Judgment at Jeonju Gate
I'll let you huddle up nice and cozy with your buddies. All friendly-like. Fuck, this sucks. That was the conclusion I'd mulled over long and hard. My mood was total shit. Every step, the bandits' heads dangling from the horse's ass bumped together like wind chimes, rattling away.
Blood had splattered on my clothes, just enough to tickle my nose with that metallic stench without overwhelming it.
“……!”
The last bandit, hands bound behind his back, kept glancing back at me nonstop as he walked ahead. Like he thought I might skewer him with my spear any second. Not that the idea hadn't crossed my mind. If he tried any bullshit, I was fully ready to run him through without a second thought.
Anyway, from the moment we'd run into those bandits until we reached Jeonju's city walls, I had to put up with this crap. By the time the distant walls came into view, all I could think about was rushing home for a bath and crashing hard.
“Ugh, fuck. Seriously.”
They say a bad day picks you, and damn if I hadn't chosen the worst one. A long line of people snaked toward the Jeonju gates, all waiting to get in. And at the entrance, guards were conducting inspections.
I had my clear status as a Hanryang Gapsa, so I wouldn't get held up, but it was obvious entry would take time.
“Hey, you. Come here. Don't turn around. Back up.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
This bastard could slip into the crowd and bolt if I wasn't careful. I made him back up to me, then pulled an arrow from my quiver and jammed it into his head—not his skull, but through the topknot on his crown like a hairpin. That way, even if he ran, we'd track him easy.
“Whoa, fuck! You scared the shit outta me.”
A horrified yelp came from behind. Some guy heading into Jeonju like me had spotted the horse's ass and freaked. Naturally—he was staring at the human heads swinging there.
I'd wrapped them in cloth stripped from the corpses like bundles, but blood still seeped from the ragged necks. Not a pretty sight. Better than just dangling bare heads, though.
“It's fine. No big deal.”
I waved off the pale-faced uncle staring at me. I tried pointing at the bandit to explain, but he bolted like I was the devil, straight toward the gates—not back where he'd come from.
What the hell? Was he trying to cut in line?
“Over there! Hey! That way!”
Nope. He was ratting me out to the guards.
“What the hell are you?!”
“Drop your weapons and surrender!”
“Or else...!”
The guards came on fierce. Not just spears aimed my way—they even leveled matchlocks at me. Fair enough. My clothes and horse were soaked in blood everywhere.
“Hey, calm down first.”
Like when I'd first met the bandits, I held the reins in one hand and raised both arms. Eyes locked on the lit fuses of their jochong, I spoke steadily.
“I'm Hanryang Gapsa Kim Si-jin. On my way for the Hakdang entrance exam, ran into bandits, took 'em out. Mind if I show my gapsa badge?”
“K-Kim Gapsa, sir?”
“Yeah. You know me?”
“Who doesn't? In Jeonju, if you don't know Kim Gapsa, you're a Japanese spy.”
Damn. My good looks must've spread here too.
……Along with the rumors of me wrecking that gisaeng house.
“What's with the arrowhead guy?”
The tense vibe eased. Guards lowered spears and pulled fuses from matchlocks. I dropped my hands too.
“The last one. Was three total—got heads from the other two right here.”
I flashed my badge while answering.
“Three, all by yourself?”
The guard taking it didn't even check, just stared.
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“Haha, as the rumors say—hot-blooded.”
Maybe 'cause of that childhood story where I took down five robbers barehanded as a kid, the reaction was lukewarm.
“Here, take it back.”
“Thanks. So what's the deal? Why the sudden inspections?”
As I pocketed the badge, I asked about the line. Last time for the exam, no queue—just two guards bullshitting at the gate. Now more guards, matchlocks with lit fuses, ready to fire anytime.
“Well, see...”
He lowered his voice like it was hush-hush, glanced around, then spilled what happened a few days back.
“Thieves hit Jeonju's richest house, Choi family. Guess what they stole?”
“What?”
“……”
He mimed lifting a matchlock, clueing me in.
“Fucking insane.”
“Might not be one thief—could be a gang. Not just one, but three!”
Registering even one jochong took mountains of paperwork and exams. Stealing three? No wonder the tight security.
“City's on edge lately. Anyway, this way, sir.”
He shook his head like it was unbelievable, then pointed to the gate.
“We'll escort you in.”
“Nah, I'll just wait in line.”
“How could we make a gapsa sir stand in the dirt? Plus, your clothes are... a bit roughed up.”
