I woke up and my mind felt a bit clearer.
“Full recovery. My body feels great.”
No dizziness or fever, and I didn’t even have a nosebleed. With this much recovery, I’d say I’m back to normal, right? Sure, I got hit pretty hard, but I’m a trained martial artist, not a weakling.
“Geunhyeop. I think it would be better to rest a little longer.”
“Hehe, I’m fine, really.”
I patted Serin’s head, who was worrying about me, and got up.
“Let’s get to work.”
“Yes.”
And just like that, I started my day.
“Oh, you’re up? How are you feeling?”
When I stepped outside, everyone was already working.
“I’m okay. But the town’s condition is awful.”
Everything’s collapsed and on fire. There are bloodstains and corpses everywhere. I can’t believe I spent a day in a place that looks like a ghostly lair. It’s really unsettling.
“We need to clear this up. You should move slowly.”
“Sure, but what about Twin Blossom and Miho Yo?”
“They’re working on the other side.”
“Then I’ll help out too.”
I jumped right into the cleanup work.
“Oh, Young Master! You’re awake!”
“Yeah. Twin Blossom. Did you sleep well?”
“I didn’t really manage to sleep. As you know, many unfortunate things happened…”
Come to think of it, they did say a fight broke out trying to protect this town. The sorrow in Mo Yongmiu’s eyes looks heavy.
“Let’s at least mourn. It was unavoidable.”
“That’s true… but I’m still sad. It’s horrendous.”
She’s a bit soft-hearted. Well, she did courageously stand up for the people, so she must have a rich sensitivity in this area.
“I feel the same. But there’s no need to keep thinking about the past. Just remember it and move forward.”
“Yes…”
It’s something she’ll have to overcome on her own.
We continued clearing away the corpses.
While doing that, Miho Yo popped her head in.
“Hey, you made it! I thought you were a goner.”
“You’re out of food.”
“Ah! Why? I was just expressing my feelings!”
“Hehe, you’re so rude.”
But Miho Yo did fight hard this time.
Regardless of anything else, the fact that a protector for Hayoung has emerged is a big plus. When the three of us were together, Hayoung was comparatively vulnerable, but now that Miho Yo is covering her, I feel much safer. Usually, a carry needs protection.
Ignoring Miho Yo’s complaints, I put in the muscle, and we started to make some progress.
—Fwoosh!
Hayoung cremated the corpses. At least with a sorcerer doing the cremation, they won’t wander as spirits.
“Now that the town is cleaned up, shall we get to the next task?”
“Are you thinking of tracking the martial artists?”
“That… Twin Blossom. Did you say the martial artists fled in all directions?”
“Yes. Only those who could survive scattered everywhere.”
“In that case, it might be hard to find them.”
Even if we tried, tracking martial artists who scattered in all directions seems impossible.
“Hmm, anyway, we cleared out the Pig Clan, right? If they survived, they’d likely find their way to nearby towns, don’t you think?”
Mo Yongmiu nodded at Hayoung’s words.
“True. With the biggest threat gone, they should be fine. They are martial artists, after all.”
“Okay, then let’s give up on tracking the martial artists. Let’s gather the loot and head back.”
“Ah… are we all going back?”
“Of course. We caught the Pig Clan, after all.”
“Excuse me, but would it be alright if I tagged along? I’ve lost my party and have nothing to do right now, so I was thinking of heading that way.”
That wouldn’t be a problem.
“Please follow us. You’re injured too, so it would be best to rest.”
“Thank you, Jade Flower Sword.”
With that, I decided to travel with Mo Yongmiu and we headed outside the town.
Finding the loot wasn’t hard. I remember exactly where we fought, and dead bodies don’t have legs to run away.
Before long, we found the corpses of the Pig Clan.
A foul smell wafted up, but at least it seemed like bugs weren’t swarming them too badly. Monster corpses usually contain residual energy that keeps the bugs away.
“So many Pig Clan members are dead. You all really did great.”
“It’s nothing once you master the basics. Now, Miho Yo. Cut off their heads and gather them up. Search their bodies for anything useful too. Oh, and gather all the Moonblades as well.”
“If I do that, will I get food?”
“I’ll give it to you, you rascal.”
“Got it!”
Immediately, Miho Yo jumped into action.
“By the way, Geunhyeop, who is this Miho Yo? Come to think of it, we haven’t introduced ourselves yet.”
“She’s a subordinate I brought from inside. As you can see, she’s a bit scatterbrained. Not someone important, so don’t mind her.”
“Ah, right.”
We continued to gather the spoils as we moved forward.
“Wow. Why is there so much to take?”
Our bags and yokes from the town were stuffed full. We got the heads of the Pig Clan, their belongings, and every Moonblade.
“We’re done. Now we just need to rummage through that Donmu’s body.”
“That Donmu fella.”
