DKM 6

I gestured to Yoo Seolhwa.

“Let’s go. To my room.”

“Yeah, he doesn’t have any bad sleeping habits, so you’ll be able to sleep comfortably.”

Yoo Seolhwa looked back and forth between the two of us and asked.

“……Why are you doing this much for me?”

We let out a deep sigh and answered.

“We didn’t know our hearts were this soft either.”

“Right. We really didn’t know.”

“Let’s just go to sleep. You must be tired.”

Yoo Seolhwa hesitated before getting up from his seat. We lay down side by side on the floor. I yawned and said,

“Seolhwa, goodnight.”

Seolhwa, who had been lying awkwardly while staring at the ceiling, turned to look at me. After staring at me for a long while, he whispered in a small voice.

“……Goodnight.”

But I had already fallen asleep and didn’t notice.

---

“Now then, shall we find out what the Nine Great Sects and One Union are, as I mentioned yesterday?”

The next day, as soon as the break started, I ran to Soseo. Soseo unfurled a brown scroll.

“Want to see this first?”

The scroll was none other than a map. I peered into the map as Soseo instructed.

“I’ve marked the locations of the Nine Sects here.”

“……Really?”

“I wrote the names down too, so try reading them out loud.”

“Okay.”

It was a huge relief that a language patch had been automatically applied the moment I entered this body. It would have been a disaster if I couldn’t speak or read. I read the names of the nine sects as I saw them.

“Shaolin Temple, Jeomchang Sect, Wudang Sect, Hengshan Read on Read BL Novelsunauthorized copyEND: Read on Read BL Novels -->Sect, Huashan Sect, Zhongnan Sect, Kongtong Sect, Kunlun Sect, Emei Sect.”

“Good, those are the Nine Sects. Nine different sects. And this.”

Soseo marked one more dot on the map.

“The ‘One Union’ in the Nine Great Sects and One Union is the Beggars’ Gang. The Beggars’ Gang is a place created by beggars.”

“Huh? Beggars?”

I doubted my own ears.

“The kind of beggars who beg on the street?”

“Yes, those beggars. That’s why it’s better to watch your mouth outside. The beggars of the Beggars’ Gang are truly everywhere. Even here, there are beggars belonging to the gang; haven’t you seen any?”

“……Do you mean the beggars who carry knots on their waists?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

It was after seeing those beggars that Myoryeong first suggested we try begging. I asked cautiously.

“What happens if someone who isn’t part of the gang begs next to them?”

“There’s a high chance they’ll face a rough time. It’s basically like trying to steal their rice bowl.”

Wow, thank goodness. I survived thanks to my petty pride! As expected, it’s right to maintain a minimum level of pride no matter how difficult the situation.

“But is that place really part of the orthodox faction? Even though they’re beggars?”

“Of course. They are the orthodox faction. They are strictly martial artists. They even have their own unique martial arts. Besides, anyone gets fierce when someone touches their rice bowl.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Thanks to Soseo’s detailed explanation, I learned that the Beggars’ Gang was like an information guild made up of vagrants. Read stolen contenton Read BL NovelsAdditionally, I learned that martial arts were like the combat arts of this world, and that each sect and family taught different types of martial arts. Soseo picked up the brush again and said,

“Now, shall we learn about the Five Great Families?”

“Yes!”

“I told you yesterday, right? The Five Great Families refer to the five families that represent the orthodox faction along with the Nine Great Sects and One Union.”

I nodded vigorously. Soseo picked up the brush again and marked dots on the map as he spoke.

“Habeuk Peng Family, Namgung Family, Moyong Family, Sichuan Tang Family, and Jegal Family. That’s how the Five Great Families are composed. Unlike the sects, the characteristic of the families is that they consist only of people of the same bloodline. Since the Nine Great Sects and One Union and the Five Great Families are famous enough that everyone knows them by name within the orthodox faction, you must remember them.”

I felt like I had heard of the Namgung Family somewhere, even though I knew nothing about wuxia. While mumbling Soseo’s explanation to memorize it, I paused.

“Wait, did you just say Habeuk Peng Family?”

“Yes.”

According to the map, Habeuk was definitely a place name. If so……. I asked with a trembling voice.

“The Peng Family? You have the same surname?”

Soseo gave a beaming smile without saying a word. That smile reminded me of what I had said when I first heard Soseo’s name.

‘What a cute surname! It reminds me of enoki mushrooms, I love it!’

At some point, I started breaking out in a cold sweat. Soseo tilted his head.

“Are you okay? Why did your complexion suddenly….”

“I am so sorry!”

How dare I not recognize such a noble person…! But I didn’t [Read on Read BL Novelsclass="wm" style="opacity:0;font-size:1px;user-select:all;">unauthorized [unauthorized copy]copy]mean it in a bad way! I flopped down onto my knees.

---

Once, in my favorite romance fantasy novel, I saw a scene where commoners didn’t recognize the identity of nobles and treated them poorly. While reading that scene, I thought:

‘No, why can’t they tell they’re from a noble house? Isn’t it obvious just by looking at them?’

Yes, I didn’t recognize him. Yes, I didn’t know he was from a noble house. I shall never again look down on characters who fail to recognize nobles.

“Myoha, I’m really okay. You don’t have to be that sorry.”

I knew he was from a well-off family, but I didn’t know he was the son of such a prestigious house. I should have realized it from the moment the master was bowing and scraping. Soseo comforted me as I looked gloomy.

“On the contrary, I was happy. You were kind to me even though you didn’t know about my family.”

“…….”

