Chapter 4: Back to the Front Lines-1
Chapter 4: Back to the Front Lines-1
Seonwoo Yeon-ha was in her room, applying makeup in front of a mirror.
Though her reflection was sufficiently pretty and lovely, the image of Jegal Seoyul's beautiful face—and the way her brothers had looked at her in that Na-entranced way—kept lingering in her mind, refusing to fade.
Crunch!
She crushed the comb in her hand and ground her teeth as she muttered.
"Hmph, once I grow just a little more...."
Yes, she simply hadn't matured enough yet, which was why she wasn't as radiant as Jegal Seoyul. But if she grew just a bit more, she would surely become just as beautiful.
After all, weren't people already praising her as one of the most celebrated beauties in Gwiyang right now?
Seonwoo Yeon-ha was calming herself with such thoughts when it happened.
Suddenly, the voices of maids passing by outside her room drifted in.
"Oh my, really?! The Fourth Young Master was beaten by the Third Young Master and ended up injured?"
"That's right! And I heard the Third Madam is throwing an absolute fit!"
In that instant, Seonwoo Yeon-ha's movements froze completely.
"But is that even possible? How could that pig of a young master manage it?"
"From what I heard, it was an accident—the Fourth Young Master practically walked right into the Third Young Master's outstretched hand himself."
"Really?! Hee hee hee! That must've been hilarious!"
"You know what's even funnier?"
"What, what?"
"The whole reason the Fourth Young Master did all that was to look good in front of Lady Jegal—but in the end, he passed out right in front of her!"
"What?! Ohohohoho! That's too funny!"
Just then, Seonwoo Yeon-ha flung the door wide open.
Bam!
"Eeek!"
"Y-Y-Young Miss?!"
Seonwoo Yeon-ha fixed them with a terrifying glare and spoke.
"What did you just say? Brother Gi was beaten by Brother Jin and got injured? He passed out?"
Under her murderous gaze—one they rarely ever witnessed—the maids trembled and bowed their heads.
"Y-Yes, Young Miss. It's true."
At that, Seonwoo Yeon-ha clenched her teeth.
Her furious eyes gleamed dangerously.
"How dare he...."
***
The Heavenly Wisdom Sword Peak, Jegal Seoyul, had been assigned a lavish guest room in the Seonwoo estate. She handed a sealed letter to her friend Hae Cheongyeon, who was to share the room with her.
"Here, this is the dossier on the Seonwoo Third Young Master you asked for. They said they bought it from the local Hao Gate branch."
"Right. Thank you. I'll pay you back right away."
At Hae Cheongyeon's flatly toned reply, Jegal Seoyul let out a chuckle and responded.
"Pay me back? Please, between us, who cares about that. Anyway, why did you ask me to dig up files on that chubby young master? I was honestly shocked! My word, how can a martial family member have a body like that? Did you see him earlier? His eyes were practically buried in fat—looked like a straight line. Good heavens."
To that, Hae Cheongyeon answered in a voice of utter indifference.
"Yes, that's how he was."
She glanced furtively at the doll she'd been fiddling with.
The cotton-stuffed bear doll was shaped like a soft, squishy ball, with eyes drawn as straight slashes across its face.
Jegal Seoyul caught sight of the doll and suddenly burst into a fit of giggles.
"Pfuhuhu! Now that I think about it, that man does kind of look like that doll you treasure so much. Wait, you didn't ask me to pull his records because of that, did you?"
Again, Hae Cheongyeon replied in the same utterly indifferent tone.
"Of course not. It's just that move he showed when he knocked out the Fourth Young Master seemed unusual. I got curious about his background."
"Huh? That one move? Wasn't that just an accident?"
At Jegal Seoyul's puzzled question, Hae Cheongyeon continued reading the papers in her hands, her expression utterly blank.
"Who knows."
"Hmm, well, I suppose. Even if my martial arts are superior, your eye for these things is keener. But still, is it really worth paying attention to a pig who can barely move properly and collapses from exhaustion?"
