Chapter 189

Chapter 189: Hoae

Hoae is my name.

That was how I was called when my father handed me over to those terrifying individuals, so it must be my actual name.

Is it not?

Well, it seems there is an additional character attached to the front of it now.

Kim. That was the name the man gave me.

—Starting today, your name is Kim Hoae.

Kim Rae-won.

My very first glimpse of him occurred three months back…….

The 6th District.

That was the location where I was initially bartered away.

My recollections of that place lean far more toward misery than joy, though I suppose it brought me my nine younger siblings, so perhaps it wasn’t entirely a curse?

Ho, Uk, Yuyeon, Wi, Soran, Jiho, Roe, Jomi, Seon.

There used to be older brothers and sisters alongside us, but they vanished one after another until only our group remained.

The individuals who purchased us kept us confined within a cellar and mistreated us without mercy, but honestly, we managed to endure it.

Since we kept breathing and didn’t perish, it means it was survivable, doesn’t it?

We were merely clinging to life, barely avoiding the grave.

Then, out of nowhere, Kim Rae-won… the man whose identity was a complete mystery to us at the time, made his appearance.

Swoosh, swoosh, projectile-like streaks resembled arrows erupted from his fingertips, and in a mere moment, he completely obliterated the wicked men who had been brutalizing us.

Without uttering a single word, he granted us our liberty and went on his way.

Overwhelmed by this abrupt liberation, we found ourselves utterly lost.

Our only means of staying alive was to scavenge through trash heaps or seek out spoiled scraps of food…….

Was Providence watching over us?

It felt like a genuine blessing,

—Hey children, how many of you are there in total?

—There are ten of us. We answered Auntie Jeon.

—In that case, come along with me.

Remaining there meant we would simply perish from starvation anyway, so we chose to walk behind Auntie Jeon.

Yet as we journeyed, we encountered that same man once more.

Kim Rae-won.

As it happened, Auntie Jeon and Mr. Rae-won shared a home.

Sometime later, I approached Auntie Jeon and inquired, ‘What made you rescue unfortunates like us?’ to which she replied that Mr. Rae-won had instructed her to do so.

—He mentioned that a larger household is always preferable. That man did.

—What exactly does a household mean?

—It means family.

—What is a family?

—Ah, of course, you wouldn’t understand since you were raised in such a wretched environment. Family refers to…

—Yes. What defines a family?

—Individuals who share their meals at the same table.

—…Individuals who share their meals at the same table?

—Precisely, to put it another way, they are recognized as family.

The precise definition eluded me, but I grasped the underlying sentiment.

Family.

Hehe.

I reasoned that if I labored with a diligence matching the sustenance provided to me, I could maintain my place within this family.

I made a firm vow to myself that for every single meal I consumed, I had to deliver an equivalent measure of labor; two meals required two portions of work; and three meals demanded three portions of work.

Be that as it may.

Following alongside Mr. Rae-won and his companion, we relocated to a massive residence.

It was during this time that I discovered something new.

The fact that a residence could possess its own title.

Hero’s Sect.

Nevertheless, the period when we first made our way to the Hero’s Sect was incredibly terrifying.

There were literal mounds of corpses piled high.

The stench of butchery was suffocating.

Uk and Seon were so utterly petrified that their weeping wouldn’t cease.

Tears welled up inside me as well, but I forced them down.

Because I hold the position of the oldest sister.

I must remain strong.

Conversely, Mr. Rae-won remained entirely unfazed.

—Go with the lady over yonder and assist with the cleaning. Once that is done, the situation will stabilize shortly.

Those were his only words.

Following that, he simply departed for another area.

Letting out a heavy breath, Auntie Jeon offered us gentle reassurance.

—Indeed, indeed, what he says is accurate. There is no need to fear. This place will be immaculate before long.

True to her words, dozens of individuals arrived and hauled away the mounds of bodies that had been stacked like peaks.

In their wake, woodworkers arrived.

By the following day, a different crew came to apply paint to the structures and scrub down the flooring.

When roughly a month had slipped by, the location had transformed into an entirely different realm.

On a afternoon when the waters of spring showered down, the roof covering the Hero’s Sect held firm without a single leak.

—Ah, at last, this place resembles an actual household. Wouldn’t you agree, little ones?

The reality matched Auntie Jeon’s declaration perfectly.

Every single one of us was struck with disbelief.

The previous devastation had vanished completely, replaced by magnificent structures that mirrored a royal court.

Granted, the renovations weren’t fully concluded and laborers were still active, but that mattered little to us.

For youths of our background, this place was indistinguishable from a royal court, was it not?

And yet, that very court belonged to us?

Words could not express our joy!

At any rate, once our residence took on a proper form, our daily existence turned quite lively.

With the arrival of every dawn during the Hour of the Rabbit (close to 5 AM), we would sweep down the courtyard, consume our food, and perform a basic tidying of our quarters.

Once those tasks were fulfilled, Auntie Jeon would assemble our entire group to instruct us in literacy.

