麻豆工作室

Outside the city’s main gates, Tang Hwa-seo looked at the fairly long line of cargo wagons, sealed and secured in the center, then said to Mok Riwon.

“They said it would take about ten days from here.”

“Ten days! Is that when we’ll arrive in Hubei Province?”

“Yes, there will likely be no major incidents. Even bandits move while considering their own gains and losses, so they don’t readily touch such a huge caravan.”

“I heard the Green Forest Gang is around here. They won’t make a move either?”

“Are they not part of the Unorthodox Path?”

“Aha.”

It was a bit strange to say that the Green Forest, who always appeared as villains in any story, would fight while taking their opponents into consideration. However, when you thought about it, they were also martial artists of the Unorthodox Path.

It was natural for them not to do things that would be disadvantageous to them, per their nature.

“Hmm… Then there won’t be any fights.”

Although peace was good, Mok Riwon was slightly disappointed.

Why wouldn’t he be?

There wouldn’t be the opportunity to draw his sword and step forward in a moment of crisis, like the Wandering Hero he admired.

“Even if this is an escort convoy, dangerous things like in the stories rarely happen. If that were the case, there would be far fewer people engaged in this occupation.”

“Understood.”

Mok Riwon nodded and crossed his arms with a serious expression on his face.

“However, accidents can happen at any moment! Since I’ve been paid to participate in this escort mission, I will do my best to be vigilant!”

Tang Hwa-seo replied with a smile.

“How admirable. What an excellent mindset.”

“Hmph!”

A look of pride appeared on Mok Riwon’s face.

Watching from the side, Zhuge San couldn’t erase the thought.

As expected, a mother-son relationship suits this pair better than lovers.

In that moment, the sound of drums along with the shout of the Escort Leader commanding the convoy rang out.

“We will begin the escort mission!”

It was the start of the escort mission.

* * *

Two days after the escort mission started.

There was still nothing that could be called a crisis for the convoy.

It was normal upon consideration, but Mok Riwon, who remained on high alert throughout, was bound to feel a bit of boredom.

However, this was only from Mok Riwon’s perspective, and for the other martial artists watching him, this convoy felt special.

Why wouldn’t it be?

None other than Ink Dragon Mok Riwon had joined the same old convoy.

With the newcomer who had defeated Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon, who seemed like he would be undefeated in this generation and became the winner of the Dragon Phoenix Tournament joining them, there was no chance they would be bored.

“His qi flow is extraordinary.”

“That isn’t all. His face is also… did you see the Poison Phoenix’s expression when the Ink Dragon smiled? She as red as a tomato!”

“How unfair.”

“What can we do? That’s just how the world is.”

He was a man who truly fit the word perfect.

Just by smiling, he made people feel like they had seen a great work of art, and if he happened to look afar with a sharp expression, his serious appearance even elicited exclamations.

But it wasn’t just his appearance. His actual martial prowess was outstanding, and he had youth, so the martial artists of the escort agency couldn’t help but have admiration for him.

There was one reason why this misunderstanding wasn’t broken.

It was due to one particular characteristic of admiration.

The inability to casually talk to the object of admiration. Even the strange aspects of said object could only be seen in a positive light.

In other words, it meant that.

“Oh my, the Ink Dragon is blushing.”

“He must be having a sweet time with the Poison Phoenix.”

“Only the Strange Dragon is suffering beside them. Look at that gloomy expression.”

Even the sight of the three of them speaking nonsense and giggling was seen positively in others’ eyes.

“Young Lady! I just thought of something amazing! I mean, the Wandering Hero in Chapter 6 of Tales of the Martial Heroes! Maybe he’s more suited to fist techniques than blade techniques!”

“I see. That’s quite an interesting story.”

“Isn’t it? If you have to hide your true strength, isn’t it more sensible to use your fists rather than carrying a weapon?! If the Wandering Hero really exists, he must be a fist expert!”

“Young Hero Mok has a great imagination.”

“Doesn’t it make sense?”

“It’s quite intriguing to say.”

Finding it cute whenever Mok Riwon started speaking nonsense, Tang Hwa-seo would just answer absently.

Zhuge San even started wondering what the real point of this conversation was.

“We will rest here! Prepare the camp!”

The Escort Leader shouted.

Tang Hwa-seo made an ‘Ah’ and responded.

“It seems like we’re camping today. Well, it makes sense since there are no villages nearby to stop at.”

“Camping… has a truly romantic feel!”

“This also counts as romance?”

“Of course! I think there’s romance in camping as well–sitting around a campfire and having a friendly chat, and the friendship that comes from drinking together!”

Mok Riwon’s fists clenched tightly.

His eyes sparkled.

“Romance!”

Mok Riwon was intoxicated with romance.

Meanwhile, a few of the other escorts approached them.

“We will help you set up the tent.”

They wished to help make the sleeping arrangements, but just as Mok Riwon was about to refuse with a smile, Zhuge San opened his mouth first.

“Ah! Thank you, we will go to the corner to not disturb you.”

“Certainly.”

Mok Riwon was flustered, thinking it was impolite to push his own work onto others.

After being practically dragged away by Zhuge San, he said.

“B-Brother Zhuge, we shouldn’t…”

“This is the right thing to do, Brother Mok.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means this is good for both sides.”

The one who answered his question was Tang Hwa-seo, adding an explanation in a gentle voice.

“Didn’t this Zhuge man tell you? To think about the weight that the title of a Dragon carries.”

