The Celebration Banquet (1)
February 28th. The day the bitter cold of winter finally drew its last breath. There was no time to linger on the sentiment that one season was ending and the season of life was beginning. The Namgung Clan was simply too busy with external affairs to spare a moment for such thoughts.
“Quite the spectacle,” I muttered.
Tables filled every inch of the manor without a single gap. Each one overflowed with every delicacy imaginable. Naturally, chairs were packed tightly in front of them, though spaces had been left here and there for people to gather and talk. With all kinds of Murim figures expected to attend, those gaps were clearly meant for conversation.
The Changgung Sword Squad and every other sword unit under the Namgung Clan seemed to have been fully mobilized for security and management. It made sense—this was a fairly large event even by the clan’s standards.
In the brief moment I turned my head, the tables had been completely covered with food. They were packed so tightly there was barely room to lift an arm. The sight left me strangely uncomfortable.
“All this preparation, and they won’t even eat half of it.”
More than half would go to waste. Most of the guests today were here for political reasons or personal gain, after all. The only people who could genuinely enjoy this celebration banquet would be someone like me, who had no ties to any of them, or the young Seha and her sibling. Then again, with Seha’s mental age, she probably wouldn’t enjoy it either.
In any case, the leftovers alone would easily amount to dozens of gold pieces. If they saved that money and distributed it instead, every poor family in the area could eat their fill.
“You were thinking this is all a waste of money, weren’t you?”
A hand patted my shoulder from behind. I recognized the familiar voice immediately.
I reached back and took the hand in mine. Unlike most, it was soft and smooth. I felt a twinge of envy.
“Exactly right. You really are an expert on Jin Sowoon.”
“It’s written all over your face. Pure dissatisfaction.”
When I tilted my head back slightly, I saw Namgung Seha—who had clearly put considerable effort into dressing up—peering over my shoulder. With a resigned look, she offered an excuse that wasn’t much of an excuse at all.
“It can’t be helped. I don’t particularly like it either now that I’m older, but this is directly tied to our family’s honor.”
“As someone who has become the Divine Lord, I hope you learn to understand the masses with a broad heart.”
Her words flowed like water. Fine. I’d understand her and offer one piece of advice in return.
“Your feet must hurt. Why don’t you lower your heels?”
“...I’ve lowered them.”
With a soft tap, she dropped her heels, and the small-statured Namgung Seha could no longer reach my shoulder. When I let out a short laugh, she frowned in clear annoyance.
“You’re being too harsh to someone who came to warn you to be careful.”
“Warn me?”
What kind of warning? What could I possibly do here besides eat that would require a warning? When I showed my confusion, Namgung Seha let out a deep sigh.
“That’s exactly the problem. That you can’t do anything except eat.”
I thought I heard her mutter something like, Is the Demonic Cult’s way of life really that different from normal people? It shouldn’t be, but I must have imagined it.
“Most of the guests arriving today already know one another.”
That made sense. Whether they were from major sects, famous merchant guilds, or the medium and small powers of the region, it was impossible for them not to be acquainted.
“But suddenly a young boy and his mother appear? And no one here knows who they are?”
“They’ll look like easy targets. They’ll definitely try to pick a fight to assert their dominance.”
Stepping on the weak to feel superior? It was the same behavior I’d seen countless times from third-rate thugs in my past life. At the same time, it was a time-honored tradition shared across all eras.
“So you’re telling me to watch my back?”
“No?”
Then why had she come to warn me? The question rose in my throat, but I swallowed it.
“If I tell you to endure it, will you actually hold back even if they provoke you?”
“...No.”
I had almost answered confidently that I wouldn’t hold back, but I changed course. No matter how I thought about it, my personality wouldn’t allow it—especially if the provocation was directed at my mother instead of me.
“Just handle it moderately.”
“Don’t beat them half to death. Give them one chance.”
It was the best advice possible, perfectly tailored to my nature. If I handled it moderately, they would come to their senses. If a fight broke out, ending it at that level was ideal.
“But if I clash with the Nine Great Schools or the Five Great Clans right now, I’ll lose.”
“...Why would you even clash with them?”
Because the old farts from the Nine Great Schools and the Five Great Clans were the ones who coveted power the most? The moment I said what seemed obvious to me, Namgung Seha looked at me as if I were pathetic.
“You really are a born martial artist.”
“Not a compliment, I take it?”
“As if it would be.”
Namgung Seha shook her head as if my thinking was completely off the mark and slowly explained.
