“And since His Majesty the Emperor is personally bestowing it, the wealth involved must be nothing ordinary.”
Did I really benefit from Hyeok Gi-rin’s influence?
Originally, I would have just received some reward after an official petition was sent up, but getting tangled up with Hyeok Gi-rin led to a royal audience, which meant the reward I was to receive had significantly increased.
“That’s true… Since the imperial decree has been issued, there’s no helping it.”
The crease between Hyeok Gi-rin’s brows didn’t ease at all.
I thought Hyeok Gi-rin was just feeling reluctant and being apologetic for dragging me into this, but it seemed there was more to it than that.
I figured they would be happy to see their brother after such a long time… But the complex expression on Hyeok Gi-rin’s face indicated it was not such a simple matter.
So, the three of us: me, Black Cat, and Samayeom decided to give Hyeok Gi-rin some time to sort out their thoughts.
Well, it sounds grand, but in reality, we just left Hyeok Gi-rin to their pondering while we started chatting among ourselves.
“It seems Sacheon has changed quite a bit. Can you tell me what’s different?”
“There have been various changes. Have you heard about the completion of the Bandit Extermination Monument?”
“Yes, I only heard about it on my way here.”
“A rather majestic stone tablet has been completed. Since we had to engrave the names of 5,000 people, I expected it would be quite large and take a long time to finish, but the heroes actively participated in the construction.”
“I see.”
It seems the martial artists were quite involved in everything from recruiting stonemasons to transporting materials, resulting in an impressive monument being built at an astonishing speed.
“Due to the influx of people coming to see the monument, Cheon-jung Road has completely lost its functionality; it’s quite the headache. It’s been over a week, and still, it’s packed with people wanting to see the monument.”
Cheon-jung Road is the center of Sacheon. True to its name, it is a crucial road for transportation in Sacheon and can be considered the widest road. It was meant to install the monument at the crossroads of Cheon-jung Road, intending to handle the crowd, yet the monument caused a traffic jam of epic proportions.
“What about the movements of the sects? It must be frustrating not to be able to adjust the boundaries soon.”
“Sigh, on that matter… there have been numerous discussions regarding the Platinum Plate of the Jambeon Sect. Looking back, I feel rather relieved it’s still ongoing.”
Samayeom wore a weary expression. How much must the sects in Sacheon have troubled him for him to look like that?
“With all the Golden Clan’s land being reclaimed by the state, we decided to turn part of that land into a public park and plan facilities for the heroes who helped resolve this situation. One of those includes building a public martial arts arena.”
“Is that so?”
Hearing the fallout from my actions like this was quite a surreal feeling. Knowing my actions were changing Sacheon… it made me feel a bit tense, and in a way, it made me keenly aware of my responsibilities, bringing on a mixture of emotions that are hard to describe.
“Once the public martial arts arena is completed, we’ll hold a martial arts festival to commemorate it and award the Platinum Plate. So until the parkification of the Golden Clan progresses to some extent, the sects in Sacheon will have to wait. After that, I’ll also step back.”
“I understand.”
Well, the effects of the rank battle have already deeply penetrated Sacheon. Young men wearing colored belts, boys distributing flyers—most notably, the tier marks on the heads of the people in Sacheon have become significant. Even if Samayeom steps back, the sects will likely agree amongst themselves to continue the rank battles.
“How about you take a look around Sacheon to see for yourself? It will take a few days to set up the formalities. It’ll also be a nice change of pace for Hyeok Gi-rin.”
Samayeom suggested going out, and although Hyeok Gi-rin had creases on their forehead, they seemed curious about how Sacheon had changed, nodding in agreement.
Hyeok Gi-rin took off the Jeomchang Faction uniform, wearing ordinary martial arts attire, while I donned regular clothing, and Black Cat wore a mysterious outfit instead of her Sacheon Outcast garb.
“Hmm. Now that you’re in disguise, why not dress as a royal guard?”
“Haha, there’s a complicated reason for this.”
Seeing Hyeok Gi-rin’s complicated expression, Black Cat didn’t press the issue.
It wasn’t that I cared much about Hyeok Gi-rin’s cross-dressing; if you explained it, it would be complex… simply put, Hyeok Gi-rin’s cross-dressing seems to have intentionally left some ambiguity. If someone heard, “Hyeok Gi-rin is actually a cross-dressing woman!” the surrounding people might react, “What nonsense is this? How can Hyeok Gi-rin be a woman?” and that would be problematic.
So they lightly left room for doubt about being a cross-dressing woman intentionally.
However, recognizing Hyeok Gi-rin’s identity was a whole different issue.
