Chapter 12. You, Come to My Room...
Chapter 12. You, Come to My Room...
##
"Huh?"
Geumhwabin is surprised at the words that she now belongs to me.
"I am the Cult Leader of the Hwanrak Cult."
Flinch.
I suppose she knows what the Hwanrak Cult is.
"Ah, I didn't come here to proselytize. I came to make a deal with you."
"...A deal...?"
I nod.
"I made a deal with your younger sister earlier, too."
I stroke the hair of Cheong-a, who was next to me.
"Unni... this oppa is a good oppa."
Oh, nice. Keep appealing to her like that.
"What do you mean by..."
"I heard you have good hands. You make what I need, and I pay the price for it... how about that deal?"
"As you can see, I don't have the capacity..."
I look around the room.
It's shabby.
Well, that's how shantytown houses are.
"I will cure your illness and take care of your food, clothing, and shelter first. I will provide a better environment than this place for both you and your sister. I promise on my name."
She looks hesitant.
But honestly, isn't this an incredible offer?
Then again, even I would be suspicious if someone suddenly offered such a good deal.
Or maybe she's hesitating because of the name Hwanrak Cult.
There must be a lot of talk about it being a cult, after all.
But unlike other cults, our Hwanrak Cult does not exploit labor, nor do we covet the wealth of our followers in the slightest.
I, the Cult Leader, only covet the bodies of the followers...
It's troublesome that people misunderstand us so much.
"I should show you that I'm sincere."
I say to Cheong-a, who was looking at her unni with a worried face from the side.
"There must be a doctor in this village, right? A proper one, not a quack."
"...Yes..."
"Here, take this money and bring a doctor. You need to treat your unni quickly, don't you?"
I had Cheong-a take one of the followers with her to bring a doctor.
As they leave, Geumhwabin opens her mouth.
"Where did you hear about me..."
"I know everything."
She looks at me with even more suspicious eyes.
【 Tell her information that isn't known to people, only to Geumhwabin.
There is a small mole under her left buttock. 】
...That's a bit different... sigh, never mind...
I whispered to her.
"You... don't you have a small mole under your left buttock?"
"!!"
She still looks at me with suspicion.
Well, obviously...
【 Isn't there different information?
When her father died of consumption 8 years ago, he held her hand and said, "Please take care of Cheong-a... cough cough keueuk... keureureuk..." 】
This bastard, is he doing this on purpose?
"I also know that when your father passed away 8 years ago, he asked you to take good care of Cheong-a."
"How do you know that..."
"Didn't I tell you? I know everything."
"..."
I sit on the chair next to the bed and look her straight in the eye.
"Let's make a deal, for you and your sister, and for me."
After being lost in thought for a moment, she opens her mouth.
"My life had no hope anyway. If you take in my sister as well, I will do everything."
"You thought well. And it's not taking you in, it's a fair deal. Once you recover from your illness, you'll be busy making various tools, so you'll be quite occupied."
"By any chance... you said you'd take care of my food, clothing, and shelter, does that mean I'm leaving this place?"
"That's up to you, but it would be best if you stayed inside or near the sect."
That way, I can receive what you make and use it right away.
Hehehe, I'm already getting excited thinking about making 'that'.
"Then, um, if it's not too presumptuous, would it be okay if one more person came with us?"
Hmm? Who else was there? I thought they lived alone...
"There is an unni who has cherished me like her own sister..."
"That's fine. If that unni agrees. Of course, she doesn't need to join our sect, and I'll get her a house near the sect. I'll even find her a job if she needs one."
"She does sewing, so I don't think you'll need to find her a job."
Sewing... huh?
"By any chance, is her name Eunmirang?"
"!! That's right. How did you know?"
I grin.
Saved me the trouble of working.
"Didn't I tell you? I know everything."
##
The doctor who arrived shortly after prescribed the medicine right away.
Ah, an injection would have been instant for something like this. What a shame.
"Cheong-a, I need to ask one more favor."
As I look at Hwa-bin, she speaks to Cheong-a as if she understands.
"Go and bring Mi-rang unni. Tell her I have something urgent to say."
"Okay, unni."
Cheong-a runs back out.
She looked like she didn't even have the strength to move earlier, can she really be this energetic after just one bowl of porridge...
"I'm glad to see your energy has returned."
A moment later, Cheong-a returned with a woman.
This woman must be Eunmirang.
As soon as she entered and saw us, she looked wary.
A natural reaction.
"We'll step out for a moment, so you two talk."
While Geumhwabin explained it to her, we waited outside for a while.
The sun is already setting.
I should sleep here tonight.
I think there was an inn behind the tavern earlier, so I should head there.
"Since it's late today, go to the inn earlier and get a room. Oh, and tell the innkeeper there's a carriage at the village entrance and ask if there's a place to keep it for a while."
