Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Imagination
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"Let's not go there. Instead, let's reassess Lady Sword Empress one more time. We can run through various scenarios and imagine how she might react."
"No blackmail?"
"Well... aren't fortune tellers supposed to start with peaceful methods?"
"Verbal threats without actual violence seem pretty peaceful to me."
'Why is someone like this a saintess?'
No, actually, thinking about it, in this world, this might count as peaceful.
After all, this was a place where people drew their swords at the slightest problem. Compared to that...
'...Yeah. This is downright civilized.'
He let out a quiet sigh to himself.
In a world where even monks and Taoists honed their martial skills, verbal threats alone were indeed peaceful enough.
"Anyway... you mentioned scenario planning, right? I have a good idea for that."
"What's that?"
"I'll role-play as Sword Empress. I know her well enough that it shouldn't be too hard."
"Role-play...?"
"Pretend I'm her and act accordingly. I'll respond just like she would."
It was a sudden suggestion, but upon reflection, it didn't sound all that far-fetched.
They weren't exactly best friends, but they'd fought back-to-back on the battlefield.
She might know Sword Empress even better than he did.
Especially considering their similar genders and ages.
"You're right... you two do have a lot in common. This could actually work pretty well."
"For some reason, I suddenly want to draw my sword."
"Must be your imagination."
"Hmmm..."
'She always keeps it to herself—how does she pick up on it?'
In a world of sharp martial artists, maybe women's intuition really was a thing.
...Wait a second.
"...Hey, I just thought of something we could say to persuade her."
"What is it?"
"How about bringing up the age difference?"
"If you want a 100% chance of getting your head chopped off, be my guest."
"Eek..."
He'd thought it was a reasonably realistic excuse, but apparently not.
"You really don't understand women at all. Even if she's aged, every woman wants to hold onto that youthful mindset from back then. Especially when her body is still young."
"Okay, but I'm genuinely curious—what's the actual age ga—"
"Do you want to die right here? You don't strike me as someone who doesn't value their life."
"..."
He was curious, but not that curious. He decided to bury the question deep in his mind.
If it had been anyone else, maybe he'd ask. But with Yeo Socheon as the subject, better not to touch the age topic at all.
Still, that kind-hearted Sword Empress wouldn't really kill him over something like that... probably.
...But it was a sensitive issue, so he'd save it as a last resort.
"What should we start with?"
"How about a straight-up confession first? Get on your knees and beg."
"Should I grovel like a dog...?"
"Hang on a sec. Let me prepare a bit too. Ahem. Hm."
Yeo Socheon cleared her throat briefly.
"How's this?"
She produced a voice remarkably similar to Sword Empress's.
"Whoa, how'd you do that?"
"Just a trick with internal energy. Adjust the vocal cords' vibration, and imitating someone's voice is easy."
"...You're even mimicking her speech patterns."
"...Should I drop the speech patterns?"
"No, uh... better to stay immersed. Keep the speech patterns too."
"Very well."
It was clearly Yeo Socheon's appearance, but with Sword Empress's voice and mannerisms—the more he looked, the harder it was to hold back laughter.
That small, youthful frame speaking and acting like Sword Empress...
"Pfft..."
"Don't laugh."
"Khk... I tried... to hold it... but..."
Shing.
"I'll shut up now."
"Having to draw your sword just to get obedience isn't a good habit."
"Yes, ma'am."
"More importantly, sit down. I hear you have something to say to me."
Sword Empress's serious tone contrasted with the cheeky smile playing on Yeo Socheon's lips, revealing how much she was enjoying this.
He felt like he'd been dragged into her game, but believing the act would help, he committed to his role.
"Lady Sword Empress. I have something to tell you. It's important—please don't get angry and hear me out to the end?"
"...Go on."
"Whew..."
To make it feel real, he took a deep breath.
Even though it wasn't the real Sword Empress in front of him, his heart pounded just the same.
It must be because the situation felt that crucial.
But he couldn't just keep breathing forever.
For practice's sake, he had to speak.
"Not long ago... I got intimate with another woman... and now I'm going to marry her."
He deliberately omitted Dang Ayoung's name, just in case.
"..."
Yeo Socheon's pupils trembled silently.
Clear signs of shock.
Gulp.
"I'm sorry. Especially since things with you weren't properly resolved yet..."
That was when it happened.
"...What exactly happened between us?"
Yeo Socheon—no, Sword Empress—suddenly said something baffling.
