Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 435

435. The Unintentional Guest of Honor

Un-hyeon and his group left Yeong Hojun behind and headed to the grand banquet hall.

Geum Hyerin couldn’t hide her bewildered expression.

“Just now, he said he was the Chief Military Officer of the Azure Dragon Alliance…….”

Internal Affairs Director, Lee Hak-bung, clearly stated that he was the Chief Military Officer of the Azure Dragon Alliance.

Moreover, Yeong Hojun himself admitted it.

Un-hyeon smiled gently.

“Didn’t I tell you? Great Hero Yeong Hojun is a truly capable person.”

Even so, Geum Hyerin still looked surprised.

A Plum Blossom Swordsman of Mount Hua and the Chief Military Officer of the Azure Dragon Alliance—it was impossible not to be surprised.

Although all she knew about the Azure Dragon Alliance was the widespread rumor that its leader was the Azure Dragon Sword Lord, she could easily guess how important the position of Chief Military Officer was.

“Young Master Un, you seem to know some truly amazing people.”

Geum Hyerin looked back at Un-hyeon with a fresh perspective.

A prodigious eccentric like Gae-ong, Yeong Hojun, the Plum Blossom Swordsman of Mount Hua and Chief Military Officer of the Azure Dragon Alliance, and even Il Chung-hyeon, a martial artist recognized by her father, Geum Sa-yeol.

In Geum Hyerin’s eyes, Un-hyeon seemed like someone out of a story.

“I just happened to form a bond with them.”

Un-hyeon said modestly.

Il A-yeong looked like she wanted to say something, but Geum Hyerin didn’t notice.

And before they knew it, the group arrived in front of the grand banquet hall.

The banquet hall, which the Hoam Merchant Guild had clearly put a lot of effort into, was incredibly lavish.

Red silk curtains were draped everywhere, and at the front were seats for the elders of the Hoam Merchant Guild. On the left and right sides, tables and chairs for honored guests were arranged in rows.

The large windows that usually served as walls were wide open, giving the feeling of wings being lifted.

The colorful banners and lanterns hanging here and there, along with the trees and bizarre rocks that made up the surrounding scenery, further enhanced the ambiance of the grand banquet hall.

“……They put a lot of thought into this.”

Il A-yeong said quietly.

Even for her, who was familiar with the Hoam Merchant Guild’s main residence, this sight was astonishing.

They hadn’t gone this far during the previous general assembly.

The banquet hall was relatively quiet.

The guests who had arrived earlier were sitting at their seats, enjoying light refreshments and tea while chatting.

As befitting the honored guests carefully invited by the Hoam Merchant Guild, they were all dressed in splendid and luxurious attire.

“By the way, where are our seats?”

No one answered Il A-yeong’s question.

Yeong Hojun, who knew everything, had not yet arrived from the main gate.

Un-hyeon looked around and said,

“Shall we ask someone?”

Of course, there were also maids and servants of the Hoam Merchant Guild in the banquet hall.

They were serving simple food and tea for the honored guests waiting for the start of the general assembly.

Un-hyeon was about to call one of them when it happened.

“Come this way.”

A clear voice echoed throughout the spacious banquet hall.

Un-hyeon’s group, as well as all the honored guests, turned their eyes toward the source of the voice.

A beautiful woman sitting in the VIP seats at the front of the banquet hall stood up.

Shivers.

People’s eyes widened.

The woman, so beautiful that she seemed to illuminate her surroundings, was none other than the Great Palace Lord, the leader of the North Sea Ice Palace.

“G-Great Palace Lord.”

As Un-hyeon made a surprised expression, the Great Palace Lord gave a faint smile.

That alone drew admiration from all around.

The Great Palace Lord said with a smile,

“It just so happens that this seat is empty.”

The seat she was referring to was right next to her.

Un-hyeon was flustered by the sudden event.

“Scholar Un!”

Another woman stood up from her seat.

The elegant and beautiful woman looked at Un-hyeon with a surprised expression.

It was Mo Yongmi.

“Young Lady Mo!”

Un-hyeon was also surprised.

He hadn’t expected her to be here.

Mo Yong Sang-ah and Mo Yongjin, who were next to her, also stood up with delighted expressions.

“Oppa Un!”

“Lord Un!”

It wasn’t just them.

The Third Palace Lord, who was next to the Great Palace Lord, waved with a smile, and the bodyguard Binghon and the maid Bingsel also slightly bowed their heads.

