Chapter 63

In Sososo’s room at Jeoseokhyeon’s inn…

“Huu… Hiyuk… Huuk… Sosso un… Oppa…”

“Un- un- Sosso oppa. It’s okay now. Stop crying.”

There, the proud princess of the North Sea Ice Palace, Seol Wonhwa, hearing the commotion, rushed back to the inn and clung to her cousin Sososo, sniffling.

“Sniff… I, the younger sister of the Ice Dragon, Seol Bong Seol Wonhwa… will never forget this humiliation…”

In that state, Wolhwa tightly hugged Sososo’s slender waist, burying half her face in her chest, glaring at Mantian, the one who caused this… but unfortunately, her words didn’t continue.

“Huu- If you dare introduce yourself as a dragon or phoenix in front of me again, I’ll turn you into dragon-phoenix soup.”

Overwhelmed by the overwhelming aura of Sima Mantian, who had awakened the ultimate technique of Jeonjin’s Ice-Breaking Palm, rising to the level of a late-century conqueror, even the heavens seemed to tremble.

“Hii, Hiiing… Sosso un… Oppa…”

“Un- un- Sosso oppa. It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Overwhelmed by the oppressive aura, Wolhwa trembled like a baby seal meeting a killer whale and buried herself deeper into Sososo’s embrace. Sososo gently patted her cousin while softly admonishing Mantian.

“Lord Sima, I know it’s a joke, but please refrain from such harsh words. Wolhwa is more timid than she looks.”

Sososo’s gentle hand stroking Wolhwa’s snow-white hair exuded the wisdom of an elder.

Perhaps because of that, with her mental state somewhat restored by the elder’s embrace, Wolhwa boldly stuck out her head and shouted at me.

“Huuk… Hey! Just Seol Wonhwa! I will never forget this humiliation!!”

“Wolhwa… You were the one who insulted Lord Sima’s ‘friend,’ which started the fight.”

The fight at the inn that started with gossip.

To cut to the chase, fortunately, no one was seriously injured, and thanks to Sososo’s intervention, it ended well~ well~.

To be precise, Sososo subdued the North Sea Ice Palace warriors with the Emperor’s Sword Form, forcing the fight to end.

“Everyone, stop fighting. I will not allow any further acts of violence.”

Sososo, appearing with a chilling gaze that could freeze even the moonlight, was truly the embodiment of an Emperor who ruled over all.

Thanks to that, one of the two major problems I had to solve, the confrontation with the North Sea Ice Palace guards, was resolved.

…Now, there’s one problem left.

The repair cost for the inn wall I shattered with the Ice-Breaking Palm.

‘…The hole is really big.’

Facing reality, I couldn’t help but sigh.

…

…

…

“…Huh? You received the repair cost?”

At my dumbfounded question, the inn owner smiled cheerfully and nodded.

“Yes, a friend of yours paid for it all. Ah, do you need anything else? Just say the word. I’ll prepare anything for you.”

The inn owner’s attitude was so warm, you’d never think his business had been damaged.

That’s because a man who introduced himself as Mantian’s acquaintance paid a hefty repair fee.

One of the Three Evils of the Martial World, and a sworn brother of the Sima Family Head, the nameless one, paid an amount that could not only repair the wall but build a new inn.

‘If only he’d broken a couple more walls…’

…But unlike the inn owner, whose pockets were now full and in high spirits, Mantian was only confused by the sudden appearance of this mysterious acquaintance who paid the repair fee.

“Where is the person who paid the repair cost…?”

“He said he had urgent business and left after paying.”

He just paid and left without a word? That’s too good to be true. Suspicious.

“Then, what’s his name? What did he look like?”

“Well… He only introduced himself as an acquaintance, so I didn’t get his name. As for his appearance, except for the dark circles under his eyes, he was an unremarkable, blurry-looking man.”

A man with no distinguishing features except for dark circles under his eyes… I have no idea. No one comes to mind.

“Ah, now that I think of it… He asked me to pass on a message to you.”

Perhaps a clue to his identity, so I quietly closed my mouth and waited for the inn owner’s next words.

“He said, ‘When using the Thousand-Pound Hammer, you’re putting too much force into it. Try to relax a bit.'”

“…Huh?”

The Thousand-Pound Hammer is a martial technique that increases the body’s weight using internal energy. Naturally, with increased weight, more force is exerted. But to relax? What does that even mean?

Wait, more importantly, unsolicited martial advice?

I always welcome martial teachings, but it’d be nice if he introduced himself first.