Our lessons commenced with the Thousand Character Classic, though I was only capable of retaining roughly ten symbols each day.

Conversely, Jomi could absorb a hundred symbols in a single sitting.

It felt rather disheartening.

When midday arrived, Mr. Rae-won would gather Auntie Jeon along with all the children out upon the training field.

—Physical endurance is the foundation of existence. Those lacking endurance shall perish, while those possessing it will endure for a long duration.

In the beginning, our task consisted solely of running.

Ten circuits around the perimeter of the training field.

Ho and Wi collapsed to the ground before completing even five circuits.

I pushed through to finish seven.

As for Auntie Jeon… well.

I shall keep her performance a secret.

It is a basic rule of courtesy to safeguard the reputation of the lady who provides us with such wonderful food.

—Resting is permitted if exhaustion takes over. However, quitting is forbidden.

Once we had barely scraped through the designated circuits, drenched entirely in perspiration, Mr. Rae-won would introduce a handful of perplexing phrases for us to commit to memory on every occasion.

Following that, he would seat us in a circular formation and apply rhythmic pressure across various points of our bodies.

The sensation was so incredibly soothing that I wished it could continue for the rest of my days.

More than anything, it felt as though a soothing chill was gathering day by day within the depths of my lower abdomen. The sensation was so delightful it defies simple explanation.

Upon inquiring about the nature of this feeling, he gave his reply.

—It is Internal Energy.

—What does that signify?

—It represents your journey.

—Our journey?

—It is the path that you must tread throughout the entirety of your existences.

—What occurs if we desire to tread a different path?

—Provided you do not stray onto a path of wickedness, I expect it is of no consequence.

—And what if we choose a path of wickedness?

The man fixed his profound gaze upon me for a brief span prior to delivering his answer.

—It would serve as an exceptional source of experience for me.

—An exceptional source of experience?

—Precisely, given the immense labor I invested in nurturing you, and the scale of your development, it will translate into an even grander experience for my benefit.

Though I have pondered those words repeatedly, the exact meaning behind his statement eludes me still.

The language of grown-ups is quite perplexing.

Regardless, from that period onward, our daily schedule maintained a rigid consistency.

Awaken at the break of dawn, execute a minor tidying, and consume massive portions of food.

Study literacy during the morning hours.

Sprint across the training field throughout the afternoon.

Commit the phrases spoken by Mr. Rae-won to memory.

Undergo the therapeutic pressure from the man.

When night fell, we would once more consume massive portions of food before venturing outside to amuse ourselves as we pleased.

Initially, Auntie Jeon questioned Mr. Rae-won regarding whether this freedom was acceptable, but he confirmed it was perfectly fine now.

—The River Capital has reached a state of security now.

Utilizing the spending money provided by Mr. Rae-won, we would purchase and consume fried batters and bowls of noodles out in the open.

It truly appeared that the River Capital had become safe, precisely as he claimed.

With the approach of the summer months, sprinting upon the training field grew increasingly grueling.

Moisture dripped from us like a torrential downpour as we exerted ourselves beneath the baking sun.

Oddly enough, however, the intense heat seemed to affect us far less than before.

Could this be attributed to the specific breathing method Mr. Rae-won had instructed us to use?

As we passed each day engaged in such enjoyable pursuits, we progressively adjusted to the lifestyle and grew increasingly proficient.

By this point, I had successfully committed the entire text of the Thousand Character Classic to memory.

Sprinting a hundred circuits around the training field had become an effortless task for me.

Most significantly, rather than just retaining phrases, we initiated practice combat against one another utilizing blunted wooden clubs.

Furthermore, that sensation he designated as Internal Energy had definitively anchored itself within my lower abdomen.

At present, it vibrates gently with each passing day, expanding in potency.

The man persisted in offering us handsome amounts of spending money, yet our excursions for amusement dwindled.

The reason was that engaging in practice combat with one another had turned into a far more entertaining pastime!

Hehe, holding the position of the eldest, I assumed the role of the big sister among the youngsters, which admittedly caused me some self-consciousness and bashfulness at first; but now it brings me a sense of satisfaction.

Because I reign as the most powerful among all the children!

That bestows upon me the right to be the big sister, does it not?

Naturally, every individual possesses their particular talent.

Ho wields such immense might that a single strike from his weapon sends me tumbling through the air.

Uk displays a supernatural talent for evasion. ‘Provided the blow misses, no pain follows!’ represents Uk’s personal philosophy.

Yuyeon possesses a suppleness reflecting her name, allowing her to execute strikes effectively from highly unusual angles.

Jomi is exceptionally clever, constantly directing her strikes toward completely unprotected targets.

Seon occupies the position of the youngest, yet her intensity is startling.

Once her jaws lock onto something, she refuses to let go.

My goodness, I have rambled far too much concerning our group.

Auntie Jeon remains perpetually occupied with various tasks, aside from the hours she dedicates to our lessons.

