Chapter 506
I looked up at Sword Queen, who had appeared on the roof. Her expression was quite different from earlier.
I had expected her to notice and show herself anyway. In the first place, that was what I had wanted.
“It has been a long time.”
“It has. It has been a long time.”
“I never imagined I would meet you like this....”
And I truly had not. How had I ended up seeing Sword Queen here?
“Why are you with them?”
When I asked with my question plain in my voice, Sword Queen looked at me with a curious expression.
“If you find it strange that I am with them, does that mean you know who they are?”
“No. I do not.”
“Then?”
“I simply thought, for some reason, that they did not seem like the sort of gathering Sword Queen would attend. That is why I asked.”
It did not matter that their ages were all over the place. What was so strange about that? But there was such a thing as a difference in atmosphere.
The difference between them and Sword Queen. No, to begin with, Sword Queen was the sort of existence who looked strange no matter where she was placed.
“What sort of gathering is it?”
“Just a social gathering.”
“A social gathering.”
A social gathering. For her to call it that....
“The atmosphere looked vicious.”
“.......”
The atmosphere they carried was not social. It would not have been wrong to say they were all holding swords to one another’s throats.
Was that what people called socializing? At the very least, I did not think the word fit.
“And.”
I looked past the window frame at someone inside. The person I was looking for was there.
“Hmm.”
Did Sword Queen know this as well? I doubted it. If she did... then there would be no reason for Sword Queen to be in there.
“...Then what about you, Young Master Bang? Why are you interested in that gathering?”
“Because of you, Sword Queen... is what I could say, but I suppose you would not believe that.”
“No. I would not.”
“There are circumstances. I did not know you would be among them.”
“Is it perhaps an issue involving Sky-Crushing Palace?”
“.......”
At those words, I stared at Sword Queen. Because the term Sky-Crushing Palace had come from her mouth.
At my gaze, Sword Queen said,
“I heard about it. I was told that Young Master Bang can identify people from Sky-Crushing Palace.”
“...That is not wrong, but unfortunately, there are none among them.”
“Is that so.”
For some reason, she looked disappointed. Had Sword Queen been hoping there was a Sky-Crushing Palace spy among them?
“Then why?”
“As I said, there are circumstances.”
“And those circumstances are?”
“Can Sword Queen tell me her circumstances?”
“.......”
Sword Queen closed her mouth. Then she shrugged.
“Unfortunately, it seems neither of us can speak.”
She gave up quickly. Was that because she had lived so long? Or....
Is there another reason?
I was curious, but decided not to mind it. Right now, I did not have time to spend on Sword Queen.
“I hope you remain unharmed.”
“My, are you ending the conversation just like that?”
“Do you have more to say...?”
I had thought there was not much else to discuss, so I was trying to end it. But Sword Queen reacted as though she found that regrettable. What was this?
“I was glad to see you again after so long. It feels a little unfortunate to end it so quickly.”
“...I am grateful you would say that, but unfortunately, I also have something of a schedule.”
“A schedule with that gathering?”
“Something similar.”
I had not lied. She would find out anyway.
“Hmm.”
Sword Queen narrowed her eyes and looked at me. Her gaze felt burdensome. Just as I wondered whether I should avoid it—
“I understand. I hope we can talk a little longer next time.”
She smiled brightly, then took one step forward. With that, she leapt back toward the building on the other side.
A short while later, I saw through the gap in the window that Sword Queen had returned to the gathering.
It was also a declaration that she would not intervene in my business.
Was that consideration in its own way? Or was she ignoring it?
What a peculiar person.
Every time I saw her, she was peculiar. It seemed as though she had some purpose, but I could not tell what that purpose was.
The other beings beyond heaven were the same.
They—
All of them were hiding their own convictions and purposes.
I simply did not know what they were.
At a glance.
It also seemed as though all of it was being tied together in one place.
Tap. I propped my chin on my hand and stared only at the window frame. I did not know how much time passed like that.
She’s moving.
The person I had been watching finally began to move.
Seeing that, I also rose.
It meant the time had come.
*****
The gathering had not ended. It was only my target who had moved.
She left the building and headed somewhere with fewer people, and the path gradually grew more complicated.
Where was she going? I did not bother wondering. Anywhere was fine.
I followed and followed, and eventually, a forest appeared. It was a sparse clearing just outside the county town.
When she arrived there, the woman who had been walking stopped.
Then she turned around and met my eyes.
I was not surprised. I had not hidden myself, and in the first place, it was probably because of me that she had come out.
“Who are you?”
The woman asked.
“And who might you be, to keep sending pressure at me?”
“My apologies. I did not think you would feel it.”
“.......”
The woman frowned. It was exactly as she said. Ever since I found her, I had been continuously sending qi toward her.
Very faintly.
“...If you meant to play a prank, I cannot say it feels pleasant.”
“It was not exactly a prank. I simply had something to confirm.”
“...Confirm?”
“Yes. Confirm.”