I remembered the carriage I had left at the entrance with 2 followers because the road was narrow and rough.
"Yes, Cult Leader-nim."
As the followers left, I sat on the wooden porch.
Tap, tap.
After wiping off the dust, I look at the Left Dharma Protector.
She looks at me too, but she doesn't seem to know what I want.
"Sit."
"Yes, Cult Leader-nim."
Only then does she sit next to me.
I chuckle and look up at the sky, which has already turned dark.
This place has very little light, so it seems like you can see more stars.
It reminds me of when I was preparing for employment...
Every time I returned home late at night after my part-time job, I would look up at the sky.
I couldn't see any stars there at all.
I couldn't see the path ahead, either.
But here, they shine brightly.
I, too, will shine.
I held the hand of the Left Dharma Protector sitting next to me, and she gently leaned her head on my shoulder.
When I gently kissed her, she looked at me with a flushed face.
"...Cult Leader-nim..."
A moment later, Cheong-a came out from inside.
"Oppa, they said you can come in."
I stroke Cheong-a's hair and go inside.
"Cult Leader-nim... should I call you that...?"
Eunmirang's question.
"My name is Ja Ung-cheon. 'Cult Leader-nim' is what our followers call me; you guys can just call me by my name."
"Yes."
It'll be awkward for now.
"So, do you intend to leave?"
"The conditions are so good that..."
"I told Hwa-bin this too, but this is a deal. You're good at making clothes, right? I happened to need a seamstress, so how about it? You make the clothes I need, and I pay the price."
"I'll take the gamble, since living like this here is pointless anyway."
Great!
"There is such a thing as a gamble that you can never lose. Good, let's depart tomorrow morning. If you have a lot of luggage, I'll send someone separately to bring it later."
Geumhwabin and Eunmirang tried to get up to bow, but I stopped them.
"Don't do that. I said it before, we are in an equal relationship. A deal. Don't forget that."
A moment later, one of the followers returned and informed me that they had secured rooms at the inn, and we headed to the inn together.
"What did you decide to do with the followers who were guarding the carriage?"
"I asked the innkeeper, and he said there is no separate detour to enter the village."
If they just come in as is, the carriage will definitely break because of the road...
"I'll have them rotate with the other followers, and the ones who were guarding the carriage will go to the inn."
Hmm, I feel a bit sorry...
"I need to go to the village entrance for a moment."
"Yes, Cult Leader-nim."
The Left Dharma Protector and the follower followed me without a word.
##
"Did you come, Cult Leader-nim?"
"Hmm... you've worked hard."
"It is nothing, Cult Leader-nim!"
The followers who came with me this time were among the 20 I had selected for protection.
Since we were going to a rough neighborhood, the Left Dharma Protector must have selected only the strongest ones.
Because we have to be prepared for any situation.
【 Tell me about these two followers.
Han So-ye (Left), 25 years old. Devotee rank.
20 years ago, followed parents to join the sect.
Would jump into a fire pit if the Cult Leader said so.
Gwak Ok (Right), 22 years old. Devotee rank.
15 years ago, wandered as an orphan and joined the sect.
Desperately wishes to be the subject of a Purification Ritual. 】
Kueh~ look at this loyalty.
I selected the 20 guards mainly based on ability and loyalty, but I'm very satisfied.
"Yes, So-ye, Ok. You've worked hard because of me."
Perhaps surprised that I knew their names, or perhaps moved by what I said, they look up at me with sparkling eyes.
"Just suffer a little for today. When we return to the sect, I will reward everyone who came with me today."
"I..."
Ok trails off.
I grabbed her chin with my hand and said.
"Ok, do you think I don't know what you want?"
She blushes.
Is it just my imagination that I feel killing intent from the Left Dharma Protector behind me?
##
As we enter the inn, the innkeeper runs up immediately.
"Did you arrive, Sir? The rooms are already prepared."
The address changed from 'customer' to 'Sir'.
Money is indeed great.
"Yes, thank you."
I give him 10 jeon as I say that.
"Oh my, thank you. You can use the rooms on the 2nd floor. If you need anything, please call me anytime."
I took the key the innkeeper gave me and went up to the 2nd floor.
But there are 2 rooms?
"Then, Cult Leader-nim. Please rest for today."
The Left Dharma Protector and the followers greet me and try to go into the room next door.
I guess this room is for me to use alone.
"Hmm... Left Dharma Protector."
"Yes, Cult Leader-nim."
"Where are you going? You are in this room."
She hesitated for a moment, and the other followers looked at her with envious eyes.
Her face turns red immediately.
"That..."
"Then, see you all tomorrow."
With the greeting, I took the Left Dharma Protector's hand and went into the room.
I can't hold back anymore!!
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