The main gate of the So Gap Po Mok Jeom, which had sustained damage from the attack of the bandits, swung wide open.
As soon as the door that had remained closed since my party and I stayed at So Gap Po Mok Jeom opened, people surged in as if they had been waiting for this moment.
The ones who rushed in first were indeed the young men, but following them were people of all ages and genders.
Though it was said to be a mix of genders and ages, the majority were undeniably male.
This crowd had gathered at So Gap Po Mok Jeom to catch a glimpse of So Yeon-hwa.
What’s there to hide? Today, the main gate of So Gap Po Mok Jeom was opened because it was declared that all the young men who caused such a ruckus to meet the Black Cat would be allowed to meet her.
So, the young men from the Ak-yang region who had feelings for the Black Cat rushed in, and onlookers came as well, wanting to see just how beautiful So Yeon-hwa was to spark such a frenzy.
The martial artists and servants of So Gap Po Mok Jeom stepped forward to manage the influx of young men and spectators.
“Alright, those who wish to meet So Yeon-hwa, line up here!”
“Step back! Step back!”
With a roar from the So Gap Po Mok Jeom family, order was finally established among the throngs of young men and spectators, and soon the Black Cat appeared.
“Ooh…!”
“Goodness, what a truly stunning appearance!”
The spectators gasped at the sight of the Black Cat, who had completely discarded her usual hat and face cover, now dressed in splendid and luxurious clothing, fitting for the daughter of a textile shop.
The Black Cat took a deep breath while surveying the spectators, before breaking into a smile and presenting herself.
“I am So Yeon-hwa, daughter of Son Mi-ok. I grew up here in the Ak-yang region during my childhood but had to leave for personal reasons. I have returned.”
At the Black Cat’s greeting, the audience erupted in applause, cheering for So Yeon-hwa. Watching this scene made my heart flutter.
She, who usually hid behind her black robe and hat to avoid being noticed, was now at the center of the crowd, receiving applause and cheers.
It was truly a heartwarming sight, and I felt a deep urge to confide my emotions to anyone nearby.
“Do you see? The Black Cat is now amongst the crowd!”
In response to my excitement, Hyeok Gi-rin smiled and replied.
“Yes, I see it. Seo Gong sees it too, right?”
Squeak!
Whether it understood Hyeok Gi-rin’s words or not, Seo Gong in his arms let out a cry.
Once the Black Cat finished greeting the crowd, her gaze turned to the lined-up young men.
Among them were those lost in a reverie while staring at the Black Cat, some blushing embarrassingly, and others wearing despicable smirks.
Seeing the Black Cat standing tall sent chills through these youths’ hearts.
As the Black Cat beckoned, a bodyguard allowed the first young man to step forward. The youth, with trembling steps, slowly approached the Black Cat, then spoke with great emotion.
“Do you… do you remember me? I—I’m Kwang-pal.”
Lost in the intense reunion of long-past memories, the young man. Perhaps he was reliving all the hardships he had faced up to this point in his mind.
All the struggles thus far had led him to this moment, where he would meet So Yeon-hwa and hopefully form a bond!
His entire being broadcasted such feelings, and the crowd stood transfixed, gazing at the Black Cat.
How would So Yeon-hwa react when she met a youth after all these years?
With the audience’s hopeful gazes on her, the Black Cat finally spoke.
“No, not at all.”
A blunt reply!
A sharp, cutting reply!
“How could I remember you just from a name? Could you please tell me when and where we met?”
Ah, that was a lethal blow.
The young man looked as if his heart had just split in two, desperately trying to explain.
“Y-you don’t remember…? I sat diagonally behind you in class, right? You asked me to fetch you a special snack from the school’s shop!”
“…Was there such an event?”
“There was! It definitely happened! Surrounded by classmates in a crisis, you asked me for help!”
This connection was too trivial!
Not only I, but even the audience that had been touched by the young man’s emotions flashed cold stares.
“I see. I was under ten and not very aware of it, so I don’t recall much. But can you tell me why you have come to see me today?”
“So Yeon-hwa! I have held feelings for you since childhood! Marry me! I shall surely make you happy!”
The young man kneeled to propose.
“Oh dear…”
Seeing this, Dokgo I-seol gasped and rubbed her arms. Even though it wasn’t her matter, she was having a fit, just like the others in our group.
“I’ll have to decline. A man who chooses a spouse based only on superficial childhood connections is not to my taste.”
As expected, the Black Cat mercilessly rejected the young man’s confession.
“Ah…! Ahhh!!!”
He crumpled down on the spot, emitting sounds of despair. The Black Cat stood over him, throwing in a final blow.
“If you’re done with your business, would you please get out of the way? I have many others to meet.”
