chapter 20
Seohan-eol, the Mouse
He was a mouse, but there was one thing that set him apart from ordinary mice: he had a phobia of cats.
It’s natural for mice to fear cats, of course, but his fear was extreme.
Even seeing cat droppings made his legs tremble, and if he caught sight of a cat’s tail rounding a corner, his entire body would stiffen.
His bolder friends sometimes bet on plucking the whiskers of a sleeping cat—but that was a tale from another world for him.
“This is all because of childhood memories.”
As a tiny, fluffy baby mouse, he had been bitten by a mischievous cat. He was probably doomed to die.
But fortune smiled upon him.
Being swatted and sent flying over a wall by the cat’s paw allowed him to escape by a hair’s breadth.
From that day on, he had only one goal:
“I will live in a place with no cats for the rest of my life!”
To him, such a place was a paradise.
So, upon reaching adulthood and marrying a wife who shared his sentiments, he set out to find a cat-free home.
That place was the Namgung estate.
Once he settled at Changcheon Pavilion, true peace finally found him.
Even the occasional swipes of brooms wielded by quarrelsome people were no problem. He was confident he could escape from human hands.
And, as a noble estate, the place was overflowing with food!
Recently, a cute little girl had arrived, and perhaps because of her, delicious treats had noticeably increased.
“Tonight, I’ll bring a sweet red bean rice cake from the table.”
Thinking of how happy his pregnant wife would be made him want to dance with joy.
So, late that night, he quickly climbed onto the table.
Little did he know, he would come face to face with the cat’s jewel-like blue eyes.
“Could it be… this child is a c-cat humanoid?”
At that moment, he silently bid farewell to the world in his heart.
“I’m sorry, my dear wife. Please raise our child well, even without me.”
Some time passed.
Even in his fainted state, tears and snot streaming, a sweet scent brushed against his nose.
“Could this be the smell of red bean paste?”
Oh no.
Even in the afterlife, there was red bean paste.
What about his wife, who, instead of enjoying the rice cakes, must be crying heavily because of his weightless demise?
He could not believe how pathetic he was, scared to death of a cat.
At that moment, a strange voice reached his ears.
“Mister.”
Huh?
Since when did the grim reaper, Heukbaek Musang, speak in the voice of a little girl?
“Mister Mouse, wake up quickly.”
Still skeptical, he kept his eyes tightly shut.
Then came a voice he couldn’t refuse.
“Mouse (open your eyes, dear).”
It was none other than his wife’s voice.
“Could it be… even my pregnant wife followed me in death?!”
Seohan-eol’s eyes snapped open.
Seohan-eol was dumbfounded.
Worried black eyes of a child sparkled right before his nose.
“Are you okay, Mister Mouse?”
Soft cheeks just starting to blush, delicate features—there was no doubt this was the young lady of the residence.
“That means… a cat!”
He was close enough that his nose nearly touched the cat’s!
Seohan-eol gasped sharply.
As he almost fainted again upon waking, his wife spoke.
“Mouse (well, the cat has been taking good care of you while you were unconscious).”
“Mouse (taking care of me)?”
Looking around, he realized he was lying on a pillow embroidered with patterns, with a silk handkerchief covering his neck like a blanket.
“Mouse (and, seeing my shock, the cat even gave me these red bean cakes to eat).”
Sure enough, a plate piled with finely cut red bean rice cakes was beside him. His wife had not lied.
“Mouse (why on earth would the cat do this for me?)”
Strangely enough, Hong-seol could understand the mouse’s language.
Seohan-eol blinked in surprise, and Hong-seol spoke cautiously.
“I learned it from Grandpa Namgung Ho. This is what you do for someone who’s frightened.”
She was referring to the day she came down from Daechoksan.
Although a cat humanoid, it was Hong-seol’s first time seeing a mouse in person.
Before she turned five, when she was still loved and cared for, she only saw or heard about mice in picture books. One book’s main character was named “Mousey.”
So, somehow, Hong-seol felt a natural friendliness toward Seohan-eol.
“Mister Mouse is probably scared because I’m a cat?”
