Published at 27th of August 2026 7:15 pm

Chapter CH.1119: The World of Ascension (49)

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"......"

What is this situation? I was at a loss for words as I took in the scene before me.

"Khmm......"

Mi Horan, upon noticing me, attempted to clear her throat, but with her mouth full, she barely managed to suppress it.

"Oh. What brings you here?"

Namgung Hyung greeted me with complete indifference, still holding his chopsticks in hand.

Hyun Soyeon, who had been carrying food, also stopped to stare at me.

"You’re here?"

She welcomed me with utmost nonchalance.

"...Ah, yes."

What the hell is this situation? I responded, but I didn’t understand. Why were these people gathered here?

And in Namgung Hyung’s residence, of all places.

"Would you like to sit? We made a bit too much."

"......."

At Hyun Soyeon’s words, I hesitantly took a seat. That’s when I caught sight of Mi Horan sitting across from me. Her eyes were swollen, and she was hurriedly chewing the food in her mouth.

From the look in her eyes, it was clear she had been crying.

"So, why are you here?"

Namgung Hyung asked.

"...Just had some business."

"With who? Me?"

"Something like that."

I decided to just go with that.

"You didn’t come to this rundown place just for a free meal... So, what do you need from me?"

"I came to say something... but I forgot."

"What?"

Namgung Hyung looked at me as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. Ignoring his stare.

Thunk.

A plate of food was set in front of me. It was Hyun Soyeon who had brought it. Seeing that, I immediately turned to her.

"...What exactly are you doing here?"

"Hm?"

At my question, Hyun Soyeon tilted her head slightly.

"Can’t you tell? I’m cooking."

"......."

Who’s asking that?

I meant, why are you cooking here?

It seemed she understood the true meaning of my words as she let out a chuckle and added,

"What else? Because of our young master."

Young master...? She was referring to Namgung Hyung?

"Sigh... If only I hadn’t lost the bet."

Hyun Soyeon let out a deep sigh. A bet? From the sound of it, she must have made some kind of wager with Namgung Hyung.

So that’s why she’s here cooking in his residence at this hour.

'...Did he even have a kitchen space?'

I couldn’t recall if Namgung Hyung’s place had one. Well, they must have had something if she managed to cook.

As that thought crossed my mind, I glanced at Mi Horan. She continued to ignore my gaze, focusing entirely on eating.

"......."

As I was watching, Hyun Soyeon spoke to me.

"She was sobbing outside, so I brought her here. She clearly had something going on, so I figured at least feeding her would help."

"Who... khm."

Mi Horan, who had been mid-sentence, suddenly stopped. She quickly swallowed what she was chewing and, with an angry face, turned to Hyun Soyeon.

"Who said I was crying?"

"Miss [N O V E L I G H T] Mi, you do realize that with those eyes, saying that has absolutely no credibility, right?"

"......."

At those words, Mi Horan hastily rubbed her eyes.

"This is... something just got in my eye."

"Just how big does something have to be to make your eyes swell like that?"

Hyun Soyeon chuckled as she spoke. Mi Horan, realizing how absurd her own words sounded, clamped her mouth shut again.

'This is refreshing.'

I mused internally.

Mi Horan, crying. The Mi Horan I knew in the future was someone completely distant from tears.

Ah, though I had seen her on the verge of tears before.

'Was it in my past life?'

Was it right after the war with Kunlun? After the mass slaughter of the righteous sect members. Just when we were about to integrate the demonic forces for our next operation.

That’s when I met her again.

'Back then.'

I could still remember her expression.

The way she scowled at me. The moisture in her eyes.

'What was it she said?'

She had spoken to me when we met.

But I hadn’t had the time to listen.

No, maybe I simply didn’t want to remember.

Regardless.

The expression on Mi Horan’s face now was identical to the one from that time.

"......."

As I recalled that, I found myself staring at her in silence.

Clatter.

Mi Horan suddenly stood up, having finished her meal.

"...Thank you. I’ll pay you back later."

"Oh, come on. No need for that—"

"Then, I’ll be going now."

"Ah... Oh. Yeah."

Before Namgung Hyung could even finish his sentence, Mi Horan was already moving. She opened the door and left, leaving a brief silence in her wake.

Now, what should I do? Just as I was contemplating.

"What are you doing?"

Hyun Soyeon spoke up.

"...Huh?"

What am I doing? I looked at her with a puzzled expression, and she gestured toward the outside with her chin.

"You came to pick her up, didn’t you? Hurry and go after her."

"......."

"Or am I wrong?"

She hit the nail on the head. I let out an awkward chuckle. How did she know?

Instead of answering, I got up. Then, I glanced at the food in front of me.

"What about the meal? I didn’t get to eat."

It must have been prepared with effort, yet I wouldn’t be able to eat it.

Hyun Soyeon shook her head.

