Surviving as the Villainess’s Servant in a Martial Arts Novel - Chapter 57

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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 57

 

“….”

 

I shook my head and quickly brushed away those thoughts. Rather than thinking negatively, it was better to hurry and move.

 

As time passed, strength gradually returned to my body.

 

I woke up Pyeong Hyeon, who was still sleeping soundly, and prepared to leave. After quickly filling our stomachs with fruit, we immediately set off.

 

We came out of the mountain when it was almost noon.

 

It was later than I had expected.

 

Normally we would have left the mountain much earlier, but because my body wasn’t well, we were greatly delayed. It was because I kept resting after walking just a little due to exhaustion.

 

‘Am I helping or being a burden?’

 

I actually felt sorry toward Pyeong Hyeon. Wouldn’t it have been better if Pyeong Hyeon had just walked on her own…?

 

“Sister, are you okay? Are you feeling very unwell?”

 

Of course, Pyeong Hyeon didn’t blame me for that.

 

Rather, she would look at me with concern as I sat on rocks panting heavily.

 

“Hm? Yeah, I’m fine. It’s nothing. It’s just… you’re surprisingly heavy.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“Ha, got you. Looking at how skinny you are, I thought you’d be light as a feather when I offered to carry you, but when I actually picked you up, you’re quite hefty, aren’t you? Is it all muscle? Let me see, your arms do look pretty firm…”

 

“N-no, they’re not…!”

 

I grinned as I watched Pyeong Hyeon hastily pull her arms away.

 

“I’m just kidding. Anyway, continue the story you were telling earlier. You said you lived alone with your grandmother since childhood. Then what about your parents? Have they been gone since you were young?”

 

Pyeong Hyeon looked at me disapprovingly for trying to change the subject, but soon sighed and obediently answered.

 

“My mother passed away not long after I was born, and my father passed away a few years ago. Both of them had weak constitutions originally…”

 

“Oh, that’s similar to me. Both of my parents passed away too. My father, well, he was never there from birth, and my mother also passed away from illness.”

 

“Really? But didn’t you say you were with family? I thought you meant your parents…”

 

“Ah, that.”

 

I said awkwardly.

 

“To be precise, it’s someone like family. I guess you could say… an older sister?”

 

“An older sister?”

 

I smiled softly and nodded.

 

“Yeah, someone who helped me a lot. Honestly, it was incredibly difficult to get close to her at first. That sister had trust issues and couldn’t trust anyone. She disliked me so much too.”

 

“But you became close?”

 

“I persistently stuck to her, you know. I kept following her around, talking to her, and playing pranks like I do with you. She was a bit fierce at first though.”

 

“Ah… I think I understand.”

 

“What do you understand, you little thing.”

 

I playfully pinched Pyeong Hyeon’s cheek and continued.

 

“But gradually she opened her heart to me. That was quite satisfying and nice. Later we became almost like family.”

 

“…You must really like her.”

 

“If I didn’t like her, we wouldn’t have become family. Why, are you jealous?”

 

“Yes, I’m jealous.”

 

I was surprised by her unexpectedly honest answer and looked at Pyeong Hyeon. She seemed somewhat melancholy.

 

“I’m… an only child. Since I’ve only lived in the mountains since birth, I’ve hardly ever met peers my age. Even when I did, they would just find me intimidating…”

 

“Really? That’s strange, you don’t have an intimidating personality…”

 

“I g-guess I’m a little like that. Anyway… I used to wish I had siblings. It looked nice watching them bicker and play together. Being alone was lonely…”

 

“….”

 

“I just, that’s why I was jealous. You said you have family too… I wish I had an older sister like you…”

 

I looked at Pyeong Hyeon as her voice trailed off and suddenly said.

 

“What are you talking about? Why are you looking for a sister like me somewhere else? I can be your older sister, can’t I?”

 

“What?”

 

Pyeong Hyeon blinked.

 

“Bickering? What do you think we’ve been doing all the way here? Playing together? How about it, should I play with you until you get sick of it?”

 

“Huh, what?”

 

“What’s so special about family? If you get along and want to keep being together, you become family. You can definitely become family even without blood ties. Like me and my older sister…”

 

‘And like my mother and me.’

 

I swallowed those words for a moment. Then I grinned and ruffled Pyeong Hyeon’s hair roughly.

 

“Anyway, if you want, I can be your older sister anytime. Actually, I wanted a younger sister too. It’s great that I’m getting a sister now.”

 

“….”

 

“Oh, or should we become sworn sisters right now? Want to be three sisters?”

 

“Ahaha.”

 

“What, is that a yes or no? Don’t laugh, give me a proper answer. Don’t tell me that’s a silent rejection because you don’t want to be my younger sister?”

 

“No, I want to. Older sister, younger sister.”

 

Even as she said this, Pyeong Hyeon kept smiling. It seemed like a genuinely happy smile.

