Ch 312 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Preparing for the Opening – Part 2 “Has Master Mangum returned?” “Yes, yes. He returned a few days agoooo.” I can't believe the old man who’s no news was assumed to be good news has come back. I thought he might have fallen victim to some ancient fears like tigers or disease, given the lack of communication, but it seems he was unscathed. “Could the master really have kicked his granddaughter out? Did Master Mangum severely reprimand Lady Jegal?” It seems that as soon as Mangum returned, he sent Jegalhyang away. Isn't she at the age to be quite dear to him? I just can't understand it. He’s not the type to throw his offspring or grandchildren into a volcanic crater during lessons, after all. “Well, you seeeee.” Jegalhyang fiddled with her fingers, her head bowed as if there was something she wanted to say. “It seems like something might have happened.” “He asked how things were progressing with Young Master Kang...” The romance between me and Jegalhyang? Surely not. “Did you tell him everything?” “He even asked whether we had even held hands or not...” So he did toss her into the volcanic crater after all. While Mangum was away, all Jegalhyang and I did was have meals together, exchange gifts, and resolve a minor incident. If you ask whether there was any notable progress romantically, honestly, there wasn’t. Did Master Mangum resort to extreme measures upon hearing the news? “Hmph. You didn’t get to hold hands?” Imhayoun, why are you giggling like that all of a sudden? “Huh? Nooo.” “Hmph. I see… Hmph.” Imhayoun shot a knowing smile at a bewildered Jegalhyang, like a high school girl boasting about scoring one more point than her friend. When Jegalhyang barged in here she looked so stern, but now she's suddenly all smiles. “What should I doooo, Young Master Kang. I have nowhere else to goooo.” Even if she complained tearfully, there was no obvious solution. “Why not stay with a cousin for a while?” Perhaps at Jeongilsan’s place. “A cousin's place? Not hereeee?” Ouch. Jegalhyang pouted like an abandoned puppy, her lips pinched as she hung her head. That’s just playing dirty with that face. “Who, who said you could stay here?” “Hayoun sister, can’t I stay here?” “Of course not! And who gave you the right to call me sister!” “Ah, um, well, that’s...” What a mess. The office became instantly noisy. Watching one person apply pressure and another gradually turning to stone, I suddenly thought of Sohee, my age mate. Sohee, you might have been quiet, but you’ve always acted mature. I suddenly want to see you. You’re doing well, right? I write you regularly, and you should write too. “Young Master Kang.” While I was indulging in a brief escape from reality, someone arrived from Mangum’s mansion. “What is it?” “Master Mangum is calling for you.” I was wondering why he hadn’t summoned me yet. ————— The secondary evaluation, postponed due to Master Mangum's absence. I arrived at his residence with neatly organized documents. “Hehehe.” Master Mangum read through the materials I brought for quite a while, then let out a burst of laughter. His laughter makes me even more uneasy. What fault is he going to find today? But the words from Master Mangum were unexpected. “You’ve done well.” “Pardon?” A compliment at this timing? What’s going on? Did he change while I wasn’t aware? “You managed to unite countless Koreans, brought them here at your expense for the delivery business, taught the delivery workers the art of stepping to expand their areas. You didn’t settle after one success.” “Thanks to your constant attention, the business is doing well.” Because you weren't around, I could focus solely on the business. I said with a hint of ribbing beneath the words. “Hehehe. I heard fascinating rumors from the marketplace while I was away. I didn’t know you had such cunning in those areas as well.” Master Mangum smirked, and his eyes sparkled with curiosity as he asked about my recent activities. “I was just lucky.” “Hehehe. I've even heard tales of a famed Korean bounty hunter, claiming a black-haired man possesses the wisdom of Konmyung.” At the scene of the incident with me was Jegalsa, accompanied by Miss Jegalhu, to whom I credit borrowing notable sayings from, which seemed to spread various rumors. “How could someone like me be compared to the honorable Jegalmuju? I merely gathered information with assistance from Lady Jegalhyang.” I responded as humbly as possible. Master Mangum didn’t relent in his amusement as he opened his mouth with a knowing look. “Her version of the story is different. She said she merely assisted