500 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

EP.500 The Third Test - 6 "Yelling was a good call. We almost missed it." "Cheol!" Jo Cheol flashed me a slight smile and then turned his attention to the assassin. "Stay put. I'll handle the rest." He stood naturally in front of me like a wall that couldn't be breached, as if implying that without overcoming him, the assassin would never get what they wanted. Is this what it feels like to feel secure when you meet someone from your hometown in a foreign place? Truly, trustworthy people are only ever those from home. "He's a close friend of mine. Do you intend to continue?" The assassin remained silent, adjusting their grip on the sword in response to Jo Cheol's taunt. Would they give up or try again? How would they act? My curiosity was quickly settled as the assassin's figure momentarily blurred. Fast. The assassin was fast. "Did I appear easy?" But Jo Cheol's blade was faster. The assassin's calculated strike was effortlessly blocked. "Tch!" For the first time today, the sound of a flustered assassin escaped. Jo Cheol's sword swung skillfully, aimed at the neck. The assassin abandoned the melee and leaped back. Does it seem like they can't match up? What?! A sphere suddenly flew from the assassin's robe. "Watch out!" It was a hidden weapon! Jo Cheol reacted swiftly. The sphere split instantly, releasing something white. "A smoke bomb?!" "Hold your breath and fall back!" Could it be poisoned fog? I activated my energy to protect myself. It only took a moment to escape the mist's reach with Jo Cheol. "Not poison, but a getaway tool. They're quick to decide." Did even Jo Cheol think it was too much to handle? As the mist dissipated, the assassin was already fleeing into the distance. "Are you alright?" "I'm not hurt. Should we just let them run away?" "A feeble trick. While we chase, others take out the target." They were intentionally escaping slower than they had approached. "Cheol, thank you so much. You saved my life." As soon as the assassin disappeared from sight and relief washed over me, I immediately bowed to Jo Cheol. "Thank the one above you." "What?" Suddenly, something landed on my shoulder. "Gugu! Guuguuu." It was Gugu, who had pecked me and flown away somewhere. "Gugu? You brat. Didn't you run away?" "The creature saved your life." Jo Cheol gestured commendably towards Gugu with a nod. "Gugu did?" "It suddenly flew to where I was staying, pecking at me to come along. It's the first time I've seen a creature so desperate." "Gugu, you rascal..." Could the commotion earlier have been because it sensed the assassin? "Gugu!" Gugu puffed itself up with pride as if to say, of course. Yes. Well done. Very well done. I take back my earlier thoughts about your size. I promptly embraced Gugu. "You'll stay at my inn tonight." As I petted Gugu, Jo Cheol spoke, easing his stance. "Wouldn't it be safer to return to the estate?" As long as the assassin lives, it seems best to return to the estate with more guards. "I'm here, aren't I? It's best to minimize being exposed to danger during the deep night. Once we reach the inn, send someone to the estate." Jo Cheol, famed for his skill, was a bodyguard renowned for protecting countless people from assassins. No advice could be wiser right now. "Understood. Let's head there right away." I promptly agreed and we headed towards the inn at the crossroads. ----- Fortunately, there were no further assassination attempts overnight. The returned estate was amidst chaos due to the news of my attempted assassination, but I wasn't required to address the situation. I had already explained everything to the guards while spending the night at the inn. Upon returning to the estate, there was one thing I needed to do immediately. "Ohoho! Lord Gugu!" "Gugut!" "Yes, yes. You must be hungry. Here's the finest feed." "Gugugu! Gugu!" "Wet food instead of dry? With added mealworms? Truly befitting of Lord Gugu! I'll serve it right away." One cannot mistreat the savior of their life. I continued to lavish praise upon Gugu, perched on the finest cushion. "Uh... Sir Kang?" "Hey... are you okay?" "I'm okay. I'm fine." No need for them to worry so much about me. Jegal Sojeo and Jeon Gil-san, having heard of last night's shocking news, stood behind me, fretting over what to say. "Doesn't seem like it." "I... I've heard people act unusual after a traumatic shock." "Should we call a doctor?" "I'm just praising Gugu for saving my life." Dropping my playful demeanor, I quickly explained last night's events. "Oh, is that all." "It was dangerous. If not for Jo Cheol and Gugu, it could've ended badly." I should waive Jo Cheol's membership fee for a while. "Who on earth would do such a thing to you, sir?" "The usual suspects. But I don't know for sure. Everyone has their reasons." I nodded at Jeon Gil-san's