But Hae Cheongyeon was so focused on reading the documents that no answer came. Jegal Seoyul simply gave up.
"Well, it's your quirky curiosity, after all. Even Hae Daehyeop gave up on understanding that. How in the world am I supposed to comprehend it?"
She gazed at her friend, who was absorbed in reading, then suddenly asked another question.
"This is something I've always found strange—but can you actually see the writing, with your eyes covered like that?"
With her bangs hanging down almost to the middle of her nose, completely covering her eyes, Hae Cheongyeon didn't look like she could possibly see anything at all.
Yet even to that question, only an utterly flat response came back.
"I can see it, which is why I'm reading it, isn't it?"
Jegal Seoyul knew full well that once Hae Cheongyeon focused on one thing, she paid no attention to anything else. But unable to bear the silence, Jegal Seoyul spoke up again.
"When are you ever going to push those bangs back? I honestly can't understand why you hide that face of yours."
A flat question came back in response.
"Would you like it if I pushed them back?"
Jegal Seoyul paused in thought at Hae Cheongyeon's query, then shook her head.
"No, I'd hate that. I wouldn't want the attention that comes my way to be split up. But more than that, if—by some chance—you ended up drawing more attention than me, wouldn't I end up jealous of you? The very thought is horrifying."
"Right? Then that's that."
Jegal Seoyul smiled brightly, seemingly satisfied with this conclusion, and nodded.
"Ah, I see. Thank goodness you don't like drawing attention. I'm so glad we're friends, Cheongyeon."
At those words, Hae Cheongyeon finally turned her eyes to look at her and replied.
"I'm glad too, Seoyul. You're not like a typical Jegal clan member, and I truly like that about you."
Despite her words, her tone was exceedingly flat. Yet Jegal Seoyul only beamed more brightly.
She knew all too well that such words rarely ever left her peculiar friend's lips.
***
The next day was finally the day I departed from the clan.
Outside the main gate, the ronin who would accompany me had been waiting since early morning.
Father explained that these men would escort and protect me all the way to the frontlines in Yunnan Province. But anyone could see they were also there to watch me and make sure I didn't slip away midway.
The clan members who came to see me off were very few.
Aside from the servants, only my father and Yeon-ha were there.
"For the honor of our clan, I hope you stay healthy and distinguish yourself."
Father spoke with the same authoritative, rigid expression as always.
But now, I could easily discern the regret and affection hidden in his eyes.
It was so easy that I couldn't understand how I'd been so blind to it before.
"This son will surely raise the clan's honor high and return to see you again."
I knelt on the ground and offered a deep bow. My father simply nodded in response.
The rims of his eyes were slightly tinged with red.
Next, I bid farewell to Yeon-ha.
"Thank you, Yeon-ha. Coming out this early in the morning to see me off."
Yeon-ha then spoke to me with a worried expression.
"Don't mention it, Brother. It's only natural, since you're setting off on such a long journey. And here, take this."
Yeon-ha held out a small, neatly wrapped bundle.
"This is?"
"Rice balls. I made them for you to eat on your journey."
Surprised, I asked again.
"Rice balls? Did you make them yourself?"
"Yes. Though I can't guarantee the taste."
At her words, I smiled and expressed my thanks.
"Thank you, Yeon-ha. As I thought, no one else but you. I'll eat them gratefully."
With that final farewell, I mounted the horse that had been prepared, and we set out from the Seonwoo estate.
A short while later, once the estate was completely out of sight, I stopped the horse and dismounted again.
One of the ronin then asked me,
"What's the matter so suddenly, Young Master? It's not time for a break yet."
It was the leader of the hired ronin, a man named Jang Gangseong.
From his furrowed brow, it looked like he was worried that I was already about to whine that I couldn't go on.
I spoke to him in a firm voice.
"From now on, I shall run all the way to Yunnan."
"...Pardon?"
"I said I'll go on foot. To lose some weight, as well."
At my answer, the ronin stood there with their jaws hanging open, speechless.
