Only after I returned to my quarters did Hwi reveal himself.
He appeared mysteriously, as if he had been standing there from the start.
Geom Mugeuk cupped his fist with solemn courtesy.
“You’ve worked hard protecting me.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s greeting, Hwi answered with a smile.
“It was nothing. If anything, I’m more comfortable when I’m in hiding.”
As if that could be true. It would be physically taxing, and since he had to keep watch on the opponent and our surroundings, mentally exhausting as well. He was only saying that so I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
“How did he seem to you?”
Geom Mugeuk asked Hwi about Myeongsin.
“He was an assassin of the highest caliber.”
As expected, Hwi had grasped his level without even crossing hands with him. From nothing more than his gait and the movements of his hands, he had assessed the man’s skill precisely.
Hwi asked cautiously.
“What do you intend to do now?”
Normally, he would not have asked. But he had seen me part from Myeongsin after maintaining such an amicable relationship with him, and so he asked. Geom Mugeuk then revealed his plan.
“I’m thinking of trying to make him one of mine.”
Hwi knew Geom Mugeuk’s abilities better than anyone, but the problem was that the other party was an assassin.
“Assassins are not people to be trusted.”
It was the first time Hwi had ever been so firm.
Geom Mugeuk understood Hwi.
Hwi and Myeongsin were natural opposites, standing at opposing extremes.
Hwi would not trust him. Rather, he would hate and despise him.
He simply did not show it in front of me.
Even knowing that, I was attempting to bring Myeongsin to my side because I knew about his life. But I could not say such a thing.
“Yes, I won’t trust him. But this effort will be meaningful. Even if he doesn’t become my ally, a single moment of hesitation from him at a decisive instant might save our lives.”
Hwi felt it. As he always had, the Young Cult Leader was seeing something he himself could not.
But when it came to the matter of assassins, he had to say it clearly.
“Assassins are not people to be trusted. Please, do not forget that one point.”
It was the first time in his life that Hwi had repeated the same words twice.
“Yes. I will keep it in mind.”
Only after receiving that confirmation did Hwi’s expression ease.
“I have a request for you as well, Uncle.”
“Please speak.”
Geom Mugeuk unwound the supreme-grade Heavenly Silkworm Silk wrapped around the hilt of the Black Demon Sword and handed it to him.
“Wrap it around your heart and dantian.”
“I am fine. You should wear it, Young Cult Leader.”
At that, Geom Mugeuk loosened his clothes and showed him the supreme-grade Heavenly Silkworm Silk wrapped around his heart and abdomen.
“I already am.”
“Wear two layers.”
“I’m wearing three layers. So you should wear one, Uncle.”
Hwi looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“It may not look like much, but this is supreme-grade Heavenly Silkworm Silk with a long and venerable history. The Demon Venerables are already wearing it too. Ah, of course, I washed it thoroughly. And I’m not giving it to you outright. You’ll have to return it later.”
Because in the final battle, I would have to wrap it around my whole body.
And I would stand at the forefront of that battle.
Hwi could tell. No matter how much he refused, Geom Mugeuk would not back down.
“Understood. Thank you, Young Cult Leader.”
Hwi wrapped the supreme-grade Heavenly Silkworm Silk around himself in front of Geom Mugeuk.
Only then did Geom Mugeuk smile in satisfaction.
“It suits you well. Here, look.”
Geom Mugeuk drew his sword and showed Hwi his reflection in the blade.
The sight of himself reflected in the sword felt unfamiliar.
He had spent his entire life protecting others, and this was the first time he had ever felt protected.
“Thank you, Young Cult Leader.”
Geom Mugeuk asked him casually.
“You want me to go see Father quickly now, don’t you?”
He had gone out with me instead of guarding Father, so he must have been curious whether Father was safe.
“No.”
“Then may I go out right away to take care of some other business?”
When I acted as though I might leave again at any moment, Hwi spoke with an expression that said, I lose.
“Still, since you have returned, should you not at least greet him before leaving?”
Geom Mugeuk laughed and turned around.
“Where would I be going?”
As Geom Mugeuk entered the building, he called out.
“Your son is back, Father.”
With a pleased expression, Hwi followed me inside.
* * *
Father was in his room.
He was reading a dispatch sent from Tongcheongak.
While keeping a firm grasp on the situation, he was entrusting the matter entirely to me.
Yes. Only when one has the patience to wait for a child who must crawl up a cliff alone does that cliff have any meaning.
“I have returned, Father.”
Father lifted his head and looked this way.
The moment our eyes met, I felt it.
He had grown stronger!
It seemed I was not the only one training.
In the past, I had only vaguely sensed that Father had grown stronger, but now I could clearly feel that he had.
