Imagination
Moonlight settled quietly along the windowsill, yet the conversation between the two showed no sign of ending.
"To be honest, I never imagined Young Master Seomun Hwi's martial arts would be of that caliber. Of course, as the young master of the Seomun Clan — one of the Six Great Clans — I expected him to be strong to some degree, but still."
As the image of Seomun Hwi cutting down rising talents one after another rose in her mind, an excited smile spread across Ak Seo-a's lips.
From that expression alone, Cheongwol could guess just how fierce and dramatic that day's sparring match must have been.
What he said about not being weak… it was true.
Recalling Seomun Hwi collapsed on the ground in a wretched state, gasping for breath, the corners of her eyes curved upward of their own accord.
Perhaps sensing that this smile stemmed from some special feeling different from before, Ak Seo-a glanced at Cheongwol and carefully asked,
"Might it be… that Young Lady Cheongwol is acquainted with Young Master Seomun Hwi?"
"…Huh?"
"The way you listen with particular interest only to stories about Young Master Seomun Hwi, and looking at your reactions, I couldn't help but think you know each other."
Reading the certainty in Ak Seo-a's eyes, Cheongwol hesitated a moment before slowly nodding.
"You're right. Hwi is my first friend."
"…Truly?"
"Mm. We haven't known each other all that long, though."
At Cheongwol's answer, Ak Seo-a's expression somehow sank.
"…I didn't know Young Master Seomun Hwi had a friend…"
Just moments ago she had been pouring out words in high spirits, yet somehow her energy had deflated in an instant.
After glancing about and parting her lips several times, Ak Seo-a finally couldn't hold back and spoke.
"Young Lady Cheongwol. Please don't misunderstand what I'm about to say."
"…What is it?"
At the strangely solemn look in her eyes, Cheongwol found herself steeling her heart without realizing it.
"Young Lady Cheongwol… that is to say…"
Flushed cheeks. A distant yet tender gaze. And a voice that had grown even more delicate.
The resolute air Ak Seo-a had carried just moments before had transformed into the face of a shy young woman.
"Do you… hold feelings for Young Master Seomun Hwi…?"
Just what had she said to plunge the other girl into such a serious misunderstanding?
Unable to hide her bewilderment, Cheongwol furrowed one brow.
"…What?"
Hold feelings for him?
Her, for Seomun Hwi?
Seomun Hwi was her one and only friend, but how could she harbor romantic feelings for a man? The mere thought of his touch reaching her sent a shiver through Cheongwol's entire body.
"No…?"
Seeing Cheongwol's unpleasant expression, Ak Seo-a couldn't hide her own fluster either.
"I apologize. I was certain you were enamored with Young Master Seomun Hwi."
"What kind of nonsense is that…"
"B-but…!"
Ak Seo-a raised her head as if wronged, but upon seeing the faint contempt that flickered across Cheongwol's face, she finally swallowed her words.
"…I apologize. Even knowing I shouldn't, I carelessly jumped to conclusions."
That smile that had curved so prettily at the corners of her eyes — had there truly not been a single speck of romantic feeling in it?
Even as she offered her apology, a lingering doubt still crossed Ak Seo-a's eyes.
In the end, Cheongwol let out a small sigh and took hold of her hand.
"Seo-a."
"W-what is it? If I've offended you…"
"I'll say this clearly. I absolutely — no matter what happens from now on — have no interest in Hwi. Got it?"
"…Absolutely?"
"Absolutely."
Only after finally extracting a firm confirmation did Ak Seo-a regain her bright smile.
"What a relief! Truly a relief!"
At the sight of her rejoicing like a child, Cheongwol let out a soft chuckle.
"What's so relieving about that?"
"Ah… well, you see. The truth is…"
Ak Seo-a lowered her gaze as if slightly embarrassed and answered in a small voice.
"…This humble one is enamored with Young Master Seomun Hwi."
"…?"
Though she had set out into the Central Plains bearing the heavy burden of revenge, Cheongwol was still young. And this was a matter between a man and a woman — involving her friend, no less. She couldn't help but find it interesting.
"You like Hwi?"
"…Yes."
"Since when?"
"From the very beginning…"
"Hmm?"
"From the moment I first laid eyes on Young Master Seomun Hwi… I fell for him."
At the shy answer, Cheongwol nodded as if she understood how that could be.
"Hwi is the kind of man who would inspire that. He's deeply considerate, too."
"Whether he's considerate… I'm not so sure, but in any case, it's a relief. Had a beauty like Young Lady Cheongwol been enamored with Young Master Seomun Hwi, this humble one wouldn't have stood even the slightest chance."
At Ak Seo-a's words, Cheongwol's mouth clamped shut for a moment.
…A beauty.
