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Chapter 7: The Arrival at Hwasan

“Have you arrived?”

“I meet the Sect Leader…”

Upon reaching Hwasan Sect, Shin Noya stood waiting in front.

The disciples, seeing Noya, hurriedly lined up.

“You’ve had a tough time.”

“Ugh.”

Noya offered a slight smile and nodded.

I didn’t like how he was trying to appear benevolent.

“It’s late, so let’s wrap things up tomorrow and rest.”

“…Sect Leader…”

At Noya’s words to rest, Gu Bong stepped slightly forward. It seemed he had something to say.

“Rest. After all, you’ll hear the explanation from that guy behind.”

Shin Noya pointed at me while saying that.

Gu Bong’s eyes widened upon hearing this.

“Sect Leader. However, I still have a report to deliver.”

“Tomorrow is fine for the report. Just go in already.”

“Then…”

“Hurry.”

“…”

Gu Bong bit his lip at Noya’s words.

It seemed he had more to say, but…

“…Understood.”

He only bowed his head, swallowing his words.

“Dismissed.”

At the command, the disciples bowed and slowly dispersed.

Gu Bong stared at Noya and me until he left.

His expression was particularly clear as he looked at me.

He seemed to be hoping for something. If I had to guess, it was probably…

‘Don’t mention what happened.’

It was obvious.

He was asking, if possible, to keep it quiet. He was sending me a glance with that desire, but…

‘So what?’

There was no way a guy like him could get through to me with that look.

Of course.

I planned to spill everything.

“Let’s go.”

Noya said that as he walked into his residence.

Watching him, I spoke to the Heavenly Demon.

“Stay put.”

I didn’t specify where to go, but the Heavenly Demon nodded briefly and vanished.

*

The room was devoid of any light. There was no trace of a fire being lit.

Furthermore, the room felt cold and lifeless.

This only meant one thing.

‘This old man has been outside the whole time.’

It signified that Shin Noya had been waiting outside instead of inside.

I snapped my fingers.

Snap!

Suddenly, a spark flew and ignited the fire on my back.

“What are you doing without lighting a fire? Wanting to waste time?”

Feigning ignorance, Shin Noya let out a short cough.

“I just didn’t bother.”

His expression clearly showed he had been caught, but I ignored it.

We both knew, yet pretended not to.

I sat down at the table.

The funny thing was that tea was already prepared.

As if they had anticipated just the two of us entering.

As I sat and quietly sipped my tea…

“Right.”

Noya spoke.

“How was it?”

I was suddenly taken aback by what he meant.

No need for clarification.

This sly old man believed I would know his intentions.

Annoyingly, that was indeed the case.

“It was crap.”

So I honestly replied.

Hearing this, Shin Noya’s face twisted comically.

“So the report is a real piece of crap, huh?”

“Sorry! I experienced too much today, I couldn’t help but curse.”

“…”

Noya looked a bit flabbergasted at my words.

It seemed even he was aware of his own faults.

“But still… the effect should be clear, right?”

“Don’t act so certain. If it happens again, I might just faint.”

“…Hahaha.”

Typically, fists would have already flown, but Noya merely laughed.

After a brief chuckle, Noya said, “I’m sorry.”

I widened my eyes at that. I never expected him to apologize.

It was somewhat surprising.

And a bit uncomfortable.

“…It’s fine.”

I replied reluctantly. It felt oddly off.

“Why are you apologizing? It doesn’t suit you.”

“As I said, I thought it was the fastest method.”

Noya’s statement made me slightly lick my lips. I could somewhat understand.

While experiencing it, I could grasp that.

‘Still…’

I couldn’t shake the feeling that Noya had made a somewhat hasty choice.

To be precise…

‘Not like Noya.’

It was quite different from Shin Cheol’s usual behavior. That had been bothering me.

Perhaps because of that, I wanted to shift the topic.

“It’s fine… There must be something you’re curious about.”

Noya nodded at my words.

The reason he sent me away.

I knew it was partly to hope that I would understand this world better, but there was another reason that I was aware of.

Thus…

“When I first went to a place called Yawol…”

I slowly began recounting what Noya was curious about.

*

The story wasn’t too long.

Since I summarized it as much as possible, it ended about when my cup of Plum Tea was emptied.

“…”

Noya sat silently, deep in thought after hearing my words.

Perhaps it was because his expectations weren’t too far off from reality.

Or maybe it was because things were a little more complicated than expected.

Or perhaps for another reason, who knows?

I quietly observed Noya.

His troubled expression seemed somewhat familiar to me.

Not in terms of appearance, but rather that feeling.

‘…Or perhaps…’

Unconsciously, I might be thinking I want to be like him.

“Got it.”

Noya finally spoke after a long silence.

“Seems that was the case.”

His face held a mix of understanding and something complex.

At that time, I didn’t say anything.

I patiently waited for Noya to continue.

After all…

‘I already know.’

I was already aware of what Noya was going to say.

Since at this point, he only had one thing to tell me.

After waiting a moment…

“Yangcheon.”

Noya called my name.

My ears perked up, and I grimaced.

-Yangcheon.

Noya usually calls me ‘brat.’

Him calling me by my name meant multiple things.

“Do you have a request—”

“Don’t.”

I cut off Noya’s words.

Like I said before, I already knew what he was going to say.

It had been that way since I figured out the circumstances when I entered Yawol.

If that’s the case…

“Don’t say you’re sorry or make a request.”

Could Noya truly be oblivious to what I would say?

I didn’t think so.

“There’s no need for that. Just do as you always do.”

