A bracelet encircled the man’s wrist.
Why was it here?
‘This bracelet originates from the original work.’
This bracelet was acquired early in the story progression of the original ga.
Of course, I wasn’t surprised because the bracelet boasted omnipotent abilities such as improving blood circulation, emitting far-infrared rays, and blocking electromagnetic waves.
If such a bracelet with these capabilities accidentally ca into my possession, I would simply exclaim, ‘Lucky ,’ and slip it into my pocket.
However, this artifact was not so straightforward.
‘Why does this man possess an artifact from the Sichuan Tang Family?’
Sichuan Tang Family (四川唐家).
A martial arts family that represented the Sichuan province.
Also known as Sichuan Tangmun, this family was recognized as specialists in the fields of hidden weapons and poisons.
So in the martial world mistakenly believed it had a two-character surna like the Moyong Family, but it was actually a clan composed of the Tang bloodline, not Tangmun.
Although sotis portrayed as neither righteous nor evil, but sowhere in between, in martial arts novels, the Sichuan Tang Family was, in fact, a proud mber of the righteous factions in this world.
Why would a Korean possess an artifact from the Sichuan Tang Family?
And therein lay the biggest issue with this bracelet.
‘The villain character from the Sichuan Tang Family was seen wearing this bracelet.’
An artifact obtained after resolving an incident involving a villain character from the Sichuan Tang Family. That’s the true nature of this bracelet.
It was not sothing that should be worn by a Korean with black hair.
“The Tang Family’s Unforgettable Ring (不忘環).”
Upon hearing my surprised utterance, Sohee quietly observed the dead man’s wrist from behind and identified the bracelet I was unfamiliar with.
“Unforgettable Ring (不忘環)? A bracelet that isn’t forgotten?”
Was that its na? I had assud it would be sothing like Tanggawatchi or Tangband.
“Yes. The Sichuan Tang Family awards a gratitude badge to those they owe a debt of gratitude to. They issue different ones according to rank, and this is the highest level. Yunho, didn’t you know?”
All I knew was that this bracelet symbolized affiliation with the Sichuan Tang Family.
It was essentially like a full-course treatnt free pass from the Sichuan Tang Family.
“I recognized it as belonging to the Sichuan Tang Family because of the legendary poison bird depicted on it. I didn’t know it had such significance.”
I pointed to the drawing of the legendary poison bird on the bracelet, a symbol exclusive to a single clan in the Central Plains.
Sohee seed convinced by the ntion of the poison bird and nodded slightly.
“The Unforgettable Ring is supposed to be given only by the direct bloodline of the Tang Family to soone who has received a great favor. Why does this man have it?”
Sohee, like , expressed her doubts about the bracelet’s origin.
“I’m curious about that too. A Korean wearing a bracelet from the Sichuan Tang Family.”
“Like a gratitude badge, there should be a na inscribed on the back. Take a look.”
The nas of those who have received gratitude from the Sichuan Tang Family are inscribed on the gratitude badge. I checked the back of the man’s bracelet to confirm this.
“…… There’s no na inscribed.”
There was no na on the back of the bracelet.
“It can’t be.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Such a precious gratitude badge should naturally have a na inscribed on it. But there’s no na.
It makes anxious thinking about that character.
“Yunho, you keep it.”
“?”
“I don’t know what relationship this man had with the Tang Family, but if you inform the Tang Family about today’s incident and present them with the bracelet, they will express their gratitude. Because the Sichuan Tang Family’s motto is……”
“The Sichuan Tang Family does not forget.”
“…… Right.”
A well-known motto of the Sichuan Tang Family in this world.
As a clan primarily utilizing poison and hidden weapons, they often face unjust accusations. To counter this, the past head of the Tang Family adopted a motto emphasizing the importance of rembering both kindness and grievances.
This was likely the reason behind the implentation of the gratitude badge system as well.
The protagonist visited the Tang Family with the bracelet for a similar reason.