She had thought she'd grown fairly used to having a woman's body, but hearing such words from the mouth of an actual woman left her with a strange feeling. Her mannerisms, her speech, even her mindset were no different from when she had been a man. Yet in others' eyes, was this simply how she appeared?
"…Young Lady Cheongwol?"
Lost in thought, Cheongwol hastily collected herself at the voice calling her name.
"Ah, sorry. I was just spacing out for a moment."
"You must be tired. Well, it is quite late."
With sleepy eyes and a small yawn, Ak Seo-a slowly settled her body beside Cheongwol.
"We should continue our talk tomorrow and get some sleep. The bed seems rather spacious, as it happens…"
As if Cheongwol's place to lie was naturally right beside her, Ak Seo-a lightly patted the empty space on the bed with her palm.
"I don't think sharing the bed will be a problem. Come now, lie down."
"…"
The soft, rhythmic breathing of the woman tickled Cheongwol's ear.
Why had she been unable to refuse the suggestion to sleep in the same bed? Swallowing her belated regret, Cheongwol tried to calm her racing heart.
But for all her efforts, Ak Seo-a's sleeping habits were not particularly good.
"Mmngh…"
"…!"
As an unfamiliar sensation brushed against her body, Cheongwol nearly cried out in shock. Lowering her head slightly to look down, she found the cause: Ak Seo-a had tossed about and draped an arm over her.
A woman pressed right up against her side, their bodies touching even a little… Her face flushed red as if it might burst in an instant.
She supposed she should count herself lucky — unlike when she had been a man, no drastic physical reaction revealed itself, so she had at least avoided the worst.
Just calm down first.
As she slowly regulated her breathing, inhaling and exhaling repeatedly, the face of the soundly sleeping Ak Seo-a suddenly caught her eye.
Unlike when she was awake, her closed lips were small and red, and her long eyelashes cast a calm shadow. Her lightly flushed cheeks carried a subtle warmth, and her softly curved figure unintentionally drew a man's gaze.
She was a woman who could truly be called a beauty without reservation. Had Cheongwol still been a man, she might have found her heart leaning toward her.
There I go, thinking useless things again…
As her situation of having become a woman through the great technique rose once more in her mind, Cheongwol's mood naturally sank.
…Even if I hadn't become a woman… it would have been hard.
A body already burdened with the weighty duty of her clan's revenge. One way or another, living an ordinary life would have been difficult — yet she couldn't help the what-if that kept rising in her heart.
If things work out more easily than expected…
Things working out easily. How, exactly? It was a thought so absurd that even she wanted to laugh at herself.
All her grandfather had left her was the fact that the Im Clan had been in Henan, and that they had been annihilated overnight by unknown assailants. When she didn't even know who the target of her revenge was, how could things possibly go smoothly? If she could see it through even by dedicating her entire life, that would be fortunate enough.
But the koan-like thoughts seemed to irritate her, and Cheongwol furrowed her brow deeply. Whatever the truth of things, thinking was free, wasn't it? Deliberately turning away from harsh reality, she closed her eyes tightly once more and sank into her thoughts.
When the revenge is over, will I be able to live ordinarily too? Or will I spend my life being hunted… No, I decided to set those thoughts aside for now.
Positive thoughts. A happy future. They were hard to summon easily, but she tried to force herself to paint only such things in her heart.
Even though my body has become a woman's, my mind is still a man's, so if I were to seek a spouse, it would have to be a proper woman.
A woman who looked only at her, who understood her completely, who made a smile spread just by looking at her. But would such a woman truly want to live with someone who wasn't a man? And even if they did live together, then who would carry on the Im Clan's lineage?
Worries she had used training as an excuse to avoid — or rather, that she had been too afraid to think through to the end — came flooding over her mind like a rising tide.
…Just completing the revenge is enough. Carrying on the lineage… I simply can't.
Had she still been a man, perhaps — but now she had a woman's body. There was only one path to continuing the bloodline.
Grandfather, I absolutely can't do that. If anyone found out I was originally a man, no man would even want to share a bed with me…
As Cheongwol continued her self-deprecating thoughts, she unconsciously swallowed dryly. Why, of all times, did the face of the one person she least wanted to think of rise so clearly now?
If someday… if it's something I must do with someone no matter what…
If she laid bare all her circumstances, he would surely hold her even while swallowing his revulsion. The Seomun Hwi she knew was that kind of gentle man.
"Haa…"
A woman was pressed right up against her side, and yet in her head she was imagining being held by a man — and her friend, no less. It was disgusting enough to make her want to retch, and her situation was pitiful enough to bring tears to her eyes.
Whether she knew of such circumstances or not, Ak Seo-a only mumbled more heavily in her sleep and pressed her body even closer.