[Protagonist’s POV]
I was flustered. She seed to trust way too much.
"And knowing your personality, you wouldn’t use it unless it’s absolutely necessary. You hate standing out, don’t you? I don’t see you as the type with the guts to draw everyone’s attention just to solve a few small problems."
"...Well, yeah."
Unless it’s a life-or-death threat, I probably wouldn’t bother with it.
Drawing attention in this world is basically begging for an early grave.
A martial artist confident in their skills might handle imdiate danger, but ? Without soone to protect , I’d lose to a random guy with a knife.
I’ve got no plans to use it unless it’s dire.
"I won’t refuse it for now. It’s true I need a way to et again."
"And just so you don’t feel burdened, use it however you want. I owe you, after all."
"?"
Her words made tilt my head.
If anything, I’d owe her—not the other way around.
It was suspicious enough to make wonder if sothing happened without knowing.
"...You might not realize it, but I owe you. A big debt—practically life-saving."
"That much...?"
I racked my brain in a panic, but nothing ca up. No matter how I thought about it, I hadn’t done anything—what was she talking about?
"Is it related to my fortune-telling?"
"Hm, huh? Y-Yeah, that’s it. Yep."
Her obvious fluster was odd, but thinking it over, fortune-telling was the only way I could’ve helped her. What else could this frail body do for her? Besides my so-called skill at reading fates, I’ve got nothing to offer.
"I see... Which reading, though? Including the small stuff, there’s a lot—I can’t pin it down..."
"I-It might’ve been trivial to you but had a huge impact on , so you might not recall. Don’t strain yourself. Even if you don’t rember, it doesn’t change that I owe you."
"Uh... okay, got it."
Her readings still floated in my head, but I decided to shelve it for later.
"Then just tell this. How did my fortune-telling help you?"
My last question before we parted.
And her answer—
"...It stopped from falling into qi deviation."
’What the hell?’
It was still a vague, hard-to-grasp reply.
After parting with the Sword Empress, I headed to where my fortune-telling stall used to be.
I wanted to check if another shop had taken over, and since she usually t there, it felt like the natural first stop.
When I arrived at my old spot—
"Good—it’s still intact."
Not a single sign of tampering; it was just as I’d left it. I felt a small pang of gratitude.
After months of no contact, they could’ve assud I was dead and cleared it out—but keeping it as is ant they believed I’d co back.
’...Or they just couldn’t be bothered to deal with it?’
I didn’t know her exact wealth, but given her ans, leaving a little shop untouched might not be a big loss.
Either way, confirming the stall was safe ant it was ti to find Dang Ayeong. I knew where her house was, but she’d said she rarely used it—so I tried the academy first.
"It’s on break right now."
"...There’s a break here too?"
"Yes. Everyone needs rest."
Huh, the academy has breaks. Who knew?
’Then she’s at ho?’
I’d heard she sotis went to her family ho in Sichuan, but she didn’t like it—said the elders made it uncomfortable. She’d also said she barely used her house... but with no other leads, I headed there.
To Dang Ayeong’s place, where I’d been before. As I walked, I thought back to what happened before we parted—
’Oh, right—I promised to show her my face.’
I’d forgotten that detail. Why she’d risk her life to see so guy’s face baffled —
’Guess hiding it so much makes it intriguing.’
Fair enough. I’d be curious too, honestly.
Last ti, a bad vibe made delay it—said I’d show her after the trip. But it stretched way longer than planned, so she might’ve forgotten. I was heading to greet her after so long, but my mind was still swamped with stuff to worry about.
When Yeo Socheon attacked, I’d decided I couldn’t live in this damn world anymore—planned to grab so books and retreat to the mountains. But after the saintess’s warning, that wasn’t an option.
What’s the point of hiding in the mountains if the world’s ending?
With no idea how much ti’s left, I couldn’t just sit around sucking my thumb, waiting for Master to finish her seclusion.
’Should’ve never left in the first place...’
Those ten years in the mountains were peaceful—why’d everything go nuts the mont I stepped out?
Maybe my life’s cursed—so hex that tangles in chaos the second I enter the secular world.
’...Ugh, whatever.’
Even if I’d stayed put, the clock of doom was already ticking—wouldn’t have changed much.
I might’ve just been oblivious in the mountains when it hit, not unscathed.
Vampires were active long before I left, after all.
Whining wouldn’t fix anything.
Right now, all I could do was find Yeo Socheon and hear her out—
’But I don’t even know where she is.’
She’d stord off, face red from my teasing, swearing revenge—leaving clueless about her whereabouts.
I figured we’d et again soon since she promised payback, but when, where, or how? It’s a headache either way.
’...For now, just say hi to Dang Ayeong...’
In tis like this, I missed her simple, easy chatter.
Catch up after so long... maybe grab a drink.
I’m worn out—body and soul—and could use a break.
Knock knock.
"Anyone ho?"
I’d reached her house before I knew it, rapping on the door.
["Who’s theeere..."]
It was nearly noon, but a sleepy, just-woken voice drifted out.
Good—she was here.
"It’s . The Masked Gold Ghost."
Been a while since I used that nickna.
I didn’t love it then or now, but since I’d never given her my real na, it’d have to do.
["Oh..."]
A soft gasp—she recognized —followed by—
Crash bang!
["W-Wait a sec!!"]
Her voice snapped awake, accompanied by a racket inside.
I could almost picture it—
Dang Ayeong scrambled to clean up the ss she’d left.
With the swiftness of a peak martial artist, she tidied the chaos—items flying back to their places. Among them were things no one—especially him—could see.
She was certain if he spotted them, nine tis out of ten, he’d bolt without looking back.
The tenth? He’d collapse in shock.
’...Though I’d kinda like to see that.’
Her hand paused as she shoved stuff into the wardrobe, imagining his reaction. If he ran, she’d catch him from behind, savoring his panicked flailing—
If he froze, she’d stroke his hair and scoop him up. The greedy thought flickered through her mind. ’Dangerous fantasy.’
Slide.
Too risky if it played out—she quietly shut the wardrobe.
Glancing around to confirm everything was stashed, she noticed the most critical item still on the bed—
His clothes, taken under the pretense of washing them when he trained with her.
The scent had faded over ti, but a faint trace lingered—
Or maybe she just wanted to believe it did.
And those clothes, draped over her pillow, bore suspicious wet stains—
’This cannot be found.’
Slide.
She reopened the wardrobe and buried them deep inside.
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