A day passed.

When the night finally gave way to dawn, I opened my eyes and stepped straight outside the guest quarters.

The dawn air met me.

It felt clean.

“...Ugh. I’m still tired.”

And I was still tired.

“My back’s all bruised.”

Maybe it was the change of bed. I hadn’t slept right.

“No. Not the bed...”

[What will you do today.]

Most likely it was the damned vile spirit that sat on my chest every night.

“...Do what. I can just rest today, can’t I.”

[Boring...]

Boring? You’re looking for entertainment here?

“Let’s just take one day off. We’ve got nothing to do until the Sect Master reacts anyway.”

[Hmph...]

The old man twisted his face as if displeased, but he didn’t say more.

He must have known there really wasn’t anything to do.

“Then, let’s see...”

I started walking with the thought of taking a light look around.

The Blue Moon Sect was vast.

Compared to the Anhui Branch where I’d been, it was several times larger.

Which, in short, meant it was endless if you wanted to tour it on foot.

“Honestly, there isn’t much to see.”

I actually spent some time moving here and there, but nothing especially eye-catching.

Why build it so big? That question popped up.

“...Do they have money to burn?”

The fundamental doubt left my mouth, and an answer came at once.

[They do. The Uicheon Trading Company belongs to the Blue Moon Sect.]

The Uicheon Trading Company—one of the top merchant houses in the Central Plains.

And the Blue Moon Sect itself had to be raking in support money like mad, so of course they were rich.

“...I’m insanely jealous.”

I was. At home, Father and my brother had wrecked the household, and we didn’t have a rat’s tail to our name.

If I’d had money, I wouldn’t be going through this mess.

“Tsk.”

With that bitter taste, I started walking again.

“Don’t they feed people around here?”

I was hungry. I thought someone would come tell me in advance, but there wasn’t a single servant nearby.

So I asked the old man,

“...Do you know where the dining hall is?”

I needed to eat something. I asked him for that, but—

[...]

For some reason, the old man didn’t answer.

What?

“Old—”

[Too many eyes.]

“...”

I shut my mouth at once and scanned the area.

I felt nothing. Meaning I couldn’t feel it.

[Two on your left.]

“...”

[Behind the shrubbery where you see that statue.]

I turned my head and looked to where he said.

As he said, there was thick brush behind some statue I couldn’t name.

I frowned, staring that way.

I still couldn’t see them. What was there? I didn’t get it, but—

“They’re there.”

They would be. That damned old man wouldn’t screw me in this situation.

“Damn it.”

The words were out already. Standing still would look strange.

I fixed my response, looked at the spot he’d named, and spoke.

“...Can’t you hear me? I was asking you over there.”

I forced my shaken breath to steady.

“Do you know where the dining hall is?”

Still no reaction. But I didn’t back off.

“If you don’t know, say you don’t. Why are you peeking like a creep from cover.”

By now my voice wavered a little.

What if no one was there? What if the old man was just messing with me? That thought flashed—

[Here he comes.]

“...Pardon my rudeness.”

Holy—shit.

The voice came from my side, not the front.

If Yoo Cheongil hadn’t warned me, I would’ve jumped out of my skin.

I turned my head. A man stood there. I didn’t know who.

From his clothes, I could tell he was a Blue Moon Sect warrior.

Feeling that, I asked him,

“Do we know each other?”

“Sir?”

At my question, his expression changed in fluster. I went on.

“You were spying, so I wondered. If we aren’t acquainted, there’s no reason to watch me. It’s rude.”

“...!”

Backhanded as it was, his face twisted at once.

“Or not, whatever.”

“...If I offended you, I apologize.”

“Of course I’m offended. It’s basic decency, right?”

“...”

“Oh, I didn’t say it to prick your conscience.”

I waved with a smile. Naturally, it was meant to prick.

[Well, well... your skill for pissing people off gets sharper by the day. Is that a talent?]

Yoo Cheongil marveled. I lightly ignored him.

“So, who are you?”

A belated attempt at names. If he’d come to stand in front of me, he was at least willing to state himself.

He hesitated a moment, then said,

“I am Seom Seonggyeong, the Second Disciple.”

Still didn’t ring a bell. Who? I worked my head, but no one came.

“Meaning he wasn’t worth remembering.”

The famous ones I’d already put in my head.

Names, epithets, ages—memorized clean. If he wasn’t in there, he wasn’t that famous.

“Do I need to introduce myself?”

“...No.”

“All right.”

He already knew who I was; no need for the pretense.

“So. What do you want.”

“...”

“Why were you watching me.”

If he’d been watching, he had a reason.

When I asked, he answered,

“...The former Sect Master’s successor has arrived, they said... I was curious...”

“Ahh, and?”

I snorted. My thoughts spun fast in a blink.

“I see. That happens.”

“Th—”

“That’s enough... then can I ask you something?”

“Sir?”

“I’m hungry. Do you know where the dining hall is?”

“...?”

His face went comically blank at the out-of-nowhere question.

“No, I asked earlier. Do you know where it is.”

“...Well...”

“You don’t?”

“...Go straight that way and you’ll find it.”

“Oh—will there be food if I go now?”

“Ah... yes...”

“Thanks.”

I walked past him, headed where he’d pointed.

He stared like, is he actually going like that?

