“Tonight?”
Sister Soso’s eyes flew wide in shock. Her voice had risen without her realizing it, and when Ju-gyeong flinched and looked over, she quickly softened her expression.
“It’s something we had to do tomorrow anyway. It’s only been moved up by a day.”
“...Right? There’s still some time left, isn’t there? Let’s eat dinner.”
The sun was still far from setting, but Sister Soso hurried into the kitchen. I also rolled up my sleeves and helped her cook, trimming vegetables and meat beside her. With simple dishes that suited our tastes perfectly set before us, the four of us sat around the table for an early dinner.
We finished the meal as calmly as possible, as if nothing had happened and nothing would happen from now on either. We drank tea and talked for a while, then rose when the sun went down and the sunset glow began to fall.
I stuck my long blade into the back of my waistband and slung over my shoulder a bundle containing Sister Soso’s and Ju-gyeong’s clothes. Sister Soso wore a sword at her waist and held Ju-gyeong’s hand. Do Gwang-il followed behind Ju-gyeong.
When we went to Dojeong Smithy and explained the changed schedule, the master smith readily accepted Sister Soso and Ju-gyeong. I squatted down, met Ju-gyeong’s eyes, and smiled with as relaxed an expression as I could manage.