“Hmm… Huh?”
Black Cat momentarily stopped, caught off guard by an unexpected response. She suddenly turned her head to Hyeok Gi-rin, who was listening in.
Seeing her in such shock made me close my eyes tightly.
“Sure, you could say it’s a rather androgynous appearance… but still, isn’t it a bit much to call her a cross-dressing woman outright?”
“Hey, Black Cat. Remember when we talked about resistance to illusions last time?”
“Are you suggesting that Hyeok Gi-rin is using a martial art with an alluring effect? Hm… But I’ve been watching Hyeok Gi-rin on the way here, and I didn’t see any signs of that…”
I watched Hyeok Gi-rin as we traveled, my heart aching at the thought of wanting to know even just a little more about her.
But I had to keep informing Black Cat of the harsh realities that needed to be faced.
Hyeok Gi-rin hadn’t actually mastered any martial art with such an alluring effect. If it did have a mesmerizing quality, it would normally be classified as a seduction or magic technique. It was unthinkable that the Grand Disciple of Jeomchang Faction would have learned such techniques.
“It seems we need to investigate Hyeok Gi-rin’s possessions instead of her.”
Perhaps there’s something among her belongings that’s helping her cross-dress. It could probably be an accessory or a belt…
“That scarf over there looks suspicious.”
In this Martial World, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were items designed to aid in cross-dressing. It piqued my curiosity—what sort of item could help her dress as a man?
Since I was a man, there was no way I could ever become a cross-dressing woman. Nonetheless, an urge of curiosity bubbled up inside me.
“Maybe it could be that.”
Black Cat’s calm response snapped me back to reality.
From the way she was staring at Hyeok Gi-rin, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of some inexplicable anger or sorrow. Perhaps it wasn’t just my imagination. Yes, Black Cat, you’re right to let go. Allowing emotions to deepen will only make the situation harder.
“So, a cross-dressing woman… Hmm. But is there really a reason to hide her gender?”
“Well, according to your information, there’s bound to be something involving power at play.”
“Hmm… So, to protect her kin amidst the power dynamics within the Imperial Family, she was smuggled into the Martial World… It’s an age-old tradition, but…”
Black Cat suddenly pressed her fingers to her forehead and sighed.
“It does make some sense. Being the top prodigy of the Ten Prodigies while having an unknown clan or background is suspicious enough… Even in the Jeomchang Faction, there aren’t fools, and they wouldn’t take in a cross-dressing woman as a disciple without a good reason, so perhaps Hyeok Gi-rin has some powerful backing.”
“If that’s the case, they might be able to gather one or two items to assist in her cross-dressing.”
“Hmm. I’ve certainly stumbled upon an unpleasant truth.”
Black Cat put her finger to her lips and said, “Senior, let’s keep this matter to ourselves. What good would it do to reveal Hyeok Gi-rin’s secret? It’s better to just pretend we don’t know.”
I nodded silently. Spreading rumors about Hyeok Gi-rin being a woman wouldn’t benefit me at all. If Black Cat didn’t have any interest in Hyeok Gi-rin, she probably wouldn’t have said anything in the first place.
A tense silence hung between Black Cat and me.
* *
Black Cat felt her mind becoming tangled. A powerful figure who could place a cross-dressing woman into the Jeomchang Faction… could Hyeok Gi-rin be someone’s secret child? Instinctively trying to deduce Hyeok Gi-rin’s identity, Black Cat shook her head to clear her thoughts.
“Why does it matter who she is?”
There was a consensus drawn long ago that uncovering Hyeok Gi-rin’s identity was fraught with danger. Even with new clues, there was no reason to change the approach.
What was truly important to Black Cat wasn’t Hyeok Gi-rin’s identity.
Black Cat slumped her shoulders in disappointment. Just when she had finally grasped a glimmer of hope. The opportunity to catch Ho Cheon-an’s interest seemed to slip away before she could even make use of it.
Hyeok Gi-rin was a woman!
This meant that no matter how much she praised Hyeok Gi-rin, the chances Ho Cheon-an would respond positively were extremely low. No, praising her appearance would likely lead to weird misunderstandings!