 

I carried Pyeong Hyeon on my back again and set off.

 

During our journey, we shared many stories. We made silly jokes and had serious conversations too. I don’t know if Pyeong Hyeon enjoyed it, but I found that time really enjoyable.

 

While we were walking, Pyeong Hyeon suddenly hugged my neck tightly. Then she said quietly.

 

“Sister.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Thank you. And…”

 

Just as I was about to respond with a smile.

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

I hesitated.

 

I thought Pyeong Hyeon’s voice sounded somehow dampened with moisture.

 

* * *

 

We didn’t reach the village that day either.

 

It was partly because my pace was so slow, and from late afternoon the sky became gloomy as if it might pour rain.

 

After thinking it over, I decided to find shelter from the rain. If it were just me, I would have ignored it and continued, but with Pyeong Hyeon on my back, it would be troublesome to get caught in the rain.

 

Fortunately, there was a house-like building nearby, so we headed straight there.

 

And that building was…

 

‘It’s an abandoned shrine.’

 

The condition of the shrine wasn’t very good.

 

Perhaps because it hadn’t been maintained for a long time, spider webs were everywhere, and the gilt on the plaque had completely peeled off. Still, the roof seemed intact enough for us to spend one night.

 

I took Pyeong Hyeon inside the shrine.

 

When I opened the door, I saw a dusty room. At the front was an altar, and on the altar sat a statue of an unknown deity.

 

I set Pyeong Hyeon down below the altar.

 

Not long after, I heard the sound of rushing water. It really was raining. I looked outside the door and muttered.

 

“The sky didn’t look normal and now it’s pouring. It’s fortunate we came inside before the rain started, otherwise we would have gotten soaked. Right?”

 

“….”

 

“Pyeong Hyeon?”

 

“Y-yes?”

 

At my call, Pyeong Hyeon looked up in surprise. Then she slowly nodded.

 

“Yes…”

 

I frowned as I looked at Pyeong Hyeon like that.

 

‘She’s doing this again.’

 

Pyeong Hyeon had been in this state continuously since earlier.

 

That is, from when we had that sincere conversation, or more precisely, from when she said those mysterious words “I’m sorry,” she gradually became less talkative and now she was spacing out.

 

No matter how much I tried to talk to her, she would either ignore me or answer belatedly. I scratched my head.

 

‘Does she have some worry?’

 

If it’s really difficult, she could confide in me. It would be better if we worried about it together… I was about to say that when I looked back at Pyeong Hyeon and was startled.

 

Because Pyeong Hyeon was tearing up.

 

“Pyeong Hyeon, what’s wrong? What happened?”

 

“Sister…”

 

Pyeong Hyeon muttered with a trembling voice.

 

“Sister, I, actually….”

 

“Yeah. Tell me.”

 

“Actually, I….”

 

At that moment.

 

“Hey there!”

 

I turned around. A rough voice came from outside the door.

 

‘What?’

 

I didn’t answer for now and watched the situation. Then I heard other people talking.

 

“See, I told you it’s obviously an abandoned shrine? Let’s just go inside at a time like this.”

 

“Do we have time to stop here? Wouldn’t it be better to just go back quickly?”

 

“With rain coming down like this? Let’s just take shelter from the rain and rest for a bit. Damn it, we’ve been running around all day because of that bitch, it’s so exhausting….”

 

I listened carefully to their conversation and swallowed dryly.

 

I had a bad feeling.

 

They might just be simple travelers trying to avoid the rain, but judging from the men’s rough voices and way of speaking, they didn’t seem like ordinary people.

 

Most importantly.

 

‘Pyeong Hyeon?’

 

Pyeong Hyeon was trembling.

 

From the moment she heard the men’s voices, she had turned pale and was shaking violently.

 

Just like when I first met her….

 

‘No way.’

 

I quickly looked around. But inside the empty shrine, there was nowhere proper to hide. The only things there were the altar and the statue….

 

The altar?

 

“Alright, let’s take shelter from the rain here.”

 

Step, step.

 

The footsteps grew closer.

 

I quickly grabbed Pyeong Hyeon’s arm and whispered.

 

“This way…!”

 

Then I pushed Pyeong Hyeon’s body under the altar.

 

Fortunately, Pyeong Hyeon was naturally small, so there was still space left even after she went under the altar. Once Pyeong Hyeon was in, I also quickly squeezed my body under the altar.

 

Just as I got my head in last.

 

Creak—!

 

“…Hmm?”

 

Someone asked.

 

“What’s wrong? Is someone there?”

 

“Well….”

 

The man walked around inside the shrine for a while.

 

Thump, thump, thump.

 

The man’s heavy footsteps echoed in my ears. My heart pounded madly in rhythm with the footsteps. It felt like my heart would burst.

 

After a while, the man stopped walking.

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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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