Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Swordsman Without a Servant
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Flap flap—
The sound of enormous wings beating the air burrowed into my ears and Han Yuseol's as we hid ourselves behind a mountain of piled-up snow.
"More importantly, who are you? How did you even get here...?"
"I'm Yang Hayang. I got here thanks to a skill."
"A skill? I've never heard of a skill that lets you enter a gate that's already closed."
"I was pretty shocked myself."
Han Yuseol stared at me as if she couldn't believe it.
'You don't know your own skill?' her expression seemed to say.
But I was using it for the first time too, so what could I do?
"Is it some kind of unique skill?"
"No, it's not that. My unique skill... well, explaining it would take too long. You'd probably be better off checking my status window."
She looked puzzled at first but soon gave in to her curiosity and opened the status window.
I felt her flinch.
Then she looked at me with eyes full of disbelief.
Staring like that made me feel a bit awkward.
"A buffer, right?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"Incredible. Even among A-rank hunters, I've never seen buffs like these..."
Her pupils trembled as she meticulously examined her status window, her gaze slowly moving from top to bottom.
"More importantly, Sword Empress."
"Yes."
"Why did you come here alone?"
"...Even if you ask why, all I can say is because I'm a hunter."
So that's how you're going to play it.
But from her reaction just now, I felt a bit more confident in my guess.
"If you're a hunter, that makes it even less sense. A normal hunter wouldn't even think of entering a dangerous place like this alone."
"Not to brag, but I'm pretty strong."
"Everyone knows the Sword Empress is strong—that doesn't explain anything. By that logic, my uncle... no, Choi Geonwoo, isn't weak, yet he still parties up with others."
"......"
Han Yuseol averted her gaze, as if she had no comeback to my logic.
Not that she could argue—it was an obvious fact.
"Why did you do it?"
"No particular reason. If it's just me, even if I screw up, no one else gets hurt."
"So you're saying it doesn't matter if you die?"
"...You could put it that way."
I see.
Only then could I nod in understanding.
At the root of what seemed like bold courage in her reckless actions lay an emotion most people couldn't even imagine.
"Then the Sword Empress isn't brave. You're just not afraid of death."
"What's the difference?"
"It's different. Take firefighters—they're scared of death, but they charge into the flames because there's something they have to protect. Their courage overcomes the fear."
My tone might have sounded sharp.
But I wasn't trying to blame her.
On the contrary, if my guess was right, I wanted her to change her mindset, so I spoke as gently as I could to comfort her.
"But the Sword Empress thinks someone like you dying doesn't matter. Since death doesn't faze you anyway, there's no hesitation coming to a dangerous place like this. Am I wrong?"
"......"
The Sword Empress bit her lip without responding.
She didn't look angry.
Instead, she had the guilty, embarrassed expression of a kid caught playing a prank.
"You might get mad thinking a kid you just met knows nothing. If I'm wrong, I'll apologize. But if I'm right..."
I cautiously reached out and placed my hand over the back of the Sword Empress's hand as we sat side by side.
My hand was so small it felt more like resting than covering.
Her hand was incredibly cold.
Even without this blizzard-swept snowfield.
It felt like her hands might always be this way.
"Could you maybe tell me? Your story."
"This doesn't seem like the right situation."
"It's okay. Not now if you don't want. After we get out safely, whenever you feel like it."
"So you're confident we can take down that monster."
"Yes. If you and I team up."
It was definitely possible.
I looked up at her with eyes free of doubt,
and the Sword Empress met my gaze before shyly looking away.
Was she checking the ice dragon flying over the snow-covered mountains?
After a long silence, she finally spoke again.
"...If it's short, I can tell you now. It's nothing special anyway."
"Great. What kind of story is it?"
Even with the predator circling the skies, hunting for us.
I leaned naturally against the Sword Empress, as if listening to one of Grandma's old tales.
Her story that followed was simple.
And because it was so simple, it was heartbreaking.
