383 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

EP.383 Two-Moon - 12 "What a commotion." Night finally arrived. It was good that my lover's promotion examination had started, but night was also when the mafias would start their activities. From far away, the sounds of chaos could be heard from the entertainment district. Now it was time to move, leaving behind the lingering sensation of that exhilarating kiss. With my lover returning after the promotion, shouldn't I prepare a celebration party? "Let me escort you to the venue." A high-ranking member of the Two-Moon said to me. "Is it nearby?" "The Dumun people are on high alert, so there's no need to be conspicuous. A carriage has been prepared." He pointed to the waiting carriage, which I hadn't heard arriving. It wasn't there just moments ago—when did it appear? 'The carriage looks suspicious.' Could it possibly be a kidnapping? I have no intention whatsoever of giving Lady Ha-yeon a fortunate day. Despite the seemingly trivial suspicion, every action and intention requires caution now. I fiddled with the concealed daggers of the Tang Clan within my sleeve. If it comes down to it, I'll flee immediately. I slowly circled the area around the carriage. “Come on! I don't intend to kidnap you, so get in quickly!” The coachman, whose face I recognized, poked his head out, appearing exasperated. “Lady Mamonhyang?” ---- “The damage to Leader of Gimun was significant. With the areas of Gimun and Dumun overlapping, defending alone was too much, especially when Dumun devoured 60% of the Infinite Force.” Lady Mamonhyang explained the current situation of the Hao Clan succinctly. “Is Leader of Gimun safe?” “Fortunately, Leader of Gimun hid while preserving her main force. Leader of Simun is currently besieged at their base.” “What about yourself, Lady Mamonhyang?” “To end this quickly, I am transporting important figures. I heard you dealt a blow to Leader of Dumun today?” Lady Mamonhyang grinned, clearly pleased. “It was just luck.” “Leader of Simun heard the news and said that next time our lucky charm arrives at the inn, you'll be treated to the full course.” “Hahaha.” “When the new Leader of Two-Moon emerges and the four leaders align their intentions, the power of Leader of Dumun will crumble. It's obvious which side to take, as the goal has become impossible to achieve.” “By the end of tonight, their struggles will be meaningless.” The finish line seemed visible. As I crossed it, I planned to enjoy the cries of the defeated. “Be cautious. Those meaningless struggles took my son and grandson 10 years ago.” “......” Lady Mamonhyang's emotionless advice pierced my heart. “At that time, it was quite tiresome. Those who ate one meal a day should have been satisfied with getting three. What’s the big deal about being a leader? So much blood was spilled. I said if we could just wrap things up, we should.” “Was it because the current Leader of Dumun was once an apprentice of the former that he became the leader?” I heard that the current Dumun leader was once his apprentice. Normally, any traces of civil war would be eradicated, yet he was left alone—why? “My responsibility. I thought if I covered up my pain, others could do the same. But, as they say, a dog’s habits never change; who would have guessed he was preparing for 10 years.” “Wounds loosely bound tend to fester and decay.” Lady Mamonhyang nodded heavily. “…… We’ve arrived. We haven’t been followed.” “Thank you for the ride.” “If you hadn't given your best, we wouldn't have come this far. So I intend to give my all this time around.” The voice of Lady Mamonhyang, worn by the world’s hardships. However, her aged eyes seemed more determined than anyone else’s. “I will also do my best.” Lady Mamonhyang wished me well with the new Leader of Two-Moon and vanished back into the darkness. --------- "The ceremony for the new Leader of Two-Moon will end when the sun rises. Until then, please remain at the venue." The location we were guided to was a secluded mansion in the midst of the Infinite. Who would've thought that the ceremony for the Leader of Two-Moon would be reminiscent of a martial arts game of tag. Watching such a high-level game of tag among experts of lightness skills would have been a sight not even money could buy. I should have gone for it. “So many have gathered.” I suppressed my disappointment and surveyed the spacious mansion. The people within seemed to recognize who I was, casting furtive glances and whispering among themselves. 