Chapter 53: Chapter: Escort Agency, Fate (3)

The two men returned to the convoy.

One was Mok Riwon, and the other was Gwak Chil.

Avoiding Mok Riwon’s eyes, Gwak Chil headed towards the place his companions were sitting.

“Hm? Brother Gwak, why is your face so pale?”

“It’s nothing. The poop just isn’t coming out well.”

“Oh my, you’re constipated.”

Gwak Chil forced his pounding heart to calm down, trying to ignore Mok Riwon’s gaze that he could still feel.

‘There’s someone who remembers.’

There was someone who remembered his novel.

That fact was strangling Gwa Chil.

Actually, based on the facts, it would be more accurate to say that there were fewer people who did not know of his novel, but regardless, he trembled wretchedly.

Because to him, [Tales of the Martial Heroes] was like a reverse scale.

It was the result of his childish younger days that had pushed his life into such an abyss, one that he wanted to look away from.

‘Don’t talk to me…!’

He wanted to ignore all those who brought up stories related to that novel and the past that came with it.

* * *

Mok Riwon looked at Gwak Chil’s back with eyes full of regret.

Tang Hwa-seo was puzzled by his behavior.

“Young Hero Mok, why are you doing that?”

Mok Riwon’s head snapped around. He began to open his mouth while fidgeting as if she had asked the exact question he wanted to hear.

“Listen to this, Young Lady! While I was training, I met that escort over there!”

“Did that man secretly watch your training?”

Tang Hwa-seo’s eyes sharpened, startling Mok Riwon, who shook his head vigorously as he continued.

“That’s not it! We met by chance and exchanged greetings, and that escort’s name is Gwak Chil! Doesn’t it sound similar to Gwak Chil-pyo, the author of Tales of the Martial Heroes? So in my delight, I talked about Tales of the Martial Heroes, but…!”

Mok Riwon whined in frustration, but Tang Hwa-seo was unable to understand his feelings.

From linking the names ‘Gwak Chil’ and ‘Gwak Chil-pyo’ to Tales of the Martial Heroes, to trying to start a conversation with the other person based on that topic, and even being disappointed that they did not engage in the conversation, she couldn’t empathize with any of that.

Thus, she gave the only answer she could.

“I see.”

Tang Hwa-seo gave her unconditional support, going along with his words.

This was a good technique that allowed the conversation to continue smoothly even in a situation where one wasn’t interested in what the other person was saying.

Mok Riwon continued talking for a long time, and Tang Hwa-seo continued saying ‘I see’ for just as long.

It was more like a one-sided complaint than a conversation in actuality, but it wasn’t bad for either of them.

In any case, Mok Riwon was happy he had someone to vent to, and Tang Hwa-seo was happy to spend time with Mok Riwon’s sweet voice as background music.

Of course, the perspective of a third party was different.

‘Just what the hell is this conversation?’

Although Zhuge San was considered an oddball where he went, even this was something beyond his understanding.

Wasn’t that so?

He thought about how Tang Hwa-seo used to cut off Mok Riwon’s antics whenever he showed such behavior until they arrived in Anhui.

But now she was going along with it, leaving him full of confusion.

Zhuge San felt his common sense crumbling.

His assessment of the woman named Poison Phoenix Tang Hwa-seo was endlessly plummeting.

He didn’t have the will to continue listening to this conversation any longer.

“…Then, how about we have a drink over there?”

Mok Riwon turned his head towards him, tilting his head as Zhuge San continued.

“Don’t you wish to have a conversation with that escort named Gwak Chil? It seems like he’s drinking, so I’ll go with you and let you two talk over a drink.”

“Ooh…! That’s a great idea!”

“Right? On the way, let’s tell them that we will set up our own tent from now on. How about it, Sister?”

Tang Hwa-seo blinked and gave her permission.

“Well, do as you please.”

“Young Lady isn’t coming with us?”

“What would I do there? I don’t particularly enjoy noisy things, so go and come back.”

Tang Hwa-seo waved her hand dismissively.

She, who didn’t like noisy things in the first place, was going to take this opportunity to meditate.

“Understood! Then I’ll be back!”

Mok Riwon just excitedly headed to where Gwak Chil was.

* * *

“If you don’t mind, may we join you?”

Zhuge San said with a weasel-like smile and one arm draped over Mok Riwon’s shoulder in a delinquent manner.

The surrounding escorts were startled by their sudden appearance and widened their eyes, but soon cheered with bright smiles.

“Ah, please, stay as long as you wish. Just a moment! I’ll make some space here.”

“Hey, man! Move over a little!”

It was a situation the escorts never even knew they wanted.

After all, weren’t talents with the title of dragons here to drink with them?

Just having a conversation with them was something they could brag about, but that wasn’t even the end of it.

Since this was a drinking session with martial arts masters, they held great expectations that they could receive advice on training from them.

“Thank you. I hope we’re not disturbing you.”

“D-Disturbing?! Not at all!”

While Zhuge San was lightening the mood with his own modesty, there were two men with different expressions from the others.

One was Mok Riwon, whose eyes were sparkling as he looked at Gwak Chil. And the other was the person in question, burdened by that gaze.

Of all things, Mok Riwon just had to sit right next to him.

“We meet again!”

“N-Nice to see you...”

