Chapter 81: Great Ghost (1)

Absolute Demon (大絶鬼) (1)

I thought there wouldn’t be just one place selling monster by-products, and only after searching every establishment that might exist in Hwaeum Prefecture did I realize it.

Buying magic stones right now was like trying to pick stars from the sky.

Every place I asked gave me the same answer.

That the number of monsters caught had decreased compared to before.

And that they didn’t handle magic stones.

In the end, I couldn’t obtain any magic stones and had no choice but to return to the Hwasan Sect.

“Is this all I salvaged… just chicken skewers….”

“They were delicious, weren’t they?”

“Yeah, those were pretty tasty.”

For reference, I paid Mu-yeon back for the chicken skewers the moment we arrived at the lodgings.

When I gave him the money, Mu-yeon made a face like ‘What’s this for?’, making me briefly consider not paying him.

How did my treatment of him come to this….

Seriously, I decided I wouldn’t pay him back next time.

‘Can’t I check about the magic stones right away?’

Someday, while searching the mountains of Seomseo, there would surely be at least one monster I hadn’t caught yet.

Should I try looking for that?

If there was really no way to confirm, I planned to do just that.

Glancing around the lodgings, and seeing that something seemed empty, I asked.

“Hasn’t she come back yet?”

I was talking about Namgung Bi-ah.

Asking the people around, it seemed she hadn’t returned yet.

I heard she left early in the morning, and it was almost time for dinner.

I knew she trained a lot, but she seemed later than usual….

[Are you perhaps worried?]

‘…As if.’

Who would dare worry about whom….

[Isn’t it usually called worry when you look for someone who comes back late and wonder if they’ve eaten?]

‘…Ahem.’

I felt strangely pricked, so I let out a cough.

It was amusing that I couldn’t firmly deny what Shin No-ya said.

As I was resting a bit on the wooden floor, Wi Seol-ah approached.

Seeing her clothes were slightly different, it seemed she had been preparing dinner for some time.

“What’s up?”

“Hong-hwa unni told me to ask what you want to eat later!”

“…What I want to eat?”

The first thing that came to mind was dumplings, but since it wasn’t food that would just pop out upon ordering, I said it was fine to just have the usual.

“She said there’s fish too.”

“Ah, then I’ll have that.”

“Okay!”

Having heard everything, Wi Seol-ah scampered off.

Watching her go, I casually got up.

[Where are you planning to go.]

Shin No-ya’s subtly questioning voice carried a hint of slyness.

I tried my best to ignore it, repeatedly letting out coughs.

I was just thinking that since this is what we do to live, we have to eat, right?

[So, in the end, you’re saying you’re going to pick her up because you don’t want her to starve, aren’t you?]

‘…’

It’s true, but why do I hate admitting it so much?

Is it because Shin No-ya said it?

Brushing myself off, I headed towards the back mountain.

It was to find Namgung Bi-ah.

There was still some time left before the sun set.

Considering that preparing dinner wouldn’t take too long, it was better to bring her back quickly.

‘Now I’m even paying attention to things like this.’

I thought she’d survive somehow, eating grass if she had to, but I didn’t know why I was needlessly concerned.

If I had to find an excuse, I recalled a past life where someone would starve until just before death if no one made them eat.

If you think I’m concerned for that reason, it could be a good excuse, but…

‘…I know it’s not entirely like that.’

It wasn’t enough to fool myself, so it was ultimately a futile effort.

As I climbed the mountain path bathed in the sunset glow, I arrived at the flat ground where Namgung Bi-ah was training.

Hwook-! Hwook!

As expected, I heard the sound of a sword being swung.

Since I came sensing presence, there was no mistaking it.

However, since I started climbing, there was another presence besides Namgung Bi-ah’s.

The other person’s presence was also familiar.

Like yesterday, for some reason, the two seemed to be together often.

Hwoook!

-Eek…!

An aggrieved voice came from behind the wooden sword slicing through the empty air.

-Step… Your stride is too wide….

-Ple-please, just one more time.

-Alright.

Hearing the voices, I pushed through the bushes and went out with a rustling sound.

It was a scene that somehow felt familiar from yesterday.

Gu Ryeong-hwa, covered in dirt and dust from how much she had rolled around.

And Namgung Bi-ah, looking relatively unharmed.

Gu Ryeong-hwa’s head turned towards me upon sensing my presence.

Her expression crumpled the moment she saw my face.

“…What is it?”

