Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: End of the Wait
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From a young age, everyone around me had always called me cute.
I did wonder why my parents abandoned me if I was so cute, but I never truly resented them for it.
I figured they must have had their reasons.
Still, thanks to the looks they passed down to me, I managed to survive somehow.
I couldn't see my own face clearly, but from the reactions of the adults around me, I knew I was pretty darn cute.
I also learned that a bit of charm or running errands for them could earn me pocket money or snacks.
"Thank you!"
"Sure thing, Yuseong... Be safe on your way... You have to come back tomorrow, okay...?"
"Ah... I have somewhere to be tomorrow..."
"W-wait! I'll double your pocket money!"
"Oh, in that case, I'll come by tomorrow!"
The errands weren't anything major.
Just putting on a cute show, keeping them company with chatter, or giving a massage when they complained of aches and pains.
For some reason, the older sisters were especially likely to give me extra money and beg me to come back soon.
'Do they see me as a little brother?'
I hugged my bulging pocket money to my chest, grinning from ear to ear as I headed back to Grandfather's house.
With this much, I could finally treat myself to some meat after so long.
I stopped by the market to stock up on fresh food I could eat right away and some rice.
Even here, shopping at places run by young women—big sisters—always got me generous extras.
"Grandfather!"
"Cough... cough..."
I burst through the door, arms full of food, to find Grandfather lying in bed, hacking dry coughs.
"You've been coughing a lot more lately. Have you eaten anything?"
The food I'd prepared before heading out was untouched, cold as stone.
"Even if you're not hungry, you need to eat to get better faster. Look, I even got some meat today..."
"Yuseong..."
As I set the food on the table, Grandfather's feeble voice reached me.
It sounded the same as always, but for some reason, a bad premonition chilled me that day.
"...Grandfather?"
"I'm sorry... This worthless old man... cough! Cough!"
"Gr-Grandfather... If it's hard to talk, we can do this later."
"No... I have to say it now... Listen well, Yuseong. This is the last request from this old man..."
Blood seeped from Grandfather's cough.
My mind went blank in an instant.
I wasn't a doctor, but I knew spitting blood was no small matter.
"Gr-Grandfath..."
"I want to smell... the plum blossoms of Mount Hua..."
-Thud
Those were the last words I ever heard from Grandfather.
After the funeral, I packed my things and headed straight for Mount Hua.
With Grandfather gone, there was nothing left for me in the secular world.
The entrance exam was brutally tough.
Even kids with decent builds and muscles got rejected left and right—that was Mount Hua's initiation trial. How was a scrawny kid like me, weaker than girls my age, supposed to pass the normal way?
"Huff... huff..."
Once I realized the normal way was impossible, my decision came quick.
"Please let me join the sect!"
"W-whoa, hold on! What are you—"
I clung to the leg of the exam proctor.
Something I never could've done if it had been a man.
I bet everything on how adults—especially women—had always taken a liking to me. Clinging to her leg, I burst into tears and explained my plight.
My only family, Grandfather, had passed away, and his dying wish was to smell the plum blossoms of Mount Hua.
"...What a pitiful story."
Thanks to that, I got in safely.
I wondered if it was really okay to join so easily, but since I couldn't wrap my head around it, I figured good was good.
'Grandfather...'
The last wish of my only family.
I'll fulfill it, no matter what.
Master had gone into secluded training.
It was dangerous.
Until now, even when my emotions surged watching Yuseong, I'd barely held them back by picturing Yuseong's or Master's face. But with Master gone, I worried I might not control myself if they exploded again.
Lately, I'd felt those surges growing stronger.
It was hard enough enduring when Yuseong did something cute, but recalling scenes of him chatting amiably with other women filled me with murderous intent.
I'd even thought about gouging out the eyes that dared look at his face, cutting off the tongue that flirted with him—realizing that terrified me of myself.
'When did I become like this?'
This wasn't my original personality.
I didn't mingle much, but I'd always thought kindly of others and enjoyed spreading warmth. To feel such chilling thoughts now scared me deeply.
Was it safe to meet Yuseong in this state?
What if my emotions surged again and I couldn't hold back?
What if I ended up hurting him badly?
