"......"

"......"

With my words, the room falls quiet. Not only the onlookers, but even Cheon Eujin, who had stepped in to block him for me, reacts the same way.

"......You."

A startled look. Crrrack.

The faint grinding reaches me. Keep that up and he’ll crack his teeth.

The way he glares at me is vicious. At this rate he really might draw his sword.

I’m uneasy, sure, but—

"......Remember this."

—fortunately, Namgung Seong does not draw. He only speaks, voice soaked in killing intent, eyes on me.

"In my own name, I will never forget today. Before long, you will pay for your sins in full."

"Mm."

I nod at his words. Because I agree.

"Right."

"What?"

"You’re right."

He’s thrown for a moment by how easily I affirm it. But he is right.

"I’ve seen a few things in my life."

If I count the former one, more than I could ever number. And there’s one thing that taught me.

"People pay for their sins one way or another. Sooner or later."

My gaze lifts—to the vile spirits still staring Namgung Seong down.

Sin circles and circles until it cakes onto the soul.

Piled and piled karma will, in the end, burst someday.

Whether the reckoning comes while one lives, or after one dies—that I can’t say.

"If possible, take it while you’re alive."

I’ve seen it a few times.

Punishment dealt to a soul hits harder than when the body’s still breathing.

I think of that and let out a thin laugh.

Perhaps taking it for mockery, Namgung Seong clenches a fist.

But with nothing more he can do, he grits his teeth and turns his back.

"......We’ll see how long arrogance lasts on the strength of a lucky stroke. I will, without fail, make you kneel before me before long."

I don’t bother answering that.

"By then, even if you beg, it will already be too late."

There’s no point running the mouth any further.

I simply raise a quiet middle finger.

"......You...!"

He almost explodes, then forces it down.

Even he seems to know this is no place to linger.

He’s still limping. A bit funny to watch.

"Broke it?"

Probably not.

If something actually broke, this wouldn’t end here.

I’m watching him go when—

"Hm?"

Namgung Hyeon, walking with him, stops and cuts me a sidelong glance.

I half-squint back, as if to ask what she’s looking at, and she startles and hurries after him.

I huff a laugh.

The siblings are both strange in matching ways.

[As if you aren’t.]

"...Stop reading my thoughts already."

An old man with no sense.

Once the room fully empties—

"......Hoo......"

Cheon Eujin lets out a low sigh, full of relief.

He spoke smoothly enough, but in truth he’d been anxious.

I walk over and pat his shoulder.

"You worked hard."

"No... no, not at all."

"See? It went exactly like I said, didn’t it? I told you not to worry."

I grin. I’d already briefed him earlier.

Just come at the time I give you and block the Little Azure Sword.

Then say what you know and what you must.

Nothing will happen, and even if something does, I’ll take responsibility—so just do it.

Big words I barely had any right to say dragged him here, and in the end, it worked.

Good thing. If anything had blown up, honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to cover it, let alone take responsibility.

"If the result’s good, that’s all that matters."

I set the darker thoughts aside. It turned out well; that’s enough.

Thinking so, I give his shoulder another pat.

"Yes..."

He looks oddly blank for a beat, then turns to me.

"...Truly, it went exactly as Young Master Bang said. From start to finish."

A mistake of mine?

In Cheon Eujin’s eyes, I see a trust I can’t quite account for begin to kindle.

****

After the Namgung pair leaves, the place I head is none other than the Branch Leader’s office.

"Ah, come in, come in...!!"

I sent word I was coming, and the Branch Leader practically sprints out to greet me.

Every time I see it, it’s peculiar.

"Never thought I’d see him fawn over me like this."

A man I could barely catch a glimpse of for a full year as a ranker in his unit.

When I did see him, he wouldn’t so much as try to talk to me, couldn’t even meet my eyes.

"Ah dear... I’ve nothing proper to serve but tea, what am I to do..."

"......"

Now he flusters and frets in front of me and—what to call it...

"Thrilling."

It’s thrilling.

Reputation really is king. This is the stuff.

"Have you been well?"

"Oh, hardly well. I’ve lost sleep over Young Master Bang..."

"The reason I’m here is simple. You’ve likely already heard, but I’ll be leaving the Alliance for a time to go to the Blue Moon Sect."

I cut the fluff and go straight to the point.

He briefly pinches his brow at my bluntness, but only for a blink.

"Ah... yes, of course, I’ve heard."

No doubt passed along by Cheon Eujin. The Branch Leader gives me a faintly wistful look.

