709 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"Let's head back first." "Eoreusin, what do you mean all of a sudden?" Just as the warm days of spring have arrived and the release of Jegal Seolrok has stirred excitement among the people, Siwang Eoreusin surveyed the morning state of Hwalgang city as usual and made a declaration. "It seems the time has come to make preparations." "Could it be...? Is it finally time?!" With a look of surprise, I glanced at Hwalgang city, while Siwang Eoreusin nodded slightly, giving a soft smile. "I need to go to Eongeo to prepare in advance, so you'll have enough time to wrap up affairs in Akyang." "I will make sure not to delay." The moment had indeed arrived. Just as the end of the long winter gives way to warm spring days, the consciousness, once shrouded in darkness, was gradually being filled with light. Even the woman in the ice coffin now seemed as if she could awaken at any moment, her complexion appearing more vibrant. "Instinctively, you will know when the time comes. Just return in time. And..." "Is there something else you wish to say?" Siwang Eoreusin could not tear his gaze away from me for a while. He seemed concerned about leaving Hwalgang city behind. When I reassured him with a smile not to worry, Eoreusin appeared to reach a decision and spoke to me. "There is something you must do before you return to Eongeo." ** "This can't be happening!" At the Hubei Province's Episodic Hall of Righteous Archetypes, the near-frantic shout resonated yet again today. "......" "Why is everyone keeping silent? Say something!" "What else can we do?" The members of the community bowed their heads in helpless despair. "Are you telling us to accept that Jegal Seolrok is to be completed just like this?!" What could possibly explain Jegal Seolrok ending as a single volume? The uproar wasn't limited to just the men. Even the members who had reassured themselves with the notion that a single volume conclusion wouldn't hinder the sequels of other works were now lamenting the abrupt end. "It was complete even in a single volume…" "Even after seeing what happens at the end?" "We too are curious about the identity of the Samaritan family! And the confrontation with Muyoungsin! But there's nothing we can do." The other members, unable to hold back, shouted in frustration, but there was nothing that could be done. Jegal Seolrok was a single-volume conclusion. "Look at this bulletin!" One man thrust the morning's published bulletin towards the community members. "The bulletin? Why?" [Jegal Seolrok: The Ideal a Scholar of This Era Should Aspire To.] [Why Does Writer Ho Pil Intend to Wilt the Fully Bloomed Flower of His Third Work?] "What is this?!" The content of the bulletin was unlike the usual. Rather than dry details about local news or celebratory events, the bulletin was overwhelmingly filled with discussions of a single novel. "Local notables are also reading Jegal Seolrok and continually expressing their admiration. They're also clamoring for a sequel!" "Local notables?" Community members widened their eyes and took another look at the bulletin. Indeed. The authors of the submissions in the bulletin were names familiar enough to be recognized as notable locals. "Rumor has it, so many reflections on Jegal Seolrok have been sent by scholars that the bulletin couldn't contain them all if filled entirely." "My goodness..." "And yet, you say Jegal Seolrok is to be concluded with a single volume! How can anyone accept that?" No one had an easy response. If they hadn't read it from the beginning, perhaps it wouldn't matter. But having read Jegal Seolrok, it's impossible not to yearn for more. "They say Jegal Seolrok is a wedding gift, and the focus will be on sequels, but what can we do?" "Even if Kang Jeomjang is getting married, I'd rather see more of Jegal Seolrok than the sequels to Dangga Pungun or Pungun Hyubgakjeon!" Jegal Seolrok should not conclude as a single volume. It would be better if they released sequels to other works slowly but at least took Jegal Seolrok to a third volume first, some people fervently claimed. "Without the detective's agreement, the next volume won't come out." Naturally, there were also those who highlighted the realistic hurdles. "What do you mean by that? The Jegal Seolrok in the novel needs to consent?" Despite Jegal Seolrok being a fictional character, this sudden talk of consent left the community members confused. "Friends, haven’t you heard why Jegal Seolrok was written as a wedding gift for Kang Jeomjang?" "Because he belongs to the Jegal family? Naturally, the protagonist had to be from the Jegal family..." The man, well-versed with gossip, shook his head disapprovingly and set his teacup down. "The Ghost Ship incident. Do you know it's based on a true story?" An incident widely discussed throughout Muhon and now known by nearly everyone in Hubei and Hunan Provinces, flowed from the man's lips. "The stories in Jegal Seolrok are based on a real incident?" "It's said that the investigation pieced together on-foot, leading to capturing the culprit, was accomplished by a real person." If the Ghost Ship incident indeed happened in reality, then it implies someone tackled it much like Jegal Seolrok in fiction. All eyes turned to the man. "Who, who could that be?" "A person we know well." The man currently in Muhon that everyone at Episodic Hall of Righteous Archetypes knows. As well as being very close to writer Ho Pil. One name flashed through the members of the community's minds. "Could it be Kang Yoon-ho Jeomjang?!" "I hear Kang Jeomjang achieved recognition as a celebrated office holder in Muhon through that incident." "My goodness...!" Shock swept across the community members' faces. "Then could it mean Kang Jeomjang could actually perform Jegal Seolrok's deductions?" "From what I hear, countless people have seen him in action in Muhon!" The man's answer was filled with certainty. Given that the Ghost Ship incident and the Ma Yang-baek death case were events where many directly witnessed Kang Yoon-ho's deductions, the sentiment wasn't baseless. "Ha ha, I knew Kang Jeomjang wasn't an ordinary person..." It was only then that the members understood why Jegal Seolrok had been a gift to a friend for a wedding. "Jegal Seolrok wasn't just a