Chapter 219: Murim (3)

“I’m Namgung Sang-a.”

The woman we saved expressed her gratitude with a graceful gesture.

Though I didn’t know much about etiquette, her emotions were so intense that, even without understanding her language, I could sense her feelings toward us.

It was a strong goodwill. There was also a hint of desire in her eyes—a desire to get closer to us.

“I would like to repay the favor you have shown us. Although the prestige of the Namgung family is not what it once was….”

“That’s fine. We are in a hurry.”

I declined her goodwill with a friendly smile.

We were in a rush right now. The fact that we were here meant that the Sacred Evil could also be here. The worst situation would be encountering the Sacred Evil before we had fully recovered.

We must avoid that situation at all costs.

The most urgent thing now was to join up with the Thousand Sorcerer.

‘I have a bad feeling for some reason.’

I wanted to move as quickly as possible.

“But, letting you go like this….”

“We don’t need much in return… Oh, do you perhaps have any spare clothes?”

“Spare clothes?”

Namgung Sang-a looked flustered but soon took some clothes from someone who appeared to be a guard and handed them to us.

Four sets of clothes that looked like traditional martial arts uniforms from ancient China. Two sets were for immediate wear, and the other two were likely meant as spares.

‘We do need money, though.’

The money was in the subspace.

To be more precise, the byproducts of the things I had captured so far, potions made through alchemy, and some jewels or gold bars for emergencies were all stashed there. There’s no problem. Since this was a place where people lived, even if we got ripped off, we’d still need money.

“Then we’ll be on our way….”

“Wait, just a moment.”

Namgung Sang-a stopped us.

She reached into her pocket and pulled something out.

It was a gold token with the character “Namgung” engraved on it.

“Ah, Miss?”

“Would you need something to prove your identity?”

“…Yes, we would.”

“You can use this to prove your identity. Although the prestige of the Namgung family isn’t what it once was, most sects wouldn’t dare to touch you.”

“Thank you.”

I smiled as I received the gold token. I had been wondering how to prove our identity—this solved that problem.

After putting all the clothes into the subspace, we headed to another location.

Lee Seo-ha and Kim Seo-hyun had left.

Namgung Sang-a stared at the place where they had been for a long time.

“…Miss, wasn’t giving them the gold token a bit too much?”

“Why? Do you think I showed goodwill because I fell for that boy?”

“…No.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I suppose you could misunderstand. Have you ever seen the Divine Maiden?”

“No, her identity is classified as top secret, so I wouldn’t dare….”

“I saw her once through my father.”

Namgung Sang-a could never forget that moment.

The expression on the faces of those who claimed to be the top pillars of the orthodox faction, and the identity of the Divine Maiden created to oppose the Heavenly Demon. 𝑅

Namgung Sang-a would remember that forever.

‘What could it be?’

A more androgynous beauty than an exceedingly handsome man came to mind. Sky-blue hair and eyes. A color extremely rare in Zhongyuan.

But Namgung Sang-a knew of a similar being.

‘There are many differences, but that side seems more perfected.’

The person who introduced themselves as a passing swordsman.

Indeed, they looked exactly like the Divine Maiden.

There were many things that bothered me.

The martial arts world of the Middle Ages was harsher than I had expected. At night, insects roamed, and the unpaved roads felt like hiking on a modern mountain.

There weren’t many bandits like in martial arts novels, but those who claimed to be martial artists were even more troublesome. You couldn’t distinguish them from bandits.

The borrowed clothes were also a problem.

‘I thought they’d be comfortable, but they’re a bit irritating.’

More precisely, it was the material of the clothes. The fabric touched my skin every time I moved, and the sensation was irritating. Considering the medieval level, I should be content with this much.

For the record, Kim Seo-hyun wore a light blue martial arts uniform, while I wore a black one.

“…Martial arts novels are all just illusions….”

Kim Seo-hyun, who had been excited, now spoke with dead eyes.

I nodded without a word. Even so, Kim Seo-hyun sighed and clung to me. A pleasant fragrance wafted to my nose.

“Still, being here like this is nice.”

Being here like this was nice.

Well, it wasn’t all bad. When you looked up at the night sky, countless stars were visible—a sight you could never see in the modern world. At first, it was breathtaking, but after less than an hour, it became monotonous, though it had its own charm.

“But didn’t my grandfather say something weird?”

“What?”

“Just….”

“I did hear him say to marry his granddaughter.”

“Wha-what?! Me, marry Se-Seo-ha?”

“Why, don’t you like it?”

“Th-that’s not it, but… Seo-Seo-ha, what about you?”

“Me?”

I thought about it for a moment.

In my previous life, I realized many things. My ex-girlfriend, no, since I was currently dating Hong Yu-hwa, she was my former girlfriend, told me not to impregnate other girls.

There were many temptations, but in my previous life, I had no sexual desire, so even when girls seduced me, I didn’t respond much.

