After hearing what Gu Yeong Uncle had to say, I headed to the dumpling shop uncle's place.
Many people must have heard the news, because there were more folks gathered in front of Ga Yeong's house than usual.
Their whispers reached my ears without letup.
'Aigoo... it won't be long now.'
'Poor Ga Yeong, too. She's been such a dutiful daughter.'
'That worthless scum. Leaving his daughter all alone and preparing to depart like this...! That bastard deserves to be beaten to death! That... ugh...'
'Hey, if you're gonna cry, why curse him out!'
I knew these were the kinds of conversations I should just let slide as usual, but they made me uncomfortable for some reason.
It was probably because I'd eaten so much from the dumpling shop uncle.
Whether it was because of Bang Biyeon Uncle, or because word got out that Cheongwol and I were friends, or because of Muwol Satae's movements, or maybe because I'd gotten rich...
My words now carried some weight.
The aunties looked sheepish and soon scattered from in front of Ga Yeong's house.
Only then could I calm myself and step inside.
Ga Yeong, who used to be chubby but was now just plump, sat there.
It felt like she'd lost a lot of weight in a short time.
Was it because I'd known her so long?
I didn't particularly like fat girls, but seeing Ga Yeong like this made my heart uneasy for no reason.
Before, I'd held back from nagging her to lose some weight for her health, but now I found myself wanting to tell her to gain it back—a complete contradiction.
"...You eating anything?"
...
Ga Yeong sat there listlessly, but she answered.
"Thanks, Seojin. For chasing them away. Honestly, it was getting tough."
...
"Dad hasn't even passed yet, and they're already treating him like a corpse. I get it, but... it's too much. Or am I the one clinging to false hope?"
"Sigh."
This drooping atmosphere wasn't something I was used to.
Looking around, I saw high-end herbs that seemed to be from the Hao Gate scattered carelessly on the floor.
I picked one up lightly and said,
"Why aren't you brewing this? You have to take something to get better."
"...He can't eat anything right now, so what's the point? He needs to regain some strength first."
Only then did I turn to look at the dumpling shop uncle, whom I'd been avoiding.
I'd seen him just a few days ago, but he looked even more gaunt now.
My own heart darkened.
I recalled how robust he'd been back in the day.
Whenever he saw my scrawny self and felt uneasy, he'd snap irritably for no reason.
'You punk. You gotta eat to live. This is leftovers. Can't throw it out, so take it. Gwak Du, you jerk. If you picked up a kid, feed him properly—don't stuff your own gut first.'
'I've been starving for three days myself. Any scraps go straight to the kid.'
'...Is that so?'
'You go fatten up the kid first. What do I have as a beggar? I won't beg for my own fill, so if you wanna gripe, feed the kid at least. Forgot I saved your ass two years ago?'
'How long you gonna milk that? And kid, you think I dig graves for a living? Feeding Ga Yeong wears me out too. I tossed you one dumpling—don't steal more.'
'Feeding kids is tough, huh. Look how plump she is.'
'Keep treating my kindness like this, and I'll take the dumplings back?'
'Sorry.'
Ga Yeong, plump from birth, had watched all that from behind her dad.
After that, out of habit, she'd toss me leftover dumplings even without her dad around.
Back then, it felt like feeding stray dogs, so I wasn't all that grateful, but now... there were no such favors anymore.
"...Seojin."
That's when Ga Yeong called me.
"What."
"Can I marry you?"
...
A long silence followed.
The words came out of nowhere, and besides, we weren't the type for that.
Just because you'd given or received favors didn't make you close.
Just because you'd known each other's faces since childhood didn't make you close.
If that were possible, everyone who donates would be besties with recipients.
Everyone would be close with everyone around them.
There was a thick wall between Ga Yeong and me.
After all, no kids played with beggars.
My friends were just uncles—no one else.
Ga Yeong occasionally looking out for me was the only reason we had even this much acquaintance.
So it was a truly out-of-left-field statement.
And because it was so sudden and absurd, I could easily grasp the intent behind it.
Ga Yeong stood and looked at me.
"I like you, Seojin."
"Wipe your mouth before lying."
"It's true...!"
