Han Seojin drew attention alongside Bang Biyeon in an instant.
“Then, Lord Bang. We’ll head back to the temple for now. Once the Sect Leader finishes her ditation, I’ll let her know you stopped by.”
“Haha, what am I to warrant such words to the Sect Leader... Please tell her not to trouble herself over soone as insignificant as .”
The conversation flowed between Hye-yul and Bang Biyeon, but everyone’s eyes remained fixed on Han Seojin.
Even Cheongwol’s fellow disciples whispered among themselves.
‘Leather Room Leader?’
‘He’s gone out of the village a few tis lately, and just like that, he’s made it big?’
‘He’s way more capable than I thought...’
Cheongwol clenched her fists tightly.
When did they ever talk behind his back like that?
When they called him the least popular man in the village, said he’d live alone forever.
She hated how their gaze toward him changed now that the situation had shifted.
Just keep ignoring him.
I knew first. I was the only one who knew.
He’s my friend alone.
Every ti Han Seojin shifted his gaze, a new woman responded.
Faces that once ignored him completely now straightened their necks, smoothed their hair, and flashed aningful smiles the mont his eyes brushed past.
So even nodded gently in greeting.
Why did it bother her so much?
A stuffy pressure built up in her chest.
Their two-facedness made her tremble with rage.
Wasn’t this less about liking Han Seojin and more about drooling over the prospect of his wealth?
Were people really this ugly at heart?
Did they have no pride?
Han Seojin, whom they’d mocked, hadn’t changed a bit—yet suddenly he seed amazing?
What if... what if trash like them actually bewitched Han Seojin?
What if he got swayed and started neglecting her?
No.
When she snapped back to reality, Cheongwol’s right hand was already gripping her sword hilt.
She hadn’t ant to draw it.
It was just like instinctively pinching her nose against a stench.
Her hand sought the sword hilt against humanity’s nauseating greed.
Cheongwol shut her eyes tight against the violent impulse.
Calm your mind.
Right, it might just be fleeting interest?
When soone succeeds in the village, it’s hard not to react like this.
She still didn’t understand why it had to be Han Seojin, why it couldn’t be anyone else.
If they could just get past this mont, maybe nothing would happen—
‘...He suddenly looks so handso.’
Smack!
Cheongwol glared toward the whisper.
...Who was that just now?
She tried to find the culprit, but there were simply too many won gathered.
Her eyes quivered faintly before the crowd.
It felt like impossible-to-eliminate enemies had sprung up everywhere in an instant.
Even a middle-aged man suddenly approached Han Seojin.
As far as Cheongwol knew, that man had a marriageable daughter.
“Leather Room Leader, impressive...! But you know, I already sensed you’d—”
Reading his intent, Cheongwol’s body moved on its own.
She planted herself in front of the middle-aged man in a flash, looking down at him coldly.
“Elder. You must have much to say, but if everyone chis in here, it’ll only cause more chaos. Save it for later.”
“Ah... th-that... Young Lady. I was just asking after your well-being—”
“—I advise you to refrain for now.”
Every ti he twitched toward Han Seojin, Cheongwol’s gaze sharpened further.
She thought.
...Ah, really.
Clink...
Cheongwol’s sword made a sound.
Beasts blinded by greed are too hard to watch.
Thud!!
At that mont, soone grabbed Cheongwol’s right wrist.
“Ah, ahahaha!”
Surprisingly, it was Han Seojin.
At his appearance, her rage subsided with astonishing speed.
“P-please don’t fight over . Uncle Baek, let’s talk later. For now, as the Young Lady says.”
The middle-aged man awkwardly clicked his tongue and nodded at Han Seojin’s words.
“Y-Yeah, sure...”
Left behind, Cheongwol looked at Han Seojin holding her wrist.
Her sword naturally slipped back into place.
She had so much to say, but didn’t know where to start.
This isn’t a scam, right? Can you trust that rchant?
Leader, sorry. The gossip wasn’t sincere.
