The Healer’s Wished-For Guard
Tae Jeong-heon’s hands flew across the reports with lightning speed.
*If I keep doing this, my position will become rock-solid.*
Thanks to the discovery of suspicious points in the deputy minister’s past work hidden in the military department, he had pushed aside the multiple superiors above him and risen to the post of deputy minister.
Standing now under those who had once been his superiors, Tae Jeong-heon felt a heavy sense of responsibility to make the deputy minister role his own.
Since this task was fully within his authority, he resolved to finish it quickly and earn a favorable impression from Yuseong, and even more so from Jegal Yeong-yeong.
*What should I do?*
Namgung Yurin felt lost.
The information she had caught from Yuseong had led her to apply for an additional guard at the Magic Alliance, only for her wish to remain unfulfilled.
Switching support to another location and waiting for a transfer was another option, but it would mean staying apart from Yuseong until a vacancy opened at the Magic Alliance.
*If that’s the only way, I’ll have to try it…*
It was a bitter thought.
Yet when she appeared slightly downcast, a person from the military department came to her.
“Deputy Minister Tae Jeong-heon wishes to ask the young miss’s intentions.”
A special recruitment proposal had arrived through the deputy minister’s direct authority!
*An additional guard position at the Magic Alliance? Of course I’m happy. I really wanted this.*
“Is that so? Then I shall convey the message to the deputy minister.”
The worry that had lingered since Yuseong had said he would look into a method was now cleared away.
*As expected… Master Yuseong is the best.*
Jegal Yeong-yeong woke early that morning.
No headache plagued her and no nightmare disturbed her sleep, leaving her refreshed.
She naturally slipped on her outer robe and stepped out of the bedroom.
A maid waiting outside to attend to the early-rising Jegal Yeong-yeong dozed against the wall, nodding off.
The maid jolted awake upon sensing the gaze fixed upon her.
Startled by the intense stare from Jegal Yeong-yeong, she bowed deeply and apologized.
“G-Gahya! I-I’m so sorry! I must have fallen asleep without realizing it!”
The maid fidgeted, having been caught dozing before.
Although Jegal Yeong-yeong did not scold her, the stern glare that followed was far scarier than any punishment would have been.
*If only she had scolded me outright, I could have felt better…*
Even without a word, the maid spent the entire day berating herself for the lapse.
Yet.
“Oh, it’s fine. It happens. You’ve been working so hard lately, haven’t you? I’ll hire one more person so you can rest a bit longer.”
Jegal Yeong-yeong’s gentle voice stroked the maid’s heart, and her smile was bright.
*Thanks to the return of the young master… I’m so grateful, Young Master Yuseong!*
The longtime maid who had served Jegal Yeong-yeong from close range understood better than anyone how Yuseong’s presence had changed her mistress, yet she never spoke of it.
“Thank you, Young Miss. Ah, I have prepared the water.”
“Thank you.”
Jegal Yeong-yeong left for the bath. The maid leaned against the chair and massaged her arms.
*If Young Master Yuseong is at the Murim Alliance every day, I have to fetch water, which tires me out… but it’s better than this relaxed heart.*
Jegal Yeong-yeong washed herself with the precious items brought from the Western Regions, paying special attention to her hair.
She was, after all, a princess.
Next, after finishing her meal, she opened the ancient book of array formations.
When the mysterious power pulled her mind away, an entire day’s study progress vanished in an instant.
She had once heard that even with the same time investment, results varied by person. Yet when she tallied the hours, Jegal Yeong-yeong clearly belonged to the top tier.
Still, she was not satisfied.
*There is still so much to learn, yet it is too painful. The only way is to master it quickly.*
If only this headache would disappear forever, she added more study time.
She had something to believe in.
The headache worsened, yet Yuseong’s treatment was slowly easing the pain.
It was far better than enduring it alone.
She greeted the young master at the Magic Alliance with a soft smile.
She had always harbored strong affection for him, but the smile he showed after returning from the Namgung family carried a different feeling.
She could not explain it exactly.
*My heart is pounding harder. Why?*
Whether it was her own feelings growing or some other cause, she could not tell.
Even when there was work to do, she always chatted with him a little before diving into tasks.
Sometimes his face lingered in her mind, leaving her dazed.
“…Lord.”
“…Deputy.”
“Chief Minister?”
Jegal Yeong-yeong snapped back to awareness as Deputy Minister Tae Jeong-heon stood before her.
A capable subordinate who worked diligently and understood her moods, earning her high regard.
*Again I have been lost in thoughts of the young master.*
Jegal Yeong-yeong gave a subtle self-reproach, showing no outward sign as she met the eyes of her favored subordinate.
