Chapter 240 – Reward and Trace (2)

Thud!

“Ouch!”

Hong Yeon-hwa, who hit her forehead on the door frame, cried out in pain.

***

“This is all because of you!”

Hong Yeon-hwa said, rubbing her reddened forehead.

“I couldn’t help but play with your hair, so it’s all your fault anyway!”

“No, how is that my fault?”

I hit my head on the door frame while riding a hobbyhorse indoors. She even asked me to give her a ride.

Hong Yeon-hwa knew that too, but did she want something else? She puffed up her cheeks and turned her head with a snap.

“Hmph! You’re sulking!”

“Who’s sulking here?”

“I won’t play with you until you apologize for my forehead!”

Was that her intention? Honestly, that’s a bit difficult. It means losing one of the joys of my life.

But isn’t that the same for Hong Yeon-hwa?

I stepped back with exaggerated movements, as if intentionally distancing myself from Hong Yeon-hwa, and asked.

“Really? You won’t play with me? Ever?”

“…Not forever, but for a day…no, half a day…no, at least one meal! I’m serious!”

So Hong Yeon-hwa grabbed my clothes as if to say, “Don’t go any further.”

If I do more here, she might really sulk.

I reached out and grabbed Hong Yeon-hwa’s soft cheeks with both hands.

Hong Yeon-hwa, who had become a shape that held her face against mine. She seemed to have understood the meaning of it and quickly calmed down.

With pink eyes sparkling with anticipation, she smiled happily and lowered her head.

“Ho-“

“Mm-hmm.”

As I blew wind on her forehead, Hong Yeon-hwa shook her head playfully.

“Oops.”

“Hmm?”

Her forehead suddenly rose. Naturally, it touched my lips, making it look like I was kissing her forehead.

“Um! Let’s count this as a reward.”

Satisfied, Hong Yeon-hwa said and walked ahead.

Maybe because I felt good, I couldn’t help but laugh at her small bouncing back.

Yes. This is it. I swung my sword for days like this.

I recalled the feeling I had just thought of when I pulled out my sword, and followed Hong Yeon-hwa’s footsteps.

***

We arrived at the restaurant. Pang So-so and Sama mother and daughter were already there waiting for us.

“Good morning, Jin Ga-ga.”

“Yeah. Everyone’s already here. Did I come too late?”

“Hehe. Don’t worry, Sang-gong. The food hasn’t come out yet.”

“It’s about time for it to come out. Jin-rang, you came just in time,” Hong Yeon-hwa said as she rushed over to sit next to me at the round table, causing a commotion with her arrival.

To my right were Hong Yeon-hwa and Pang So-so, while to my left were Sama-mang and Sama-yeoryeong.

We chatted for a while, but when the food arrived, we started to have a conversation while eating.

It was just simple small talk, but as we were about to have tea for dessert, Hong Yeon-hwa’s mood changed a bit.

She spoke seriously, unlike her usual self, and fidgeted around before saying, “I have something to say. Can you listen?”

“Yes? What’s the matter, Hong Unni?”

“It’s something that the first lady said. How can we ignore her words? Please speak.”

Pang So-so and Sama-mang nodded their heads at Hong Yeon-hwa’s words.

“Thank you. Where should I start… Right. Do you remember the story about how Bon-nyeo could receive a considerable amount of rewards in this year’s Jeongsadaejeon?”

“Of course. I’m not as good as Yeon-hwa, but I said that I would receive various rewards for defeating Sama-ryeonju. Among them, I asked to exchange all the martial arts for money.”

“Well done. I didn’t say anything about your share, but most martial arts won’t be of much help to you now that you can use Geomgang. It’s better to learn from Yeon-hwa if you need to learn a new martial art.”

“Ah.”

Well, even if it’s called a superior martial art, it’s just a martial art that guarantees the peak state. It wouldn’t mean much to me now that I’ve reached the peak and can even glimpse the Hwagyeong.

It could only cause confusion in the combat style that I’ve learned so far.

…Actually, I didn’t make that decision with such complicated thoughts.

I just thought that it would be difficult for me to excel with any of Sama-ryeon’s martial arts using my talent, and if I had to learn a new martial art, it would be better to learn from Hong Yeon-hwa.

Well, the result is the same, so it doesn’t matter.

“Ahem, ahem. Anyway, that’s what I wanted to say. Bon-nyeo demanded information as a top priority. She didn’t need martial arts, but she asked for gold coins for what was left.”

