All My Murim Noonas Are Obsessed With Me!

[Dan Yuseong's POV]

Chest puffed out, Dan Yuseong pointed at her triumphantly.

"How's that! My reasoning!"

"Uh… yeah… I was kinda hungry earlier, so I…"

"Hmph—knew it. Guess your pride made it hard to admit, huh?"

"…Sorry."

"With just your mouth?!"

Maybe it was exposing Yeosocheon's little misdeed—

His energy was sky-high compared to usual.

"Just so you know, I won't forgive this easi—"

"I'll buy you drinks when we're back—really expensive ones."

"Deal!"

He'd been craving booze lately—starved for it—and this?

For some stolen snacks, this was more than fair—it was a jackpot.

If she called it expensive—

—Drool

Saliva pooled in his mouth—

A quick lick wiped away the drip—

—Flinch

Yeosocheon shuddered at the sight.

"What's wrong? Feeling guilty?"

"Uh… yeah…"

"No need to splurge too hard—I'll drink anything."

"…Got it."

Her voice carried agreement, but her face looked oddly uneasy.

After waking up and hashing this out over breakfast, they pressed on toward the treasure.

++++

—Step… step…

The Sword Sovereign walked with a blank stare—eyes cold, sunken, devoid of feeling.

Anyone who knew her usual fiery, justice-driven gaze would've worried seeing those lifeless black pools—

But she'd always been a loner—

Aside from her attendant, she rarely crossed paths with others in daily life.

Not the sect leader, yet surpassing them in martial prowess and seniority—her presence could unsettle Huashan's ranks. She knew it, so she kept public appearances to a minimum.

Occasional sword critiques for others aside, she'd built no personal bonds—

Back when she trained disciples, she'd made a few connections—

But after that incident, she'd cut them all off herself.

Which meant—

"Ah…"

No one to notice her struggles—or listen.

Even trying to focus on sword practice, inner demons kept sprouting, disrupting her—

Reasons piled up—

Self-loathing and guilt for harboring feelings for someone who'd ruined her life—her disciple—

Regret and despair over missing a chance to fix everything when she'd reunited with him—

Shock at herself for endlessly replaying their night of passion—

The emotions and pride she'd built as the "Sword Sovereign" over decades were cracking—

The world hailed her as a noble, righteous hero—but she knew—

That aura stemmed from the pride and feelings she'd cultivated—

And as they crumbled—

She could no longer play the noble, righteous hero.

"…No."

Thoughts reaching that point, she gripped her sword tight—recalling why she hadn't retired, why she stayed at Huashan training—

The Heavenly Demon—

Twenty years ago, that overwhelming power—terrifying, unfathomable—still drove her forward—

No news of movement yet—

But the moment that whim struck, and the Demon stepped into the Central Plains—a disaster beyond reckoning—

So to stand even slightly in its way—

She couldn't break here—

Hadn't he seen that in her too?

The Heavenly Demon took Huashan—

'…Was that how it went?'

Something felt off—but she ignored it—

Even if it wasn't true—

She had to believe it now—

To protect her beloved—

…Huashan—

Her sword couldn't dull—

Not yet—

Never—

++++

The ruin exploration kept going smoothly. Dan Yuseong used his heaven-reading skill which disarmed most traps.

Pushing forward while dismantling them left little danger—

Honestly, at first, Earth-bred instincts had him expecting monsters—

[Demons? No way—how'd they live in a barren ruin like this?]

This wasn't some dreamy fantasy world—it was the gritty reality of martial arts—

No such thing here—

'…Would've been more fun that way, though.'

Summoned as a hero, he'd have decent strength—not this frail body—

Magic would've meant comforts rivaling Earth—

Other races full of romance—

'…Oh right, that world's doomed.'

Then again—not exactly paradise—

Cursed to near-collapse, dragging in guys from other worlds—

One perk, though—they'd have kept him safe—

To them, he'd be their only hope—

'…Haa.'

Fantasy world—safe, fun, living as a stud 'til death—

Martial world—dangerous, dull, scraping by day-to-day—

Hell of a choice—

'…Focus on what's in front of me.'

No point dwelling—Earth return or summoning to that world needed points—miles away—

Last time, he'd blown 400 points just to see the saintess's face—

'She looked so desperate I bought it—but man, what a waste.'

400 points could've nabbed a decent magic tool—felt squandered—

Sure, her looks were unreal—but just a screen—untouchable—

Not even a game character—couldn't ask a real person for eye candy—

'…She'd probably say yes, though…'

Given how she eyed his body—practically drooling—she might've—

No plans to ask, though—

'…My damn fate.'

