Chapter 8: The Benefactor’s Reckless Claim

“……At the very least, I have never failed to do my best for something I said I would take responsibility for.

I’m not the type to forget easily, so you worried needlessly.”

“Yes.

This younger brother worried needlessly.”

Even as he slowly replied, Hyeonwol couldn’t stop thinking that something was wrong.

Wasn’t there a saying, ‘outshine the moon and shame the flowers, sink fish and drop geese‘?

At Seol Cheon-yu’s shy smile, even the sunlight streaming through the inn window seemed to shy away and retreat behind him of its own accord—or so the illusion suggested.

Hyeonwol now fully understood why, in all sorts of novels, the people around the protagonist willingly fell into his orbit.

Quite a few people at the surrounding tables had been glancing their way, and because of that smile just now, Hyeonwol felt his own face flushing.

When was the last time he had felt this way while being the center of attention?

Hyeonwol had lived his life confident that his appearance was nothing to be ashamed of, but at this moment, he could only desperately hope that he wasn’t perceived as some insignificant fish dimming the beauty beside Seol Cheon-yu.

“Haha, well… Anyway, you’ve really grown a lot.

I thought you only trained in martial arts, but how did you also cultivate such eloquence….”

“It’s just that hyung-nim sees me kindly, so I am only embarrassed.”

Having awkwardly praised Seol Cheon-yu’s martial arts, Hyeonwol inwardly kicked himself, but fortunately, Seol Cheon-yu didn’t add anything more on that topic, merely expressing gratitude.

Objectively speaking, Hyeonwol’s own martial arts skill was by no means low by the standards of the entire martial world, yet even from his perspective, he couldn’t even begin to fathom where Seol Cheon-yu’s level stood.

So it wasn’t strange that he had unconsciously blurted out a compliment.

While rationalizing this, Hyeonwol was also astounded by the fact that Seol Cheon-yu had reached such a level at the age when he was just coming of age this year—it truly drove home that he was the protagonist.

The two soon began eating the food and drink that had arrived, continuing trivial conversation about personal matters.

After that, whenever Hyeonwol tried to ask something substantial, Seol Cheon-yu skillfully evaded.

Judging by his attitude, it seemed he had no intention of immediately explaining his training history or the process of his return here.

Still, Hyeonwol looked on the bright side.

At least it meant he didn’t intend to utter lies to gloss things over, at least not in this setting.

Was the protagonist originally someone with such deep gratitude?

It was quite hard to understand that he was someone worthy of such sincerity in his eyes, but Hyeonwol, adding a new interpretation of Seol Cheon-yu’s character, calmly emptied his liquor glass as if unconcerned.

It was mild liquor meant to accompany a meal, so there was no worry about getting drunk.

“Hyung-nim, you should eat side dishes with it too.”

“Just watching you eat fills me up.

You finish your meal.”

“What if the one watching feels a stomachache instead?”

“…Well, if that’s the case.”

As Hyeonwol picked up a chopstickful of stir-fried noodles and put it in his mouth, Seol Cheon-yu finally let out a small laugh.

It was still a clear laugh that warmed even those stealing glances.

…Aside from that, why did every conversation keep going like this?

Hyeonwol found it hard to admit that he was being led around by this young child, but soon feeling a sense of deja vu, he chose resignation.

For the peace and stability of this nation, he was fated to keep yielding to Seol Cheon-yu from now on.

Then it happened.

The sound of people murmuring on the street below the window began to grow louder.

Wondering what was going on, Hyeonwol looked out the window and clicked his tongue upon spotting two figures confronting each other amidst the crowd.

Was a fight breaking out in the middle of the marketplace in broad daylight?

Soon, Seol Cheon-yu also turned his attention to the window, following Hyeonwol’s gaze.

When their eyes met, Seol Cheon-yu reflexively smiled, and Hyeonwol forced a smile back before turning his gaze to the window again as if to escape.

Whatever the situation, he needed a refuge, even momentarily, from that harmless yet harmful face.

Looking closely, the two standing opposite each other were a man and a woman.

Hyeonwol was a bit surprised after raising his internal energy to enhance his vision and confirm their features.

It was because he knew both of them.

How had those two run into each other here?

The man was Kang Ryun, Hyeonwol’s guard, whom he had parted from in the palace less than an hour ago.

