- I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets!

- This is a true story. "Isn't this a bit excessive for a text game intro?" Yeon Woo Hyeok thought as he looked at the screen. No matter how many times he saw it, the intro for the text game always felt overly grand. - Great Harmony Kingdom, 15th year of Cheondeok. - A murder occurred in an estate twenty li east of Hanjing. - The body of the victim, Lord An, was found in a pavilion on the outskirts of the estate. No footsteps were discovered except for those of the victim. - The distance to the nearest fence was three and a half-sheets; suspects included the wandering "Scarlet Faces Three Dogs" and the "Iron-hearted Iron-sword" from the Huashan sect... Before reading it all, Yeon Woo Hyeok entered the correct answer. - The case has been resolved. - Your fame increases. - Your virtuous deeds accumulate spiritual energy. "Have I played this too much?" Despite getting the correct answer, Yeon Woo Hyeok's face did not light up. The case that had just appeared was one he had solved several times before. <The Great Detective of Great Harmony>, a deduction game where players solve random incidents in the martial world using only text-based clues. In an age filled with cutting-edge games, this seemed almost regressive, but Yeon Woo Hyeok truly enjoyed it. With a setting reminiscent of martial arts novels, and a wide array of unique cases and tricks, the thrill of becoming a detective, checking suspects' statements, verifying alibis, and uncovering the true criminal was a joy that no other game could provide. The problem was that he had played it so much that he could predict the culprits and methods of any case. Just now, with hints like the estate's outskirts, the pavilion, the victim's own footsteps, the wall... hadn't he immediately pinpointed the criminal? Even the special abilities that helped identify hidden clues about the criminal or more information no longer held any meaning for him. "How unfortunate. I doubt another game like this will come out." And with that final thought, Yeon Woo Hyeok lost consciousness. * * * "Yeon Detective. Are you listening?" "Huh? Yes." Yeon Woo Hyeok nodded as if in a daze. Seeing this, Oh Podoo clicked his tongue in disapproval. "You there. I vouched for you and gave you the badge, and you're already acting like this? Do you have any idea how many want to be detectives in Hanjing?" It was natural for Oh Choong to be displeased. What is a detective? They are the ones who, under the magistrate's orders, capture criminals and bring them to justice. Above, they served the rulers, and below, they captured villains for the benefit of the common people, earning their fame. How esteemed was such a role? Of course, promising young individuals didn’t become detectives just for that. The small amounts of money collected while catching criminals were surprisingly rewarding. First, they received a fee from the victims for diligently doing their job, then more from the criminal's family in exchange for not implicating them, a few coins for meals as they needed to eat along the way, and even for shoe repairs as they were worn from walking... It might sound like they were corrupt officials at first, but diligent detectives were far from it. Unlike corrupt officials, they didn’t demand compensation for lost lanterns. Thus, a job as noble and financially beneficial as a detective was not for just anyone. Especially in a prosperous city like this. There were numerous young people wanting to become detectives. Hence, Oh Podoo entrusting Yeon Woo Hyeok with the badge signifying his role as a detective was an exceptionally generous act. He wasn't from a notable family, nor was he a local, but a common wanderer. Some detectives even speculated, "Isn't he a distant relative of Oh Podoo?" However, Yeon Woo Hyeok was not a distant relative, nor had he bribed his way in. Oh Podoo appointed him as a detective based on rumors. - "It's truly eerie. As soon as I spoke, he found my lost candlestick. That young man must have some supernatural ability." - "It's amazing, Chief. The silver coins I worked hard to save all last year vanished, and that young man quickly identified the thief. It's grateful indeed, but I'm still curious how he figured it out. Could it be he has some mind-reading ability?" "You do need some capable people." While Oh Podoo primarily appointed young people with connections or those who showed sincerity with silver, there were issues with this traditional method. If the detectives under Podoo were too incompetent, it could lead to him being collectively punished. Of course, most city incidents could be solved by fieldwork and swinging a baton, but occasionally there were cases that those methods couldn't resolve. In such cases, if unresolved for too long, one might face unexpected repercussions from higher authorities. Experienced Oh Podoo knew the importance of having a smart few under him for such occasions. If they also had supernatural abilities, even better. That's why he approached Yeon Woo Hyeok, gave him the badge, and offered this honorable detective position. But seeing him dawdling and spacing out on his first case made Oh Podoo regret it a little. "Did I place too much faith in rumors?" He thought that while a single rumor might be