Chapter 813: Where is my son?

Rumble-thump!

It felt like a small marble had rolled in and dropped with a thud.

Madam Mi doesn’t hate us.

That statement felt strange.

Is that really true?

Madam Mi resents and hates me. That was the life I lived with such certainty.

It’s something I couldn’t understand otherwise.

‘If not, how could that be?’

There are more reasons to dislike me than to like me.

There are also more reasons to push me away than to accept me.

So I couldn’t understand.

“You don’t hate me? How can you be so sure?”

How could Gu Linghwa be sure of Madam Mi’s feelings? Not knowing that, I asked her.

Gu Linghwa looked at me with a somewhat strange expression and said.

“Oppa. You really don’t know?”

“Know what.”

“How can you not know…? Poor unnis… really…”

“Stop beating around the bush and just say it properly.”

“Forget the words, it seems like only Oppa doesn’t know.”

Gu Linghwa scrunches up her face. Still, as if trying to explain further, she starts to speak, but.

“…Never mind.”

“What?”

“I’m not going to tell you.”

“Don’t be petty and stop mid-sentence.”

“Oppa, you were petty too, saying you’d come but then not showing up. You told Youngpoong Sajil you’d visit, right? You said you would and then didn’t… Who are you calling petty?”

“…”

I was speechless again.

She’s gotten better at arguing as she’s gotten older. Damn it.

As I stood there unable to say anything, Gu Linghwa suddenly let out a small sigh.

“Forget it… Anyway. What are you going to do now, Oppa? Are you going back to Shanxi?”

“…”

“…You’re going somewhere else again.”

Seeing her dejected expression, I quickly said.

“It’s just because I have some things to take care of. It’s not that I don’t want to go… It’s really that things…”

“You don’t need to make excuses. I know you’re busy, Oppa.”

As she spoke, Gu Linghwa turned her head and looked straight ahead.

“You’re trying to catch that Cheonma or whatever, aren’t you?”

“…”

My body froze at her next words.

It was because an unexpected word came from Gu Linghwa.

“I know too. That you… have become important to people now. And that you’re busy trying to catch those guys from the Demonic Cult.”

Having nothing to say, I held my breath and my words.

“They say you’re called a hero? Honestly, I wonder if a hero face really suits you.”

She said it as if it were absurd, yet the corners of her mouth subtly turned up.

“Still, I feel just a tiny bit proud.”

“…”

“D-Don’t get me wrong. It’s really a minuscule amount. It’s just because everyone keeps saying how amazing you are… So I developed just a little bit. Got it?”

Seeing my strange expression, she repeatedly denied it, perhaps thinking I misunderstood.

What kind of face must I have to get that reaction?

Whatever it was, it had to be a misunderstanding.

The expression I wore now wasn’t due to embarrassment or absurdity.

“So it’s fine. Really.”

This was shame felt towards myself.

In the situation I had worked so hard to create, the praise coming my way wasn’t mine.

And yet.

“Oppa? What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing. I just feel a bit sick.”

Hearing this, the fact that I was feeling pleased by Gu Linghwa’s words.

Made me feel truly sick to my stomach.

---

Time passed, and it was the next morning.

Dressed lightly, I arrived at my destination.

After finishing my conversation with Gu Linghwa and speaking a bit more with Elder Iljangro, I headed straight for Madam Mi.

Technically, I was planning to see Moyong Hi-ah, but she wouldn’t meet me, perhaps still angry.

So, I passed on a message to Madam Mi instead.

She reacted calmly even after hearing that I had been to Sichuan.

However.

‘Do you intend to leave the child here?’

‘Yes?’

‘I mean that child.’

‘Ah.’

It seemed she was referring to Ttolttol-i, so I had to think for a moment.

Was she saying I should take him because it’s troublesome to manage him?

That seemed to be the case, so I told Madam Mi.

‘Since it might be bothersome for you, Madam Mi, to keep looking after him. I’ll take him back-‘

‘I never said it was bothersome.’

There was a slight hint of seriousness in her tone. Must be my imagination, right?

‘…Ah, is that so? Still, taking him would be…’

‘You must be extremely busy with the affairs of the Murim Alliance. Managing a child on top of that would be difficult. I’ll handle this part myself.’

‘…’

If you were going to decide on your own, why did you ask…?

I wanted to ask that sincerely, but I held back. The outcome wasn’t bad.

It would be convenient to take Ttolttol-i, but it was also an unnecessary task.

With the large number of people, he wouldn’t be utilized anyway.

So, leaving him behind for now was acceptable.

The only worry was that if I left that brat behind, who knows what mischief he’d get up to…

‘He seems to be enjoying himself, so maybe it’s fine?’

Ttolttol-i, pretending to be innocently childlike, seemed to be eating well and living well.

I heard he was going around somewhere with Madam Mi every day.

‘What on earth is he doing?’

I really wonder what he’s up to.

It doesn’t seem like he’s doing anything particularly grand. Just dressing him up and buying him things to eat, apparently.

‘…Hmm.’

It was baffling, but for now, I decided to leave it be.

If he’s doing well right now, that’s all that matters.

Thinking so, I nodded.

‘The problem now isn’t that…’

I stroked my chin, recalling the former Baekhwadanju, Madam Mi’s father.

‘I should have met that old man again.’

The previous Baekhwadanju.

A figure who was supposedly a direct blood relative of the Gu family lineage.

I had something to ask him, but.

‘He wasn’t there.’

I tried looking for him last night when I went to see Madam Mi, but they said the old man was nowhere to be found.

Where could he have gone? Did he really disappear?

