710 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Heading towards the pathway of consciousness is akin to swimming through an underwater cavern. In the deep sea, devoid of any light, where currents drag you endlessly downward, one must rely on their senses to find the exit. An ordinary person might flounder in the currents and lose consciousness as nightmares descend, but I couldn't afford to. Someone was eagerly waiting for me again today. Holding onto the doorknob, a privilege not easily granted to others, I turned the passageway of consciousness, now an accustomed action. Past the once dark silvery-gray corridor, to the other side of consciousness. Lend your strength to the door. The door...? "Why won't it open?" I knocked urgently on the door. It wasn't supposed to require biometric recognition. Why isn't it opening? Perhaps something happened inside. Staring at the door in panic, I soon realized the reason. "Right. They said not to open the door for just anyone." I wasn't the only one capable of traversing the pathway of consciousness. Now, facing the owner of the room who could close the door, I quietly recited the promised words. The door opens. "Hello." 一 Woo. In a corner of the darkness, a ball of light that had been crouching quietly welcomed its master cheerfully. "You've improved greatly." 一 Woo. Woooo. The ball of light scurried over like a puppy, rubbing itself against my ankle as coyly as a cat. "Come here." The ball of light leapt into my open arms as if it had been waiting, exuding a pleasant warmth and gentle vibrations. Every time, it feels like embracing a small pet for healing. "Your owner has succeeded with the third novel as well. People are raving about it lately." 一 Woo. Is it happy for me? I'm not sure if it actually understands and enjoys the news, but it seems like a pet sharing its owner's joy. "What story should I tell today...? I explained the classic tale of meeting the master a few days ago. The duties of a maid? Nah, overdone." Is this the agony of parenting after work? As a master wishing for the maid to grow up properly, there's much to consider. "Right. Do you remember what I mentioned before?" 一 Woo? "Pretending you don't remember even though you do." You heard earlier and opened the door, didn’t you? Gently stroking the ball of light, I felt the pleasant vibrations similar to a cat's purr. 一 Before you return to life, there’s something you must do. Quietly. Once again, I murmured, infusing intent into the consciousness as if inscribing it into the soul. "Ooh." Light emanates. In the room of consciousness. Affirming the identity of its owner, it casts light into every corner. Predators crouch, desperately hiding from the illumination. The room of consciousness becomes exceedingly bright. 一 You will instinctively understand as well. I finally understood. "The time has come." It was now time to head to Jinju On-Ga. —— Spring flowers bloomed in abundance, heralding a perfect spring day. The business in Akyang had finally stabilized. With Jegal Seol Rok selling successfully, it was the right time to leave Akyang for Jinju On-Ga with peace of mind. "What is causing this chill to emanate from the wooden box?" "It's a crucial item bound for On-Ga, please handle it with care!" Fragile. Handle with caution. Perhaps I should have attached a compensation sticker for damage. I earnestly instructed the workmen at the docks of Akyang. "Is it fresh produce? Don't worry!" Indeed, freshness is critical for this item. "Move aside!" "What’s that black-haired fool daydreaming for?" "What did he just say?!" "Forget it, let's just stand in line." I brushed off my shoulder after being jostled, speaking nonchalantly. Akyang was a tourist city, connected by the Yangtze River, naturally making its harbor as bustling as a rush-hour commute. "We need to confirm the passenger list. Are you from Mangum Jeonjang?" Once I ensured the secure loading of the ice-coffin onto the ship, a rugged-looking middle-aged man approached me. "Yes, that's correct." Perhaps it’s due to booking a luxury ship for a comfortable return; they seemed thorough with the identity checks. "If you misrepresent the passengers, it'll be a huge deal! The representative must come forward and seal this." "It's me. I’ll do it." Raising my hand, the middle-aged man lifted his chin in surprise, staring at me. "Black hair?" "Ah. Well, that's…" To have a black-haired foreigner be the representative—indeed a peculiar situation. It would be a hassle to explain such trivial matters, perhaps next time I will leave it to Woon Yeop or Gil San. "Surely not! That Kang Yoon Ho?!" How should I explain? While I hesitated briefly, the middle-aged man exclaimed in surprise, pointing at me. "You know me?" "Of course! Everyone's talking about Jegal Seol Rok these days!" Ho Pil's new work, Jegal Sega's recommendation, even the tale of the black-haired son-in-law made Jegal Seol Rok far exceed my expectations in popularity. "While my friend did use my story, I am not Jegal Seol Rok." Feigning discomfort, I waved my hands dismissively. "Still, it’s your story, right! To have someone so famous on my ship!" The man inspected me as if he couldn’t believe he was meeting a character from a novel in real life. "Are you the captain?" "A proper captain, not like the drunken one from Jegal Seol Rok! By any chance…." The captain spread his arms, looking at me with a hopeful expression. Although I could ask why, I already knew what the captain expected. 