I came to understand why she carried such emotional scars.
And why she had no choice but to walk her path alone.
"Sorry. For making you recall bad memories."
"No. I actually feel lighter somehow. I've never told anyone this story."
Yeah, I figured.
It's not something you'd share lightly, and probably not something you'd want to.
That's why, in a way, it was surprising.
Even with my request, for her to open up to a kid she'd just met.
Maybe she wanted to talk about it.
She seemed endlessly strong.
But really, she was barely moving forward while harboring this darkness.
Maybe she wanted someone to hold her.
I couldn't be sure since I wasn't the Sword Empress.
But seeing her face a bit brighter now, the thought crossed my mind.
"Sword Empress, let's make a promise."
"A promise?"
"Yes. After we get out, when you find some awesome comrades, let me know."
"As I said, I have no intention of seeking comrades anymore..."
Smooth—
I gently stroked the back of her hand as she tried to add a caveat.
She couldn't continue and naturally looked at me.
"It's okay. I'm sure you'll find great comrades. And you'll become someone who can always protect them from harm. No more repeating the same mistakes."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Hmm, I'm not."
"...Pardon?"
She stared at me in disbelief at my innocent reply.
Well, of course I couldn't be sure.
There's no such thing as 100% in this world.
Plus, what did I know about the Sword Empress to claim certainty?
"I'm just believing in you!"
"Believing...?"
"Yes! I believe you can do it. My grandma used to say that just one word of belief can make people achieve the impossible. She always told me, 'Grandma believes in Hayang.'"
"Ah..."
The Sword Empress let out a sound between a sigh and an exclamation.
She looked down at my hand holding hers,
then lifted one corner of her mouth in a wry smile.
"...You believe I can overcome that nightmare and find new comrades?"
"Yes."
"And if I can't?"
"Uh, that..."
For a moment, my mind blanked, as if we'd somehow exited the gate.
I paused, caught off guard by her response.
I hadn't anticipated this.
But thinking it over, it wasn't a hard question.
In fact, it was so obvious that the answer hit me right away.
"I'll be your comrade!"
"My comrade? You?"
"Yes! Ah, am I not good enough?"
Her reaction seemed to say 'You?' in that dismissive way,
so I asked timidly, and she shook her head in shock.
"No, that's not what I meant. I was just surprised you could say that after hearing my story."
"Why?"
"Aren't you scared? Everyone who was with me died."
She pulled back slightly, as if creating distance,
carefully removing my hand and leaning away.
Wrapping her own arms around herself, biting her lip.
She stared endlessly at the snow without meeting my eyes, looking utterly forlorn.
But for me...
"Huh? Not really?"
I wondered what foolish thing she was saying.
Foolisher than I was outside the gate, even.
Otherwise, how could she not expect such an obvious answer?
"Because you'll protect me."
"...Pardon?"
"If I become your comrade, I believe you'd protect me with your life. So I'd be happy to be with someone like you. That's all."
As if asking if something was wrong,
I tilted my head casually, and she blinked in a daze.
So I reached out again.
Toward the Sword Empress, who couldn't approach or push away.
As if urging her to come out of that pit.
But I didn't grab her hand.
That had to be her choice.
I just met her eyes silently and gave a bright smile.
I didn't know how I looked to her right now.
But I tried to smile as brightly as possible.
—Graaaaaah!
The ice dragon's roar, which had faded, now rang out close by.
It's probably heading this way now.
No time left.
Regrettably, I withdrew my hand to stand—
Grab—
Something pulled me.
And at the same time, something warm enveloped my hand.
Turning my head in confusion, there stood the Sword Empress.
She had taken my outstretched hand of her own will.
[The 'Swordsman Without a Servant' skill has manifested.]
[Han Yuseol has become subordinate to you.]
[You have acquired the 'Subordination Release' skill.]
"Then, let me repay that faith."
Along with the Sword Empress's smile, one I'd never seen before.