Even the Heavenly Killing Star has its weaknesses.
Even with formidable martial arts skills, there’s the common belief that if your neck gets chopped off or your heart gets stabbed, you’d die—those kinds of weaknesses. No, hers lies in the lack of martial arts skills.
Surprisingly, her weaknesses are, get this, stealth techniques and concealment techniques.
She isn’t quite at first-class assassin level.
Before setting off from Chilgok County, she had revealed her weakness.
So why was she caught by the Goblin Assassins? When I shot her a probing look, So-hee quickly turned her head away to avoid my gaze and corrected herself.
…I’m at second-class assassin level.
‘Is she really the best assassin in martial arts dating sims?’
Here she was, dressed like a ninja but lacking in stealth and concealment techniques. I stared at So-hee with disbelief.
But she still claimed to be a top-notch assassin level in martial arts.
So-hee, noticing my incredulous expression, defensively protested.
Maybe being an assassin means not just killing the enemy and escaping smoothly, but also being capable of eliminating all witnesses, which is perhaps why she called herself an assassin.
So-hee said she’s never felt significantly lacking in stealth and concealment techniques. With those skills, she has successfully assassinated and escaped without being discovered.
‘The problem is that she got caught for the first time at the Goblin Assassins.’
Once something happens, it might not happen again, but if it happens twice, it definitely will again. If she stays cautious, she could avoid being seen again.
Even if it does happen, she has the skills to survive. The real problem lies with me. If she gets caught, my life as her companion could go flying away.
I recalled my recent conversation with So-hee in Chilgok County.
To easily infiltrate the Head of the Seong Family’s quarters, staying in the inner courtyard would be best.
In the inner courtyard? They aren’t going to let a mere negotiator like me stay there, are they?
It’s fine even if I end up in the outer courtyard. …I’ll just make my escape using stealth techniques.
There’s no need to take unnecessary risks. I’ll think of a way for you to stay in the inner courtyard.
How?
I have my plans. Just trust me.
Generally, the inner quarters are reserved for family members or martial artists treated like elders, key personnel at the Head of Guards level, and such.
Being invited as a guest means you’re getting VVIP treatment.
So-hee was half-ready to give up.
Part of me wanted to say, “Hey, I came to meet your uncle in the hopes of pleasing him. You’re the client, right? Do your best to assist me!” But apparently, the assassin group doesn’t inform the assassin who the client is.
And even if I asked the men for help, they probably wouldn’t assist.
If an insider requested an assassination outright, they’d likely get caught, and the fact that an assassination was requested could be revealed.
I can’t get insider help to infiltrate the inner courtyard.
And the performers selling their art in the inner courtyard wouldn’t serve lowly barbarians like us anyway.
Generally speaking, that is.
If I were to grill the young master to have him invite me as a guest…
But if it isn’t general, doesn’t that mean I just need to not be a typical guest?
—–
“Here we are.”
Following the servant, we entered the quarters of the Head of the Seong Family.
The servant sent by Seong Se-hwi guided me through the outer courtyard into a room in the inner courtyard.
“Is that really the Joseon negotiator!”
Seong Se-hwi seemed startled by my unexpected arrival.
“I’ve only come for a few days.”
I greeted Seong Se-hwi with a smile.
With a bewildered expression, he guided me to a more comfortable seat.
“How did you get here? You surely didn’t accept an invitation, did you?”
As soon as he sat down, he failed to keep his expressions in check and questioned me.
‘When was that ever an invitation? It was a scam.’
Seong Se-hwi invited me to provoke his uncle. Had he performed without knowing the truth, it could have turned disastrous.
I never thought I’d show up at that invitation voluntarily!
‘To be invited and ensure my safety, I need to be treated as a guest.’
Saying I came back for money would be the worst move.
I’d get told to get lost after being given an excuse to perform then get paid.
I have to become someone who came to Seong Se-hwi with great ambitions instead of wanting money.
“After we part ways, I found myself reminiscing.”
After taking a sip of the tea placed before me, I began speaking seriously.