you while you made jaw-dropping deductions.” Looks like Lady Jegalhyang may have been overly generous in her praise. “I merely drew conclusions from the information before me. It was nothing extraordinary as the rumors claim, just simple deductions.” There were only three options to choose from, making it fairly easy to find the answer. “Hehehe. That’s precisely the kind of trait a leader among men should have.” Master Mangum spoke to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “A leader among people?” “The one who stands above must know how to manage others. He should have an eye for identifying suitable people for the right tasks, and produce optimal results. It’s about discerning what’s right and wrong and ultimately making the final decisions. That is the trait needed to become a great merchant.” Master Mangum spoke like a seasoned professor passing wisdom onto his pupil. This is bewildering. Suddenly switching to praise and lessons? Thinking about it, maybe it makes sense. Considering my debts and my engagement to Jegalhyang. With two shackles, perhaps he’s grooming me into a proper employee under him. Elder, I have no such intention. I've already prepared a plan to remove these shackles with my own hands. With a sudden defiance, I decided to refute Master Mangum’s words. “I have simply been doing my utmost for the ones I’m responsible for, rather than those beneath me.” I have no intention of ruling over others like you. Imhayoun, the endless association of Koreans, the women I must protect. I’ll do my utmost for those I am accountable to. Standing upright, I looked at Master Mangum with serious eyes. “...Yes, yes. That’s right. Hehe. Of course.” Master Mangum smiled warmly at me, as if seeing someone beyond my face. “...” Damn. Did this backfire? He flipped through the remaining documents and nodded firmly in my direction. “You passed the second evaluation as well. However.” “Is there more I need to do?” “In matters of romance, you’ve failed.” I should have known it wouldn't go smoothly from start to finish. “Sir, how can there be a right answer in matters of romance?” Of course, I’m the model student who stubbornly fills the real answer sheet with mistakes and blank spaces. “There might not be an answer, but there is timing.” “I am slowly getting closer to Lady Jegal.” So, he wants me to get closer to Jegalhyang. Isn’t it overstepping to meddle in your granddaughter’s romance like that? What’s this now? As I looked at him in frustration, Master Mangum smirked knowingly, as if he’d seen through my thoughts. “Slowly, eh? By slowly, I assume you mean by the time this exam is over.” Did he catch on? ——————— “I’ve instructed them to prepare a living space on the third floor of Dasou Pavilion.” He couldn’t possibly have realized our relationship was a contractual one. In Master Mangum’s mind, my plan probably looks something like this: Kang Yunho plans to keep his relationship with Jegalhyang as parallel lines until the exam concludes. If no love blossoms between them, I will simply return to the Tang family’s Lin. I have no feelings, and Jegalhyang isn’t proactive. Both have no intention of being stuck together, so they must be forced together. That must be why Jegalhyang was kicked out of the mansion. “Even a grandfather allowing an unmarried grandchild to live with an outsider would invite scandal.” In modern times, even a kiss between lovers as an expression of affection is an eternal promise. Making a man and woman live under the same roof is bound to draw criticism, even from Master Mangum. “Who said to live together?” Master Mangum replied casually to my statement. “Huh?” “I said the girl should live on the third floor, not you.” “...” Is it just so that she meets people often at work since she's reluctant to leave home? If that’s the case, it’s not a big deal. But the words that followed from Master Mangum once again defied my expectations. “However, if she lives alone, I might assign some guards to Dasou Pavilion, but I wouldn’t stir any trouble.” “She’d find it quite inconvenient.” Being the youngest daughter of a prestigious family, it’s unlikely she’s ever managed household chores herself. “If she is to become someone’s wife, she must first develop some life skills.” “Ummm.” What would happen if a lady, who has never done a single chore, lived alone? I imagined Jegalhyang’s attempt at living solo. Dirty dishes piling up like a mountain. A mysterious pile of laundry no one knows when was shed. Dust and hair covering the floor. Having taken a shower to find there are no dry towels, so she resorts to using a damp towel that smells faintly