"N-No, but—do you even understand how far it is? A young master in your physical condition wants to run all that way...?"
Their bafflement was, of course, entirely understandable.
Deeply understandable.
But wasn't losing weight the single most urgent task before me right now?
No matter how many ultimate techniques I had stored in my head, if my body wasn't in a state to execute them, they would remain nothing but pure knowledge.
So what I'd come up with was running all the way to Yunnan.
It was a distance that would take a good three days even on horseback, so if I ran it...
Hm, I wasn't really sure.
Anyway, in my past life, when I'd arrived at the frontlines, every squad leader of the Flying Dragon Thirteen Squads had stared at my body with horrified faces.
And of course, no one had wanted to take me into their squad.
Sure, that was why Squad Leader Seol Pung had smiled and taken me in, but I had absolutely no intention of repeating that embarrassment in this life.
No, I absolutely couldn't.
Because there, not only Squad Leader Seol Pung would be present, but also that woman who was still alive.
'In this life, at least, I'll give her a good first impression. So this time, I will most definitely...!'
Just as I was clenching my fist and burning with fighting spirit, the leader of the ronin, Warrior Jang, spoke to me with a troubled face.
"Well... I understand the young master's resolve, but you see. We also made a contract. If your arrival is delayed, we would naturally incur losses for those days, so there's no particular reason for us to...."
While he was rambling on about his difficulties, I asked point-blank.
"What about my horse?"
When I pointed at the horse I'd been riding and asked that, he momentarily asked back as if he didn't understand.
"That horse? It's an exceptionally fine horse. But what of it?"
"I'll give that horse to you all. That degree of horse, even at a fair price, would fetch quite a bit of money, wouldn't it?"
At that, the ronin simultaneously turned their heads toward the horse.
Their eyes, scrutinizing the horse closely, were gleaming unusually bright.
That horse was one of the finest in the clan, specially selected for me by my father.
If sold to someone who knew how to appraise horses, it could probably fetch whatever price I named.
So what they were thinking right now was obvious. They were probably cheering inwardly at their windfall, right?
Warrior Jang, who had been gazing at the horse for a moment, cleared his throat and opened his mouth.
"That degree of horse, well, it seems like it would be sufficiently worth its value."
Only sufficiently worth its value?
Well, I supposed so. I'd expected him to say that.
After all, they were ronin I'd never see again, so swallowing it up in one gulp would be to their benefit.
But after hesitating for a moment, he soon let out a deep sigh and spoke again.
"I'll just be honest with you. Young master, you seem to not know much about horses, but a horse of that degree would command whatever price you named. It's far too excessive for us to receive as our commission fee."
"Ho-oh."
That was an extremely unexpected reaction.
I'd thought they'd be delighted at having found a sucker.
The other ronin were also glaring at him with eyes that looked ready to devour him, as if asking what the hell he was doing.
I let out a hollow laugh.
It seemed I had misjudged him.
I'd assumed that since he was a ronin, he'd be someone only interested in money.
With a serious face, I cupped my fist toward him and spoke again.
"I must apologize to Warrior Jang. You seem to be a far more honest man than I had thought, good sir. I am honored to be able to share this journey with such an excellent warrior."
At my praise, his face instead became startled.
"Y-yes? What? No, I was merely...."
"I am actually well aware of that horse's value. To be honest, I'm simply giving it to you because I know I won't be able to sell it for its proper price once I reach the frontlines anyway. I am also worried that if that horse remains mine, my will to run might weaken. So, considering it a matter of mutual assistance, would it be alright if, instead of giving that horse to you, Warrior Jang, I ask for some accommodations in the journey ahead?"
As I said that and extended my hand to him, he stared at my hand for a moment, then dismounted, grasped it firmly, and spoke.
"The Third Young Master is a completely different person from the rumors. I understand. Since you, young master, have paid a great price, we too shall do our utmost."
And so my running began.
From Guiyang in Guizhou Fortress to Yunnan Province.
