episode_0032

As soon as his disciples came out of the secret area, Geomseong relaxed his strength.

As the water flowed back into the well and returned to its original state, she looked at her disciples.

Just by visiting the secret area once, you can see the growth of some of the students.

“Review what you gained today, accept it, and then go to sleep.”

Although they must have been tired, the disciples did not listen to the advice of the Sword Saint in vain. Because there was nothing wrong with the words of the Sword Master when it came to martial arts.

Some go alone, others go to their respective seats to spar.

As the disciples left, Geomseong approached Sayun, who was holding two swords.

“Was that the reward for this secret?”

“Yes.”

“I would like to see you for a moment.”

Without hesitation, Sayun held out the sword he had acquired this time. He received it, pulled it out of the scabbard, and looked at the sword in the moonlight.

The sword body is straight and well-centered, as if it were made properly.

“Master?”

“It’s a good sword.”

“Yes!”

After patting Sayun, who smiled brightly, Geomseong headed to his room. Following her was Hongryeon, who was also a great disciple.

“Master.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you okay?”

Geomseong stopped walking at the sound of his voice filled with worry.

Are you okay?

“It’s okay. Rather, didn’t you gain something from that secret place?”

“We confirmed the growth of the sisters. That’s enough.”

“Hehe. okay. That was enough.”

Geomseong approached Hongryeon with light steps and stroked her head before walking again.

Into the dark.

To where you need to be.

.

.

.

Today is a day where a lot happened. It was a day when a guest came to our Hongseongmun, a male guest at that.

He is a person who helps us a lot at Hongseongmoon. Not only me, but other sisters also received a lot of help from him.

This time, I received great help once again. If done well, it may be able to greatly reduce the burden on the Ambassador.

These days, every day is truly a day of gratitude, and each day is filled with happiness.

It’s not just me.

The same goes for Sister Yoo Hee and Sister Ryu Hyeon. Sister-in-law Hyeon-hwi or Sister-in-law Oh Se-jin.

Everyone has been smiling a lot lately. Oh, of course, that doesn’t mean I didn’t laugh before.

I wondered when that started, and it was after the uncle’s letter came.

Ahaha. Isn’t it fascinating?

But there are many times when I wonder if that’s really the case.

Isn’t that because not only I but other sisters-in-law think similarly?

no. I’m just going to think like that.

Sister Yu-hee told me a while ago that the God of Happiness walks around with his face covered.

Because they don’t know when or where they will appear or when they will disappear, they hide themselves and bring happiness to people.

In that respect, I think I’m really similar to you.

Because you brought us happiness.

But it is also true that it is disappointing.

Since I don’t know you, I can’t do anything for you.

It seems like he only gives, and I only receive. I’m so sorry about that.

When will I be able to repay you?

P.s.

I went to the secret place you mentioned and got the sword. This sword, along with the letter you sent me, will become my precious treasure.

So that’s it.

Could you please give this sword a name?

“I wrote it all.”

Sayoon placed his brush on an old inkstone bathed in moonlight. She read the black letters engraved on the stiff paper once again and nodded briefly.

And while I was drying it in the wind, I looked around the room.

The faces of the sister-in-laws, who were tired and asleep after training late at night, all looked relaxed.

She smiled brightly, hoping that the peace would continue, placed the book on the table and closed her eyes.

It was something I always did after writing a letter.

It was my imagination about ‘Mister’.

Who is the uncle?

It’s something I always imagine, but it’s just dark.

Therefore, what is pictured in your head is just a vague imagination.

When living in the gutter.

When I had no choice but to look up at the world with dead eyes.

There was someone she envied the most.

A girl wearing old clothes with patches here and there.

That girl was the person that Sayoon was most envious of.

The reason was simple.

I met her on her way to the school and stroked her head affectionately with my big hand.

Her father, whose face she no longer remembers, tried to protect her from harsh guys on the way back.

Because there was a person who loved his daughter more than anyone else in the world and wanted to cherish her more than anyone else.

