Chapter 486 - What to Split
At Sin Noya’s call, the buzzing vibration in Goeseon’s grip grew stronger.
Perhaps because it was an unexpected situation, Goeseon’s expression in particular was something to behold.
[Sincheol.]
An icy voice reached my ears.
So this was Namgung Myeong’s voice.
‘Damn.’
If I had to describe my impression, it felt as though he could kill a person with his voice alone.
With such manner of speech and voice, to think he possessed the same appearance as Goeseon.
‘The ladies must have dropped dead instantly.’
Putting aside that frost-like voice. With those looks, it was basically game over.
“Hm.”
Perhaps because it was an unexpected situation, Goeseon tilted his head for a moment.
“It seems you can hear it too.”
I asked.
Was it a question of whether Namgung Myeong’s voice could be heard?
If so.
‘It means Goeseon can hear it too.’
I stole a glance.
I looked at Uhyeok beside me, but he was furrowing his brows, seemingly unable to hear anything.
“Master, what do you mean by hearing something….”
“Disciple.”
“Yes.”
Looking at the bewildered Uhyeok, Goeseon spoke.
“Step aside for a moment. I have words to share with your friend.”
At Goeseon’s words, Uhyeok’s eyes widened slightly, then he looked back and forth between me and Goeseon.
He had an expression that showed he couldn’t understand the situation.
But.
“Understood.”
Uhyeok didn’t say anything further and simply rose to his feet.
Though he could have asked why, I suppose his master’s words carried more weight.
Uhyeok, looking slightly disappointed, lightly leaped and disappeared into the distance.
I was left alone with Goeseon and had to meet his eyes.
Just as an extremely awkward feeling washed over me.
“It’s a first for me, so it’s fascinating, but….”
Goeseon was the first to speak.
“What’s going on?”
Buzz—!
The Naea was still emitting vibrations.
I had to turn my thoughts over for a moment at Goeseon’s words.
‘What should I do?’
What should I say?
It was a rather ambiguous situation.
I had expected for a while now that Namgung Myeong was inside the Naea.
When I went to the Namgung Clan regarding the engagement last time, I heard a voice presumed to be Namgung Myeong’s.
Because I heard there to look for the Naea.
‘That was also words left for Sin Noya.’
Since I already knew their traces remained in ghost items and Bigo.
It wasn’t difficult to guess that a remnant will of Namgung Myeong would be in the Naea as well.
‘Even so…’
The feeling was somehow different. Namgung Myeong felt different from the remnant wills of the past I had met until now.
Thinking that, I cautiously asked.
“…Are you, by any chance, Senior Namgung Myeong?”
“Huh?”
Goeseon was the first to react to my words. He seemed to not have expected Namgung Myeong’s name to come out of my mouth.
“How could you….”
Just as Goeseon furrowed his brow to speak.
[Since you did not appear until so late.]
Namgung Myeong’s voice was heard.
[I thought there might be a problem, fitting for an inadequate one like you. But you look terrible.]
[Myeong-a, I don’t think that’s something you should say.]
Unlike Sin Noya’s voice full of mirth, Namgung Myeong was still ice-cold.
Was he always like that?
[Why did you end up like that, Sincheol.]
[There were quite a few circumstances here.]
[And who is that bastard?]
Does “that bastard” refer to me?
[This fellow is something like a successor of mine.]
I inwardly clicked my tongue at Sin Noya’s answer. What’s with “something like.”
Namgung Myeong seemed to have the same doubt about Noya’s words, and asked him.
[You took someone who isn’t even a swordsman as your successor? Sincheol. Have you truly gone mad?]
[He’s not my disciple; I merely passed my will on to him.]
[What a novel piece of nonsense. Have you truly lost your mind?]
While Namgung Myeong’s sharp words continued, Goeseon had the strangest expression.
“Old man, just who are you talking to?”
‘…!’
At Goeseon’s words, I concealed my surprise inwardly.
It seemed Goeseon couldn’t hear Sin Noya’s voice.
‘Then, does that mean Goeseon can only hear Namgung Myeong’s voice?’
Unlike me, who could clearly hear both Namgung Myeong’s and Sin Noya’s distinctly different voices, it seemed Goeseon could only hear one side.
It was somewhat useful information, and hiding my reaction, this time I spoke to Namgung Myeong.
