Where did it go. (1)
Mealtime was fortunately peaceful.
Although I got hit by Gu Ryeong-hwa, it was bearable,
And regarding the poison Dang So-yeol suddenly gifted, I was able to quickly explain and move past it.
Of course, even with the explanation, it was unavoidable that the Sword Empress wore an ambiguous smile.
It seemed Dang So-yeol truly respected the Sword Empress, as she spoke of every single achievement the Sword Empress had accomplished without missing a single one.
She even recited the famous lines the Sword Empress had supposedly uttered, successfully making the Sword Empress's ears turn bright red.
'"My plum blossoms do not lose to evildoers!"... So the Sword Empress was a figure full of romance as well.'
Thanks to that, I couldn't help but cringe, but it was an okay time since I got to see the rare sight of the Sword Empress flustered.
The meal ended quickly.
The Sword Empress also didn't seem to mind Dang So-yeol, and even entertained her conversation well.
However, Gu Ryeong-hwa's glare at Dang So-yeol was quite fierce.
[She had a face like a gentle puppy, but when the child gets angry, she turns into a wolf.]
'I am a mantis, yet you describe that child as a wolf? This is a bit discriminatory.'
[Seeing you spout nonsense, it seems you ate your conscience along with your meal....]
Was it because she felt like her master was being stolen? It felt like the distance between the two had grown considerably.
After finishing the meal and even drinking tea, we finally ended the gathering.
Dang So-yeol seemed to want to stay longer in many ways, but the Sword Empress's condition wasn't good, so it seemed impossible to stay for long.
How should I put it, the Sword Empress looked a bit exhausted.
Not only I, but obviously Gu Ryeong-hwa knew it as well, as she was trying to take care of her little by little.
In the meantime, I observed Namgung Bi-ah, who was quietly eating her food alone.
Wi Seol-ah was already chattering beside her, but she still seemed to have her soul drawn out.
"Are you feeling alright?"
I asked the Sword Empress, who was getting up to leave.
"As you can see, thanks to you, I feel healthier than before."
Even looking at it myself, the Sword Empress seemed to have regained much of her health, but....
"Is something the matter?"
Her expression wasn't very good. At my question, the Sword Empress showed a somewhat surprised reaction.
Since it was a reaction asking how I knew, I kindly added an explanation.
"Your expression right now is quite poor."
"...It seems it shows a lot."
"Yes."
Was she perhaps trying to hide it? If so, the Sword Empress was someone who shouldn't lie.
It shows that much, so what is she trying to hide?
"Your disciple is very worried."
"...Dear me."
Gu Ryeong-hwa was pacing anxiously behind, looking only at her master.
Seeing that, the Sword Empress smiled awkwardly.
"I tried not to cause worry, but it's already too late."
"Is there some kind of problem?"
It didn't seem like a physical problem; had something happened recently?
"It's fine. This too is something that will naturally flow and pass."
Blurting her words as if avoiding the answer, the Sword Empress thanked me and approached Gu Ryeong-hwa.
When the Sword Empress stroked her hair, Gu Ryeong-hwa smiled happily.
She had returned from a golden wolf to a squirrel.
"Um... Young Master Gu."
I turned my head at the voice coming from beside me.
"I'm so glad we could have a meal together today...!"
"You mean you're glad you ate with the Sword Empress, not me, right?"
"Uh... Uhm... That's not it...! Well, it's not that it isn't."
Her flustered, stuttering reaction to my teasing was a bit funny, so I smiled slightly.
Seeing that, Dang So-yeol paused slightly and asked me.
"You just smiled, right?"
"Pardon?"
"Young Master, didn't you just smile at me?"
"No... Yes, if you felt bad about it."
"No! It wasn't bad!"
Saying so, Dang So-yeol smiled radiantly. It was such a gentle smile that I unknowingly paused.
It must be because it was a smile I'd seen somewhere before. It resembled the smile Dok-bi used to wear.
Since she's the same person, I suppose that makes sense, but the weight of her smile was different.
It wasn't Dok-bi's deep, heavy, and exhausted smile, but a smile that seemed to be made out of pure joy, which made it even more so.
[Do you regret it?]
'What are you suddenly talking about out of nowhere?'
