Chapter 133: Don't Touch Him (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 133: Don't Touch Him (2)
By the time we reached the lodge in Hanam, evening had already settled in.
Bacheonmaru.
A single glance was all it took to see it was a massive structure, likely the largest lodge in the entire region.
The Murim Alliance really pulled out all the stops.
They’d provided me with lodging in my past life when I attended the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament as well. However, accommodations were typically assigned based on a clan's reputation, and some lesser-known participants even had to pay for their own stay. The Gu Clan, of course, had never been slighted; we always received good rooms.
A man who appeared to be from the Murim Alliance stood at the entrance, checking in the young prodigies. "You may enter," he said.
He waved Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah through immediately, as if their identities required no verification. I assumed it was due to their distinctive attire and the clan symbols embroidered on their clothing. The four noble clans held their exalted status for a reason.
"Gu Yangcheon of the Shanxi Gu Clan… You are checked in. You may enter."
Although he let me pass, his gaze was peculiar. Unlike the lecherous look he'd given Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah, he stared at me with a strange intensity.
[Is it because you look that weird?]
…More likely because a son of the Gu Clan is here.
I was, after all, the son of the Tiger Warrior and the brother of the Sword Phoenix. I showed him the recommendation letter from the Dishonored Venerable, which I'd obtained through the Second Elder, but he barely glanced at it. Presumably, my invitation letter was sufficient.
That’s going to become a problem later, though.
It would be convenient if they never checked it, but the Murim Alliance, despite its shortcomings, was sure to verify the recommendation letters eventually. Such precautions were necessary. The martial world was full of powerful maniacs, and some would erupt like wildfire if they failed to make a name for themselves.
"You may use the fourth room on the Grand Silver Floor," the staff member directed.
Following his guidance, I headed to my room. The quality noticeably improved with each ascending floor. The two young women who entered before me had probably been assigned to the top floor.
Silver isn’t bad at all.
I was content as long as I had a place to sleep. Honestly, a lower floor would have been preferable for its proximity to the dining area.
Gu Jeolyub, who accompanied me, had to present his recommendation letter since he lacked an invitation. When the staff saw it was written by my father, the man kept glancing back and forth between us, a comical expression on his face.
"We'll be unpacking now," Hongwa said as we entered the room.
"Thanks, I'll leave it to you."
Hongwa and Wi Seol-Ah began unpacking immediately. While they worked, I took the opportunity to go downstairs and survey the area.
Even though the tournament was still a week away, I wasn't the only one who had arrived early; others had come ahead of schedule as well.
…Hmm?
A particular uniform caught my eye amidst the crowd. A group of young men with rough expressions, dressed in dark yellow. They seemed to be from the Hwangbo Clan.
They were the first people I'd encountered in this life who weren't from one of the four noble clans.
Now that I think about it, that's strange.
Surrounded by so many individuals from the most prestigious clans, I'd had little exposure to anyone else.
"Who is it?" I wondered.
Who was the young prodigy from the Hwangbo Clan?
They must have had one. Although not among the four noble clans, the Hwangbo Clan was still highly ranked. After a moment, I recalled a name.
"Wasn't it the Silent Fist from that clan?"
A future expert known as the Silent Fist, a young martial artist who would slaughter many demonic humans and earn great renown. Despite his boundless hatred for them, his fists were quiet and precise, not excessive—hence the name.
Though he ended up becoming a demonic human himself.
I remembered him because he had once been under my command. Was his name Hwangbo Seon? I didn't see anyone matching that description among the group. I recalled he was from a branch family, so perhaps it was fortunate we hadn't crossed paths. Meeting figures from my past life wasn't always advantageous.
"Young Master! We've finished unpacking!" Wi Seol-Ah's voice called from the room.
"Thanks."
"Yup!"
"How long will it take you to unpack your things?" I asked Hongwa.
"Hmm… Not even fifteen minutes. We don't have much."
"Then come down when you're done. Let's eat together."
"Oh… um." Hongwa offered an awkward smile.
"If we were to join you at the table, it might attract unwanted attention toward you, Young Master. We should just—"
"After all this time?"
"Pardon?"
"You're starting to care about that now? It's just a meal."
This was a place where many noble clans gathered. Given how the staff had treated us, people would likely be watching. Some might frown upon a young master dining with his servants, but…
"I'll handle any issues. Don't worry."
Finally, Hongwa nodded. From a servant's perspective, it must be uncomfortable. To be honest, since my resurrection, my behavior toward them had been more akin to selfish stubbornness than genuine benevolence.
