EP.75 In the gap of snowy summer. (1)
In the gap of snowy summer (1)
When I entered the cabin, Geom-hu seemed to be asleep and was only breathing.
After seeing that, I carefully sat down in the empty seat.
Shin-ui rummaged through the drawers, took out some medicine and bandages, and began preparing.
A wound of this magnitude would heal quickly if it was a warrior with a strong stomach.
“You’re not thinking like that, are you?”
“… Oh, no.”
You are quick-witted too… .
“Just because you’re unmanned doesn’t mean you can survive even if your head is cut off and your heart is ripped out.”
As the god speaks, he applies ointment to the back of my hand.
I felt a tingling sensation for a moment, but it quickly got better after wrapping the bandage around it a few times.
“I think you would know better.”
“…yes?”
“What happened outside?”
“…!”
I was speechless at the sudden question from God.
Did he ask because he knew something? Shin-ui’s expression was serious enough to make it seem impossible.
How did you notice? I was careful not to get any blood on you.
I thought about just pretending not to know and ignoring it, but since I was going to tell Maehwaseon anyway, Shinui would quickly find out too, so it wasn’t something I could hide.
Finally, he spoke with a sly smile.
“There was something going on. I saw some guys targeting the cabin.”
“… Did you use a water gun?”
“Yes, when I saw them, they seemed like Safaines.”
“…”
The expression on Shin’s face as he looked at me changed to compassionate without me knowing.
Why are you making that face?
Is it because my appearance looks difficult?
‘I was actually young though.’
“Is this your first time?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Is this the first time you’ve killed someone?”
I remained silent, not knowing what to say in response to the words of the god.
I wondered why God looked at me like that, and it was for this reason.
My hands were still shaking slightly as the afterglow hadn’t subsided yet, and the expression on Shin’s face as he watched was unusual.
There was only one thing I could say when I saw it.
“it’s okay.”
Maybe it was because my body was shocked, but strangely enough, I didn’t calm down, but I didn’t think much of it.
Does he think this is his fault?
He was a more affectionate old man than I thought.
So maybe that’s why I chose to be a member of parliament.
“It was something I had to experience at some point.”
Even if God were a life-giving and responsible member of parliament, he would not tell us to value all life.
It was a story that was especially meaningless to the unmanned.
So, the god must just be making a bitter expression.
“There was a group of people loitering around the hut. Go back and tell Maehwaseon and she will take action.”
“thanks.”
I looked surprised at Shin’s thanks. I had a feeling he would never say something like that.
The god frowns as if he read it in my expression.
“What’s with that rotten expression on your face, you punk? Do I look like someone who wouldn’t even say thank you?”
“… No, that wasn’t it.”
“No, you don’t. Don’t even think about lying to yourself. How can you have so many scars on your face?”
‘… Is it that obvious?’
[I’m just telling you the answer with my face, so just stay still.]
‘…hmm.’
Is it really that much? I think I’ve been doing a good job of not letting it show.
It seemed like the treatment was over, so I said thank you and tried to get up.
“…Do physical training in moderation, and eat mostly vegetables if possible.”
I stopped in my tracks at Shin-ui’s sudden words.
I looked up to see what he was talking about, and Shin-ui was coughing repeatedly and urging me to get out.
Finally, I stood there blankly for a moment in front of the hut where I was half-chased out, and then Shin Noya spoke.
[It seems like you’re saying that because of the energy in your body.]
“ah.”
You said you weren’t going to do anything, but did you want to let me know a little bit?
As expected, he seemed to be a more affectionate person than expected.
[While we’re on the subject, what are you going to do about the energy in your body?]
‘What can I do? I have to live while praying that it doesn’t explode.’
[Didn’t you say there was a secret method last time?]
Shin Noya bit his drying lips at her words.
There are some parts that are expected, but I am still thinking about it.
I didn’t feel like I had much time left, so I had to make a choice quickly.
“hey.”
As I came out and stood there blankly, Gu Ryeong-hwa spoke to me.
“Are you finished with the treatment?”
“…as you can see.”
Gu Ryeong-hwa was holding a kitchen knife and carving something.
What is that… Is it a potato? It was so torn apart that it was hard to even see its shape, so I was wondering if I should bother picking it up and biting into it.
In the meantime, Gu Ryeong-hwa had an expression on her face as if she was concentrating on cutting that one thing.
After slicing potatoes like that for a while, he suddenly spoke to me.
“…Is…it…okay?”
He tilted his head in response to Gu Ryeong-hwa’s question.
I could see his gaze secretly directed at the back of my hand.
“Are you worried?”
Gu-ryeong-hwa shouts angrily, as if she doesn’t like what I’m saying.
“Who cares! When the treatment is over, just disappear from my sight quickly.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll go anyway.”
“You said you weren’t worried…!”
It was so loud that I just ignored it.
The chirping of the owl naturally escaped my ears and I immediately started walking back to the volcano.
