The first place we arrived at after leaving with Moyong Huia was a downtown area not far away.
I had wondered what on earth she had dragged me out to do, but in truth, it was nothing particularly special.
"Our revenue has dropped a bit."
At her light remark, the man in front of her wiped away cold sweat as he spoke.
"Th-that is... a new shop opened nearby, so because of that..."
Rustle.
Moyong Huia did not look at the man, only examining a densely written letter.
"Are you saying it's because of a competitor, Innkeeper Jan?"
"That's correct. Perhaps because it is an inn directly operated by the Alliance, it seems guests have been drifting away toward that side."
"Hmm."
Despite the man's explanation, Moyong Huia still only examined the letter.
"That could be. There is indeed information that several guests who once frequented our inn are now using the Myeonghwa Inn."
Myeonghwa Inn was the name of an inn currently operated directly by the Martial Arts Alliance in Hanam.
"Thus, although revenue has fallen, I have no intention of blaming you, Innkeeper, however..."
Rustle.
Right after Moyong Huia finished reading to the last page of the letter.
Only then did she look at the man, and her gaze appeared particularly cold.
"There is something a bit strange?"
"...!"
At Moyong Huia's words, the man flinched.
The cold sweat trickling behind his thick neck folds was plain to see.
"I understand that fewer guests mean lower revenue... but compared to that, the number of drinks sold has increased, and quite a few premium liquors were sold in particular? Is there a reason for this?"
At Moyong Huia's question, the man swallowed dryly and immediately spoke.
"Hahaha, it's because many high-spending patrons have been visiting the inn lately."
"High-spending patrons? What information do you have on them?"
"Here it is."
Without a moment's hesitation, the man took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to Moyong Huia.
Moyong Huia immediately unfolded it, and several names were written there.
"Merchant Guild Leader Mihyeon... Pavilion Master Guhyeon..."
They were not leaders of famous organizations, but people one might have heard of somewhere recently.
So-called.
'They're nouveau riche.'
They were the ones who had seized the gap to export weapons and armor when the Red Demons broke out.
As the era of peace shattered, nothing grew more important than weaponry, so those who prepared early were able to reap great profits.
"I don't know what wind has been blowing lately, but such precious people visit often. Thanks to that, revenue hasn't fallen too much..."
"Hmm... I see."
Listening to the man's words, Moyong Huia nodded slightly.
Perhaps thinking he had gotten away with it, a small sense of relief flashed across the man's expression.
"Regarding the fallen revenue... I will do my best going forward to somehow recover—"
"No, it's fine."
Moyong Huia cut off the man's words with a smile.
Did she notice something? The man's eyes wavered slightly.
"It's difficult to see the revenue drop as solely the innkeeper's fault. There is no need to exert yourself needlessly over it. Just continue operating exactly as you have been."
"B-Branch Leader..."
At Moyong Huia's words, emotion momentarily welled up in the man's eyes.
It was an unexpectedly warm remark.
"Ah, I will do my utmost and operate diligently going forward...!"
"Yes, please do."
To the innkeeper's earnest reply, Moyong Huia answered with a smile.
She neatly folded the letter in her hand, tucked it into her bosom, and stepped outside the inn.
As I watched Moyong Huia's retreating figure, I wondered.
Could it be that she hadn't noticed the oddities?
There had been a time when I thought so, but...
'...This is already the third time.'
Recalling what she had done before, such worries had long since vanished.
Look at her even now.
Moyong Huia's expression, which had been smiling until just moments ago, was coldly rigid, and with elegant movements she handed the letter to the person beside her.
And then.
"Get rid of it."
She added in a spine-chilling voice.
Was she telling him to get rid of the letter, or to get rid of that man called Innkeeper Jan?
I didn't harbor the question. I already knew the answer.
"I had heard he was a fairly clever man, but to think he'd embezzle so stupidly."
It was an expression as if she had recalled a bug.
The feeling of contempt was all too clear.
"After writing the ledgers like this, did he think I wouldn't notice if he pulled tricks with the liquor?"
He was utterly insignificant.
Such sentiment was evident in Moyong Huia's voice.
"Report Innkeeper Jan to headquarters and get rid of him. Please keep those written here under close watch as well."
"Understood."
The man who heard this carefully received the letter.
"I will draw up a list of new innkeepers within two days."
"Please do. Ah, and Merchant Guild Leader Mihyeon in particular has several weaknesses we've caught, so..."
Swift and decisive.
It was the moment when the owner of a fairly famous inn in Hanam changed with just a few words.
"I will report to the Chief separately, so please just handle the matters I asked."
"I shall take it to heart."
As if the conversation had ended, the figure who received the letter slowly concealed his presence.
"Hoo."
