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“…You really did it.”

Ilma clicked her tongue in front of the corpse of the Demon Valley Lord.

“What about the blood?”

“I’ve drunk as much as I could… but I’m not sure what has really changed.”

“Though it’s also called Blood Essence, its effect is minimal. Compared to the Inner Pill, it’s negligible. Have you consumed the Inner Pill yet?”

“I was going to ask if it was alright to take it once you arrived, so I kept it in my pocket.”

I handed her the Inner Pill I had extracted from the Demon Valley Lord’s belly. Ilma shot me a glance.

“You didn’t just take it on your own.”

“I thought I might get scolded…”

“…Pfft.”

For the first time, Ilma smiled at me.

“Hahaha! You’re not completely foolish, it seems! Good job. Mixing it with something else will help enhance your inner strength much more than just consuming it directly. And you have a choice.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I keep you by my side, I’ll have time to teach you directly. The Black-White Connected Sword. It’s the ultimate martial art of the Blood Sea that everyone entering the Blood Sea must learn. Thirty. You’re dull. Not particularly smart. If I asked you to learn two things at once, your head might explode.”

Ilma flicked the sword she wore at her waist.

“So choose. Will you continue learning the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique, or will you learn the Black-White Connected Sword?”

“…Is there a difference?”

“Everything is different. The Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique can be continued from what you’ve learned. But the Black-White Connected Sword is different. You’ll have to start from the very beginning again. However, it will yield its rewards. The Blood Sea is filled with the highest practitioners. The martial arts you can learn there are on another level compared to regular ones. Just mastering it could turn an ordinary person into a dragon.”

I pondered.

The time taken to decide was short.

“…I will continue learning the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique.”

“Why is that?”

“It’s the martial art that has brought me this far.”

Isn’t that right?

At least, that’s how I felt inside.

“I want to see where it leads. At the same time, I don’t want to give up what I have. Beyond its simple form… it harbors many memories of martial arts. If it’s insufficient, I will refine it further. I will attempt to improve it as much as I can.”

“Hmm. Well, I don’t care. Besides, I was planning to mix the subtleties of the Black-White Connected Sword into the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique anyway.”

“…Really? Then why did you ask?”

“I was going to advise you not to worry about the essence. Generally, the martial arts you’ve accumulated will not betray a warrior. If you even dared to gaze elsewhere for a stronger martial art, I would have needed to shower you with verbal poison…”

She turned her head away, feigning nonchalance.

“You’ve avoided it quite well. Just don’t get distracted by other martial arts. Especially by the Soul Stealing Sword. Learning from such a guy? What a waste of time. Even if you master it, there will be many places to use it, but you won’t be able to progress. Just stick with my teachings.”

“…Did you happen to hear my story from that Soul Stealing Sword, No Ha-cheon?”

“As I said before, I have no intention of being your master. This is all just because of the Master’s orders.”

Ilma pulled tightly on my sleeve.

“…But.”

Her voice was filled with curious curiosity, wanting to know what lay beneath her mask.

“Don’t even think about serving another master. It was I who taught you martial arts. Once you learn from me, stick with it. All the way through.”

“…You said that to the Soul Stealing Sword too.”

“I’ve already heard.”

“Then why…?”

“Speak it with your own mouth. There’s no intention of serving another master.”

“…….?”

The tone was oddly possessive. But since I felt the same way, I nodded in agreement.

“I also have no intention of serving anyone but you, Ilma.”

“I have no intention of making you my disciple at all!”

“Then… what are you asking me to do…?”

“I’m just saying it! Just understand it lightly!”

Ilma shouted, spinning around. With her masked face, she turned towards Twenty-Nine Baekmae.

“Twenty-Nine Baekmae.”

“Y-yes!”

“Pack your things. If you have anything to bring, then bring it. Remain in hiding at the Nest until the Blood Sea member Myo Ye-rin arrives.”

“…What does that mean…?”

Twenty-Nine Baekmae looked at me.

I whispered to Ilma.

“Didn’t you say you’d handle it without mentioning my name?”

“If you’re going to do a good deed, you should flaunt it to the utmost, you fool. Do you think an anonymous kindness will feel good? If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly at night, uneasy about what I’m owed.”

Ilma gestured with her chin.