*****************
After returning straight to the volcano, I went back to Maehwaseon and explained the whole situation.
I thought he was just going to deliver a brief letter, but when he suddenly heard that he had killed someone, Maehwaseon’s face hardened slightly.
“I’m sorry.”
The first thing Maehwaseon said with a stern expression was an apology.
I said I was okay.
Fortunately, it seemed like he didn’t say anything about overdoing it.
If I had to be specific, I would just check it again later to confirm.
The conversation ended with sending a messenger to check the situation and take care of things, but Maehwaseon’s expression did not lighten easily.
“… I guess I’ll have to search a little more thoroughly.”
It’s one thing to come so close to being killed, but it’s another to escape without catching even one person.
The fact that Shinui is looking after Geomhu is known only to a very small number of people, including the head of the sect.
Since I, an outsider, found out during the process, it wouldn’t be strange for me to be the most suspicious person if an incident occurred, but Maehwaseon didn’t seem to think that way.
Moreover, there is currently an incident where one by one, members of the Hwasan faction have gone missing.
‘Could that also be the work of the Black Night Palace?’
I didn’t know the details, but I had a feeling that might be the case.
I wanted to know what they were doing at this time and why they could have such a magical aura on their bodies.
There wasn’t much of a way to find out right away.
There were many restrictions on moving the body directly.
“Hey kid.”
“yes.”
I answered the plum blossom’s call.
As if she had finally finished organizing her thoughts, Maehwaseon returned with a relaxed expression.
Even though it may be a bad situation, I can still pull myself together like this… .
I felt great about this part.
“You’ve worked hard… If I hold on to you any longer, you’ll get tired, so I’ll find something I can give you later.”
“Is there anything you can do?”
“Since an outsider is involved in the volcano’s problems, shouldn’t he take responsibility?”
If you look at it that way, you might say it’s my fault for turning around and subduing them and burning them down, but I kept my mouth shut when they offered me anything.
‘If they offer it to me, I can’t refuse.’
With that thought in mind, I greeted Maehwaseon and left the place.
There was no problem since I was told that the remaining matter would be handled at the volcano.
Above all, I thought it was fortunate that the only damage I suffered was a scratch on the back of my hand.
[What a watery world this is.]
To some extent, I could understand what Shin Noya was saying.
To be exact, it may only be the volcanoes, but it is true that the world today is more peaceful than the place I experienced later.
‘Even that isn’t much left.’
A few years at best.
It was only a few years until that damn time came.
When I came back after finishing an errand, it was a little past lunchtime.
When I entered the room, the maids were busy with housework.
‘Where is Wi Seol-ah?’
Now I find myself looking for Weeseol-ah out of habit. Was it as I had predicted in the morning?
Wi Seol-ah was diligently doing housework among the servants.
In the gap, I saw him smiling brightly and waving as if he had found me.
I also waved my hand appropriately.
I thought that since Wi Seol-ah was here, there might be a sword master there too, but I couldn’t see him.
There’s no way Wi Seol-ah would have come alone.
It didn’t make sense for me to worry about the swordsmanship on my subject, so I went into my room, thinking that something would happen.
I thought Namgungbia was still sleeping, but the room was completely empty.
“Where did he go again?”
The bedding was also neatly folded, so it looked like it had been out for a while… .
Where does he go in the volcano?
As I was wandering around, a servant passing by spoke to me.
“Lady Namgung went up the mountain behind.”
“The back mountain? What is he doing there?”
“… I saw him carrying a wooden sword. I think he may have gone to train.”
“… Ah, I see. Thank you.”
“yes yes!”
The attendant flinched at my thanks.
I thought things had gotten a little better recently, but am I still awkward?
[If the servant trembles at the word ‘thank you’… how much of a dog must he have been?]
‘… Hmm, I guess it was a bit harsh.’
I have been trying to reflect consistently.
Fortunately, it happened a little early on and there wasn’t a bigger accident.
‘Well, if only it had been a year or two late…’
So what happened then?
…I didn’t really want to imagine it.
After seeing Wi Seol-ah diligently hanging up her laundry, Namgung Bi-a headed towards the mountain behind the house.
Rather than saying there was some purpose, I was just curious as to why that mess had to go up there.
Climbing a high mountain that looked like it would make me vomit, I felt a little uncomfortable writing a bet, perhaps because of the battle that had occurred in the morning.
Phew-!
As I started climbing the tree, I felt a tingling sensation all over my body.
Namgung Bi-a, who has a somewhat weak presence aside from her appearance, has a time in her past life when she exudes a particularly distinct personality.
-Whew! Whoosh!
Namgungbia is a completely different person when he holds a sword.
The usual fierce gaze disappeared, and only a single famous sword was left standing there.
Finding Namgungbia wasn’t that difficult.
They found a small open space, and in the center of it, Namgungbia was swinging his sword.