“Information? What kind of information are you talking about, Hong Unni?”

Sama-yeoryeong tilted her head at the mention of information.

Hong Yeon-hwa answered in a slightly lower voice than usual.

“It’s about what caused Ung-a and Sama-ryeon to plunder the common people so ruthlessly and quickly.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, there was such a thing.

Ung-a had lived as a loyal faction until just before the rebellion, and Sama-ryeon had been a loyal faction on the surface until then.

“As Samaryeon also began to settle in Gwangdongseong, the intensity of their looting decreased, and they began to work towards coexistence with the common people.

But suddenly, everything changed, and it became a living hell?

It could be her true nature that had been hidden until now, but Hong Yeon-hwa suspected that someone had instigated her from behind.

It was such a familiar tactic that if there was a culprit, he would have come from the same world as Hong Yeon-hwa.

“Wait. Could it be…?”

“That’s right. Someone of unknown origin who always wears a mask of a demon has stirred up trouble between Ung-a and Samaryeon. They disappeared right after the Jeongsadaejeon ended.”

I’m going crazy.

“Is the information itself trustworthy?”

“Hyeolgwangsaekma was powerful, but as Samaryeonju, she had many problems. There was someone who handled Samaryeon’s affairs instead of Hyeolgwangsaekma.”

“…Are you talking about Heukrang Seosaeng?”

Hong Yeon-hwa lightly clapped her hands at the unfamiliar nickname that came out of Sama-mang’s mouth.

“Oh. It was definitely that nickname. It’s reliable information obtained by interrogating the captured Heukrang Seosaeng.”

It’s called interrogation, but it’s probably torture.

Humans are weak to pain. Unless there is a reason to keep their mouths shut, the reliability of information obtained through torture is quite high.

“Why are you telling us this? Are you going to chase after the guy wearing a demon mask?”

My voice became sharp without me realizing it. But Hong Yeon-hwa lightly smiled as if she understood my feelings and lowered her head.

“No way. Didn’t you say that you learned the technique to return to Bonnyeo’s world from your master? There’s no need to look for clues and chase after him now.”

“Um. That’s right.”

Sama-yeoryeong, who was next to me, let out a sigh as if she was dazed.

“Ah, foolish prince. Didn’t Yeon-hwa Unni say that this is information she heard? The palace or the martial arts alliance would have heard it first. Shouldn’t we just stay put? They’re probably preparing a wanted order by now.”

“As Sama-yeoryeong said, even if we don’t go after him, the guy who will eventually be caught is him. And if we can’t catch him, even if we go after him, we won’t be able to catch him.”

“Well…that’s true.”

No matter how strong Hong Yeon-hwa is, she is still an individual.

The palace and the martial arts alliance would have more resources to invest in finding people than Hong Yeon-hwa.

“Then why did you bring this up?”

“Why…because it’s important information. Isn’t it natural to share it?”

“Oh.”

She’s right. This is information that should be shared and not hidden.

“No, I thought you were trying to do something when you set the mood like that.”

“You worry a lot too. Promise me that you will let me know before you do anything wrong. Is that okay now?”

Hong Yeon-hwa offers me her little finger with a smirk.

First, I wrap my finger around Hong Yeon-hwa’s finger and then calmly grab her soft and plump cheek.

“Uh-huh?!”

Hong Yeon-hwa whines as I play with her cheek. I have no intention of letting her go just yet.

Squish, squish.

How long has it been since I’ve been gently pinching Hong Yeon-hwa’s cheek like this?

Finally, I let go of her when I’m satisfied with my touch.

“What if Bonnyeo’s cheeks sag because of you?”

I wrap my hand around her red cheek and give her a shrug.

“You didn’t pull it too hard.”

“But you still pulled it a lot.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

I imagine Hong Yeon-hwa’s face with sagging cheeks for a moment.

“…I’ll be more moderate from now on.”

“Okay, okay. Hmm.”

Hong Yeon-hwa nods her head, confused by my sudden change of attitude.

“Oh, by the way, I have something to talk to you about.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“It’s about Sama-mang and Sama-yeoryeong.”

“Huh?”

Hong Yeon-hwa alternates her gaze between me and the Sama mother and daughter.

Before I can explain, Sama-mang speaks up.

“We received a proposal regarding the reconstruction of Samase from the Mureum League this time…”

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Thankfully, Hong Yeon-hwa and Paengsoso agreed to my request.

Now that my body is fully healed, it’s time to start preparing.

For the long journey back home.