Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Why Are You Being So Affectionate Today?
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After the upheaval with the Dragon Slaughter Squad, Yu So-myung stayed at the mountain stronghold and didn't leave.
No one had specifically told her not to go, and she had chosen to remain of her own accord.
And the reason she stayed was...
"Th-thank you, Miss."
"......"
...to take care of the surviving members of the Dragon Slaughter Squad who had been taken prisoner.
The boss had ordered them spared for now, but the other bandits weren't even giving them the bare minimum treatment as prisoners.
If anything, the atmosphere was one where they hoped the prisoners' wounds would fester from neglect or that they'd starve to death.
Since no one else would look after them, Yu So-myung had no choice but to step up. Seen as an acquaintance of the boss, even as a righteous sect warrior, the other bandits didn't interfere, allowing her to move freely.
In that way, she bought medicine and bandages in the stronghold, treated the prisoners' wounds, fetched food, and handled their meals.
Watching this, the bandits were displeased, while the Dragon Slaughter Squad members...
"We will never forget this kindness..."
"......"
...seemed deeply moved and praised her.
Yu So-myung, the Upright Sword of the Western Mountains Yu Clan.
The Western Mountains Yu Clan was already renowned for her gentle and compassionate nature, but rumors had spread even in her young age that she already possessed such a kind heart.
Seeing her like this, the Dragon Slaughter Squad members found hope that they could escape this hellish place.
But...
"It's not kindness. Don't say that. I was just doing what needed to be done."
"Even humble as well..."
"It's not humility."
...her eyes as she looked at them were chillingly cold.
"It's merely the duty of a human being. Even criminals who have committed sins can't be left to die before a proper judgment is passed."
"Pri-prisoners..."
At Yu So-myung's cold gaze and the word "prisoners" from her mouth, the Dragon Slaughter Squad members froze in place.
And toward them like that, Yu So-myung asked,
"Did you all... not know about Company Leader Dugu's crimes? No... that can't be. Let me rephrase. Even knowing about Company Leader Dugu's crimes, was there really no one who stepped forward?"
"......"
No one could open their mouths at her question.
Because there was no one. They had all known and turned a blind eye.
However, they had their excuses too.
All the Dragon Slaughter Squad members came from vassal families of the Dugu Clan. Rebelling against him wouldn't just mean bloodshed for them—it would extend to their families.
That was why they had all stayed silent despite knowing Dugu Yeong was in the wrong.
'We had no choice either, under Dugu Yeong's threats and pressure.'
One member opened his mouth to speak on behalf of the others...
"W-We too..."
"Enough."
...but Yu So-myung just shook her head as if she didn't want to hear it.
"Is there an excuse that can justify the sin of standing by in the face of injustice and evil? I don't want to hear it. And why are you seeking forgiveness from me?"
She stabbed at their hearts with words devoid of even a shred of mercy.
"All judgments will be made by the Murim Alliance. Save your words for when you return there. And... I will testify in the Murim Alliance about everything I've heard here."
"Mi-Miss-!"
The Murim Alliance's rules were as heavy as a thousand tons, especially regarding matters of justice.
If it came out that they had stood by while innocent civilians were dying, the Murim Alliance's fury would be like the vast sea.
Execution. Or perhaps expulsion after their dantians were crippled.
Realizing this, the pale-faced Dragon Slaughter Squad members prostrated themselves on the floor like dogs despite their bound bodies, begging.
"Miss-! We were wrong-! We'll spend the rest of our lives in remorse-!"
"Please forgive us-! Miss-!!"
But Yu So-myung turned her back immediately, unwilling to see their ugly display.
"Miss-!!"
Even after she stepped out and fully closed the door behind her, their cries continued.
**
After feeding the Dragon Slaughter Squad members, Yu So-myung headed to her quarters.
Thanks to First Dragon's consideration as someone she at least had some familiarity with, she was using the second-best room in the stronghold after Mu-yeon's.
'I'm tired...'
Seeing the ugly side of people from the Murim Alliance's martial force—once comrades and role models—was mentally exhausting.
She quickened her steps, feeling the urge to just lie down.
But then...
"Tsk tsk."
"Feeding those bastards again, huh."
...as she moved, she overheard some muttering.
Looking around at the sound, she saw a few bandits glaring at her with fierce eyes.
"Why's that righteous sect bitch still hanging around instead of leaving?"
"No shame."
The emotions in their eyes were disgust and hostility.
...It was understandable.
They had lost comrades in this incident, and the mountain path was a total mess.
While Yu So-myung understood them...
"......Ugh."
Their murderous glares were burdensome. Facing such clear hostility for the first time in her life, she didn't know what to do.
Step-.
So she changed direction. Going to bed like this would just lead to restless dreams.
She wanted to swing her sword instead and clear her mind.
Step-.
The place she headed to was an open clearing.
It was overgrown with bushes on the way, and late at night, no one would come, so she drew her sword and unfolded her swordsmanship there.
Swish-.
Naturally, the swordsmanship she displayed was the Flowing Petal Sword Art. The lost Flowing Petal Sword Art, now on the path to restoration thanks to Mu-yeon's help.
Slash-!
Since grasping the knack of this sword art, she had practiced it without fail every single day. Moreover, the long-lost Flowing Petal Sword Art fit her flexible and soft body like a glove.
Slash-!!
'Here, stretch the hand out more like this...!'
Even similar forms required establishing new subtleties in the swordsmanship, so she researched her sword every day. Thanks to that..., meaningful growth was felt in her martial prowess.
Slash-!
She had changed. Her sword had grown.