"I said don't. Uncle wouldn't want to see you like this. If you do, I lose face with him. And stop shaking—didn't I scare you just days ago?"
...!
I glanced at Ga Yeong frozen stiff, then turned back.
The open door nagged at me.
I closed the door to Ga Yeong's house and pulled up a chair to sit.
It was a moment that drew a sigh of anguish inevitably.
"...You really like me?"
Ga Yeong hesitated, then nodded.
"Sheesh."
Her obvious lies piling up made me scowl too.
"Cut the lies first if we're gonna plan anything—"
"—I don't like you! Happy?!"
Under my grilling, Ga Yeong exploded.
"It's just... if not that, then Dad... ugh!"
I patted the shoulder of Ga Yeong as she slumped back into her chair.
I was a bit annoyed, but I understood why.
How could she not act like this with her dad like that?
The weak had their own ways of surviving.
"You think if you marry me, the Hao Gate will take care of Uncle?"
Ga Yeong couldn't lift her face.
She seemed ashamed her obvious ploy had been seen through so quickly.
Burying her face in her hands, she cried out,
"The Hao Gate calls you a noble, bows before you! Even the Weichang Deputy Clan Leader of the Sichuan Branch doesn't dare treat you lightly! If you tied yourself to someone like that... they wouldn't just let Dad die untreated..."
"Probably not."
...Though my debt to the Hao Gate would grow.
But did that matter?
People couldn't always compare what they'd received objectively.
Weighing my current debt to the Hao Gate against the gratitude I'd felt for Uncle back then, taking on a bit more debt wasn't hard.
Besides, when would I get an opportunity like this?
I'd been worrying Cheongwol and Dang Soran were getting too attached in that SM way.
Pretend to marry Ga Yeong, shake them off for a bit?
If they had weird feelings, just enough to cool them off.
Act just that much.
There was Muwol Satae's not-pressure pressure, and the Poison King glaring at me like he wanted to monitor every move.
Time to lay low a little.
But beyond all that, seeing Uncle like this made it hard to stand by.
However...
"What about you?"
I asked.
Ga Yeong looked confused.
"...Huh?"
"What about you? Why not just pretend we're engaged for a bit? The Hao Gate would still look after Uncle the same."
"Wh-what?"
"But after that, who'll pair up with you? Even if it falls through later, the stigma of almost being with me sticks. Think you can marry then?"
"...So I should just watch Dad die to preserve my marriage prospects?"
"That's not it either."
Thinking about it, Brother Weichang had been fired up to find me a match.
If Ga Yeong became that match, he'd really take good care of her.
It all lined up perfectly.
"Ga Yeong. Be honest. Any boy in the village you like?"
Ga Yeong flinched and hesitated, then whispered,
"...Jang Cheolyu."
"Cheolyu?"
...That skinny, slight guy?
Doesn't suit you.
"...Why?"
"No one else was ever nice to me..."
Her shy childhood... acquaintance expression felt unfamiliar, so I teased,
"What about me?"
"When were you ever nice? We barely even talk."
...
I stood up.
"You ready to confess?"
"Huh??"
"Confess now, so even if we break it off later, Jang Cheolyu believes it. It was all just a plan. Of course, only you, me, and him need to know, but still—say it."
"W-wait... I...!"
"Hey, I'm saving you here. Not much time to choose? I'm offering to bail you out, help Uncle, and hook you up with your crush. Pass this up, and you'll regret it."
...
"Don't wanna confess? Fine, skip it. But don't blame me later for ruining your life. I can leave Emei Mountain with my earnings and find a new match, but you without means to leave? Tough luck."
I said it a bit mischievously, hoping it'd prod her.
This was all to settle past debts.
Repaying my gratitude to Uncle and Ga Yeong.
Ga Yeong froze in thought for a moment, then nodded firmly as if resolved.
"...I'll go see Cheolyu."
****
"Sect Leader. I hope you'll leave my close friend be."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I know you've been proposing matches among the village women."
"...And what's the problem with that?"
"Isn't it something the Branch Leader should handle himself?"
"If it were that simple, he'd have done it already. I only wish for Young Master Seojin's happiness—why are you getting upset, Wol?"
