I Am the Youngest Disciple of the Martial Arts World’s Mastermind
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
I Am the Youngest Disciple of the Murim’s Hidden Mastermind
Episode 3
My face suddenly slammed into a thicket of dense shrubs. I had been running at such high speeds that there was no way to avoid it.
“Honestly.”
“Pffft-ugh.”
The man grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and hauled me up, finally freeing me from the bushes. I managed to pry my eyes open.
“…Whoa.”
“We’ve arrived.”
Before my eyes stretched a vast, shimmering expanse of blue water.
We had set out early in the morning, yet somehow time had slipped away. Sunlight sparkled over the surface of the water like scattering red jewels.
Unable to help himself, the man threw a sharp remark my way.
“I was skeptical we’d make it today, dragging a little lump of a brat like you along. Fortunate, I suppose.”
“…….”
I finally voiced the words I’d been biting back.
“Excuse me, but you’ve been calling me a brat since a while ago. I’m not a lump, and I’m not just some brat. I even told you my name.”
“Right. Whatever you say, brat. First, to the inn….”
The man trailed off mid-sentence, suddenly scanning me from head to toe.
“…….”
Following his gaze, I took a look at myself.
Unlike the man, who remained pristine without a speck of dust on his clothes even after running for hours, I looked like a literal mountain beggar.
If I walked into an inn looking like this, I’d be lucky if they didn’t throw a bucket of water on me.
The man let out an overt snort of laughter. He set me down and began trekking toward the village.
“Follow me, brat. We’re buying clothes first.”
“…You’re buying them for me?”
“Obviously.”
The man spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“We’ll get you changed, then eat at the inn.”
“…….”
What? Is he actually a good person?
As I stood there dazed for a moment, the man looked back at me.
“Aren’t you coming?”
In the end, I scurried after him, shouting at his back.
“…Yes! This brat is coming right now!!”
I buried my nose in the sleeve of the new clothes the man had bought me.
Sniff, sniff.
Wow, these clothes don’t smell.
“This is the best….”
Soaking in warm water from a bath instead of the freezing currents of a river, eating until my stomach was round and full, and even a large room with two sets of bedding laid out….
It felt like a dream. Yes, this is what life in a martial arts novel should be like.
Everything I’d been doing until now was something I could have achieved back in Seoul with a ‘Spend 500 Won a Day’ challenge.
“So greaaat….”
As I sprawled out in bliss and muttered to myself, the man happened to open the door and walk in.
“Great?”
“Gasp.”
I quickly straightened my posture and spoke up.
“I-I mean, it’s really wonderful.”
“Hmph.”
The man gave a small smirk as he shook the moisture from his long hair. He walked over to the window, resting his chin on his hand as he watched the people passing by.
“…….”
For a moment, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his profile as he stood there in silence.
A high bridge to his nose, a sharp jawline, and eyelashes that cast long, slanted shadows. He really was prettier than most beauties…. Is he an important character?
I patted the bedding for no reason, stealing glances at him as the atmosphere around him seemed to soften slightly.
“…Ahem.”
I was saving the money I’d snatched from Wangcho to use as travel funds once I formed my dantian, but the pouch was actually quite thick.
If he needed someone for an errand, he could have hired high-ranking escorts or masters from an expensive escort agency. Why did he seek out the Beggars’ Sect of all places?
Even setting that aside, the money he’d spent on me was significant.
The clothes, the food, the room….
‘This is the trendiest style these days. Isn’t it precious? Hoho.’
When the clothing shop owner dressed me in the new outfit and presented me to him, he had nodded gravely while looking my small frame up and down.
‘…Hmm. I think I see what Master meant now.’
‘Wh-what did your Master say?’
‘That children are all about how you dress them. I’ll take this one.’
And earlier, while we were eating the ten different dishes he’d ordered at the inn:
‘I suppose Master was right after all.’
‘Huh? What did he say this time…?’
‘He said children need to eat a lot. Eat more.’
‘Yes!!’
I had already polished off two bowls of rice, but thanks to the man’s words, I was able to comfortably finish a third without feeling self-conscious.
“Phew….”
And now, even a nice room….
I could tell the man’s Master was a very child-friendly person.
“Brat.”
But why is this guy’s way of speaking like this?