“…”

It was irritating to see that he was acting apologetically when he clearly knew better.

I smiled wryly as I said, “What kind of old man shows such shame after being the world’s most foul-tempered?”

“…What?”

Noya gave me a bewildered expression at my words. I stood up,

“I’ll take care of it. I wasn’t fond of this idea anyway… it looks like it’ll be necessary to return.”

The former part was sincere, and the latter was a falsehood.

Was it necessary to return? I didn’t think so.

Though there might be a slight relation to it, it wouldn’t be much.

However…

“So, give that determined look back. It’s unpleasant to see.”

I disliked seeing the old man appear weak.

“I’m leaving.”

Without saying anything further, I took hold of the door to exit.

As I turned the handle and stepped out…

“Thank you.”

Noya’s voice brushed against me.

Once again, I chose not to respond.

*

Every time I sleep, I recall that moment.

On a night when it poured dozens of years ago.

Hiding between trees, barely avoiding the rain while hiding the tears on my face.

-Huhh… Huhh…

I curled up, clutching my belly.

My body was aching and exhausted. I had cried so much I could barely do it anymore.

What am I supposed to do now? Nothing came to mind.

-Huhh…

Am I going to die like this?

Am I going to die abandoned? The child was terrified but gradually resigned.

Ah.

It wouldn’t matter if I died like this.

If I die here, no one will remember me.

Not my father nor my brothers. No one who knew the child would.

I would just crumble and be buried in the ground.

Since I was useless.

So it would be alright.

The child kept killing his own vitality while thinking this.

-I want to live…

Soon, tears streamed as I crumpled my face.

-Please save me…

Despite that, I wanted to live. I wanted to survive, no matter what.

The child trembled and cried in the presence of death.

-And then…

At that moment, a voice echoed before me.

Hearing the sound, the child flinched.

He quickly guarded himself. Could it be those who’ve come to kill me? The child stiffened with fear.

-You’re really unlucky.

What appeared before me was an old man dressed in ragged clothes.

A white-haired old man with red eyes.

His gaze was fierce, and he held what seemed to be an unknown object in his hands.

Round and shimmering in a reddish hue. At a glance, it looked like an orb.

-I thought you were black-haired, so I came to see, but perhaps I shouldn’t have.

Tsk.

The old man clicked his tongue while looking at the child. The child gazed at him in confusion. Was he not here to kill me?

As doubt began to bloom,

-Didn’t that idiot tell you to look for something? You crazy fool. Do you think being black-haired means anything? You’ve bragged about being amazing, but it turns out you’re useless.

The old man suddenly began talking to the void.

The child felt even more terrified witnessing this.

Ah, I see. He’s a madman. Understanding that, I began to see what I hadn’t noticed.

‘…Ears.’

The old man’s head lacked the distinctive ears and tail.

What was that? I had never seen a race like this before.

‘Ah, could it be…’

The monster that my mother spoke of, which comes to take you when you are close to death.

Am I really on the verge of dying?

The child thought this and reached out with a small hand.

That tiny hand grasped at the old man’s pant leg.

-Huh?

The old man reacted, surprised.

-Save me…

-What?

-Save… please save me… I want to live… please…

I sobbed.

Unable to hold it anymore, tears streamed from my eyes.

-Haha…

The old man chuckled at that.

-This old man isn’t in a position to take care of someone.

His voice was clearly one of annoyance.

But…

-It’s such a rarity to find a black-haired one.

The old man then gently stroked the child’s head.

-…Is this all fate? Or do you have something you’re aiming for?

The old man spoke as if unsure. He then sighed and asked the child.

-What’s your name, kid?

-…

Name.

Upon hearing that, the crying child closed his mouth. He was afraid of being abandoned if he answered.

So he held back.

-…I don’t know.

That was the only answer he could barely manage.

It sounded very strange to anyone’s ear.

-Oh really?

The old man seemed largely unconcerned as he said something else.

-Then how about I give you one?

-…

The child nodded. He had no right to refuse.

-Hmm… let’s see.

The old man pondered for a moment.

-…I came looking for that guy. His family name was… ah.

Then as if he remembered, he clapped his hands together.

-Gu, right? And your name… how about Gu Bong? Don’t end up being a burden. Yes, from now on, you’re Gu Bong.

That was the moment the child’s name changed to Gu Bong.

It was also the moment Gu Bong was saved by the old man.

“…”

With that memory, I woke up.

Gu Bong immediately arose.

“…Hoo.”

A sigh escaped me. Perhaps due to yesterday’s events, I had dreamt of a past I seldom recalled.

It was a memory I shouldn’t forget, yet dreaming of it now felt off.

After all, it was the tale of someone the Sect Leader had been waiting for every day.

Thus, Gu Bong frowned.

“…Damn it.”

Someone currently residing in Hwasan flickered across my mind.

In that moment, as Gu Bong grimaced and cursed,

“Why are you cursing right after waking up? Did you have a nightmare?”

“It wasn’t a nightmare. Just… hmm?”

Caught off guard by the interjected words, Gu Bong widened his eyes.

There was a voice that shouldn’t have been heard.

He quickly turned his head. There stood…

“Hello?”

The guest of the Sect Leader and someone Gu Bong had been worried about.

“Are you awake?”

Gu Yangcheong smiled as he looked at Gu Bong.

“…What?”

Gu Bong was surprised by the bizarre situation. Just then,

“Now then, let’s go work together.”

“Gah!?”

Gu Yangcheong suddenly grabbed Gu Bong by the collar and pulled him up.

It was in the blink of an eye.

 

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