Although I replied playfully to Noya's words, knowing what he meant by asking made me feel a bit exhausted.
[Because it seems so.]
'I do not regret it.'
Cutting off Dok-bi's breath with my own hands? That was something I had to do.
Not for my sake, but for hers.
At that time, it had to be done.
"W-Would you call for me next time too?"
At Dang So-yeol's question, I nodded.
I hesitated slightly, but Dang So-yeol smiled as if that didn't matter.
"Just the two of us... that wouldn't work, right?"
"Ah..."
"I'm sorry, I got too excited and got ahead of myself. It's okay if you don't answer...!"
Shouting that, she pressed something into my hand and ran out like crazy.
A small gourd was held in my hand. When I shook it, it made a sloshing sound, so it seemed something was inside.
"...What poison is this again?"
I was now certain it was unconditionally poison. Last time too, I think I received poison before parting.
The problem was that I didn't know what purpose she gave it for.
For now, I put it in my embrace. I can just ask next time.
After sending everyone off, I had the servant clean up and took a brief walk outside.
The walking path of the Gu family wasn't very beautiful. At least when my mother was alive, it seemed she had tended to it diligently.
Now, no hand had been laid on it.
"Young Master, what flower is this?"
Wi Seol-ah, who was walking with me, asked.
It was a somewhat white and pretty flower, but I didn't know its name.
"Baek Yu-hwa (White Young Flower)."
Namgung Bi-ah, who was following behind, whispered.
"What, you know flower names too?"
It was quite unexpected.
For Namgung Bi-ah of all people to know the name of a flower. Namgung Bi-ah kept her gaze on the flower Wi Seol-ah was looking at and continued speaking.
"It's a flower my mom liked."
Saying that, she approached the flower and sat down gently.
"...It was blooming here too."
She carefully touched the flower and then asked me.
"Can I... take this...?"
"Why take it, are you going to grow it?"
"Yeah..."
It wasn't a big deal, and giving one flower wasn't difficult, so I told her to go ahead.
Namgung Bi-ah plucked one Baek Yu-hwa and tucked it into Wi Seol-ah's hair.
"Ung?"
When Wi Seol-ah reacted as if asking what this was, Namgung Bi-ah stroked her hair and said.
"It's pretty... My mom used to do this for me often."
When Wi Seol-ah smiled brightly, Namgung Bi-ah also smiled slightly in return.
[...Since pretty things are attached to you, it seems you shine.]
'You're being fickle all of a sudden.'
[Kkeul-kkeul-kkeul....]
After stroking Wi Seol-ah for a moment, she carefully dug up another Baek Yu-hwa along with the soil so the roots wouldn't be damaged.
Her white hands got dirty with soil, but she didn't seem to mind.
"I guess you're a bit okay now."
I asked, recalling how she had acted sensitively with a flushed face earlier.
"...Yeah."
Namgung Bi-ah nodded slightly. Her ears were still slightly red; was it because the autumn wind was cold, or because the effect of earlier remained?
"I'm okay now... probably."
The voice whispering in the wind was so shy.
"...Did you know...?"
Namgung Bi-ah asked.
"A child... isn't born just by holding hands."
"What?"
"...Just saying."
What is she suddenly talking about?
Saying that, she walked forward. Did her pace look slightly faster, or was it my imagination?
"Young Master, it's cold. Let's hurry!"
While I was standing there blankly, Wi Seol-ah grabbed my hand and dragged me along.
For reference, from this day on, Namgung Bi-ah stopped taking naps in my room for a while.
A day passed, and I went to find Namgung Jin.
It was a promised schedule, so I went to find him right after finishing my morning training.
Sure enough, Namgung Jin was swinging his sword in the training ground prepared in the annex, just like last time.
The reason the surroundings were somewhat empty was probably because the Namgung family's martial artists were still receiving treatment.
"I have arranged a conversation with the First Elder."
Namgung Jin, who was swinging his sword to his heart's content, said. It seemed he was telling me because of the favor I asked of him last time.
"It will probably be this evening."
"I understand."
I didn't ask for anything major.
I just told him to give the impression that he would listen if the First Elder seemed to want something.
"Do you not need to return to the Sa family?"
