A Letter from the Runaway

After finishing my conversation with the Poison King, I headed to the prefecture in Sichuan that I had visited before.

When I had gone down there last time, an incident involving Moyong Yeong-sun had prevented me from properly taking care of my business.

This time, I was determined to finish it.

["If you mean your business, do you refer to that matter from last time?"]

I nodded at Yoo Chun-gil's words.

I didn't speak aloud. Once again, a martial artist from the Tang Family was trailing behind me, pretending to guide me but actually keeping watch.

What a pain, seriously.

I understood the necessity given the circumstances, but I couldn't help feeling uncomfortable.

I should just grab it and head back as quickly as possible.

Having made up my mind, I decided to return immediately after finishing this task.

With that resolve, I slowly made my way toward my destination.

My destination was the Sichuan Branch of the Martial Alliance. It was located in the largest prefecture in the region.

It was the very place I had tried to visit last time.

The reason was a letter.

I planned to send one.

And conversely, I also had to receive one.

Who could it be?

Who on earth had sent me a letter? It had been a mystery last time, but this time, I would finally find out.

When I arrived in front of the Martial Alliance branch, a massive building came into view, along with the Martial Alliance flag fluttering high in the air.

It was a familiar emblem. Since it was the symbol of the place where I had slaved away like a dog for a year, there was no way I wouldn't recognize it.

"Halt."

As I approached the gate, a martial artist who appeared to be a guard blocked my path.

"State your business and identity... sir."

The guard faltered mid-sentence. It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seemed he had recognized the members of the Tang Family following behind me.

Or perhaps he had recognized the uniform of the Cheongwol Gate I was wearing.

The former was more likely. After all, this was Sichuan, a territory ruled by the Tang Family.

"My purpose is to check a letter that has arrived for me, and my name is Bang Seong-yeon of the Cheongwol Gate."

"...!"

Upon hearing my words, the guard's eyes grew as wide as saucers.

"...The Young Sword Saint...?"

Dammit.

I cursed inwardly at his shocked exclamation.

Good grief, that rumor just refuses to die.

Just how far ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had it spread? If even a low-ranking guard knew, it meant my name was already all over the Sichuan branch.

Forcing myself to maintain a straight face, I spoke to the guard.

"...I am indeed the person you are thinking of."

"...Heavens..."

As soon as I confirmed it, the guard hurriedly clasped his hands in a respectful salute.

"A martial artist of the Alliance greets the Little Moon of the Cheongwol Gate..."

I couldn't help but be slightly taken aback by his reaction.

Wow.

I had temporarily forgotten, but I was a member of the Sowol Squadron, wasn't I?

Right.

The Cheongwol Gate was practically a direct affiliate of the Martial Alliance.

And considering the status of the Sowol Squadron within it, even a branch leader couldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠easily push them around.

Since the Sowol Squadron consisted of those who would represent the Cheongwol Gate in the future—or rather, those who already did—it was only natural for an Alliance martial artist to react this way upon seeing me.

But it still feels so awkward.

Receiving such deep respect felt strange.

It wasn't as if I had much experience with this kind of treatment.

So, I just stood there silently, not knowing what to say.

"...I will inform the branch immediately. Could you please wait for a moment?"

The guard asked with urgent eyes.

"...Ah, yes. Take your time."

"I will have everything ready shortly."

The moment I gave my consent, he dashed inside like an arrow.

This seemed like a good sign, but...

Is it really okay not to verify my identity properly?

What was he going to do if I was lying, just believing me at my word?

Is this also because of the people behind me?

The presence of the Tang Family members trailing behind me undoubtedly played a part.

He probably didn't even consider the possibility of someone lying in front of the Tang Family.

Well.

In any case, it was good that things were going smoothly. As I waited with that thought, the guard who had gone inside reappeared before long.

"Please, follow me inside."

I followed him into the Sichuan Branch of the Martial Alliance.

As soon as I stepped inside the Martial Alliance building, the person waiting to meet me was, surprisingly, the Sichuan Branch Leader himself.

"I am Baek Dong-yeon, the leader of the Sichuan Branch."

He was a middle-aged man with a gentle impression. Introducing himself as the branch leader, he offered me a polite greeting.

"I am Bang Seong-yeon of the Cheongwol Gate. It is an honor to meet you, Senior Sword of a Thousand Heads."

The branch leader's eyes widened at my words. He clearly hadn't expected me to recognize him.

Glad I memorized that.

Just in case, I had memorized the names of the prominent figures in the branch. Naturally, the most famous among them was the branch leader.

Baek Dong-yeon, the Sword of a Thousand Heads.

He was someone who had been active in the Sichuan branch for a long time, and he was a renowned master who had made quite a name for himself during the war.

I didn't expect him to come out to meet me personally, though.

Seeing such a master rush out to greet me barefoot, so to speak, made me feel a strange sense of accomplishment.

It really brought home just how much weight the name of the Cheongwol Gate—and specifically the Sowol Squadron—carried.

"It is a pleasure to meet the Little Moon of the Sowol Squadron. I heard from my subordinate that you have business with the Alliance...?"

"Ah, yes. I heard that a letter addressed to me was left here at the Alliance."

The moment he heard this, the branch leader looked back. Receiving his gaze, a martial artist quickly moved into action.

"I will order them to verify it and bring it immediately. It won't take long... but in the meantime, would you care for a cup of tea? If it pleases you."

I gave a slightly awkward smile at his offer.

