41 Sword and Man as One

Calling Ryu Seoram over on Christmas was strictly a business matter.

Last time she had used me over the Aul matter, so I called her too.

Of course, Ryu Seoram complained, asking if she hadn't been paid plenty for the part-time job, but I pretended not to hear her and let it slide.

Anyway.

KWA-A-AANG!

Ryu Seoram crashed to the ground amid swirling snow.

The piled snow spread outward like waves in every direction, sending a thunderous roar.

Ryu Seoram was a powerhouse known as one of the Seven Extremes of the Third Floor.

But what had to be made clear was that the Third Floor's combat level sat at the very bottom among the tower's upper tiers.

Namgung Pacheon blocked Ryu Seoram's fist with his sword.

The ground beneath his feet was gouged deep, showing at a glance just how heavy Ryu Seoram's punch was.

Yet Namgung Pacheon merely rolled his shoulders once, as if stiff.

"Damn."

Ryu Seoram leaped back quickly and naturally joined us.

"They say the old martial world monsters are on a different level, and they weren't kidding."

But Ryu Seoram must not have been hitting with full seriousness either, because she shook out her hand and clicked her tongue.

"Can we win?"

"Don't ask if you're not even expecting an answer."

"That's like you watching a Bear Force match without expecting anything..."

Her eyes held murderous intent several times deeper than when she'd just punched Namgung Pacheon.

When I hurriedly averted my gaze, Ryu Seoram spoke while forcing herself to steady her breathing.

"You said the goal was to stall for time. That should be enough, I think?"

"Really?"

"Though the three of us will have to work like hell together."

At Ryu Seoram's words, all the strength drained out of my body. I hadn't planned on fighting hard too.

"My weapon just broke too."

"You have that folding knife you always carry. Take it out."

"What good would that do?"

"If you keep stabbing with a toothpick, it still hurts."

Namgung Pacheon, standing before us, must have decided that the three of us weren't a bad match after all, because he unleashed even greater pressure than before.

"Ah, this Christmas sucks."

No matter how big the job was, we were still fighting an absolute master from the old martial world, so I figured I could complain a little.

"What the hell are you talking about, asshole?"

"Ha, the opposite, right? Shouldn't we be smiling?"

The two people on either side grabbed my arms and tugged.

"You're spending Christmas between two beauties. You should be happy."

"Indeed, few people get to enjoy such luxury."

"...You two didn't even have plans yourselves."

At my words, Namgung Hwaryeong flinched and looked away, but Ryu Seoram didn't.

"What are you talking about? I had a party to go to. The Hunter Association was inviting high-rank Hunters, you know?"

"The Hunter Association?"

Vice President Yoo Yena's face suddenly came to mind. I wanted to ask whether she'd told Yoo Yena she was coming here, but Namgung Pacheon had started moving, so I couldn't continue.

"This is one brutal Christmas."

* * *

Buuung.

Inside a taxi racing across the bridge.

Namgung Yeon's heart was pounding, and the trembling wouldn't stop.

He had come all this way determined to be brave, but he just couldn't shake off his worries.

"I-Is this really okay?"

Even after coming this far, he found it ridiculous that he was still hesitating.

It was a different feeling from disobeying his father's orders.

For a martial artist taking his first step into romance, excitement and fear coexisted.

Then Kim Yang, sitting beside him, immediately took a makeup set out of the bag.

"..."

Even after Kim Yang crooked a finger and told him to bring his face closer, Namgung Yeon still didn't understand.

"Huh? What-"

"Styling service."

He didn't really know what it was, but under Kim Yang's impatient, irritated stare, he leaned his face forward.

And so, Kim Yang started doing his makeup inside the moving car.

Her hands moved with the delicacy of an artist carving a sculpture, and even in the jostling car her touch stayed neat.

Kim Yang was so skilled that even the taxi driver peeked in the rearview mirror.

"Ooh."

Looking at himself in a hand mirror, with his makeup done and his messy hair neatly tidied, Namgung Yeon marveled.

He hadn't known Meracle even offered this kind of service.

"Perfume."

After finishing the makeup, Kim Yang took out perfume and sprayed it on him next.

Having lived under the bridge and looked like a beggar, he now finally looked a little like a young master again.

"Ahem, does it look all right?"

Wanting some confidence for no reason, he asked, and Kim Yang nodded and gave him a thumbs-up.

"Phew, thank you."

Namgung Yeon thought he was starting to understand why people bothered to style their appearance.