words. "They probably thought it was the only answer." The person who hired the rogue assassin is likely one of the successor candidates. Their method to win the test. To attack the top student. Receiving a confession from a beautiful lady would be welcome, but an assassin—how ludicrous. "Are you sure you're unharmed?" "Haha. I'm really fine." "I'm sorry for suggesting you go..." Perhaps because they heard I nearly died, Jegal Sojeo's eyes looked ready to well up as she gazed at me. Reassuring her by taking her hand, I sensed her trembling with extreme worry. "There's no need for those thoughts. Thanks to your advice, we resolved the gambling boss issue smoothly." "Sir Kang..." Jegal Sojeo had been cheering for my plan. Did she push me into harm's way? Don't feel any unnecessary guilt. I'm fine. "Gugu! Guugugu!" As Jegal Sojeo's trembling subsided, Gugu called out, demanding my attention. "Ohhhh! Lord Gugu! In my lowliness, I lost focus and failed to serve you. Shall I prepare your bathwater?" "Should I heat the water in a pot?" That sounded like they were preparing to pluck feathers, so I gestured for them to stop. "Gugu! Gugugugu!" What? Something else? Gugu flapped its wings, flying over to the window, indicating that I should follow. "Do you want me to follow?" "Gugu!" What is happening? Following Gugu, I found something concealed by leaves under the shade of a tree behind the office. "A stone sculpture? No, a pottery piece? I've seen this pattern before." I lifted the leaves to reveal a broken piece of pottery. "Isn't that the inkwell I gifted you?" "Ah! Yes, it's the inkwell Jegal Sojeo bought for me using the salary I gave her. It disappeared one day, but why is it here?" "Gugugugu. Gugu! Guugugu good!" Gugu confidently started gesturing why the broken inkwell ended up here. "You were so thirsty you messed with the inkwell and accidentally smashed it? And then hid it here to cover up the evidence and pretended like nothing happened?" "Gugu! Gugugugu!" Correct. You’ll forgive me, right? There was no need to translate. "Well... I'm fine with forgiving you." Even though it was a very expensive inkwell, it doesn’t bother me, but... "I spent all the money I got from you to buy that..." That inkwell was something Jegal Sojeo had carefully chosen using the money I gave her. Her fists shook with frustration. "Is it time to boil up?" "Gugu? Gugugugu." Gugu, sensing the tension, playfully fluttered on Jegal Sojeo's shoulder, but her hands were still trembling. "Gugu, you're terrible!" "Gugu?!" Indeed. You should have thought about the person who gave the gift, not just the person who received it. ——— As security around the estate heightened and people busily moved to uncover the culprit, I took some time to gather my thoughts in the garden, reflecting on the events of last night. "I thought I was well-prepared." I aimed for the heart but failed to respond adequately. Despite not neglecting my training. After all, professionals are indeed different. Had Jo Cheol not appeared, I would have been severely injured. I used my art to create distance, practicing throwing hidden weapons at a wooden dummy. Would things have changed if I had concealed weapons? I hadn't brought them since I couldn't exactly carry weapons to a gathering. The thought I could no longer converse with those I spoke with the previous night weighed heavily on my mind. Forehead, neck, chest. The weapons hit their marks precisely. My daily practice showed its results. "Turns out you have talent in martial arts too." From the entrance of the garden, someone approached clapping. "Jo Cheol?!" "I came to see if you were alright." "Thanks to you, I'm perfectly fine!" I put down the throwing weapons and approached him with a relieved face. "Yet your heart seems unsettled." "Haha..." Is a master able to see whether one's heart is in their strikes just from the way their weapons fly? I found it difficult to deny in my mixed feelings. "Care to continue?" Jo Cheol watched me silently before nodding toward the wooden dummy. "What?" "You don't have to if it's uncomfortable." "It's alright. It's nothing special." Though martial artists tend to avoid showing their training, all I do is run and shoot. I'm not revealing any secret techniques, so there was nothing to worry about. "Is that all?" He observed me sprinting around and throwing weapons for a while before questioning me with a slightly dissatisfied tone. "It's more than just self-defense, but not something I rely on as my main skill." It's because I'm a long-range fighter. "I see... Brother." "Do you have something to say?" Was there something on his mind as a martial arts master? Or was he about to tell me to travel with more guards? Or perhaps... Jo Cheol studied me carefully with a thoughtful expression before cautiously speaking. "Would you like to learn martial arts from me?"