[So you admit your actions are somewhat self-centered.]
Yes. That's right.
[It is a sin when you know you're being selfish.]
I know that as well.
[…Hmph.]*
Elder Shin fell silent, seemingly displeased with my response, but I would proceed as I saw fit.
After Hongwa left, I opened all the windows in my room. Letting in the fresh air, I watched the snow falling outside. Despite the blanket of white, the streets were brightly lit. This place prided itself on being the safest, hence the extensive lighting.
"Safest place, my ass."
Knowing it would be destroyed in a few years, I found the title almost laughable.
"I want some alcohol."
The craving hit me strongly today. I hadn't drunk much in my past life, but I had enjoyed it.
[Then why refrain?]
"I have to hold back."
Recognizing that my body wasn't in a normal state, I'd decided to avoid anything that could disrupt my internal energy flow. Alcohol was off the table for now.
"…Perhaps I should ask Tang Soyeol for some pungent tea."
Wouldn't that be somewhat similar? With that delusional thought, I headed downstairs.
* * *
As I'd thought, with a week still until the tournament began, the lodge wasn't yet crowded. Members of noble clans disliked waiting, so the early arrivals were either from distant regions or had business to attend to. Thanks to that, the atmosphere was relatively calm.
I chewed on a dumpling with a slight frown.
"How is it?" Wi Seol-Ah asked, having brought me a plate of food.
"…It's not bad, but the dumplings we had in the carriage were better."
After serving me, she fixed her own plate and took a bite. A smile instantly spread across her face. "It's good, though…"
"It is good. I'm just comparing."
"Do you want… some tea?"
"Hmm? Yeah, thanks."
Namgung Bi-ah, who had been asleep earlier, was now quietly sipping tea without eating.
"Where is Lady Tang?"
"Sis Soyeol said she'd take some time! She has to redo her makeup."
"Um… she said… not to say that…" Namgung Bi-ah interjected softly.
"Oh." Wi Seol-Ah quickly covered her mouth, horrified, but the damage was done.
Makeup? Did she really need to bother for a simple meal? As I pondered this, Elder Shin spoke up mockingly.
[That's what it means to be a woman.]
But these girls don't do that.
[…That's because they're at a level where they don't need to. It's why I despise you.]
Last time you said you didn't like me. Now it's despise…
Was his hatred for me escalating a bit too quickly?
I turned my gaze elsewhere after eating another dumpling. "Why aren't you eating?" I asked Gu Jeolyub, who was barely touching his food.
"I went out of my way to invite you to eat, and you're just nibbling? Are you looking down on the fruits of the farmers' labor?"
"N-No, sir. I just didn't expect you to call me to such a spot."
"It's not exactly grand."
Why did everyone make such a fuss about dining with me?
After a moment's hesitation, Gu Jeolyub spoke. "Don't you dislike me?"
"Yeah."
"…"
"But what does that have to do with this? Just eat."
If I had to choose, I undoubtedly disliked him. It wouldn't have mattered if he only bothered me, but his pursuit of Wi Seol-Ah was a significant issue. Honestly, that made me want to use and abuse him even more, but…
The Second Elder's words echoed in my mind: Go a little easy on this child. He's a poor one. That single, irksome remark had taken root.
Tsk.
I, too, had been pressured by those around me, so I felt a pang of sympathy for Gu Jeolyub, regardless of his personality.
I'm still going to use him a lot, though.
"What did he say? Your grandfather," I asked as he carefully ate.
"Huh?"
"What do you mean, 'Huh?'? Don't play dumb. Telling you to observe me is obvious, but I can't tell what your true purpose is here."
"He didn't really tell me to do anything else."
Yeah, sure he didn't. He should have at least tried to hide his shifty eyes. Why was everyone around me so terrible at lying?
If someone asked if Gu Jeolyub was a nuisance… I didn't really see him that way. He wasn't the type to be a nuisance in the first place. But I did feel a bit sorry for him. He had talent, a handsome face, and a decent background… He was simply unlucky.
It's not that a man of greed is scary, but how everything around him rotted away. That's what I saw in Gu Jeolyub.
"Do what you want. Just try to be inconspicuous. If I catch you doing anything fishy, I swear I'll break your arm for real this time."
"F-Fishy? Of course not."
He was still a kid. Treated like a young man, but he wasn't even twenty. At most, he was a hardworking boy. And it seemed the First Elder was the only one who didn't realize it.
