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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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One silver coin sent by an unknown sender.
One letter with an ambiguous message.
The ripple it created was powerful enough to thoroughly confuse the three.
“Could someone be spying on the Hongseong sect?”
At Yoohee’s words, Hongryeon’s lips pursed. It was a plausible story.
The Hongseong sect was the home of the Sword Saint. Naturally, it attracted a lot of attention from the martial world. Sword Saint Na Yerin was someone who didn’t leave her sect unless it was absolutely necessary.
She only left when a major problem arose in the martial world.
Or,
Only when her disciple was in danger.
“I’ve heard there’s been a lot of unrest in the martial world lately.”
A sudden increase in monster appearances.
Bandits becoming more organized.
She had heard about it when she went to the Martial Alliance on a surveillance and investigation mission—something about the movement of goods, and even unsettling movements within the Imperial Palace.
Therefore, Hongryeon couldn’t deny that if there was a hidden force that wanted to bring chaos to the world, one of the first people they would need to keep in check was the Sword Saint.
“Trying to cause confusion in the Hongseong sect by shaking the youngest disciple…?”
However, even if that were the case, the possibility wasn’t very high. While it was true that Sayoon was the beloved youngest disciple of the sect, to say she held significant influence over the Hongseong sect itself would be an overstatement.
Even if she were to be swayed by a letter or two, the Hongseong sect could easily manage the situation.
If they were going to go through the trouble of doing something like this, they should target someone other than Sayoon.
“Right, they should target me.”
Although Na Yerin was the leader of the Hongseong sect, it was Hongryeon who actually managed it and trained the disciples.
Without her, the Hongseong sect would surely crumble.
“Hmm… Or maybe they sent this, predicting that we would react this way, confused and suspicious?”
Send these ambiguous items, sow doubt and suspicion, and prevent them from making any rash moves.
Hongryeon slowly crossed her arms. The pressure pushed her ample bosom together, the physical sensation helping to focus her thoughts.
However, no clear answer came to mind.
If it were as Yoohee said, there were too many possibilities. Besides, if they wanted to hinder the Hongseong sect’s actions, there were plenty of other, more effective methods.
“Or… um. What if it’s simply a gesture of goodwill, to support Sayoon?”
“Who?”
“…..W-well, you know, so-someone?”
Yoohee glanced at Sayoon. Even she seemed clueless, so how could Yoohee know?
“Maybe if she had gone out and made a name for herself like me or the other sisters… but the youngest hasn’t even mastered the first half of the Hongseong Divine Art. Who would sponsor Sayoon?”
“Maybe an investment for her future potential…”
“If it were an investment for her future potential, they would’ve revealed their identity instead of hiding their name.”
At Hongryeon’s calm words, Yoohee closed her mouth.
She had a point.
“Supporting her anonymously without revealing their name… Nah, that doesn’t seem right.”
At Yoohee’s mumbling, Hongryeon glanced at Sayoon. The letter was in her small hand.
A single line of text. A letter with only the words “Are you eating properly?” filled with concern, held in her small hand that was trembling slightly.
“Little one.”
“Y-yes, Senior Sister.”
“We don’t know who sent it, but if it’s intended to harm you, don’t worry.”
Thinking that their youngest must be feeling uneasy, Hongryeon raised her hand. She forced a smile on her usually stoic face. She reached out and stroked Sayoon’s hair before speaking seriously,
“Under Master’s guidance, we are all sisters. We will protect you.”
“…T-thank you…”
A wave of heat flushed Sayoon’s face. Joy, and guilt. A strange feeling tugged at her heart, and she lowered her head slightly.
“Anyway, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly dangerous about the letter itself… If another one comes, let’s open it together.”
What remained was the silver coin. Hongryeon stared at it intently before pressing it into Sayoon’s hand.
“It came addressed to you, so it’s only right that you use it.”
Sayoon stared at the silver coin in her hand. She became Na Yerin’s disciple and entered the Hongseong sect under her guidance.
However, due to the sect’s frugal nature, she had never seen or touched such a large sum of money before.
Who knew a single silver coin could feel so heavy?
Sayoon clutched it tightly before offering it back to Hongryeon.
“Hmm?”
“C-could we use this for the sect’s operating expenses?”
She had received too much. She was living a life that was too good to be true.
Yet she couldn’t repay any of it.
So, if she could at least contribute this silver coin to the operating expenses?
Meeting Sayoon’s determined gaze, Hongryeon chuckled and shook her head.
“The Hongseong sect isn’t that poor. Use it to buy something you need.”
“…Yes.”
Slightly disheartened by the clear refusal, Sayoon drooped her head. Hongryeon patted her head and gestured to the pile of letters and boxes.
“Now, get back to work.”
One silver coin.
A large sum to some, a small sum to others.
And to Sayoon, who had lived her whole life as a beggar, it was an absurdly large amount.
“What are you going to do with it?”
“W-well…”
Sayoon pondered as Yoohee asked while they were leaving Hongryeon’s room.
One silver coin could buy twenty of those delicious candies.
No, the shop they always visited when they went down to the village to buy things for the Hongseong sect gave one candy for free if you bought twenty, so she could buy twenty-one.
“They say you should spend unexpected money quickly.”
“Unexpected money… is it?”
“Of course it is! We don’t know who sent it, but it came addressed to you, right?”
“That’s true, but… what if something bad happens because I used it…?”
“Come on~. What could possibly go wrong because of this~”
To Yoohee, one silver coin wasn’t a lot of money. That’s why she found Sayoon, who was hesitating over a single silver coin, both adorable and pitiful.
She patted Sayoon’s head.
“You’ll be able to handle a silver coin easily someday. And it’s not good for a disciple of the Hongseong sect to be so burdened by the weight of money.”
