Chapter 157: So What If I'm Misunderstood a Little?

TL: FoodieMonster007

The fervor of the Young Dragon Tournament grew even hotter.

Once the main tournament began, the Murim Alliance dismantled all the small duel stages in the outer hall. They set up a single large duel stage in the center.

They built tiers of seats around the stage so that a great number of people could sit. The structure allowed thousands to watch the duels simultaneously.

The tournament, where the thirty-two group winners would compete for the championship, was set to begin today.

Anyone who made it to the final eight was guaranteed a spot in the Murim Alliance's elite organization. Even those who did not advance that far were given a chance to join if they impressed the Murim Alliance masters. This main tournament was a truly important competition for everyone.

Of course, Seo Daeryong was fired up for a different reason.

A martial artist's spirit awakened within him. Until now, Seo Daeryong had simply learned martial arts, but this tournament was transforming him into a true martial artist.

The crowd of heroes filling the seats did not intimidate Seo Daeryong in the least.

He focused only on the opponent he was about to fight. I said nothing. I had already told him everything he needed to know during our training. I could only hope that Seo Daeryong had learned something from it. I believed in Seo Daeryong's intelligence.

"So Dang of the Zhang Family Sword Sect from Fujian province!"

The judge's shout, imbued with inner arts, drew a roar of cheers.

So Dang slowly climbed onto the duel stage. His expression and steps showed leisure and confidence. He was a skilled fighter, and it would not have been strange if his goal was the championship.

"Seo Ryong of the Western Blade Sect from Gansu province!"

Cheers erupted once again. In fact, the cheers for Seo Daeryong were even louder than those for So Dang. So Dang was a renowned prodigy, but Seo Daeryong was an up-and-coming master from a nameless sect who had caused a sensation. The desire to see an upset was just as great as the desire to cheer for the strong.

Listening to the cheers, Seo Daeryong turned to look at me below the stage.

He sent me a telepathic message.

[I'll come down after making last night's dream a worthless one.]

What words were needed?

Instead of cheering, I gave him a powerful nod, my eyes showing my belief in him.

The duel began with the judge's signal.

So Dang was a martial artist who had properly learned swordsmanship from a young age.

His attacks were sharp and his defense was solid. His defense, in particular, was nearly perfect, an impregnable fortress that withstood every attack.

I knew well the frustration Seo Daeryong must be feeling. Fortunately, it was a frustration he had experienced many times before stepping onto this stage.

Don't get drawn in!

Usually, a fighter would attack recklessly out of frustration and fall for a counterattack. The essence of So Dang's swordsmanship lay in counterattacks.

If Seo Daeryong could frustrate his opponent instead, he would surely find a weakness. However, I did not tell Seo Daeryong this answer. I wanted him to find it for himself.

The sword and the dao clashed, creating sparks.

The onlookers held their breath. The techniques they exchanged were too high-level for a duel between prodigies.

Seo Daeryong attacked aggressively but never rushed. He was painting his own big picture, titled 'Patience'. He had found the answer himself.

After hundreds of moves, the painting was complete. He had finally made his opponent anxious. He made it seem that if a judge decided the match, his aggression would give him the advantage.

This anxiety created a small opening, and Seo Daeryong did not miss it.

PUAAAK!

Seo Daeryong's dao sliced deep into So Dang's arm. Blood splattered, and So Dang dropped his sword.

Despite his serious injury, So Dang tried to fight on, but the judge stepped in and declared Seo Daeryong's victory.

Cheers erupted for both of them. It had been an excellent duel worthy of the main tournament, regardless of the outcome.

Seo Daeryong came down from the duel stage and collapsed, unable to stand properly.

He did not care that many people were watching. His dazed, sitting figure seemed more human to everyone. Passersby showed their respect with clasped hands, while others applauded from a distance.

I said nothing. It was not because of the onlookers, but to let Seo Daeryong fully savor the moment by himself.

Among the people congratulating him was the woman who had cheered for Seo Daeryong before.

