Chapter 16: The Advancement Sparring

I hardened my face.

What’s going on right now?

Suddenly, an engagement?

And with Hwang-wol, who is an archenemy?

‘This is wrong.’

I realized instinctively.

This situation was not the situation I wanted.

I couldn’t just stand still like this.

“Valley Lord, just a moment!”

I shouted urgently.

Then the gazes of all the people, including the valley lord, turned to me.

I ignored those gazes and said to the valley lord.

“I already have someone in my heart!”

Everyone began to murmur at my words.

I ignored the murmuring and continued to speak.

“I cannot be engaged to Miss Hwang-wol!”

The valley lord’s expression hardened at my firm attitude.

“Hmm… Kim Joon-ho, do you know what you’re saying right now?”

The valley lord’s voice was low and heavy.

I didn’t succumb to his pressure and said confidently.

“I know! I want to marry the person I love!”

“The person you love… Who is it?”

At the valley lord’s question, I answered without hesitation.

“It’s Nan-cheong!”

Everyone was shocked when Nan-cheong’s name came out of my mouth.

I was the same.

‘What did I just say?’

I wanted to shut my mouth.

But it was already too late.

I had already said that I loved Nan-cheong.

I looked at Nan-cheong in embarrassment.

Then, Nan-cheong was looking at me with a flushed face.

I was even more embarrassed.

‘What should I do? What should I do?’

I desperately calculated what to do in my head.

But no answer came to mind.

At that time, the valley lord opened his mouth.

“Nan-cheong… What do you think?”

At the valley lord’s question, Nan-cheong answered with an even more flushed face.

“I… I like Young Master too!”

“What?”

I completely froze at Nan-cheong’s confession.

‘Really?’

I couldn’t believe it.

Nan-cheong likes me.

Even in front of everyone in this place.

I didn’t know what to say to Nan-cheong.

I just stared blankly at Nan-cheong.

The valley lord gave a satisfied smile as he looked at me like that.

“Hmm… It seems that the two people’s hearts have connected, so I will have the engagement with Nan-cheong!”

I came to my senses at the valley lord’s words.

“Thank you!”

I expressed my gratitude to the valley lord.

Then the valley lord waved his hand and said.

“Enough, go to Nan-cheong and receive congratulations!”

“Yes!”

At the valley lord’s words, I ran to Nan-cheong.

And I grabbed Nan-cheong’s hand and said.

“Nan-cheong, do you really like me?”

At my question, Nan-cheong nodded shyly.

“Yes… I’ve liked Young Master for a long time.”

“Really… Thank you.”

I hugged Nan-cheong.

Then Nan-cheong snuggled into my arms with an even more flushed face.

I felt a sense of relief at Nan-cheong’s warmth.

‘Is this a good thing?’

I was still confused, but I was happy to be with Nan-cheong right now.

I grabbed Nan-cheong’s shoulders and said.

“Nan-cheong, please take care of me in the future.”

At my words, Nan-cheong smiled brightly and replied.

“I should be the one asking you to take care of me, Young Master.”

I smiled as I looked at Nan-cheong’s smile.

I felt that I could overcome any hardship in the future if I was with Nan-cheong.

That’s how I got engaged to Nan-cheong.

But even more difficult things were waiting for me in the future.

---

That night.

I was looking at the night sky with Nan-cheong.

We were sitting side by side, counting the stars in the night sky.

“That star looks like Young Master.”

The star that Nan-cheong pointed to was shining particularly brightly.

“Really?”

I looked up at the sky at Nan-cheong’s words.

Then Nan-cheong leaned on my shoulder and said.

“Yes… Like Young Master who always illuminates me.”

I stroked Nan-cheong’s head and said.

“Thank you, Nan-cheong.”

Then Nan-cheong leaned on me even more.

We looked at the night sky like that for a while.

Then, suddenly, I had a question for Nan-cheong.

“Nan-cheong, why do you like me?”

At my question, Nan-cheong hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Um… At first, I was just curious.”

“Curious?”

“Yes… Young Master was always different from others.”

“Different?”

“Yes… You always took care of me, helped me, and made me smile.”

“Was that so?”

I traced back my memories.

I had never given Nan-cheong any special favors.

I had just helped Nan-cheong to the extent that I could.

But it seems that it felt special to Nan-cheong.

“And…”

Nan-cheong took a breath and continued.

“What I liked the most was that Young Master saw me as I am.”

“As you are?”

“Yes… Other people pitied me or ignored me, but Young Master treated me like an ordinary child.”

“That’s only natural.”

I shrugged and said.

