Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Interlude - Banishing Afflictions (2)
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Three days had passed since Mok Ri-won began helping her.
Dang Hwa-seo felt like she was dying from an excess of blessings.
It was all because of his appearance that made her heart skip a beat every moment, his innocently smiling face, and the words he uttered without any self-awareness.
Now was no different.
“Your hair feels so nice. Brushing it like this really calms the mind.”
The brushing had become part of her routine.
Mok Ri-won chattered on with embarrassing words.
“Y-Yes… it does.”
“Mm, it’s so soft, and it carries your scent.”
Swish—
As the comb glided through her hair, Dang Hwa-seo’s heart lurched.
Since she was facing away from Mok Ri-won today as well, fortunately, her expression went unnoticed.
“Ah, all done.”
Mok Ri-won carefully released her hair from his hands.
Dang Hwa-seo took a deep breath—‘Hoo!’—before turning her head and smiling.
“Thank you. I’m indebted to you again today.”
“It’s only natural!”
At Mok Ri-won’s refreshing smile, Dang Hwa-seo nibbled her lip.
Then, with a deflated chuckle, she said,
“Then shall we go eat?”
“Is your work done?”
“Yes, today’s is all finished.”
“Got it! Then I’ll have to feed you!”
Mok Ri-won sprang to his feet, his eyes flashing with enthusiasm.
Dang Hwa-seo felt a pang of guilt.
In truth, she was hiding the fact that she could easily use chopsticks with one hand.
Human psychology was cunning indeed; what Dang Hwa-seo was doing now was nothing but self-justification.
‘…No, what if I drop something while using one hand? That’d be embarrassing.’
She told herself it was for the sake of her dignity.
She uttered those words without a shred of concern for the dignity lost in letting an unrelated man feed her.
“Let’s go!”
With that, Dang Hwa-seo headed to the dining hall.
*
The Dragon-Phoenix Squad’s dining hall wasn’t all that large.
Of course not—why waste space on a squad of just six members?
But that didn’t mean it was modest.
It was a dining hall literally plastered with money.
From the premium materials used in construction to the lavish decorations and furnishings inside—nothing wasn’t top-quality luxury.
Dang Hwa-seo and Mok Ri-won took seats at the leftmost of the three tables placed there.
Right then, the cook emerged from the kitchen.
“Oh, Young Hero Mok!”
“Cook! Today smells like meat!”
“Heh heh! I got the good stuff just to take care of our Young Hero Mok!”
“As expected, only you, Cook!”
Mok Ri-won laughed heartily and made a fuss.
Dang Hwa-seo’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘…He says that too easily.’
“You’re the only one”—how could he toss that around so casually to anyone?
Anyone looking would think he was flirting indiscriminately.
Of course, the cook was an elderly man, and Mok Ri-won, with his love for food, was on friendly terms with him—but even accounting for that, it was too much.
If this habit of saying “you’re the only one” to just anyone stuck, it could lead to big trouble later.
A seductive woman who overheard might misunderstand and throw herself at him.
That timid Mok Ri-won would be at a loss, and a shrewd woman might sense it and tease his conscience.
She’d put on some nonsense act like, “I bet you don’t like someone like me…” and pounce on him.
Dang Hwa-seo’s face soured.
Irritation toward an imaginary seductress who didn’t even exist was welling up inside her.
Then, in the midst of chatting animatedly with Mok Ri-won, the cook noticed her.
“Ah, Squad Leader! Is your arm feeling better?”
“…Yes, Young Hero Mok has been a great help.”
At her curt reply, the cook blinked before bursting into laughter—‘Pfft!’
“Just wait a bit! I’ll whip up something amazing!”
The cook turned back, humming cheerfully.
‘Youth is wonderful!’
Everyone in this pavilion knew Dang Hwa-seo had special feelings for Mok Ri-won.
Everyone except Namgung Jincheon, that is.
‘Getting to watch a good show in my old age—coming here as cook was the right call.’
U Jae-gun, the cook of the Dragon-Phoenix Squad.
He was an old man wealthy enough to retire, with experience even as an imperial cook.
He’d come here on a friend’s recommendation to pass the time.
U Jae-gun was satisfied with his choice.
Of course he was—the work was light, and the squad members who visited were all delightful youths that brought smiles to his face, leaving no room for boredom.
‘I wonder how it’ll turn out.’
Old age brought nosiness.
U Jae-gun lived each day with anticipation for how things would unfold between Dang Hwa-seo and Mok Ri-won.
*
“Eat up!”
U Jae-gun set the food on the table.
It was stir-fried pork.
Fried with seasonings, it was rich with red hue, the meat and fat layers perfectly balanced for an appetizing look.
The assorted vegetables stir-fried alongside added variety.
“I’ll dig in!”
“Yes, enjoy!”
U Jae-gun returned to the kitchen.
Mok Ri-won picked up his chopsticks, grabbed the largest, most delicious-looking piece of meat, and held it to Dang Hwa-seo’s lips.
“Here, say ‘ahh’!”
He cupped his empty hand underneath, lest the seasoning fall.
Strangely, Dang Hwa-seo felt her mind ease in that instant.
“Hm? Come on, try it!”
Dang Hwa-seo blushed faintly and opened her mouth.
Mok Ri-won slipped the meat in and beamed radiantly.
“How is it? Good?”
“Yes… You should try some too, Young Hero Mok.”
“Got it!”
As Dang Hwa-seo covered her mouth while speaking, Mok Ri-won picked up two pieces of meat.
He stuffed in enough to fill his mouth, chewing as if that was how it should be done.
His cheeks bulged, and flushed red as he exclaimed in admiration.
“It’s so good!”