Sighing inwardly, he pulled up the shop window—hoping to glimpse his empty points—

His life was cursed, but no changing it—

Too late to regret bolting from his master's mountain—

Staying wouldn't have dodged this world's looming doom anyway—

Him leaving might've upped the odds of stopping it—so he'd take that comfort—

As he consoled himself, the shop showed—

'…400 points?'

The exact amount he'd spent on the saintess—returned—

Not much time had passed since—over a year's worth of points in a flash—

He'd heard Yeosocheon's actions built interference, boosting points—but this much? Unreal—

"Wow…"

Eyes gleaming, he stared at the 400 points racked up so fast—

Just poking around a ruin with her did this—

Not even done yet—maybe 500 by the end?

'10,000 points… might not be impossible…'

Return—once a pipe dream—felt sharper, closer—

'Just a little ruin-diving with her, and 400 in no time…'

Almost too generous—

But good's good—rare luck worth smiling over—

He reached to close the shop—

Then, in the corner, a ripple—words appeared—

[…Want to see?]

Likely the saintess's message—

The window shut, vanishing—

"…"

Body stiff, her face flashed in his mind—followed by a rapid blur of scenes—

Face flushing, he fanned himself with a hand—

"Oh—uh, how much farther do we…"

Yeosocheon turned, mid-question—

He yanked his hood up, shadowing his face—

"…Why the hood all of a sudden?"

"Felt a chill…"

"Hmm…"

"Oh—how far, you asked? Hold on—my memory says we're…"

Unfurling a rough map, he tried pinpointing their spot—

"…What's that over there?"

Yeosocheon pointed down the corridor—far off—

Nothing special should be here—curious, he looked up—

Something faint glimmered in the distance—

Squinting hard, he made it out—

—Sparkle sparkle

++++

[Protagonist's POV]

My eyes widened at the heaps of gold nuggets piled high—

Sparkle.

And at the center, a sword stabbed into the mound, reflecting a blue gleam—

I don't know swords, but its look screamed extraordinary—

'Wait, Yeo Socheon came here partly to find a sword…'

That hit me—and then a low voice murmured beside me—

"…Found it."

And in that instant—

Boom!

Yeo Socheon launched off the ground, charging toward the gold and sword—

I couldn't stop her—

Anyone'd call it suspicious, scream "trap"—but she was already sprinting down the corridor—

And, predictably, traps sprang to life—

Whirr.

Mechanisms hummed—hammers swung from walls, boulders rained, arrows shot at her back—

No time to warn her—nor need—

Crack! Crack! Boom!

Crunch!

None touched her—none even scratched her—

Hammers shattered into splinters, boulders ricocheted into walls, arrows snapped midair—

Unbelievable—straight out of a game or movie—my jaw dropped—

Her—obliterating lethal traps like they were nothing—was jaw-dropping—

She reached the sword, leapt, grabbed it—then another trap triggered—

Clunk!

The floor beneath the gold and sword opened, dropping—

Such meticulousness—traps on traps—staggering—

But her response? More so—

Tap!

Sword in hand, she stepped on a falling fist-sized nugget, flipped midair—

Landing on solid ground—

Clunk!

Thud!

"Ow!"

The exact spot she aimed for collapsed, swallowing her—

"A-Are you okay?!"

Snapping out of my gawking, I raced to the hole—

Not a huge pit—just big enough for one—her size—I had to get close to see—

If spikes waited below—

Shiver.

Dark thoughts swirling, I peered in—

"Ow ow ow…"

She sat inside, unharmed—

"A-Are you hurt?"

"N-No… lucky no blades here. Protective aura would've handled it, but…"

'She raised it that fast?'

Even for a monster beyond human, her reflexes stunned—

"G-Get up—I'll lend a hand?"

"…Thanks."

I worried she'd just leap out, making my offer awkward—but she grabbed my hand—

"Nghh…"

"I-I'm not heavy, okay?!"

My weak body couldn't lift her—she just used my arm as leverage, climbing out herself—

"Haa… haa…"

"She got out—why're you panting?!"

"I don't want to be this weak…"

"How'll you manage later with a body like that…"

Swallowing her jab, I shot back—

"And you—why'd you flub the last one? Hero can't handle that? You dodged everything else."

"T-That…"

Her face reddened—

"I-It was a weird trap! Hit my blind spot perfectly! That bastard who knows me set it up to mock me—calculated it!"

Her logic checked out—

A pit timed for her landing—how'd he plan that?—chilling precision—

"H-Ha… well, we found the sword, so it's fine—"

She raised the blue blade she'd clung to—

Then—

Snap.

Clink…

It split in half.