Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Chapter 6 - Friend
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Dang Ayoung hurriedly began clearing away the traces left scattered around the house.
Thanks to her swift movements befitting a peak realm expert, the disorganized items started finding their proper places. Among them were things that absolutely could not be seen by others—especially not by him.
Dang Ayoung was certain that if he saw them, nine times out of ten he'd turn tail and run without looking back.
The remaining one case? He'd collapse into his seat in shock.
'That would be a sight to see.'
Her hand paused mid-motion as she shoved the items into the wardrobe, her mind flashing to what might happen if he spotted them.
If he bolted, she could chase him down and enjoy the sight of him flailing in panic.
If he froze in place, she'd stroke his hair and scoop him up into her arms.
Such wicked thoughts flitted through her head for a moment.
'Dangerous imagination.'
-Creak
If it actually happened, it could lead to all sorts of risky situations, so she quietly closed the wardrobe.
Now, had she gotten everything? She glanced around, only to spot the most crucial item right there on the bed.
His clothes—the ones she'd taken under the pretense of washing them for him back when he was training under her.
Time had faded their scent quite a bit, but a faint trace still lingered.
Or maybe she was just imagining it.
And there they were, draped over the pillow, stained here and there with suspicious fluids...
'This one must never be found.'
-Creak
She yanked the wardrobe open again and shoved it into the deepest corner.
-Crash!
'Looks like there's a lot to clean up.'
After a good while of chaos from inside,
-Creeeak
"C-Come in..."
Dang Ayoung emerged, her face oddly smeared with something like she'd hastily wiped it.
"It's been a while. How have you been?"
"M-Me? I've been fine. Ahaha..."
'What the heck was she doing in there to get this flustered?'
How much of a mess had she made that she'd panic like this?
She never seemed the type, but apparently she was the sort who lived in clutter.
"C-Come on in, first."
"Thanks~"
There was plenty to catch up on, so I stepped inside.
Just like last time, the interior struck me as huge for someone living alone.
-Clunk
'?'
I could've sworn I heard a metallic click, but I started comparing it to my last visit, scanning for changes.
'New wallpaper?'
Something felt different, but I couldn't pinpoint it.
Plus, it had been nighttime last time, so I hadn't gotten a good look around.
"W-Why? Is something wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, no. Nothing's wrong."
"G-Good..."
She fidgeted like she'd committed a crime, and for some reason her body seemed to tremble faintly—but I chalked it up to imagination.
"H-Have a seat here. Have you eaten? I skipped lunch myself... If you're okay with it,"
"Sure. Let's eat together."
I sat in the chair she pointed to.
"Y-Yes?"
But Dang Ayoung looked shocked, despite it being her own suggestion.
"What? Didn't you say to eat together?"
I wondered if I'd misheard, but
"No no no! It's nothing. Ahaha... Just, seeing you after so long feels a bit awkward..."
"Ah..."
Fair enough.
We hadn't seen each other in months, so memories had probably faded.
Unlike me, she seemed to have lots of friends here.
"Then maybe we eat later..."
I started to rise, thinking she might find me uncomfortable now,
"No! Please sit!"
-Thud!
"...Whoa."
I could see her pressing down firmly on my shoulder, forcing me back into the chair. For a split second, her breathing grew ragged, and a strange glint flashed in her eyes.
"Ahaha... W-Wait just a bit. I'll bring the food right away."
"Okay..."
"Stay! Right! There! And wait!"
"...Sure."
With her emphatic words—chopped up like that—I clasped my hands in my lap and sat still.
Counting sheep in my head to pass the time, she soon returned with freshly made food.
Just simple pancakes and pork, but my eyes weren't on the meal.
-Swish swish
"Still love your liquor, huh?"
"Of course!"
A glass caught the rich red glow of the booze inside.
It looked so tempting I unwittingly leaned forward over the table.
No way it's just tea or something.
"I prepared it to drink together when you got back, but you took way longer than expected, so here we are. A bit later and I'd have drunk it alone."
"Thanks for waiting!"
"...You get like this with booze every time."
If Dang Ayoung could see my face, my eyes were probably sparkling.
That's how fixated my gaze was.
-Swoosh
She moved the bottle she held out of my sight.
My head followed it.
"...Pfft."
"Why are you laughing!"
"No... Just, you haven't changed a bit."
The awkward air had finally thawed; Dang Ayoung was back to the her I knew.
"...I did it on purpose. You seemed awkward, Lady Dang."
I'd puffed up my pride needlessly, but
"Then should I put this liquor away?"
"...Let me drink."
"Pfft."
Pride attempt failed spectacularly.
With the Sword Empress, she felt like an adult(?) so I never even considered it, but Dang Ayoung came off as a friend—being babied bruised my ego.
Though I almost never won anyway.
"Kidding. Drink as much as you want and tell me about your trip. There's plenty."
-Pat pat
She poured into my empty glass.
The grumpiness from moments ago vanished, replaced by eager anticipation.
Wonder what it'll taste like.
"Hey, but this stuff's pretty strong, so slowly..."
-Gulp
"Drink?!"
Before Dang Ayoung finished, I'd tilted the glass to my lips.
Her panicked voice rang out, but the liquid was already sliding down my throat.
"Mm..."
The alcohol burned my esophagus, sending shivers racing through my body.
I closed my eyes briefly to savor it, then
-Ahh
"This booze is great!"
I exclaimed, thrusting the glass out for more.
Dang Ayoung stared at me, exasperated.
"I said drink slowly! Good thing I poured lightly—if it'd been full..."
"That'd be even better! I love strong stuff!"
"Ha... It's been ages, so let's catch up. From now on, sip it. Try the pancakes and boiled pork I made, too."
"Yes!"
"...It's already hitting you a little."
This really was potent stuff; my head felt a tad fuzzy.
A single sip on an empty stomach from someone with high tolerance, and already this buzz?
What kind of brew is this?
"Lady Dang, you're not drinking?"
"...I'll have mine separately."
With that, she pulled out another bottle.
Same color from the outside, so probably identical.
Though mine looked faintly pinkish? Nah, probably nothing.
-Nom
I picked up a pancake with chopsticks and popped it in my mouth.
Didn't expect much from a sheltered young lady, but it was surprisingly good.
As I chewed,
"So, what happened? Can you tell me? What kept you from even a single letter?"
"Ah. Well..."
I gave Dang Ayoung a rough rundown.
Without revealing she was the Sword Empress—just that I'd teamed up with some swordsman looking for someone in Anhui Province.
"Was that person a woman?"
Her sudden question made my brain scramble.
She was, but admitting it meant traveling alone with a woman—bound to spark comments.
"...No. A guy."
"Hmm..."
And honestly, why did the companion's gender matter?
Sure, there was the... treatment stuff, but that was between the Sword Empress and me—not Dang Ayoung's business.
"Anyway, go on."
"So we reached Anhui, and..."
I recounted the rest mostly as is.
While my companion met their contact, I'd gotten kidnapped by a bloodsucker. They came to rescue me, but somehow I ended up flung all the way to Guangdong.
Her reaction to my earnest tale?
"...You expect me to believe that?"
Cold disbelief.
"But it's true?"
"...Ha. True, huh."
"Yeah. Really."
Everything was true except lying about the companion's gender.
"..."
Dang Ayoung fell silent for a long stretch before speaking softly.
"...Hey. Can you answer just one thing?"
Her voice carried complicated emotions.
Before I could even say "ask away,"
"How... do you see me?"
A question heavy with feeling.
My answer to that...
-Scratch scratch