“Haaa, how did this happen…”
Black Cat glared at Ho Cheon-an with a resentful gaze. Even though she knew that the Black Shadow Qi Technique would mask any feelings, her eyes still betrayed her frustration.
“It’s really too bad that Hyeok Gi-rin is a woman… What a missed opportunity…”
“N-no, um…”
Ho Cheon-an scratched his head at the sight of Black Cat drooping her shoulders.
“Maybe we should stop by a bakery after this assignment.”
“Pardon?”
“There’s a bakery in Sacheon that only a few people know about. You’re always munching on snacks, and it’s well-known for its fantastic rice crackers.”
Black Cat thought for a moment. Could it be that Senior Ho was trying to cheer her up? Did he really believe she was interested in Hyeok Gi-rin?
Her mind raced with different meanings. The idea that Ho Cheon-an thought she might actually have feelings for Hyeok Gi-rin sent her heart plummeting. Had she praised Hyeok Gi-rin too much?
“Senior! I’m not interested in Hyeok Gi-rin!”
“Yeah, yeah. I think that too.”
Even though he said that, his eyes were full of pity. Black Cat felt a tightening in her neck.
“What I like is you, Senior Ho!”
Seeing Black Cat’s hands trembling with anger, Ho Cheon-an spoke up urgently.
“Hey, hey! I mean, given the circumstances, it’s totally understandable to get confused! It’s not shameful at all! It’s normal to be misled! If I weren’t special myself, I would’ve easily gotten tricked!”
“No…!”
“Look over there! Can you see the way the Soja are looking at Hyeok Gi-rin? They’re practically dripping honey with how they gaze! Since you’re operating the Black Shadow Qi Technique, nobody has seen it, so it’s just like it never happened, right? Nothing to worry about!”
“Oh…”
Black Cat sighed. Truthfully, she had no real comeback since it was her own doing.
“If only I had been more certain back then…”
She mentally replayed her regrets, the one-hundredth time, when she had shown her face. Overcome with emotion, she had agreed to focus on their training together with the goal of reaching Hwa-gyeong.
Back then, she only thought being beside him made her happy.
“I never imagined someone could overlook everything except martial arts!”
Truly, Hyeok Gi-rin seemed to pay no attention to anything that couldn’t involve martial arts. Even in the underwater cave, she had ultimately failed to attract any interest from him.
“I was a fool to think of jealousy! What an absolute fool!”
Ho Cheon-an simply had noticed that Hyeok Gi-rin was a woman and had tried to stop the flattering remarks about her appearance.
Black Cat felt a serious sense of crisis. If things continued this way, it seemed nothing would happen between her and Ho Cheon-an until she reached Hwa-gyeong.
“Senior! After this matter is settled, we’re definitely going to that bakery together! Got it?”
“Huh? Ah, of course! I’ll treat you!”
This senior needed a more assertive approach. With that judgment, Black Cat snorted, boosting her fighting spirit when Hyeok Gi-rin returned after finishing investigating the situation.
* *
Hyeok Gi-rin looked quite agitated at the shock of being revealed as a cross-dressing woman. Just as Black Cat was about to change the topic and discuss the bakery more, Hyeok Gi-rin returned, face darkened, indicating she hadn’t heard what she wanted.
“Phew… This is not good.”
“The bandits seem to be quite powerful.”
“They came prepared. The four leaders and their sub-leaders from the Fifty Seven Bandit Factions… And it looks like they’ve brought their elite troops as well.”
Hyeok Gi-rin unveiled the information she had gathered from the people. The four alliance of bandit factions had appetizing names like the Green Forest Seven and the various delicious-sounding factions, yet they were notorious in the vicinity of Sacheon.
“Fortunately, they seem to be only after wealth and not harming people.”
“Quite in character for bandits, I see.”
“Hmm?”
“I can see their thoughts clearly. They are nothing but greedy fools caught between both ends.”
At my words, Hyeok Gi-rin exhibited a bewildered expression.
“Why do you think they wouldn’t harm people? If they were to commit extreme acts, like killing or capturing merchants entirely, they would surely earn greater immediate profits in the short term.”
What would happen if they let people go? Word would spread instantly throughout the land. Merchants and travelers heading toward Jeongnam Mountain would immediately change direction. If they hadn’t heard the rumor, those who would have profited from the bandits would be running for the hills.