Let’s start by establishing some common ground.
“What were you thinking?”
“Thinking back to the days when I, as a barbarian, faced countless hardships while surviving in the Central Plains. Even though I’m someone like you, who gets ruthlessly beaten by ruffians, not a single soul ever extended a hand to help me.”
I revealed my elbows from my sleeves, gazing at past minor scars, recalling unjust and sorrowful past events.
“It’s a world where people don’t easily extend a hand to the weak. Even if that someone had formerly been the first-born child of a notable family just a short while ago.”
Seong Se-hwi seemed to resonate with my words, responding with his own experiences.
Perfect for building a connection.
“I thought I wouldn’t have acted that way had the situation been reversed. But since I’ve been able to live just a little while with some sauce on my plate, people’s hearts grow treacherous. I turned down your help to protect my own interests.”
“Prioritizing one’s own safety isn’t something to be criticized. Rather, the person who extends a hand in that situation deserves respect.”
Seong Se-hwi looked at me with a deeply moved expression as if he understood my reason for visiting.
But I can’t let it end there.
If my reason for going to the Head of the Seong Family ended here, that’s just a touching moment. I was being treated like a guest. You’d probably end it here.
I need a plot twist.
“Yes. And furthermore, you didn’t inform me of the actual circumstances.”
I shot him a reproachful glance, ready to call him out.
With some common ground and reasons established, now’s the time to catch him off guard.
You’re not innocent. You’re not just a mere weakling.
You’re just a scamming jerk.
“I have nothing to say, even if I had ten mouths.”
It seems he knows he’s done wrong as he averted his gaze from my reproachful look.
“If I had known your true motives, I would have joyfully accepted your invitation, thinking it an honor to perform at the Head of the Family’s residence—never realizing it would turn into my own slaughterhouse.”
“…….”
He’s got no words, does he?
“To escape your own predicament, you tried to drag someone else into trouble. What’s the difference between you and those despicable people who took over the Head of the Seong Family?”
Even if he admits it’s a mistake, he’ll probably feel some pushback if I keep pressing on him.
When people face criticisms for their mistakes, they often feel embarrassed at first, but the more they’re pointed out, the angrier they become.
Besides, he’s the rich young master.
“So you didn’t come to help, but to lecture me instead?”
As expected of me.
Seong Se-hwi’s complexion darkened, and he spoke to me with a flicker of anger.
“No, I came to help.”
I calmly smiled while sipping my tea, bearing his anger with ease.
Now where’s the flip of the script?
“Please understand.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not here because you’re a rich young master, nor am I here because you’re a good person.”
“Then why did you come to help?”
“I came because I could assist with the predicament you find yourself in.”
“Just for that reason?”
“I know the sadness and loneliness when no one helps you in a time of need. I understand that you’re not a good person, but that doesn’t make you a villain. I understand how wronged you must have felt. I also now understand the risks I’m about to undertake.”
The man in front of you has come all this way knowing everything.
I came here to assist a jerk like you.
I gazed resolutely at the man suffering from his isolation.
“I truly wish to help. I will expose the injustices inflicted by your uncle and stepmother to everyone. To that end, I’m willing to stake my life.”
I looked at Seong Se-hwi as if I were a gallant hero, harboring the flaming spirit of justice in my heart.
A barbarian negotiator in broad daylight, risking his life to come here.
And not for money, but because of the heroic ideals I hold within.
Cliché, but a story that works perfectly in a martial arts novel.
In a situation of desperation, to a man in need, pure goodwill would feel like a significant gesture.
How’s that for a touching moment?
“Thank you… truly, thank you.”
Thud! Seong Se-hwi bowed with teary eyes and a deeply grateful expression, kneeling down.
Good. That’s a more intense response than I expected.
“Get up. We have no time to waste preparing to eliminate these injustices.”
I reached out my hand, pulling him up to stand.
“How do I repay this kindness to a person like you?”
He seemed unable to fathom how to repay the grace of someone he deemed a paragon.
