Seola's Unyielding Resolve (1)
“…Sis, where are you?”
The morning sun beating down felt as feeble as her own weakened aura.
“Come out, Sis!!!”
Thud, thud, thud. The sound of heavy footsteps climbing the wooden stairs of the inn echoed up.
The noise stopped right in front of her door, and without so much as a knock, it burst open.
“Namgung Yeona! What the hell have you done?”
She'd never felt particularly close to her little sister.
But at least she'd never crossed lines in how she addressed her before. Now, hearing her speak so casually like that, it felt like today she was especially on edge.
Normally, Yeona might have tolerated her cat-like sister's attitude with some leniency, but ever since that day, her own fragile spirit lacked the spare capacity to indulge it.
If Namgung Yeona embodied the warmth and coziness of spring, Namgung Seola was the embodiment of winter—cold and aloof.
She'd always put off mingling with outsiders, claiming she had things to do. For her to make time to appear at a gathering of the younger generation from the Namgung family was exceedingly rare. Without some crucial trigger this time, she probably wouldn't have shown up at all.
“What happened to big bro? I heard everything. Tell me the truth.”
“…”
Yeona turned away without a word in response to her sister's sudden interrogation, simply rolling over in bed.
Seeing that irresponsible attitude, Seola, who had been fuming, yanked off the blanket her sister had pulled over her head and forcibly hauled her up by the shoulders.
“Have you completely lost your mind, Sis? How could you do that to him...? No, did you even approach that bastard knowing his reputation? Say something, damn it...!”
“Stop it! I'm suffering too! Why are you making a fuss like this?!”
She tried to swat away her sister's hands, but they gripped like iron vices—she couldn't shake them off. All she could do was tremble and avert her eyes while enduring the pain.
Seeing her sister's expression, Seola clenched her teeth and swallowed something bitter inside.
“…I know your personality well, Sis. I don't think you did it on purpose. But you shouldn't have done it! Because...”
She started to spill her inner thoughts but clamped down hard, letting out a heavy sigh instead. There was no way her timid sister would have pulled off something like that on her own impulse. Someone must have put the wind up her sails. Still, Seola couldn't bring herself to understand her own flesh and blood.
How could I have given him up, and for whose sake? How could she throw away her own worth like this?
She'd always lived trapped in envy. That's why she'd deliberately kept her distance from the two of them.
Following the saying that distance in body leads to distance in heart—
‘Seola really is an amazing girl.’
‘No matter what others say, I know how hard you work. I want to learn from you.’
But the farther their bodies grew apart, the more those thoughts swelled in her heart, shimmering like heat haze.
Why? Was that saying wrong? Why did her heart grow bigger the farther their bodies drifted?
She just couldn't let go. So despite wanting to slap her own blood kin for dragging things to this point, Seola—who had reached the realm of masters faster than any other in the younger generation of Namgung—knew that even a light tap might cause serious harm to her already haggard sister.
—It never made sense to begin with.
Harmony was key, after all. Like the balance of yin and yang, sun and moon, lovers suited each other best when one was introverted and the other extroverted.
Two introverts together? No wonder this happened. She was convinced of it.
“I don't believe it. That Yujin oppa is dead—I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes.”
With that, she clutched the precious item always on her wrist tight against her chest.
Ouch.
Her wrist was swollen thick despite the pain she could never voice to anyone—born timid, she couldn't even show it outwardly.
Unlike her sister, who had everything handed to her on a platter just by existing, Seola harbored quiet resentment inside.
Still, she'd endured the agony in silence, swinging her sword. Maybe if she achieved something, someone would notice. But no one paid her any mind.
Change came one day in the form of a boy amid that endless routine.
Unlike her, who spent every day hacking at straw dummies with her sword, he followed her sister around, eyes drinking in flowers, scenery, all things beautiful.
Yeah, he's just like the rest of the family. But she no longer envied her sister like before. She'd grown numb to it...
Lost in those thoughts, she didn't notice him approaching.