But now, it was different.

Since Hong Yu-hwa said up to seven was okay, I should take Seo Ga-yeon and Kim Seo-hyun. If I added Kim Ara and Ershil, that made four.

‘Who should the other three be?’

-…It’s up to seven, but do you really have to fill them all?

‘These things need to be completed….’

Eternal Heaven looked at me as if I were trash.

In contrast, Black Heaven nodded as if in agreement.

-What. The master is a Heavenly Demon. It’s only natural for a strong man to have many women. But don’t get too carried away.

‘Why are they talking as if I’m some kind of womanizer?’

-Weren’t you?

-Weren’t you?

Eternal Heaven and Black Heaven spoke simultaneously.

I felt wronged. I only took care of Seong Han-byul a bit, helped the other girls stay on the right path, assisted them when they were in danger, provided training spaces to strengthen them, and solved situations with money when things got tough, all while considering the guild members as much as possible!

-Originally, women are creatures that fall for handsome men when they’re in trouble.

-Eternal Heaven, your words are incorrect. Women are the ones who feel destiny just by passing by a man like the master.

-Ah…!

Anyway.

I looked at Kim Seo-hyun. She was staring at me, her face flushed red.

“I like you too.”

Even though I already had a lover.

Thinking this way made me feel like a real scumbag.

“R-really?”

“…Seo-hyun, how could I not like you?”

If I liked someone, it’s Seo-hyun. I could never dislike her.

If I made any wrong decisions, she might be the only one who could save this world.

“Actually, I have feelings for you, Seo-hyun.”

“Oh… th-then, w-we… can d-date….”

“There are people.”

Kim Seo-hyun was about to say something when I sensed movement from afar.

I saw people riding in a vintage carriage. Most of the people who seemed to be escorts felt like they were at the level of heroes from the lower ranks of hunters.

‘A carriage…?’

Looking closely, I realized that it was more like a cart than a carriage. Their clothing had a certain elegance, indirectly revealing their wealth.

I observed them.

Their faces were pale. They looked like they had narrowly escaped some kind of disaster. The relief was visible on their faces.

“Are you martial artists?”

“Yes, we are.”

“Eek, eek!!”

With an unusually cold tone, Kim Seo-hyun responded.

I awkwardly smiled.

“What’s the matter? You don’t look well.”

“Are you headed to Namgyeong?”

“Yes, we have some business nearby.”

To be precise, it’s for gathering information.

If the Sacred Evil had descended here, it must have caused some kind of incident.

“It’s dangerous right now! I don’t know why, but I heard the Heavenly Demon has been rampaging.”

“So, you’re evacuating, I see.”

I activated my Seven-Colored Eyes. From a distance, I could see a phenomenon where magical energy was distorted.

‘Are they fighting?’

Several mountains had already disappeared in that vicinity. The overwhelming energy of defying heaven and the magical energy were colliding, with shockwaves from their clash scattering in all directions.

The clash was so tremendous that not just these people, but many others had already packed their belongings and fled.

“It seems like the Heavenly Demon is fighting someone.”

“I can sense a faint demonic energy. It’s likely the Sacred Evil they’re fighting.”

“…Could my grandfather be there?”

“Probably.”

I couldn’t be sure. But seeing the immense magical power erupting amid the clashes of demonic energy and the energy of defying heaven, there was a high chance that the Thousand Sorcerer was also on that battlefield.

‘Can it be done?’

I weighed the situation.

The power of the Sacred Evil, the power I had , and the biggest variable—the presence of the Heavenly Demon.

I calmly adjusted my body with Black God Martial Arts.

One day. One day was, in some ways, too short.

It’s not enough time to fine-tune my body with Black God Martial Arts, nor to offset the cost of the power I gained through the stars, and it’s not enough time to grow my external skills either.

‘But once.’

I managed to reach a level where I could unleash a single attack.

I thought it over calmly. The Heavenly Demon didn’t seem like a threat to me. The problem was that if things went terribly wrong, the Sacred Evil and the Heavenly Demon might join forces.

I heard that the Heavenly Demon considered this world her playground. Depending on how she reacted, we might have to decide whether to flee or not.

“…I’m not much help, am I?”

While scanning the surroundings with caution, Kim Seo-hyun muttered.

How should I put it? Should I tell her the truth that she’s not helpful, or should I try not to hurt her feelings?

There was a moment of hesitation. But I nodded.

“You’re still weak.”

“…You sometimes say strange things. As if you know my future.”

Kim Seo-hyun laughed.

“But when Seo-ha says it, it doesn’t sound like a lie. There’s certainty in your words.”

“It could be a lie, you know.”

“No.”

Kim Seo-hyun shook her head.

“Come back.”

After saying that, Kim Seo-hyun hesitated for a moment.

“I’ll be back.”

I headed towards the battlefield.