721 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Sound Sleep. After the incidents on the ship were finally resolved, this was the first sound sleep he'd had in days. Though spring was in full bloom, the early morning air remained crisp. It was because of this that he could indulge in the warmth nestled within his blanket, surrendering his body to the plush bed. "Wake up." A voice as cool as an autumn breeze tickled his ears. It was a flat tone, unfamiliar yet somehow recognizably familiar. His consciousness began to surface slowly. It felt like lounging with a tube in calm, rippling waters. He could get out of the water now, but the delicious weariness lured him to remain in his precious sound sleep. "Let me sleep a little longer." Slipping back into the depths of slumber, he would be able to sleep for another hour or two. He knew it, yet he yearned to fall back asleep. "It's morning." "It's still dawn. Wake me up later, pleeease." His travel fatigue hadn’t dissipated. He hadn't slept while trying to catch the criminal when others were resting. He'd barely escaped death and finally relaxed the tension in his body. I want to sleep more. "It's morning. Get up." "I'm telling you, I'm sleeping." "Get off the bed." "I don't wannaaa." He playfully muttered in his drowsiness. "..." Had she given up? Good. He felt his mind slowly sinking back. He decided to sleep in today. Just then— He felt his body lift from the bed. "Huh? Why is the ceiling..." He opened his eyes to find an unfamiliar ceiling. No, the ceiling seemed closer. What’s going on? What’s happening? “Joo In. Wake up.” "Joo In? Oh! Wait a second! Ga Young?!" He finally grasped the situation. Did she lift the whole bed because I didn’t wake up? Why? How is that even possible? Before he could even process his shock— "Get off the bed." "Waaahhh!" Like dust brushed off a book, he tumbled from the wobbling bed. --- "Ga Young..." If one opens their eyes only to realize they're in free fall, what kind of martial technique should they use? In such a case, forget techniques. Just brace for impact. This was one of the rarest, most absurd mornings in his life. He finally regained his senses and called his ever-stoic maid. "Yes." "There was no need to toss the bed, you know." "It's a maid's duty to wake her master in the morning." "That's true, but..." “...?” Typically, they'd say, ‘Master, morning tea is ready. Please rise,’ or if he couldn’t wake up, they'd gently cradle him to rouse him from slumber. Why on earth is the bed flying? "Perhaps I didn’t teach you how to wake me." "With care." "Yes, surely you did wake me with care." "It’s the best method." Certainly, the efficiency is unparalleled. "Next time, try it with a bit of love... No, just be gentle so your master doesn’t get hurt." Remember, she's like a child. Be careful with your words, or you might end up having a long conversation with a senior elder. "Joo In, you won't get hurt from rolling off a bed," Eon Ga Young said, staring intently at her hand. Perhaps she’d overheard the discussions about some new martial technique, and her actions seemed like the playful whims of a child. "Ga Young, you're my dedicated maid. For your master’s sake, try to wake me more carefully next time, without causing any harm." She wasn't angry. He was just offering some guidance on her mistake. He gently coaxed her, wearing a mature smile to assure her she hadn’t upset him. "I understand." "Good." “Joo In, are you disappointed?” Did she think she was being scolded? Though her tone didn’t change with her emotions, there was a hint of dejection in her demeanor. "No, nobody gets it perfect on their first try." "True." A quick response. "It's not like you're agreeing too quickly or anything..." At least she didn’t seem the type to get bogged down by criticism or her own mistakes. "Joo In." "Hm?" "I'm hungry." Eon Ga Young placed both hands over her stomach and looked at him. Does she mean to suggest that they move along if the conversation is over? Her straightforwardness brought a cheerful smile to his face. "Shall we have breakfast with the elder?" "Yes, that sounds good." Just as a man with a maid might look forward to breakfast, perhaps a grandfather eagerly awaited this rare breakfast with his granddaughter. Having prepared himself, he set out to join the elder for breakfast. "Grumble..." "Quickly, lend a hand!" "This isn't easy..." --- "I loathe troublesome matters like you learning that technique, so take Ga Young out today and help her see the world. Quietly gather up the herbs you need, too." "Understood, I'll be going." After a breakfast as memorable as the morning awakening, he set out to gather the herbs required for the improved technique. "None available." "We don’t have it." "We're a small pharmacy; we don't carry such expensive herbs." A hurdle right from the start. Why is it that everywhere he goes, they don't have what he needs? “What’s a young man like you doing looking for rare herbs like these? How about some other herbs instead? They’re less effective, but if you use a lot, it’ll be roughly the same. By the way, where is the lovely woman next to you from? Jinju Eon’s place? I apologize. Please, try another pharmacy.” As the elder mentioned, obtaining the herbs proved no easy feat. "No matter which pharmacy you visit, it’ll be the same. These herbs are too hard to get at the moment." “I heard from Eon’s house that you might have these herbs.” Having found no success, he had reached a pharmacy reputed to supply Eon with herbs. “It would have been easier had it been late autumn. That’s when we regularly supply such herbs, but now, there’s no way to procure them.” “Is there truly no method available?” "If you absolutely need them, why not try the Hosang Pharmacy?" Reluctantly, the pharmacy owner, who had dealings with Eon's family, suggested another pharmacy. "Hosang Pharmacy?" "It's a pharmacy near the harbor. It's about the same size as ours, but if they don’t have it either, you might as well give up peacefully for now." "Thank you, I will check it out." In the end, even after visiting all the pharmacies the elder recommended, only