“Did you ask?”
“Huh? Ah, that. He said it was for your sake, young miss.”
“…For my sake?”
Seeing Sowol’s puzzled expression, Laila thought for a moment.
Sowol’s reputation wasn’t very good. It was natural.
Until now, So Jung-yang had called in renowned people to teach her.
But how were they?
They gave up on teaching her and left, fed up and disgusted with Sowol’s attitude.
Being abandoned by renowned individuals, whether intentional or not, couldn’t improve one’s reputation.
Perhaps, as Laila said, Lee Hyun’s actions were considering this.
But why?
To him, Sowol is just a disciple. What kind of master would go to such lengths for a disciple’s reputation?
One can’t help but question it.
‘He’s a strange person.’
Yes. He’s a strange person.
From what she heard from the people in the trading company, despite having strong power and abilities, he wasn’t arrogant.
He treated servants normally and didn’t bow to those in high positions.
A person who always treats people naturally.
That’s why he was respected by many in the trading company.
‘And… he’s also someone who can smile like that.’
“…Young miss.”
“Yes?”
Laila, who had been staring at Sowol, who seemed somehow happy, smiled brightly.
“Tomorrow’s activities. May I come along too?”
.
.
.
The next morning.
Lee Hyun headed towards Sowol’s room door.
Usually, he would just open and enter, but today, Laila and Sowol slept together.
Sowol is one thing, but Laila is neither a disciple nor anything else.
It’s not right to see such a person sleeping.
So he lightly knocked on the door, and after a moment, the door opened, and Laila appeared.
“Do you come to wake the young miss every morning, Master?”
“She usually gets up well on her own, but we agreed to do this. By the way… good morning.”
“Yes. Good morning, Master. The young miss is currently preparing so…”
“I’m ready!”
Sowol appeared behind Laila, smiling brightly and shouting.
Sowol, who seemed more dressed up than usual, was beaming.
“You know we’re going to the back alley again today… but you’ve put in more effort than usual?”
“J-Just because. Ah, more importantly, Master… Laila wants to participate in today’s activities… what should we do?”
Lee Hyun looked at Laila.
This task doesn’t necessarily need Laila to be involved.
Yet, what does it mean that Laila wants to participate?
After pondering for a moment, Lee Hyun nodded casually.
‘Did So Jung-yang order this? Well, it doesn’t matter.’
“Aren’t you busy?”
“It’s fine!”
“Huh? Don’t you have a trade journey schedule…?”
It was when Sowol’s disgruntled voice came out.
A warrior passing by their room shouted.
“Hey! Master! Good morning! Today!! We all!! Have a day off!! How about a drink?”
“Is it a day off for all the warriors?”
“Yes! We decided to rest fully today and start working from tomorrow!! Since it’s Laila’s day off too, I think it would be good for her to be with the young miss!!”
‘How tactless!’
Sowol glared at the warrior with terrifying eyes.
But the grinning warrior greeted Lee Hyun and went downstairs.
Inwardly hoping that Lee Hyun would refuse, Sowol looked at him earnestly, but he just nodded casually.
“Well. The more hands, the easier for us.”
Yesterday was the first day, so there were few people, but I had said when leaving yesterday,
That I would come again tomorrow.
Then, rumors would spread, and it was clear that not only people from the back alley but also those without money would come.
“Haha! I’ll work hard!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
***
Although Laila’s participation was unexpected, it wasn’t a bad thing.
As I thought, today was really crowded with people.
My goodness. How much is all this worth?
To be able to earn points so easily by spending just a few coins.
This is sweeter than honey.
“Form a line! A line!”
Laila, who suddenly joined, was doing her job better than expected.
Unlike what Sowol did yesterday, she was diligently controlling the people.
Perhaps because she had experience commanding lower-ranking people as a warrior of the trading company, the people who came for treatment were moving diligently according to her instructions.
“….”
“Why are you pouting again?”
On the other hand, Sowol, bringing me the ingredients I needed beside me, was again puffing out her plump lips, displeased about something.
She’s doing her job well, but her obvious ‘I’m sulking’ attitude couldn’t be ignored.
“Ah. Are you dissatisfied that I’m making you work after coming all the way to the big city?”
“…Hmph!”
“Give me that.”
“…Here.”
“Hey, this is all for your sake, you know.”
“…Hmph!”
“Tie this up.”
“…Like this?”
It’s admirable that she’s working diligently even while sulking. After sprinkling medicine on a festering wound and wrapping it with a bandage, I sent the patient away and said.
“After this is over, shall we go watch a play today?”
Among the people who came for treatment earlier, someone said they worked at a theater.
I don’t know why someone who earns money would come here for free treatment instead of going to a clinic, but anyway, as thanks for the treatment, they gave me two theater tickets.
“…Pardon?”
Why are you so surprised?
Sowol, staring with wide eyes, soon started to smirk.
“H-Hmm! Well! I must train in various ways and judge how this trade journey went as the young master of the Eastern Trading Company, but if Master insists…”
“So you don’t want to go?”
“I didn’t say I don’t want to go!!!”
