“……What?”

Narin’s gaze sank coldly.

“Bicha Ajotti has a fiancée. She’s about to get married soon.”

Jang Geum’s face turned pale as he chewed over Narin’s words.

“N-no way… That’s not true, right? There wasn’t… a baby in her womb, was there?”

“……”

“Please! Please tell me it’s not true, Miss!”

Jang Geum clasped his hands together and begged.

If what he thought was true, he had truly committed an unforgivable sin.

Narin clicked her tongue.

“It’s fortunate that Bicha Ajotti likes jasmine tea.”

“Jasmine tea?”

“Ah!”

The doctor suddenly raised his head.

“So that’s why Miss Jung Hee didn’t drink the tea. Jasmine tea can induce premature labor!”

“That’s right.”

As Narin proudly puffed out her chest, the doctor spoke with undisguised admiration.

“I knew your intelligence was extraordinary, but how do you even know such things? Your medical knowledge seems no less than that of the young lady of the Sichuan Tang family.”

Oops. Was that too unnatural?

Narin brazenly put on a poker face and made up an excuse.

“Hehe. It’s nothing special. When you spend your childhood digging up and eating roots, you naturally become knowledgeable about herbs. It’s like how folk remedies used in the Sect are surprisingly effective.”

“Oh, practical knowledge! Indeed, wisdom outside of books shouldn’t be underestimated. I’ve learned a lot.”

At that moment, Jang Geum cut in.

“Then… is the baby… safe?”

Jang Geum’s face clearly showed signs of relief.

As if that would make the crime he committed any less severe.

“Chief Merchant.”

Narin spoke to Jang Wol.

“Yes, yes! Miss.”

“Choose one of three options. Turn the criminal over to the Sect, expel the criminal from the merchant group, or have the Golden Moon Merchant Group pay for his crimes.”

Jang Geum’s face changed color once again, having just been relieved moments ago upon hearing the baby was safe.

None of Narin’s three proposals were easy to accept.

The least bad option was…

“Wol! Wol, please! Save me! I’ll do anything!”

Jang Geum clung to the trouser leg of the younger brother he had so ignored and mistreated, pleading.

“……”

Jang Wol couldn’t help but ponder deeply.

If Jang Geum were to be punished according to the Demonic Sect’s laws, he wouldn’t return unscathed.

But he couldn’t just expel his only brother from the merchant group either.

Then should the merchant group take responsibility and pay for his brother’s wrongdoing?

For someone who nearly killed an unborn child over a petty grudge?

“What will you do?”

‘What would Father say if he knew about this.’

Recalling his father, Jang Wol didn’t deliberate any further.

There was only one answer anyway.

“The Golden Moon Merchant Group will not turn a blind eye to the crimes of its members.”

“Are you sure?”

Narin was a bit surprised.

From what little she had observed, it was clear that the Golden Moon Merchant Group had succession issues.

Jang Geum and Jang Wol.

Just seeing these two simultaneously claim the position of Chief Merchant was enough to tell how much of a mess it was.

‘Unexpected. I thought they would expel him from the group.’

From Jang Wol’s perspective, that would have been the best move.

He could fulfill his brotherly duty by protecting Jang Geum’s life while also safeguarding the interests of the Golden Moon Merchant Group.

By doing so, Jang Wol could have secured the position of Chief Merchant without lifting a finger, while also winning the hearts of the workers.

Yet Jang Wol chose to have the merchant group take on Jang Geum’s crime.

“May I ask why?”

“There’s no grand reason. This is simply what kinship demands.”

I see.

Narin nodded slightly.

Some might think Jang Wol is too naive for a merchant.

But sometimes, a seemingly foolish choice can lead to the wisest outcome.

“I’ll send the bill later.”

“We are grateful for your mercy, Miss.”

Leaving behind Jang Wol, who was bowing deeply, Narin, Ma Jung, and the doctor left the Golden Moon Merchant Group with light steps.

“Their faces are identical, but what different brothers they are.”

At Ma Jung’s words, Narin and the doctor nodded slightly.

The twin brothers Jang Geum and Jang Wol. While their faces were so alike that it was impossible to tell who was who just by looking, one was rash and short-sighted, while the other was humble and deeply compassionate.

“That’s why you can’t judge by appearances alone.”

The doctor clicked his tongue and continued.

“The yellow Caesar’s mushroom that caused this trouble is the same. Just by looking, you can’t tell it apart from a regular Caesar’s mushroom. Many people have fallen victim to it, eating it unknowingly.”

“Is that so?”

“……”

Narin, who had been walking quietly, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“Narin? Why did you stop so suddenly?”

“Don’t talk to me right now.”

‘What is it? I feel like I’m about to remember something.’

A yellow Caesar’s mushroom that looks identical to a regular Caesar’s mushroom.

A hallucinogenic mushroom that causes hallucinations, but its toxins are excreted through urine after a few hours.

‘What did Uncle Bicha say again?’

“Get away from me! You demons!”

That was it.

Yes! That was it!

[*Your ability score increases as you successfully deduce the truth through correct reasoning. (Intelligence +2)]

“We need to go to One-Moon Goddess.”

“Huh? What?”

“I’ll go first!”

Narin started running at an incredible speed.

Ma Jung could only gape at Narin’s back as she disappeared like lightning, almost too fast to see.

“Wh-when did she learn such lightness skill…? And at such a proficient level?”

“Hoho. As expected of the Miss treasured by the Protector.”

“Pardon?”

The doctor asked Ma Jung, as if surprised by his confusion.

“When the Heavenly King of the North pulled me out of the Medical King’s Hall, he earnestly requested. He said she was a specially cherished child, and I should spare no effort in nurturing her abilities and talents.”

“Such a thing happened?”