"There is something more important than the Sa family's matters, so it's fine."
"...Hmm. I understand."
Originally, after finishing the engagement ceremony schedule, I would have returned to the Sa family with Namgung Bi-ah.
But I was stuck here, unable to go.
'To be exact, I'm just not going.'
What's so great about that sword...
[That sword? You brat! You're the one who should know better than anyone about a martial artist's greed... Tsk tsk.]
The foundation of the evolved sword left by Noh Cheon-il-geom Namgung Myeong. If it had continued, it would have been quite a wondrous thing.
Why wasn't it passed down? Why did the Namgung family forget his sword?
Seeing him reigning as the number one of the sword gate noble family even with a degraded sword, I couldn't help but feel curious while thinking it was amazing.
"Are you done now?"
"Yes."
Since I waited a few days, Namgung Jin also started to urge me.
Well, with a restriction placed on him, he couldn't just let it go.
"I just hope you keep your word."
"...Don't worry."
We talked about various matters, but the part I put the most importance on was one thing.
If he realizes about this.
He would pass down the teachings to Namgung Bi-ah as well.
Regarding this part, Namgung Jin didn't show a very good reaction.
What was so uncomfortable about passing down teachings of enlightenment to his bloodline?
In the end, I didn't back down and pressed the issue, so we agreed that he would only pass down the teachings to 'Namgung Bi-ah'.
Isn't it ridiculous?
In the first place, I didn't care about what happened to the others, and I only wanted the teachings to be passed down to Namgung Bi-ah.
Namgung Jin personally put forward the condition that he would not teach the other bloodlines.
Why, why did he put in such a condition?
Various thoughts crossed my mind regarding Namgung Jin's intentions, but the most likely guess was his desire to solidify his position as the family head.
Knowing how to use what others cannot use, or do not know how to use.
If the family head, of all people, used a more advanced version of the family's sword, wouldn't he have been thinking about the value that would bring?
'To draw a line even against his own bloodline for such a thing.'
From my perspective, I wrote it as teachings, but it was strictly closer to a transaction.
Above all, it was a part that could be passed down to Namgung Bi-ah, so it didn't matter.
And the more I saw these parts, the more I wanted to know why Namgung Bi-ah made such a choice.
Not as the Demon Sword Empress, but looking at the current Namgung Bi-ah, she wasn't someone who would act like that.
"What I will tell you is two lines."
I did not pick up a sword.
Noya said he couldn't do it for a while after the last possession. He said it was dangerous.
Even so, I couldn't pick up a sword I couldn't handle and show the movements to Namgung Jin.
Noya said it would be enough to just convey the words.
[The Namgung's sword, its stem is severed.]
'Stem?'
[Yes, the stem that connects technique to technique, and it's severed so microscopically that it's hard to grasp properly.]
'Are you saying such a thing can be reconnected merely with words?'
[I wouldn't know, I'm just passing on exactly what that guy Myeong said.]
'No, what kind of irresponsible statement is that...?'
[It is filled with Noh Cheon-il-geom's own enlightenment. If the Namgung child doesn't realize anything even after hearing this, then that's the end of it.]
'What if she doesn't realize anything and comes demanding answers from me?'
[You'll have to run and hide behind your father's back, what else can you do?]
'...Damn it.'
At this age, you're telling me to run to my father for that?
No... Actually, I am still young in this life, but I have a conscience.
[Didn't you originally not have a conscience? What face do you have to put up now?]
'...'
When I steadied my breath, Namgung Jin was already opening his ears with sparkling eyes.
A man around my father's age sending such bright eyes was seriously burdensome.
All I was doing was conveying the words of Shin Noya, which I heard by my ear, through my mouth.
"The Namgung's sword is like a wave. Although it lives its whole life as lightning, if one were to insist, it's closer to a wave."
Enlightenment is originally abstract.
It would be even more so for a swordsman who identifies the body with the sword and aims for Shin-geom-hap-il (Body-Sword Unity).
It was the realm that the past Demon Sword Empress, of course, and outstanding swordsmen including Wi Seol-ah had reached.
The martial arts world also had a realm called by a similar word, but the feeling was different.
As I said earlier, I was just spitting out words pushed out from Noya's mouth.
