Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Escort Duty - Ties of Fate (3)
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Two men returned to the procession.
One was Mok Ri-won, and the other was Gwak Chil.
Gwak Chil avoided Mok Ri-won's eyes as he headed toward where his group was sitting.
“Mm? Brother Gwak, why is your face so pale?”
“No, it's nothing. Just some constipation.”
“Goodness, you've got yourself backed up.”
Gwak Chil forcibly calmed his pounding heart.
He tried his best to ignore Mok Ri-won's gaze, which he could still feel.
‘Someone remembers.’
Someone who remembers my novel.
That fact was what bound Gwak Chil.
No, to be precise, it would be more accurate to say there were few who didn't remember his novel, but even so, he trembled in despair.
To him, [Tales of the Jianghu Heroes] was like a reverse scale.
It was the youthful folly that had plunged his life into the abyss.
Gwak Chil wanted to turn away from it.
‘Don't talk to me…!’
He wanted to ignore everyone who brought up anything related to that novel—and the past that came with it.
*
Mok Ri-won watched Gwak Chil's retreating back with eyes full of regret.
Dang Hwa-seo tilted her head at the sight.
“Young Hero Mok, what's wrong?”
Mok Ri-won's head whipped around.
He began to speak, his face restless as if she'd asked just the right question.
“Well, listen to this, little sister! While I was in the middle of training, I ran into that escort over there!”
“Did he steal a peek at your training?”
Dang Hwa-seo's eyes sharpened.
Mok Ri-won startled and shook his head vigorously.
“No, that's not it! We just happened to meet and exchanged greetings, and his name turned out to be Gwak Chil! Doesn't it sound just like Gwak Chil-pyo, the author of Tales of the Jianghu Heroes? So, in my excitement, I brought up the book…!”
Mok Ri-won poured out his regrets, but Dang Hwa-seo couldn't empathize.
Linking the names ‘Gwak Chil’ and ‘Gwak Chil-pyo’ to Tales of the Jianghu Heroes, thinking to make it a conversation topic, and then feeling downcast when the other didn't engage—none of it resonated with her.
So her response was a simple one.
“I see.”
Dang Hwa-seo offered unconditional support.
It was a fine technique for smoothly continuing a conversation even when uninterested.
Mok Ri-won's words went on for quite a while, and her ‘I see’ matched it.
It was more a one-sided vent than a conversation, but it wasn't bad for either of them.
Mok Ri-won had found someone to complain to, which was good, and Dang Hwa-seo could pass the time with his pleasant voice as background music, so it was good for her too.
Of course, a third party's perspective was different.
‘What kind of conversation is this?’
Even Jegal San, who was known as an eccentric wherever he went, found the scene beyond comprehension.
Think about it.
Until just before arriving in Anhui, whenever Mok Ri-won acted like that, Dang Hwa-seo had always cut off his odd behavior on the spot.
But now she was going along with it, filling him with confusion.
Jegal San felt his common sense crumbling.
His evaluation of the woman called Poison Phoenix Dang Hwa-seo was plummeting endlessly.
He didn't have the confidence to listen to this conversation any longer.
“…How about we go over there and have a drink?”
Mok Ri-won's head turned toward Jegal San.
Jegal San continued to the tilting Mok Ri-won.
“You want to talk with that escort Gwak Chil, right? Looks like he's drinking. I'll go with you, and you can chat over a round.”
“Ooh…! That's a great idea!”
“Exactly. And while we're at it, tell them we'll pitch our own tents from now on. What do you say, sister-in-law?”
Dang Hwa-seo blinked before giving her permission.
“Whatever, do as you like.”
“Won't you come along, little sister?”
“What would I do inserting myself there? I don't like noisy things, so go on.”
Dang Hwa-seo waved her hand dismissively.
She inherently disliked rowdy play and planned to meditate in the meantime.
“Got it! We'll be back!”
Mok Ri-won headed excitedly toward where Gwak Chil was.
*
“Mind if we join you, if it's not too rude?”
Jegal San said with his characteristic weasel-like smile.
One arm was slung roguishly over Mok Ri-won's shoulder.
The escorts at the seats startled at their sudden appearance, eyes widening, before breaking into bright smiles and cheers.
“Ah, of course! Hold on! We'll make some space here.”
“Hey! Scoot over a bit!”
It was a situation the escorts had only dreamed of.
After all, weren't these geniuses bearing the title of dragons coming to share drinks with them?
Just conversing with them would be something to brag about anywhere, but there was more.
Sharing drinks with masters, they hoped to get advice on training.
“Thanks. Hope we're not interrupting.”
“B-, bothering us? Nonsense!”
As Jegal San humbly warmed up the mood.
Two men wore different expressions from the rest.
One was Mok Ri-won, eyes sparkling at Gwak Chil.
The other was Gwak Chil, burdened by that gaze.
Of all places, Mok Ri-won sat right next to Gwak Chil.
“We meet again!”
“G-, good to see you….”
