"You're back."
"I greet the Sect Leader…."
Upon arriving at the Mount Hua Sect, Shin Noya was already waiting for us.
The disciples quickly bowed in respect upon seeing him.
"Well done."
"Ugh…"
Shin Noya nodded slightly with a faint smile.
That overly kind expression annoyed for so reason.
"It's late. Leave the clean-up for tomorrow and get so rest."
"Sect Leader…"
At the ntion of rest, Gubong stepped forward slightly. It seed like he had sothing to say, but—
"Rest. I'll hear the details from the one behind you later."
Shin Noya pointed at as he spoke.
Hearing that, Gubong's eyes widened.
"Sect Leader, but there’s still a report—"
"The report can wait until tomorrow. Now go."
"But…"
"Go."
"..."
At Shin Noya’s firm words, Gubong bit his lip.
He seed to have more to say, but—
"…Understood."
He swallowed his words and bowed his head instead.
"Dismissed."
At his command, the disciples bowed in respect and began to disperse.
Even as Gubong left, he kept glancing back at Shin Noya and .
Especially at .
His expression was clear.
It looked like he wanted sothing from . Judging by that, it was probably—
‘He's hoping I won’t say anything about what happened. That must be it.’
It was obvious.
He was practically pleading with his eyes, asking to stay quiet.
‘And why should I care?’
A man making a face like that? It wasn’t going to work on .
Naturally,
I intended to spill everything.
"Let’s go."
Shin Noya said as he headed inside.
Watching him leave, I turned to Cheonma.
"Go wait sowhere."
I didn’t specify where, but Cheonma gave a small nod and disappeared.
*******
The room was unlit. Not even a trace of light remained.
The space felt cold and lifeless.
This could only an one thing.
‘This old man has been outside all this ti.’
Shin Noya hadn’t waited inside—he’d been standing outside the entire ti.
I snapped my fingers.
Snap!
Whoosh! A fla ignited instantly, lighting the room.
"What are you doing sitting in the dark? Are you trying to save on firewood?"
Feigning ignorance, I teased him, and Shin Noya let out a short cough.
"I just couldn’t be bothered."
Judging by his expression, it was obvious he’d been caught. I ignored it.
We both knew, but neither of us acknowledged it.
I casually perched on the desk.
Curiously, tea was already prepared, as if he’d expected to join him.
As we sat in silence, sipping tea—
"So," Shin Noya began,
"What did you think?"
What did I think? What was that supposed to an?
Of course, no explanation was needed.
This cunning old man believed I already understood his intentions.
Annoyingly, he was right.
"It was complete crap."
I answered honestly.
Shin Noya’s face twisted into a ridiculous grimace at my response.
"That’s one hell of a report."
"Sorry, but after everything today, it’s hard to keep the curses in."
"..."
Shin Noya looked slightly embarrassed.
It seed even he knew he was partly to bla.
"Still… wasn’t it effective?"
"‘Effective,’ my ass. If I go through sothing like that twice, I’ll drop dead."
"Hahaha."
Normally, a punch would’ve co flying by now, but Shin Noya just laughed.
After a brief chuckle, he grew serious.
"I’m sorry."
Hearing that, I widened my eyes.
This old man was apologizing?
It was unexpected.
And honestly, it felt a little uncomfortable.
"…Forget it."
I replied awkwardly, feeling strangely off.
"What’s with the apology? It doesn’t suit you."
"As I said, I thought this was the quickest way."
I clicked my tongue at his words.
I could sowhat understand now.
Experiencing it for myself, I could see his reasoning. But still—
‘Even so.’
I couldn’t shake the feeling that Shin Noya had been a bit rash in his decision.
To be precise—
‘It’s unlike him.’
This wasn’t the Shin Cheol I knew. It had been bothering since earlier.
Maybe that’s why I kept wanting to change the subject.
"Forget it…. You’ve got sothing else you’re curious about, don’t you?"
At my words, Shin Noya nodded.
The reason he sent in the first place.
It wasn’t just to learn more about this world. There was another reason, one I already knew.
So—
"When I first went to the place called Yahwol Palace,"
I slowly began recounting what Shin Noya was curious about.
*******
The story wasn’t long.
I kept it as concise as possible, so it ended with just one cup of plum tea.
"..."
Shin Noya sat quietly, lost in thought.
Was it because the events aligned with his expectations?
Or maybe they were slightly more complicated than he’d anticipated.
Or perhaps, there was another reason.
I watched him in silence.
The way he pondered reminded of myself in so ways.
It wasn’t about appearances, but for so reason, the thought crossed my mind.
‘…Or maybe.’
Maybe I subconsciously wanted to resemble him.
"I see," Shin Noya finally said.
"So, that’s how it was."
His expression held both understanding and a hint of complexity.
I remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
After all—
‘I already know what he’s going to say.’
At this point, there was only one thing left for him to say to .
After a brief pause,
"Yangcheon."
Shin Noya called my na.
My ears perked up, and I frowned.
-Yangcheon.
Normally, Shin Noya referred to as “kid.”
For him to call by na was almost unheard of. It carried weight.
"If you have a favor—"
"Don’t."
I cut him off.
As I said earlier, I already knew what Shin Noya wanted to say to .
Ever since I entered Yahwol Palace and understood the situation, I’d known.
In that case—
"Don’t apologize, and don’t ask for favors."
Would Shin Noya be any different?
Did he think I didn’t know what he was about to ask?
I didn’t think so.
"None of that is necessary. Just keep doing what you always do."
"..."
It was irritating to see that old man, who obviously knew everything, acting so apologetic and asking for favors.
