The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 67
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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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Chapter 67
The joint training with Eok I-geon wasn’t as bad as I had thought.
Although it was torturous having to meet him twice a day at set times, the training in Macheongtian was definitely effective.
Mahu’s martial arts required an enormous amount of internal energy, especially for the later techniques.
Since it was a martial art created with inspiration from the Cheonma Divine Art, its destructive and killing power was truly beyond imagination.
Macheongtian was the optimal place to quickly make high-quality energy my own, and also a place where I could freely unleash techniques without any restrictions.
“There are quite a few caves nearby. There’s an interesting place – would you like to go see it?”
Sometimes Eok I-geon would try to tempt me like this, but I absolutely never fell for it.
“Ah, I’m still very lacking. For now, I’ll focus only on training hard!”
What if I ended up seeing ‘that thing’?
Whether it was good or bad luck that brought me this far, I decided to focus only on achieving my purpose.
I wouldn’t pay attention to anything else.
Because my life is precious.
On the fourth day of training with Eok I-geon, I finally had a justification to avoid training with him.
It was because I had received an invitation from the Tak Family.
It was something Tak Ga-ju had proposed first when he said he would give me a gift on Cheonma’s behalf after I won the martial arts competition.
Since I had never been anywhere except Headquarters and the noodle shop, I had actually been eagerly looking forward to this day.
Having lived as a commoner my whole life, I was honestly curious about what wealthy families’ homes looked like.
“Lady Seolha, did you have a good dream last night?”
When I was changing into outdoor clothes and having Sook do my makeup, Seo-ryeon, who was waiting nearby, suddenly asked.
“I didn’t dream but slept well. Why?”
“You seem to be in a better mood than usual.”
“Did I seem that way?”
Had I already shown it?
Maintaining a poker face is surprisingly difficult.
“I’m a bit excited since it’s my first time visiting a Sega.”
The feeling of liberation from escaping Eok I-geon was much greater, but I couldn’t reveal that directly.
“This is also my first time visiting the Hyeon-ma Tak Clan.”
Seo-ryeon’s cheeks were flushed red as she spoke with a smile.
“Huh? You sound like you’re looking forward to it for some reason?”
I had been too lost in my own thoughts to notice earlier.
Seo-ryeon, who usually had an unreadable expression, also seemed excited like me.
“Actually, I have a small connection with Tak Ga-ju from childhood.”
“Oh my, really? Can I ask what kind of connection?”
“It’s nothing so special that you might wonder what the big deal is if you heard it.”
“What is it, Lady Seo-ryeon? I want to hear it too!”
When Sook stopped doing makeup and joined in, Seo-ryeon finally began her story.
“My parents run a small inn in Hwa-jeong. Long ago, Tak Ga-ju happened to stop by while passing through, and after seeing me as a child, he recommended to my parents that I learn martial arts.”
“Wow, he recognized Lady Seo-ryeon’s talent at first sight!”
At Sook’s exclamation, Seo-ryeon smiled slightly and continued.
“Well, I’m not sure about that, but anyway, thanks to that, I, the eldest daughter of a rural family with three younger siblings, was able to attend a martial arts school in a neighboring village that took half a day to walk to. And that’s how I ended up in this position. If it weren’t for Tak Ga-ju, I’d probably be sweating in the inn’s kitchen cooking right now.”
“As expected of Tak Ga-ju! To change Lady Seo-ryeon’s life with just one word!”
Sook was so moved that she clasped her hands together in joy.
“I’m touched too. If it weren’t for Tak Ga-ju, Seo-ryeon wouldn’t be here.”
“Then I wouldn’t be Lady Seolha’s bodyguard either, would I?”
Ah, I really hate that idea.
A bodyguard other than Seo-ryeon!
Right now, that was unimaginable for me.
“In a way, Tak Ga-ju is like a benefactor to Seo-ryeon.”
“That’s right. Actually, that’s why I originally wanted to become a warrior for the Tak Family. But as Ga-ju’s seclusion grew longer, I somehow ended up applying to the Yeom-wang Unit.”
Seo-ryeon made a slightly bitter expression.
“But why did Tak Ga-ju go into seclusion? Do you know anything about it?”
“I don’t know much about that either. To say it’s because of his age, he still seemed quite healthy…”
“Right? He didn’t look eighty to me either.”
With his tall frame and robust build, he seemed at most around sixty.