Feeling good about those won’s looks? Why the goofy grin.
How can I get you to forgive ?
...Those won are after your money, Leader. Don’t get cocky. The only one watching you is ...
“Lea—”
Swish!
Han Seojin released her wrist with exaggerated flair.
“Oh dear. To think I dared touch the Young Lady’s person. Forgive ...”
Hiding his true nature, pretending to be the timid man again.
Even before everyone, he avoided revealing their relationship.
Cheongwol didn’t understand.
Plenty of people had already seen them together.
Did he have to go this far?
At the mont she most wanted to flaunt their friendship, he felt the farthest away.
That fake smile hurt even more.
Unable to find words, Cheongwol whispered to her fellow disciples.
“...You guys. Just gonna stand there?”
At her words, they snapped to attention, reluctantly tearing their eyes from Han Seojin.
Then they began dispersing the crowd.
‘Watch out, step back a bit...’
‘Please make so space, bit by bit. Yes, thank you...’
anwhile, Han Seojin conversed with Bang Biyeon from behind.
“Lord, why not head to my place first.”
“Hm, shall we?”
Bang Biyeon began issuing orders to his caravan workers this way and that.
Han Seojin walked to the Leather Room, drawing all eyes.
Bang Biyeon and his guards followed.
Cheongwol only chased his receding back.
****
...Fuck, I almost drew my sword back there, right?
This crazy nun.
Knew it’d co to this.
Where’s that killer instinct gonna run off to?
If I hadn’t grabbed her wrist then, it might’ve turned into a massacre show.
The thought that she’d unleashed a life-risking technique in a split second made sweat bead on my forehead.
“Whew, whew...”
“You alright there?”
“Hm? Ah, yes. I’m fine.”
...Or not. Maybe even this is my victim complex.
She’s not the type to draw a sword in the village, right?
If she were that crazy, she’d have drawn it ages ago.
Cheongwol just seems so scary, everything looks that way.
“Co on, this way. We’re here. Uh, Lord. Why bring such a huge caravan?”
“To sell my prayers and boost yours. What, not pleased?”
I chuckled.
“Pleased? Never. First ti getting looks like that from the villagers.”
“Hahaha! Glad you like it. Get used to it. Soon, wherever you go, those eyes’ll follow.”
...Hm. Should I be happy or not.
Too much spotlight is a real pass.
The bigger you get, the harder to avoid wars.
...Eh, what big shot. Don’t get ahead of yourself on so hype.
How rich can you get selling sexy leather outfits?
“Here we are.”
I proudly showed Bang Biyeon my nest.
“...Way shabbier than I imagined.”
He frowned but strode inside without hesitation.
His guards waited outside the door.
Once seated, he got down to business.
“Young Hero Han. As you’ve guessed... it’s a hit.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. A massive craze. How’d you even think of those clothes...”
Bang Biyeon grinned.
“...Inspired by Ei Sect disciples? Perverted more than I thought.”
“Ahaha... Dangerous words, sir.”
...Perverted, sure, but not from Ei Sect.
Just looking at that Cheongwol bitch kills any lust that sprouts.
“ant as praise. For rchants like us, making money’s all that matters, no?”
“I’m hardly a rchant yet...”
“You will be soon. And you’ll escape this cramped shack too.”
After so greetings, we dove into a long talk.
Staggering news: one silver per leather outfit set.
To fend off future copies, leave a unique signature on each.
Support for whatever we need.
Think up new outfits too.
“...Wow.”
The dizzying reality was hard to swallow.
One silver per set. After material costs.
“Of course, it hinges on the trend lasting. People might lose interest overnight.”
“I know. I know, but...”
That much silver ends my poverty.
No doubt about it.
Save steadily, and I could live like those rich folks in the capital—big mansion, servants and all.
My fate blooming like this?
On one fluke?
Leather clothes and a lucky break?
“You seem thrilled.”
Bang Biyeon noted my leaking grin.
“Sorry. Can’t stop smiling...”