As I stared at him, something brushed against my lips, and I jerked back. It was Wi Seol-Ah, trying to feed me. "Young Master, you need to eat your veggies too."
"…"
"You ate everything except the vegetables… Young Master, are you a baby? Grandpa said only babies are picky with their food."
"…I was saving them for last."
"Liar! I've almost never seen you eat vegetables!"
As always, Wi Seol-Ah treating me like a child was a novel and uncomfortable experience. Defeated, I accepted the vegetables.
[Hehe, weren't you the one who always treated her like a child?]
…Life is exhausting.
Even while eating, I kept an eye on my surroundings. If my past life had taught me anything, it was that trouble always brewed in places like this. When strong individuals gathered, there was always someone who couldn't resist showing off—especially among young prodigies.
So I need to be careful not to get swept up in any shitstorms.
I couldn't afford trouble right away. If it had to happen, let it be after the week was over. I prayed nothing would involve me until then.
"Young Master, Young Master."
"Hmm?"
"Over there…"
As expected, things never went my way. Following Wi Seol-Ah's pointed finger, I saw a crowd gathered around a large figure in a dark yellow uniform. He had an impressive physique, though not as massive as the Second Elder's.
Hwangbo Clan?
It seemed to be a young prodigy from the clan I'd seen earlier. A blood relative of the clan leader, perhaps? I didn't recognize anyone around him, but they must have been from a notable clan to attend the tournament.
In the center of the crowd, a woman was bearing the brunt of their insults. The dumpling I was about to eat froze halfway to my mouth as my eyes settled on her.
Her face was hidden by a veil, and her clothing gave no clue to her clan affiliation. The robes were beautiful but not of the highest quality, and her figure was obscured by multiple layers against the cold. But her earrings were clearly visible.
And those earrings caught my eye. They weren't a clan symbol or anything special, just uniquely shaped. But they were the same earrings a certain woman had worn until the very end.
…That crazy bitch is here too?
I discarded my hesitation and ate the dumpling as if I'd seen nothing. That terrifying woman might notice even the slightest reaction. I looked away. There was no need to wonder if it was really her; I was certain.
I didn't know why a member of one of the four noble clans was here so early, but one thing was clear: I wanted no part in whatever she was doing.
I expected to see her at the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament.
But seeing her in person brought a flood of thoughts, most of them unpleasant.
"What clan are you from? I am Hwangbo Cheolwi. Would you like to have a drink together?" the man offered.
The woman gestured to the glass already in front of her. "My apologies, but I must decline. I am already drinking."
"Wouldn't it be more enjoyable with company? On a chilly night like this, sharing a drink warms the spirit."
"I apologize again, but I already have a drinking companion."
Her voice was beautiful, yet she declined once more. Hwangbo Cheolwi, however, showed no sign of backing down. He pulled out a chair and sat opposite her. "I'm Hwangbo Cheolwi."
"…Yes, you mentioned that."
"Do you not know the Hwangbo Clan?"
"I do. They are a great clan, are they not?"
A great clan, my ass. They were significant, but they paled in comparison to the four noble clans. And the veiled woman belonged to one of those very clans.
Does that boar-brained bastard have no sense?
He seemed to have been drinking, but at an event like this, he should have been more cautious. How could he act so recklessly without thinking? It was pathetic, like watching a reflection of my past self.
"If you know that, then aren't your actions a bit… you know?"
"…What do you mean?"
"Sheesh… That cold voice is so charming. If it's not too impolite, could you please remove your veil?"
"It is impolite."
I continued eating, but my ears were fixed on their conversation. This was likely Hwangbo Cheolwi's first time at the tournament. No one with any sense would approach a stranger so presumptuously without knowing their background.
That was what worried me. Not for the woman—who was feigning weakness and ignorance—but for the boar-like Hwangbo. He had chosen to provoke someone he should never have touched. How unlucky.
At least I'm not involved.
As unlucky as he was, I didn't care as long as the trouble stayed away from me.
"What are you doing!"
Fortunately, someone intervened, seemingly to stop the confrontation. It was foolish to get involved; nothing good would come of it. Perhaps it was a do-gooder.
"…What do you think you're doing right now?"
But that voice came from our table…?
Hwangbo Cheolwi turned his head toward the voice, his expression twisting with anger. I looked up, bewildered, to see who had spoken.
The young man seemed utterly oblivious to my gaze, his eyes burning with righteous determination.
It was Gu Jeolyub.