Chapter 155: Confession
“A night market… you say?”
She echoed the words, a hint of curiosity flickering across her face.
I’d noticed it before, but she seemed to have a tendency to show interest in anything new.
"Yes, it’s still before nine, so it’s not too late to go now."
Even though the tower had been attacked and the surrounding lights had gone out in that accident...
Miok Fortress was vast and expansive. That alone wouldn’t be enough to shut down the night market.
“There’s a lot of good food at the night market. Of course, it’s nothing compared to the food that graces your table, Lady, but... it’ll still be a fairly nice experience.”
I tried to bait her with food—would it work?
If she refused, I’d have to try a different approach.
“T-Then... fine.”
She acted like she was reluctant, but accepted my suggestion.
Smiling softly, I placed my hand over my chest and bowed.
“I shall escort you, Lady.”
***
To be honest, wandering around like this right after a clash with the Soul Reapers wasn’t exactly the proper thing to do.
Normally, I should have contacted the Jin Clan or the Heavenly Thunder Corps to explain the situation and arrange for follow-up measures...
‘But who cares.’
The investigation team that had been dispatched to grasp the situation would have to work through the night anyway, but for now, I chose to focus on her.
Sending Gu Chil to inform the Jin Clan of the situation—that was the best I could do for now.
And no, it wasn’t because Gu Chil was getting in the way that I sent him off.
Seriously.
After returning to Miok Fortress, we headed toward an area that was quite a distance from the site of the tower incident.
“So this is the night market!”
It seemed to be her first time at one—she looked around with curiosity, a rare sight from her usual demeanor.
I scanned the area and breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
‘Thank goodness.’
If the night market had been closed, I’d have been utterly humiliated.
Fortunately, the streets were crowded with people, and the market was in full swing.
Colorful lanterns lit the streets brightly.
Street vendors made a ruckus as they drank and laughed.
The air was thick with the scent of all sorts of mouthwatering food.
And there were all kinds of goods and toys brought in from the Silk Road and Central Plains.
Miok Fortress’s night market was, in every way, comparable to the bustling markets of the great cities in the Central Plains.
“I’ve been to Miok Fortress before, but... I’ve never seen a sight like this.”
“Really?”
It made sense—she wouldn’t have had many opportunities to see scenes of everyday life.
“This reminds me of something.”
Her voice trembled slightly as she whispered.
“The emotions the followers showed us during cult events were always only reverence and fear.”
The only exception to that might be the Exchange Ceremony?
Aside from that, standard events in the cult demanded solemn rituals and strict control from the general followers.
“But this—seeing the followers expressing joy, sorrow, anger, and happiness like this... feels like a first.”
Her voice—no, Cheon Yura’s voice—carried a trace of emotion.
Cheon Yura and I slowly walked along the street, observing the surroundings.
She seemed determined not to miss a single detail of this place, attentively observing every aspect of the followers’ expressions and behavior.
Then, she suddenly murmured.
“It would be nice... if our followers always looked at us with such bright faces.”
“……!”
She didn’t say “me,” but “us,” deliberately referring to the overall leadership of the cult.
I feigned ignorance and replied calmly.
“It’s been well over a thousand years since the seven great families, led by the Cheon Clan and the Six Great Demonic Clans, have ruled over the cult.”
“…True.”
“Those who hold power and military strength are inevitably feared. When authority crumbles, status follows, and when status collapses, so does dominance.”
That’s why the Cheon Clan and the Six Clans had always treated the ordinary believers as inferiors.
Discrimination and inequality. The fear and oppression they caused.
The Heavenly Demon Cult, with its embedded class system, was always bound to be this way.
Changing that structure would require immense effort, time, and sacrifice.
“Even so, do you still want to change it?”
Only I, who had experienced a past life, knew her true intentions.
“I’m not talking about something so grand. It’s just…”
Cheon Yura gave a small laugh and shook her head.
“I simply hope... that the atmosphere of the cult might improve, even just a little.”
I knew the way she would govern.
A reign of iron fist, pressing down on the Six Great Demonic Clans and the upper noble families with unrelenting force.
But toward the ordinary followers, she tried her utmost not to bring them the slightest harm.
“I’m certain it can happen.”
“……!”
Perhaps startled by my abrupt certainty, she widened her eyes and looked at me.
I stepped forward with a soft smile.
“Please wait here a moment. I’ll go get us something to eat.”
“F-Fine…”
As I approached the food stalls, I thought to myself:
If anyone tries to stand in the way of that wish—
—I’ll personally remove them.
***
It was certainly admirable that Cheon Yura was having these thoughts now.
But really, those kinds of concerns could be dealt with later.
Right now was a time for rest.
After stopping by a food stall, I returned to her with a Sugar-Coated Fruit Skewer skewer in one hand.
Upon seeing it, she pouted slightly.
“…Why is there only one?”
“Well, that’s because this one isn’t for you, Lady.”
“What?”
Before her expression could sour, I handed her something warm from my other hand.
“This is…?”
“A Grilled Cake.”
Freshly baked from the hearth, steam still rising off of it.
Cheon Yura quietly accepted the Grilled Cake.
“This is one of the specialties of this night market. You won’t regret it.”
The pastry filled with sesame and pork was something I used to eat often whenever I visited Miok Fortress in my previous life.
I stirred the Sugar-Coated Fruit Skewer and sat down next to her.