What do you mean, ‘What is it?’ the moment you see me?

“No, well… I was just passing by.”

“Then you should just pass by.”

“I saw a familiar face, so I stopped for a moment.”

I demanded an explanation from Namgung Bi-ah with my gaze.

It was a look asking why she was still here at this hour.

“…”

Namgung Bi-ah quickly averted her gaze.

What?

Since she didn’t seem to notice my stare, I asked verbally this time.

“What are you doing here? Did you even eat?”

When I tried to meet her eyes, she kept avoiding them.

“You….”

“Don’t say anything to unni.”

“What?”

I looked at Gu Ryeong-hwa, who had cut into our conversation.

Actually, what was more absurd was the word Gu Ryeong-hwa spat out.

Unni…? Unni??

Who is she calling unni when we just met?

As if sensing my gaze, Gu Ryeong-hwa also looked a bit embarrassed, blushing slightly.

“…It’s just, you came looking for me this morning, so I pestered her to teach me.”

“Morning…. You went looking for my dongsaeng this morning?”

Namgung Bi-ah slowly nodded.

As if displeased with my words, Gu Ryeong-hwa interjected once more.

“Who are you calling dongsaeng?”

“Then are you her dongsaeng? Are you her older sister?”

“…”

What kind of ridiculous quibble is this?

Namgung Bi-ah kept avoiding my gaze, darting her eyes around, and pressing her lips together.

“Have you been doing this since morning?”

This time too, she gave a slight nod.

Gu Ryeong-hwa was with her, meaning both of them had been doing this since morning, starving.

Seeing that, I let out a small sigh and said,

“The sun will set soon, so let’s stop and head down.”

“…Okay.”

Namgung Bi-ah agreed and started tidying up her wooden sword.

Gu Ryeong-hwa seemed displeased about something, but since Namgung Bi-ah nodded first, she seemed to have no choice.

Once everything was tidied up, Gu Ryeong-hwa bowed her head to Namgung Bi-ah.

“Unni…. Thank you for today.”

“It’s nothing…. I had fun too.”

After finishing her words, Gu Ryeong-hwa brushed off the dust and was about to leave the training ground when I stopped her.

“Where are you going?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“You must be hungry too. Food….”

I tried to say ‘Let’s eat together,’ but couldn’t finish the sentence.

The shoulder I was holding Gu Ryeong-hwa’s arm was trembling.

Thwack!

Gu Ryeong-hwa forcefully slapped away my hand resting on her shoulder.

“Don’t, don’t touch me…! “

She met my gaze with trembling eyes, then quickly darted away into the bushes.

I stood there watching her, unable to say anything.

‘…Did I approach too hastily?’

The time Gu Ryeong-hwa had experienced and the time I had spent were different, so I couldn’t easily gauge the distance.

Sighing, I said to Namgung Bi-ah,

“Let’s go down.”

Namgung Bi-ah was looking in the direction Gu Ryeong-hwa had disappeared, but without a word, she nodded at my request.

Descending the mountain and returning to the lodgings, dinner preparations were complete, and Wi Seol-ah wore a proud expression.

Apparently, she had grilled the fish herself.

“So that’s why this thing is so black….”

“They said that part is usually the most delicious.”

No, it isn’t… Looking at it, it just seems like it would taste bad.

Nervously, I broke off a small piece of fish flesh and ate it.

Surprisingly, although its appearance was demonic itself, the taste itself was quite good once you got past that.

Seeing my surprised expression, Wi Seol-ah puffed out her chest proudly. It was somehow incredibly irritating.

While eating dinner, I asked Namgung Bi-ah about what happened earlier.

“Just….”

Namgung Bi-ah’s explanation was simple.

She said she went to find Gu Ryeong-hwa because she felt sorry for the trouble she caused yesterday.

Then, Gu Ryeong-hwa asked for a sparring match, so she just kept sparring with her.

For that long, since the morning.

Gu Ryeong-hwa might do that, but for Namgung Bi-ah to keep matching her and instructing her felt strange from my perspective.

In my past life, she was someone who didn’t pay much attention to anyone except strong swordsmen.

“…Tomorrow too.”

“Hm?”

“Can I go tomorrow too?”

Namgung Bi-ah asked me.

Asking if she could go find Gu Ryeong-hwa tomorrow as well.

I wonder why?

It wouldn’t be because sparring is fun.

Gu Ryeong-hwa isn’t at a level where she can provide enjoyment to Namgung Bi-ah.

