Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Change - 1
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"It's not an easy path. One wrong move, and you could end up dying far from home. Still, you want to walk the path of a knight-errant?"
"Yes, even knowing that, I still want to do it."
She fell silent after hearing my words. Those full lips of hers parted only after the time it took to finish a cup of tea.
"Then don't go to the Heavenly Martial Hall."
The main storyline of the novel unfolds there. It's where I'd meet many of the key characters and strengthen them.
But hearing her tell me not to go, I couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"The Heavenly Martial Hall is where the younger generation from both the righteous and evil factions gather. But even there, plenty of people fight over their own gains. Of course, it's not like there are no folks like you who prioritize justice... but if you stay there, it'll be hard to walk the path of a knight-errant. Know why?"
"Because the Heavenly Martial Hall is tangled up in the interests of the righteous and evil factions...?"
"Exactly. Sure, it's run by both sides, but in reality, it's just a political battlefield for the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Clans, the four great families of the evil faction, and the Four Black Alliances to scrap over their profits. If you go there, you'll inevitably get dragged into their mess and start moving for gains yourself."
She wasn't wrong.
The protagonist in the novel had done much the same. And through that, a ton of events had unfolded, granting him fateful encounters.
"Remember what I said before? About handing those fateful encounters to people on the level of main characters. Don't do that."
"Then what should I do?"
"The original protagonist's already gone, right? And that Wi Cheonryong guy... from what I've seen, he hardly qualifies as a knight-errant."
"......"
"If you're not set on walking that path, there's no need to follow the story's beats just because you've chosen a different road. Monopolize every single one of those fateful encounters for yourself, as much as possible."
"But that's not easy. Even moving alone has its limits..."
"I'll help you."
That was an answer I hadn't expected. Yu Ye-ryeon? One of the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces?
"But."
"No buts. If the Blood God descends, the world ends, doesn't it?"
That was true, but.
"I have no intention of letting that happen."
"It won't be easy."
To gather the elixirs and spirit creatures from the novel, I'd have to roam the entire Nine Provinces. That journey was bound to be long and tedious.
Could I really ask her to come along?
Especially when Yu Ye-ryeon had to find medicine for her sworn little sister. With no telling when or where she'd get leads on those ingredients, tagging along with me across the land seemed unlikely.
"This is about saving the world. A little sacrifice is to be expected. Besides, I'll be wandering around anyway to gather Hina's medicine."
"Haa..."
If a powerhouse like Yu Ye-ryeon teamed up with me, it was nothing but good for my position. But that would mean scrapping my plans from the start and rebuilding them.
The risks of her joining and ditching the main storyline. The gains beyond that. After mulling it all over, I shook my head.
"Just the two of us won't be enough."
"Knew you'd say that. So let's tap my connections here."
"Connections...?"
"Two among the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces. I can move those two."
"Huh? Really?"
"Kwon Seon and Changryong. They owe me."
"What kind of debt...?"
"Back when we played gollpae, I covered their losses."
"....."
Gollpae? Gambling?
I stared at Yu Ye-ryeon, and she giggled at my gaze, raising her hand and twirling it around.
"Don't worry. I quit."
"No, someone of Sword Heaven's caliber, playing gollpae...?"
"You can't underestimate the thrill gambling brings. That rush when you've bet everything..."
A thrill I couldn't comprehend. I just shook my head, and as I did, the giggling Yu Ye-ryeon grabbed my arm.
"Anyway, manpower issue settled... now, about your martial arts."
She let out a deep sigh and pinched my cheek.
"You need to get stronger. You think you can be a knight-errant who folds to mere demon beasts?"
She wasn't wrong.
Sure, I'd gained enlightenment this time and accumulated twenty years' worth of internal energy, but from Yu Ye-ryeon's view, I was just a frail warrior who'd go flying with a flick of her wrist.
"Justice, righteousness, chivalry—whatever you call it, without power, it's just empty noise. You get that, right?"
I did.
Justice without power was nothing but helplessness.
I nodded, and she clapped lightly before patting my back.
"Then nothing's changed about what needs doing."
"Got it... Oh, right. What about the Namgung Family?"
"They went back."
Yu Ye-ryeon filled me in on what happened while I was out cold.
