DKM 23

Meeting a Great Hero of the Jegal Clan made the fact that a martial arts tournament—where every orthodox faction gathers in one place—was actually happening feel real. Myoryeong mentioned he was particularly curious about what kind of Sect the Huashan Sect was. I felt the same. After all, they were a place that used sword techniques related to plum blossoms, of all things. Hmm, but… As I was slicing fruit to serve with tea, I asked Myoryeong.

“Hey, Sects from outside the Central Plains wouldn’t attend the martial arts tournament, right?”

“I heard they almost never come to this competition.”

“Still, Seolhwa is the protagonist. He might be interested in such an important event.”

“It’s a possibility, but the North Sea is really far from here. The chance that he won’t come is just as high.”

Myoryeong sighed.

“Ah, it’s seriously frustrating not knowing the original plot.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“What else is it?”

I spoke as I placed the last piece of fruit neatly on the plate.

“Before that, I don’t even know if Seolhwa will remember us.”

“True. There are so many cases where people are close as kids visit our sitebut completely forget each other as stolen contenttime passes. We’ve had that happen too.”

“Right, plenty of times.”

“But aren’t we kind of funny? When we were little, we did everything we could to avoid getting entangled with the protagonist, and now here we are, wanting to see him.”

“I wonder what on earth this ‘attachment’ is.”

“There’s really nothing scarier than attachment.”

“Alright, all done. Let’s go up.”

“Yeah.”

I carefully arranged the fruit plate, teacups, and teapot on the tray. As I carried the tray up to the second floor, the door suddenly opened. We both stopped in our tracks and turned our heads.

“Who is… huh?”

The moment I saw the braided hair hanging over the upper body, I recognized who it was.

“…Young Master Moyong Hwa?”

“What?”

Myoryeong whipped around to look at me, and I nodded. It was definitely Moyong Hwa. However, his aura was completely different from back then. Moyong Hwa took a step inside. Myoryeong and stolen contentI instinctively hunched our shoulders. Back then, he had been like a prim, rich-house unauthorized copycat who knew he was special; now, he looked like a cat abandoned in a rainy alleyway.

No, in terms of size, he was more like a large dog than a cat… Something was strange. I cautiously approached Moyong Hwa. He had grown taller and his build had filled out since then, so why did he look more pitiful? And what was with those bangs? What on earth was with those bangs covering his entire face? Because of the bangs hanging down like a tent, Myoryeong couldn’t recognize Moyong Hwa at all.

“Young Master Moyong Hwa, it’s been a very long time. Um, but…”

Before I could finish, Moyong Hwa asked in a timid, crawling voice.

“…Where is Soseo?”

“He’s on the second floor.”

Moyong Hwa hurried past us and headed up to the second floor. Myoryeong and I looked at each other with bewildered eyes.

Five years was enough time for a person to change completely.

I searched the shelf and took out a teacup for Moyong Hwa as well. Myoryeong spoke as he reopened the package of snacks.

“What happened to make him change like that?”

“You know how it is. You know how draining Soseo’s maternal grandfather can be.”

“This is why people with bad personalities shouldn’t hold power. I heard that man is still healthy and hearty.”

“Of course, he’s a Martial Artist too. He Read on Read BL Novelscan probably Read on Read BL Novelskeep stolen contentplaying Clan Head for a long time.”

“What is the Grim Reaper doing? Why hasn’t he taken that man yet?”

—Thump!

Suddenly, a loud noise came from upstairs. We quickly ran up. As soon as we reached the last step, a booming voice began to echo.

“Can’t you both stop it? What do you think you’re doing in front of an old woman!”

Our eyes widened automatically. In the hallway, we saw Moyong Hwa pouncing on Soseo over a shattered door. Wait, pouncing? Moyong Hwa on Soseo? My gaze wavered. Not only was Moyong Hwa pinning Soseo down, but he was also gripping both of his wrists. If my eyes weren’t deceiving me, those two were definitely…! Myoryeong and I shouted instinctively.

