349 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Constable – 1 “I would like to request you, Kang Gongja, to become a constable to capture Muyoung Shintu.” Jeong Pojol made the difficult request to him, his demeanor filled with apology. “Are you asking me to become a constable to catch Muyoung Shintu?” “As you know, constables usually avoid getting involved with martial artists.” “Yes. I'm aware.” Constables generally are not highly skilled in martial arts. After all, it's a low-paying job that barely allows one to scrape by; if they had more skill, they wouldn't choose to live as constables. “The higher-ups are telling us to catch him, but what tricks could constables possibly have up their sleeves to capture a thief skilled in martial arts?” Jeong Pojol sighed softly, sharing the troubles faced on the front lines. “And how does offering me the position of a constable relate to this?” “When the officials were brainstorming ways to apprehend him, your name came up, Kang Gongja.” “My name, you say?” “You personally defeated the leader of Nocheong Pyokuk and resolved the ghost ship incident. You handled a case involving martial artists, whom constables usually avoid, with great finesse.” The offer to become a constable made sense—it seemed someone among the officials had heard rumors of his renown from the ghost ship incident. “I was just lucky.” “Even if a fortune-teller confidently predicted a stroke of luck, constables shy away from matters involving martial artists.” “Haha...” “And aren't you a close friend of Hophil Jakganim? You surely understand the psyche of Muyoung Shintu, as portrayed in the Adventures of the Heroic Swordsman. We thought there could be no better candidate.” Without resources within, it seemed they intended to scout a suitable external person. A constable position is not bad indeed. Unlike bureaucratic positions filled through civil service exams, this position is an appointed public office, lower paid, but one that sometimes affords indulgences like a meal with rose sauce now and then. If this had happened a year ago, he would have nodded without hesitation. “Thank you for the kind view of me. However, as you know, I'm incredibly busy—so taking the constable offer...” “The higher-ups have promised to provide tax reductions and administrative convenience for your ventures if you accept it.” “...I'm listening very positively now.” He should have started with the benefits. “Additionally, becoming a constable has significant advantages for you as an individual from Joseon, Kang Gongja.” “More advantages?” “A constable is a profession backed by the state. It's a state-guaranteed status. Even after finishing the Muyoung Shintu case, by retaining the title as an honorific, people won't disrespect you, Kang Gongja.” Jeong Pojol indicated that once the Muyoung Shintu case was concluded, he could maintain the position nominally, without handling duties anymore. The terms were rather enticing. Indeed, having an official status would prevent easy disdain due to being seen as an outsider. He looked up, gazing past Jeong Pojol to see Im Hayeon listening intently, peeking her head out. When their eyes met, she nodded. Was she indicating that she too saw this as a good proposal? Indeed. In a position of aiding Muyoung Shintu's activities, becoming a constable to chase Muyoung Shintu would offer immense advantages. There's no reason to refuse this. “I’ll give it a try.” --- “Hahaha! What a sound decision. It feels like gaining the support of a thousand troops!” Upon heading to the office to become a constable, Chongpodu greeted him with a hearty laugh. “I'm uncertain if someone like me, an outsider, should occupy such a significant role.” “To call the prospective son-in-law of the Jegal family an outsider! Who would say such a thing! Even just making a pretense at it will suffice if you feel burdened. Do you need any special training to catch Muyoung Shintu?” Living under the same roof as Muyoung Shintu, formal training might be unnecessary. Simply rejecting training might appear dispassionate, so perhaps invent a reasonable excuse. “I actually followed and documented the actions of renowned constables back in Joseon.” “Oh, really?” Chongpodu seemed genuinely intrigued by the notion of him sharing the same occupation back in Joseon, stroking his beard and gazing at him with great interest. “I accompanied individuals known as Jeon Ilgwa Gonan, observing their conduct and recording it.” Watching those who appeared frequently on TV led to many encounters. “Ah, you must have served as a sort of recorder.” “Though I am not as illustrious as they are, due to following and noting down their deeds and behavior even in perilous situations, they sometimes called me Seollok Hyeomju.” Diligently searching online data and writing posts—surely it aligns with that. “You were known as Seollok Hyeomju? Truly