And sometimes, I just followed incomprehensible action instructions like telling me to reach out my hand.
"Since you handle lightning energy, you have to focus on swift sword and speed sword, but..."
However, it wasn't completely abstract, as fragmentary information about the wrist problem in the Namgung sword path or how the feet should move was exchanged.
The remarks regarding the movements were personally added by Shin Noya.
The problem was.
'It seems like it's helping.'
Waves, lightning, trees, forests—standing from the position of not knowing the Namgung sword, listening to it was pointless talk.
I didn't know the experience and meaning he would have gained while swinging his sword.
I didn't know how such abstract and ambiguous talk could help him.
The explanation wasn't over yet, but Namgung Jin's gaze changed.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Did he gain something?
Even so, I didn't feel anything significant enough to be called enlightenment.
[It seems he's not just a half-wit or a blockhead.]
'I'm not sure if this is okay.'
[I considered your position and didn't tell him everything. The Namgung child won't be able to take away a lot either.]
I understood Noya's desire to somehow continue his friend's sword, so I also let it pass without strongly denying it.
The silence was brief.
Namgung Jin quickly opened the eyes he had closed. And immediately swung his sword.
Shwek! Shweek!
The ensuing sword path didn't look greatly different from before, but something had changed ever so slightly.
[It seems he succeeded in getting a foothold.]
Noya added words, but I couldn't feel a big difference.
However, I could clearly tell that something had changed. This part was important.
Namgung Jin, who had been swinging only his sword for about half an hour, stopped and whispered quietly.
"...Thank you."
A martial artist who would have reached the Hwa-gyeong was dripping with sweat. In just half an hour.
"Did you gain something?"
"Barely... just a little bit."
Namgung Jin continued, saying that it would take a very long time to fully internalize this.
"I might have to throw away everything I've become accustomed to..."
It meant he had to change the movements he had grown used to for decades.
Even so, was he really intending to train this? If he wanted to solidify his position as the family head, he would lack the time for that.
[Can't you see? He is already bewitched.]
Looking at Namgung Jin's eyes at Noya's words, they were filled with heat.
[It's small, but definitely different. If he knows that difference, he'll know himself how much it will differ in the end, so it's already too late to back out.]
'Why is it that sword users are all not normal?'
[...That's martial arts discrimination, you rotting bastard.]
'You're getting provoked because you're a swordsman too.'
His realm didn't change, and there was no fluctuation in his internal energy.
He simply discovered a slight difference in how he should swing his sword.
Moreover, he said it would take at least a few years before he could use this.
Then isn't this poison? In my view, it was.
In that gap, I checked again for the traces of demonic energy left in Namgung Jin's body.
Just in case he suddenly changed after gaining something.
"I hope you don't forget your promise."
......
Namgung Jin, whose heat hadn't fully cooled down, nodded slightly.
He was full of signs that he wanted to swing his sword more right away.
I checked the restriction once more and then closed the door and came out.
This wasn't going to end with just telling him a little, and it was agreed that we would meet a few more times.
Would this process help Namgung Bi-ah's life?
Even if it wouldn't be a huge help, wouldn't it be able to make a little difference?
Such a futile expectation suddenly crossed my mind.
"That aside... Noya."
[What is it?]
"You know those words I conveyed to the Namgung family head earlier."
Not the parts directly linked to the movements, but the abstract parts.
I had heard those parts before.
"...Are those the words left by Noh Cheon-il-geom?"
[Yes, it's the talk that unlucky bastard left behind. He went around raving like crazy about how great his sword was.]
What kind of crazy guy would carry on about his enlightenment like that? I thought it was definitely an exaggeration.
The important thing was the meaning of whether those statements were really the words left by Noh Cheon-il-geom.
[But why do you ask?]
"It's nothing. I just asked."
The reason I asked was none other than this.
The Demon Sword Empress of my past life also seemed to have said the same things. Even with the exact same phrasing, word for word.
When was it, probably when I was asking about Shin-geom-hap-il.
The Demon Sword Empress at that time clearly used to say that she had learned it that way.
-She said that...
-...I can't understand a single thing you're saying.
Because the talk was like nonsense, I couldn't understand it and used to ask back.
