Chapter 27: My Beginning Is (2) (1/2)

Chapter 27: My Beginning Is (2)

Translator: Hwarang

Editor: Kidyeon

I was even more surprised, as I’d just been thinking about him on my way here.

“Has the owner changed?”

Hearing my shaky voice, Baek Pyo replied to me with a smile, “Indeed. I took over this place a couple of days ago, and today happens to be the opening day. You’re my first customer.”

This...

“Now then, please take a seat wherever you find comfortable.”

I sat down where I always sat, causing Baek Pyo to say with a chuckle, “That’s my favorite spot too. Ha Ha Ha.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why is this your favorite spot?”

“There’s no particular reason.”

He gave an awkward laugh.

“What can I get you to drink?”

I decided to order some wine and the snack that I’d always order here. When Baek Pyo heard my order, he was truly surprised.

“These… both happen to also be my favorites. I never expected my first guest to not only take a seat here, but to also order these specific things.”

I truly wanted to just tell him that I was the Strongest Under the Heavens. Since it was Baek Pyo, the one who’d been in charge of protecting me,, there were many ways to prove to him that I was the previous Mengju. There had been many private conversations  between the two of us that no one else knows about.

If I did, he’d more than likely choose to leave this place to follow me

But I won’t tell him. The Strongest Under the Heavens has already pa.s.sed on. He’s already pa.s.sed on from both his life and this one. As of now, I’m Byuk Lee Dan. If there ever comes a time that I have to help him, I’ll help him as Byuk Lee Dan, not as the Strongest Under the Heavens.

At that moment, a new guest arrived.

“Here’s my grand opening gift to you.”

The new guest, a middle aged man, gave Baek Pyo a small pot.

I almost dropped my wine gla.s.s when I saw who it was. I was even more surprised than when I saw Baek Pyo.

The person who’d just entered was Kal Sa Ryang.

Worried that I might be seen, I quickly turned my head away. However, my heart was still racing.

I’d never even dreamed of meeting Kal Sa Ryung here.

What were the odds of meeting both Kal Sa Ryang and Baek Pyo, here, at the same time?

“Welcome.”

Baek Pyo greeted him with a face full of emotions. It seems that he hadn’t expected Kal Sa Ryung to personally visit him.

“The atmosphere here seems very cozy.”

“I was just lucky, that’s all. The previous owner sold the place and went back to the countryside.”

“Ah, so that’s how it is.”

“What can I get you?”

“Whatever you feel like.”

Baek Pyo proceeded to offer him a drink.

Kal Sa Ryang looked my way a couple of times, but didn’t mind me in the end.

He looked tired.

I wanted to go over to him; to ask him what had happened. I wanted to ask him why he was in such a state.

Kal Sa Ryang went out the back door.

“Let’s get some fresh air.”

“All right then.”

Baek Pyo followed him.

I heightened my sense of hearing, and was barely able to make out their conversation.

“This was the place that he’d occasionally visit, right?”

“So you already knew.”

“He told me many times that there was a place he knew with a good atmosphere. He said that he was going to take me here with him next time… why was he in such a rush to go?”

Kal Sa Ryang let out a sigh.

I also regretted what had happened. I’d wanted to spend more sincere time with him.

“Don’t you want to stay in the Alliance?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t plan to guard the new Mengju, as he isn’t worthy.”

“No, it should be me who shouold be saying sorry.”

“You did your best. It’s just that the Moonlight Sect and the Iron Cavalry Sect betrayed us. There was no way for you stop them.”

When I heard what Baek Pyo had said, my heart sunk. The Moonlight Sect and the Iron Cavalry Sect had betrayed them?

This… I couldn’t believe this. If it was from some random pa.s.serby, I would’ve never believed them, and would’ve shouted at them ‘stop with your nonsense’.

But these words had come from the people I trusted the most.

I remembered that the leaders of those two sects weren’t people who’d easily betray anyone.

Kal Sa Ryung spoke in a disappointed tone.

“Technically speaking, they didn’t betray us, considering the fact that they were only loyal to the Mengju.”

No, this was betrayal. How could they just abandon the people that I cared about because I was dead? And how could anybody in their right mind allow someone like Ma Bong Gi to succeed me?

“So, Chancellor Kal, what are your plans now?”

“I plan on sticking around a bit longer. Even though I know that quite a few people want me gone.”

“...will you be all right?”

“They won’t be able to do much to me, as there will be people watching. I’ll probably be demoted from my position, but I’ll hold out as long as I can.”

“That’s not what I’m saying…”

“I know what you’re thinking. You don’t have to worry about me, I’ll take care of myself.”

“I hope so, but...”

I knew what kind of person Kal Sa Ryung was. He could be fooled once, but he wasn’t the type of person who could be fooled a second time. If he’d said something like this, it have meant that he had some sort of lifeline.

“It might be rude of me to ask, but… why aren’t you leaving?”

“The Alliance is his home.”

“I feel bad when you say that.”

“You shouldn’t feel that way. You left your position as the head of security because of him. To be honest, I feel ashamed for staying behind.”

“Chancellor...”

“Whether it’s me or you he’s still the reason that we’re—respectively—staying behind and leaving the alliance. In the end, our reason is the same.”

“I really do miss the previous Mengju.”

“I also miss him. However, we have to move on. Now, we have to live our lives our way. I’ll be off now.”

“Please take care of yourself.”

“Just take care of your own business. I’ll visit occasionally.”

“You’re welcome anytime.”

After saying that, Kal Sa Ryang left. Since he left immediately after his conversation with Baek Pyo, I wasn’t able to see him before he left. However, I knew that he wasn’t depressed about the recent events.

Sa Ryung-Ah... please be strong.

Baek Pyo came back into the store, trying to hide his disappointment with a smile. He proceeded to ask me, “How was it?”

To which I answered with a smile, “It was very good.”

I emptied the bottle and left the shop.

***

On my way back to the inn, I was deep in thought.

I couldn’t get over the fact the both the Moonlight Sect and the Iron Cavalry Sect had betrayed me. Thinking about it made my blood boil.

But why had they done it?

When I entered the inn, I calmed myself down, and decided to head back home. I wasn’t going to make any rash decisions due to my emotions.

I’ll go back home and raise my strength. I’ll become strong enough that I can back up my word, and protect everyone.

Sa Ryang-Ah, Baek Pyo-Ya…

You guys have to stay alive until that day.

I returned home.

“How did it go?”

He must’ve been curious about what happened.

“Were you able to accomplish what you wanted?”

I shook my head.