He responded with an awkward smile, staring at the ground, filled with a gnawing discomfort.

However, Mok Riwon wasn’t one to back down.

“I was disappointed that we couldn’t talk much earlier! If it’s not rude, could we continue our conversation?”

His tone was somewhat desperate.

Gwak Chil closed his eyes tightly, expressing his misery, and then nodded.

“Wh-What could possibly be rude about that?”

“Oh, that’s a relief! Actually, you see. I love this book called Tales of the Martial Heroes so much, but I was always disappointed that I had no one to talk about it with!”

It was a compliment.

Still, he only felt more bitter at the compliment.

His following words somewhat buried those resentful emotions.

“…It’s a mere lowbrow book after all. One that received criticism from the martial world for putting in unnecessary ideologies.”

“Hm? What ideologies.”

“...”

Gwak Chil’s lips quivered, holding back words he couldn’t say recklessly, but they eventually flowed out with a slight irritation.

“…I’m talking about the last chapter. The tale of the Demonic Hero. Great Expert Ink Dragon, you might not know because you’re still young, but because of that tale, the writer named Gwak Chil-pyo was almost publicly condemned by the martial world.”

Mok Riwon’s face went blank.

Gwak Chil thought, ‘As expected, he didn’t know’, and continued with a hollow laugh.

“That’s right. A demonic practitioner upholding chivalry, how preposterous is that? The martial world had thought the same. That narrative had some points that seemed to advocate for demonic practitioners, so you might suspect the author’s ideology…”

“That’s not true!”

Mok Riwon exclaimed.

The attention of all those present instantly turned towards him.

However, Mok Riwon continued speaking without paying attention to the prying eyes.

“The message wasn’t advocating for demonic practitioners! It was a beautiful narrative proclaiming that chivalry exists in everyone’s heart!”

Gwak Chil’s expression went blank.

Even so, Mok Riwon continued with a slightly infuriated expression.

“The tale of the Demonic Hero was saying that anyone can become a Chivalrous Hero! I know that! Without a doubt! Because that tale was also my favorite!”

That was how it was from his perspective.

Mok Riwon had come here with high hopes, eager to discuss the masterpiece, Tales of the Martial Heroes. Finding himself faced with an unexpected critique of the book, he couldn't help but feel wronged.

“When I was younger, I was deeply moved by that story! The tale of the Demonic Hero was a masterpiece among masterpieces, saying that regardless of the form of the sword you wield, if the intention within it is righteous, you can be called chivalrous!”

“Brother Mok, calm down...”

“Damn it! Does it look like I can calm down?!”

Mok Riwon abruptly stood up from his seat, snorting with a ‘Hmph!’and continued.

“You have to proclaim it! The Chapter of the Demonic Hero is a masterpiece among masterpieces, no matter what the martial world says!”

Mok Riwon’s fists clenched tightly.

Gwak Chil’s mind went blank upon hearing the next words. He experienced a momentary tightness in his chest, yet he couldn't fully surrender to the feeling.

“…Brother Mok, isn’t he feeling uncomfortable? He just spoke about how the world sees it, but if you press him like that, he won’t feel good.”

“Ah…!”

It was then that Mok Riwon remembered the fact he had overlooked due to the blood rushing to his head.

“I-I’m sorry. I got too angry… Yes, indeed, you’re right.”

When Mok Riwon’s face reddened with shame, Gwak Chil shook his head while startled.

“No, no. That’s not it. I also think the same!”

After uttering those words, he thought that he had made a mistake and looked at the surroundings.

This instinctive behavior came from his long-held anxiety.

‘…No one is paying attention.’

Not a single person stared at him with a hostile gaze even though he had just said something unbefitting of an orthodox martial artist.

All they showed were pleasant smiles while looking at Mok Riwon’s embarrassed expression.

“Great Expert Ink Dragon seems to really like that story, just like my 10 year old son.”

“W-Well...”

“Hey, it’s a compliment. Aren’t you just so passionate that you think about the essence of chivalry to that extent? It was an eye-opening experience for me today. I got to think about something I’ve forgotten as I grew older, about why I wanted to become a martial artist.”

“Same here. When I was younger, the back of the Hundred Swords who visited our village looked so cool that I wanted to become a martial artist as well.”

Warm smiles bloomed all around.

Everyone present delved into their memories, sharing their stories one by one.

Gwak Chil was stunned.

Why isn’t anyone...

Cursing the tale of the Demonic Hero?

Why isn’t anyone throwing rocks?

He couldn’t understand.

It was inevitable.

Because the story of the Demonic Hero had received so much criticism back then.

There were even talks of punishing Gwak Chil-pyo, accusing him of advocating for demonic practitioners.

Gwak Chil recalled the past twenty years.

He struggled to avoid being discovered as the author of that book, putting down his brush for fear of being pursued again if he picked it up.

Living quietly like that, he had come to lose his enthusiasm.

Those were the years.

Trickle–

Teardrops fell from Gwak Chil’s eyes.

When he realized that everything was a meaningless delusion caused by his own fear, tears naturally flowed from a sense of relief and numbness.

Of course, Mok Riwon, unknowing of that fact, thought that he was the one responsible for making him cry.

“I-I’m sorry–!”

Mok Riwon panicked and got down on his /genesisforsaken