Chapter 97 Change-4

Chapter 97: Change-4

After finishing training, I went to the women’s quarters before Lady Cheon and knocked on the door.

“Miss Qingyan, are you in there?”

Truthfully, I already knew she was inside.

My senses could detect her presence.

But pretending not to know she was there, I knocked on the door and waited outside for a moment.

She must sense I’m still standing outside, so I decided to wait until she felt like talking.

Then, a moment later, a voice came.

“What is it?”

It was a dry voice that gave no hint of emotion.

But I decided to take meaning in the fact that she had answered at all.

Didn’t that mean she was at least a little open to talking?

After a moment’s hesitation over what to say, he decided to be honest.

“I just wanted to talk with you a little.”

After a little while had passed, a voice came through.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t feel like doing that right now.”

The tone was flat, but it was a clear refusal that left no room for interpretation.

If this had been the old me, I would have likely panicked and backed down by now.

‘But not now.’

I didn’t give up and tried to knock on her heart once more.

I interpreted the slight pause before she answered as meaning she was hesitating.

It doesn’t have to be right now. Whenever you feel like talking, please tell me. I’ll wait.

After saying that, he waited for a moment.

But still, no reply came.

It seemed he would have to wait a little longer.

He let out a small sigh and turned to leave.

And then, her voice came.

“After dinner tonight… We’ll talk then.”

Somehow, her voice sounded less cold than before.

Unlike usual, it seemed tinged with some emotion.

He smiled faintly and said.

“Right. After dinner, let’s meet at the training ground.”

He thought as he walked away.

‘Now that I’ve actually done it, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be?’

It occurred to me that perhaps approaching someone was always meant to be like this.

I’d just been overly afraid all this time.

If I’d mustered just a little more courage in my past life, could I have avoided losing them?

My father, and perhaps even my siblings?

Suddenly, I found myself looking forward to the conversation with Miss Cheongyeon after dinner.

And the moment I would meet Lady Na again.

Now I felt I could speak with more confidence.

Then, a little while later, it was time for dinner, and I was heading to eat with Biseaeng and Bae Jong-gwan.

Suddenly, the voices of other squad members chatting nearby reached his ears.

“What? Three Iron Guards appeared in the Fifteenth Division?”

“Yeah, our deputy squad leader heard it from the squad leader.”

We were startled and listened intently to their conversation.

“Whoa! My goodness! So what happened? The Fifteenth Division probably hadn’t even received supplies from Hwagol Mountain yet, right?”

“Right. So they say some team members sacrificed themselves to lure those bastards away from the Fifteenth Division headquarters. But now, no one knows where they’ve gone? The Dragon Brigade headquarters did dispatch an expeditionary force carrying the Firebone Mountain, but who knows how that’ll turn out.”

“Huh! That’s a relief, but still worrisome. Three of those monsters appeared? I hope nothing bad happens.”

“Exactly.”

Three Iron Fiends appeared…

Of course, it was about time.

In my past life too, they first appeared in our division, and not long after, they appeared consecutively in other divisions.

Back then, when the Iron Demon first appeared, our Thirteenth Brigade suffered heavy losses and failed to report properly, leading to immense casualties across other Dragon Brigades as well.

At least this time, our report was swift enough that headquarters could respond at the command level.

It was also fortunate that other Dragon Squads decided to avoid confrontation rather than engage until Hwagol Mountain was secured.

Come to think of it, all of this could be attributed to my return.

Somehow, that didn’t feel unpleasant.

Then, Biseaeng suddenly asked.

“If it’s the direction of the Fifteenth Dragon Squad, then the area above that would be Heungin, right?”

Bae Jong-gwan answered.

“No, it’s probably more like Heungui? It’s right next to Guangxi Province, isn’t it?”

My footsteps halted abruptly.

At the same time, Bi Saying frowned and asked.

“Xingyi? Didn’t someone say they were from there before? I think I’ve heard that name before?”