Huh?
Thud. Suddenly he was blocking her path, and she smacked right into his shoulder.
…S-s-sorry!
At such a tiny blunder, she'd bow her head in shame and try to flee, but—
‘Is your wrist okay?’
His voice stopped her. It was nothing big, but that small concern drew her in instantly.
This is bad. It was just a passing comment. She tried to convince herself.
She figured she'd forget that boy quickly.
But a few days later, when they crossed paths again, his gaze was fixed not on her sister, but on her.
Seola tried her best to ignore it.
‘W-wait a sec.’
But her meager efforts crumbled at his single word, leaving her flustered enough to stammer.
‘Wh-wh-what... What's up?’
She wished for a hole to hide in, but he showed no sign of discomfort.
Was he being considerate? Regardless, he pulled something from his pocket and handed it straight to her.
‘Thought this might help. Made it on a whim.’
Then he walked off. She almost called him back, but he was already gone.
Only then did she examine what he'd given her.
…A brace?
A small one, padded with leather and silk—sized and shaped perfectly for her wrist. Why on earth give this to me?
…He was actually paying attention.
She'd dismissed it as a throwaway line, but apparently not.
Her sister mentioned it later in passing: that's just how he was. If someone nearby was struggling, he'd want to help, even if it was beyond his power.
That must have been when it started. When she opened her heart to him. After that, they hung out more often.
—Of course, with her sister by his side, Seola's place was always far in the back. She knew his eyes were fixed on her sister. There was no room for her to squeeze in.
So she cherished the memories alone.
Yes, this brace was proof—a treasure beyond any gold, jewels, or ancestral famed sword passed down in other clans.
Now, a voice of agreement came from her criminal of a sister, as if sullying those precious feelings.
“…I don't believe it either. He must be alive. He has to be, so I can apo—,”
“Apologize? Don't make me laugh. Some people don't even deserve the chance. Do you know what people are saying about Yujin oppa now? It's all because of you!”
He'd already carried so much distrust of the world. Even if he survived, just hearing the name Namgung would probably bring him to tears of blood and agony.
Despite her innocence, Seola worried that the mere shared surname would paint her with the same brush as her sister, like some guilt by association.
Still, she'd apologize on her behalf, over and over, until he accepted.
…Assuming he was alive and well, of course.
“I can't stand by anymore. Don't touch it. Even you, Sis—I won't let you this time.”
“Seola.”
Fuming like that, with nothing more to say, Seola slammed the door and stormed off.
Before, she'd lost him because she was young, because he liked her sister, because she was weak—always some excuse to justify being robbed.
…But not anymore.
Her achievements surpassed even the direct lineage's all-time greats; no one in the family could look down on her now.
Her body had grown enough for marriage, and her mind had matured to face any opposition without hesitation.
Yes, she wouldn't just keep losing anymore.
As she thudded back down the inn's lodging stairs, an ugly, repulsive face came into view, smirking at her.
This bastard—how dare he show up here? …Probably to see Namgung Yeona.
“…Fucking scum, just you wait. I won't let you off.”
“Aigoo, sister-in-law. First time meeting and your mouth's already so foul?”
“Who the hell is your sister-in-law?!”
She nearly exploded but took a breath and held it in. Her master would have praised her restraint today—multiple times she'd nearly flipped the place over. It was a narrow hallway anyway, so she shoved past Moyong Shin's shoulder, ignoring him.
“Unlike your sister, you're no fun at all. Makes me wanna kill you.”
He licked his lips, sending her a nauseating gaze.
Grinding her teeth, Seola wanted to smash that dog-face right then, but something more important came first. She had to find traces of big bro, and fast. Without looking back, she hurried out of the inn.
“Big bro, please... you have to be alive.”
Seola, who had held back tears so stoutly in front of her sister, let them well up as she headed to Hangzhou's scenic spot, Thousand Hands Cliff, where he'd fallen. Praying she'd find some sign of him—and that it wasn't too late.