Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Today, the Protagonist Disappeared. Or Maybe Yesterday - 2
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My mind went blank for a moment.
Why? Why wasn't the protagonist, Wi Cheonryong, by Yu Ye-ryeon's side?
"Why are you staring like that?"
"...Are you alone?"
"As you can see. I came for a meal on my way back, as promised... so I can expect some decent dishes, right?"
She strode in confidently and took a seat. I could see a few patrons gasping in admiration at Yu Ye-ryeon's beauty, but I had no time to worry about that now.
Had they failed to meet? Or...
"First, one serving each of the spicy stir-fried pork and Gyeongyang-style tonkatsu from before, and one braised pork."
"Got it."
I headed straight to the kitchen. I left the braised pork to Master Ki, the head chef, while I personally prepared the spicy stir-fried pork and tonkatsu. After serving them, I returned to the kitchen.
"Why?"
"I have something to make."
My opponent was Yu Ye-ryeon, the Sword Heaven, one of the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces. No matter how down-to-earth she was or how little she cared for formalities, the gap in our statuses was like heaven and earth. I couldn't just bluntly ask someone like her if something had happened.
To even start a proper conversation, I needed to offer something first.
I cracked some eggs into a bowl, separated the whites from the yolks, and mixed sugar and flour into the yolks.
"Whew."
Now came the real work. I whipped the egg whites in a large bowl as fast as I could with a whisk to make meringue. Once mixed thoroughly with the yolk batter, the prep was complete.
"Ho. That's an interesting method."
Master Ki watched with interest, but I had no time to pay attention. Before the bubbles could deflate, I poured oil onto a hot griddle and added the batter. I covered it with a lid and waited five minutes.
In the remaining time, I whipped up some fresh cream and transferred it onto the finished soufflé pancake.
"Wouldn't this look better than just plating it like that?"
As expected of someone who'd worked in the capital, Master Ki was skilled at presentation.
As I picked up the completed dish with his help to head out, he glanced outside with a troubled expression.
"You're not planning to give that to that lady warrior, are you?"
"Yes."
"Don't. She's beautiful, but that sword at her side screams martial artist. Getting tangled with those types never ends well for folks like us."
Of course, I knew that. But even so, I had to find out.
I nodded to him and approached Yu Ye-ryeon, who was devouring the spicy stir-fried pork and tonkatsu.
"What's that?"
"A reward for keeping your promise. Have it for dessert."
She popped the last bite of tonkatsu into her mouth, chewed, swallowed, and took a bite of the soufflé pancake. Her red eyes widened—she seemed to like it quite a bit.
"This is good. The fluffy texture... Is it a Western dish?"
"Something like that."
"You look young, but you know Western recipes well. Though this doesn't seem free... Do you want something?"
"If it's all right with you, I'm curious how your trip went."
Now I'd hear it. I watched her lips expectantly. She closed her eyes briefly, shrugged, and spoke casually.
What she said was completely different from what I knew.
"I stopped by Pyeonggang Village, Hayeon Village, and Un-ga Village, but nothing special happened."
"...Isn't there an Evil Faction group called Yangcheon Fortress in Un-ga Village?"
"Ah, that place? Apparently, someone wiped them all out before I arrived."
Up to here, it matched what I knew. But then why hadn't she met Wi Cheonryong?
"I heard a young swordsman named Wi Cheonryong killed them all. Then he felt his own shortcomings and just left."
"...Pardon?"
No way. He left without spending the night with the village chief's daughter?
Something was off.
"He was heading to the Heavenly Martial Hall for initiation... but said he wouldn't grow properly in his current state, so he bailed. I wanted to see his face after seeing the clean sword wounds on the corpses."
The Heavenly Martial Hall. An institution jointly managed by the Martial Alliance and the Four Black Alliances, where young talents from Righteous and Evil Factions gathered.
It was also the main stage for the erotic martial novel I'd read.
But the protagonist hadn't gone there and had vanished?
"D-Didn't you chase after him?"
"Why would I?"
"You said you were looking for a disciple."
"Master-disciple bonds must be fated. Only relationships formed by chance meetings are heaven's will. Anyway, that's all."
"I see... Understood."
"So, can I keep eating this?"
"Of course."
As she focused on the soufflé pancake, I returned to the kitchen. While doing dishes, I pondered.