…I thought maybe my father secretly hired a martial arts master to follow me, but it was just a guess, so no answer came.

I really have no idea.

I sighed and silently gazed at the completely shattered wall, letting the cool breeze blow through the hole.

…Still, I’m really grateful he paid the repair cost.

***

Seven years ago, in the Martial World, there was a rising sun and the most beautiful moon.

Namely—the young head of the Namgung Family, Namgung Seon, and the princess of the North Sea Ice Palace, Seol Wonhwa, Sososo’s most beloved and respected parents.

Despite being busy with family affairs, Namgung Seon made time to play with his adorable daughter, and Seol Wonhwa would joyfully tell Sososo stories of chivalrous heroes and legends every evening.

Thus, Sososo didn’t mind the whispers of rebellion behind her back or wearing men’s clothes instead of the cute dresses she wanted.

She believed without a doubt that her happy daily life, waking up next to her loving parents, would continue like the rising morning sun.

…However, Sososo’s happiness was torn to shreds by a monster that appeared one day.

The Three Evils of the Martial World—three bandits who toyed with the laws and order of the Martial World, threatening all.

The Eight-Foot Monster, the Quick Blade Chaos, and the Nameless Invincible.

No one knows who among the Three Evils is the strongest. But if you had to pick the most dangerous, it would undoubtedly be the Nameless Invincible.

Unlike the Eight-Foot Monster, who only steals martial arts without killing, and the Quick Blade Chaos, who only kills those who challenge him, the Nameless Invincible is an assassin.

He kills anyone for the right price.

Assassins usually have their limits, but the Nameless Invincible is different. He really kills anyone.

Even if it’s royalty, sect leaders, or family heads, as long as the price is paid, he’ll kill them.

A monster over ten feet tall, covered in black fur, with fire spewing from its eyes and mouth.

…Nonsense.

The Nameless Invincible is a man of average build with a blurry appearance. His only distinguishing feature is the deep dark circles under his eyes.

He appeared suddenly, like a natural disaster, like death itself.

“Sorry for the sudden intrusion, but I need to kidnap the head of the Namgung Family to lure him out.”

At twelve years old, Sososo stood before the mutilated bodies of the guards, unable to say anything to the assassin reaching out to her.

“…My dad is the strongest martial artist. He won’t lose to someone like you. He’ll definitely save me.”

Only after being kidnapped for a while did Sososo, with tears swallowed, speak to the assassin who hadn’t even tied her up, just left her by his side.

But in response to her brave cry, the assassin only nodded with a weary smile.

“…I hope so. I don’t like killing parents in front of their child either.”

Namgung Seon and Seol Wonhwa, upon hearing their beloved child had been kidnapped, ignored all劝阻 and rushed to the kidnapping site.

On a beautiful moonlit winter evening.

The first thing Sososo saw was the Nameless Invincible’s arm, moving like a giant demon dragon, shattering the Emperor’s Sword.

The second thing she saw was her mother, who had stepped in to protect her father, being pierced through the abdomen by a blood-red fist.

…Sososo could do nothing.

Looking around with blank eyes, no hero appeared to defeat the villain and save Sososo and her parents, as in the stories her mother used to read at bedtime.

Even as her father’s head was severed as a trophy, Sososo could do nothing.

Even as he calmly turned his back. She could do nothing.

“Sorry, but it must be hard watching your parents’ corpses. The Namgung Family warriors will swarm here soon. Please wait here.”

With those words, the Nameless Invincible slowly disappeared into the falling snow.

Sososo still could do nothing.

Because she was just a weak, useless brat who couldn’t help but wanted to be killed.

…

…

…

Sososo quietly opened her eyes and sat up on the bed.

It seemed she had dozed off while putting the exhausted Wolhwa to bed.

“Haa… Haa…”

Perhaps because of the nightmare she hadn’t had in a long time, a chill ran through her body.

It’s hard to breathe.

When she had nightmares as a child, her mother or father would gently hug her and pat her back.

…But now, there were no parents to pat her back.

Whether it was another faction within the Namgung Family or the royal family who hired the Nameless Invincible, no one knows.

Regardless, they died because of a cursed child who should never have been born.

They were killed so meaninglessly.

“……”

Thus, Sososo unconsciously stumbled out of the room, searching for Mantian.

Standing on the second-floor railing, she saw Mantian’s back on the first floor of the inn.

Unlike a coward like herself…

Someone who, no matter the opponent or their numbers, would stand and fight without running, instilling a sense of security in those who saw him—

The true hero’s back.