Even going without rest on horseback, it was a distance that would take a good three days.
For the current me, it was certain to be tremendously difficult.
But I was convinced that this running would be the nourishment that would help me be born anew.
Yes, in this life, I would be different.
Definitely!
And after half a watch had passed.
I was collapsed face-down on the ground, vomiting.
"Uweeeeeek!"
Warrior Jang patted my back with a pitiful look in his eyes and spoke.
"Young master. You aren't perhaps doing this because you don't want to go, are you?"
"What are you saying, uweeeeeek!"
A short while later, I got up again, but this time, unable to go even half of a half-watch, I collapsed once more and had to lie sprawled out on the ground like the character for 'big.'
The sky was looking yellow.
"Haah, haah, haah."
Seeing the ronin glance sidelong with pitiful eyes at the horse I had sold them, they seemed to be wondering whether that horse was actually worth that much.
It was deeply embarrassing, but it was dozens of times more difficult than it was embarrassing, so I couldn't help it.
At that moment, suddenly, a handkerchief was held out beneath the yellow-tinted sky.
"Huh?"
Startled, I turned my head to see some young lady holding out a handkerchief to me.
It was that young lady with her bangs completely covering her eyes, the one who had been with Miss Jegal.
She said to me.
"Wipe your sweat."
Her tone was flat and emotionless, without highs or lows, but somehow the cheeks visible beneath her bangs seemed to be flushed red.
...Was I imagining it?
Anyway, in that moment when embarrassment overwhelmed my exhaustion, I mustered all my strength to raise my body and said to her.
"Uuugh! It's Miss Cheongyeon. I've shown you a pathetic sight."
Then she asked with a surprised expression.
"You... know me?"
I answered her question with an awkward smile.
"Yesterday, I heard Miss Jegal call your name."
"Ah, it really is your memory."
Muttering that, she held out the handkerchief again and said.
"Wipe. I have several, so you can just keep it."
She held it out so matter-of-factly that it felt awkward to refuse.
Instinctively, I took the handkerchief and roughly wiped my sweat.
Then she spoke again.
"Hang in there. I'll be rooting for you."
And with that, she turned around and walked away.
How should I put it, it felt like something had swept through in a rush.
More like a natural phenomenon than a person?
Anyway, it was the first moment in my two lives that I'd received a handkerchief from a woman.
The feeling was strange.
Once she disappeared, the ronin who had been watching also burst into cheers.
"Ohhh! Young Master Seonwoo! You're amazing!"
"To receive a handkerchief from a woman who seems so beautiful, I'm envious!"
What a strange thing to say.
If she's beautiful, she's beautiful. 'Seems so beautiful,' indeed.
Well, I guessed it couldn't be helped since you could only see half her face.
Of course, it was definitely not what they were imagining.
Because I knew my place far too well to misunderstand that young lady's actions.
How pathetic must I have looked for her to do that.
She seemed to be a very kind young lady.
'Well, even so, it is true that it makes my shoulders puff up a bit.'
To have my shoulders swell with pride in front of others thanks to a woman — now that I thought about it, this feeling too was a first in my two lives.
Suddenly feeling a surge of strength, I sprang up again and shouted spiritedly.
"Now, let us go again!"
The ronin answered my burning fighting spirit with cheers.
"Ohhhh!"
Of course, this time too, I couldn't last half a watch.
"Uweeeeeek!"
The ronin warriors were now staring at the sky with faces that had given up.
After repeating a cycle of going a bit and resting for a long while, going a bit more and resting for a long while, by around lunchtime we had barely managed to get out of Guiyang.
Seeing the ronin struggling to suppress their irritation, giving them the horse seemed, even upon reflection, to have been a truly well-made decision.
Warrior Jang shouted.
"Alright, let's eat before we go! It looks like we'll be having many meals outdoors anyway!"
Hmm, that was clearly meant for me to hear.
I felt sheepish.
With my head turned away from them, I opened the bundle Yeon-ha had given me.
Small, prettily shaped rice balls came into view.