I Dismissed It Because It Was Hangul
I Dismissed It Because It Was Hangul
I don't know what it is, but I'd better be honest, right?
In times like this, it's a relief that I'm 7 years old.
"Well, if I learn it... I'll be able to use it someday, won't I? The world is wide, after all."
At that, Truga looked at Vargen.
Vargen stared at me with a stern expression, then opened his mouth.
"Hmm, I see. That could be possible."
Vargen nodded toward Truga. Truga let out a sigh.
"Haa... as if I'm not busy enough already... Tch, can't be helped."
Truga scratched his head and looked my way.
"I'll teach you to read and write starting tomorrow evening. Of course, it won't be free. Since you have enough strength to knock down most guys, you'll guard me."
"... I understand."
And so, I began learning to read and write.
Days of nonstop busyness followed.
As soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, I ate breakfast with Serkai, then left Serkai with Ajumeoni Iren.
In the mornings, I spent the whole time training, gritting my teeth and pushing my body to its limits.
At lunch, I ate, then attended meetings where Vargen and the warriors gathered.
"Since everyone is here, let's begin."
Vargen looked up at the sky.
"The Black Omen is about to begin. The Chieftain probably knows as well."
The warriors nodded.
"That's right. Even in the hunt earlier, we saw ones with red eyes."
"There weren't that many. But they were stronger and more ferocious."
Vargen nodded.
"From now on, large-scale hunts are forbidden. Keep the children in the village, and two warriors will go hunting together."
Vargen looked at the other warriors and continued.
"Guides, patrol the roads connecting to Winter Gate. Truga, what about the Imperial bastards?"
Truga, who had been scribbling something, looked up.
"Summer is coming soon, so the merchants will come too. Once the roads are cleared, that is. And there are soldiers coming, claiming they're conscripting. We need to be careful."
Vargen nodded.
"Right. There will probably be a signal from the Chieftain soon. We just need to move according to the signal. Don't think only about this winter; we have to think until the next winter. Understood?"
The other warriors nodded.
"Good. We'll need more lumber. Should we rebuild the barrier too?"
When Truga asked, Vargen nodded.
"Yes. We need to prepare. Lukar."
Startled by the sudden call, I looked up at Vargen.
"Yes?"
"Go to the storehouse. Tell the storekeeper to bring out the barrier planks. And help with the work."
Like the other warriors, I nodded.
"I have nothing more to say today."
At Vargen's words, the other warriors turned and began moving busily.
I checked on Serkai once, then went to the storehouse on the west side of the village and carried out the wooden planks from the underground storage.
And just like that, the afternoon flew by. In the evening, I learned writing in Truga's tent.
Serkai was sleeping nearby.
"Look, these are the Imperial bastards' letters. And this is the writing of Herkan."
Truga spread out two sheets of paper.
"... Are these the Imperial letters?"
On the paper Truga spread out, there were Hangul and pictures written respectively. The pictures were probably Herkan's writing.
Just then, letters visible only to my eyes appeared.
[For readability, the writing system has been unified into Hangul.]
What? Then I didn't need to learn in the first place?
I laughed inwardly for a moment, but then I realized just how much Hangul could do.
"Now look, the Imperial bastards try to record everything in the world through letters and numbers. They're an arrogant bunch."
[Deep Winter Period, 38th Day]
[Storehouse Check
Smoked Meat — 12 pieces of cow hind leg, 8 pieces of reindeer front leg
Animal Fat — 7 jars (2 are running low)
Dried Blood Cakes — 3 sacks
Firewood — 10 days' worth for the stove]
※ The fat will run out first. Need to go hunting once more before the thaw.
[Thawing Period, 4th Day]
[Incoming]
Bear Hide — 1 large piece (hunting party. Said it was a red-eyed one. Lots of scratches on the hide.)
Reindeer Hide — 4 medium pieces
Animal Fat — 2 jars (hunting party's share)
[Outgoing]
Smoked Meat — 3 pieces of cow hind leg → sent to Winter Gate guard unit
Firewood — 2 days' worth → replenish for the stove
※ Red-eyed beasts are increasing. The large hide has many scratches, so it might not fetch a good price.
[Thawing Period, 18th Day]
[Trade with Imperial Merchant (Raspel Trading Company 'Ern')
Reindeer Hide, medium — 4 pieces → 6 Bel in silver (1.5 Bel per piece. Cheaper than last year.)
Bear Hide, large — 1 piece → 4 Bel in silver (half price due to scratches. The bastard pointed at the scratches three times. Damn bastard.)
Salt, 3 sacks ← 9 Bel in silver
Iron Nails, 3 fistfuls ← 2 Bel in silver
Needles, 10 ← 1 Bel in silver]
[Total Expenditure: 12 Bel in silver
Total Income: 10 Bel in silver
Shortfall: 2 Bel in silver → to be covered with smoked meat in the next trade]
※ Salt prices have risen. Last year it was 2 Bel per sack, this year 3 Bel.
According to that damn Ern bastard, supplies from the Raspel side have decreased. Because of the war.
I told him to bring more iron nails next time. For barrier repairs.
My head spun. What was all this about?
Just then, I heard laughter.
"Ha! Now you finally look your age! This is normal!"
It was Truga's laughter. But he was right. This was what normal should be.
At least I knew that the silver coins among the money I first received from Vargen were called Bel.
"Haa... so, what is all this? I don't know anything."