Perhaps it was because I had grown stronger myself that I could feel it more distinctly. Either way, it was a good result.
Father, grow stronger still. Become so strong that Hwa Mugi, the unification of the martial world, all of it becomes laughable. I will fill that emptiness for you.
Father’s gaze turned to Hwi.
Hwi bowed his head respectfully and paid his respects to Father. Relief and gratitude bloomed across his face.
“It’s the first time, isn’t it? That you’ve left Father’s side like this.”
Hwi was human too, so how could he have remained by his side without resting even for a moment?
He had to eat, go to the latrine, wash, and change clothes.
But I could imagine it. How rushed those moments must have been. How hurried Hwi must have been in that brief span of time.
Please, let nothing happen while I am gone!
Hwi had said that dying before the person one had to protect was the only blessing bestowed upon a guard.
But there must also be a curse. To never leave one’s post, only for the person one must protect to die during the single moment one is away.
And more than anyone, Father understood Hwi’s heart.
“I will stay at the safe house for a while.”
It was Father’s consideration, telling him not to worry even a little.
Father had even already packed his belongings.
When Father shouldered a large leather pack, Hwi cried out in surprise.
“Please give that to me. I will carry it.”
Hwi was flustered. He had likely never once allowed Father to carry his own luggage.
Then Father said to Hwi,
“Are you not carrying out my command?”
“Cult Leader!”
“I am fine.”
Hwi looked at me. His eyes were telling me to hurry up, take the luggage, and lead the way.
“Father, I will carry it.”
“Forget it. Just don’t die.”
Father shouldered the leather pack and left the room.
“You look impressive carrying that leather pack, Father.”
I meant it sincerely. Above all, it was my first time seeing him like that, so it felt refreshing.
Watching Hwi fidget as he looked on, I spoke loudly enough for Father to hear.
“Stop staring already! Those shoulders could carry Mount Tai without budging, but your gaze is going to wear them down!”
* * *
Myeongsin returned three days later. Though he had wanted to come running immediately, he deliberately dragged out the time. He could not show that he was impatient.
“Shall we have a drink?”
“That sounds good.”
Before they set out, Myeongsin handed over the wooden case he had brought.
Inside were throwing daggers.
“To be honest, I’ll acknowledge swords and other weapons, but I cannot accept it when it comes to throwing daggers. Even after seeing these, will the Demonic Cult’s iron workshop still not try to kill me?”
It seemed his pride had been wounded when, the last time they met, he had been told that he was not yet at the level where the artisans of the main cult’s iron workshop would try to kill him out of jealousy.
Geom Mugeuk examined the throwing daggers.
“Ah, I mustn’t show these to our Artisan Gwak, if nothing else. It would be troublesome if he asked me to kill you.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Myeongsin’s expression brightened.
“Then, since I’ve received throwing daggers as a gift too, I should buy the drinks today. Last time, I chose the wrong tavern, so you pick today.”
Myeongsin nodded as if it were nothing, but his heart began to pound.
‘Is it today?’
But if they had to leave the marketplace, that might arouse suspicion. He had to decide carefully.
And so the two of them once again headed toward the marketplace.
“May I ask you something?”
“Ask.”
“These people of the Golden Dragon Clan—aren’t they far too beneath your level?”
Myeongsin answered casually.
“You’ve lived a life of only giving orders, so you may not know, but we live a life where, if we’re ordered to do something, we must do it. What power do we have otherwise?”
“I don’t know about others, but hearing that from you makes it sound like an excuse.”
Myeongsin sensed that there was weight behind Geom Mugeuk’s words.
“You investigated me too, didn’t you?”
The intelligence network of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was known to be the best in the martial world. Since they had become entangled like this, there was no way he would not know about him.
“I did.”
Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.
“What kind of person am I in the report you investigated?”
The answer came immediately.
“Myeongsin, second-in-command of Myeongbu. His assassinations follow three principles: he does not kill children, he does not kill those who do not know martial arts, and he does not kill those who are not evil.”
He had thought they might know that much. The other party was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, after all.
But the next piece of information startled Myeongsin.
“And because of that, you have recently been in conflict with the leader of Myeongbu.”
For an instant, Myeongsin flinched.
‘That matter is known only to the two of us. How did he find out?’
Pretending not to know, Myeongsin asked Geom Mugeuk,
“Conflict? Why do you think that?”
Geom Mugeuk, who had been walking until then, stopped. Myeongsin stopped with him and waited for his answer.
Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly.
“Because I’ve never seen an assassin like you.”
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze toward him was utterly serious.
“In this world today, there are no assassins who live by such principles. You’re the sort of assassin who would only appear in stories. If your leader were such a person as well, there would be no problem, but he was not.”
