"Enough, just behave and carry on the Seomun Clan's line! Gyaaah!"
Seomun Hwa-rin said something that would easily be misunderstood if anyone heard it.
Watching her grab me by the collar and shake me back and forth, I felt a bit sorry.
The only reason I had been able to learn the Thunderclap Sword was because I had promised to restore the Seomun Clan's sword art.
She had allowed me to take not the original Seomun Clan sword, but only its Mystery and rework it into the current Thunderclap Sword as I pleased—that was because the situation had been urgent.
But after learning the Thunderclap Sword, I had grown negligent in actually restoring the Seomun Clan's sword.
No matter how much one could say it was because one incident after another had occurred, from Seomun Hwa-rin's perspective, she had been very considerate.
Even knowing that this was a critical time, she had brought it up—which only showed how much she had been holding back.
Still, sorry was sorry, and difficult was difficult.
I carefully wrapped my arm around Seomun Hwa-rin's trembling shoulders.
Perhaps because of her small frame, a single touch was enough to hold them completely. A round sensation traveled through my palm, which felt a little strange.
I wasn't the only one who felt that way—Seomun Hwa-rin flinched for a moment. When she lifted her head, her eyes were filled with expectation, for some reason.
I met her gaze directly and gave a firm nod. Adding the most reassuring expression I could manage was a bonus.
"The Seomun Clan's line will not be cut off."
"You mean it? Surely not…!"
"It's only that it's been pushed down in priority—once the Heavenly Demon is defeated, I'll focus properly on restoring the Sword Art."
"…Ah. So that's what you meant."
"Is there another meaning?"
"Hmph. There are things you don't know."
Seomun Hwa-rin whipped her head around with a huff, puffing out her cheeks in a full pout.
I let out a small laugh at the cuteness that didn't match her age, and carefully set her down.
"And I'd like you to properly consider what I said earlier as well."
"Hm? What are you talking about?"
"I meant that once I complete a new martial art, I'll organize it and give it to you."
This wasn't just an empty remark. If I were to leave behind my martial arts with any sincerity, I intended to do so through the Seomun Clan.
And why not? Whether before my regression or now, the one who had taught me martial arts most generously was none other than Seomun Hwa-rin.
Besides, the Sichuan Tang Clan didn't seem particularly interested in sword arts, so it made sense to leave them to the Seomun Clan, who would put them to good use.
Seomun Hwa-rin blinked blankly for a moment before asking cautiously.
"Are you truly certain…?"
"Yes. Senior Seomun Hwa-rin, you are more than worthy of it."
"What this one taught you was not all that much."
"I do not think so."
"If you are keeping the events before the regression in mind, that is somewhat embarrassing. Strictly speaking, what this one did was not her doing."
"…"
Though the seal kept her from answering properly, Seomun Hwa-rin deduced my answer from my unchanging attitude and let out a short sigh.
"This one… is not so sure. Of course, if your sword art is completed, it will surely become a martial art that will not fall behind even the Namgung Clan's sword. But that is…"
"Do not overthink it, Senior Seomun Hwa-rin. It is a simple matter."
"Hm?"
Yes. It truly is a simple matter.
If I were to leave my martial art to someone, that person would either be my disciple or…
"My own child — it would have to be one of the two."
"…!"
Seomun Hwa-rin's eyes flew wide open. Even in the unlit, dark room, he could see her face flushing rapidly.
The air slowly began to leak out of Seomun Hwa-rin's puffed-up cheeks, much like a blowfish deflating.
"…When you put it that way, this one finds it hard to say anything more."
"To be honest, I did intend for that reaction to some extent."
"How mischievous. …Still, I am satisfied enough knowing that you have not been neglectful of this one."
Seomun Hwa-rin, having said that, carefully placed her hand over the back of mine.
Then, stroking it slowly, she wore a faint smile.
"How curious. At first, I was certain I would be of great help to you. After all, is that not the way of a Harmony Realm martial artist?"
"Senior Seomun Hwa-rin has always been a source of strength to me."
"Perhaps. But even without me, you might have managed somehow."
"…"
That was not entirely wrong. When matters requiring force arose, Seomun Hwa-rin was always the first to step forward, but it was not as if there were no other absolute masters I could call upon for help.
Tang Jincheon was right there, after all. And if I were willing to pay a certain price, the Lord of the Black Alliance would have lent me his strength as well.
"You have grown too quickly. If it came down to it now, you would likely be stronger than I am."
"That is…"
"Ah, of course, I know now that it is not purely because of your outstanding talent—it is because that talent was paired with the fortuitous encounter of regression. In the first place, I have never felt inferior because of such a thing, so do not worry."
As if to reassure me, Seomun Hwa-rin lowered the hand that had been stroking the back of mine, turning it into a palm facing mine.
When she tapped it lightly, I opened my hand wide, and she laid her own palm over mine.
Because both Seomun Hwa-rin and I had undergone Bone-Exchange Rebirth, we did not have the calluses commonly seen on martial artists. Her hand was simply soft and tender.
But the difference in size could not be hidden.
A body made young by Rejuvenation. Seomun Hwa-rin's hand, having shrunk accordingly, reached only up to the second knuckle of my fingers.
