Even My Life Is Yours Chapter 58

Even though they were quite far apart, the person diligently wielding a spear next to the torch was undoubtedly Hongyo.

‘What is she doing at this hour?’

It wasn’t yet Hae-si (亥時: 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.), so the dormitory gates wouldn’t be closed, but it was a winter night. If she overworked her body like that on such a cold day and caught a cold… The thought naturally brought back the image of Hongyo shivering in the snowy mountains. The memory of her trembling, her whole body frozen solid, asking why it was so cold, made him unconsciously take a step closer.

“You haven’t left yet?”

A man’s voice came from behind him. At the voice, Gamyoung stopped in his tracks as if he had been caught. When he turned around, Jeonghwan was looking at him with an expression that said, ‘You’re still here?’

“And why haven’t you left, Gamgyeong?”

In terms of rank alone, Gamyoung was far above Jeonghwan, but the other man was the son of the Gwanchalsa of Hyeongju. Moreover, his martial arts skills were such that even he couldn’t guarantee the outcome of a spar, so he addressed him formally out of respect. At first, Jeonghwan had asked him to speak informally, but when he explained his intentions, he did not object.

“The Sigyeonghap is coming up soon, isn’t it? There is much to prepare.”

Working together, Gamyoung was not unaware that Jeonghwan had a lot on his plate. Jeonghwan, who had been looking at Gamyoung with a puzzled face, followed Gamyoung’s gaze. Then, spotting Hongyo at the end of it, he spoke with a slightly troubled expression.

“He is still at it.”

“‘Still’ means he has been at it for hours?”

“Not for hours. For the past four days, he has been staying behind alone to train until after Sul-si, as soon as classes are over.”

At that answer, Gamyoung fought back a deep sigh that threatened to escape. Hongyo had a tendency to struggle with starting things, but once she started, she would cling to it until she saw it through to the end. So it seemed she was doing the same with this Sigyeonghap. But it was also a little surprising to see a kid with so little competitive spirit get so fired up. It was especially strange to see her trying so hard to handle a spear, something she wasn’t even good at, instead of a sword.

“How is Yeo Gamhwi?”

“To be frank, he is one of the more outstanding ones among his peers when it comes to martial arts. Especially in archery, it seems no one can match him. I heard he didn’t learn from a young age, but whoever taught him, his skills are exceptional. I suppose he must be naturally gifted.”

“……”

“However, it seems he hasn’t sparred much, for while he is strong against attacks he can block, he falters once his defense is significantly breached.”

It was a rather accurate assessment, considering he had not known Hongyo for long. Unlike other noble sons who gripped a sword around the age of five or six, Hongyo had only held a sword for five years at most. Thus, though she had talent, she lacked worthy opponents. For Hongyo, who could only find sparring partners by going to the dojang, there was bound to be a difference compared to children who sparred with their masters every day from the age of six or seven.

‘If I had known, I would have sparred with her more diligently.’

But that time had already passed. Still, for someone who had learned martial arts for only about five years, it was admirable to be called outstanding by the son of the Hyeongju Gwanchalsa. Just then, Jeonghwan continued.

“But is he not a man courageous enough to stand before a tiger? If he continues to study as he is now, I believe he will overcome this weakness as well.”

Gamyoung turned to look at Jeonghwan. This was the first time he had so directly mentioned Hongyo, whom he had met at the hunting ceremony. Seeing Gamyoung’s silence, Jeonghwan cautiously brought up a subject.

“The dormitory gates will be closing soon. How about exchanging a greeting? No one else will be at the training grounds at this time.”

“……”

“You are friends, are you not?”

At those words, Gamyoung glanced at Hongyo before answering.

“Before being friends, here he is my subordinate, the same as the other trainees of the Hwayeonggyeong. It would be best to refrain from personal remarks.”

“…My apologies.”

Jeonghwan bowed his head. Even to his own mind, his remark had been presumptuous. Gamyoung looked at Jeonghwan for a moment, then turned his back.

“You should go in as well, Gamgyeong.”

Gamyoung, walking ahead, paused for a moment. He then looked at the puzzled Jeonghwan and said.

“I have a favor to ask before I go. Please tell Yeo Gamhwi to go in as well.”

Then he moved his feet, which were reluctant to part. But even so, he had to suppress the desire to look back, remembering the cheeks that had turned red in the cold.

˖°⛩️⋆˙️

It was a morning unlike any other. The Hwayeonggyeong Gamhwis, neatly dressed for the Sigyeonghap, moved about busily. As it was a special day, the participants in today’s competition were fired up. This was the first competition that those who had just entered the Hwayeonggyeong would experience. So, it was impossible not to be nervous.

It was the same for Hongyo. Having only sparred with people from the dojang or with Gamyoung, who was obviously going easy on her, she was so nervous about having a real match that her mouth was dry. Jeonghwan’s words explaining the rules in front of her went in one ear and out the other, and she was struggling to keep her wits about her.

“The Hwayeonggyeongjang arrives!”

