Volume 4 Chapter 22 – A Promise for Them

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“Fufu, this is all the fields of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment. Incredible, isn’t it?”

“Do you see these weeds here? We have certainly worked on them every day, but there is no sign of them decreasing at all.”

“The smell of these manure piles is worse than you would think, right? If you carry them, your whole body gets drenched in the smell.”

The triplets, leading the maid division who were all dressed in work clothes, visited the fields of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment first.

“Now that you all have arrived, we must cultivate a much larger quantity than now.”

“Huhuhu. Nureongi and Geomdungi here will help in tilling the abandoned fields again.”

I-ryeong pointed to the two cows.

The cows lowed at the same time, as if to answer.

“However, this Nureongi and Geomdungi are very fierce.”

As Il-ryeong brought her hand toward its head, Nureongi tried to snap at her hand.

Geomdungi snorted fiercely.

“See?”

The Maid Captain stepped forward.

“Maids. Shall we begin working in the fields now then?”

“Of course.”

“Huhuhu,” the triplets let out sinister giggles.

A moment later.

“A-Ah?! The weeds?! The weeds are disappearing at a terrifying speed!”

As the maids in work clothes rushed in with perfect order, the weeds that had been so thick began to vanish in an instant.

“To think those persistent weeds are being pulled out by their roots in a single movement of the hand…?!”

“Her hands…! I cannot see her hands!”

“Is that a hand technique?! Or the Grappling Hand?!”

Just then, several maids came over and asked.

“May we use the equipment in the barn over there?”

“Yes?! Yes. Sure. Of course.”

The agricultural tools that had been abandoned in the barn all this time were dragged out one after another and began to turn like new.

“Oh?! Just what is that skilled hand movement?!”

“I can feel the touch of a master who has repaired agricultural tools for decades?!”

“The sickle?! The hook?! The hoe is coming to life?!”

Several maids climbed onto the barn, cleared away the rotten roof, and began to tear out the windows.

“Captain. I found the tools that were in the warehouse over there.”

“Ask the craftsmen repairing Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment for cooperation regarding any lacking tools.”

“Then, while we are at it, we can also get cooperation for materials.”

The Maid Captain’s work instructions were dreadfully efficient, and the maids were already moving before she could even speak.

“The barn?! The barn is being reborn?!”

Just then, Il-ryeong looked at the field and shouted.

“W-What?! A person is pulling the cattle plow instead of a cow?!”

“It is an incredible speed! And what is that unified breathing reminiscent of a joint attack formation?!”

As the maids pulling the cattle plow ran through the field without hesitation, the maids in the back adjusted the plow with delicate touches.

While the triplet maids were marveling at the ridges and furrows forming in an instant, the Maid Captain approached Nureongi and Geomdungi.

“Since our maid division is here, these cows are no longer useful.”

As she drew the sword from her back, Nureongi and Geomdungi quickly ran and lay prostrate in front of the remaining cattle plows.

“Ah?! Those devilish beasts are begging for labor!”

“What?! They put on the plows themselves and started running!”

Nureongi and Geomdungi definitely seemed to have no intention of becoming the maids’ snack.

“Hmm. They are intelligent animals.”

The Maid Captain sheathed her sword again and approached the triplet maids.

“Maids. We still have spare personnel, so how about moving to the next location?”

At those words, the triplet maids came to their senses.

“Y-Yes.”

“Because this is only the beginning!”

“It is the basics, the basics!”

The next place they moved to, taking the remaining personnel, was a small lake.

“Now, from this lake, we must supply fresh fish every day. We also have to smoke it, dry it, and make fish sauce.”

“Fufu. Do you see the traces left on this net? The creatures of this lake are terrifying predators that still retain their wild nature.”

“They are tyrants that travel up the lake and roam the valleys of Mount Song. Fearful fellas, they are.”

“Is that so.”

As the Maid Captain gestured, the maids who had thrown off their work clothes jumped into the lake.

“Aaaah?! The fish?! The fish are flying through the sky!”

“What?! To use three harpoons at once so skillfully?!”

“T-Those maids’ movements?! It is like watching large aquatic creatures hunting in a group! They are driving the fish toward the net!”

“They are scooping up the fish as if the net is alive and breathing! It is a big catch! A massive catch!”

The Maid Captain turned back to look at them.

“Where is next?”

* * *

“W-What?! The lodging! The maids’ lodging is shining like new?!”

“The hallway?! The hallway is dazzling?! Not a single speck of dust remains even on the corner window frame!”

“The warehouses?! Those miserable warehouses that we did not even dare to lay a hand on?!”

“What are these cooking skills?! It is like seeing chefs who have fought against grease and fire all their lives!”

Yeon So-hyeon, who opened the window wondering what the commotion was, made eye contact with the maids running along the outer wall holding nails in their mouths and swinging claw hammers.

“Splendid.”

As Yeon So-hyeon clapped and commended them, they flushed and began to show an even more tremendous working speed.

Even Jeong-ah, who was walking around Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment to supervise, marveled and expressed great satisfaction.

Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, which had been asleep for a long time, was being reborn.

