Laying the Foundation
Seo-ah descended from the mountain and headed straight for the living quarters. The sun had already vanished beyond the horizon, painting the sky in deep, bruised shades of red. It meant the day had come to a perfect end. Ordinarily, her daily routine would have concluded long before the sky signaled the coming of night, so today had been an exceptionally long one. Had it been her usual self, she would have been grumbling about not being able to lie in bed longer, but today was an exception. She had seized an unexpected opportunity during her conversation with No-ya. It was an exchange of value that couldn't possibly be compared to the mere comfort of a bed.
'I hope night comes quickly.'
Only when everyone was asleep could she study the martial arts manual in peace, without having to worry about prying eyes. It felt as though the arrival of night was taking an eternity. By the time Seo-ah reached the quarters, the moon had already begun to peek over the horizon. And there was So-so, who jumped up from her bed and came running toward her.
"Hey! Why are you so late? You had me worried sick..."
"What? Were you waiting for me?"
"Of course I was! If someone like you, who doesn't even have a single friend, suddenly disappears, what else am I supposed to think? Oh, don't tell me you got kidnapped? Should I tell the Head Maid? But the sun hasn't fully set yet... should I wait a little longer? I was so anxious I couldn't even rest properly."
So-so rambled on, clearly genuinely worried. A small part of Seo-ah felt a sting of annoyance at the mention of having no friends, and she briefly debated whether to speak up. She decided to keep her mouth shut. It wasn't because So-so was right about her failing to make friends since arriving at the Cult—absolutely not. No-ya could be considered a friend, in a way... and then there was... well, it wasn't her fault that the other children had such low mental ages that she couldn't hold a conversation with them. It was unavoidable. Besides, So-so had been the one to cling to her first, just like the children in the village.
Whether So-so sensed her internal monologue or not, she continued with a determined expression.
"So, where do you keep going every day after work without saying a word?"
"Um... that's..."
"Wait! Don't try to change the subject again. I need an answer this time."
Seo-ah pressed her lips together. Her meetings with No-ya weren't exactly a state secret, but... what good would come from everyone knowing? To be precise, it was obvious that flaunting a connection with a member of the True Cult would make her life as a maid much easier, but it would do nothing for her relationship with No-ya. He was a man of many secrets who disliked even revealing his own name... he certainly wouldn't enjoy being the center of attention. That was likely the very reason he chose such a secluded spot on the back mountain.
Just as Seo-ah was choosing her words to deflect the question, a sharp, venomous voice pierced the air from behind her.
"Hey!"
Seo-ah turned her head toward the sound. A slightly... no, a very plump maid was approaching her. The maid was one of the protagonists of a story mentioned during her talk with No-ya—a detestable peer who enjoyed mocking Seo-ah in front of the seniors. Seo-ah spoke.
"Dan-ryang? What is it?"
"You're still scheduled to go to the Gyomaguan tomorrow, right?"
"That's right."
So-so, frustrated that she hadn't gotten the answer she wanted due to Dan-ryang's sudden appearance, glared sharply at her. Dan-ryang, of course, didn't even flinch.
"What's your problem? Oh? Now that I think about it, you're going to the Gyomaguan too, right? Listen up."
So-so, having no desire to engage with the ill-tempered Dan-ryang, simply crossed her arms and gave a curt nod. Dan-ryang opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, as if wanting to say something to So-so.
"Hmph. Never mind. Forget it, just listen. The Head Maid said that tomorrow's schedule starts at the Hour of the Dragon (approx. 8:00 AM), not the Hour of the Rabbit (approx. 6:00 AM)."
"What? Suddenly... the Hour of the Dragon? Are you sure?"
Seo-ah asked back, caught off guard by the sudden change in schedule. The distance to the Gyomaguan wasn't short enough to afford such leisure. Not if they wanted to arrive within the allotted time, at least.
Upon hearing this, Dan-ryang began to huff and puff, suddenly growing angry.
"Are you saying I'm lying right now?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"Then are you saying the Head Maid is lying?!"
As Dan-ryang raised her voice, Seo-ah watched the thick layers of fat on her face quiver. She suppressed the urge to strike the girl for making a scene and pushing her around. When Seo-ah remained silent, Dan-ryang, sensing she was being doubted, grew even more incensed.
"I'm going to tell everyone you didn't believe the Head Maid! I'm going to tell them!"
There was nothing to be gained from arguing with that wretched lump of flesh. She was the type who would fawn over the seniors and the Head Maid, constantly painting Seo-ah and So-so as incompetent. They had tried to explain themselves several times in the face of her clever wordplay, but it was useless. Seo-ah and So-so were outsiders—people bought from outside the Cult. Dan-ryang, though a low-level martial artist, was a "born-and-bred" member with a father who was a true disciple. Blood is thicker than water, and it was inevitable that the scales would tip toward Dan-ryang, who knew how to flatter them, rather than Seo-ah.
