Chapter 130: Why Are You Here Again? (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 130: Why Are You Here Again? (1)
A chill wind blew as clouds veiled the moon.
I remembered the look on her face as she stood there, sword in hand.
-The night is cold. What brings you outside?
Even in the darkness, her tied golden hair seemed to shine.
When was this?
There had been too many such scenes to recall just one.
-Why are you worried about whether I am cold, and not anyone else?
My tone may not have been warm, but her response was even worse.
It was difficult to see myself as merely inept.
Even with my harsh words, her expression remained unchanged.
-It must be your time, then.
-Screw off if you already know.
-Will you be alright?
-What?
Unlike her golden hair, her eyes were a piercing silver.
-This is the most dangerous time of night.
-So, you’re telling me to crawl on the ground because I’m weak?
-That’s not what I meant…
Her question made me flare up.
It was a truly pathetic sight.
The flames I conjured vanished with a single swing of her sword.
She frowned, visibly annoyed.
-How could you draw attention like this? Do you want them to come here?
-Stop your pointless chatter and go inside. I’ll be fine on my own.
-Perhaps we should wake the Sleeping Dragon—
-Should I make the flames bigger this time?
-…
She sighed and turned to leave.
As she reached the barracks, she paused and asked,
-Young Master Gu, once you escape this place, what will you do?
-Getting sentimental because it’s night? What a pointless question.
I replied, dumbfounded by the sudden inquiry.
If I leave this place?
Could I even leave? The Abyss was a hellish, hopeless pit.
-Setting me aside, what will you do?
Having no answer myself, I turned the question back on her.
Even if I escaped, my only purpose would be to continue the tasks assigned to me.
So I asked what she desired.
Wi Seol-Ah thought for a long time before speaking.
-I’d like to wander.
-Wander? You can do that now.
She gave a disdainful look, unusual for her.
-I mean I’d like to go where many people are.
-What’s the point of such a troublesome dream?
-I don’t know myself.
Wi Seol-Ah laughed. I sensed exhaustion in her laughter but said nothing.
-I wonder why I want such a thing.
She looked weary—not physically, for she was a martial artist who had broken through her limits.
I watched her slip inside, then turned away.
I hadn’t thought much of it then.
Surviving each day was all that mattered.
Who knew our time there would stretch so long?
Even after losing everything, I eventually returned to that hell of my own volition.
But this memory became a great comfort in the future. It was the fuel that sustained me through countless changes as I thought of you.
The world may have forgotten you, but I remembered. That was enough.
Even if my decision ends in despair, I will not regret it.
[The deal is established. Small flame.]
I prayed that you felt the same.
* * *
Namgung Bi-ah’s sudden arrival shocked me, but I let it be—I could never get a proper read on her.
[What’s the problem? Your inner world raged like a waterfall the moment she said she wanted to see you.]
I was just startled for a second.
[Sure, that’s why you blurted out something random like ‘Did you eat?’]
Elder, you grow meaner with time.
After the meal, Namgung Bi-ah insisted on napping in my room, as if she’d been waiting for the chance.
“Why my room?”
She even took my personal blankets and curled up beneath them without a hint of hesitation.
“Sis must be really tired.”
“That’s not the—… Never mind.”
Complaining was pointless, so I let her be.
Her unexpected visit disrupted my training, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to resume.
More than that, I was concerned about Wi Seol-Ah, who seemed unusually down.
“Want a yakgwa?” I offered her a snack.
“No.”
She refused adamantly. This was an emergency.
I ran through countless ways to cheer her up, but options were limited.
Finally, I asked outright, “Why do you look so sad?”
“Things just aren’t working out.”
“What things?”
“A bunch of stuff…”
I’d rarely seen Wi Seol-Ah so dejected.
Lately, these bouts of melancholy struck her without warning.
I may have been neglectful, but seeing her cheeks grow thinner worried me.
Noting her slumped shoulders, I said, “Let’s go out.”
“Huh?”
She looked at me, confused.
“For a walk. Just outside.”