The two stood by the roadside and continued their conversation.
“To be honest, I dislike assassins too. I’d rather play alone than go out of my way to make one a friend. But when I heard that you were an assassin who kept to such principles, I grew curious.”
After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk added,
“That must be why they sent you. They must have investigated that I would take an interest in someone like you. If someone other than you had come a few days ago, I would have killed them on the spot. If I have the chance, I eliminate even one more enemy in advance. That is the sort of person I am. In that sense, the leader who sent you is quite clever.”
Myeongsin had not expected Geom Mugeuk to know this much about him in such detail.
“Why are you telling me all this? Is it because you’re confident you can handle me even after telling me?”
At that, Geom Mugeuk shook his head and said,
“What have you been listening to until now? I said I became interested in an assassin like you. I thought, if it’s an assassin like this, perhaps it wouldn’t be bad to become friends.”
For a fleeting instant, Myeongsin felt the urge to draw a dagger and stab Geom Mugeuk in the throat.
Instinctively, he sensed that the other man had let his guard down.
And the fact that he had felt such an urge also meant that the other man might truly be speaking from the heart.
“You’re not trying to use me to sweep away Myeongbu?”
Geom Mugeuk feigned surprise and laughed brightly.
“You’ve already noticed?”
Myeongsin could not discern Geom Mugeuk’s true intentions.
Just then, a flock of birds flew overhead.
Both men’s gazes naturally turned toward the sky.
“The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and an assassin becoming friends? Is that even remotely possible?”
“The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult can even become friends with a tavern owner.”
Myeongsin knew that those words were true.
“How is the position of a tavern owner the same as that of an assassin? A tavern owner could close his doors tomorrow, but we are people who cannot do that.”
Then Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
“I think it would be harder for a tavern owner to close his doors.”
Myeongsin, who had been looking up at the sky, turned his gaze to Geom Mugeuk.
“You don’t know how hard those people work. They are people who would only close their doors if their families were dragged away. You’re more diligent than someone like that? Are you truly?”
Because he sensed that Geom Mugeuk was asking sincerely, Myeongsin held back his answer.
“If he rests for a day, his customers might stop coming. If he rests, someone who came all that way for him would have to turn back. At the very least, you don’t have to worry about such things, do you? Someone I’m supposed to kill is waiting for me. You don’t worry about that, do you?”
One corner of Myeongsin’s eye twitched slightly. He had been trying to get along with Geom Mugeuk as much as he could. And yet Geom Mugeuk kept prodding at some place deep inside him.
“Is it truly that you cannot leave? Or is it simply that you find it bothersome? That you cannot bring yourself to change the life you’ve grown used to?”
Myeongsin’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Do not speak so lightly just because it is someone else’s life. What do you know about me? All you have done is read the information gathered by spies and judge me by it, have you not?”
“Isn’t that you?”
Myeongsin flinched again.
“The me in your report, the you in my report. Is that not who we are? Is there some true version of me separate from how others see me? If so, then we are living inside misunderstandings. Is that not wrong?”
Myeongsin could not refute him.
“What others see is who we are. If anything, that is more accurate. We may wish to be people grander and more valuable in truth, but the you and I in those reports—is that not who we are?”
Myeongsin wanted to say it was not so. That he was a better person than what others saw.
And as he saw himself thinking that, he realized.
‘Ah! I wanted to become a better person.’
Because he had never once had a conversation like this with anyone, this was the first time he had discovered that such a thought lay deep within his heart. Perhaps the principles he had set for his assassinations had also begun from that very desire.
“Why are you doing this to me? If you truly wish to become my friend, then tell me honestly what you are thinking.”
Because he had to take Geom Mugeuk to the Assassin King, he forced himself to swallow the words that surged up inside him.
‘You are trying to use me right now in some dirty scheme to blow Myeongbu away. Just how lightly do you take me, to think you can dig into me like this?’
The gazes of the two men standing in the road tangled in midair. A conversation important enough to decide their fates was taking place in the middle of the road.
“To be honest, it is not for your sake, but to protect myself.”
Geom Mugeuk’s eyes were clearer and deeper than ever before.
“Because I do not want even someone like you to be swept away on the path I walk. Because I think it would be nice if, somewhere in this world, there were at least one admirable assassin who would accept a single coin offered by a child who unjustly lost his parents as the commission, and kill the wicked.”
“!”
“Because I do not want to walk my path while killing even such a person. That is right. This is not for your sake, but to protect myself.”
Then Geom Mugeuk took a single coin from his robe and held it out to him.
“So this money is the commission to protect me.”
Absolute Regression Chapter 486