🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 30
“That’s not quite it. Someone who’s been affected by that would be easy to tell right away. But from what I saw, Sa-yeol showed no such signs.”
Dowi let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
“…Then what could have changed her like that?”
“Probably the cold wind blowing from the main family.”
“…Was it wrong of me to leave the main house and come to the academy?”
“That wasn’t your fault.”
“I know. I know, but still….”
Dowi bit his lower lip. It felt as though her change was his fault for having been absent. Wonjong, seeing this, spoke gently to comfort him.
“The child who changed is still the same child. Accept her as she is.”
“Uncle….”
“She, too, will surely cherish her memories of you.”
“Do you think so?”
“She will.”
“Thank you.”
While Dowi and Wonjong were having this conversation, Sa-yeol had returned to her guest room and was washing up. So-hwa, who had fetched water, attended to Sa-yeol and carefully checked her over to see if she was injured anywhere. Sa-yeol waved her hand dismissively, but So-hwa was relentless.
“I told you, I’m not hurt.”
“But you never know.”
“There were two others besides me, you know.”
“Still, I can’t relax.”
Only after confirming that Sa-yeol didn’t have a single bruise did So-hwa finally relax and let out a sigh. As she wiped Sa-yeol’s shoulders with a damp cloth, she said,
“Still, you must’ve been happy to see Young Master Dowi after so long.”
“No.”
“Right? I knew it—wait, huh?”
So-hwa’s eyes widened.
“You weren’t happy?”
“It was uncomfortable.”
“Why? You two used to be so close.”
“Because we were close.”
“I don’t really understand.”
“Neither can I explain it well.”
Sa-yeol scooped up water from the wooden bathtub she was soaking in and let it trickle down between her fingers. The clear water splashed onto her knees, which were peeking above the surface. She stared down at it with lowered eyes.
“I’m used to people full of malice, but not to the opposite.”
“But you got along well when you were together in the family.”
“That feels like a story from too long ago.”
“It has been a long time since the young master left for the academy, but still….”
So-hwa spoke regretfully.
“You know how much Young Master Dowi cared for you, miss. Before he left, he even pressed a money pouch into my hands.”
“He did?”
“Yes. He told me not to mention it, so I didn’t.”
“I see.”
Sa-yeol soon finished washing and, with So-hwa’s help, changed her clothes. After bathing in clean water, the heaviness in her body seemed to ease a little. She sat down at the table to drink tea, and So-hwa promptly brought out a cup of hot tea.
“Go and call Wol.”
“Wol?”
“Yes.”
“All right.”
So-hwa went to the next room and called Wol. Wol, apparently doing nothing in particular, ambled over looking just the same as ever, and sat down across from Sa-yeol. Seeing this, So-hwa poured another cup of hot tea.
“What is it?”
“There’s something I want to talk about.”
“What is it?”
“How do you know Marquis Ma-wol?”
“……”
“I know you’re not one of his people, so I wanted to hear your story.”
“Weren’t you uninterested?”
“I was. But Marquis Ma-wol doesn’t seem like he’ll only cause trouble this once, so I’m asking in advance—whether you’re willing to work together.”
“…Together?”
“Yes. I’m still lacking. I need someone to support me.”
Clink.
Sa-yeol set her teacup down.
“It doesn’t seem like you’re on good terms with Marquis Ma-wol.”
“…That’s right.”
“There’s someone I’m looking for. In the process, I may have to capture Marquis Ma-wol.”
“…Who are you looking for?”
“I can’t say.”
“…I see.”
From the start, Wol hadn’t even touched his teacup. He thought quietly for a long while before finally speaking.
“He stole something precious from me.”
“Something precious?”
“I can’t say what it is.”
“Understood. Still, it seems our interests align.”
Wol nodded. Sa-yeol lifted her teacup and took a sip of the hot tea. Only then did Wol also pick up his cup and drink.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“That’s an oddly formal thing to say now.”
And so, a kind of pact was formed between the two. After finishing the conversation, Sa-yeol stood up.
“You should go back and rest as well. It doesn’t look like you’ve rested properly.”
“There’s no real need.”
“You never know what might happen ahead. Rest while you can.”
“…All right.”
After saying that, Sa-yeol stepped out of the guest room. So-hwa hurried after her. She was puzzled by the conversation she had overheard—she didn’t know who “Marquis Ma-wol” was, and it was the first she’d heard of the young miss searching for someone.
‘Will she explain it later?’
Thinking that, So-hwa followed Sa-yeol as she walked around the wide training grounds. At that moment, someone stopped her.
“Uh—e-excuse me, Miss Namgung Sa-yeol!”
Turning her head, she saw a familiar face. It was Myeong-wol, one of the disciples she had sparred with on the first day.
“What is it?”
“A-are you busy right now?”
“No, not particularly.”
“Would you be willing to hear me out?”
“Hear you out?”
Myeong-wol nodded. Sa-yeol and So-hwa exchanged a brief glance, then Sa-yeol nodded.
“Go on.”
“Do you see the training grounds right now?”
“Yes.”
Sa-yeol looked toward the training grounds. The reason she had been walking around them was because disciples were lined up in the center, training in formation. It seemed Myeong-wol had slipped out briefly. Myeong-wol said,
“Everyone’s working hard, right?”
“So it seems.”
“Do you know why?”
“I’m not particularly curious.”
At that, Myeong-wol panicked and fidgeted.
“C-could you show just a little interest?”
“Why should I?”
“Th-that’s because… there isn’t much time left.”
“Not much time left for what?”
Myeong-wol raised his voice.
“The day when the academies of the great families compete in sparring!”
“Ah.”
Only then did Sa-yeol understand why the disciples’ training fervor was so high. To explain belatedly, this academy belonged to the Namgung family. Which meant that other great families also operated academies. It was one of the methods devised to maintain their influence during a prolonged era of peace in the martial world.
They established academies, accepted disciples, and exerted influence over the land.
Other families did the same. The Zhuge family, for example, also had an academy in their territory. Honestly, it was unfamiliar to Sa-yeol—there had been nothing like this in her previous life.
“The sparring between the academies of the great families is extremely important.”
“Why?”
“Of course, there’s the issue of ranking among the academies, but that’s ultimately just friendly exchange. What really matters is that if you place high, your life changes…!”
“Your life changes?”
“Yes.”
Myeong-wol nodded vigorously.
“If you make it into the rankings, you can enter the Namgung family’s Special Task Force…!”
“Special Task Force?”
“The Namgung family’s直属 combat unit.”
“There was something like that?”
“Aren’t you from the Namgung family?”
“I am.”
“Then why…?”
“I’m not interested.”
“Ah….”
Myeong-wol looked at her with a faintly awkward expression. Sa-yeol tilted her head slightly. After clearing his throat, Myeong-wol continued,
“Usually, disciples who train here stay on as guards depending on their level, or enter the Namgung family as escorts. Some become instructors at the academy. But ultimately, the greatest honor is entering the Namgung Special Task Force…!”
“I see. So what is it you want to say to me?”
“C-could you help me!”
“Help you?”
Myeong-wol looked at her with eyes shining with determination.
“Please train me properly!”
