novelraw Chapter 39
Chapter 39
Chapter 39
“I understand it must be hard to feel at ease. If it seems too difficult to carry out your duty, I can speak to the Division Leader on your behalf.”
At Ho Jo-yeong’s words, Ju Jirang shook her head.
“No, this is something I have to handle myself. I’ll get a hold of myself soon. And I want to do what I can.”
“If you’re willing to do that, it puts us at ease as well. Young Mistress Ak seems to be less anxious because of Vice Leader Ju.”
“Then I’m glad.”
In the end, Ju Jirang couldn’t bear to look at Un Jongak’s corpse any longer and left the scene.
Un Jongak’s body was buried in a suitable place. Before laying him to rest, Pyo Inhaeng and Seo Mugyeom examined the sword wounds on his body one last time.
They even sketched the wounds and kept a record, thinking that although it wasn’t clear now, it might become relevant later.
As Seo Mugyeom had expected, various poisons and hidden weapons were found among Un Jongak’s belongings. Everyone who saw it shook their heads in disbelief.
It was all the more shocking because Un Jongak had always condemned those who used hidden weapons and poisons while alive.
“Good thing we brought him on the mission. If we’d left him there, who knows what kind of mess he would’ve made back at the sect.”
As Pyo Inhaeng spoke, Ju Jirang let out a quiet sigh. By now, she had come to realize what kind of person Un Jongak really was. She could no longer defend or mourn him.
It was the fourth day since they’d left the Ak Clan.
Following Pyo Inhaeng’s orders, Seo Mugyeom rode beside the carriage carrying Ak Seol-ah.
The window, which had been shut tight for a while, finally opened, and Ak Seol-ah came into view.
Seo Mugyeom’s heart sank without warning. Even if an assassin jumped out from the shadows and held a blade to his throat, he wouldn’t have felt this way. But as soon as he saw Ak Seol-ah, his heart started pounding like mad.
Ak Seol-ah seemed surprised, perhaps not expecting Seo Mugyeom to be riding alongside the carriage. Then, as if it would be awkward to shut the window abruptly, she stayed silent.
One rode in the carriage. The other on horseback. And for a moment, they moved forward without a word exchanged.
Seo Mugyeom tried to think of something suitable to say in this moment. But nothing came to mind.
No matter what he considered, it all sounded wrong. He hoped she wouldn’t think he was a dull person—but the only thing he realized was that he was, indeed, not good with words.
Just then, as if to rescue Seo Mugyeom, Ju Jirang appeared.
“The weather is nice today, Young Mistress Ak. It must be stifling to stay in the carriage all day. How about riding a horse?”
Ak Seol-ah looked at Ju Jirang with an embarrassed expression.
“To be honest, I can’t ride. When I was very young, I once fell off a horse while riding with my brother. I guess that memory stuck with me. I tried hard to learn horseback riding, but I just couldn’t do it. I can’t even mount properly. I feel like I could do it if I really tried, but my feet just won’t leave the ground.”
Listening to her story, Seo Mugyeom thought it was rather fascinating.
“So that’s what happened. But it’s something you must overcome. If you can’t ride, then you’d have to run. What if you get caught and killed while running? I’ve seen many die that way. Perhaps today, for the sake of the future you who might be chased by a fearsome enemy, you could be brave.”
Seo Mugyeom hadn’t expected Ju Jirang to say something like that. He glanced at Ak Seol-ah with a look of concern.
Ak Seol-ah likely knew Ju Jirang was right. But she had tried and failed. That had to be why.
Seo Mugyeom wanted to take her side. Yet, Ju Jirang’s words rang truer.
Telling her to avoid it if she was scared and comforting her now might only lead to watching her die later. It felt more right to teach her now.
“How about learning from Warrior Seo? Who taught you before? Maybe with a better teacher, things could go differently. Everyone has fears buried deep inside, but they must be overcome. That’s what it means to become an adult.”
Ju Jirang continued, as if placing a decisive point at the end.
“Imagine we’re all in danger. Everyone falls to an enemy trying to protect you. And you’re the only one left who can move—but you can’t ride a horse. What then?”
That must have struck a chord. Ak Seol-ah looked at Seo Mugyeom.
“Could you… help me, Warrior Seo?”
Seo Mugyeom was startled and answered that of course he could. When he looked at Ju Jirang, she smiled and walked away.
She had set the stage perfectly, as if saying it was now up to him to make it work.
Seo Mugyeom realized then that everything Ju Jirang had said to Ak Seol-ah had been for his sake.
“Then… I’ll count on you.”