To match levels, wouldn’t someone like Yeong-pung or Mu-yeon be necessary?

Nevertheless, her wanting to go must mean she intends to finish what she started today.

“…Do as you please.”

“Okay.”

Once permission was granted, Namgung Bi-ah seemed relieved and drank some water.

Watching her, I said in a low whisper,

“Please take care of her.”

As if hearing my words, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened.

It was a casual remark, asking her to do what I couldn’t, but she seemed so surprised to be asked that she just stared at me.

“A request….”

“Yeah, what?”

“You asked…. me.”

“It’s just, since you’re doing it anyway….”

“I’ll do my best.”

“You don’t have to do it that diligently.”

Unconsciously feeling embarrassed, I stopped my chopsticks, which had been moving diligently.

I couldn’t help it.

Namgung Bi-ah was smiling.

I had seen that smile once before, but the smile that flashed across her face was too intense.

“Gulp… Cough!”

Perhaps due to being slightly flustered, I even choked.

I quickly grabbed the water on the table and gulped it down.

A shiver ran down my spine; I sensed danger.

That’s how dangerous Namgung Bi-ah’s smile was.

‘I thought I had gotten somewhat used to smiles from Wi Seol-ah.’

This felt like it would take a while.

---

The sun had completely set, and Gu Ryeong-hwa, instead of returning to her lodgings, was still swinging her sword.

Fwip-! Fwip-fwip!

She swung the wooden sword for a long time, facing the night breeze.

“Nnngh…!”

Gu Ryeong-hwa let out a short groan and dropped the wooden sword.

Leaving the wooden sword that fell with a thud behind her, Gu Ryeong-hwa examined her palm.

The part that held the wooden sword was scraped and torn, with blood flowing.

“…It hurts….”

Perhaps it was because she had been swinging it for the past few days, cutting back on sleep.

It seemed her hands had reached their limit.

Still, Gu Ryeong-hwa picked up the wooden sword again after a brief pause.

Wrapping her palm with the cloth she had brought beforehand made it somewhat better.

She recalled the movements Namgung Bi-ah had taught her earlier.

Don’t let the stride be excessive.

Don’t apply excessive force with the body.

Yet, where it needs to be strong, be strong.

In a way, it was the most basic and foundational advice.

Thanks to experiencing it directly through sparring, she was gradually starting to understand.

Gu Ryeong-hwa had wondered why Namgung Bi-ah looked so flustered when she suddenly appeared that morning.

But seeing how she indulged Gu Ryeong-hwa’s unreasonable requests and time, one thing became clear.

It seemed she wanted to impress Gu Ryeong-hwa.

‘Why, though?’

She wondered why a woman with such martial prowess and appearance would do so.

Still, if she had to find a reason, Gu Yangcheon’s face naturally came to mind.

Gu Ryeong-hwa couldn’t understand, but Namgung Bi-ah seemed to have feelings for Gu Yangcheon.

Gu Ryeong-hwa’s guess was that this might be why she was being nice to her.

That someone so cool, pretty, and talented would choose someone like Gu Yangcheon….

‘I can’t understand it.’

If it were the Gu Yangcheon of the past, perhaps she might have understood a little.

But now, Gu Ryeong-hwa couldn’t understand.

-Don’t walk around with your head held high, it annoys me just looking at you.

-I told you not to call me ‘oppa’!

-Keep your mouth shut and live quietly… Don’t attract attention.

“…Huuu…”

Even after years, the words and gazes, which pierced her heart like daggers, still choked Gu Ryeong-hwa.

Just recalling them made her body tremble.

Barely holding back the tears that threatened to spill, she continued swinging her sword.

‘And yet now…’

-You went looking for my dongsaeng this morning?

-Then are you her dongsaeng? Are you her older sister?

Ignoring her throbbing palm, she swung the sword once more.

It was to erase Gu Yangcheon’s voice echoing in her ears.

It’s annoying.

She hated herself for running away out of exhaustion and resentment, only to be swayed by a single word, ‘dongsaeng’.

She hated herself for harboring hope in that brief moment that perhaps she could return to the past.

‘Don’t forget, Ryeong-hwa…. You must make the plum blossoms bloom.’

For her master, who had become her home.

Even if it became his final resting place. So that he could find peace in his disciple’s plum blossoms.

Gu Ryeong-hwa recalled her vow and continued swinging her sword under the moonlight.