“When I went to the Namgung Clan, I heard your voice there, Senior.”
[What?]
Namgung Myeong reacted upon hearing my words.
I felt like he knew what my words meant.
“Search for the Naea. I’m certain that’s what you said.”
[…]
Strictly speaking, those were words left for Sin Noya, not me, but since I came with Noya anyway, it didn’t matter.
I had too many matters at hand to fuss over such details one by one.
[Isn’t it simply because you’re too lazy to care?]
‘Please stay quiet for a moment….’
He’s picking a fight even at a time like this.
“So….”
[I don’t remember.]
“…Pardon?”
Just as I was about to begin talking, saying I had come after hearing his words.
Namgung Myeong cut me off abruptly.
He says he doesn’t remember…?
“Senior?”
[I have no such memory. There is nothing to say on this matter either, so return now.]
It was an unexpected development.
I had naturally thought Namgung Myeong would explain the situation if I brought this up.
But telling me to go back, saying he can’t remember?
‘What the hell…’
This shitty situation.
If this happens, how am I supposed to give the Naea to Namgung Bia?
When my mind was going slightly blank at the incomprehensible situation.
Goeseon spoke with a displeased expression.
“Old man, shouldn’t you tell me what’s going on? I can’t understand….”
[Send him back.]
“What?”
[I told you to send him back.]
“What kind of dog-shit nonsense is that all of a sudden?”
[If he will not leave, use force if you must to send him back.]
“Ha, has your crazy fit flared up again? Didn’t I always say? Whether you explain properly or not….”
Click.
The Naea, which had been vibrating intensely, stopped trembling with those final words.
Goeseon’s face, confirming this, contorted instantly.
“Damn it. You rotten old man, why don’t you ever change your terrible personality, only getting filthier? What are ghosts doing not dragging away an old man with such a dirty temper?”
[Myeong’s descendant speaks so refreshingly. I like it very much.]
“…”
Seeing Noya guffawing at Goeseon’s words, I let out a sigh.
‘Is now really the time to laugh?’
[Then, it is not a time to cry either.]
‘No, but we need to talk. Isn’t this a bad situation?’
Why Namgung Myeong was left in the Naea, why such a remnant will was left in the Namgung Clan.
Isn’t this a situation where we need to ask such things?
Noya, hearing my words, let out an empty laugh as if dumbfounded.
[No, since when was conversation important to a brat who came to snatch the Naea and give it to his girl?]
“…”
Ahem.
Since it was true, I couldn’t bring myself to refute it.
‘…You said you’d help.’
[Did I not help? I called him, but he refuses to talk; what can be done?]
What the hell.
Why is this old man so relaxed?
Something was strange. Sin Noya was absolutely not the kind of person to act this way in such a situation.
‘Noya.’
[Hm?]
‘…It seems you have something in mind?’
[Hehe.]
If that wasn’t the case, Noya’s attitude made no sense.
No matter how much of a filthy-tempered, un-Tao-like human this old man was.
‘I have to acknowledge his abilities if nothing else.’
The more I learned, the more Sin Noya’s achievements never ended.
Stories far too great for a single human to achieve in one lifetime.
Yet on Sin Noya, they rested as if it were nothing.
[You’re sharp as always.]
‘…’
[Today, it was enough just to confirm. Let’s return as Myeong says. Staying longer will only rub that fellow’s temper the wrong way.]
‘But…’
[This is something you must understand.]
A faint solemnity filled Noya’s voice, which had been full of laughter.
[Because it is something even I might have done.]
‘…What do you mean?’
[Since I am not certain, I will tell you later. For now, let us return as Myeong says.]
‘…’
[I have much to tell you as it is.]
Just as Dangjemun said last time.
Was it that there was much to say to Sin Noya, so listen?
‘This feels unsettling.’
I was quite unnerved by the feeling that something was twisted, but
there didn’t seem to be any other way.
‘He tells me to go. What on earth?’
Though Namgung Myeong’s attitude and feeling were incomprehensible, if he had no intention of talking itself, was it inevitable?
“Hm.”
Goeseon, likewise, looked at me with constant questions written on his face.
Judging by the fact that he didn’t ask, he seemed intent on following Namgung Myeong’s words.
In other words.
‘If I don’t go, he might send me back by force.’
