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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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Ever since Yohan arrived, and particularly after the installation of Teacher Jongri’s banana leaf fan, Seomhwa Village’s sole inn was packed with customers at every meal.
The inn’s food had always been reasonably good, but Yohan’s skills as a chef had significantly improved the dishes, amplified by the effects of the dharma treasure.
And since the prices remained the same, the laborers, whose bodies were weary from toil and needed more than meager meals, were naturally delighted.
It wasn’t just them. More and more husbands, instead of asking their wives to prepare dinner after a long day’s work, were bringing their families to the inn.
How often did rural laborers get the opportunity to savor the cooking of a former royal chef? Although Yohan hadn’t spoken of leaving, everyone understood that opportunity, once missed, was impossible to recapture.
As a result, the inn, which used to be filled with drinkers at night, was now frequented by families. So much so, that additional seating was necessary.
“Carry the tent over there!”
I had witnessed too many disappointed customers turning away from the full inn. I decided to expand the business, setting up extra tables in the empty lot in front of the inn.
Since the lot was my property, used for storing trading company goods, there was no issue. Preparations for setting up a tent and some tables in the lot opposite the inn were underway.
While the servants and servers struggled with the large tent, Chae-jin approached, carrying a long, sturdy pole.
“Should I put it here?”
“Yes, right in the center.”
“Hup!”
-THUMP!!
Perhaps thanks to her internal energy, the pole was firmly planted in the center of the lot.
As the servants watched in admiration, Chae-jin grabbed the tent and leaped effortlessly onto the pole, securing the tent before jumping down with a grin.
“Is this alright?”
“Excellent. Thank you for your help.”
“Heehee. You’re welcome.”
As Chae-jin stepped back with a gentle smile, the servants began moving tables and chairs from inside the inn. Then, a cheerful voice called out from behind,
“Oh my? Are you planning to do business here as well?”
I turned to see a gray-haired girl and smiled.
“Yes. How was your patrol? And what are you carrying?”
“Hehe. Senior Disciple Yu-hee is coming to help too. She just had some paperwork to finish.”
It was Sayun. She was carrying a table to be set up outside.
Despite her delicate appearance, she held the wooden table with ease, a testament to her internal energy.
“Everyone’s working so hard. Why don’t they take a short break? I saw them struggling to make the tables earlier… and they have to work later, too.”
The servants looked at Sayun with grateful eyes. Having martial artists with internal energy assisting would certainly speed things up.
And as she said, they had worked hard crafting those wooden tables and chairs.
“Let them rest. Tell Yohan to get them something to eat.”
“Thank you, Master! Lady Chae! Lady Sa!”
“You’re welcome~!”
“We have to work hard later~!”
The servants, wiping their sweat, headed inside the inn. I turned to Chae-jin.
“Lady Chae, you should rest as well.”
“Oh? I’m fine.”
“Still, you were training before you came to help.”
“Ahaha… it’s alright, but then could I ask you a favor?”
“It’s my task, so there’s no need for favors.”
I shrugged, and Chae-jin approached Sa-yun. Crouching down to meet her eyes, she patted Sayun’s shoulder.
“I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Leave it to me!”
“Ahaha. I can count on you.”
Chae-jin smiled and headed to the backyard, drawing her sword and slowly raising it, seemingly practicing her slow-draw technique.
I should find her the second volume of “Understanding the Blade.” She’d gained enlightenment from the first volume, so the second might be even more beneficial.
“Innkeeper! Where should I put this?!”
“Put it here.”
Yu-hee arrived, having finished her record-keeping. I directed her where to place the large table she carried effortlessly, just like Sayun, and then addressed both girls.
“Just a few more, and we’ll be done. I’ll reward you when you’re finished.”
“Oh, you don’t have to. We’re always being treated to meals here. Just consider it us paying you back.”
“Yes! Yes!”
I simply smiled at their energetic replies. I would still give them something, though.
After securing the ropes holding the tent and arranging the tables underneath, the preparations were complete.
It would have taken longer if the inn staff had done it alone, but thanks to their help, it finished sooner than expected.
“Is it all done?”
“Yes. We can handle the rest… Thank you for your hard work. Wait a moment.”
I couldn’t just let them go after they’d taken the time to help. Smiling at the two, who repeatedly declined any reward, I led them into the trading company.
“Here, take one each.”
“Oh? These are… mooncakes?”
I had noticed Sayun’s fondness for mooncakes before. I asked Mak No-ya to make a mold, as mooncakes weren’t difficult to make with a mold.
Since Yohan also knew how to make them, I added them to the sweets sold at the trading company.
“Wow…”
“I’ll give you some more for the others, so take them with you when you leave.”
