After the brief commotion, Theresis and Shining returned to their quarters to rest, but Yujin remained, conversing with Chongyue and Shu.
"I apologize. For treating you like that during the spar."
"I don't know how many times you're going to apologize. Please, stop..."
Despite accepting the first apology, Yujin sighed as Chongyue bowed his head again. Getting serious during a spar wasn't unheard of. Sometimes, adrenaline took over.
However, Yujin couldn't shake the memory of Ling‘s killing intent and Chongyue‘s reaction. He cautiously asked Chongyue:
"May I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
"When I manifested my Arts... why did you react like that?"
The Stars. Yujin's Arts drastically enhanced his physical abilities and allowed him to use specific techniques associated with each star.
The moment he summoned them, Chongyue had attacked him in a frenzy, and Ling had gripped her staff with killing intent. Considering their strength, it made no sense for them to be afraid of Yujin.
Chongyue tapped the table, deep in thought. They rarely felt fear. Having lived long lives and transcended worldly concerns, the idea of them being terrified enough to emit killing intent was absurd.
"Could you show me those stars again?"
"Understood."
At Chongyue‘s cautious request, Yujin summoned the stars as if it were nothing. Three stars rose above his head, shining with platinum light. While Yujin‘s companions usually found them comforting, Chongyue grimaced immediately, and even the gentle Shu recoiled as if sprayed with pesticide.
"…Why are you reacting like that?"
"Put them away quickly. Ha... how do I even describe this?"
As soon as the stars vanished, Chongyue relaxed and sipped his tea. Shu also returned to Yujin‘s side.
"Ugh, Yujin. Don't bring those out in front of me."
Even the gentle Shu was frowning. Yujin was baffled. Everyone else had always said his stars felt comforting.
Chongyue thought deeply, then looked at Yujin and Shu, seeming to realize Shu felt the same.
"…It felt like standing before a natural predator."
"What?"
"Like a frog before a snake, or a mouse before an owl. An absolute hierarchy. When you brought out those stars, we felt like prey."
"That... makes no sense. We don't even know each other, and it's not like you're weak, Chongyue."
"I don't know either. Shu likely felt the same."
Shu nodded in agreement.
"Even when I rushed to stop the spar, I felt Brother Chongyue‘s power strongly, but I also felt my hair stand on end, which is why I ran so fast."
Chongyue was strong.
For such a powerhouse to feel like prey before Yujin‘s stars... it didn't add up.
Yujin didn't fully understand his own Arts either, so he couldn't offer an answer.
"Hmm. Perhaps we can figure it out through sparring and experience. Since you'll be staying here for a while."
"…Understood."
With that, Chongyue left, saying he had things to do.
But Yujin‘s worry remained. Why did the Stars terrify these siblings? Specifically, only the twelve of them? Shu, Chongyue, U, Nian. They were extraordinary, but Yujin had no connection to them.
"Yujin?"
"Ah, sorry. Just lost in thought."
Yujin sipped the tea Shu had served, momentarily forgetting she was still there.
"…Hmm, come to think of it, it's almost dinner time. Do you have plans?"
"Not really."
"Then, shall I cook for you?"
A sudden offer. Shu‘s eyes sparkled, clearly eager to cook for him.
"…I don't mind, but won't you be tired?"
Despite his response, Shu looked delighted. Her soft smile was beautiful, but Yujin couldn't fathom why she made the offer.
"No, I'm not tired. Let's eat together. I'll cook."
Before Yujin could speak, Shu vanished into the kitchen. Unable to stop her, Yujin scratched his head awkwardly. Who was he to refuse a meal?
Standing in the hallway, he reviewed his fight with Chongyue. The punches and palm strikes. Martial arts.
He hadn't thought much about martial arts before. Weapons were naturally stronger than bare hands. But the martial arts Chongyue displayed were concise and clean enough to thrill even the uninitiated.
"I never planned to learn martial arts..."
Yujin had never let go of his sword. Even while training the spear in Kazimierz, he had learned spearmanship. Buldrokk had wondered where Yujin picked up such skills.
Proficient, but incomparable to the sword, and not suitable as a main weapon.
That was Buldrokk‘s assessment of Yujin‘s spearmanship. However, he had added that Yujin‘s nameless thrust was close to art and perfection.
