Chapter 107

After our last conversation, Charis’s attitude became much more compliant. It seems the lie I told had quite an impact.

From her perspective, she’s struggling for a freedom she can’t really obtain, so from my standpoint, seeing her like that made me feel a little guilty, but I ignored it.

‘Well… people need hope to have the will to keep going.’

In the end, even if it’s false hope, in a way, aren’t I the kind of boss who gives her hope?

‘If the person believes it’s true, then it’s true.’

Anyway, I was currently riding in a carriage alone with Wi Ho-yeon. The distance to our destination wasn’t extremely far, but since we had a carriage, there was no need to walk.

‘There are things to save.’

Anyway, it seemed like I hadn’t paid much attention to Ho-yeon lately, so I struck up a conversation with her.

“Ho-yeon, are you doing okay lately?”

“Huh? What do you mean…”

“No, it’s just… new clan members have joined, and I was wondering if you’ve been doing alright.”

The new clan member was Charis, and the only conversation topic I could think of to start with Ho-yeon was this kind of formal talk.

It’s been a while since I’ve been around Ho-yeon, but I still haven’t really exchanged personal jokes or conversations with her.

Most of the conversations we’ve had were about work.

“Yes, it’s fine. Originally, I was assigned as your escort, but honestly, all I do is occasionally take out a few monsters that approach during expeditions. I feel sorry that I’m not doing enough.”

“Ho-yeon, you’re fulfilling your role perfectly, so don’t say such things.”

“Thank you, Yun-seong.”

‘Hmm…’

Thinking about it, conversations with Ho-yeon always went like this.

For one, Ho-yeon isn’t a sociable person, and while I’m not as unsociable as her, I’m not particularly sociable either.

Talking and catering to people I’ve just met is something I do out of necessity, not because I enjoy making friends.

In fact, I tend to get tired of it.

‘And… usually when I talk to others, I can figure out what they want and adjust my words accordingly, but with Ho-yeon, I have no idea what she wants.’

If I had to name the person with the least personal emotions I’ve ever met, it would definitely be Ho-yeon.

It’s not that she hides her personal emotions, but when you talk to her, you really don’t sense any strong personal emotions or desires from her.

‘I wasn’t just calling her a machine for no reason…’

It feels like she’s completely suppressed her personal emotions.

I wondered if she even had any personal desires.

“Ho-yeon, do you have something you want to achieve or something you want to do? It could be something you want to have too.”

“Huh?”

“Just curious. Thinking about it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ho-yeon express any personal desires or wants…”

“Ah…”

“I just asked because the journey is boring, so if it’s hard to answer, you don’t have to.”

“No, Yun-seong. There’s nothing I really want… because I’ve already obtained it.”

From the way Ho-yeon glanced at the intangible sword she was carrying, it seemed the thing she had already obtained was her weapon.

“And as for desires or wants…”

“Including the three basic human desires: hunger, lust, and sleep. Wanting to sleep a lot, things like that are fine too.”

Ho-yeon paused for a moment, her face turning red as she stumbled over her words.

“Uh, I don’t think so…”

‘What’s this about?’

From the slight pause and her stumbling over her words, it seemed like she did have some personal desires or wants, contrary to her answer.

‘That’s unexpected.’

Honestly, I thought she had no personal desires or wants, but being human, that’s impossible.

“I see…”

“Yun-seong, do you have something you want?”

“Well…”

‘In my case…’

“In my case…”

It happened in an instant. Suddenly, Ho-yeon’s expression stiffened as I was speaking.

“… Wait…”

“Ho-yeon?”

Something felt off, so I called out to her.

“Yun-seong!”

“Huh?”

Boom!

The carriage was destroyed in an instant.

“Ugh…”

“Yun-seong! Are you okay?!”

Fortunately, Ho-yeon had grabbed me and jumped out just before the carriage was destroyed.

“Yeah… I’m fine… but… what’s this…”

As I answered and glanced at the carriage, I saw it smashed against an artificially created rock formation.

Seeing the pool of blood forming where the carriage was destroyed, it seemed the coachman had been crushed to death by the rock.