"It’s fine. It wasn’t for you in the first place."

"...Huh?"

"There’s a glutton over there, so it doesn’t matter."

"......."

At her words, I turned my gaze.

Namgung Hyung was devouring the food like a madman.

Ah, I see.

Yeah, I guess it’s fine then.

After nodding slightly and offering a brief bow, I stepped outside without hesitation.

The night was already settling in. Where had Mi Horan gone?

Finding her wouldn’t be too difficult.

'There she is.'

Mi Horan had no real martial training. Even if she had tried to go far, she wouldn’t have made it very far. Keeping that in mind, it didn’t take long to find her.

A small pond within the Namgung estate.

There, Mi Horan was crouching.

A small, hunched back was visible.

Noticing that, I came to a halt.

About twenty steps away. I suppressed my presence and simply observed.

"......."

I came all this way, but what exactly was I planning to do?

‘Good question.’

What did I even want? Did I intend to comfort Mi Horan? I wasn’t so sure anymore.

As I stood there, lost in thought.

Crunch.

‘Hm?’

A faint presence came from a short distance away. Narrowing my eyes, I spotted a familiar face.

‘Huh?’

A young man with silver hair and blue eyes.

Namgung Jin.

His expression was filled with hesitation as he slowly approached Mi Horan.

Then—

"......What is it?"

Mi Horan spoke without turning around. Only then did Namgung Jin pause.

Surprisingly, she had already sensed his approach.

"Ah......."

Namgung Jin stammered, looking flustered.

"Well, that is... I happened to be out for a walk and saw you here. I was wondering if something was wrong... if you were okay."

"......."

Mi Horan turned slightly to glance at him. And in that moment—

"...Were you crying? Miss Mi, were you crying?"

Seeing her swollen eyes, Namgung Jin furrowed his brows deeply.

"I wasn’t crying."

"Who was it? Who made you cry? Was it that damned Gu Cheolwoon?"

Calling someone’s father a ‘damned bastard’? Hearing that, as his son, I felt irritation rising in me.

"Who are you calling a ‘damned bastard’? Watch your mouth."

Mi Horan’s voice was sharp as she glared at Namgung Jin. He flinched at her cold gaze.

"Ah... that is."

"Young Master Gu is your senior, isn’t he? Show some respect. Don’t be so rude."

Mi Horan wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and suddenly stood up, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

She turned to leave.

"Miss Mi, wait a moment—!"

Namgung Jin reached out and grabbed her wrist.

That bastard?

At that moment, I felt a vein pop at my temple. I was about to rip his arm off.

Smack—!

Mi Horan immediately shook off his hand. Her expression was ice cold.

"What do you think you’re doing? Why are you touching me so carelessly?"

"...Ah, I apologize. I was just in a rush."

"What do you want?"

"......."

Mi Horan brushed her wrist slightly as she asked. Namgung Jin parted his lips, but no words came out.

Just as Mi Horan was about to turn away again—

"...Why am I not good enough?"

Namgung Jin spoke.

"Gu Cheolwoon—that bastard is fine. But why not me?"

His voice was thick with resentment.

‘Of course.’

Seeing this, I frowned. As expected, Namgung Jin had feelings for Mi Horan.

"Sigh."

Hearing that, Mi Horan let out a sigh.

"Young Master Namgung. I appreciate your feelings, but searching for reasons where there are none is one of the most foolish things a person can do."

"......."

She already knew. Of course, she did. It was obvious, with how blatant he had been.

"Rather than thinking about someone like me, wouldn’t it be better to focus on the person right next to you?"

"......."

The person next to him. She must have been referring to his fiancée, Hyun Soyeon.

"The person next to me? Haha......."

Namgung Jin let out a hollow laugh.

"Who exactly do you think is next to me?"

"That would be Miss Hyun—"

"Even she knows it well. She is not by my side."

"......."

Mi Horan was silent at Namgung Jin’s firm words.

"She only chose me because it gave her a reason to stay here...."

His voice was tinged with bitterness. Holding back a sigh, Namgung Jin continued.

"The moment Namgung Hyung disappears, she will leave this place without hesitation."

"...What?"

My eyes widened at that.

Why is Namgung Hyung suddenly being brought up here...?

‘Wait.’

—"I’m doing this because I have to. This isn’t love."

Hyun Soyeon’s words flashed through my mind.

—"Take it from someone with experience. If you have a chance to hold on, hold on."

"......."

She had said she didn’t love Namgung Jin.

She had said their engagement was just something she was obligated to do.

I recalled the bitter look she had worn when she said those words.

‘...And Namgung Hyung?’

I remembered her cooking in his residence. Staying by his side.

‘Oh?’

Could it be...?

Was I thinking what I thought I was thinking?

If so, then this...

‘This family is a complete mess.’

This was a disaster on another level.

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