Episode 72
“What did you say?!”
Man-yeon Bingjeong jumped up from his seat.
However, Ye-rin’s words continued without interruption.
“You, what are you going to do if that spirit only eats and doesn’t listen? Seriously, it might turn into a pig.”
– “Contractor, you…!”
“What are you planning to do if it starts rolling around on the floor?”
– “Kgh, cough…!”
Man-yeon Bingjeong trembled, trying to roll backward with his front paws holding onto his neck.
Unfortunately, Ye-rin didn’t show any interest in such Man-yeon Bingjeong’s struggles.
This was because she had a good idea.
“Your Highness.”
She looked at Doyul with sparkling eyes.
“I want to go to the Seolgeomwon this time.”
“Seolgeomwon?”
“Yes.”
Ye-rin nodded fervently.
Seolgeomwon was the place where the main force of the Northern Ice Palace, the Seolgeomdae, resided and trained.
The Seolgeomdae was the sword and shield of the Ice Palace, a military group that took to the battlefield in times of crisis. Naturally, they only selected elite warriors from within the Northern Ice Palace.
So, if she were to spar with them and subtly showcase the modified herbivore, they might gain enlightenment and not alter the herbivore themselves.
Especially since the current leader of the Seolgeomdae was known to be a skilled practitioner, standing shoulder to shoulder with the martial arts leader. The commanding officer he personally accepted into the unit was also known for having keen insight.
Without hurting the pride of the people of the Northern Ice Palace, this seemed like an opportunity to teach the modified herbivore!
Ye-rin was ecstatic.
Seeing her like that, Doyul sighed quietly.
“All right.”
“I will absolutely not push myself. So…”
Ye-rin, who was reflexively extending her words, widened her eyes.
‘Huh? I thought he would naturally tell me to rest!’
Facing her surprised expression, Doyul shrugged his shoulders.
“Even if I tell you to rest, you won’t listen, right?”
“W-Well, that’s true, but…”
“Instead of insisting on doing what you want, it’s better for me to watch over you and make sure you don’t overexert yourself. Moreover…”
As if he was about to say more, Doyul pursed his lips and turned away.
“Let’s go.”
Huh? I was about to say something just now.
While Ye-rin tilted her head for a moment, she decided to be grateful for the fact that Doyul allowed her to go out.
“Let’s go together, Your Highness!”
Ye-rin, who briskly stood up from her seat, followed Doyul with light steps.
The remaining Man-yeon Bingjeong grumbled, his face pressed to the ground.
– How can you suggest that I go with you?!
Man-yeon Bingjeong grumbled with frustration, then reluctantly followed the two.
* * *
Ye-rin, Doyul, and Man-yeon Bingjeong headed towards the Seolgeomwon side by side.
Seolgeomwon was located at the back of the Ice Palace, well past the frozen birch forest.
And…
‘It’s also a path I’ve walked countless times with Sejin.’
Ye-rin blinked her eyes slowly.
‘Master!’
For a moment, Sejin’s voice echoed like an auditory hallucination.
Memories of the past surged like a wave.
Sejin and her lives had already diverged, and even though she knew they should never meet again.
Sometimes, she couldn’t help but miss that child.
Among all the places in the Northern Ice Palace, Seolgeomwon was special.
‘How about it?’
The proud face of Sejin looking back at her flashed before her eyes.
‘This is a place I discovered this time.’
His unique cheerful voice tickled Ye-rin’s ears.
‘The natural energy here is concentrated, perfect for training, right?’
‘What’s going on? You found a place like this?’
‘Sometimes, Master, you might need to consider whether you’re underestimating your disciple too much.’
After a moment of being proud, Sejin continued his explanation.
‘What if we build the Seolgeomwon in this direction? It would make training for the Seolgeomdae easier, and the location isn’t too far from the Ice Palace…’
For some reason, feeling a lump in her chest, Ye-rin involuntarily pursed her lips.
‘Sejin.’
Her teacher’s figure, turning around with a proud face, flashed before her eyes.
‘This is a place I found this time.’
His unique cheerful voice tickled Ye-rin’s ears.
‘What’s going on? You found a place like this?’
‘Sometimes, Master, you might need to consider whether you’re underestimating your disciple too much.’
After a moment of being proud, Sejin continued his explanation.
‘What if we build the Seolgeomwon in this direction? It would make training for the Seolgeomdae easier, and the location isn’t too far from the Ice Palace…’
For some reason, feeling a lump in her chest, Ye-rin involuntarily pursed her lips.
“‘Sejin.'”
Though it was within a fantasy, perhaps because she had recently met the living Sejin.
Her thoughts kept drifting towards Sejin.
But then, someone called her.
“Madam?”
It was Doyul.
Returning to reality, Ye-rin blinked and looked at Doyul.
“Why are you like this?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Ye-rin instinctively tilted her head.
Then Doyul narrowed his eyes.
“Really nothing?”
“Yes?”
Doyul, who had momentarily shown a complicated expression, moved his steps again, tilting his head.
