455 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Episode 455: Second Trial - 9 "To save me?" Sam An Geom, Jo Cheol aimed his blade at my neck, seemingly confused by my words. Stay calm. If I let my guard down, blood will definitely be spilled today. It is Sam An Geom who needs to be shaken, not me. I took a quiet deep breath and calmly began speaking. "It's not unusual for warriors to leave the martial world and start a second life. Even if someone borrows a large sum and disappears, the central plains are vast, so as long as you hide, no one will recognize you. That must have been your brother's plan." "Did you know...?" There was no need to affirm or deny. I just continued with my speech. "At first, he must have been driven by the courage for a new life. After all, he was borrowing money to escape from the wealthiest merchant guild in the world. But once he boldly left the prosperous house and entered the world, he realized a problem. Black hair stands out too much, making it hard to hide." "Ha..." Sam An Geom’s lip curled, a smile of reluctant acknowledgment. "He had to hide himself first and foremost. Since Hubei is the territory of the wealthiest guild, it was only a matter of time before their debt collectors came for him. After considering his options, he chose Wuhan." "......" The tip of the sword gleamed, as if urging me to continue. It doesn't matter. I created this situation to wield my eloquence against a master swordsman. "Many Koreans are in Wuhan, so you wouldn’t stand out, nor would anyone there care much. It's also a vast area, making it an ideal hiding spot. However, there was one oversight. A significant one you weren't aware of." What's the answer to this problem? I tapped my chest with two fingers. "Is it you?" I nodded immediately. "Yes. The honorary head of the Korean Fraternity. The prospective son-in-law of the Wealth Guild Lord. Kang Yun Ho. He invited me to meet him. He handed me some documents. Your name was listed there." In truth, I received a restricted ledger. There's no need to clarify. The critical part is crafting a threat Sam An Geom himself didn’t realize existed. I raised my hand, pointing to Sam An Geom’s neck. Before you attempt to target my neck, the wealthiest guild has already set their sights on yours. Their net tightened without you noticing. Make him feel the pressure. "Finding me probably wasn't too hard." Found you in just a day. With a slight chuckle, I gave Sam An Geom a contemptuous look. "You've made a grave misunderstanding." "Misunderstanding?" "Never having borrowed such a sum, you likely thought borrowing from the wealthiest guild was akin to pilfering a few coins from a rich family. But the Wealth Guild didn’t see it that way at all." "Didn't see it that way at all?" Change my expression. Become a person of the Wealth Guild. Clench my hands as if to emphasize fury. Replace the calm demeanor with one laced with resentment and anger as I glared at Jo Cheol. "Sam An Geom, Jo Cheol dared to treat the Wealth Guild like a mere purse! They've been insulted. Find him! Make him pay!" "......" "If caught, sever his tendons and ligaments. If he resists, kill him! That’s the sentence passed upon you." In reality, I have no idea what kind of sentence Sam An Geom received. But the Guild Lord said if they were ever treated like a mere purse, that would be the end. Of course, if these were only words, it would have been empty bluster. But with the guild’s warriors ready to spring into action at my back, it all seems true. "Krhh..." Sam An Geom glanced furtively at the Wealth Guild's warriors. Surely he realized... A misstep, and it’s his head. Thanks to the situation I’ve fabricated, he’ll inevitably deduce the facts. My warnings and threats solidifying into reality, pressing heavily on Sam An Geom. "Sam An Geom." I called out calmly. "……?" Excellent. With the specter of death firmly planted in his mind... "My name is Kang Yun Ho. Not of the nameless village, but from Joseon." Time to reveal the truth. ---------- Grasping unexpected truths can be disorienting. Jo Cheol’s eyes briefly clouded with confusion before widening in shock. "You! What are you saying right now?" Don’t be too shocked. I purposely eased you with something staggering before this revelation. I’m confessing the deceit to secure your trust. "My claim of being from nameless village was false. The rest, however, is true." "So when did you begin deceiving me? From the very start?" Sam An Geom’s face twisted with betrayal. "This is not the question you should be asking." I refuse to indulge in Sam An Geom’s anger. Instead of answering, I negate. End of explanation time. Let's not dwell on what's passed. I interrupted with firm resolve to regain control. "What?" "Doesn't it seem odd? We are total strangers. I could’ve just relayed your location and ended it there. Why did I approach you? Why reveal the truth now? Isn't that what you should be curious about?" With a series of questions following negation, I