“Aren't you afraid of death?”
Cha Iran asked Geom Mugeuk the same question the Unorthodox Alliance Leader had asked her.
It was because his words, that he would wait for her in hell, felt sincere.
Geom Mugeuk shook his head.
“I am afraid.”
She thought someone like the Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect would have answered that he wasn't afraid of death at all.
But Geom Mugeuk added, as if his words were true.
“I am an anxious person. The kind who worries about everything in advance. How could such a person not be afraid of death? I fear my own death, and I fear the death of those around me even more. Did you ask me if I was a fool earlier? You were right. I am a fool. Because even though I know full well that the more connections I make, the more worries I'll have, I keep increasing the number of people who shouldn't die.”
As he spoke, he stared intently at Cha Iran.
She asked him,
“Am I included among those people who shouldn't die?”
To her surprise, Geom Mugeuk nodded.
“What if he looks at me later and says this? Hey, you call yourself the Young Cult Master of the Demon Sect, and you couldn't even save the one woman who likes me? What were you doing? I’d be so embarrassed I wouldn’t be able to lift my head. I wouldn't be able to act all high and mighty in front of him ever again.”
It was such a simple reason that it was all the more touching.
“There’s a certain loyalty among men. The kind that says you have to protect a friend’s woman. Even if you are only a half-woman.”
At the words ‘half-woman,’ Cha Iran gave a wry laugh.
He had described her that way because only she liked Ak Gun-hak.
But to call her a half-woman?
“There’s a reason men in this martial world die young.”
Though she said that, Cha Iran could feel it.
The Young Cult Master sitting beside her was not such a simple person.
This time, Geom Mugeuk asked.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
Looking at the flowers in the garden, Cha Iran answered.
“I’m thinking about whether you’re a fool or a madman.”
Geom Mugeuk laughed out loud.
Was it because he thought he had saved her life? She could definitely feel her heart wavering.
“How much time do we have?”
“What time?”
“The time until the assassination mission.”
The assassination mission was set for the next day.
There were only a few hours left until midnight.
“Why do you ask?”
“If there's time left, let's have one last dinner together.”
“Well, I’m certain you’re a madman.”
A breeze blew past, brushing against the two of them and the flower garden they were watching.
The sunset, carried by the wind, spread across the garden.
The flowers presented a beauty of a new hue to the two people watching.
Watching Geom Mugeuk marvel at the sight, Cha Iran thought to herself.
It should have been the other way around.
He should be lost in thought while looking at her face, not the flowers, and be captivated by her every word.
But she was the one being continuously drawn in.
“Let's go eat, it's my request! They say you should grant a dead person's wish, so why not a living person's? And am I just anyone? Am I not your savior? Do you think I wasn't scared of the Unorthodox Alliance Leader? Is that all? When you were drunk, throwing up and crawling around…”
She abruptly stood up as if she didn't want to hear any more and said,
“Wait here while I go change.”
Several splendid outfits were hanging in her wardrobe.
As she was choosing what to wear, Cha Iran's gaze turned to a corner of the wardrobe.
A set of black martial robes was folded there.
After a moment of hesitation, Cha Iran took the martial robes in her hand and said,
“How long are you going to hide?”
From behind her, Hwa Do-myeong revealed himself.
“Isn’t that red palace gown hanging on the left nice?”
But Cha Iran shut the wardrobe with a snap.
“Are you angry?”
“Angry? What for? I’ve known for a long time that you’re a coward.”
“You’re angry.”
“I’m going to change. Turn around.”
Hwa Do-myeong turned his back, and Cha Iran began to change.
“The Unorthodox Alliance Leader wouldn't have killed you. The Unorthodox Alliance owes the Young Cult Master a great debt. A man like him, who is clear about his favors and grudges, would not have killed you recklessly.”
Cha Iran changed her clothes in silence.
“This plan was all calculated. So don't misunderstand and think I abandoned you.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You're angry right now!”
Yes, she was angry.
But the reason for her anger wasn't because of Hwa Do-myeong.
It wasn't because he hadn't come to help her either.
The reason she was angry was…
After changing, she tucked the box containing the orb into her robes.
“I’ll be back.”
Just then, Hwa Do-myeong spoke.
“Don’t go.”
Without turning around, Hwa Do-myeong said to her,
“You'll be persuaded by the Young Cult Master. Just like Ak Gun-hak was.”
Cha Iran’s reply did not come.
Click.
The sound of the door opening was heard.
When Hwa Do-myeong turned around, Cha Iran had already left the room.
