NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29
*
Since the last attack, the warriors of the Eastern Trading Company were gritting their teeth.
Of course.
If it hadn’t been for Lee Hyun during the previous raid, they would have suffered tremendous losses.
They couldn’t accept it.
They prided themselves on having powerful strength, yet they couldn’t protect what was theirs without someone else’s help.
That’s why they thought about it.
They wanted to get stronger.
They wanted to become even stronger.
And it was something that could be easily resolved.
Lee Hyun.
The one who came as Sowol’s master last year, who is the next leader of the Eastern Trading Company.
He was the one who had begun training the warriors seriously.
In just under a year, he turned Sowol into a wielder of sword energy. Because of him, the unrefined gems of the Eastern Trading Company could quickly become stronger.
Thus, this raid was almost an assignment to show they had grown stronger.
And it wasn’t just the warriors of the Eastern Trading Company who had to solve that assignment.
Gotta show them.
Sowol felt the weight of the gazes directed at her.
The realization from her deep meditation allowed her to observe everything.
The flow of mana hidden in the air made her aware of everything.
The ones approaching from afar, and those fighting to protect this place.
And behind them, the one exuding the most powerful aura, smiling in satisfaction while watching.
That’s why she couldn’t step back.
I have to show that I can do this.
“Miss!!”
“The enemies are coming! It’s dangerous, so get away…”
Haa…
With a low exhale, Sowol raised her sword.
At that moment, an abyssal darkness began to envelop the night sky.
It was certainly a night when the crescent moon hung above.
But what rose from the darkness she created was a full moon, cold to the touch and frighteningly pale.
As that light illuminated the battlefield, Sowol’s mental imagery began to move.
The Moonlight Sword is the sword of the heart.
Recalling the teachings she received from Lee Hyun, Sowol focused on the moon she had created.
The Moonlight Sword was the sword of the heart.
By manifesting the moon created by her thoughts into reality, she synchronized the world with herself.
Though it was called swordsmanship, it was practically a form of psychic ability.
Maintaining that wasn’t easy, but Sowol welcomed the enemies while keeping the moon alive.
As enemies began to be detected one by one in the moonlight, Sowol spoke to the warriors of the Eastern Trading Company.
“Everyone, draw your swords.”
A cold, confident voice.
It was no different from her usual voice, but it contained irresistible mana.
As they were spellbound by that mana, the warriors who hadn’t drawn their swords quickly unsheathed them.
“Attack.”
Infusing strength into the moon created by her mental imagery.
At that moment, the sword of the heart shot forth from the moonlight, dealing damage to the real enemies.
“Uaaack!”
“Aaack!!”
Screams began to echo.
As Sowol listened joyfully to the pained cries of the enemies struck by the moonlight blade, she started to command the warriors.
The moon in the sky was watching, allowing her to feel the entire situation.
That’s why Sowol could dominate this battlefield.
No one could escape from the moonlight, and no one could run away from here.
“White Warriors. Move through the side entrance. Lila, take five to the Sky Hall. Chuja Sword, take the front.”
“Yes!”
“Understood! Miss!”
“I will follow orders!”
The movements of the warriors grew sharper.
From the moment they began to realize that Sowol’s commanding presence was right, the battle was swiftly coming to an end.
Sowol’s commands were precise, and when there were shortcomings, the moonlight swords supported them.
A perfect battle. While watching the beautiful spectacle it created, Lee Hyun was in awe.
You’ve truly mastered it.
While the Moonlight Slash was just a simple area attack in the game, in reality, it was different.
The moon above in the sky.
It allowed one to perfectly observe the battlefield.
If she could feel where the moonlight reaches and understand how the enemies move, she had mastered the Moonlight Sword.
Lee Hyun smiled gently towards Sowol, who was leading the battle to victory with a calm demeanor.
[Job Quest – Sage]
[Take on two apprentices and help them grow to a certain level or higher.]
[1 / 2]
The conditions for the job quest had been fulfilled.
“Miss!!”
“That was amazing!”
Driving off the enemies attacking the Eastern Trading Company wasn’t too difficult. Not a single death occurred in this battle.
Of course, the warriors of the Eastern Trading Company had grown stronger compared to last time, but Lee Hyun hadn’t participated in this battle.
Yet, such results were entirely thanks to Sowol’s razor-like command.
Huu…
Receiving the warriors’ praises, Sowol released the moon.
As the crescent moon left in the darkness signaled the end of her swordplay, she glanced slyly towards Lee Hyun.
He was smiling with an incredibly satisfied expression.
That smile.
That smile that made her feel pride in herself was so dazzling, Sowol clenched her fist.
Master, you’re glad for me.
Delighted by that thought, Sowol approached Lee Hyun with a smile on her face.
At that moment, a cherished young lady rushed over to Lee Hyun and began discussing something serious.
What could it be?
As the prideful expression on her face began to fade, Sowol tilted her head in confusion.
What’s going on?
Was there something more urgent than congratulating her growing disciple? Lee Hyun soon left with the cherished young lady, leaving Sowol standing there dazed, receiving praises from the warriors while letting out a deflated sigh.
