460 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

EP.460 Request - 4 "Hehehe." Early in the morning, Je Gal Hyang woke up in high spirits, unable to contain her laughter. She wasn't in a good mood simply because she had a good night's sleep. It wasn't even because she held hands, poured drinks, and enjoyed herself with a man whose mere presence uplifted her the evening before. 一 Seduce Kang Yoon Ho. It was because a solution had appeared to an urgent task her grandfather had given her. “There was always a way.” Clenching her fists, Je Gal Hyang murmured to herself. There was no need to remain in despair. Each problem had its solution, and after days of contemplation, she had finally uncovered a clue to seduce Kang Yoon Ho. “All it takes is being a good wife!” The answer was simple. 一 Miss Je Gal, you were a great help this time. During the San An Sword incident, she had been immensely helpful to Master Kang. So much so that he looked at her with eyes filled with gratitude and affection. Je Gal Hyang told Kang Yoon Ho it was nothing, but his gaze made it impossible to suppress a smile forming on her lips. “There was no need to seduce him like Sister Ha Yeon does.” Je Gal Hyang thought of Im Ha Yeon, who had embarked on a long journey. With a sleek figure, perfectly invested in all the right places, and a firm, agile body honed through martial arts training. Every time Kang Yoon Ho's gaze drifted toward Im Ha Yeon's body, Je Gal Hyang felt a twinge of defeat. “That sister knows everything and yet she wears such clinging clothes.” Discontent seeped from Je Gal Hyang's voice. Im Ha Yeon claimed that the tight-fitting clothes were for ease of movement while demonstrating martial arts to Kang Yoon Ho. But every time he struggled to avert his eyes, she seemed to subtly enjoy it. It was a frustration Je Gal Hyang had silently endured. But now things were different. “With Sister Ha Yeon gone, I'll give it a try.” Even though Sister Ha Yeon had earned significant points, she wouldn't be returning for a while. Moreover, Kang Yoon Ho’s fiancée in the Sichuan Tang household was bedridden with an incurable illness, making this her exclusive stage. All she had to do was score points on her own and prove she was the most essential woman for him. “I will become the Je Gal lady of Young Master Kang.” Even their esteemed ancestor, Je Gal Muhu, had been lauded for internal affairs beyond her strategic prowess. By serving dutifully at Kang Yoon Ho’s side every day, she would steadily earn points. “Now that Young Master Kang holds my hand well, next is... hehe. I don’t know.” Fearful of being seen, Je Gal Hyang muttered while covering her face. Even holding hands had been awkward before, but now, when she seemed a bit upset, he would take her hand. It was a significant progress. However, once they made such progress, her heart yearned for more, thirst growing ever stronger. Eventually, Je Gal Hyang looked at her reflection in the mirror and nodded. “Straight to becoming the main wife! Aah!” She was now the only one by Young Master Kang's side. By serving diligently and racking up points, Young Master Kang would be convinced to marry her. “Miss Je Gal, are you in the room?” “Yes, Young Master Kang. What is it?” Just then, Kang Yoon Ho knocked on her door. Je Gal Hyang quickly practiced her smile in the mirror for her first morning greeting with Kang Yoon Ho and opened the door, greeting him with a smile that was both tense and crooked. Je Gal Hyang wondered what matter would be discussed so early in the morning. She awaited Kang Yoon Ho's words. “I am going to meet a courtesan.” “...What?” Je Gal Hyang's face froze into a distorted smile. “Oh! Please don't misunderstand, it's a pregnant courtesan!” It made things worse. ** “She seems to misunderstand even more...” Although I provided additional explanations to Miss Je Gal, it seemed the frozen expression was more revealing than her words. “Kuh-kuh. Why mention that to Hyang when you can sneak off?” Jeon Gil San laughed heartily at what seemed to be my very serious demeanor. “It’s better to be upfront about work than be caught later and cause misunderstanding.” It's a matter of trust. If Miss Je Gal finds out I’ve been sneaking off to the courtesan house, any explanations later would sound like mere excuses. Although it seems I've caused some strange misunderstandings already. “Alright, that makes sense. By the way, you know where Hyewol Ru-Ju is, but what will you do once you get there.” Jeon Gil San asked as he stepped out of the mansion. "I said I would confront them directly, right? First, I need to meet Hong Ran, the Inspection Officer’s courtesan." "They're preventing the Inspection Officer and Hong Ran from meeting ever since the pregnancy news. She’s probably not at the courtesan house." The last time the Inspection Officer saw her, Hong Ran’s face had turned pale upon learning of the pregnancy. The courtesan establishment told the Inspection Officer to bring all his wealth if he wanted to see Hong Ran, blatantly rejecting any meeting. “Since they’re holding the girl as a bargaining chip, we should locate Hong Ran first and gather background information, then attempt a secret meeting later. But that’s too cumbersome.” “So, do you have a plan?” “Persuade Hyewol Ru-Ju to let