The Protagonist’s Daddy Long Legs – Chapter 53

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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By the time the training was over, dinner preparations were complete.

It seemed that Yohan had shown her skills. Using the ingredients she had bought in Cheongho, she had whipped up a delicious-looking meal that seemed difficult to make outdoors.

“Uh… Why are you giving me so much?”

“You need to eat a lot to have energy. I saw you training hard earlier. Everyone, eat a lot!”

There was no one who wasn’t impressed by the appetizing appearance and generous portions of the dishes on the plates.

While everyone was surprised, Changju and Yohan headed towards the Moonlight Guard members. It seemed that the Moonlight Guard members were also drinking alcohol separately. Of course, it didn’t seem like much, but they probably planned to join them and share.

In the end, the only ones left at this campfire were me, Chaejin, and Chae Ryeon.

“You must be uncomfortable because of me.”

“It’s not really like that. Ah. If you really want, how about the two of you eat separately? You must have a lot to talk about since you haven’t seen each other in a while.”

But Chae Ryeon just smiled.

I didn’t think their relationship was particularly bad…

Well, it’s not right for outsiders to comment on family relationships. There’s a better topic than that. While eating the food Yohan had made, I asked,

“By the way, what kind of secret realm is the Moonwave Hall going to that you’re going all the way to Seomhwachon? Ah. Of course, you don’t have to tell me.”

The location of a secret realm was mostly treated as confidential. It was natural. If you went to the trouble of investigating and discovering it, only to have it snatched away by someone else, it would be like a cat losing its fish.

Especially since Chae Ryeon was going in person, and with the Moonlight Guard of the Moonwave Hall, it was probably a pretty important secret realm. So I didn’t expect much when I asked, but she answered casually,

“It’s a place called the Seat of Heng’e. It’s a little further down from Yangwi Fortress.”

“The Seat of Heng’e. Heng’e… Are you talking about the Moon Palace’s Heng’e?”

“Oh? You know about it?”

“I have ears, you know.”

The secret realm called the Seat of Heng’e was a secret realm left behind by Heng’e of the Moon Palace for posterity. Known for her beauty, like the name of the moon fairy, she bestowed a blessing on her secret realm.

Those who pass through the secret realm will have their elegance imbued with light.

Of course, as if to prove this, in Celestial Moonlight, passing through the secret realm did increase charm, albeit slightly. If charm increased, one could gain some benefits when buying things or negotiating, so it was one of the secret realms that people frequently visited.

“Ah. So that’s why all the Moonlight Guard members who came with you are women.”

“Hehe. Yes. Among the information about the secret realms remaining in our Moonwave Hall, there was that one.”

“I see. So you just want the blessing from Heng’e’s secret realm? You’re not interested in the rewards?”

“Hmm. According to the records, the rewards that can be obtained from Heng’e’s secret realm are Moon Changseok and some accessories left by Heng’e… Honestly, we don’t really need them.”

Then this was an opportunity. I needed Moon Changseok.

I could make talismans with the Moon Jeongseok that O Chil had given me last time, but Moon Changseok was also one of the ingredients for making talismans.

If the talisman made with Moon Jeongseok restored internal energy when the moon was up, the talisman made with Moon Changseok restored stamina when the moon was up.

Then it would be beneficial to make them.

“Then can you sell me the Moon Changseok?”

“Huh? Are you going to make talismans?”

Chae Ryeon, as expected. She knew exactly what Moon Changseok was used for.

Well, as someone in charge of major and minor affairs at the Moonwave Hall, she would have knowledge about these things.

“That’s right.”

“Okay. I’ll just give it to you.”

“No. I’ll pay for it.”

“No. It’s really okay. Well. Instead, I have a small request.”

Chae Ryeon raised her finger.

“Actually, my father gave me a task.”

“What is it?”

“To find out more about you, Innkeeper. Ah. Did that make you feel bad? Then I’ll apologize on his behalf.”

“Why would I feel bad? But why would Master Do want to know about a mere innkeeper like me?”

“I don’t know either. But he looked quite serious. But honestly, I don’t want to do any background checks. Honestly, right? It’s not like we’re strangers. Our Moonwave Hall owes you a big debt, Innkeeper.”

Was it because of the Cha Jeokyo incident? But that was already over. I shook my head, and Chae Ryeon smiled.