It seemed like I wasn’t the only one who had come to see them, as I saw other literati from the surrounding Hwasan faction.
There are surprisingly a lot of them…?
‘Are you watching?’
There were quite a few people gathered around, probably watching Namgungbia’s movements.
Meanwhile, Namgungbia was practicing as if nothing had happened, even though so many people were watching.
A tingling sensation that weighs on the surroundings.
Namgungbia, holding a sword, creates an atmosphere as if he is walking on an awl.
The secret of the Namgung family that was briefly seen during their first meeting after the return.
Emperor’s sword shape.
Namgungbia displayed flexible movements that could not even be compared to those of her younger sister.
The imperial aura flowing with flexible movements is pressing down on the surroundings.
[… That’s amazing.]
It is Shin Noya’s exclamation of admiration similar to the one he gave when he saw Yeongpung.
To be honest, in my eyes, Namgungbia’s level seemed higher than Yeongpung’s.
Unlike the Namgung Se-ga sword, which contains the qualities of speed and sharpness.
Namgungbia’s movements were flexible and beautiful.
If I had to describe it, it would seem to be close to sword dance.
Because I know the realization she felt at the end of that sword, and the sword path she was able to obtain as a result.
The flapping of wings to reach the result seemed more arduous.
I honestly couldn’t believe that Namgungbia could maintain the Emperor’s Sword form with such movements.
I was once again reminded of the talent that Namgungbia possessed.
Of course, Youngpoong, Namgungbia, and most of the later indexes who are now called geniuses are like that.
They were already shining on their own.
‘It’s different from me back then.’
[The present era is no different from Yongso.]
Shin Noya nodded in agreement with his sentiments.
Although it was her sword that I had seen for so long and so many times, there was a different atmosphere at the tip of the sword that Namgungbia was wielding now.
There was no cruelty that the Demon Sword Master had harbored, and instead, there was a hidden purity and beauty.
‘…It’s beautiful.’
There was nothing else I could say.
Literally, she was beautiful with her sword.
Break-
Namgungbia swung his sword ceaselessly, then stopped swinging it with a very faint noise.
-ah….
Sighs escaped the lips of those watching.
I guess that means it was perfect to that extent.
Namgungbia’s gaze turned towards the direction of the noise.
I was there.
‘… Crazy, I’m stepping on this.’
I said I was being careful, but I must have stepped on a tree branch without realizing it.
Amidst the blurred reproaches in the eyes of the onlookers, Namgungbia was only looking at me.
Perhaps because of the continued vigorous movement, beads of sweat are forming on his forehead.
She doesn’t seem to care, just wiping the sweat dripping down her chin with her sleeve.
“…uh?”
Namgungbia, who had been keeping eye contact with him, suddenly grew wide-eyed as if surprised by something.
Then he throws down his wooden sword and runs towards me.
Namgungbia grabbed the hem of my clothes with both hands and pulled me close, then brought her face close to me and sniffed my scent.
“… What the! Why is this happening!?”
I was flustered and tried to push her away, but Namgungbia was persistent.
There was a sense of confusion and despair on his face?
‘Why do you look so anxious?’
Namgungbia, who had been writhing in my arms with trembling eyes, calmed down a bit and slightly distanced herself from me.
Then suddenly, as if his legs gave out, he collapsed to the ground.
“What the hell are you doing? Are you sick or something?”
“thank god….”
After sniffing for a while, his expression relaxed as if he was relieved.
Is it an illusion that the cold sweat flowing now seems to be more than the sweat shed while swinging the sword?
It seemed to be dripping so much that I wiped it off with my clothes.
Then Namgungbia grabbed my hand with her trembling hands.
He carefully pulls the wrist he’s holding and brings the tip of his nose to it.
I wondered why it was like this.
“Do I stink?”
Do you smell like sweat? Something happened earlier, but I didn’t move that violently.
Namgungbia quickly shook her head at my question.
“… There’s no smell.”
There was a strange sense of relief in Namgungbia’s words.
After a while, Namgungbia staggered and got up.
I think I thought about this hundreds of times, wondering what to do, whether to pull my hand away or what to say.
But in the end, it seemed like something serious, so I decided to leave it alone for now.
[If you had chosen another option there, you would not be human.]
“Are you done with your training?”
“…huh.”
“Is it okay if I don’t do more? It seems like there’s still a lot of time.”
“… Now that I’m here, I don’t want to do it anymore.”
Does that mean you won’t do it anymore because I’m here?
I wondered if it was really necessary, but if I tried to understand Namgungbia’s thoughts, I would only be at a loss.
Namgungbia quietly turned around and approached me, picking up a wooden sword.
“Your hand… is hurt?”
“I just brushed past you.”
I felt like everyone who saw me was asking me this question.
Namgungbia, who was watching it closely, spoke in a voice that seemed to express regret.
“… I was going to do it.”
“…”
… I suddenly felt fortunate that I had been injured.