Then Nan-cheong looked at me with a sad expression.

“No… It’s not.”

“……”

“To me, Young Master was…”

Hwang-wol was, objectively speaking, a pretty girl.

But she wasn’t up to the standards of my eyes, which had become higher since coming to this place.

Well, she might be good enough to be a guest member of my harem. But marry her?

I didn’t want to.

She was rude, and more than anything….

I already have someone I like.

Just as I was about to say the words of refusal.

“Wait!”

Master’s angry voice resounded through the main hall.

“Speak.”

“Joon-ho is still too young to be talking about such things.”

I nodded vigorously.

Of course, I knew.

Considering the average marriage age of this era, that was just an excuse.

“I was married at an even younger age than that, Great Master.”

The woman who was Hwang-wol’s mother started the sentence.

Master’s opposition was natural. This wasn’t just a marriage issue.

It was a bold proposal that could hand me over to the other faction.

There was the saying, “The master is one with the military.” Although this world, similar to pre-modern China, placed the master on the same level as parents and kings, a true master could not be the same as a father. Much less the same as the in-laws.

Because blood is thicker than water.

“Hahaha, don’t be too nervous. This old man was just floating an idea. The important thing is what these children decide.”

“I have no intention of getting married right now.”

“Yes, yes… The important thing is your opinions, not the opinions of us adults.”

The strength drained from Master’s shoulders at the old man’s words.

“However…”

The old man’s words continued.

“Since Hwang-wol is entering the 귀영당, it would be good for them to live together.”

Master’s face hardened again.

“Gu-hyung-geosa won’t be able to watch over you for a while, you see.”

In fact, Master had also mentioned having me enter the 귀영당 early.

That’s because it was difficult for Master to teach me in his current state.

Samo’s wounds were not easy, so he had to dedicate himself to her healing for the time being.

Therefore, he only made a scary expression this time and did not openly oppose it.

“Huhu… I only talked about other things. Anyway, you’re a young hero. Originally, you should have received a higher grade of merit, but in that sense, it’s not a substitute, but this is a gift for you.”

The valley lord gestured for a servant to bring something.

What the servant brought was a treasured sword wrapped in a scabbard.

“Could that sword be…”

Someone in front of me said in a surprised voice.

I too could feel that this sword was not ordinary.

A subtle energy was transmitted even beyond the scabbard.

“It is a sword reforged with an alloy mixed with a small amount of Hancheol. It will be useful.”

I respectfully received the treasured sword.

I felt a heavy weight.

A treasured sword mixed with Hancheol!

It was an item that was difficult to obtain even after becoming a top master in the game Wind and Cloud Murim.

It seemed that rare materials were a little more common in this world, but even so, judging from the reactions, it seemed to be a fairly expensive item.

That’s how I wore the sword and confidently came down below.

And then, the praise of the 1st Class Contributors continued.

Sister No. 17. And so on. And….

“Now, I will introduce the real protagonist of today.”

The main hall became quiet at the valley lord’s words.

“No. 4 Woo-hee. No, I should call her No. 3 now.”

The main hall murmured at the valley lord’s words. A bright smile spread across the faces of the people from our faction.

“Her accomplishments accumulated over the past have been great, and the achievements she showed this time were truly amazing.”

Only then could I fully read the valley lord’s intentions.

The marriage proposal with Hwang-wol earlier was a bait thrown in advance before the other faction harbored dissatisfaction.

Because today was our faction’s party. It would have been difficult if the other side harbored dissatisfaction.

That’s why it was necessary to appease them with empty words.

After that, he delivered the news of Samo’s promotion.

Woo-hee.

I quietly repeated that name.

It was the first time I had heard Madam No. 4’s real name, who was now No. 3.

“This is unacceptable!”

Someone shouted loudly from the opposite faction.

“Stop!”

The valley lord’s voice was firm.

“This has already been decided.”

Silence flowed for a moment. But that was only for a moment.

“I understand. But you’re not thinking of promoting No. 17 immediately like this, are you?”

The former No. 3, the woman who had fallen to No. 4 and was Hwang-wol’s mother, opened her mouth.

“She must be promoted immediately. Her skills and contributions are already sufficient.”

It was the voice of Woo-hee Samo, who was now No. 3.

Her voice, which rose from her seat with bandages wrapped around her, was firm.

A long debate continued. The valley lord slowly raised his hand.

The main hall became quiet in an instant.

“I will give No. 17 the right to challenge.”

“No. 17 proved herself by killing an opposing top master. It is not a fair measure to simply offset it with the right to challenge!”

A backlash erupted from our side.

“Listen to the end.”

