435 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

**Episode 435: Letters - Part 4** [To the esteemed Ji Woo.] [A completely unexpected message arrived today at the home study hall.] [You want to know my name?] "That's a relief. It seems the West Celestial Caravan didn't forget to send a reply." Had they not, he almost would have gone there immediately after reading the letter. [Thanks to this, I now know for sure. You are not from the Mount Hua Sect!] [In fact, I was secretly wondering if someone from the sect was sponsoring me, and was narrowing down the candidates from afar, but it seems I can end that speculation now. Not many people know my name because I live in a remote hermitage, but surely anyone from the sect would recognize it.] The letter embodied the inquisitiveness of a young detective elated by a great revelation. [Having resolved one question, my curiosity only grows. How did you come to know of me and decide to sponsor me? Solving one mystery only seems to birth another. However, one fact has become clear! Well, the first definitive fact about you, Ji Woo.] What could he be referring to? [It's not just me who is curious about the other's name!] The letter seemed to radiate a triumphant laughter. [Someone willing to sponsor me without even knowing my name—could you be extraordinarily wealthy? It's hard for me to even imagine.] "I am a self-employed person working over 16 hours a day." He had to work tomorrow too. Not even a five-day work week. Suddenly, a headache started creeping in. [You haven’t answered anything I've asked, and I understand that you might prefer to keep your identity hidden. But at least let me know your name.] [Then I will also gladly share my name.] [From Jin Moo's disciple.] [P.S. Ji Woo referred to us as paper friends. Traditionally, friendships are said to start with exchanging names! I'll be waiting.] “No! I can't reveal my name, that's the problem.” They must be really curious about his identity. Sending a significant sum monthly would naturally make anyone curious. Perhaps it was because he had learned a little more about me, or maybe he thought he'd finally discover my name. The joy of the letter’s author was evident in his handwriting. "It feels like having a chat with a pen pal." Instead of frustration, he found himself chuckling softly. It felt like the kind of enjoyable conversations guild members have while waiting for a raid in a game. If the other person were a woman, it might even feel like that back-and-forth dynamic he'd only heard about, but unfortunately, the other party was the protagonist of the original story. Getting to know this unknown pen pal felt refreshing. Now that he confirmed the protagonist's real-life existence, should he spend a little more time trying to uncover their name? The next letter was thin. He opened it right away. — [To the esteemed Ji Woo.] [My master is very ill.] [Apologies. Because of caregiving, I might not be able to write for a while.] “Is the master’s condition worse than I thought?” Post the master’s death, the protagonist of the original story had no reason to remain with the Mount Hua Sect, leading to his emergence into the world. There was still some time left before the original story’s timeline began, so he'd assumed the master's condition would be relatively stable, but that might not be the case. He immediately opened the following letter. --- [To Ji Woo.] The handwriting seemed somewhat dry and emotionless. [You have never answered any of my questions, Ji Woo.] “Hmm?” The handwriting bore traces of anger. [Even when I write about my daily life, Ji Woo, you never respond. Even when I share my innermost thoughts, I have no idea what expression you’re wearing.] [You send greeting cards with lines like 'Eat something tasty,' 'Take care of your cold,' 'Train hard,' but those letters lack any emotional depth.] [It makes me wonder if you send identical letters to others. Perhaps I am just like a beggar on the street to you, Ji Woo. Not someone you're genuinely supporting but akin to someone receiving charity without any real sentiment.] [As I try to come to terms with this, my head spins, and I had to pause my writing.] [I have no idea who you are. I don’t even know your name. I don’t know what you look like or what you do.] [You called us paper friends. Yes, indeed you are a paper friend. It feels like I’m sending letters to the paper itself. I doubt if you even read my letters.] "Sorry. I forgot." He really hadn’t read those letters. Who would anticipate remembering a letter sent during the New Year as if it were sent in autumn? [P.S. My master’s breathing has quieted slightly. If you were concerned not about me but for my master, thank you.] Unlike usual, the handwriting in the letter was sharp. "It seems he's really upset. I should have responded sooner..." If even a simple greeting card with one line came, the author of the original story would share all the happenings diligently, expressing his innermost thoughts. If he had revealed his intent behind the sponsorship, it would have been different, but for him to just send money out of the blue, all sorts of thoughts must have crossed his mind. Not even receiving a single reply must’ve made it worse. “It reminds me of my freshman year in college.” A wry smile crept onto his face. He had once found the courage to message a female classmate he liked, only to see his message remain unread for the entire day. And then he’d receive a brief response after half a day. 