Chapter 7: A love that goes beyond single-mindedness.

A quiet private chamber.

Cheon Hye-rin’s unusually long eyelashes fluttered.

She paced around the room before sitting down again. She tried to calm down, but her heart wouldn’t settle.

Yesterday’s events came to mind, and her heart pounded.

His confession kept swirling in her head.

Unlike before, when she used to greet the morning with a resolute expression.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, and she kept fiddling with her hair.

“How did it end up like this…”

Suddenly, she looked at her reflection in the pond and shook her head.

A woman completely in love.

Feelings that she couldn’t usually feel tickled her.

She tried to take a deep breath, but her heart didn’t calm down.

Her gaze kept wavering, and her face was burning. She was even more restless, wondering what would happen if her subordinates noticed.

She was the one who wielded her sword every day and lived intimately with the smell of corpses.

So these long-lost emotions were refreshing her mood.

All of this was because he had taken her hostage.

The old Cheon Hye-rin didn’t care about these emotions.

But… it was different now.

He was really determined to do everything for her, and when she thought about what happened yesterday, her chest burned without her realizing it.

While she was resting in such a troubled mood, she opened her mouth to Ma Roe, who had come to visit her.

“…Ma Roe.”

“Did you call me, Sword Empress?”

Her close subordinate who was the only one to have discerned her emotions.

“….I think I’ve developed feelings for someone.”

“What does that mean…”

“You know about that man because you talked to him yesterday.”

Talk.

A man who makes her breathe automatically quicken and makes the area around her neck and the tips of her ears burn.

Even if she tries to control her expression. She can’t do it anymore.

Even the fact that the tips of her ears are slightly red was now a completely taken hostage.

“Certainly- he’s an interesting man.”

“Did you also see something in the man?”

“Yes. Of course. I’ve been through all sorts of hardships and lived in this place, but it’s hard to see a guy with such a cunning nature again.”

Cheon Hye-rin’s eyes narrowed at his words.

What cunningness?

While suppressing her burning ear tips, she had some doubts about Ma Roe’s favorable attitude.

Ma Roe was originally famous for not giving good evaluations to others.

Apart from the fact that it was quite rare. What did he mean by being cunning, not just ‘wise’?

Was there a story she hadn’t heard?

Perhaps realizing her doubts. Ma Roe added words.

“There is one realization I have gained while living until now. Have you ever heard of these words, Sword Empress?”

An outstanding talent who protected her from the many enemies for an hour.

An ambition that doesn’t flinch even with a large wall called Ma Roe.

The brilliance that didn’t disappear from his eyes even after almost dying, the glossy shine full of confidence, the desire to live.

In the end- even the ambition to take the Sword Empress as his own.

That is a talent.

Talent.

Not the talent that passing warriors often talk about,

The talent seen from the perspective of the Vice Leader, Ma Roe.

It means a warrior who will become great.

When she heard the story comparing him to something close to the so-called Small Heavenly Demon, Cheon Hye-rin became interested.

“Are you saying that he seemed to be a talented person with outstanding talent?”

“That’s right. Those who have such talent have a personality that doesn’t mind enormous sacrifices for great power.

The man I met yesterday had such a personality. And he cleverly uses tricks and cunning words to match it, which was very demonic.”

For great power…

He achieves it even if it means making tremendous sacrifices.

…As if these words meant that he would be willing to make any sacrifice for her life.

Like he had poured out his innate pure energy to save her.

“…In your opinion, did he seem to be an outstanding warrior as well?”

“At least that’s what I think. That guy… figured out my personality at a glance.

It’s not something a puppy who suddenly pops out of nowhere can do to show off his skills against this Ma Roe Cheon Ho-joong, a boy who hasn’t even properly learned a famous martial art.”

Cheon Hye-rin, who was speechless for a moment.

She tried to maintain a cold composure.

The atmosphere of her grabbing the collar with her trembling hand and biting her lip was not normal.

“…What you said… is all. It must be a misunderstanding. It has to be-“

“-The fact that he loves you. That one thing must be a true heart.”

“!!!!!!!”

“That guy risked his life. He’s definitely not a guy who will easily give up his life.

The way he held out against me until the end was exactly like that. That’s how I knew.”

Trying to maintain the line as much as possible… but the emotions keep crossing the line.

It seemed that just one such man had shaken Cheon Hye-rin’s emotions.

“I also saw it. The way that guy got up from his seat and looked after the Sword Empress’s safety in case you got hurt. Honey was dripping from his eyes.”

“Were you aware of it? The fact that he was unconsciously trying to glance at the Sword Empress as soon as we gathered at the meal.”