She remembered how her grandfather had taken her in, covered her in warm blankets, and fed her delicious food when she collapsed. It was only right that she repay such kindness.
Thus, she simply checked that the unconscious mouse’s pulse was still beating and took care of him.
“Mouse (thank you for saving my life, cat!)”
Suddenly, Mister Mouse lay flat on the pillow.
“Mouse (I will serve you, the cat, as my lord, along with my wife and children to be born)!”
“Lord?”
“Mouse (yes, lord! You, a strong cat, have a heart that cares even for the fragile. How could we not serve you as our lord?)”
Tears of joy streamed from Seohan-eol’s eyes.
“Mouse (I have no special skills, but I am excellent at listening to rumors or secretly fetching small items. Do you have any questions for me?)”
Questions?
He could ask anything? Really?
If so…
Hesitant, Hong-seol opened her mouth.
Two months flew by in the blink of an eye, and the day of martial arts training arrived.
Strangely, the Namgung estate was bustling from morning, even though today’s training involved only eight-year-old children.
Regardless, Hong-seol was at the training grounds with Namgung Uigyeol.
“Don’t exert too much force. Just loosen up your body lightly for now.”
“Yes!”
Hong-seol answered cheerfully and began bouncing around the training ground. Namgung Uigyeol watched her with a satisfied expression.
“Master, an urgent message.”
A warrior from Changcheondae approached and handed him a note. After reading it, he spoke to Hong-seol.
“Miss, I may have to step away for a moment.”
Hong-seol paused briefly and nodded.
“I’ll return before the training begins.”
Namgung Uigyeol bowed politely and left.
A moment later, a child, dressed entirely in the finest attire from head to toe, barged in.
“Is this the direct family training ground?”
The voice was rather brash.
Hong-seol, quietly bouncing around, gave a slightly frightened nod.
“Who is this? Could there be a direct family member I don’t know besides Baek, Heuk, and Jeok?”
“Who are you?”
The child asked.
Hong-seol thought the same.
“Who are you, young master?”
“I am Namgung Jong-woo, grandson of Elder Namgung Mu-yeong of the great Namgung estate.”
“And… what does that mean?”
Hong-seol retorted. Namgung Jong-woo, looking insulted, cleared his throat huffily.
“Remember my name, Namgung Jong-woo. One day, no one in the martial world will be unfamiliar with me.”
“Okay.”
Hong-seol was unimpressed by the child’s bravado. Having witnessed so many powerful people—Grandmaster Sword King Namgung Ho, Grandpa Snake, Changcheon Master Namgung Uigyeol, and even Brother Namgung Baek—she found his air of self-importance trivial.
“Even though this child is younger than Brother Baek, his aura cannot compare.”
Coincidentally, they were similar in age. Namgung Jong-woo would likely remain in Brother Baek’s shadow for life.
Thinking that made his arrogant attitude rather pitiful.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Hong-seol.”
“Ah!”
Only then did Namgung Jong-woo recognize today’s opponent, Hong-seol, and looked down on her.
“How dare someone like you use the direct family training ground?”
Even though she had special permission to enter only today, he acted as if it were his natural right.
Sitting on a wooden chair in the corner, Namgung Jong-woo suddenly stretched out his right foot.
A black leather shoe arched through the air and landed in front of Hong-seol.
He rested his chin on one hand, gesturing toward her.
“Pick it up.”
“Excuse me?”
“My shoe. You need to put it on me.”
“…”
“You’re a child who has received the Namgung family’s favor.”
As if to teach her proper manners.
“So of course you should serve me.”
“I see.”
The boy before her was very different from the other Namgung heirs she had met, but…
“I have indeed received the Namgung family’s favor.”
Hong-seol, thinking nothing of it, picked up the shoe and approached him.
Perhaps thinking he had asserted dominance, a sneer appeared on Namgung Jong-woo’s face.
He extended his bare foot, waiting for her.
Just as Hong-seol was about to slip the shoe onto his foot, a white hand shot out and snatched it away.
“I’ll put on your shoes for you.”
Hong-seol’s eyes widened as she recognized the owner of the hand.