“That’s true, but…”

“It’s uncomfortable for them to let us set up the tent ourselves. Because it would be detrimental to them if we went somewhere and said, ‘The Fortune Escort Agency did not even make the sleeping arrangements.’

“I-I would never even think of doing that...”

“Even if you do not, their thoughts are different.”

Mok Riwon’s eyebrows narrowed.

However, it was more out of confusion than anger.

“Different?”

“Because they don’t know us. And they don’t know of you either. Rather than trying to explain, get used to it. Doing things yourself while explaining every time you meet someone new is inefficient.”

Mok Riwon nodded his head glumly.

“Definitely...”

It was a valid point.

As Tang Hwa-seo said, if the feelings the martial world held towards dragons were special, and if they feared their influence, such things would happen wherever they went.

It was more comfortable for both sides to do this instead of arguing and explaining every time, expending their emotional energy.

“…It seems I learned yet another thing.”

Mok Riwon smiled bitterly.

He did so thinking that the title of a dragon wasn’t as romantic as he had thought.

Both Tang Hwa-seo and Zhuge San understood his feelings.

Because even though they had always received such treatment as they were born in the Noble Clans, there were moments when they too felt uncomfortable with such treatment.

“…Well, if you’re really uncomfortable, let’s help out depending on the situation.”

“Is that okay?”

“We’ll be camping frequently since villages won’t be appearing much from now on. It would be wise to help out if possible.”

As Tang Hwa-seo said that with a smile, he smiled brightly and held her hand.

“Thank you! As expected, there’s no one like the Young Lady!”

Startle–

Tang Hwa-seo’s shoulders flinched.

His voice was fairly loud, so the escorts working nearby made an ‘Oh’ at his words, stealing glances at the both of them.

She felt her face turning bright red.

“A-Alright, we can think about that later...”

“Hm? Understood!”

Mok Riwon let go of her hand with a beaming smile.

Only then was she given a moment’s respite to take a deep breath and collect her thoughts.

What is he trying to do, coming in so suddenly like this..?!

It was a troubling innocence.

While Tang Hwa-seo was rapidly breathing to dispel the heat that had suddenly risen, Zhuge San moved a step closer to Mok Riwon.

It was an act of goodwill on his part, thinking that in case of an emergency where he couldn’t completely shake off Tang Hwa-seo, he should at least create an opportunity for Mok Riwon to escape.

* * *

The moon had risen.

Today, the starry sky shone even more brilliantly on the particularly cloudless night.

On such a night, there was something Mok Riwon always did.

It was none other than performing a sword dance.

Although they were in the midst of an escort convoy, Mok Riwon, unable to resist his urge, asked for understanding from his companions and slipped away to a place with no people.

There, he would begin his sword dance.

Saaaaa–

The ink-black qi reflected the starlight, decorating the void with its brilliant light.

His movements were slow as usual, but there was one thing that was definitely different.

The density of qi.

Mok Riwon’s qi, which had already reached the middle-stage of the Peak Realm, had become so thick that it could cover his entire field of view.

As the sword dance continued, a smile appeared on his lips.

His thoughts had already forgotten everything around him, and the only things on his mind were the sword and the stars.

How much time had passed?

Mok Riwon, who had been so absorbed in the sword dance, was startled by a rustle and abruptly stopped his sword.

“Who’s there!”

Naturally, a sharp voice came out of his mouth.

The person at the end of his gaze trembled in surprise.

“W-Wait! I didn’t mean to peek! I’m sorry!”

A man popped up from between the pushes.

Mok Riwon saw his face and made an ‘Ah!’.

“…Aren’t you an escort?”

It was an aging, third-rate martial artist with graying hair who belonged to the Fortune Escort Agency.

Mok Riwon recognized him immediately.

The man, unsure of what to do, started speaking to him.

“I-I’m sorry! I came out for a moment to relieve myself and was captivated by the flashing light! I-I was unable to peep at your training! As soon as I got close, Great Expert Ink Dragon noticed…”

At the man’s rambling, Mok Riwon found himself calming down.

“I see… I’m sorry too. I may have caused too much of a disturbance in such an open place.”

For martial artists, the act of secretly watching another’s training was one that deserved to be punished with their lives.

Although there was definitely such a saying in the martial world, Mok Riwon thought that since he was training outdoors like this, it wasn’t right to solely blame the other person.

“What is your name, brother?”

“G-Gwak Chil...”

Gwak Chil.

Mok Riwon smiled brightly at that name and made a fist-palm salute.

“Nice to meet you. I am Mok Riwon.”

“I already know. How could I not have heard of the Ink Dragon?”

The man weakly returned the fist-palm salute.

Mok Riwon felt a needless sense of apology at that sight, and in order to lighten the mood, he continued.

“Nice to meet you, Gwak. Come to think of it, your name reminds me of a great writer I like.”

“A great writer you say?”

“Yes. The name of the writer I admire is none other than Gwak Chil-pyo.”

Startle–

Gwak Chil’s body trembled slightly.

At his reaction, Mok Riwon made a beaming smile, thinking that he might also know of Gwak Chil-pyo.

“Ah, do you know him? Indeed! It would be strange not to know Gwak Chil-pyo! He’s the very author of [Tales of the Martial Heroes]!”

He said that with a bright smile, turning Gwak Chil’s complexion gradually paler.

“I-Is that so…?”

It was a reaction that couldn’t be more suspicious, but for him, it was only natural.

What more needed to be said?

The third-rate escort of the Fortune Escort Agency, Gwak Chil.

He was that very Gwak Chil-pyo, the author of Tales of the Martial Heroes, who had put down his brush twenty years /genesisforsaken