一 Is it really okay because he's an official? 一 It's not about being scary. He's a catcher. If I get caught and taken this time, my kids will starve. 一 Why not introduce yourself now? He might at least bring you some meals when you’re caught later. Charming bunch, full of hilarious potential outcomes. So many thieves gathered in one place. If I brought some constables now and arrested them, wouldn’t I become the most renowned catching official in the Central Plains? “Cough. It’s the first ceremony for a Leader of Two-Moon in 10 years. News spread across Hubei and people came running.” Noticing the ambition in my eyes, the high-ranking member awkwardly cleared his throat and emphasized coming to congratulate Lady Ha-yeon. Okay, got it. Not going to arrest them, okay. But I'm memorizing your faces just in case. “Is there anything in particular you need me to do?” I asked, storing mental images of the faces to recall later should performance demands arise. “Could you hold onto this?” The member cautiously handed me a small wooden box. “This is……. A ring?” Upon opening the box, inside was a thick ring that looked straight out of a fantasy world. “When Leader arrives, the disciples of Two-Moon will pour the liquor they brought into that large wine vat over there.” Looking in the direction he pointed, I saw a large wine vat, big enough to comfortably fit Lady Ha-yeon. “Liquor?” “They will pour their loyalty into it for the new Leader. Leader will personally pour a portion into a large cup and drink.” In the place reserved for the protagonist of this feast was a gigantic cup, one that could be mistaken for a pencil holder. “That’s quite a sizeable cup.” “Afterward, the Leader will distribute the wine from the vat to the disciples as a Leader. This completes the ceremony.” By taking a generous gulp, the act symbolically makes the vat belonging to the Leader of Two-Moon as a testament to loyalty. --- Terms: 1. "투문(Two-Moon)" - Translated directly due to its unique naming of a clan, reflecting the mystical or unique traits of the organization. 2. "기문(Gimun)" and "도문(Dumun)" - Translated directly as the names for different factions essential to understanding the political and organizational complexities within the narrative. 3. "향주 (Hyungju)" - Translated as "Leader" to represent the figurehead of an organization, a common term in Murim contexts. 4. "하연 소저 (Lady Ha-yeon)" - Translated to fit the formal address suitable for a woman of stature in a traditional setting. Additional Context: - The narrative depicts a complex interplay of allegiances and conflicts within martial arts factions. - The protagonist is amidst a political power struggle, navigating between different factions. - The ceremonial drinking and exchange highlight cultural elements indicated by traditions within Murim societies. The leader bestows their liquor upon the assembled, signaling that the Two-Moon is now wholly theirs. The official explained the ceremony's significance in detail. The Hao Clan truly remains a faction of the eccentricities. This gathering screams a typical underworld gathering. No matter how the times change, such ceremonies seem timeless. “Then, what about this ring?” What could this be used for? It’s not meant for mixing with the liquor, is it? “It is a ring symbolizing the leader’s authority, passed down through generations. It is essential for issuing official commands or exercising rights as a leader.” I thought the ring's decoration was unusual; it was indeed a seal. Wait a minute. If this is the seal of the Two-Moon leader, could it be...? “This is the single vote that Leader of Dumun so desperately coveted.” I remarked while gazing at the ring. The “vote” wasn't just a simple hand raise. “Stealing or forging the ring won’t suffice for ­Leader of Dumun, but documentation bearing its imprint is indeed necessary.” “A ring handed down through generations, luckily left behind by your ally during their disappearance, it seems.” Without this ring, the Two-Moon leader ceremony couldn’t have happened. “Haha. Yes, that's correct.” The official gave an awkward smile and nodded. “What should I do with the ring?” “Please hand it over once the ceremony ends as the acting leader.” I nodded willingly. Formerly an assumed role, now acting as the interim leader of Two-Moon. It was the perfect final act as her lover. ------------- Infinite is a vast city beyond comprehension. A game of tag in