Chapter 245 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

It’s a common fantasy for men, imagining a beautiful woman sneaking into their bed with less than innocent intentions. “Morning, Onii-chan.” Or the mystical world where a step-sister wakes you up with a smile every morning. In a world like this, where the construction laws are so lax that a childhood friend from the house next door can climb in through your window to observe your morning routines, it feels like an oddly twisted kind of desire. I stared blankly for a moment at Ha-yeon Lim, who looked stern and serious. Her mission was to steal something precious. She was dressed in a full-body tight suit, the kind you couldn't tell if it was for protection or for enticing a specific someone. The physique beneath it was as graceful and nimble as a gazelle, capable of showcasing a kind of agility and strength that no one could match at night, with just one area showing the slightest hint of extra flesh. "I can’t believe you’d come to steal something in such a bold outfit." Now, of course, I did have something precious to offer to a woman kneeling on my bed in the dead of night. Even though I was often the subject of pity among my friends for my lack of a girlfriend and my solitary stance on a matter, unlike the principle of premarital chastity, it did mean that I had something to offer in moments like these. But upon reflection, an alternative view hit me. Is what I have truly precious to a man? It's something I'd rather discard, honestly. Drawing a resolute breath, I addressed Ha-yeon directly. “Do I look like someone who would easily part with something precious just because you came to steal it? Any other man might thank you while prostrate, but not me.” “What... are you saying?” I meant, why the wrong timing? You should have come a year earlier. “There’s a long line of those who've made reservations.” “You already have reservations? By who?” Ha-yeon seemed puzzled as she cocked her head. “Even someone of the highest martial prowess wouldn’t fare well stealing from me.” Just getting entangled with one of these women spells trouble. If you steal without thinking, it won’t end well. “I can steal anything I want when I put my mind to it.” It certainly appeared that way. Her confidence radiated not just in her words but also from her figure that kept drawing my gaze. “Confidence is good, but your opponents are just as formidable as you.” “…Are they from the Sichuan Dankga?” Where did she hear that? Hwarin's condition rarely allowed her to travel; she mostly handled ledgers and printing at the Dasa Pavilion, away from prying eyes. Whenever troublesome patrons or chaos emerged on the second floor, the very idea of Hwarin's approach struck fear. Despite the stigma of inhumane experiments, demonic influence, and other tales within the Dankga family, we waited for the day Hwarin could boldly stand proud as her skills soared. “Even in the Sichuan Dankga.” “If faced with the Sichuan Dankga, yes, that indeed would be dangerous.” Ha-yeon sighed deeply, her lips tightly pursed as if at a loss. “Miss Ha-yeon. Arriving so unannounced like this isn’t proper. I understand acting on impulse, but if it means that much to you, building trust with dialogue should be the start.” “I don't have that kind of time.” “If you can't invest even that much time, then nothing can be stolen from me.” Although, if she were to angrily tear off her suit right now, moving closer, it might be difficult to resist entirely. Still, I had to maintain my firm resolve, ensuring my inner thoughts were unreadable. Was my firm stance working? Ha-yeon removed her mask, looking disheartened. “…As expected. The fourth volume of ‘Danga's Mystery’ is too precious for Dasa Pavilion to show so readily.” Volume four of ‘Danga’s Mystery’? Wait, why would the still-in-progress volume four be so valuable? Ah, so that’s what she meant by "precious." Not some slowly fermenting invaluable experience like aged soybean paste, waiting for a moment like this. “Yes, indeed.” My voice wavered slightly as I struggled to hide my sudden embarrassment. Did I say everything right earlier? Misinterpretation could spell trouble here. Of course, very few would appear stranger at night in a full-body suit compared to a woman sneaking in. Better regain my composure quickly. I straightened my clothes, with deliberate effort, and moved toward the teapot. Quietly, she simply watched me. “…I will leave now.” As I poured tea into a cup, Ha-yeon seemed to steel herself and rose from the bed. “Where do you think you’re going?” “If I can’t steal it, I should leave.” What stealing? I doubt she even intended to steal at all. “I know why you really came. It’s not for what you said. Sit down and tell me what’s really on your mind.” Where did I put another cup? Taking my time, I fetched another cup and poured tea for Ha-yeon. “What do you mean?” “You didn’t try stealing when the third volume was out. Even if you wanted to sneak a peek at volume four, there’s no need to wake me. There’s another reason why you’re here.” A master thief wouldn’t wait for someone to awake before stealing. Coming here claiming to steal is just a cover. How difficult must it be to confide in a man she normally butted heads with? “….” Silence often signifies agreement. Even as I took a sip of