At last, the despondent young man was dragged out by the martial artists, and the second young man approached, swallowing hard.
“Do you remember me? I’m Bumok, the son of the bakery next to Cheongseong. We used to chat when my parents made food.”
This time, there seemed to be some genuine connection as an introduction. The Black Cat clasped her arms and seemed to think for a moment before nodding.
“I remember. You were rather plump back in those days…”
“I stopped snacking naturally as I aged. Now I’m more on the making side than the consuming side.”
“Ah, I see. Congratulations on successfully taking over your family business.”
Emboldened by the Black Cat’s words, the young man fished out a paper-wrapped object from his pocket. It was, unsurprisingly, a confectionery.
The flower-shaped confectionary, resembling sugar art rather than mere snacks, was offered to the Black Cat by the young man, his hands quivering.
“I made this thinking of you. Even if you don’t like it, I hope you can at least try it.”
Oh, how unfortunate.
It seemed that Mr. Bumok had poured his soul into making this overnight, but the Black Cat would likely not accept this candy right here…
“I’ll enjoy it.”
…But then she did?
The Black Cat, with curiosity in her eyes, took the flower-shaped confection, admired its exterior for a moment, and then opened her mouth wide, popping it in.
Crunch! Crunch! Munch, munch!
The Black Cat savored the confection as if enjoying every bite, finishing the petals, leaves, and stems cleanly.
All gone!
The young man watching the Black Cat devour the snack felt a glimmer of hope, while the crowd was divided between those who thought, ‘Aren’t you supposed to keep it precious?’ and those who thought, ‘Isn’t eating it beautifully a form of appreciation?’
Regardless of the crowd’s arguments, I knew the answer.
The Black Cat was inherently pragmatic. Therefore, she accepted the gift graciously.
“It was a wonderful confection. The tiny beads used for coloring the petals, I thought they were just stained, but each one was a delicious little treat. The sour, nutty, and bitter tastes burst forth with each crunch, indicating much contemplation went into it.”
…Indeed, she had just eaten it because she couldn’t refuse a gift, right? The Black Cat, in fact, was a preservationist at heart but chose to indulge rather than reject it.
“Especially when I ate the flower dew, the real flower flavor emerged, and the bitter taste spread out when I munched on the leaves, very impressive. If I were a child, I would have clung to my mother’s skirt daily, begging for it.”
“That… then, for the rest of my life…”
“However, I’m no longer a child.”
The Black Cat cut off Bumok’s words and continued.
“Just as the child who once ate confections has become someone making them, I too have moved beyond sweet treats to prefer something more savory.”
Bumok hung his head low. He understood that the Black Cat’s response was a subtle rejection.
“Even though I’ve come to prefer savory…thank you for enjoying it.”
Bumok left those words before walking away.
“Next.”
After two rejections in a row, the next name was called.
“I definitely received that potato from you back then!”
“Thank you for your gratitude. Please leave.”
Next up.
“If you could just meet with me once, I could offer you this wealth…”
“By the way, have we met in the past?”
“No, but I’ve heard rumors about you…”
“Isn’t everyone else claiming that they saw my face at least once in childhood? Just what are you? Get him out immediately!”
The spectators murmured repeatedly as they witnessed the Black Cat’s resolute manner. A home with a beautiful daughter summoning young men implied she was looking for suitors.
Typically, such matches involve men proposing to women, who would then select their suitor or turn them down after consideration.
However, the Black Cat was systematically cutting down each young man as he approached, causing panic among the audience.
Of course, their assumptions were completely mistaken.
The reason the Black Cat had summoned these young men was to shake off anyone trying to get close.
In sum, it was a rejection ceremony.
* *
The Black Cat’s savage dance with her sharp tongue crushed the young men in an instant.
While some had reasonable connections, they were far and few between.
It made sense, as the Black Cat had spent most of her time at So Gap Po Mok Jeom except during her very young years, meaning that most of the young men gathered here only had fleeting encounters with her.
Those with flimsy connections flew away like paper, while those who had come laden with wealth, or those with their own successes, presented their merits but were effortlessly turned down.
“If you won’t accept my love, I’ll jump into the Dongjeong lake and die!”
“Leave!”
As one young man climbed a tree to threaten suicide, he misbehaved in front of the Black Cat and was tossed out of the main gate of So Gap Po Mok Jeom.
Tumbling across the ground several times, the young man lay sprawled, sighing.
“Phew.”
He recalled the beauty of So Yeon-hwa he had seen moments ago. An enchanting appearance that made him tremble just looking at her. It was beauty that could only be described as a breathtaking national treasure.
But why was it?
He had come meticulously groomed and was fully grown, yet he was able to shake off his affections so easily.
