The Protagonist’s Daddy Long Legs – Chapter 30

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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With the most pressing issue resolved, all that remained was the matter concerning the Demonic Sect.

I asked the Sword Saint, though I didn’t expect much, and as she had told the magistrate, she didn’t seem to know who the Demonic Sect members who attacked her were.

“They did use demonic arts, but I just cut them down as soon as I saw them.”

In other words, they weren’t that difficult for her. So, they weren’t elders.

“Did they say anything?”

“I asked who they were, and all they said was, ‘Die for the Heavenly Demon!’ They did use some demonic arts, but… I cut their throats before they could use them properly… Tsk. Next time, I’ll observe their attacks before finishing them off, so don’t worry.”

No, I preferred her taking them down without any hesitation. What was the point of listening to their excuses?

Anyway, asking the Sword Saint about this would just be a waste of time.

I took a sip of tea and bowed my head. There were two cups on the table where the Sword Saint and I were sitting, and a plate of sweets was placed only in front of me.

It was the candy I had given them the other day, telling them to eat it after their training.

Ryuhyeon’s face was flushed, probably embarrassed about serving me with the candy I had given them.

But it seemed like she felt even more embarrassed about offering only thousand-day plum blossom tea to a guest.

Instead of eating my share of the candy, I offered it to them.

A bright smile spread across the Sword Saint’s face. But only for a moment. She gulped and then cut the candy in half.

Oh, as expected of the Sword Saint.

She cut it perfectly in half with a bamboo knife.

And then, she pushed the halves towards Ryuhyeon and Sayoon.

“I’m satisfied with what I ate earlier, so you two eat it.”

She didn’t look satisfied at all, but seeing her try to take care of her disciples, it seemed like her love for her disciples and the sect was genuine, even though she had no talent for management.

After the master and disciples exchanged a few rounds of polite refusals, the candy was finally in the disciples’ hands. I stood up.

“Anyway, I’ll be back tomorrow to check on the White Jade Tablets… I’ll see you then.”

“Alright. And come empty-handed next time. We’ve only been receiving from you, so it’s only right that we treat you properly this time. Ryuhyeon, can you manage that?”

Ryuhyeon looked surprised.

“Master, you’re making a normal statement…”

“Hehe, that’s how great your master is.”

“I’m not a crybaby, but I feel like I’m about to tear up…”

As I listened to their conversation with a dumbfounded look, the Sword Saint grinned.

“It’s only right to reciprocate when you receive something. I’ll go hunting today, so don’t worry, prepare plenty of meat and…”

“Yes! Let’s have lunch together!!”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Please, don’t refuse. Now, go on… even with the Guardian Star Formation, I don’t recommend staying too long. Aren’t you a busy man?”

The Sword Saint spoke casually and patted Sayoon’s head. I was jealous.

“Can you escort him back to the inn?”

“Of course!”

Sayoon smiled brightly and nodded. The Sword Saint gave her a brief acknowledgement and then spoke as I was about to leave,

“By the way, how is the Chae Family doing?”

The Chae Family…

Was she talking about Chae-jin?

Hongryeon must have told her. Well, it was unlikely that she wouldn’t talk about her rival to her master.

“Yes, they’re doing fine.”

I imagined Chae-jin enthusiastically drinking at the inn.

She would probably start whining and calling me “member” as soon as I got back.

“I see. Please keep moving forward without stopping. I’m sure you’ll achieve the ‘Understanding of Softness.’ That’s all I can say for now.”

I left Mount Hongseong. I wanted to observe the disciples training, but it would be rude to watch without permission.

So, I left the gate of the Hongseong Sect with Sayoon without a word.

The wind blew, scattering the petals of the thousand-day plum blossoms, creating a breathtaking scenery. As we walked, enjoying the view, Sayoon spoke up.

“Um… Innkeeper.”

“Hmm?”

“Please don’t mind Master’s words too much.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Well, when you first met her, she suddenly said ‘Do your best’ as if you were pitiful…”

Ah, that?

I already knew the Sword Saint was like that. She didn’t mean any harm.

“But it seems Master likes you.”

“Really?”

“Master never talks about martial arts to those she doesn’t approve of.”

Sayoon told me about a past event as we walked.

While traveling to Mount Hongseong after becoming the Sword Saint’s disciple, there were martial artists who sought her out for guidance.

Apparently, they were more skilled than her, but the Sword Saint didn’t say a single word about martial arts to them.

“I heard later, after joining the sect, that she doesn’t waste her words on those she doesn’t find worthy. So, in that sense…”

Did she approve of me, even though I had learned the Chae Family Taijiquan?

Not bad.

Time is relative, and its flow is perceived differently depending on the situation.

Likewise, enjoyable moments always pass by quickly.

Time seemed to drag on when I was being trained by Chae-jin.

The walk back to the inn with Sayoon felt like a mere instant to me.

Of course, I didn’t waste that time.

I was able to learn a little about the current situation of the Hongseong Sect, to the extent that she could reveal, and about Sayoon’s personal past.

I almost shed a tear when I heard her talk about her past with a smile.

She said that even when she lived in the gutter, there were good times, and when I asked her what those good times were, she said that she saw beautiful flowers thrown from the magistrate’s carriage.

How could she even say that?

Seriously…

Just seeing some flowers was a good memory for her…

What am I going to do with this girl?

Anyway, it was a pleasant and informative time.

I learned that she was content with her present life and found great joy in being with her fellow disciples.

Then I had to protect that at all costs.

When we arrived at the inn, Sayoon bowed politely and left. I was sad to see her go. But what could I do?

I watched her until she disappeared from sight, feeling a deep sense of longing wash over me, and then entered the inn.

“Oh, you’re back?! I’ve been waiting! Now, let’s train to make up for lost time…”

I immediately went back outside.