“From the perspective of the Nine Great Schools or the Five Great Clans, it’s all the same. Medium and small sects, clans, or ordinary people—they all look far beneath them. To put it harshly, they’re like insects. Suppressing them would bring more loss than gain. They wouldn’t bother, but if they did, they’d rather suppress a rising new power instead.”
I see. That was a perspective I hadn’t considered.
“The medium and small sects will be the ones who pick a fight with you. From their viewpoint, you’re the perfect prey, and it would give them something to brag about to their subordinates—like a great achievement.”
“But those kinds of people were mostly invited out of mere formality. At best, if a first-class warrior or a sect leader came, they’d only be at the initial stage of the Peak Realm.”
“Are you confident you can win?”
The initial stage of the Peak Realm from a third-rate sect? I had zero confidence that I would lose to someone at that level. It wasn’t even geomgang. What could geomgi do against me? It would be like wearing clothes that didn’t fit. I might take a few hits, but in the end, I would be the one winning. Those guys wouldn’t be able to fully block my sword, while I had moves that could completely control them.
Looking at it that way, I had no confidence at all. In losing, that is.
“...Understood. I’ll observe first, and if they pick a fight, I’ll only beat them moderately.”
“Exactly.”
Namgung Seha wore a satisfied expression and returned to her seat.
Before long, honored guests began pouring in through the Namgung Clan’s main gate.
“Today, we have prepared a celebration banquet for our second child, Seha. Please spend a joyful time together with blessings for the child and welcome the coming spring with a heart full of fulfillment.”
“If the food is insufficient, simply let our attendants know. The Changgung Sword Squad is guarding your safety perfectly, so there is no need to worry.”
“Should any disputes arise, we ask that you endure it at least three times for the sake of our clan’s face.”
“Then, I shall take my leave now.”
With Namgung Hyeok’s declaration, the celebration banquet officially began.
When I looked around, many faces were familiar. The Supreme Elder of the Hebei Peng Clan, the one called the Tyrant. The Vice Leader of the Murim Alliance, the Plum Blossom Sword Master. Seeing people I had killed in my previous life now alive again felt strangely surreal. But what did it matter? In the end, whether then or now, they were complete strangers with no connection to me.
“Mother, would you like to try this as well?”
I simply tore some tender roasted chicken into small pieces and placed it in front of her. She thanked me softly and brought it to her lips. After some time, she said she could eat no more and quietly left her seat first. Normally, leaving a banquet without a word to the host would be improper, but since the true host was on my side, a simple explanation would suffice.
I settled into my own seat and began eating comfortably. Just as Namgung Seha had boasted, the food was exquisite and melted on the tongue.
“...I apologize for interrupting your meal.”
“Hm? Isn’t that Hero Kang?”
It was Kang Uk. He suddenly tapped my back and spoke. When I responded in a friendly manner, he seemed embarrassed by the title “Hero” and quietly pulled something from his robes. Then he whispered into my ear so no one else could hear.
“It’s a letter. It was sent by the Namgung Clan Head.”
The Namgung Clan Head? Kang Uk left immediately after delivering it.
As soon as he was gone, I set down my chopsticks and opened the letter. It bore the same seal as last time. It wasn’t that I distrusted Kang Uk, but it was indeed from the Namgung Clan Head.
Thank you for attending the celebration banquet.
Once today’s festivities conclude, I would like to request a private meeting.
— Namgung Hyeok
“Why?”
It wasn’t as if I had no idea what this might be about. From the Namgung Clan Head’s perspective, he had called me because his daughter wished it, but he knew nothing about me.
“...If I ignore this, I’m dead, aren’t I?”
That would be an insult to the Namgung Clan Head. Since I would continue seeing Namgung Seha, it was better to meet with him. It would be a good connection to maintain.
I tucked the letter securely into my robes, tying it firmly so it wouldn’t slip out unnoticed like before.
“Excuse me.”
“Hm?”
Someone spoke to me from behind again. Unlike Namgung Seha or Kang Uk, this was a completely unfamiliar voice. When I turned my head, I saw an unfamiliar face. He had a rather unpleasant look about him.
“I am Il-Hwi of the Blue Sword Gate.”
Blue Sword Gate. It was a sect I had never heard of in either life. The man who introduced himself as Il-Hwi continued.
I instinctively knew. This was exactly the situation Namgung Seha had warned me about.
I stayed silent, wondering what nonsense he was about to spout. Then he suddenly extended his hand and said,
“Could I take a look at the letter you received earlier?”
Wow. This guy was even more shameless than I was.