Chapter 209
**
As I watched Master of Sado Clan Gu Ok-gyeong excitedly chatter away, I couldn’t help but think about the comrades I had left behind.
I wondered how they were doing now.
“What’s up? Are you thinking of me? You want to die?”
“Huh?”
“I’m right here, you know. Are you not paying attention to me?”
Gu Ok-gyeong growled. I sighed.
“It’s already been an hour since we started talking…”
“An hour? That’s short! As your personal physician, you should be doing better with patient consultations.”
“I’m just a swordsman.”
“You touched my body like that, and now you’re saying you’re not a physician?”
“People might misunderstand if they hear that.”
“You’ve done enough to warrant misunderstandings, haven’t you? Isn’t that right?”
Gu Ok-gyeong burst out laughing. Her laughter felt like that of a true friend, and somehow, I found myself laughing along.
“Oh, you laughed! You just laughed! You wooden block of a person. You have a face too, huh?”
“I’m a person too.”
“Are you hiding something dark inside like Yeong-wol sometimes shows? You don’t seem like the type to fool someone, do you?”
“I’m not particularly fond of it. I would rather not deceive others, if possible…”
I subtly pulled out Cheongeop to show her.
“I’m nurturing something dark inside.”
“…Were you joking just now?”
“Yes.”
“Hahaha! You crazy fool!”
Gu Ok-gyeong draped her arm around my neck and dangled there.
“You’re so strong, yet you don’t show off your strength… If you see a poor person on the street, just slip them some money or something… Why live like that?”
“…When did you see that?”
“Who asked? It was me who asked!”
“I had my share of poverty.”
“Oh really?”
“That’s why I turned my eyes to them. That’s all.”
“Hmm…”
Gu Ok-gyeong suddenly jumped onto my back. Something soft pressed against me.
“Hey, seriously, do you not want to be my personal physician?”
“Isn’t it a bit too easy for you to trust people?”
“I have a decent eye for people. It’s true.”
“…….”
“What? You have this face like you got blindsided already once, and now you’re acting all confident?”
“Not quite like that…”
“You’re saying you had similar thoughts, right?”
Gu Ok-gyeong smirked.
“Well, true. That’s not what I’m supposed to say. But, you know, I could still see some of Yeong-wol’s hidden depths. I didn’t expect it to be this much though.”
“…Are you saying you kept her close even though you had doubts?”
“I told you, I didn’t expect it to be this much. I thought I could suppress her if needed. I’m magnificent like that. But you? I don’t see any of that. You’re completely transparent. It’s like Dae-wun but different?”
I carefully lowered Gu Ok-gyeong from my back to ensure she wouldn’t fall.
“Still, I think it’s better to be suspicious. You’re from a different faction after all.”
“Why would someone from a different faction worry about me?”
“Aren’t we comrades now?”
“Hehe. Anyway… Alright, I’ll keep an eye on you a bit longer. Is that good?”
At that moment, Heuk Dae-wun and Song Nam-cheon, who had been watching us from a distance, approached.
“Are you finished talking?”
“Just some rambling that wouldn’t have mattered if I butted in. But why?”
“Lianju, we should start moving the conversation along.”
“…Ah, right. I felt a bit lighter physically, and now it seems my mind has lightened too. I really should have moderated myself.”
Gu Ok-gyeong stretched her arms in the air, swinging them back and forth.
“Okay. Let’s come up with a plan. We need to return discreetly, not allowing them to notice our movements at all. That crazy one should experience the same trick we fell for, right?”
“We can’t act recklessly yet.”
“Got it, my physician.”
With how she carried on with her titles, it was easier to just let it slide.
But there was something I couldn’t overlook that came from Song Nam-cheon.
“If we want to quietly gather forces, using Sapa would be advisable.”
“…Sapa?”
I unconsciously jumped into the conversation. I had initially planned to just listen to their plans, but I couldn’t help myself when a familiar name popped up.
“Are you talking about a person called the Head of Sapa who wears a fox mask?”
“…Well, I can’t say for sure about that…”
“Huh? Why would we use a group that’s on the verge of crumbling? Didn’t you hear anything on the way here?”
“Huh?”
“Tsk tsk. If you’re a general, you should keep your ears open. I heard someone talk about it while having dinner earlier.”
Gu Ok-gyeong sighed.
“They say the Black Forest Room is hunting down Sapa. You know those guys, right? They’re among the most vicious underlings I had.”
“Why is the Black Forest Room…?”
“Why are you asking why? It’s obvious. She must have been a thorn in their side for a while. It’s likely some personal grudge. Anyway, if the Black Forest Room is involved, it’d be better to look for another route. It’d make our handling of things quieter and more discreet…”
“Gu Ok-gyeong.”
Master of Sado Clan’s eyes widened.
“Did you just call for me?”
“Yes.”
“By name? Why?”
“I have a request. This isn’t a matter of alliance, but as a friend, I’d like to ask you.”
“A friend…?”
The corner of her mouth twitched.
“Just say it. What is it?”
“Let us use Sapa as our messenger without changing the plans. In exchange, I’ll deal with the Black Forest Room myself.”
“Why?”
“Because the Head of Sapa is my friend.”
“…Oh ho…”
Gu Ok-gyeong chuckled softly.
