442 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Episode 442: The Declaration - Part 6 "Why the long face?" On the way back after receiving permission from Mankeum Jeonju. Coincidentally, there was an inn run by Jeon Gil San, the grandson of Mankeum Jeonju and the first franchisee of my business, so I decided to check in. "It's nothing. But why does it seem like you have fewer issues with delivery orders lately? It's the smallest number among all the inns." I absently returned Jeon Gil San’s greeting while rifling through the store's paperwork. Given that carrier birds for deliveries can get lost or perish in accidents, I was curious about why the volume of orders seemed to drop. Even with good management, the number of losses seemed too low. "I took a day and made a round with the guards from my household." Jeon Gil San looked at me intently, then spoke with a triumphant smile. "A round?" "You wouldn't believe the number of troublemakers. There are all sorts of people out there. So I decided to go around teaching them a lesson." "You visited them at their delivery addresses? What if something had happened?" "Do they not know who Jeon Gil San is? I made sure to only deal with the truly nasty ones, so don’t worry. I even confiscated carrier birds, and they clung to my pants, begging." He shrugged as if it weren't a big deal. In Korea, restaurants shake in fear over a single bad review and throw in free drinks as a courtesy. Here, is it that if you mess with the delivery restaurant, the owner might come and break your head? "Make sure there are no whispers. Judging by the order placements, your sales seem to be doing well." They even increased from a few weeks ago. Maybe this etiquette lesson really is effective. Operating this delivery service as a monopoly, a few difficult customers leaving doesn't pose a significant problem. I've personally dealt with people who acted out because a Joseon person made their delivery. "It doesn't cause any issues for me, but it's a problem for you." Jeon Gil San smirked at me. "For me? What problem?" "Just looking at you, it's obviously a woman problem." He scanned me up and down as if he had everything figured out. "It's not." The successor issue at Mankeum Jeonju, the marriage proposal with Lady Jegal, my future as a writer—suddenly there’s too much to ponder, is it showing on my face? I unintentionally replied a bit curtly. "But it is. Anyway, you should've been careful with two-timing. I knew you'd stretch too far at some point. Ha!" Jeon Gil San laughed as though it served me right. "It's not that kind of problem. And Ha Yeon Sojeo left because she had to travel with her father." Did he assume my expression was dark due to Ha Yeon Sojeo leaving recently? "Oh, right. My mother does that occasionally too. When she fights with Father, she visits her family's home." "Hey." It's a misunderstanding. I've handled it. As I frowned, Jeon Gil San folded his arms, nodding with amusement. "Either way, you're something else. Or maybe it's your prospective father-in-law who’s remarkable? How does a man manage to be acknowledged as a son-in-law while seeing another woman? I’d have smashed his head if it were me." "..." Such a low blow, hitting me with facts like this. "Heh, heh, heh." "I just came back from meeting your grandfather." I sighed slightly and brought up another topic to change the subject. "Ah ha! It wasn't about that. How are you still alive?" Could I hit this guy, Jeon Gil San? I'm trying to change the topic here. "It wasn't about Lady Jegal." Jeon Gil San finally joined the topic seriously. "Then business matters? Let it slide. That's just how he is. I also get summoned for the successor’s test from time to time, and nobody ever receives a compliment. Everyone comes back half-dead; those with poor grades even pretend to be dead to avoid meetings." I heard that. "He suddenly says unexpected things..." I muttered worriedly, glancing at Jeon Gil San. ‘If the successor topic arises, will I clash with Jeon Gil San again?’ We met on bad terms, but having grown closer through business, we've come to joke with each other. Yet, will there come a time when we’re preparing to part and become enemies? “Even though he's my grandfather, who can truly understand the mind of Mankeum Jeonju? Alright! This bro is feeling generous. Follow me.” Jeon Gil San grabbed my sleeve, oblivious to my inner turmoil, intent on dragging me outside. “Go where? I need to finish up and return home.” It’s still business hours. The guy who was just talking about the successor's test already seemed eager for a drink. “If you're late going home, it won’t run away. Come on, let’s have a drink at a giru.” “A giru? No way. Lady Jegal is at home.” And not just her. If Ha Yeon Sojeo hears later that I went in and out of a giru, what would she say? Moreover, the Master of Kigye warned against frequenting girus recklessly. “You don’t get it. You’re exhausted because you haven't rested. You've got to take breaks. At home, you’re always mindful of women, at work you’ve countless concerns, and there's the test too. How can one not be drained? At times like this, you should indulge in entertainment.” Jeon Gil San sagely dispensed advice as if it were profound wisdom, though, in reality, it's just another sigh-inducing statement from Mankeum Jeonju’s notorious undertaker. “Do I look like someone who indulges in women?” “Are you saying you don't?!” Jeon Gil San looked at me, astonished, waving his arms dramatically. "......" Why are you looking at me like we weren’t comrades? From every angle, it's a very unfair perception, but as I laid out the facts, there seemed to be no room for argument. "Alright, alright. Actually, I don't really enjoy women either. It's the way the courtesans cater to me, the feeling of being treated well, that's why I go. How could one only visit a giru to enjoy women? Let your elder show you how to enjoy entertainment. Come on! Follow me." "This is suspicious." The guy's always liked girus, but he’s being unusually persistent. "What's suspicious about it? It's just that I want to treat you out of goodwill." "Come on, isn't that suspicious? You look guilty." "Hey, are you trying to get something out of this?" "Do I seem like that sort of person to you?" "Yes, very much." "……." "Something’s up. Spill