Various Proposals
"Why, Noona?"
Her expression as she looked at me was so serious that I tilted my head and asked back.
Still gripping my hand—scarred all over as it was—she opened her mouth again.
"Never do that again. Throwing your life away just to save me."
Small in stature but solid in presence, the woman made it clear she would not tolerate what had happened in the cave.
"Noona, but…"
"No buts. Why should you die for me? You think that's cool? If you're going to die, better to die fighting together."
Her ruby-red eyes narrowed at the corners. Brow furrowed, she declared that kind of death unacceptable.
For a second, arguments like Isn't it better than all of us dying together? rose in my head.
"…I won't do it again."
Looking at the worried face of the woman in front of me, I couldn't bring myself to say any of that.
Apparently this was just her style. The moment I gave her the answer she wanted, she nodded in satisfaction.
"Mm-hmm. That's my little brother."
She patted my shoulder as if I'd done well. Of course, even reaching my shoulder took effort; she had to stand on tiptoe.
You could call it a big sister's affection for me. People out in the world said all sorts of things about the Poison Claw Mountain Blood—that her temper was vicious, that she was fiery—but deep down she was a warm-hearted woman.
Short, though. That part was true.
"Still, it was a little chivalrous and cool, right?"
I asked, remembering how she'd said earlier, You think that looks cool?
Sending everyone else back while I stayed behind alone to buy time—wasn't that peak righteous-hero material? I'd thought it was pretty stylish myself.
It was completely out of character for my usual principles, so I'd even wondered how much good karma I'd rack up if I survived.
"Well… it was a little cool, I guess…"
She must have recalled the moment I'd thrown myself in to save her when everything seemed finished. The sharp eyes that usually glinted like blades softened for a beat.
"So you admit it?"
"Hmph. Whatever."
Realizing it herself, she quietly turned her head and hid her face behind the short hair falling by her ear.
The infamous Poison Claw Mountain Blood looking a little embarrassed. It felt like I'd witnessed something rare.
"Ugh, Mujin. My whole body's killing me."
Beside us, Jo Harang—who had taken the brunt of the blades at the front like a living shield—was getting treated by the recon team and groaning.
Her body was covered in cuts, deep and shallow, but the fact that she was still complaining meant she was in better shape than expected.
I gave her back a solid thwack to say she looked fine.
She made a weird "gwehk" sound and slumped face-down again.
"You're alive, so that's enough. Anyway, time to head back."
The Murim Alliance's unofficial rescue mission—charging in at the news that our sisters were in danger, ready to stake our lives.
It looked like we'd pulled it off successfully.
At this rate, Strategist Jegal Seon, who'd summoned us, ought to be pleased.
I allowed myself a small smile, already imagining the thick rewards waiting for us.
A few weeks later, in the Murim Alliance Lord's hall.
After time spent healing and recovering, several figures gathered in one place for the distribution of merits and rewards.
Since the very existence of the mission had been classified, only the survivors, the Alliance Strategist, and Alliance Lord Namgung Soseon himself—key figures all—were present.
Now that they had recovered and met again in one place, the survivors chatted warmly, clearly glad to see one another.
"Lady Dang Yeohye."
Among the conversations, the exchange between Myeolmade's youngest, Dang Yeohye, and Vice Leader Moyong Cheonghye slid right into my ears.
"Yes? What is it?"
Two women whose presence within the Murim Alliance was second to none.
"Honestly, I thought it would take me quite a long time to evaluate you."
Vice Leader Moyong Cheonghye explained that judging what kind of person someone was—and deciding whether to accept them as one of her own—usually took considerable time.
"But when we went to save Young Hero Mujin in the cave, I saw that our hearts were in alignment, and I changed my mind."
My blood sister Moyong Cheonghye, smoothly shifting from a subordinate evaluation into dragging me into the conversation.
Dang Yeohye wore the exact same What is she talking about? face I did.
"So, Lady Dang Yeohye—I acknowledge you."
"Um… acknowledge what, exactly…?"
She asked back, looking puzzled by the subjectless declaration.
"That you two suit each other quite well. Therefore I will specially permit you to stand at his side."
