Chapter 253: The Lady of White Flowers Mi Hyoran. (3)

Chirp- chirp-.

Birdsong reached my ears.

The sound itself wasn’t much of a bother.

A shaft of light leaking through a crack in the window stabbed my eyes, forcing me to finally sit up.

“…Ah.”

I stopped rubbing my eyes and let out a startled sound.

It wasn’t the familiar sight of the frontline barracks.

It was my room, which I hadn’t seen in a while.

“…I panicked without even realizing it.”

Even though it was a room I should be most familiar with.

Perhaps it was because I’d gotten too accustomed to sleeping outdoors.

The comfortable bed felt quite awkward.

‘How long have I slept?’

I had fallen into a deep sleep, determined to shake off all my fatigue.

Judging by how refreshed I felt, I must have slept quite well.

I made an effort to sit up.

Perhaps it was because there was a presence in the room, I sensed someone approaching just outside the door.

The presence reached the door and carefully spoke.

-Young Master, did you cough?

“Yeah. I just woke up.”

-I will prepare water for washing your face. Shall I prepare your meal as well?

“Just something light, please. I’ll eat after my training.”

-Understood.

Judging by the voice, it seemed to be Honghwa.

Having suffered alongside us on the front lines with his ordinary body.

He must have been worked close to exhaustion, unpacking luggage the moment we arrived.

It was truly impressive that he was awake and working since morning.

‘Should I give him a raise?’

I’m not sure about this, as the Sega handles the expenses, not me.

Even without me needing to say anything.

They’ll probably raise it in the near future. If not, I can bring it up then.

After finishing a quick face wash, I headed straight to the training grounds.

Since I’d have to wash again after training anyway, I washed very casually.

Having rested fully for a day, it was time to get moving again.

“…Tsk.”

As I walked, I clicked my tongue at a presence detected by my senses.

If there was one thing that bothered me.

‘That guy is incredibly persistent.’

It seemed to be a warrior belonging to Madam Mi.

Since he was wearing a mask from afar, I couldn’t properly gauge his age.

But judging by the feel of him, he was a middle-aged man around forty.

‘He doesn’t seem like someone specializing in ambushes.’

His skill felt somewhat clumsy for his level.

It seemed he wasn’t an assassin or from that line of work.

The chilling aura was similar, but rather than an assassin…

It was closer to that of a well-trained swordsman.

I couldn’t properly assess him, but he must be at a considerably high level.

‘Still, if you’re going to do it, at least do it properly.’

Making me needlessly bothered.

Yesterday, he was so obvious that I told him to tone it down, but…

Even after hearing that, the man seemed intent on continuing to tail me without concern.

‘I don’t sense any malice, so I’ll leave him be for now.’

But I couldn’t help feeling bothered.

Trying my best to ignore him, I arrived at the training grounds.

For some reason, the training grounds were already filled with heat.

Since it’s a training ground only usable by blood relatives, it must be one of the Gu family’s born members.

‘…This is too much?’

The heat is too intense.

Among the blood relatives that crossed my mind, there was no one who could emit this much heat.

If I had to pick someone, Gu Huibi might be a possibility.

But even so, it was an excessive level.

Wondering who it was, I opened the door.

“Oh.”

“Huh?”

“I wondered where you were, seems like you just woke up.”

It was Gu Ryun, now the First Elder, his massive frame bulging with seemingly explosive muscles.

In the absurd situation, I asked with a thoroughly bewildered expression.

“…Why are you here?”

“Can’t you see? I’m training.”

“No, I mean why are you training here?”

Since it was exclusive to blood relatives, it wasn’t that the First Elder couldn’t use it, but…

Given that he had received the position of Elder, he surely had places he could use exclusively.

My question was why he was training here specifically.

In response to my question, the First Elder gave an awkward laugh.

“I came looking for you, and before I knew it…. Hoho, I guess I’m still young. When I see things like this, I just can’t resist moving my body.”

“If you were looking for me, why didn’t you come to my quarters…?”

“This brat? How old do you think I am? Do you think I’d move around just to see you?”

“You just said you were still young. Did you forget already….”

As soon as I added that, the First Elder’s fist flew at me.

Whoosh!

I quickly moved my head to dodge, but…

Contrary to the bulky appearance of his arm, the First Elder swiftly changed its direction and hit the crown of my head directly.

Bang!

“Gk…!”

Damn it.

It was still a blow that couldn’t be called a simple knuckle-tap.

The sharp, intense pain made me feel momentarily dizzy.

“It seems your way of speaking hasn’t changed even with age.”

“Ah, really…!”

As I clutched my head and groaned, the First Elder brushed off his hands and grinned.

It seemed a humorous thought had occurred to him.

His smile was so bright it was actually frightening.

“…Why are you smiling like that?”

“This is also fate.”

“What? What fate?”

Why was he using such a frightening phrase?

“Won’t you spar with me after a long time?”

“…Long time? I’ve never sparred with you, Elder.”

