410 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"A letter from Oppa?" Cheon So Hee stared at the piece of paper handed to her by her mentor, Dan Se Wol. "Is this letter really from your sweetheart? A love letter for Number 5! Yukiko, how envious!" In an exaggerated display of envy, Seol Ja reacted as soon as he grasped the situation. "A letter envelope?" The base at Salmak was not a place for private letters to be exchanged. The note Kang Yoon Ho had sent six months before was the most one could expect. Cheon So Hee murmured in a puzzled tone when she realized that what was handed to her was not just a note, but an envelope. "Normally, only notes are allowed, but this time, I pulled some strings. It's just one page, though." "…Give it to me." Seeing her mentor’s slightly apologetic expression, Cheon So Hee nodded and accepted the letter. [To my dear So Hee.] A letter from Kang Yoon Ho after six months—a heartfelt letter at that. Cheon So Hee's cheeks twitched without her realizing. "Look at Number 5's face! So hot, it feels like she could throw a pirate's fiery punch! Nin-nin!" "Aren't you going to read it right away?" Dan Se Wol asked his disciple, who was staring, lost in thought, at the characters written on the envelope. "Yukiko's also curious about the contents!" "Oppa is safe, right?" "You don't trust your mentor? I've already confirmed it." Reassured by her mentor's confident words, Cheon So Hee nodded and spoke. "Then I'll read it in my room." "What! Are you planning to read it alone, you meanie?" "You've been too loud for a while now." She was always a bothersome fellow, but today she was even noisier. Cheon So Hee frowned and said. "Nin-nin! Yukiko! Great injury!" "……." Cheon So Hee was speechless as she watched Seol Ja clutch her meager chest and collapse with an exaggerated expression. "If you want to read it alone, go ahead." "Yes. And." Cheon So Hee nodded at Dan Se Wol's words, then stared directly at her mentor. "Do you have something to say?" Whenever his disciple had something on her mind, she would gaze intently at him. Dan Se Wol knew from her demeanor alone what she intended. "Thank you." Cheon So Hee bowed deeply to express her gratitude to her mentor and then disappeared from the spot. "She wasn’t always like that…" She thought she had discerned her thoughts, but she hadn't expected a thank-you. Dan Se Wol wondered if she had imagined her presence, as her disciple vanished so quickly. She was a child unfeeling and indifferent to most things. Could it be because she trusted her after her secluded training? Or maybe because she had kept her cherished letter. Even so, a thank-you was unexpected. Dan Se Wol found himself surprisingly delighted by her disciple's new side. "It makes sense! Did you hear that love confession a moment ago? Yukiko! It was shocking!" "Indeed. To say she has no reason to live without him… I wondered if she was still the disciple I knew." She never expected hee disciple to claim if her sweetheart were dead, she’d seek revenge and then die. She knew she had fallen in love. But she was a child who struggled to live each day for herself. She had been fighting against being consumed by the murderous spirit of Celestial Slayer. Who knew she had found something more precious than life itself. Thinking of her disciple who had just confessed her deep love, Dan Se Wol couldn't help but smile warmly. "They say love gives you something more precious than life; it seems true." "Having someone to lean on allows for change." "Did you see Number 5's face? She looked completely girlish. I almost couldn't recognize her as Celestial Slayer!" "Indeed. I saw it too." She was like a blank sheet of paper. She might think she's hiding her expressions, but it was obvious when the paper turned a shade of pink. "Nin-nin! Yukiko! It's unbearable! I must prepare at once!" Seol Ja clenched his fist at that sight and began to take something out from his pocket. "What are you doing?" "I'm too curious about the content of that love letter! I'm going to sneak a peek at it!" "Put away that nonsense; there's something you need to prepare, so come along." "Fine." Dan Se Wol briefly looked in the direction where Cheon So Hee disappeared, then led Seol Ja somewhere. --- [To my dear So Hee.] Her heart raced. The word "love" transformed her worries and lethality into excitement and anticipation. Cheon So Hee quickly returned to her