it. I won’t listen if you wait until we're there." "Ugh, I want to open a third location, but I'm a bit short on funds…." "I'll take the full price." I responded immediately. "Hey! Kang Yun Ho! No—Master Kang, come on! I’ll let you meet a courtesan who’s a dream for any man, unrivaled in beauty, voice, and dance!" "Does she really exist?" In this world, courtesans are essentially seen as idols. The words slipped out before I could stop them. "So, even you're tempted? Her name is Mae Hyang. Normally, you’d have to give up a mansion just to meet her. Intriguing, right? So let's discuss this good business deal." Mae Hyang? That name sounds familiar. Ah!!! "Let's talk about the third location later. Lady Jegal is at home, so it’s not a good idea." I shrugged off Jeon Gil San's grip and waved my hands. "Brother-in-law! Don’t be like that between us!" "You shouldn't call me brother-in-law if you want to push it further." "Hey! Brother-in-law! Hey, Kang Yun Ho! You really think of your woman…." Seeing my expression of conscience tugging me in the opposite direction, Jeon Gil San gave up after a few more words. Right. With Lady Jegal at home, how could I even think of going to a place like a giru? It's definitely not because Mae Hyang is an associate of the Master of Kigye and that a specific piece of clothing she gave me is stashed in a corner of my room. --- "Where is Lady Jegal?" Upon returning home, I found Lady Jegal was nowhere to be seen. I searched through the office, the house, shadowy and damp places, even spots hidden from prying eyes, but her whereabouts remained elusive. Where did she go? Did something happen? I asked the servant. "Mankeum Jeonju called for her, so she went to the manor." "Must have missed each other." Couldn't they have called for both of us? Did he have something specific to discuss with her? "Hope he doesn’t say anything unnecessary." I’m anxious. ** "Kang Yun Ho, do you approve of him?" Contrary to Kang Yun Ho's expectations, Mankeum Jeonju smiled warmly like a grandfather pleased to see his granddaughter after a long time. "Yes, Young Master Kang is a very, a very good person." On the contrary, Jegal Hyang nodded repeatedly with a tense expression. To see her usually strict grandfather smiling so warmly was quite unexpected, causing her to feel even more anxious. "I plan to make Kang Yun Ho my successor. If so, you'll become the mistress of Mankeum Jeonju." After chatting over tea with his granddaughter for a while, Mankeum Jeonju finally touched upon the main topic. "What?" The idea of Young Master Kang becoming the successor of Mankeum Jeonju left Jegal Hyang so stunned that she blurted out without thinking. "I'll soon inform your aunts. They’ll likely protest, but I believe Kang Yun Ho will prove himself. That doesn't worry me much, but there is another concern." "A concern?" The shocking news that Young Master Kang could become her grandfather's successor was soon accompanied by another revelation that hit Jegal Hyang hard. "Your father is unaware of your relationship with Kang Yun Ho." "What? What?!" Father doesn’t know? Jegal Hyang's eyes widened in realization as she looked at her grandfather. 'Now that I think about it, there's been no talk about it at home!' For months now, she’d been living with Young Master Kang. If her family had known, they would have said something by now. Thinking back, her father wouldn’t have let it go so easily if he knew the truth. 'What should I do?!' Jegal Hyang’s vision nearly went dark with worry. "I discussed it with your mother about the match with Kang Yun Ho in advance. Your grandpa didn’t force this match upon you." "You talked with Mom in advance?" Jegal Hyang let out a sigh of relief. Her house might hold authority in the martial world, but the family dynamics were different. If her mother permitted it, the story changed. 'Oh?! I came to Grandfather’s to avoid Mom.' How did they plan the match beforehand? An astonishing suspicion popped into Jegal Hyang’s mind for a moment, but her grandfather's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Yes, I spoke with your mother, but Kang Yun Ho is still lacking as your husband." "Young Master Kang is not lacking at all." He’s such a good person that he’s more than I deserve. I doubt I'd ever meet someone like him again. Jegal Hyang immediately rebutted. "Hehe. I'm not saying the boy lacks ability. I'm saying he's inadequate as a son-in-law for the Jegal family." Mankeum Jeonju smiled inwardly, pleased to see his usually introverted granddaughter defend Kang Yun Ho so staunchly. "Ah... okay." "Though I acknowledge his talent, he isn't extraordinarily wealthy, nor is he from a noble line. Plus, he isn’t a public official drawing a salary from passing the state examinations. Additionally, there’s his hair, which people tend to look down upon. So naturally, your family would consider him unworthy as a husband." Romance concerns the couple, but marriage is a crucial matter for families. The Jegal family is one of the most prestigious martial clans in Hubei Province. No matter how much the couple loves each other, marriages are decided by the family elders. Moreover, Jegal Hyang is the cherished youngest daughter of the Jegal family head. Not just anyone could seek to marry her. "Oh?!" Jegal Hyang finally grasped the reality she faced. "Don't be alarmed. For now, you just need to support Kang Yun Ho closely. If he is chosen as my successor, he can go before the Jegal family to have the engagement recognized." Although Mankeum Jeonju is Jegal Hyang’s grandfather, he isn't an elder of the Jegal family. Strictly speaking, he doesn't have the authority to decide her marriage to Kang Yun Ho. However, as the father-in-law of the Jegal family head, he could find a good match for her, sweetening the offer by making him his successor. "Engagement? Between Young Master Kang and me?" Engagement. The sudden advancement in her relationship with Kang Yun Ho left Jegal Hyang's voice trembling. "But there's something you must do for Kang Yun Ho before he becomes my successor." "W-What do I need to do?" What kind of task was her grandfather about to assign her? Jegal Hyang looked at Jang Noya, her heart pounding like that of a low-ranking official anticipating an important assignment. "Entice Kang Yun Ho." "Whaaaat?!"