"Congratulations on your victory!"

Seeing her bright smile, Seo Daeryong shot up from his seat.

"Thank you."

The woman smiled and turned away. Seo Daeryong sat down next to me again.

"You looked like you were dying a moment ago, but now you look ready for another duel."

After confirming the woman was far away, Seo Daeryong shook his head and plopped down again.

"No, I couldn't even if I died. That was really tough. The next opponent will be stronger, right?"

"I suppose so. Why? Do you want to give up?"

"Yes, please just let me go home!"

"What're you going to say at the drinking party? That you came back because you were too scared and it was too hard? I guess General Jang and Lee Ahn are kind enough to comfort you. They'll say you did well, but inside, they'll be thinking, 'If it were me, I would've challenged it to the end.' Every time they see you, 'If it were me, to the end…'"

"Stop."

I grinned and held out my hand. Seo Daeryong grabbed my hand tightly and stood up.

"Thank you. If you hadn't been my duel partner, Director, I never would've won."

"He wasn't an opponent you could beat just by practicing. You did well."

"This really drives a person crazy, doesn't it? When I beat that guy and cheers erupted from all sides, it felt so good it was insane."

"If you go truly crazy, you become a madman. If you go moderately crazy, no one can stand against you. Go moderately crazy."

As we were talking on our way back to the inn, an unexpected person was waiting for me.

Jin Haryong was eating noodles at the inn.

Seo Daeryong and I paused at the entrance. Seo Daeryong spoke with concern.

"I hope noodles are the only thing the Young Lady likes."

"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

"Why're you acting like you don't know? You think a woman of her noble status came here again just to eat noodles?"

"She probably came for treatment today."

"What treatment?"

"Her pride was wounded."

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

I could not deny his question. After all, I was doing my best to get closer to her.

"This is all because of the Heavenly Enlightenment Society."

"The problem is that the Young Lady doesn't know that."

Seo Daeryong went straight up to his guest room, and I walked over to her.

Jin Haryong watched Geom Mugeuk's hand as he walked towards her. She thought it looked smoother and whiter than the hand extended to her when she was hanging from a cliff in her dream.

Geom Mugeuk came to the table and greeted her.

"Your duel is in three days, right? My young master's was today."

She had to admit, this attendant's friendliness was something else. They had only met a couple of times, yet he spoke to her as comfortably as if they had known each other for a long time.

"May I sit for a moment?"

She nodded.

"Please make sure to pay for your noodles before you leave today, Young Lady."

"What do you mean?"

"The first day we met, and the second time too, you just left, so I ended up paying for the alcohol and food."

She was flustered for a moment. Thinking back, that was definitely true the second time. She had been so angry that she had shot up and stormed out. Did it happen the first time, too?

In her entire life, had she ever skipped out on paying someone? It was a clear mistake. Her face turned slightly red. This man just kept flustering people like this.

Is this why you appeared in my dream? To tell me to pay you back?

She had intended to take control from the very beginning, but instead, he had put her on the defensive.

"How much is it? I forgot."

"No, you can buy me noodles and alcohol twice in the future."

Is he using that as an excuse to see me again? The thought occurred to her that this simple-looking fellow might be a womanizer.

It won't be easy. Do you think you're the first one like this?

If you lined up all the men trying to change their lives by marrying her, with a little exaggeration, they could circle the walls of the Murim Alliance. Listening to and seeing them covet her background and appearance was enough to make her develop a hatred for men she never had before.

"I'll pay it all back today. Have whatever dish you want, not just noodles."

"No, not today."

Such a firm refusal from an attendant! Feeling as if she had truly become a handmaiden, she ordered alcohol.

"I need a drink."

She downed two glasses in a row before she spoke of that day's events.

"Honestly, I was angry that day. Just as I was about to honestly introduce you to my friend as my attendant, you said you were my junior brother first. So I felt like I'd deceived my friend, and I was angry."

What would change by saying this?

It was because of her damn personality that she had to say what needed to be said, even knowing that.

