On the Way to Kyoto
They arrived at Incheon Airport in Jin Seo-hee's car.
As the car slowed, the people who had been waiting approached.
"You've arrived, miss."
"Yes. Where's Grandfather?"
"He's in the VIP lounge."
"And my sister? She didn't skip out, did she?"
"No, she's here."
"Too bad."
Fights between the two sisters seemed to be a common occurrence in Genex.
The employee simply dipped his head lightly in a familiar gesture.
"We'll bring the car back on your return date. Should we prepare the same vehicle?"
"Yes, please."
Jin-hyuk glanced at Seo-hee as she handed over the keys.
It felt a little awkward to look away.
No wonder.
"Is she someone really important? She even has an attendant."
"Idiot, that's Jin Seo-hee. From the Genex Group owner family."
"Oh? For real? No wonder."
Unable to contain themselves, people here and there began snapping photos at the sudden appearance of an influencer.
Jin-hyuk froze the moment he was in front of cameras, staring straight ahead.
"Let's go."
Seo-hee started walking toward the airport.
Perhaps because this was her everyday life, she looked completely relaxed.
"It's an honor to serve you. Right this way."
Several airline employees waiting inside guided the two of them.
Naturally, all eyes were on them.
Soon enough, their pictures would probably be circulating on Instar.
When they followed the staff into the VIP lounge, familiar faces came into view.
Chairman Jin Tae-gon of Genex, Jin Seo-jeong whom he had met before, and a man he didn't recognize.
"That's my oldest brother. He's a bit cold, but don't mind him. He's like that with everyone."
Truly, a family obsessed with martial prowess.
Despite being busy with company affairs, whenever it came to a clan exchange, the entire family seemed to show up.
What an intimidating atmosphere.
Jin-hyuk swallowed dryly.
Over a dozen attendants were filling the lounge alongside the owner family.
And of course, the moment he stepped inside, all eyes fixed on him.
"Oh! You're here!"
Cutting through the heavy tension,
Jin Tae-gon stood from his seat and approached Jin-hyuk.
Grinning warmly, he grasped Jin-hyuk's shoulder.
"Thank you for coming. I've been wanting to bring you along."
"No, thank you for inviting me."
"Come, sit."
Tae-gon led him to the table and introduced him to his grandchildren.
"This is my grandson, Jin Seo-jun."
Seo-jun stood and offered a polite greeting.
"I've heard a lot about you from Grandfather. I hear you obtained the Ganjiang-Moye pair."
"He said it so often my ears nearly started ringing."
"I didn't say it that much. And this is my eldest granddaughter—you've met her once, haven't you? Seo-jeong."
Seo-jeong also rose and extended her hand.
"We meet again. Seo-hee's boyfriend."
"Unnie!"
Seo-hee shot her sister a dagger-like glare.
Seo-jeong shrank back playfully, lips curling into a grin.
"You like him too, so don't play coy. Right?"
"Haha…"
From the very start?
Would this Kyoto trip even be okay?
"You two bicker every time you meet."
Clicking his tongue, Tae-gon settled Jin-hyuk in the seat beside him.
"Eat something. There's still an hour before departure."
"Thank you."
Workers immediately brought dishes piled with meat.
"If you need anything, please let us know."
"Thank you."
He bowed his head slightly and picked up a fork.
He had assumed Seo-hee's parents would attend as well since the whole family was coming, but it seemed they were absent today.
"You want to see the sword the Matsuna clan possesses?"
"Yes. There's a blade I'm searching for. I want to confirm if it's Muramasa."
"Hm."
Tae-gon stroked his chin.
"I'll ask, but I'm not sure they'll show it. They're unusually strict when it comes to anything related to martial tradition."
"No way they'll show it."
Seo-jeong poked at her food with a fork and let out a dry laugh.
"You know how stubborn and strict their clan head is? Oh, and here's another reason: at the last exchange, another clan asked to see their Muramasa. Do you know what the clan head said?"
"Just hearing it already sounds scary."
"He didn't yell, technically, but he obliterated that guy verbally. 'How dare you ask to see the treasured blade of another clan'… 'Is that what you were taught?'… On and on—my ears almost bled just listening."
Cold sweat trickled down Jin-hyuk's back.
And that was just for asking to see it…
If he dared to say he wanted to buy it?
He might be kicked out on the spot.
"What were you going to do if it really was the sword you're looking for?"
"I had hoped to purchase it, but judging from what you said, that seems impossible."
"Wow, purchase? They'd probably try to kill you. They'd say you insulted the Matsuna clan."
Seo-jeong shook her head in horror at the thought.
Even Tae-gon nodded lightly in agreement.
"Then you don't need to ask on my behalf. I'm already grateful that you brought me—I can't cause trouble."
"No, it's fine. The clan head and I have known each other for a long time. I can at least bring it up. I'll let you know once I hear back."
"Thank you."
Jin-hyuk chewed a tender piece of rib, sinking into thought.