The valley lord’s voice resounded through the main hall once again.

“This challenge right is… She can challenge anyone from No. 1 to No. 15.”

The main hall began to murmur again.

Everyone seemed to be calculating who this was advantageous to.

I looked around at the reactions.

The leaders of both factions all seemed to be lost in deep thought.

Then… they nodded almost simultaneously.

Various stories were still exchanged below the platform.

“Who will No. 17 designate?” “Is she going to aim for the top ranks?” “No, she will definitely…”

But that wasn’t important. What was important was that the leaders of both sides had already accepted this proposal.

Sister No. 17 slowly got up from her seat.

No emotion was revealed on her face.

“Yes, who will you designate?”

At the valley lord’s voice, Sister No. 17 closed her eyes for a moment and opened them.

“I will designate Senior No. 12.”

The main hall began to murmur at that moment.

“No. 12?”

“Is she crazy?”

“Shouldn’t she have designated No. 14 or No. 15?”

It was natural. The lower the number, the stronger the skill was generally.

That’s why most people seemed to have expected Sister No. 17 to designate around No. 14 or No. 15.

But Sister No. 17’s expression did not waver.

The assassins naturally began to move their seats.

As if water was flowing, the people split to both sides.

A huge circle was created. Sister No. 17 and No. 12 walked out into the center of it.

The two people stood facing each other in the middle of the battlefield.

Sister No. 17 was a little taller.

Her slender physique and delicately curved body were evident.

Every time the wind blew, the cloth swayed, subtly revealing her slender yet voluptuous body.

No. 12 was shorter than her, but her well-balanced body stood out.

The black martial clothing that fit perfectly revealed the curves of her supple muscles.

The poses of the two were completely different.

Sister No. 17 took a relaxed stance without drawing her sword.

On the other hand, No. 12 was already emitting a sharp aura with her sword drawn about halfway.

The eyes of the two collided in the air. The killing intent intertwined, and a taut tension filled the main hall.

“Start!”

The moment the valley lord’s voice rang out, the two people moved.

My heart pounded like a storm.

Sister No. 17’s sword flashed and split the air.

At that moment, a momentary light and worry about her rushed into me.

In the midst of the battle that was unfolding at a speed I couldn’t handle, only her existence was holding onto one corner of my heart.

But No. 12’s sword blocked it.

Clang!

I tried to chase Sister No. 17’s sword, but everything was too fast and blurred before my eyes.

The sound of swords colliding continuously was heard. Small groans were heard in between.

“Kuek…”

It was Sister No. 17’s voice. At that moment, the movements of the two slowed down for a moment.

It was only a brief moment, but then I could see it. The sister’s combat uniform was being dyed red.

The red wave that started near the shoulder was soaking the combat uniform.

Clang! Clang!

The sound of swords colliding again rang out. Flashing lights embroidered the air.

I desperately tried to follow their movements. But it was still not enough.

The one side of my chest ached. The unrequited feelings that I couldn’t tell anyone, that I couldn’t even say, welled up once again.

Please… Please may the one I secretly yearn for not get hurt anymore.

Strength went into my fist. Had there ever been a time when not being able to do anything was so painful?

Clang!

“Sister!”

I reflexively stood up from my seat.

My voice, split with fear, echoed.

But like a trick of fate, the victor was her.

With a loud noise, No. 12’s sword soared into the air.

The tip of Sister No. 17’s sword was aiming at No. 12’s neck.

“I… I won.”

I won.

I won over No. 12… That No. 12.

From today onwards, I would become No. 12. But I wasn’t in a state to enjoy the joy of victory.

My whole body ached. I was the victor, but I was also in tatters.

I was barely standing, and my consciousness was gradually fading.

Then Valley Lord’s voice was heard.

“From today onwards, you are No. 12. More than that, the help of a Harmonious Body is needed. Choose one of the valley’s Harmonious Bodies. That child will heal you.”

I felt the surroundings stir.

The greedy gazes of some Harmonious Bodies. They were looking for an opportunity.

Clearly, there would be guys who would do unspeakable things under the pretext of healing. I couldn’t entrust my body to those guys.

But there were also other gazes.

A boy looking at me with an expression that looked like he was about to cry.

Joon-ho… That kid was also a Harmonious Body.

My consciousness was fading more and more.

“I…”

“I… will choose Joon-ho.”

The voice of Sister No. 17… No, the voice of the now No. 12 was heard.

The Valley Lord just nodded.

“I understand.”

Some sent out a sigh as if they were disappointed, while others sent out puzzled glances.

And I, who was the person in question, could only stand frozen.