Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

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Chapter 1: Spider Web

“Young Mistress…”

“Nangong Seol…”

As my older sister had mentioned in advance, it wasn’t exactly a close relationship where they casually called each other by their surnames.

However, regardless of their connection, standing side by side, their beauty was blinding, making me feel like my eyes might burn out.

Their radiant beauty combined to create a dazzling sight in front of me.

Truly, my eyes were feasting today.

‘Wait, or maybe it’s overindulgence?’

If my older sister exuded the cool aura of an icy princess, then the Little One, Nangong Seol, was a vibrant beauty reminiscent of vibrant spring flowers.

Seeing the two of them together felt like gazing at a picturesque painting.

‘Though, this is a matter of preference. My sister certainly isn’t inferior in any way!’

Confirming the two of them together, my immediate thought was that my sister was no less than the best in the Central Plains.

It wasn’t because I held the title of her fiancé, but rather an extremely objective impression. There was no way I could agree to the notion that Nangong Seol was the most beautiful in the region while my sister hid in her shadow.

As I pondered adjusting the ranking in my mind, their greetings continued.

“I’ve heard from Eun-i. You brought the Spirit Medicine… Thanks to you, I’m able to wield my sword again for the time being. I don’t know how to express my gratitude…”

“It’s nothing. I’m glad to be of help.”

The conversation was notably awkward, a stark contrast to my sister’s earlier worries about meeting Nangong Seol.

‘Why do both of them give off the vibe of having no friends?’

I felt uncomfortable just watching, and it seemed Nangong Eun shared my thoughts, shaking her head in disapproval.

At that moment, Nangong Seol turned to me and asked, “And who is that over there?”

“Oh, that’s my fiancé Wei So-ryong. So-ryong, this is the Little One, Nangong Seol from the Nangong Clan.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Wei So-ryong.”

“Oh my, I see you’ve got a fiancé? It’s a pleasure to meet you, Wei So-ryong. I’m Nangong Seol of the Nangong Clan.”

“Yes, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Uh…?”

‘Is there no desire to continue the conversation?’

Usually after greetings, there’s a customary inquiry about how the journey was, hopes to see each other again, or casual niceties about appearances, but the conversation abruptly ended after that short exchange.

Feeling the tension, Nangong Eun hesitantly spoke up, “C-Congratulations to you both! Ah, I wonder when I will have a fiancé? Since we haven’t seen each other in a while, why don’t we have some tea and chat? I have many questions. Please share your stories with each other.”

“Just when I was feeling thirsty, that sounds great. Little One.”

“I told you I knew what to suggest! Then I’ll have the servants prepare some tea and snacks! Haha…”

Nangong Eun and I exchanged glances filled with ‘You’re the one suffering’ messages.

After brief pleasantries, Nangong Eun sent someone to prepare tea and snacks, and we began conversing in the pavilion.

As we discussed how my sister and I had met, the conversation naturally drifted to the topic of Nangong Seol.

Her younger sister spoke up, looking confused. “But I really don’t understand. What were people actually looking at if it wasn’t my sister? And how did they know the mole hidden in my sister’s private area was located where it was?!”

I, who had a knack for escape room games and detective work in my previous life, carefully posed my question.

Given that they called me ‘Sherlock Fabre’ when I solved mysteries, this was indeed the type of conundrum I adored.

“Um… This may be a delicate question, but have you ever washed your body alone at night near a pond or river?”

The moment I asked, three pairs of eyes turned towards me.

I heard Nangong Seol’s voice. “So you’re suggesting that someone might have been spying on you.”

“Yes, it seems that way…”

And Nangong Eun joined in. “To spread a rumor about our sister and frame her?”

“Normally, that would be the most plausible explanation.”

“But everyone currently in the guest room is from the village below the mountain, having grown up with us. No one would slander or speak ill about the Nangong Clan. The lower mountain village is like family to the Nangong Clan.”

“I’ve never washed my body outside of the house.”

‘So no one has seen Nangong Seol’s body, and there’s no one who could have?’

Denial of a slight possibility left us with no further leads.

As everyone expressed confusion, my sister’s voice broke through, sounding like she had an epiphany. “In cases like this, there’s usually one highly likely possibility, right?”

“Possible what?”

“What is it?”