He did not leave the room right away.
Because of his thick makeup, it was impossible to know the exact emotion on his face, but it was at least not disappointment or anger.
Fwoosh.
He sat with his feet up on the table, fanning himself gently as he watched the sunset through the window.
While Cha Iran was changing, Geom Mugeuk waited for her.
Just then, someone approached him cautiously.
After hesitating a hundred times, the person who came forward was the Seventeenth Assassin.
“I have a request for the Young Cult Master.”
“Speak.”
When she had faced the Unorthodox Alliance Leader earlier, the Seventeenth Assassin had prepared for death.
In that moment, she felt only one regret.
She regretted dying without being able to thank the Crescent Moon Faceless One who had saved her.
It was truly surprising that he came to her mind at that time.
That was why she had mustered her courage.
“Please deliver this dagger to the Faceless One with the crescent moon drawing, along with my thanks for saving me. I felt if not today, I would never be able to convey my words.”
The Seventeenth Assassin respectfully handed over a dagger.
It was a token of her gratitude for the Faceless One.
Geom Mugeuk immediately returned the dagger to her.
Realizing her mistake, the Seventeenth Assassin quickly bowed her head and apologized.
“I have been rude to a person of high standing.”
Now that she thought about it, she was asking the Young Cult Master to run an errand for her.
‘I must be mad.’
She had lost her mind for a moment.
All she could think was that she couldn't miss this opportunity.
Her haste to deliver her message before the Young Cult Master left had led her to make such a big mistake.
She had even made the request directly to the Young Cult Master without getting Cha Iran's permission.
She would have no excuse if she were to be killed for this.
Then, she heard Geom Mugeuk's voice.
“Deliver it yourself later.”
When the Seventeenth Assassin looked up in surprise, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said,
“Once this is all over, I’ll give you a chance to meet him in person. You can give it to him then and tell him yourself.”
The Seventeenth Assassin bowed her head in relief.
“Thank you, Young Cult Master.”
She ran back, stroking her chest in relief.
As she went, she felt a pang of regret for not having thanked him more properly.
That was how flustered she was at the moment.
Soon after, Cha Iran appeared.
She had overheard their conversation as she approached.
“Are you really going to let them meet?”
“I will.”
Seeing her expression of disbelief, Geom Mugeuk explained his reason.
“How often in life does one get to meet a Faceless One through the arrangement of a Young Cult Master? And when would a Faceless One ever get to receive thanks from an assassin? With just a word from me, I can give them an experience others could never have in their lifetime. Is there any reason not to let them meet?”
Cha Iran said nothing.
Because it was a sentiment and a way of thinking she did not possess.
She thought that if she had been in Geom Mugeuk's shoes, the outcome would have depended on her mood at that moment.
‘How dare you ask me to deliver a message?’ she might have gotten angry.
Or she might have said she would deliver it and then forgotten.
Yes, maybe if she was in a good mood, she would have delivered it for them.
But to arrange for the two to meet? Yes, that was something that did not exist in her world.
“And who knows what the future holds for people? Those two might fall in love, elope, and one day, while walking down a road, I might meet them again, holding a child's hand. Since they are my people and your people, when we wave our hands, they will smile instead of taking their own lives.”
That was something that didn't even exist in the dreams of her world.
But because she knew these words were sincere, dealing with Geom Mugeuk was not easy.
“If we’re still alive by then.”
“We will be. Us and them. That's what we're constantly striving for.”
He wasn't just talking.
The fact that the Evil Heart Laughing Demon had spared all the assassins of the Cult of Beauties was part of that striving he just mentioned.
“I’ll buy dinner today. Since you saved my life.”
“Buy me something expensive. I'm so tense, I'm craving meat!”
She walked ahead, and Geom Mugeuk followed.
“Those clothes suit you well.”
Cha Iran quickened her pace and replied,
“It's just that I didn't have anything else to wear right now.”
*
The two ate dinner together.
While they ate, they didn't discuss serious matters.
They talked about the weather, and their favorite seasons.
They even argued over the dishes served, debating where to find the best version of this or that dish, or that another place was better.
And so, the two finished their meal.
“Thanks to you, I enjoyed the meal.”
“I’m glad.”
It had been a long time since she had a proper meal.
She couldn't even remember the last time she had eaten and conversed with someone without being so tense.
“So, have you changed your mind now?”
Cha Iran stared quietly at Geom Mugeuk and asked back,
“Did you put a mind-changing drug in the food?”
“I did. It should be starting to take effect soon.”