Suit each other in what? Permit standing beside what?
It was a manner of speaking so unlike Moyong Cheonghye that Dang Yeohye looked mildly flustered as she spoke.
"Y-you mean you permit me to stand beside you as Vice Leader, and in my position within Myeolmade, right?"
"…Yes."
After a brief pause, Moyong Cheonghye nodded with a subtle expression.
"Thank you, Vice Leader. I'll keep working hard."
Being acknowledged by a superior was still something to be happy about, so Dang Yeohye offered her thanks, dazed as she was.
From a third party's perspective, though, the conversation had a distinctly strange flavor.
What the hell was that weird compliment…?
It had the vibe of a sister-in-law evaluating and accepting a prospective daughter-in-law.
But nah. Probably just my imagination.
At the same time, someone else approached me and struck up a conversation.
"I'll acknowledge you as well, Young Hero."
"…Excuse me?"
The speaker was the young lady of the great Namgung Clan, Namgung Sohye.
She had come running over, twin tails bouncing, only to say that.
"Acknowledge me for what?"
"I used to think no chivalrous hero in this world could match my older brother. But I've revised my opinion of you somewhat."
Arms crossed, she nodded as if bestowing recognition.
Even in this moment her face overflowed with pride in her brother, as if no greater praise existed.
"Ah… right. Well, thanks."
Was I supposed to take that as overflowing sibling love and leave it at that?
At least their family hadn't turned into a complete mess of bean flour like ours, the Moyong Clan, so it was nice to see in its own way.
"You should be happier. The people I've acknowledged as heroes on my brother's level are few and far between even in the Central Plains."
"…"
A fully grown young woman with standards that high, though…
It was all because she had a brother who was handsome, good-natured, and of upright character.
I sneaked a glance at Namgung Jin, who truly had no rough edges.
…Sorry about that.
Namgung Jin mouthed an apology for his little sister's shameless behavior.
That guy had it rough too. Clearly this wasn't the first or second time.
Even a household that looked perfectly peaceful from the outside had its own little headaches, huh.
Still, by most standards this counted as a cute problem.
"Young Hero Dan Mujin."
Namgung Jin gently pushed his sister aside with a look that said Don't cause any more trouble, then stepped up beside me.
"Would it be all right if, from now on, I introduced you to people as my close younger brother?"
This man had seemed quietly fond of me for a while now.
"By all means. I'll go around saying I have a close older brother myself."
We'd fought back-to-back for a long time in that hellish pit of fire. If that didn't make us brothers, what would? He was definitely a far better person than Moyong Hwi, at least.
Besides, the Namgung Clan was currently one of the most powerful factions around.
"Haha. What a heartwarming sight."
Watching us, Murim Alliance Lord Namgung Soseon smiled contentedly and spoke.
He seemed thoroughly pleased that his son and I were getting along.
"Young Hero Dan Mujin, by the way—what do you think of my daughter?"
He gave Namgung Sohye a light nudge on the back and asked for my opinion.
"Father, what are you saying? I'm going to live by my older brother's side for the rest of my life!"
The youngest young lady of the Namgung Clan leapt back, twin tails whipping wildly.
Watching her, I delivered a blunt assessment to the Alliance Lord—who was also the Namgung Clan's head.
"I think it's rather serious."
"…Mmm. You're not wrong."
Unable to deny it, Namgung Soseon hummed and nodded.
"Hey! What are you two even saying?"
Namgung Sohye rejected the idea with a strong look of denial.
But the general mood in the room seemed to agree with me.
In the end she gave a short, incredulous snort and stepped back a few paces.
"I have gathered everyone here today so that, both as Alliance Lord and as Clan Head, I may offer my thanks and bestow rewards."
He had already come on the first day of our return to say thank you, but now the Murim Alliance Lord was making the acknowledgment again in an official setting.
"Especially you, Young Hero Dan Mujin. I have heard the full tale of how you cast your life away like a worn-out shoe to save everyone. Our Namgung Clan will always welcome your visit, and should you ever need aid, we will extend a hand of repayment without hesitation."
This was a promise made not as Alliance Lord, but as a father and as Head of the Namgung Clan—an assurance that they would not turn a blind eye if I ever fell into difficulty.