redirected interest and control back to myself. "Are you just playing with me now that it’s all over?" I shook my head firmly. Change my expression. One of a pleading soul. A brief act for Sam An Geom. "Please, understand! Sam An Geom must have his reasons! Severing his tendons and ligaments is too harsh, isn’t it? Give him a chance! Do I not hold the status of the Wealth Guild Lord's prospective grandson-in-law? Trust me and grant him an opportunity! This task isn’t merely for recognition or favor from the Guild Lord." Enact the appearance of a Kang Yun Ho who earnestly pleaded before meeting him. I cared for you. Acted for your sake. So don’t be angry. Be curious. Even if it never actually happened. "……." "Aren’t you intrigued why I even went to the Wealth Guild to plead on your behalf?" Hearing my words, Jo Cheol hesitated, as if aware that the situation was not as it seemed. He then spoke with a serious expression. "Why?" What should I say? To save you. Everything I've done was for your sake. But if I were to say that, the sword before me might pierce my neck. I needed to make my words more persuasive. "To help you. Just as Sam An Geom, or rather, Jo Cheol, did in the nameless village years ago." I have a reason—a reason so compelling, you won't be able to resist. "What are you saying? Didn’t you claim you're not from the nameless village?" "Don’t you remember? Many years ago, before you left the nameless village, you caught a wild boar and held a feast. It was during those harsh spring times when everyone was hungry and in rags." "A wild boar during spring? You mean the boar I gave up reluctantly because the fussy village vice-chief nagged me about it? How do you know that?" You claim not to be from the nameless village. Why are you aware of this? Sam An Geom fixed his gaze on me. "Because there was someone who saw your generosity and decided they wanted to be like you." I deflected with a smooth smile. "Are you pretending to be Ddong-i again!" No. It’s not that. I say this to persuade you. "I never claimed there was no Ddong-i, only that I wasn’t him." I came well-prepared for this. "What...?" Empty words don’t reach an angered person. Persuasion needs a narrative. Following my gaze, Sam An Geom turned his head. There, before us, was a group of Koreans, watching in fear. Within that group lay my narrative. "Brother Cheol! I’m the real Ddong-i from the nameless village." The real Ddong-i spoke up. —— "What is this?" "You can all come out now." Sam An Geom wavered. I must not let this opening slip. With a gesture from me, more people appeared. "Brother Cheol! It’s me, So Dong-i, and Baek Dol from the house behind yours, across the street." "Kang Yun Ho! Are you deceiving me again?" Sam An Geom glared at me with burning eyes, trying to remain unfazed. He’s right. I could be deceiving you again with people I gathered. But you see... "You fool! You should be bowing to the honorary leader! What are you doing?" Would someone you recognize tell a different story? "Deputy chief...? Old man, you’re still alive?" The person Sam An Geom recognized at once was the deputy chief from the nameless village. The old man he called stubborn. Sam An Geom’s eyes trembled again. Once a crack forms, it’s easy to widen. "Brother, I’m Jae-won from the house next door. Do you remember? I’ve been dying to say hi!" "You… Are you the kid’s father who just took a bag of rice…?" Jo Cheol was bewildered, looking at me as if to ask what was happening. What’s happening? Everything's been prepared from the start for this day. Jo Cheol, you're far more popular than I expected. In gathering people from the nameless village to deceive you, I found those who worried about or respected you and even those with fond memories of you. 'Thanks to this, I created a compelling narrative.' This narrative isn't about why I should help Sam An Geom. The necessary narrative isn’t for Sam An Geom, but about me. "When I explained the situation to them and sought them out, they said to me: Our village’s pride, Brother Cheol! Please save him." The only person who could help Sam An Geom, Jo Cheol, was me, Kang Yun Ho, the honorary leader. —— "So the reason you pretended to be Ddong-i was to..." Sam An Geom, now understanding the situation a bit more, lowered his sword. "You were already risking your life on the run. Would you have listened to anyone persuade you? Like a rabbit startled by the rustle of leaves, you’d have fled until your tendons and ligaments were cut. So I had to do it." Claiming that I was the person who took risks and helped, upon the pleadings of the Koreans. "Brother Cheol! We couldn’t just stand by!" "You fool! Running away after stealing someone’s money! Don’t you know it would cause three generations to live in restlessness?" "......" Excellent support from everyone. Sam An Geom seemed so shocked that he couldn't find words. "Now, please step back for a moment." With a gesture, the people from the nameless village retreated behind me. Sam An Geom would see me, with the people from his past behind me. Connections from his past reaching out for help, prompting Kang Yun Ho of the Korean Fraternity to act. 