Surviving as the Villainess’s Servant in a Martial Arts Novel - Chapter 51

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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 51

 

Young Miss was silent for a moment. She looked like someone who couldn’t understand what I had just said.

 

But before long, her face hardened with a snap.

 

Young Miss’s cold voice reached my ears.

 

“Don’t say such ridiculous things.”

 

“Young Miss.”

 

“Stop talking…!”

 

However, Young Miss couldn’t continue her words.

 

Because we could hear people’s voices from far away.

 

“…”

 

Young Miss clenched her mouth shut and glared at me. Then she gestured to me and started walking ahead. I silently followed behind Young Miss.

 

We went deeper into the mountain.

 

The sound of water that had been faintly audible gradually grew stronger. Before we knew it, a massive waterfall appeared before us.

 

The violently flowing waterfall swallowed up all the surrounding noise. As if no one would hear whatever we talked about. Young Miss also knew this and looked for a hiding place nearby.

 

There happened to be a rock overgrown with grass, and we went behind that rock. Then we faced each other and remained silent for a while.

 

In the end, I was the first to speak.

 

“We can’t keep running like this forever.”

 

“…”

 

“You saw it too, Young Miss. There are too many enemies. All the paths down from the mountain are blocked… If we stay like this, we’ll be caught soon.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s better if one of us draws their attention. I’ll pretend to be Young Miss. If I wear the cloak and cover my face with cotton cloth, no one will know it’s me. In the meantime, Young Miss can escape down the mountain…”

 

“What about you if I escape?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Young Miss’s voice came out trembling.

 

“Can you escape?”

 

“…”

 

“If you pretend to be me, can you live?”

 

“…”

 

“No, you can’t live. You’re telling me to escape alone because you don’t think you can survive. You’re telling me to live alone by sacrificing your life!”

 

“Young Miss…”

 

“I, I…”

 

Young Miss bit her lip. Her stiffly hardened face seemed angry, but in some ways, it also seemed terrified.

 

Young Miss continued with difficulty.

 

“I’ve lost too much. My house, people, even my parents… Now I have nothing left, and you’re telling me to give up even you? And that’s while pushing you off a cliff just so I can live?”

 

“…”

 

“I absolutely can’t do it, no, I won’t do it. Do you think I could live normally after doing such a thing? If we die, we die together. If you die, I’ll also…!”

 

“But I’m not going to die?”

 

“What?”

 

Young Miss looked at me bewildered. I smiled casually as if nothing was wrong.

 

“No, when did I say I was going to die? I was just suggesting we escape separately to buy time. Think rationally. Who’s faster, Young Miss or me?”

 

“…”

 

“And why would I die? I absolutely won’t die. There are so many things I haven’t done yet. I haven’t spent money freely, haven’t worn nice clothes, haven’t eaten delicious food, haven’t gone anywhere to have fun…”

 

“…”

 

“I can’t die until I’ve tried all of that. I promised A-so. We promised to live doing everything we wanted to do. I also promised Mother I would live well…”

 

“…”

 

“Most importantly…”

 

I looked at Young Miss, who seemed somehow lost in thought. Feeling embarrassed for some reason, I hesitated and then murmured quietly.

 

“You said you’d stay by my side.”

 

Young Miss’s eyes widened.

 

“Young Miss said it before. That you wouldn’t leave me alone. That you’d become my family…”

 

“…”

 

“I didn’t say it then, but I was really happy. I always felt like I couldn’t settle anywhere, but I finally felt like I’d found my place. Now that I know that feeling, how could I leave?”

 

“…”

 

“I can’t leave. No, I won’t leave. Even if Young Miss tells me to go now, I’ll stubbornly stick by your side. It’s too late for regrets. So…”

 

I raised my hand and took Young Miss’s hand. At some point, Young Miss’s hand had been trembling.

 

“Please trust me.”

 

“…”

 

“I will never leave Young Miss.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll definitely come back. No matter what happens, even if it takes quite a long time. I will return to Young Miss’s side no matter what.”

 

“…”

 

“Until then… could you wait for me?”

 

Young Miss said nothing in response to my question. But I knew. That Young Miss had agreed. Because Young Miss, who had deeply bowed her head, firmly grasped my hand in return.

 

At the same time, a single tear flowed down her pale cheek. I couldn’t offer any words of comfort and just held her hand.

 

In the end, we exchanged clothes.

 

‘It’s small.’

