“……?”

I stared at the picture. The sharpness stained at the tip of the brush.

What was depicted was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her beauty reached a peak that was beyond the ability to look away from the painting.

—Thud.

I heard footsteps beside me. Turning my head, there stood a woman wearing a mask.

“…Seob Honyohee?”

“It’s my portrait. I painted it after predicting the future by looking at my face from when I was little. Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Please let me go.”

“Not yet. You’re in the middle of a test.”

“What interests me is only the path to Eungmin.”

“The path to Eungmin is beyond here. Either way, you have to pass through this path to get there.”

This was blind stubbornness at its finest.

I ended up following her steps. Seob Honyohee, Black Danhwa, babbled beside me.

“Do you know how I got the name Seob Honyohee?”

“I don’t know.”

“As you heard from that warrior earlier, I watch over the future lord. The one who can contact me beyond the Daemon and Illusion Barrier. Few have passed through that barrier in the past few years.”

“……”

“When any noble being is tempted by the ideal type they’ve held in their heart, they ultimately lose their senses. They whisper to themselves just a little bit, and in the end, they submit to the flow. Then it becomes like a beast. You know? It gets worse when the scent of jealousy appears. It becomes so intoxicating that you lose sight of everything.”

“When does this road end?”

“Don’t rush me. We haven’t even started yet.”

Seob Honyohee waved the fan she held. In an instant, the scenery changed.

A grand mansion. In front of it stood a girl holding a fan.

The atmosphere wasn’t dark at all. It sounded like cheerful music as if a banquet was being held, and people were seen laughing brightly.

The loudest laughter came from two people in front of the girl. The applause following the movements of the fan, driven by delicate hands, was enormous.

“What is this?”

“That’s me. Isn’t it pretty?”

I looked at the girl’s face. A youthful face. Yet, there was an expected floral bud of the future.

Her statement was true. The child before me, though not fully grown, was certainly going to blossom beautifully. But what captivated my attention was not that.

It was the movement of the fan. That movement was anything but ordinary. At first glance, it looked like a dance, but within it held the principle of martial arts.

…What I should focus on isn’t the appearance, but that movement.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was born with talent.

“Wonderful.”

“Really?”

“Yes. That movement is extraordinary. You’ve had martial arts talent since you were young, haven’t you?”

“…That wasn’t the point. But yes, I was exceptionally gifted. I was a genius born into a family that wasn’t even called a prestigious family. I grew up in a family that wasn’t poor either.”

The fan fluttered.

The scenery shifted.

Petals in full bloom. A child was sitting atop them. Unlike before, her somewhat subdued eyes took in the view beneath the cliff.

“There were more times I had to muster strength than moments of joy. Being the eldest daughter in an average family and possessing both martial talent and beauty naturally made me the center of attention for my family. I was their pride and their future. I was like a treasure dropped into a family with nothing to boast about.”

“…….”

“I used to sit like that, watching the town whenever things got tough. I seriously contemplated the weight I carried from birth, but… well, how much can a ten-year-old really ponder? I mostly just thought about wanting to rest—that was it.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“The road isn’t over yet. Warrior. Please listen a little longer to my story.”

Seob Honyohee tapped the tip of the fan with her fingers.

Once again, the scenery changed. The various transformations of the array. Before my eyes stood a youthful woman.

A beauty unparalleled in the world. It was undeniable that she was beautiful enough to discuss that matter. Slender eyes and long eyelashes. The underlying bloom naturally drew one’s gaze.

Though not fully bloomed, there was a captivating allure.

She danced once again at the place I had seen before. The tip of the fan gracefully unfurled, and a mystical energy wrapped around her as she danced.

Even though I was merely observing an illusion, the strength of that legacy seemed to reach this place. Even in the turbulent energy, a resolute spirit was evident. The arrogance contained at the tip of the fan was seen as a matter of course.

That arrogance deserved recognition. As a sword-wielding warrior, it was something I could naturally discern.

“…A genius.”

“I told you. I was an innate talent. A remarkable individual too valuable for my family to handle. That was me.”

“And are you saying you aren’t now?”

“To a degree.”

—Thud.

With a clear sound, the surrounding illusions disappeared. What appeared again was a deep, dark corridor.

The Black Danhwa ahead turned around with a twirl. Her fluttering garment danced in the wind.

“There were never a lack of suitors, and there were lines of men who wanted to hold my hand stretching outside the village.”

“…….”

“Some were envious, and some were jealous. I believed I deserved all of it, and it was only natural for all their attention.”

“…….”

“I felt like a child born to be loved. A beauty that naturally elicited gasps. A beauty unparalleled in the world. My figure was without fault, captivating any man’s gaze.”

Black Danhwa looked up at me sideways.

“Are you curious about what lies beyond this veil?”

“I’m not curious.”

“But in truth, you are, aren’t you? That beauty earlier was still unshed beauty. Now it’s even different. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it has become prettier. So…”

Seob Honyohee lifted her fan. She gently tapped it with her fingertips.

The seemingly endless corridor suddenly compressed. The surrounding space twisted at will, revealing a grand room before me.

The scent of roses wafted through the air. In the center stood a hot steaming bath.

The Black Danhwa turned around and began to undress. The sound of silks rustled softly as she slowly stepped into the water.

“Come in. If you want to hold me.”

Thin underwear that barely covered her skin. Even a sweet fragrance filled the air.

Ear Sword Bai Ya growled low. I had already sensed something unusual before I heard that warning.

Inside here. This very interior.

The steam rising lightly wasn’t something normal.

It emitted an extraordinarily dangerous scent. It felt like if mixed, it would lead to death.

