Chapter 107
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Unpredictable (2)
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Since our last conversation, Charis's attitude had become much more compliant. It seemed my lie had quite the impact.
From her perspective, she was struggling over a freedom she could never truly obtain, so watching her like that pricked my conscience a bit—but I ignored it.
'Well... people need hope to find the will to keep going.'
In the end, even if it was false hope, wasn't I the boss giving her that glimmer?
'If the person involved believes it's real, then it is real.'
In any case, I was currently riding in a carriage alone with Wi Ho-yeon. The destination wasn't too far, but there was no need to walk when we had a carriage.
'Plus, some shopping to do.'
Anyway, I'd been neglecting Wi Ho-yeon lately, so I struck up a conversation.
"How have you been lately, Ho-yeon?"
"Pardon? What do you mean..."
"No, I just... with the new clan member joining and all, I was wondering if things have been okay for you."
The new clan member was just Charis, and as for topics I could bring up first with Wi Ho-yeon, it was mostly these kinds of formal chit-chat.
We'd been together for quite a while now, but we still hadn't exchanged any personal jokes or casual banter.
Our conversations were almost entirely about work.
"Yes, more than enough. I'm your bodyguard to begin with, but honestly, I just take out a few monsters that get too close during expeditions. If anything, I feel sorry for not doing much."
"You're doing your job perfectly, Ho-yeon. Don't say things like that."
"Thank you, Lee Yun-seong."
'Hmm...'
Thinking about it, our talks always flowed like this.
Wi Ho-yeon wasn't very sociable to begin with, and while not as much as her, neither was I.
Chatting with strangers and flattering them was just necessary talk and behavior—not because I enjoyed making friends.
If anything, it tired me out.
'And... usually, you can read what someone wants and tailor your words accordingly, but I have no idea with Ho-yeon.'
If I had to name the person I'd met who seemed to have the least personal emotions, it'd be Wi Ho-yeon, hands down.
It wasn't that she was hiding them—conversing with her just didn't reveal much in the way of personal feelings or desires.
'No wonder I called her robotic...'
She came across like someone who'd completely suppressed all private emotions.
I wondered if she even had personal desires.
"Ho-yeon, is there anything you want to achieve? Or do? Or even possess?"
"Pardon?"
"Just curious. Come to think of it, you've never shown any personal wants or desires..."
"Ah..."
"No pressure if it's hard to answer—I'm just killing time on the road."
"Not at all, Lee Yun-seong. As for possessions... I don't think so. I've already got what I wanted."
She glanced at the formless sword at her side, so it was clearly her weapon.
"And beyond that... desires or urges..."
"Including the big three human needs like hunger, lust, sleep. Wanting more sleep counts too."
Wi Ho-yeon paused mid-sentence, her face flushing as she stammered.
"N-none that I can think of..."
'What's that about?'
From the slight delay before answering and her fumbling words, it seemed she did have some personal desire, contrary to her response.
'Unexpected.'
Honestly, I'd thought it impossible for a human, but I'd assumed she had none.
"I see."
"Yes... Um, what about you, Lee Yun-seong? Is there anything you want?"
"Well..."
'My case, huh...'
"For me..."
It happened in an instant. As I started speaking, Wi Ho-yeon's expression hardened.
"...Wait..."
"...Ho-yeon?"
Something felt off, right as I called out to her.
"Lee Yun-seong!"
"Huh?"
KABOOM!
The carriage exploding happened in a flash.
"Urgh..."
"Lee Yun-seong! Are you alright?!"
Fortunately, Wi Ho-yeon had grabbed me and leaped out just before it shattered.
"Y-yeah... more importantly... this..."
I answered that I was fine and glanced at the carriage. It was smashed by what looked like an artificially shaped rock chunk.
A pool of blood formed where it was hit, so the coachman had been crushed instantly.
'...Magic? Who the hell?'
Someone had clearly ambushed us—me and Wi Ho-yeon.
But more importantly than the attack itself, who was behind it?
The first thought that flashed through my mind was that woman, Yanagiya Riki.
'Did she do this?'
Before I could follow the thought, an axe flew at me, and before I could react, Wi Ho-yeon drew her sword and deflected it.
"Ha, the Sword Empress indeed."
"Hey, idiot. What if you throw it to kill? We're here to capture, not slaughter."
The group emerging numbered well over ten.
I was on edge too, but Wi Ho-yeon looked extremely tense.
'Too many.'
I quickly checked their status windows one by one. Most had average stats, but one woman was slightly below Wi Ho-yeon yet still top-tier.
Since they weren't attacking right away, I cautiously spoke up.
"...Why are you doing this?"
The woman who seemed to be the leader answered my question.
"Why? You little chick should've known your place."
"...Did Yanagiya Riki send you?"
"What? Yanagiya Riki? You mean the one I know?"
Her reaction suggested they weren't from Yanagiya Riki.
'Fuck, then who? Who sent them?'
The people who might be hostile toward me right now were Ha Yuri and Yanagiya Riki.
But Ha Yuri's personality, bitchy as it was, wouldn't lead to something like this.
"No idea why her name came up, but... don't worry, we won't kill you. Sword Empress, drop your weapon—last warning."
Wi Ho-yeon ignored her and quietly spoke to me without turning.