a few of the needed herbs were obtained. "So it’s a total bust." It seemed that mastering the technique was a path harder than anticipated. It was proving more difficult than expected. "..." It's been afternoon already since we set out this morning. As I sighed, Eon Ga Young, who had been with me all day, silently gazed at me. "Ga Young, are you feeling alright? Are you bored or hungry?" Though my errands were important, checking on Eon Ga Young's condition was more crucial. When Eon Ga Young says she's hungry, it's a warning signal. Given that her spirit hasn't fully matured, there's always the risk of her succumbing to her physical instincts. "I'm full." "Good to hear. Who would've thought using strength from the morning would make you hungry." In her current state, Eon Ga Young was like a car with a turbo booster. She could unleash overwhelming power, but this meant her body would need fuel, namely energy. "Ga Young, your fuel efficiency isn't great." "Considering even the ramming dinosaur yesterday, where did you learn to talk like that?" These aren't phrases you’d expect from martial arts, or even from a martial arts-inspired visual novel. "...." Eon Ga Young simply stared at me in silence. "It was me, wasn’t it?" "Yes." "Did I teach you too many unnecessary phrases?" The aftermath was like a tired office worker finding comfort by talking to their pet, whispering all sorts of things to the glowing being for solace. "Shall we head back home?" "Let's just stop by Hosang Pharmacy before we do." It wasn't time to give up just yet. ZHFFaHg0NTVMUERqTnhDNTdpRkczYkQ5VWJCVmFNWGJvZzFHYm5mNHVXREp6TnduZXZicGMwSjRpTG15L243NA ——— "If you spread inquiries through every possible channel, you might obtain the expensive herbs in due time." "Really?" "The problem is these herbs are rare and not in high demand, making them difficult to source." So it seems there's a kind of herb rare for lack of supply or demand, as they say, even dog poop has its medicinal uses. "These herbs are all needed together, so I’m willing to spend a bit more if there's a way to acquire them." I'm ready to invest real money here for some premium martial skills. I asked earnestly, and the pharmacy staff glanced at Eon Ga Young beside me cautiously before asking me a question. "Are you perhaps from Eon House?" "Yes, that's right. This young lady is Lady Eon Ga Young from Jinju Eon House." "..." For some reason, Ga Young just stared at me instead of the staff. Oh, wait. I realized my blunder. "Ga Young." When I called her name, Eon Ga Young finally seemed satisfied, nodding and turning to face the staff. "Eon Ga Young." "Ah, indeed! I've heard that a competing pharmacy is supplying similar herbs to Eon House. Are you looking to start a new transaction with our Hosang Pharmacy?" Oh no, I’m not looking for a monthly subscription, just a one-time limited premium purchase. I was about to deny it flat out but paused, noticing the staff's expression that had switched from withholding to bright and eager. Their eyes gleamed like that of a corporate worker seeing a rare chance to secure their performance metrics. 'Looks like we might be able to get something arranged.' For businesses, the approach to a temporary customer differs from a prospective new client. If the transaction could secure a steady source of revenue, moving mountains might be justified. Alright, let's give it a shot. "I'm uncertain about Hosang Pharmacy's pricing and procurement capabilities, so how could I suggest initiating a transaction?" Feigned disinterest, but dangled the enticing lure of a new deal with Eon House just slightly. "The competition only supplies to Eon due to past relations, but they fall short of Hosang Pharmacy's level." Ah, so you’re claiming you could acquire them if you tried. Good, so it’s not wholly impossible. "They told me they could supply them soon if only I’d wait a bit longer." "That... that can’t be." "Hearing such, I thought perhaps Hosang Pharmacy could provide them right away, hence why I decided to pay a visit, but I feel a tad disappointed." When met with a competitive bid, always toss the opponent's cards directly onto the scales. I’ll give you an opportunity. Demonstrate that your establishment is worth that new deal. "As you are aware, these herbs are difficult to source…." "Once supplied, they become highly profitable commodities." You see, it's worth the effort, even promising future returns. Why display reluctance if there's long-term gain to be had? "That’s true, but…." He hesitated, calculating the cost-benefit. Alright, I need to ensure he doesn’t back down. "By the elder's command, it wasn't a trivial connection but a search for practical supply sources to diversify trade, though it’s a shame." "The, the elder's order? Really?!" It’s a fib. Even so, instructing me to check around pharmacies could technically translate to diversifying trade. The elder's order. Not from just a department manager, but from the chairman. It should seem like an opportunity too significant to pass. At this point, offer further assurance. "The young lady beside me is the elder’s granddaughter. Should you need verification, feel free to contact Eon House." Verification won’t change anything; she truly is the elder’s granddaughter. "I, I'll relay this immediately to the master!" "I won’t hold my breath, but I'd appreciate knowing the supply date, quantity, and price, should it be possible." By having them send specific numbers, you invite scrutiny through rational examination. Numbers directly correlate to money, so performance results flash across their minds. "Absolutely! When sending someone to Eon House, who should we say they were here for?" A dilemma. Acquire it or let it go. The staff, who'd shown reluctance earlier, was now replaced by one fervent for the new sales figures. “The elder is busy, so you can mention you visited Eon Ga Young or Kang Yun Ho of the Mankeum Pavilion.” “Kang Yun Ho of the Mankeum Pavilion...?!” The staff looked at me in genuine surprise. “You’ve heard of me?” “Surely, you're the renowned envoy whom the master has been searching for... Please wait a moment!”