Surviving as the Villainess’s Servant in a Martial Arts Novel - Chapter 44

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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 44

 

The first thing I felt upon opening my eyes was one thing.

 

‘A burning smell?’

 

There was a burning smell at the tip of my nose.

 

I, who had been lying on the bed staring blankly at the ceiling, suddenly sat up.

 

Something was strange. The surroundings were strangely bright. One might think it was because morning had come, but the sky visible through the window cracks was still only dark.

 

Then where did this light come from? As if someone had lit a fire nearby, or perhaps set something ablaze…

 

“…!”

 

At the sudden thought, I hurriedly got down from the bed. I put on my shoes and ran to open the door—

 

“What is… what is this?”

 

Fire.

 

It was fire.

 

Everything around was burning.

 

The burning smell I had caught in my sleep was exactly this. The buildings that had been fine until yesterday were being consumed by flames and collapsing, and the clean ground was a mess with building debris and soot.

 

And on top of that, several people were lying collapsed. People whose bodies were soaked in blood…

 

Blood?

 

“Huh, huh?”

 

I swallowed my breath. Then I immediately ran toward the fallen people. They had deep wounds all over their bodies, and occasionally I could see people whose bodies were mutilated.

 

But if there was one thing in common, it was that none of them moved at all. No matter how much I shouted and called out, no matter how much I shook their bodies, it was the same.

 

Instead, only the pool of blood gathering on the ground grew wider. Finally, I realized.

 

‘They’re dead.’

 

They were all dead.

 

They were already dead.

 

In one night, all of them.

 

‘Why?’

 

Just as a scream was about to burst out.

 

“Child!”

 

At the sudden shout I heard, I quickly raised my head. A familiar figure was running toward me from far away. An inexplicable sense of relief washed over me and I shouted loudly.

 

“Uncle Hwang!”

 

Uncle Hwang quickly reached me. I grabbed his collar and spoke incoherently.

 

“U-Uncle, how did this happen, I mean, I heard screaming in my sleep and when I came outside there was fire, no, people were collapsed, there’s blood over there, blood…”

 

“Child.”

 

Uncle Hwang grabbed my shoulders.

 

“I understand that you’re confused. But right now there’s no time to explain calmly. We have to go. Follow me immediately.”

 

“What? Where to…?”

 

“Hurry!”

 

Then he grabbed my arm and started running.

 

I ran after Uncle Hwang in bewilderment. Countless questions arose in my mind. But I couldn’t voice those questions.

 

Because a hellish scene unfolded before my eyes.

 

“Run, run away…!”

 

“Ah, my leg, someone please help me!”

 

“Please save me, please, ahhh!”

 

The Inner Courtyard was truly a scene of carnage.

 

With fires burning everywhere, many people were tangled together in chaos. Half of those people were already collapsed on the Ground, and the remaining people were wandering about in confusion and terror.

 

Screams filled with fear, cries of despair, sobbing… In the midst of the chaotic situation, someone’s shout could be heard.

 

“It’s the Demon Cult, the Demon Cult is going to kill us all!”

 

‘Demon Cult?’

 

At the familiar term, my mind snapped to attention.

 

I recalled the story A-so had told me before.

 

She said the atmosphere had been unsettled lately. Martial artists were coming and going in the previously quiet Boluo County, and she said that in some places, the Demon Cult had appeared and was killing and capturing people indiscriminately.

 

She told me to be careful just in case. I said I understood then, but I actually didn’t take it seriously.

 

Most of the time, the Demon Cult appeared in crowded Capital Cities, and more importantly, in 【Lord of Heaven and Earth】, Seo Yeon-ri never got involved with the Demon Cult.

 

Seo Yeon-ri died only because of ‘illness’. Until then, Seo Yeon-ri lived peacefully without getting involved with the Demon Cult. The Seo Family Estate also existed without incident before the Main Character arrived.

 

That’s probably why I felt more at ease. I thought the young Young Miss wouldn’t get swept up in the storms of Jianghu…

 

‘Really?’

 

But why did it turn out like this?

 

Why is the Demon Cult here… Then the Young Miss…

 

‘The Young Miss?’

 

At the white face that suddenly came to mind, I shouted loudly.

 

“Uncle, wait, wait a moment!”

 

“Talk later!”

 

“What about the Young Miss? Is the Young Miss safe? Nothing happened to her, right? Where is the Young Miss now…!”

 

However, I couldn’t finish my words.

 

Someone blocked our path.

 

“…!”

 

Uncle Hwang and I stopped in our tracks.

 

I had an ominous feeling.

 

It wasn’t because the person blocking our path was a Mysterious Man wearing a black mask. It was because blood was dripping from the Long Sword the Mysterious Man held, from the blade that gleamed with a sharp edge.

