STVS 36

Chapter 36

I looked at the young lady with a mix of worry and disbelief, then froze suddenly.

Her body had swayed violently.

“Miss!”

I rushed forward to support her. She leaned against me, panting, and then suddenly lifted her head.

As I flinched, she quickly asked,

“Are you… are you okay?”

“Huh?”

“Are you hurt anywhere? That guy lunged at you! He dared to point a knife at you—someone who deserves to be torn apart…!”

“Mi… Miss?”

“I should have stopped him, but I was foolishly affected by the drug… Even now, I must take revenge. I’ll gouge out those disgusting eyes, cut out his tongue, sever his limbs’ sinews and nerves—turn him into a cripple…!”

“Miss! Miss!”

I quickly held her back as she tried to rush forward, speaking rapidly while she hesitated.

“I’m fine! Not a single scratch! I dodged using the skills I learned from our scuffle, so I’m completely unharmed… Wait, but miss, are you alright? You were surely affected by the drug… how are you standing here…”

But I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence.

Out of habit, I glanced at her hands—and froze.

Blood was dripping from them.

“B-Blood…!”

At my alarmed shout, she slightly turned her head and murmured,

“…I had to do it this way, or I’d have passed out. That guy was charging at you with a knife, and if I lost my wits too, who knows what would have happened to you…”

“Miss…”

I gazed at her with eyes full of admiration, silently shouting in my head:

‘Who in the world cuts their own hand?!’

Just as my head spun from her sheer recklessness, she swayed again.

Quickly regaining my senses, I tore a piece of my sleeve to tie her hand and spoke as gently as I could, trying to calm her.

“Let’s go to the apothecary first. If it’s uncomfortable, you can stay at Sonangwon. I’ll bring the physician quickly. It might hurt, but just bear with it a little. I’ll hurry as much as I can…”

For some reason, the young lady, who had become quiet, nodded obediently.

I supported her and left the garden.

At the garden’s entrance, Brother Im and another warrior were standing—but they seemed unconscious, as if whatever drug had been given to them had fully taken effect.

I tried waking Brother Im, but it was useless. No matter how much I shook or shouted, he didn’t move.

‘How strong was that drug?’

In the end, I had no choice but to give up on Brother Im and take the young lady to Sonangwon.

Afterward, I moved quickly.

First, I went to Physician Jeong. After hearing a rough summary, he grew pale, grabbed his bag, and rushed toward Sonangwon.

Next, I sought out the Chief Officer.

By chance, he was with Master Jang. They greeted me warmly at first, but their expressions immediately stiffened when they saw the blood and dirt on my clothes.

“Was something wrong?”

“Well…”

I told them everything in detail.

The longer I spoke, the worse their expressions became. When I reached the part about the young lady being injured, the Chief Officer slammed the table and stood up.

“How can anyone commit such an outrageous act? Even so, we treated the guests from Byeokdomun with utmost courtesy…!”

“……”

“Master Jang, this cannot go unpunished. That man already causes a stir here with his violent ways, and now he dares to do this? He must be held properly accountable!”

“I am aware.”

I flinched. Master Jang’s voice was unusually cold.

“This isn’t just a matter of Ari alone; it’s an affront to the Sonagjang. I will not overlook this, and we shall lodge a formal protest with Byeokdomun. If they try to evade responsibility, they must be prepared to face the Sonagjang in opposition…”

Master Jang’s eyes glinted.

“They must pay the proper price.”

The Chief Officer nodded, as if agreeing entirely.

“Indeed, that is only right.”

“You should go to Sonangwon and check Ari’s condition. After sending the letter to Byeokdomun, I will follow immediately…”

Soon after, the Chief Officer and I left Master Jang’s study. I couldn’t help but think back to his stern face before leaving.

‘This is going to get bigger than I expected.’

Fortunately, the young lady’s condition was not serious.

The cut she had inflicted on herself wasn’t deep, and since she had taken the antidote quickly, there were no other issues.

More importantly, she had a natural resistance to this type of drug. She had frequently faced dangerous situations since childhood, which built up her tolerance, so the drugs barely affected her.

However, there was one concern…

“Was there an impurity in the drug?”

Physician Jeong nodded with a grim expression.

“Yes. There was a very small amount of Manghwancho (Forgetful Soul Herb).”

I couldn’t help blurting out,

“Manghwancho?”

“Yes, a poisonous herb that erases memory or reason. This amount is likely safe, but if taken continuously, it could cause serious problems—one could even forget their own identity…”

“……”

“Drugs of this type are reportedly used by cults or heretical groups to brainwash hostages, so it’s curious why it was included in Monghon medicine…”

‘A cult?’

I froze at the word, and the Chief Officer, his complexion suddenly pale, muttered to himself:

“…We should discuss this with Master Jang.”

The interrogation of the Su-monju (Young Master So) was held the next day.

He knelt in the middle of the main hall. His head was tightly bandaged, and his body was bound with ropes—not a pleasant sight—but he appeared otherwise unharmed.

“I’m innocent! I’m innocent!”

He was so fine that he could still shout like this.

“Whether So-jeo took a strange drug or not, what does that have to do with me? I know nothing!”

“……”

“Do you think I have no explanation? I merely tried to help the stumbling So-jeo in the garden! Yet So-jeo misunderstood and suffered this ordeal, so of course I feel outraged!”

‘Unbelievable.’

Even now, he was denying everything despite being completely exposed.

He spoke with such detail that an outsider could be fooled. It seemed he had spent the entire time locked in the room preparing these excuses.

I secretly clicked my tongue in disbelief.

“Su-monju.”

Master Jang finally stepped forward.

“You weren’t alone there, were you? A servant attending Ari saw everything. How do you explain that?”

But Su-monju just snorted.

“Hmph, why would Master So believe the words of that wretched servant? Surely, they are lies borne of jealousy!”

‘What…?’

“It seems that wretched servant harbored ill will toward me. Every time I drew close to So-jeo, their eyes were unkind. Ha! Could it be you even gave the drug?!”

‘He’s blaming this on me now?’

I gaped in shock at his accusation. But Master Jang calmly continued.

“Su-monju, the more you deny, the heavier your guilt becomes.”

“When have I ever lied?!”

“Then how do you explain the Monghon medicine found on you?”

“……!”

He hadn’t anticipated this; his face turned pale.

“Su-monju, if you planned wrongdoing in the estate, you should have been more careful. Carrying drugs openly is an insult to the Sonagjang.”

“……”

“And you even brought an antidote. You intended to drink together while ensuring you wouldn’t be affected, right?”

“Th-That is… that is…”

He stammered, seemingly out of arguments, but only briefly.

Then, frowning, he began to shout.

“It’s all… all that scoundrel’s doing! He put the cursed drug and antidote in my possession to frame me!”

‘Now he’s throwing a tantrum too?’

“Master Jang, please deliver a wise judgment! Whose words carry more weight, mine or that servant’s? How long has the relationship between Byeokdomun and the Sonagjang lasted?”

“……”

“And are you willing to break that relationship over such a trivial matter? If my father knew of this, how heartbroken he would be…”

“Heartbroken?”

A rough voice rang out.

For a moment, the hall fell silent.

I turned toward the source of the voice.

The door opened, and a massive figure stepped in. By his imposing size, I guessed,

‘Who could this be?’

It was the appearance of Byeokryeoksamdo Wang Gwanchun.