The grandfather took me to a slightly elevated place. I followed my grandfather, turning my head here and there.

“Is this the place you mentioned, Grandfather?”

“Yes.”

I wondered if I could really see the game from here, as there were not many people around, but suddenly the stadium appeared before my eyes like a mountain landscape.

“Wow.”

It really was a great spot. I looked down at the stadium with fascinated eyes.

‘When will Danmokbi appear?’

I was excited, so my grandfather asked in a grave voice.

“How did you end up being chased by those people?”

“Ah, that’s…”

I smiled awkwardly. I hesitated in my response, pondering whether it would be a problem to speak outright since it was a matter of Danmokbi’s family.

‘This grandfather seems like a martial artist as well.’

But he saved my life. I felt he deserved to know at least this much truth. I caressed the soft fur of the White Tiger as I replied.

“I suppose they thought I would be a hindrance to their lord’s marriage.”

“Then you mean those people are from Danmokbi’s family?”

“……Yes.”

At my answer, my grandfather’s face crumpled. I quickly added,

“They must not have meant to actually kill me. They probably wanted to scare me away from the lord’s side.”

From my point of view, they seemed to want to kill me, but since the White Tiger protected me, they ultimately couldn’t, so I sugarcoated it like that.

Even though I had added that, my grandfather was not at all convinced, and he grumbled, clicking his tongue.

“Tsk, what an era we live in. Who would think so conservatively? They say love knows no borders or age.”

“You’re right.”

I fully agreed with him on that. In retrospect, the reason Danmokbi followed me so blindly was that Danmokbi’s father neglected him, considering him a dying child.

But after all the devotion I’ve shown to Danmokbi, to try to dismiss me like this? I lowered my head with a gloomy expression, fidgeting with my fingers.

“And I thought I’d been careful to act within my limits.”

My grandfather, having sharp ears, tilted his head at my muttering.

“So, is it true that you’re in love with the lord?”

“……”

I closed my mouth tightly. My grandfather arched his white eyebrows and asked,

“Why don’t you answer?”

“It’s difficult to answer.”

Do I love Danmokbi? If he asked that, I could nod immediately. But expressing that emotion to someone else was a different matter.

I lowered my head deeply. Perhaps because I faced the warriors sent by Danmokbi’s father earlier, my heart was heavy, and my confidence was gone.

“I have no parents, and I don’t have any outstanding abilities of my own. Being by his side, I would only be a burden. How can I confidently discuss my feelings in this situation?”

At my answer, the White Tiger scratched my belly with his claws as if to ask what I was talking about. I hugged the White Tiger tightly with a sad expression.

Watching me, my grandfather clicked his tongue loudly and opened his fan.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, the child thinks like this, but to send warriors without even asking, Danmokbi’s family head must be of a small caliber.”

“Ha, ha, ha.”

Since I also agreed that Danmokbi’s father was a petty villain, I just let out an awkward laugh and didn’t object.

As we laughed together, my grandfather, who looked at me with notsodispleased eyes, spoke in a gentle voice.

“Why don’t you come with me?”

“Pardon?”

Surprised by the unexpected proposal, I opened my eyes wide. My grandfather, fluttering his opened fan, replied,

“My name is Jegal Yoon. I have enemies in Jegal’s family. I can surely take care of a child like you.”

“Jegal’s family?”

Could it be the Jegal family, claiming Jegal Ryang as an ancestor, one of the Five Great Families in the martial arts world?

‘Oh my goodness! This grandfather, I thought he was a martial artist, but he’s a big shot!’
Danmoksega became unavailable to stay at, as if it had been waiting, Jegalsega took me in. At this huge coincidence, I grinned and suddenly thought.

‘What if this grandfather is a scammer too?’

Jegalsega appearing so perfectly on time was a bit suspicious. I couldn’t even recall how I set up Jegalsega and wrote about him in the novel.

“Ah, but I am…….”

What on earth should I say to draw the line while making excuses? It was when I was hesitating for a moment. My grandfather, who read my mind, answered, fluttering his folding fan.

“If you don’t trust me, I’ll let you check later. Today, the opponent your master will be dueling with is none other than my first grandson.”

“Heh.”

I was startled. Looking at grandfather’s sagelike face as he stood fluttering his folding fan, I felt a prick of conscience. I bowed my head deeply.

“So, so sorry. You helped me earlier, and yet I doubted you. I’m really bad.”

“No, it’s only natural that you can’t trust anyone else since you’ve been through such a big ordeal.”

“That is…….”

As I stammered, I tightly closed my lips. Without even giving me a chance to be confused, my grandfather pointed at the arena.

“Oh, they seem to be starting.”