“Can I tell Tak Ga-ju about Seo-ryeon later?”
“…About me?”
“Yeah, aren’t you curious? Whether Tak Ga-ju remembers or not.”
“Of course I’m curious. It would be an honor if he remembers.”
Seo-ryeon’s face reddened again.
In the novel, she was only described as having a blunt personality, so I didn’t know she had this side.
Seeing Seo-ryeon’s shy, girlish appearance, I suppressed my laughter inside.
“Shall we make a bet? I vote that he remembers!”
“A bet?”
“Seo-ryeon can bet on him remembering too.”
“…No, I’m not confident. It was too long ago, and it seems like a common occurrence for him.”
“Then you’re betting that he doesn’t remember?”
“What kind of bet is this?”
“The winner gets their wish granted.”
“Pardon?”
I coaxed the bewildered Seo-ryeon again.
“Only within what the other person can fulfill. How about it?”
Seo-ryeon slowly nodded at my unreasonable bet.
“…Yes, fine. Lady Seolha won’t demand an enormous amount of money from me, right?”
“Seo-ryeon can demand it. You know I have a lot of money now, right?”
The budget allocated annually for maintaining Yeong-eun Hall was enormous.
That alone wouldn’t have surprised me much.
My personal activity expenses were paid separately each month, and things like silk, elixirs, and expensive accessories were provided quarterly.
This was why Eok I-geon could freely spend money at the black market.
“Then I’ll cheer for Lady Seo-ryeon! Please win and take lots of money! Got it?”
“Thanks, Sook.”
Seo-ryeon and Sook giggled at the same time.
Though it hadn’t been a long time, since the three of us women were often together, we had become quite close lately.
It was thanks to Sook’s sociability and Seo-ryeon’s easygoing nature blending well together.
“Shall we go now?”
We had gotten late from chatting. I did a final check of my outfit and left Yeong-eun Hall with Seo-ryeon.
“We greet the First Miss!”
“We greet the First Miss!”
We were chatting about our bet as we passed through the main gate of Headquarters.
More than ten Tak Clan warriors, who had apparently been waiting for who knows how long, bowed to me in unison as soon as they saw me.
Since I hadn’t expected the Tak Family to come out to greet me, I was momentarily flustered.
“We will escort you.”
Unaware of my state, the Tak Clan warriors immediately surrounded Seo-ryeon and me.
Is this how it’s normally done?
Since this was my first time being invited somewhere, I had no idea what to expect, so when I looked at Seo-ryeon with questioning eyes, she just shrugged her shoulders.
From that, it was clear this wasn’t a typical situation.
How long could it possibly take to get from headquarters to the Tak family that an escort would be necessary?
Moreover, who would be targeting me along the way?
I felt a bit embarrassed by Tak Ga-ju’s excessive hospitality, but as someone being treated as a guest, I had nothing to say about it.
I simply nodded and quietly followed along as the Tak Clan Warriors led the way.
After a while, we soon arrived at the Hyeon-ma Tak Clan, known as the foremost prestigious family in Maegyo.
‘Wow, how magnificent.’
First of all, the scale was overwhelming.
I couldn’t even see where the manor ended from where I stood.
As we passed through the main gate and entered inside, enormous pavilions lined up in rows.
Even I, who had spent five years as a maid at headquarters, was intimidated by how grand it was.
“First Miss, you have arrived.”
With Tak Joong-hak in the center, there was an unfamiliar middle-aged man on the left, and on the right was Tak Seung-myeong, whom I had met before.
Though he didn’t openly acknowledge me because of the adults present, his inner joy was clearly showing.
“Tak Ga-ju, thank you for inviting me. Honestly, I came with a light heart, but I didn’t expect you to come out to greet me personally.”
“How could we treat such an honored guest carelessly? You must be tired from the journey, so please come inside first.”
As I had felt at the sparring arena, the way Tak Joong-hak looked at me was somehow a little different from ordinary people.
Though he spoke using the most respectful language and treated me as the First Miss, strangely enough, both then and now, I felt like I was dealing with a kind-hearted grandfather.
Even facing the most respected person in Maegyo, I felt comfortable like this instead of trembling.
Is this what they call seasoned experience?
Indeed, fame isn’t earned for nothing.
Feeling the greatness of the Tak family once again, I slowly followed behind Tak Joong-hak.
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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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