Ever Steadfast
Eori. You're really something. So steadfast.
Even after leaving Kim Jin-sa's house, my chest felt tight. It wasn't just about kicking away the chance to eat curry for the first time in ten years. ...Probably not.
My real worry was the modern reincarnates—everyone except me, Munjong (Jeong), and maybe a couple others. I wouldn't stand a chance against them, all those guys with their brilliant skills. It felt like I'd finally come face-to-face with the true nature of those reckless dreams I'd dreamed as a kid. Sure, I was in a ten-year-old's body, so "kid" fit, but still.
With the toys-and-games level skills I had, there was no way I'd ever make it big. So what the hell was I supposed to do to survive? Become a hyeongbang investigator? Sure, "hyeongbang" sounded cool, but in modern terms, that's basically a detective. Even a bastard like me becoming one would count as success.
"Waaah! Stop it!"
Oh, right. Eori. What was up with Eori? What did I do wrong yesterday? Huh? Wait, why was I hearing Eori's voice here?
Deep in thought as I walked, her voice jolted me. I whipped around, scanning the area. Yangban Village was the total opposite of Hwacheok Village—no place for Eori to be.
"I said stop it!"
But that was definitely Eori's voice coming from the alley. Heart pounding, I hurried toward it.
"Stop? It's not 'stop it,' it's 'please stop,' you know?"
"Fuck. You think all butchers are the same?"
"We caught a wild animal pup and treated it like a person—be grateful!"
"W-We told it to our young master!"
Duaang? What the hell was that? French name?
I stifled a chuckle at Eori's words in my head, but quickened my pace toward the kids surrounding her in the alley depths.
These weren't Kim Hui-un's gang. Not every kid in Yangban Village was one of those bastards, after all. And obviously, I wasn't the only illegitimate son around here. These four were like me—moms who were concubines.
"Huh? What's this? Isn't that the bastard kid?"
You little shits. Bastard or illegitimate, same difference.
"Ah! Y-Young master!"
Eori spotted me and came running. Her cheeks were already red from slaps, her hair a mess.
"Eori. You okay? It's alright now."
I pulled the approaching girl into a hug, stroking her back. She trembled in my arms like a chick fresh from a bath. Stroking her back, I glared at the kids.
"You hit her?"
"This bastard thinks getting some filial son award from the court makes him freeborn?"
"You punk! How dare a bastard talk down to a legitimate son!"
What bullshit. For real.
"Eori. Why are you here?"
Not taking my eyes off the approaching bastards, I asked her as gently as I could. Face buried in my shoulder, she sobbed out her answer.
"Y-Young master... s-school ended, and... y-you went to Y-Yangban Village...!"
"Yeah? Wasn't there something going on today?"
"N-No, sir...! Th-The young master... m-might go to Hanyang...!"
Why would she think I was suddenly heading to Hanyang? And why hadn't she waited at the seodang today? Not the time to ask.
"Eori. Hang on a sec. Get behind me. It'll be over quick."
"N-Nooo...!"
"It's fine. Come on, behind me. Yeah, like that. Good girl."
She'd been shaking her head against my shoulder but thankfully ducked behind me. Facing the kids, I asked:
"Eori, who hit you?"
"F-Fuck. Still talking down to us."
"Who hit you? Just tell me quick. I'm in a shit mood today. Let's beat the guy and call it done. Please."
"Ha! What the fuck?"
Even my sincere plea got nothing but snorts from the bastards. Something felt off, so I asked:
"You don't know who I am? Why so bold?"
They had to have heard the rumors—I smashed five beggar punks who broke into our house. That's why even Hui-un's crew had backed off lately.
"Dude, only an idiot would believe that crap. You took down a bunch of beggars?"
"Tossed 'em here, flung 'em there?"
"And you broke all their limbs? Bullshit. No way."
Fair question. One elementary kid beating up middle and high schoolers, winning with just some cuts? Anyone believing that would be weird.
"No, sigh. Fine, got it."
Even in Joseon, where they believed in ghosts and goblins and all that unscientific crap, some things were too much to swallow. Time to spread some faith—and vent my anger.
"You started it, right?"
"The mistake is scum like you wandering this neighborhood."
"Y-Yeah, th-that's right!"
The words barely left his mouth before I snapped a fist straight to the throat of the kid in front of me.
Thwack!
"Guhk?! Ack! Ack!"
Even pulling my punch for a kid's throat, it was still a vital spot. Clutching his windpipe, he staggered back. I caught up in steps and smashed a full-force right hook into his face.
Crack!
"Urk!"
Two hits—a surprise attack, sure—and he crumpled to the dirt. Three left.
