"Ah, this is nice."
"Yes, indeed."
"Would you like a drink, Young Master?"
"I'll gladly accept."
"The side dishes are quite light. Did you get them directly from a restaurant?"
"I can't exactly ask Aenghwa to cook, can I?"
"Oh, why not?"
"Huh? Isn't it obvious? How could she make so much food by herself?"
"The children from Hwanhee Institute are generally skilled in household chores. Naturally, they're good at cooking too. They can easily prepare meals for ten people, not just one."
"...?"
"You didn't know?"
"I never imagined it."
From the start, he never thought of asking Aenghwa to cook. Even though he had gotten used to it, he was still an assassin dreaming of freedom more than the Third Young Master of the Demonic Sect.
"Well, restaurant food is tasty, so there's no need to make it ourselves. It's better to visit for meals than to break our backs preparing everything."
"That's true."
So Yeonshim looked at Seoryang with a newfound curiosity.
'He's definitely different.'
He lacked the arrogance that high-ranking power holders usually have. Talking to him felt like conversing with an ordinary believer of the Divine Sect.
"But Young Master."
"Please, go ahead."
So Yeonshim blinked.
"The fox has grown a bit, hasn't it?"
"Ah, so you noticed too, Master So? This little one has been eating so much lately."
As if knowing they were talking about it, Geumho purred. Seoryang grumbled and tossed a piece of meat to it.
Too lazy to get up and eat, Geumho slowly dragged the meat with its front paw.
"Still as cute as ever."
"That's true."
"But it's fascinating, isn't it? It's a fox, yet its claws are sharp like a cat's."
"Probably because there's nothing to wear them down."
Unlike felines like cats, leopards, and tigers, canines have blunt claws. So, their only hunting tool is their teeth. However, they have better bite strength and stamina than felines, allowing them to travel long distances without rest. Geumho is likely the same.
"Despite appearances, it's too lazy to run well."
"I see."
"By the way, what brings you here?"
He asked naturally.
So Yeonshim smiled.
"I came to express my gratitude and to spend time with the most famous person in the sect right now."
Seoryang tilted his head.
"Pardon?"
"You didn't know?"
"Well, first of all, what do you have to thank me for, Master So? And famous? Me?"
"You really didn't know."
So Yeonshim chuckled. Seoryang's face, looking at her with wide eyes, was full of pure curiosity.
This person is truly unique.
"The one who easily subdued the embodiment of madness, the Mad Demon Lord, whom the sect members feared most. The one who, with mere presence, subdued the True Demon Lord, overturned the Punishment Hall, and spectacularly defeated the Fourth Young Master. Even wielded a sword against the Punishment Hall Master?"
"Well, that's true, but it seems like a lot of embellishments have been added."
"The Mad Demon Lord and the Punishment Hall Master. These two are the most avoided by ordinary believers. To put it simply, the Mad Demon Lord is like a plague, and the Punishment Hall Master is like a natural disaster."
Hearing it that way, those two seem a bit pitiful.
"You've defeated a plague, a disaster, and even the highest status in the sect. It's strange not to become famous."
"Is that so."
"Yes. It's hard to say openly, but currently, Young Master, you're the most watched person in the sect."
Seoryang scratched his head.
'Is this a good thing or a bad thing?'
I want to grow into someone with a strong presence that everyone accepts, even if I act as I please! That was the situation he hoped for. Then, if he could slip out of the sect, that would be ideal. Since disappearing quietly was impossible from the start, he decided to grow his presence and leave. But somehow, the atmosphere seemed to be turning strange.
Seoryang shook his head.
'No, I've only just taken the first step. There's no need to worry already.'
The grand operation of escaping the Divine Sect is bound to be a long-term battle. You can't be full with the first spoonful, and a dish can't be completed with one cut. To create a large map, you first need to prepare a piece of paper of that size, don't you?
Seoryang smiled. If you worry about each and every thing, nothing will get done.
Let's live like back then, when I didn't hesitate to focus until I took down the target.
"But why are you thankful to me, Master So? Did I perhaps give a hard time to someone you wanted to hit?"
"Of course not. If there's someone I want to hit, I'll find a way to do it myself."
Of course, you would.
"The martial arts formula you gave me back then."
"Oh, that?"
"Yes. It hasn't been long, but I'm already seeing improvement. It's quite a mysterious martial art."
Seoryang was quite surprised.
"You're already seeing improvement?"
"Yes."
"You must be much more talented than I thought. It's impossible with ordinary senses."
"She's an exceptionally talented child. You said it would take half a year, but at this rate, she might recover in about three months. Of course, it will take more time to regain her past martial arts."
Seoryang whistled softly.
"I didn't expect her to be such an outstanding talent. No wonder you were so anxious, Master So."
"Yes, she's the child I've chosen as my successor."
"...!"
She speaks of her successor so casually.
Seoryang, who was staring blankly at So Yeonshim, filled her glass and asked.
"Is it okay to talk about such things so freely?"
"There's no reason not to. It's not like I'm going to spread it around."
"..."
"Even if I have a chosen successor, Young Master, you wouldn't be particularly interested, would you?"
"Well, that's true."
For the leader of an organization, an undeveloped successor can be a fatal weakness. Especially if they're still in a critical state. So Yeonshim almost had to abandon her lifelong principles and make a deal with the Hongwi Gate because of that.
I knew she had someone precious, but I didn't know it was her successor. If Seoryang spreads this information, So Yeonshim would have sleepless nights worrying. There are more organizations than one might think that want to check the Hwanhee Institute.
"Thank you for trusting me so much, but if things go wrong, who knows how I might change."
"I don't trust people. I trust situations."