Was that being kind? I just treated him the way I treat everyone. I asked,

“Should I start using formal language from now on?”

“Hmm, formal language.”

Soseo thought for a moment and shook his head.

“No, it’s fine. For now.”

‘For now’ is fine? What does that mean? I looked at Soseo with questioning eyes. Soseo handed the scroll to me.

“I’ll give this to you. Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

“Ah, yes. What is the North Sea Ice Palace?”

“North Sea Ice Palace?”

Soseo looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“How do you know about the North Sea Ice Palace when you didn’t even know the Nine Great Sects and One Union?”

I absolutely cannot tell him that I remember it because it sounds similar to ‘Archduke of the North.’ I gave a vague excuse.

“I just overheard it somewhere.”

“There are powers outside the Central Plains that are as famous as the Nine Great Sects and One Union or the Five Great Families. One of them is the North Sea Ice Palace.”

Wuxia novels were too difficult, so I only read a few pages, but I’m sure in the beginning of 『Tales of the Martial Arts World』, the North Sea Ice Palace and the protagonist were connected somehow. I clutched my head. It would be easier if I didn’t remember at all, but it was agonizing because the memory was right on the tip of my tongue. What was it, really? While I was racking my brain, Soseo called my name.

“Myoha.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m here now because of certain circumstances, but one day, I will return to Habeuk.”

“You should. Your home is there.”

Soseo’s hand overlapped mine on the table.

“Would you like to go with me then?”

I immediately shook my head.

“Sorry, I can’t go.”

“……What? Why?”

That is realistically impossible. I answered,

“Because I’m not alone.”

I have Myoryeong, who has been my friend since childhood and is now like a younger sister to me. I’ve only just adapted to this place; if we move, Myoryeong will struggle again. And crucially, I don’t want to be any more of a burden to Soseo. Just as I was about to say that, Soseo’s expression froze coldly.

“Then do you think I’m making this proposal to you because I’m alone?”

“Huh?”

I immediately waved my hands.

“What do you mean? Absolutely not.”

I’ve truly never thought that way, what are you talking about. I desperately denied it, but Soseo’s expression didn’t soften in the slightest. Soseo stood up.

“Please leave for today.”

“……Soseo.”

Soseo turned his back to me without a word. I was about to leave reluctantly, but then I paused. Wait, leaving like this won’t change anything. If I just leave now, Soseo will remain unpleasant until tomorrow, and I won’t be able to sleep properly due to guilt. It’s true that I spoke carelessly. I gathered my courage and called out to Soseo.

“Um, Soseo.”

“I believe I asked you to leave.”

“Just let me say one thing.”

“…….”

Soseo glanced at me.

“What is it?”

“That…!”

I paused once more. I made another mistake. I have a mountain of things I want to say, yet I asked to say just ‘one thing.’ But I couldn’t possibly be so clingy as to ask to say several things now. I racked my brain and finally realized.

No matter how long the sentence is, if you don’t break it, it’s one thing.

“I’mreallysorryIwascarelessIjustmeantthatIcan’tgoBecauseIhaveayoungersisterandIabsolutelydidn’thaveanyintentionlikethatIdon’tknowwhyyouthinkthatwaybutpleaseunderstandmyheartWhywouldIthinkyouarelone— Gasp.”

This lung capacity. Even if I go back to my original world, I can’t be a rapper. While I was catching my breath, Soseo burst into laughter.

“Pfft.”

I looked at Soseo with wide eyes. Soseo bent over and laughed for a long time. Honestly, I was funny just now, so I understand. I couldn’t say anything.

“Ah, you really are amusing.”

After laughing for a long while, Soseo wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and said,

“Myoha, let’s definitely go to Habeuk together.”

Phew, I’m so glad his anger has vanished. I answered with a look of relief,

“I don’t want to.”

---

“How is it? Is he there?”

“No, he’s not.”

One sunny morning, Myoryeong and I crouched down and peeked at the house next door. Two weeks had already passed since Seolhwa came to our house. Thanks to eating and resting well, Seolhwa’s wounds had healed perfectly, and his father was still nowhere to be seen. It’s good for us if he doesn’t come back, but it’s worrying since he’s been gone so long. Then Seolhwa spoke.

“He’s not coming back.”

“Huh?”

We looked at Seolhwa. Seolhwa spoke as if talking about someone else.

“He probably fled far away, thinking I was dead.”

“…….”

“Since he has no money and no home, he might have died as a vagrant.”

We couldn’t say anything. Seolhwa said he would bring something useful and went inside the house. We quickly followed him. Seolhwa’s house was several times older and dirtier than ours. After searching the house for a long time, Seolhwa came out carrying two chairs that were relatively intact and asked,

“Do you think we can sell these?”

I quickly took the chairs from Seolhwa’s hands.

“Of course. They’re in good shape, so we should be able to sell them for a decent price.”

“Right, since we’re talking about it, let’s go sell them right now.”

Myoryeong also picked up a chair. I spoke to Seolhwa, who was trying to follow us.

“Seolhwa, we’ll just go sell them ourselves. You don’t like going to crowded places.”

Seolhwa, who had been pointed at by people because of his white hair, couldn’t say anything. Myoryeong added,

“Yeah, we’ll be back quickly. You stay and guard the house.”

“……But they’re heavy.”

“Eh, this isn’t even heavy.”

We bluffed and left the house. Under the sunlight, the chairs looked even older and more shabby. To think these were the most intact items. I could tell how poor of an environment Seolhwa had been in. Since it was obvious we wouldn’t get a single penny for them, we dumped the chairs in a suitable spot and returned.