episode_0136

In a corner of the main house site, there is a building called Yeonhwajeon (煙火殿).

It is a facility used when large gatherings are held, and is usually used for a family’s regular banquet once a year or so.

Usually, few people visit Yeonhwajeon.

This is because it is a facility for banquets, but banquets are not held more often than once a day.

As a result, servants only visit for basic maintenance purposes, so it is a place that is rarely visited except by security personnel.

Yeonhwajeon was full of bustle today.

Hong Yeon-hwa raised her head and looked up.

The orange light from the luminescent stone built into the lantern hanging from the ceiling illuminates the surroundings.

I blinked for a moment and lowered my head.

The warm-colored floors and walls glow softly with an orange glow, as if responding to lamplight.

The decorations and lights placed and carved here and there are in harmony, helping to create an overall warm atmosphere.

Even Hong Yeon-hwa, who lacks artistic insight, could see that the interior had been designed with great care.

Unlike usual, there were many people dressed up under the brightly lit lanterns.

It’s not so crowded that there’s nowhere to walk, but even if you turn your head here and there, one or two people will inevitably get caught in your field of vision.

What they have in common is that their hair and eyes are generally red in color.

They are collaterals of the Gyeophwa family or important VIPs of forces related to it.

It was a familiar sight to Hong Yeon-hwa. She was chosen as the successor right after she manifested her anger at a very young age.

After that, Hong Yeon-hwa participated in the regular annual banquet held every year with her father… the head of the family, as the successor to the Gyeop-hwa family.

“Ha…”

It was a familiar sight, but not one I particularly liked.

Hong Yeon-hwa said the banquet itself was good.

It’s nice to meet up with close people, have fun, eat delicious food, and drink cool, sweet drinks.

However, because the interests were complex, I did not like having a conversation while carefully using my tongue.

Hong Yeon-hwa sighed heavily, massaged the back of her neck, and looked down at her outfit with mischievous eyes.

A bright red military uniform with no special decoration and a jet black belt wrapped around the waist.

A coat with a colorful pattern that contrasts with the elegant military uniform…

It is the family’s traditional attire, to be exact, it is a Hwawanpo (火浣布) worn by the successor.

There are two main ingredients.

The fur of the 5th tier monster Inflorescence (Fire鼠) and the leaves of Bujinmok (不盡木), an unburnable tree where inflorescences live.

The inflorescence itself is not a very powerful monster, but it is highly responsive to fur and has a small population, so its by-products are of high value.

The saplings in which such inflorescences inhabit are also rare materials.

Hwawanpo is a high-quality product made by adding dozens of other miscellaneous ingredients.

I tried smoothing out my sleeves for no reason.

The texture wasn’t bad. It wasn’t rough or sticky and felt soft in the hand.

The defense isn’t bad either. Not only are the materials made of materials, but Tanhwaju made them himself, so most of the armor is at a level that can be laughed at.

However, it is more uncomfortable than everyday clothes.

Hong Yeon-hwa continued to rub her sleeves and shook her head.

‘uncomfortable.’

I feel like I just want to change into comfortable clothes.

“No.”

As soon as I could think of that, Choi Ji-yeon, who was standing next to me, stopped me.

“No more this time.”

“I know. There’s no need to tell me.”

Hong Yeon-hwa slightly pouted her lips and turned her head.

Nevertheless, he maintained his posture properly.

It was like that before, but this time even more so, Hong Yeon-hwa had to keep her place at this regular banquet.

Originally, it was the head of the household’s role to lead the regular banquet.

Even though the general manager may assist, it is customary for the head of the family to take charge.

Currently, Gaju is located in the African countryside.

In order to determine the cause of the abnormal phenomenon in the African Demon World, he led a combat unit under his command and crossed the front line and entered the inside of the Demon World.

That’s the story from early this year. The head of the family has not returned until now.

News of the family’s well-being is reported periodically, but the head of the family was unable to attend this regular banquet.

Because of that, the people leading this regular banquet are Ji-yeon Choi, the head of the family, who acts as the head of the family, and Yeon-hwa Hong, her successor.

“uh.”

Hong Yeon-hwa, whose thoughts reached that point, suddenly let out an exclamation.

Hong Yeon-hwa turned her gaze.

The center of the spacious Yeonhwagwan.

On the small platform, there was a sword stuck upside down.

It did not look like what you would normally think of as a sword.

The blade was transparent, like glass. It looks so weak that it might break if you knock on it.

But everyone here knows.

That’s not a very weak sword.

Rather, I know that it is an invincible sword that cannot leave even a trace, no matter how hard someone strikes and slashes at it.

Beacon fire sword.

This is a weapon used by the founder Hongyeon, and the production method has not been put into practice and has been passed down to this day.

Although it was said to be an armament, it was safe to say that it was in fact an artifact.

In the present era, there are two beacon swords.

One is the founder’s beacon sword stuck on the platform over there, and the other is the beacon sword owned by the current family head.

The Beacon Sword is made by the Tanhwa master of that generation and is given to the head of the family.

Hong Yeon-hwa’s Beacon Sword has not been produced yet.

It will be made later. I can only guess that the current Tanhwaju Hwabyeokun, which is still popular, will make it.

