1148 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Once the schedule was set, I reviewed the letter for further details. ‘Departure is in three days...' In three days, we would head straight for Shanxi. As I confirmed the schedule, a thought crossed my mind. 'What is the justification?' What was the reason for going to Shanxi? As I was verifying this too... 'What?' Some unexpected words caught my eye. ‘...Return of the artifact, and as part of a confidential mission.' The justification was peculiar. What was the return of the artifact about? ‘Confidential mission?’ A confidentiality not even mentioned in the letter. That was the reason behind my journey to Shanxi. ‘What is the confidential mission?’ What could warrant such a grandiloquent term? 'What did Father do?' I wondered what conversation Father and the Sword Master had that led to these words being written. “Strange, isn’t it?” Cheongryong Daeju smirked as if he had read my emotions. “I find it strange too. Of course, whatever he thinks, I follow rather than question it. That's because...” With a creak, Cheongryong Daeju leaned deeply into his chair. “It's also the reason I deem you valuable and extend unnecessary generosity.” “...” “So...” Cheongryong Daeju whispered softly, a smile on his face. ZGVPdDc2cnQxMFU0bVlrbnZITXlVdVdQeTdhY2xpMTBITWJOUTFSbDRBMjM3bWVSOTRVOGkwK3ZydUJ3cEgwQw “Please, refrain from doing anything unnecessary." It was a calm and clear warning. “Yes.” I answered, yet questions continued to churn inside me. ‘How did someone like him die?’ Surely, someone of his stature wouldn’t die easily. What on earth had happened in the past that led to Cheongryong Daeju’s death? It puzzled me greatly. * * * With a screech, I closed the door and stepped outside. By the time I had emerged, the sun had set, and it was already night. “Hmm...” I scratched my cheek while gazing at the moonlight. Not only had too much time passed... ‘...The mission lingers in my mind.’ The justification for heading to Shanxi kept lingering in my thoughts. Returning the artifact was understandable, but the word ‘confidential’ nagged at my mind. ‘What could it be?’ It’s confidential, so they wouldn’t tell me. ‘It feels like it's going to be troublesome.’ Judging by the situation, it seemed it was going to be quite bothersome. ‘...Is there no other choice?’ I couldn't figure out a better way. Given the circumstances, this seemed to be the best course of action. ‘Yeah, as long as I get to Shanxi, it doesn’t matter what else happens.’ The important thing was going to Shanxi. That, in itself, was already a gain. “Great.” I chose to think positively. Even if it wasn’t, I decided it was. I nodded and was about to move on when... “...” Something caught my senses. I naturally turned my head and asked. “Is there something you need from me?” “Oh my.” The figure who had been watching me from a corner responded. With long black hair, large eyes, and fair skin, it was Hyun So Yeon. “Oh my, caught, am I?” She spoke playfully with a laugh. Watching that, I couldn’t help but wear a dumbfounded expression. “It wasn’t like you were trying to hide.” “Haha, caught again?” If she intended to hide, she wouldn’t have done it so sloppily. After all, Hyun So Yeon was a first-rate martial artist. “So, what is it that you need?” When I asked why she was lurking around, Hyun So Yeon walked over to me and said, “Oh, it’s nothing. Just got a bit annoyed and ran away?” “Ran away? From where?” “Ah, from the banquet. Where were you, Baek Gongja? You were nowhere to be seen the whole time.” “...There was a banquet?” “Huh?” “...” I hadn’t known about the banquet. I had been talking to the Daeju all along, but... ‘...Did they really have a banquet?’ Did they hold a banquet because Hyun So Yeon came? But why didn’t they tell me? “Oh...?” Upon hearing this, Hyun So Yeon inexplicably put on a guilty expression. “Perhaps... are you being excluded?” “...” It was a painful spot that she had poked. “It’s not like that.” “Oh, um... sorry.” “Why are you apologizing...?” Receiving an apology made it worse. “Sigh... So you ran away?” I brushed off the banquet and exclusion. Even if they had told me about the banquet, I probably wouldn’t have gone. Honestly. “Yes. They were being annoyingly persistent.” What was so annoying was pretty obvious. Given her appearance, men were likely vying for her attention. The problem was... “Namgung Jin was with you, wasn’t he?” Her fiancé, Namgung Jin. He was there too, so it should have been fine. “You think he’d care about that? He was too busy looking elsewhere.” Hyun So Yeon shrugged her shoulders. Did that mean... “...Was Mi Sojeo at the banquet too?” “Yes, the Deputy Leader was there too.” “...” It was really everyone but me. Ridiculous. “Oh... maybe... no, sorry...” “Didn't I ask you not to apologize?” “Oh, right.” So, because Mi Hyo Ran was there, Namgung Jin was busy looking at her? Then, apparently, the other men must have had a glimpse of the situation. ‘...Is he out of his mind?’ Knowing Namgung Jin had feelings for Mi Hyo Ran, there could have been others making advances toward Hyun So Yeon, left alone. He didn’t prevent that. I found it absurd. ‘No matter how disinterested he is.’ Still, she is his fiancée, and leaving her like that could harm his family’s reputation. ‘He really has no sense.’ I sighed at Namgung Jin’s attitude. Is this what happens when men are blinded by women? It’s not easy, truly. No matter how smitten, he can’t completely lose his senses. ‘...What’s the reason?’ I wondered if Namgung Jin had a particular reason for being enamored with Mi Hyo Ran. Of course. ‘Madam Mi is beautiful.’ Objectively speaking, Mi Hyo Ran is indeed beautiful. Even accounting for her age as a non-warrior, she is a beautiful person. But still... ‘Still.’ Hyun So Yeon is in a different league. Should I say she is of a different caliber? Despite that, I couldn’t understand how Namgung Jin was utterly infatuated with Mi Hyo Ran, ignoring his fiancée. And. ‘And that woman beside Namgung Jin...’ I equally couldn't understand Hyun So Yeon's desire to remain by his side, despite having no feelings for him. “Oh my?” Hyun So Yeon smiled at me in that instant. “You’re looking at me so pitifully?” “That's not it.” “Totally is. It’s written all over your face. Fine. I’ll let it go since I did tease you a bit.” “...” “Anyways-! Just as I was escaping, who do I spot but you, Baek Gongja? So, I thought I'd wait to chat.” “You knew I’d be here and decided to wait, didn’t you?” “It’s the same thing.” How could that be the same thing? It wasn't a coincidence at all. “Well... uh...” I began to speak but ended up closing my mouth. “...What did you want to talk about?” Mildly intrigued, I figured I might as well hear her out, so I spoke. “Oh, you’re inviting conversation? Great. Let’s go for a walk, shall we?” Hyun So Yeon smiled brightly and began walking ahead. Watching her stride as if she knew the way, I tilted my head slightly. ‘...Does she know the way?’ Usually, people who look like that often lack a sense of direction. I wondered if Hyun So Yeon was the same. * * * The doubt didn’t last long. Surprisingly, Hyun So Yeon wasn’t directionally challenged. “...How do you know your way around?” Watching her navigate effortlessly, I asked. At my question, Hyun So Yeon turned her head slightly. “Huh?” “The path.” “Well... it’s kind of obvious, isn’t it?” “...” Right. Usually, that’s how it is. It’s obviously a path, so not knowing it is unusual. “...Some people struggle with it.” “Really? That sounds less like a lack of direction and more like an illness...?” “...” I couldn’t bring myself to say that ‘those people’ included her daughter. Feeling awkward, as I scratched and continued to walk, at that moment... “Oh, wait.” Hyun So Yeon looked at me and asked. “Is the person with no sense of direction your fiancée?” “...” She figured it out as if possessed. Truly, a woman with sharp intuitions. “Your expression says it all. Is your fiancée a directionally challenged person?” “No...” “Don’t deny it. Whenever you look at me with that expression, it’s always true.” “What expression did I have, anyway?” “That longing and yearning look.” Flinch. My stride came to a sudden halt. “That look you get when reminiscing, like you miss them to death.” “When did I ever do that?” “Why deny it? Your eyes tell it all. You must really like your fiancée?” “...” Longing and yearning. Did I really think that while looking at Hyun So Yeon? I wasn't quite sure. I had never consciously noted anything like that. “What kind of person were they? For you to like them so much?” “Well...” What kind of person were they? I glanced up at the sky naturally. At that moment, in the night sky, there hung a moon. It was a moon neither a crescent nor a full moon, but somewhere in between. The shape didn’t matter. What mattered was that I looked at the moon. “Someone like this.” “Eh?” Hyun So Yeon followed my gaze to the moon. “What? The moon?” “Yes, the moon.” “What about it?” “Someone like that.” “What are you on about?” Hyun So Yeon furrowed her brows slightly, seemingly unable to grasp my meaning. What does the moon have to do with it? Her face asked. I laughed at that. I couldn’t quite believe what I said either. But that was indeed how I saw it. “They’re like the moon. Sometimes hidden by clouds, yet always present. When it seems dark, it sometimes shines brightly, letting you know it’s there. Someone like... that.” “...” Upon hearing my words, Hyun So Yeon crinkled her nose. It seemed like she had heard something she didn’t quite want to. “Baek Gongja, you’re more poetic than I thought?” “...Are you teasing me?” “Yes.” “I’m leaving.” “Ah-! Wait-! I’m sorry!” Hyun So Yeon hurriedly grabbed my arm. “Sorry for teasing. I didn’t expect you to declare your love so openly.” “When did I ever say that?” “Huh?” “What?” Hyun So Yeon responded with confusion. “I mean, isn’t talking about the moon like that basically saying you love them?” “...What.” “Isn’t it?” “...” I couldn’t respond. The term ‘love’ felt cumbersome, despite rarely contemplating such trivial things. “...Let’s go.” “Uh, where are we going?” In the end, I didn’t deny it. As childish as it seemed.