Eighty percent chance he wouldn't even get a look at the sword.
A hundred percent chance he couldn't buy it.
He definitely needed a backup plan.
He finished a plate quickly when a server approached.
"I'll get more myself, thank you."
Politely declining, he stood.
This time, he planned to load his plate only with things he wanted.
While he was piling ribs like a mountain, Seo-jun approached.
Standing beside him, Seo-jun calmly filled his own plate with mostly vegetables.
"I heard you saved Seo-hee on the New Caliho."
"The passengers all fought hard together."
"You're humble. You've cleared the fiftieth floor range, haven't you?"
Jin-hyuk looked at him.
He had never told Seo-jun how many floors he cleared.
"I was making an assumption. Sorry if it offended you."
"No, nothing like that. I was just surprised you guessed correctly."
Seo-jun offered a faint smile behind his glasses.
"You're the Runner, aren't you? Yoo Jin-hyuk."
Oh.
He didn't bother denying it.
Judging by his eyes, Seo-jun had already reached certainty.
"No one else in the family knows—neither Grandfather nor my sister."
"How did you figure it out?"
"Let me apologize again in advance. When my sister said she signed a contract with a trade guild through your introduction, I investigated. People have approached her because of her background for years."
Jin-hyuk nodded.
As someone with a little sister, he understood.
"Long story short, the contract was excellent. Genéros should be grateful, really—the merchant and guild were that competent. Then I noticed the items supplied to them. Rare quality and type—exactly the kind that would come from floors cleared by the Runner. Add to that the combat ability to save a ship from terrorists… The overlap became obvious."
Jin-hyuk smiled.
He wasn't particularly flustered.
Unlike in the early days, he now felt confident in himself.
If he truly wanted to hide it, he would've asked Yoo Soo-yeon to create delays between supply and sale.
Perhaps because he didn't look surprised, Seo-jun nodded meaningfully.
"So you didn't intend to hide it desperately. In any case, it's an honor. To meet the Runner—the person the world is searching for. I won't tell my sister or Grandfather. Since I discovered the secret myself, I'll keep it."
He then looked toward the table.
"And I figured you might be wondering why my parents aren't here when the rest of the family is."
Once again, Jin-hyuk was impressed.
Sharp, just like his appearance suggested.
"They're considered dropouts—they stepped outside the boundaries Grandfather set. That's why they aren't attending."
"I was curious, but hearing it feels a bit intrusive."
"It's fine. It's an open secret in Genex. So now you and I have exchanged a secret each. Although the value difference is pretty absurd. And one more thing."
He lifted his plate.
"I'm in favor."
"Huh? Of what?"
"You dating Seo-hee. Grandfather probably is too. He's never welcomed an outsider this warmly."
Before Jin-hyuk could respond, Seo-jun smiled and tilted his head.
"Take your time."
Carrying his plate full of greens, Seo-jun headed back.
Jin-hyuk stared blankly after him.
At first glance, the gold-rimmed glasses and sharp features made him look like a cold, strict chaebol heir.
But now… he seemed softer than expected.
"Phew."
He let out a breath.
The only familiar faces were Seo-hee and Tae-gon, which made him uneasy.
But now that he had spoken with the most intimidating-looking person, the trip to Kyoto suddenly felt less stressful.
He resumed attacking the buffet with vigor.
Even before climbing Geumgangsan, one must eat—so before heading anywhere, he'd fuel up properly.
A few hours later.
Seated in the car's back seat, Jin-hyuk gazed out the window.
He had lost count of how many times the thought So this is Japan had crossed his mind.
He slowly turned his gaze to the person sitting beside him.
A woman in a white miko outfit sat upright, staring ahead.
She was one of the Matsuna clan attendants who picked them up at Kansai Airport.
The issue was that there hadn't been enough seats—so Jin-hyuk ended up in a separate car from the Genex family.
Sensing his glance, the shrine maiden turned to him.
"Do you require anything?"
"No."
"Very well."
A short confirmation, then she faced forward again.
Jin-hyuk also turned back to the window.
I can't breathe!
He actually missed the tense meal table at the Genex lounge.
He felt like he was being squished in a corner of the car.
The vehicle wound its way up a mountain road before slowing.
"We have arrived."
The miko stepped out first and opened his door.
He thanked her and stepped out.
Fresh, pine-scented air washed over him.
It was so clean, it reminded him of the Yodle Forest in the Tower of Myths.
Once the entire Genex group exited their cars, the shrine maidens lined up beside the stone steps.
And then, in unison, they bowed deeply.
"Welcome to the Matsuna Clan."
Jin-hyuk looked up at the shrine perched atop the stairs.
A shrine maintained by the Matsuna family for generations.
He inhaled deeply and smiled faintly.
His goal: to confirm and obtain the Yōdo Muramasa.
It seemed nearly impossible for now, but he intended to do everything he could.
For the Legendary advancement of Black Knight Order Captain Seira Kincaid—
He absolutely could not give up.
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T/N:
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