Not to return the Unforgettable Ring because it symbolized gratitude, but rather to convey, “Your family mber has caused trouble; please address it.”
“Then wouldn’t it be better if Sohee had it?”
“If I take it, I might be suspected, but if Yunho takes it, he could be greatly rewarded.”
Sohee shook her head as she spoke.
Thinking it over, it made sense. An assassin arriving with the bracelet would indeed raise suspicions.
Conversely, if I brought it and explained how it ca into my possession, I’d likely be warmly received by the Sichuan Tang Family, enjoying what amounted to a full course of hospitality.
‘There’s no way this bracelet belongs to that character.’
I was taken aback to find an artifact from the ga before , but it couldn’t possibly belong to that character.
That character was seen wearing the Unforgettable Ring until the scenario’s conclusion.
Had the Unforgettable Ring been given to the deceased man out of gratitude, it wouldn’t have surfaced in the scenario.
“Then you keep it, Brother.”
It’s logical to conclude that a mber of the Tang Family gave the Unforgettable Ring to the deceased Korean man as a token of gratitude.
If the bracelet was indeed presented as a gratitude badge by the Tang Family to the deceased Korean man, rely avenging him and taking care of his body would rit a reward.
Following Sohee’s suggestion, I took the bracelet.
The sun dipped quickly behind the mountains.
After attending to the man’s body and setting off, darkness had already fallen, prompting us to camp at a suitable spot.
“We can’t find any clues, even with this box.”
I murmured to myself while examining the open box.
The box that the man wanted to be taken to Sichuan. There was nothing special inside the box.
Only a book so soaked in blood it was hard to open and so trinkets of little value were inside.
“I know a technique to restore blood-soaked books. I’ll restore it when I get a chance.”
“Wow, you brought the firewood so quickly!”
I was startled by Sohee’s voice from behind.
She went to gather firewood for the campfire and ca back quickly.
“Camping is familiar to .”
Sohee said as she put the firewood into the campfire one by one.
Did Sohee have concerns? Her face, illuminated by the campfire, looked particularly dark.
“Sohee, do you have any worries?”
“……. No.”
You know. For a mont, I felt hesitation from Sohee.
‘We don’t have a perfect relationship based on trust.’
Like , Sohee didn’t easily talk about what’s on her mind.
In Sohee’s heart, I was more of a being that needed to be protected rather than a brother she could rely on.
Because it’s not an equal relationship, it’s hard for her to open up, and she couldn’t just let go and trust. She couldn’t show weakness to soone she had to protect.
Even if I had a place in Sohee’s heart, a clear line still existed.
‘I can’t continue to accompany her on assassination missions.’
If I continued to accompany her on assassination missions, I could be put in danger either by the missions themselves or by her awakening as the Heavenly Death Star.
‘She needs to see as a reliable brother so she can leave behind.’
Escaping was impossible after being showered with the Thousand Miles Chasing Scent.
If she had no intention of leaving , at least our relationship must change to one where she could confidently leave for an extended period.
“Being in the mountains like this reminds of the old days when Sohee and I went to the valley.”
I spoke to Sohee with a nostalgic look.
It’s been a while since I tried to build a trust relationship by reminiscing about the past.
“Did we go to the valley in the old days?”
Sohee showed interest in my words as if her worried expression had never existed.
Initially, when we t, she regarded with suspicion and distrust whenever I spoke of the past. Now, she listens intently to the fabricated history I recount.
I began talking about the tis when I was a reliable brother to Sohee, aspiring to be soone who could say, “Welco back, Sohee. I’ve just returned from a long mission,” and exchanged such words with her.
Cheon Sohee quietly observed the crackling fire, paying close attention to Yunho’s voice.
“Trying to impress Sohee, I swam in a place I shouldn’t have, got caught in the rapids… It was fortunate there was a warrior nearby, or it could have been a major disaster.”
“That was dangerous.”
“It was. I thought I was really going to die. At that mont, Sohee, you approached with a worried face, asking if I was okay. Haha. It was a thrilling experience, but now it all feels like a distant mory.”