"...I'm not upset. I just want to find my friend a good match. The village women lack substance. They're all just eyeing his wealth..."
"That's not for you to decide. It's for Young Master Seojin."
"You're right. But aren't you, the Sect Leader—not the Branch Leader—trying to pick one now?"
Cheongwol vented her long-pent-up frustration to the Sect Leader.
Honestly, she was furiously angry but hiding it well.
These days, she realized yelling at Muwol Satae was pointless.
Better to see Han Seojin's face again if she was mad.
Better to spend even half a gak more with him.
That's why she'd endured, but now it was time to draw a line.
"The Dragon-Phoenix Assembly is near, yet with you doing this, I can't focus on worrying for my friend. Please understand this disciple's impertinence."
...
With that, Cheongwol distanced herself from the Sect Leader once more.
Time to go find Han Seojin again.
Training done, collar tended—she could head down to the village now.
This time of day excited her most.
Was there anyone else whose mere presence calmed her just by looking?
She could escape the suffocating Emei Sect faction fights, slip away from her master and Sect Leader's pressure.
Only now did she realize how precious a friend could be.
Suddenly, Han Seojin's abrupt question came to mind.
'Cheongwol. You don't like me, right?'
She halted.
Recalling those words, she didn't know why her heart raced.
A strange ache, a heavy pain.
Cheongwol answered inwardly once more.
...As if I'd like you. I'm not a layperson?
Hadn't she told Muwol Satae countless times not to worry about that?
If it was as a friend, she could say yes, she liked him.
No matter what anyone said, he was her closest friend.
But if as a man... no. It had to not be.
As she was about to leave the Emei Sect...
'Hwaaaang...'
A crying voice reached her.
A familiar one.
But the intensity of the sobs made even Cheongwol freeze.
Heading toward the sound, she found Honghwa.
Honghwa was caught among Cheongwol's senior brothers and sisters, being soothed clumsily.
"Hey, little one. Was our Honghwa that sad?"
The seniors' faces were full of amused smiles at how cute she was.
'Hng... no, Honghwa. It can't be helped. If you liked him, wish him happiness.'
'We've all been through it, so don't be embarrassed. Even your master had a moment like this?'
'Really? Hng... really...? Hwaaaang...'
Worried for Honghwa, Cheongwol approached.
"What's going on?"
'Ch-Cheongwol Junior Sister.'
The seniors stiffened at the sight of Cheongwol, then awkwardly cooed at Honghwa.
'W-well... seems Honghwa heard the guy she likes is getting married... so she's crying a bit.'
Cheongwol's head tilted slowly.
An uneasy pain began spreading in her chest.
"Honghwa's... the guy she likes?"
.
.
.
"Haa... haa... haa...!!"
Coming to her senses, Cheongwol was dashing down Emei Mountain desperately.
Branches and bushes scratched her face.
"No. No, no...!!"
She didn't know why she wanted to deny it, but her mouth cried it out.
Her eyes sharpened to a razor's edge, every nerve taut like an arrowhead.
It's not true, Branch Leader.
You agreed with me.
All the Emei Mountain women suck.
And there wasn't anyone you could've built that kind of bond with.
You're a loner like me.
So... something must be wrong...
"Ahahaha. Thank you."
'...That's how it is. I wanted to tell Dad the good news before it's too late...'
But the scene that followed turned Cheongwol to stone.
Her gaze fixed on the tightly clasped hands of the man and woman.
'...Ahh.'
Hidden behind a tree, Cheongwol's fists clenched tight.
Her heart pounded dangerously.
An incomprehensible agony wracked her chest.
This kind of pain was new.
Far off, Han Seojin stood with Ga Yeong Junior Sister.
Ga Yeong.
Han Seojin's childhood friend.
The one who'd fed him lots of dumplings in hard times, he'd said.
Beneath the sparkling sunlight, the two wore happy smiles.
Her closest friend was laughing while holding another woman's hand.
Why did that happy scene make her feel the exact opposite?
Han Seojin's next words struck Cheongwol with violence fiercer than ever.
Nothing like the spankings on her rear.
"Thank you! I'm getting married!!"
At that, the long-dormant heart demon stirred as well.