"Y-You...!"
"Crazy bastard!"
"This illegitimate shit!"
While two panicked, one clenched his fist like he was ready. But clenching was useless; he needed to swing. I closed in diagonally, nudged his neck lightly, then whipped my foot up like kicking air—snapping it back to heel-kick his calf.
Thud!
"Urk?!"
His balance already off, I swept the other leg. He flipped in the air like a somersault and crashed down.
Thump!
"H-Heuk, huff, u-urgh...!"
Dust flying, he writhed on the ground, pain wracking him so bad he couldn't even groan properly, tears welling up.
Two down in seconds, but two at once would be tough. Ready to grab Eori and bolt anytime, I played it cool.
"Who's next? Come on."
"...!"
"...!"
My threat worked. The remaining bastards exchanged glances but didn't charge.
"Not coming? Should I come to you?"
"W-Wait! Just a sec!"
One fake step, and polite speech tumbled out. The other pointed at the guy I'd floored.
"H-He hit her! Chaekho Boy, sir!"
"What?"
"He hit the girl!"
"No, after that. What boy?"
"Ch-Chaekho... Boy, sir?"
"Why keep calling me that stupid nickname...!"
"S-Sorry! Chaekho Boy, sir!"
"Why does everyone call me that?"
"Sorry! So sorry!"
The ones I hadn't touched bolted like their asses were on fire, leaving their buddies behind.
"Those disloyal shits."
"Y-Young master...!"
"Yeah, Eori. You okay?"
I turned from the fleeing punks to her. Her face was a mess of tears and snot now.
"Eori. Why cry? Did someone hit you while I wasn't looking?"
"N-No, sir...! Y-You beat them all...!"
"Only got half of 'em."
Wasn't half enough? Shit, maybe it was.
"Waaah! Young master!"
While I pondered nonsense, she lunged with arms outstretched. She hugged me again, burying her face in my shoulder, sobbing.
"S-Sorry, sir...!"
"Sorry for what? You did nothing wrong. These shits did."
"N-No, sir...! Y-Yesterday and today... avoiding you...! Th-That's what I'm sorry for...!"
"It's fine. Happens."
"I-I thought... y-you'd follow the big young master... to Hanyang... I-I was scared...!"
"Told you it's fine. Stop crying. You look way prettier smiling."
"Waaaah!"
Stroking her back didn't help; she kept bawling. Meanwhile, the bastards recovered and stood.
"Y-You coward...!"
"Coward? You ganging up on a girl aren't? Nah, you're not even men. Cut your dicks off, kids."
"...!"
They glared murderously but didn't charge, seeing me holding Eori. They fled after their friends.
"Waaah, y-young master, hic!"
Minutes later, Eori was still crying. I pried her off gently; a string of clear snot connected her face to my shoulder before snapping.
"Eori. Come on, stop crying. Sniffle time's over."
"S-Sniff...! Hic-waaah!"
"Whoa, Eori. You've got a soap bubble on your nose. How'd you make that?"
"Eeeeng!"
Smack!
Worth it. She pounded my chest in a tantrum but hid her creeping smile while wiping her nose.
Eori. You're really something. So steadfast. Yeah. Ever steadfast.
"...Ah. Right."
"Y-Young master?"
"Yeah. Nothing. It's fine."
Hugging her again, I recalled what I'd known but ignored: even with modern folks around the Crown Prince, even if they had revolutionary tech, it didn't change my situation. I'd never aimed to develop Joseon with kid's-play skills anyway.
My plan was to leverage being a modern reincarnate like the Crown Prince: enroll in the Mugwa academy, become a military officer, and get close when the chance came. I might not skyrocket like the others, but it'd give promotion perks.
And Yi Sun-ji. If I flunked the academy exam, I'd hit him up. Same modern guy—hook a brother up.
My head finally cleared. Feeling better, I let go, took her hand, and started walking.
"Eori. Let's head home."
"Hiiing, yeees...! B-But, young master...! Y-You won't go to Hanyang, right...?"
"Hanyang? Wanna check it out sometime."
"Hiiiing...!"
"Who said alone? We'll go together, Eori."
"Huh?"
For the first time today, her tears stopped. Eyes wide like she'd forgotten she'd been crying, her face flushing red.
"M-Me too, sir?"
"Yeah, you too. We'll ride rickshaws in Hanyang. Sound good?"
"Hee, heehee...!"
"What? Eori, you're laughing?"
"N-No, sir! Wh-When did I laugh, sir! Heeheehee."
That happy? Just threw it out like going to an amusement park. Oh well. Crying stopped—good enough.
Much lighter-hearted, I headed to Hwacheok Village with Eori.