“No worries, haha. Your joy makes happy too.”
“Lord. Why treat so well? Honestly, this favor makes uneasy.”
“Fretting even over coming fortune? Poverty’s sunk deep into your bones, eh?”
The closer we got, the sharper his jokes.
He smiled.
“Didn’t I say? A rchant’s power is trust. Besides, no one in the Central Plains would’ve dread up such vulgar yet brilliant clothes. Who knows what else your mind’ll birth? Why slit the golden goose for one leather outfit?”
...This uncle.
So damn cool.
Can’t stop the surging respect.
“And why doubt my intent? I’m not losing out to favor you. I just sit back, broker, and money rolls in. Shouldn’t I be the grateful one? Might be Changhwa Caravan’s chance to level up.”
Is this how Demonic Cultists felt idolizing the Seven Heavens?
Bang Biyeon seed to glow from behind.
Gonna rank him after those three beggar uncles in respect.
Talks wrapped up, he scanned my place.
“...Reminds of my past. Lived in a dump like this as a kid. Folks busy working... I had to wrangle the siblings.”
“...”
“Tough tis. Sa for you? Cold when cold, hot when hot... Leaks in rain, bugs crawling everywhere. Stomach always starving. I had family warmth, but you? Not lonely?”
“...Manageable enough.”
Thanks to killing ti with SM gear.
“Looks like you live alone, yeah?”
I nodded.
“Not separated from family?”
“Orphan here. Don’t know my parents’ fate or faces. No clue on other kin.”
“Alone either way.”
“Yeah.”
“Must’ve been rough solo. You’re tough.”
“Too kind.”
He blinked nostalgically, lost in mory.
“...Makes miss my parents suddenly.”
“...”
“Beca a rchant to end poverty, but now I regret not spending more ti with family. rchant life has endless hours, but family ti? Fleeting.”
This uncle’s got his pains too.
“Buddha’s watching over them.”
“Probably. They’re near Henan, by Shaolin Temple.”
“...Pardon?”
“Hm? Thought they passed? Nah, just far away, don’t see ’em much. Living it up on my money, having fun.”
What. Worried for nothing.
But that’s cool too. Filial son.
If I make bank... gotta take care of Uncles Gwak Du, Gu Yeong, Ma Childeok.
Not nag over a few stolen coins.
“Anyway, better this way. No family here makes things easier.”
“Hm?”
Bang Biyeon took a deep breath.
“Ever thought of moving to the capital?”
That’s when noise stirred outside.
His guards were talking to soone.
Bang Biyeon and I both looked to the door.
Soon, a knock.
Knock knock knock.
‘May I co in for a mont?’
A refined, kindly voice rang out.
Familiar, but not quite pinning it.
Bang Biyeon chuckled and eyed .
“...Folks already angling to marry off daughters. Enjoy, but don’t get swept away.”
“What’re you...”
Honestly grinning inside, I forced it down and replied.
“Yes, co in!”
Creeeak...
The rotting door creaked open.
Bang Biyeon and I both froze at the sight.
Muwol Satae.
Ei Sect’s Leader.
Whoosh!
A presence that shot Bang Biyeon to his feet too.
“S-Sect Leader. To grace this hovel... Should’ve summoned ...”
I cald my shock at Bang Biyeon’s words and actions.
Right. She’s here because of Bang Biyeon?
Scared , forgetting the obvious.
Nun or not, who’d visit a dump like this—
“...Huh?”
Then, I peered past Muwol Satae’s shoulder.
Cheongwol stood there too.
“...”
Fidgeting like an eager puppy, lips bitten tight.
“No. Everyone I wished to et was gathered here...”
The old nun’s gaze fixed on .
...Wanted to see too?
Even she, like the villagers, for Bang Biyeon?
I couldn’t speak.
...But sothing.
...My gut said it wasn’t for Bang Biyeon.
She glanced briefly at my lower abdon and said.
“...Young Master Han Seojin. Might this old nun share a cup of tea with you?”
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