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**

The moonlight trembled. The fact that something that shouldn’t have been shaken did was a sign of one thing.

A shy gaze that was different from usual. Long hair scattered beneath the uncovered veil.

Black Danhwa spoke.

“Once, I dreamed of having the world’s best beauty.”

I witnessed with my own eyes that her words weren’t wrong. In searching for the right words to say, I ended up laughing.

“Why, why are you laughing?!”

“Did you show that face to Black Prince?”

“…No? I told you, it’s Jeok-un’s first time.”

“I thought so. That’s why I laughed.”

“Why, why…?”

“If you had shown it to Black Prince, he might regret what he’s said until now.”

I stood up and faced Black Danhwa.

I reached out and held her hand.

“Danhwa.”

“…Yes?”

“I believe you are the same Danhwa as before.”

“……”

“But…”

I gently stroked the hand I held.

“Just in case, let me assure you. Danhwa is beautiful.”

“…I wanted to hear that.”

Black Danhwa smiled bashfully. She stepped back and nodded at me.

“If possible, I’d like you to add a few more compliments. Please heap on pretty words. Can you do that?”

“What can’t I do? I can even dance for you.”

“Really?”

“…I can mimic to some extent… Is a sword dance okay?”

“That’s quite far from Jeok-un’s black sword dance.”

“I’ll give it a try.”

I swung my sword earnestly to show my joy.

Black Danhwa burst into a fit of laughter.

“It’s the funniest sword dance I’ve ever seen.”

“I worked hard…”

“Still, it’s nice. Ah. I feel like I can throw off the burdens of my life. Did you know? Thanks to the Mystical Healer, the broken Dantian has partially recovered.”

“What do you mean…?”

“They said over time it will naturally heal. After about a year, I can return to my former self. It’s not for nothing that she’s called a Mystical Healer, you know?”

“I’m relieved.”

“Of course, in the meantime, I’ll still have to rely on Mu Su Baek Yu…”

Black Danhwa was playing with my cheek.

“I have my own energy storage back, so it shouldn’t be a concern, right?”

“…I’m leaving soon, though…”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Pardon?”

“I really don’t have a place to return to anyway. You’re working at the Ma-Jeon, right? So, I want to work there too. With my abilities, I can hold my own anywhere, so it’s quite feasible. If this and that both don’t work out…”

Black Danhwa smiled mischievously.

“I’ll live off Jeok-un. I’ll do all the housework, so just bring home the money. By the way, I’m good at cleaning, okay? What’s being a good friend?

“Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“Don’t want it?”

“It’s not that I don’t want it, but…”

I wondered if it wouldn’t hurt to ask Ilma too. It might be nice to have her as a colleague.

“I can’t promise you an answer.”

“That’s fine. If both don’t work, I can just build a house on the side and live.”

“That’s so like you, Danhwa.”

“Of course. With my looks back, I have nothing to worry about. Now that this exceptional beauty adds weight to the nickname ‘Seob Honyohee’… what is there to fear?”

Black Danhwa pretended to be pretty.

And she truly was beautiful.

“To have a friend like this… Jeok-un is so lucky.”

“That is true. I was fortunate. Without Danhwa, I might not have been able to settle all this.”

“That was just a joke, but aren’t you taking it too seriously?”

“Still, it’s the truth.”

“…Well then.”

Black Danhwa gently leaned her head against my shoulder.

“It seems easy to be deceived out there, so I should take care of you. It can’t be helped, really. Right?”

“Of course, if Danhwa is with me, I would feel secure.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because I can trust you, as the saying goes.”

“Mhm…”

Black Danhwa licked her lips slightly.

“More than Ju Ryeongryeong?”

“Reongryeong… you mean?”

“Yes. You don’t have any comparison. Answer me.”

“…Comparisons between friends are a bit much. Reongryeong is also someone I can call a friend…”

“Excuse me? Your best friend Jeok-un is right here! Are you comparing me to someone else right now?”

“That comparison started with you, Danhwa…”

“In a moment like this, you should just say I’m the more trustworthy one even if it’s a lie…”

“Why?”

At the sudden remark, I turned around.

Ju Ryeongryeong, who had approached silently, flashed a bright smile.

Her pupils were unfocused, though.

“Why should I say that?”

“…Ju Ryeongryeong.”

“Ah. Black Danhwa, you’ve fixed your face. I’m glad. Does it hurt anymore?”

“Of course. I’ve regained the beauty I used to have. Thank you for your concern.”

“Really? You should rest a bit more… What if it worsens since you’ve been moving around? Why don’t you take it easy?”

“Thank you for your worry, but I’ve rested enough. I’ve even received permission to move around.”

“I don’t think so… Jeok-un has quite a rough training style, right? It might not be good if you got hurt unnecessarily, so it’s better to return to your room.”

“I’m fine. Anything beyond that is nothing but meddling. Ju Ryeongryeong.”

“You tend to twist things a bit, don’t you? Black Danhwa. I was truly ‘worried’ about you. Though… it’s a bit strange to pressure someone I think is closer to me into an answer… isn’t it?”

“Well, the person speaking might not have quite meant it that way, Ju Ryeongryeong. Maybe you added something unnecessary… How much have you tormented Jeok-un normally for him to be unable to respond to a joke?”

“…Hmm?”

“…Huh?”

Ju Ryeongryeong smiled slyly. Black Danhwa casually rested her hand on her fan.

In the heightened atmosphere, Black Wind barged in.

“Ah, Black Lady! You’re so beautiful! Truly Seob Honyohee! My eyes are a bit blinded…!”