“That’s not unreasonable. But that means we risk being exposed while acting, right? If the Black Forest Room disappears overnight, Yeong-wol will definitely get suspicious.”
“…….”
“So this time, I’ll propose something. Let’s make a deal, my physician.”
“Could we skip the request to make me your personal physician…?”
“That’s not it.”
Gu Ok-gyeong grabbed the collar of my clothes, pulling me closer.
We were nearly touching lips. Gu Ok-gyeong grinned.
“Let’s call each other by name. Drop the formalities. How about that?”
“…Is that it?”
“What I say carries weight. I promise with that name. That’s all.”
“…Lianju. I’m not sure about that…”
“Oh ho. General, be quiet. You know? Once I set my mind on something, I must get it, or I’ll be unsettled.”
Gu Ok-gyeong asked me.
“What do you say?”
I sighed at this nonsensical deal.
“…Fine. Ok-gyeong.”
“Hehe. Satisfied.”
…
Finding the residence of Sapa wasn’t that difficult. After all, the General had connections with them.
With the meeting scheduled quickly, Gu Ok-gyeong spent her time leisurely. By now, her body was nearly back to normal, and it seemed the addiction had completely vanished.
Gu Ok-gyeong leaned against the second floor of the inn, gazing down at Jeok-un and Heuk Dae-wun, who were chatting about swords.
What should I say? That man…
The more I looked, the more…
I found him appealing.
It wasn’t just in a romantic sense; it wasn’t that I had zero interest there.
But what I truly liked was something beyond that.
I observed him on our way here.
He didn’t waste a single hide from the animals he’d hunted for food. He turned all of it into money to help the starving.
What was even funnier was that he did it all secretly without anyone noticing. A man who hides his good deeds? That’s the funniest thing ever.
He didn’t show any signs of wanting compliments or hoping someone would recognize him.
Just casually helping others, like it was obvious to him.
It wasn’t just that I found him appealing; it was his personality and way of speaking that eerily resembled Ilma, someone I had met that day.
What could their relationship be? I never got an answer, but just knowing there are two people with similar vibes felt good to Gu Ok-gyeong.
Two people feeling alike. On top of that, there was something subtly humorous about Jeok-un.
He’s rigid.
But he’s not entirely inflexible. He tries to adapt to the situation, and that effort sometimes comes off as a little awkward, which rather amuses me.
He’s truly innocent. While the atmosphere around him is heavy, he doesn’t try to muddle it.
Even now, he’s chatting away with Heuk Dae-wun about swords, slightly smiling.
“…His smile is quite lovely.”
Living with what seems like a heavy expression that rarely shows a smile, he occasionally lets one slip, and it feels precious.
Additionally, as she regained her strength, I had asked him for a friendly match before.
In that moment, I saw it. Even without skills or techniques, the pure movements of this swordsmanship were apparent.
Ah. Effort.
Oh, what a mountain built upon effort.
It was amusing to think that even his sword seemed connected to his nature. I hadn’t seen a man like him before. No, he wasn’t someone suited for Sapa from the start.
After all, here there were only men with pitiful swords. Men driven solely by base desires for the blade. The only person I’ve seen who doesn’t display that completely is Dae-wun…
That guy is rigid.
Moreover, our relationship was strictly that of lord and subordinate.
We were far from friends since Dae-wun also didn’t desire that.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind, Lianju.”
Song Nam-cheon approached quietly. He took a glance at Jeok-un and Heuk Dae-wun.
His voice lowered.
“Are you fond of that warrior?”
“Romantically? Or as a talent?”
“I asked both.”
“I can’t help but long for the latter.”
Perhaps…
Just perhaps…
The world’s greatest could be casually drinking right down there. At least, I know one thing.
“I’ll lose.”
“…Really?”
“Absolutely. For the Master of Sado Clan to possess skills to devour me whole? Isn’t that just insane? With him around, there’s nothing to fear. He seems utterly unconcerned about ruling… there’s no doubt he’s undoubtedly a famous sword.”
“…You won’t be able to recruit him…”
“Probably not? If you force him in, it might backfire. It’s as plain as day. That sword already has an owner. Absolutely no. It’s common sense to be cut if you try to covet a sword with a master.”
Gu Ok-gyeong tapped the railing.
“…But you know what? I am jealous. Hehe. Are you going to be my physician? That thing called Cheongeop… seems like it could cure anything in the world.”
“You looked pretty awful doing it.”
“I thought I was dying, to be frank. I had assumed it was toxic treatment. I’m sure there’s no such poison in the world. At first, I thought he was lying and nearly slapped him. When just healing a nail felt like the end of the world. Man… wow… I never want to go through that pain again.”
Gu Ok-gyeong shivered.
“Anyway, that’s not happening. I don’t have the confidence. If I’m going to recruit, I have to do it perfectly, and I doubt he’d go along with that… Guess I’ll give up.”
“In that case, there’s nothing to be done.”
“We’ll talk again when I regain my position as Lianju. If the world’s top beauty comes offering money and power, perhaps he might turn his head?”
Song Nam-cheon flinched and gingerly added another question.
“Then I suppose, when it comes to romance…”
“Um. Well, I don’t really know. I’ve never experienced love…”
Gu Ok-gyeong playfully let go from the railing.
She began to head downstairs to join the drinking party.
“A heavy scent of testosterone is definitely hanging in the air. I’m curious what it feels like when embraced.”