With the Mythical Hound subjugation over, they had no reason to linger outside.
The Soaring Heaven Sword Unit was directly under the patriarch, so they couldn't wander elsewhere, and planned to return as soon as the mission ended.
"The problem was Namgung Hye. She seemed pretty shaken."
"Shaken...?"
"She said she had to apologize to you."
"Apologize?"
Did she really have anything to apologize for?
Namgung Hye had simply fulfilled her role. Deciding to hold off the demon beasts alone was my call.
So what did she have to be sorry for?
"Well, only she knows her exact feelings. If you're that curious, send her a letter later."
"Yeah, I should."
"Alright... let's wrap this up."
It felt a bit lingering, but as she said, no point dwelling. Namgung Hye wasn't even here right now.
"Come on out for now. Let's head back to the manor."
The villagers of Changik Village saw us off as we returned to the manor, and I immediately headed to the open ground.
No one had chopped wood while I was gone; logs were piled up pretty high.
"One thing I want to ask."
"Sure."
"How'd you take down the Human-Faced Spider?"
I just slashed it. Recalling the moment, I gripped my sword and unleashed Sweeping Away Heavenly Armies at an imaginary target.
"Again. The Human-Faced Spider's shell is tough; you can't cut it that cleanly with a simple slash."
"Ah. Then it's this."
I recalled that memory. Slowly exhaled, pondered the technique's meaning, and circulated my internal energy.
The Five Elements Circulation Art's energy flowed, strengthening my body and sword. Holding that state, I executed Sweeping Away Heavenly Armies.
After landing the strike perfectly and relaxing my stance, she stared at me with a grave expression.
"Uh... did I mess up?"
"...I never properly taught you Sweeping Away Heavenly Armies."
"I puzzled it out myself. Thinking about how one swing sweeps away a thousand foes..."
"Do it again."
Yu Ye-ryeon was always so relaxed, but not this time.
Uncrossing her arms with a tense look, she pointed at herself.
"...You want me to slash at you right now?"
"Oh, come on~. I won't even get nicked, so don't worry."
Is this really okay?
As I hesitated, she urged me on. No choice.
I circulated my energy again and unleashed Sweeping Away Heavenly Armies. She blocked the left-to-right sword stroke barehanded, then finally eased her serious expression.
"Ever heard of the Sword Qi Reinforcement realm?"
"The realm where you use internal energy to strengthen your sword and body?"
"That's it. You're already at that level."
"...Me?"
Freely wielding Sword Qi Reinforcement meant I was nearing first-rate expert territory.
And I hadn't even been training martial arts that long.
Even with the 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb and a supreme art like the Five Elements Circulation Art, hitting first-rate this soon?
This was too fast.
"You saying I have talent?"
"Hmm... yeah, looks like it. Sadly, not the talent for learning my sword arts..."
"Ah..."
Too bad, like she said.
Learning Sword Heaven's arts would make reaching expert level a breeze.
As I looked glum, Yu Ye-ryeon ruffled my hair wildly.
Another mess. While I fixed it, she crossed her arms and stepped closer.
"Don't be disappointed. It's just the direction of your talent that's different—not that you lack it. Honestly, in your current state..."
Yu Ye-ryeon looked me straight in the eye, dead serious.
"You're a genius."
A genius.
Was my talent really that exceptional? As I stared in shock, she snorted like, what're you looking at?
"Even geniuses are useless without training. Talent means nothing without effort..."
"I'll put in the work."
"Good attitude. Then, before we dive into serious training..."
"Before?"
"Let's take a break."
A break? Now? I thought she was joking, but she seemed serious.
"Just a week off. Truth is, your body's not fully recovered yet."
"Ah, right."
Yeah, moving still felt burdensome. Glancing at the logs scattered around the yard, I asked,
"Then who chops the firewood?"
"Guess that's on me. Don't worry—I can do it faster than you. Focus solely on recovering until the break's over. You'll miss these rest days later."
How badly does she want to grind me like this?
I nodded reluctantly, and Yu Ye-ryeon smiled warmly as she stood.
"Then let's relax easy for the week."
"Does that mean no cooking either?"
At that, Yu Ye-ryeon flashed the most radiant smile, one that made my heart skip.
"That's a different story."
Figures.