“This Thirty has made a deal with me. As a price for capturing the Demon Valley Lord within a month, he asked to have you made a candidate for the Blood Sea.”

“…Thirty? Really?”

“Is there more than one Thirty around here?”

“Ha, but… why…?”

Twenty-Nine Baekmae looked at me. I too was curious about the face beneath her mask.

Ilma growled.

“Why else? That idiot has an unnecessary sense of entitlement. The other one has already taken measures.”

“…Could it be…?”

“Our Gold Flower. The courtesan from Red Phoenix Tower. Her condition is somewhat messed up, but I’ve made arrangements to get her out. She’s currently recuperating, so if you have time, go visit her. Myo Ye-rin will tell you where she is.”

“Ah… ah…”

The mask on Twenty-Nine Baekmae began to get wet. Ilma punched my side.

“I’ll go ahead. Just follow slowly.”

I moved naturally towards Twenty-Nine Baekmae.

Her trembling shoulders showed no signs of stopping. I wished for her to accept the gift I had given her with a smile.

Crying was not something I particularly anticipated.

“Twenty-Nine Baekmae, are you alright?”

“W-who… who asked for this…? Why… why did you do it…?”

“I’m sorry.”

I first offered my apology. I admitted that my actions were unwarranted.

Then I transitioned to the follow-up story.

“Twenty-Nine Baekmae, I’m going to be leaving for a while.”

“…Where to…?”

“Probably not the main fortress. I’ll be going a little farther away. Perhaps…”

I set my lips to something a bit bittersweet.

“I might not return.”

“…….”

“I’m going to have to risk my life. Of course, it’s something I’ve always done.”

I sprinkled in a bit of humor, but she didn’t laugh. She threw down her mask and the redness around her eyes was laden with tears. The tears that I thought would stop soon kept rolling endlessly.

She asked, in a voice filled with restraint.

“So… what are you going to do? Where are you going? Why?”

“That’s all classified information.”

“…Is it related to Ilma?”

“Yes.”

I had no idea how to face a woman who was crying.

How do you even deal with someone who’s crying?

All I could do was talk. All of it sounded like endless excuses, but there were no other options.

“I’m sorry for acting without permission. But… I wanted to do something for you before I left.”

“……”

“I know you dream of taking revenge on Red Phoenix Tower. I also knew you wanted to draw your sword against the Soul Devourer, Shim Sahyun. But…”

I awkwardly scratched my head.

“If you have a hostage, you won’t be able to wield your sword properly, right? And if you continue to serve in the Blood Demon Army, you won’t be able to see your sister even if you rescue her… it would be no different from before.”

“……”

“So I acted on my own. It might not qualify as a farewell gift… but I wanted to lessen your burdens.”

“Why…?”

Twenty-Nine Baekmae wiped her tears. With a voice full of water, she asked.

“Why go to such lengths…?”

“You also risked your life for my stubbornness. You quietly added your sword to my reckless actions and, even after getting hurt, you never complained a word.”

“…….”

“It was impressive. At the same time… it moved me a bit. Although the time we spent together wasn’t really that long, it was a very joyful time.”

I managed a bittersweet smile.

“I hope you’ll understand that I wanted to keep you with me. Still, I apologize once more. I didn’t mean to ruin your plans…”

“So that’s why you fought so hard against the Demon Valley Lord?”

Her sharp, accusatory voice cut through the atmosphere.

I hesitated to respond. That was part of it, but what could I say…

The bloody battle was ignited by my inner ambition. My pride. My desire for the sword.

While the intention was correct, my spiritedness was a reflection of my nature.

I chose my words carefully.

“I made a promise, so I worked hard to fulfill it… but knowing I had to overcome a beast like that, I was giving it my all…”

“For me?”

“To put it that way, yes… but how should I put it… there were a few additional motives…?”

“Say it plainly.”

She pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her sniffling nose. After dabbing her eyes with her sleeve, she asked with a reddened gaze.

“For me, huh?”

It wasn’t incorrect.

Not entirely incorrect.

I cleared my throat.

“That’s right.”

“…….”

Baekmae looked at me sideways. Despite saying she hated men, she casually took off the white gloves she always wore.

She, who loathed physical contact, began to fumble with my hand. Seemingly searching for words, her gaze suddenly lifted bright.

With a look as if she had made a resolution, she asked me.

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t say.”

“How high up do I need to go to hear it?”

