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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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After a brief greeting, Namgung Serin gave a report to Namgung Cheon.
“A sorcerer summoned a Hayagriva? It must be one of the Four Heavenly Maidens’ doing.”
“Indeed, it is, Clan Leader.”
“And yet, you struggled against a Hayagriva?”
Suddenly, Namgung Cheon’s aura sharpened.
“Even if it was within the Labyrinth, you should be ashamed. Did I teach you that way?”
“…I apologize.”
A dejected Namgung Serin lowered her head.
Wait, is this right?
His own child almost died, and he’s blaming her? That thought sprung up strongly, but these kinds of families have different ways of raising their children. It’s probably unavoidable, given their martial arts background.
While I was trembling for a moment, Namgung Cheon looked at me and spoke.
“You saved my daughter. I am truly grateful.”
“It was a situation where I had to gamble to survive, and it simply worked out.”
“You are humble. I will offer you a reward as a token of my gratitude.”
A reward!
“Bring it.”
Creak.
Immediately, the door opened and someone who looked like a servant brought a long, box-like container. The moment I saw it, I knew.
Isn’t that a box that holds a sword or something?
As soon as I had that thought, Namgung Cheon opened the container and took out the sword inside.
It was a sword with a striking blue hilt and blue scabbard, obviously high-quality at a glance. Is he really giving this to me? No matter how I look at it, it looks damn good!
“This is the Sky Thunder Sword (Cheonroegeom). I hope you use it well.”
“Gasp! Thank you!”
I received the Sky Thunder Sword with both hands and bowed deeply!
This is on a completely different level from my cheap sword!
“Feel free to rest in the guest house.”
“Yes!”
With that, I finished my greetings with Namgung Cheon and left the Clan Leader’s room.
“Congratulations, Geun-hyeop. That Sky Thunder Sword is a sword bestowed upon warriors who have made contributions to the family. It’s a fine, renowned sword that even collectors covet.”
“Th-This kind of beautiful sword can exist…!”
It was so luxurious that it was like looking at a piece of art.
Goodbye to the crappy sword I was carrying!
I should sell this thing on Carrot Market now!
“Is this Sky Thunder Sword, like, super strong and stuff?!”
“Huhu, of course. It’s a sturdy sword that won’t be damaged easily. You’ll be able to use it for a long time without any special maintenance.”
“I’ll take good care of it like a family heirloom and use it for a long, long time!”
With this sword, I have nothing to fear!
I happily stroked the sword and boarded the elevator with Namgung Serin.
But somehow, Namgung Serin seemed subdued. Should I say she seemed somewhat gloomy?
Ah.
With my quick wit, I immediately caught on to Namgung Serin’s state. It seems she was hurt by what her father said earlier.
“Lady Namgung Serin. Are you alright? You don’t look well.”
“…I’m fine. That’s not it.”
She said she was fine, but I could tell just by looking.
“I’m sure the Clan Leader was worried, too.”
“Yes…?”
“He probably just found it difficult to express that worry outwardly.”
“…”
At my words, Namgung Serin looked at me for a moment.
Then, she exhaled and lowered her head.
“Ha… I wish that were the case.”
As I expected.
“I’m sure it is. Who wouldn’t be worried when their child is in danger? Deep down, he cherishes you, Lady Namgung Serin. But, well, that’s just how fathers are. It’s hard for them to express their true feelings to their children.”
Namgung Serin is a martial artist.
A martial artist who reached the peak realm at a young age and earned the nickname “Jade Flower Sword.” She must train very seriously in martial arts and undoubtedly respects her father, who is a tremendous master.
It’s only natural that she would want to be praised by him.
“He probably wanted to praise you for defeating the Hayagriva, too.”
“Is that really so…?”
Namgung Serin asked back, as if captivated by my words.
“Yes. That’s how a father’s heart is. All men know it.”
“Ha… I see. Hearing that makes me feel a little better.”
Namgung Serin’s expression softened.
“As expected, Geun-hyeop, you have a way with words. To be honest, I was scolded for being pathetic, and I was very worried that the Clan Leader might be disappointed in me.”
“You can just show him that you’ll do better next time.”
Isn’t that what fathers are for?
“Is that so? I didn’t need to worry.”
Her voice sounded much better.
“Hehehe, that’s right. Ah, this is something. Seeing Lady Namgung Serin’s mood improve makes me feel good too. I’m happy as if it were my own affair.”
“…”
At my words, Namgung Serin looked directly at me.
What?
“Geun-hyeop, you seem to have a very good personality. To be happy as if it were your own affair.”
“I’ve always had a good personality. I was even called a saint back in my hometown.”
“Huhu, that’s quite a nickname. Then, getting along with a saint wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Huh?”
“I think it would be alright to become close friends with you, Geun-hyeop.”
“Whoa!”
Close friends!
“You can drop the honorifics from now on. You can call me Serin.”
“Is that really okay?!”
“Yes. There has been no one who could call me Serin. Consider it an honor.”
“It’s such an honor!”
Such an honor!
“Alright, Serin! Let’s be friends from today!”
“You don’t seem to have any shyness at all.”
Serin said that and smiled softly. While I liked her expressionless face too, a smiling person is always the best.
And so, I arrived at the guest house with Serin.
“Rest as much as you like, Geun-hyeop.”
“Hehehe, I should rest appropriately and leave tactfully. Ah, I want to play with this sword quickly.”
“Hmph… It’s still not as good as my sword.”
“What?!”
Serin said that and showed me her sword.
“Sky Thunder Infinite Sword. That is the name of my sword. It is a much better item than the Sky Thunder Sword.”
“Hold back on the bragging…!”
“Bragging? You say interesting things. Ah, right there. Has a physician been summoned?”
Serin, who was talking to me, called out to her servant.
