The Protagonist’s Guardian Angel

I faced him in silence and tapped the table lightly.

“You can think I’m lying and ignore me. And I’ll give you the Heart Soul Scripture. Of course, I will require compensation…”

Namgoong Cheon stared at me wordlessly and released another deep sigh.

Then he spoke in a calm tone.

“I’ll think about it.”

After answering slowly, he shook his head several times and walked away. I silently watched him retreat.

“Are you okay?”

The Sword Saint’s voice was calm. She gently patted my shoulder and sighed softly.

“You’re not wrong in what you said. So don’t be afraid. I’m right here with you.”

“Haha. That’s really reassuring.”

“This isn’t a joke; I’m serious.”

I know.

But what I told Namgoong Cheon wasn’t just because I had a powerhouse like the Sword Saint behind me.

“As I mentioned earlier… You must have already known, Elder. Yet… you couldn’t do anything because…”

“Obsession… is that it?”

“Yes. Someone had to say it, and coincidentally, that someone is me.”

I downed the remaining drink in one go and stood up.

“Alright. Let’s head up and rest.”

*

“Am I holding my son back? Is my existence preventing the Namgoong Clan from advancing?”

Namgoong Cheon sighed heavily as he paced in the spacious room.

“…I already knew that…”

His clenched fist tightened. Yes, he knew.

He was aware that the Namgoong Clan had become complacent because of the existence of their transcendent.

Without trials, a person cannot evolve.

For a long time, the Namgoong Clan had existed as an eminent orthodox sect and had honed its power.

To avoid stagnation, the Namgoong Clan always emphasized to its members the necessity of upholding righteousness and prioritizing the values of the orthodox sect.

And whenever an enemy appeared, they fought first. When famine struck, they did not hesitate to share the clan’s wealth.

All for the sake of the Namgoong Clan.

All for the stability of the world.

Because that is the duty of a leader of the orthodox sect.

As a result of those efforts, many praised the Namgoong Clan.

Then one day, he realized.

As his fame grew, the clan head, Namgoong Chuh-seong, seemed intimidated.

The Namgoong Clan could only exist because of Namgoong Cheon.

The Namgoong Clan could be called the foremost among the five great clans because Namgoong Cheon stood as their protector.

The Namgoong Clan…

The Namgoong Clan…

When he realized that all of that included his own name, it was already too late.

But he couldn’t stop.

It wasn’t easy to come down from a mountain that had reached the heavens.
Descending from such a high mountain wasn’t easy.

Reducing the fame and influence gained was certainly no small feat.

And every time I tried to step down, something would happen, forcing me to get involved.

In the end, I had unwittingly become the one leading the Namgoong Clan.

A being so great.

A father so great.

Namgoong Cheon knew better than anyone that this was slowly eating away at the Namgoong Clan.

And this reality,

the truth that nobody could tell him straight,

Yu Wol shared without batting an eye.

No matter how famous he was, what he faced was a superhuman.

The very grand elder of the Namgoong Clan, no less.

He could die with just a flick of a finger, yet he spoke calmly.

He risked his life for the Namgoong Clan, which had nothing to do with him.

Getting angry at such a person?

Even he knew that was something one shouldn’t do as a person, regardless of faction.

“…Hah…”

Slowly sitting down on the bed, Namgoong Cheon closed his eyes.

Among those martial artists of similar age, many had already given up everything to go fishing or traveling.

Or, like Namhaenoo, some had completely severed ties and aimed for ascension.

There were none from his generation so obsessed with their clan.

“I should let go… but how can I?”

It was the clan he had dedicated his entire life to building and caring for.

Letting go of it wasn’t easy, even for someone superhuman like him.

Namgoong Cheon held his face in his hands and groaned.

“What on earth am I supposed to do…”

*

Recently, due to traveling, my morning routine had changed a bit, but it still started with practicing Tai Chi.

After a session in the newly built inn’s courtyard, I sat down in a chair to take a break.

Though much had changed in the inn, the back yard hadn’t altered significantly. It was when I was sitting on the long bench I’d used before and had a bite of my snack that I heard,

“Pathetic.”

“A good martial art is being ruined by an incompetent person. Good morning.”

Namgoong Cheon approached.

At this, the Sword Saint beside me slightly glared, but Namgoong Cheon didn’t seem to care.

“I told you yesterday, right? I’d sell the Heart Soul Technique.”

“Yes.”

“We agreed on the price… good. You can bring it later.”

“Of course.”

“By the way, what you told me yesterday. Honestly, aside from that rookie and a few superhumans, there’s no one who could speak to me like that.”

“I see.”

“Weren’t you scared?”

“Are you so wicked that you’d kill someone for giving you advice?”

“What do you think of me…”

“Then why should I be scared?”

“Hah… You’ve made me speechless. Alright, do you have any requests in return for the advice from yesterday?”
“Not really.”

“What?”

I’m serious. I don’t charge when giving advice or counseling.

If people start hearing rumors that I do, fewer will come to me, and along with them, the monster hunters and information brokers will dwindle too.