musty. No way. She’s not going to end up living like some hapless novice straight out of a classic story. Then, how about meals? Can she cook? Is she going to collapse from malnutrition? “Hehe. If there’s a man nearby who cares for her, she might change.” So essentially, he’s suggesting I keep an eye on her to ease my worries. “Lady Jegalhyang is the youngest daughter of the Jegal family. We’re neither married nor engaged; how could this happen? If the Jegal family learns of it, they’ll surely raise hell.” Jegalhyang isn’t part of Mangum’s Zhang family; she belongs to the Jegal family. The precious jewel of the Jegal family won’t just be allowed to live with a stranger with black hair. Mangum Master, even you might find that challenging. “Her mother allowed it.” Excuse me...? ———————— “I visited the daughter’s mother. She consented.” But they're the Jegal family. Shouldn't a conglomerate’s youngest daughter be prevented from such involvement? What kind of mother is remarkably open-minded across epochs, granting approval? What are they thinking, really? Is the daughter just like that father? Hold on. Let’s take a deep breath and quickly organize the befuddlement in my heart. I don’t mind living with Jegalhyang. After all, it’s just a contractual relationship. ‘The real problem is leaving Imhayoun vulnerable when she’s in trouble.’ If I leave the inn, Imhayoun will be exposed. Oh? Wait a minute. Suddenly, a bright idea flashed through my mind. I can turn Master Mangum’s strategy to my advantage. “Does Lady Jegalhyang absolutely have to live on the third floor of Dasou Pavilion?” “Hmm?” “I’ve lived at the bookstore. Waking up to the musty smell in a damp, gloomy room isn’t good for health or romantic ambiance. It feels like work and personal life aren’t separate. Wouldn’t it be better to live in a decent house?” “A house instead of the third floor?” “I’ll live with Lady Jegalhyang in the house you prepare, as you’ve wished, for a period. We’ll converse during carriage rides to and from work and gaze at stars together. But please, prepare a proper residence.” “You’re suddenly being proactive. Very well, that’s not difficult.” The hook's been set. Now to proceed to the main point. “There’s one problem though.” “Whatever it is, deal with it post-marriage.” I have no such intentions. For now, let’s act. As if hiding fear beneath the mask. Performing day-to-day life while hiding terror, just like then. I put on a slightly worried and fearful expression before speaking. “That’s not it, really. Someone in Wuhan bears fatal intentions against me.” “Fatal intentions?” Master Mangum's face immediately hardened. “Upon looking into the Green Silk Transport incident, it turns out to not be just the work of a single transport company. It involved multiple sects and the Ilga Merchant Group. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact identity, but I felt suspicious presences trailing me for days.” “Hmmm...” Master Mangum, now slightly perturbed, stroked his beard contemplatively. “I have ways to ensure my own safety, but I’m ashamed to admit I lack martial talent to protect Lady Jegalhyang.” Master Mangum had already lost one grandchild. Surely, he wouldn't want to go through that again, right? “Very well. I’ll provide you with a residence near Dasou Pavilion along with some bodyguards.” That’s the response I was hoping for. ——————— “How did it go?” Returning to the office, I approached Jegalhyang, who was visibly anxious, after passing by a rather displeased Imhayoun. Jegalhyang looked up at me with an expression reminiscent of a puppy exhausted from crying while waiting for its owner. How should I explain this? In such situations, it's best to be direct and quick. “Lady Jegal, let’s live together.” “Wh-What?” “I’ve received permission from Master Mangum. Let’s live together for the time being. Are you alright with that?” “S-Sureeee,” Jegalhyang nodded repeatedly, her cheeks flushed as if she were a machine running at full RPM. Well, that’s one hurdle cleared. “What! What did you just say?! Are you out of your mind?!” I then turned to face Imhayoun, whose eyes seemed like they couldn't widen any further. “And as for you, Lady Hayoun.” Calm down, Imhayoun. This is all part of my plan. “How could you do this?!” I barely managed to hold onto the fiercely spirited Imhayoun by the shoulders. Her face was filled with dissatisfaction. She must have thought I made this decision without a second thought. I gave her a reassuring look, a sign to let her know everything was under control, before making my second announcement. “Lady Hayoun, you should live with me too.” “Whaaaaat?”