Chapter 18: Wi Seol-Ah's Memory of that Day
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 18: Wi Seol-Ah's Memory of that Day
Wi Seol-Ah sometimes had strange dreams, just like today.
In them, she would wield a sword, swinging it beneath the moonlight.
To Wi Seol-Ah, these dreams felt like nightmares.
Every time her sword moved, too many people died. And the version of herself who killed them seemed utterly unaffected by it all.
It was frightening to see people so enraged at her for reasons she couldn't fathom, yet the Wi Seol-Ah in the dream didn't seem to care.
The sword itself was beautiful.
It looked similar to the one Grandpa had shown her once.
Grandpa hated it when I held a sword. I copied his movements, hoping for a word of praise, but he only got angry.
And that day, Grandpa had cried.
It was the first time I had ever seen him cry.
After that, I promised him I would never play with a sword again.
That promise finally made him stop crying.
He stopped, but it always felt like he was still wailing on the inside.
People used words like 'benevolent' or 'generous' to describe him—words I didn't really understand. But I knew one thing.
He was always crying inside.
Grandpa was always apologizing. But what did he have to be sorry for? Seol-Ah was happy.
Was it like when the maidens told me, 'You're too young to understand'? I didn't want to be young anymore…
The me in the dream was tall. My hair was much longer, too.
And it was white, unlike the black hair I have now.
She had a pretty face.
Everyone says I'm pretty, but the me in the dream was so much prettier.
Could I become like that someday?
Then I suddenly thought of the Young Master.
The Young Master never says I'm pretty…
After my hair was tied up nicely, everyone told me I looked pretty, so I ran to the Young Master to show him.
But he averted his eyes right away.
Does he not think I'm pretty…?
The Young Master is a kind person.
He was the first friend I made after living with only Grandpa for so long.
He was a friend at first, but then Grandpa told me I had to call him Young Master.
He said I couldn't call him a friend anymore, that it would cause trouble if I did…
So I started calling him Young Master.
He looked scary at first, but when I gathered my courage and spoke to him, I found out he was actually very nice.
He said the potato I gave him was delicious, and he even gave me a yakgwa in return. I was so surprised when I first tasted it.
Yakgwa was so much tastier than a potato. After that, I didn't have to eat potatoes anymore.
The Young Master gave me yakgwa every single day.
I wished he would eat some with me, but he said he didn't like sweets.
When I asked the servant sisters about it, they told me the Young Master actually loved sweets.
They said he used to eat them every day before I came here. Was he lying now just so he could give them all to me?
He does seem to like dumplings, though…
Yesterday, he bought both yakgwa and dumplings. I even saw him smile, which is something he rarely does.
But for some reason, my heart aches a little whenever I see him smile.
When I told Grandpa about this, he looked at the Young Master with such scary eyes. I had never seen Grandpa make that face before.
Yesterday, the Young Master laughed and said my face was getting rounder and rounder from eating all those snacks.
…How mean. I'm not going to eat yakgwa anymore.
…
W-Well, not completely. I'll only eat… two.
So that sometimes, the Young Master will make the same face Grandpa does when he looks at me.
The face he had when we first met on the street.
The way he looked at me when that big hound appeared during our journey.
The Young Master looks at me just like Grandpa does.
So why does that make me feel happy?
Does the Young Master also think I'm not happy?
I didn't understand.
I kept having the dream, but today's nightmare was a little different. I usually wake up by now, but this was the first time I saw this part.
The dream continued, and I walked into some random house.
Inside, there were even more people who were angry at me, just like before.
I fought again.
My body was drenched in blood. It looked like I was wounded. Didn't that hurt?
I seemed really strong. Even when a lot of people charged at me, I could still push through.
It was like the stories Grandpa tells. In his stories, Grandpa is the strongest.
He says he could beat hundreds of bad people who came at him… I always thought he was lying, but was it actually true?
I walked forward for a while and ran into a scary-looking man.
He looked kind, but also frightening at the same time.
Why?
The dream-me spoke. I had a pretty voice to match my pretty face. Could I really become like that when I grow up…?
The man who looked both scary and kind answered.
Seol-Ah… You came here to save me…
Shut your mouth. Don't you dare call my name with that filthy mouth of yours. Tell me, when did it all begin?
What do you mean—
I know everything, so don't play games with me.
I'd love to cut you in half right now, but I'm holding myself back. Now, answer.
S-Scary…!
I said such scary things with such a pretty face… I'll make sure I don't do that when I grow up.
Maybe it was because of my words. The man's face completely changed.
Now he looks really scary…!
Ah, so you found out…? What a shame. I just needed a little more time.
You…!
But it's fine. It's enough.
Crack… Crack…
The scary man started making horrifying noises. His body was changing in real time, and it looked terrifying.
You're too late, Seol-Ah. You should have noticed sooner.
The man grew bigger and bigger. I charged at him, ready to fight.
I used the same beautiful sword technique as before, but it didn't work on him at all.
What…!
I was shocked. Then something shot out from the man's body…!
Gasp!
It stabbed right through me…!! Something sharp pierced my body.
Unlike before, when I could move quickly, I couldn't dodge the man's attack at all.
He just flung me against a wall. Thud! And I was pinned there.
It was so scary. I wanted to wake up right away because of how terrifying it was.