'He wants to see a deduction.' Ever since Jegal Seol Rok became popular and rumors spread that I was its model, people like this often sought me out. "To wield a sword anywhere without reason would label one a madman, and to wield it for others' entertainment merely makes one a clown." I eloquently repeated the refusals I’d become skilled at offering. What I do is just juggling. It’s not grand deduction like the protagonist of a detective story. Breaking his fantasy wasn't needed. "That's true, but still." Did he feel disappointed? His shoulders slumped, indicating he had greatly anticipated this meeting. Ignoring it might be an option, but since the journey to Jinju On-Ga isn't just a day or two, offering a little help could be beneficial. After contemplating briefly, I spoke casually, as if it was no big deal. "On the day of departure, your wife scolded you. You should try not to be too sharp with people." "H-how did you know?!" The captain's eyes widened in astonishment. "I noticed your laundry was done with care." "Laundry?" I gestured cautiously at the sleeve of the neatly dressed captain. "I thought you were wearing new clothes, but the sleeves are worn. It indicates someone took great care to wash your old clothes. The state of the other sailors' clothes doesn't seem as well-kept. It implies there's someone who washed your sweat-soaked clothes diligently." "Yes, that's right. My family lives in Akyang. But how did you know I was scolded?" "The area that tends to yellow with sweat, like the nape of the neck, is immaculately clean. It signifies your wife washed it with care for your sake. Yet your clothing knots are sloppy. It implies there was some issue with your wife on the day of departure." A wife who would wash with such care wouldn't leave her spouse with untidy knots on the day he leaves. "Ha..." "This is just a guess, but I heard the ship had to leave shortly after docking. As a wife, could she not feel some regret?" It seemed to be the answer as the captain’s jaw hung open in amazement. "Remarkable! Please, come aboard!" Later that evening, the captain returned, sheepishly admitting he'd forgotten to stamp the passenger list due to his surprise. ——— "Kang Yoon Ho, you're quite the success these days. More people recognize you, huh?" I chuckled at Gil San's teasing comment. "That's why I released Jegal Seol Rok first." "Did you purposely plan this so your reputation would spread?" Nibbling on dried rations within the cabin, I nodded in agreement to Gil San's words. "When Jegal Seol Rok becomes a hot topic, people inevitably talk about me, naturally shedding light on my activities, such as the ghost ship incident and my exploits as a Poquae." While Jegal Sega focused on the literary aspects of the novel, people were bound to be drawn to its surprising storylines. "At the House of Five Senses, they talk as much about your exploits as they do about Ho Pil's Jegal Seol Rok." The deputy chief commented while rummaging through documents. "Postponing the release of the next volume was no idle decision. I needed the spotlight right now." It wasn't a casual remark about gaining attention. Despite the busyness, there was a firm reason to delay the fourth volume of 'The Stroke of a Sword.' Apologies to the readers aside, it was crucial. "You wanted to become more well-known? Why?" Because of my reputation as a rebel. TGloWlBtWUkwZWhUWHNtSC9RL1BOb1A2ZFQ0Mm9WSnFvSjRwa3RYdVJkemFrTXJEN1pBbmcvdkFnMHNqUFJ2VQ Releasing two volumes simultaneously would mean a delay before the next, among other reasons, it was vital to establish something more significant. "I shouldn't have to bear the shame of being called a disgraceful son-in-law." I smirked awkwardly, feeling a slight embarrassment. "Ah, I see now why the renowned Kang Yoon Ho was wagging his tongue." "It could indeed cause a stir if it’s known that Jegal Sega accepted a black-haired son-in-law." Finally understanding my intentions, they nodded. Jegal Sega had effectively brought in a son-in-law with black hair. Imagine the martial world's uproar upon hearing this, potentially sparking derogatory remarks against my father-in-law. But what if I released Jegal Seol Rok beforehand? "People might find it more plausible when presented with Jegal Seol Rok." Turn a potentially pointed-at situation into an opportunity to introduce myself. Delaying subsequent volumes of other novels wasn't a mere concern over divided attention. I am not just a black-haired barbarian son-in-law; I am Kang Yoon Ho of Mangum Jeonjang. Before I explained myself to the world, let's ensure the world knew who I was. This marketing was an opportunity for myself. This media strategy wasn't solely about advocating for Ho Pil and Jegal Seol Rok. "Furthermore, I'm also the heir of Mangum Jeonjang." "Even if I'm different from the novel, it's not necessarily what's important." Even if I can't deduce as Jegal Seol Rok does, my records still stand. It wasn't just about rowing when the tide is in; I had prepared to set sail even before the waves rose. "Why? You did make deductions just now." "Oh... That?" "I too was amazed. To smoothly draw conclusions based on the captain’s clothing like that." I gave them a wry smile, noticing their impressed gaze. Truthfully, it wasn't really deduction. "I paired it with the sailors' grumblings about listening to the captain’s wife nagging them." "..." "Not everyone can deduce like Jegal Seol Rok. It's merely compiling evidence and clues into something plausible." It's an extension of the deception and eloquence I've employed so far. Observing people and their surroundings to exploit weaknesses. The captain had pristine clothes. The messy knots hinted at a spat before departure. Pretending to deduce, it was easy to deceive people. "Isn't that essentially the same thing?" "It isn’t." What I do is merely a sleight of hand. —— "Kyyaaaa!" The next morning. It wasn't a gentle maid’s morning call that roused me from my cabin slumber, but a piercing scream. "Someone's dead!" "Is it a stabbing incident?" "Let's stay in our room, it’s safer." Gil San, what’s going on out there, as you attempt to open the door? I promptly grabbed the scruff of Gil San’s neck to stop him. "What on earth happened! Someone died overnight!" "Not from an illness?" "They were fine last night!" "Everyone, calm down!" Fortunate it wasn't a stabbing, but perhaps a corpse. Listening closely to the situation, the voice trying to calm the situation could be heard even in the cabin. "The captain seems to be handling things." "Don’t worry! We have an expert on such matters aboard!" "Wow. So they have an expert." "Indeed, we’re lucky. Huh?" Fortunate, reassuringly, I prepared to lie down again, but a sudden dreadful feeling coursed through me. When a person is sick, the expert is naturally a physician. But when someone has died, who exactly is the expert they're referring to? It was a question that didn’t really require an answer. "Everyone, remain calm! Let me introduce you to the renowned and illustrious Poquae, Kang Yoon Ho!" The captain appeared, opening the cabin door with a flourish.