"You must be attached to our branch. Are you sure about this?"

Attached, my ass. I just barely swallow the curse.

"A year treating me like a ghost, and now you talk about attachment?"

Whatever attachment I had fell off long ago.

"Indeed. A pity, but... things turned out this way."

I keep the thought to myself and feed him the polite line.

"I see..."

He still looks full of regret, but he has no grounds to keep me.

All the more since the Blue Moon Sect is closely tied to the Martial Alliance; strictly speaking, I’m just moving to a higher unit.

I didn’t even need to come see him like this.

If I told them I was leaving, Cheon Eujin’s side would handle it. I could have just gone.

"All that said, before I go, there’s a favor I’d like to ask of the Branch Leader I respect."

"A favor?"

The reason I bothered to see someone I had no real need to see was nothing else.

"Yes. A favor."

There’s one person I need to take care of before I leave.

****

"...You don’t have to keep coming."

That’s the first thing I hear when he sees me, and I immediately frown.

"That’s a bit cold for a greeting. I came all the way out here."

When I load my voice with wounded pride, the young man gives me a sheepish smile.

"You came yesterday. And the day before."

"Today’s the first time today. Can’t you just be glad to see me?"

I fire back and take the seat beside him.

This is the infirmary inside the Alliance. The one grumbling at me is my senior, Yoo Hyungin.

It took him several days after the fight with the Mountain Ghost to fully wake.

"How’s the body?"

"Fine."

"Fine? They said you’ll need months to recuperate. What’s fine about that?"

"...If you weren’t going to believe me, why ask?"

They’d said he’d need at least three months of rest because of the wound from that day.

The one relief: nothing vital was hit, so with good care there would be no sequelae.

"Eat properly. That’s how bones knit faster."

"I ate a lot."

"Really?"

"Mm."

Good. I nod.

Silence follows. As always, Yoo Hyungin doesn’t speak first.

I last as long as I can, then finally open my mouth.

"Senior. I’m leaving the Martial Alliance."

"Mm."

"...Mm?"

"Why?"

"That’s a terrible reaction."

"I tried."

Sure you did.

"Why aren’t you surprised?"

"I’ve heard all the rumors about you. And it’s not exactly strange."

He smiles, and I can only chuckle back.

Right. There’s no way the rumors didn’t spread. And no way he didn’t hear them.

"They say you beat the Little Azure Sword. Impressive."

"Well, I..."

It wasn’t with my own strength. I almost say it, then shut my mouth.

It’s something I mustn’t say. For the sake of what comes next.

"...That’s how it went."

I avert my eyes. I can’t say it looking him in the face.

Looking aside, I ask him:

"Why don’t you ask anything?"

"What should I ask?"

"You know—the usual things."

Why were you hiding your power... or, the you I know isn’t like that, what trick did you pull...

If anyone could ask me those, it would be him.

He’s the one who taught me the work all year while watching my training.

Without him, I might not have lasted in the Alliance.

That’s the kind of person he is.

Yet even after hearing all the rumors, he asks nothing.

Why? I can’t understand it, so I ask.

With a calm face, he answers:

"Who knows. I just figured you had your reasons. Whatever they were... they must have been good ones. You’re that kind of person."

"......"

It’s an answer that stops my tongue.

"...You always say this, but you’re too much of a soft touch. I kept telling you to be careful you don’t get stabbed in the back."

"Hahaha."

What’s so funny?

I can’t fathom not asking anything for a reason like that.

He and I are built on different tracks.

I say to him, still smiling:

"Senior."

"Mm?"

"Want to come with me?"

"...Mm?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"To the Blue Moon Sect. It’s a bit much to say myself, but I’ve got pull now. If it’s you, I can probably—"

"Sorry. I can’t."

He refuses before I even finish, still smiling.

"I have family here."

"......"

"And I like where I am. So I’m sorry."

He’s smiling, but his eyes are firm. With that face, nothing I do will sway him.

"...I see."

I don’t press. Twice or thrice would be pointless.

"Understood."

I rise. There’s no need for more talk.

"Leaving?"

"Yes. I came to say this. Take care of yourself. I’ll stop by once more before I go."

I leave the infirmary without lingering.

The sunlight is still hot.

As I’m staring up at the sun, the old man who’s been quiet speaks to me.

[As you expected.]

I shift my gaze at his voice.

[You said he’d refuse even if you asked. It seems you were right.]

"......"

Yoo Hyungin would refuse.

I knew that result before I spoke to him.