Cha Iran smiled faintly at Geom Mugeuk’s joke.
The drug was already taking full effect.
Even at this moment, she was conflicted.
She had never imagined she would have such worries.
Betraying her organization? Being won over by the enemy?
It wasn't that she was swayed by Geom Mugeuk's words.
Words could be made up.
The problem was that she was swayed by the man himself.
By those clear, deep eyes that seemed to see into her heart.
By his sincerity from another world.
And one more thing.
Ak Gun-hak played a large part.
If this was the person that wonderful man liked, then he must be someone truly amazing.
This thought had influenced her.
Come to think of it, in her relationship with Ak Gun-hak, how she saw Geom Mugeuk and how he saw her differed by just a single word.
‘Because he’s the one he likes.’
‘Because she’s the one who likes him.’
Cha Iran asked with a calm gaze,
“Do you know what it means for an assassin to give up a contract?”
She, at least, knew better than anyone what it meant to her.
For she was an assassin who had died as an assassin until the very end.
“What does it mean?”
“First, I would lose my reputation as an assassin. Truthfully, since it's not known to the world, there's not much of a reputation to speak of.”
“But you have a reputation you've built in your own mind.”
Geom Mugeuk understood her heart.
“There are practical problems too. If I abandon the contract, I have to return double the fee. Since the fee for this contract is enormous, I'd have to spend all the money I've ever earned to pay it back.”
That wasn't the only problem.
“And they will try to kill me.”
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
Yes, they wouldn't let her go so easily.
Just as they wouldn't let Ak Gun-hak go.
“On the other hand, what I gain is…”
She paused for a moment and then imitated Ak Gun-hak.
“Huh? Why are you saving me?”
She laughed, finding her own imitation amusing.
To that empty laugh, Geom Mugeuk added one thing.
“There is something you will gain instead.”
“What is it?”
“Me. I will be the one to tell him how hard you tried. Even if he leaves, I will remain.”
For a moment, Cha Iran stared at Geom Mugeuk without a word.
Yes, in any sense, gaining the Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect would surely be valuable.
But how long would this feeling last?
“At first, he’ll smile at me, but after seeing me once, twice, every time he looks at me, he’ll think of me as a traitor. That woman, she betrayed once, she’ll do it again.”
Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.
“I'm sorry, but we won't have many chances to see each other anyway. I'm too busy. Our relationship will be maintained simply because it’s nice to see each other after a long time. Perhaps someone will come up to you and say this. ‘Are you that assassin from back then? Wake up, the Young Cult Master has abandoned you.’”
For some reason, it felt like that would actually happen.
But it didn't feel bad.
“You don’t have to give up the contract.”
Geom Mugeuk was being as considerate as possible.
“Just don’t forget your promise to me.”
It was the promise that if she failed the assassination mission, she would accept his contract.
Cha Iran slowly shook her head.
“If you thought I was that shameless, you’ve misjudged me.”
Cha Iran closed her eyes for a moment.
After some time had passed, she made up her mind.
“I always knew the day would come when I'd have to part ways with them. That's why I always tried to keep my distance. I just didn't know it would be this time.”
She had made a decision that would change her life.
“I will give up on this contract.”
It was not a betrayal, but giving up.
It wasn't because she had any special loyalty or gratitude towards them.
She had dealt with them as an assassin, so she intended to fulfill her responsibility.
Geom Mugeuk's face was filled with joy as he looked at her.
“Thank you. I will make sure you never regret this choice.”
Now, she revealed everything to Geom Mugeuk honestly.
“My original mission was to kill the Unorthodox Alliance Leader at the celebratory banquet.”
Earlier, she had been paralyzed by the Unorthodox Alliance Leader's aura.
But that was when she was an exposed assassin.
If she had stood before him as the woman who had just become the Greatest Beauty Under Heaven, the situation would have been different.
“But when you appeared, a new mission was given.”
She took out the box containing the orb from her robes.
“I was told to let you take this. But there was a condition. The order was to make it so that it naturally fell into your hands, not that we intentionally gave it to you. I gave you two chances to take it, but you never even touched it.”
Neither on the day he was drunk, nor on the day she was changing, did Geom Mugeuk show any greed for the orb.
“I’ll have to return this to them as well.”
She slowly opened the box.
The red light of the orb was transparent yet deep.
Something shimmered around the web of what looked like meridians inside it.
Vwoom!
The Secret Vessel reacted even more strongly than before.
It was at that very moment.
Swoosh.
The orb in the box slowly began to rise into the air.