 

Young Miss’s clothes might have been loose in the chest, but the sleeves and hem were strangely short. It even felt oddly unseemly to wear such fine clothes with my face.

 

I might get caught if I wasn’t careful, but it would probably be fine if I wore the cotton cloth and pulled the cloak down deep.

 

Looking awkwardly at the skirt I was wearing for the first time in a while, I suddenly thought.

 

‘Should I tell her now?’

 

That my gender is female.

 

But right now, I was volunteering to be bait in place of Young Miss. If she found out I was a woman, Young Miss might try to stop me again.

 

There’s no time for that now. Rather, wouldn’t it be less burdensome for Young Miss if she thought of me as a boy?

 

‘I hope she doesn’t feel guilty for no reason…’

 

Rustle.

 

Just then, Young Miss walked out from the other side.

 

Young Miss was wearing my shabby clothes. With her hair tied up in one bundle and wearing loose men’s clothing, she looked ordinary at first glance, but that noble face couldn’t be hidden.

 

Still, she couldn’t go around suspiciously wearing cotton cloth. I bent down and scooped up handfuls of mud, then approached Young Miss and applied it to her face.

 

“Really, some people look like beggars on the street when they wear old clothes, but how does Young Miss still look noble even dressed like this? Your face is power, pure power.”

 

“You…”

 

“When I leave, hide for a moment and then come out.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll try to buy as much time as possible. Then Young Miss should escape in the opposite direction from me. You must survive. That way I’ll have somewhere to return to. Now that everything’s ready…”

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

Suddenly Young Miss urgently grabbed me. Young Miss seemed to hesitate a bit, then took something out from her clothes.

 

A money pouch and… a pair of hairpins.

 

The jade hairpins had lotus flowers made of gems attached to the ends, and below them were carved swimming fish. And there was another symmetrical hairpin of similar design.

 

Young Miss held out one of the hairpins and said.

 

“Take this.”

 

“What is this?”

 

“…My mother’s keepsake.”

 

Before I could be surprised, Young Miss continued calmly.

 

“Mother treasured this until she passed away. Father gave it back to me after I grew up. He said there was only one pair like this in the world and told me to treasure it.”

 

“…”

 

“Since there’s only one pair… it would be good as a token. You said you’d come back, but it might be delayed. We can’t have you not being recognized…”

 

Indeed, how could I not recognize that face?

 

But Young Miss was right too. Nothing about what would happen in the future could be certain, and in the worst case, we might not meet for a really long time.

 

Then that token would be necessary. A token that would let her recognize me even if I appeared as a woman.

 

“…I’ll definitely return it to you.”

 

I carefully received the hairpin.

 

Only after putting the hairpin and money pouch inside my clothes was I finally ready to leave.

 

Even then, Young Miss just stood there in one spot, watching me blankly. I hesitated, unable to take a step, mumbling. Just as I was about to say some kind of farewell.

 

“Really.”

 

Suddenly, a trembling voice reached me.

 

“You won’t… die, will you?”

 

“…”

 

“You’ll definitely come back, right?”

 

I looked quietly at Young Miss and spoke impulsively.

 

“Should I swear an oath if you can’t believe me?”

 

Then I raised three fingers on my right hand, pointing to heaven, earth, and myself.

 

“I, the unworthy Seo Dan, swear here and now. No matter what happens, I will return to Young Miss’s side. Though we were born on different days, I will surely survive and die with Young Miss on the same day and hour!”

 

“…”

 

“…Young Miss.”

 

I smiled brightly.

 

“I’ll miss you terribly.”

 

Young Miss drew in a breath.

 

Her large eyes trembled finely as they grew misty. But no tears fell. Young Miss just bit her lip, smiled with difficulty, and answered.

 

“…Don’t be too late.”

 

I nodded.

 

Only after covering my face with cotton cloth and pulling my cloak down low did I raise my head. I took in Young Miss’s face with my eyes once more.

 

This was a face I wouldn’t see for a while. I might not see it for a long time. I would miss it terribly. But it was okay. We weren’t parting forever. We would definitely meet again…

 

‘Please wait just a little longer.’

 

Keeping the words I couldn’t bring myself to say in my heart, I turned around. Then I slowly began to move forward.

 

One step, two steps. My pace quickened.

 

Before I knew it, I was running with all my might.

 

The last face I saw flickered in my vision.

 

Was that beloved face wet with tears, or was it not?

 

‘Definitely, definitely…’

 

In the quiet mountain forest, only the sound of my footsteps echoed.

 

That was my last memory with Young Miss.

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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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