“We didn’t do this for a reward…”
“When an adult gives you something, you just say thank you and accept it.” I pressed the mooncakes into their hands.
They accepted the mooncakes without further protest and sat on the long bench in front of the trading company.
They would be thirsty after eating mooncakes, so I decided to bring them some tea. Glancing at the two girls swinging their legs as they nibbled on the mooncakes, I went back inside and returned with tea.
Only Sayun remained.
“Where’s Yu-hee?”
“Oh, Senior Disciple Yu-hee decided to go to the market since she was already out.”
“She could’ve had some tea before she went.”
“Ahaha. That person gave me something to drink earlier.”
Sayun pointed towards Yohan, who was fanning herself to ward off the heat. She lifted her fan slightly in greeting, and I shook my head.
I guess the tea was unnecessary then.
“I’ll enjoy this.”
“You already have the tea Yohan gave you.”
Yohan was a better tea brewer than I was. I pointed to the cup beside Sayun, but she just smiled brightly.
“I’ll drink both! Hehe. I can’t refuse something you gave me, Innkeeper!”
“Thank you.”
“Huh? Shouldn’t I be thanking you?”
“It doesn’t matter who thanks whom.”
I sat at the edge of the long bench beside Sayun. A comfortable silence settled between us, Sa-yun slowly nibbling on her mooncake, and me sipping my tea.
It was a peaceful moment, a rarity these days.
“Being like this reminds me of when we went to Palsun Village.”
“Does it?”
“Yes. It was really fun back then.”
Sayun’s face was filled with happiness as she reminisced. It was an unfamiliar expression on her, but not unpleasant to see.
“I want to have that kind of experience again.”
“Chivalrous deeds?”
“Ahahaha… that too, but…”
She took another bite of the mooncake, now half-eaten, and sipped the tea I’d given her, then looked up at the sky with joyful eyes.
“Just… traveling with someone. I haven’t done that much.”
“You’ll get to do it when you’re older.”
As a disciple of Hong Seong-mun, Sayun’s time to venture into the Murim world would come.
Of course, not immediately.
She would make her debut after achieving a certain level of growth. Even if I permitted it, Hong Seong-mun wouldn’t allow it yet.
“Yes. Once I’ve honed my skills, I’ll journey into the Murim with the other disciples.”
“That sounds good. If you go with Hongryeon, you can visit the Murim Alliance.”
I’d heard that visiting the Murim Alliance during one’s Murim debut was extremely rare. But since Hongryeon was an inspector for the Alliance, and Sayun was the Sword Saint’s disciple, it wouldn’t be difficult.
Sayun smiled at my words.
“Yes, I really want to visit the Murim Alliance. The other disciples said it’s worth visiting at least once. Have you been there, Innkeeper?”
“No.”
I’d been there countless times in Moonlight on the Heavenly Firmament. It was practically a city. It had unique equipment and elixirs, making it a must-visit location for anyone who played the game.
But since I hadn’t been there in this world, it was correct to say no.
“Then I’d like to take you there someday, Innkeeper. Would that be alright?”
She looked at me with sparkling eyes. The Murim Alliance…
“Ah, w-would you be busy? It’s quite a distance…”
“Well, it’s still in the future, right? It’ll be at least two or three years.”
“That’s true.”
“The inn might be closed by then.”
“That can’t happen…”
“Haha. It’s just something for the future. Don’t think too much about it. I could entrust the inn to a reliable manager. So, I’ll look forward to it.”
“I hope that happens…”
Just then, Sayun’s words trailed off. Her gaze was fixed on something. I followed her gaze and saw a laborer approaching.
Thick arms, tanned skin, covered in dust. He clearly just finished work, but his face was filled with joy.
“Daddy! Daddy! Are we eating at the inn today?!”
“Of course. Haha. Daddy saved his wages to treat our Ryeong.”
They were a father and daughter with a significant age gap, seemingly poor. But they looked happy. Sayun watched them walk hand-in-hand.
“That… looks beautiful.”
I could see the deep envy in her eyes. I stood up, watching her.
“You have many people by your side, don’t you?”
“…Heehee. That’s true.”
Sayun finally looked away from the father and daughter. She slowly stood up, looked at me, and smiled.
“And the Innkeeper too.”
“Even with all that flattery, all I can offer are mooncakes and sweets.”
So I’ll give you both!
“Ah?! You really didn’t have to give me this much!!”
I smiled at her flustered reaction before taking out a box of mooncakes and a box of sweets, handing them over.
Behind Sayun, who was at a loss at the sight, Yuhee approached, equally bewildered.
But I had no intention of taking back what I had already given them.
“Haha! Eat up, everyone!”
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