NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18
“Did you ask?”
“Yes? Ah, about that. He said it’s for the lady.”
“…For me?”
Seeing Sowol’s puzzled expression, Laila paused to think.
Sowol’s reputation wasn’t exactly stellar. No wonder. Up to now, Seojung had invited esteemed individuals to teach her.
But how did that turn out?
They disengaged in disgust at Sowol’s attitude and gave up on teaching her altogether.
Being spurned by the high and mighty—whether intentional or not—there’s no way her reputation could improve.
Maybe, as Laila said, Lee Hyun was considering that.
But why?
To him, Sowol was just a student. What kind of master goes out of their way for a student’s reputation?
Questions swirled in her mind.
‘What a strange person.’
Yes, a strange person indeed.
According to those from the trading company, he possessed great power and skill yet remained humble.
He treated servants like regular folks and didn’t bow to those in high places.
Always interacting with people naturally.
And that’s why he was respected by many within the company.
‘And… he can smile like that too.’
“…Lady.”
“Yes?”
Laila brightly smiled as she gazed at the seemingly delighted Sowol.
“Tomorrow. Activity. Can I join too?”
.
.
.
The next morning.
Lee Hyun headed toward Sowol’s door.
Usually, he would just barge in, but today was a night where Laila and Sowol slept together.
Whatever for Sowol, Laila was just someone who wasn’t even a student.
It wouldn’t be right to witness that.
So, he lightly knocked on the door, and after a moment, it opened with Laila appearing.
“Every morning, Master comes to wake the lady?”
“She usually wakes up on her own, but we agreed to this. Anyway… good morning.”
“Yes. Good morning, Master. The lady is currently getting ready…”
“I’m all set!”
Sowol popped up from behind Laila, beaming with a smile.
Dressed splendidly today, Sowol was radiating joy.
“As you know, we’re planning to head to the back alley today… Putting in extra effort today, huh?”
“Just… a little. Ah, more importantly… Master, Laila wants to join in the activities today… what should we do?”
Lee Hyun cast a glance at Laila.
This was supposed to be a straightforward task, no need for Laila to join in.
Yet, what could it mean for Laila to wish to participate?
After a brief moment of contemplation, Lee Hyun nodded nonchalantly.
‘Did Seojung have a hand in this? Well, doesn’t matter.’
“Aren’t you busy?”
“It’s fine!”
“Huh? Isn’t there a schedule for trading…?”
A slightly hesitant voice from Sowol chimed in just at that moment.
Passing by their room, a fighter shouted.
“Hey! Master! Good morning! Today is our day off too! How about a drink?”
“Is it a day off for all the fighters?”
“Yes! We decided to rest today and work starting tomorrow! Since Laila also has a day off, how about she stays with the lady?”
‘Got zero awareness!’
Sowol glared at the fighter with fierce eyes.
However, the grinning fighter simply greeted Lee Hyun and headed downstairs.
Sowol, secretly hoping Lee Hyun would decline, watched him intensely, but he merely nodded casually.
“Well, I suppose it’s easier for us if there are more hands.”
Yesterday was the first day and there were fewer people, but they did mention that they would come again today.
So word would spread, and not only those from the back alley but also the broke ones would surely drop by.
“Haha! I’ll work hard!”
“Right. Right.”
*
Unexpected as Laila’s participation was, it wasn’t a bad thing.
As I thought, today was genuinely bustling with people.
My goodness. How much is all this?
I can rake in points like this just by spending a few coins.
No such thing as a better sweet deal than this.
“Queue up! Line up!”
Laila’s sudden participation was surprisingly effective.
Unlike yesterday when Sowol was at the helm, today she was diligently managing the incoming crowd.
Thanks to her experience as a fighter in the trading company, the people coming for treatment followed her orders without a hitch.
“….”
“Why’s your mouth all jutted out?”
Meanwhile, Sowol, who was next to me fetching the necessary materials, was sulking with her lips all stuck out.
She was doing well, but it was hard to ignore that open display of sulkiness.
“Ah. Are you unhappy that I’m making you work in the big city?”
“…Hmph!”
“Hand that over.”
“Here you go.”
“Hey, hey. This is all for your benefit, isn’t it?”
“…Hmph!”
“Could you tie this here?”
“Like this?”
Even while sulking, she was performing her tasks sincerely. After treating a patient with a poultice applied to the wound, I said.
“How about we go see a play after this?”
Among those who came for treatment earlier, there was someone who mentioned they work at a theater.
I wasn’t sure why someone making money would come here for free treatment, but anyway, they left two tickets as a thank you.
“…Yes?”
What’s with the shocked look?
Sowol’s eyes widened before she started stammering.