In other words, it felt like I'd just been issued a favor token from the Namgung Clan, the same kind Dang Yeohye had once given me.
"If you're really that grateful, you could just give me money…"
Material repayment was also a form of sincerity in expressing gratitude, after all.
The moment I brought it up, Dang Yeohye slapped her forehead beside me as if to say There he goes again.
"…Mujin. Just nod quietly. You can't buy something like that with money."
Jo Harang whispered from the side after watching the whole thing.
Come to think of it, that was solid advice.
"Haha. You really never change."
Namgung Soseon chuckled as if reminded of old times.
Then he gestured for Clan Head Jegal Seon to bring something over.
"Of course, as Alliance Lord I will also pay the reward I promised. You carried out the request entrusted to you as a troubleshooter with everything you had."
With those words, long-bearded Jegal Seon grunted as he presented us with an iron chest that looked heavy even at a glance.
"I packed it generously."
The instant I heard that, I opened the chest right there in front of everyone.
A golden radiance welcomed us. Inside lay a heap of clearly expensive jewels, gold pieces, and silver.
"Honestly. You could have opened it later."
The Alliance Lord and the Strategist both scolded me for checking the reward the moment I received it, still looking as if they found me shameless.
But old habits die hard. What was I supposed to do?
"With this, I've taken another step closer to my dream."
I muttered to myself while biting each gold chunk one by one to confirm they were genuine.
"Mujin, what's your dream?"
Jo Harang asked from the side, curiosity lighting her face after catching my muttering.
"Obviously, a life of ease and plenty."
"…Huh? Not contentment in poverty?"
Absolutely not contentment in poverty. How was anyone supposed to have peace of mind while living poor?
I'd always believed that generous hearts and easy minds came from a well-lined wallet.
"I'm going to become a FIRE person."
"Fi… what?"
Beijing was a place where money could buy anything—and at the same time a place with murderously high prices.
To settle the Heavenly Killing Star, earn as much as possible there, retire, and live free and easy… how much would I need to put away?
The answer was: an absolutely ridiculous amount.
And looking at the golden glow in front of me, it seemed I was steadily walking the path toward that life of ease and plenty.
A solid life, this.
"Let's just keep going like this."
Please, no more storms of fate whipping me around.
I nodded as if making the vow to myself.
"And beyond that reward, there is something more I wish to give you."
"Oh? What is it?"
My ears pricked up at the Murim Alliance Lord's proposal.
After exchanging a look with the Strategist beside him, Namgung Soseon made me an offer.
"Honor and position. The Alliance will soon establish several new combat units. How would you like a vice-leader rank in one of them? And know that this is not an offer we make lightly."
He explained that such opportunities were normally granted only to those who had proven themselves within the Alliance over a long period, and urged me to seize it.
"No. I'll pass on that."
I cut him off flat.
Join that and sooner or later I'd get dragged into another mess like this one, wouldn't I?
That alone I refused. I shook my head left and right.
"You seem to misunderstand. It is not always like this."
"That means sometimes it is like this, doesn't it?"
Missions of such gravity that, like the Righteous-Demonic War, you couldn't even leave a record of your existence if you died.
"…Very rarely. Extremely rarely."
See? So they do exist.
I shook my head even more vigorously.
"Young Hero Mujin, with the scent of war in the air, I feel we need you now more than ever."
When the Clan Head's attempt failed, Namgung Jin chimed in from the side with something terrifying in a different way.
What a scary household, in more senses than one.
Resolving to extract myself quickly, I grabbed the hand of Jo Harang—who looked faintly conflicted and wavering—and stood up abruptly.
"Young Hero Mujin, if a nameless new unit doesn't appeal to you, you could always join our Myeolmade…"
Apparently thinking the problem was that the new units had no reputation yet, Vice Leader Moyong Cheonghye casually suggested I come to her side instead.
Spend twenty-four hours a day near the woman who might expose my identity at any moment?
I'd suffocate. Just imagining it made my stomach clench.
"No thank you."
"…"
Moyong Cheonghye withdrew with a faintly dejected look.