me meet Hong Ran.” First, meet with Hong Ran. Determining quickly whether it’s a mere accident or a conspiracy was urgent. “Do you think Hyewol Ru-Ju will just come out and greet us warmly if we go there? Just by asking to meet?” Jeon Gil San, familiar with courtesan establishments, looked at me as if doubting that would work. And he was right. Once Hyewol Ru-Ju decided to squeeze money out of the Inspection Officer, if we requested a meeting with Hong Ran first, there was a high probability they'd detect our intent and refuse. But hear me out. “That’s why I said we’ll confront them head-on.” There are ways to get things done. “What?” “Let’s cause a ruckus.” Making the owner of a tavern come out wasn’t that difficult for me. ——————— “Sir, Hong Ran is off-duty today.” Hyewol Ru, where the courtesan Hong Ran affiliated with the Inspection Officer was. Jeon Gil San and I set off to find Hong Ran immediately after securing a room. “What’s with all the excuses! Is she the Ru-Ju’s daughter or something? She wasn't there yesterday, three days ago, or even a fortnight ago, so what do you propose?” As soon as Jeon Gil San heard the excuse that Hong Ran wasn't available, he scrunched his eyebrows and yelled at the attendant. “Hong Ran isn't feeling well.” When a customer requests a specific courtesan at a wine house, the protocol is to accommodate the request unless there are reservations. The attendant, clearly at a loss, bowed repeatedly. “Is Hong Ran the only one who’s unwell? My heart is aching too! It hurts because even the great Jeon Gil San can’t see Hong Ran! Do you understand?!” Ah, I’m glad we brought an expert along. With an exaggerated sigh, Jeon Gil San thumped his chest. “Oh. Well, that’s...” “Ah, enough of this. You’re not making any sense. I don’t want to hear from you. Get Ru-Ju down here! Bring Hyewol Ru-Ju!” “Ru-Ju is out attending a meeting and is not present.” The attendant bowed even lower, seemingly desperate to resolve the situation themselves. “No Hong Ran, no Ru-Ju, then what's even here?! Either bring me Hong Ran or bring Ru-Ju in front of me!” Ah, he’s got some lungs on him. As Jeon Gil San’s voice rose, a man opened the door to the room, entering discreetly. “Customer.” The martial artist calmly entered, addressing Jeon Gil San with a low voice. Jeon Gil San then slyly exchanged glances with me. 一 What do we do about the martial artist? 一 Are you going to stop just because he’s a martial artist? Go wild as you please. Show them the infamous rascal Jeon Gil San. "And who are you?" With one corner of his mouth curling up, Jeon Gil San looked at the martial artist as if the situation was utterly ridiculous. “Please calm yourself. We can arrange for courtesans more esteemed than Hong Ran.” “No thanks.” “...” Jeon Gil San began playfully poking the martial artist’s chest with his finger. “What, you gonna draw a sword? Wow, Hyewol Ru is going downhill. Scowling and all because of a few words from a customer. Hey! Hey! Hey! Why aren't you answering?” How dependable. Our mischievous scoundrel. “You will find them satisfactory when you see them.” No matter how tempting it might be to thrash an unruly patron, maintaining good reviews is paramount. Seeing this ostentatiously wealthy rascal, the martial artist knew they couldn’t afford to lose him and tried to regain composure by presenting alternatives. Of course, backing down wasn’t Jeon Gil San’s style. “Bring me Hong Ran! I want to see Hong Ran! Is there something blocking your ears? Want me to clear them with a spoon? No, it’s too dirty; you do it.” Jeon Gil San grabbed spoons from the table and started hurling them at the martial artist’s chest as if it were a dartboard. How can someone be so infuriatingly irritating? He was like a fish in water, perfectly at ease when causing a scene on my behalf. “Hong Ran isn’t well at the moment…” “Get her here quickly! I want to see Hong Ran! My Hong Ran!” “Sir. Calm yourself.” Eventually, the martial artist’s patience wore thin. The guard spoke through gritted teeth to Jeon Gil San. “Let’s get up.” I got up from my seat before something truly problematic occurred. “Hey. Why? Are we just leaving like this?” Jeon Gil San asked me with a strangely disappointed expression. I confirmed he wouldn’t draw a sword even if provoked, so it was time to move on to the next plan. "I never thought Hyewol Ru treated its patrons so poorly. Disappointing." "... Escort them out." As I spoke with a cold expression, the martial artist opened the door, not wanting to engage further. “Who said I was leaving?” “Customer?” As soon as we stepped out, I turned around. I wasn’t heading towards the exit; instead, I made my way towards the staff area, not the customers'. “Hey! Stop him!” A hurried voice came from behind. A few martial artists who seemed like guards tried to block me, but it was no use. The martial art I had mastered was Muyeongshinhap (無影神法), known for its elusive movements. The top thief in the realm, whom I worked closely with, personally taught me this skill. Blocking my path with mere bodies was futile, as it should not have been possible if they could. The guards aimed to grab my clothes, but it was like trying to catch a drifting shadow. I leisurely reached my destination. “This must be the wine storeroom.” Standing before