I went up and placed the simseonggyeong on Namgoong Cheon’s palm.

“…Do you have no greed at all?”

“Oh, I have greed. But I can’t hoard everything, so I just set my priorities.”

“Priorities, huh…”

“A person can’t save the world alone. That’s something only a god can do.”

I smiled at Namgoong Cheon, who was staring at me intently.

“I’m not particularly fond of trials either. That’s why I’d prefer to form a group so that others can handle trials I can’t. And I’ll take on the tough trials for them.”

“……”

“In the end, it’s a trade.”

I looked at Namgoong Cheon.

“Don’t you think similarly, Elder?”

“Haa…”

In the end, he sighed and lowered his head.

“I cannot choose.”

“Perhaps so. If you suddenly cut ties with the family you’ve nurtured your whole life, the chaos that follows would be immense, and when a crisis strikes, they will surely seek you out, just like always.”

“…How could I abandon my family? How could I turn my back on them?”

“You don’t have to. Well, there’s a slim chance the current head of the Namgoong Clan might become a superhuman.”

“…You little brat. How did your disciple become a superhuman?”

“Hongryeon? She fought and won against Dool. Why are you asking when you already know?”

Dool.

One of the Sahyung, a fearsome monster.

It seemed he knew that Hongryeon had reached the realm of superhumans by facing that monster.

Yeah. Hongryeon too had grown through trials.

The desire to win.

And her determination to protect me, Seomhwa Village, and Hongseong pushed her to rise to the realm of superhumans.

Of course, I can’t deny she also wanted to earn the right to confess to me.

“In the end, people grow when they are desperate. If you were beside me, the direction of that desperation would surely change.”

I hope the Sword King moves.

I hope the Sword King resolves this.

The Namgoong Clan would desperately lean on him.

In Heavenly Bright Moon, the event for the Namgoong Clan ends when Namgoong Cheon leaves them behind. Remembering that, I said to Namgoong Cheon,

“If you don’t know what to do…”

I pulled a card from my pocket. Namgoong Cheon looked puzzled as he received it and tilted his head.

“What is this?”

“It’s an inn membership card.”

“…Huh? Why…?”

“Think of it as a year-long vacation. Throw off the burdens and shackles of the world and go find your own happiness.”
“Go out and seek the happiness of the gods.”

“…Huh?”

“Step away from the Sword King’s residence set up by the Namgoong Clan and take a look at the world. If you think you’re too young to travel right now… then why not stay here and enjoy the hot springs?”

“…Uh. No.”

“I’m not forcing you, but don’t you think it’s time to put things down for a bit and take a break?”

“…Are you trying to trap me in Seonhwa Castle?”

“What power do I have to lock the elder here? Plus, the Namgoong Clan is quite far from Seonhwa Castle and Cheongho. Frankly, who becomes the owner of Hab is none of my concern.”

“But why go to such lengths? Why are you doing this for the Namgoong Clan?”

“I’ve decided to marry Sword Saint, Hongryeon, and Chaejin. I’m on good terms with Hongseong and Moonjeong, as well as other factions.”

“Uh…”

“I’m also an administrator, so isn’t it only natural for me to make such an offer to someone who has long served the Empire? Well, there are many reasons besides that.”

I glanced at the Sword Saint. She was smiling.

“But the most important thing is there’s someone in front of me who wants help, and that person isn’t evil. If so, there’s no reason not to help.”

“…..”

Namgoong Cheon stared at me intensely, and I pointed at the heart-mind mirror and the inn membership card he was holding.

“Why not go back and talk to the clan members? They might be thinking similarly. Then you can decide after that.”

Namgoong Cheon let out a sigh like the ground was collapsing beneath him and got up from his seat.

Soon after, he returned to the room, changed his clothes, and came back down.

It seemed he was planning to head back to Hab for now.

“Shall I refund your accommodation fee?”

“…I’ll come back later to collect it.”

He bitterly said that before quickly moving away.

He spent quite a bit but stayed only for a day.

If he doesn’t come back, it’s a win for me.

“But do you have any interest in the Namgoong Clan?”

“I have no interest. Just…”

“Just?”

“I’m just preparing for myself.”

I recalled the diagram that would be in the Hongseong Clan’s secret vault.

Those on the lookout for that diagram from the demonic sect wouldn’t be too careful.

Especially when the owner of the Gi Won Yuga, Yu Jangmok, appears during the event looking for half of the Cheonma Divine Art from the Heavenly Bright Moon, leading countless Gangshi—there’s definitely a need for powerful warriors to counter that.

“If a superhuman emerges from the Namgoong Clan, the orthodox factions will gain more strength.”

If the orthodox factions grow stronger, it’ll naturally be easier to deal with the demonic sect.

And the demonic sect will have no choice but to be cautious too.

That way, the conflicts between Hongseong and Moonjeong will lessen.

I forcefully sucked in the connections, swallowed my smoke, and got up from my seat.

Alright. That’s that.

There are still things I need to do, so let’s get to work.

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