“Any report?”
“Yes. But what are you thinking about that makes you smile like that?”
“Ah… Did I smile?”
“Yes, you look quite pleased. As if…”
“As if what?”
Tae Jeong-heon, unable to say to his superior that she resembled a girl in love, moved on to the main matter.
“By the way, I handled one matter using my authority yesterday.”
A post-report was required even for matters within one’s authority.
He handed over the relevant report.
It stated that Namgung Yurin had been assigned to the Magic Alliance as an additional guard.
Jegal Yeong-yeong’s eyes scanned the report at high speed.
Tae Jeong-heon puffed out his chest.
*The young master has managed so many tasks so skillfully that the operating funds assigned to the Magic Alliance are ample. Adding one more guard is an easy matter.*
When he sent someone to ask Namgung Yurin, she had accepted immediately. Since she had also said she truly wanted the position, there was no hesitation.
A wall poster announcing the new special recruitment had already been posted.
*I have fulfilled the young master’s every request perfectly. The chief minister will surely praise me.*
Tae Jeong-heon waited with high expectations for Jegal Yeong-yeong’s reply.
Yet.
“…It’s already finished.”
Jegal Yeong-yeong’s voice carried a strange heaviness.
*Did I misread? Yesterday she looked happy. Just now she was smiling.*
No matter how he thought, he had done nothing wrong.
Tae Jeong-heon assumed she had misunderstood and spoke confidently.
“Yes! The young master came and requested it, so I handled the special recruitment with special care!”
“…What did you say just now?”
“The young master…”
When Tae Jeong-heon realized she might have misheard and began repeating himself, an inexplicable chill crawled over his entire body.
*Why?*
“Shouldn’t I go visit the Magic Alliance for a moment?”
Yuseong could fix everything.
Trembling from the unknown chill, he continued the report.
“The young master came and wished to hire Namgung Yurin as a guard at the Magic Alliance. So I processed it quickly.”
He emphasized that he had handled the work well.
“…I understand. You may go.”
The voice sounded even heavier now.
He had to leave, yet the regret lingered.
*…My praise?*
She had always insisted on clear rewards and punishments, yet here she was sending him away without even a simple thank you.
For a man who had worked hard these days just for the joy of hearing her compliments, it was disappointing.
He discreetly observed her.
Their eyes met.
“Huh!”
Tae Jeong-heon’s heart plummeted.
When facing the eyes of a fierce beast that would tear him apart, the feeling must be like this.
Fear.
That was the emotion he had just faced.
Only then did Tae Jeong-heon realize something was wrong.
“I-I will take my leave.”
The matter was already in his hands. Gathering his senses, he fled the chief minister’s office in a panic.
***
Namgung Yurin’s identity had already been verified.
Even if there had been any suspicious details, she was thorough enough that they had been checked in advance.
And if the Magic Alliance doctor revealed her true identity, she was fully prepared to be accepted without delay.
*After visiting the family, I want to apply to join the Murim Alliance.*
She had already informed the Murim Academy side that she would apply for the additional guard position, so Deputy Minister Tae Jeong-heon had no obstacles to presenting her.
The result was swift.
“Welcome back, Yurin.”
Namgung Yurin had joined the Murim Alliance in the blink of an eye and become a guard of the Magic Alliance, entering the hall with a bright smile.
She had once held the duty of Magic Alliance guard during her Murim Academy days and greeted the people there with genuine warmth.
While the servants and the others, including Jong Jin, bowed and greeted her in turn, Jang Chil ran over and bowed deeply.
“I will work with you from now on!”
Though his enthusiastic greeting left her puzzled, the guards already assigned to the Magic Alliance also welcomed her warmly.
“You’ve come. Thanks to you, work will become much easier.”
Murim Alliance guards did not sit idle all day. Training was essential to grow stronger.
Rotational duty was the rule.
With more guards at the Magic Alliance, the already tolerable workload had become even more comfortable with Yurin’s arrival, so their warm welcome was only natural.
Namgung Yurin adapted to the Magic Alliance quickly. Every time the clinic door opened, she would exchange glances with Yuseong, who always sat straight across from her.
*Working here is so much fun.*
Working in the same space as someone whose heart matched yours was the best.
After the day’s work ended, Yuseong asked Namgung Yurin to speak with him.
He needed her help to practice the sustained healing and recovery skills.
*And if I healed her, the amount of divine power gained would have been significant.*
If he had not, she might have died helpless, so it was only natural.
He had requested the method first, which might have reduced the effect, but there was no help for it.
Yet.
“Yuseong-ssi, could you possibly help me a little?”
Namgung Yurin spoke first.