“It’s okay. It’s okay. You don’t have to be sorry. I’m actually thankful that you bought me this. Thanks to you, Master, I get to wear clothes like this.”

“I’ll dress you up more in the future. In all sorts of pretty colors.”

Danmokbi said with a serious expression.

“I will give back as much as I have received from Yeona, no, much more.”

My face turned apple red with his gratitude. I hurriedly moved on, feeling awkward.

“Let’s hurry down! We’re going to be late for the competition!”

It’s already been two weeks since we arrived in the northern part of the region. And during that time, the martial arts competition had proceeded smoothly, with Danmokbi already defeating eight opponents.

Today was the final day!

I felt rewarded for wearing the crimson clothes that Danmokbi had asked me to wear for his support. As we approached the martial arts stadium, my lips naturally turned upward.

“Heeheeheehee.”

My faint laugh prompted Baekho to chide.

Why are you laughing so sinisterly?

“I can’t help but laugh.”

Don’t I look like I’m smiling right now? I patted Danmokbi’s arm. Danmokbi looked at me questioningly, tilting his head. I whispered in his ear.

“Do you see that? How they cling when Master appears? That’s why I said not to ignore them because they are young.”

“Cling….”

Danmokbi repeated my words, seemingly incredulous. Oh dear, was I too offhand? I slapped my mouth with my palm. But no sooner had I gathered myself than another sinister laugh escaped me.

“Heeheeheehee.”

How could I not laugh? I could see them flocking like sparrows, trying to check our Danmokbi.

I twinkled my eyes and said,

“Master is the best, after all. I knew Master would do well.”

“It’s thanks to Yeona’s support.”

Danmokbi humbly accepted my praise. I quickly praised Danmokbi in a rapid tone.

“People are more surprised since Master Danmokbi uses a sword. Like piercing through falsehoods? Of course, even if you didn’t pierce through falsehoods, Master would still be the strongest.”

“Stop praising me. I feel like I need to hide in a mouse hole.”

“Hehe.”

I’ve only sung one verse! I can sing four more verses!

But sadly, we arrived at the martial arts stadium. The people of the northern Pangga came out personally to escort Danmokbi. They were treating him well because he was a strong contestant.

I cheered for Danmokbi with all my might until the end.

“This is finally the last round! Good luck!”

Danmokbi nodded solemnly with a smile and then followed the Pangga person up to the stage, disappearing into the waiting room.

I watched Danmokbi’s receding figure, feeling like a mother watching her son go off to the army, then spun around holding Baekho.

“We have to grab our seats early. If we want to sit in the best spot, we have to go quickly.”

Shouldn’t I be in the best seat, energetically waving a glow stick, to watch our child take the stage? Though this world doesn’t have such things!

Excited by my words, Baekho replied lazily.

Well, how many people are going to be watching anyway? Even if we go slow, the seats will be empty.

I giggled at Baekho’s words because there was a scratch on my arm from where Baekho had tensed and extended his claws during the previous match.

“You say that, but once it starts, you’ll be watching with sweaty hands. You think I don’t know?”
That’s because that guy couldn’t show his true skill in the main round…….

Baekho was grumbling, wrinkling his nose, when suddenly his body stiffened.

Yeona, wait.

But despite Baekho’s warning, I couldn’t stop or turn around. It was because a man with a big frame suddenly hit my shoulder.

“Kyaa!”

I staggered as if I was about to fall, and suddenly a crowd gathered around me. I had just lost my balance, and I couldn’t steer myself as I stumbled among the people and walked somewhere else.

“Where did all these people come from suddenly…….”

It felt like being a jellyfish swept away by a wave. That’s when I was pushed a little further away from the unarmed area. When I turned to go back to where I was headed, something sharp poked my back.

“Follow me. If you don’t want to die.”

“Ugh.”

I instinctively knew that what was poking my back was a weapon. It was because the cold, chilling energy was creeping up from behind. I licked my lips.

“Whwhat exactly…….”

‘Is it a robber?’

The only thing that came to mind was that someone would threaten me with a weapon on a street corner.

‘I have a little money, but I don’t have any valuables.’

Did I mistakenly dress nicely and get mistaken for the daughter of a wealthy family?

‘What should I do in a situation like this?’

Should I scream for help? Would he then get angry and stab me before running away? But what if I follow him obediently and he stabs me again when I tell him I have no money?

As I was agonizing, Baekho, nestled in my arms, whispered.

Follow him. If anything happens, I’ll take care of it.

‘Oh right, I have Baekho!’

More reassuring than a million soldiers, I had him in my arms. I clenched the hand that held Baekho and walked as the man commanded.

The place the man guided me to was a dark alley that I wouldn’t have expected to find on a wide main road.

I swallowed my saliva, ready to tell him that I had no money.

But what’s going on? As soon as he pushed me into the dark alley, isn’t the man drawing his knife?

“What can be done. Blame your fate!”

“Huh? Whwhat’s this?”

That’s not fair!

It was when I unconsciously lifted Baekho with both arms like a monkey heralding the birth of the Lion King.

Help came from an unexpected place.

“Stop right there.”

At the end of the alley, an old man with a long beard like a sage was standing, smiling faintly.