"Young hero Cheon. What exactly is going on here, and who is that woman?"
A cold, low voice that reminded me of Tang So-wol when I had first kidnapped her.
I understood why she was acting this way. Worried that I hadn't returned even late into the night, she had come looking for me, only to find me rolling around on the street with some strange woman.
It was a situation ripe for misunderstanding, but this was exactly when I couldn't afford to panic.
First, I calmly put some distance between myself and Seol Ri-hyang, then explained the situation.
I was so exhausted I felt like I might collapse the moment I closed my eyes, but I forced myself to rise. And then.
Thump.
"Eek!"
With that, my strength gave out completely, and I buried my face back into her chest. And to top it off, Seol Ri-hyang reflexively grabbed my head to keep it from moving.
As if to show off, I pressed my nose in even deeper, and Seol Ri-hyang held my head in that embrace.
I couldn't turn around to see what expression Tang So-wol was making right now, but judging by the chill running down my spine, I shouldn't hope for her usual gentleness.
Trusting my instincts' warning, I shouted urgently.
"Mmph!"
"Hic!"
But my words were blocked by something soft filling my mouth, and I couldn't speak properly. It was a bonus that Seol Ri-hyang jumped like a cat whose tail had been pulled.
"Young hero Cheon…"
A hint of sorrow clung to Tang So-wol's voice.
"I don't want to believe it, and I pray it isn't so… but if young hero Cheon has truly strayed, I will have no choice but to kill you both and make it all as if it never happened."
"…!"
Feeling her life threatened, Seol Ri-hyang grabbed my head and lifted it with a swift motion. My neck was a bit sore, but thanks to her, I regained the freedom of my mouth and could speak.
"It's a misunderstanding!"
"Pardon?"
"I can explain everything! So first, would you mind letting me up?"
"…Is that true?"
Tang So-wol grabbed my shoulder and pulled me up, her voice uncertain.
My limbs dangled limply, barely twitching. Only then did Tang So-wol sense that something was off, and she half-embraced me, supporting my weight.
Thud.
I let out a sigh of relief as my head came to rest against a soft cushion.
"Whew… Just hear me out first."
After all, so much had happened today.
***
After the story ended, Tang So-wol looked around with a flushed face, perhaps embarrassed by her earlier misunderstanding.
Though it was late at night and few people were about, it wasn't completely empty.
This place, Yanzhou, seemed to be more active at night, so it wasn't strange.
Having confirmed that there were few people around, Tang So-wol suddenly crouched down on the ground.
"W-well, please get on my back. We can talk about the rest on the way."
"Surely you don't mean me?"
"Who else would I mean? The only one here who can't even walk alone is the young hero."
"Still, having me get on your back is a bit…"
"It'll be much faster than walking while supporting you. And for your information, the Dark Soul Squad is scouring all of Yanzhou for you right now, looking for the vanished young hero."
"…Hmph!"
When she put it that way, I had nothing to say.
In the end, I squeezed my eyes shut and entrusted myself to Tang So-wol's back. She adjusted her hold and hoisted me up without a word. She smelled nice.
Having carried me on her back, Tang So-wol nodded with a somewhat softened voice.
"You did well. Still, I had no idea such a commotion had happened in the past few sijin."
"It must have been quite noisy. You didn't notice anything at all?"
"No. The area around the inn where we were staying was quiet. That's why I only now set out to find the young hero."
"Thanks to you, I'm alive."
I tightened my arm around Tang So-wol's neck and let out a sigh.
Perhaps it was because my breath touched her. Tang So-wol shuddered once, then hurriedly spoke as if to change the subject.
"If what the young hero says is true, the Mistress of Honghua Pavilion was reluctant to involve the Tang Clan until the very end. I suspect she may have taken some measures around the inn."
"That's likely. This place is practically her front yard, so hiding something for a short while wouldn't have been difficult."
So while Seol Ri-hyang and I were slipping out of Honghua Pavilion, she had not only laid a smoke screen around the inn where the Tang Clan members were staying, but had also been driving us like prey in a hunt.
She certainly is capable. Though it hardly matters now.
As I nodded to myself, Tang So-wol spoke up in a cautious tone.
"Hmm. I understand the situation. First, let me apologize for misunderstanding the two of you. I was flustered and my thinking was short. I hope you can forgive me."
"It's fine. The timing was bad, so I can understand why you thought that."
"I—I'm fine too, okay! Anyone would have had the same misunderstanding if their betrothed was rolling around with another woman. No, I mean, they would have misunderstood."
Seol Ri-hyang was rambling. I let out a hollow laugh at the sight of her.
"What's with that strange tone? You speak casually to me, you cursed in front of the Mistress of Honghua Pavilion, but you're trying to act all proper in front of Tang So-wol?"
"I talked to you like that at first too, you know?! But you told me to speak casually! And why would I grovel in front of someone trying to kill me? …But this one's different."
"Different how?"
"She's a real lady from a noble house, she's pretty, and she's an adult. How am I supposed to treat her like a peer?"
Seol Ri-hyang glanced at Tang So-wol. In her eyes was a hint of longing. And self-mockery.
It was an emotion commonly seen in those who had lived at the bottom of life. I had been similar when I was young. To be precise, until I tore down the Jeoksa Faction with my own hands.