the door, I could smell the faint scent of alcohol seeping through. “Where do you think you’re going?” A guard who arrived belatedly tried to block the entrance to the storeroom, but it was irrelevant. I chuckled as I pulled out a warrant-like slip from my pocket. “Oh! I find carrying this bothersome, so could you hold onto it for me?” “What are you saying... Oh?! A, a constable's warrant?” What I handed to the guard was the emblem of a constable, a warrant. "I’m pretty good at keeping clubs in check, but carrying a warrant isn’t my style." Most of my life had been under constant surveillance by those very clubs, but now it wasn’t of great consequence. “A, are you a constable?” With an unwavering gaze, I looked at the astounded guards. Hey, we gave you a chance. But you didn't comply, so now you're making us upset, aren't you? I’m all riled up now, and I’m going to cause some trouble. The kind that’s the most vexing in the world. "It’s an unannounced inspection. If you aren't obstructing official duties, step aside!" Alright, brace yourselves for a ruckus courtesy of public authority. ——— There are various ways independent businesses handle disturbances. A troublesome customer can be coaxed and placated, a thug can be appeased with money, and a rascal can be intimidated into leaving. But there's truly a type of disturbance that's nearly impossible to handle. "Constable! What do you think you’re doing opening a new barrel of liquor!" When corrupt officials wield their power to wreak havoc, it’s maddening beyond belief. I tore off the seal of a wine jar without hesitation. Once the wine is exposed to air, it spoils quickly, but that doesn’t concern someone intent on causing trouble. “Have a taste.” I ladled out the wine and handed it to Jeon Gil San. “This sake has a bitter taste and a strong yeast odor.” “Give it here. Bah! This isn’t good enough for upstairs, let alone downstairs.” Such cheap liquor. “Over here! This way!” “S-Sir! No, Constable!” An older-looking staff member rushed in, eyes wide with shock. He wasn’t Ru-Ju, but he seemed to be in a management position. “Are you part of Hyewol Ru? Where did you acquire this wine?” Pointing at the cheap sake, I asked. “And this…?” “I wouldn’t know...” "Just because I’m not a regular here at Hyewol Ru, do you think this kind of drink is what you’re serving patrons these days?” “For the guests on the first floor, the taste of the alcohol isn’t really a concern…” Trying to slip past me, are you? You think I wouldn’t catch on? “Couldn’t even see a proper seal. Does this mean Hyewol Ru is making bootleg liquor?” “Absolutely not!” The manager jumped in panic, waving their hands dismissively. “In that case, it seems you’ve been purchasing from unlicensed breweries.” “That can’t possibly be true.” Gotcha. I was prepared to baselessly accuse them, but having evidence makes it that much sweeter. Time to let them taste the chaos reinforced by authority! I approached the staff member with the demeanor of a predator ready to pounce. “No way Hyewol Ru would do such a thing, right? If you bought from an unlicensed brewery, then you’ve purchased untaxed alcohol, and if it’s untaxed, isn’t that an offense against the state? Isn’t it?” “……” Gulp. Someone swallowed nervously—aware that this situation warranted someone being inevitably taken away. The atmosphere audibly chilled. I pinched the manager's cheek playfully. “Hahaha! Why so tense? Surely, Hyewol Ru wouldn’t do such a reckless act knowing how strict the law is? It must be a misunderstanding from someone not familiar with drinks, right?” Laughing as I spoke, playing it off as a joke, the manager nodded rapidly in agreement. “Exactly, it’s a misunderstanding. How could we ever do such a thing? You probably misinterpreted due to not having much experience with alcohol.” “Are you implying that my tongue is so dull that I can’t even discern the taste of liquor?” “……” “Smile! Can’t take a joke?” With both hands, I forced a smile upon the stoically rigid manager. “Ha, ha ha ha.” “Come here! Why is there a water jar in the storage area for wine?” Jeon Gil San waved at me, looking like he had found something entertaining. “Indeed. To the left is a water jar. An empty alcohol jar in the middle. To the right, a jar of clear spirits with the seal broken...” It unmistakably looked like a place set up for questionable activities. "Ha ha ha. They store not just alcohol but also water here..." “Right? If word gets out that the esteemed Hyewol Ru is watering down their drinks, it’d be catastrophic, wouldn’t it?” As I approached, still smiling, the manager, now afraid, took steps back as they looked at me. “C-Constable?” "I might start forming some misconceptions about Hyewol Ru. What do you think about that?” “Is there something else you’d prefer...?” Selling moonshine and diluting drinks with water—it’s illegal, but one of those whispered-about practices in the tavern business. However, when a constable calls it out openly, it becomes a different story. Breaking the law would warrant intervention from the authorities, and that would entail a myriad of headaches for the establishment. To avoid such outcomes, there was now only one option. With an expression showing no room for compromise, I stated: “Bring Ru-Ju here.” “I’ll bring them at once!”