 

I could tell without being told whose blood that was. Uncle Hwang must have felt it too, as he stepped backward and came closer to me.

 

“Uncle…”

 

“Child.”

 

Suddenly Uncle Hwang whispered quietly.

 

“Go to the Ancestral Hall.”

 

“…”

 

“Everyone will be gathered there. I’ll somehow hold him back, so run away in the meantime. You’re small, so if you hide among the people, it’ll be hard to find you.”

 

“…”

 

“Now, I’ll count to three, so right away…”

 

“B-but what about you, Uncle?”

 

At my trembling voice, Uncle Hwang finally turned around to look back.

 

Contrary to my expectation that he would be just as afraid as I was, Uncle looked calm. No, rather he smiled triumphantly as usual and said.

 

“Do you think I’m going to die here?”

 

“….”

 

“That won’t do, it won’t. I still have many things I want to do. I haven’t saved much money, haven’t opened a shop in my name, and most of all, I haven’t gotten a wife yet.”

 

“….”

 

“I shouldn’t have refused when that Po Family guy said he’d introduce me to a decent woman… Ah, though I wonder if there’s anyone who would like this old bachelor.”

 

Uncle grinned as he met my eyes.

 

“You’ll have to be there to congratulate me when I get married, won’t you? Huh? You weren’t planning not to come, were you?”

 

I smiled along with Uncle.

 

“Of course not.”

 

“Right, when that time comes, you’ll congratulate me and act like an older brother to my children. These are all things we can only do if we survive. As long as we live, we’ll meet again someday.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“So now, enough.”

 

Suddenly Uncle Hwang picked up the shovel that had fallen on the ground and charged at the Masked Man.

 

“Go-!”

 

Clang!

 

At the sound of metal clashing against metal, I began running like mad.

 

The commotion behind me grew distant. For a moment, I thought I heard someone’s scream from behind. Was it Uncle Hwang, or someone else…?

 

My breath grew short and my eyes grew hot.

 

‘The Ancestral Hall, I need to get to the Ancestral Hall…’

 

The Ancestral Hall was where the memorial tablets of the Seo Clan ancestors were enshrined.

 

If you passed through the Moon Gate next to the main building where the Master stayed, you would find a modest building, which was the Ancestral Hall.

 

The Ancestral Hall could be reached quickly by following the corridor connected to the main building, but that would risk being spotted. I chose to take the roundabout way, mixing in with people as Uncle had said.

 

“Huff, gasp…”

 

I ran like mad.

 

Before I knew it, my surroundings gradually became blurred. The screams and crying also grew distant. I could only see ahead. I just ran forward with the single thought that I had to reach the Ancestral Hall somehow.

 

Soon I approached the main building and could see the round-shaped Moon Gate beside it. There it is. Now, if I just pass through there…

 

Tap.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

I heard footsteps chasing after me.

 

I stopped in place. Only when I looked around did I realize no one was there. Only I was there, no, only I and the person behind me were there.

 

I slowly turned around.

 

A black Masked Man was standing behind me. My mind became confused and tangled. Could it be the same person who had blocked our way earlier? Then what about Uncle? What happened to Uncle? Did he escape?

 

Or perhaps…

 

“Ah…”

 

I unconsciously stepped back. I could see the Masked Man tightening his grip on his sword.

 

Suddenly I had this thought.

 

‘Should I really go to the Ancestral Hall like this?’

 

According to Uncle’s words, the remaining people were gathered at the Ancestral Hall. The Master was certainly there, and there was a high probability that Young Miss was there too.

 

But if I go to the Ancestral Hall to save myself, if the Masked Man doesn’t kill me but just chases me around like a cornered rat, the situation becomes even more serious.

 

The hideout would be discovered, and everyone could be exposed. And then, if we’re all massacred.

 

‘That can’t happen.’

 

Only then did I think I understood Uncle Hwang’s feelings when he sent me away. That I too would make the same choice as him.

 

In the end, I gave up on running away.

 

The black Masked Man was approaching one step, two steps closer.

 

Along with fear of death, I felt a strange sense of relief. It was an odd feeling. I thought I would feel wronged if I died like this, but perhaps because I had done my best until now, I felt no regret.

 

Yes, isn’t this death rather acceptable? Since I’m dying to protect other people. Since it’s not a meaningless sacrifice…

 

As I was just watching the sword flying toward me.

 

“No…!”

 

A small body blocked my path.

 

Time slowed down in that instant.

 

A pale purple maid uniform fluttered in the air.

 

A round, white face turned to look at me. It was a familiar face. That face I had seen every day, every day—.

 

“A-so—!”

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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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