Of course, time alone would heal it, but to put it differently, that meant she still needed time.
If I, who was relatively dull, had noticed it, there was no way Tang So-wol hadn't. She opened her mouth in a gentler voice.
"Allow me to greet you once more. I am Tang So-wol of the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"Y-yes, hehe! I'm Seol Ri-hyang…!"
"The one who saved young hero Cheon is my benefactor as well. I hope you won't think too hard about it."
"Still…"
"Hmm. First, how about we make the form of address a bit more comfortable? For instance, calling me 'older sister.'"
"O-oh, older sister?!"
Seol Ri-hyang flinched like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Seeing that, Tang So-wol giggled and nodded.
"Yes. I am older, after all."
"That's… true, but."
Seol Ri-hyang was the same age as me. Naturally, Tang So-wol was considerably older than her as well.
After hesitating for a long while, Seol Ri-hyang cautiously opened her mouth.
"Sister Dang…?"
Tang So-wol patted Seol Ri-hyang's head with a pleased smile.
Seeing Seol Ri-hyang flustered, she put on a playful smile and pretended to look sad.
"Young hero Cheon has an old man's side to him that doesn't match his age, so he's not cute at all."
"Ah, I think I know what you mean. It's because of that expressionless face no matter what happens, and that stiff way of speaking, right?"
"I suppose I wasn't the only one who thought so. Do you know something? At first, I mistook young hero Cheon for an old monster who was lying about his age."
"What? Really?"
Seol Ri-hyang's eyes went wide. Seeing her easy-to-read reaction, Tang So-wol seemed to get into the spirit of things and cheerfully launched into one story after another.
After chatting for a while and easing Seol Ri-hyang's tension, Tang So-wol suddenly let out a sigh.
She patted the back of my hand resting on her neck and continued.
"Haa. You're such a mature young hero, but that's exactly why I sometimes forget you're only fifteen."
"…"
I felt strange. Tang So-wol probably didn't mean it that way, but as someone who had gone through regression, it sounded like I was being told I wasn't acting my age.
When I kept my mouth shut, Tang So-wol gently wrapped her hand around mine.
"Please don't be so disheartened. It's a relief that this time we got lucky and it ended with you cutting down the Mistress of Honghua Pavilion—do you have any idea how worried I was, wondering what might have happened if things had gone wrong?"
"…I'm sorry. I thought I could handle it alone. I didn't know it would blow up this big."
"It's not an apology I want to hear. What I mean is, if something like today happens, I want you to tell me first. Your business is my business, and my business is yours—isn't that right?"
"I promise. From now on, I'll consult you first."
"Just words?"
Tang So-wol pouted and held up her pinky finger.
"I did say that next time I would be of help to the young hero… it seems the young hero Cheon didn't trust me."
She was referring to the promise she'd made me with her pinky the other day. After a moment's thought, this time I was the one who linked my pinky with hers.
"…Is this right?"
"Hehe. Good. I'll speak to Father about it."
Tang So-wol nodded with a pleased voice. Perhaps it was because of the position I was carrying her in. Her swaying hair tickled my cheek.
That was surely why a foolish smile kept spilling from my lips.
And as we were giggling at each other like that, I suddenly caught sight of Seol Ri-hyang, who had been chatting animatedly just moments before.
For some reason, her expression was distant and wistful, as if she had just woken from a long dream.
But the moment her eyes met mine, Seol Ri-hyang's face returned to its usual self, as if nothing had happened.
She opened her mouth in an admiring voice.
"So you really were the live-in son-in-law of the Tang Clan?"
"Surely you weren't doubting me?"
"It's not that. It just hadn't felt real."
Seol Ri-hyang shrugged her shoulders. After that, they exchanged light conversation, asking whether the other had been injured anywhere, as they made their way toward the inn.
Being carried on Tang So-wol's back was honestly a bit embarrassing, but it was just as comfortable.
With the fatigue washing over her, it wouldn't be strange to be nodding off.
For a moment, she gave vague responses with her mind growing increasingly drowsy. Then, suddenly, Tang So-wol hesitated before speaking up.
"But, young hero Cheon."
"Hm? What is it?"
"You said earlier that you originally planned to buy Lady Seol with money and have her removed from the register, didn't you?"
"That's right. But that was to resolve the matter as smoothly as possible—"
"I'm not trying to criticize you for thinking of buying a courtesan with the money your betrothed gave you so you wouldn't feel humiliated out there. Strictly speaking, you were only trying to save your benefactor's daughter."
"R-right."
As I nodded, dazed, Tang So-wol asked in an even more serious voice.
"You were the same when we first met… Might the young hero happen to enjoy abducting women?"
"…"
A moment of silence passed.
Seol Ri-hyang, who had been pretending not to listen but had perked up her ears the moment the story turned to her, clapped a hand over her mouth.
I had no idea what she was thinking, but it was clearly something indecent.
While I was glaring at Seol Ri-hyang, Tang So-wol continued with a firm expression, as if she had made some great resolution.
"If you like it that much, I suppose I could let myself be kidnapped once or twice more…"
"That's not it."
It was just how things had turned out. Really, it wasn't.
…Probably.