room and carefully opened the letter envelope. Could he be safe? What had happened to Oppa? Was he physically alright? Although Cheon So Hee had maintained her composure in the training building, she found it difficult to stay calm even as she opened the envelope and unfolded the letter. [So Hee, are you doing well? I was recently dragged to the Tang family because of a novel I wrote. It seems a misunderstanding arose because I made the protagonist from the Sichuan Tang family.] "A misunderstanding just because the protagonist was from the Sichuan Tang family?" Even an emperor wouldn't suppress criticism against him. To think he was dragged away just because the protagonist was from the Sichuan Tang family. Those devious Tang bastards. The rumors about their human experiments must be true. Cheon So Hee couldn't hide her anger toward the far-off Tang family. [Fortunately, the misunderstanding with the Tang family was cleared. I even received gifts and was treated as a distinguished guest before returning.] "Phew." A rare sigh of relief escaped Cheon So Hee's lips. If her mentor Dan Se Wol had seen it, she would have been amazed that she sighed like that even after surviving life-threatening situations. [I'm sorry for making you worry for no reason, So Hee. This was a first for me too, and you were the only one I could think of.] "No, Oppa." Cheon So Hee shook her head, as if to say what on earth was he talking about. She relied on Yoon Ho Oppa, so of course he could rely on her. No, rather, the fact that he thought he could rely on her made her feel strange. She had even hurt Oppa in the past. A passionate emotion rose from deep within her heart. Although she couldn’t name that emotion, her face was already flushed and she wore a smile. Kang Yoon Ho’s recent activities, the joyful things, and his reputation in Ichang were all compressed into the single letter, with everything happening in between carefully detailed. Cheon So Hee read each character written by Kang Yoon Ho with a loving gaze, as if savoring each one. [So Hee, I will become the most famous writer in Zhongyuan. No matter the adversity, I will become the most renowned person and be there to save you.] She reached the final sentence, and her breath caught for a moment. "......" The letter did not elaborate, but it was clear he must have endured hardships at the Tang family. Despite this, Oppa wants to protect her. Cheon So Hee's eyes trembled. [So, don't let go of the fate in your hands. From your Oppa who loves So Hee.] Your fate does not lie with the heavens; it lies in your hands. Cheon So Hee recalled the last words Kang Yoon Ho told her before they parted. Yes. Fate is in these hands. These are the hands that extracted her intent from the sticky sea of Celestial Slayer’s malice. The hands Oppa held. "Oppa. Yoon Ho Oppa." Though they were apart, as long as neither gave up, they could meet again. Cheon So Hee held the letter to her chest, cherishing it. ---- "Have you finished reading the letter?" Dan Se Wol entered the disciple’s room after giving her ample time to read the letter and calm herself. "He safely returned and is writing for me." "I've heard your sweetheart’s books are becoming increasingly famous in Hubei Province. I thought it was a passing fad, but it seems to be more than that." "Because it's Yoon Ho Oppa." Did that child ever make such an expression? Dan Se Wol found himself momentarily speechless at the proud look on Cheon So Hee's face as she hugged the letter. "I see. Have you accomplished anything inside?" "I found my own killing intent." Dan Se Wol’s body shuddered upon hearing his disciple’s answer. "Are you saying you found your own within Celestial Slayer’s malice?" "Yes. Oppa helped me." The celestial energy within Cheon So Hee, not even as thick as a strand of hair, yet crucial in standing against the allure of Celestial Slayer. Without that, she wouldn’t have achieved her realization. "Astonishing." Celestial Slayer’s malice isn’t mere anger or simple emotions. Just by invoking killing intent, the energy of the Celestial Slayer star reacts. Though she is a child born under the star’s fate, humans cannot fully contain the star, and she could easily lose herself. Dan Se Wol had always taught Celestial Slayer techniques, but she only knew how to satisfy or control the innate malice, even the Great Akuma as they say. To think that she found a way to invoke