At that moment, I murmured with a stiff expression.

“Me, Miss.”

“Huh?”

“My family home, the Naga Clan, is located in Xingyi, Guizhou Province.”

At my words, Bi Sa-yeong’s face froze for a moment.

“…No way?”

It seemed like that was exactly what she was thinking.

If the iron-clad troops had crossed the front lines and advanced north past the fifteenth division, Heungui, where the market was, would have been within easy reach.

I quickly told the two of them.

“Sae-young, Jong-gwan. Listen carefully. I’m heading straight to Nagajang now.”

Then Biseyoung urgently asked.

“What are you going to do? We don’t even have the Hwagol Mountain!”

Currently, within the Thirteenth Division, only a small amount of Hwagol Mountain remained to guard the main force, with the rest all taken by the squad leaders.

So it was only natural that I had no Firebone Powder to use.

“Still, I have to go. If by some chance things turn out as we expect, it’s better for me to be by your side.”

“Then I’ll go too!”

“Yeah, me too…”

My friends seemed ready to follow me out as if it were natural, but I immediately shook my head.

“No, Sa-young, you go straight to the squad leader. Tell him to bring the Hwagol Mountain right away.”

We didn’t know the exact locations of the team leaders currently out searching.

That’s why the fastest, Biseyoung, had to go.

“I beg you, Sayoung. My life and Lady Na’s life may depend on how quickly you find the squad leader. And Jonggwan, you must inform the squad members and Lord Pungyang of this matter. After that, if possible, please search for the squad leader from a different direction than Sayoung.”

If we had to move at full speed, it was only natural that Bae Jong-gwan couldn’t keep up with either me or Sa-yeong.

So this seemed the most reasonable approach.

Upon hearing this, Biseoyoung and Bae Jong-gwan nodded heavily, seeming to understand my words.

“Understood. Take care of yourself.”

“Jin, I’m counting on you to look after Lady Sojeo.”

“Got it. Trust me.”

Then he immediately leapt into action.

Considering this news had just reached them, it meant they couldn’t be certain when Cheolgwi had passed the fifteenth district.

There was no time to waste.

***

Haecheongyeon gazed at the mirror inside her lodgings.

In the mirror, she saw her own reflection, her bangs falling over her eyes, covering them.

It was a familiar sight, yet for some reason, it felt stifling today.

Hae Cheong-yeon hesitated for a moment, then swept her bangs up.

Her eyes and face, previously hidden, were revealed.

Everyone in the world praised it as beautiful, but she herself had always found that face nothing but a nuisance…

Haecheongyeon murmured as she gazed at her own face.

“Today… maybe I’ll try it like this?”

Just for today, she wanted to talk to him with this face.

She already knew he wasn’t the type swayed by appearances, but still, you never know.

Could she introduce a little variable?

Hae Cheong-yeon was just about to tie her hair back, her face fully revealed, when she thought that.

Cheon Ju-eun rushed in urgently from outside the lodging.

“Sister Cheongyeon! It’s terrible!”

Haecheongyeon stared at Cheon Ju-eun without any change in expression, waiting for her next words.

Then, as expected, Cheon Ju-eun immediately poured out her words.

“We lost track of the three Iron Demons at the Fifteenth Division. If they head north along the front lines, the place they’ll reach first is Naga Village—Seo-yu’s hometown! That’s why Seon-woo left for Naga Village immediately, and Bi went to find Jo-jang! Shouldn’t we be moving too?!”

Hae Cheong-yeon’s expressionless face turned grave the moment Seo Yu’s name was mentioned.

But when Cheon Ju-eun finished speaking, the words Hae Cheong-yeon blurted out without realizing it were about something else.

“Master Seonwoo… left?”

The bangs Hae Cheong-yeon had swept back over her forehead were now cascading down again.

***

Having departed two days earlier in the afternoon, Na Se-yu pushed on through the night and arrived at Nagajang in Heungui, Gyeongju Province, the following afternoon.