Ahaha, a busy man like me can’t afford to… oh, I forgot to report to the magistrate.

I should go and report now.

“What kind of manners are those, turning around the moment you see someone?!”

“Let’s work first. We have work to do.”

Chae-jin complained as I headed toward the government office, but I really did have things to do.

When I arrived at the government office, I noticed that it was quite busy inside.

Soldiers were training diligently on the training grounds, sweat dripping from their brows.

“Oh, isn’t that Innkeeper Yu?”

One of the military officers noticed me and approached. I smiled at him and then scanned the soldiers who were focused on their training.

Hmm, they looked reliable.

Thinking that these were the people who would fight the Iron Blood Clan with me, I felt a sense of camaraderie.

“You’re all working hard, even in all this dust. I’ll send someone over with some pork and alcohol, so have a feast and relieve your fatigue.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that!”

“I’m doing this out of gratitude for your dedication to Seomhwa Village, so please don’t refuse.”

“Well…”

As they say, sharing is caring. The military officer smiled and shouted to the soldiers who were training,

“The innkeeper is treating us to a feast tonight! Train hard!!”

“Yes, sir!!”

After boosting the soldiers’ morale, I went to find the magistrate. He seemed satisfied with my report on what happened at the Hongseong Sect.

And then, he came outside with me, pointed at the soldiers training on the grounds, and spoke calmly,

“Since you’re working so hard to fulfill your promise to me, I should do the same.”

Ah, so that’s why they were training so hard? Because he didn’t know when I would call for them?

Not bad.

Really.

It would be even better if Sayoon could properly clear the second hidden realm of the Hongseong Sect.

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Two rabbits and a deer.

These were the game the Sword Saint brought back from her hunt.

She set aside the most delicious parts and used the rest to prepare dinner.

It was a happy day for the disciples. They had delicious sweets in the afternoon, and now they had meat for dinner.

“Senior Sister Ryuhyeon, this is delicious!”

“It’s nothing special.”

Although the Sword Saint was the one who hunted, it was Ryuhyeon who prepared and cooked the meat. Normally, Hongryeon would have done it, but she couldn’t be bothered with cooking when she had to train until evening.

After the sisters finished their harmonious meal and completed their night training, they were about to head to their rooms when,

Sayoon approached Ryuhyeon with a large box.

“It’s from the Courier’s Guild.”

“Really? Then I’ll take care of it, so you girls go to bed.”

After sending the other sisters to their rooms, Ryuhyeon received the box from Sayoon. At that moment, a small box on top fell out.

“Oh…”

Sayoon’s face lit up at the sight of the name. It was only natural.

It was a box from “Mister.”

“Oh, let’s see what he sent this time.”

Sayoon and Ryuhyeon went to their room with the box. Just as they were about to open it together,

“Hmm, is that from the ‘Mister’?”

“Oh my god! Master, can’t you make some noise when you walk?”

The voice behind them. They couldn’t help but be startled by the Sword Saint’s sudden appearance.

Mount Hongseong was a sacred mountain, and ghosts and spirits frequently appeared.

Of course, such low-level spirits couldn’t harm those who practiced the Hongseong Divine Art, but it was still startling.

Despite their reaction, the Sword Saint just looked at them as if they were overreacting.

“Sigh… yes, this is from Sayoon’s ‘Mister’.”

The Sword Saint’s face lit up with interest. She had heard about the map he sent earlier, the map of the hidden secret realm within the Hongseong Sect.

Na Yerin hadn’t become the Sect Leader of the Hongseong Sect through normal means.

Her senior sister, who had been chosen as the next Sect Leader, had succumbed to demonic possession and fallen into darkness, killing her master and fellow disciples.

It was inevitable that Na Yerin, who had only been interested in martial arts, wouldn’t know the secrets passed down orally among the Sect Leaders of the Hongseong Sect.

But there was someone who knew about a secret realm that might hold the key to those secrets?

She had been intrigued since then, so of course she wanted to see what was in this new letter.

“May I join you?”

“Of course, Master.”

Sayoon had no doubt that “Mister” had sent something good. So she immediately opened the box, and as usual, there was a silver coin and a thick letter inside.

Looking at them, Sayoon recalled the letter she had sent earlier.

Please, let there be something Mister wants in this letter.

With nervous hands, she broke the seal of the letter. And as she slowly unfolded it,

Sayoon, Ryuhyeon, and even the Sword Saint’s eyes widened in surprise.

It was another map.

But that wasn’t the only reason they were shocked.

Because the map was of a place they were all too familiar with.

It was a map of the Hongseong Sect.

“…This is…”

“Isn’t that the well near the training hall? The one we don’t use anymore.”

The three looked at each other and then rushed outside. They arrived at the well behind the training hall and peered inside without a word.

But all they could see was the shimmering water.

“We should go inside.”

The Sword Saint raised her hand, and with it, an immense amount of internal energy materialized, creating a miracle that reversed the flow of water.

The stagnant water soared upwards like a dragon.

-Whoosh! Whoooooosh!!

The water from the deep well gushed upwards, revealing the bottom. Even after performing such a feat with her manipulation of Qi, the Sword Saint didn’t boast.

She simply entered the well with Ryuhyeon and Sayoon, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Inside the deep well, on the opposite side of the water source, she found a wall that seemed to have been artificially blocked.

-Boom!!

The Sword Saint’s hand moved as if she were brushing away dust. With just that, the wall crumbled, and behind the thick wall, a passage leading to an unknown destination was revealed.

“Let’s go.”

How long did they walk through the passage? Just as they thought they had arrived somewhere behind the entrance of the Hongseong Sect,

They stopped in their tracks.

“…To think there was a place like this…”

A secret realm.

The second secret realm hidden within the Hongseong Sect awaited them.

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