“So, can I visit Seomhwachon from time to time?”

Chae Ryeon? I looked at her, and she met my gaze without wavering.

“You can. Actually, it’s okay if you do a background check. The Hao Clan branch in Yangwi Fortress would have already finished investigating.”

“Ahaha. Still, we’re an orthodox sect, so it’s a bit much to ask the Hao Clan for help.”

“Then are you going to call the Beggars’ Sect?”

“That’s not it. I prefer to see and judge with my own eyes. And I don’t think my father is curious about the past…”

Chae Ryeon made a strange expression for a moment, the same one she had shown when she looked at Chaejin earlier, and groaned. But she didn’t answer, instead smiling like a fox again.

“Anyway. Please make sure to provide a room at the inn when I visit. Of course, I intend to pay for the room, so don’t worry.”

“Just don’t cause any trouble, and I’ll gladly show you to a nice room. And I won’t charge you for the room either. Just as the Chae family welcomed me as a guest, I will also invite you as a guest.”

At my words, Chae Ryeon smiled even more broadly.

After that, there were no special events during the journey. We traveled along the official road and arrived at the inn on schedule, and Chae Ryeon looked around the inn with sparkling eyes, as if it were fascinating.

“Isn’t it to your liking?”

“Ahaha. No. It looks quite cozy and nice. The expressions of the clerks and servants look good too. I think I understand why my sister likes it here.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Ah. A merchant’s guild. We need a few things before we go. Can we buy them here?”

“Choose whatever you need.”

Chae Ryeon smiled and went inside. Chaejin, who had been watching her with a worried look, looked at the inn with eyes that seemed somewhat unstable.

“It feels like I’m really home.”

“Is that so?”

“Hehe. Yes. Then I’ll go unpack my luggage.”

“Ah. Before that, please show Yohan to her room. Wouldn’t the room next to Miss Chae’s be good?”

“Ah, I see. Okay.”

She smiled brightly and took the awkward Yohan upstairs to the inn. In the meantime, I said to Changju,

“The government will provide your house and workplace. I’ll send someone to call the guards, so please wait a bit.”

“Alright. By the way, it’s a very quiet neighborhood.”

“Do you dislike it?”

“Hmm. No. I’m used to rolling around on battlefields. It wouldn’t be bad to stay in a place like this from time to time.”

Judging by what she said, she probably planned to wander around again later. But since she would be employed by the government, I couldn’t really scold her for that.

How long had I been waiting outside, smoking a cigarette? Chae Ryeon came out after finishing her shopping, and around the time we were having tea and discussing current affairs, the servant I had sent came with a guard.

“Tell the magistrate that I will visit him this evening.”

“Ah. The magistrate said he would like to have dinner with you.”

“Then I should treat him to a grand meal. Alright. You may go. Changju. Let’s meet again next time.”

Changju waved her hand indifferently and walked away. Watching her, Chae Ryeon smiled.

“You seem to get along well with the officials?”

“There’s no need to be on bad terms, right?”

“I see.”

At that moment, Chaejin and Yohan came down from upstairs. Chaejin, who had changed into casual clothes instead of her usual Moonwave Hall attire, brought Yohan to me, and I called the cook inside.

“Yes? What is it, sir?”

“This is a cook who used to work in the imperial palace. Learn a lot from her.”

“Ooooooh!!”

The cook roared. It was natural. There would be a lot to learn from a cook from the imperial palace. If he learned properly, he might even be able to work in Yangwi Fortress, not just Seomhwachon.

“Ah. M-Master. I’m not saying I’m going to leave.”

“Haha. How can I stop someone who wants to gain experience and grow further?”

“Master… I will continue to work here!”

“Yes. I know how you feel. Still, learn as much as you can. I know how hard you’ve worked here.”

I patted the shoulder of our cook, who was on the verge of tears. I honestly felt a little sorry for him. He had been working hard all this time, and suddenly he was being demoted to an assistant cook.

But he seemed to be quite satisfied with the current situation, so that was a relief.

“Yohan. Think of him as your disciple and teach him well.”

“Haha. Alright. Are you ready?”

“Yes!”

Yohan took the bright-eyed cook inside. Watching them, Chae Ryeon smiled.

“Ah. I should get going too. Innkeeper. Then I’ll see you again next time.”

“Come anytime.”

