Chapter 106 – Nobleman (3)

“What’s the harm in trying it!”

Hong Yeon-hwa and Paeng So-soo, who haven’t left my side since I woke up. I tried to ignore their pressing touch and calm my mind.

It was a simple ceremony that sank into my consciousness without any difficulty, unlike my worries about whether it would go well or not. It was so easy compared to the hours of concentration required to climb Mount Mo-san.

Was it because of the opening of the Upper Realm? Maybe now I can use it in real combat.

As I thought about it, I found myself at the bottom of the ceremony. The only things that shone in the all-black world began to approach.

Hong Yeon-hwa, who seemed like she could come alive at any moment, and a sword floating in the air.

…Did her chest move on its own because she was pressing it against me?

Anyway, it was a familiar scenery in my mind… but there was one thing that was different from usual.

A new spirit was seated a little away from Hong Yeon-hwa.

Tall with long arms and legs, a head shaped like a round dumpling on both sides. And even a foolish expression when only I looked at him.

Paeng So-soo was also engraved in my mind without my realizing it.

Was it engraved during the trial? It seemed like it wasn’t there before.

When I held his hand, I felt a sensation similar to reality, although it was a bit hazy compared to Hong Yeon-hwa’s presence.

After all, I endured the 108th ceremony thinking only of Hong Yeon-hwa and Paeng So-soo. Even if it was engraved without my knowledge, it wouldn’t be strange.

Even if it feels like a dream now, it’s not something that never happened.

…Wait. Can I do this well?

The enlightenment I gained this time was how to move my body as I thought. And how to use the sword like my body.

To put it coolly, it’s called the Divine Sword Unity.

Well, now only the memory of it remains, and all the sensations I felt at the time have disappeared.

But there are still traces of the trial in my mind?

With a pounding heart, I passed by Hong Yeon-hwa and Paeng So-soo and approached the sword that was isolated.

It had no particular features, just a concept of a sword.

The moment I held the sword with my hand, memories related to the sword passed through my mind like a flash.

Unfortunately, the things I experienced during the trial were as vague as if they were covered in fog. But.

Wooong-

With a light resonance, the sword changed its shape in my hand.

It became like the sword I inherited from my master, just like it was at the end of the trial.

“Ah…”

And naturally, I could understand it. The enlightenment I gained during the trial was embedded within this sword.

Of course, calling it Divine Sword Unity right now would be embarrassing. At best, I might be able to wield the sword a little better.

However, if I continue to train steadily like I have with my previous enlightenments, I can make it entirely my own.

Satisfied, I completed the ceremony. As I regained my senses, I heard Hong Yeon-hwa’s voice whispering next to me.

“How was it? Did you gain anything?”

It’s a bit awkward to talk about it in front of an outsider like Myeong Wol-jin.

I smiled wryly, conveying that meaning, and Hong Yeon-hwa nodded contentedly.

Paeng So-soo also realized a little late and jumped up and down happily, hugging my arm.

“Congratulations, Jin Ga-ga!”

“Hmm. It seems like you had good results. I roughly know about your condition, so that’s enough for now. We’ll talk about the details later… Do you know why I insisted on coming here?”

“Well….”

I had no idea.

I moved my wrist and tapped Paeng So-soo’s thigh, which was holding onto my arm like a restraint, and asked.

“Do you know anything?”

“Uh… is it about that? Even though it worked out somehow, Jin Ga-ga was still suffering, so I thought we could watch a movie altogether….”

“Oh, no!”

Before Paeng So-soo could finish his sentence, Myeong Wol-jin’s face turned serious and blocked the way to the movie theater.

“Not everything is safe! You even gained a rare enlightenment, and now you want to destroy the movie? That’s too unreasonable!”

“Hmm? I’m not… “

“I don’t care about that! I don’t know whose remains they are, but you clearly brought the proof of the Murim League. You’re obviously from a righteous faction. Can a righteous faction’s member do this?!”

“I’m not from a righteous faction. If I had to say, I’m…”

“Ugh! Come to think of it, you’re a magician… but every human has a sense of justice.”

“No, so I’m…”

“Ugh! But the movie is practically a symbol of our Mount Mo-san faction. Please have mercy!”

Snap.

“…Listen to me! For a bit!”

Hong Yeon-hwa, who kept getting interrupted, finally exploded.

She rolled one foot and swung her arms. It was truly a cute expression of anger.

But even with Hong Yeon-hwa’s hamster-level threat, Myeong Wol-jin was frightened and became obedient.

“Ah, I understand. I’ll listen.”

Myeong Wol-jin nodded quickly with a somewhat subservient posture. Hong Yeon-hwa let out a deep sigh and opened her mouth.

“Phew… So that’s it. The reason I insisted on coming here was that there was something I wanted to see and confirm with my own eyes,” Hong Yeon-hwa said.

“Something you wanted to confirm?”

Hong Yeon-hwa’s sharp gaze was fixed on the movie that was still burning red at this moment.

When I pressed her slightly wrinkled forehead, her stiff expression melted away and became soft again.

