Chapter 162: Flame Wheel Art-3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 162: Flame Wheel Art-3
Chirp, chirp.
Along with the sound of birds singing, dawn began to break.
"Ah... I'm so tired."
Having served as So-yu’s human body pillow all night, In-ho rubbed his hollow, sleep-deprived eyes. He then turned to his side with a look of grievance.
"......"
Beside him, Namgung So-yu was sleeping soundly, her breathing soft and rhythmic. She looked so perfectly fine that it was hard to believe she had been bedridden for three days. Whether it was her personal resilience or if all martial artists recovered that quickly, it was an impressive sight regardless.
"...I should grab some breakfast and head to work."
In-ho moved on tiptoe, careful not to wake his master.
Creeeeak.
"Where... are you going?"
As a draft of outside air drifted through the slightly ajar door, Namgung So-yu, who had been asleep just a moment ago, opened her eyes and spoke.
Her supernatural reaction speed sent a chill down In-ho’s spine, but he turned back toward his master with a composed face.
"I have to eat breakfast. Would you like some too, Master?"
"Yes. Let us eat."
So-yu spoke as she rose from her spot. In-ho tilted his head at the sight.
"I was going to bring it to you. You should lie down a bit longer."
"I do not wish to. Let us go together."
Namgung So-yu spoke as she stepped out the door first.
In the kitchen, In-ho took out a few potatoes left over from the previous day's steaming and placed them in a crude wooden bowl. He had intended to make potato porridge for his master, but So-yu declined, saying she was fine.
Returning to the room, In-ho tidied the bedding and brought out a small table. He gave the surface a quick wipe with his hand and set the bowl of potatoes on top.
"Please, eat."
"I shall enjoy the meal."
It was a humble breakfast, but neither occupant of the room complained. When they were camping out, they often had meals far more meager than this.
"So, what do you intend to do today?" So-yu asked, taking a small bite of a potato.
"As I mentioned yesterday..." He trailed off, glancing at So-yu’s expression.
"You are going to the market?" So-yu’s eyes flashed sharply.
"Yes..."
He flinched at her piercing gaze, but he didn't back down.
"I already said I would do it. 'A martial artist must keep their word.' Isn't that what you always tell me, Master?"
When his master showed her displeasure at his answer, he quickly added those words. So-yu wasn't pleased that In-ho was talking back so cheekily, but since he was quoting her own words, she couldn't find a rebuttal.
In her heart, she wanted to tell him to forget all that and just stay by her side.
"Hmm..."
So-yu didn't say much else as she ate a few more potatoes. However, she expressed her irritation by occasionally clicking her tongue or lightly tapping the table. Of course, In-ho wasn't the type to change his mind over such things.
Once breakfast was over, he changed his clothes to head to the market.
"Are you leaving?" So-yu asked from behind him as he put on his shoes.
"Yes. It's about time I head out."
Fearing she might try to stop him, he hurried to get his shoes on.
"Wait."
Just as he was about to leave the house, So-yu’s voice caught him by the scruff of his neck.
"Yes?"
Wondering what she was going to say now, he turned his head to find So-yu already standing before him, changed into her outdoor clothes.
"I shall accompany you."
His master spoke without a hint of a change in her expression.
"It's not like you're going to help me with deliveries. Where are you even going to stay?"
"I shall wait somewhere suitably high up."
"You were sick until yesterday. You shouldn't be coming out like this. You need to rest."
"I know my own body best. You have no say in the matter."
She put on her shoes, following In-ho’s lead.
"Master!"
When In-ho, frustrated, grabbed her shoulders and spoke firmly, So-yu twirled a lock of her hair with one hand and murmured.
"Is it... truly not allowed?"
Looking at So-yu as she gazed up at him with a pitiful expression, In-ho let out a long sigh.
‘That look... is cheating.’
It wasn't easy to reject a request made with the face of a puppy abandoned by its mother.
*
The market had been open for quite some time.
So-yu, who had been following about ten paces behind In-ho, disappeared after saying, "I will be watching."
"Why does she even bother erasing her presence?"
In-ho grumbled as he headed to the place he had been directed to the day before. The person who introduced him to the delivery job had given him a map showing the locations of the shops. Since In-ho couldn't read the local script anyway, he had used a small brush to add Hangul notes over the map.
"Here, wear this sash. If you walk around with this on your arm, the merchants will recognize you and call for you."
In-ho was handed a yellow sash.
He wandered through the market, observing the busy merchants and the people moving through the narrow alleys. There were a few others moving about wearing yellow sashes just like him.
"Hey, you there!"