Gwak Chil responded to Mok Ri-won with an awkward smile.
His stomach churned, eyes fixed on the ground.
But Mok Ri-won wasn't one to back down.
“We couldn't talk much earlier, which left me disappointed! If it's not rude, could we continue our conversation?”
His tone carried a hint of desperation.
Gwak Chil squeezed his eyes shut, exhaled his despair, then nodded.
“W-, what would be rude about it.”
“Ah, good! Truth is, I love Tales of the Jianghu Heroes so much, but I never had anyone to discuss it with, so I've always been regretful!”
It was praise.
The praise made Gwak Chil's stomach churn even more.
The words that tumbled out were tinged with that emotion, somewhat buried.
“…It's just pulp fiction anyway. And because I threw in some weird ideology, it drew the ire of the jianghu.”
“Hm? What ideology?”
“…”
Gwak Chil's lips twitched.
Words he couldn't spit out recklessly swirled in his mouth, then flowed out with faint irritation.
“…The last chapter. The Demonic Hero story. The great hero Mok Dragon might be too young to know, but that chapter nearly made the author Gwak Chil-pyo a public enemy of the martial world.”
Mok Ri-won's face went blank.
Gwak Chil, seeing it, thought ‘He didn't know after all’ and continued with a hollow laugh.
“Isn't it? A demon acting as a hero—how absurd. The jianghu must have seen it that way too. The narrative seemed to defend demons somehow, so they suspected the author's ideology…”
“That's not true!”
Mok Ri-won shouted.
It was loud enough that all eyes at the gathering turned to him instantly.
But Mok Ri-won pressed on, unperturbed.
“That wasn't defending demons! It was a beautiful narrative proclaiming that heroism exists in everyone's heart!”
Gwak Chil's face went blank.
Mok Ri-won continued, a bit angry even then.
“The Demonic Hero story said anyone could be a hero! I know it! Of course! It's my favorite story too!”
From Mok Ri-won's perspective, that was it.
He had come here excited at the rare chance to discuss the masterpiece Tales of the Jianghu Heroes, so the unexpected criticism of the novel filled him with injustice.
“As a child, I was deeply moved by that story. The Demonic Hero tale was a masterpiece among masterpieces, saying that no matter the form of the sword you wield, if your intent is righteous, it can be called heroism!”
“Brother Mok, calm down….”
“Argh! Do I look like I can calm down?!”
Mok Ri-won shot up from his seat.
He even snorted ‘Hmph!’ as he continued.
“Elder Gwak! Proclaim it! No matter what the jianghu says, the Demonic Hero chapter is a masterpiece among masterpieces!”
Mok Ri-won's fist clenched tight.
Gwak Chil felt his mind go blank at the following words.
His chest tightened sharply for a moment, but he couldn't fully immerse in the sentiment.
“…Brother Mok, isn't Elder Gwak troubled? He was just saying how the world sees it—if you press him like that, it won't feel good.”
“Ah…!”
Only then did Mok Ri-won recall the fact he'd forgotten in the heat of the moment.
“S-, sorry. I got too excited… Now that I think about it, you're right.”
Mok Ri-won's face flushed with shame.
Gwak Chil startled and shook his head.
“No, no. It's not that. I share the great hero Mok Dragon's thoughts too!”
After speaking, Gwak Chil felt a pang of regret.
His eyes naturally scanned the surroundings.
It was an instinctive reaction born from his long-held anxiety.
And Gwak Chil was surprised.
‘…No one cares.’
He had just said something unbecoming of a righteous martial artist, yet no one shot him a harsh glare.
All they showed were amused smiles at Mok Ri-won's abashed expression.
“The great hero Mok Dragon really loves that story, huh? Just like my ten-year-old son.”
“Th-that's….”
“Hey, it's a compliment. So passionate about the essence of heroism. You've opened my eyes today. Made me rethink something I hadn't considered since I grew up. Why I wanted to become a martial artist.”
“Exactly, same here. I saw the back of the White Sword who passed through our village as a kid—it looked so cool, so I became a martial artist.”
Gentle smiles bloomed here and there.
Those gathered one by one delved into memories, unpacking bundles of stories.
Gwak Chil felt dazed.
‘Why doesn't anyone….’
Curse the Demonic Hero story.
Why does no one throw stones?
It was incomprehensible to Gwak Chil.
It had to be.
The Demonic Hero story had drawn so much criticism back then.
Condemned as a narrative defending demons, calls had even arisen to punish Gwak Chil-pyo.
Gwak Chil reflected on the past twenty years.
He had struggled to hide that he was the book's author.
Fearing pursuit if he picked up the brush again, he had snapped it.
Living quietly like that, he lost all passion.
Such had been his years.
Tears welled up in Gwak Chil's eyes.
Realizing it was all a delusion born of his own fears brought relief and heaviness, naturally producing tears.
Of course, to Mok Ri-won, unaware of this, it seemed like he had made the man cry.
“S-, sorry—!”
Mok Ri-won panicked greatly and dropped to his knees.