Soon Moyong Huia exhaled deeply and flicked her fan lightly.
Seeing that, I asked.
"Done?"
At my question, Moyong Huia looked my way.
Her captivating, cat-like eyes came into view.
The lightly applied powder made her atmosphere even more radiant.
I could feel the gazes of those around us.
It was still like this even though she was concealing it with a subtle aura.
'Bihyeonhwa feels insignificant.'
If one considered only seductiveness, Bihyeonhwa and Moyong Huia might feel similar, but a clear difference could be felt in terms of quality.
If Bihyeonhwa was making an effort to appear more alluring by playing up her looks.
Moyong Huia had an atmosphere that came from her very existence.
Noble dignity emanated from her.
Perhaps like the feeling of looking at a well-crafted jewel.
When I found myself staring intently at Moyong Huia, she answered my question.
"Half is done."
"Half?"
"Only half so far...?"
"Yes."
We had been going around since early morning, and now it was noon.
So much time had passed, and she said only half was done...?
When I made a blank expression, Moyong Huia burst out laughing as she looked at me.
"Young Master, do you know your expression right now is very funny?"
"... Only half? We haven't even eaten, and lunch has already passed?"
"Did you think work would end quickly?"
"I thought we would at least eat."
"There is food everywhere."
At my indirect mention of lunch, Moyong Huia stepped forward first.
Wondering what she was doing, I watched as she headed toward one of the street stalls spread out ahead.
It looked like they were selling skewers.
"Could you give me two?"
"Ah... y-yes!"
The owner seemed startled by Moyong Huia's sudden approach and hesitated.
It seemed he never imagined that woman would come to his shop.
...Well.
'I would be surprised too.'
If I hadn't known who Moyong Huia was, I might have looked on with surprised eyes as well.
One could tell at a glance that Moyong Huia was born of a prestigious house.
Moreover, a woman overflowing with such dignity declaring she would buy skewers at a street stall—those stealing glances were also somewhat taken aback.
"H-here you are..."
"Thank you."
She received the two skewers handed over with trembling hands and gave one to me.
Watching this, I asked.
"...This is lunch?"
"Why? It's delicious. Do you dislike this sort of thing, Young Master?"
There were indeed some cases where those born to prestigious families disliked such street food.
If they were concerned about hygiene, one could understand. But most were merely putting on airs.
When I was young, I would have put on such airs too.
"Who doesn't know good food? I'm asking if this fills your stomach."
I had been through all sorts of things.
The luxury to put on airs over such things had long since disappeared.
I took it and bit into it.
Seeing me eat, Moyong Huia also took a bite.
"It's delicious."
"Right. I'll need to eat a couple more."
It wasn't a proper meal, but so what. If it fills your stomach, that's food.
I nodded, thinking that eating anything would suffice.
"Yes. Ah, by the way Young Master, I didn't bring any money."
"...Huh?"
"Buy it for me."
I had to let out a hollow laugh at her confident tone.
"What if I didn't have any either?"
"Who knows. I didn't think that far."
Fortunately, I did have money on hand.
True to my words, after eating several more, we paid and moved on.
We ate a few more things while moving. Watching Moyong Huia eat, a thought naturally came to me.
"You eat more than I'd have thought?"
"Do I?"
Moyong Huia was eating far better than expected.
Not as much as Wi Seola, of course, but she was swallowing down this and that quite well.
"It's delicious. It's especially so since it's been a while since I've eaten something like this."
"How long has it been?"
"Who knows...? I think about half a year."
"Why hold back so much? If you like it, just eat it."
Half a year—that's a long time to endure.
"It's not a particularly grand reason. I just tend to hold back when it comes to things I like."
"Why?"
"If I try to have and eat everything I want, I might get tired of it quickly. I don't like that."
There was something subtly meaningful in her words as she looked at me.
"So I hold back. Because it's a precious feeling, I have to cherish it."
Did she mean she saved delicious food to savor it?
I figured I could more or less understand it that way.
"What about you, Young Master?"
"What about me?"
"Why are you so obsessed with meals?"
"...Huh?"
It was an unexpected question.
"When I haven't eaten, you worry about it particularly."
"Did I do that?"
"Yes. You did it very often. You're always asking whether I've eaten or not."
"Hm."
Come to think of it, I suppose I had.
"You could just eat anything and get by. Why do you do that?"
Moyong Huia spat out words as if she couldn't understand.
My gaze as I looked at her held a hint of emptiness.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's nothing."
It couldn't be helped.
Because I never expected to hear such words from none other than Moyong Huia.
If I had come to value meals so dearly, then surely...
'It would be because of you.'
Moyong Huia stood before me.
Because to be exact, it would be due to Seolbong (Snow Phoenix).