When she understood, her eyes finally brightened.
* * *
“Sis Hongwa told me to buy lots of tasty things on the way back.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, so I plan to buy a good amount!”
“A ‘good amount,’ huh… Alright, let’s do that.”
I went to the streets with Wi Seol-Ah.
I considered informing Muyeon, but decided against it. I was past needing escorts.
“Young Master, did you plan to go somewhere?”
“No, just wandering.”
“Really?!”
My answer seemed to cheer her up; she looked excited now.
[Are you sure you have spare time?]
Elder Shin’s question made me smile wryly.
Spare time?
I had none.
My Demonic Qi was still being purified, and training was crucial now.
“Young Master, over there!”
“Where?”
“Skewers!”
“You can have some, but finish what you’re holding first.”
I watched Wi Seol-Ah enjoying herself.
A day off couldn’t hurt. The future held plenty of hardship.
I’d asked Namgung Bi-ah if she wanted to join, but she’d merely cracked her eyes open, thought for a few seconds, and fallen back asleep wrapped in my blanket.
Sleep clearly took priority.
Wi Seol-Ah hopped ahead, brimming with excitement.
Her radiant, joyful face always felt new to me.
[That little child is the future’s hope, huh?]
Even Elder Shin, who’d seen my memories, sounded skeptical, but it was the truth.
“Young Master! Let’s eat this together!”
Beaming, she brought over a fruit I didn’t recognize.
I reached for my money, but Wi Seol-Ah spoke proudly, “I already bought it!”
“Huh? How?”
“Hmm? I just did…?”
She showed me a small purse. Inside was actual money.
It made sense—she earned wages as a servant.
For a girl who never paid for her own yakgwa to buy something with her money…
She’s changed so much in such a short time.
She should have done this sooner, but her common sense lagged behind her age. It was fascinating to see.
“Eat this.”
I took the fruit she offered and bit into it.
A sharp sourness flooded my mouth, making me cringe.
Wi Seol-Ah burst out laughing.
“You find this funny…?”
“Young Master’s face is so funny.”
“That’s an insult, right? Definitely an insult.”
She vehemently denied it until the end. This girl, I swear…
We strolled the streets, chatting.
It had been ages since I’d seen this place.
I hadn’t come here since before I left for Mount Hua, nor after my return.
One thing surprised me, though…
“Oh, Seol-Ah! You’re here!”
“Hello!”
“Long time no see! Where’s your sis?”
“Sis is busy. I’ll take one of these, please!”
“Oh, it’s Seol-Ah!”
Many people in the street seemed to know Wi Seol-Ah.
Had she come out with other servants without my knowledge?
“Sis” likely referred to Hongwa.
Did the Sword Venerable permit this?
Without his approval, she couldn’t have wandered freely. The world was still peaceful, but not safe enough for a beauty like her to roam unprotected.
I hadn’t insisted on covering her or Namgung Bi-ah’s faces out of indifference, but for their own safety.
“Hey, Young Master.”
I started, finding Wi Seol-Ah suddenly right in front of me.
Lost in thought, I’d failed to notice her approach.
Hiding my shock, I asked, “What is it?”
“Everyone calls you ‘Young Master Gu.’”
“Hmm?”
What’s she getting at?
“Sis Soyeol calls you that often. Sis Bi-ah doesn’t, though.”
Most people did use that title, since they couldn’t address me informally.
“Well, that’s because…”
Social status dictated it—a simple truth, but hard to say aloud.
Wi Seol-Ah couldn’t remain my servant forever.
She then spoke playfully, “Young Master!” wanting to try the title herself.
Her words made me freeze.
-Young Master.
That damned memory resurfaced.
Before me was a face more mature than the current Wi Seol-Ah’s, with a different voice and expression. I remembered that version of her vividly.
Noticing my odd expression, Wi Seol-Ah looked sad.
“I knew it. It doesn’t suit me…”
Her disappointed face snapped me out of my daze.
“What do you mean, it doesn’t suit you?”