With expressions suggesting they were seeking answers, Nangong Seol and Nangong Eun turned towards my sister, who smiled confidently.

With a voice full of pride, my sister said, “It’s a ghost.”

“Eh?”

‘No, Sister, why are you saying such things! I’m embarrassed!’

I could understand the dragons, but suddenly bringing up ghosts was a stretch.

I worried she might be overly absorbed in Eastern fantasy or spiritual beliefs.

Especially since many of my past mentors warned against marrying someone who delves into religion or superstition.

They said such things could ruin not just the marriage but one’s entire household.

But then again…

‘Wait a minute…’

Thinking about it, the mother of the Ogong had already passed and once appeared in a dream.

Suddenly, this didn’t seem like an impossible story after all.

In my dreams, the mother of the Ogong took the form of my sister, and when reflecting on it, she also resembled Nangong Seol.

‘Sister, are you a genius?’

“Surely, that’s the only possibility, right?”

“If that’s the case, it must be just that.”

“Ghosts sound scary. But I do want to see one.”

The Nangong sisters nodded in agreement, as my sister’s suggestion struck a chord.

I then asked Nangong Seol again, “Have you happened to carry or touch any unusual items recently? Like perhaps the Spirit Venomous Creatures’ Inner Dan?”

Based on my experience, this was the most plausible question to ask.

Since the mother of the Ogong could take on my sister’s form by consuming her Inner Dan, it seemed like some contact was necessary.

Then, Nangong Seol pondered for a moment but shook her head.

“I always just use whatever I always touch; I don’t think I have anything unusual.”

“Is that so?”

‘Then what could it be?’

The inquiry hit yet another dead end.

Just as I was about to give up hope, Nangong Seol spoke up again, as if realizing something.

“Ah! I do have something that comes to mind recently!”

“What is it?!”

“Sister, do you recall anything?”

Everyone’s interest piqued at the mention of something that had come to mind.

With all eyes on her, Nangong Seol replied, “Recently, I touched an acorn! Oh! And also a branch!”

The excitement built and just as quickly fizzled out.

‘Could it be! The reason Nangong Seol is being praised as the most beautiful in the Central Plains is because of her airheadedness?!’

If that turned out to be true, it would be difficult for my sister’s ranking to hold anyone worse than herself.

If the intelligent sister met the airheaded beauty Nangong Seol, then the outcome was quite predictable.

Indeed, such airheadedness triggers the protective instincts in men and holds a high appeal.

As I pondered how to respond, she delivered an unusual statement for the first time with a hint of suspicion.

“Ah! And when I was training alone at night, I sensed someone’s presence, and when I went to check, there was no one there!”

“Someone’s presence? Sister?”

“Yes, I distinctively sensed something, but when I went to investigate, there was nobody. At first, I thought it was you following me. So, I thought I was just being paranoid, and I ignored it after that, but looking back, it seemed to happen every time I trained. Like someone was watching me. Yes, it felt like that.”

“That does sound a bit suspicious.”

Just then…

There was a commotion outside, and a servant girl dashed in to report to Nangong Seol.

“Miss! I have something to tell you…”

“Does it have something to do with the noise outside?”

“Yes, Miss.”

The servant girl whispered something into Nangong Seol’s ear.

Once she finished, Nangong Seol slammed her palm on the table and stood up abruptly.

Clap!

“What’s happening, Sister?”

“What’s going on, Little One?”

“I heard that after a few days of calm, someone from the village has gone missing again! They say the warriors have left the clan to help look for the missing person!”

“Really?!”

The servant’s report was about the disappearance that halted when Nangong Seol was trapped in the dead room, indicating it had resumed, causing her to touch the lizard abuse murder mark on her hand, shouting angrily.

“I should catch that ghost myself and repay the grudge against my land’s purity! The grudge of Su-gongsha, to be exact!”

Upon hearing that, Nangong Eun gasped.

She had already experienced the terrifying consequences of such actions, hinting at her reluctance to sneak out again.

“Sister, what do you plan to do!? If you sneak out alone again, you’ll really be in big trouble!”

Nangong Seol smiled and replied, “This time, we’ll all go together, so it should be fine.”

“All together?”

At Nangong Seol’s words, Nangong Eun blinked in surprise.