It appears there is no corner of the Hero’s Sect that escapes Auntie Jeon’s supervision and care.

She acted as the representative to welcome the figures who periodically arrived from the government offices; she oversaw the assortment of laborers that Mr. Rae-won recruited, and during the evening hours, she would engage in solitary practice.

On occasion, when she sliced her palms through the air, the immediate environment would frost over and shatter, or pieces of cabinetry and decor would reduce to splinters.

—Oh, not this again! What causes this to occur? Why does the regulation of my might elude me so? Good gracious.

Whenever such incidents transpired, a look of distress would cross her features as she blew warm air onto her chilled fingertips.

Following that, she would invariably turn her gaze toward us and rub the back of her neck in embarrassment.

—My apologies, children. Hoho.

Regarding Mr. Rae-won, I have never caught sight of him within the boundaries of the Hero’s Sect outside of the specific hours he allocates to us.

He merely appears before us on occasion to inquire about our well-being.

Whether any discomfort affects us, whether grievances trouble us, or if we find ourselves short on provisions.

Naturally, no such issues existed, yet he persisted in checking on us and displaying genuine concern for our welfare.

My affection for him is immense.

This sentiment is shared by all of us; every youth has developed a deep affection for the man, the woman, and this entire estate.

Family.

Indeed, family.

At long last, the true meaning behind her description of individuals sharing their meals at the same table resonated with me.

Consequently, on a specific afternoon during the third month, just as the summer heat was reaching its peak.

A massive identifying board was suspended at the entrance of the Hero’s Sect.

We, having acquired the ability to decipher symbols, called out the text with immense pride.

“He! Ro! Sect!”

“Precisely. Your reading is flawless.”

Auntie Jeon gently stroked my hair.

On that particular day, for the very first time, every one of us was formally granted a full identity.

“From this moment forward, every individual here shall bear the surname Kim.”

Kim Hoae, Kim Ho, Kim Uk, Kim Yuyeon, Kim Wi, Kim Soran, Kim Jiho, Kim Roe, Kim Jomi, Kim Seon.

Thus, we now possess a family name.

To speak candidly, the full significance escapes me…….

I simply take pleasure in sharing the identical family name as him.

The man stepped forward and posed a question.

“Furthermore, you have all transitioned into official affiliates of the Hero’s Sect. Do you give your consent?”

“We do!”

The man offered a radiant expression in response to our booming declaration.

In that precise instant.

Could my senses have played a trick on me?

I detected an unidentifiable aura radiating outward from the man.

: All companions within proximity Offensive Might +5% / Defensive Might +5% / Negative Condition Endurance +10%

: All adversaries within proximity Offensive Might -5% / Defensive Might -5% / Lethal Strike Endurance -10%

It marked the very first occasion I witnessed him display a genuine expression of joy.

Regardless, a sense of delight filled me.

I, along with the rest of our group, mirrored his joy.

Because we are entirely bound as a family and affiliates of the selfsame Hero’s Sect.

● ● ●

A significant period of time had elapsed.

Duuung-.

[Guild] Proclamation of the Hero’s Sect:

An individual of heroic stature cannot achieve monumental deeds in isolation.

Your formal proclamation regarding the establishment of this guild shall strike terror into the hearts of innumerable wrongdoers.

Nonetheless, where radiance concentrates, a matching intensity of shadow will persist close by.

My wishes go with you and your affiliates to triumph over all tribulations through steadfast devotion.

․ Enlist ten guild affiliates (11/10).

├─ Development: 100%

└─ Compensation: Heroic Chronicles +1, [Guild Interface] unlocked

[You have successfully enlisted capable and loyal souls into your organization. A compensation is delivered.]

[+1]

[The ‘Guild Interface’ is now unlocked.]

[The state of the world has gained a touch more grace.]

A span of three months following the Subjugation of the River Capital.

At long last, the ‘Guild’ designated as the Hero’s Sect had achieved true activation.

“Bear this in mind. In tandem with your personal advancement, the Hero’s Sect gains in potency. Internalize the truth that the fortified Hero’s Sect is a reflection of yourselves, and you are the embodiment of the Hero’s Sect.”

Dong Bongsu uttered these words while casting his gaze across Hoae and the assembled youngsters.

“The journey of the Hero’s Sect is merely in its infancy. The moment when every one of you transforms into an authentic champion will mark the exact hour when the Hero’s Sect reaches its true completion.”

His declaration was infused with absolute sincerity.

Should their power expand, the structural power of the Hero’s Sect would expand proportionally…….

‘My personal power shall expand as well.’

Providing each of these youngsters evolved into a genuine ‘Hero’…….

A disguise exhibits its maximum efficacy when it is capable of providing flawless concealment.

Furthermore, there existed arguably no individual across the vast expanse of reality for whom that specific disguise served as a more flawless match.

The grin tracing Dong Bongsu’s features grew more pronounced.

‘Hero.’

Did that not represent an entirely unprecedented phase of progression, completely divorced from anything that came before?