Just having me stay in the inner courtyard will suffice.
“Make all necessary preparations. And when you’ve reclaimed your family, don’t forget about today and act justly to everyone.”
“I promise, if I become the Head of the Seong Family, I will never forget what happened today.”
Holding my hand with both of his, he expressed his overflowing emotions once again.
—–
“I will host you as an esteemed guest in the inner courtyard.”
There’s no way one could neglect a man like me who came purely to lend support. Seong Se-hwi decided to welcome me as a distinguished guest of the Head of the Seong Family.
“My wife is waiting at the inn.”
“Wife?”
“The woman who was by my side on the day we first met is my wife.”
“Oh! So that woman in the outfit stood out because she was your wife.”
“I couldn’t introduce her that day because I was receiving protection from my wife.”
I felt a tinge of embarrassment for not acting like a proper husband.
“I understand. Please send a servant to bring my wife here.”
“Thank you.”
Seong Se-hwi summoned a servant to fetch So-hee.
‘So-hee better act like a good wife.’
I may have a history of being a master, producer, commander, and teacher, but I’m now playing the role of a husband. So-hee, the rookie, is where the problem lies.
– I’ll make So-hee call me ‘husband’ when we arrive at the Head of the Seong Family.
…Husband?
You don’t like it?
No, it’s fine. It’s okay.
What would you like to call me?
Should I call you ‘gentleman’?
‘Gentleman’… now that sounds too typical of the Central Plains.
Was someone’s name brought to mind with that? I requested a different title from So-hee.
I can’t think of any other title aside from that.
As a Joseon person, how about ‘brother-in-law’?
‘Brother-in-law?’
That’s right! Since it’s a Joseon thing, if you call me brother-in-law, you can easily excuse any address mistakes as just being a Joseon person.
“Brother-in-law… brother-in-law… hmm. Yeah, I think I got it.”
So-hee seemed to ponder over the title for a moment before nodding her head.
“A guest has been brought in!”
As I was lost in memories of my time in Chilgok County, So-hee arrived.
“I’d like to introduce you again. This is my wife.”
“I didn’t get to greet her that day, thinking she was merely a performer. Ma’am, you have a wonderful husband!”
“……”
So-hee’s face flushed as her lips trembled, but she couldn’t manage to say anything.
“So-hee?”
“B-brother-in-law is a wonderful person.”
So-hee, why are you stuttering like a buffering video?
Her face was all red, and her acting was strangely awkward.
Since I’m asking to be called ‘brother-in-law’ when she isn’t even my real wife, is it throwing her off?
“Haha. My wife is just timid and isn’t great with words.”
“Hahaha. That seems to be the case. By the way, in Joseon, do they call their husbands brother-in-law?”
“Yes. I’ve gotten used to Central Plains dialect, but I suppose with the titles, it feels more familiar using Joseon terms.”
“Ah, I see. Now then! Since your wife is here, let me show you where you’ll be staying in the inner courtyard.”
Seong Se-hwi led us to our accommodations without any suspicion.
—–
“The garden is truly beautiful.”
Being in a wealthy family, the garden was definitely well-maintained.
“It’s too bad I can’t show you the inner garden; it’s much more beautiful, but that scoundrel Seong Ji-ru has taken over that area, so I can’t provide you with accommodations there.”
“This place is already quite lovely.”
I comforted Seong Se-hwi, who appeared displeased. The inner courtyard will suffice. Being too close may draw suspicions of assassination.
“Even so, that cannot be ignored!”
As we were heading toward our lodging, a loud voice interrupted us.
Who’s arguing?
“M’lady! You must not go that way!”
“It’s my choice!”
The voices of the quarrel were getting closer.
“Aha! M’lady!”
From the opposite side of the garden, two people appeared, one trying to stop the other.
Perhaps it’s a mischievous young lady with her maid.
I turned my head to look at the two who had appeared from the opposite side of the garden.
I might just be running into someone I didn’t expect.
‘What are you doing here?’
The person standing before me was someone I recognized.