Perhaps Madam Mi hid him because she didn’t want me meeting him.

No, that possibility seemed highly likely.

‘Why could that be?’

Why does Madam Mi hate her father so much, and why is the hated old man a blood relative of the Gu family?

The questions deepened.

Elder Iljangro had said it was fine as there were no major issues, but.

‘I’m curious, though.’

Even if I tried not to show it, it was something I couldn’t help being curious about.

I wanted to find out if possible. To do that.

‘I need to finish this quickly and come back.’

I’ll get it done as quickly as possible. If possible.

‘Before the season ends.’

Before the current time, which has just transitioned into autumn, ends.

I intended to wrap up matters here somehow.

With that resolve, I turned around.

Behind me stood fewer than twenty people, standing tense.

“Are you ready?”

“…All personnel are ready.”

To my brief question, Tang Xiaoye, standing beside me, answered immediately.

His answer was so quick, it seemed they were prepared in advance.

It was cute enough that I wanted to pat his head, but I refrained.

There were too many eyes watching.

“Really? Then let’s start-“

Just as I was about to go report to Muyeon for departure.

“Hmm?”

I sensed someone’s presence from somewhere.

Turning my eyes, sure enough, I saw several people approaching in the distance.

It wasn’t a small group. Moreover, the clothes they wore were somehow familiar.

It seemed not just me, but everyone else too, as their eyes widened.

“I-Ilcheonggeom…?”

“Isn’t that the Azure Dragon Brigade Leader?”

At the forefront of the approaching group. There was a well-groomed middle-aged man.

It was Ilcheonggeom, the Azure Dragon Brigade Leader, known as the most powerful among all Brigade Leaders, excluding the current Sword Master.

He was walking directly towards us, bringing his subordinates behind him.

The others reacted upon seeing him.

The Azure Dragon Brigade’s appearance wasn’t surprising.

We had already informed them beforehand that this operation would be in collaboration with the Azure Dragon Brigade. So, their appearance wasn’t strange, but.

“Why is Ilcheonggeom here in person?”

The fact that the Azure Dragon Brigade Leader himself showed up was a different matter.

“He probably came to see us off.”

“Why would the Azure Dragon Brigade Leader himself? Were the two of you that close?”

“I heard you weren’t close at all, but rather had some friction…?”

As the murmurs grew louder due to the spreading rumors.

Seeing Ilcheonggeom appear, I also took a step forward.

“Senior Ilcheonggeom.”

“It’s good to see you.”

As he spoke, Ilcheonggeom casually extended his hand.

Without hesitation, I clasped his hand.

Feeling the grip, I said with a smile.

“…I heard you would be helping, which I’m grateful for, but I didn’t expect you to come in person.”

“Haha. When I heard the Seongryong Brigade was making its first sortie, I couldn’t just stand by. I’m glad I can help in some way.”

Squeeze.

He applied a slight pressure to my hand.

It wasn’t enough to feel like a test of strength, just a moderate application of force.

“However, I do worry if perhaps Seongryong Brigade Leader feels burdened.”

“There’s no way. I’ve heard much about your recent reputation, Senior. Having your help makes me feel reassured.”

“That’s truly fortunate.”

The words exchanged were endlessly warm.

Because of that, the people behind us exclaimed in surprise as they watched.

“As expected, it seems the two of you were closer than we thought.”

“Well, why would the great Ilcheonggeom cause friction…?”

Watching the situation, they began to assume things.

My ears tickled, but I ignored it.

Because the situation wasn’t actually that warm.

‘The brat started provoking me the moment he arrived.’

I analyzed Ilcheonggeom’s words amidst his laughter.

-When I heard the Seongryong Brigade was making its first sortie, I couldn’t just stand by-.

He came because he was worried we’d fail immediately upon deployment.

He couldn’t sleep worrying about us, a bunch of undisciplined rabble.

-I do worry if perhaps Seongryong Brigade Leader feels burdened.

He meant, ‘Wouldn’t it be better if I joined your first sortie? Even if it’s burdensome, endure it if you want to succeed.’

Even if I interpreted his intentions slightly differently, that must be what he meant.

I couldn’t tell how many hidden daggers were concealed within those few words.

He provoked me from the start, so I fired back.

-I’ve heard much about your recent reputation, Senior. Having your help makes me feel reassured.

The reputation of Ilcheonggeom I mentioned here.

Ilcheonggeom’s mission completion rate hadn’t been very high lately, and the casualties were well-known.

Mentioning that in such a context. Of course, it couldn’t have been meant positively.

“Haha.”

“Hahaha.”

Squeeze.

Grinning, we both began to apply full force to our clasped hands.

It went beyond normal pressure, entering the realm of a bet.

Feeling that, I subtly adjusted my body.

Swoosh…

As expected, energy seeped out as if by accident.

Suppressing the urge to smile, I let go of his hand as if surprised.

Clack-!

The hand I held was released, and a faint energy stirred the air.

My hair fluttered slightly in the breeze.

At the same time.

“Seongryong Brigade Leader.”

“Yes.”

Ilcheonggeom said to me.

“If you have any worries, put them aside.”

He was smiling.

“Our Azure Dragon Brigade will wholeheartedly support the Seongryong Brigade, and we will definitely complete the mission.”

I sensed a subtle malice within his confident words.

Normally, it would have bothered me, but this time, I could thankfully smile.

“Worries? Of course not.”

That’s because I trusted Ilcheonggeom.

We clearly shared the same goal.

“I believe in you, Senior.”

No matter what situation arises.

“So, let’s work hard together.”

He was the kind of person who would act as I wished.