All of this had happened after meeting Mu-yeon.
She had come to find him to draw out that change further, to properly confirm her feelings toward him.
And..., this time too, there had been some change.
Slash-!
Distrust toward the Murim Alliance, and questions about justice.
What was true justice, and was the Murim Alliance heading down the right path now?
Slash-!
Was the Murim Alliance truly stagnating and rotting in place?
Slash-!!
If so..., what should she do?
Slash-!
"Haa..., haa..."
While unfolding the forms, she grew exhausted and sat down on the spot. Sweat beaded like dewdrops, her body filled with fatigue, but the heart demon showed no sign of abating.
Confusing.
Just..., confusing.
It was then.
Rustle-.
"...!"
At the sign of someone approaching, Yu So-myung startled to her feet. But...
"Hey."
...seeing the face of the other person, she immediately relaxed and didn't draw her sword.
The one who appeared in the clearing was none other than Mu-yeon. He had been down in town handling aftermath matters these past few days, so it had been a while since she'd seen him.
"......"
Even though it had been a while, she couldn't easily greet him.
Because she still felt awkward around him since their last parting.
But Mu-yeon approached her as if none of that mattered and asked,
"Practicing, huh? Did I interrupt?"
"Ah, no, it's not that..."
"If it's okay, mind if I watch?"
It wasn't polite to watch a warrior's practice, but it didn't matter to him anyway.
Wanting to shake off the current awkwardness too..., she showed him the form she had just been practicing.
Shing-, ching-!
"Oh."
He let out a small sound of admiration and quietly watched her sword.
"In that second form earlier, instead of fully extending the arm, like this..."
When it ended, he even gave some advice in his own way.
And once all the movements were done...
"......"
"......"
Silence returned once more. And the one to break it first was Yu So-myung.
"...Sorry."
"For what?"
"For what the Murim Alliance did this time.... I have no right, but..., I still wanted to apologize."
The strongest emotion she felt from this incident was shame.
That her Murim Alliance comrades had done such things, and that she belonged to the Murim Alliance—it was truly shameful.
She bowed her head with those feelings, and Mu-yeon watched her quietly before speaking.
**
Looking down at the crown of Yu So-myung's head, I felt a bit conflicted.
Honestly, she wasn't at fault in this incident. So it was hard for me to speak.
"Miss, it's not your fault."
"However..."
"It's the Murim Alliance's fault. You're part of the Murim Alliance. That's what you were going to say, right?"
"......"
She seemed to agree and closed her mouth.
"Anyway, the Murim Alliance bastards are all flash and no substance. They only know how to put on airs of hypocrisy while rotting inside."
"...You're probably right. The Murim Alliance is rotting..."
"But not everyone is rotten."
"...What?"
Not expecting me to say that, Yu So-myung looked at me with a startled tone. I decided to tell her the truth.
"I heard the Murim Alliance is sending Sword Hero Yu Jeong as the representative for this incident."
"Yu- Sword Hero Yu Jeong..., my dad?"
"Dad?"
"Ah, no, father."
Yu So-myung tried to correct herself late, but I had already heard her call him "dad." It's a term not usually used in prestigious families, so they must be really close.
"They say the head of the Western Mountains Yu Clan dotes on his daughter that much..."
"No, it's just..., we- we're close.... But why bring that up?"
At her question, I grinned and answered.
"There are still many in the Murim Alliance overflowing with justice like your dad.... That's what I wanted to say."
"Ah..."
This wasn't empty words—it was sincere.
He's not called Sword Hero Yu Jeong for nothing. His sense of justice and character were fully verifiable even in the novel.
"There are still many like your father in the Murim Alliance, so keep them close, weed out bastards like Dugu Yeong, and move forward. You're walking the model path of righteousness, so once you reach the end of that road, the Murim Alliance will naturally return to its proper place."
"......"
"You're doing plenty well right now."
Listening to me, she stared blankly for a moment before asking,
"...How can you be so sure I'm walking the model path of righteousness?"
Because I read the novel.
Unable to say that, I smiled and replied.
"Because I'm walking the model path of the demonic way. You're on the complete opposite road."
"What? Pfft..."
My words amused her, and she smiled to herself for a bit before looking at me and saying,
"...If someone else said it, I'd just take it at face value."
"......"
"Why does it feel so comforting when you say it..."
Her eyes were a bit misty as she said that. Like the face she made that day when she confessed her feelings to me.
Okay. The mood is good.
I took a deep breath and parted my lips to say the line I'd prepared.
But then...
"This is weird.... Why are you being so affectionate to me today?"
...Yu So-myung spoke first.
More than feeling preempted, her words rang in my ears.
Why so affectionate today...
"Was it obvious?"
"...You're so different from usual."
"Was I too overtly affectionate..."
She was right. Today, I intentionally comforted her and treated her gently on purpose.
There was a major reason I was acting this way today.
Dragging it out now that it's all out in the open would just cause problems in its own way.
I took her right hand with my left.
"...!"
I felt her flinch, but as long as I didn't grip too hard to hurt, she didn't pull away.
"I told you. Your father's coming this time."
"...So?"
"Let's go down together and meet your father. And I'll say it boldly."
"What does that..."
Looking at her bewildered expression, I pulled out the heavy object from my pocket.
"...!!!"
The moment she saw it, Yu So-myung's face grew even more flustered.
"Wh-what's this for...?"
"Figured it'd be necessary."
"Wh-what do you mean necessary?"
"So-myung, I need you."
I placed the prepared item in her hand and said,
"Become my hostage."
"......?"
And before she could react, I twisted her right wrist with my left hand and bound it.