It was the first time Nangong Seol, who had never smiled at me since we met, looked at my sister and me with a beaming smile.

“Will you two help me?”

While I felt like I should quietly step back, some part of me sensed I was about to get entangled in a chaotic incident.

As my sister and I exchanged worried glances, Nangong Seol pulled something out from her waist.

“What’s this?”

She presented an item resembling a traditional decorative accessory known as a norigae.

It was a trinket made of blue and red threads, and when we inquired, Nangong Seol explained.

“This is a norigae made from knots. The jade-like ornament in the middle is made from Ice Orb. And it can also be split in half. Though I don’t know why you’re searching for the Ice Orb, if you’re looking for something portable, this isn’t a bad option.

It could also serve as a token between you two. What do you think? If you help me, I’ll give you this.”

To be honest, the deal didn’t sound bad considering the exchange I made with the clan head was merely an average item.

However, thinking about its portability, the norigae seemed highly advantageous.

If we had to carry the Ogong with us, the ornament would definitely be more convenient.

Therefore, I answered Nangong Seol.

A woman’s chastity is her honor and life, and it must be reclaimed.

“Of course it’s not that I desire the Ice Orb. Considering this is a matter concerning a woman’s chastity, I feel compelled to help. Isn’t that right, Hua Eun?”

I’ve always been a humanitarian at heart.

And shouldn’t Fabre, who suffered such torment because of a ghost, be the one to repay that debt?

*

On a night so dark that even clouds obscured the crescent moon, it was indeed a challenging night.

I was saved by having learned how to summon my Inner Dan; otherwise, I would have struggled immensely.

Leading us in a different direction from where the warriors were searching, Nangong Seol walked ahead.

From behind, the whining voice of Nangong Eun followed us.

“Sister, if I get caught this time, I’m surely confirmed to be locked in the dead room. No, that’s not enough; I’ll definitely be in there for half a year.

Wei So-ryong, we must stop her! How can you be so captivated by the Ice Orb! I thought we had a common purpose to deter her!”

“I’m only helping because it’s not for the Ice Orb; it’s about Nangong Seol’s precious chastity that—”

“Ah! I don’t know! What am I going to do…?”

Nangong Eun’s complaints had a basis—she not only failed to deter her sister but also snuck out with the sword that once belonged to the clan head, which had been displayed in the clan hall.

Supposedly imbued with powers to dispel evil spirits, it was something Nangong Seol insisted on bringing with her.

Was that all?

She’d also silenced the guard warriors who were supposed to patrol by dazzling them—they were surely going to face even more severe repercussions than Nangong Seol if caught.

She seemed the type who couldn’t say no when her sister made a request.

A mix of complaining yet getting things done kind of vibe?

“Eun, there are guests present, so try to avoid any reckless actions.”

“Do you think I’m being reckless now?!”

“Eun, at this rate, the ghost will surely escape.”

“Haa…”

Under the teasing critiques from Nangong Seol and my sister, Nangong Eun quickly suppressed her words as we finally reached a small hill.

Arriving at this small hill, carpeted with fallen petals, Nangong Seol led us to the boundary with the forest.

In the shadows of the trees, visibility became almost nonexistent.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes, I’m certain it was around here.”

“There might be traces, be it of a ghost or something else, so let’s investigate the surroundings carefully.”

“Understood.”

Uncertain of what we were looking for, we decided to comb the area for any clues.

As we scoured the area, it began to seem a bit hazy before a thick fog started rolling in.

And before we knew it, the fog enveloped us completely.

Panicking, I looked around, but I could see no one from our party.

“Hua Eun? Nangong Seol? Nangong Eun?”

I called out their names, but there was no response.

‘Have they all scattered in the fog?’

Thinking it might be risky to not have everyone together, I resolved to track them down when I felt something snagging at my ankle.

Bending down to check what was caught around my ankle revealed a thin, elastic thread.

As I gently tugged at it, my eyes caught sight of the long strand leading deeper into the forest.

“What is this?”

Soon enough, I recognized the thread instantly from my past experiences.

‘This is definitely a spider web!’

While thicker than normal, it was unmistakably a web.

Given its thickness, I wondered how large the spider that spun this might be when—

Eek!

A scream echoed from deeper within the forest.