Despite my internal grumbling, I answered promptly.
“Yes?”
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“Ahem.”
Did I stare too much? The man was already looking back at me.
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly before speaking.
“Well, you said you brought me along as an errand runner….”
“I did.”
“I was just curious what you’re going to make me do.”
“Hmm.”
The man’s voice suddenly dropped, speaking in a tone meant to intimidate.
“I’m going to make you do a very, very, very dangerous job. One that’ll make you turn tail and run in fear.”
“…….”
What? Does he think that’ll actually scare me?
But the facial muscles of a child were far too honest.
When my face stiffened slightly, the man caught it and ended with a snort.
“That’s why I’m polishing you up so nice and cute right now.”
Eh?
“I’m cute?”
“Is that what’s important right now?”
I swallowed hard and gave a foolish, beaming grin.
“N-no, of course not….”
“You’re not going to run away?”
“Nope.”
I’m running. Tonight, immediately.
Who wouldn’t run away if they were in my shoes?
I quickly formulated a plan to slip out of the inn as soon as the man fell asleep and go claim the fortuitous encounter.
“I’m… sleepy. I’ll turn in first, then….”
I feigned a yawn while gauging the man’s reaction.
“Go to sleep.”
The man looked at me as if I were pathetic. I’d seen that look so often in the beggars’ den that I was used to it.
“Ah.”
Now that I think about it, I almost forgot.
“Um, milord,”
“What.”
As the man turned around, I pressed my hands together politely and bowed deeply.
“Thank you!! The clothes, the food, and the room—I love them all so, so much. I might be young, but I know people don’t usually treat an errand runner this well.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes! So even though the errand is dangerous…. You’re giving it to me because you trust me, right?”
It was a roundabout way of asking, ‘You’re not trying to kill me, are you?’
Not that it mattered, since I was running away later anyway.
“I’m confident in my running, so I’m in your care!”
That was some top-tier acting.
“…….”
After I finished speaking with such vigor, the man, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke up.
“…It’s Danhwi.”
“Huh?”
“Not ‘milord.’ My name… is Danhwi.”
“……? Am I allowed to call you that?”
Didn’t you say you had no name to give a brat like me? Are you going to lose your temper again if I actually call you that?
When I looked at him with wide eyes, he seemed to think I hadn’t understood him, so he repeated himself.
“Yes. You can call me Great Hero Danhwi.”
“…Yes! Great Hero Danhwi.”
“Good.”
Standing by the window, his face was obscured by the moonlight, but his voice was soft. It seemed my greeting hadn’t displeased him.
Danhwi. Danhwi, huh.
It wasn’t the name of any major character in the game.
I guess things will be fine.
Relieved, I wiggled my way into the bedding.
“Good night….”
“Sleep well.”
Perfect. Stage one of the ‘Lull Him into a False Sense of Security and Escape’ operation is complete.
“…….”
Stage two of the ‘Lull Him into a False Sense of Security and Escape’ operation.
I was pretending to sleep while waiting for the man, Danhwi, to drift off.
“Mmm-ph.”
I didn’t forget to toss and turn naturally every now and then.
After a long while of staring out the window, he finally moved.
Rustle.
From the sound of it, he was changing his clothes.
‘Is he finally sleeping?’
Just a little longer!
I was desperately fighting off the sleepiness that plagued this young body by pinching my thighs. That was when Danhwi’s low mutter reached my ears.
“I don’t know why Master insisted I look for someone fast on their feet in the Beggars’ Sect. Is this kid really the one he was talking about?”
…He came to the Beggars’ Sect because of that ‘Master’ too?
“Well, a fortuitous encounter only happens if fate allows it anyway…. We’ll see in time.”
With that final murmur, I heard the sound of Danhwi lying down on his bedding.
“…….”
On the contrary, my sleepiness vanished instantly, leaving my mind sharp and alert.
Did he say ‘fortuitous encounter’?
Does he know about the encounter in the cave at Dongting Lake…?
No way. If he knew, why would he wait instead of snatching it up immediately?
Besides, there’s no way a game character could know about such an encounter in advance. It’s impossible.
…But what if he does know?
A sudden chill ran down my spine.
Don’t tell me there’s another faction I need to avoid besides the Righteous, the Shadow, and the Demonic Cult?