remarkable! That explains how you solved the ghost ship case!” It was as if Chongpodu finally understood, clapping his hands loudly with new realization. “Being around them for long, I seem to have developed a similar approach when encountering cases.” Actually, he's a fan of detective novels and forensic series. “Seollok Hyeomju! One can only wonder how the Joseon methods might turn out to be. Here is the badge proving your status as a constable! Wear it on your belt, and offenders will flee with guilt, and the innocent will avertingly lower their eyes!” Chongpodu handed him the badge symbolizing his role as a constable. “Thank you. Will the work be something I handle alone?” “Conduct your duties freely. You may take auxiliaries to assist if you require.” “There were some who helped during the ghost ship incident; I hope they could accompany me.” “Hm. Excellent. With approval from the higher-ups, it's agreeable to engage them as temporary constables if you desire. But!” “But?” He wondered if they were to be brought forth for evaluation or such; that would be a bit troublesome. As he turned to Chongpodu, half worried about what might come up, he noticed Chongpodu awkwardly clearing his throat before continuing. “Ahem. You'll need to cover the temporary constables' salaries yourself.” No wonder constables’ salaries are so modest. “Haha. Naturally.” “Do well, Joseon’s distinguished constable! Should this mission go well, a report might go directly to the court. Who knows? The emperor might even bestow an official position upon you! Hahaha!” The Emperor? After exchanging hearty laughs over such tall tales, Chongpodu requested that he send regards to Mangkeum Jeonjang and the Jegal family, to which he nodded and exited the office. --- "We will now commence the appointment ceremony for Im Hayeon as a constable." A guest room at the Unki Tavern branch. He stood before Im Hayeon, assuming the air of a lower official, solemnly unfolding a random piece of paper. "Do we really have to do this?" she questioned, her tone amused. "Thanks to you, crossing the Yangtze was this easy. Now, we can extend our activities south of the river." Presently, they found themselves south of Wuhan, near Donghu. Normally, they'd be cautious of prying eyes, but flashing the badge symbolizing his status as a constable made it easy enough to board a government-operated boat. "Are we going to work as constables too?" Je Gal Hyang asked, curious. "You two only need to help during crucial times. We’re mostly conducting formal inquiries." “Did we visit all the places the fake Muyoung Shintu allegedly robbed today?” “When visiting spots supposedly hit by Muyoung Shintu, most were exaggerating. Since a theft occurred, they just claimed it was Muyoung Shintu.” A phantom here, a hero there; such elusive rogue tales usually start this way. As he recounted their day’s inquiries to the two women, their findings were discussed. “Could the rumors about a fake Muyoung Shintu be simply baseless?” “I plan to visit where the black paper cranes were left tomorrow. Let’s all travel together by carriage.” Today's investigation had been all about narrowing down choices for tomorrow, intended so they could move together busily for just that day. "Do you think we can catch this fake Muyoung Shintu?" Je Gal Hyang asked uncertainly. “It doesn’t matter if we can't catch them. Unmasking them is enough.” “Wait, unmasking is enough?” Im Hayeon sounded puzzled by his response. “Our goal is merely to spread the renown of Muyoung Shintu far and wide. My job isn't to capture him but to reveal the deeds of the fake.” “Indeed, just dispelling bad rumors about me is sufficient. Yet, wouldn't you get criticized for that?” Im Hayeon gazed up at him with a worried expression. "To manage isn't about resolving issues, but about appearing to resolve them. Even the higher-ups don’t expect miracles from me.” A well-crafted management strategy would claim, "Even the famed constable from Joseon couldn’t resolve this. We’ve done our part; now you must fend for yourselves.” “Sir Kang Gongja, you understand officials' mindsets well.” “Ha-ha, I have the badge and rope to prove my status.” Chuckling, he placed the badge and binding rope that came with his position upon the table. “Did you learn how to use that rope at the office?” Maybe it was because she hoped to never have ties to such things, but Im Hayeon regarded the rope for a moment before speaking. “I only received the rope due to lack of time.” “Aren’t you worried about the fake escaping if you capture them?” “I, I heard constables must be skilled at binding!” Je Gal Hyang noted. “I’ve got a basic understanding; I don’t really need formal training.” Why do their faces seem so doubtful? Knowing how to restrain someone isn’t necessary beyond what he already grasps. “Here.” Without a word, Im Hayeon approached, bringing her