I worried for a second that he might suddenly spring back to life.
However, there was no way that would happen. We simply cut off Donmu’s head and searched his belongings. But there wasn’t much to take. His farming tool was completely smashed.
That was probably the most important loot. What a pity.
“For now, we’ve decapitated him, but there’s nothing to prove we caught the commander…”
“Hey! Wait! I think this will do the trick!”
“Huh?”
Mo Yongmiu shouted urgently. She was holding Donmu’s belly and pulling it open. Inside, there was… a golden ornamented belt?
“No way! It was hidden in his belly!”
“This belt! It has to be a treasure! Look! It has golden decorations and the symbol of Jeopalgi on it!”
“Gasp!”
Just like that, I removed Donmu’s golden belt.
“Oh… this looks very precious. It smells a bit, but it seems to be a treasure granted directly by Jeopalgi.”
“It really does look good! And there’s an unusual energy around it. It might even be a type of artifact.”
Serin and Hayoung commented seriously as they examined it.
“With this, we have proof that we defeated the commander of the Pig Clan!”
We defeated the commander of the Pig Clan!
Now that we can prove it, this will become our achievement. I’m going crazy with excitement thinking about what kind of reward we’ll get.
“Let’s go!”
Having achieved our goal, we set off on our way back.
* * *
On the return trip.
Mo Yongmiu observed the three in front of her.
Two women giggling with a man sandwiched in between them.
“Fiery Lotus is one thing, but I never imagined Jade Flower Sword would have such a face.”
She usually had a cold, expressionless demeanor. And while she thought that image was cool, now she was standing next to a man, looking happy, a very ordinary sight.
Seeing that made Mo Yongmiu feel a bit envious.
“Could it really be that enjoyable? This thing called romance?”
Especially, the three of them seemed to get along very well.
Of course, the way she saw it, the relationship between Jade Flower Sword and Fiery Lotus seemed a bit nuanced, but their interactions looked so natural that it felt like a minor issue.
Suddenly, Mo Yongmiu felt curious.
So she decided to ask.
“You all seem really close.”
“Hmm?”
“But I’m curious, who among you is the main wife…”
The moment she said that.
“It’s me.”
“It’s me.”
Both women answered at the same time.
“Huh?”
Confusion.
“You heard that? They’re both the main wives.”
“…”
At Geunhyeop’s words, the two women started a staring contest. Did I just ask something stupid? I thought for a moment, but then Geunhyeop wrapped his thick arm tightly around both their waists, stopping them.
Both women’s aggression disappeared at once.
They blushed, lowered their heads, and behaved obediently.
“Oh, my…! Oh my gosh! How can both of them become so docile?!”
Mo Yongmiu felt heat rising to her face.
Whatever else, martial arts heroines are the flowers of the martial arts world. This means they have a strong sense of pride.
Yet these two women, who were supposed to be wary of each other, became obedient at the mere gesture of a man. This sight stirred an indescribable emotion within her, making her feel all hot and flustered.
“How on earth do they usually interact…!”
What on Earth does a man need to do to make these strong, proud martial arts heroines submit so completely?
“It looks like Geunhyeop listens to their words well, but from what I see, it’s completely the opposite…!”
She was curious.
She wanted to know how things had come to this.
“Ahem, I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Everyone must be curious anyway.”
“It’s a bit embarrassing… but how did the three of you meet? It really makes me curious, Jade Flower Sword. Would you tell me?”
“Hmm, is that what you want to hear?”
Jade Flower Sword seemed shy about it.
“Honestly, I want to hear about the romantic tales of your generation. Plus, since we’re both martial arts heroines, I’m even more curious. What exactly happened?”
Jade Flower Sword hesitated for a moment, but when Geunhyeop allowed it, she nodded.
“Well, that’s fine. It’s not a story I’m trying to hide. Let me tell you.”
“Wow.”
Thus, Mo Yongmiu heard about the story between the two.
The more she listened, the more it resonated with her.
“So that’s how it was! If someone showed courage during a crisis, it totally makes sense that you’d fall for them!”
The very structure of the story was far too stimulating and aligned with Mo Yongmiu’s tastes as a virgin.
“Oh my gosh!”
Though their connection started as a coincidental meeting, they overcame challenges together on a journey, and their bond blossomed quickly thereafter. She found that part very appealing.
How enviable.
Mo Yongmiu briefly pondered. Imagining herself going through such experiences with a heroic figure and developing into a romance. At present, the only man coming to mind was Geunhyeop.
“Ahhh…!”
Her body trembled.
“To be traveling alongside a fateful partner, that’s truly enviable! How can something so ideal exist?”
Traveling along with a heroic partner while fulfilling their missions. That was precisely the future Mo Yongmiu desired.
“I want something like that to happen to me… but, oh, I just had an experience of being saved this time.”
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