The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

The next day.

I emerged alone early in the morning to relocate to a different inn and began my search.

“This place isn’t satisfactory.”

“How much for a double room for one night?”

“Why is it so costly?”

Despite visiting several inns, I failed to find one that truly met my needs.

Had I been staying by myself, I might have settled for the cheapest option, but to prevent incidents like the previous one, I needed somewhere more appropriate.

“Our inn boasts excellent soundproofing.”

At last, after considerable effort, I stumbled upon an inn that seemed like a decent business hotel.

“Will your companion be a man or a woman?”

As I prepared to pay after inspecting the facilities, the innkeeper inquired.

“A woman.”

“Then do you really require a room with two beds? If you’re asking for soundproofing, you must be in the prime of your life. I’ll arrange a room with one large bed and better soundproofing. It will cost a little extra, though.”

Logically, it would appear odd for a man and woman to share a room with two separate beds.

“She’s not my girlfriend; she’s my wife.”

I conveyed this to the innkeeper with an expression resembling that of a pitiable married man fearful of his nights.

“Oh, I see… But you appear so young.”

The innkeeper exhibited a flicker of comprehension, but as a businessman, he did not completely abandon his sales tactics.

In situations like this, clarity was key.

“My wife is a martial artist, but I haven’t pursued martial arts.”

“I’ll assign you our most soundproof room with the largest bed.”

“Thank you.”

“Stay strong.”

With a look of empathy, the innkeeper patted my shoulder and offered his encouragement.

After switching inns, the previous issue did not recur.

The only difference was the pitying glances from the innkeeper whenever I ascended to the room with her following dinner each evening.

“You’re the black-haired storyteller who’s been performing in the market recently, aren’t you?”

After the performance, as I waited for Sohee, a group of warriors wearing heroes’ masks approached me.

“Yes, that’s me. Where are you folks from?”

It always seemed like bad things happened when guys like this showed up armed.

“We are from Changgeomun.”

A middle-aged warrior, who appeared to be in his 40s, spoke to me.

“Changgeomun? Aren’t you the heroes of Chilgok County? What do you want with me?”

There was only one thing I could think of.

Did Yoon Daehyeop rat me out?

While I asked with a clueless expression, I hurriedly looked around for the Heavenly Death Star.

“Where is the woman you’re with?”

Ignoring my question, the middle-aged warrior looked around. The other warriors started actively searching the area.

Had they come as a group after hearing I was a master of martial arts? They must think they can handle us.

What was the best course of action?

The situation would change depending on what the Changgeomun warriors decided to do. There could be a sword fight depending on the circumstances.

What would the Heavenly Death Star do? Even if she was as strong as they said, it might be better for her to hide and surprise them.

What about me? Could I break through the Changgeomun’s encirclement alone and escape?

“I’m here.”

Surprisingly, she appeared calmly in front of the warriors.

The warriors, tense at her sudden appearance without any warning, surrounded her with hands on their waists.

The Heavenly Death Star, unconcerned with whatever action they might take, boldly approached me.

“Yun-ho, stay behind me.”

She blocked the path between me and the warriors, reaching for her sword.

“Where did she get a sword from!”

“Should we draw ours first?”

The Changgeomun warriors hastily reached for their swords as Sohee stretched her hand toward her sword.

“If you draw, you all die.”

The Heavenly Death Star’s voice was low but carried a tone that cooled the heated atmosphere.

“What, what is this?”

At her threat, the Changgeomun warriors momentarily stepped back.

She quickly seized the moment, spread her hands, and shielded me behind her back.

Like a tiger amidst a pack of wolves. The wolves were frightening, but the tiger protecting me didn’t seem like she would lose.

“She dares to take on Changgeomun?”

“That woman is bold!”

“Execution! We don’t have time; let’s subdue her and take her away!”

Were they unaware of the level difference? The Changgeomun warriors began to show their fangs to the Heavenly Death Star.

“Stop!”

The middle-aged warrior raised his hand to restrain his comrades.

Did this mean they didn’t intend to draw their swords immediately? If so, it was worth talking.

“Come out for a moment.”

I touched the shoulder of the tiger-like sister and spoke in Korean.

“It’s dangerous. Step back.”

“What’s dangerous is for them. Why would I worry when you are here? Just give me a moment to talk.”

Despite her disapproving gaze, my resolve was firmer.

Sure, I was scared of those guys swinging swords, but if you swung yours, there’s no assurance my neck wouldn’t get accidentally chopped off too.

We should reserve swords for later. Let’s try to resolve this with dialogue first.

“Just a moment.”

Unable to resist my gaze, she eventually yielded.

“May I know why you are persecuting us?”

I addressed the middle-aged warrior confidently, assuming he was the leader.

Perhaps they had gathered for Yoon Daehyeop’s revenge.

If the warriors knew her level from Yoon Daehyeop, they wouldn’t be so brazen; they would be on high alert.

Maybe they were here for a different reason than I had assumed.

“We received a tip.”

The middle-aged warrior looked at me and spoke.

“A tip?”

“A report claims that the black-haired storyteller’s companion is the assassin of the Gapsu Trading Company’s head.”

This revelation from the Changgeomun warrior took me by surprise.

Wasn’t it because of Yoon Daehyeop?

This reason was different from what I had predicted, but it was more dangerous. They might actually draw their swords to subdue the Heavenly Death Star.

I wanted to avoid a situation where she would kill.

Although she hadn’t drawn her sword because I had always earnestly advised her, if they drew theirs, she would inevitably draw hers.

“Assassin? Where did you hear such a bizarre story?”

“Someone heard the black-haired storyteller calling his companion by the name Okbun. Isn’t Okbun the name of the assassin who killed the head of the Gapsu Trading Company?”