He reflected on the first time he had laid eyes on So Yeon-hwa. Rumor had it a stunning girl lived in So Gap Po Mok Jeom. Overflowing with vitality yet lacking in distractions, the local boys believed this and hung on the walls of the shop, peering inside until their eyes met So Yeon-hwa’s.
And then, he lost strength in his arms and fell from the wall.
How long had that moment of connection lasted? No matter how favorably he described it, it was little more than a brief moment. Yet, the extraordinary draw he felt while gazing at So Yeon-hwa remained vivid in his heart, even until today.
That allure had been so intense that he had cast aside his dignity and life in a fit to merely meet So Yeon-hwa, but now, facing the actual So Yeon-hwa, it felt as if all those emotions had evaporated.
“Ha.”
Why was that?
Despite So Yeon-hwa growing into an incomparably beautiful woman, one who perhaps even surpassed what he had dreamt up, why did he not feel that pull just a shred?
The emotions he felt as a child were directed towards the New Moon, while the Black Cat had ascended to the realm of Hwa-gyeong, naturally blending her New Moon energies into the surroundings, unbeknownst to him, preventing him from understanding his own heart.
Lying flat on the ground, he agonized and pondered until he had no choice but to murmur.
“Was it…first love?”
Was it merely a memory, a feeling of love that had inflated in his mind?
“I loved you, So Yeon-hwa.”
With that conclusion drawn, he, like the young men turned away by the Black Cat, released his attachments.
Thus, the magic of the New Moon energy faded from those youth’s hearts, marking its end.
The allure of So Yeon-hwa became but a memory etched into people’s hearts.
* *
As the long day ended, a modest feast was held.
It celebrated the Black Cat’s ascension and the reopening of So Gap Po Mok Jeom.
The Black Cat watched her mother, Son Mi-ok, comforting the family members of the shop. The staff, who had suffered greatly due to those targeting the Black Cat, were now delighted at Son Mi-ok’s reassurances that they’d see no more trouble.
The atmosphere at So Gap Po Mok Jeom quickly heated up.
The Black Cat found herself amongst her family, joining in their merriment.
Having always kept her distance, the Black Cat opening her heart and approaching her family filled them with joy and excitement.
The Black Cat too had a strong desire to bond with her family and relished in their conversations and the celebration.
After a while of laughing and chatting with her family, the Black Cat noticed her mother Son Mi-ok swaying as she got drunk.
“Hehe, it feels good.”
“Aren’t you drinking a bit too much?”
“Today of all days, I have to! When else would I?”
At Son Mi-ok’s words, the Black Cat forced out a bitter smile. After all, she had suffered even more than her daughter due to the New Moon body and must have had profound feelings of her own today.
“Now I need only see you genuinely getting married, and all my wishes will be fulfilled.”
“Um…about marriage.”
Son Mi-ok sensed the intoxication in her daughter fading. Wasn’t she the very child who’d leap up and cover her mouth whenever marriage talk arose?
“Could you wait just a little longer? Mom?”
“Is there something weighing on your mind again?”
“It’s quite chaotic with so many people around.”
The images of Hyeok Gi-rin and Dokgo I-seol flashed through the Black Cat’s mind. If she were to hastily get married, it would put the royal Hyeok Gi-rin in a tenuous position. Even getting married to the martial artist Ho Cheon-an would yield significant complications.
As for Dokgo I-seol, more precarious situations awaited him; the more flaws there were, the more Dokgo Yeongcheon would attempt to extract favors from Ho Cheon-an. It was unlikely Ho Cheon-an would be easily cornered by Dokgo Yeongcheon, but high chances persisted for complications to arise.
“I don’t want to be greedy while knowing full well that the ones who’ve helped and supported me would be put in a difficult position…”
“I see.”
A moment of silence enveloped the Black Cat and Son Mi-ok. Within that silence, the Black Cat felt guilty towards her mother. After finally overcoming numerous challenges to retrieve a semblance of a normal life, now her daughter wanted to tread an unordinary path, how must she feel?
Perhaps fearing that her mother would oppose her choice, the Black Cat was surprised when Son Mi-ok simply nodded and allowed her.
“Do as you wish.”
“…Mom.”
Son Mi-ok held the Black Cat’s hand and smiled gently.
“Just don’t keep me waiting too long?”
The Black Cat nodded vigorously.
“Of course! If my senior is dawdling, I’ll be sure to push them along!”
“Hehe, good to know.”
Feeling understood, the Black Cat was buoyed, while Son Mi-ok found her daughter utterly adorable.
The two walked hand in hand into the inner room.
A night still alive with the afterglow of celebration. Thus, the chaos surrounding the New Moon body drew to a close.