Wake up…! I don't want to see this… Please…!!
Why was I having such a dream? It was such a scary nightmare.
The dream-me, stabbed by that sharp thing, was slowly dying.
I wanted to call out for Grandpa. Grandpa could save me. Grandpa is strong.
Then, the me in the nightmare started to say something.
What am I saying?
…rry.
It was too quiet; I couldn't hear it properly.
Then the scary man started walking towards me from across the room.
What do I do now…?
When he was right in front of me, he spoke.
How stupid. Both you, Seol-Ah, and that guy. Especially that guy—he was a complete idiot. To think someone like that could ever help anyone.
Hearing his words, tears started flowing from my eyes.
Who is 'that guy'? Who is he talking about? I hated that I didn't know anything, even though this was my own dream.
The man started doing something again. It was that sharp thing he had stabbed me with earlier.
If you see him there, send him this message: he lived a trash life.
I'm sorry… I'm sorry.
Hearing his words, I started apologizing. But it didn't feel like I was apologizing to the man.
Then who was I apologizing to…?
The man swung the sharp thing at me.
I squeezed my eyes shut tightly; I didn't want to see it.
“Hiiiik!”
Thankfully, I woke up from the nightmare.
My back was drenched in sweat.
When I looked beside me, Grandpa was gone. He must have already gone out to work.
The nightmare was so scary. I didn't want to be alone.
Maybe that's why…
…For some reason, I wanted to see the Young Master.
* * *
A day had passed since my visit to the Hao Clan.
I'd eaten a lot of dumplings yesterday, so I woke up with a firm resolution to train.
“My name is Gu Jeolyub. I wish to have a duel with the direct descendant of the Gu Clan.”
Who the hell is this…?
The moment I opened my door, some weirdo started talking to me.
He looked about my age, with sharp eyes and a chin that bore a distinct resemblance to the Gu Clan. The annoying part was that he was ridiculously handsome. His looks and the surname 'Gu' made it clear he was from the clan.
But he wasn't a direct descendant of the Clan Lord.
For a second, I wondered if he was a secret son my father was hiding, but I didn't recognize him at all.
“Who are you?”
So, who was he? His face was familiar, but I couldn't place it.
When I asked for his identity—whether it was Gu Jeolyub or Gu Jeolyub or whatever—his expression twisted slightly.
Had I offended him? But I genuinely couldn't remember…
The Second Elder suddenly appeared and cleared things up.
“Oh, Jeolyub, what brings you here?”
And what brings you here, old man…?
I wanted to ask the Second Elder why he'd been hanging around me more than usual lately, but I didn't bother. I knew he wouldn't give me a straight answer.
Gu Jeolyub paid his respects to the Second Elder.
“Greetings, Lord Second Elder.”
“Yes, it's been a while. A year, right?”
“I hope you have been well.”
“This old man is always well, hahaha! And you?”
“…Don't just show up at my house and start chatting.”
So, who was he?
As I stood there looking confused, the Second Elder glanced at me with pity.
“Yangcheon, you really don't know who this is?”
“That's why I'm asking for the third time.”
“What am I going to do with you? You have the memory of a goldfish.”
Why was this old man insulting me so early in the morning…?
“Jeolyub is the grandson of the First Elder.”
I looked at Jeolyub after hearing the Second Elder's words. The First Elder…
That annoying old man.
The Blazing Rain Sword, Gu Changjun—my father's uncle, and my grandfather's brother.
He wasn't a man I was particularly fond of.
I might always find the Second Elder to be a hassle, but I was also always grateful to him.
He was the one who never gave up on me.
But the First Elder was different.
I could say a lot about him, but I didn't even want to think about him.
“So, he's the First Elder's grandson?”
“You still don't remember, even though you've met a few times?”
Even with that hint, I couldn't recall. He seemed to remember me clearly, but I had no memory of him.
This seemed to irritate Gu Jeolyub a little; his lips trembled slightly.
Seeing that, I quickly apologized.
“Uh, sorr—”
“It makes sense. You'd want to forget me out of embarrassment after I destroyed you.”
What did you just say, you bastard?
“However, it's disappointing to see that you haven't changed at all, even after a year.”
“Second Elder.”
“…What is it?”
“This kid is definitely the First Elder's grandson. He's just like him!”
“…”
The Second Elder didn't reply, but his expression told me he agreed.
The kid was exactly like the First Elder I remembered. He kept talking, completely ignoring what I had said.
“Haaa… It's not right to bully the weak, but it is my duty… I challenge you to a duel once aga—”
“Young Master…!!”
The person who cut off Gu Jeolyub and came running was Wi Seol-Ah.
“You idiot.”
For some reason, Wi Seol-Ah was half-soaked. Her wet clothes clung to her, slightly revealing her bare skin beneath. She wasn't even wearing shoes, as if she had rushed over in a panic.
I quickly grabbed a blanket and wrapped it tightly around Wi Seol-Ah.
“What are you doing! What if someone sees you like this?”
“Young Master! I… I had a nightmare…”
“Young Master.”
Gu Jeolyub interrupted Wi Seol-Ah. When I looked at him, his eyes were fixed right on her. I noticed his eyes were shaking slightly, and his face was blushing a little.
“W-Who is this lady?”
…This bastard.