DKM 12
The woman in the pavilion looked exactly like the female lead from my fourth favorite “regret-trope” romance fantasy novel. It was a story about a female lead who was misunderstood as a villainess because of a fake-nice antagonist, and she eventually finds her own life. I couldn’t stop reading it because her face was exactly my type. If that female lead existed in reality, she would definitely feel like this. As if possessed, I stared blankly at the woman’s natural-monument-grade beauty before quickly snapping back to my senses and speaking.
“I’m sorry for staring!”
“No need to apologize. Seeing a cute child like you makes my heart glad as well. But why were you staring at me?”
“Uh, well.”
Hundreds of fangirl compliments flashed through my mind. I cleared my throat and barely managed to answer.
“Because you’re so pretty….”
“Hmm?”
Once again, my linguistic abilities were meager. However, my passion for beautiful people is second to none. I shouted passionately.
“You’re really pretty. A total face genius!”
“You speak in riddles I do not understand.”
My heart was racing so fast that I couldn’t meet her eyes, so I let my gaze wander, only to suddenly discover a sword resting behind her. No way, this is cheating. I asked hurriedly.
“Is that a sword?”
“Can you not tell by looking? Of course it is a sword.”
“A-Are you perhaps a Martial Artist…?!”
The woman gave a thin smile.
“I am.”
This is really too much. Does she live life alone? To be this beautiful and know how to use a sword. As I struggled to contain my excitement, the woman asked.
“You seem even happier than before. Do you also dream of becoming a Martial Artist?”
“Ah, it’s not that.”
I quickly shook my head.
“There are too many things I don’t know, so I can’t even dream of being a Martial Artist.”
“What do you mean? If there is something you do not know, you simply learn it.”
The woman even clicked her tongue as she asked.
“Just what is it that you do not know, that makes you believe you cannot become a Martial Artist?”
“Huh?”
“You said you don’t know many things. Go on, tell me. I shall teach you such trivialities.”
“Ah, really? Thank you. Well, I actually don’t know more than you’d imagine, but first….”
I asked the woman the thing I hadn’t been able to hear from Soseo earlier.
“What is the Demonic Cult?”
The woman’s hand, which had been gently waving her fan, stopped. She stared at me in silence. Why the sudden change? My face flushed again under her gaze. As I fidgeted, the woman tapped my cheek with the tip of her fan and spoke.
“Was he not a cute child, but simply a stupid one?”
“…I’m sorry. I guess I asked too stupid of a question. I know they’re generally bad guys, but I just didn’t know why they’re bad.”
I had expected it, but asking what the Demonic Cult was must have been on the same level as asking what the orthodox faction was. I [unauthorized copy]should have just asked Soseo. Soseo understands me no matter how stupid my questions are. I spoke, completely disheartened.
“Please pretend you didn’t hear that last question.”
“…You, did you truly ask me that because you do not know what it is?”
“Huh? Yes.”
“…….”
The woman, who had been staring at me in silence, gestured.
“Come closer.”
I did as she told me. Then, covering her mouth with her fan, she whispered in my ear. As I listened quietly to what she was saying, I became crestfallen.
“Um, I’m sorry. I’m so ignorant that I can’t even understand those words. May I ask what they mean?”
“…You truly know nothing. In a way, it is almost marvelous.”
The woman clicked her tongue again.
“I have truly never met a child like you. Hah, really.”
“…I’m sorry for being ignorant.”
I’m sorry for knowing nothing about Wuxia. But I really didn’t know I’d end up inside a Wuxia novel. I naturally thought it would be a romance fantasy. While I was curling up in shame, the woman spoke.
“Anyway, it has already grown this dark, child.”
At those words, I looked around. Just as she said, the surroundings had already become completely dark.
“Return before it gets any darker.”
When did so much time pass? The woman spoke, lightly pushing my back with her fan.
“You might encounter bad people. A fun child like you must be especially careful.”
“Huh? Yes….”
The moment the answer popped out reflexively, I suddenly remembered Hanmin-hyung calling young Martial Artists “Young Hero.” I could call her that too, right? I bowed deeply.
“You be careful on your way back too, Young Hero. You might meet bad guys.”
“Indeed, I shall head back as well.”
The most beautiful Young Hero I had ever seen followed me down to the bottom of the stairs to see me off. I took one last look back at her and then ran toward the inn.
“Soseo, I’m back!”
“Myoha.”
Soseo, who was tidying up his inkstone and brushes, approached me as if he had been waiting.
“Where have you been? I was worried because it was so late.”
“Sorry, I went to sightsee around the village.”
“Make sure to tell me before you go out next time.”
“I know, sorry. Where’s Myoryeong?”
Soseo replied while continuing to organize his inkstone and brushes.
“He’s probably still sleeping. Hurry and go have dinner with Myoryeong.”
“Okay!”
I was about to go straight to Myoryeong when I paused.
“Ah, by the way, Soseo.”
“What?”
I was hungry and worried about Myoryeong, but I could no longer suppress my curiosity. What did that Young Hero say again…? I recited the words the Young Hero had whispered in my ear.
“What does the phrase ‘Heavenly Demon Sovereign, All Demons Bow in Submission’ mean? It felt like it had some special meaning.”
—Crack.
The moment I finished speaking, a chilling sound was heard, and shortly after, a brush snapped in two and fell to the floor.