‘… Magic? Who did this?’

It was clear that someone had attacked us.

But the important thing wasn’t that we were attacked, but who attacked us.

The thought that briefly crossed my mind was of a woman named Yanagiya Riki.

‘Did she do this?’

Before I could finish the thought, an axe flew towards me, and before I could react, Ho-yeon drew her sword and deflected it.

“Hah, so you are the Sword Monarch?”

“Hey, idiot. If you throw it with the intent to kill, what do you expect? The goal is capture.”

As they spoke, more than ten figures revealed themselves.

I was the same, but Ho-yeon looked extremely tense.

‘There are too many of them.’

I quickly checked their status windows, and most had average stats, with one woman slightly below Ho-yeon but still in the upper tier.

Since they weren’t moving immediately, I cautiously spoke.

“… Why are you doing this?”

The woman who seemed to be the leader answered my question.

“What do you mean why? You should’ve known your place and not caused trouble.”

“… Did Yanagiya Riki send you?”

“What are you talking about? Yanagiya Riki? Are you talking about the Yanagiya Riki I know?”

From the woman’s reaction, it didn’t seem like Yanagiya Riki had sent them.

‘Damn, who sent them? Who is it?’

The people who might be hostile to me right now are Ha Yu-ri and Yanagiya Riki.

However, given Ha Yu-ri’s personality, as messed up as it is, she wouldn’t do something like this.

“I don’t know why that woman’s name came up, but… well, we won’t kill you, so relax. Sword Monarch, drop your weapon, this is a warning.”

Ho-yeon didn’t comply with the woman’s words and quietly spoke to me without turning her head.

“… Yun-seong, these guys seem to be outlaws.”

‘Sigh…’

From Ho-yeon’s words, I could guess why they attacked me.

‘Did they get wind of something?’

There’s only one reason they would attack me: retaliation for the spy incident.

That means they were either sent directly by or have connections to the Execution Society, the group Shin Joo-tae belonged to.

But the question is… how did they know I was the one who exposed the spy?

‘It’s only been a few days since the royal palace made the official announcement. It would take time for the news to spread and for them to prepare, so they couldn’t have come after hearing the announcement…’

Of course, it’s not certain, but the time it took for them to come…





There was probably time, so I thought not.

‘This is not the time for such thoughts. What matters more than why they came is how to handle this situation.’

“… Ms. Ho-yeon, I have a direct question. Is it possible for us to escape in this situation?”

“That is…”

“……”

“… I’m sorry. It seems… impossible.”

I already knew the answer but asked anyway, just in case. Unfortunately, it seems impossible.

Even though Wi Ho-yeon is the Sword Monarch, I am of little help in combat, so essentially, Wi Ho-yeon has to face double-digit numbers alone.

Moreover, Wi Ho-yeon hasn’t fully matured yet, clearly below Yoon Yeon or Gu Yeon-jeong.

There was no way the answer could be positive.

Even one of them, though slightly less capable than Wi Ho-yeon, is not to be underestimated.

‘Damn it, there’s no other way.’

Both Wi Ho-yeon and I absolutely cannot escape this situation.

Then, the best decision to make in this situation had to be made.

“… Ms. Ho-yeon, if you were to escape alone, would it be possible?”

“Lee Yun-seong… what are you saying…”

“… Please, just you escape.”

“Now… what are you saying?! I am your guard. I must protect you…”

“Then do you want us both to be caught? Just go. It’s the worst if we’re both caught.”

“No. I am… a guard. Abandoning the one I’m supposed to protect and running away…”

“Ms. Ho-yeon, I won’t die. They said their goal is to capture, not kill. So, please, somehow escape to the Clan House and ask for help.”

Everything in the world is useless if you’re dead.

I wouldn’t have made this decision originally, but since they said their goal is capture, it was a decision I could make.

‘I might be exposed to violence, but there’s no other way. At least, if possible, make Wi Ho-yeon escape and… ask for help.’

They might take me somewhere, but I had my own thoughts.

“Ms. Ho-yeon, please. I can survive if you escape.”