"I'll teach you one by one, so remember well. Your head's going to hurt quite a bit for a while."
And so, I learned writing until my head was about to explode.
I learned reading and writing slowly, so as not to arouse suspicion, but learning to read ledgers was a completely new experience.
Two months... no, two periods had passed since I pretended to be literate while actually reading and writing. A lot had happened during that time.
I guess you could say I came to understand this damn world better.
First, I barely managed to understand the seasons and dates Truga had written down.
In this world, 360 days make one year, and 45 days make one month.
But there's no moon here. So they count 45 days by the brightest star.
In Imperial terms, it's called the 8 Star Positions, and in the Imperial calendar, it looks like this:
[Imperial Year 972, 2nd Star Position, 35th Day]
That's simple enough, but in civilian terms, it's different again.
[Sowing Period, 35th Day]
That's today's date.
Literally, it means the 35th day of the season of sowing.
And I also learned about copper, silver, and gold coins.
Gold coin is Sar, silver coin is Bel, copper coin is Dor.
1 gold coin is 100 silver coins, 1 silver coin is 100 copper coins. Something like that, I understood.
It's the common way in web novels.
But according to Truga, the saints whose names are announced by the temple for each Star Position also have separate names.
Why is it so complicated?
Damn, I miss Korea, where a month was 30 days.
... Wait, was a month really 30 days? Damn it, I'm already confused.
Anyway, today was the day the merchant came.
I pushed the cart behind Truga as he led it, heading south toward the massive Winter Gate.
Winter Gate stood tall, as if carved from a giant tree.
When we arrived, the gate was open, and carriages with some kind of emblem painted on them had already arrived.
It was an emblem of a tied sack with one silver coin (marked as Bel) drawn on it.
"Take a good look. That's the emblem of the trading company that comes from the city called Raspel."
Hmm, I'll just remember it as the Raspel Trading Company when I see a tied sack.
Upon arrival, a man walked toward us.
He wore a luxurious fur coat, had gold hair and blue eyes, and sported a monocle. An Imperial.
"Hey there, Truga."
"Ern."
The two clasped hands and shook.
"No need to drag things out... who's that?"
"Oh, my assistant. He's learning to write, so I brought him for experience."
This man named Ern's gaze turned to me.
"Hmm... writing, you say. A unique young man. Anyway, let's get to the trade."
"Right. Lukar, get the ledger ready to record."
"Yep."
That bastard would faint if he knew I was 7 years old, right?
Laughing inwardly, I took out the ledger and prepared black ink and a quill pen.
Ern drove the carriage and ordered his men to carry the boxes.
Looking at the boxes, I wrote down the list and recorded the quantities in the ledger.
Just then, a voice came from behind. I turned my head to see Ern and Truga talking.
"As you probably already know, the Empire is busy preparing for war right now. Supplies are being requisitioned, and people are being conscripted."
Ern took something from his bosom and lit it with a lighter-like object.
For a moment, my mind stopped, then started again.
What is that? Isn't that a lighter? More than that, wasn't this world medieval? Does a trading company head smoke?
"Hmph, stop beating around the bush and talk. It's not like this is your first time dealing with my personality."
"Heh heh. That's true... but don't worry. The salt that's already gone up isn't that high. It's just that food has gained value. You'll have to come down to half price."
"Don't talk nonsense. 20."
"Hmm, 40."
"25. No more than that. The sun is turning black, isn't it?"
Ern's expression stiffened.
"Tch, can't be helped. I'll take a small loss."
"I'll remember that."
While checking the luggage and writing in the ledger, I kept my ears open and glanced over, eavesdropping on their conversation.
Hmm, they seem to be talking about trade prices.
If that's the case, how much is the ledger value?
"Lukar, come here."
"Ah, yep."
Truga held out his hand, and I naturally handed him the ledger.
"Hmm... for a first attempt, it's decently written. But the prices are decided between me and this bastard here, so you only need to record them at the end."
I got the ledger back and wrote the prices as Truga called them out.
While I was writing, money and goods were exchanged between the two men, and it was incredibly hectic.
Then Ern, seeing me moving a huge bundle of hides, muttered.
"Oh ho, quite strong. How long has it been since you started teaching him?"
Truga grinned at Ern.
"About two periods, I think."
"Only that long?"
Ern looked this way with a stiff face.
Suddenly, a large hand blocked his gaze.
"Where are you looking? This boy is my assistant. Don't even dream of taking him away."
"... Hmph, I have no intention to. We have plenty of competent people on our side too."
With that exchange of sharp words, I desperately finished writing the entire ledger.
"D-done... Here you go..."
I'm completely drained, damn it...
"Hmm, good work. Do it like this next time too."
Truga put the ledger in his bosom and looked at Ern.
"When's the next time you'll come?"
"Hmm... phew... the roads are cleared, so probably once every period. However, if what you said is right and that time is approaching... there's a possibility it'll be delayed."
"I see."
The two shook hands again, then turned their backs and returned to their respective places.
"Load the goods."
"Yep."
I helped Truga load the luggage onto the cart and glanced at Winter Gate.
Someday, I'll have to go out beyond there, right?
This is a romance fantasy world, so maybe I'll have to go to the Empire...
... Come to think of it, I think there was an academy here, but I can't remember well.
And so that day ended, and time passed again.
One winter passed, and by the time I turned 8, Serkai finally spoke.
"Food!"
"... Your first words to your oppa are 'food'?"
Damn it, no matter how you look at it, this isn't right.