a small area takes time, but to think of one encompassing the entirety of Infinite. The time was already midnight. The moon hung in the sky, but I wasn’t waiting for the moon. There was no way the game of tag would end before sunrise. It shouldn’t have ended. “How?” “What’s going on?” “Is there an emergency?!” What could it be? There was a buzz of excitement near the entrance. People were gathering there. Perhaps a famous official had arrived. I wasn’t interested enough to turn my head, intending to rest my eyes. “What?” Through the multitude of Two-Moon disciples, someone emerged. Did I see it wrong? It was unmistakably the pink-haired woman I knew so well. The moment our eyes met. “You!” Lady Ha-yeon, face aglow with happiness, appeared before me in an instant. “Lady Ha-yeon? Mmph!” Hmm. That longing I felt earlier was instantly satisfied. “I’m back.” Lady Ha-yeon, with a broad smile, announced her return to me. “What happened? I heard the ceremony wouldn’t end until sunrise.” Morning had not yet arrived. Why was she here while the moon was still overhead? Was there an unexpected turn of events? “Well...” With a playful grin, she looked at me as if challenging me to guess. When had I seen such an expression before? Ah! I remember. It was the same look she had when I complimented the marvelous meal she had prepared, asking who had cooked it. The answer then was something like... “What’s happened here!!!” Before I could ask, a thunderous shout erupted from behind us. “Did the officials secretly conspire to hasten the ceremony?” “No matter how urgent things are, there are things to rush, and things not to!” “Even if she is the former leader's daughter! This crosses a significant line!” “Though we recognize the new leader’s achievements, that doesn’t mean we can disregard procedure!” It was chaos. Absolute chaos. I exchanged a glance with Lady Ha-yeon and watched silently as she stepped up before the assembled disciples. “Quiet!” The official who returned with Lady Ha-yeon quickly quelled the uproar. “This is not a matter to…!” “Look at the Leader’s right hand.” “Right hand?” Everyone, including myself, turned their gaze toward Im Ha-yeon’s right hand. “Here.” Lady Ha-yeon boldly raised her right hand. Firmly held in her hand was a white headband. The count. One, two, three. Four, five… “...Ten?” Without a doubt, there were ten headbands in her hand. They belonged to all the officials who participated in the ceremony. “Could it be?” Eyes filled with astonishment, shock, and reverence directed their attention toward Lady Ha-yeon. Everyone knew what the headbands she proudly claimed as her own signified. The ten officials, who witnessed her prowess firsthand, moved toward her proximity. “We pledge our loyalty to the new Leader of Two-Moon!” Kneeling to the new leader’s emergence. “We pledge our loyalty to the new Leader of Two-Moon!” With a thud! One by one, the other officials kneeled. “We pledge our loyalty to the new Leader of Two-Moon!” Finally, even those who initially froze in shock took to their knees. When all of the Two-Moon’s people within the mansion had kneeled. “Let’s proceed with the remaining ceremony.” Her face, which just moments ago brimmed with affection, now bore the visage of the Leader of Two-Moon. --- Terms: 1. "술래잡기 (tag)" - Translated directly as "tag," a reference to the traditional game of pursuing and catching, fitting the context of a challenge extended within the Infinite. This term extends metaphorically to larger challenges and evasion tactics used in martial arts. 2. "임하연 (Im Ha-yeon)" - Restated in context as "Lady Ha-yeon," maintaining formal address and respecting her growing authority as a leader within the Two-Moon clan. 3. "의식 (ceremony)" - Translated directly as "ceremony,” referring specifically to the formal ritual marking leadership transition and showcasing martial prowess. 4. "Infinite" - Retained to depict the city's scale and involvement in the narrative's central events, illustrating a complex urban landscape where martial power struggles unfold. Additional Context: - The ceremony highlights formal martial rituals and challenges one's martial prowess, as a rite of passage for leadership. - The narrative involves a shifting power dynamic, driven by strategic alliances and challenges intrinsic to martial arts societies. - The exchange of the ring and headbands symbolizes the transfer and affirmation of authority within the Two-Moon, pivotal to the overarching plot.