Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Gift - 2
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She looked flustered, but joy was mixed into Namgung Hye's expression. Is caramel that great?
"This must be pretty expensive..."
"It's not that expensive if you make it yourself."
It's pricey because of the Western Regions premium. Once everything's neatly wrapped up later, maybe I should sell these and try my hand at business?
Besides caramel, I can make handmade candies too.
I turned away from Namgung Hye, who was happily clutching a handful of caramels. I'd given her the gift, so now it was time to finish today's training.
"After receiving so much... it feels wrong to just let it slide. Let me buy lunch today."
"I'd be grateful for that. But I've already prepared my lunchbox."
I usually eat the lunchbox I bring. When I showed her the one filled with onigiri I'd made at dawn, she grinned.
"Don't do that. I'll bring lunchboxes too. I'll get one for you as well."
"Hmm... if you insist that much."
It wouldn't be polite to keep refusing when she's offering to buy, so I graciously accepted.
After finishing the morning training, when lunchtime came around, Namgung Hye used lightness skill to dash out of the clearing. She returned shortly after, holding two lunchboxes.
They were fancy tiered ones. I'd heard the Namgung Family was wealthy, but I hadn't expected her to bring something like this.
"Eat up."
"Thanks, I'll dig in."
These were pricey lunchboxes sold at Jinhyu Pavilion, the large inn in the heart of Jinhyu City.
Stuffed with dried seafood and plenty of meat, each one cost a whopping two nyang of silver.
When I worked at Hwapyeong Inn, my monthly wage was just one nyang of silver. Burning two months' pay in a single meal.
She casually offered the luxurious lunchbox and took a bite of her rice before asking me,
"By the way, how long have you been training in martial arts?"
"Just a few months."
"Whoa... and you're already at that level?"
"I've only trained in the Three Ultimates Sword Art. I guess it's the result of focusing on one thing."
"Even so. Your Mount Tai Pressing Down is different from the one I know. Did Sword Heaven teach you something else, by any chance?"
I couldn't deny it. I nodded, and Namgung Hye pondered for a moment before snapping her fingers.
"If you have some time later, could I ask for another spar?"
"Hmm. Not sure if I'll have time."
I had to continue training in the Three Ultimates Sword Art in the afternoon. I'd gained insight last time, but I hadn't fully internalized it.
And according to Yu Ye-ryeon, there was room to improve further, so I couldn't get complacent.
"Aww, come on. I'll teach you a good fist technique."
"My training is under Sword Heaven's guidance. If there's more to learn, it should be from her."
I recalled Namgung Je's earlier suggestion. That it might be good to visit a sword family to broaden my horizons and learn systematically, in addition to training with Sword Heaven.
The Namgung Family was one of the renowned sword families, so it was probably an invitation to come to them... but it didn't particularly appeal to me.
"I see. Well, can't be helped then. Instead, can I watch you train?"
"Sure. In return, I'd like to watch your training too."
Especially the Namgung Family's other sword arts.
Seeing her Soaring Palace Free Sword Art had sparked my insight into Mount Tai Pressing Down, so watching their other techniques might lead to more breakthroughs.
"Hmm... alright. I still have some usable sword arts, though they're not perfect."
"Nice. What are they?"
"It's called Lightning Flash Thirteen Thunderbolts. It's characterized by lightning-fast strikes, consisting of thirteen forms in total..."
A speed-focused sword art? Her explanation piqued my interest in several ways.
"Sounds promising."
"If you're that keen, let's spar sometime later. I'd like to study your Mount Tai Pressing Down more too."
"Well... if we're scheduling it for later, sure."
Namgung Hye smiled brightly and popped a big piece of meat into her mouth. We finished eating, rested briefly, and stood up to resume training.
How long had it been since we started training in earnest? Just as sweat soaked my entire body, another person appeared in the clearing.
"Jin Hyun."
"Yes?"
It was Yu Ye-ryeon.
Wearing not her usual black cheongsam-like dress, but more ornate clothes in black and red, she glanced at Namgung Hye and said,
"Get ready. We're moving out now."
"Heading to Changik Village right away?"