In contrast to Kang Ryun’s simple black martial arts robe, the woman was fully dressed in the dark blue uniform of the Forbidden Guard, arms crossed, her bearing truly proud and imposing.

Gang Huiseo.

Not only was she a member of the Forbidden Guard, but she was also Kang Ryun’s cousin, so Hyeonwol knew her well.

The two were staring intently at each other in the middle of the marketplace, not even exchanging words, just locked in a contest of will.

It seemed that due to the two martial artists’ auras, people were naturally making way, hindering passage, and on top of that, onlookers had gathered to watch them, causing quite a commotion.

“Truly an obstruction of passage.

What a public nuisance this is.”

“Do you know them?”

Seol Cheon-yu seemed to recognize the Forbidden Guard uniform.

Hyeonwol’s heart skipped a beat since he hadn’t yet revealed his identity to Seol Cheon-yu, but recalling that the child had consistently known him as ‘Biwol,’ a palace official, since their first meeting, he composed his face and spoke naturally.

“I’ve run into them a few times within the palace.

I have a rough idea why they’re acting like that….

It seems I’ll need to go down for a bit.

Would you wait for me?”

“You don’t need to worry about that.

Since we’ve finished eating anyway, let’s go down together.”

“Ah… haha.

Right… let’s do that.”

Laughing awkwardly as he rose from his seat, Hyeonwol inwardly broke out in a cold sweat.

If anyone misspoke during the mediation process, there was a great risk his identity would be exposed.

Since martial artists above a certain level could intercept and read the telepathic messages of lower-level practitioners, Hyeonwol couldn’t even send a preemptive warning to Kang Ryun to be careful with his words.

Feeling like he was using up a lifetime’s worth of tension in one day, Hyeonwol finished his calculations and, together with the ever-calm Seol Cheon-yu, pushed through the crowd outside to approach the two locked in confrontation.

As they drew closer, the auras of the two martial artists facing each other became more vivid.

It wasn’t enough to threaten ordinary people, but it was still an excessive display of wariness.

It was clearly a long-awaited encounter.

Coincidentally, just as Hyeonwol neared them, the two, who had been engaged in a lengthy staring contest, finally began to speak.

“…Gang Huibaek, off duty today, I see?

Judging by how leisurely you are in the marketplace.”

“I am properly carrying out my mission.

I believe those words should be returned to Huiseo noonim herself.”

“I’m amazed that you actually have a mission to carry out.”

At Gang Huiseo’s sarcastic, cutting remark, Kang Ryun’s aura became even more fierce.

Feeling that Gang Huiseo’s mood also seemed to worsen as she raised her energy in response, Hyeonwol pressed his brow.

‘Honestly, I understand why she’s like that, but…’

Three years ago, after Hyeonwol was deposed as Crown Prince.

Kang Ryun, his direct guard, had chosen of his own will to stay by his lord’s side, who had left the Eastern Palace and been relegated to the background.

From Gang Huiseo’s perspective, her younger cousin’s bright future had been thrown into the gutter, so it was only natural for her to express dissatisfaction with his choice.

Before being family, the two had been close since earlier, so her opposition was even stronger.

With her capable and young brother refusing to leave a sinking ship, Gang Huiseo, feeling frustrated and angry, expressed her displeasure whenever she ran into Kang Ryun.

Hyeonwol had personally witnessed and pretended not to notice more times than he could count on one hand.

Honestly, as the root cause of their discord, approaching them felt like sitting on a bed of nails, but Hyeonwol had no other choice.

He had come down to mediate, so he had to intervene.

“Ahem.

I won’t stop cousins from showing their affection, but the location seems a bit inappropriate.”

“…!”

“…My lord.”

The two, upon confirming Hyeonwol’s face, hurriedly dispersed their auras.

As the tense atmosphere seemed to settle, the people gathered around gradually began to disperse.

Fortunately, thanks to the many eavesdroppers, Kang Ryun’s form of address slipped by, but the problem started now.

As naturally as possible, Hyeonwol put his pipe in his mouth and urgently gestured with his eyes towards Seol Cheon-yu, who stood behind him.

The two martial artists, who hadn’t even properly greeted him, followed his gaze to the elegant beauty behind Hyeonwol and hesitated, somewhat surprised.

He could only trust that the two, with their decent wits, would mind their words.

