novelraw Chapter 215 : Each One’s Circumstances
Chapter 215 : Each One’s Circumstances
Chapter 215: Each One’s Circumstances
It was still too early for the brothel doors to open.
The Pavilion Master Okryeong gazed at the tranquil scenery of Cheonhwa Pavilion with somewhat complicated eyes.
Lately, there had been a sharp increase in things for her to worry about.
When Juwol-a had been kidnapped, she had paced anxiously. But even after her return, when the girl shut her heart and went into seclusion, Okryeong’s heart had dropped just the same.
And today—
The Pavilion Master was startled to see Juwol-a suddenly emerge from her seclusion.
“……Wol-a! What is this? Are you really alright to come outside now?”
Relieved, she pressed a hand to her chest and spoke rapidly to Juwol-a, who had stepped out.
Considering the terrifying ordeal she had gone through, Okryeong had thought she might not come out for a long time—or in the worst case, quit altogether.
“Yes, I’m alright. Pavilion Master, my mind is clearer now than it has ever been.”
Just recently, when she had gone into her quarters, she had seemed troubled. This was truly strange.
“It seems I did well letting Master Dan Mujin in. But what did you talk about?”
So he was a troubleshooter—and apparently, one who could soothe the wounded heart of a woman.
With a brightened expression, Okryeong asked curiously.
“Well, to put it simply… I said something like a confession… and I got rejected.”
“……?”
At the completely unexpected answer, the Pavilion Master froze stiff like a stone.
Soon, with a face that doubted her own ears, she urgently asked again,
“W-What do you mean? You confessed and got rejected?”
So flustered that she stammered heavily—something completely unlike her usual composed self.
“I mean exactly that, Pavilion Master. I thought he had feelings for me, so I opened my heart too… but it turns out that wasn’t the case.”
Saying it had become quite embarrassing, Juwol-a covered her flushed face with both hands—slap.
Meanwhile, the Pavilion Master was utterly shocked.
The top courtesan of Cheonhwa Pavilion—who had never opened her heart to any wealthy noble or young master—had confessed first.
And worse, she had been rejected.
She couldn’t bring herself to say anything.
“Ah… this feeling is new. So this is what the men I rejected must have felt?”
She was even empathizing with those she had turned down.
“Is that really true? You’re not joking…? Wol-a, there exists a man who rejected you…?”
Only then did Okryeong regain her senses and ask again.
Juwol-a looked up at the blue sky once, then smiled faintly.
“There is, it seems. Hehe.”
Though it was her first time being rejected romantically, she strangely looked somewhat relieved.
The Pavilion Master asked why she seemed so happy despite being rejected.
“It’s because I’ve gained a goal and motivation.”
“What kind of goal…?”
Surely she wasn’t thinking of revenge because she had been hurt—like that powerful figure who had once kidnapped her?
“No, it’s not that… I’ve found something I want more than ever before.”
She silently stared at her quarters—the place where she had secluded herself, and where Dan Mujin had rejected her.
At first, she had thought about quitting everything.
But suddenly, her will to live and her purpose had become clear.
“What on earth happened between you two…? Tell me in detail. What kind of conversation did you have?”
Unable to hold back her curiosity, Okryeong asked.
Juwol-a, with a strangely refreshed expression as if recalling what had just happened, began to explain.
“You see……”
At the same time.
I left Cheonhwa Pavilion and walked down the stone steps, trying to calm my startled heart.
My slightly unsteady steps revealed the turmoil within me.
‘Do you perhaps… see me not as a client, but as a woman?’
Her alluring voice echoed in my ears again.
Under the dazzling sunlight, her eyes curved like a fox spirit that bewitched men.
At that moment, my breath had nearly stopped.
“Ha… now I see why men fall for her.”
Leaning against the stone wall, I exhaled deeply.
But I had always thought of her as a flower on an unreachable cliff.
And I had never seriously considered her as a woman.
So I ended up making an awkward expression.
And perhaps Juwol-a was extremely sensitive to such emotions—
‘…Is that not the case?’
Seeing my ambiguous expression, her gaze wavered briefly. Then, with a flicker of disappointment, she asked.
‘Ah… I thought you felt the same way about me, Master…’
Her voice grew quieter.
Fidgeting with the hem of her silk robe, she lowered her head deeply.
At that moment, she was no longer the number one courtesan of Beijing—
just a woman who had been rejected.
And I—
got distracted by the word “Master” and failed to comfort her properly.
Wasn’t that practically a full confession? That she, too, had feelings for me?
“…Does Juwol-a… like me?”
I muttered blankly, staring in the direction she had disappeared.
Then—
A flickering red aura nearby responded irritably.
‘You’re only realizing that now… you… idiot.’
The Salseong wrote insults at me in red letters.
This bastard had been picking fights lately, calling me stupid over the smallest things.