I chuckled and spoke.
“The man with the nastiest temper in the world, doing sothing so embarrassing? What’s wrong with you?”
“…What did you just say, you brat?”
Shin Noya’s face twisted into an incredulous expression at my words. Seeing this, I stood up.
“I’ll handle it myself. It’s not like I was thrilled about it anyway... and it seems like sothing necessary if we’re going to return.”
The first part was sincere; the latter was a lie.
Necessary to return? I didn’t really think that.
It might have a slight connection, but that was about it.
But still—
“So, straighten up. Watching you act weak is disgusting.”
I hated seeing that old man pretend to be fragile.
“I’m leaving.”
Without saying anything further, I grabbed the door and stepped outside.
As I did—
“Thank you.”
Shin Noya’s voice reached .
Once again, I didn’t respond.
*******
Every ti I sleep, I rember that mont.
Decades ago, on a night when the rain poured endlessly.
Hiding between the trees, barely avoiding the rain, trying to hide my tears amidst the water running down my face.
-Huuu... huu….
I crouched down, clutching my stomach.
My body hurt, and I was exhausted. I couldn’t even cry anymore; I was too hungry and drained.
What should I do now? My mind was blank.
-Huuu...
Would I just die like this?
Abandoned and left to die, the thought terrified , yet I started to resign myself to it.
Ah.
It wouldn’t matter if I died like this.
No one would rember anyway.
Not my father, not my siblings, not anyone who knew .
I would crumble into the ground and be forgotten.
I was useless.
So, it would be fine.
I killed my own will to live and thought this to myself.
-I want to live...
Then I crumpled my face and cried.
-Please, save …
Even so, I wanted to live. I desperately wanted to survive.
Shaking violently, I sobbed at the edge of death.
-Good grief.
That’s when I heard a voice in front of .
Startled, I froze.
I quickly beca wary. Were they here to kill ?
Terrified, I tensed up, but—
-Unlucky little thing.
What appeared was an old man in tattered clothes.
An elderly man with silver hair and crimson eyes.
His gaze was fierce, and he carried so sort of mysterious object in his arms.
It was round, shimring with a reddish-purple glow. At first glance, it looked like a jewel.
-I ca because I thought there was sothing interesting about a black-haired kid. Guess I shouldn’t have bothered.
The old man clicked his tongue and looked at . I stared back, confused. Wasn’t he here to kill ?
As I began to question it—
-You there. Didn’t you say you saw sothing worth investigating? You lunatic. Do you think every black-haired kid is the one we’re looking for? You said he’d be remarkable, but he’s useless.
The old man suddenly started speaking into the air.
Seeing this, I beca even more terrified.
Ah, I see. He’s a madman.
Once I realized that, I began to notice things I hadn’t before.
‘...His ears.’
The old man didn’t have the characteristic ears or tail I’d seen before.
What was he? He was a species I’d never encountered.
‘Could he be...?’
Could he be the monster my mother ntioned—the one that cos to take you when you’re close to death?
Was I about to die?
As the thought crossed my mind, I reached out with a tiny hand.
My small hand grabbed the hem of the old man’s tattered trousers.
-Hmm?
The old man looked down, startled.
-Save …
-What?
-Save … Please… I want to live…
I sobbed.
Unable to hold it in any longer, I cried until even the tears I thought had dried up began to flow.
-Ha…
The old man let out a hollow laugh.
-I’m in no position to take care of anyone.
His voice was filled with annoyance. Yet—
-Black hair, huh? That’s rare.
The old man eventually placed a hand on my head and said,
-…Is this fate? Or is there sothing you’re after?
Speaking as if he didn’t know himself, he sighed and asked ,
-Child, what’s your na?
-...
My na.
Hearing the question, I clamd up, afraid I’d be abandoned if I answered.
-…I don’t know.
All I could manage to say was that.
It was an odd answer to anyone, but—
-I see.
The old man didn’t seem to care and said sothing else.
-Should I give you one?
-...
I nodded. I didn’t have the right to refuse.
-Hmm… Let’s see.
After a mont of thought, the old man clapped his hands and said,
-Ah, I was looking for soone, and this happened. His surna was… Gu. And a na that ans you won’t be a fool… Gubong. Yes, from now on, you’ll be Gubong.
That was the mont the boy received the na Gubong.
And the mont Gubong was saved by the old man.
"..."
The mory ended, and Gubong opened his eyes.
He sat up imdiately.
“…Phew.”
He let out a long sigh. Perhaps because of everything that had happened yesterday, he had dread of his past—sothing he hadn’t done in a long ti.
It wasn’t a mory to be forgotten, but dreaming about it now didn’t feel good.
Because it also had to do with the person the Sect Leader was always waiting for.
Gubong frowned.
"…Damn it."
He cursed, his thoughts drifting to soone staying at Mount Hua.
Just as Gubong scowled and muttered—
"Why the harsh words as soon as you wake up? Did you have a nightmare?"
"It wasn’t a nightmare, just… huh?"
Gubong’s eyes widened at the voice.
A voice he wasn’t supposed to hear.
He quickly turned his head. There—
"Good morning."
The Sect Leader’s guest, the very person occupying Gubong’s thoughts, was standing there.
"Are you awake?"
Gu Yangcheon greeted him with a smile.
"…What the…?"
Gubong was bewildered by the strange situation. Then—
"Now then, let’s get to work."
"Ugh!?"
Gu Yangcheon suddenly grabbed Gubong by the collar and hauled him up.
It all happened in an instant.
Reviews
All reviews (0)