Gently opening her closed eyes, she grabbed the sword she had obtained earlier. It’s a good sword. There was some talk about whether it was modest considering what was achieved after breaking through the secret world.

For Sayun, it was a sword that was more flashy and cool than anything else.

Because I got it thanks to you.

Because I got it thanks to the stars.

Sayun closed her eyes again and hugged her sword. Although it was a cold sword, as I held it, I felt like I was next to a man whose face I couldn’t even recognize.

“…I miss you.”

Sayoon lay in bed, missing the man she had never met.

What kind of person is you really?

She is an imaginary uncle drawn in her head.

Sayoon slowly fell asleep while picturing a faceless man stroking her head.

***

The next day came.

It was a really refreshing morning, perhaps because I was able to go to Hongseongmun Gate again today.

It would have been more refreshing if it hadn’t been for Chae-jin, who had been clinging to her since morning and asking her to take him too.

When I finished work in the morning and climbed Mt. Hongseong, Sayun was waiting at the mountain gate.

“Hello!”

She looks quite lively and greets me. hmm. good night. I think today will be a good day.

“Uh… you can just come. What else did you bring today?”

“When coming on official business, it is not polite to leave empty-handed.”

Actually, it’s a lie.

I just brought some sweets because I liked seeing them eating well yesterday.

“Don’t feel pressured. Because Hong Seong-moon and I are in the same boat in business.”

“Uh… Is that so?”

Sayoon didn’t know that part, so she just tilted her head. But that only lasted a moment, as he guided me with a bright smile.

Just like yesterday, when I crossed the mountain gate and went inside, Ryu Hyeon and his disciples were waiting. After receiving the guardian angel again, I handed the whole confectionery to Ryu Hyeon.

“You can really come empty-handed…”

“I was supposed to be treated to lunch today, but how could I come empty-handed? Also, now that we have decided to work together in business, Hong Seong-moon’s disciples must do well so that I can make money.”

“Uh. If so.”

In the end, Ryu Hyeon accepted the box without saying anything else.

After hearing that dessert would be served after eating, I went to the place where the white jade tablet was buried yesterday.

“Hmm…”

Fortunately, it seems I’m not that unlucky. When I took out the buried white jade tablet, I saw that the pure white tablet was stained with dark magical energy.

“Do you know what kind of magic craft it is?”

“Based on the letter received from the governor… let’s see. It’s a trace of the White Bone Clan. And there is also Cheonyang Magong. I need to check somewhere else too.”

In the process of checking the white jade tablets, I found not only the magic arts I had seen in Heavenly Moon, but also magic arts I did not know.

But there was no need for me to worry about it up to that point.

Right now.

“Is this all?”

“Um.”

The last white jade tile seemed to have failed and there was no change. Still, at this rate, I don’t think there’s any need to come back.

“Then would you like to go eat right away? Everyone will be waiting.”

It seems that quite a bit of time passed in the process of recovering the white jade tablet. I accepted Sayun’s offer and headed straight to the restaurant.

It’s an old and shabby restaurant, but it seems to be kept clean.

When I entered the restaurant, smelling the fragrant smell of meat wafting in the air, all the disciples were seated.

“Welcome. Have you done everything you need to do?”

“Yes. I think this is enough to confirm the magic.”

“Haha. Then let’s eat quickly. Everyone was waiting for Yoo’s guest. ah. And I will grill the meat…”

“I will continue.”

“…I’m also good at grilling meat.”

Geomseong, who had become sullen, glanced at Ryu Hyeon again, but she didn’t seem to have any intention of handing over the tongs.

In the end, it was Ryu Hyeon who grilled the meat in the large brazier.

“Eat it while it’s hot!”

Well-cooked meat was placed in front of me. When I tried one piece, it was much more delicious than I expected. When I was surprised, Ryu Hyun smiled.

“Hehe. I’m really good at grilling meat.”

That’s amazing.

While I was eating meat, the door to the restaurant opened.

A red-haired woman strides in, casually carrying a large cauldron.

“Guys! Bring a bowl…”

hmm? what?

A red-haired woman who made eye contact with me.