Yunho recounted his childhood mories with a joyful voice.
He neatly folds those mories and places them into the fog of mory. Yet, no mories resurfaced.
‘I wish I could rember at least one.’
Sohee thought, burying her head in her knees. Except for the day he first tied her up, her childhood mories still hadn’t returned.
“That ti, Sohee and I… caught fireflies together…”
After a long while, Yunho spoke of his mories with her, his face filled with longing.
In his mories, there’s a younger version of herself. At the end of his longing, there’s Sohee.
But that’s not her.
Feeling Yunho’s gaze, she quietly watched him.
“Catching minnows and placing them in Sohee’s hand…”
He looked at her with a fond gaze, but that fondness wasn’t directed at her.
What he was looking at was his past self.
What he longed for was not her but the version of her from ten years ago.
Cheon Sohee felt oddly displeased by this realization and secretly bit her lower lip.
“Yunho.”
Cheon Sohee called him in a low voice.
“Hm?”
He finally shifted his gaze from the past to her.
“Let’s talk about future plans.”
“The Sung Family? Didn’t we already finish planning that before we left?”
The man asked Sohee, his voice laced with confusion.
No, this couldn’t continue. Otherwise, he’ll start reminiscing about the past again.
They were mories she’s yearned to recall every day for ten years, but lately, she’s found herself oddly troubled whenever he speaks of his past.
“What happens after the Sung Family matter? Are you going to continue living as a storyteller?”
“After the Sung Family issue, I want to write a book.”
“A book?”
“I plan to earn money through storytelling work, write a novel, and beco famous.”
Yunho began to share stories related to books with Cheon Sohee.
About the failure in writing his first book. The struggle between writing what one loves versus what’s popular. The fear of whether his writings as a foreigner would be well-received. Yet, his determination to try again.
All of this was new to her.
She lived rely to survive, while he lived with an eye toward the future.
Cheon Sohee suddenly saw Yunho in a different light.
Different from herself.
It pained her slightly, so she attempted to bury her face in her knees.
“And after succeeding with the book, I want to beco a brother Sohee can depend on.”
Sohee was taken aback by his words and shifted her gaze from the campfire to Yunho.
“To ?”
“Yes. I want to be a proud brother that Sohee can trust and depend on. Soone she can confide her worries in…”
Yunho looked at Sohee with a thoughtful gaze.
Despite her claims of having no worries, it seed she couldn’t conceal everything from him.
How much did he know?
Her secrets. Worries. Future. Concerns she has never confessed to anyone.
“……. I’ll tell you soday.”
Now is not the ti.
But soday, she hoped to tell him.
Sohee’s heart ward under his thoughtful gaze, and she buried her head in her knees again.
Just as she needed him, she was part of the future he dread of.
Earlier, she had lowered her head to secretly cover her bitten lip, but this ti, she did it to hide a leaking smile.
The cold night in the mountains.
All worries in her heart flew away, leaving only warmth.
Whether it was because of the fire in front of her or the man, Sohee knew.
Sohee and I arrived in Daehung County.
Finding the Sung Family was not difficult. The location of the Sung Family, which wielded imnse influence in Daehung County, was known even to the local kids.
“Master Seong Sehwi has requested only the storyteller to co for now.”
A servant approached us while we were waiting at the inn after sending a ssage to the Sung Family.
“I have companions. I cannot go alone.”
“Stay here, and we will escort you as a guest when the ti cos.”
“Yunho.”
Sohee looked at with worried eyes.
“Sohee. Trust this ti.”
“…… Yes. I’ll trust you.”
Perhaps my words from yesterday had an effect. Sohee briefly adjusted my clothes and then stepped aside.
“Please follow .”
I followed the servant to the Sung Family.
This task at the Sung Family.
To successfully carry out the diation and the assassination mission, there’s sothing that must be done.
For that, even the client, Seong Sehwi, must be deceived.
‘Ti to cook up a sche with the young master.’
It’s ti to act again.
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