"...Lee Yun-seong, these guys seem like outlaws."
'Ha...'
Her words made it click why they'd ambushed me.
'My tail got stepped on?'
The only reason for targeting me was retaliation for exposing their spy.
That meant they were directly from the group Shin Ju-tae belonged to—the Execution Sanctuary—or connected somehow.
The question was... how did they know I was the one who exposed the spy?
'The palace announcement was just a few days ago. By the time word spreads and they prepare, it couldn't be a reaction to that...'
Not certain, but they'd need time to get here too, so probably not.
'Not the time for this. More important is how to handle the situation than why they're here.'
"...Ho-yeon, straight question: can you escape with me in this situation?"
"That's..."
"......"
"...Sorry. Doesn't look possible."
I knew the answer but asked anyway. Sadly, it was a no.
No matter how much of a Sword Empress Wi Ho-yeon was, I was useless in combat, so she'd have to face double digits alone.
And she hadn't finished growing yet—clearly below Yoon Yeon or Gu Yeon-jeong.
No way it'd be positive.
Plus, one had stats not to be ignored, even if below hers.
'.....Fuck, no choice but this.'
Escaping together was absolutely impossible for me and Wi Ho-yeon.
So, the best call in this situation.
"...Ho-yeon, can you escape alone?"
"Lee Yun-seong... you mean..."
"...You go."
"What are you saying?! I'm your bodyguard. I have to protect you—"
"So we both get caught? Just run. Both captured is the worst outcome."
"No. I'm... your bodyguard. Abandoning my charge and fleeing is—"
"Ho-yeon, I won't die. They said capture, not kill. So somehow get to the clan house and bring help."
Everything's useless if you're dead.
I wouldn't normally make this call, but since they specified capture, I could.
'I'll be exposed to violence, but no choice. At least get Ho-yeon out to call for help.'
They'd take me somewhere, but I had my own plans.
"Ho-yeon, please. You escaping is how I survive."
"...Lee Yun-seong..."
"...Please."
At my desperate plea, Wi Ho-yeon bit her lip in anguish before speaking.
"...Sorry. I will—I swear—come rescue you. Please..."
"Yeah, I trust you."
After hearing me out, she kicked off the ground.
"Ha! She thinks she can take us alone?"
Combat erupted immediately, of course. Clangs of cold steel rang from Wi Ho-yeon's direction.
My side naturally became a battlefield too. Though calling it combat was embarrassing.
"...Damn it!"
I hurled magic at those approaching, but it was pointless.
They didn't charge through it, but dodged with casual movements.
'Fuck...!'
"Cocky bastard!"
"Flame Wall...!"
"Fucking moron, pulling this low-level shit!"
THUD!
"Guh...!"
Kicked and sent tumbling, I caught Wi Ho-yeon glancing my way mid-fight.
"Lee Yun-seong...!"
Her expression suggested she'd rush back any second, so I mouthed my intent laboriously.
'Please...! Run!'
It got through—she squeezed her eyes shut, turned away, and fled.
They wouldn't just watch, naturally.
"The bitch is running! Fuck, catch her!"
"Sis, the Sword Empress is bolting—what now?"
"You and Do-hyun stay. Rest, chase her. This guy's no threat anyway."
A pursuit team peeled off after Wi Ho-yeon immediately. All I could do was pray she escaped safely.
Wi Ho-yeon veered into the forest instead of open fields to shake her pursuers. Obstacles like trees and grass made fleeing easier.
"You damn bitch...!"
"Urk...!"
She dodged an incoming arrow but focused on widening the gap, so it grazed her cheek, drawing blood. Unavoidable.
But the brief delay let two men catch up.
"Heh heh... Come quietly, and we'll treat you nice."
Wi Ho-yeon shuddered at their lecherous stares.
Outlaws were all grotesque, driven only by base urges.
'Handle them before the others catch up.'
She swung at the man who'd thrown the axe at Lee Yun-seong earlier. He reacted, but his inferior stats slowed him.
CLANG!
"Urgh...! You fucking bitch...!"
The difference between average fighters and masters lay not just in strength, stats, or skill—but mindset.
Experts in any field stayed calm in crises, sorting their thoughts clearly.
Survival demanded optimal judgment in emergencies.
For Wi Ho-yeon, this was a crisis, yet her mind instantly calmed, serene as still water.
Mirror-still waters.
Her heart was just that now.
As the axe-man blocked her swing, the other stabbed from behind.
'Now.'
With focus detecting even the slightest twitch or pupil dilation, this was her chance.
She coiled her sword around his thrust, redirecting its force.
Plum-blossom grafting principle.
Most players relied solely on stats and traits, unfamiliar with such techniques—but not Wi Ho-yeon, who'd trained martial arts seriously.
Her tournament championship wasn't some fluke.
"Gah...!"
"W-what...!"
The sword-wielder panicked. He'd swung properly at the Sword Empress, but she'd twisted it somehow, impaling his ally.
He tried yanking it free, but in a life-or-death moment, every second counted.
SLASH!
"Gurgle..."
THUD.
As the body crumpled, Wi Ho-yeon kicked off again. No time to catch her breath.
'Lee Yun-seong, please be safe...!'
She just kept running and running.