wrists together and extending them to him. “Hm?” “Didn’t you just return in a rush? I'm here to help." “Honestly thought I tied people up well.” “You’re too overconfident; you might even let the captured thief escape. See if I release myself quickly without using internal energy.” “You might regret it.” Will you be alright? “Who do you think I am?” Her smile showed utter confidence. It wasn’t groundless; having learned Muyoung Shintu’s martial arts, she’d know a thing or two about escaping as well. On the other hand, he was a rookie constable having never restrained a suspect before, nor received proper training on the matter. From her perspective, she must be thinking this was a teachable moment on the importance of binding techniques. But, you see, Im Hayeon, although I've never tied up a criminal before... that doesn’t mean I’ve never tied up people. “Very well. Don’t regret this.” With a slight smile, he took hold of the rope and cinched it tightly in one swift motion. One year ago. Caught in a daily bind wrapping his voluptuous childhood friend was this Korean brother’s moment to shine once more. “What the—! What is this?!” In one breath, he rendered her arms immobile, gently pressing her onto the bed. “You did ask for it.” Confidently, he pinned her legs down, securing them with expert ease. “Ah! T-ticklish! Ah! This feels so inappropriate!” “A standard binding practice. If you wish, I’ll release you immediately.” Honestly, he wasn’t certain what was normal. Most of his knowledge stemmed from his experiences with Sohee. Inevitably, some physical contact is bound to happen. Surely this much is normal? “N-no… K-keep going, don’t stop.” Her voice was barely audible, as if speaking just to the bedsheets, as she whispered. “Then I'll tie you properly.” “Ah! W-why are you so good at this! Ah!” “M-Mr. Kang Gongja, once you’re done with Hayeon, please do me next!” Excuse me? --- "Ungh… please untie me…" He won. Im Hayeon lay with her face buried in the bed, casting a disgruntled look at him through tear-soaked eyes, feeling defeated. "You did claim you could free yourself," he pointed out. Quite a scene. The view was almost too precious to waste by sipping on any cheap tea while taking it in. Though it’s not to his tastes, watching the two ladies futilely bound and immobilized wasn’t all that unpleasant. Im Hayeon’s arms and legs were securely fastened behind her; the more she struggled, the single rope connecting her limbs only highlighted her figure. Sohee, your brother managed to harness a bit of skill today. While not as swift as the days spent tirelessly tying you daily, the simplicity of binding just limbs kept the skill from rusting. After recalling Sohee, he considered writing another letter to her once he returned to his residence. “Alright, I lost. Please, untie me. Je Gal Hyang seems uncomfortable too.” "Haha... For some reason, this feels as comforting as being in a closet." "......." He had wondered why Je Gal Hyang wasn't resisting much. Isn't she a bit too at ease? Im Hayeon wore a baffled expression, staring at Je Gal Hyang's serene look. Perhaps it's time to untie them. Just as he set down his teacup and was about to stand, the room door swung open. "Master! Is your room comfortab...gasp!" Ah. The branch manager of the third location, a middle-aged member of the Korean expatriate association, stood shocked, locking eyes with him. "I see, Master has such hobbies..." Please. The distressed attempt to understand is unnecessary. "No, it's for practicing restraint techniques..." "I understand. I've often felt like tying my wife up and running away, too." It's really not like that. The branch manager's approach of trying to put himself in his position is admirable for customer service, but it’s not needed here. "Kang Constable! There's an urg— oh?!" Why did Jeong Pojol show up now? "Ah, well… we were practicing restraint techniques." Desperately, he scrambled for an excuse to clear up the misunderstandings. The two ladies, in an effort to escape the embarrassing situation, buried their faces into the bed much like ostriches, hiding their heads when sensing danger. This had to be resolved quickly. To protect the two ladies' dignity, he swiftly covered their bound forms with a blanket and escorted the visitors out of the room. "Truly the work of a distinguished constable! Such a restraint technique is unfamiliar to me! Is this a method from Joseon? I've neither heard nor seen such a technique!" It’s an ancient custom in Joseon called Aesuaemu, usually done on a bed. "What brings you here?" He asked Jeong Pojol, maintaining an unaffected demeanor as though nothing had just happened. What could have brought him here? Recalling the reason for his visit, Jeong Pojol shouted urgently, his face reflecting an unexpected revelation. “A-Ah! Something terrible has happened! Muyoung Shintu has killed someone!”