Yujin quietly drew his sword. Like when he used the spear to thrust. He took a stance and twisted his body. The blade shot forward like an awl, cutting the wind instantly.
"Whew..."
"Swinging a sword here? People walk through here, you know."
A voice from behind. Yujin sheathed his sword and turned to see Nian leaning against the wall, grinning mischievously.
"Yo, heard you fought my brother?"
"…News travels fast."
"Yeah. And don't use honorifics with me. Like with Shu unnie. It's weird if you speak casually to her but formally to me, right?"
Nian laughed as if she knew everything. Yujin didn't know what was funny, but Nian casually draped an arm around his neck.
"Anyway, I didn't know you could match Brother Chongyue. There are only a handful of people in Yan who can do that."
"I am the Champion of the Kazimierz Champions League, after all."
Yujin spoke casually, but Nian burst out laughing.
"Pfft, sorry. We don't know much about foreign affairs. We've been stuck in Yan our whole lives. All of us siblings."
Nian laughed, but her words felt thorny. Her eyes scanned the surroundings as if speaking to an unseen observer.
Seeing her eyes, Yujin fell silent. Choosing his words carefully, he said:
"Later, if you get the chance, come visit Kazdel."
"Huh?"
"Not alone, but with your siblings. Honestly, it's not a great country right now. But my friends and I are going to change it. It might be fun to watch that change."
Hearing Yujin, Nian froze, then met his gaze.
"…Thanks for saying that. Ah, right. Where's Shu unnie?"
"Shu went to cook. Said she'd treat me to dinner."
"Ugh, I'll pass. Shu unnie likes vegetarian food. And rice. I prefer U's cooking."
White hair swaying, the dragon with heat hot enough to breathe fire walked away toward the kitchen.
"And about the spear."
Nian handed Yujin the broken spear. Shaking her head as if it were hopeless, she said:
"It can't be saved. Its life is over. You used Arts as a stopgap measure, so it's amazing it lasted this long."
Yujin looked down at the broken spear. Was it truly unsalvageable?
"Is there no way?"
"None. Absolutely. Give up. This is sincere advice from a blacksmith. Using a weapon past its limit will kill the wielder. Other smiths will tell you the same."
It was regrettable. But he couldn't force a weapon that had received a death sentence to continue.
His Silver Master at the wall would probably have hit him over the head with a spear for this. Saying that what he taught wasn't about the weapon, but the conviction within it.
"If you say so, I guess I have to give up."
Seeing Yujin smile bitterly and look up, Nian frowned, twisting her body as if struggling, then finally spat out:
"Ugh, I hate seeing that. Fine, it can't be helped. I'll make you a special spear."
"…Huh? You don't have to."
"Quiet! Do you know how rare it is for me, the top blacksmith in Yan, to make a weapon? Just accept it."
"Uh, okay..."
"Instead, do me a favor. I can ask my brother for materials, so that's fine. But I need to find a sibling."
"Help finding a sibling? If they're in another city, it might take time."
Nian clicked her tongue, looking at the mountains beyond Dahuang. As if she knew exactly where her cowardly sibling was hiding.
"It won't take long. They're inside Dahuang, probably hiding because they're scared of someone."
Was it just Yujin‘s imagination, or did that 'someone' sound like him? Just then, Shu rustled in the kitchen, and Nian yelped and started moving in the opposite direction.
"Then, I'm off! I'll call you later!"
With that, Nian vanished from Yujin‘s sight. As soon as she was gone, Shu poked her head out of the kitchen.
"Huh? I thought I heard Nian's voice?"
"She was here, but ran away when she heard you were coming."
"What?! Ugh, did you tell her I was cooking?"
"Yeah, she said it wasn't her taste and ran."
"That's her problem. She shouldn't just eat spicy food; she needs to eat healthy..."
Yujin watched Shu talking like a mother. Nian, Shu, Chongyue. They hadn't said it, but he could tell they were good beings.
He didn't know how long this story would last.
"I'm hungry. Let's eat. And thanks for cooking."
"No need to thank me. I did it because I wanted to."
Talking, they went to the dining room. A year of companionship. He would have many occasions to ask Shu for advice. Building a friendship with her would be good.
He didn't know what would happen in the future, and at that time, he thought he could just spend time peacefully.