wedding gift, but a novel introducing a friend to the Jegal family." "You've been told that, against the Jegal family, while you don't actually have Jegal Seolrok, you have the chance to win his presence." "Did he really write an entire novel to introduce a friend?" "It's not for nothing that they share such a deep connection." Jegal Seolrok is a novel that essentially forged a connection by making a black-haired son-in-law for the Jegal family. After reading it, one might indeed think it fitting. The more one delves into the matter, the more profound the story revealed itself to be. People could scarcely keep their mouths shut in astonishment. "Wait a minute! If author Ho Pil wrote Jegal Seolrok based on the stories of Kang Jeomjang...?" "Then any sequel would require the assistance of the famed constable." "Is that something easily done? Surely, Kang Jeomjang would want his friend to write sequels to the novels that were postponed first!" Despair washed over the faces of the community members. Since it was a novel written as a wedding gift for a friend, they could not count on a sequel being guaranteed. Jegal Seolrok can only be written with the help of the master detective. And naturally, a friend would insist on prioritizing the sequels of other novels. It was at that moment that people had to realize why this novel was likely to conclude as a single volume. "Would getting married once more..." "Is that even possible?!" -- Hubei Province, Muhon. If asked which city was in the biggest frenzy since Jegal Seolrok was revealed to the world, it would undoubtedly be Muhon, where the Ghost Ship incident took place. "The whole world is in chaos, Your Honor Commissioner." The clerk at the Muhon government office began a conversation while having a light lunch with his superior. "Have you also read that novel?" The High Commissioner, Jeong Moon Won. Gone was the man drenched in the stench of alcohol and bachelorhood from a few months ago. In his place was a man who seemed diligently self-managed. In truth, he wasn't strictly self-disciplined. Jeong Moon Won’s current appearance was thanks to a certain lady. The clerk wanted to humorously comment that he must be receiving a lot of affection from his second wife lately but was too anxious that mentioning her might trouble the first wife, so he refrained. Instead, he brought up the topic that erupted whenever people gathered recently. "Who hasn't read Jegal Seolrok these days? Honestly, it's astonishing, and I now understand the praise it receives from the Jegal family." "At first, I thought it received rave reviews because the protagonist had the Jegal surname like Dangga. However, I inferred from my own reading that it didn’t lack recommendations." "Do you think a second volume won't be released?" It was a book hard to part with even after finishing. Other clerks were keen to join the conversation. "Hmm." Jeong Moon Won rubbed his beard, silently observing his subordinates. "Why the indifferent demeanor? Don’t tell me you didn’t find Jegal Seolrok enjoyable?" "Not at all. I've already read it multiple times." "May I ask why you seem displeased?" It truly was an extraordinary novel. Books like Dangga Pungun and Pungun Hyupgakjeon had him in constant admiration, but Jegal Seolrok felt like a blow from a hammer. High Commissioner Jeong Moon Won wasn’t dissatisfied with the novel. It’s just that... "It seems the officials in Muhon are overly fixated on just Ho Pil." "Huh? Well, naturally, because Ho Pil's novel is causing such a stir..." "That's not it. The world praising Ho Pil is expected. Even I was unable to sleep after reading Ho Pil's novels. But the person whom Muhon’s officials should truly focus on isn’t Ho Pil." For someone managing the country's affairs, shouldn't there be a different person they’re paying more attention to than Ho Pil? This was but a small grievance. "By any chance, are you referring to Constable Kang?" It didn't take long for the clerks to realize who he meant. ‘The only person who could be called a close associate to High Commissioner Jeong Moon Won was Constable Kang Yoon Ho.’ There even were rumors widespread. "Count how many cases he has resolved starting with the Ghost Ship incident. Recently, didn’t he catch the country-prohibited Magyo follower?! He even captured a perilously dangerous demon, achieving feats that even the revered martial artists struggled with!" He racked up accomplishments hard to believe for any ordinary constable. And all within less than half a year. "Indeed, that’s true." "And yet! No one acknowledges Constable Kang! Isn’t it because of such neglect that Constable Kang has ceased his activities?" If Jegal Seolrok were a real person, imagine the benefit he'd be for the nation. Yet the nation has a master detective and let him slip through its fingers. Jeong Moon Won couldn't help but voice his exasperation. "About that..." Although, the clerks’ reactions were a bit different. "He became the successor of Mang Geumjeong." "It's an era where a man loyal to the nation can't fully exercise his talents and is only deemed as satisfactory in trade! It's a lamentable situation." To be loyal to the country and bring something valuable to it is a man's duty. What a lamentable affair. A deep sigh escaped from Jeong Moon Won's lips. "Becoming the Jegal family’s son-in-law and the successor of Mang Geumjeong isn't just about being a merchant..." "Keep your comments to yourself." "Yes, sir." "We’ve lost a precious talent. A truly valuable talent..." Even as Jeong Moon Won reflected on Master Detective Kang Yoon Ho, he eventually had to shelve his regrets. Given that he himself harbored little intention for national affairs, perhaps it was only natural. His black-haired self scorned as a barbarian and without ambitions in officialdom made it understandable why he'd have let it go. The lunch hour still lingered. Jeong Moon Won decided to forgo lunch and instead picked up a brush, lacking appetite. [After the long winter, I hope you have been well.] [I wonder if you recall the story of the fascinating man sent by Jeong Moon Won from outside the palace.] [Coincidentally, the man’s tale has been novelized, enclosed herewith.] [May it bring delight to the monotonous life in the palace.] For the purpose of sending a gift to someone.