Thus, Seo-ah uttered words she didn't mean to appease the angry girl.
"Ahem. Dan-ryang, don't get so worked up. It's just... I was only a little upset that the Head Maid told you first. Wow... I'm envious. It means you have the Head Maid's trust, doesn't it? As expected of you, Dan-ryang."
Dan-ryang's mood seemed to lift at the praise. She nodded with a smug expression and said,
"That's... that's right. Because I'm the one who has the Head Maid's trust. Don't you dare talk back to me from now on. Got it?"
"Mm. I know, I know."
"Good. Tomorrow, by the Hour of the Dragon."
With that, Dan-ryang stepped out of the room to attend to her business. Once she was left alone with So-so again, So-so asked once more,
"So... where do you go after work?"
It took quite a while for Seo-ah to shake So-so off.
In the dead of night, when everyone was fast asleep, Seo-ah confirmed that the room was quiet before slipping out into the darkness. Under the starlight, she pulled out a book she had carefully tucked away in her robes. It was the martial arts manual she had received from No-ya. The cover bore only the single character, Gi (). Given that it meant "foundation," it wasn't hard to guess the book's purpose. No, since he had used the Three Treasures Heart Method as an example, it was obviously an introductory text for martial arts.
Seo-ah began to read, using the starlight as her candle.
'Martial arts...'
She felt her heart pounding like a drum. In any era, the wall of social status had always existed. It had been the same in her modern life, though the boundaries were faint and the walls thin. She believed everyone would agree that such walls existed. In the era she lived in now, however, those walls were thicker, and for those in the lower classes like her, they were far more cruel.
Reading this book, memories of the time when she had been reincarnated for about eight years flashed through her mind. A martial artist affiliated with a black-path faction had once visited the village. The sight of him ransacking every shop in the village, demanding money... what should she call it? To her, accustomed to the modern world, it had been a massive shock. She still couldn't forget the sight of the heads of those who had put up a minor struggle flying through the air.
'Ah. This place is different from the world I lived in.'
That was the first time she had truly realized her position. Unlike the modern world, the lives of those in the lower classes like her were treated as... mere straw. She felt, to her core, that unlike in her previous life, she could not be satisfied with her current standing. Having died once, Seo-ah had realized the value of life early on. How could she guarantee that she wouldn't end up like them one day?
She had to climb. At least enough to protect her own body. She had to seize the opportunity. If a lifeline were ever lowered to her, she needed the strength to grab it. After that incident, she had hung around the village school, stealing glimpses of lessons. Though she couldn't afford a proper education, she had learned to read.
'Because I gained the strength to grab the lifeline.'
If she hadn't learned even a little bit of reading back then, the opportunity to learn this martial art would surely have slipped through her fingers.
Seo-ah swallowed a sigh of relief. If she became No-ya's disciple and learned martial arts, even if she only reached the level of a first-class... no, even a second-class martial artist, her life would surely change. She could leap over the thick wall of status, be granted the status of a True Cult disciple, and perhaps one day, she would even have the chance to wear the clothes of the Head Maid, which had once seemed so impossibly high.
'No, let's not get my hopes up too high.'
Seo-ah calmed her racing heart. 'Let's admit it. I have no talent. Let's not have vain expectations. If I had talent, I would have already entered the Gyomaguan with those other kids. So... let's not expect too much. Let's put aside the thought of becoming No-ya's disciple. Let's put aside the expectation that I can quickly break down this thick wall of status.'
For now, it was enough. If she could just put a crack in this thick wall. If she were given even the smallest glimmer of hope, it was enough.
Seo-ah sat cross-legged in the grass.
'Inhale... exhale... inhale...'
She began to regulate her breathing. She struggled to perceive the existence of Qi, the foundation of martial arts, the basis of breathing techniques. To seize the opportunity. Seo-ah closed her eyes and remained motionless for hours. Just as the book instructed, she simply inhaled and exhaled.
She felt nothing. She crushed the doubts that kept blooming in her heart. Before she knew it, time had passed, and the red sun began to rise slowly over the horizon. Darkness retreated, signaling a new beginning on the earth. Seo-ah squinted at the faint but bright light. Although she hadn't slept a wink, a sense of relief and a smile lingered on her face rather than fatigue. She could clearly feel something ticklish moving in and out of her body.
"Whew..."
'I can sleep for an hour or two, right?'
Seo-ah headed back to the quarters.
"Seniors! Seo-ah and So-so are here!"
With a hollow expression, Seo-ah turned her head toward the voice. Beyond her heavy, drooping eyelids, Dan-ryang, looking a bit... very plump, was staring at her with a triumphant expression.
'Is it already the Hour of the Dragon?'
It felt like she hadn't even been lying down for an hour.
"The two who were slacking off in secret are right here!"
What?