Chapter 147
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Equivalent Martial Power
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The chill of the early dawn air tickled her eyelids.
"Mm..."
Yi Seo-ryeong let out a languid moan as she opened her eyes.
Her body felt remarkably light.
It might have been due to the joy from her communion with him just a few days ago.
A body that would normally feel as heavy as lead from exhausting duties felt as light as a feather today.
She rose from the bed and stretched.
Through the slipped blanket, her loose attire was fully revealed.
The clothes, far larger than her size...
Failed to conceal her voluptuous curves.
The thought of finding proper clothes to wear didn't even cross her mind.
The cool morning air brushing against her heated skin felt rather pleasant.
"Hoo..."
Yi Seo-ryeong walked to the desk in her office in that defenseless state.
- Step... step...
With each light touch of her bare feet on the floor...
The soft flesh of her inner thighs brushed together and parted slightly.
Yi Seo-ryeong stood before the desk.
Too lazy even to pull out a chair, she bent forward over it.
There, piled like a mountain, were the agenda items from Shinjungwon that had accumulated overnight.
"...This one needs to be rejected."
She picked up her brush and scribbled something on the document.
Yi Seo-ryeong's morning had begun.
And how much time had passed?
- Thud.
The sound of the brush being set down echoed in the office.
The mountain of documents had somehow been neatly organized.
Yi Seo-ryeong lightly turned her neck and gazed out the window.
- Chirp, chirp...
The sun was beginning to rise before she knew it.
She had planned to have breakfast with her daughter, Seol Yu-wol, for the first time in a long while today.
"..."
Yi Seo-ryeong rose from her seat.
At the same time, her loose clothes rustled and slipped downward.
No matter that it was inside the house, she couldn't go to breakfast with her daughter dressed like this.
She picked up the robe hanging behind the chair.
She loosely tied the sash around her waist.
The exposed parts were covered, but...
Her silhouette remained unmistakable.
- Knock knock.
"Lady Baekju, breakfast is ready. The young miss is waiting."
A servant's voice came from outside the door.
"Alright, I'm coming."
Yi Seo-ryeong opened the door with a faint smile on her lips.
Shinjungwon's main building.
Its private kitchen.
Her daughter was already seated at the small dining table.
With her chin propped on her hand, she stared boredly at the teacup on the table until she heard footsteps and turned her head.
"Mother!"
"Sorry, dear. I had some things to handle this morning."
Yi Seo-ryeong sat gracefully across from her, a smile on her face.
Her white legs, peeking from the robe, crossed elegantly.
It was alluring even to another woman.
"..."
Seol Yu-wol's eyes narrowed.
She sensed the change in her mother.
She had pushed her mother toward her brother herself. Half in jest, half in earnest.
She had secretly hoped for some change since that day...
'She's changed.'
There was definitely a difference.
A subtle glow emanated from her.
"Looks like something good happened."
Seol Yu-wol lifted her teacup and tossed the question lightly.
"...Does it show?"
Yi Seo-ryeong gently touched her cheek in response.
Her skin felt hotter than usual against her fingertips. She didn't deny it.
No, she couldn't deny it.
Her cheeks were flushing girlishly pink.
Seol Yu-wol nodded inwardly.
Perfect timing.
Great.
The news she had to share today would be quite pleasing to her mother.
- Clink.
As the servants brought out breakfast, the mother and daughter quietly picked up their utensils.
They began eating.
"...The atmosphere at the Association has improved a bit."
Seol Yu-wol spoke in a bright voice.
"Is that so?"
Yi Seo-ryeong chuckled softly as she brought a bite of salad to her mouth.
She knew exactly what her daughter meant.
The vermin at the Association had been doubting his abilities, envying him, and desperately trying to tear him down.
But it seemed resolved now.
Her daughter's bright expression confirmed it.
'Fools.'
Yi Seo-ryeong sneered inwardly.
How dare they target him.
The mediocre could never comprehend genius.
"That's fortunate."
Yi Seo-ryeong said elegantly as she set down her teacup.
Her eyes gleamed coldly.
Shinjungwon stood behind Yoo Seon-woo.
At that moment.
Judging the mood ripe, Seol Yu-wol wiped her mouth with a napkin and broached the main topic slyly.
"So, Mother."
"Yes. What is it?"
"I'm heading out for a dungeon raid this time."
Yi Seo-ryeong's eyes widened.
Her daughter's first official raid as a hunter.
As a mother, it was astonishing.
She had always seen her as a child needing protection, yet now she was stepping up to do her part.
"...Really?"
"Yes. I don't really want to, but I have to do it once because of the contract."
"Hehe... How admirable. Truly joyful news."
Yi Seo-ryeong smiled genuinely, delighted.
She worried about the danger, but it was inevitable someday.
Above all, she was proud of her daughter's resolve to grow.
However.
The moment Yi Seo-ryeong lifted her tea and met her daughter's eyes.
Seol Yu-wol gazed back with a sly smile...
"And... Mary unnie's coming with me. As my mentor."
It figured.
Her daughter's mentor handled not just protection but all aspects of hunter work.