killing intent without triggering Celestial Slayer’s energy. Dan Se Wol was amazed at her disciple’s achievement. "It's not complete." She had only found the path. Cheon So Hee added, but indeed finding the path was significant. "Your personal issue is resolved, and your accomplishments have deepened, so it’s a time for celebration." Dan Se Wol smiled warmly at her disciple. "Nin-nin! Then let's have a celebration!" "Yukiko?" "Where did you come from?" At the sudden appearance of Seol Ja, both looked bewildered. "Nin-nin! It's the art of ninja shadow technique!" "Honestly……" "Fufu! That’s not what’s important, right? Since Number 5 made an achievement! And Number 5 sweetheart’s issue is also resolved! We should have a party! Isn’t that right? Number 5!" "Not interested." Cheon So Hee shook her head with a frosty expression, as if splashed with cold water. "Even if we call it a celebration, it would only be you, me, and Number 6. Just the three of us." It was actually Dan Se Wol who had planned the small celebration, so even the formidable Akuma supported Seol Ja's suggestion. "Indeed. We've also prepared delicious food!" "I’m not hungry." Cheon So Hee wasn't particularly inclined to join. She’d rather read Oppa's letter a few more times. At least that’s what she thought to herself. "Fufu. Can you really stick by those words?" Seol Ja raised an eyebrow, smirking as he teased Cheon So Hee. "What is it?" 'Knowing Number 5’s reaction, Master Dan Se Wol said to trust me! So we'll give it a try!' Seol Ja had learned long ago that no matter what, Cheon So Hee wouldn’t budge. However, an elite ninja never gives up. She had a plan. "Knowing, I prepared tteokbokki, which Number 5 likes." Seol Ja set a new trap to tempt her target to move voluntarily. "Tteok...bokki?" Something tantalized her. Seol Ja didn’t miss the opportunity to laugh inwardly as she pressed on. "Is it only tteokbokki? We have fried fish cake, sweet potato fries, vegetable fritters, squid tempura, and blood sausage! Everything is prepared thoroughly!" "You prepared tteok-twi-soon?" "Nin-nin! Number 5! Don't you want to dip the tempura in tteokbokki sauce?" Cheon So Hee looked at Seol Ja, who confidently questioned her. How strange. Though there was no appetite just a moment ago, suddenly her heart wavered at the words tteokbokki, tempura, and blood sausage. The spicy taste of tteokbokki, the crispness of tempura, the fragrant aroma of fried foods. And the blood sausage. Now she wanted it. Tteokbokki, which she hadn’t tasted for half a year. Without realizing, her stomach responded. "Let’s eat." "I’ll go." Cheon So Hee wasn’t quite fond of the knowing smile Seol Ja directed at her as though he could read her thoughts. But in the end, she had no choice but to nod. The Celestial Slayer’s tteokbokki craving roared within her. "Nin-nin! Indeed! The power of tteokbokki is formidable!" Cheon So Hee didn’t bother to confirm it. Though she hadn’t succumbed to Celestial Slayer’s malice, it felt as though she were admitting defeat to tteokbokki. -------- "What is this?" Their modest banquet setup left Cheon So Hee in shock at the sight before her. "Can’t you see? It’s tteokbokki!" "That’s not tteokbokki." Her tone was tinged with betrayal. It couldn’t be helped. "It’s a deluxe tteokbokki. A creamy sauce tteokbokki, to be precise." The dish before her was not what she had hoped for. "…Why?" The question rising from the pit of her stomach was directed at Seol Ja. "Yukiko! The truth is, I'm weak against spicy foods!" "But you said you'd dip the tempura in tteokbokki sauce." Naturally, that meant spicy sauce, didn't it? "Dipping tempura in cream sauce is delicious too! What? Number 5 doesn’t like rice with soup or something?" Cheon So Hee stared in disbelief at Seol Ja, who tilted her head as if she couldn't fathom what was wrong. Of course, tteokbokki is defined by its spicy sauce. Adding cream sauce for a touch of softness and creating that thrilling sensation on the tongue—rosé tteokbokki is undoubtedly the best. Isn't it only natural to indulge in the perfect combination of chewy tteok with added chewy glass noodles, celebrating the joy of its delightful taste? But cream sauce tteokbokki? Cream sauce without gochujang? Something bubbled up from deep within Cheon So Hee's chest. "This isn't authentic tteokbokki…!" That day, for the first time, Cheon So Hee unleashed her own rightful anger at Seol Ja.