At her shout, everyone’s gaze turned towards us.
Especially sharp was Laila’s gaze.
Hmm. It would certainly be upsetting if we talk about going out to play while making her work.
I should take care of Laila later.
“…What kind of play is it…?”
She seems embarrassed about her own shout.
Seeing her face turning red.
But her mouth corners were twitching, probably because she was happy about going out.
“Well. I heard while treating earlier that a play called ‘Cecilia’ is popular now.”
“Cecilia… that’s a tragedy, isn’t it?”
“You know it?”
“I’ve read the original novel… Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No. I didn’t know you read such novels.”
Since I started teaching her, I’ve never seen her with a book. But she’s read it? It’s really surprising.
“…I read a lot of books, you know?!”
The agitated kid started to huff.
She’s really sensitive in her reactions to everything.
I calmed her down by patting her head, and only then did she stabilize and turn her head away.
“I’ve read so many books! I’ll show you when we get back.”
No. There’s no need to show me specifically.
Anyway, if we’re going to watch a play later, I should earn a lot of points today.
After treating patients for a long time, the medicine we brought ran out when the sun set.
There were people expressing disappointment, but what can we do without medicine?
Telling them to return tomorrow, I sent the patients away and said to the grinning Laila.
“I’ll watch the play with her and come back, so you go back first.”
“Huh? You’re not bringing me along?”
“Another time.”
Where do I have money?
First, I need to make her tonic, then I’ll save money separately or something.
Right now, I’m penniless, so even if I want to bring you, I can’t.
“Hmm… it’s a shame, but it can’t be helped!”
After being silent for a moment, she playfully saluted and left.
Sowol, who was watching her walk away, gently grabbed my arm.
“Shall we go then?”
When we arrived at the theater after walking through the evening city with Sowol, who seemed inexplicably happy, people were already gathered.
They said it was popular, and it certainly seems amazing.
“You don’t know what Cecilia is about, do you, Master?”
“I don’t.”
“It’s a very sad story. You’ll probably cry your eyes out when you see it, Master.”
“Ha. I’m a man among men without blood or tears. I don’t cry over things like plays.”
What do you take me for?
“Hmm. Is that so?”
It’s just a play after all. I playfully smiled and tapped Sowol’s forehead as she glanced at me.
“You’re the one who shouldn’t cry.”
.
.
.
To cut to the conclusion.
The one without blood or tears wasn’t me, but Sowol.
Can you watch a play that so blatantly says, ‘I’m going to make you cry’ without blinking an eye?
“It’s interesting to see people so sad when there’s nothing to be sad about.”
“Hmm…”
“Do you want to cry leaning on someone like that?”
As we were leaving the theater, watching people wailing, I patted Sowol’s head.
Most of what I teach her is about martial aspects, but as a master in name, I should also teach her about character.
“As you live in a high position as a trading company head, you’ll face difficult times too.”
Is she listening to me well?
Sowol was quietly letting me pat her.
“It’s not bad to lean on someone when you’re having a hard time or feeling sad. They say joy shared is doubled, and sorrow shared is halved, right? So, when you’re having a hard time, don’t put up walls between people. Someone will be there for you.”
“…Hmm. I understand.”
She doesn’t seem to really understand.
***
To be honest, Sowol didn’t think the play was sad.
Of course, the actors’ performances and the story were well-constructed. But in the end, that’s all it was.
Sowol, who returned to her room after having dinner with Lee Hyun, thought as she lay on the bed.
‘Someone who will be there for me…’
She hadn’t really thought about it before.
After all, there was always someone around her now.
Sowol, thinking about this seriously for the first time, closed her eyes and tried to imagine the most suitable person.
‘Father… but he will retire someday…’
Is it right to ask someone who has retired from the duties and responsibilities of a trading company head to bear her burdens?
Sowol shook her head. That would be too cruel to her father.
‘Then Laila?’
Laila, her childhood friend who has always been by her side.
But that too was something to shake her head at.
Laila will become an important figure in the trading company when she gets older.
Then she will often participate in important trade journeys and won’t be able to always be by her side.
So, it would be right to exclude her.
Sowol thought about several other people but kept shaking her head.
No. No. No.
As she crossed off one by one, Sowol thought of the last person remaining.
The one she might have thought of first but postponed as a last resort.
Lee Hyun.
Her master.
‘If it’s Master… couldn’t he always be by my side?’
Sowol wanted to be like him.
As such, she thought there was a lot to learn from him. After learning all that, wouldn’t it be right to offer him a high position in the trading company, if only to repay him?
He is strong, but from what others say, he is also knowledgeable and wise.
Then, continuing to be with him…
‘What am I thinking?’
Continuing to be together? That’s… that’s… it’s like saying I want to marry him, isn’t it?
Sowol, who had suddenly sat up, shook her head vigorously and muttered, trying to sound gruff,
“Well, if Master desperately asks, there’s nothing I can’t do for him…”
Translator’s Corner
After reading ahead, I realized I skipped a group of chapters by accident.
I’ll be adding chapter 8-10 on 10/10, so no chapter after this until 12/10. dd/mm