As if comparing sizes, Seomun Hwa-rin, who had been quietly holding hands with me, opened her mouth.
"It is merely that this one feels regret. Because I thought I would give you a little more, and that you would come to rely on this one a little more in return."
"It is not much different even now."
"Do you truly think so?"
Seomun Hwa-rin looked up at me intently as she asked back. But I could not easily answer.
Because while I could receive Seomun Hwa-rin's help now, there was nothing I could rely on her for.
As I fell silent, unable to find the words, Seomun Hwa-rin let out a soft chuckle at my troubled expression.
"Do not make such a face. Just as you said you would leave your martial arts to this one… to the Seomun Clan, is this not also a very simple matter?"
Seomun Hwa-rin, having said that much, gently turned her hand and laced her fingers with mine.
A warm sensation slipped between my fingers. Reflexively, I curled my own fingers and clasped her hand in return.
"Ah."
The touch of fingertips that had felt somewhat empty when merely pressed together now felt completely and perfectly filled, without a single gap.
"You go and do your part. I shall do what you cannot."
A firm resolve was etched into Seomun Hwa-rin's gaze as she said this.
"Even if I were to face the Heavenly Demon, breaking through that Protective Qi alone would be no easy task. Truly absurd, is it not. My martial arts lean toward technique and form, yet to think I would be outmatched in sheer power."
"That is…"
"But it will be enough to ward off the petty things aimed at you."
Seomun Hwa-rin tightened her grip with a bit of force, as if trying to reassure me.
"I will protect you from everything except the Heavenly Demon. Whether it be the Slaughter King who revives time and again, a half-baked Harmony Realm expert forcibly elevated, or some bizarre sorcery—it matters not. I will protect you, and everything you sought to protect."
"…"
"Of course, it will not be easy. I am ashamed to admit it, but even among Harmony Realm martial artists, I fall short compared to figures like the Murim Alliance Leader or the Lord of the Black Alliance. …However, you are not the only one who has changed."
Having said that, Seomun Hwa-rin, still holding my hand, drew a step closer.
Thump.
She rested her forehead against my chest and continued speaking.
"Watching you fight all this time, I have come to realize quite a bit myself. Why did I learn martial arts? I still do not know the answer. But why I want to wield my martial arts—that has become all too clear."
"Senior Seomun Hwa-rin…"
"Perhaps I will never be able to catch up to you for the rest of my life. But that does not matter."
Seomun Hwa-rin took a deep breath. When she raised her head again, a confident smile had risen to her face.
"I will watch your back. So you only need to run, looking straight ahead."
"…"
"And one day, the moment you cross the most treacherous hill on your path. The moment you finally look back at the road you have traveled."
With her other hand—the one not clasped with mine—Seomun Hwa-rin grabbed my collar once more.
But this time, she did not shake me roughly or grab me tightly.
She simply pulled me closer with care, as if telling me to come down on my own.
I did not resist and lowered my head. Seomun Hwa-rin stretched out her neck and pressed her lips to mine.
A soft sensation. A warm body heat. Her breath tickled my face, and our pounding heartbeats folded into one.
When I slowly parted my lips, a silver thread stretched long before finally breaking.
Only then did Seomun Hwa-rin let go of my collar and my hand, and rise from her seat.
With her hands lightly clasped behind her back, she spun around to face me.
Standing against the faint light of the lanterns outside, she smiled brightly.
"You will always find me walking right behind you."
"That is…"
"When the time comes, the one who will pat your shoulder and tell you that you have worked hard will be none other than me."
Those words reached me with a warmth that was hard to put into words.
I knew it by instinct. This was a moment I would never forget.
Even if I grew to be an old man one day, even if I went through regression after regression like the Heavenly Demon.
Even then, I was certain I would recall this very moment and smile.
Because unconditional support was a thing that precious.
This time, I was the one left speechless for a different reason. Seomun Hwa-rin, meanwhile, seemed a little embarrassed by her own words, and began to clear her throat.
"Ahem… Anyway, just know that it's so."
"Yes. No matter what happens, I will not forget."
"T-That much is…"
"Even if I cannot stand shoulder to shoulder with you, I will always be right behind you… That's good. How about we make it the Seomun Clan's family precept?"
"You!? Weren't we having a perfectly good moment just now?! Why are you suddenly teasing me…!"
"Teasing? I'm just saying that I was that moved."
"Hmph!"
The mood was broken, but she still let out a small chuckle, as if she didn't entirely dislike my answer.
Seomun Hwa-rin relaxed her shoulders and spoke.
"Anyway, I've said what I needed to say, so I'll be heading back now. Now that I've set my goal, I can see a mountain of things to do."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
As I gave a small bow, Seomun Hwa-rin waved her hand lightly and left the room.
Then, as if she'd just remembered something, she picked up the sweat-soaked martial robes that had been pushed into the corner.
"Ah, I'll leave these with a servant on my way out, so rest easy."
Seomun Hwa-rin disappeared quickly, leaving me no time to stop her.
I could only tilt my head, staring at the firmly shut door.
"???"
She really did take them to leave with a servant, right…?