"It's a pretty tough dungeon, so it'll take a few days. Mary unnie won't be able to move freely while watching over me."
Seol Yu-wol curled her lips upward, wiggling her fingers mischievously.
"So..."
Seol Yu-wol leaned slightly forward over the table.
At that moment.
A realization flashed through Yi Seo-ryeong's mind.
"...Oppa will be left alone."
Per Seol Yu-wol's protection contract, her absence required someone from Shinjungwon of 'equivalent' rank or higher.
And an existence with power equal to or greater than Seol Yu-wol's.
Yi Seo-ryeong knew this well.
"The remaining protection will naturally..."
She trailed off with a beaming smile.
"..."
Yi Seo-ryeong couldn't meet her daughter's eyes and lowered her gaze.
She slowly placed her palm against her cheek.
'What to do.'
She couldn't stop her lips from curving upward on their own.
- Gulp.
The sound of her swallowing echoed softly.
"...I see. Flawlessly planned... I'll serve him very well."
"Yes."
Seol Yu-wol set down her napkin contentedly and rose.
She seemed about to leave, but then approached Yi Seo-ryeong with quick steps.
"Take good care of my oppa, Mother."
Seol Yu-wol smiled sweetly and plopped onto her mother's lap.
"Hehe."
"You little..."
Yi Seo-ryeong naturally wrapped her arms around her daughter's waist without surprise.
And lightly kissed the top of her head.
"Mm..."
Seol Yu-wol purred contentedly.
Yi Seo-ryeong... gently stroked her daughter's hair.
Heavenly Demon Hall.
Dark cavern.
The master of that vast space, Heavenly Demon Jahwa-yeon, had deep dark circles hollowed under her eyes.
A Heavenly Demon with dark circles.
One might think it impossible.
Her skin, which wouldn't sweat even after nights of swinging her sword, had grown dull.
Jahwa-yeon slumped crookedly on her jade throne and muttered.
"My head throbs so much it's turning to rage."
She sighed deeply and pressed her brow.
The reason for Jahwa-yeon's state was clear.
The alliance between the Azure Heaven Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The process of establishing herself as Shinjungwon.
The administrative procedures essential for that unification had ensnared her ankles.
Rights to enjoy.
Rights to exercise.
Obligations to fulfill.
Her eyes were bloodshot.
- Thwack!
Jahwa-yeon irritably tossed aside the scroll she was reading.
"These... these frustrating righteous sect fools, why do they even...?"
Her teeth ground in fury.
This was no ordinary demonic art; this was the demonic art.
"Haa..."
Jahwa-yeon leaned back against the throne's headrest and stared at the ceiling.
Then.
"Supreme One."
Geumgang, the Right Protector who had silently stood by her side, cautiously spoke.
"I have a report."
"Make it short. My patience is scraping bottom right now."
"Your esteemed friend's... going on a demon cave raid this time."
Jahwa-yeon's eyebrow twitched. But she quickly reverted to a disinterested expression.
"So?"
"...Pardon?"
"What do you want me to do about it? Whether she raids or not. She's no third-rate thug; she'll handle it. It's not like she's off to die."
She had already heard rumors of her taking the physician's side.
She was one who filled her own pockets well.
She'd manage.
She waved her hand dismissively, perfunctorily.
"And watch your words. She's no friend of mine. As if I, of all people, would have friends."
"..."
Jahwa-yeon snorted affectedly and nodded toward the door.
"If you're done, leave. Can't you see this pile of white demonic arts manuals before my eyes?"
- Shoo, shoo.
But Geumgang didn't budge.
He simply stared at Jahwa-yeon.
"What are you waiting for?"
Jahwa-yeon glared at him irritably.
About to punish his disobedience with a flick to the forehead.
Geumgang spoke with a serious expression.
"Supreme One, could you please check the second page of that demonic arts manual you just threw...?"
"You've finally lost it."
Jahwa-yeon let out an incredulous laugh.
Her subordinate telling her to read this?
Grumbling, she finally opened the scroll.
"Fine. Let's see it then. If it's useless..."
Jahwa-yeon huffed as she retrieved the discarded scroll with a gesture.
- Swish!
She roughly unfurled the paper.
Her eyes quickly scanned the lines.
And then.
Jahwa-yeon's eyes narrowed slightly.
One clause caught her interest greatly.
"Oh ho..."
Moreover...
Geumgang's earlier words flashed by.
That woman was leaving her post?
- Slowly...
The corner of Jahwa-yeon's mouth hooked up toward her ear.
"Geumgang."
"Yes, Supreme One."
Geumgang, noting the smile on her lips, bowed deeply in satisfaction.
"Well done."
Jahwa-yeon praised him.
She sprang from the throne, kicking off the armrest.
"Now that I think about it, you're right. Those righteous sect dogs may have long tongues, but they do value their promises."
Unable to hide her excitement, she declared.
"They won't break the contract."
Jahwa-yeon strode outside.
Shinjungwon's forces equivalent to or above Seol Yu-wol's were no longer just Yi Seo-ryeong.
Jahwa-yeon was as well.
She was Shinjungwon's leader, after all.