“Haha. Thank you for your hospitality. And sister. Let’s talk for a moment. At least walk me out of the village.”

“Huh? Alright, alright. Innkeeper. I’ll be back.”

The two of them left the inn, and it became a little quieter.

Well then. Shall I get back to my pending work?

I went back to my room and looked over the things that had happened while I was away. There were no particular problems. Then shall I start with the backlog?

I was working for a while, and when I looked up to take a break, I heard a knock on the window. When I opened it, there was a postman.

“It came a few days ago, but you were absent, so I came again.”

“Hmm. I was out for a bit.”

The postman, who nodded, gave me four letters. One was a management report for my building and land in another city. And the other two were from the Cheonghae Merchant Guild.

And the last one…

“Oh.”

It was from Sayun. I grabbed Sayun’s letter first and sat down in my chair. Now. What’s inside this time?

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The first thought Chae Ryeon had when she saw that scene was doubt. What am I seeing right now?

The next was astonishment. The person who was called a demon by the Moonwave Hall’s outer disciples and taught them without mercy was teaching so kindly? No, aside from that, why was she so surprised just by a little hand contact?

The last was laughter. Wow. To think I would see this amazing and interesting sight alone. I want to show this to my father and mothers.

Several other complex emotions were mixed in, but in the end, it was pure laughter. Honestly, it was entertaining. It was a sight she thought she would never see in her lifetime, so how could it not be entertaining?

She had a hard time holding back her laughter at that time.

Anyway, after that, she observed the person who had made her sister like that, and Chae Ryeon was able to reach a conclusion.

He’s not a bad person.

That was Chae Ryeon’s assessment of Yuwol after observing him since their first meeting in Cheongho. He was sincere in his dealings with people and disliked pressuring them with his position.

He also knew righteousness and morality, and when he focused on a goal, he worked diligently and steadily to achieve it. In addition, judging from the way he treated the inn’s clerks, cooks, and the merchant guild staff, he seemed to have a lot of affection.

So, this much was enough to say that he was a good person.

‘And… my sister is a fool, but she’s not a person who would be swayed by a bad person…’

In addition, he had changed her sister. That alone was enough to say that he was a remarkable person.

That was because Chaejin had always pursued only the utmost swiftness. She believed that martial arts should be cultivated alone, and through that, one would surpass everything.

Swiftness is a solitary pursuit. That’s why Chaejin, who pursued swiftness, was able to grow faster than others.

But what about dullness? Dullness is slow. That’s why it can hold many things around it, and although it is slow, it can carry more and larger things. The two were opposites, and having both at the same time was never easy.

Chae Ryeon had thought that Chaejin, who was accustomed to going it alone, would pursue only swiftness all her life. But she knew dullness and obtained the Moonlight Flash? That was clearly because she had realized that she had to go slowly in order to take care of other things.

Chae Ryeon was convinced that what Chaejin was trying to take care of was Yuwol. If that weren’t the case, there was no way Chaejin would have secretly stolen glances at Yuwol throughout the journey, not just during that training, with that kind of expression.

Goodness. Goodness.

Then how could she just stand by?

“What are you going to talk about?”

As she continued her thoughts while walking her out to the village entrance, Chae Ryeon raised her head at Chaejin’s voice. She nodded towards her sister, who looked at her with a sullen expression.

Yes. No matter how much I dislike her, she’s my sister, so I have to help her. Of course, not for free. She planned to come and see this entertaining sight from time to time.

“Sister.”

“Hmm?”

“Trust me.”

“…What are you suddenly talking about?”

‘Even if you can fool other people’s eyes, you can’t fool mine.’

After learning martial arts, Chaejin had been her wall and her goal to overcome. That’s why Chae Ryeon, who had always observed Chaejin, already knew what kind of feelings she harbored.

That’s why Chae Ryeon raised her head with a triumphant face towards her blunt sister and thought.

Let’s give one of the traces of Heng’e that can be obtained from this secret realm to my sister.

After all, men are captivated by beautiful women. It was like that in the countless romance novels she had seen. Love is something to be won.

In that process, there are very few weapons as excellent as beauty. That’s why Chae Ryeon decided to help her sister, who didn’t know how to decorate herself and had never done so.

Of course, honestly, she couldn’t deny the desire in her heart to meddle in such an interesting affair, but she decided to ignore that for now.

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