unreliable, multiple sources provided a semblance of truth, but it was concerning to see this behavior so soon. Granted, the first case assigned to Yeon Woo Hyeok was indeed significant. After all, it was about a gentleman from the estate being murdered with a knife. But shouldn't a detective have the guts for this? Oh Podoo spoke with a stern face. "You remember helping Ma Papa, the tea leaf steamer at North Child Tea House, find his lost candlestick?" * * * "…!" Yeon Woo Hyeok just blinked. Whatever Oh Podoo was saying in front of him wasn’t registering at all. It made perfect sense. Just moments ago, Yeon Woo Hyeok had been playing a deduction game, and the next thing he knew, he found himself as a detective in a martial world he had never seen before. The badge hanging from his belt, the baton at his side, the lightly clad gear he wore, the laborers with their shoulder poles brushing past him, and the shopkeepers loudly offering drinks—everything felt surreal. "You remember helping Ma Papa, the tea leaf steamer at North Child Tea House, find his lost candlestick?" "Yes?" "Good, you remember. Didn't you use your extraordinary ability to find it back then? Your talents are needed now as well. Pull yourself together! A detective needs to have nerves of steel." It was then that Yeon Woo Hyeok remembered that he was now a detective, and the muscular middle-aged man in front of him was his superior, Oh Podoo. It felt as though he had always known this. He was a wanderer with no home, who had been lucky enough to become a detective by solving some local cases... ...and this was his first case since becoming a detective. If he failed, he might be dismissed immediately. Yeon Woo Hyeok quickly assessed the current situation. It was bewildering to be thrust into a completely unknown world, but he couldn't afford to get expelled. The difference between earning a wage with a roof over his head as a detective, and sleeping on the roadside as a homeless vagabond, was immense. "What did he just say?" North Child Tea House, Ma Papa, lost candlestick... A case he had solved before flashed through Yeon Woo Hyeok's mind. "I remember." "Hmm?" "I remember how I resolved the case of Ma Papa's lost candlestick." "Oh, do you now?" Oh Podoo's expression brightened. He had been uncertain, but hearing Yeon Woo Hyeok recall how he resolved the case with his exceptional abilities gave him confidence. In truth, those who wielded supernatural abilities or magic often had erratic and peculiar tendencies, with many claiming they couldn't perform one day despite having done so the previous day. Oh Podoo thought con artists might use similar excuses, but what could he do? Those with remarkable talents always garnered respect. "The lamp had no moisture in it that night." "What did you say?" "I said the lamp was dry." "...??" Oh Podoo glanced at the young detective, wondering if he was possessed by ghosts due to pressure, but Yeon Woo Hyeok continued calmly. "Do you know how Ma Papa’s lamp is constructed? The upper part holds oil, and the lower part contains cold water." Typically, lamps were filled with oil and a wick was inserted to light it. However, this particular lamp had a double bowl beneath to manage the oil's temperature by pouring cold water, thus conserving precious oil. "Ma Papa worked through the night processing tea leaves, keeping the lamp lit. But during a brief nap, the candlestick disappeared, and the remaining lamp had no cold water. Isn't that strange?" "Indeed, it is!" Oh Podoo found himself drawn into the young detective's words, feeling as if he were witnessing the scene firsthand. "The reason was that someone had already removed the cold water and reduced the oil, so that once the lamp went out, they could easily steal the candlestick. Ma Papa suspected the servant standing watch that night, yet I doubted the servant who tended the lamp in the morning. The one who tampered with the lamp was likely the culprit." "Remarkable, truly remarkable!" Oh Podoo clapped his hands enthusiastically on the street. "Could it be the six divine powers that monks speak of?" "What? No, it's not like that..." "Ah, of course not! I don't know much about the dharma, but six divine powers must be something truly extraordinary. But even touching on its essence is impressive. Wait, could it perhaps be witchcraft?" "I'm not really sure..." "Ah, it must be innate abilities. I trust it's not dark arts. If it were such a practice, people would probably already be dead." Oh Podoo patted Yeon Woo Hyeok on the back. The motion from his well-trained strength made Yeon Woo Hyeok stagger. "Honestly, I was thinking of finding an excuse to withdraw from this case. Given the victim is a lord of an estate, getting involved without caution could end with me in trouble. But seeing your extraordinary talent has changed my mind." "You're too kind." "Not at all. It's a remarkable talent. If anything comes to mind, feel free to tell me." Oh Podoo stroked his beard with a satisfied expression. Thinking of other chiefs burdened with foolish subordinates made him proud of selecting this detective. ※ The rights to this work belong to the copyright holder. Reproduction, duplication, modification, or distribution of the material can result in criminal punishment and civil liability.