I paused and spoke without turning my head.

“Oh, that impression you were so curious to get of me—pass it up to your superior.”

I felt him flinch.

And that wasn’t all.

“Also pass it to the other one who was watching separately.”

“...!”

“Tell him we should at least see each other’s faces next time.”

I walked on, ignoring his startled reaction.

I had to do my damnedest to hide the silence that said nothing and the cold sweat on my back.

****

After a long walk, I stopped.

Then I turned and looked at Yoo Cheongil.

The old man snorted and shook his head.

“Phew...!”

Only then did I bend at the waist and let out the breath.

“...I was scared shitless.”

The breath I’d been holding burst out; the sweat came like it had been waiting.

This feeling was a first.

“I didn’t even sense them.”

Someone had been watching me, and I hadn’t known.

Even after I knew the spot and stared straight at it.

“What if they’d tried to assassinate me like that?”

I might have died without ever catching on properly.

Realizing that made it real. No matter how many times people said I was the Sword Saint’s successor—

“I’m still a nobody.”

If I strutted around pleased with that, I could die in a blink.

“...I need to get a grip.”

I grabbed hold of the slack in my mind.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

“Who were they.”

My body heated, but my head cooled.

The warmth from moments ago felt cold.

“Who?”

On whose orders had they watched me? I worked it through.

A few faces surfaced at once.

Of those who’d shown odd reactions in that interview disguised as a chat—three.

“The elders—those old men. Or the Sect Master.”

And two who’d looked at me strangely. Or—

“Lady Cheon.”

The strange woman from yesterday. Her pupils rose in my mind.

I clicked my tongue short, naming the persons of concern one by one.

Complicated. But for now—

“First I should eat.”

[Heh.]

Was it strange to eat first even after that?

“Whatever it is, you still need a full belly.”

It’s all for staying alive. Eat when you can.

Only then do you have the strength to find a crack to break through.

I walked again.

I straightened my back and put focus in my eyes. A little farther and a smell of food reached my nose.

Here. I walked on, sure of it.

Ah, but—

“Am I allowed?”

Was this only for the sect’s own warriors? Could I go?

I hadn’t thought that far.

I wavered a moment, then went anyway.

“If they say no, I’ll deal with it.”

I could ask Cheon Eujin. That was the thought.

I reached the building—and there were a number of people gathered out front.

“What’s this?”

Young. Exactly my age group. From early teens at the youngest to twenties at the oldest.

They were standing in front of the dining hall, tense to the brim.

What was this situation?

“Do we not get to eat?”

While I stared with a question—

“Go in.”

At the words of the person guarding ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the entrance, they surged in like they’d been waiting.

“...What?”

What was going on? I stood there blank for a second—

“Hey! What are you doing! Didn’t you hear me?”

“Sir?”

A man saw me and barked, rough-faced.

“Who, me?”

“Who else here but you! Get in, now!”

He wasn’t wrong. Everyone else had gone in; I was the only one left outside.

...So I should go?

I thought a second, then walked.

“What could happen.”

I went in without thinking much.

****

Inside was cleaner than I’d expected. You could tell at a glance it was well kept.

But—

“Why is that side empty?”

The tables on the left were packed; the right side was empty.

“This is...”

No matter how I looked, I should be sitting with the packed side.

“There’s no seat...”

There wasn’t a single spot left on the left.

Shit—what now? Do I sit anyway? Or do I walk out now?

While I weighed it—

Grip—!

Someone tugged my sleeve.

“Y-You there.”

“Hm?”

I turned my eyes; a young man about my age was white as a sheet, pulling me along.

“What.”

“What do you think you’re doing. Sit, quickly...!”

“...That’s not—no, I...”

There wasn’t a seat; what did he mean, sit.

But his face was so desperate. I decided I had no choice and sat on the empty side.

“Ah, ah—!”

He startled and tried to say something, but—

“Silence! Your seniors have arrived! Third disciples—show proper respect!”

The same man who’d spoken to me shouted again.

With the shout, others appeared by the entrance.

Rrrrack—!

In that moment, everyone sitting shot to their feet.

Their faces screamed tension.

“Ah, hell.”

The instant I saw it, I knew I’d screwed up.

A hunch struck. I thought I knew why this side was empty.

And while everyone stood up, I was the only one still sitting.

So every gaze turned to me.

“...”

Not only the third disciples on the right, but also those who looked to be second disciples.

“Damn it.”

I snapped my head toward Yoo Cheongil.

[Kk— kuhuhu...]

The old man was covering his mouth, holding back laughter.

I saw that and scrunched my face.

So the crazy old man knew exactly what this was.

He knew and kept quiet.

When I glared, full of blame, he grinned and said,

[You said you’d do nothing and rest. Isn’t it nice when something fun happens.]

“Something fun?”

Fun for him, not me. He’d kept his mouth shut for that.

Unbelievable. I was about to swear on the spot when—

“How curious.”

At the voice in front of me, I jerked and turned.

Blue eyes were right there.

“I didn’t think I’d see you here.”

A beautiful woman, smiling faintly.

“Pleasure to meet you.”

The Moon Dancer, Cheon Hyein.

“...Young Master Bang?”

And behind her stood Cheon Eujin.

“...”

Why were these two here?

That, I really wanted to know.