“Sis Tang is pretty, and Sis Bi-ah is pretty, so it fits them. But when I say it, it’s weird… Young Master’s face turned ugly.”
Hey, did you have to say ‘ugly’ so bluntly…?
Her innocent words always struck deep.
Is she really just disappointed? I doubt that’s all.
“Regardless, when it comes to beauty, I think you’re also…”
“Hmm?”
“You…”
The words caught in my throat.
I wanted to say she was pretty too, but it felt like a boulder blocked the way.
Wi Seol-Ah seemed to guess my meaning, her eyes curving into smiles.
“What? What is it?”
“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
“No, Seol-Ah knows nothing.”
I was sure she’d picked up some bad habits when I wasn’t looking.
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll snitch on you.”
“What did I even do that you can snitch about?”
“You ran from Grandpa Ryoon last time, saying he was a hassl—”
“You’re pretty.”
Wi Seol-Ah smiled brightly at my forced admission.
With her cheeks thinning, she was starting to resemble her past-life self.
Her beauty shone intensely, and her grin magnified her charm.
“Hehe.”
Had she feigned disappointment?
If so, it was unlike her.
[You’re truly clueless. This child is more of a fox than you think.]
Wouldn’t a cub or puppy suit her better?
Wi Seol-Ah, a fox? Neither her current nor past self fit that description.
Elder Shin laughed at my thought.
[In my opinion, brat, you need to train your eyes more than anything.]*
Setting Elder Shin aside, Wi Seol-Ah’s mood had clearly lifted.
“I’m fine now!”
Beaming, she skipped ahead.
Did “you’re pretty” make her that happy?
It was a warm yet burdensome feeling.
It’s heavy.
Her feelings for me, and mine for her.
“Even so…”
I couldn’t afford to let go. I lived stubbornly because I despised that fate.
“You’ll trip if you run like that.”
“Young Master will help me up if I do.”
Her sunny laughter rooted me to the spot time and again.
-If I fall, you can help me up.
Was it a coincidence that the present Wi Seol-Ah echoed the words of her past self?
-So I’ll be fine.
“So I’ll be fine!”
“…”
It felt intentional, as if to make sure I never forgot—and it made my heart ache.
Wi Seol-Ah, running happily, tripped on a rock and fell.
“Ougfgh!”
She hit the ground with a strange sound.
I rushed over, shocked, but more surprisingly, she’d saved the food she was holding.
“I told you not to run.”
I offered my hand; she took it and stood.
“What do I do… I’m all dirty…”
“Hongwa will scold you as soon as she sees you.”
“Oh no…!”
I laughed at her dismay.
“I’ll help you talk your way out.”
“Young Master, you said that last time but snitched on me anyway!”
“Okay, guilty as charged.”
How did she find out? I was sure I snitched in secret.
“So cruel…”
Even as she complained, she hugged her food tighter.
What part of her screams ‘fox’ to him?
“Could you buy me more since I’m sa—”
“No.”
I laughed again at her wide-eyed shock when I refused outright.
In the end, I still bought her everything she wanted.
Our final purchase was dumplings. Back at the clan, she seemed eager to share them.
Along with a drowsy Namgung Bi-ah, the three of us filled our stomachs with dumplings before dinner.
Hongwa noticed Wi Seol-Ah’s dirty uniform and scolded her.
The girl shot me pleading looks, but I pretended not to see—I had no way to help.
I still remembered her cute, betrayed expression.
* * *
A week passed, and the day of the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament arrived.
I’d planned for this, but an unexpected development overturned everything.
By the carriages, a boy stood before me. He was a head taller, with a sharp, handsome face.
Tang Soyeol, beside me, glared at him, but he seemed unbothered by her innocent appearance.
In this absurd situation, I said to the boy,
“So…”
“Yep…”
He didn’t seem pleased either, his expression as stiff as mine. He looked nervous, his body tense.
“You’re coming with us?”
He flinched at my question.
I sighed at his response.
Before me stood the grandson of the First Elder and the genius of Gu Sunmoon.
“Please take care of me,” said Gu Jeolyub.