Chapter 65

Chapter 65

It’s nothing new, but I used to like my family quite a bit.

Actually, it would be strange not to. A taciturn but respectable father and an occasionally mischievous but kind mother. An older brother who taught me many things and a younger sister who followed me like a parent.

There was no reason to dislike them. Even if I had been rough around the edges, it would have been the same, but I wasn’t even rough. I thought it was a blessed environment.

—I cannot tell you.

—……Why not?

—Because you shouldn’t know.

At least. Until Mother was found as a corpse and I realized Father was hiding something.

“Huu.”

I sighed and looked around. The training ground submerged in silence.

After finishing her declaration, Baek Risan disappeared from the training ground, citing personal training as her reason.

I understand. If she’s not going to learn anything from me, training martial arts at this training ground would only expose her capabilities to the enemy.

From Baek Risan’s position, having declared she’d crush Muryeongwan, revealing her capabilities to me, who is serving as Muryeongwan’s instructor, wouldn’t be pleasant. So there’s no need to train martial arts here.

It’s a rational decision. If she clearly recognizes me as the enemy, it’s not strange to do so.

Enemy.

—Brother! Watch my swordsmanship!

……Enemy, she says.

“Hmm.”

After remaining silent, I cleared my throat at the Mujeongwando staring blankly at me and opened my mouth. Attention gathering in an instant, as if I would say something.

“……Aren’t you all going to train?”

“What? But isn’t training finished?”

“There’s a lot of time left, so you should do self-training at least. Either way, I’m standing in for Cheongryoo today, so I’ll observe you even during self-training.”

Even if I leave here, no one will reproach me. Either way, I gave them teachings, and those teachings will be of great help to them in the long term.

However, just because no one will condemn me doesn’t mean I’ll neglect my duties. After all, didn’t Cheongryoo and I agree to switch the instructor position for one day?

The upright Cheongryoo would be earnestly teaching the Muryeongwando by now. So I also have a duty to teach them as if I’ve become a real instructor. I should give as much as I receive.

“If you have any blocked parts during self-training, or parts you’re curious about, come find me. If you’re training scattered around, I’ll go around and point things out on my own. Understood?”

“I have a question. Instructor Baek Riyun!”

“Mm.”

The moment my words ended, seeing the young man raising his hand, I narrowed my eyes. That subtly slippery large frame must be…….

“It’s Paeng Jin. Yes. What question do you have?”

“I’m curious why you ran away from home fifteen years ago!”

“……What?”

Pyeok!

“Aaaak!”

At the absurd question, the moment I questioned back, Cheonggyeong, who immediately struck Paeng Jin’s side, bowed deeply.

“I apologize. Instructor. Donor Paeng Jin originally lacks propriety and awareness…… I will apologize on his behalf.”

“……No. It’s understandable.”

I sighed at the difficult question and shook my head. At least it’s not something I can tell an outsider.

Come to think of it, the Paeng Family was all like that.

Even if it were Paeng Geuk instead of Paeng Jin in this place, he would have bluntly asked why I ran away from home. The Paeng Family types all have muscles filling their heads. They don’t even think about how rude it is to dig deeply into others’ family matters.

“You should apologize too, Donor.”

“Mmm, but I’m curious.”

“Hurry up.”

At Cheonggyeong’s chilling glance, Paeng Jin, who flinched, slightly bowed his head toward me.

“I apologize. Instructor.”

“……That’s enough. I’ve accepted the apology, so now return to your places and devote yourselves to training.”

“Yes.”

Having finished speaking, when I waved my hand, the gathered Mujeongwando began to scatter one by one to various places around the spacious training ground. Soon, the Mujeongwando starting training individually or gathering in groups of three or five.

“Huu.”

I sighed and moved to the side, glancing up at the sky. A clear sky contrary to my mood.

“An excuse.”

Make your excuses.

Baek Risan told me that. However, there are no words I can say. Just like Baek Rigang before me back then, I can’t tell Baek Risan anything.

Because the moment I tell her, peace will shatter.

Because everything Mother tried to protect will come to nothing.