“That’s…”

“Perhaps he had figured out that you couldn’t control your expression. Despite the opportunity to not be able to obtain a mystical medicine himself.

That guy took all the burden on himself and got up from his seat.

Ma Roe put down the teacup as if he was still dumbfounded even after thinking about it again.

“He gave up a lucky chance.

“All, for the person he loves.”

Cheon Hye-rin was silent for a while.

Cheon Hye-rin found it difficult to look that way for some reason, so she turned her head.

“…My dear, don’t say such things in front of me in the future.”

“…?”

“I can’t… breathe. My heart is also… beating too, fast… so, please stop.”

Cheon Hye-rin, who was panting for breath. It seemed that her heart was pounding like crazy again.

Hiding her face with her hand because she couldn’t control her expression. She averted her gaze.

She didn’t know that someone, even a man who had nothing to do with her, could be so devoted to her.

For some reason, Cheon Hye-rin’s face became particularly flushed, not only when she looked at him. Just hearing the story about Yu Jin made her face flushed.

Excitement, the stage after falling deeply in love.

Ma Roe, Cheon Joong-ho, looked at Cheon Hye-rin, who was covering her face with her collar from the side.

He didn’t understand the meaning of the words he had said a moment ago and continued to speak.

“A person born with such a talent doesn’t give up easily once they dream of ambition.”

“…!!”

Ma Roe has come to know him to some extent.

He will never give up. He could be sure of this much.

For some reason, Cheon Hye-rin’s trembling seemed to have become more severe, but they were emotions of unknown origin.

He was just a man who barely seemed to be over 20 years old.

No matter how fearless he is, has talent, and shows ambition in front of an absolute master.

It wasn’t the disposition that a child who had just jumped into Murim would show.

Clearly, he must have used some kind of talent to create a favorable situation.

·I can’t be mistaken. He’s a demonic person.’

Very smart, selfish, and a destiny that doesn’t exist under others.

Like Cheonsalgoseong, it was like a destiny for him.

Once he was sure of that, he understood the reason why he hid his power and dreamed of ambition.

He must have done those actions because he had some purpose.

And that purpose is the Sword Empress. The warrior closest to the supreme being when it comes to women in the current Murim.

On the other hand, his strength was only about the middle stage of transcendence.

He certainly has a hidden card.

Not just one, but two.

It is a genre that he is confident that he can know, as he has cut off the necks of countless puppies who have rushed in without knowing fear until now.

‘…He must have been trying to hide it from all the elders until the end, but he won’t be able to deceive even this Ma Roe.’

Ma Roe, Cheon Ho-joong, swallowed a bitter chuckle.

“Anyway. He’s a man who seems useful in many ways. It would be enough to tame him and use him here.”

“…Tame, tame?”
“
“You never know. He might really prove the disposition of a Small Heavenly Demon… or even more than that in the world of the strong.”

“He has at least two hidden cards. And perhaps… one of them is, it’s likely to be that thing that is unknown even to the elders in the Demonic Cult.”

The conversation ended there.

Ma Roe came out of the private chamber, saying that he would prepare for a while.

Outside the door, Ma Roe quietly repeated what he had said.

‘He is cunning.’

A young man who is not even twenty years old, was brave.

He thoroughly calculates profits and losses, and arrogantly shows his teeth and growls.

That being said, he wasn’t the kind of guy who would call his own life cheap.

The ambition in those eyes was a gaze that was prepared to die, but not a gaze of someone who wanted it.

Like a seasoned warrior who had been rolling around in the world of the strong for a long time, he rushes in.

Ma Roe, Cheon Ho-joong, likes ambitious warriors.

Not just someone who is reckless, but a young beast who doesn’t shrink in front of him and rushes in.

Someday, they may all grow up to be mountain lords.

In this place where the law of the strong exists, he is an extraordinary guy.

The figure of Ma Roe, who suddenly thought of his appearance, burst into laughter on his own.

‘Unless he’s out of his mind… there’s no way there would be a man who would have such affection for the absolute being.’

He knows it well too.

How many guys have their hearts flutter because of Cheon Hye-rin’s appearance, which has the beauty of a beauty that can overthrow a kingdom.

However, he was different.

He knows all the circumstances and follows me.

‘The Sword Empress’s companion… a guy who also knows what that means.’

He’s a cunning guy, but.

Even after thinking about it again, he wasn’t a wise man.

In reality, I had to accept that I had fallen into the Murim world.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t find a way to return.

First, I have to survive.

Fortunately, perhaps.

I have several negotiation cards here.

Aside from the information of the Sacheon Tang Family, the Namgoong Family, and the overall flow of the game story.