“I’m right here, warrior.”

She whispered. In an instant, her voice splintered, sounding like dozens.

It wasn’t just the power of the formation. It was an herb. An intoxicating drug for the mind mixed with a strange scent.

“Let’s have a conversation here.”

I sighed.

“Is there no option to not go in?”

“None. This is the last test.”

“……”

I removed my outer garment. Ear Sword Bai Ya growled low.

I didn’t know why I disliked it so much, but I was still in my right mind. After soothing it, I stepped into the water.

Seob Honyohee admired me.

“What a beautiful body.”

“…….”

As soon as my body submerged in the water, a buzzing sensation filled my head. A natural warning. But there was a reason I deliberately allowed the opponent’s intentions to take hold.

Cheongeop was crying out. Its weakly joyful cries were now filled with confidence compared to before.

It aimed to devour just like when Jin Wi-lyang dissolved the mountain poison.

I couldn’t quite discern what the opponent was after. However, I naturally realized that if I overcame this, Cheongeop would bring me immense power.

I looked down at the water I needed to immerse myself in. It was a liquid with a thick mucous concentration resembling something horrible rather than ordinary water.

I didn’t know precisely what it was, but I knew it was dangerous.

Even without accurately counting the opponent’s moves, Cheongeop was crying out in desperation. I sighed at the struggles demanding for an opportunity.

In the end, I complied. After all, I had utilized Ear Sword Bai Ya to torment Cheongeop and had received support to heal my repeatedly broken body.

It wouldn’t be inappropriate to follow through at least once.

I started to feel warmth from the slowly submerged body. It wasn’t a natural warmth but an artificial one.

The masked Seob Honyohee slowly approached me. Placing her hand on my shoulder, she whispered softly.

A sweet scent emerged.

“Warior.”

I could see the strap of her half-undressed underwear slipping down.

“Into the water.”

A soft hand pressed on my shoulder. Slowly, I sank down, completely submerged in the water.

The rippling surface met the eyes of a fallen rose petal.

The level of water I was submerged in felt odd. It was supposed to be waist-deep…

But I kept sinking endlessly.

Like falling into an abyss.

. . .

—Thud.

I heard a sound. I faced myself who had fallen somewhere.

“…….?”

Nothing could be seen around. My memories were vivid, and I distinctly remembered the last scenery I had seen.

I expected Seob Honyohee to show me something, but nothing visible appeared. Just an endless black scenery.

First, I began to walk. Yet, nothing emerged.

“…Is this the test?”

“No.”

A voice echoed. I turned my head back toward where I had come.

A small child stood there. With silver hair and a somewhat dazed expression.

The cute girl looked up at me.

“You’re wrong.”

“…Who…?”

“I blocked it.”

The child waved her hand. She indicated for me to bend down, and I complied.

The girl placed a hand on my face. The skin that touched mine felt strangely cold.

“…This feeling.”

“…….”

I dared to ask.

“Is that you, Bai Ya?”

“That’s right.”

Calmly spoken, she removed her hand from my face.

“Give me your body.”

“…I can’t.”

“If you don’t give it to me, don’t wander around getting caught by strange things. You moved even though you knew it wasn’t good for you, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Why?”

I picked her up before answering. Her body lifted without resistance, extending like a cat in my grip.

…She looks adorable. That bratty personality is definitely her true self…

“Put me down.”

—Splat.

Her power froze my arm. I was sure it was Bai Ya.

After setting her down, I simply explained.

“Cheongeop wanted it.”

“Why do you listen to the beasts’ words but not mine?”

“I thought I could manage it.”

“That child only cares about its own hunger. It wouldn’t care if you were in agony to the point of death. It’s the same this time.”

“This time?”

Her expressionless eyebrows twitched.

“It would have squeezed you completely. A lot.”

“…….?”

“That wasn’t prepared to be passed at all. The place I forcibly blocked was a test that no man could pass. It’s a truly vicious dream that devours everything down to the very essence.”

“But Cheongeop certainly…”

“It likely absorbed enough to gain power. It must be quite full. But before that, it would have crushed you to the edge of death. Of course, you wouldn’t die. But the losses would definitely outweigh the gains.”

That was close to being disastrous.

I let out a sigh.

“Did you help me?”

“…Not really?”

“Then?”

“It’s irritating. I don’t understand why you deliberately fall into something like that when you know.”

Bai Ya waved her hand.

“If you want to leave, I can send you out right now.”

“I’ll pass.”

I locked eyes with Bai Ya. Though her tone sounded rough, there was kindness hidden within her expressionlessness.

Despite this and that, did we draw closer in the end? However, her figure was somewhat unexpected.

I knew that the sword spirit attached to the Ear Sword was newly formed and that it was relatively young, but…

Isn’t she genuinely just a girl?

…No, the sword spirit is a being that transcends human logic. I shouldn’t judge it by my standards.

I glanced around. It seemed that I would have to stay trapped in here for a while longer.

Even if I couldn’t feel it directly, I could hear Cheongeop feasting. I instinctively realized what I needed to do during this elongated time.

I sat in front of Bai Ya. As our gazes met, she blinked.

“…Why?”

“Just.”

I reached out and gently took her tiny hand.

“I thought maybe we could talk.”

I grasped the intent of her usual words in an instant. It was as if our hearts were connected, and I could hear the soft sound of chatter.

But we had never had a chance to have such a candid conversation. I had pushed myself, relentlessly whipping myself due to the long road ahead, which meant I had barely exchanged any private words with her.

Now was the right time to get to know each other.

“What do you like?”

“…….”

Bai Ya stared down at me from her seated position.

 

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