“Oh, right.”
That uncle had freaked over my bloody rags and horse already. To avoid more drama, I ditched the line and followed the guards.
People waiting shot side-eyes as guards ringed me and pushed ahead. Embarrassed, I kept my head down, hat low the whole walk.
“What's going on?! Who's that guy?”
Not all gate guards had rushed over. These seemed like a quick-response squad; inspections continued at the walls. A boss-looking one approached, and my escorts politely pointed me out with open hand.
“Sir! Know who this is? The mill guy—famous across the eight provinces!”
Ugh, come on.
“Haha, you? First time seeing you, sir.”
“Y-yeah, first time.”
Face burning, I bowed pretending not to notice.
“Hahaha. Seeing the legend in person, huh?”
The guard's eyes sparkled with awe, then hardened. His gaze shifted to my bandit captive.
“B-bro...!”
They knew each other. The bandit's voice trembled calling out.
“How the hell you end up there?”
“J-just... trying to earn booze money...!”
“Booze money?!”
Hot rage surged; I swung without thinking.
Crack!
“Booze money?! You threatened me for booze money?!”
Fucking ridiculous.
“If you wanted booze cash! Go get! A fucking! Job! You psycho!”
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
One smack per word on his skull. If it'd been for starving family, I'd have mercy. But booze? He'd put my life at risk for drinks. I kept swinging till my palm stung.
“S-s-stop, sir! Sir!”
His guard buddy rushed to block me, grimacing apologetically.
“Gapsa sir, he's not that bad usually. Good kid, wrong crowd. Forgive him generously.”
“Wrong crowd makes you bandits? If you love your pals so much, should've brought 'em bundled together.”
I jabbed at the bloody bundles on my horse. Cloth-wrapped, but soaked enough to guess the contents.
“And you.”
I pointed at the bandit past the guard.
“You said these were your first meet today? Then why's he calling you buddy? Wanna die? Kneel. Now. I'll let you snuggle with your pals—all chummy.”
“Sir! Hold up! Not here!”
The guard blocked my charge again.
“Eyes everywhere, sir. Not here—over this way.”
Annoying, but he was right. Couldn't behead a bandit in front of the queue.
“Heh, Gapsa sir.”
He led me far enough the crowd couldn't hear, back to us, grinning like an idiot.
“Long trip, sir—must be rough. Natural to rage at scum like that. Here, a little something...”
He fished out a pouch—fat and heavy.
“I'll handle that idiot personally. Known him since kid days—can't watch him hang. Take this, cool off.”
What? These guys hiding something?
Suddenly bribing me was suspicious as hell.
“Nah, keep it.”
I pressed his hand down. Instead, decided to give the bandit one last shot. If a friend was paying to save him, maybe he was decent.
“Call him over.”
“W-why...?”
“Just do it. Hey! You! Yeah, you! C'mere! Talk.”
I yelled past the flustered guard. Hands bound, the bandit shuffled from the other guards.
“Y-yes, sir?”
Smirking already, thinking I'd free him.
I curbed the urge to slap it off and cut to it.
“Answer right, and I'll cut you loose right now.”
“Yes! Ask away!”
“Wipe that grin, asshole. First question.”
His smile twisted as hoped.
“What's your mother's name?”
“Huh?”
“Your mom. Full name.”
“M-my ma? Why?”
“Don't wanna say? Off to jail then.”
“Hong Ga-e! Geum-ja! The one who beats with a slipper!”
Hong Geum-ja? Hong Geum-ja?
Fuck. Not her.
I grimaced at the guard, gutted.
“Sorry. Can't do it.”
“H-how not?!”
“Name doesn't match mine.”
I'd have let him go if it matched my mom's. No dice.
“Hong hyung! Hong hyung! Big trouble!”
“What happened?”
“Park Ga! That bastard got nabbed bandit-ing!”
“So? Spring him.”
“Tried! But the psycho—says his ma's name don't match, won't take cash!”
“What kinda nut? Who's the guy?”
“Kim Si-jin. That Mugwa top scorer. Mill kid.”
“Huh, the one we'll meet at the ceremony. Where's Park now?”
“Where else? Dragged to the magistrate.”
“Hah. Shit. Better not croak in jail. Watch him close—till morning, see if he kicks it. Got it?”
“B-but he's family.”
“Family covers flaws. You're covering his now.”
“……Got it. I'll watch him.”