“……Old memories are surfacing unnecessarily.”

Have I only aged in foolishness?

Sighing deeply and moving to a corner of the training ground so as not to be in the way, I suddenly turned my head at a gaze I felt. A voice that immediately followed.

“I have something to ask.”

“Your speech has become informal.”

“It’s my personality. If it’s uncomfortable, I’ll fix it.”

“I don’t mind. I was just curious since you were formal earlier.”

“I distinguish official occasions.”

At the light answer, I examined the other party. Well, I couldn’t imagine this opponent would ask me something.

Because it was Namgung Hyeon.

“That story earlier.”

“……I don’t intend to tell that story. It’s not something to tell an outsider either.”

“I wasn’t asking you to tell me.”

“Then?”

“I just wanted to talk about related matters.”

Namgung Hyeon, who looked at me with deeply settled eyes impossible to read, briefly turned his gaze outside the training ground, then back to me.

“The probability of Muryeongwan winning this competition is low.”

“You’re making assertions without even competing.”

“I’m not saying we can’t lose, but that’s how the objective situation is. Mujeongwan has me, Paeng Jin, Cheonggyeong, and above all, Baek Risan. Will you deny it?”

“No.”

I immediately shook my head at Namgung Hyeon’s words. Objectively, Mujeongwan has a higher probability.

Looking at the overall level, the Muryeongwando can’t surpass Mujeongwan. Moreover, if Namgung Hyeon and Baek Risan, whom I just saw, are holding firm, it will be even more difficult.

“So there’s something I want to ask.”

“A request.”

“It’s a request only you can fulfill.”

“In this context, it sounds like you’re telling me to forfeit since we can’t win.”

“No.”

Namgung Hyeon, who lightly denied my speculation, briefly closed his eyes, then quietly lifted his eyelids. As if making some decision.

And.

“In this competition, us.”

At the statement that immediately followed, my eyes widened.

“Crush Mujeongwan.”

Training ended.

“Mmm, if it comes like this, then like this…… like this? Mmmm.”

On the way from the training ground to the lodging, Paeng Jin, who had been thinking about how to counter the forms Baek Riyun showed, scratched his head vigorously and raised his head sharply to shout.

“So frustrating I could die! Just a bit more and I feel like I could figure out how to break through!”

“Don’t be hasty. Donor Paeng Jin. Don’t they say the more you hurry, the longer the detour?”

“I say that because it seems possible! If I had to compare, it’s like. A sneeze feels like it’s coming but doesn’t actually come out, that feeling.”

“That’s terrible.”

“Why do you talk like that…… You make people feel self-conscious. Don’t you think so too? Namgung Hyeon.”

“I don’t.”

“Heuk. This side is cold as the north wind. They’re all ice blocks. Can’t you treat me a bit more warmly? Hm?”

Paeng Jin, who waved his hand and lightly joked around, blinked at the lack of response and glanced at Namgung Hyeon walking ahead. Namgung Hyeon walking quietly, absorbed in thought, unaware that Paeng Jin was looking at him.

“……Cheonggyeong, why is he like that?”

“This poor monk didn’t learn mind-reading, so I don’t know.”

“Why is he like that? Did he eat something wrong?”

“Do you think Donor Namgung Hyeon has no thoughts?”

“He always gives short answers, so I thought he didn’t think about anything except martial arts.”

“……A dog is barking somewhere in the distance.”

Namgung Hyeon, who heard the distant voices with one ear and let them pass through the other, walked the path leading to the lodging while deeply absorbed in thought. Thoughts sinking deeply into the past.

“Sixteen years, was it?”

He first met Baek Risan sixteen years ago at a gathering of the Five Great Families.

—Hello! I’m Baek Risan!

—You’re noisy.

—What? Wanna die?

—You can’t even speak properly. Do you know how to hold a sword?

—What! I use it way better than you! You look so weak!

—……I can’t overlook those words.

—Then let’s have a match!

A gathering where the family heads brought young blood relatives.

The first Baek Risan he met was a bratty, annoying little kid. Though she was a year younger than Namgung Hyeon himself, she kept acting cocky.