“Heh, heh! Well! While I have to train and decide how to run the Eastern Trading Company this time, if Master insists, then sure…”
“Not wanting to go?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want to go!!!”
Her outburst drew everyone’s attention.
Especially sharp was Laila’s gaze.
Well, yeah. If I say I’m dragging her off to have fun while she does labor, it’d certainly feel odd.
I should take care of Laila later.
“…What kind of play is it…?”
She must’ve felt embarrassed after shouting.
Her face turned red.
Still, was she happy about going, as her lips had a subtle twitch.
“Well, I heard during treatment that it’s a play called ‘Seisilia’ that’s currently trending.”
“‘Seisilia’… isn’t that a tragedy?”
“You know?”
“I’ve read the original novel before… why are you looking at me like that?”
“Nothing. I was just surprised that you read such novels.”
Since I started teaching her, I haven’t seen her with a book ever. But she had, huh? What a shock!
“…I’ve read many books, you know? I’ll show you when we go back.”
No, no need to show me.
Anyway, if we plan to go see a play later, I should gather more points today.
While treating patients for a while, it was nearly sundown when I finally ran out of medicine.
Some left with a sense of regret, but what could I do with no medicine?
I turned the patients away, mentioning they’d come again tomorrow and said to the grinning Laila.
“I’ll be off to see a play with her, so you can head back first.”
“Huh? You’re not going to show me?”
“I’ll show you later.”
Where’s the money coming from?
First, I need to prepare some medicine for her and find a way to gather my cash.
Right now, I was broke as a joke, and I couldn’t show anything even if I wanted to.
“Hmm… as unfortunate as it is, there’s nothing we can do!”
After a brief silence, she jokingly bowed and turned away.
As I watched her leave, Sowol gently grabbed my arm.
“Shall we go then?”
Strolling through the evening city with the seemingly joyful Sowol, we arrived at the theater, where a crowd had already gathered.
Seems it was indeed popular.
“Do you not know what ‘Seisilia’ is about, Master?”
“Don’t know.”
“It’s really a sad story. I bet you’ll be a mess and cry.”
“Ha. I’m a man that knows no fear nor tears, so there’s no way I’ll cry watching a play.”
What does she think I am?
“Heh. We shall see, shall we?”
It’s just a play. I playfully poked Sowol’s forehead as she glanced at me sideways with a smirk.
“Don’t you dare hold back.”
.
.
.
To cut to the chase.
The one without any blood or tears was not me, but Sowol.
How on earth could she not blink while watching a play that blatantly declared, ‘I will make you all cry’?
“It’s fascinating how she’s so sad despite there being nothing sad.”
“Hmm…”
“Do they really want to lean on others like that?”
After stepping outside the theater and watching people sob loudly, I patted Sowol’s head.
I mostly teach her physical skills, but as her master, I should teach her emotional aspects too.
“As a merchant’s daughter, you will face difficult times too.”
Is she listening well?
Sowol stayed put as I caressed her head.
“When you’re sad or struggling, it’s not bad to lean on someone. They say happiness shared is doubled, and sorrow shared is halved. So when you’re in trouble, don’t build walls between people. Someone will be there for you.”
“…Hmm. I understand.”
Goodness knows if she really did though.
*
Honestly, I didn’t feel that the play was sad at all.
Sure, the actors were good and the plot was well-structured. But ultimately, was that it?
After having dinner with Lee Hyun and returning to her room, Sowol lay on her bed thinking.
‘Someone to always be by my side…’
She had never truly thought about it.
After all, there was always someone around her.
For the first time, she seriously pondered it, closing her eyes and imagining the most fitting person.
‘Father… but he will retire someday…’
Was it right to burden someone who would be free from the duties of the trading company?
Sowol shook her head. That was too unfair of a story for her father.
‘Then there’s Laila?’
Her childhood friend who had always been by her side, Laila.
But that too she’d shake her head at.
In the future, Laila would become an important figure in the trading company.
That means she’d often participate in significant trading events and might not always be there for her.
So excluding her seemed right.
As she thought through several other people, Sowol kept shaking her head.
No. No. No.
After erasing her options one by one, she finally thought of the last and perhaps the most obvious choice.
Lee Hyun.
Her master.
‘Could Master be the one to always stay by my side?’
Sowol desired to be like him.
She considered that there was much to learn from him. Once she learned everything, it would only make sense to offer him a high position in the trading company as compensation, right?
He was strong but also respected as knowledgeable and wise by others.
So, being alongside him…
‘What am I thinking?’
Being together all the time? That felt… that felt… as if she wanted to get married!
Suddenly sitting up, Sowol vigorously shook her head and muttered brusquely.
“Well, I guess if Master earnestly asks, there’s nothing I can’t do…”