“Eh? Well…”

Other than Ilma or the Heavenly Demon…

Was there anyone else who could hear it?

“I suppose you need to be in a higher place to catch it, I guess…”

“I’ll climb up. Anywhere.”

She suddenly yanked my hand, smashing her forehead into my chest.

“Just a heads-up, acting like a big shot after doing something on your own is really pitiful, you know?”

“…Yes?”

“So wait for me. I’ll repay you in my own way. You just need to say one word.”

Half-embracing me, she looked up at me.

“…This isn’t really the end, right?”

“…….”

Her upward gaze trembled. I lifted my hand, resting it gently on her head.

Ilma… did it like this, huh?

I was unsure if it was okay to touch, but deciding that since it might be the last time, I acted on instinct.

“I will try to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

I must return.

There are many people I must see again.

“I’m confident in my efforts.”

“…That’s enough.”

“By the way, Twenty-Nine Baekmae.”

“Yes?”

“Um, could you refrain from blowing your nose on my chest? It’s sticky…”

“That’s just me! I’m ignoring it!”

She proudly blew her nose against my chest.

“…I’ll hold off on thanking you for now.”

Her small voice was quiet.

But I could hear her clearly.

“When I’m up much higher, I’ll tell you while looking at your face.”

“Understood, Twenty-Nine Baekmae.”

“You said you were quitting the Blood Demon Army. I’m not in it anymore either. Call me by my name.”

“…Baekmae?”

“You said you were twenty-six, huh?”

“That’s… correct.”

“I’m twenty this year. Speak informally to me.”

To my surprise, she turned her face away with a fluster.

“Huh, truly… I heard it’s best to clarify things like titles before moving on… so…”

“So?”

“Uh, um, I’ll call you… Onii-chan… since I can’t say your name… I swear I have no feelings! Seriously!!”

…

Twenty-Nine Baekmae packed her things.

Putting her hand beneath her mask several times as if to wipe away her tears, she yelled at me.

“You just wait! When we meet next time, I’ll be stronger!”

“Your voice won’t be enough. Headmaster. Am I really responsible for this kid?”

“Use her until she’s useful. When she becomes truly useful, have her come find me again.”

“Training a disciple wasn’t part of my destiny… kiddo. If you can’t keep up, am I going to toss you off a cliff?”

“I’ll do anything! Please train me!”

Baekmae departed like that. I turned to Ilma.

“Ilma, what should I do now?”

“Follow me and sharpen your skills. At the same time, you’ll have to learn various miscellaneous tasks as well.”

“Miscellaneous tasks as in…?”

“How to handle information. The signals sent among the cult’s spies, and so on… On top of that, you need to refine your movement techniques. The Ghostly Spirit Step’s level was pitiful. The lower body is fundamentally the center of martial arts. Without proper training, its force won’t manifest.”

Ilma struck my back with a bang.

“I’m about to make you work until you want to die. After that, it’ll be about helping me. I’ll also mix in the subtleties of the Black-White Connected Sword and the refined Bing Baeksul’s techniques. Well, when I have time, I might also throw in the similar-to-the-Soul Stealing Sword’s ascent technique… the Fire Wheel Demon Sword. I have over a thousand martial arts I can use.”

“……!”

“It’s a long and arduous path for your dull head, tough to understand and even harder to follow.”

Ilma smiled.

“But since this is the path you chose, bear it in silence. If you’re to root out those who have infiltrated the Martial Alliance from within the Demon Cult and return alive.”

“…Yes!”

“Just in case, let me ask, are you planning to betray us if you go back that way?”

“Isn’t it strange to even ask that? If I were to lie…”

“I’m just asking. Answer me.”

I laughed at Ilma’s question.

“Ilma, this is already my home.”

“Hum.”

“Moreover, since I haven’t yet accomplished everything, I’m bound and determined to return.”

“Are you dreaming of catching up with the Master? How ridiculous.”

“That too, but…”

I sneaked a glance at Ilma’s profile.

“There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“I want to be recognized as a proper disciple by a true warrior.”

“…….”

Ilma scoffed.

“Try it for a lifetime. See if you can do it.”

I caught the faint laughter mixed in her voice. To change simply from internal thoughts to the form of speech would require relentless effort.

…So then.

I’m planning to work hard enough to the point of death. Just for her acknowledgment.

 

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