Un-hyeon couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

Geum Hyerin and Il A-yeong looked back at Un-hyeon with surprised eyes, but Nyeong Hwa-yeong had no idea what was going on.

“Oh, have you all met already?”

Yeong Hojun’s voice came from behind.

Un-hyeon turned his head.

Yeong Hojun, who had strode over, said with a smile,

“I didn’t tell you on purpose to surprise you. Was it okay?”

Un-hyeon asked the smiling Yeong Hojun with a questioning look.

“Then, the Chief Military Officer asked them to come…….”

“No.”

Before Un-hyeon could finish speaking, Yeong Hojun shook his head.

“I found out about the North Sea Ice Palace coming later, and since the Mo Yong Clan was going to attend anyway, I just subtly hinted at it. At least the opportunity should be given fairly, shouldn’t it?”

Un-hyeon gave an awkward smile.

It was obvious that the ‘fair opportunity’ that Yeong Hojun was talking about was for some absurd reason anyway.

“Now, let’s go. That’s our seat.”

The place Yeong Hojun was talking about was the best seat in the front row of the VIP seats.

Moreover, coincidentally, the North Sea Ice Palace and the Mo Yong Clan were right next to it.

Un-hyeon greeted Mo Yongjin, Mo Yongmi, and Mo Yong Sang-ah individually and paid his respects to the Great Palace Lord and the Third Palace Lord.

Of course, he also exchanged brief eye contact with Binghon and Bingsel.

The Great Palace Lord and Mo Yongmi also paid their respects to Gae-ong.

Although Gae-ong passed by them without a word.

Shivers.

Only after exchanging so many greetings could Un-hyeon’s group sit down.

It was then.

“Oh, who is this?”

Un-hyeon raised his eyes at the lively voice.

Step, step.

Un-hyeon’s eyes widened.

The person walking toward him was none other than Je Galgiho.

“It’s nice to see you here like this. How have you been?”

Je Galgiho bowed politely with a smiling face.

Un-hyeon also stood up from his seat and returned the greeting.

“It’s a pleasure to see you. But how did you…….”

“Since the Alliance Lord doesn’t visit the Je Gal Clan often, I had no choice but to come. Besides, I’m not the only one who came here. I can’t fall behind, can I?”

“Yes?”

It was when Un-hyeon asked back.

“Young Master Un.”

A woman’s clear voice echoed in Un-hyeon’s ear.

The beautiful woman in a gorgeous dress was none other than Chief Inspector Nangong Biyeon.

“Young Lady Nangong!”

At Un-hyeon’s words, Nangong Biyeon smiled brightly and approached.

She bowed politely and said,

“How have you been? Brother.”

Her sworn sibling relationship with Un-hyeon was already over, but Nangong Biyeon called Un-hyeon brother.

At that moment, Nangong Biyeon calmly brushed off the sharp gazes directed at her.

She wouldn’t be a woman of the Nangong Clan if she were shaken by this much.

“No, how is Young Lady Biyeon here…….”

At Un-hyeon’s words, Nangong Biyeon smiled.

“You shouldn’t underestimate the Nangong Clan’s intelligence network. Since it was a place I had to come to anyway, I came myself. I also wanted to see my brother.”

The Nangong Clan had a cooperative relationship with the Hoam Merchant Guild.

Until the Martial Alliance collapsed.

Nangong Biyeon smiled and continued, looking at Un-hyeon.

“I’m glad you look healthy. I’ll see you after the general assembly.”

Nangong Biyeon said that and paid her respects to Gae-ong before returning to her seat.

Her seat was surprisingly close.

Je Galgiho also said with a smile.

“I’ll see you later too. Ah, and.”

Lowering his voice, Je Galgiho continued.

“I heard about what you did in Gyelim [a region known for its beautiful scenery]. You truly are the Alliance Lord.”

The Je Gal Clan’s intelligence network was also not to be underestimated.

Je Galgiho smiled admiringly and paid his respects to Gae-ong.

Then he returned to his seat.

The Je Gal Clan was also not far from Un-hyeon’s seat.

Swish.

Un-hyeon looked back, wondering if Yeong Hojun had prepared this as well.

But Yeong Hojun shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know anything.

That meant that the Je Gal Clan and the Nangong Clan had found out on their own and came.

“Hoo.”

Un-hyeon sighed softly.

The eyes of the people already in the grand banquet hall were focused on Un-hyeon.

They all clearly saw the sight of people from the great clans coming to Un-hyeon and paying their respects, even though they didn’t know what the situation was.