'It wasn’t out of malice or deceit, but out of a necessity forced by circumstance. Creating a scene that was instantly convincing.' It wasn’t about extorting your money. It was your past connections saving you from a deadly situation. No one could remain unmoved by such a situation. "Why?" Sam An Geom’s eyes trembled as he swallowed and spoke to me. "What do you mean?" "I understand why you stepped in. But was there a reason for you to risk your neck to save me?" If discovered deceiving him, it would have meant certain death. Even now, I was in mortal danger. Why get involved? It was a good question. I spoke to Sam An Geom with a gaze full of affection. "For the price of that boar stew." "......!" I pointed over my shoulder at the people from the nameless village. "The boy who grew strong from your stew during the harsh spring became a father. The children you told to eat their meat slowly have since built their own families. Ddong-i aspired to be like you, sharing firewood in difficult times." "......" "I am the honorary leader of the Korean Fraternity. The leader of Koreans oppressed by the people of the central plains. If I don’t first express gratitude and extend a hand in hardship, who will reach out to fellow countrymen in their plight?" I added the narrative of being from the nameless village to my role as the leader of the Korean Fraternity that I have presented. Although my past may be false, the Korean Fraternity leader witnessed by Sam An Geom is undeniably real. Adding credibility to the narrative. "No matter what you say, it doesn't change that you deceived me..." That's true. But I think your feelings might be changing, don't you? "I've done all I can. Now, I offer you a final choice." Having sufficiently shaken him, it was time to conclude matters. "A choice?" I pulled out an envelope from my inner pocket. "The promissory note I gave you earlier. If you wish, you can take it back." "Leader?!" "What is this?" Sam An Geom's eyes widened, seemingly unable to be more surprised. I approached Jo Cheol closely, looking at Sam An Geom with a gaze full of affection and concern. "If you’re going to run, avoid the harbors. They’re already heavily monitored. Once you leave this place, the Wealth Guild will be on your trail. I’ve tied a horse at the back door. It might give you a brief head start. I can’t guarantee you’ll escape Wuhan, though." My voice was laced with sincere concern. It wasn’t your money I was after. It was your life I intended to save. I whispered to Sam An Geom's heart. In truth, it was clear that escape would ultimately lead to the same outcome, but my expression and tone made it impossible to doubt my intentions. "Why would you...?" Jo Cheol's voice was heavy with emotion. Slowly, I placed the envelope into Sam An Geom's hands. There was no selfish motive. This was about genuine concern. I tenderly wrapped both of Sam An Geom's hands with mine as if urging him not to let it slip away, and then I triggered the final mechanism I had prepared. "Brother Cheol, aren’t you also a member of the Korean Fraternity?" I referred to Jo Cheol’s thumb, which still bore traces of the blood from the seal he had just placed. "……!" "Take care." Your hometown people, the affectionate Korean Fraternity, the leader who sincerely cares for Koreans, and Sam An Geom Jo Cheol, now part of the Korean Fraternity. All intricately connected. Could you really sever this connection and flee? "I’ll repay it." "Brother?!" "I said I’ll repay it! I will!" Of course, he wouldn’t run. —————— "The people from the Wealth Guild have withdrawn." As soon as the martial artists from the Wealth Guild received the money, they obediently left the inn. "Sigh." Once the performance for Sam An Geom was over, Jo Cheol sat down in defeat and let out a deep sigh. "What’s with all the sighing?" "Having lost everything, is there anything left for me to do but sigh?" His voice still carried a hint of discontent. Though he handed over the money, he must feel a sense of emptiness. But hey. "Our story isn’t over yet, so here’s what I propose." "What?" "Close the doors! We don't want the Wealth Guild to overhear." "Yes!!!" The Koreans shut the inn's doors as if preparing for a secret meeting. "Huh?" "Having emptied everything, isn’t this a chance to start anew? Just like we did when we left our homeland and came to Wuhan." "What on earth are you talking about...?" Taking back the stolen goods from a thief could be compared to tossing him in water only to retrieve what’s yours. The man before me seemed to be barely rescued, drenched from being in over his head. Sam An Geom, though not asked to return the goods, had indeed been saved. But I play by different rules. "I’d like to offer a proposal for you, Brother Cheol." Having retrieved the stolen goods, shouldn’t I also help the drenched man find his footing?