I wanted to avoid such an unpleasant situation unfolding from our very first meeting.
Especially since I was in a position where I would eventually have to take… no, receive the Naea through transfer.
[…Is the option of not taking it not in your head?]
‘I can’t give that up.’
I had even seen the Demonic Sword Empress who once held the Naea recently.
Since I knew how vast a difference it would make for Namgung Bia whether she had it or not.
I could never give up on the Naea.
‘I need to hand them out one by one now.’
In my heart, I wanted to handle everything alone.
But I knew I wasn’t at that level.
At least, I wanted to prepare them so they could protect themselves.
‘Not just Namgung Bia.’
I needed to find what I had in mind for Wiseola soon too.
I had also been thinking of giving something to Moyong Huia and Dangsoyeol.
[You look like you wouldn’t do such things, yet you’re trying to take care of them so meticulously.]
‘What do you mean I look like I wouldn’t? What kind of talk is that?’
Does he think he looks tender and affectionate?
With that angry wildcat face of his.
[What, you little…?]
“…I’m sorry for suddenly visiting when you must be busy.”
Regardless of what reaction Noya showed, I ignored him and gave my respects to Goeseon.
“It seems now is not the right time after all, so I shall take my leave.”
“…Mm… I see.”
“I will visit again within the near future.”
I had roughly made my mark.
Since I had no intention of giving up, I intended to come again.
Moreover, perhaps because Goeseon had a curious gaze regarding this conversation.
He didn’t say anything at my words that I would come again.
Holding regret, I turned my body as is.
And leaped away through the forest.
Though Goeseon’s gaze, still felt even then, bothered me slightly, I flew without turning my head.
‘As for the dormant dragon, well. He’ll come on his own.’
That guy was worse with directions than I thought, which bothered me, but
I figured he would come somehow.
It had been a while since he met his master, so he would have things to talk about.
That’s what I thought, but I didn’t know at the time.
…That Uhyeok, not knowing the way back, would take two days to cover a distance that should take one hour.
******************
I returned straight to Dangmun, and it was the next day.
Perhaps because of the previous day’s meeting with Goeseon, I didn’t sleep well.
It felt like I had dreamed of something, but I couldn’t quite remember it.
A morning with a considerably unsettling atmosphere.
I had come to the annex and was waiting for a meal.
It was a situation where not only me but most of the guests visiting Dangmun were gathered.
Paejon and Amwang were nowhere to be seen.
Excluding those two… Ah, that Uhyeok isn’t here either.
Anyway, excluding them, I suppose I should say everyone was gathered.
“Young master, did you sleep well?”
While sitting and waiting for food, someone approached me and spoke.
It was Dangsoyeol.
Seeing her, I made a strange expression.
“Why are you here?”
“Huh?”
“You don’t normally eat here, do you?”
As a direct bloodline descendant of Dangmun, Dangsoyeol was in a position where she didn’t have to eat here for no reason.
Ah, of course, as a guest, they would bring food to my quarters too.
But eating together had become a habit, so I ended up coming here.
“…Eyy. The young master is here, so it’s nice to eat together.”
Perhaps my words hurt her feelings slightly; Dangsoyeol pouted.
From that face, I unknowingly had to think of someone.
‘Does she resemble her?’
Dangjemun, whom I had met in Bigo.
Because I felt an impression that she and Dangsoyeol were somewhat similar.
Was that thought the problem?
[Similar, you say? They feel completely different.]
Sin Noya suddenly spoke up as if flaring up.
‘Why are you suddenly angry? This is absurd.’
I just said they looked a bit similar, and he’s making a big deal of it.
They’re of the same bloodline, so they could resemble each other.
‘Namgung Myeong and Goeseon look exactly the same, after all.’
So why can’t Dangjemun and Dangsoyeol look alike?
Thinking so, I looked at Dangsoyeol more deeply.
‘If her hair… grew longer from here, she might look a bit similar.’
If Dangsoyeol, who had short hair, grew it out more.
If she had long hair and her body grew a bit bigger, they would certainly look alike.
Of course.
‘Her body won’t grow much bigger though…’
Not about the upper body, but thinking that Dangsoyeol wasn’t very big even in her previous life.
Probably not much different from now.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Rather, her impression changing might be more uncomfortable for me.