‘No, why has he been acting like this since earlier?’
Ye-rin couldn’t hide her perplexed expression.
* * *
Finally, the group arrived at Seolgeomwon.
Ye-rin looked at Seolgeomwon with emotion.
‘It’s been a long time.’
During the past training, she used to come and go so often that the door was worn out.
It wasn’t too far from the Ice Palace, and yet, she wondered why she never thought of visiting Seolgeomwon until now.
Well, she exactly knew the reason.
The reason was…
‘Because it reminds me of Sejin.’
That child personally discovered and designed Seolgeomwon, established the Seolgeomdae, planned and executed the training…
‘Ah, let’s not think about such depressing thoughts.’
Ye-rin shook off those thoughts in her mind and reminded herself that officially, she was visiting Seolgeomwon for the first time today.
She spoke to Doyul with a cheerful voice.
“It’s a very beautiful place.”
Objectively, Seolgeomwon was indeed a very picturesque location.
With frost settling on the white birch forest and a pavilion shaped like the letter ‘ㅁ’ nestled within the woods.
In the middle of the pavilion, there was a training ground for the Seolgeomdae, and behind it were the quarters where the members slept.
“Oh, do you like Seolgeomwon?”
As if afraid she might say something that doesn’t praise the Northern Ice Palace.
Doyul, who couldn’t easily pass over compliments about the Northern Ice Palace, turned to Ye-rin with a slightly relaxed expression.
“I’ve heard that Lady Sa chose this place personally for the Seolgeomdae’s training.”
“Oh, no.”
And then, Ye-rin instinctively tilted her head.
“This place was discovered by the 2nd Lady Sejin in the present.”
“…Is that so? But.”
Doyul widened his eyes.
“How do you know that, madam?”
Oh.
Ye-rin bit her tongue.
Lost in memories, she couldn’t filter what to say and what not to say.
“Well… I read it in a history book.”
In the end, Ye-rin had to awkwardly justify herself.
Fortunately, Doyul didn’t press further and just nodded.
“I see.”
And at that moment.
“Lady Gamo!”
“Our Lady Gamo has arrived!”
Seolgeomdae members rushed in from a distance.
Ye-rin looked at the surprised Seolgeomdae members with wide eyes.
‘Now that I think about it, this is probably the first time I’ve met the Seolgeomdae members like this.’
It’s probably because the main route between the Northern Ice Palace and the main palace was frequented by the chief members rather than the regular members.
She had only met the Seolgeomdae leader a few times, and until now, meeting the Seolgeomdae members face to face had not happened.
Meanwhile, Doyul instinctively shielded Ye-rin.
“Don’t you all see Lady Gamo surprised?”
“Oh, Lady Gamo, you’ve arrived?”
The Seolgeomdae members, who had gathered from afar, greeted them respectfully.
Upon hearing that, the Seolgeomdae members finally greeted Doyul as if they had just noticed him.
Doyul, with his chubby face, teased the members.
“Why do I feel like I’m being left behind?”
“Oh, is there such a thing?”
“Lady Gamo, you seem to be mistaken.”
The Seolgeomdae members shrugged, trying to suppress their laughter.
At that moment, the leader of Seolgeomdae also walked towards them.
“Welcome.”
Doyul responded with a shrug of his shoulders.
“I’ve come to directly observe the training of the Seolgeomdae and seek learning.”
“Well, saying that makes me happy, but I’m not sure what to do about it.”
The smiling leader of Seolgeomdae took the lead.
“First, please come inside.”
Ye-rin, Doyul, and the perennial frost followed behind.
Meanwhile, the Seolgeomdae members surrounded the young Gamo, busy examining and assessing her skills.
“Our Lady Gamo is indeed exceptional, isn’t she?”
“Lady Gamo, the Chief Martial Artist, praises you until her mouth is dry.”
“Yes, Chief Martial Artist isn’t someone who usually praises people…”
Wasn’t that enough?
They practically showered her with compliments.
“It’s too much.”
Feeling embarrassed, Ye-rin awkwardly laughed.
However…
“That can’t be true!”
“We all know. When Lady Gamo first entered martial arts not long ago, she defeated the disciples of Chief Martial Artist one by one, right?”
“At that time, Chief Martial Artist seemed so interested in Lady Gamo.”
“What did she say? If she doesn’t accept Lady Gamo as a direct disciple, she might regret it forever?”
The Seolgeomdae members gathered their information and discussed animatedly.
Ye-rin flinched involuntarily.
‘Right, come to think of it…’
The day when Ye-rin first visited the Martial Arts Pavilion.
What kind of gaze did Chief Martial Artist cast upon her?
That look was undoubtedly…
‘Madness…’
For some reason, a shiver ran down her spine, and Ye-rin trembled all over.
One of the Seolgeomdae members suddenly spoke to Ye-rin.
“That aside, Lady Gamo.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Chief Martial Artist also mentioned that, despite dueling with you, she couldn’t gain the upper hand. Is that true?”
The Seolgeomdae member’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
