Whether he’s the protagonist or not, he’s definitely someone related to the matter.
If he truly didn’t know, he wouldn’t have hesitated to answer.
It seemed like he had skillfully concealed things while pretending to act, but…
If someone asks outright about a name that no one should know, it would be hard not to react.
“I apologize. It appears I have mistaken you for someone else.”
“No, the fault is mine for not answering your question.”
The person I almost definitely identified as the protagonist accepted my apology with a formal bow. I reciprocated the gesture and bowed my head, then turned around and spoke to Hye-ryeong who was looking at me curiously.
“Let’s go see the rest.”
“Who are you talking about? You startled me with your sudden outburst.”
Hye-ryeong asked directly as she followed me. Naturally, she couldn’t help but be curious.
“…I thought I knew him, but I was mistaken.”
“Someone you know?”
Hye-ryeong looked at me as if asking what I meant by that. After a brief pause, I recounted something that had happened when I visited Red Cliff.
One of the bodyguards there had the surname Dan, and also asked me to inquire about his younger brother. Fortunately, Hye-ryeong readily accepted my explanation.
“I see…”
“I’m sorry for surprising you.”
“No, if there were circumstances like that, it’s understandable! Do you need help?”
“No. If I stay around here long enough, I’ll likely meet him.”
More specifically, he will come looking.
It wasn’t random when I spoke to the figure in the distance who was looking at my back. Given the original story’s events, this mere interaction might lead to meaningful actions.
The real conversation starts from there.
“…Mister, let’s go somewhere else.”
“Where?”
“Hmm… I just want to take a stroll around!”
“Alright, let’s go.”
With the objective achieved, I could now relax and enjoy the walk. Hye-ryeong and I left the patrol headquarters together.
—
—
“Good night, mister!”
“You too, sleep well.”
After a hectic day, I entered the dark room and lit the lantern. The faint glow of the lit lantern spread a minuscule warmth through the chilly room.
It wasn’t nearly enough to make the room warm, but even this was already not too bad.
You can’t expect a boiler in this era anyway. All of the martial artists lodging here could withstand the cold without catching a cold. As such, this little flame was enough for heating.
I sat on my bed, picked up the sword leaning beside me, and drew it from its sheath.
The sword shimmered with a golden light under the lantern’s glow. Even though I had polished it yesterday, skipping a day wouldn’t be a big problem, but if a swordsman doesn’t treasure his sword, who will?
I started to clean the blade with a cloth slightly dampened with oil.
Thanks to daily maintenance, the process didn’t take too long. Carefully wiping the blade without a single notch, I placed it back in its sheath and took out the manual of Mysterious Shadow Steps from the drawer.
There’s still time remaining, so I should read the manual.
Although I don’t fully understand the content yet, I need to increase my comprehension as much as possible since it will be essential for modifying the light-body skills to suit the Western style.
The Western arts aren’t as intricately designed in the use of mana currents as here.
The martial arts of the Central Plains are all based on these mana currents, known as blood meridians or energy pathways, and thus differ considerably from what Atsu practices.
First, if you want to learn martial arts, you either have to learn the flow of internal energy directly from a master or you have to memorize the meridians at the very least. That’s the foundation upon which the Central Plains martial techniques branch out.
Western arts, on the other hand, value simplicity over complexity. At least, the knight style arts do.
In any case, they focus more on external techniques than on internal energy cultivation. Initially, the region isn’t conducive to accumulating internal energy, nor do they have an abundance of elixirs like the Central Plains.
To the point where some people try to gather aura by eating volcanic ash at Mt. Vesuvius.
Because of such harsh conditions, it became necessary to learn how to use mana currents more delicately.
First, you must remember the meridians, understand the methods of internal energy operation, and even the cultivation techniques… Honestly, I don’t know if I can learn them. Anyway, I have a mountain of things to study, and if I can enter the archives of the Martial Alliance in the future, I should go there.
…I have so much to do.
It would be nice if they hurry up and come.
Looking out the window.
