〈Chapter 280〉Winter Rain.(3)
I had known for some time that the Sword Empress was staying at the inn. Probably because the entire inn was occupied by the Huashan Sect, the surroundings were thick with qi. Among them, I could faintly feel the strongest.
"I didn't expect you to come find me personally..."
Guided by Yeongpung to the room, the Sword Empress welcomed me with surprised eyes. After exchanging a few words of small talk, asking if I had been well and such, I immediately got to the main point. Because I didn't want to drag it out.
Upon hearing my words, the Sword Empress made a peculiar expression. Then she smiled slightly and spoke.
"That is a rather vague request."
"Vague?"
"It doesn't seem to be a request to be accepted as my disciple... yet neither is it a request for me to teach your sister the sword."
"Is it a difficult request?"
At my words, the Sword Empress shook her head. Fortunately, it didn't seem to be.
"It is merely a curiosity."
Even as she spoke, the Sword Empress looked out the window. Outside, it was still raining.
"I simply never thought you would use your request in such a manner, that is all."
At some point. Since I was the benefactor who had saved her life, she had handed me the justification that she would grant my request. Now, having come to this point, I was simply using it.
"It is not a request to resolve inner demons, yet you say simply showing your sword once will suffice. Do you think that will be enough? From what I hear, she is not at such a low level."
What I had requested of the Sword Empress was none other than this. Simply to show her sword once to Guyeonseo.
"Yes. If it is not a difficult request, I ask that you please grant it."
"Mm..."
To a martial artist, no less the Sword Empress, to boldly ask her to show her sword. The word "yes" was one I'd practically pulled out of my ass. And the Sword Empress too seemed largely to think it was a rather meaningless request.
"Are you truly certain that will suffice? Rather, asking me to resolve that child's inner demons would be the more proper thing to do, don't you think?"
After a brief silence at my answer, the Sword Empress soon nodded.
"If you say so, very well."
"...My thanks."
"It is fine. Considering what you have done for me, it would be rather shameless to brush this aside so easily."
Seeing the Sword Empress speak with a bright smile, she fortunately seemed to have recovered her health. Recalling how ruined her body being devoured had been at that time. Though she might not have recovered everything. Just by the vitality clearly felt, one could tell she had recovered greatly. The old woman's appearance, which back then had looked older than Maehwa Seonbo, the leader of Huashan, had now returned to that of a woman who seemed slightly past thirty.
"Is this the end of your request?"
"Yes. I apologize for coming so suddenly."
"Not at all. It is fortunate that I happen to be staying at this inn."
"Where are you going?"
"Mm... You will know by tomorrow, so it is better to hold my tongue."
Tomorrow? If it's tomorrow, it should be the day I enter the Divine Dragon Hall, shouldn't it? Wondering what she meant, I looked at the Sword Empress, but she merely smiled as if having no intention of answering.
In the meantime, the Sword Empress brought up another matter.
"Do you not ask about your younger brother?"
"He must be doing well, since you appear at peace, Sword Empress."
"Hm..."
Perhaps because the answer was unsatisfying, the Sword Empress's expression twisted slightly. Was there something she disliked?
"Sometimes you appear truly sharp, yet at times like this, you do not seem to be."
"Pardon?"
"No, it is not something for me to meddle in. Do not worry about your request. I shall carry it out before this day passes."
"Thank you..."
Fortunately, the Sword Empress had said she would grant my request. To be honest, the easiest thing would be to ask her to accept a disciple. But that was impossible. Guryeonghwa had already been accepted as a disciple. Furthermore, becoming the Sword Empress's disciple meant leaving the family and going into the embrace of Huashan like Guryeonghwa. And Guyeonseo herself would absolutely never go to Huashan. From my position, where I faintly knew the desire she harbored in her heart, that would be poison instead.
"I shall take my leave."
"Very well. See you tomorrow."
"Pardon? Y-yes."
After lowering my head and paying respects to the Sword Empress's farewell, I came out of the room. Closing the door and stepping out, Yeongpung was still waiting for me.
"Ah, have you come out?"
"Why are you still here?"
At my question, Yeongpung's eyes were filled with desire. Those eyes, I remembered seeing them somewhere before.
'Aren't those the eyes from when he desperately came to find me to train together at Huashan?'
Realizing that, a sigh escaped me. This human crazy about training was still the same. I wanted to humor him a little, but now was impossible. At my refusal, Yeongpung looked clearly disappointed. But he didn't seem like the type to cling persistently.