"Pardon?"
"I have no idea what you're implying. I don't recall anything worth you apologizing to me about your marriage."
"...What do you—"
"If you're getting married, shouldn't you be by that woman's side? Wouldn't want your wife getting the wrong idea."
"...!"
The moment he grasped her intent, a wave of relief washed over him...
"That'd be the best-case scenario for you, right? Though the odds are pretty low."
"Ah."
It vanished just as quickly.
This was just role-play with Yeo Socheon, after all.
"...But maybe the real Sword Empress would respond like that."
"It's not impossible. Depends on how much her feelings have changed lately."
"Ugh..."
"Righteous doesn't mean pushover. Especially when it involves a man—women become unpredictable."
She could be fine one moment, furious the next.
It was shitty, but that was his best outcome.
Pretend it never happened, just like she'd said.
"But are you really planning to marry Dang Ayoung?"
"...Saying yes might increase the chances of her letting it slide."
"Wow, you're such a scumbag."
"...Can't I worry about marriage after we prevent the apocalypse first?"
Marriage and all that could wait—he had to save the world first.
They called marriage the grave of life, but this felt like tumbling into an actual tomb.
"Seeing you like this, maybe you really had a talent for being a lecher. You've got real skill at stringing women along."
"..."
Sad but undeniable.
"...Ah."
"What now?"
"Uh... Sword Empress doesn't know about the apocalypse yet, right?"
Yeo Socheon's face soured at his words.
"...I have a bad feeling."
"How about convincing her like this: 'Let's deal with the apocalypse first, then sort this out later'?"
"Sigh..."
Yeo Socheon frowned and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Now you're dragging world-ending issues into your woman problems?"
"Good is good, right?"
"Whew..."
Yeo Socheon crossed her arms and closed her eyes, her expression grave as she pondered.
"Give it a try. I'll play along."
"...You still do that?"
"You saw earlier, didn't you? It works surprisingly well."
He scratched his head at her invitation back to role-play.
But it had felt pretty immersive.
"...Lady Sword Empress. I have something to say."
He slipped back into character easily.
"Speak."
"The truth is... not long ago, I got intimate with another woman... and now I'm going to marry her."
"...What?"
Yeo Socheon glared at him.
"How long ago was it that we shared that night? Didn't you say we should pretend it never happened?"
"Th-that's..."
"I thought you had your own goals, reasons why you couldn't get entangled with a woman yet. I understood and let it go. But what is this? How long have you been back in Shaanxi, and you're already getting married? I don't recall you mentioning a fiancée you'd promised your future to."
"W-wait a minute. Let me explain—"
"No excuses. Looks like I misjudged you badly."
Shing.
Sword Empress—no, Yeo Socheon—drew her sword with a cold expression.
"Given you didn't mention anyone before, it must be some new woman you met in Shaanxi. Or feelings developed in the meantime. But deciding on marriage in such a short time... that's no ordinary love built over time."
"Sw-sword... I mean, Socheon? You're not gonna swing that, right?"
"Die, you lecher."
"W-wait, wait, wait! At least give me time to talk!"
"...Ah, right. Then we'll restart from 'No excuses.'"
Watching Yeo Socheon speak as if she'd simply forgotten, he thought:
She's fully immersed now.
"Ahem. No excuses. Looks like I misjudged—"
"Lady Sword Empress, do you know this world is in danger?"
This time, he successfully interrupted.
Couldn't let her control the pace.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"You know it too, don't you? Those calling themselves the Blood Cult have returned, stirring chaos in the Central Plains."
"...Hah. If you're talking about those remnants, calling it a world-ending threat is..."
"They're not the Blood Cult you know. They're demons from another world, wearing the Blood Cult's skin. The inside is completely different from what you remember."
Yeo Socheon's pupils shook.
At this point, he couldn't tell if it was acting or real.
"...How do you know this? Do you have proof?"
"That's..."
And then came the menacing follow-up.
Grip.
He clenched his fist and opened his trembling mouth.
"Actually, I'm not from this world either, but from ano—"
"Stop right there!!! "
"Huh?"
Yeo Socheon's hand clamped over his gaping mouth.
"No!! You can't say that!! I can't handle role-playing that far!!"
"????"
"If I have to act as Sword Empress hearing that... Ugh, just no!! Don't say it now, and don't say it to the real her either! It'll be a disaster!"
He didn't fully understand, but her intense reaction meant there was a reason. He committed it to memory.