“Hmm…”
“Or do you want to go out with me later?”
“…Okay. I’ll think about it.”
She clutched the silver coin in her pocket and nodded slightly.
A few days had passed since she received the silver coin. After much agonizing, Sayoon finally decided what to do with it and made up her mind to go out with Yoohee.
Seomhwa Village, where they went, seemed like a different world to Sayoon, dazzling and comfortable.
The bustling market was filled with stalls selling delicious-looking food and intriguing goods.
When she was a beggar, she couldn’t freely enter the market. It was only natural. Most beggars also resorted to stealing. But wearing the uniform of the Hongseong sect, she was no longer a beggar, and the people in the market smiled at her, eager to sell their wares.
Sayoon felt a persistent tickle in her chest.
She was no longer a beggar.
She was no longer alone.
Feeling the grip tighten on her hand, Yoohee smiled brightly and held on tighter.
“Um… Senior Sister.”
“Hmm? Oh, right. Did you decide what you want to buy? Clothes? Or maybe an accessory…”
“…Candy.”
Her face flushed, Sayoon mumbled softly. Seeing her lovely face turn crimson, Yoohee chuckled and led her straight to the store.
Arriving at the only store in Seomhwa Village, Sayoon’s eyes widened in amazement.
The items sold in the market were nice and desirable, but the goods in the store seemed even better.
Jade hairpins, colorful thread accessories.
So many things that made a girl’s heart flutter.
But among them all, Sayoon’s eyes were drawn to one thing. The colorful, delicious-looking candies.
“I… I want to buy some candy.”
“Yes! How many would you like?!”
The cheerful clerk asked with a smile, and she took out the silver coin from her pocket.
“How many can I buy… with this silver coin?”
“Let’s see… Yes, you can buy twenty, and I’ll give you one more for free!”
“Give me… all of them.”
“Right away!”
Soon, the bamboo box was filled with candies. As she received it, Yoohee returned after purchasing what she needed.
“Oh, you bought them?”
“Yes.”
“Let me see… Huh? Why did you buy so much candy?”
To Yoohee’s puzzled question, Sayoon smiled awkwardly.
“I… I wanted to give some to the other sisters… and Master.”
To Master, who had saved her when she was a useless beggar.
To her fellow disciples, who cherished her like their own sister.
She wanted to give back, even a little, to those who had become her light when she didn’t know what happiness was and was just exhausted from surviving each day.
Sayoon clutched the bamboo box tightly, and Yoohee beamed at her.
Meeting that smile, Sayoon thought,
I wonder if there’s a way to express my gratitude to the person who sent that letter, who gave me this ‘opportunity’ to give back.
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A few days had passed since I came to this world and started living as ‘Yu Wol’.
Life wasn’t particularly difficult.
Managing a store wasn’t that hard.
There were occasional troublemakers at the inn, but it was all manageable with a smile.
Real trouble was on a whole other level.
I looked over the documents, stubbed out the cigarette butt in the ashtray, and took a sip of bitter tea. A sense of clarity spread through my mind along with the taste.
“Hmm… Send this to the Cheongryu Merchant Guild. And there’s been some complaints about the inn’s food. We need to improve the quality of our ingredients.”
“Yes, sir.”
My subordinates left the room to carry out my instructions.
I put the gold and silver on the table into the safe.
Yu Wol had a lot of money. Much more than I had expected.
But even so, I had no intention of increasing the amount I sent to Sayoon.
Yes, the allowance I sent her was only one silver coin every two weeks.
I wouldn’t send any more than that unless something special happened.
What I, what we, wanted was for Sayoon to be happy and strong, not for her to be swayed by money.
They say it’s better to cry in a Bentley than on a bicycle, but too much money would only burden her.
The Hongseong sect would provide her with the essentials, so it was better to send just enough for her to buy candy occasionally.
Besides, excessive support could turn her into a spoiled brat.
I recalled seeing Sayoon through the window a few days ago, walking back to the Hongseong sect with her fellow disciples, carrying the candy she bought at the store.
The smile on her face, brought about by a mere silver coin, was the beautiful, blissful smile we all longed to see.
Indeed, this was much better than trying to befriend her directly and getting caught by the authorities.
If only the 50 million members of the Sayoon Corps could see that smile, that bashful blush on her face, they’d be overjoyed.
“Sigh…”
I shook my head, reminiscing about her smile, and sat back down at my desk.
I could provide this level of petty happiness, but it was up to the Hongseong sect, her new home, to help her become strong.
Preventing the destruction of the Hongseong sect was essential to making Sayoon the protagonist.
Of course, I planned to offer a little help here and there.
“No major problems so far…”
I had been observing the situation in the martial world for the past few days.
The Iron Blood Clan hadn’t made their move yet, but the chaos they were creating as they prepared…
For example, the increase in monster appearances.
For example, the heightened activity of bandits.
The world was gradually becoming more chaotic due to such events.
But don’t worry.
The important thing was Sayoon.
As I lit another cigarette, lost in thought about what I needed to do next,
A man dressed in black appeared outside the window.
“Hmm?”
It was a member of the Courier’s Guild. I didn’t call for them today.
As I looked on in puzzlement, he bowed respectfully and presented me with a letter.
“The recipient requested information about you, but I didn’t disclose anything.”
“Good work.”
“They insisted I deliver this… If you wish, I can dispose of them from now on.”
“No, it’s alright. Bring it to me.”
It was an unexpected development, but not a bad one.
I tapped the letter with my finger, and the courier vanished as quickly as he had appeared.
I turned my gaze to the letter in my hand.
The words written on the old, coarse envelope were,
‘From Sayoon, disciple of the Hongseong sect, to my benefactor.’
The handwriting was quite small and rounded.
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How nice, the courier also sends the letters from Sayoon