“If they were thinking about making a clean getaway after a single big score, it would be the worst of strategies. They needed to quietly gobble things up without anyone noticing, just like ants devouring a trap.”
The reason they weren’t doing so was simple—they had a desire to take root properly on Jeongnam Mountain.
The Southern Imperial Road was the lifeblood connecting Sacheon and the Central Plains. It was a gold mine where tremendous wealth flows into the city, and if they could settle on Jeongnam Mountain, they could, without worries, accumulate immense riches for life from nothing but toll fees.
“If they harm people, they won’t be allowed to keep a foothold on Jeongnam Mountain. How could anyone permit someone who harms people in Sacheon?”
“Hmm. Your argument has some flaws. If they genuinely wish to settle on Jeongnam Mountain, stealing from merchants would not be the right choice.”
“That does make sense.”
But why would the bandits, led by the likes of Ho Wang Chae and the delicious-sounding factions, choose to rob wealth while avoiding harming people?
Would the merchants and travelers who’d been raided simply sit back and take it? They’d surely foam at the mouth and cry out to the martial factions for help to eliminate the bandits.
If they genuinely wanted to establish themselves on Jeongnam Mountain, it would be much easier to simply charge tolls than to rob merchants outright.
“However, let’s consider this. Why did they choose to be bandits? Would not some clever individuals who could exercise patience and assess the situation go to live in the mountains and harm people for survival?”
“Ah…”
People have their expectations shaped based on their criteria. Common sense? Laws? Manners? Why would individuals who understand those norms choose to become bandits? If they were decent folks, they would have likely considered joining the Outcast faction instead.
The fact that four significant factions among the Fifty Seven had banded together to form an alliance meant that they were genuinely investing their lives in this endeavor, leading to a belief that all their actions were well thought out.
But bandit behavior should be expected with bandits.
“To invest with patience in a possibly failing plan means one must not be a bandit. They’ve likely worried about recovering their costs and have also envisioned the prospective income that comes with firmly establishing themselves on Jeongnam Mountain.”
Robbing the merchants wholesale. Gaining proper footing on Jeongnam Mountain. Focusing on either ambition was undeniably an arduous task.
“Wealth is tempting, so they’re stealing wealth, yet they desire a foothold on Jeongnam Mountain, while fearing the aftermath of reckless actions. They’re fearful, but desire wealth, unsatisfied with simply taking advantage of immediate profits, longing for profitable long-term outcomes. They are essentially the archetype of those who live day by day!”
“Indeed…”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s gaze toward me shifted. How could I express this?
Suddenly, her eyes sparkled.
“It’s as you said! Just as my disciple said, your insights into seeing the world and the wisdom in your mind differ from others! Truly, your judgment is not mistaken.”
It seemed that Yeo Il-ye had mentioned something about me to Hyeok Gi-rin.
“Ahem, you’re too kind.”
“No, no. I cannot stress this enough. I, Hyeok Gi-rin, have spent long hours mingling with the victims, gathering intel, yet the points raised by the Outcast reflect what I hadn’t considered at all! Despite all the testimonials, I could never grasp their intentions; it felt like walking in a fog. Yet here you are, clarifying it all in just a few words…!”
“Speaking too highly of me leaves me at a loss for words. I only inferred it based on knowing the nature of those at the bottom.”
“No, no! None of this false modesty! To think from another’s perspective. I’ve learned the teaching of thinking from another’s point of view, yet I could never put it into practice. But you, Outcast, have made it a reality; you are better than I am!”
I found myself clearing my throat repeatedly.
There’s a saying that praises can make a whale dance.
Even though I dressed as a woman, Hyeok Gi-rin’s sparkling eyes constantly showering praise upon me didn’t feel bad at all.
“I occasionally hope to seek your guidance, so please don’t decline my requests.”
“Haha. Of course. It’s no trouble to offer my humble opinions. Don’t hesitate to ask!”
“Hehe, to have you graciously accept my requests can only feel like I’ve gained a thousand soldiers!”
Then again! Each compliment was making it harder to manage my smile. I desperately tried to suppress the grin that wanted to climb up my face.
“..Senior.”
A chilly voice from Black Cat interrupted.