What? I had thought they had brought some significant evidence.

I was expecting a shocking revelation, like telling a martial artist that the root of the demonic arts was neither male nor female, but a TS Demon Lord. Disappointing.

“Haha. If that’s why you’re here, you’re mistaken.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“Yes, the name Okbun is common in Korea. Just like the warriors of Changgeomun, the warriors from Gapsu Trading Company came to us after receiving a tip and then left.”

“Black hair and red eyes. And the name is Okbun, yet it’s a misunderstanding?”

The middle-aged warrior asked me, still not completely convinced.

“Yes. If you still have doubts, you can send someone to the Gapsu Trading Company to verify.”

I spoke to them with a confident attitude and a smile.

“Huh. Is that true?”

My confident demeanor seemed to ease the skepticism in the middle-aged warrior’s expression.

“Logically, why would an assassin stay in Chilgok County? Especially using the name Okbun so openly.”

“That… does make sense.”

“I’ll be sitting on the platform. Once you have finished verifying, we will also head back.”

“Alright. We will send someone to check.”

The verification process didn’t take much time.

“I apologize for the misunderstanding. You can go now.”

Unlike Yoon Daehyeop, the middle-aged warrior bowed politely before leading his men away.

A heartfelt apology.

It’s an unusual sensation, akin to finding a two-eyed person in a land of the cyclopes.

It seems not every righteous faction warrior was like Yoon Daehyeop.

Reflecting on it, Yoon Daehyeop did honor his word for the sake of survival. The Changgeomun warriors appeared oblivious to that episode.

“Sohee, let’s depart.”

While I felt somewhat eased after understanding why the Changgeomun warriors had come, Sohee maintained her vigilance until they posed no threat to me.

“Alright.”

Cheon Sohee only sheathed her sword when the Changgeomun warrior had disappeared from view.

En route to the inn.

The Heavenly Death Star looked particularly gloomy, perhaps still disturbed by the recent events.

“I can’t express how much comfort Sohee brought me just now. Why must people constantly seek conflict?”

Praise was what she deserved now. Wasn’t there a saying that praise could make even a whale dance on a hot grill?

“Did you feel reassured?”

“Absolutely. When I roamed alone in the Central Plains, confrontations were common. Just a while back, members of the Cheongsapa, or some such group, beat me senseless and robbed me. But with Sohee at my side, those troubles are no more.”

Since Cheon Sohee assumed the role of my bodyguard, the only sword-wielders who approached us were Yoon Daehyeop and the Changgeomun, but we faced other conflicts too.

Each time, Sohee intervened and quelled them with ease, ensuring our performances went undisturbed.

“Indeed.”

Perhaps my praise improved her mood? Her eyes, once tense, visibly relaxed.

“However, Sohee, I have a proposal.”

The time was right to broach the main subject amidst this congenial mood.

“What might that be?”

“The name Okbun. Could we consider changing it?”

A name that seems to attract trouble. It’s time for a new one.

Originally, I couldn’t broach the topic of altering the alias in life-or-death situations, but after today, it felt appropriate to suggest it.

“Why?”

“That name. You started using it when you joined the acrobatic troupe. We’ve already had two disputes because of that name, so I think it’s worth changing if it’s just an alias.”

“I don’t want to.”

But why?

It was a name that always brought trouble. There was no need to cling to an alias.

Maybe she thought it didn’t matter if disputes arose since she could overpower them. But she should have considered my perspective too.

If it had been before, I might have given in, but for my safety, I needed to be more assertive in expressing my opinion.

“The name Okbun is too old-fashioned. I may call it an alias, but I don’t think it suits Sohee at all.”

“Old-fashioned?”

“Yes. Who uses such a name these days? How about changing it to something less outdated, like Jisu or Nayeon?”

Seeing the ninja outfit, a Japanese name would have been fine too, but a Shinto-based name would have been better.

“The name Okbun.”

Her voice, which had just lightened, suddenly grew heavy.

Did I push too hard?

“Huh?”

“It’s my mother’s name.”

“……”

Ah.

My mind went blank for a moment.

In her gaze, there was a faint but definite anger.

“So, Sohee. I always refer to her as Sohee’s mother, so I didn’t know… your mother’s name…”

In a Talulla-like situation, I desperately searched for an excuse, but she abruptly turned her head away.

“I’ll go ahead.”

With those words, she disappeared from my sight.

“Sohee!”

I had made a mess.

I stopped in my tracks, thinking of running straight to the inn.

My explanation might have been reasonable, but it was hard for her to quickly get over being told her mother’s name was old-fashioned.

Going back to the room now would be as awkward as a forced reconciliation between a pitcher who intentionally threw a dead ball and the batter who punched him first.

She needed some time to soften her feelings.

‘Maybe I should visit the shack.’

Suddenly, I remembered the brush and ink I had left at the shack.

They were very poor-quality tools, and I hadn’t been in a situation to retrieve them, but maybe I should go get them now.

‘I have to write a novel again someday.’

Though it wasn’t the time yet, someday I would need to write a book again.

I had buried them in the ground in a corner of the shack so that even if thieves came, they wouldn’t be able to steal them. I should be able to retrieve them if I went to the shack.

“I haven’t seen those Cheonsapa guys in a while.”

It had been quite some time since the Cheonsapa had vanished from Chilgok County.

I was confident enough to knock down a few gangsters, not just martial artists with swords, so going alone without Sohee shouldn’t be a big problem.

I took a little time to head to the shack.

“Oh my! Who is this? Isn’t this our money pouch? You show up in Chilgok County again right away! Long time no see!”

Damn it.

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