Chapter 60
“It might become a lifelong regret. Not for you, but for Soso. Just think how heartbroken she’d be not being able to see your face before you left. Hurry up and go, Mugyeom.”
It wasn’t just one or two people saying that.
Come to think of it, everyone present had been part of the escort mission for Ak Seol-ah.
Seo Mugyeom wasn’t sure if it was right for him to be concerned with such things right now. But what they said wasn’t wrong, and it seemed like he would regret it more deeply than anyone else.
When Seo Mugyeom looked at Ho Jo-yeong, he nodded. His expression said, “Hurry back.”
Seo Mugyeom turned his steps toward the Division Leader’s Hall. At first, his pace was slow, as if he was hesitating, but gradually he moved faster. Soon he was running, and then even used movement arts.
By the time he finally reached the Division Leader’s Hall, those who saw him all had the same expression.
They looked pitying. Most of those guarding the place already knew that Ak Seol-ah was in the office. They also knew that Seo Mugyeom and Ak Seol-ah had feelings for each other.
They must have understood why Seo Mugyeom had come, which only made them pity him more.
Seo Mugyeom felt embarrassed as he passed them and headed toward the Division Leader’s office.
Once at the door, he knocked.
“Division Leader, this is Seo Mugyeom.”
“Come in.”
Pyo Inhaeng spoke as if he had expected Seo Mugyeom to come.
When Seo Mugyeom entered, Ak Seol-ah and Ju Jirang were inside together.
Ak Seol-ah looked extremely tense, and as Seo Mugyeom walked in, she silently approached him.
“Sir Seo...”
Even if Seo Mugyeom hadn’t come here to see her, it seemed like she wanted to speak first this time. That hadn’t happened before, but now she looked like she wanted to act on her own feelings, regardless of others' opinions.
“Sir Seo...”
But once she came up to him and called his name, she couldn’t find the words to say.
“You will come back safely, won’t you?”
Tears fell from Ak Seol-ah’s eyes as she asked.
Seo Mugyeom suddenly felt angry. Ak Seol-ah didn’t need to cry. Neither he nor the other warriors of the Tenth Division should have had to go out on a sudden mission like this.
If the Sect Leader hadn’t given such an absurd order, none of this would be happening.
“Division Leader, even with this kind of order, do we still have to follow the Sect Leader’s command?”
Seo Mugyeom asked, unable to suppress his anger.
“We must. That is the sect’s rule. As long as you are a member of the Divine Martial Sect, you must follow its rules in any situation.”
Then, Pyo Inhaeng added with a look of regret.
“If you wish to leave the sect, I believe that would also be acceptable.”
It seemed he wanted to open a path for Seo Mugyeom to live rather than die a senseless death.
“You may leave this place with Soso. If you wish to do so, I will help you. That might be the better choice.”
Ju Jirang looked like she was about to say something, but closed her mouth.
Seo Mugyeom thought he knew what she wanted to say.
She must have been thinking of Ho Jo-yeong.
That if Seo Mugyeom went with him, there might be a slightly higher chance of Ho Jo-yeong making it back alive.
Seo Mugyeom deliberated for a moment. But in the end, the one who gave him clarity was Ak Seol-ah.
“Sir Seo, please go. I’ll be waiting. I don’t believe you’re someone who’d die helplessly at another’s hands. Even if you ran away, you’d feel unsettled. You’d live your whole life with that regret and guilt.”
Everyone present saw how Ak Seol-ah was trying to endure her sorrow for Seo Mugyeom’s sake, and their hearts ached.
Seo Mugyeom didn’t know what he should do in moments like this, but in the end, he accepted her words. She was right. If he ran away with her, he wouldn’t be able to bear the weight of it.
And as long as he didn’t give up, it wasn’t over yet.
“Young Mistress, I will return alive. And once I’m back, I will make sure I’m never dragged around by orders like this again.”
Ak Seol-ah smiled at Seo Mugyeom’s words. It seemed like that was enough for her. As if she believed she could wait because she trusted those words.
“Now, let’s go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll return, right?”
Pyo Inhaeng placed a hand on Seo Mugyeom’s shoulder as he spoke.
Their mutual trust had grown deeper than ever before.
“I don’t know what the Sect Leader was thinking when he decided to send us there, but whatever it was—let’s surprise him, Seo Mugyeom.”
“Understood. I’m confident. I think I can do well.”
Pyo Inhaeng smiled, seeming satisfied with the response.