Since the awakening of the Evil Star hadn’t progressed, it seemed bored.
“When have I ever experienced a situation where a beauty like Juwol-a confesses first?”
I’d never had such data in my life—how could I possibly respond properly?
I had only thought she would be grateful for saving her.
Never imagined I’d go to comfort her and come back having been confessed to.
‘Then why did you go that far for me…?’
She had asked, referring to everything I had done to save her.
Why?
Should I just stand by and watch a pervert kidnap someone I know?
For my lifespan, my internal energy, and my good karma—it wasn’t something I could ignore.
Besides… I felt a bit responsible too.
‘What about me… do you not like…?’
Though clearly shocked, she still looked at me steadily and asked for the reason.
There was nothing I disliked about her.
It wasn’t about her.
It was about me.
‘Why… did you reject…?’
Even the Salseong seemed curious.
“Because of you, you damn bastard.”
As I had said before—
If I were to lose control and commit killing,
the ones I cherished most would be the first to get hurt.
So light relationships were fine—
but going deeper? I wanted to avoid that.
So I explained it to her.
‘I’m sorry. Not yet. I have my own circumstances. Until I resolve them, it’s impossible.’
After recovering somewhat from the shock, Juwol-a gave a sorrowful smile and understood.
‘I see…’
Living life, I never thought I’d make such a stunning beauty sad over something like this.
I watched her quietly as she accepted the rejection.
But strong people find hope even in hardship.
Taking a breath, she brought up the word I had said—“not yet.”
‘So you’re saying… you have reasons you can’t tell, and that’s why it’s “not yet,” correct?’
‘…Yes. That’s right.’
Should I call this optimism?
She found hope in my words and regained her energy.
‘Alright. I won’t dig any deeper. I’ve seen many people with such expressions.’
She respected my decision.
‘But have you ever had such a serious conversation with other women?’
I shook my head.
Ilhong had hinted at something before, but—
I had never spoken openly like this.
‘Hehe… so I’m the first?’
She seemed strangely happy.
Muttering something meaningful about how she had her “first” in her own room—on her bed, no less.
Anyway… it was a relief she remained positive even after being rejected.
‘This feeling… it’s fresh.’
She had always been the one rejecting others.
This was her first time on the other side.
‘Master… it’s my first time too. This feeling… it’s not bad. I’ll remember it.’
She smiled brightly and left.
And I—
walked out of Cheonhwa Pavilion, trying to calm my complicated thoughts.
“…Feels like I just did something incredibly wasteful.”
Like I overstepped my place and acted cool for no reason.
Judging by her final look, she wouldn’t give up easily.
That made me both excited… and worried.
As I continued taking on requests, building connections, and becoming more deeply involved in this world—
there were more things to worry about.
Back when I first got stabbed and collapsed against a wall,
I had only one goal—
Survival.
But now, there were many people I had to protect.
My mind had grown complicated.
“Boss——!”
At that moment—
one of those precious people ran toward me urgently.
Using movement arts, she slid right in front of me and began checking my body.
“…What are you doing?”
I asked, looking at her suspicious behavior.
“I heard you went to that vixen’s quarters. Nothing happened, right…?”
Even though her name was Juwol-a, Ilhong stubbornly called her that.
When I hesitated to answer, she narrowed her eyes.
“Nothing happened, right? I mean, if it’s you, Boss… it might have!”
If it’s me, it might have?
And at that question, I made an awkward face.
If I boldly said nothing happened—
my Starfall Heart Cultivation Method reacted, pricking my conscience.
So I scratched my cheek silently.
“What’s with that weird face…? That’s the face of someone something happened to…”
“…It’s a misunderstanding. Almost nothing happened.”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“Wait—what do you mean ‘almost’?!”
There had been some emotional docking—
but I remembered the Salseong and firmly maintained my pure integrity.
Tragically so.
“Enough. Ilhong, hand over the remaining Hundred-League Incense. It’s confiscated.”
I held out my hand as she clung to my arm, whining for details.
She flinched and stepped back.
“B-But… it’s expensive… and I didn’t even use it on you…”
Yeah—you used it on the client I was stuck with.
I snatched it away without hesitation.
She collapsed with a devastated expression.
“You don’t trust me that much? Huh?”
I had just rejected a confession, you know.
“…When it comes to women… a little… well…”
What a society lacking trust.
I flicked her forehead lightly.
Tap!
“Ow!”
After that, I returned to the Eunseong Trading Company where this request had begun.
The first thing I did—
was circulate the Starfall Heart Cultivation Method to its extreme, right in front of my master, Hwang Geolgae.
As the dormant energy of the stars converted into immense internal energy and was absorbed into my body—
he clicked his tongue and said,
“You brat, what the hell do you keep doing out there every time you leave?”
“…A lot of things happened.”
That was all I could say.