Black Wind, hit by a fan, rolled on the ground. Amidst the sudden break in atmosphere, someone grabbed me by the nape of my neck.

“Hey, let’s eat!”

“Pardon?”

“What do you mean ‘pardon’? What do you want to eat?”

The fully resurrected Wolhyang dragged me along.

Black Danhwa and Ju Ryeongryeong recoiled.

“Uh, um, Senior?! What is this?!”

“Wait…!”

“What’s wrong? What were you doing? Do it later, later. I’m hungry, so I need someone to talk to. Come on, what do you want to eat?”

“I already ate…”

“Really? Then I’ll get what I want to eat! Shall I look for a place that’s open late?”

I was being dragged along quite suddenly.

Wolhyang smiled mischievously.

“Hey there. Are you going to pay for it?”

“Pardon?”

“You saved me, right? Don’t you have to at least cover the meal? You should eat plenty.”

…Maybe the scariest person is her.

That thought crossed my mind.

After some tidy-ups, a large-scale journey was prepared from Eungmin.

The goal was Ma-Jeon. Leaving just a few necessary warriors behind, the leaders of each sect dispatched from Eungmin moved out.

Ironically, this journey was divided into three groups. The attitude of not wanting to die together even made Wolhyang laugh.

“Well, who would guess they were sects?”

“What about us?”

“You could move separately, but… I don’t think you can.”

“Pardon?”

“Look over there.”

I turned my head. I saw Nine Heavens Jade Woman signaling.

I followed her. She reached her hand toward me.

“Carry me.”

“…Pardon?”

“There’ll be plenty of things I did for you this time. As your master, isn’t this much a given?”

“I have no memory of being bound as a disciple…”

“It’ll become so. Just think of it as ahead of time, and carry me. Let me rest my shoulders on yours.”

I lowered myself. Nine Heavens Jade Woman climbed on my back and firmly grabbed my head.

“What a wonderful view. You have talent for this.”

“……?”

“This crazy girl! Get down! You rotten brat!”

“Huachun Quenma. Take care of Yeon Mi-ryeong. She seems to be lagging behind.”

“What?! Ack! Mi-ryeong!”

Nine Heavens Jade Woman was fondling my head. For some reason, reminiscing about my past, I casually asked.

“Lady Dan.”

“While ‘Lady Dan’ is a nice title, I don’t quite like it.”

“…Elder?”

“I never want to hear such words again, so don’t say it. Once you reach Huaxing, age boundaries become blurry. Aging naturally slows down, and lifespan significantly increases. A hundred years of age can move like fifty and look like thirty.”

Nine Heavens Jade Woman spoke proudly.

“I’m a baby.”

“…I see. In that case…”

I pondered what to call her. But aside from Elder, I had nothing to say.

Is that really the only option?

“…Senior?”

“Suitable.”

“Can I ask what you’re doing with my hair?”

“I was braiding it prettily. The texture is quite nice. You have talent.”

“What kind of talent is that…”

“You need to show me a response to be believed.”

Nine Heavens Jade Woman called Black Danhwa, Black Wind, and Ju Ryeongryeong.

Black Wind spoke nonchalantly.

“Is there something special about it…?”

“Get lost! Black Wind! Mu, Mu Myung! Turn your face this way!”

“I want to try too! I want to try! I’ll braid one side for you!”

“……”

The Huachun Quenma who had caught up again casually asked.

“There’s the smell of oddity.”

“You must be mistaken.”

“It’s shaking this much, how can it not be? Isn’t that right, Mi-ryeong?”

“…It suits you well.”

“Mi-ryeong! Mi-ryeong!!!”

Amidst the noisy commotion, we were able to board a ship. I arrived almost alone but was now going back with many.

Amidst the sound of slicing through the water, I closed my eyes.

When I return to Ilma…

Should I compliment her?

Huachun Quenma growled.

“What an irritating brat.”

“Pardon?”

“But Mi-ryeong likes you. So it can’t be helped. Come into my sect. Then I’ll graciously forgive you.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, Huachun Quenma. That person is mine.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Nine Heavens Jade Woman! I’ll crush you right now!”

“Clumsy child, shall I ask the Great One to take you under? Do you want to try being a Blood Sea Candidate?”

“Don’t make a move! You doggy girl!”

“If you become my direct disciple, you could seize power.”

“Does the Huima Dan, who lives off Nine Heavens Jade Woman, even have power?”

I subtly distanced myself from the three heated individuals. Black Wind clicked his tongue.

“Quite popular, aren’t you? Mu Gongja. Isn’t it about time to reveal your real name?”

“Are you telling me to say it to someone from the Moonlight faction?”

“I won’t speak of it elsewhere.”

“…….”

“What does that distrustful look mean?! I might be heavy-mouthed after all! Even if it may seem so!”

“Someone from an intelligence agency has a heavy mouth, really?”

“That’s natural… The look! That look, come on!”

The boat smoothly advanced without any issues and reached land. Since we landed, Ma-Jeon wasn’t too far away.

“It’s my first time coming to Ma-Jeon.”

“Same for me.”

As I heard Black Danhwa and Ju Ryeongryeong’s sparkling words, the place I longed for appeared before me.

Now it was a place I could almost call home.

A massive castle. Upon passing through the entrance spread out below, cheers erupted.

“Waaah!!!”

The countless followers of the Demon Cult welcomed the warriors who had blocked the hemorrhage.

I seamlessly blended into the crowd.

“Uh, mu…!”

“I’ll find you later.”

It wasn’t my job to receive congratulations.

What I had to do was simply report.

I advanced through the sea of people. To report to my superior.

 

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