“Huu…”
“Miss! Are you alright?!”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Once she confirmed that there were no serious injuries, Lila felt relieved.
Though she had been directing from the rear, it was true that Sowol had fought against the enemies as well.
As Lila searched for any potential wounds, she raised an eyebrow at Sowol’s sulky expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Nothing, huh?
With her lips sticking out prominently, it was clear she was in a mood.
Such an unhonest owner indeed.
Lila secretly smiled and poked at Sowol.
“Is it because the Master didn’t praise you?”
“…Ugh. No, it’s not! I’m going to go in and rest!”
Caught on the spot, Sowol pretended not to care and dashed towards her room.
Giggling as she watched her leave, Lila asked the White Warriors to clean up and headed to Sowol’s room.
Upon entering the room, she found Sowol floundering on the bed. The marvelous figure she had shown earlier was gone, replaced by a childish pout when things didn’t go her way.
“Hey. If you really like him, why not confess first or something?”
The moment Lila’s words reached Sowol, her legs, which were flailing on the large bed, froze.
Slowly, her pink hair began to move.
Sowol raised herself from the bed and stared at Lila, snorting in response.
“Hmph! What are you talking about?!”
“What?”
“I’m the heir of the Eastern Trading Company, beautiful, and my figure will only get better! Why would I ever want to confess first?!”
Such an unhonest owner indeed.
It was clear that Sowol had feelings for Lee Hyun, yet here she was acting all pretentious.
At this rate, she’d end up forever dwelling in her feelings.
“But if you keep this up, you might lose this Master to someone else.”
“Hmph! Someone else? Who… could it be…?”
The sparkle faded from Sowol’s beautiful eyes.
As that gaze turned towards her, Lila shrugged her shoulders.
“Honestly, this Master is quite popular. He’s skilled, his personality is great, and he’s not bad looking either. Sure, he likes his drinks, but he’s not one to get drunk. Many of the maids in the trading company and the young ladies from the territories like this Master.”
Plus, there’s that smile he occasionally shows…
Lila remembered Lee Hyun’s smile.
That soft smile he sometimes wore seemed to have a peculiar charm that stirred the hearts of women.
“Just think about it. If another woman stands beside this Master, holding hands, hugging, and kissing…”
“N-No way! That can’t happen…!”
Sowol shouted, her face pale.
Seeing her like that made Lila feel a twinge of guilt.
After all, this was the girl she had served all her life, and her childhood friend.
Had she touched on a sensitive subject? She tried comforting Sowol, who had tears pooling in her big eyes.
“W-Well, I’m generous! I could smile and be okay with whoever this Master wants to be with!”
“Oh. That’s a nice thing to say.”
“But as long as you stay by my side in the end…”
Once again, tears brimmed in her huge eyes. As she coaxed the sobbing Sowol, Lila wore a bittersweet smile.
“…Ah. Yes. But if I keep losing ground like this, I might not even be around in the end.”
Even if you poke with facts, there’s a right way to do it. Flinching at Lila’s words, Sowol eventually burst out in anger.
“…Fine! Fine! I’ll confess!”
Finally, the unhonest lady revealed her feelings.
Facing her, Lila beamed and nodded.
“You did well.”
Now it’s my turn!
Of course, her motives weren’t purely for Sowol’s benefit.
If she had made up her mind, she had to act swiftly. Sowol got up and headed straight for the cherished young lady’s room. But when she entered, it was just the young lady there, as Lee Hyun had already left quite a while ago.
How should I confess?
Shuffling her feet, Sowol kept wracking her brain.
“Master, if you wish for it, I’m okay with being your girlfriend?”
No, saying it like that would only backfire.
Ah, if only Master would confess to me first…
Her steps grew heavy.
The place she used to visit joyfully suddenly felt distant from her. After pondering for a long time, Sowol headed to Lee Hyun’s quarters and spotted him packing something.
“Huh? You’ve come? I was just about to call you.”
He was going to call me? Could it be that Master intends to confess to me first?
The pink hue of sweet imagination filled her head, prompting a smile.
Sowol quickly wiped that grin away and spoke with a haughty face.
“Did you see?! My perfected Moonlight Sword technique?!”
“Yeah, I saw it well. Here, take this.”
“…Yes?”
What dropped into her hands was a beautiful sword that seemed to seal the soft glow of moonlight.
As Sowol marveled at the stunning short sword, Lee Hyun slung a bag over his shoulder.
“A token of graduation. The Moonlight Sword. Congratulations. You can now call yourself a swordsman.”
“Th-Thank you.”
It looked like anything but an ordinary sword. To think he possessed such a precious item. While amazed, Sowol lifted her gaze to observe Lee Hyun.
“But… what are you doing? Suddenly packing your stuff? Ah, are you leaving for a trip? Should I come along?”
Seeing him pack made Sowol shake off her anxiety and speak cheerfully. Lee Hyun approached her and gently ruffled her hair.
“I’m planning to leave.”
“…E-Excuse me? W-Why…?”
To the surprised Sowol, Lee Hyun stated calmly.
“Because my teaching to you has come to an end.”