Book 24 Chapter 12

Problems to solve, knots to tie

―Lion Sister

"My role ends here. It's Rin's turn now."

Na Ye-rin glanced at Yeonbi once, then nodded.

"Thank you, Yeonbi."

"Don't mention it."

Na Ye-rin stood up. She hadn't neglected her training for a single moment for this very moment. Her belief that the woman called a spirit, Dokgo Ryung, remained unchanged. As time went by, her certainty only grew stronger, rather than any doubt. If Dokgo Lion needed help, she was ready to assist at any time. If that meant she had to defeat Dokgo Ryung, she was prepared for it. Suddenly, a conversation with her master, Geomhu, came to mind.

"If you lack strength when you need it, you'll miss the chance to help. So, train yourself strictly, so you'll be useful when the time comes. If you don't prepare now, all that will be left is regret. Do you understand, Rin?"

"Yes, Master. I will keep it in mind."

How much had she kept those words? Was she practicing as much as she had said she would? Na Ye-rin pondered for a moment. Then, she was confident that she had made sufficient efforts for it. Now, she only hoped that her strength would be enough to help.

"Rin, are you prepared to point a sword at that person if it means helping them? Are you prepared to defeat them? If you don't have that resolve, give up. Without that resolve, you will never win."

"I am prepared."

She had sworn to herself when she answered Yeonbi's question. She would do whatever it took to bring Dokgo Ryung back to her original self.

There was no need to ask when that moment would be. Because this very moment was that moment.

"Are you ready?"

Yeonbi asked one last time. This question was a form of check-up, to gauge her current state of mind. If she hadn't made up her mind yet, Yeonbi intended to stop Na Ye-rin by any means necessary, even if she herself received criticism. Fortunately, it seemed she didn't have to brace herself for criticism.

"Yes, I'm ready, Yeonbi. In fact, I've been waiting for this moment."

Na Ye-rin answered without a hint of hesitation and stood up. Then, she gracefully stepped into the arena.

Now, she was already a beautifully honed, sharp sword.

"We meet again."

Na Ye-rin spoke first.

"You're persistent, too."

The spirit said with a look of utter weariness.

"I'd like to say I hear that often, but actually, this is the first time. The Lion always chided me for being too unattached, for not wanting anything."

Na Ye-rin said with a slight smile.

"Whoever it was, and of course, it wasn't me, they were right. If you want nothing, you don't need to strive to get it. Such a person cannot move forward!"

Then, a delighted expression appeared on Na Ye-rin's face.

"Dokgo Lion said the exact same thing. As expected, you are Ryung-unnie."

That fact had already settled in Na Ye-rin's heart with unwavering certainty.

"I've told you many times, I am not. You've mistaken me! I have never met a person named Dokgo Ryung."

Na Ye-rin nodded as if she understood. To her, such doubt was not a problem at all.

"Of course, it's only natural that you haven't met me. Because you are Dokgo Ryung herself."

"Are you still being stubborn? Continuing this conversation will lead us nowhere."

"I agree. We can no longer resolve this through conversation. It's regrettable, but I didn't expect it to be easy. It must mean paying a price. In order to get back my precious person."

"So, what do you intend to do?"

"I have no choice but to forcibly retrieve what was lost. If you don't remember, I will make you remember, unnie."

"With what?"

*Shhh!*

Instead of answering, Na Ye-rin drew her sword, which exuded a cold aura. That was enough of an answer.

It was an unusually proactive attitude for Na Ye-rin. For Na Ye-rin, who had already made up her mind, the means chosen did not matter.

"Interesting."

With a spirit of not being defeated, the spirit also drew her sword.

"If your sword can defeat me, I will reconsider what you said."

She had that much confidence. Na Ye-rin nodded with serious eyes.

"I will remember those words. Don't forget this time, please!"

"You always doubt my memory too much. Don't worry, I will certainly remember. But there's no need to remember."

"Why is that?"

Na Ye-rin asked again.

"Because you can never defeat me."

"That's what I should be saying. I'll return it to you, unnie."