“Hey… don’t joke around. I’m in the middle of talking about something important.”

“Sorry. I just don’t think there’s a need to turn it off since I’m fine and so is So-soo.”

As I said that, I sent a telepathic message to Hong Yeon-hwa.

– Above all, we need to ask Yeon-hwa how to return to her world. I’m considering this trial as a gain, so I don’t want to waste it.

– If you think that way, I’m really glad, but I never had that intention in the first place.

“To be honest, I’ve also had something similar to a movie before. It was called a ‘seonghwa’…”

I had heard of that before. It was a mysterious flame that Hong Yeon-hwa swallowed just before causing the Jeongma battle in her world. She had said that it could partially break down the barrier of the current realm. She couldn’t reach the complete realm, but it was something. It was clear that it wasn’t an ordinary item.

After saying that much, Hong Yeon-hwa opened her palm in the air and spewed out black magic that flickered like flames.

As if mimicking the appearance of a movie. Or as if reproducing the ‘seonghwa’ that she had swallowed in the past.

“The difference between holding magic and holding pure energy is only in the eyes of the beholder,” Hong Yeon-hwa said. “To me, they look the same.”

“Oh my god… You’re saying there’s something else like a movie? And it’s even tainted with magic…”

Myeong Wol-jin’s expression darkened rapidly as he heard Hong Yeon-hwa’s words. Even passing the early stages of the movie trial would give a tremendous amount of power or inner strength.

But this was only possible because it was pure natural energy that was not tainted by the movie’s energy.

But if the movie was tainted with magic? Then everyone who went through the trial would either die or go crazy.

Myeong Wol-jin must have thought the same thing, so his face turned pale like that.

Seeing that, Hong Yeon-hwa chuckled and raised her head.

“Seonghwa doesn’t inflict trials on anyone, and even if it did, I completely swallowed it, so I can’t do it anymore. In the first place, that’s a different… um… the story is getting too long.”

Hong Yeon-hwa shook her head and demanded from Myeong Wol-jin with a confident attitude.

“After this, it’s related to why I came to Mosanpa, so let’s talk about it again tomorrow. For now, I want to comfort my husband, who had a hard day. Can you provide a suitable room?”

“Hmm… In that case, I’ll give you a guest room. What about dinner? If necessary, I can make something, but honestly, I’m not confident.”

Myeong Wol-jin cautiously spoke while still keeping an eye on Hong Yeon-hwa.

Normally, there would be nothing for Hong Yeon-hwa to eat.

But now, because of his own actions, causing all of Mosanpa’s disciples to faint, Jang Moon-in had to make the food himself. Perhaps that was why he seemed a little hesitant.

As he hesitated, Paeng So-so stepped forward in place of Hong Yeon-hwa.

“Oh, that’s okay. We have something we brought, and you also have to take care of the other people who fainted. Is Jin Ga-ga and Hong Unni okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m the same.”

“Okay then. Let me show you to the guest room.”

Following Myeong Wol-jin’s guidance, they headed to a guest room that was a little further away from the other buildings.

***

“We haven’t had guests for a long time, so it might be a little dusty, but we haven’t neglected cleaning.”

As Myeong Wol-jin said, the guest room was relatively clean.

He briefly explained the location of the bathroom and kitchen, as well as other things, before he was about to leave the room but stopped for a moment.

“Mo-san-pa… no, it’s not a lie that we welcome So-hyeop as our guest. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Oh, thank you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Myeong Wol-jin left the room completely.

“Ugh?”

Suddenly, someone grabbed my neck with force, causing me to fall over. I reflexively spread out my arms to break my fall, but…

Soft.

There was no need to do that.

The soft, fluffy comforter that had been laid out absorbed the shock.

In an instant, something soft and warm crawled up my body on top of the comforter.

Hong Yeon-hwa had climbed on top of me and was in a flower-like position.

The weight of her chest, which was even bigger than her head, was clearly felt.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m just looking at you.”

She blinked her pink eyes as if she was confused, and her head tilted to the side, making her look naturally innocent.

No… I meant to ask why she climbed on top of me like that.

I blinked my eyes in confusion, and Hong Yeon-hwa smiled mischievously.

Maybe it was because she was in a flower-like position, or maybe it was because of Hong Yeon-hwa’s unique floral scent.

I felt like I was looking at a flower that had bloomed wide open.

As I was lost in thought, Hong Yeon-hwa poked my nose as if possessed by something, and suddenly, her head lifted up, and I felt a springy sensation on the back of my head.

“Jin Ga-ga. Jin Ga-ga. Did you just think that Hong Unni is pretty like a flower? What about me? How am I?”

As Paeng So-so suddenly placed a knee pillow under my legs, my lips moved naturally even though I was slightly surprised.

“Of course, you’re pretty like a flower too.”

“Really? Hehe… But, do you know something?”

As Paeng So-so wavered at my compliment, she poked my nose.

“If Hong Unni and I are flowers, then you must be a flower that only blooms next to Jin Ga-ga.”

“Uh…”

This is a little embarrassing.