“Of course. No need to rush. It doesn’t have to be right away. Once we stop for a meal, we can try riding from there.”
“Okay…”
Even just imagining horseback riding seemed to fill her with anxiety, but she appeared determined. Then she quietly shut the window again, as if needing to steel herself.
From that moment, Seo Mugyeom felt strange.
Teaching her to ride would be easy—but all sorts of thoughts crowded his mind.
He took a deep breath alone, then suddenly felt an odd gaze and turned his head. There was Pyo Inhaeng, staring at him with an exasperated look.
That face said, “You’re really having fun,” and Seo Mugyeom had no retort.
Considering the situation they were in, that reaction made sense.
Just as Seo Mugyeom was about to lower his head, Pyo Inhaeng curled a finger and beckoned him over.
Seo Mugyeom brought his horse closer, and Pyo Inhaeng said,
“I was starting to get bored, so this works out. Put Young Mistress Ak on your horse and ride ahead. That should cut at least half a day from the journey. Our slow pace is because we’re matching speed with her carriage.”
“…Excuse me?”
Seo Mugyeom had no desire to finish this mission earlier than planned.
He could see Ak Seol-ah at every meal, maybe talk to her when she opened the window… Why rush? Once the mission ended, he might never see her again. Why ruin that?
When Seo Mugyeom didn’t respond right away, Pyo Inhaeng chuckled.
“What, are you resisting?”
“No… That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
“….”
Pyo Inhaeng waved him off, still grinning like he’d just found a decade’s worth of teasing material.
Even if his Division Leader made fun of him, Seo Mugyeom didn’t care. Who knew if he’d ever get this kind of chance again? He wanted to give it his best.
What if he never met anyone again who moved his heart this deeply?
Yeah. Wouldn’t it be too sad to live without even a memory like this? It’s not like I’m trying to end up with Young Mistress Ak or anything. She’s far out of my league anyway…
No one had said a word to him, but Seo Mugyeom was already making excuses in his head.
Unbeknownst to Seo Mugyeom, all the warriors of the Tenth Division who were on this mission were keeping a close eye on him.
Watching Seo Mugyeom, a Guardian Ten Division warrior who lived solely for training and duty, without much of a personal life, they couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
At least, the warriors of the Tenth Division had warm hearts. And seeing their youngest member get flustered and emotionally stirred by a beautiful young lady stirred up their support.
They thought Ju Jirang wouldn’t care, but then she suddenly pushed Ak Seol-ah to learn riding and told Seo Mugyeom to teach her—essentially acting as their bridge.
Because of that, the Tenth Division warriors felt a deep bond with Ju Jirang. Before, there had been some awkwardness due to being from different divisions, but after that, the walls completely came down.
“Captain, my horse is acting strange. I think it’s limping.”
One of the Tenth Division warriors spoke up, though they still had a long way to go.
“Captain, mine too,” another chimed in, seizing the opportunity.
Right then, the carriage carrying Ak Seol-ah fell into a puddle.
Pyo Inhaeng had already caught on to what these guys were plotting.
They had two eyes, after all—they must’ve seen the puddle ahead. Yet they steered the carriage right into it. He clicked his tongue.
Pyo Inhaeng knew exactly what kind of scheme they were pulling.
Seo Mugyeom, who had graduated from the Martial Arts Academy and never really experienced women, had always trained or gone on missions. And whenever he stood in front of Ak Seol-ah, he fell apart like a broken doll.
His comrades probably just wanted to help such a poor fellow.
“If it starts raining, that’ll be the final touch.”
Just as Pyo Inhaeng muttered, lightning cracked across the sky.
He stared upward in silence. Moments ago, the sky had been clear—now, dark clouds were gathering fast.
“What the…”
Pyo Inhaeng was actually starting to get scared.
Is the sky helping Seo Mugyeom now? It had to be a coincidence, but it was all too perfect.
“Captain, dark clouds are rolling in. Looks like it’ll rain. Even if we’re in a carriage, it won’t fully block the rain. Shouldn’t we have Mugyeom take Young Mistress Ak and go ahead? The clouds look serious.”
Ho Jo-yeong had somehow shown up and was suggesting it.
“Do whatever you want. Everyone’s already set things up, and now you’re acting like it’s a last-minute suggestion? What if I say no—how much grumbling will I hear behind my back?”
Pyo Inhaeng wasn’t the kind to care about such things.
And yet, the way he said it showed that he truly felt sorry for Seo Mugyeom.
Ho Jo-yeong lit up and ran straight over to Seo Mugyeom.