“Indeed. At the time, I thought the Protector was speaking strangely, but now I see why. In all my years at the Medical King’s Hall, I’ve seen no shortage of children praised for their intelligence and wit, but none can compare to the Miss. And to think her martial arts are outstanding as well… Honestly, I have high expectations for her future.”

The doctor laughed heartily.

Ma Jung nodded, feeling slightly conflicted but secretly pleased.

“Yes. I too have great expectations.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“One-Moon Goddess!”

“Narin, you’re back? How was the Blood King’s Hall?”

“It was red!”

Well, the Blood King’s Hall. Of course it’s red. It is red, but…

“Don’t you have any other impressions?”

“No. More importantly, please call Uncle Gong Son for me.”

Uncle Gong Son?

One-Moon Goddess carefully considered Narin’s words before suddenly startling.

“You don’t mean the Heavenly King of the North, do you?”

“Yes. Hurry! It’s urgent!”

“Ah, alright. Alright.”

Driven out by Narin’s urgency, One-Moon Goddess quickly jotted down a brief message and sent a messenger bird to Gong Son Wu.

Before long, Gong Son Wu arrived at the One-Moon Gate.

“I greet the Protector’s Emissary.”

“What’s the matter that you sent a messenger bird with just ‘Urgent! Request presence at One-Moon Gate’ written on it?”

“I don’t know the details either. I was just told it was extremely urgent…”

“How absurd. Who could be looking for me so urgently?”

“It’s Narin.”

Gong Son Wu’s expression momentarily stiffened.

“…Narin?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm. Is that so? Well… Alright. I understand.”

“Yes.”

“Uncle!”

Narin burst into the middle of the awkward atmosphere.

“Why are you so late?”

“Late? I came as fast as the wind.”

“I know you could have come even faster. Anyway, come over here.”

“By the way, are you really going to call me uncle?”

“Would you prefer auntie?”

“…Uncle is fine.”

Click.

Narin grabbed Gong Son Wu’s sleeve and dragged him into a small room, latching the door.

“What on earth is going on that you’re going to such lengths?”

“Shh. Shhhh.”

Narin spread out her spiritual sense to confirm no one was listening, then spoke.

“I figured it out.”

“What?”

“The First Disciple of the Azure Star Sect.”

“Is that true?”

Narin nodded confidently.

“Tell me the whole story.”

“Well, you see.”

Narin lowered her voice and explained earnestly to Gong Son Wu.

Gong Son Wu’s expression changed from puzzled to interested as he listened, and finally he slapped his knee.

“I see!”

“Right? Isn’t it?”

“Now everything makes sense. I need to quickly arrange a meeting at the Bright Palace. I should also report the truth to the Sect Leader.”

Sect Leader?

Narin, who had been bouncing excitedly, suddenly froze.

Can I meet the Sect Leader now?

‘I knew I’d have to meet him someday, but…’

Narin fiddled with her hair, which still hadn’t lost its dyed color.

It would take at least a few months for her white hair to show, even at the fastest.

‘If I rush in recklessly and mess things up, it’ll all be for nothing.’

But if she misses this opportunity, who knows when she’ll get another chance to meet the Sect Leader.

After all, Narin, whose identity as the Sect Leader’s daughter hasn’t been revealed, is just an orphaned lay disciple.

“Nnng.”

“Hoho. Making such a fuss. Are you that nervous about meeting the Sect Leader?”

At Gong Son Wu’s teasing words, Narin nodded seriously.

“Yes. It’s a matter of life and death.”

“Ah… I didn’t realize you were taking it this seriously.”

Gong Son Wu scratched his head awkwardly and said.

“Don’t worry too much. We’re not expecting anything grand. After all, you’re just a child.”

At Gong Son Wu’s words, Narin seemed to suddenly remember something and nodded.

“…That’s true.”

Come to think of it, that was right. Right now, Narin was just a child.

Even if her mind was that of an adult, with a body like this, who would believe her words?

She had no way to persuade anyone, not even the means to create an appropriate situation.

What meaning would there be if a child suddenly appeared and said, “I’m the Sect Leader’s daughter, and we need to stop the war!” Unless the goal was to be executed for blasphemy, that is.

‘Right. You can’t get full on the first spoonful.’

Narin abandoned the idea of making significant progress in this meeting.

Instead, she decided to focus on resolving the Azure Star Sect incident well and making a strong impression on the Sect Leader.

Watching Narin sit down with a composed attitude, Gong Son Wu thought to himself.

‘The more I see her, the more mysterious she becomes.’

No, such words weren’t enough to fully describe Narin.

When they first met at the One-Moon Gate, when she figured out the identity of the Azure Star Sect’s First Disciple, well, he thought she was just an unusually perceptive child from the Central Plains.

He even considered raising her to be a useful spy.

But the Narin he met again was even more peculiar.

‘She intimidated One-Moon and didn’t fear the Blood Demon.’

Feeling he couldn’t just let this slide, Gong Son Wu immediately began investigating Narin after they parted.

He summoned Dae Heung, one of the guides who had brought Narin in.

Summoned to the Eastern Heaven Palace, Dae Heung had to reveal everything he knew about Narin.

‘She was just an ordinary orphan of unknown origin, he said.’

If there was anything noteworthy, it was that sometimes an inexplicable pressure could be felt from her.

“Strangely, when I look into that child’s eyes, I find it hard to maintain composure, as if I’m in front of someone of high status, and I feel somewhat uncomfortable. Like I don’t want to go against her. I don’t understand it well myself, but when I come to my senses, I find myself fawning over Narin and trying to please her.”

When he asked One-Moon, the answer was similar.

For some inexplicable reason, she felt a desire not to upset Narin.

As if dealing with someone of very high status.