“Didn’t we spar often when you were young?”

“What kind of sparring was that! It was one-sided bullying.”

Under the pretext of teaching me through sparring because I wouldn’t listen.

I remembered the First Elder treating me like a ball back then.

Thanks to those memories, I used to get scared and run away from training sessions the First Elder participated in.

“We’ll build memories and it’ll be nice after a long time.”

“I didn’t say I would…!”

“Then would one-sided bullying be acceptable?”

“…”

Oh, heavens.

Isn’t that basically saying he wants to legally beat me up?

“…Elder, you know this is abuse, right?”

“Abuse? What frightening words. This is clearly a caress filled with love.”

He seems serious.

I glance behind me, looking for an escape route.

‘…Can I escape?’

The First Elder’s gaze, which clearly stated he wouldn’t let me go, was quite intimidating.

‘I only see one way out.’

Only the door behind me. I’m screwed.

Should I break through the wall?

Right, I’ll just break the wall.

I immediately tried to channel my internal energy to make a hole in the wall.

The First Elder let out a sighing voice.

“…Yangcheon, you truly are something else.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Others strive desperately just to receive one lesson, yet you immediately start plotting your escape.”

‘I’ve been found out.’

Haha, oh shit.

When did he find out?

My acting and eye-rolling were perfect, though.

“Does it show that much on your face that you don’t realize?”

What? Did I accidentally voice my thoughts?

“…Elder, can you perhaps read minds too?”

Could it be that he awakened a new ability as he aged?

It got to the point where I thought that.

“Enough. I wanted to see how much my grandson had grown after so long. Anyway, tsk.”

“As you can see, I’ve grown well on my own.”

“You seem quite small still…?”

“Don’t you think you’re excessively large…?”

This is the biggest question I have about the Gu family.

From the Gu family bloodline, where most have relatively small builds.

How bodies like my father’s or the First Elder’s came about.

I was really curious about that.

‘Even compared to the Hwangbo guys… they don’t seem to lose at all.’

Rather than losing, they look bigger.

Especially considering the First Elder’s age, maintaining that physique didn’t make sense.

Even recalling the severe injury he sustained last time.

You’d think his skills would have declined, but…

Hmph! The First Elder snorted loudly, put on the clothes he’d left nearby, and walked away with heavy footsteps.

Seeing that, it seemed his purpose was indeed to see my face.

“Ah, right.”

“Yes?”

Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking I was safe.

The First Elder turned back towards me.

“As it happens, I had something to give you too.”

“…Why?”

Whenever the First Elder offers something, my expression naturally sours now.

What is he trying to give me now?

It’s probably because receiving things like that always led to complicated situations to handle.

With a reluctant expression, I looked at the item the First Elder handed me.

“…?”

What the First Elder handed me was none other than a letter.

“Take it.”

“What is this?”

“These are letters addressed to you.”

“…Through you, Elder?”

“Yes, originally I was supposed to give them to you yesterday, but it was a bit late.”

Ah, was this what he was trying to mention yesterday?

Letters addressed to me, not through the Sega, but via the First Elder.

Though I didn’t know what it was about, I first took the letters the First Elder handed me and tucked them away.

The First Elder’s eyes, watching me, changed strangely.

It subtly bothered me.

“And. I heard you met Madam Mi.”

“…Ah, yes, well.”

Since I had returned to the Sega.

Meeting her was a natural progression, but…

“How was she?”

“What do you mean?”

The First Elder asked me how she was.

However, I didn’t properly understand what the First Elder meant by his question.

What was he asking about?

“I mean, how was Madam Mi, whom you met after a long time?”

“What’s there to say about how she was? We just met.”

If I were to describe my feelings, discomfort and burden came first, but…

There was no way I could tell the First Elder that directly.

In my past life.

And certainly around this time as well.

I would have been hating her.

I hated her for leaving the Sega as if she’d been waiting the moment my mother disappeared.

And I resented her for returning the moment I took the position of Young Master.

While it could be called the rashness of youth, I was merely protecting myself with anger out of fear of my situation, but…

Looking back now, it’s just an embarrassing memory.

Because there was no need to have acted that way.

I realized that far too late.

“…Is that so? Understood. Keep up the hard work.”

Hearing my answer, the First Elder patted my shoulder with a rough hand and walked away, disappearing.

It seemed he had something more to say, but…

He probably forced himself to stay quiet.

‘What was it?’

The First Elder’s gaze was clearly one of pity.

I couldn’t mistake it, as it was the gaze the First Elder had directed at me his entire life in my past life.

And that kind of gaze…

Was also the gaze that hurt me the most.

Everyone who died for me…

Had that kind of look in their eyes.

That still remains in my memory.

And sometimes tormented me.

It was also the reason I was desperately trying not to follow the same path in this life.

---

After the First Elder left, I finished my training lightly.

After experiencing daily actual combat, wrestling with monsters.

It felt like I had proper training after a long time, and I felt quite refreshed.