“… Lee Yun-seong…”

“… Please.”

At my desperate plea, Wi Ho-yeon bit her lip with a pained expression and spoke.

“… I’m sorry. I will, I will… come to save you. Please…”

“Yes, I believe you.”

After hearing my words, Wi Ho-yeon stomped the ground.

“Ha! You think you can take on all these people alone?”

A battle immediately ensued, naturally. The sound of cold weapons clashing came from Wi Ho-yeon’s direction.

Also, a battle started on my side, which was an obvious result. Though, it’s embarrassing to call it a battle.

“… Damn it!”

I tried casting magic at those approaching me, but it was meaningless.

They weren’t running towards me while being hit by magic, but they dodged with light movements.

‘Damn it…!’

“Arrogant brat!”

“Flame Wall…!”

“Idiot, stop messing around with such low-level magic!”

Thud—

“Ugh…!”

Seeing me kicked and rolling on the ground, Wi Ho-yeon, in the middle of combat, quickly looked towards me.

“Lee Yun-seong…!”

Seeing Wi Ho-yeon’s expression, it seemed like she would come back to me any moment, so I desperately mouthed my intention.

‘Please…! Run away!’

Whether my intention was fully conveyed, Wi Ho-yeon closed her eyes tightly, turned her head away from me, and started to run.

Of course, the others wouldn’t just watch.

“That bitch is running away! Damn it, catch her!”

“Big sister, the Sword Monarch is running away, what do we do?”

“Just me and Do-hyun stay, the rest chase her. This guy isn’t a threat anyway.”

Immediately, a pursuit team was after Wi Ho-yeon. All I could do was pray for her safe escape.

******

Wi Ho-yeon turned towards the forest instead of open ground to shake off the pursuit. It’s easier to escape with obstacles like trees and grass.

“That bitch…!”

“Ugh…!”

She dodged an arrow flying from behind, but couldn’t completely avoid it while focusing on creating distance.

A wound on her cheek from the arrow was unavoidable.

But the slight delay was problematic, as two men seemed to have caught up.

“Hehe… If you come quietly, I’ll treat you nicely.”

Wi Ho-yeon shuddered at the lecherous gaze of the man.

Outlaws were all equally despicable, only eager to vent their desires.

‘I have to deal with them before the others catch up.’

Wi Ho-yeon swung her sword at the man who had thrown an axe at Lee Yun-seong earlier. The opponent reacted, but the difference in ability made his reaction slightly slower.

Clang—!

“Ugh…! Damn bitch…!”

The difference between a master and an ordinary person isn’t just in strength, ability, and technique, but most importantly, in mindset.

In any field, the characteristic of those called masters is their ability to calm their minds in crisis or urgent situations.

To survive, one must make the best judgment in a crisis.

For Wi Ho-yeon, the current situation was a crisis, but her thoughts and mind instantly became calm and peaceful.

Like a clear mirror and still water.

Wi Ho-yeon’s mind was like a clear mirror and still water.

As Wi Ho-yeon swung her sword, blocked by the man with an axe, another man stabbed at her from behind.

‘Now.’

With the ability to detect even the slightest movement and the tremor of the enemy’s pupils, now was the opportunity.

Immediately, she used the sword to wrap around the sword thrust at her, utilizing the force.

The principle of grafting.

Most players relying solely on stats and traits are unfamiliar with such techniques, but for Wi Ho-yeon, who was serious about martial arts, it was possible.

Her title as a martial arts tournament champion wasn’t just for show.

“Ugh…!”

“What, what’s this…!”

The man who swung his sword couldn’t hide his panic. He thought he had properly swung his sword at the Sword Monarch, but she moved her sword strangely, causing his sword to stab his companion.

The man tried to pull his sword from his companion immediately, but in a life-and-death situation, not a second should be wasted.

Squelch—

“Gurgle…”

Thud.

As the man’s body collapsed, Wi Ho-yeon stomped the ground again. There was no time to catch her breath.

‘Lee Yun-seong, please be safe…!’

All she could do was run and run.