She couldn’t rest for even a moment, so worried she was about her father.

But upon arriving at the family home after that frantic journey, Na Se-yu was told she couldn’t see her father.

A horrified Na Se-yu cried out.

“What?! I can’t see my father?!”

Then the haughty woman seated across from her on the honored seat replied.

“The physician says he absolutely needs rest. That’s why no one but me and the physician is allowed in your father’s room. I understand your concern for him, but what if seeing you disturbs his peace and worsens his condition?”

The woman speaking with that cold, haughty expression was none other than Lady Min, the stepmother of Na Seo-yu.

Three years ago, it was that very woman who sent Na Se-yu to the front lines, claiming it was for the sake of the nation, even though he was not her own son.

Na Seo-yu could not accept her claim that he couldn’t see his ailing father.

So he pleaded with her.

“Then, even if it’s just for a moment while Father is asleep, it doesn’t matter. Please, let me see him!”

At that, Lady Min suddenly flew into a rage.

“How dare you raise your voice like that in front of someone?! Do you intend to cause worry for our father, who is already unwell, with such behavior?! Do you want to tarnish the family’s honor and bring shame upon your dead mother?!”

These words were like a magic spell that had allowed Lady Min to break Na Seo-yu’s spirit and manipulate her will from childhood.

Because she loved her father more than anyone, Na Se-yu never wanted to cause him worry. With just these words, she had silently endured all the unreasonable treatment her stepmother had ever subjected her to.

And it was the same now.

Na Seo-yu could only bow his head deeply once more before Mrs. Min, who offered no convincing explanation for her demands.

“…No. I’m sorry, Mother.”

Though Na Se-yu had now reached the pinnacle of martial arts, she could not bring herself to defy Mrs. Min.

It was a kind of learned helplessness.

Naseoyu kept her head bowed and squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

Having endured years of torment from Mrs. Min, she could easily foresee what would happen next.

Whenever Naseoyu refused to follow her will, Mrs. Min would always threaten him by using his father as an excuse, then proceed to hurl abuse at him for nearly half an hour.

And the wounds and fear he had endured since childhood were still etched deep within his heart.

Na Se-yu anticipated that such times would repeat themselves from now on.

So he huddled tightly, his eyes shut tight.

But surprisingly, Mrs. Min did not do so.

She opened her mouth with an unbelievably gentle voice.

“Hmm, since you’re reflecting, I suppose I’ll leave it at that.”

Na Seo-yu was startled, her eyes widening as she stared at Mrs. Min.

It had been more surprising that she hadn’t done anything.

Then Mrs. Min gave him a serpentine smile and asked.

“Let me see. Se-yu, how old are you this year?”

“…Twenty-five.”

“What? You’re already that old? Isn’t that the age when you should have married already? I’ve been too indifferent to you all this time.”

She feigned regret, making a big fuss in an exaggerated manner.

Her behavior grew increasingly suspicious.

Nasuyu suddenly felt an ominous premonition, but he answered politely for the time being.

“As a martial artist, twenty-five is not an overly late age, I believe. Besides, I currently have enemies within the Flying Dragon Pavilion.”

But Lady Min snorted derisively.

“Hmph! Does that Biyongdae last a thousand years? Since you’re home now, I suppose I should take this opportunity to push forward with your marriage.”

“…What?!”

Naseoyu stared at Mrs. Min in utter shock.

But Mrs. Min didn’t care whether she glared at her or not; she simply began speaking her mind.

“Where would be best? Right! After the Black Chamber collapsed, the Rising Sun Chamber is soaring to new heights—that would be perfect! If we consider the Rising Sun Chamber’s later phase, it would be good for you, and wouldn’t such a marriage alliance also benefit our Na family’s standing?”

“Mother!”

“Think about it. You can marry before it’s too late, and our Naga family gains a solid backing. What could be better than that?”