"You don’t like sweet things, do you?"
“…How did you know that?”
"Let’s just say… I did a bit of research."
With a hint of mischief on my face, I watched her as she held the pastry.
Now then, would she remove her mask just to eat the pastry?
Would she finally cast off that ridiculous false name, ‘Moonlit Sword Blossom’?
But then—
Click!
She lightly pressed somewhere near her temple, and the mouth area of her mask split open smoothly and swung wide.
“……”
“What’s with that face?”
I grumbled with a deflated tone.
“It’s nothing at aaaaall.”
“…You’re such a bore.”
She ignored me and bit into the pastry.
Nom!
For a while, the only sound ringing in my ears was her chewing the pastry.
After some time, I looked at her now-empty hands and asked,
“Was it good?”
She turned her gaze away from me and quietly nodded.
As if embarrassed about finishing it all, she turned her head and changed the subject.
“Jin… Yeomyung.”
“Yes, Lady.”
“There’s something I’ve been curious about.”
“What is it?”
She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head slightly and asked me,
“Why are you so devoted to the Young Cult Leader?”
“To the Young Cult Leader, you mean?”
“…Yes.”
It seemed she still hadn’t given up on her ‘Moonlit Sword Blossom’ persona…
Well, I suppose being behind a mask at least made it easier for her to ask such things.
To be honest—
It was the same for me.
“Lady.”
“Speak.”
“About ten years ago, on a rainy day… did you happen to run away from home and wander near this area?”
“…!”
She abruptly raised her head.
That meant my words had struck a nerve.
“You took down three ruffians who picked a fight with you, in a single instant.”
“H-How do you know that?”
Truthfully, it was a memory I could never forget either.
After all, that was when I picked up Gu Chil, who was nearly dead nearby.
“You saved a little kid who was wandering alone and scolded him to hurry back to his parents.”
“N-No way…”
Her lips began to part slightly.
I smiled and looked her directly in the eyes.
“That little kid… was me.”
“…!!”
Only her lower face was visible, but I could’ve bet everything I had that her skin had gone deathly pale.
“Well, I did get beaten up pretty badly when we met again, though.”
She frantically waved her hand.
“I-It wasn’t that bad…”
“Ah, right. That’s true.”
Because I wasn’t referring to this life, but my previous one.
Turning my gaze to the night sky of Miok Fortress, I continued.
“Anyway, that was my first impression of you. A lot has happened since then… and I’ve come to learn many things.”
“…?”
“In the end, it’s only natural to want to repay the person who helped you…”
Grip.
My hand gently covered the back of hers.
“And hoping the person you like does well… is only natural for a man.”
“T-The person you like…!”
“Lady Moonlit Sword Blossom.”
I cut her off.
“I’m sorry to say this, but… I already have someone I love.”
“……”
Her lips closed.
“It’s not affection. Nor is it friendship. It’s simply… love.”
Her trembling eyes stared into mine.
“Cheon Yura.”
“…!”
The moment her eyes widened.
“I love only her. I have no intention of looking at anyone else.”
I placed my other hand over my chest and calmly confessed my heart.
“Though I foolishly made her angry with a stupid mistake…”
“Jin Yeo…”
“Even so, I hope she could love me.”
Honestly, I was a coward too.
I only had the guts to say all this because she was wearing a mask.
I still didn’t have the courage to confess while looking at Cheon Yura’s bare face.
“Even if her bloodline has something mixed in.”
Flinch!
“Even if she was created, or whatever it may be—it doesn’t matter to me.”
The hand I covered trembled slightly.
“From the beginning to now, I’ve only ever acted for Cheon Yura and no one else.”
So—
“Please, believe in me.”
“……”
After I said those words, I quickly stood up from my seat.
I didn’t want to show her my face, which had flushed red with heat.
“Well, that’s just something I wanted to say when I meet the Young Cult Leader.”
“……”
“The night market is still in full swing. Let’s look around some more. Come on now, let’s go.”
I turned my head away and gently pulled her by the hand.
She followed without resistance, and the moment she stood shoulder to shoulder with me—
“I feel the same.”
Very softly.
Her words whispered into my ear like a breeze.
***
For a while, a quiet silence lingered between us.
The noisy voices of the night market buzzed all around, but somehow, none of it reached my ears.
Just like that—
What broke the silence between us…
Was a slurred mumble from what sounded like a drunken man.
“Ah~ what a time to be alive!”
“…!”
A voice clearly targeting the two of us.
Cheon Yura and I instantly turned our gazes toward the one who had shattered the good atmosphere.
And then—
“…!”
“…!!”
For completely different reasons, both Cheon Yura and I were stunned at the sight of the drunken man before us.
“Hehehe, which one of you is it? The destined person who’ll fulfill my long-cherished wish?”
“…Who are you?”
Cheon Yura immediately stepped in front of me and drew her sword.
The fact that she reacted this way upon first meeting him meant the opponent was clearly an extraordinary martial artist, one worthy of such caution.
But—
Rather than trying to gauge his level of skill, I focused on something else.
I was simply trying to confirm whether his face matched my memory.
And finally, I reached a conclusion.
‘…M-My Master!’
Old Han.
Real name: Yoo Seunggwak.
The very person who had dragged me out of my slacker days in my previous life and taught me swordsmanship—
Now stood before me in a much younger form than I remembered.