episode_0226

A bustling place in the Eastern Continent.

As this was a large continent, it was divided into quite a few forces.

From the beginning of the opening, it was divided into numerous factions such as Dan-ah, Shi-ryun, Dong-ri, Jang-seong, Sura, and Il-ryeon, and if you look at it in detail, there were surprisingly many different sects.

The place where my teacher and I live is deep in the mountains, not part of any territory. The village closest to us, where I always come to play, is managed by a force called Jangseong.

The Jangseong faction was considered the most prestigious among many other factions.

Among the powerful factions called the Seven Great Powers, Jangseong was a force that stood out in particular.

There is only one reason.

Because there was one being who ruled this continent called Murim.

Because a being whose martial arts had reached the realm of heaven was sleeping here.

After the sword, Hwaryeon.

The only being who has reached the realm of Hyeon-gyeong.

It was said that when she lifted her feet off the ground, her appearance disappeared like a mirage.

It is said that when she takes out her sword, the opponent’s head is already cut off.

The proverb says she is a ghost.

It is said that he has mastered the technique of putting his soul into a sword and making it move on its own, and that he can float in the air without stepping on anything.

It was said that there was nothing he could not handle.

In particular, she was said to be worthy of being called a goddess, especially since she was holding a sword.

“Are you saying that I have never actually seen it?”

“What? Are you doubting our teacher?”

A girl glares at me with sharp eyes.

She was a woman with a cute impression and short brown hair.

Cheon Ye-ryeong.

He was the only person I could call a friend here.

We were both women, and we were around the same age, so it was easy for us to become close.

After talking to him a few times, I quickly realized that he was a good friend.

“….Are you really the disciple of the sword master..?”

“What?! That…that’s what you’re talking about!

At first I didn’t know, but later I realized that Cheon Ye-ryeong was a greater person than I thought.

The swordsman known as Musin.

Cheon Ye-ryeong was her only disciple.

I’ve never actually met the person named Geomhu, so I don’t know for sure…

When I tilted my head, Yeryeong frowned and came right in front of me.

“The Master is in a closed training session, so that’s why?! He’ll be out soon, so we can check then!”

“Ugh..”

“You…you really don’t believe me?”

Yeolyeong looks at me with droopy eyes.

I smiled faintly under my cotton and held her hand tightly.

“No. Actually, it doesn’t matter at all?”

“It’s not important..?”

“Yeah. Whether Ye-ryeong is Geom-hu’s disciple or not, she is my precious friend.”

“Ugh…!”

She looks at me with her cheeks slightly raised.

It was quite a sight to behold, as it overlapped with the cute face.

Yeah. What does it matter whether it’s the sword or the swordsman?

Yeryeong is the first and last friend I made here.

Titles like ‘disciple of the sword’ and such had no meaning.

Yeryeong hesitated for a while and looked at me, then slapped my hand away without mercy.

“Who…who is your friend? You are my arch-enemy?!”

“Eh…arch-rival..?”

“Yeah! You’re not planning on avoiding sparring today, are you?”

I let out a short sigh as she looked at me with her glaring eyes.

“…I like playing together more than sparring.”

“Ugh..!”

She looked very embarrassed as I puffed out my cheeks slightly and grumbled.

Chatting while eating delicious food, or going out to a place with nice scenery.

There were a lot of fun things, but it seemed like Yeryeong only wanted to spar with me.

He said that he would definitely defeat me and achieve something before the master came out of the temple.

But still. Since Yeryeong likes it, I continue to do it faithfully.

I know very well that desire to be acknowledged by the teacher.

I pulled my hat tighter around my neck and looked at Yeryeong.

“Then. Should we go straight to the training ground?”

*

“Oh.. Everyone is working so hard.”

The mountainside where Jangseongpa is located.

As it was a promising sect, its size was also considerable.

Numerous pavilions are lined up all over the mountain.

Among them, I was looking at the smokescreen below the mountainside from the Gaehwagung Palace, which is located at the highest point.

To be exact, I was looking at the people who were training there.

“As a mature person, you should definitely work hard. I can’t tolerate doing things half-heartedly.”

Ye-ryeong said, nodding happily.

I looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“But those people over there look older than you? Does that not matter to you at all?”

“Even though he’s older than me, I became an adult a long time ago.”

“Really? Since when did you come here?”

“Since I was three years old.”

…Huh?

“Three years old?”

At my words, Yeryeong nodded once and answered.

“Yeah. My teacher brought me to Jangseong even though I lost my parents when I was young.”

“….I see…That’s similar to me.”

Whether your parents are alive or dead, do you even have a home to return to?

Master, you picked me up when I lost all my memories.

He was truly a heavenly being who had received a grace that could never be repaid.

“So, shouldn’t you tell me now what kind of person you are, Master?”

“The teacher told me never to say that..”

“Can’t you even tell me which sect you belong to?”

“….sorry.”

No matter how close a friend he was, I couldn’t ignore my teacher’s words.

The Master’s request that I not tell anyone any information about my private life.

Even if it costs me my life, I will protect it.

“…Okay. There must be some reason.”

With slightly droopy eyes, Yeolyeong climbed onto the smoke platform made of blue stone.

Then, he touched one of the many hanging wooden swords and nodded at me with a confident smile.

“Come up. Today is the day I’ll take off that hat and cotton.”

“Ugh…this is difficult..”

I said that, but I wasn’t too worried.

Anyway, it is clothing that has been specially enchanted by the Master.

Unless I really pull on the hat with all my might, it will stay on my head.

I let out a snicker and climbed up onto the training ground.

“Are you not going to wear black today either?”

“I don’t fit well with swords..”

He raised both his fists and looked at Yeryeong.

At first, I didn’t know it, but as time went on, I realized that my body was quite different from the average.

A strength that is hard to believe is human. And a strange power that can instantly regenerate minor wounds.

When I asked my teacher, she said that I had a special power inside me.

But since it wouldn’t do any good for people around me to find out, I was told to just say that I had been studying ignorance since I was young.

“Then I’ll go.”

Ye-ryeong closes her eyes with a much more serious expression than before.

Before long, she was running towards me, kicking the ground.

A speed so fast that you wouldn’t imagine that she was a delicate woman.

I dodged the wooden sword aimed at my neck, but she immediately flipped her body over and this time raised the sword towards my chin.

Boo-

As I slightly stuck my chin out, Ye-ryeong’s wooden sword brushed past my face.

I immediately took a step back from her.

“As expected, you’re quick.”

Yeryeong straightened her posture with a shallow smile.

“You’re so cool too.”

“…You keep saying weird things.”

She runs back with her cheeks slightly flushed.

But this time, it was I who launched the attack.

Before she could swing her sword, I took a step forward and punched her in the forehead.

Cheon Ye-ryeong ducks her body to avoid it.

But this wasn’t what I was aiming for.

He swung his feet at her with a swift speed that could not be compared to the speed at which he threw his fist.

To be precise, towards her wooden sword.

Bbakgak –

“Ugh!”

Her sword shatters into pieces.

Yeryeong took a big step back and then kicked briefly.

A match that ended without even a few moves being contested.

“I lost today too.”

But despite the overwhelming defeat, Yeryeong was not heartbroken, but instead looked at me with even more piercing eyes.

I looked at her with a bright smile hidden behind the cotton.

“We practiced like you said. Now, shall we go out and play together?”

Yeryeong stared blankly at me for a moment and then sighed.

“…Haa. What’s so good about playing?”

“Instead of just practicing too much, it’s good to go out for some fresh air sometimes.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

She reaches out her hand to me with a blush creeping up her face.

Even though he always seemed prickly, he seemed like a warm friend on the inside.

When I took her hand, I felt the calluses that had been there for years, the marks of holding a sword.

At that time, I was about to go down the mountain with her.

One of the students who had been practicing in the training ground below was running towards us in a hurry.

“Private…!”

Nam-sik speaks while breathing heavily.

Yeryeong looked at him with a puzzled look.

“What’s going on?”

“The inspector has finished closing and returned to the main branch!!”

I felt the hand that was holding Ye-ryeong twitching.

“Really…?”

As I slowly turned my head, I could see that her rough face was filled with deep emotion.

After the sword, Hwaryeon.

It was her moment to come out into the world again after years of seclusion.