Just as he was wondering when he’d get his first call, someone stopped him.
"Ah, yes. How can I help you?"
"Take this to the blacksmith's shop further inside. It's heavy, so be careful."
A merchant with a mustache handed him a sack filled with scrap metal.
"Yes, I understand."
In-ho lifted the sack without much effort and slung it over his shoulder.
"Oh...?"
The merchant’s eyes widened as he saw In-ho lift a sack that an adult man could barely carry with such ease.
"I'll be back."
In-ho took off down the path like an arrow.
Word of a highly efficient deliveryman quickly spread throughout the market. Stories circulated about how he was strong enough to carry two or three loads' worth of goods in one trip, and so fast that he’d return in no time even when sent to distant locations.
The merchants began to take an interest in this sudden newcomer, and the same went for the village maidens.
"Oh my, I think that's him."
The village maidens, who were wandering the market in small groups, lowered their voices as they watched In-ho carrying loads with his handsome face.
"He doesn't look like someone who should be doing delivery work," someone commented, appraising his face.
"Look at the veins in his arms..." another said, sounding almost entranced.
"Wipe the drool off your faces, you lot. Excu~se me! Mr. Deliveryman over there~!"
The woman who seemed to be the leader of the group giggled as she called out to In-ho.
Hearing the call, In-ho turned around and approached the maidens. Every time he took a step closer, squeals of "Eek! He's coming, he's coming!" erupted from the group.
"Yes, do you have something for me to deliver?"
As In-ho asked while wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead, the leader of the group smiled coyly and spoke.
"Yes~ we have one thing. Do you happen to deliver people too?"
"People?"
He asked back with a look that said, What kind of person? The woman lifted her foot slightly and spoke.
"Ah~ I think I sprained my leg. It's so hard to walk, so if you could carry me on your back to that spot over there, I'll pay you."
The woman pointed toward a clearing with a small tree.
"Um... carrying a woman I just met for the first time today is a bit..."
"Oh, what does it matter? It's not like you have any 'ulterior motives,' right?"
After saying this, they all burst into giggles.
In-ho realized they were teasing him, but he didn't show his annoyance. He couldn't afford to lose work by losing his temper.
The woman, seemingly serious about being carried, took four coins from her pouch and showed them to him.
"There, I think this is more than enough for the fee."
Four coins for a mere twenty steps. In-ho hesitated.
‘Ah... I really do need the money.’
However, he couldn't ignore the fact that So-yu was watching him from somewhere. In-ho agonized for a moment between a financial deficit and So-yu’s rampage.
Naturally, his choice was the former.
‘I can't risk making Master angry over money.’
Just as In-ho opened his mouth to refuse—
"You little bastard! Where did a piece of trash like you come from, stealing someone else's work?"
A man suddenly approached and grabbed In-ho by the collar.
"Whoa, sir. Why are you doing this? Let's just talk this out."
"Oh? You're gonna stand your ground? You're gonna resist me?"
The man holding In-ho’s collar tried to shove him over with brute force, but In-ho didn't budge an inch. The short, stocky man, clearly enraged, huffed and puffed as he tried to pressure In-ho. Of course, it was pressure that didn't affect In-ho in the slightest.
"You have no business ethics, delivering in someone else's territory? Where did you come from! Huh?!"
"Stop it!"
The village maidens standing nearby tried to break up the fight, but the man paid them no mind.
"First, let go of me and then we'll talk."
In-ho could have slammed the man into the ground right then and there, but he decided to try and resolve things peacefully.
"What? Let go and talk? You little brat!"
The man slapped In-ho across the cheek.
And then, in an instant, the man vanished from before In-ho’s eyes.
"Huh?"
In-ho, who had been considering using a bit of force as payback for the slap, blinked and looked around as the man disappeared. He wasn't the only one; everyone watching the scene had the same expression.
"Aaaaah!!"
The first to grasp the situation was the woman who had asked In-ho for the delivery. She screamed, pointing toward the spot where she had asked to be taken.
There, a woman was beating the man.
Thwack! Thud! Crack!
The sounds of flesh being crushed and bones breaking were sickeningly clear.
"Know your place."
"How dare you."
"Lay a hand on my disciple?"
A familiar voice reached In-ho’s ears.
Suppressing his racing heart, In-ho slowly walked toward them. Even as he approached, the woman did not stop her assault on the man.
"Ma... Master?"
When In-ho spoke from a short distance away, the woman stopped.
"......"
She slowly turned around.
"In-ho. I have punished the one who bullied you."
Smiling brightly, his master met his eyes.
"Did I not do well? Come, praise me."