At the announcement, Gamyoung, who had ascended the platform, looked at the men standing in the front yard. It was evident that everyone was nervous, but one person stood out among them. Not just her face, but even her lips were deathly pale, and an ominous thought occurred that it wasn’t just due to nervousness. Seeing that Gamyoung remained silent on the platform, Jeonghwan, who had stepped aside, gently called to him. Only then did Gamyoung come to his senses and open his mouth.

“Today is an important day to show the skills you have honed so far. A letter of recommendation for commissioning to a particularly desired agency will be given to the winner, the jangwon, so do your best to show your skills. Of course, special awards will also be given to those who perform well today, even if they are not the jangwon, so I hope you understand that the jangwon is not all there is to the Sigyeonghap.”

At those words, the eyes of those who had been unenthusiastic until a moment ago began to sparkle.

“However, there is nothing as important as your own body, so please, I beg you, do not get hurt.”

Although he was speaking to everyone, Gamyoung’s gaze, which had somehow fixed on one person, was clearly directed at Hongyo. He checked Hongyo’s complexion one last time before stepping back. At the same time, a gong rang out loudly, announcing the start of the Sigyeonghap.

The sound felt unusually loud to Hongyo. It was the same gong sound as always, but it strangely seemed to echo, which she figured was because she was too nervous. But Gamyoung, standing on the platform, looked even more nervous than she did. He was stiff as a board, speaking in a rigid voice, and she couldn’t understand why he was so tense when he wasn’t even the one competing.

In any case, Hongyo headed to the competition grounds. Yeoryeong, who was walking with her, noticed Hongyo’s silence and leaned his head in front of her. Startled, Hongyo flinched, but Yeoryeong, with a rather serious face, asked.

“Have you caught a cold or something? Your face is red.”

At those words, Hongyo placed the back of her hand on her cheek. Her body temperature was certainly higher than usual, but she didn’t feel very sick, so she shook her head.

“I guess I’ve been tired from staying up late recently. I don’t have a cough and the fever isn’t that bad, so I don’t think it’s a cold.”

“…That’s a relief, then. Anyway, don’t push yourself too hard. Like the Gyeongjang-yeonggam said, there’s nothing more important than our bodies.”

His tone was quite warm. Hongyo raised her fist and lightly tapped Yeoryeong’s shoulder. Yeoryeong, making a fuss as if it hurt, then spotted the tournament bracket in front of the outdoor arena and said.

“A total of twelve groups have advanced to the main competition. Oh? Your name is there too.”

Hongyo confirmed her name at the very bottom. Her opponent was someone she had never spoken to but whose face she recognized. After checking her own bracket, Hongyo looked for Yeoryeong’s name, but when she couldn’t find it no matter how hard she looked, she turned back.

“You didn’t make it to the main competition? Why is your name missing?”

“Ah, I withdrew.”

When Hongyo gave him a look of incomprehension, Yeoryeong answered.

“I hate fighting, and I’m even less interested in being the jangwon. Well, it’s a bit of both.”

How did a guy like that apply to be a military officer? Reading the question in her expression, Yeoryeong corrected himself.

“Ah, I meant I hate fighting physically.”

Although they had only known each other for a fortnight, Yeoryeong was difficult to read. Hongyo nodded with a look of having given up trying to understand.

“Anyway, that guy over there is more interested in the spoils.”

Where Yeoryeong jutted his chin, Choi Hyangbang was taking bets among the people. A leopard can’t change its spots; despite Jeonghwan’s warning, Hyangbang was collecting bets without a care in the world. In a way, the guy had a lot of guts. Yeoryeong, intrigued, was about to approach when Hongyo stopped him.

“Stay put. You might get caught in the crossfire.”

“Aren’t you curious who has the most money bet on them? I can’t stand not knowing when I’m curious.”

And before he could be stopped further, Hongyo sighed as she watched Yeoryeong run off. She didn’t care about the betting odds, but the atmosphere was such that the jangwon was already decided. And as expected, next to Choi Hyangbang who was laying out the bets, Jang Daeho and his followers were flattering him. But the guy’s bored face, even as he looked at the bets, suggested that he himself was certain of his victory.

Hongyo looked at the guy. She had thought they would clash every time after the hazing, but surprisingly, Jang Daeho did not engage in childish behaviors like picking fights. Not that he spoke to her in a friendly manner either, but there were times when she felt more uneasy at how he pretended not to know her, as if he had completely forgotten that day’s events.

‘Let’s stop thinking about it. What’s so good about it anyway.’

Hongyo decided to warm up for the first round of the competition. But at that moment, Hongyo couldn’t avoid the gaze that met hers. The gaze, felt clearly even from a considerable distance, was sticky and persistent, as if it were licking her skin. The corners of his mouth curled, and soon a lazy smile, like that of a well-fed predator, filled his face.

Seeing that smile, Hongyo unconsciously touched the nape of her neck. But the suffocating feeling, as if her throat were being squeezed, did not leave her for a while.