That alone was enough to make nonexistent confidence start to well up inside him.

Slowly, he turned his gaze out the window.

Beneath the falling snow, the neon of Cyber City shimmered.

"Strange."

It was a scene he always saw under the bridge, yet today it felt special.

And he realized that this was what they meant by a holiday.

"Christmas... huh."

They had said it was a special day.

And it certainly was.

After about fifteen minutes of driving, they arrived at a crowded commercial district.

The sight of skyscrapers jutting up shoulder to shoulder like weeds seemed to make Namgung Yeon feel shabby.

He no longer wanted to get out of the taxi, but Kim Yang had finished paying and gotten out, so he had no choice but to follow.

"Is this Luminous Plaza?"

Kim Yang nodded.

"Th-Then... is she here too?"

"No idea."

"Pardon?"

"Find her yourself."

Kim Yang gestured for him to hurry up and go.

Kim Yang's frosty attitude was like ice, making Namgung Yeon snap to attention.

"Right, I've come this far. Namgung Yeon, if you're a real man, moving forward is the right thing to do."

He strode forward.

His eyes searched through the crowd while his heart whipped itself onward.

What should I say if I see her?

What expression should I make?

Should I say I'm sorry? Or that it's okay?

Thoughts kept trailing one after another.

"Was it this frightening?"

His heart was pounding so hard it felt ready to burst.

On the battlefield, even with a sword tip aimed at his throat, he hadn't flinched. Here, every step hammered at his chest.

People were packed all around.

Most were with lovers. Some with family. Others with friends.

He crossed through the paired-up crowds, searching and searching again.

As he walked on, Namgung Yeon kept thinking about her.

But what came to mind were only the messages they'd exchanged.

The lines of their conversation, the speed of her replies, her tone.

Those were the only things that came back clearly.

On the other hand.

Her actual face was blurry.

"Why?"

How long had it been, really.

Yet her face wouldn't come clearly to mind.

"Why is that?"

He began to feel anxious.

At this rate, even if he found her, he might pass right by without recognizing her.

"Why do I-!"

Namgung Yeon's steps forward came to a stop at some point.

Why couldn't he remember?

Wasn't that obvious?

"Had I really ever looked at her properly?"

On their first meeting, he'd thought she was beautiful.

Then what about after that?

When he'd heard she'd melted down her sword to get a prosthetic arm.

What expression had she been wearing then?

Back then, he'd just gotten angry, smashed the table, and drawn his sword.

Thinking about it now, she might have been crying.

"Even so."

He hadn't looked.

Even if he had seen it, he pretended not to.

Only the text floated through his mind.

Their chats had been fun, but he had never once thought about what expression she might have been wearing beyond the words themselves.

"Ah..."

Even after coming all this way.

Even after squeezing out every last bit of courage.

"Young Lady."

In the end, Namgung Yeon stood there blankly and looked up at the sky. Neon-lit streets, towering buildings.

"I'm sorry."

That I never once truly met your eyes.

It was an all too fitting reason to end the story as a tragedy.

Just then.

"10 seconds left! 10 seconds!"

Cheers erupted.

People's gazes all lifted upward at once.

All the buildings in Luminous Plaza simultaneously displayed a countdown on their LED billboards.

"So this is how it ends."

Amid the crowd's festival frenzy, Namgung Yeon quietly bit his lip.

While everyone else cheered and rejoiced, he stood there all alone.

Alone?

By himself?

No.

That's not it.

He wasn't the only one standing alone here.

"Young Lady-! Where are youuuu-!"

If he stayed still.

If he really gave up here.

In this happy place, only two people would end up unhappy.

I can't leave you alone.

Namgung Yeon shouted with all the strength in his throat.

"Young Ladyyy-!"

Namgung Yeon's voice echoed amid the crowd.

But now it was Christmas, the festival of the entire world.

"Waaah!"

"7 seconds! 7 seconds left!"

Rather, people welcomed Namgung Yeon's cry like a firework and cheered along with it.

"Young Ladyyyyy-!"

Even shouting until his throat felt like it would split, his voice was drowned out by the crowd.

"5!"

"Young Lady! Young Lady! Where are you!"

"4!"

"Namgung Yeon is here! Young Lady!"

"3!"

"I have so much to say!"

"2!"

"I'm not good with words! But there is something I have to tell you no matter what!"

"1."

"Young Ladyyy-!"

[Merry Christmas!]

Boom! Boom! Poooom!

The LED billboards attached to the buildings all displayed Merry Christmas at once.

