Surviving as the Villainess’s Servant in a Martial Arts Novel - Chapter 23

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 23

 

The maid apologized to Lee Yeon and poured jujubes into the wooden bucket. It seemed she planned to disguise the bucket as a jujube container to escape with Lee Yeon.

 

Lee Yeon shed tears with her hands and feet bound. Since when had this been hidden? Where did it all go wrong? Was it because of me again? If she became like this because of me making things strange…

 

“You’ve got some nerve, you wench!”

 

Fortunately, Lee Yeon was rescued not long after.

 

When Seo Cheong-ja, who had built friendships with martial artists, requested help, the martial artists began searching the surrounding areas.

 

The maid said it was because she admired Lee Yeon, confessing her feelings several times. But Lee Yeon deliberately avoided her gaze. Her heart was in turmoil with resentment and guilt.

 

That’s when it happened. The maid drew the dagger from her bosom.

 

“What are you doing? Hurry and take that woman’s blade away!”

 

“Young Miss, please watch closely. See what happens to me because of you. See how far I can go for your sake. If I can be remembered by you…”

 

The maid held the dagger in reverse and aimed it at her own throat.

 

“I can do anything.”

 

Then she thrust it deep inside.

 

In that moment, Lee Yeon turned around. She ended up making eye contact with the maid. Even until then, the maid who hadn’t taken her eyes off Lee Yeon smiled brightly.

 

The maid stared intently at Lee Yeon until her last breath. She died without even closing her eyes.

 

It was horrifying.

 

‘What was?’

 

Was it horrifying to see the maid in that state, or was it horrifying that she herself had made the maid that way?

 

From that point on, Lee Yeon began rejecting people.

 

She was sick of it all.

 

* * *

 

Such incidents repeated several times.

 

Lee Yeon was kidnapped several times and rescued several times.

 

There were times when it was truly dangerous.

 

When a sturdy servant kidnapped Lee Yeon, while trying to catch Lee Yeon who was fleeing in the forest, they encountered a bandit group and a fight broke out.

 

They fought each other to monopolize Lee Yeon. Then it escalated to sword fighting and they all perished together. Among the corpses sprawled on the ground, Lee Yeon could only crouch and tremble.

 

Lee Yeon gradually grew exhausted.

 

‘I want to stop.’

 

Eventually, Lee Yeon wore cotton cloth when going out. Even that wasn’t enough, so she covered her entire body with a thick face veil.

 

But even that wasn’t very useful. As she grew older, Lee Yeon’s yin energy only grew stronger, and now it had reached the point where people were affected just by staying nearby.

 

Before she knew it, Lee Yeon had earned the nickname ‘man-eating demon woman.’ It was because people died in droves just by being near Lee Yeon.

 

‘I want to stop now.’

 

Seo Cheong-ja eventually decided to move their residence elsewhere. The rumors were one thing, but he could see that Lee Yeon was mentally exhausted.

 

Of course, even after moving to Boluo County, the situation didn’t improve.

 

Her condition worsening day by day was one thing, but if she relaxed even a little, she immediately affected those around her. Watching the maids whose eyes would glaze over at the slightest opening, Lee Yeon grew weary.

 

Finally, when even Master Yeong-ro’s internal energy could no longer contain the yin energy, Lee Yeon thought.

 

‘…Let’s just stop everything.’

 

I didn’t understand why I had to struggle so desperately to live, and it didn’t seem like the situation would improve in the future. It would be better for everyone, including myself, to give up at this point.

 

So I refused to take medicine and locked myself in my room, waiting only for the day I would die.

 

“Young Miss, I’ve brought your medicine!”

 

That’s when that child appeared.

 

The child’s name was Seo Dan. An ugly boy.

 

Though Seo Dan didn’t know, Lee Yeon could see clearly the moment she threw the sword at Seo Dan. That stupid face that didn’t even know what was happening to me. In the end, he ran away.

 

But Seo Dan came back. Not only that, but he decided to serve me.

 

‘Why?’

 

Curiosity suddenly arose, but Lee Yeon held back. Then she tried to cut off her interest. There had been several accidents from giving unnecessary attention like this.

 

If I don’t show interest, he’ll get tired and fall away on his own.

 

But Seo Dan didn’t do that.

 

‘Why?’

 

Even when I threw things at him several times and hurt him, it was the same. Rather, he seemed to enjoy the situation as if it excited him. When he even danced in front of me, I almost let out a hollow laugh.

 

For a moment my heart almost weakened, but when I accidentally threw the inkstone and made him lose consciousness, I steeled my resolve again. Yes, now he’ll really quit.

 

But Seo Dan didn’t do that.

 

‘Why?’

 

Feeling somehow anxious, Lee Yeon decided to take drastic measures. She painted Seo Dan as a shameless person who only cared about money.

 

Not only did I insult his appearance, but I even cursed his parents. I thought he would get angry like others after receiving such unspeakable humiliation, or if not that, he would leave while cursing at Lee Yeon.

 

But Seo Dan didn’t do that. Instead, he boldly confessed that he liked me.

 

‘Are you also enchanted by me?’

 

Lee Yeon knew well the characteristics of enchanted people.

 

They become monsters without reason. They only have eyes for Lee Yeon and act as if Lee Yeon were their god. They were like fanatics.