What on earth had happened after I left? I needed to look into this myself.
"...Huh."
I commissioned the Beggar's Sect to investigate the Un-ga Village incident in detail.
It cost a bit, but they were the Beggar's Sect for a reason. So thorough and neatly summarized.
"A few days after you ditched Yangcheon Fortress, Iron Shell beefed up his crew. Probably recruited some Evil Faction experts he ran into while searching for you."
The beggar who'd brought the info stuffed his face with the spicy stir-fried pork I'd given him as he explained.
It was wordy, but the gist was this.
Furious at my midnight escape, Iron Shell had his men scour Un-ga Village and nearby settlements for me. In the process, they encountered a few Evil Faction martial artists.
Since they were looking for a place to settle, Iron Shell brought them into Yangcheon Fortress.
In short, Yangcheon Fortress's forces were much stronger than in the novel.
Wi Cheonryong would've easily slain Iron Shell and the rest, but the added Evil Faction warriors' skills nearly killed him several times.
After barely surviving mortal danger, who has time for romance? He'd prioritize honing his martial arts and building strength.
Being the self-preserving type, he'd definitely think that way.
"So... do you know where he went?"
"Tracking costs extra."
"...No need."
I'd already spent all my savings. What could I do? I nodded to him, and the beggar grinned, returned the empty bowl, and left.
"Haa."
The situation had gotten messy. Butterfly effect aside, was my escape alone enough to tangle everything up?
"Something bothering you?"
I sighed deeply once more. That's when Yu Ye-ryeon appeared, arms full of various supplies.
She'd stayed a few days after returning last time and was now preparing to leave. The jerky and dried rice suggested a long journey.
In the original story, she'd have shopped with Wi Cheonryong. Things were seriously derailed.
If this continued, it was bad. At the Heavenly Martial Hall, Wi Cheonryong got involved in many events thanks to his title as 'Sword Heaven's Disciple.'
Solving those led to meeting other heroines and gaining opportunities. But now he wasn't even entering the Hall?
Everything was screwed up because of me.
"It's nothing."
"By the way, mind if I ask a favor?"
A favor? Suddenly? From one of the Eight Great Heavens to a mere errand boy and assistant chef like me?
"Pardon? Ah, yes. If it's something I can do..."
"Do you do catering?"
Catering. Master Ki occasionally cooked for wealthy families. If it was like that, it shouldn't be too hard.
"Catering? If it's not too far..."
Yu Ye-ryeon's expression darkened. It was far away? But right now, catering was the least of my concerns...
...Wait a minute.
"You said a favor, right? Then I'd like to ask one in return."
"Interesting. Sure, let's hear it."
"I want to learn martial arts."
"Martial arts? Sorry, but your body isn't suited for my arts."
I'd figured as much. If I were worthy, she'd have said so at our first meeting.
But even so, I needed to learn martial arts.
I bore much of the blame for the protagonist abandoning his role.
It was only right that I clean up the mess.
And for that, I had to learn martial arts.
"I don't want to be your disciple. Just enough to enter the Heavenly Martial Hall."
Right now, I was a complete novice with no martial arts knowledge.
Self-training from scratch wouldn't get me into the Heavenly Martial Hall with all its major players. Without intensive training from a powerhouse like her, it was impossible.
"Well... if that's all. But teaching martial arts just for a catering gig doesn't add up. Why not tell me something that'll pique my interest?"
Perfect. I had plenty to say.
"I have an important story to share."
"Good. Follow me."
I followed her to her inn room. After securing the door, she nodded, and I recounted the erotic martial novel's plot.
In the near future, an absolute being called the Blood God would threaten the world. And so...
"...In the end, the tower will appear. That tower is the vessel for the Blood God's descent. Unless the tower is conquered, the Blood God will descend, and the world will perish. Within it, three of the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces will die, and two will go missing. Also..."
Yu Ye-ryeon listened silently until I finished, then chuckled softly.
Not a bad reaction.
Anyone else would've drawn their sword and called it nonsense.
"If it's a lie, it's absurd. If it's a novel, it's boring."
True. It wasn't that exciting a story.
"Of course, you can't trust it."
"Right. Plenty have tried fooling me like this. Prophecies, divinations, visions—those tricks."
Her provocative gaze challenged me to prove it. I met her eyes and nodded.
"How about this, then?"