Seeing him eat so happily would make the cook prouder than anything.
Dang Hwa-seo suddenly realized why the cook and Mok Ri-won got along so well.
“Now it’s your turn!”
“Ah, yes.”
And so they took turns feeding each other, continuing the meal.
“Hm? Brother Mok?”
Jegal San entered the dining hall.
With Il-un in tow.
Their sweat-soaked bodies suggested they’d just finished training.
Jegal San’s narrowed eyes turned toward Mok Ri-won’s hand.
The one extending meat toward Dang Hwa-seo’s mouth.
“Mm…”
“My arm’s inconvenient.”
Dang Hwa-seo said coldly.
“Your arm.”
She emphasized.
“Is inconvenient.”
Her eyes widened fiercely.
A resolute attitude allowing no argument.
Jegal San flinched like a merchant facing a bandit and lowered his gaze.
“I-I see. Hope it heals soon…”
With that, he went with Il-un to the opposite end of the hall.
This was the epitome of a predator-prey relationship.
Jegal San, sly and unflappable in all things, shrank endlessly before Dang Hwa-seo.
‘Why do I…’
Have to be treated like this?
Even knowing the reason, resentment welled up.
Il-un watched Jegal San for a moment, then patted his shoulder lightly.
Still waters run deep.
Silence is golden.
Living by such proverbs, Il-un said,
“You’d do well to talk a bit less.”
To Il-un, Jegal San’s problem was his mouth.
*
A week had passed since Dang Hwa-seo began receiving Mok Ri-won’s help.
Her arm was fully healed.
Yet Dang Hwa-seo clutched the splint, deep in thought.
‘…Should I take it off?’
That damned cunning nature was stirring trouble again.
Removing the splint meant the blissful days would end.
The thought made her reluctant, pretending otherwise while feeling regret.
Having Mok Ri-won brush her hair was nice.
Being fed by him was embarrassing but thrilling.
When he massaged her shoulders lest they stiffen, she wished time would stop.
But must she give it up?
The deliberation dragged on, but the conclusion was obvious.
“…Ahem.”
Dang Hwa-seo cleared her throat alone in the empty room and rewrapped the splint.
Then she stepped outside.
Moments later, Mok Ri-won appeared.
“Little Sister! Let’s do our best today too!”
At Mok Ri-won’s cheerful words, Dang Hwa-seo felt a twinge of guilt.
She was aware she was stealing his time.
Her heart wavered again.
Overcome with apology, Dang Hwa-seo said,
“Am I taking too much of your training time?”
“No worries! I’ve been training steadily since morning!”
“That’s a relief, then…”
Dang Hwa-seo spoke awkwardly, and Mok Ri-won grinned.
“And I don’t see time with you as stolen time.”
“Huh?”
“Being with you makes me happy.”
Thump—
Her heart acted up again.
Dang Hwa-seo felt her breath catch, her chest tightening.
The scenery faded, leaving only Mok Ri-won in sharp focus.
His wrinkle-free smile reflected the sunlight.
His deep brown eyes held only her in this moment.
Excitement and tension.
Followed by a hint of resentment.
It arose from the fact that this man, clueless about moderation in expression, spoke without deeper intent.
‘That’s why…’
I get these bad thoughts.
She swallowed her words and smiled.
“…Shall we go, then?”
“Of course! Let’s go!”
Mok Ri-won walked beside Dang Hwa-seo.
It was midday, but the corridor was quiet.
Birdsong and rustling grass tickled the ears faintly, warm sunlight caressing the skin.
A drowsy, peaceful atmosphere.
Mok Ri-won seemed to enjoy it too, lips sealed in a faint smile.
Dang Hwa-seo glanced at him and sighed.
She scolded her heart, still racing oddly from the prior palpitation.
They soon reached the office.
Entering, Mok Ri-won sat beside her, picked up the comb, and Dang Hwa-seo suppressed her rising smile, turned her back, and took her seat.
The brushing began.
Mok Ri-won’s humming filled the office.
Then.
Bang—!
Namgung Jincheon burst in.
And froze.
Namgung Jincheon, Mok Ri-won, Dang Hwa-seo—all of them.
In the awkward silence, Namgung Jincheon rolled his eyes, surveying the scene.
Their positions, postures, the comb in Mok Ri-won’s hand and Dang Hwa-seo’s hair.
Only after taking it all in did Namgung Jincheon speak.
“The training ground needs repairs.”
A statement ignoring what was plain to see.
Or rather, a lack of tact.
Namgung Jincheon didn’t think beyond “he’s brushing her hair.”
His mind didn’t veer toward romance.
Dang Hwa-seo’s face flushed.
It was the nature of words.
His business didn’t fit the situation at all.
Namgung Jincheon meant it innocently, but to the guilty Dang Hwa-seo, it wasn’t.
It felt like unnecessary consideration.
Not just consideration, but tactless consideration making things more awkward.
What followed was an unintended blunder.
Feeling the need to make excuses, Dang Hwa-seo shot to her feet—without regard for the splint.
Crack—
The splint snapped.
Revealed was her arm, held forward, sturdy and unyielding.
No trace of injury in the motion.
“…Uh.”
Dang Hwa-seo realized too late and froze.
Mok Ri-won blinked, then exclaimed ‘Ah!’ and said,
“Little Sister! Your arm must be all better! I didn’t realize since you kept the splint on!”
His self-assumed explanation was more welcome than ever.
Dang Hwa-seo, face burning with shame, eyes wavering, replied,
“…Seems like it.”
She wanted to die of embarrassment.
In that farce, only Namgung Jincheon maintained his usual demeanor.
“The training ground.”
The repairs to the demolished training ground were urgent.