‘At first, I thought it was bad because I looked at it with a negative perspective.’

I know almost all the martial arts that come out in this game.

Although I didn’t even get to the secret formulas or enlightenment. I didn’t even learn them.

I just know what kind of martial arts it is.

But that means, on the other hand, that I also know its weaknesses exactly.

For example, all the forms of the Hwasan Sect’s Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

Although the hidden forms are beyond the game console. There is a world of difference between just hearing about it and seeing it and knowing it directly.

It’s already too late to return to the righteous sect.

Having seen it, he is probably trying to gauge whether I am on par with him.

If so, I have to start making preparations quickly.

In the same way, it would be appropriate to do a thorough search of the area.

I need to learn the necessary skills.

I felt a sense of urgency to find a way to survive, and started searching the library.

If, in any case, I am unable to return.

I need to increase my skill set.

I have no plans of just blindly dying.

I must first learn something to be able to deal with and fight against the enemies.

It was then.

The Demonic Cult’s strict security and… having bought Cheon Hye-rin’s heart, I had to at least live up to that expectation.

In the midst of it.

-Clatter.

The door opens.

Cheon Hye-rin, who had walked in with her now familiar quick steps, looked at me.

“I.. kept thinking about you and came to see you. Is your body feeling any better?”

She doesn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it now.

Cheon Hye-rin says it in a roundabout way, perhaps because she can’t bring herself to say that she missed me.

“Yes. I’m feeling a little better.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Cheon Hye-rin averts her gaze slightly.

Her face is still pretty like a peerless beauty.

Beneath that, there is a large chest that cannot be completely covered by the uniform.

The slender waistline and voluptuous body that are inevitably revealed depending on the era catch my eye.

However, lust does not bloom.

Because Ma Roe, who had come to find me yesterday, was next to her.

Perhaps she saw my appearance, which was tightly wrapped in bandages.

Cheon Hye-rin’s expression becomes a little sullen.

“…You were being annoying, keeping it hidden.”

“…Pardon?”

“I can’t just keep watching any longer.”

Cheon Hye-rin, who managed to suppress her burning ear tips with a composed expression, parted her lips.

“You must be hiding something from me.”

Hiding something?

There’s a lot to say.

But I didn’t bother to bring those secrets out.

Each and every secret could cut off my lifeline.

And the attitude that is coming out now seemed to have some intention.

But.

‘…In the Murim world, what am I hiding?’

A heart that falsely loves her?

If that lie had been discovered, I would have been beheaded in this place right now.

If it’s another secret…

Martial arts?

I am now in such a state that I haven’t learned anything… just a mediocre state.

But I’m the one who’s going to get Demonic Divine Art and another peerless martial art.

But that wasn’t exactly the vibe.

It didn’t make sense even if I heard rumors that I had both.

Then the answer must be Demonic Divine Art.

In order to become the Sword Empress’s companion, I had to use that much.

“Are you talking about… Divine Art?”

I tried to stab once.

Demonic Divine Art was a martial art that accounted for a large part of the story, so much so that it could be said that I was an expert on it.

But Cheon Hye-rin and Ma Roe each showed a strange gaze.

After looking at my arm, Ma Roe nodded as if it made sense.

Cheon Hye-rin put her hand on my shoulder with a slightly bitter expression.

“…Were you doing that alone?”

“What an ambitious man, to try to learn that Divine Art on his own. Even under the belief that he would protect the Sword Empress…

What a great affection.”

Perhaps she felt my gaze.

Cheon Hye-rin, who was startled for a moment, stepped away from me with a troubled look and grabbed the back of my hand.

And-

“My dear. I value you. So… there’s no need to push yourself and go that far.”
“
“I didn’t know that the thing you said was ‘a necessary thing’ had such a meaning.”

“That’s not it, Sword Empress.”

“…It’s okay. You don’t have to hide it anymore.

Her gaze was fixed on me, then fell.

Ma Roe, who was watching it, chimed in at the right timing.

“A man who is so talented that he can run away from those guys. He realized the secret of the Divine Art on his own and polished it for the Sword Empress, even getting injured… There were traces of him pushing himself too hard…

He was trying to hide everything? It’s clear what his purpose was. But that’s it.
Now you won’t be able to get your foot out of it.”

Ma Roe took out one of the Hwandan Pills from a small wooden box.

“It will be especially helpful in the training of Divine Art.”

“At least it’s to prevent you from pushing your body too hard and damaging your Danjeon.”

“?”

…!

What?

What’s going on?

I’m training in Divine Art?

For whom?

And who’s risking their life to train?

…What the hell is this?