'Okay.' Sending another extended message, only to receive another curt response the next day. 'Okay.' He'd brushed it off thinking she must be busy, until he saw another handsome classmate invite her for drinks, receiving an instant response, realizing it wasn’t about being busy—it was about him. The realization that it was not her being busy but his presence being the issue was quite the shock to handle as a freshman, necessitating some self-care over the weekend. Perhaps the protagonist felt similarly. Though it wasn’t a romantic relationship, even a sponsor-recipient relationship could evoke such sentiments. "It’s troubling if the relationship breaks like this." Thankfully, noticing a few more unopened letters offered a glimmer of hope. He proceeded to open another. — [To the esteemed Ji Woo.] [I apologize. Truly, I’m sorry. I was rude. I'm bowing my head as I write each letter.] [For several days, I was terrified of what might happen to my master. Along with periodically melancholic days, in a fit of anger, I acted impulsively without realizing it. I am truly sorry.] [I have made a grave mistake towards you, Ji Woo. Even if you are disappointed in me, I have nothing to say in my defense.] [Living alone with my master in the hermitage, I think I got ahead of myself, thinking that someone was looking out for me. Pouring my emotions onto paper to someone, it seemed something unraveled within me.] [I'm truly sorry. Even though it's only right for you to stop your sponsorship, even if you choose not to accept it, I hope you'll at least read my apology.] [I'm really sorry.] [It was enjoyable having a friend, even for a short while.] “You're the protagonist of the story. I can generously forgive this much.” Yes, when someone is struggling, they might suddenly burst out emotionally. A kid not even an adult yet needs somewhere to vent when the world seems against them. Being an adult, he could understand. So please keep writing letters. The letters were coming to an end. ---- [To the esteemed Ji Woo.] [I received your letter.] [Although it was just the usual greeting, you have no idea how relieved I was to receive it.] [Surely, it means you've accepted my apology. Thank you.] The letter was filled with heartfelt notes of stress and contrition. [Come to think of it, you asked for my name.] “Oh? Are they going to reveal it?” He unconsciously straightened his posture. [I thought about it countless times. Naturally, it is only right to inform you of my name, but a small greed has emerged within me.] “Greed?” Did they want something? [I wish to receive a letter from you that’s more than just a line—a letter with two lines, if possible. Feel free to write more if you are willing.] “Haha.” [If I am to receive a letter that doesn't falter from you, Ji Woo, then I need at least this weapon in my arsenal. However, even if so, I’d like to let you know another name I will use in the meantime.] “Another name?” [Even though you sent the letter in winter, I received it when the plum blossoms were in full bloom at the Mount Hua Sect, so from now on, please call me Ran Mae (亂梅).] “Ran Mae (亂梅)? Chaotic Plum?” What does that mean? [Wondering when your letter will arrive, if there will be a reply this time, and what kind of person you are—all of this makes my mind flutter, so from now on, I am Ran Mae (亂梅).] [I will be waiting for a reply addressed to Ran Mae.] [From Ran Mae (亂梅).] [P.S. If you write something other than a greeting, the plum may become a little more chaotic.] “As if confirming that they’re from the Mount Hua Sect...” A small chuckle escaped. Doesn't it embarrass him to ask to be called a plum blossom? It certainly suits the disciple of a sect that names its warriors Plum Blossom Swordmasters. “It's good to become a person the protagonist relies on during tough times...” I hope I didn’t disturb the protagonist at a sensitive time. After contemplating for a moment, there was nothing left to change, having already sent the letter. “Well then, let’s stir the plum blossoms a bit.” 一 To Ran Mae (亂梅). For the first time, let’s send a reply as Ji Woo.