“A physician has been summoned. Shall I bring them right away?”
“Please do so.”
“Yes.”
Oh, has the physician already arrived?
“Wait inside and they’ll be here soon, Geun-hyeop.”
“I’m a little excited about this.”
I went into the guest house with Serin and waited for the physician. I was thinking of getting something to eat while waiting, but Serin, the homeowner, immediately made tea.
It was very delicious green tea.
“This is the taste! It’s on a different level from what I had at the inn!”
“Compare things that are comparable. I cultivate not only martial arts but also the art of tea. It’s simply incomparable to that of an inn.”
It seemed that Serin had pride in not only martial arts but also tea. If only I had some instant coffee, it would have been a good match.
I, too, possess unparalleled, professional skills in making instant coffee.
“Wow, you’re so beautiful, and you’re good with a sword and tea?”
“Huhu, indeed.”
Flip.
At my words, Serin put her hand behind her head and flipped her hair. A very proud smile was plastered on her face, and it was the epitome of princess syndrome.
Anyway, while we were talking like that, the servant brought the physician.
“Yay! Finally, I can get a proper diagnosis!”
Serin got up from her seat, opened the door, and welcomed the physician. The physician was an elderly man with a striking white beard, but his posture was so straight that he seemed strong.
The physician bowed to Serin and looked at me.
“Hello, Physician! My name is Kim Geun-hyeop!”
“I am Majun. I heard you ate a demon core and are still walking around just fine… If it’s true that you ate a demon core, that’s astonishing.”
“Of course, I ate it. Would you mind taking my pulse?”
“I was planning to do so without you asking. Take off your top and lie down here.”
I immediately grabbed the hem of my top.
But is it okay to take it off with Serin watching? I had that thought briefly, but Serin was just looking at me nonchalantly.
Whatever.
Slip.
I took off my clothes and lay down.
“Let’s see what kind of constitution you have that allowed you to eat a demon core and be fine.”
“I’m quite curious myself. What secret does Geun-hyeop’s body hold that allows him to be fine after consuming a core?”
The time has come for the secret to be revealed.
Sweep.
The physician placed his hand on my lower back.
About five minutes passed.
“Hmm… What exactly happened?”
“Well…”
I explained that I ate the core that came out after catching the Gobulin chieftain.
“And I gained internal energy.”
“Huh, well now.”
He’s laughing?
“Is this really the body of someone who ate a demon core? I don’t feel any particularly negative energy, and I don’t feel any impurities in your internal energy.”
So there’s no problem after all?
“Not only are you fine after eating one, but you even gained internal energy… This is a first.”
“Really?”
“A demon core is not something humans can eat in the first place. After a thorough examination, you’re completely fine. There’s no trace of the core whatsoever.”
“Oh!”
There really is no problem!
“Then, Physician! Do I have some incredible constitution? Like, a Heavenly Martial Body or something!”
“There’s not a shred of ‘Heavenly Martial Body’ in you, so be quiet. Constitution, right… Constitution…”
The physician seemed lost in thought.
“I don’t know… I really don’t know…”
“Huh?”
“This case is a first for me, so I can’t say anything for sure. This is a special constitution. One that’s unknown. Perhaps you are the first.”
“The first…!”
Am I really the first person with a demon core constitution?
“But, Physician, I’m still a little curious. Has there truly never been a case where someone ate a demon core and was completely fine?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Really?”
“Historically, many martial artists have tried to use the demon cores somehow. They all must have tried various methods, but seeing as there’s no mention of it, it probably all ended in failure. Well, I hear that the villains of the Demonic Cult and the Blood Cult are still collecting and researching the cores… I don’t know about that part.”
I listened attentively to the physician.
“The Demonic Cult and the Blood Cult. How terrifying.”
“There are rumors that they conducted terrifying experiments using the cores. And there are also rumors that if you fall into Qi Deviation or a state of Demonic Possession and then recover, you can have a demon core constitution.”
Huh?
“I’ve never actually heard of that happening. In the first place, it’s extremely difficult to recover from Qi Deviation, and someone who survives something like that wouldn’t touch a demon core anyway. Besides, the more internal energy you have, the more dangerous it is.”
Wait.
Could it be?
“Um, well. I had a nightmare after eating the core. Could that have been Qi Deviation?”
“If a martial artist of your level fell into Qi Deviation, you would be dead. It was a nightmare.”
“…”
“In any case, there are no issues. You’re perfectly healthy.”
In the end, the conclusion was that I was fine.
So I made a decision.
“Alright! Then, Physician! I’ll consume the Hayagriva’s core right here!”
Let’s experiment while the physician is here!
I’m going to eat it here!
“Oh, Ooh…! Are you serious?!”
The physician’s eyes lit up like a child’s when I said I’d eat the core.
Seeing that, no joke, this guy seemed like a crazy doctor.
Are you by any chance from the Sichuan Tang Clan?
“Geun-hyeop, it’s dangerous. The Gobulin chieftain is one thing, but the Hayagriva is a demon of at least mid-level Central Plains Jungwon Hyungsalsal. I believe it’s dangerous to consume it right away.”
Serin tried to stop me, but I was already plagued by an unstoppable impulse.
“I’ll just eat a little. Just a little. It’s actually less dangerous to try it now while the Physician is here. Physician, you’re a renowned physician with a title, aren’t you?”
“They call me Seonui Majun. Even if your Qi becomes twisted, I can treat you, so eat it quickly. I will definitely save your life.”
Saying that, Seonui tightly grasped my hand. He was so trustworthy, it was like seeing a cult leader.
“So trust me, the Seonui, and eat it quickly…!”
This guy seemed desperate to see someone eat a demon core.
“Quickly…!”
It seemed no one could stop his curiosity.
And of course, my curiosity too!
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thanks simzy!