"How disappointing... I wanted to mix bodies with Gu So-hyeop for the first time in a while."
"...P-please don't say it in such a misleading way."
Mix bodies, my ass. What do you mean mix bodies, you crazy bastard. Just imagining it made my skin crawl. We have a perfectly good word called spar. I don't know why he has to express it like that.
Ugh...
Because I'd imagined it for a moment and felt my insides rotting, I had to quickly flee as if escaping.
My purpose was accomplished. Since the Sword Empress said she would grant my request, I left the inn without lingering.
'Will this be enough?'
Even as I came out, I wondered if this would truly be enough. But the thought that there was no better method for Guyeonseo than this did not fade. If this was wrong. I could simply use another method when the time came. Though the uneasy feeling remained. For now, I decided to let it pass.
'Tomorrow is right away; this has become a bit troublesome.'
There were already many things I had to worry about. My head was complicated. Regarding Paejon. Regarding the Hidden Dragon. As well as regarding Nea. Not to mention even Elder Shin. I had to stack up in my head what to do from here on out. Trying to connect things with my dull head was no easy task. Moreover, tomorrow is the Divine Dragon Hall entrance exam day. Though I don't know what test they will give. Whatever comes out. There was no chance I would fail, so I had to see to that as well.
'Once inside, even if not immediately, I must also find the time to locate the Secret Pavilion.'
The Secret Pavilion buried beneath the Divine Dragon Hall. Since I do not know the exact location and method, this too had to be kept in mind beforehand.
And.
'I'll have to find him too.'
My greatest purpose in coming to the Divine Dragon Hall. To be honest, the Secret Pavilion said to be underground is but a small reason. In order to know the truth, I had to meet the great ancient tree again. And in order to meet such an ancient tree, I had to head to the Demonic Realm.
Demonic Realm Gates were not one or two. Moreover, since the gate leading to that world could not be easily found, and time could not be wasted, I had to choose the fastest method I knew.
'I need to find the one who can open it.'
In my previous life, the incident where the late-generation disciples attending the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering were transferred to the Demonic Realm all at once was a disaster caused by Jang Seonyeon. However, Jang Seonyeon did not possess the ability to open Demonic Realm Gates. Yet the reason that bastard could open a dimension and shove the late-generation disciples inside was because "he" was beside Jang Seonyeon.
'What was his name again.'
A bastard with the bizarre ability to find the rifts in dimensions and tear them open and shut with his hands. The name was... I think it was Zhuge something. Clicking my tongue inwardly at the name I recalled.
'Of all things, did it have to be Zhuge.'
They were ones already annihilated, leaving only the surname. By now, they would likely be living with only the surname remaining. Though I had put in a few requests with the Haomun Sect and the Beggar Sect, unlike with Zhuge Hyeok, information was hard to find. He was probably living under an alias.
'Will it really be him this time?'
What little I knew was merely that he belonged to this batch. Even that was information I could remember because I knew he was of the same year as Jang Seonyeon.
'So I have to go find him.'
Please, let this be one thing that hasn't changed. I simply wished for that.
Plop.
While returning to my lodgings, receiving the falling rain upon my whole body, I looked around the streets. Perhaps because the Divine Dragon Hall entrance was not far off, the streets I stayed on were unusually crowded. Wearing swords at their waists, or judging by their physical conditions, most were young martial artists. They were probably all people who had come to enter the Divine Dragon Hall. Thanks to the unusually increased numbers, the merchants filling the streets had much laughter at the corners of their mouths. Those who had waited for this day were not only the late-generation disciples. They would be the same as well.
Tap.
"Ah, my apologies."
Someone bumped my shoulder as they passed and left an apology. Because there were so many people, shoulders being pushed or unnecessary contact was unusually frequent. I really hate complicated things like this. As if complaining to the heavens, I moved my steps.
"Great Hero there! Please have a taste of this!"
"Cheap and delicious! Even the Alliance Leader tasted it and was startled by these noodles!"
As I passed through the streets bit by bit, the voices of shopkeepers and merchants from each building muddled my ears. Filtering them out one by one, I walked steadily. I dislike places where so many people gather, but. Paradoxically, I liked bustling streets. The street I first faced after my regression was also similar to this. Perhaps that is why it remains in my memory. Such streets are full of vitality. I could feel that the bloody catastrophe had not yet befallen this world. And seeing that, I could realize that I had returned, having gained another chance. So this level of discomfort is nothing. Even as it rained, among those doing spirited business, I breathed out and continued to walk. Because I had to hurry to my lodgings.
