The Fuse
"Sis Yurin is here!"
"Waaah!"
"Sis!"
Yurin had a habit she'd kept up religiously for years, separate from her daily routine.
"Really, you kids need to be careful. Those loads on your backs are heavy."
The adorable little ones ignored her warnings about the danger and came running, throwing themselves into her arms.
The orphanage and relief center—facilities created to fulfill basic human decency.
In these unstable times with crumbling public order, countless children were being left here.
If Yurin hadn't had that precious connection by her side when she was young, if Bijong and his family hadn't taken her in, would she have ended up like these kids—an orphan cast adrift?
It would have been truly grueling. Not just the hunger, but the soul-crushing loneliness of being left all alone.
That's why, even though her own circumstances weren't abundant, Yurin thought back to her childhood and worked hard grinding grain.
She boiled it with water in a pot to make a warm porridge, steaming doughy dumplings made from flour.
A bowl of porridge and a single dumpling. It wasn't enough to fill anyone up, but it was precious sustenance to get through the day.
She even prepared boiled chestnuts—pricey, but sweet enough to lift the spirits.
As Yurin ladled out the food to the children, they lined up in an orderly fashion they'd long since learned, holding out their bowls with both hands.
"Eat slowly, it's hot."
She gave a wry smile at the sight of a child nodding but wolfing it down anyway. They might burn their mouths, but she loved seeing it.
Being able to eat was proof they were alive, after all.
"Miss Yurin, we're always grateful."
"Mr. Yeob, you have all the hard work."
The orphanage manager offered his thanks, and even such small words from those around her fueled her to keep giving.
It wasn't much—just something she could manage alone—but she believed that if these kids could one day sprout and grow, their futures would be brighter than now. That conviction carried her day by day.
Then, footsteps approached the orphanage entrance.
"Double-check the count."
With a suspicious glance, she eyed the newcomers. The leader wore official robes—a county clerk from the magistrate's office.
Behind him trailed the village head and a bailiff, with spear-wielding soldiers further back.
What could bring them all the way to a place like this? The manager, Yeob, stepped forward cautiously.
"Sir, what brings you to our humble establishment?"
The clerk scanned Yeob up and down before dismissing him with a glance. His eyes turned to the children, counting them like livestock.
"Comply with the empire's tax laws."
At those words, the children's shoulders twitched in fear.
"Haha, sir. There are only kids here. Must be some mistake."
Yeob tried to intervene, but the bailiff shoved him down.
"Mistake? How dare a lowly manager question official records? They're listed as taxable able-bodied men."
"What the fuck? Are they insane?"
Yurin couldn't hold back her rage any longer.
Her fury boiling over, she hurled her ladle at the clerk and stormed forward, fists clenched like she was ready to swing.
"You crazy bitch? In front of a clerk?"
"Clerk my ass—are you even human? If you got nothing better to do, get the hell out."
The bailiff raised his arm to rough her up like he would a drunk, but the clerk, who'd been eyeing her, blocked him and continued flatly.
"It's the regulation. Any able-bodied man must bear it."
"Able-bodied? Do these kids look like men to you? They're still children!"
"If they're on the registry, they're treated as such."
"Their parents were killed by pirates!"
"No record of that. Why didn't you report it to the office for registry correction?"
Yurin was speechless for a moment. Is this what they call words?
"Dead or alive, if they're not removed from the registry, they're 'able-bodied men.'"
"Bullshit!"
"Sis, I'm scared."
One child clutched her skirt. Swallowing her anger, Yurin stepped forward to shield them.
"Go home."
"Fail to fulfill your duty, and you'll become slaves."
"No one here to take."
"Then will you pay in their stead?"
"...How much?"
"Let's see, a few silver taels or so."
The absurd amount from the clerk's ledger made Yurin's eyes bulge.
Stammering in shock, she might have accepted a reasonable sum despite her anger—but this ridiculous figure only fueled her defiance further.
Words she'd never dare utter normally flew from her lips.
She suddenly recalled what Young Master Yujin had said at the inn: if faced with injustice, drop his name.
"You think you can mess with us and walk away scot-free?"
The clerk and his men faltered briefly, wondering if she had backing.
"Even the great Yujin—Young Master Yujin—won't let you off. You know him, right?"
...But the hesitation passed quickly.
"...Yujin? Who's that?"
"No idea, sir."
...Huh? What's going on?
"Just some nobody bluffing."
"Tch, name-dropping fails."
Only then did Yurin sense things going south.
"Keep this up, and you'll be in deep shit!"
"Sure, sure."
She tried adding more, but...
"D-Do you know who my husband is? ...He's Suzhou's vice-commander! Think you can handle that? Scared? Then get out!"