“The whereabouts of the princess is a secret of the royal family. It would be risky to uncover unnecessary secrets,” and the imperial martial artists might just come to take my head.
Objectively, Hyeok Gi-rin’s behavior was indeed suspicious. Almost no one would feel uncomfortable seizing the opportunity to meet the Emperor.
As we stepped out into that slightly ambiguous atmosphere, it dissipated within just a few steps.
“Ah, as expected, the beauty of Miss Black Cat attracts all eyes.”
“Oh dear~ How embarrassing~ Heroes and Young Masters must protect me well~”
Black Cat seemed delighted to be in fancy clothes for a change. It was as if she had a strong desire to wear extravagant clothing since she usually wrapped herself tightly in black.
Black Cat swept up the gazes of passersby effortlessly.
When Black Cat casually hooked her arm through Hyeok Gi-rin’s, the surrounding atmosphere became charged with tension. Hyeok Gi-rin was visibly flustered by the attention.
“Oh my, you wouldn’t refuse a delicate woman’s arm, would you?”
“Agh.”
Hmm. I wonder if Hyeok Gi-rin is aware of Black Cat’s nature. They’ve been stuck together for over two months; even if Black Cat hadn’t said anything, they might have picked up on it to some extent.
What started as an outing for Hyeok Gi-rin turned out to be Black Cat’s little escapade.
In this Sacheon city, the peak experts are merely peak stage, so being accompanied by the peak stage Hyeok Gi-rin meant it was guaranteed that Black Cat could stroll through the main street without concern for her safety.
“It’s not like you’re enjoying the view of a celestial beauty’s sideboob, are you, Young Master? Be a little more cheerful!”
“Miss! Mind your words! Sideboob? What’s that about!”
Hyeok Gi-rin glanced at me for approval. In a strange pitch, Black Cat exclaimed.
“Leave him be; that guy doesn’t know anything but martial arts, so he’s just a fool.”
“???”
Suddenly, Black Cat accused me of something. Feeling quite wronged, I looked at her, but she turned her head sharply and clung to Hyeok Gi-rin’s arm even tighter.
“That weakling…”
“If I were ten years younger, I would’ve at least talked to him.”
The weak peak expert cross-dressing Hyeok Gi-rin frowned at the mutterings pouring in, while Black Cat chuckled.
In the context of this martial world, walking while linking arms is quite a bold gesture of affection. Many intrigued by Black Cat’s beauty were left sighing in disappointment at this sticky display of affection.
The strategy to repel men by pretending to have a lover, passed down from the legendary beauties, proved highly effective.
Hyeok Gi-rin’s subtle exertion of peak stage momentum likely played a part too.
Thus, Hyeok Gi-rin, accompanied by a heavenly beauty, strolled as a winner in life, reaching the Bandit Extermination Monument on Cheon-jung Road through the bustling crowd.
“Wow…”
A giant monument, easily ten feet tall, stood before us. The stone stele, needing to inscribe the achievements of 5,000 people, was densely covered in text.
I wondered what could be so fascinating, but they turned it into a cultural asset. The monument itself must have become quite the spectacle, as people visited in droves.
What on earth could have been created in just two months?
“Here! Here! Selling the replicas of the Hero Badge that the heroes who exterminated the bandits received! Though replicas, they’re crafted to the same specifications as the real ones from Seocheon Workshop! Experience the feeling of being a hero!”
“These are the hero meals consumed by the heroes of Sacheon during their campaign! It’s the cuisine the heroes ate during their march!”
Where people gather, stalls are sure to follow. From shops selling souvenirs to stalls fiercely advertising ‘hero meals’ that replicate military ration-style dishes, the streets were packed with all kinds of vendors.
The roads were not just filled with stalls.
[Golden Plate holders from Sangil Sect recruiting skilled martial artists! Consult now!]
[Want to start anew in Sacheon? Join the Daoist Sect, holding a Silver Plate!]
Numerous sects had unfurled their banners and set up shop. All were adorned with Hero Badges and proudly displayed the tier marks of their respective sects in front of their stalls.
Members from each of the sects had also set up in various portions, claiming their space on the main road.
As soon as we stepped onto that ground, sharp gazes shot toward us. Of course, those sharp gazes softened when they reached Black Cat, but soon readied again and turned toward us.
“Strangers I’ve never seen before. Peak experts, huh?”
“That person is in the top tier, and that one… I can’t gauge. The woman is also quite skilled!”
Creak! Creak!
Suddenly, several sect members all stood up and approached us in unison. I felt my tension rise as my hand instinctively moved to my sword sheath.