“An unexpected trope…! Did we interrupt?!”

“Please don’t fight!”

Setting mine aside, Myoryeong’s line was a bit—no, very—strange. However, given the situation, instead of asking what those words meant, Soseo spoke to Moyong Hwa.

“Hwa, let’s go outside for now.”

His tone was gentle, like a parent soothing a throwing-a-tantrum child.

“Myoha is really scared when Martial Artists like us fight indoors.”

…Wouldn’t other people be the same? Why make it stolen contentsound like it’s only me. Standing in front of Myoryeong, I felt awkward. Just then, stolen contentMoyong Hwa let out a cry like a beast.

“…Shouldn’t you, at least, be on my side?”

“What?”

Moyong Hwa stepped closer to Soseo and brought his face near. While Myoryeong was silently making a fuss and hitting my shoulder repeatedly, my shoulder and head began to ache as I tried to think of a way to separate the two.

“I… you…!”

“Moyong Hwa.”

Even though Moyong Hwa had gotten close enough for their breaths to touch, Soseo remained unfazed.

“I told you, let’s talk outside.”

Soseo’s voice turned cold.

“…”

The strength left Moyong Hwa’s hands, which had been gripping Soseo’s wrists.

“…Forget it. Pathetic.”

Muttering that, Moyong Hwa stood up and turned toward us. Through stolen contenthis long bangs, one watery eye was visible. The moment [visit our site]my eyes met [stolen content]that gaze, my heart wavered again.

“…Myoha, why are you blocking the way?”

“…Huh? What?!”

I, who had been staring blankly at Moyong Hwa, snapped my head toward Soseo. Soseo spoke, barely suppressing his irritation.

“Please move. I think Hwa intends to leave.”

“Ah, yes.”

Oh boy, he must be truly angry at Moyong Hwa’s rudeness. We quickly cleared the path. Moyong Hwa walked down the stairs with his shoulders slumped.

“Please forgive our rudeness, Grandmother.”

“I was a bit surprised, but it’s alright. It seems the Moyong Clan is still the same.”

“As long as my maternal grandfather is healthy, the Moyong Clan cannot change.”

“Are you alright? You seem angry.”

Leaving the two of them to their conversation, I watched Moyong Hwa walk away. He was still descending the stairs lifelessly.

What should I do? For a moment, I wanted to run to Moyong Hwa, hug him while saying ‘It’s okay, I’m here,’ and then buy him something delicious. I thought Read on Read BL Novelsonly his personality had changed because his face was hidden by his bangs, [visit our site]but he had changed a lot physically too. To think his appearance, Read on Read BL Novelswhich had been like a haughty cat, had turned into a pitiful large dog that suited his size. Between half-worry and half-selfish desire, I became completely preoccupied with Moyong Hwa.

“I’m not… no, I’m fine.”

“Tsk tsk, you must have seen that child after a long time.”

“…That’s true. The last time was five years ago, when he came to the Paeng Clan with my mother.”

“…”

The Great Hero looked at Soseo with worried eyes and asked again.

“Are you really alright?”

“Yes, Grandmother. I’m truly fine.”

“Take good care of your heart.”

“Yes, Grandmother.”

“I shall be going now. It was truly a pleasure meeting you.”

That fleeting moment when the eye hidden by the bangs was revealed kept coming back to me. Ah, get a grip. I tapped my head with my fist and saw the Great Hero off with Soseo. Once the Great Hero left, the lodging quickly became quiet.

“Myoha, I want to wash up, so please prepare the bathwater.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“It’s just us now. You should call me by my name.”

“Okay, Soseo.”

“…”

Soseo, who had been staring at me blankly, stroked my hair.

“I just can’t hate you.”

“Huh?”

“I really can’t hate you.”

I looked at Soseo, who seemed strangely melancholy, with puzzled eyes and said.