He remembers deciding to have a friendly match because it was irritating. Children his age would either lose spirit when sparring with him or look at him with frustrated eyes afterward and not speak to him again.

However.

—I lost!

—Since you lost, don’t pick fights anymore.

—Huh? Why?

—……The superior and inferior have been determined, so what’s the point of sparring?

—It’s fun though!

—……Fun, even though you lost?

—Yeah. My big brother says martial arts are fun! Isn’t it fun for you?

—It’s not fun.

—Then why do you swing a sword?

—…….

Unlike others, even after sparring, Baek Risan didn’t change and continued following Namgung Hyeon around requesting matches.

—Don’t you get tired?

Perhaps from that time, Namgung Hyeon considered Baek Risan his rival. Among his peers, there was no one who wouldn’t distance themselves after fighting him.

—I hate losing.

After parting.

He polished his martial arts waiting for the day they’d meet again. Because he hated losing.

He didn’t know what he was learning martial arts for. He just learned it because it was a duty. However, just thinking there was someone learning together, just thinking there was a competitor, learning martial arts became fun. That’s why Namgung Hyeon learned martial arts more diligently than anyone. And.

—It’s been a while. Baek Risan. Twelve years…… what are you doing right now?

When he enrolled in Mujeongwan and learned Baek Risan was in the same class, what Namgung Hyeon, who went to find her, saw was.

—Don’t talk to me. I’m training.

Baek Risan training with blood-soaked bandages wrapped around her hands.

‘She forgot how to enjoy it.’

She doesn’t avoid sparring if requested. That’s the same as before. However, the Baek Risan who enjoyed martial arts no longer exists. The current Baek Risan only swings her sword for hatred.

Sixteen years ago, Baek Risan wasn’t like that. She felt joy in swinging the sword itself. And Namgung Hyeon admired that Baek Risan.

He didn’t know why she changed so much. Until now, Baek Risan hadn’t told him why she learned martial arts.

However, it became clear today. The reason Baek Risan swings her sword.

Though he was the very person who taught her the fun of swords, Baek Risan swung her sword to vent her resentment at Baek Riyun.

‘There’s nothing I can do.’

He knows.

Even if Muryeongwan is overwhelmingly crushed here and now, Baek Risan’s hatred won’t be resolved. Befitting the young Family Head of the Namgung Family, which has been engaged in fierce battle with the Sado Alliance for over ten years, Namgung Hyeon was clearly seeing the current situation.

Then what should be done? To regain the past Baek Risan.

There’s only one method.

—Crush Mujeongwan.

Mujeongwan’s defeat.

Placing expectations on Baek Riyun.

—I can’t hold back.

If he holds back, she’ll notice immediately.

—Myself included, the Mujeongwando will approach this competition with full strength.

If they don’t approach with full strength, there will be room for excuses.

—So crush Mujeongwan at full strength. At least so Baek Risan can look at herself.

She needs a trigger.

He said that, and Baek Riyun answered.

—Why would you go that far? For San-a.

—Why.

—……I won’t allow it.

—I have a fiancée.

—Then why?

Why.

Why indeed.

The answer was the same then and now.

—Because she’s my first friend.

I just want to see my friend again.

“Hey, Namgung Hyeon. Namgung punk!”

“I’m listening.”

“We’ve arrived. Stop thinking and open the door!”

“……Is that so?”

At Paeng Jin’s voice, Namgung Hyeon, who raised his gaze, looked at the lodging’s main gate and reached his hand forward. Soon, the gate opening with a creaking sound.

“Interfering in others’ family matters is difficult.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Get away. You smell.”

“I’m going to wash after going in. You bastard!”

Namgung Hyeon, who pushed away Paeng Jin pressing his ear close, recalled Baek Riyun’s last words. Baek Riyun’s voice lingering in his ears.

—You don’t need to ask.

He did everything he could. What remains is just waiting.

—I was planning to win anyway.

Recalling Baek Riyun’s low but confident voice, Namgung Hyeon threw open the main gate wide to enter the lodging.

And.

One week passed.