Night, when everyone is getting ready to sleep. Stars dot the night sky outside my window. I gazed at them absently and laid back on the bed to read the manual.
Not the best posture for studying, but if I don’t do it now, it will never happen.
Spending the time reading the manual, I quietly placed it back in the drawer and closed my eyes.
Because they will definitely not reveal themselves while I am fully awake.
—
“…Wake up.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to put the blade away first and talk?”
I glanced at the blade against my neck.
“…So, you knew I was coming.”
A sharp and prickly voice tickled my ear.
Just as I had foreseen, the protagonist of this world snuck into my room at dawn, watching me with eyes full of caution. A mix of hostility, wariness, and curiosity filled his gaze.
Now that I’ve deliberately provoked this reaction, it’s time to proceed according to my plan.
“It wasn’t with ill intentions toward you, so why don’t you put the sword away?”
“…”
Dangerously close. I could feel the cold sensation of the blade pressed against my neck as I stood up. The blade naturally followed the movement of my neck, but it wasn’t something I needed to worry about.
At least, if my memory serves, this kid doesn’t stand a chance against me now.
“I’ll cut you down if you make unnecessary moves.”
“Mind if I lean against the wall?”
“…”
I quietly leaned against the wall.
In that position, I looked up at Dan Mok-kyeong and asked:
“Tell me what you want to know.”
“How did you…know my name?”
“So, you are Dan Mok-kyeong.”
“How did you know? I’ve never heard that Yunan Dang family has ties to any colored-eyed people.”
Naturally, you wouldn’t have heard it because there is no such connection. But, as someone who read the original story, I have prepared a plausible excuse.
“I met a man named Dang Gang-un before. He told me about you, Dan Mok-kyeong. He asked me to find you.”
“That’s absurd. My uncle was certainly…”
Mok-kyeong’s eyes widened. She seemed startled by the unexpected mention of her uncle.
“This person left me with a message. There’s an inheritance from the Yunan Dang family hidden in the waterfall where you used to play often.”
Mok-kyeong’s face was full of confusion. The shock of learning that I had met her uncle, whom she thought was dead, and that he had given me a message.
Watching her reaction, I thought:
If my lie holds, then I could be considered a benefactor… at the very least, the relationship should improve beyond one where a sword is closer than words.
I’m not planning to fight the protagonist, so if this misunderstanding clears up, things should be fine…
“…You were a benefactor.”
Mok-kyeong lowered her blade and bowed to me formally.
With a genuinely apologetic face, I waved it off and spoke:
“Let’s not make it sound so grand. Just make sure you go and check it out.”
“…Thank you. But… where did you meet my uncle?”
The location of the uncle.
I racked my brain through the original story’s details and answered.
“I met him in Huanning of Yunan.”
“R-right… do you know where he is now?”
“…No. The last time I met him, he was already on the verge of death.”
Since he was found somewhere in Huanning and buried by a herb gatherer, you should be able to find him if you look.
“…”
Is this really what I had become, someone who spews lies effortlessly?
I marveled at myself while observing Mok-kyeong’s reaction.
Mok-kyeong was whispering “Uncle…” with a faint voice, looking down at the floor.
I waited silently, allowing the protagonist who had lost everything to immerse herself in her emotions.
Her family was wiped out. The will delivered by her supposedly deceased uncle must have overwhelmed her with emotion.
Of course, it is all a lie.
How much time had passed? Mok-kyeong once again bowed deeply to me.
“Thank you, Eun-gong.”
“It’s getting late. You should head back now.”
“Alright, then…”
“Hold on. Don’t move.”
“Excuse me?”
I quickly grabbed my longsword and pointed it toward the door. Just then, the door opened, and a sword flew out of the darkness, lunging toward Mok-kyeong.
My longsword, which I had positioned in the expected path, blocked its trajectory. The floating sword wavered, and a familiar silhouette emerged from the darkness.
“Auntie?”
“Hye-ryeong, this person is not an enemy, so lower your sword.”
This is precisely why I dislike having the rooms next to each other.
Sighing at the worsening situation, I let out a deep breath.