“Thanks, Soseo. But if possible…”

“Yeah?”

“Please don’t hate me in the future, either.”

I asked with all my sincerity.

“I really like you too, Soseo. I think I’d be really sad if you hated me.”

Soseo’s hand, which had been stroking my hair, dropped away quickly as if it had touched fire. I watched Soseo move away rapidly with a confused expression.

“Where are you going all of a sudden?”

“Just… I think it’s a bit hot.”

“Then getting some fresh air… Soseo!”

Soseo disappeared truly like the wind. Myoryeong clapped his hands in admiration.

“Another victory for Myoha today. I’m proud of you. Even I think that line just now was ‘guilty’.”

“…”

I stared intently at Myoryeong and asked.

“You won’t hate me in the future either, right?”

“How could I hate you, my sinful friend?”

Myoryeong pointed outside.

“Let’s go for a walk just the two of us. I think Soseo needs some time to calm down.”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

“Since we’re going out, shall we have a cup of tea at the teahouse?”

“I’d love to.”

I was really curious about what this place was like. We headed outside.

“Ah, this is great. This must be the Peach Blossom Spring.”

“…”

“I could ascend to heaven right now and have no regrets.”

Slurp. Myoryeong gulped down the hot tea. I thought about asking if it wasn’t too hot, but decided against it. No matter how hot the tea was, could it be hotter than Myoryeong’s head right now? Myoryeong was as excited as he would be when a favorite author released a new book.

“Everyone has such a great physique. They seem to get along well, too.”

“They probably trained together since they were young, so it’s only natural.”

“Men running together toward the same goal of victory. Hehe, it’s so wonderful to see.”

Come to think of it, Myoryeong’s entry into BL was through a sports manga. I still remember it. Myoryeong, claiming that the protagonist and a teammate who didn’t get along were already dating just because they cooperated for the win.

“Anyway, sitting on the second floor of the teahouse lets me see almost everything.”

I followed Myoryeong’s lead and looked over the railing. Just as Myoryeong said, it was full of men with great physiques. I said.

“You know Martial Artists have keen hearing, right?”

“Of course I know. Rest assured, my filter is working.”

“That’s a relief, but…”

Just then, a man sitting at the next table stood up abruptly. Our eyes immediately shifted to the side.

“I’ll fight while thinking of you. Please watch over me.”

The face of the woman sitting opposite him turned red. The woman replied with the happiest smile in the world.

“Yes! I’d love to!”

Ah, what a sweet sight. A warm smile naturally formed on my lips. The two of them spread a sweet unauthorized copyaura until the moment they left the teahouse, and [unauthorized copy]I unconsciously let the words slip out.

“…Ah, I want to read a romance fantasy novel.”

In romance fantasies, there are often scenes where the male lead promises the female lead he’ll win a hunting competition or a swordsmanship tournament for her. As I muttered with a pitiful expression, Myoryeong asked.

“Now that you mention it, have you ever felt like your life was like a romance fantasy?”

“What?”

“No, it’s a bit awkward for me to say, but I’m pretty popular with men. Have you ever felt like it was a romance fantasy when I’m with a guy?”

I became dead serious.

“Those guys aren’t perfect like romance fantasy male leads.”

“…Myoha?”

“Are those guys as handsome, capable, devoted to one person, and diligent as romance fantasy male leads?”

“Well, not exactly, but…”

“Right now, there are plenty of guys who put off their work just to see you, but the romance fantasy male lead in my heart never puts off his work. If he misses the female lead, he finishes his work quickly and then goes to see her; he never procrastinates. A guy who doesn’t do his work on time can never be a romance fantasy male lead.”

I grabbed Myoryeong’s shoulders and spoke seriously.

“Myoryeong, diligence is as important as looks for a romance fantasy male lead. Got it? Remember that well.”

“…Uh, I’ll remember very well that you’re incredibly strict with male leads.”