I casually wiped the sweat off with the clothes I was wearing.

I asked Honghwa to prepare water for washing my face once more.

After washing up, I quickly ate some food.

After eating just enough to fill my stomach, a question suddenly arose.

‘Where did they go?’

I was bothered by the kids who hadn’t shown up by this time.

Namgung Bi-ah, who used to appear out of nowhere and approach me, wasn’t visible today for some reason.

Moreover, Moyong Hi-ah, who subtly appeared as if trying not to be seen, was also nowhere to be found, perhaps busy.

Gu Huibi, who would barge in around this time demanding training, was also quiet.

‘What’s going on?’

It wasn’t some pathetic cry about feeling lonely because of their absence.

I was simply anxious because they weren’t showing up.

“What the heck, this is making me anxious.”

Since the faces I always saw were missing.

I couldn’t help but worry, wondering if they were causing trouble somewhere.

“Ha….”

I let out a sigh without realizing it.

This meant I had gotten used to being with others.

While it seemed like a good thing from a human perspective.

It was also a bit ambiguous.

If the goal is to live broadly, it might be the right direction.

But if I decided to bear the burden alone.

It was awkward to consider this situation entirely good.

Having more people to protect…

Meant more hardship for me.

Of course, even while thinking like this, I sometimes chuckle unconsciously.

‘What am I, with my standing?’

Am I trying to play the hero despite being a good-for-nothing?

It was quite amusing to think of myself as someone important.

It’s just that we didn’t share a meal.

Why would I feel anxious or anything?

‘If I’m anxious because they’re not here, I can just go see them.’

It was a simple matter.

If they weren’t coming, I could just go see them.

Acting on the thought, I immediately started walking.

What lies ahead is simply visiting my father to hear the future schedule.

There was still the matter of Hao Moon to discuss, but…

That was something to consider after hearing the schedule and assessing the situation.

My steps quickened slightly.

The direction was none other than where Moyong Hi-ah was staying.

Originally, I intended to visit Namgung Bi-ah, but…

Moyong Hi-ah was closer distance-wise.

Besides, I needed to meet her around tomorrow anyway, using the excuse of giving her the heat, so this felt like just one visit.

I could just see Namgung Bi-ah right after seeing Moyong Hi-ah.

‘What is it.’

As I was walking.

I suddenly noticed that the presence tailing me earlier had disappeared.

‘Did he give up and go back?’

I considered looking for him, wondering if he was perhaps hiding his presence better, but…

I decided against it.

If I can’t sense him, it’s better not to be bothered.

As I approached the quarters where the Moyong family members were staying.

“Hm?”

“Ah.”

A familiar figure came into view.

He wasn’t a member of the Moyong family, and not someone I actually knew, but…

I recognized his presence, not his face.

“…Ah.”

The man also seemed to notice, casting a sideways glance, but…

We both knew we’d recognized each other.

“Why are you here?”

Amidst the awkward silence between us.

I spoke first.

The man was the middle-aged individual who had been tailing and observing me earlier.

The middle-aged man would also know that I recognized him, so he wouldn’t have any excuses.

‘He wouldn’t listen to excuses anyway.’

As we stood facing each other with reluctant expressions.

Finally, the man slightly bowed his head towards me.

“…My apologies for the intrusion.”

“Yes.”

It was quite intrusive, following someone around.

Setting that aside.

‘Why is this person standing at the entrance?’

That’s what puzzled me.

Why Madam Mi’s subordinate was guarding the entrance here.

The man remained silent for a moment at my question.

Judging by the feel of it, he seemed to be sending a telepathic message.

‘Well, well.’

Was something happening inside?

Moyong Hi-ah was definitely inside the quarters.

I hadn’t thought Madam Mi would do anything, but…

It was a possibility.

Perhaps because that thought crossed my mind.

Pop.

I slightly loosened my body, channeling my internal energy up to my lower dantian.

Just as I was about to reach out to the man with my expanded physique.

“…Inside.”

I stopped at the man’s voice.

“I will escort you, Young Master.”

“…Suddenly?”

“There is a message from the Sect Leader asking me to escort you inside.”

“Sect…. Yes?”

When the man mentioned the Sect Leader.

A person flashed through my mind.

There was only one person who could be called the Sect Leader here.

The problem was, why was she at the Moyong family’s quarters?

I followed the man’s guidance and walked.

It felt strange, being led into a room at the place where Moyong family members were staying.

By someone else entirely.

Creak.

The door, presumably where Moyong Hi-ah was, opened.

After confirming the person inside, I had to gasp inwardly.

Because my sudden premonition had come true.

Inside the room…

Moyong Hi-ah, who seemed stiffer than usual, and…

Slurp.

Madam Mi, drinking tea with a serene expression, were sitting there.

Soon, Madam Mi’s characteristic cold gaze turned towards me.

“It’s good to see you.”

At Madam Mi’s nonchalant greeting.

I couldn’t help but wear a dumbfounded expression.