Only now did Na Seo-yu realize why Lady Min had sent a letter summoning him without even letting him meet his father.

From the very beginning, the purpose had been her political marriage.

Naseoyu’s face was now completely frozen stiff.

But Mrs. Min continued speaking as if she couldn’t care less about her thoughts.

“Just wait a moment. I’ll submit a marriage proposal to the Salsangbang right away…”

At that moment, Na Seo-yu spoke firmly.

“I have no intention of marrying!”

Marriage?

And a political marriage at that.

Even Naseoyu, who had lived sacrificing herself since adolescence to spare her father worry, could not bear this.

Wasn’t this saying they wanted to use her entire life, as if her childhood hadn’t been enough?

Then Mrs. Min’s face filled with rage once more.

“How dare you raise your eyes at me and speak in that tone?! Must I truly inform your father of your wicked behavior?! He is already unwell…”

But this time, overcome by fury, she refused to back down.

She stared straight at Mrs. Min and asked.

“Father is too unwell to even see me, you said, yet you intend to tell him about this? Is he well enough to have this conversation?”

At that, Mrs. Min flinched slightly.

From the start, if the top-tier martial artist Naseoyu had truly unleashed his full might, there was no way Lady Min, who had merely mastered basic self-defense techniques, could have stood a chance.

Noticing Na Seo-yu’s unusual expression, she averted her eyes slightly and changed the subject.

“When did I ever say I’d really do that? I was just saying, you know? Just saying!”

Then, with a subtle expression, she began to placate Na Seo-yu once more.

“And… think it over once more. If you marry, won’t you inevitably meet your father anyway?”

“…Huh?”

“This is marriage, a matter of utmost importance in human relations. However unwell your father may be, surely you cannot marry without seeing his face? Moreover, hearing news of your marriage might lift his spirits and even improve his condition.”

In short, it meant that only if Yeo-gu decided to marry would they allow him to see his father.

It was nothing short of unreasonable coercion.

But to Na Seo-yu, it was no different from the actions Mrs. Min had taken all along.

Naseoyu clenched her teeth and said.

“I have absolutely no intention of marrying.”

After a long moment of coldly glaring at Yuyu, Mrs. Min finally spoke.

“Yes, I had forgotten. You were a selfish child from the start. To think you cannot even do that much for the parents and family who raised you with blood, sweat, and tears. How heartbroken your father would be if he heard this—it is utterly devastating. Get out of here! Why are you even here, when you won’t lift a finger for the family?!”

Naseoyu felt a heavy, suffocating weight press down on his heart as if a stone had been placed there.

Calling him selfish.

That he hadn’t lifted a finger for the family.

Ever since childhood, Na Se-yu had sacrificed everything for her younger brother, the son of Mrs. Min, even having to go to the front lines in his place. For her, this was an unbearably suffocating story.

His chest felt so tight it was hard to speak, but Na Se-yu managed to utter the words.

“…Mother.”

But Mrs. Min had no intention of listening to her.

“You say you can’t go?! So now you won’t even listen to your mother?! Ha, fine. Go ahead! If you can’t go, then I’ll go myself! I raised one daughter wrong, and now she’s kicking her mother out of the house!”

Mrs. Min shouted, stormed out of her seat, and left.

Naseoyu couldn’t do anything about it.

Bang!

Mrs. Min’s voice echoed from outside as she slammed the door shut, nearly breaking it.

“That insolent, unruly bitch, defying her own mother! I’m so ashamed I can’t live like this!”

As if for the whole world to hear, Mrs. Min shouted loudly and walked away. Naseoyu closed her eyes, overcome with despair.

This was what happened on the first day Na Se-yu returned.

And it was also the last thing that happened.

After that incident, Mrs. Min never met with Na Se-yu again, and the people of the Na household, who had already become Mrs. Min’s loyal followers, offered Na Se-yu no help whatsoever.

For Na Se-yu, it was nothing but frustrating.