“…You.”
Soseo slowly turned his head to look at me.
“Where did you hear those words?”
And that day, the village was turned upside down.
3. Do Not Judge by Appearances
“Young Master, we have arrived.”
“Really? We arrived earlier than I thought.”
I opened the carriage door and reached out my hand. Soseo, who had become completely accustomed to this routine, took my hand and stepped out of the carriage. As my feet hit the ground, Soseo spoke.
“This is the Paeng Clan.”
“…Really? This is your house?”
“I sincerely welcome you to the Paeng Clan.”
This looks more like a palace than a house. It was my first time seeing such a large and magnificent home. To manage a house like this, the maintenance costs and the number of workers required must be enormous. The five great families must be far more impressive than we imagined. Just then, someone shouted.
“You scoundrel! Who do you think you are to carelessly hold the Young Master’s slender, jade-like hands!”
The person shouting was none other than a hunchbacked old man. I quickly let go of Soseo’s hand. The old man, who had been standing in front of the main gate, rushed out with tears in his eyes and pried Soseo away from me.
“Young Master, I sincerely congratulate you on your safe return!”
“Grandpa, have you been well?”
“This old man has, of course, been well. But Young Master, it seems you have not been faring well. Your already slender body has become even more gaunt. I am so worried that you might blow away in a light breeze!”
“…Right, thank you so much for worrying.”
“But where is our Young Master Soyu?!”
“Grandpa, I’m right here!”
Behind us, Soyu, who had just dismounted his horse, burst into a boisterous laugh.
“It seems you’ve become even more eccentric in the meantime!”
“Oh, our Young Master Soyu! I am relieved to see that Young Master Soyu is still as healthy as ever!”
The grandfather flung the doors wide open.
“Please, come inside! Everyone is anxiously waiting for the Young Masters!”
“That’s right, Brother! Please go inside!”
Despite the eccentricity of the two, Soseo maintained his elegance and composure as he walked inside. In the courtyard, people who were presumed to be members of the Paeng Clan were gathered in crowds. The people shouted loudly.
“We sincerely congratulate the return of the First and Second Young Masters!”
“…Thank you all for the welcome. Where is Father?”
“The Clan Leader is inside.”
Wow, the inside is even more wonderful. Is this a courtyard or a sports field? Following the laborers managing the carts, I went inside and was left speechless. Myoryeong, who had his mouth wide open beside me, poked me in the ribs. Myoryeong whispered to me.
“Get close with Soseo.”
“…We’re already close?”
“Get even closer. With a family of this level, it would be fine to become something more than just friends.”
“…Myoryeong, I told you to keep BL in the BL novels.”
“…….”
Myoryeong’s eyes sharpened. He pinched my cheek mercilessly.
“I will definitely see the day you regret this and beat your chest in sorrow.”
Why would I regret it? I looked at Myoryeong with a puzzled expression. Just then, Soseo called us.
“Myoha, Myoryeong! Come over here.”
“Ah, yes!”
I took Myoryeong’s hand and ran toward Soseo. At the sight of us, the grandfather glared with hawk-like eyes.
“Young Master, who exactly are those two?”
“They are children I met by chance, and I brought them along because I wanted to keep them by my side.”
“If you needed more servants, you should have told me. How could you bring such country bumpkins of unknown origin….”
“Grandpa, don’t be like that. They are very smart children. They are quick-witted, too.”
“…If the Young Master says so, it cannot be helped.”
The grandfather stroked his beard and let out a deep sigh.
“I shall educate them step by step whenever I have time and turn them into useful fellows.”
“Do that. But for now, I must introduce them to Father.”
“What? Without even bathing them?!”
“They are clean enough as they are. I had them wash up before we arrived.”
Soseo abruptly pushed the two of us in front of the grandfather. We made the cutest expressions we could, and the grandfather, looking down at us, had no choice but to admit that Myoryeong and I were as fluffy and clean as freshly laundered clothes.
“Indeed, at this level, it seems acceptable to see the Clan Leader immediately.”
“Now, let’s go inside.”
The interior of Soseo’s home was also incredibly dazzling. Luxurious scrolls hung on the walls, and ceramics that looked like they belonged in a museum were placed atop dressers. I thought the inn where we worked was quite high-end, but this was incomparably more opulent.
In the center of the room sat a red-lacquered table for four, and a man of such massive build sat there that the table felt dainty. The man, who anyone could see was the father of Paeng Soyu, sprang up the moment he saw Soseo and Soyu.
“You have finally come, my sons!”
“Father, your son has returned,” Soseo said politely. “Have you been well in the meantime?”
“There is no need for such formalities! Come here, my cute children!”
“Oh, I missed you too! Father!”
As the man hugged Soseo and Soyu simultaneously, the rock-like, rugged muscles of his arms became even more prominent. Myoryeong and I instinctively took a step back. We felt that if we were hit by Soyu, we might just faint, but if we were hit by that man, we would die instantly. Soseo spoke calmly to the man.
“…Father, I am starting to suffocate.”
“Haha, a hug of this intensity is what you call a passionate embrace between father and son!”
“That’s right! One must endure this much for it to be a touching reunion!”
Soseo, barely breathing in the man’s arms, said to Soyu.
“Soyu, your face has turned red because the blood isn’t circulating.”
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