Even her full-throated threat barely fazed the clerk.
His blank expression shifted to one of intrigued amusement.
"Obstructing tax collection, no intent to pay. We'll have to proceed by the book."
How is this any kind of law? Just squeezing blood from the poor under pretext of numbers.
"But there might be one way. The patrol envoy recently showed mercy."
"...What is it?"
The clerk licked his lips.
"We'll discuss the rest in the capital."
"The capital? That's..."
"Don't like it? Your choice."
An unexpected windfall. A chance to impress Patrol Envoy Yugu Su.
"...Fine, I'll go!"
Seeing her comply, the clerk smirked viciously.
"Then let's depart at once. Busy schedule."
"Sis...!"
"Big sis!"
The children's worried cries poured out.
"It'll be fine, kids."
Yurin turned with a forced smile to reassure them, then followed the group.
She'd acted nonchalant, but truthfully, an inexplicable fear gripped her.
"... "
The manager watched her go, lips pressed tight.
No choice. Sorry. He repeated it inwardly, vowing her sacrifice would spark a greater blaze.
"Exterminate the pirates!"
"Don't let a single one escape!"
What wind had blown this way?
I'd been curious about Yugu Su's reaction after my intervention, and his response proved him a sly fox.
Shamelessly pretending ignorance of his prior collusion, he'd cut ties instantly and mobilized to aid us.
Should've done this from the start. Now he was pulling not just coastal guards but even city watch forces for the pirate subjugation.
Suspicion confirmed.
Pinpointing the root was good, but it birthed new variables.
Unclear how Yugu Su would play against Governor Jo Unhyeon. They seemed at odds, but details escaped me. Collision amid unknowns... too unpredictable.
Game story-wise, Moyong Shin had likely contacted Jo Unhyeon by now.
Timing his Nanjing visit tied to scouting women for a bet.
Yet no whisper of a banquet from the governor's mansion. Had my meddling altered the plot?
Originally, no need for me in Jiangsu for "pirate subjugation."
Bijong, with my followers, would grind through to victories, earning an official summons with his wife.
That led to Jo Unhyeon spotting pretty Yurin at the feast and blackmailing her into rape.
"Fucking dogshit bastard."
Having seen their happy couple vibe firsthand, the vile game plot replayed vividly, souring my mood.
Visions of Yurin crying Bijong's name under that scum nearly had me drawing my Sage Cannon from my pocket. I soothed it down.
The cannon seemed to protest: Master's gone mad? Why hold me back? I stuck to: Not yet.
Maybe me stealing Bijong's spotlight and fame caused the divergence.
Preventing Yurin's encounter with Jo? For the best. As long as she stays off his radar.
The thought eased my unease.
These past days had been hectic. Bijong, volunteering as my aide, pulled all-nighters alongside.
Grateful, yet sorry for him.
"Bijong, shouldn't you head home today?"
"Everyone's suffering because of this, and I can't just bail."
No, then I'm the one awkward with your wife.
"While Young Master Yujin's here, we must solidify discipline, fortify the land against pirate ravages. Now or never."
Haha, Bijong's earnest smile revealed his true intent.
Yeah, that sense of duty made uniforms shine, past and present. Slackers at the top tarnish everything.
But I couldn't let it slide.
"Go home. That's an order, not a suggestion."
No real authority, of course. He treated me like a temp boss, but we were more allies.
"But if pirates strike meanwhile?"
"Nah, they won't dare for a day. I guarantee."
Not baseless. My achievement ability: Intimidating Shot.
Intimidating Shot
Reverberates an explosive roar to threaten pirates. Foes in fear lose attack intent for one day. (Cooldown: 720 hours)
Rooting them out was better long-term, but utility in holding.
"Today, minimal guards only—everyone else, rest! I'm clocking out early too."
My off-time declaration left Bijong speechless. Mission accomplished?
"Then, how about drinks at my place tonight?"
Damn it, dude.
This was all for him, but now what?
Did you clear it with Yurin? I knew he'd taken to me from the start, but this crossed lines. I'd catch the blame later.
No prior word, house messy, dragging in guests—how? Gotta tidy for face, but you'll pay later.
Something like that, right?
Yurin's always-gentle face turning icy? Unimaginable terror.
But Bijong was sharp; hard to refuse outright.
"...Got reamed by the commander this time."
"...Hmm."
"Lucky for good results, or he'd have stripped me on the spot."
"...Hmmm."
"Next eval's gonna tank hard."
"...Let's go."
Yeah, like that.
Whew, no helping it. I tried refusing. Blame Bijong's thick skull.
Before clocking out, I fired a massive boom! skyward from another beach, then returned to camp. Preparations done, our weary crew headed out for rare downtime.