Most of them were related to merchant guilds, so they couldn’t hear the conversation properly, and the titles they called Un-hyeon were so different that they were just bewildered.

Those related to large merchant guilds like the Maun Merchant Guild seemed to have noticed something, but that’s why they didn’t dare to greet him.

It was clear that approaching him abruptly without sending a formal invitation or letter would give the impression of rudeness rather than goodwill.

The leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance was not someone you could meet carelessly.

“Ahem.”

Un-hyeon, who had unintentionally become the guest of honor, ignored their gazes and picked up his teacup.

But there was also someone who heard all the conversations clearly.

“……Alliance Lord?”

Geum Hyerin’s expression as she asked was more bewildered than ever.

“Ah, that’s…….”

Un-hyeon smiled awkwardly.

Ignoring Il A-yeong’s gaze that said, ‘You should have told me sooner!’, Un-hyeon covered his lips with his finger.

“It’s a secret to others.”

Un-hyeon’s words were as good as admitting that he was the Alliance Lord.

“……Others?”

Geum Hyerin asked back with a confused expression.

Judging by the looks of it, Il A-yeong already knew, and the North Sea Ice Palace, the Mo Yong Clan, and even the Nangong Clan and the Je Gal Clan had paid their respects and left, hadn’t they?

“Of course, I mean the people of the Hoam Merchant Guild.”

Un-hyeon said as if it were obvious.

Next to Geum Hyerin, who was still confused, Nyeong Hwa-yeong suddenly said.

“You’re the Alliance Lord?”

Nyeong Hwa-yeong’s eyes sparkled.

“But why didn’t I know? If you’re the Azure Dragon Sword Lord I’ve heard rumors about…….”

“You knew.”

Gae-ong suddenly said.

As Nyeong Hwa-yeong turned to look, Gae-ong said while holding his teacup.

“It’s just that Hyeon is such an alien existence that you probably didn’t realize it.”

“Alien?”

Nyeong Hwa-yeong frowned as if she didn’t understand.

But Geum Hyerin, who was listening, had something in mind.

‘Ah, so that’s…….’

The first day she saw Un-hyeon, Nyeong Hwa-yeong said.

Strangely, whenever she looked at Un-hyeon, her heart fluttered and she felt nervous.

She thought it was affection for the opposite sex, but that wasn’t it.

Un-hyeon suddenly cleared his throat.

“Ahem, more than that, how did the conversation with the Internal Affairs Director go? Chief Military Officer.”

It was clear that he was trying to change the subject, but Yeong Hojun readily answered.

“Yes, it’s all over. The Hoam Merchant Guild’s proposal to the Geum Family Estate is still valid, but all the strange conditions will be gone.”

Geum Hyerin’s eyes widened.

Yeong Hojun continued.

“The Internal Affairs Director was more reasonable than I thought. I thought he was a good person from the moment I heard that he had offered a large sum of money to the Geum Family Estate in the first place. There are many bad guys in this industry who try to eat without paying a penny.”

Geum Hyerin was confused.

If what Yeong Hojun said was true, then the problem of the Geum Family Estate was as good as solved.

“That’s good.”

Un-hyeon nodded and said to Geum Hyerin.

“Did you hear that? Now, the Geum Family Estate will not be in trouble because of the Internal Affairs Director.”

Smiling, Un-hyeon continued.

“So there’s no reason for you to use your abilities at the cost of your life.”

Geum Hyerin’s complexion hardened at once.

She was flustered by the many things that had happened right in front of her, but she could never just brush off Un-hyeon’s words.

“I, I don’t quite understand what you mean…….”

Geum Hyerin forced a smile.

But Un-hyeon was serious.

“I said there’s no reason for you to use your abilities at the cost of your life.”

Un-hyeon said with shining eyes.

“Like when you were sure of our innocence when we first met, or when you noticed the fallen Madu [a type of assassin] before it even moved.”

When they suddenly encountered each other in the dark forest, Nyeong Hwa-yeong tried to swing her sword at Un-hyeon without hesitation.

But Geum Hyerin was sure of Un-hyeon’s group’s innocence.

From her point of view, it was natural to suspect and be wary of Un-hyeon, but even so.

The same was true when the Twin Swords Clan and the Hoam Merchant Guild invaded the Geum Family Estate.

Geum Hyerin was the first to know, or rather, to be precise, she noticed it before the Madu even moved.

“Isn’t that right?”

Un-hyeon said with a gentle smile.

His eyes were shining with clear conviction.