Ten Days, The Fifth Day (2) - Sleepless Hearts

No matter how much I tossed and turned, sleep refused to come. The bedding was so plush it felt like lying on clouds compared to a prison or battlefield, yet my mind and body were far too uneasy to remain still. Perhaps it was because I could sense death drawing near, or maybe I was even begrudging the time spent sleeping itself. I had no intention of forcing slumber that would not arrive, so I decided it would be better to pace the room and pass the time that way.

"It's truly spacious."

If the furniture were cleared away, the space would easily serve as a training hall for an entire clan. It made me realize anew that the owner of this room was no mere selective idler, but the Vice Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

.....

Vice Leader. Jin Sowoon. The eccentric who laid his hostage upon the bed and slept in a chair himself. A mysterious man whose inner thoughts were almost impossible to discern.

"But he is a good person."

Both as a human being and as a martial artist. That was what I believed. You could read a person's heart through their eyes and understand their character by exchanging words. After doing exactly that for five full days, I could now state with certainty what kind of man he was. His nature was kind. What surprised me even more was how profoundly lacking his faith in the Heavenly Demon appeared to be. So much so that I wondered why he had ever chosen this demonic lair. From what I had overheard, he had raided the Nine Great Schools but had not particularly learned any demonic arts. It was a question I wanted to ask one day, yet I hesitated, afraid my words might seem rude in the face of his kindness.

"Kindness... kindness..."

Now that I thought about it, he had seemed strangely more attentive since earlier. Just like on the first day, he had asked whether there was anything I wanted to eat or anything I wished to do. He did not show it openly, but he was subtly watching my reactions.

"Exactly...."

I shifted my gaze to the floor. There, a brownish scroll lay fallen among the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flower vases.

"Ever since I saw that scroll over there."

I had been admiring those vases for a short while earlier. In truth, I did so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠every day. They were the only trace of nature I could experience in this place where even light was scarce. He had always stood beside me, watching with me. That was when it had fallen. I debated whether to mention it, but the thought that I would only come to regret it rose first.

I carefully lifted the scroll. Should I read it? The question itself felt absurd. Had it not been hidden for precisely that reason? With a heart that trembled more than usual, I slowly unrolled it.

"Uh...?"

I remained seated in that spot for a long while, unable to rise.

. .

"I'm tired."

Even though it felt as if I had slept deeply, my shoulders were heavy as a thousand pounds and fatigue clung to me like snake venom. It seemed years since I had felt this way. Fortunately, it was not severe enough to ruin the entire day. I rose from my seat, intending to bring in the meal waiting outside the door, when I noticed the Blue Sky Sword Empress sitting on the bed.

".... You're awake."

"Huh? Yeah. I'm awake."

For some reason her voice was thick with moisture. Certain that something unpleasant must have happened, I approached with care. Her face, especially her eyes, was slightly swollen. The traces of tears were obvious to anyone.

"Are you okay?"

"Okay... Of course I am."

It sounded like the exact opposite. If anything, I even caught a note of self-mockery.

While I hesitated to draw closer, she spoke first.

"If there is something you want to do, tell me. I will grant it. You have said so many times."

"I did."

When I answered firmly despite her trembling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voice, she slowly turned her head to look at me and said,

".... To whom?"

"To my younger sister. To Hye."

Hye? Namgung Hye? A letter was understandable. Before death, it was only natural to want to leave last words for those dear to you. Yet of all people, she chose the sole survivor, Namgung Hye. Combined with her tears, it left an unpleasant feeling.

"It won't contain anything special."

My hand instinctively moved to my chest where I had tucked the scroll the day before. But it was not there. The firm sensation I should have felt was gone. Only the loosened string fluttered.

"I simply wish to leave behind a few of the main family's advanced martial techniques."

Aren't those techniques already in the main house? I wanted to probe, but I could not ask the question. She was already holding the scroll and showing it to me. The meaning was obvious.

"You will not refuse, will you?"

Her words carried thorns. Her eyes, robbed of even more vitality than usual, gazed at me weakly.

"I will not ask why you did not tell me. If you hid it, I would never have known until the day I died, so there would be no problem. That is what you thought, correct?"

"That thought is correct. The only problem is that I discovered it."

She placed the scroll back into my hand. It had returned to me. Yet I could not bring myself to hide it in my chest again. I set it down beside her, turned away, and looked elsewhere. Suddenly she sprang to her feet, seized my shoulder from behind, and spoke.