the tea I poured, she kept her gaze on me, her lips silent. You’ve come this far and find it difficult to talk, huh? Then let me give you the reason for asking. “I am the Vice Chief of the Invisible Hand. You are my senior colleague’s daughter.” I spoke to her with the kind eyes an elder might use on a cherished niece. “What about that….” I cut her off, continuing. “You are a valued subordinate and a promising talent who will lead Dasa Pavilion in the future. Moreover...” About to say, “and a contender for the true heroine,” I paused. “And?” Her gaze was intent on gleaning something from me. “Well, there’s more. Unburdening what weighs on your heart often makes you feel lighter. So, don’t think of leaving empty-handed.” “…Hmph.” Did my words resonate with her? For reasons unknown, Ha-yeon Lim accepted the tea I offered with a slight smile and a subtle tilt of her eyes. She held the teacup with both hands, fidgeting her fingers as if carefully selecting her words. Then, with a weighty expression, she finally spoke. “There’s an official mandate from the Wu-Han branch, which oversees the Heo-Mun branch in Hubei province, calling for the extradition of me, Im Ha-yeon, the runaway courtesan.” This unexpected revelation gripped my heart with a sudden, heavy pressure. “Extraditing the informant of the U-San branch’s crisis?” It sounded absurd. Extraditing the person who brought news of the clan's crisis made no sense. It was akin to accusing an innocent witness of being the criminal. “But… the U-San branch is fine.” “You weren’t escaping from a crisis at the U-San branch?” “On the day those evil sect bastards attacked, Ha-O Mun’s branch allegedly rebuffed the assault.” If what she said was true, things had gotten complicated. From her perspective, she had escaped to report her clan's crisis, but to others, she would appear as a courtesan fleeing amid chaos. “Wait a moment. Isn’t this strange? Those sect bastards were clearly after you that day. And if what you said is true, why hadn't we heard about this until a month later?” “That’s what’s strange. The Ha-O Mun division that was attacked was annihilated. All significant executives at U-San were killed, including the branch leader who was back at the brothel.” She must have known them personally. I noticed the tightening grip of Ha-yeon’s fingers around her teacup. “Everyone is dead, but the branch is somehow ‘fine’? That doesn’t make any sense.” “The U-San branch’s gambler division, Do-Mun, allegedly avenged the attack.” “Do-Mun? You mean the gamblers?” People often think of Ha-O Mun as a single martial arts clan, but in reality, it operates more as a network. Ha-O Mun, excluding the executives, is compartmentalized into cells. Courtesans relay information to Gi-Mun (the courtesans’ division), and gamblers communicate with Do-Mun (the gamblers’ division). High-ranking members of each group then compile and forward this information to the executive body. “Yes. But it all seems too coincidental. Do-Mun, typically outmuscled by Gi-Mun, managed to counterattack successfully and absorbed all of U-San Ha-O Mun’s operations.” Ha-yeon mentioned that the former branch leader of U-San was affiliated with Gi-Mun. The idea that a single attack could wipe out Gi-Mun and let Do-Mun seize power was suspicious, to say the least. “Does this have something to do with Wu-Han wanting to extradite you, Ha-yeon?” “I’m the only surviving member of U-San’s Gi-Mun. But going back won’t change a thing. The revenge is done, and all that’s left is a runaway courtesan. Even if they conduct formal interrogations, I can’t provide any testimony against Do-Mun.” “Why not?” “Do-Mun holds my registration.” It meant that the gamblers were her masters now. She spoke with clenched fists, bitterness apparent in her voice. “Weren’t you originally part of Gi-Mun?” “Yes, but Ha-O Mun is part of the unorthodox sect. If something is seized by force, it won’t be returned. Gi-Mun raised objections, but Do-Mun demanded an exorbitant price to buy back a runaway courtesan.” Ha-yeon then detailed the outrageous sum they demanded. “That’s an absurd amount!” The figure was equivalent to buying a printing press or even a house. “Because I’m a runaway courtesan. Once someone escapes, they’re saddled with an unpayable debt, forced to work in the pleasure quarters until they die.” Ha-yeon hung her head in despair. The sum was so overwhelmingly large that mere words couldn’t convey the depth of her despair. Even if I were the ace of a high-class host club like Orangi-ru, repaying such a debt would feel like my life was over. ‘Is this how the original story unfolds?’ The Ha-yeon Lim I knew wasn’t from U-San or Eu-chang, but the incomparable courtesan of Wu-Han in Hubei Province. Even without me here to alter things, the U-San incident and her escape would have happened as described, with her ending up dragged back to Wu-Han as a runaway courtesan. That’s the original path history would have taken. The Shadowless Phantom Thief, Im Ha-yeon. By day, she was Wu-Han’s top courtesan, and by night, a somewhat foolish master thief. Even doing just one job would have earned her a fortune, but if she was working two jobs, it must have been to repay her debts as a runaway courtesan. Stealing, though? Impossible. “Why have you been causing trouble in Eu-chang lately?”