Chapter 73
“Yeon, hello!”
Yeon threw herself into my arms.
I gently stroked the round little head of the small girl in my embrace.
“I came to say goodbye.”
“?”
“I’m going home now.”
“!”
Yeon grabbed my sleeve tightly.
Does that mean she doesn’t want to part?
I looked at Cheonghyeon, who shook his head awkwardly.
I kneaded Yeon’s soft cheeks.
Ah, so cute.
How old is she now? Four or five, maybe?
I’m eight in this body after dying and returning, and since she’s much smaller than me, that must be about right.
“You don’t want to leave me?”
She nodded repeatedly.
“Namgoong Yeon, what are you doing grabbing my sleeve like that?”
Cheonghyeon spoke in a deliberately stern voice, but her clenched hand didn’t loosen.
Watching quietly, it almost looked like she was pleading for something.
Whii-!
I whistled softly.
Then, the Manblood Serpent that had been curled up inside the sleeve peeked its head out.
Yeon, who had been holding my hand tightly, laughed brightly when she felt the snake’s head.
I looked at Cheonghyeon and smiled slightly.
“I know I shouldn’t let it out…”
“……”
“But it’s not fully out, so forgive me.”
“No, thank you for letting it out. Yeon can be quite stubborn…”
Yeon seemed to really like the Manblood Serpent and kept fidgeting with it.
The serpent didn’t seem to mind either and stayed still.
I gazed at Yeon for a while, then turned my head abruptly to Cheonghyeon.
“Come to Seongdo again next time.”
“To your family?”
“Yes. My father said it’s okay to invite friends. If Yeon wants to come too, you can bring her along.”
At my words, Namgoong Yeon perked up her ears.
“Yeon hasn’t been far from home yet…”
Yeon drooped slightly, looking disappointed.
“If there’s a chance, I’ll take her with me.”
Her ears perked up again.
It was cute how she reacted immediately.
“It was nice meeting you, Yeon. Be careful around strangers.”
Namgoong Yeon nodded.
Then, as if reluctant, she hugged me tightly once.
We hadn’t seen each other much, but it seemed she had grown attached quickly.
I returned Yeon’s hug, then put the Manblood Serpent back into its hiding place.
Just then.
“Biya.”
A familiar voice called from somewhere.
I lifted my head quickly.
“Ah…!”
Namgoong Taegang was standing there.
Taegang gestured, and Cheonghyeon took Namgoong Yeon inside the room.
I was suddenly left alone with Namgoong Taegang.
“Call me however you like.”
“Then… Mister?”
“That’s fine.”
Namgoong Taegang gently held my hand.
Feeling slightly dazed, I gave him my hand.
“Thank you for helping Yeon.”
His voice was low and calm.
“Yeon’s mother is unable to express her gratitude, so I’ll do it for her.”
There was seriousness in his tone.
I could tell he wasn’t speaking lightly.
“If you ever need to ask me a favor, come to me anytime. I’ve already received my reward, so I’ll help with anything.”
I’ve heard a voice like this before.
Occasionally, my father would speak in this exact tone when talking about matters concerning me.
“If you face danger, I will step in. Biya, I never forget a favor received.”
There was a slight tremor in Namgoong Taegang’s voice.
Was it born from concern for Namgoong Yeon?
I stared at him silently, then nodded.
“As I told the head of the family, I didn’t do it for a reward.”
“But I want to pay you back.”
“Then I will gratefully accept, if that’s your wish. I’ll definitely come to you if I ever need your help later!”
“Alright.”
He stroked my head.
Namgoong Taegang’s tense expression softened.
“I occasionally heard from Jinhyeon that you couldn’t go outside because you were unwell, but seeing you healthy like this is good.”
“Yeon will be able to go outside someday too. She’s a daughter of the Namgoong family!”
“She will. And when she leaves the family to venture into the world, her flaw will no longer be a flaw.”
I heard Cheonghyeon speaking to Yeon from inside.
“I hope that day comes soon.”
“It will come soon.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“I’m not saying it to sound nice—it will truly come soon. Children grow quickly.”
Having grown to fifteen myself, I felt qualified to say that.
I smiled at Namgoong Taegang.
“So while she’s still in your arms, please cherish, care for, and love her. Before Yeon leaves your arms and the Namgoong family to step out into the world.”
Through Namgoong Taegang, I saw my father leaning against a tree.
I waved to my father and then bowed slightly to Namgoong Taegang.
“Then, Mister, I’ll be going now.”
“Alright, Biya. See you again.”
“Yes! Stay healthy until we meet again!”
I ran to my father and leapt into his wide arms.
He smiled brightly and held me close.
Leaving the Namgoong family happened the next day.
Grandfather had errands and left first in the extra carriage he brought.
“Let’s go home and see.”
“Yes, Grandfather. Take care.”
“Good, kid.”
Half of the guards who came with us went with Grandfather, and the other half stayed.
Choyo, of course, stayed behind—my personal guard.
Before leaving, the head of the Namgoong family called me aside.
“Come again next time, Biya. If you’re near Anhui, let us know.”
“Yes, Head! I’ll come again!”
“Good, it won’t be long before we meet again.”
Namgoong Garyong patted my head warmly.
Then, we climbed into the carriage.
Having stayed in Hapbi for a few days, I’d grown attached, so leaving felt bittersweet.
But.
‘I can come again later.’
I have friends and good people here.
The Namgoong family head and Namgoong Taegang said I could come anytime, so I could return.
Looking out the window, I smiled pleasantly.
“Biya.”
My father, leaning opposite me, spoke.
“Yes?”
“Why don’t you tell me why you’re looking for traces of the practiced Dokgang Era Method?”
“…How did you know I was searching for that?”
“Didn’t I ask you once before?”
Right, he did.
He’d only asked a little about the Dokgang Era Method, but my observant father seemed to have pieced things together.
“When will you tell me?” he asked.
“When I’m ready. Not yet.”
He nodded.
“Alright, I’ll wait. But as I said before, the Dokgang Era Method has already been practiced. If it still exists, it will be at Dangsanmyeo…”
“You mean the chance of it not being there is higher, so you’re saying not to expect too much?”
“Yes. Even if you find it, you won’t be able to read it—it’s a forbidden book.”
So my father knew I was searching for a forbidden book, yet he still brought me here secretly.
I always knew he trusted me.
‘To be entrusted with this much trust even as a child…’
Or perhaps searching for the forbidden book isn’t much of a problem to him.
I didn’t know.
“Don’t worry, Father. I’ll just be looking around.”
“It’s been a while since we’ve gone to Dangsanmyeo.”
“You go every year, though?”
“This year I didn’t bother.”
…So it’s fine not to go?
‘Now that I think about it, maybe he often didn’t go…?’
I turned to look out the carriage window.
Even if I went to Dangsanmyeo, it wouldn’t immediately solve anything.
I didn’t know if the Dangpaejin already had the Dokgang Era Method, or if they didn’t.
Even if it were still at Dangsanmyeo, could we actually find it in such a vast place?
Still.
‘I feel like I need to go.’
Since returning to the past, I often had this strong feeling.
And when I followed it, something always happened.
So this time too.
‘Let’s go first.’
The rest will be figured out when the time comes.
The carriage surged forward.
The Junma of the Sacheon Hall galloped tirelessly, even for fifty ri.
A refreshing wind blew in, tickling my cheeks.
Softly.
My hair fluttered in the breeze.
“Let’s get off, Biya.”