Then.
"Have a yakgwa!"
At the voice heard by my ears, my steps suddenly stopped without me realizing it.
'Yakgwa.'
It was a name I hadn't heard in a long time. Of course. After Wiseora left, I had never bought yakgwa with my own hands. Perhaps because the face that had smiled brightly when I placed one in her hand came to mind. After Wiseora left, I had never really bought any. Feeling a small interest, I pushed slightly through the crowd and approached the yakgwa vendor. Then the old man full of wrinkles welcomed me with a grin.
"Oh, will you have one?"
"Please give me two or so."
The elder smiled widely at the money taken from his bosom and handed me the yakgwa. Since I hadn't wanted to buy many, I bought a small amount and didn't take the change.
"Thank you, Great Hero!"
It seemed the way the elder spoke to me or called me had changed. I didn't pay it much mind. Picking up one yakgwa, I pushed it into my mouth. The chewy texture remained the same. The taste upon my tongue was the same as well, but. Somehow it felt less sweet.
'Is it because the kid who ate them so deliciously is gone?'
If it was for such a futile reason.
'How trivial.'
To think that just because there's no one to eat together with, the taste of eating, the feeling, changes. It was still a futile sentiment. Imagining the face that had smiled brightly in my mind, I asked the empty air.
'Are you doing well?'
Are you eating properly. Or, are you not sick.
'And.'
Was it really okay that I didn't come find you.
I wanted to ask that. Though there would be no answer coming. I simply asked.
Pitter-patter.
The question I sent away was washed away by the still-falling shower, unable to catch the wind and melting away.
Puff...
Just as white breath quickly scatters.
Watching the rain fall quietly, I pushed the remaining yakgwa into my mouth as well and moved my steps again. A brief moment of sentimentality was enough while I was busy. If any later, the people at the inn would probably search for me. Slowly. At the moment I tried to leave my lingering feelings behind and lift my feet.
[Growl...]
Suddenly, a beast cried out from within my body.
"Weren't you sleeping?"
Since there had been no movement for some time, I thought perhaps you'd gone into hibernation to commemorate winter's arrival. But it seems that wasn't the case.
[Grr... Growl...]
As if waking from a deep slumber, the fellow began to let out cries in succession. The feeling was as if throwing a tantrum.
"Are you hungry? I fed you plenty on the way here."
I caught the demonic beasts we encountered everywhere on the way to Hanam and fed it to fullness beforehand. Why the sudden fuss?
[Growl...]
The fellow crying out as if throwing a tantrum did not seem to be crying at me. Rather, it was as if barking toward somewhere.
"What on earth are you—"
The moment I tried to calm it down.
"Huh?"
I felt a presence. At the familiar presence, I quickly moved my stiff neck and looked somewhere. The location was the roof of a building. Far away, at the place I looked up high, I saw a figure with a rain cape pulled over its head, covering its face. No matter who looked, that appearance gave off a feeling of "I am an extremely suspicious person!" But that was not what was important. What was important to me now was that she was looking at me from that far distance.
'...Why?'
It was not the doubt of why she was looking at me. It was the doubt of why she was here. Regarding the figure whose gender could not be properly known, the reason I could be certain it was her was because the presence was unusually familiar.
'Why on earth?'
If it were originally. No, after the regression, it should have been a presence I couldn't feel. Did she live having erased all sense of presence? The presence that couldn't be felt even when trying to catch or find her—why on earth was it felt so clearly now, having come to this point. As if. Just as she had been in my previous life.
"...You."
As I spat out words filled with bewilderment, she, seemingly realizing that I had noticed her, flinched and jumped off the roof, disappearing into the crowd in an instant.
Whoosh...
Because she leaped into a place full of people, the relatively deeply felt presence grew faint. The aura mixed among countless people scattered my senses. Seeing that, there was only one thing I could do.
"Showing up only to be a pain."
THUD.
"Ack! What the—!"
"Urk...!"
In that instant, the energy released from my body caused those nearby to flinch in surprise and stagger. She had used that thinking it was her own method. She should know my personality well, so that was a mistake. Though in the filled crowd, she might have intended to make it impossible to find her with a mere glance, unlike last time when I had incompetently let her slip away. By whatever means necessary. This time, I had no intention of doing so.
Even if. I might have seen an illusion just now. Or, she might be doing that because she dislikes meeting me. Regardless of such things. If the you I met just now is real. Unfortunately, I had no intention of letting you go.