 

But Seo Dan was different.

 

While saying he liked me, he strangely maintained boundaries. When Lee Yeon really showed signs of dislike, he would quietly step back, and even while making embarrassing courtship attempts, he never once tried to touch her.

 

Lee Yeon began to feel confused. Whether he really liked her, whether he was truly enchanted. To find out, she unknowingly made room beside her.

 

Before she knew it, Lee Yeon was being swept away by Seo Dan. When the time came, she would put on her face veil first and wait, and when Seo Dan sulked, she would panic and fuss around. She even sought advice from Chief Steward Jeok.

 

And eventually, I even started taking medicine again.

 

When I took the medicine I had so stubbornly refused, how futile it felt. If I was going to do this anyway, why did I refuse so much, why did I push away so hard…

 

‘Are you really different?’

 

Little by little, hope built up in my heart. Maybe this time will be different, maybe it really will be different.

 

Then another memory came to mind.

 

A certain maid who had similar hopes as now. The ending that came from making room beside me like that. What happened to that maid?

 

‘No.’

 

It felt like finally waking up from a dream.

 

Lee Yeon didn’t want to face the same catastrophe as back then. So she desperately pushed Seo Dan away. When Seo Dan showed signs of disappointment, her heart stung, but she pretended not to notice.

 

Just as the seizure period was returning. Since it had come to this, rather than giving affection only to despair again, it would be better to just die like this…

 

“That kid… what?”

 

But you always exceed my expectations.

 

“It seems he fell down the mountain while gathering medicinal herbs. By heaven’s luck he wasn’t seriously injured, but he severely sprained his ankle, so they say he needs to be treated and monitored for a while.”

 

“….”

 

“It must have been hard enough just to step on the ground, so how did you manage to come all the way here in that condition….”

 

Lee Yeon wanted to ask Seo Dan, who was sleeping.

 

Why did you do that?

 

Why didn’t you give up on me until the very end?

 

You could have given up so many times. I was being mean to you.

 

But why did you climb the mountain for me? Why did you throw your whole body into gathering medicinal herbs? You’re hurt this badly, so why did you drag your injured body here?

 

“Do you pity me?!”

 

“Then how could I not pity you?!”

 

Lee Yeon’s heart raced.

 

“At some point, I started caring about you, Young Miss.”

 

Her heart raced so hard it hurt.

 

“I said this earlier, didn’t I? That there’s nothing harder than watching someone precious to you suffer. Now when I see you suffering, Young Miss, it makes me suffer too.”

 

Even though I pushed you away like that, you still stayed until the end.

 

“I wish you wouldn’t be in pain, Young Miss.”

 

You’re telling me I’m precious to you.

 

Lee Yeon suddenly felt like she might cry. A hot lump formed in her throat, and she wanted to burst into tears right there.

 

Struggling to hold back her tears, Lee Yeon opened her mouth. She didn’t know what to say. Only ragged breaths escaped her lips, and just when a small piece of sincerity was about to come out.

 

“I am….”

 

The cotton cloth was lifted.

 

Her face appeared. Her ugly face that bewitched others and turned them into monsters. The face that would change even Seo Dan.

 

Their eyes met.

 

Her heart plummeted to the bottom.

 

‘Ah, now soon….’

 

Lee Yeon’s breath caught in her throat. Please, if only she could just die like this….

 

“Wow.”

 

Lee Yeon opened her eyes.

 

“Wow, Young Miss, you’re so beautiful~! If you had such looks, why have you been hiding them until now? Everyone around kept saying there must be something wrong with your face, so I really thought that was the case….”

 

Lee Yeon looked at Seo Dan again. Her playful yet warm gaze remained unchanged. Still unable to believe what was happening before her, she asked once more.

 

“You’re really okay? Really… you’re fine?”

 

“Huh?”

 

But Seo Dan’s reaction was still unfamiliar.

 

“Huh, really. Goodness, really. No, Young Miss. Even if you’re beautiful, there’s a limit to narcissism. Oh, what’s narcissism, you ask? It’s short for self-infatuation, like Young Miss is doing….”

 

“….”

 

“…By, by any chance, are you disappointed that I’m okay? Oh my, really. Can’t be helped. I’ll fawn over you right now. Beauty start! Beauty damn big start! Beauty damn fanfare start! Beauty festival start! Beauty club open! Beauty club discount event….”

 

“…Haha.”

 

“…Beauty party start! Beauty’s blessing start! Huh? Wait, what did you just say?”

 

“Haha, hahahaha…!”

 

Really, it was so unfamiliar.

 

Lee Yeon couldn’t stop the laughter that suddenly burst out. Seeing Seo Dan’s dumbfounded face made it even worse. Lee Yeon laughed like crazy while shedding tears.

 

Look at this, it’s different.

 

This child is different.

 

Now I can truly give my heart.

 

“Ah, Young Miss? Are you alright? No, why are you suddenly smiling like that… Whoa!”

 

Lee Yeon embraced Seo Dan. Seo Dan was bewildered at being suddenly embraced, but then paused at the sound of crying that followed. Small hands came up behind Lee Yeon’s back.

 

Because that touch, that warmth had been absent for so long, because she had missed it so much.

 

Lee Yeon cried for a long, long time in that position.

 

Dawn was coming.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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