So Yeonshim smiled brightly.
"The situation back then, and the situation now. It seems unlikely that Young Master would have any reason to become hostile to me."
"You say that in front of the highest status in the sect."
"It seems to make you more comfortable."
"You do have a keen eye."
The two emptied their glasses simultaneously.
"But no matter how much I think about it, I can't imagine Master So coming here just for that reason."
Seoryang's eyes sparkled.
"Is there something you want from me?"
So Yeonshim smiled.
"Feigning ignorance in front of someone who already knows everything would mean giving up on a smooth conversation. Since you put it that way, I'll be honest."
"That's right."
"..."
"That's right. Please, go ahead."
"Ahem."
Clearing her throat for a moment, So Yeonshim spoke clearly.
"If you have the time, could you come to my residence once a day?"
"..."
"..."
"Um, Master So."
"Yes, please speak."
"How should I put it, I'm confident in my strength, but I haven't been tested in that area..."
"I don't know what you're thinking, but that's not it."
"How do you know it's not that when you don't even know what I'm thinking? But is it not?"
"Absolutely not."
Seoryang tilted his head.
"If there's nothing special, I have plenty of time, but why do you want me to come to your residence? The explanation is lacking."
"It's because of that child."
"..."
"From what you've said, it seems that child's progress is indeed fast."
"That's right. Normally, it's not possible. I was fast because I had experience."
"But... it's still slow."
Seoryang made a startled face.
"How much do you plan to push your successor to say something like that? It's not an easy martial art. It's quite a tricky one. The fact that there's already improvement in just a few days is incredible."
"I know the child's talent is exceptional. I know her progress is fast."
You know all that, yet you say such things?
For a moment, Seoryang's eyes sparkled.
"There must be a reason why your successor needs to get back on her feet as soon as possible."
"...As expected, Young Master, you're quick-witted."
"If that weren't the case, why would someone like Master So, who is so composed, almost get caught dealing with the Hongwi Gate for the Cheonggusa Yeopcho? You must have been quite anxious."
"Exactly."
"So you're asking me to help your chosen successor recover?"
"Yes."
Seoryang looked at So Yeonshim quietly.
So Yeonshim still held a faint smile. At least on the surface, she seemed no different from before.
'This isn't good.'
The Head of Hwanhee Institute can certainly make requests of someone. But the request shouldn't be directed at her successor or candidates. It could appear as if the Head of Hwanhee Institute is interfering in the succession battle.
I don't know about previous Heads, but So Yeonshim seems to be a person with strong pride and clear principles. For such a person to ask a candidate for such a significant favor?
'She's taking a certain risk. In other words, if I don't accept this request, her view of me will become quite unpleasant.'
This is why a big favor is scarier than a small one. Not because of the ability to fulfill it, but because the backlash from refusing it can be enormous.
"It might be quite exhausting for you?"
Though his words were cut short, So Yeonshim understood perfectly.
"It's risky."
"And yet you ask me for such a favor."
"Yes."
"..."
"This is just a personal request. If someone finds out, it could lead to bad rumors, but if only you and I know, that won't happen."
"There are ears on walls and eyes on fleas. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean the wind doesn't blow."
"It's okay. It's an extremely 'personal' request."
It means she has the ability to suppress any bad rumors.
Seoryang sighed.
"At least tell me the reason. Why is it so urgent?"
"Do you really need to know that?"
"It's not something you should say after pushing me this far."
For the first time, a hint of awkwardness appeared on So Yeonshim's usually calm face.
"I'm sorry. No matter how much I think about it, it's hard to explain in detail. But I'd appreciate it if you just know there's a compelling reason."
Damn it...
Judging by how far she's going, it must not be an ordinary matter.
What is certain is that if I refuse this request, my life in the sect will become quite difficult.
'Why me...'
Seoryang sighed.
"It would be easier to wrap this up as a transaction, wouldn't it? If it's just a favor, it would weigh on my mind."
"I'd be grateful for that."
"My goodness, I didn't expect Master So to come out like this."
Depending on how you hear it, it could be a complicated statement, but So Yeonshim showed no such reaction.
"When waves crash, if you stubbornly advance, the ship breaks and the sailors drown. Sometimes you have to go with the flow."
"That's true, but."
"So, will you accept my request, or rather, transaction?"
Seoryang smacked his lips.
"What choice do I have? I've benefited quite a bit from Master So, so I have no choice but to accept."
"Thank you. Truly, thank you, Young Master."
"Since I'm getting something in return, there's no need to thank me."
"Then I'll take it as accepted. Can you start coming from tomorrow?"
"Let's do that. Strike while the iron is hot, or you'll get run over just watching."
"Then, is there anything else you want from me?"
"That's the problem. I can't think of anything right now."
Should I ask for the greatest martial art of all time? Or ask to be taken out of the sect?
What Seoryang wanted was neither money nor fame, but freedom.
Since what he wanted was clear, there was no need to respond to such a transaction that wasn't even a transaction. After all, what he desired couldn't be given by someone else.
'Damn, if only I could go out...'
Suddenly, Seoryang's eyes widened as if they would tear.
"What? What?"
"...?"
"...Master So."
"Yes, please speak, Young Master."
"Our blessed and gracious organization, Hwanhee Institute, handles the household affairs within the sect, doesn't it?"
"...That's right?"
"The supplies provided to the sect must be procured from outside."
"Yes, of course."
"Do you only receive them? Don't you go out to meet them or anything?"
"For important supplies, we do go out. Coincidentally, in fifteen days..."
Seoryang grabbed So Yeonshim's hands tightly.
His eyes burned like flames.
"I'll try to complete the recovery of our precious successor within fifteen days!"