-Tremble
'I don't want that...'
No matter what, I couldn't bear to hurt Yuseong.
He's such a pure, kind child.
If my selfishness wounded him, I'd want to die from the pain.
'Just... hold on a little longer...'
In the end, I decided not to meet Yuseong that day.
He might wait for me since I hadn't told him, but if I went now, I wouldn't trust myself to stay in control.
I forced myself through training all day, desperately avoiding thoughts of him.
But no matter how much I swung my sword,
no matter how I circulated my inner energy,
Yuseong lingered in my mind, refusing to fade.
I wanted to bolt from here right now and run to him.
I wanted to bury myself in his welcoming embrace, hold him close.
Stroke that lovely face to my heart's content.
Press my nose to his fragrant body.
Rip his clothes off roughly, pin him naked to the ground, lick the tears of betrayal from his cheeks, watch his horrified expression.
'...?'
Something felt off, but I couldn't pinpoint what.
I suppressed it forcibly and kept training until the sun set and night fell.
I lay down on my sleeping mat, ready for bed.
Thoughts of Yuseong still wouldn't leave my head.
'Go to sleep already...'
I hugged my pillow tight, begging sleep to come quickly.
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't block him out.
'What did Yuseong do today, I wonder.'
I worried he might've waited too long since I hadn't shown up without a word.
Knowing Yuseong, he'd probably kept waiting even without me there.
What emotions did he feel then?
Did he think I had my reasons? Or did he feel betrayed?
'I'm sorry...'
Big sis is no good.
I can't control my emotions, so I didn't have the confidence to meet you.
If I'd gone, I might've hurt you badly.
'Really, I'm so sorry...'
I pictured Yuseong waiting alone for so long.
Tears welled up imagining him lonely, waiting for me who never came.
And then, another woman approached that Yuseong.
[Why are you here all alone?]
[Ah... I'm waiting for someone, but they haven't come...]
[Oh dear... How about coming with big sis then?]
[But big sis...]
[They left you waiting alone, didn't they? They probably aren't even thinking of you. Come on, let's go with big sis.]
[...Shall we?]
-Crunch
My eyes flew wide open.
The blanket clutched in my hand was shredded.
"No..."
I can't give Yuseong away.
He's mine.
No matter what, no matter who, if anyone dares covet him, I won't forgive them.
-Shing
I strapped on my sword and headed to our meeting spot.
My disgusting fantasy couldn't possibly be real, but I had to check.
As I ran into the cold wind, my overheated head began to cool bit by bit.
'Of course. Yuseong wouldn't do that.'
It was probably just my overreaction.
Just as I neared the spot, I saw him.
-Swish swish
Yuseong was practicing his sword forms.
Only then did relief wash over me.
I hated myself for suspecting him needlessly.
'Really... I need to rein in these overreactions...'
The idea that another woman approached Yuseong while he was alone, and he accepted it?
Ridiculous.
"Yuseong~"
My head had cooled, and since I was already here, I figured I'd at least say hi.
-Flinch!
Yuseong shuddered at my voice.
"B-big sis, you're here?"
"Yeah... I had something come up today... Sorry. I kept you waiting a long time, huh? I'll explain everything."
I spread my arms and approached Yuseong, who wore an awkward expression.
-Hesitate
As I drew near, Yuseong stepped back.
"...Why are you avoiding me?"
"B-big sis... I'm really sweaty right now..."
"Big sis likes Yuseong's sweat smell too, you know? Come on, hurry up and get over here."
"..."
Was it my cold tone?
Yuseong approached with a trembling expression and hugged me.
"Haaaah..."
I buried my nose in his scent as he nestled into my arms, resting my chin on his shoulder.
Really... why did even Yuseong's sweat smell so sweet today...
There was a different scent mixed in, like someone else's...
-Bam!
"Guhk!"
Yuseong's body slammed headfirst into the ground.
My hand rested on his head.
"Which bitch was it."
"Wh-what do you..."
"Which bitch was it!!!"
I smelled another woman on him.
A repulsive, utterly loathsome woman's scent clung to his body.
By the time I realized it,
-Crack
there was nothing left to stop my rampage.