She met Geom Mugeuk's gaze.

His gaze was truly unfitting for an attendant. It was calm, deep, and utterly unreadable, resembling her late father's and her grandfather's, the Chairman.

With that gaze, Geom Mugeuk calmly asked.

"Why do you keep worrying about that?"

In that moment, she said to herself, I really hate this personality of mine too.

"Because I don't want to be misunderstood."

"Are you afraid you'll look like someone who looks down on attendants?"

"Yes. Because I'm not that kind of person."

"So what if you're misunderstood a little?"

"I don't like it."

"Have you ever considered that such a mindset might actually be more dismissive of the other person?"

For a moment, she flared up.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Attendants are people too. We think just like our masters, we just spare our words. If someone looks down on attendants from the start, we on our end can just dismiss them, thinking, 'Oh, that's just the kind of person they are.'"

"So you're saying my consideration is worse than that of someone who looks down on attendants?"

"That's not it, but let me ask one thing. Is that consideration for the other person? Or is it consideration for yourself, Young Lady?"

"!"

For a moment, Jin Haryong flinched.

"Ah, it's fine even if it is consideration for yourself, Young Lady, but you shouldn't get caught. Because if we find out, we have to become just as serious. We'll think, 'Ah, so eating and talking with us at the same table is something that requires that much deliberation.' 'She has to try that hard not to hurt our feelings.' 'She's being that considerate.' It makes us think unnecessary thoughts. All so that you can feel at ease, Young Lady."

Jin Haryong could not say anything. Her face was flushed red. It was something she had truly never considered before, so she did not know what to say.

She felt wronged and resentful. She would probably kick her blankets in regret after returning home, thinking, I should have answered like this back then.

Is this why he appeared in my dream?

This thought led back to self-blame.

Ah! I really am selfish.

Even in this moment, she was only worried about herself. She was desperately trying to soothe her wounded pride from the attendant's appearance in her dream by telling herself he only appeared because he was the kind of person who says such unexpected things.

"You're too arrogant for a mere attendant. You should be honored to dine at the same table as me."

After speaking coldly, she added.

"Like that?"

"Yes. Isn't that great? If I were in your position, Young Lady, I would've thought the same. Most of the people eating here would do the same. So you should do that too, Young Lady. Don't think too deeply. You'll only hurt yourself."

After staring at the man for a moment, she shot to her feet.

"I don't want to! Who do you think you are, lecturing me? You're just a pup of an attendant!"

As if she were now going to do as she was taught, she spoke her mind without hesitation.

"I acknowledge it, and it suits you well. Take this opportunity to take off your mask and live comfortably."

"Shut up! You attendant bastard!"

She snapped angrily and stormed out of the place.

Soon after, Seo Daeryong came scurrying over as if he had been waiting and sat across from him. It seemed he had been secretly watching from the top of the stairs.

Sipping the alcohol she left behind, Seo Daeryong said.

"Fated love always ends in tragedy."

Geom Mugeuk knew he was saying this out of concern for him. However, the atmosphere was not serious, so Geom Mugeuk lightly teased him.

"When has love ever been easy? You of all people should know it doesn't work out well even when you're in the same organization, right?"

This was because he had eaten a meal once with a junior from the Sanzu River Hall whom he liked, and there had been no progress.

"Do you have to poke where it hurts? I have Young Ladies cheering for me too!"

Geom Mugeuk smiled as he looked at Seo Daeryong, who was pouting.

Daeryong, I can't have a fated love even if I want to. The moment I start to love, the fate named Hwa Mugi will surely say this. 'How dare you play at love when I exist?' As long as that fate is approaching me, love is nothing but a luxury to me, like the tune that drunkard over there is singing. That's why right now, I don't even have time to feel my own heart, or even its beat, do I?

"Detective Seo, let's go do some martial arts training."

"Yes! For defeated monkeys like us, training is the only way to live!"

"……"

As he stood up, he realized it. Jin Haryong had left without paying again today.