first place, planning to raid a village where Hyeonryeong is stationed is pretty dumb. Honestly, I hope they don’t come.”
“Haha. I really hope so. Anyway, regarding that… I’d like the Iron Blood Clan to be dealt with by Hongseong.”
“Hmm…”
Hongryeon crossed her arms. Meeting her closed eyes, I let out a deep sigh.
I let out a deep sigh.
“If you don’t feel like it…”
“Huh? No, it’s not that I don’t want to?”
“Oh, is that so?”
I worried for nothing.
“It’s true that Seomhwa Village has become an inseparable part of us, and it’s also true that you, based in Seomhwa Village, and I, or rather, all of us, are no longer strangers. And Hongseong never flees from battles they want to protect.”
“But just now…”
“Oh, I was just thinking about how they might attack. If they send in their minions first, should we step in to stop them? Or…”
“Don’t worry about that part. Gi Noya, Wiyeol, and the Hyeonryeong will handle that.”
Plus, Cheonilhwa will send some soldiers too.
Just as I made that clear, Hongryeon, who had finished her clam dish, smiled brightly.
“Okay! I’ll do my best.”
“Can we also join that fight?”
The door burst open. Walking out from the guest room were Chaeran and Chaejin.
The two sisters of the Cha family confidently approached and pulled up chairs to where we were sitting.
“From Moonjeong?”
When Hongryeon looked at them in confusion, Chaeran shrugged.
“Is that not okay?”
“It shouldn’t be a problem. But that fight has nothing to do with Moonjeong.”
“Why not? Elder sister, you’re going to fight too, right?”
“Of course.”
Chaeran boasted as if to prove her point.
Is this really a thing to think about?
“What about the costs?”
“Well, I’m not sure about that?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her relaxed smile.
In this cheerful place, we shared drinks and snacks while chatting.
After a while, Hongryeon, feeling a bit sad that the gathering was coming to an end, gently took my hand.
“Then, see you next time. I hope there’s another gathering like this.”
“I will treat you separately next time. By the way, isn’t the patrol tomorrow? I heard you and Jiyu are on patrol tomorrow.”
“Are you watching all that?”
“This much is basic, right?”
I brushed it off as no big deal, and Hongryeon snickered and nodded. She then naturally stepped outside and disappeared into the darkness.
Well then, shall I take care of the remaining tasks?
I returned to the inn to tidy up the place where we ate and the guest room. Chaejin must have gone up since only Chaeran was left.
I smiled and approached her as she lingered alone, rummaging through the leftover dishes with chopsticks.
“If you’re still hungry, I can get you some more.”
“Let me help you a bit more.”
“Hmm. No, I just plan to have one more drink of this leftover before I head back.”
Chaeran, munching on the long green onion sitting on her plate, smiled gently. I poured the remaining drink into her cup, took a seat, and asked.
“I was hoping to finish the conversation we were having earlier. What do you want in return for this?”
Chaeran’s eyes curved beautifully. It was clear from her pretty face, with its crescent-shaped eyes, that there was no malice behind her expression.
“Hehe. What could I possibly want?”
I couldn’t help but think of what Chaeran would desire most.
Of course… it’s got to be the position of Moonjeong’s successor.
“Did Cha Soja tell you? That she would give up the successor position for helping this place?”
“And what if I did?”
“Then I would refuse to let Moonjeong participate.”
Come on, that’s just not right.
I stated that firmly, and Chaeran burst into a bright smile as if she found it amusing.
“Hahaha. Of course, that’s not it, so don’t worry. It has nothing to do with my sister. Just my personal curiosity and gauging the abilities of the Iron Blood Clan. Lastly…”
She casually glanced out the window at Hongseong Mountain.
“Hongseongmun.”
The gaze that returned to me was piercing.
“I simply want to witness with my own eyes the Innkeeper’s abilities supporting Hongseongmun and the potential of Seomhwa Village.”
Slowly placing her hands on the table, Chaeran tilted her head cutely as she laughed.
“Hongseongmun has long been our Moonjeong’s rival. I can’t pass up this excellent opportunity to spy on the strength of our rival, can I? Especially…”
Subtly tossing the remaining drink into her mouth, she stood up, flashing her characteristic fox-like smile.
“If the tiger had wings, it would be even better.”
What? That’s all it was?
So bold, challenging, and curious too.
I smiled and nodded at her.
“Ah, of course, we’ll fight with all our might. I want to show that our Moonjeong is just as capable as Hongseongmun.”
“In that case, I couldn’t thank Moonjeong enough. Thank you for participating.”
“Oh? You’re not trying to hide that now, are you?”
“What would I have to hide?”
I lifted the empty plate and headed to the kitchen.
“Anyway, it will get known sooner or later.”
I thought about the hills we still had to climb. There’s no way I could hide them.
By the time I finished cleaning up, Chaeran had gone up, leaving the inn empty. I locked the inn’s door behind me and headed to my room.
Was it because the night was already so dark? The moonlight streaming in from outside made it hard to read the documents.
I lit a few lamps and spread out the papers. As I calmly dealt with the evening tasks and the day’s sales summaries, there was a knock at the door.
While I was handling tasks like organizing today’s sales, I heard a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
“Working again, are we?”
“I have a few things to confirm. But why aren’t you sleeping?”
It was Chaejin. She had changed into comfortable clothes and approached me with a hesitant demeanor, slightly bowing her head.
“Uh… was Chaeran rude?”
“Not at all, so don’t worry.”
“Phew, that’s a relief. You know, most people who see Chaeran have two reactions: first, admiration; second, annoyance. But it seems you’re neither.”
“There are all kinds of people in this world, aren’t there?”
“Hehe. Is that so?”
“Oh, and…”
I pointed to Chaejin’s hair. She flinched and quickly covered her head with her hand, but it was too late; I had seen it all.
“Your hairpin has changed, huh? Is that a sign of the jar?”
“Uh… yes. You noticed right away. How does it look?”
“It suits you well.”
“…That’s a relief.”
I nodded at Chaejin, who was beaming with a smile.
“And there’s one thing I want to thank you for.”
“Yes? What is it?”
Seeing her puzzled, I pointed to my seat. This was a matter to discuss politely, so she stood, and I remained seated.
Chaejin sat modestly at the table in my room, looking at me. Facing the light of the lamp reflected in her black eyes, I conveyed my sincere feelings.
“Thank you.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t tell you how relieved I was when you said it was only natural to be with me earlier.”
Compliments can make even whales dance, and gratitude is never enough.
As I mentioned to Chaeran earlier, this matter involves Hongseong and Seomhwa Village.
In other words, if Chaejin doesn’t want to fight, she can just walk away. Yet, she said she would join us in our fight.
Especially when that fight involves Hongseong, a competitor of Moonjeong, and she expects nothing in return as if it’s only natural.
“Uh… Ah, no. That’s obviously what I should do…”
“It’s not obvious. The contract between you and me is for my training and my protection, not for a fight to protect Seomhwa Village.”
“…Well, that may be true.”
“It feels like I’m always just inconveniencing you.”
I stood up and bowed. Chaejin quickly helped me rise, and I smiled at her.
“When you face trouble, I will surely lend my strength to you.”
It’s only natural to repay what you’ve received.
I looked directly into Chaejin’s eyes, and she widened hers in surprise, staring at me blankly before breaking into a joyfully sly grin.
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