In that moment I saw it beyond her eyes. Inside them lay a small, faint hope. The belief that the situation could somehow be resolved. And she had chosen me as the answer.

"Really?"

I wanted to answer that hope. She was a person who shone with light. Unlike me, she had walked the path of righteousness, someone I could not help but admire. But what could not be done could not be done. It was not a problem solvable by effort. Therefore, instead of answering, I warned her in a rigid, forceful tone.

"However, I forbid it. Supplying secret manuals to forces hostile to the Cult is an act of betrayal. It crosses a line far beyond what can be dismissed as personal deviation. That is all."

I moved my hand to remove her from my shoulder. Yet even that hand was caught by her other one.

"Do you believe in it?"

"Believe in what."

It was a question that sounded like an ideological verification. Her voice was so small I could have pretended not to hear, yet I had already answered.

"Do you truly believe in a god who, for the absurd reason of proving strength, violates even powerless civilians, kills countless people, and takes pride in it?"

".... Of course. I believe."

What reason was there not to believe? With power, anything was possible. There was nothing to hesitate over in life. There existed a comfortable existence in which one could enjoy everything worth enjoying. Yes. What reason was there not to believe?

"..... In any case, even if you write the letter, it cannot be delivered. There is no communication network between the Alliance and the Cult."

With those final words I shook off her other hand as well and quietly left the room. I even withdrew my senses to the utmost so they would not reflect her. A sound of sobbing rose, so I half-covered my ears. I stood there with my eyes closed for a long time when something approached.

"Vice Leader? What brings you outside?"

"You are... yes. It's Janghwa. I was in a foul mood, so I came out after sealing the Blue Sky Sword Empress's acupoints. There is nothing else, so you may go."

At those words Janghwa bowed her head and quietly withdrew. A familiar face. There had never been many maids in the Vice Leader's quarters to begin with due to my preferences, but I remembered her especially because her origin was quite unique. Her background was definitely....!

"Wait. Come back."

"Yes. You called?"

Though she served as a maid, she clearly possessed martial training; she appeared before me in an instant using lightness skill.

"You were originally from the Beggar Sect, correct?"

"Yes. I was a Five-Bag Disciple."

Five-Bag. Higher than I had expected. When even a branch leader overseeing a region was a Three-Bag, a Five-Bag held a position of undeniable influence. There was a possibility.

"Then do you still have connections with the Beggar Sect?"

".... After entering the Cult, it is highly likely I have been declared a public enemy. The Beggar Sect is a powerless orthodox faction and therefore extremely strict in such matters."

If she had been declared a traitor, it was meaningless. The moment I approached the Beggar Sect, a dogfight would erupt and nothing would be accomplished. My expectations cooled. Just as I was about to dismiss her, Janghwa continued.

"However, if you require it, I believe I could make contact once or twice."

".... How?"

"My younger brother is a Seven-Bag in the Sichuan Branch. If you contact him directly from that side, even I should be able to meet him at least once."

For a beggar, she still carried a great deal of familial affection. She added that, but I did not pay it much mind. One time was enough for me. There was no need to meet more than that.

"You must go to the Beggar Sect to trade information."

"Come here around this time tomorrow. Simply deliver exactly what I give you to Sichuan, and I will reward you handsomely."

"Yes."

Janghwa withdrew. Once her figure had vanished, I quietly opened the door and re-entered the room. She remained exactly where I had left her.

"Uh, you're still alive, right?"

"You've returned."

As expected, her face was expressionless. It was so stiff it felt cold. I deliberately spoke with exaggerated cheer to try to loosen that frozen expression.

"Huh? Such a cold reaction? Are you upset with me? I brought something truly good, but if you act like this I won't show you."

"That's so childish... No. You said it is something good?"

Something that would make her faint with joy. From the small bookshelf in the corner of the room I pulled out several blank volumes. Then I gathered usable brushes and ink and set them before her.

"There are not many, but write down everything you wish, excluding the titles."

Whether it was the Imperial Sword Form or the Changgung Muaegeombop, I would know nothing of it. To everyone else, these would appear to be tools for blackmail, recording the weaknesses of the Sichuan Beggar Sect. Everyone but her would think so.

"To live so long and end up making contact with the Alliance."

Watching her move the brush with fervent energy, I closed my eyes for a moment.

"I really must be crazy too."

The fatigue I had felt earlier melted away like snow.