With a brazen face, Hyeonwol took Seol Cheon-yu’s hand and pulled him closer.

For an instant, a cool, clear energy spread from the grasped hand.

The puzzlement at that sensation arose only briefly; feeling the pulled hand flinch slightly, perhaps startled, Hyeonwol quickly dismissed the thought.

He had always been second to none in shamelessness, so he internally suppressed his apology for the sudden pull.

“I met my benefactor today, received his kindness, and even formed sworn brotherhood, putting me in a good mood, but why are acquaintances I happened upon quarreling like this?

I brought him here to introduce you, but now my position has become quite awkward.”

Hyeonwol’s tone seemed to blame the two at first glance, but his face was kindly smiling, so it only appeared as an attempt to smooth things over.

Gang Huiseo was already flustered enough by encountering the former crown prince, who was rumored to be in seclusion, outside the palace.

But seeing the person he presented as his sworn brother plunged her into further confusion.

Aside from the fact that he was a beauty who would astonish the world, she sensed from his young face a level of martial bearing that as a martial artist she simply couldn’t ignore.

Meanwhile, Kang Ryun realized that the person his lord had been seeking news of for years was right before him, and his gaze wavered even more, unable to find its focus.

The confrontation of moments ago seemed to have vanished from both their minds.

Hyeonwol continued even more calmly.

“Now then, Aseol.

Of these two cousins, this young man here is Kang Ryun, who works under me, and this military officer could be called a colleague.

How should I introduce you to them?”

“Hyung-nim.”

“Yes?”

“Are you taking me as your sworn younger brother?”

“Well, do you not want to?”

“…How could that be?”

At Hyeonwol’s utterly confident question, the smile in Seol Cheon-yu’s eyes suddenly flickered.

But no one noticed.

Hyeonwol merely swallowed his relief that Seol Cheon-yu showed no sign of displeasure at his arbitrary decision.

Unaware of this change, Hyeonwol, feeling more at ease, grinned contentedly.

The cousin pair, momentarily dazed by the sight, soon hurriedly gathered their composure.

They cupped their fists and greeted Seol Cheon-yu.

“I am Gang Huiseo.”

“I am Gang Huibaek.

To be my superior’s benefactor, it is an honor to meet you.”

“I am called Seol Cheon-yu.

Rather, Wol hyung-nim is my benefactor, so being called a benefactor for such insignificant small help makes me deeply ashamed.”

Seol Cheon-yu’s response, returning the greeting with perfect courtesy and even humility, led Gang Huiseo to assume and convince herself that he must be a young master from some orthodox martial arts family.

But the important thing was that the initial cause of her fluster was someone else entirely.

The last time she had seen the former crown prince, Hyeonwol, was months ago, and even then, he was in bed…

Gang Huiseo could trace his former robust figure in the handsome young man wearing a simple long robe and holding a pipe in his straight hand.

Of course, his complexion was still pale and thin, but those who knew the situation—especially those working in the palace—would say that seeing the First Prince standing outside his bed had become a surprising sight starting three years ago.

Gang Huiseo furrowed her neat brows questioningly and spoke.

“By the way… Daein.”

Noting that Hyeonwol had introduced her as a ‘colleague,’ and guessing that he hadn’t revealed his identity to the young man, she seemed careful with her title.

Hyeonwol nodded, thinking his efforts to disguise himself had been for naught.

If he had just passed by on the street pretending not to know them, the palace people might not have noticed, but now he had run straight into them.

Fortunately, Gang Huiseo wasn’t one of Noble Consort Yu’s people, so he could just ask her not to spread the word. …He was thinking that, when.

“Yes.

Speak.”

“Are you sure it’s alright for you to be out here like this without preserving your strength?

Weren’t you on the verge of crossing the Yellow Springs just a while ago?”

“Keuheup, keok.”

Having inhaled smoke from his pipe the wrong way, Hyeonwol started choking, and Seol Cheon-yu beside him hurriedly patted his back.

Right, that’s how she was!

He had completely forgotten because she was only strangely affectionate towards her cousin!

Hyeonwol, while being astounded by Gang Huiseo’s blunt speech that spared no one, also had to steady his body, which was trying to tremble under the sharp, chilling gaze pouring from Seol Cheon-yu beside him.

No, that’s not… It’s not that, but it really isn’t!?