Because the Yoo Hyungin I know is that kind of person.

Even so, despite knowing—

[For someone who knew, your face is a picture.]

"...What about my face."

[You said you were ready for it, yet you’re wearing your hurt on your sleeve.]

"......"

That obvious? I rub a hand over my face.

[With that nasty temper of yours I’d have thought you’d bleed dust if pricked, and yet here you’re all heart.]

"What do you take me for...?"

Unbelievable.

Tch. I click my tongue, and Yoo Cheongil says:

[Don’t you regret it?]

"...Regret what?"

[Tsk, playing dumb when you know.]

"......"

[Sending all the money you saved to his family.]

I scratch my cheek.

"It’s not that much... and I won’t be needing it for a while, so I sent it."

[You even put the Martial Alliance’s name on it to keep them from spotting you.]

"Because it’d be embarrassing if they did."

[Ha.]

If he has to rest for three months, then he won’t be getting paid.

I thought of that and sent the paltry bit I’d squirreled away.

"My meddling ends there."

Anything more, and he wouldn’t want it.

And there’s little more I can do.

So that’s the limit.

"From here on out, I already know whose fault I’ll be suffering for, so there’s nothing more to fuss over."

[I have no idea who you could possibly mean.]

"A vile-spirit old man."

[...Now you insult me outright.]

"Anyway, that’s as far as I go. That’s all I can do. So—"

I take my eyes off him and look aside.

"Don’t ask for anything strange. Just go do what you were doing."

There’s someone there where I look. Not a person.

But a presence I know.

"Whatever you want from me, I don’t intend to do anything."

At my words, the woman-shaped thing reacts.

A vile spirit.

One of the ones behind Namgung Seong.

I frown at her.

"Mistake."

When I’d thought of his sins, my eyes had gone to the spirits—and one met my gaze.

I thought I’d dodged fast enough, but it seems I was seen.

The one good part here is—

"So she didn’t tell the others."

If she had, the others would have swarmed. Since they haven’t, she must not have.

Which means—

"She wants something from me that badly."

Didn’t pass the word, so please do this for me. That sort of meaning.

"Haa."

A sigh comes out. I let it flow and ask her:

"...What do you want?"

[Why. Will you do me a favor?]

"Not exactly. I’ll hear it, first."

If it’s too much, I can’t do it.

And if she keeps clinging anyway—

"...I’ll exorcise you."

Awkward to do, [N O V E L I G H T] but not impossible.

So please don’t ask for something pointless. I’m thinking that when—

—......

The woman opens her mouth and speaks.

"Mm?"

I tilt my head at what I hear.

For one reason:

"...That’s all?"

It’s simpler than I thought.

For a vile spirit’s request, surprisingly easy.

I think for a moment, then answer:

"If it’s just that... I can’t do it now, but if I ever happen to go there, I’ll do it. You can accept that much, right?"

—......

She nods.

Then she gives me a quiet bow, lips moving in a murmur.

It’s not hard to read the silent word: thanks.

In that instant—

Fwaaaaa—!!

Light surges out of her body.

"...Well, damn."

[Ho?]

I grimace. It’s light no one else can see.

"Didn’t think I’d see that again in this life."

A light I saw to the point of revulsion in the former one. A light I swore never to see again.

A soul fulfills its wish and departs.

What people call crossing over.

"Tsk."

Crossing over for a promise that small?

For a woman who became a vile spirit, her core was too pure.

Which also means—

"Someone ruined a woman that pure this badly."

I feel unclean. I hide it and straighten.

A bow.

At least that much courtesy for a departing soul. Soon the light gutters out.

[Curious. So that’s what it means for a soul to depart.]

Yoo Cheongil chuckles, entertained.

[Hearing this, I’m half-convinced the ascents those Daoist chatterboxes prattle about don’t exist at all.]

"......"

Say whatever amuses you. I don’t feel like answering.

It was too easy to set a vile spirit free. I’m only grateful for that.

I move again.

"...All right, let’s—"

Let’s go back— I’m about to say when—

"Huh?"

[Hm?]

My eyes widen.

At the same time, I rub my palm over my belly.

"H-hey... huh?"

[What is it? Is something wrong?]

"No..."

I focus, wondering if I imagined it. I didn’t.

Eyes gone lantern-wide, I speak to Yoo Cheongil:

"Old man."

[Yes, what on earth—]

"My energy... increased?"

[Hm?]

My dantian (inner energy center) has more qi in it.

All of a sudden.