She had felt the pressure. That meant the woman’s realm was probably higher than it looked.
How high was it? I was not sure. She had killed off her presence completely, so I could not judge properly.
And besides.
If my guess is right, she is probably hiding her realm too, so it is a meaningless question.
I set aside any judgment concerning her realm as well. There was little point in confirming that.
“What were you trying to confirm?”
The woman asked with clear discomfort on her face. Looking at her, I said,
“There was something I needed to find out.”
“What...?”
“I will ask you this.”
“Yes.”
“Are you a Demonic Cultist?”
“...What?”
At my question, the woman reacted as though asking what nonsense I was spouting. What appeared on her face was definite confusion. But it was not confusion at having been found out. It was closer to the face of someone wondering what kind of dogshit I was talking about.
“...What are you saying right now? A Demonic Cultist?”
“Yes. A Demonic Cultist.”
At a glance, her expression truly looked innocent. Even a look of offense rose immediately.
“I do not know what kind of rude question this is. Do you even know who I am before saying such a thing?”
“Ah, I was busy, so I did not have time to look that far into it. Would you mind introducing yourself?”
“What did you say?”
The woman looked utterly dumbfounded. Her face said she had no idea what this man was talking about.
But I was sincere. I had been far too pressed for time to dig up her information too.
“...I am Mi Yeonhwa of the Mi Family of Shanxi. And what identity might you have, young master?”
The Mi Family of Shanxi.
I had heard of them before. As for someone named Mi Yeonhwa among them—
Well. I don’t know that.
I had never heard the name. The woman appeared to be around thirty. If I did not know her epithet, that meant she was not a widely known heroine.
“The Mi Family of Shanxi... You were a blood relative of a remarkable noble family.”
“Thank you for the praise. So, young master, do you have no identity to reveal?”
“No. Fortunately, I can tell you as well.”
I removed what I was wearing. When my face was revealed, Mi Yeonhwa’s eyes widened.
“...White hair and blue eyes.... Could you be Moon Hero...?”
“You recognize me. I am a little embarrassed.”
“...Why would Moon Hero?”
Her eyes were startled at the sight of me. If I looked only at that, she truly did not seem to be the one.
“I told you earlier. I have some business.”
“You mean that ridiculous business where I somehow look like a Demonic Cultist?”
“That’s right. Lady Mi. Are you a Demonic Cultist?”
“...I do not know how you arrived at such a conclusion, but I am a martial artist of the orthodox faction. I do not understand why you keep repeating such a rude question. Even if you are Moon Hero, this is unpleasant.”
Mi Yeonhwa twisted her expression completely as she voiced her displeasure.
I thought she was quite good at acting.
What should I do? If I kept asking, it seemed like we would only go in circles.
“I do not know whether you are trying to joke or what intention you have, but I will certainly protest this matter directly to the Murim Alliance and the Azure Moon Sect.”
Mi Yeonhwa began walking. It seemed she intended to leave me behind. That would be a little troublesome.
Clink.
I drew my sword and launched Sword Aura.
CRAAACK—!!
“...!!”
The ground was cut open. Mi Yeonhwa froze stiff at the sight. When she turned back toward me, her eyes were full of shock.
“...What... are you doing right now? Did you just threaten me...?”
“Will you report this too?”
“O-of course I will...! How could someone called Moon Hero do such a thing!”
“You really are good. I acknowledge it.”
“What did you say...?”
“Is that how you avoided getting caught? Because you act that well? Fascinating. I kind of want to learn.”
“What nonsense do you keep—!”
“Your right thigh when you walk.”
“What?”
Ignoring the question that burst from her, I added,
“When you walk, that part moves faintly faster. When you stand still, you sometimes tap your thigh with your right middle finger too.”
“...What are you talking about...?”
“That trait probably means, whether it was when you were young or some other time, that you injured that side of your thigh, or that you are conscious of it. It is not exactly a common habit.”
“.......”
“And your breathing speed and traits are the same too. Small habits can overlap, sure, but when several traits like that stack together, it ultimately means you are the same person.”
Whoooosh. The wind blew. It felt somewhat sharp and heavy.
The woman’s expression before me was the same.
As though the atmosphere had changed at once, her reaction had also shifted.
Her expression hardened, and her eyes lifted sharply.
The force flowing from her shoulders was the same.
“So.”
I looked at her and continued.
“What I am saying is, let us not pretend this is our first meeting. Understand?”
We had already met.
Had we not seen each other at the negotiations?
“You were angry with me too, weren’t you?”
I remembered the woman who had tried to draw her sword against me then.
I remembered the habits and feeling she carried.
The Demonic Cultist who had shown hostility toward me that day was standing before my eyes.
Under the name Mi Yeonhwa of the Mi Family of Shanxi.
“.......”
When I pointed that out exactly, Mi Yeonhwa suddenly moved. She swept her hair back from her forehead with one hand.
Then.
“Aaah.”
CRACK—!
With the sound of something breaking—
“...How annoying.”
Her mask shattered.