The Namgung sword that Shin Noya showed was clearly similar to the sword path the Demon Sword Empress used to wield.
But the current Namgung sword is not like that.
I don't know about Cheon-jon, the current number one master of the Namgung family, but Namgung Jin didn't know how to use that sword.
Let alone, he didn't seem to know the problems with the Namgung sword.
Then, who did the Demon Sword Empress learn that sword from?
If not the current Namgung Jin, then who on earth?
I just thought that the Demon Sword Empress's talent was so lofty that she transcended the chronic problems alone and re-established the sword path.
Looking at it now, I felt a sense of incongruity.
Is this also a coincidence?
Somehow, I couldn't help but think it wasn't.
The place I headed to right away was the annex where Namgung Bi-ah would be.
Since most of the Namgung family's martial artists were lying in bed, the ones guarding the annex were half Gu family martial artists.
It was truly paradoxical.
When I went to the annex entrance and tried to leave a message with the waiting servant.
The door on the opposite side opened, and Namgung Bi-ah popped out.
"...You came...?"
"How did you know and come out?"
Was she looking out the window?
For that, her expression looked a bit more blank than usual, as if she had been sleeping.
"Were you sleeping?"
"No..."
I didn't come with a purpose, but I came because I was concerned about her condition looking poor yesterday.
"Have you eaten..."
"...I haven't eaten."
"Then let's eat together later."
The ornament I gave her was still serving the role of tying Namgung Bi-ah's hair.
Does she wear it normally too?
Thinking that, I couldn't help but feel slightly proud, unbefitting of my status.
"Your body..."
"...It's fine..."
"Then can I touch your forehead?"
Recalling that she avoided it last time, I asked first this time.
[To ask that so pathetically....]
'Noya...'
[What, why.]
'It's nothing.'
[Y-You...!]
I didn't even say anything, but Shin Noya got provoked.
I really didn't say anything.
At my words asking for permission, Namgung Bi-ah paused and took a small step back.
Does she not like it?
"If you don't like it, I won't ask again..."
"...Do it..."
Namgung Bi-ah said in a slightly trembling voice. Was this that difficult?
Anyway, since she gave permission, I strode over and placed my hand on Namgung Bi-ah's forehead.
"Your body isn't feeling well, is it?"
Her forehead was hot.
When I first touched it, I thought it was just warm, but it got hotter and hotter.
With this much heat, there was really a problem. For a martial artist who had reached the first-rate to suddenly get this hot.
I was about to drag her to Shin-ui immediately.
Something touched the hand that was placed on Namgung Bi-ah's forehead.
It was none other than Namgung Bi-ah's hand.
"It's fine... It's really fine now..."
Saying that, she grabbed my hand and lowered it.
Naturally, it became a state where Namgung Bi-ah and I could walk holding hands.
I didn't ask what she was doing. Because Namgung Bi-ah's pale face had turned red, making it hard to say such a thing.
'Until a while ago, she didn't seem to be shy about things like this.'
Did she really eat something wrong somewhere? Namgung Bi-ah said while cooling her face in the wind.
"Let's go... eat."
"Where, your room?"
"Ah, no, my room..."
Perhaps she was really flustered, Namgung Bi-ah's voice was much louder than usual.
What the, she invades my room so nonchalantly, but pushes away at times like this?
I thought about going in out of curiosity, wondering if she had hidden something in her room, but for some reason, I had a feeling that Namgung Bi-ah would really get angry if I did.
Namgung Bi-ah getting angry...?
'I am a bit curious about that too.'
It was because I hadn't seen it in my past life either.
Did she notice my inner thoughts? Namgung Bi-ah hastily pulled me and walked.
I walked, half-dragged along with my hand held.
In the meantime, I didn't think of shaking off the held hand either.
Noya seemed to curse something for a moment, but I didn't listen.
I obediently let myself be held and walked the path.
I found out later through a servant.
I heard that some bedding that should have been in my room had disappeared.
It seemed they were quite valuable, so the servant was crying, but a while later, the servant worked as if nothing had happened.
Rather, it looked like something pleasant had happened, as she was even blooming with smiles.
I had used them for a long time, so they were old, and it didn't matter if I lost them.
Where on earth did that go?