"Yes. There might be demonic beasts on the way. You'll have to fight then, so stay sharp... And you were with the Soaring Heaven Sword Unit."
"Understood. I'll go."
After a quick bow, Namgung Hye left. Yu Ye-ryeon watched her go, then turned to me and furrowed her brow slightly.
"What's wrong?"
She approached and pinched my cheek lightly.
"Nothing!"
Nothing, yet she pinches my cheek? Her expression looked quite displeased when I started to ask.
So I stayed still, and she pouted at me before turning sharply and striding off.
She stopped, let out a small sigh, and turned back.
"Hurry up."
Her face, when I looked back, held her usual gentleness unlike before.
The Mythical Hound exudes immense demonic energy just by existing.
That energy draws demonic beasts, so areas where it appears often suffer heavy damage.
And sure enough? On the way to Changik Village, the number of demonic beasts we encountered was far from few.
"Just low-grade Earth Dogs, but... in such numbers. It must be hard for the village to even travel in and out. I wonder if damage has already occurred."
As Namgung Je muttered worriedly, the village came into view in the distance. Surrounded by a wooden fence, it seemed quiet, with no major damage yet.
As we entered Changik Village, which looked like any ordinary rural hamlet, the villagers stared at us curiously.
"Um, sirs. What brings you to our Changik Village... Huh?! Sword Heaven?!"
An elderly man, likely the village chief, approached cautiously, bowed politely, and asked—then shouted in surprise upon spotting her. Yu Ye-ryeon, standing behind the Soaring Heaven Sword Unit, nodded lightly.
"It's been a while, Village Chief Yang Jeong."
"Yes, indeed. But what really brings you all the way here? If it's liquor..."
"Not for liquor. Soaring Heaven Sword Unit Leader, explain."
"Yes."
Namgung Je's explanation followed. Traces of the Mythical Hound found nearby, and how its demonic energy had drawn more beasts.
As the story progressed, the paling village chief bowed urgently to the Soaring Heaven Sword Unit.
"Oh dear... So you're here to eliminate the Mythical Hound."
"That's right. With that in mind, may we use this village as our base? We'll pay, of course."
"No need for payment. We have some empty houses—please rest there."
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Under the village chief's guidance, we headed deeper into the village.
As he said, there were several empty houses, so everyone split up and claimed one. Yu Ye-ryeon and I were assigned one too.
"Three from the Soaring Heaven Sword Unit will stay here as precaution. The rest will move out with me to hunt the Mythical Hound."
"Precaution for..."
"As you saw, there are quite a few demonic beasts. We can't rule out an attack on the village. You stay here too and fight any that come."
"Understood."
I'd prefer to go after the Mythical Hound, but I probably wouldn't be much help there. Better to stay and handle any beasts that might appear.
"Once the Mythical Hound is dealt with, we'll sweep the nearby beasts together. Train hard in the meantime."
"Got it."
"I'll come back here once a week. The others know the outpost location, so head there if anything happens."
After briefing on other precautions, Yu Ye-ryeon picked up her sword as time came.
"But are you alright with this?"
"With what?"
"Facing the Mythical Hound. I've heard it's not easy."
"Haha. Who do you think I am? One of the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces. Sword Heaven."
She chuckled and ruffled my hair wildly. Then she pulled me into a light hug and whispered softly,
"So maybe worry more about yourself than me? You might have to fight beasts attacking the village, so stay alert."
"Understood."
"Cute kid."
After releasing me and patting my head once more, she walked away with her signature bouncy stride. Shortly after she left, footsteps approached my house.
It was Namgung Hye. She stared in the direction Yu Ye-ryeon had gone, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
"You seem pretty close with Sword Heaven?"
"Hmm... something like that."
We share knowledge of the future and have joined hands, after all.
"Anyway, we have time left, so let's train."
Stopping midway through earlier left a bad taste. It's natural to feel off if I don't meet my quota.
As I drew my sword, Namgung Hye smirked and gripped hers.
"You're like a training demon."
"Heaven helps those who help themselves."
No matter that I know the future, how can I save the world without effort?
So all I can do is work hard.