"I apologize. I don't have much time, and there are people waiting for me."

I glanced at the Tang Family members who had accompanied me. Seeing them, the branch leader's eyes widened slightly, and he nodded in understanding.

This man had figured out the situation just by looking. As expected of someone who had risen to the position of branch leader, he was quick-witted.

"What a pity. To meet the rising hope of the Central Plains and not even have the chance to converse. I look forward to spending a better time together the next time you visit."

"Thank you for your kind words. I also regret not being able to speak further with you, Branch Leader."

["Regret, my foot. You should at least wet your lips before lying like that."]

Of course I didn't regret it. What would I even gain from being held up in conversation with him?

Even now, the stares are burning a hole in my back.

I could feel eyes on me from all directions. The Alliance martial artists were staring at me as if I were some rare spectacle.

This was exactly what it must feel like to be a monkey in a zoo.

Meanwhile, the branch leader seemed eager to strike up more conversation.

He didn't even try to hide it; his eagerness was plain to see.

This was incredibly burdensome.

Just as I was agonizing over how to handle this,

"Branch Leader."

The martial artist who had gone to check returned. A letter was clutched in his hand.

The branch leader gave his subordinate a slight glare, clearly displeased that he had returned so quickly.

However, there was nothing he could say in front of me.

The branch leader took the letter and carefully handed it to me.

"It seems this is the letter addressed to you, Young Hero Bang..."

The branch leader, who had been about to hand it over with a bright smile, suddenly froze.

He seemed to have noticed something on the envelope.

What is it?

Why was he reacting like that?

As I stared at the branch leader with questioning eyes,

["Oh?"]

Yoo Chun-gil, who had been quiet, suddenly reacted. He was looking at the letter too.

["This... is a letter sent by the Beggar Alliance."]

The Beggar Alliance?

I narrowed my eyes at his words. The Beggar Alliance, or Gaebang, was one of the Nine Great Sects and One Union, known for possessing all kinds of rumors and information in the Central Plains.

The problem was...

Actually, is it really a problem?

It wasn't as if this was particularly unusual. The Beggar Alliance gathered and sold information.

On top of that, they were also in charge of delivering and managing letters.

They were even fast and accurate.

Although having a beggar deliver it was a bit off-putting, they were highly regarded for their precision.

Come to think of it.

Only after hearing that did I check the seal stamped on the letter.

It really is the emblem of the Beggar Alliance.

It was an emblem I had seen daily during my time working at the Martial Alliance.

Since the emblems of the Nine Great Sects and One Union all had distinct characteristics, they were bound to be familiar.

However...

It looks a bit different.

Looking closely, something was off.

The color was darker, and there were subtle differences here and there.

There was even a faint trace of gold thread woven into it, making it look slightly different from the one I knew.

What was that?

As I stared at the emblem with a puzzled look,

["It is the seal of the Chief."]

Yoo Chun-gil noticed my confusion and explained.

Only then was the mystery solved.

Ah, the Chief's seal...

Wait.

"...What...? The Chief?!"

"Pardon?"

"Ah, it's nothing. I just have occasional spasms. Don't mind me."

"...Spasms, you say?"

I had blurted it out in my shock.

Since the branch leader reacted to my outburst, I quickly made up an excuse. Calling it a spasm only made his reaction weirder, but now was not the time to worry about that.

The Chief...?

Was the Chief Yoo Chun-gil referred to the one I was thinking of?

...The Chief of the Beggar Alliance?

The man at the absolute peak of the Beggar Alliance.

The leader of all beggars, and the man rumored to know everything that happened in the Central Plains.

The Chief of the Beggar Alliance.

Woo A-seok, the Staff of Strikes.

...This is that man's personal seal?

He was a figure whom no one in the Central Plains could fail to know.

Had such a famous figure sent me a letter?

Why?

Judging by Yoo Chun-gil's reaction as well as the look on the branch leader's face, it seemed to be the real deal.

Even as I wondered if it could be a forgery...

What kind of lunatic would dare forge the seal of the Beggar Alliance Chief?

Even the Unorthodox Faction wouldn't touch this, no matter what else they did.

The moment someone forged the Chief's seal, every beggar in the land would hunt them down.

Therefore, the likelihood of it being a fake was extremely low.

...Then why?

Why would the Chief of the Beggar Alliance send a letter to me? For now, I accepted the letter from the branch leader.

What could it be?

What on earth was this? I couldn't understand it at all.

Is it really okay for me to open this...?

It reeked of danger. Was it really safe for me to open it? Once I opened it here, there would be no turning back.

What should I do? After agonizing over it repeatedly, I finally broke the seal and unfolded the letter.

*Rustle.*

The contents of the unfolded letter came into view.

"...Huh?"

I froze instantly upon reading what was written inside.

It wasn't a long letter. Just a few lines at most.

Compared to the size of the paper, the message was incredibly brief, but as soon as I confirmed the contents and the sender's name, my body stiffened on its own.

Just four lines.

It was four lines filled with completely out-of-the-blue nonsense. Anyone else reading it would wonder what on earth it meant.

If I had only looked at the contents, I would have felt the same way.

But at the very end of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the letter, the sender's name, roughly scribbled as if to prove her identity, made my face sour.

The person who had sent this letter was, shockingly...

Bang Seo-jin.

"..."

She was my one and only older sister.

The very sister who had realized early on that our household was a complete mess and run away all by herself.