Hongryeon, the great disciple of Hongseongmun, stopped talking for a moment. And then he starts looking at me blankly.

As I chewed and swallowed the meat in my mouth as the gaze continued, I asked out loud.

“Is there something on my face?”

“Uh. eww. ah. huh! Oh!”

She looks very embarrassed and makes strange noises.

What did you really ask?

“Oh, no. That’s not true. Lady… Why are you suddenly like this…”

Averting her gaze, she scooped rice into an old rice bowl. It is a mixture of rice, barley, and other grains. It’s good for your health.

While the students who received it were eagerly eating it, Hongryeon came up next to me. But he can’t even make eye contact with me.

She stuttered, flinched, and whined like a puppy that had made a mistake, and finally spoke in a low tone.

“…I heard you are indebted to me again.”

ah. I asked why it was like this and it turned out that it was like that.

Well, it is Hongryeon who led Hongseongmun as his great disciple.

In the meantime, you may feel embarrassed because you will think that you are not good enough and that other students have to work harder.

It is completely understandable that they are embarrassed to see me involved in that matter.

“Don’t say things like that. Also, this is a fair transaction between me and Hong Seong-moon, so you don’t have to feel burdened. So, how about I leave this part to you and focus on your training? They say they are receiving guidance from a sword saint these days.”

There was no answer to what I said. They just stare blankly at me.

But that was only for a moment. Hongryeon’s face quickly turned red again and she hurriedly took a step back and spoke to Yuhee.

“Yuhee! I’ll give you a lot of food, Mr. Yoo!”

“Huh? What about your sister-in-law?”

“I’m hungry because I ate this and that earlier! You guys eat a lot! Don’t leave any meat behind!”

After saying that, Hongryeon ran out of the restaurant.

under.

You are truly a great eldest sister.

They were afraid of running out of meat so they gave it to other disciples.

It was quite an honor for me to be treated to a meal at Hongseongmun. It was even more so because Sayoon was sitting in front of me.

The meat was quite delicious, probably from the best parts, and the soup and vegetables said to be made by Hongryeon did not offend my taste buds, who only eat spicy foods. No, it was rather delicious…?

Anyway, after dinner, we talked about the contract, and now it was time to go, so I reluctantly took a step forward. Sayoon did not take me today.

I walked without even trying to hide my regret and arrived at the guest house, sent Hong Seong-moon away, and entered my room.

A postal messenger was waiting in front of my room.

“What.”

What was in his hand was a box and a letter.

The letter… was sent by the council. I opened it and read it, and it said I would meet briefly next week.

Even though I should have watched it because of the Hong Seong-moon incident, I thought it went well.

Still, it’s a bit awkward to go alone…

“Chae Sojeo! Chae Sojeo!”

“Huh? why? this time? Do you want to practice?”

“No. I need to go to Yangwiseong Fortress nearby. Can you come with me?”

“Well, it’s difficult. Let’s go.”

Chaejin said indifferently, as if there was nothing special to do. When she left, I turned my attention to the box.

Did Sayun send it? Or from the other side?

Out of curiosity, I checked the name on the box and was a bit surprised.

Because there was a name that was completely unexpected.

“Hongryun…?”

Why are you doing this to me?

I opened the box and found a piece of paper and a package inside.

When I unwrapped the package, it turned out to be a long bamboo tube.

It was an item used for smoking tobacco and was also found in Cheonsangmyeongwol.

But it was a little different from what I remembered.

While it was plain without any patterns, the delicately engraved engravings of loosely blooming lotuses decorated the coffin as beautifully as a work of art.

Was it engraved with red lotus?

You’re also good with your hands. Making all these things.

uh? Does he know that he can make these products himself, so he is asking me to supply them?

After looking around at the bamboo coffin, I turned my eyes to the paper.

“…Ha.”

It wasn’t a request to sell a product.

I put a candle in the bamboo pipe and lit it.

Hazy smoke fills the room.

Inhaling the bitter scent mixed with it, I tapped the paper with the red lotus on it.

– I’m always thankful.

Just one short line makes me laugh.

Thank you.

“I am more grateful.”