With fireworks filling the sky, people hugged one another and smiled brightly.

"Merry Christmas!"

"Waaah! Merry Christmas!"

"Have a happy Christmas!"

Amid their laughter and warmth, Namgung Yeon realized that no matter how much he shouted, he still couldn't reach her.

"Ah..."

If I couldn't remember her, I thought she could simply find me.

But Christmas's miracle would not grant him anything beyond that.

"Are you looking at this sky too?"

Among the crowd.

With his head lifted, he stared at the falling snow, tears streaming down his face.

"Merry Christmas, Young Lady."

Because, in the end, I never reached you.

I'm truly sorry.

"Huh? What's that?"

"Namgung-? What is that? What does it say?"

Hearing his own name called among the people, Namgung Yeon suddenly opened his eyes.

"Namgung?"

It wasn't just one or two people.

"Old martial world language?"

"I learned it. Namgung-."

"I've got a translator implanted in my iris. It says Namgung Yeon."

He didn't even need to ask where they'd seen it. Namgung Yeon himself had seen it when he opened his eyes.

The largest, most massive billboard in Luminous Plaza.

The LED billboard that had just been saying [Merry Christmas] had changed.

[Namgung Yeon]

When had they prepared this?

Namgung Yeon didn't even need to think about it.

- J: If you'd like, I can recommend a romantic place for Christmas.

- J: Then I can recommend a place where you can spend Christmas.

Because J had been wanting to call him here for days already.

"Excuse me."

"Eek?!"

"W-Wait. Don't push me?"

Sorry, but there was no time to waste.

The feet that had been running aimlessly now had a clear destination.

I am coming.

Toward you, right now.

So please wait just a little longer.

"Hahh! Hahh-!"

When he finally forced his way through the crowd and reached the front of the building.

He saw her.

A blonde woman standing all alone among the passing people.

Strangely enough, the face he had feared he'd forgotten was so clear.

"Young Lady."

Even though his throat was so hoarse he could only call out softly.

"...!"

Jessica heard that voice and immediately turned her head to look for him.

"Ah."

Jessica's eyes trembled.

And almost by instinct, she hid her right arm behind her back.

Arriving before Jessica, who still looked burdened with worry, Namgung Yeon looked down at her and smiled brightly.

"I wanted to be with you the moment the day turned. I'm a little late, Young Lady."

Unexpectedly.

The words came naturally.

The feelings he'd buried in his chest flowed out as words without the slightest hesitation.

"That day, I should have at least spoken with you. I'm sorry, Young Lady."

"Hic, no. It's okay."

Jessica's tears fell.

Seeing her hurriedly wipe away her tears with her left arm, Namgung Yeon gently took hold of her right arm.

"I'm sorry..."

Jessica flinched.

She instinctively tried to pull her hand away.

"I... I thought you'd be happy. Since I can't wield a sword, at least in my own way, I wanted to carry on Namgung's will-"

With her head bowed, she swallowed a breath.

The moment she tried to pull away out of shame and guilt.

Namgung Yeon held on even tighter.

"Sword and Man as One."

A person becomes a sword, and a sword becomes a person.

The very essence of the sword path pursued by the Namgung family.

Looking down at Jessica's right arm, Namgung Yeon finally felt his heart ease.

He had agonized and suffered over it so much.

But seeing it in person.

The answer was far too simple.

"I heard that calling your wife your companion means sharing half your life."

"...Pardon?"

"Our bond, in a way, might be connected to the very essence of Namgung, wouldn't you say?"

Jessica's pupils trembled.

Namgung Yeon lifted his head and met her eyes directly.

"If you became the sword."

This time, he didn't look away.

Now he no longer saw only the words.

"Wouldn't becoming one with you be how I fulfill Namgung's spirit?"

"...!"

Jessica inhaled sharply.

A look of disbelief.

The future she'd dreamed of countless times, and thought she'd ruined with her own mistake, was unfolding before her now—

"Young Lady, I've spent my whole life learning only how to hold a sword, so I can't say anything grand."

But.

"I was trained my whole life never to let go of a sword—"

Even more firmly.

He took hold of her right hand, the hand that had once been the Seowol Sword.

"I will never let go of this hand."

Jessica's tears fell again.

But this time, they were from relief, not anxiety or shame.

Namgung Yeon slowly lowered his head.

As though honoring the etiquette of the martial world.

But far more privately than that.

"Young Lady."

As if swearing on a sword.

"Please become my companion."