I was weak in my own country’s geography, let alone another country’s. My worry didn’t last long. My attention was taken away by the people walking around in colorful, bright clothes.

“Wow, I just realized, this is my first time sightseeing at this distance.”

Even though I lived in Hyangju, which is said to be the best place to live in the central plains, I had never really gone outside Jeolgangseong. At most, I only wandered around three nearby places when running errands during quarrels.

“I haven’t even seen the famous Seoho.”

Seoho was the largest lake in Hyangju, where Jeolgangseong was located. Eventually, I lived in Hyangju for several years without visiting even the main tourist attraction. But I know about the lantern festival. Every year, when the season comes, the lanterns decorating Seoho were clearly visible up to Sega.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I was just thinking that it’s my first time exploring the streets like this! I didn’t think about it while hiking, but it feels good to be outside.”

I was excited to answer, but the moment I met Danmokbi’s eyes, my face turned red and I bowed my head.

“Ah! Seeing his face reminded me.”

After meeting Hyuljung Hyuk, Danmokbi hugged me.

“It, it, it was a kiss, wasn’t it? If I had stayed still, it would have been a kiss, right?”

Remembering it made my heart pound faster. I rubbed Baekho’s fluffy fur with my finger, pondering.

“Does Danmokbi like me?”

No matter how much I thought about it, the only reason I could think of for Danmokbi to hug me and try to kiss me was that.

But another thought held me back from accepting it.

“No, no way. We lived in a world too isolated from each other.”

The only person I always interacted with was Danmokbi, and Danmokbi had only me. To him, I was like a parent, a sister, a friend. Likewise for me to him.

“Just like a chick thinks the first thing it sees after hatching is its mother, he must be relying on me.”

I felt like that too. If I only ate bland white porridge and suddenly a girl comes and feeds me like a mother, I would want to rely on her like a mother.

“Maybe he just wanted to make sure I wasn’t hurt… But why did he close his eyes then! To check, you have to open your eyes!”

Thinking one way or another, it caught me. One worry led to another. Baekho growled, showing his teeth.

Stop it! If you pluck all my armpit hair, will you take responsibility?

Apparently, I had unconsciously rubbed Baekho’s armpit hair too much.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

I apologized with a bow. But staring at Baekho’s wideopen eyes.

“…Wow, that might be cute too. Should we shave everything except your face? I’ll shave you well. Leaving hair on your tail and feet like wearing boots.”

Stop that disgusting talk!

Baekho screamed and pressed my face with his front paws. Feeling the soft jelly, I forgot my worries and smiled blissfully.

“Baekho, your front paws smell all musky. It’s savory.”

Since this might cause him not to snuggle with me, I kept the thought to myself.

Anyway, thanks to Baekho, my headache was pushed away. I asked Danmokbi.

“Where is the competition held? I think it’s best to book an inn nearby.”

“The tournament will be at Pangga’s Yeonmujang in Habuk. The current leader of the martial arts alliance is from Pangga.”

“Oh!”

Habuk Pangga! One of the eight great houses of the martial world, known for using Taoist swords!
“Usually they appear in a rather simple and ignorant manner, but looking at how they’re the leader of the martial arts alliance, it seems that’s not the case in this world?”

Thinking about seeing each one made my heart beat excitedly. Danmokbi took the lead, striding forward and speaking.

“We need to find out where the guest room with seats is.”

“Ah, young master!”

But many people had come between him and me. It was because the street was so crowded. Seeing his back quickly receding, I instinctively reached out and grabbed Danmokbi’s sleeve.

“Let’s go together!”

“Ah.”

Danmokbi’s eyes widened as he looked back at me. Then he smiled slightly and took my hand firmly.

“If we get lost, it will be trouble, so let’s hold hands.”

“But, but, holding the hem of your clothes would be enough.”

“What if the clothes get ripped off?”

“Huh? Surely that won’t happen.”

How strongly would one have to pull to rip off clothes? I shook my head as if that could never happen, but Danmokbi simply gripped my hand tighter instead of replying.

I could feel his hot body temperature through the back of my hand. The tips of his ears, which were facing forward as he walked, turned subtly red.

‘Surely not.’

Did he just want to hold my hand? Worried about getting lost?

‘Really?’

I blinked my eyes.

‘It’s not my imagination, is it? It’s real?’

My heart, which had been quiet for a moment, began to thump again. My face flushed along with it.

How many steps had we taken? The streets were still crowded, and there was no one looking back at us, hand in hand. Danmokbi, who had been looking ahead for a while, stopped and looked back at me.

The corners of his eyes looking back were slightly red, like the tips of his ears.

“Just call me by my name. No one knows us here.”

“But still….”

He was right. In Danmok’s world, us holding hands would have been unthinkable. If discovered, I wouldn’t have been able to be by Danmokbi’s side.

But here, as he said, no one knew us.

Danmokbi spoke again.

“I want to hear you call my name, Yeon.”

“But, but even if you say that, I don’t know what to call you.”

Though in my heart, I had called him ‘Danmokbi’ thousands of times. Hesitating, I cautiously wet my lips.

“Bi?”

“…….”

My words caused Danmokbi’s eyes, which had briefly stiffened, to curl in what seemed genuine pleasure.

The noise of the bustling street receded, and only the sound of thumping filled my ears. I bit my lips tightly.

‘What to do.’

The throbbing seemed to spread.