“Then should I pull out the Beacon Sword?”

“Then you should choose…”

At the end of the regular banquet, there is a culture where the head of the family stands on the podium and blows a sword into the founder’s beacon fire sword to signal the end of the banquet.

Since the head of the family is currently absent, Hong Yeon-hwa naturally assumes that role.

It’s really annoying.

Hong Yeon-hwa controlled her frowning expression and greeted those who came to say hello, along with Choi Ji-yeon.

There are many reasons for holding a regular banquet.

Gyeophwa’s blood relatives who are separated from each other gather together to share the situation, those who have become awkward become friends, and build further relationships with those who have become close.

It is also a day to publicize the health of the main family at the center of the power of Gyeophwa and to judge any nonsense that may be trying to climb up.

No matter how much of a dutiful daughter Hong Yeon-hwa is, she is not so bad that she puts an additional burden on Choi Ji-yeon, who is already leading the banquet without the head of the house.

Choi Ji-yeon let out a sigh of relief when she saw Hong Yeon-hwa acting with her own attitude despite nagging her.

As time passed, I had some free time.

Jiyeon Choi asked quietly.

“Did you say something?”

Hong Yeon-hwa’s body, which had straightened her back, trembled. There was nothing to say, but I could understand it right away.

“…I’m going to tell you today.”

The closed mouth slowly opened. Even if you look at it, it looks like it is full of tension and anxiety.

“Ugh.”

Choi Ji-yeon’s expression became depressed.

Even though she was his daughter, she seemed strangely cowardly.

“I had already guessed the words, but I decided to include Hayul among the descendants of the person who was disowned about a hundred years ago.”

“Okay… Hayul?”

Hong Yeon-hwa, who was nodding, paused.

This time, Hong Yeon-hwa’s expression became depressed.

When she turned around, doubting her ears, Jiyeon Choi shrugged her shoulders.

“Hayul asked me to call him by his name, so I organized the titles. Why?”

“Uh… no. It’s amazing that my mom sings to me comfortably.”

“What’s interesting? I am also a human being.”

Choi Ji-yeon shook her head as if she was saying nothing.

Over the past few days, I had a chat with Lee Ha-yul, who is staying at my hometown.

Isn’t it impossible to put something into the family tree without saying anything to the other person?

In the process, I understood Lee Ha-yul’s personality a little more deeply and became close to him in my own way.

Choi Ji-yeon was not the only person Lee Ha-yul became close with.

Lee Ha-yul worked diligently for several days.

– I liked the attitude of trying to do it yourself first before asking for help.

We went to work at the workshop early in the morning and learned metallurgy, including carbonation liquor, and formed friendships through conversation.

– I learn so quickly that I’ve already caught up. I got stuck three times and was hit without even being able to get past them all three times.

While receiving instruction from Jung Jeong-ju and Hong Jin-hyuk, he got to know the combatants he met and built goodwill through friendly sparring.

– You can see that people are just nice in their behavior.

While walking around, he was courteous and courteous to the people he met, building up goodwill.

– Unlike kids these days, they are kind and polite.

In addition, the senators who met and talked several times regarding genealogy seemed to think favorably of Lee Ha-yul…

‘……’

Choi Ji-yeon thought that far and made a strange expression.

What can I say… It was a move that seemed to be aimed at building overall favorability.

Blacksmith, combatant, servant, senator…

Lee Ha-yul, as understood by Choi Ji-yeon, is not that kind of person… but her behavior was like that.

– rattle

It was then.

The closed door opened and a doll entered.

People who were in the middle of a conversation, people who were looking for a place to sit and take a break, and people who were grabbing food to satisfy their hunger.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on one side.

Hong Yeon-hwa was like that too.

She knew that there was a guest at this annual banquet, and she knew who that guest was.

Therefore, I knew who was opening the door and entering.

My heart was pounding.

I turned my head, feeling my heart beating with anticipation.

“……”

I saw red.

The attire was similar.

Hwawanpo made from the fur of the inflorescence and the leaves of the Suphin tree. It flutters comparatively more than the scarlet lotus flower.

The elegant-looking Hwaanpo is tied with a black belt, and a colorful robe is covered over it.

Although the size was appropriate, it was very petite and gave off a cute atmosphere.

The elegance of the Hwaanpo and the splendor of the outer garment are contradictory to each other, but they have one thing in common: the shade of red.

Thanks to this, her pure white skin stood out in clear contrast to the red.

In particular, the already delicate facial features were emphasized and attracted attention.

The tightly closed eyes and thick eyelashes exude an elegant elegance, and the moist lips are tightly closed, leading Hong Yeon-hwa to feel the desire to challenge Yeongmun Mo.

The surroundings, where there had been some conversation until a moment ago, fell into silence.

Even the musicians who were playing their instruments stopped their hands.

No one opens their mouth to say anything. My gaze was just forcibly pulled, as if my collar had been pulled.

“…?”

Was that surprising?

Lee Ha-yul tilted his head slightly.

That incredibly cute appearance was fully captured in Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes.

“……”

Hong Yeon-hwa opened her mouth blankly.

– Grumbling…

The desire I had been suppressing rose up.

* * *

[Unique ability ‘All-rounder’ grows]