* * *

The triplets were sitting slumped on the stone steps illuminated by the setting sun.

“…We are useless existences now.”

“…What have we even been doing all this time.”

“Is this what emptiness feels like…?”

The Eldest Young Master praised repeatedly, saying it was the finest meal he had ever had.

The Head Maid rejoiced that order was finally established in Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, allowing her to focus entirely on her duties.

“Fufu. They say a frog at the bottom of a well, and we were exactly that frog.”

“But at least a frog is tasty if you roast and eat it.”

“…Should we not be the ones looking after the maids from now on?”

The girls sighed in unison and bowed their heads.

Just then, someone cautiously approached them.

“Maids.”

It was the Maid Captain.

“…Fufu. Did you come to laugh at us?”

“…Please go ahead and abuse us all you want.”

“…For we are merely defeated dogs.”

In the eyes of the triplet maids looking up at her, there was no focus.

The Maid Captain smiled gently and spoke.

“Could you perhaps teach us martial arts starting from now?”

Another maid came over.

“I would be grateful if you could look at my swordsmanship as well.”

Yet another maid approached.

“We heard the maids are also exceptionally outstanding in covert operations and espionage missions. We have not received any training in such specialized fields at all…”

“We would also appreciate it if you could conduct refinement classes for us.”

Come to think of it, the maids were all wearing training uniforms instead of work clothes.

Looking at those maids, tears welled up in the eyes of the triplets.

“You all…”

“Do you still need us?”

“Is there a place for us to stand in this Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment?”

The Maid Captain bowed her head while surrounded by the light of the setting sun.

“We are merely maids. Everything we have learned up until now has been chores, which is why we are only skilled at odd jobs.”

The other maids bowed their heads too.

“Please leave the odd jobs to us from now on.”

“So you just need to focus on the roles of the maids.”

“Please lead us so that we can become like you!”

The triplets looked at each other and exchanged glances.

“Very well!”

“Your attitude to learn is highly commendable! But you must know that a maid of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment is completely different from maids elsewhere, right?”

“Be sure to keep in mind that the path to becoming a true maid of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment is rough and rugged!”

The maids shouted.

“Put us through our paces as much as you like!”

“We will follow you to the end!”

They had reached a perfect understanding in an instant.

Giggling and chattering, they moved to practice.

Warm sunlight of the setting sun was settling over their heads.

* * *

Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, where darkness had settled.

Yeon So-hyeon was reading a book under the lamp.

His study was neatly organized, as if its previous messy state had been a lie.

It was thanks to Jeong-ah being able to focus entirely on Yeon So-hyeon.

To the ears of Yeon So-hyeon, who was turning the pages, the voices of the triplets and the maids were heard faintly.

“…What are they doing until this hour?”

Jeong-ah’s eyes, collecting the empty teacup in front of him, gleamed with a golden luster.

“It seems a class on the basic duties of maids is in progress.”

“…Aren’t they pushing themselves too hard from the first day?”

At his words, Jeong-ah shook her head.

“Those children, as long as you watch over them, Master, will never stop or grow tired.”

A gentle smile played on the corner of her mouth.

“Just like me.”

Yeon So-hyeon’s hand, which was turning the pages, paused briefly.

He closed the book.

“…In the future, rough things and unexpected incidents will occur.”

“Since you ended your confinement, that is.”

Almost at the same time Yeon So-hyeon looked at the window, Jeong-ah moved and opened the window.

Along with the cold night wind, the laughter of women was carried in.

A distant pavilion was brightly lit.

Lamps were hung here and there even in the lodgings for the maids, giving a sense of vitality.

After chasing out the servants, vitality and a warm human presence returned to various places in Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment that had been left in a bleak state.

“…Every single one of those children is precious strength.”

Jeong-ah knew better than anyone the deep and warm heart of the master in his chest.

“Indeed.”

She remembered his reaction when he first saw the triplets.

The emotion that definitely brushed past his eyes back then was pain and guilt.

He did not show it, but she could feel it.

That every time he met the ‘created’ children, his heart grew heavy.

That was also the reason why Jeong-ah did not purposely make the triplets her exclusive maids.

Jeong-ah knew that every time he encountered them, the depths of Yeon So-hyeon’s heart would ache.

And it was the same when he met the maids today.

Yeon So-hyeon made a promise to them.

That he would cherish and value them.

That he would make them happy.

That he would cry for them.

It was not a promise for them, but a vow directed at himself.

“So…”

Jeong-ah placed her hand on her chest and bowed deeply.

“This girl will do her best to ensure their lives and efforts are not wasted, Master.”

Yeon So-hyeon rose from his seat.

“…Yes. You should.”

Yeon So-hyeon headed to his bedroom through the door she opened.

“Rest well, Master.”

“Yes. Have a good night as well.”

Yeon So-hyeon’s steps paused for a moment.

“…That promise I made to them.”

Jeong-ah bowed toward his retreating figure.

“Do you mean those words?”

“…That is a promise that applies to you and the triplets as well.”

He resumed his steps.

Jeong-ah bowed deeply toward his retreating figure once more.

Continuing even after he vanished from sight.