“Young master?”
“Ah, sorry.”
Perhaps because I had been staring intently, Dangsoyeol asked as if wondering why.
I looked too much. A mistake.
When I made an embarrassed expression, Dangsoyeol waved her hands.
“It’s fine. You can look more if you’d like.”
“…What are you talking about.”
“Heehee.”
As if making a joke, Dangsoyeol laughed emptily.
“Ah right. Young master.”
“Hm?”
“What will you do after the meal?”
“After eating?”
After finishing the meal, I first planned to go out to Hyeon.
I would find the Sacheon branch of the Baekhwasangdan, which should be somewhere.
‘I need to leave some things there to be handled.’
By things to leave, it meant the items clattering in my chest.
‘…Thankfully, I got them this time.’
The very items that made me smile unconsciously just thinking about them—the Yamyeongju brought from Bigo.
I hadn’t been able to bring these items from the Golden Sky Pavilion’s Bigo before, but this time I had properly brought them.
To sell these at proper value comfortably, finding the Baekhwasangdan was the fastest way.
Because it would be simple if I dropped Lady Mi’s name.
‘If I wanted to squeeze out more, going elsewhere would be easier, but that’s a bit annoying.’
Going to an ordinary merchant guild and getting more than the proper value wasn’t a difficult task for me.
But doing that much was annoying.
‘…I also feel a bit sorry using Lady Mi’s name.’
I recalled making the excuse that I had obtained the Dokcheondan from the Baekhwasangdan to Dokwang.
After thinking that far, I gave my answer to Dangsoyeol.
“After this. I think I’ll probably go to Hyeon.”
“Hyeon? Really!?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Young master. May I go with you?”
“Hm? Sure.”
What’s so difficult about that?
When I nodded lightly, Dangsoyeol smiled broadly.
Was it something to be that happy about? I was glad she was happy, though.
“Then get ready. Wait with the others.”
“Yes! I’ll get ready and wait… did you say others?”
“Hm?”
Dangsoyeol asked back as if asking what I mean.
“It wasn’t… just me going?”
“Hm? No. Everyone said they were going, so I said we should go together. This works out well. You come too.”
“…Yes.”
Namgung Bia and Wiseola, and Moyong Huia too, had said they would go.
When I mentioned the party, a slight shadow fell across Dangsoyeol’s face, which had been smiling until just now.
The moment I was about to ask what was wrong, seeing that expression.
“The meal is ready.”
A servant delivered the message from outside.
The moment the words were spoken, the empty table was instantly filled with food.
Just like when I came to Sacheon in the past, Dangmun seemed particularly serious about food.
Though I did slightly dislike how spicy it was.
Right after all the food was brought out. As soon as the servants left, everyone began eating.
Dangsoyeol next to me, perhaps lacking appetite, began eating somewhat pickily.
Concerned by that appearance, I too picked up one of the dumplings in front with chopsticks.
‘It’s been a while.’
Proper food somehow felt like it had been a while, so I felt anew.
I lightly bit into the steaming dumpling.
Then.
Freeze.
I had to stop my movement for a moment at the sensation I felt the moment I ate it.
And then I smiled secretly.
“…Oh man, these brats sure are impatient.”
“Young master?”
At the curse spat like a whisper, Dangsoyeol reacted and looked at me.
Feeling Dangsoyeol’s gaze, I swallowed the dumpling as is.
Gulp.
Then, immediately, I felt something seeping into my body.
An indescribably murky, unclean sensation.
Feeling that, I steadied my breathing and then spoke with all my might.
“Oh. My. It’s. Poison!”
Then.
Thud—!
I collapsed forward onto the table.
As if I had lost consciousness.
“…”
When I collapsed while speaking, the surroundings instantly went completely quiet.
Feeling that silence, I thought inwardly.
‘…Why is there no reaction?’
I had expected them to make a fuss screaming.
But for some reason, it was quiet.
While I was reviewing internally, wondering if I had made a mistake.
[…Really, you brat.]
‘Huh?’
Noya told me the reason.
[You really shouldn’t act anywhere. I truly can’t bear to watch with my eyes open. Tsk tsk… How embarrassing.]
“…”
It was a comment that pierced my heart, but even so, I didn’t get up.
Precisely at times like this, I needed to be even more shameless.