The Famous Idle Captain: Chunbun Archery Frenzy
The Idle Captain known throughout the eight provinces of Joseon! The purpose of the Chunbun archery contest was to welcome the fresh spring breeze and pray for a bountiful harvest. But not this time.
"Magistrate, sir. What are we going to do about this?"
"……."
"Magistrate, sir?"
"Haah, yes. Sorry about that, Si-jin."
The spectacle unfolding before our eyes wouldn't end with a single apology. Still, I couldn't blame the Hyeon-gam for it. I kept my mouth shut and stared straight ahead at the archery field.
"Duri. Your father is counting on you."
"Who's this Tiger-slaying Boy everyone's talking about? I wish they'd at least let me see my husband's face before marrying."
"Father. I don't want to do archeryyy……."
The archery field, where the contest was about to begin, was swarming with people. Two-thirds of them were women, mostly girls my age. The Hyeon-gam had kept his promise. The very next day, he'd posted notices declaring the Chunbun archery contest had nothing to do with my marriage. But the rumors had already spread beyond the county.
"Haah……!"
"Oh! Si-jin!"
"Damn it……!"
I let out a sigh of despair when a voice I didn't even want to hear grated on my ears. I turned my stiff neck to look at Kim Jin-sa.
"Hahaha! There you are!"
The Kim Jin-sa who'd raged that marriage wasn't child's play was gone. In his place was a flushed, excited Kim Jin-sa.
"Come on! Greet him! This is the Sin Seon-bi I told you about last time!"
"Hoho. So you're the famous Tiger-slaying Boy."
A scholar who looked about Kim Jin-sa's nephew age approached with a fake-friendly smile, scanning me up and down like he was appraising merchandise.
"Hello. I'm Kim Si-jin."
I bowed politely, even though I hated it.
But Kim Jin-sa sidled up and nudged my shoulder. "Hey now. Are you just Kim Si-jin?"
"Uh, uh, the, the Idle, Kim Si-jin……!"
"Hahaha! That's right! This boy is Joseon's youngest Idle Captain! The Idle Captain known throughout the eight provinces of Joseon—that Idle Captain Kim Si-jin!"
Crazy bastard! I'm gonna die of embarrassment! And who the hell is this guy anyway! Calling a girl I just met a bastard feels a bit off, but!
"……Hello?"
The girl standing next to Sin Seon-bi met my eyes. She bowed politely, as befitting a scholar's daughter.
"I'm Sin Hye-in."
"Uh, uh, yeah. Hello. I'm Kim Si-jin."
"Tsk! Si-jin!"
Kim Jin-sa clicked his tongue the moment I skipped my title. I clenched my fists and repeated it.
"The, the Idle, Kim Si-jin……!"
"Heehee."
Huh? Giggling at me? Want me to crack your skull too? As I endured the humiliation, Hye-in covered her mouth and laughed. Then she composed herself with hands clasped in front and explained why.
"You seem so humble, Young Master Si-jin. Anyone else would've bragged without being asked."
Yeah. That's 'cause I'm from the modern world.
"Thanks."
"Hey! Si-jin!"
Why. Why again. What now.
Kim Jin-sa nagged like a mom badgering a baby for the right answer. I swallowed my curses and eyed Sin Hye-in. She wore neat hanbok with a quiver at her waist, stylish bow and gleaming arrows inside.
"Are you competing in the archery contest?"
"My skills are humble, but I'll do my best."
"Good luck. Hope you place well."
"Oh my!"
Why, why? Why? What now? The girl suddenly flinched and covered her face with both hands. Kim Jin-sa chuckled happily, while Sin Seon-bi glared at me like something was off.
Oh, right. Winner marries me, that's the rumor.
"No, I mean, just being polite. Nothing serious, so don't take it to heart?"
"Hoho. I'll definitely win."
"No need for that. Let's just each do our best in our own lanes. Separately. That's all I meant."
"Hohoho. Young Master Si-jin, you're something else."
"No, listen? Miss? Hey?"
I'd heard what they wanted, so I slipped away. Sin Seon-bi watched his daughter, then said to Kim Jin-sa.
"Hoho. Lucky. She doesn't seem to hate it."
"Indeed. I just want to respect the kids' feelings."
"Who knows what the world holds until it's over? We'll take our leave."
"Good luck."
"Thank you. Farewell, Tiger-slaying Boy."
"Yeah. See you. I mean, safe travels."
Sin Seon-bi followed his daughter. Kim Jin-sa watched them go, then looked down at me.
"What do you think? That's Sin Seon-bi's daughter I mentioned. Pretty like her mother, right?"
"Yeah. She takes after her."
Not that I know what the concubine looks like.
"Hoho, glad you think so. But don't set your heart on it yet. Nothing's decided."
Lucky break amid misfortune. After this contest, I'd head to Hanyang with the Hyeon-gam to ask King Sejong for Eori and my wedding. If nothing was set, that bought time.
"Don't worry, though. I'm looking into matches for you."
Should I just go alone?
"Oh! You! Is your daughter competing too?"
Before I could refuse, Kim Jin-sa spotted an acquaintance and left. The Hyeon-gam had vanished too, so I tried to hide before more people spotted the Tiger-slaying Boy.
"Oh! Eori!"
They say to hide a tree in a forest. I headed toward Eori, whose head stuck out one—no, two heads above the girls.
"Eori. You here?"
"Oh! Master! Hihihi! Yes, I've been here!"
Eori, who'd been frowning slightly amid the girls, smiled brightly at me. I gazed up at her fondly and chatted.
"You okay, Eori? Everyone here looks skilled."
"Yes! Hihihi! Haven't you seen my skills, Master? I'm a master archer!"
Oh, right. Shooting arrows with arrows. Master archer.
"Hihihi, but, Master."
Eori's innocent smile faded a bit. She glanced where Sin Seon-bi and his daughter had gone.
"Who was that girl earlier?"
"Dunno. Some acquaintance of Kim Jin-sa's daughter, I guess."
"You two looked close."
"First time meeting today. How close? Look at me, Eori. Look at my face."
I stared up with wide eyes as her face grew gloomier. She looked down, and I asked.
"Did I have this face talking to her? Was I smiling this happy?"
"……Hihi. No."
A smile bloomed on Eori's face again.
"You looked like you were chewing shit."
"Eori?!"
"Hihihihi!"
Never thought she'd call her future husband's face "chewing shit." But glad she perked up. I planned to chat with her until the opening ceremony.
Plans always go awry.
"Tiger-slaying Boy! Tiger-slaying Boy! Where are you?"
"Tiger-slaying Boy?"
"Did he just say Tiger-slaying Boy?"
One of the officials handling the event shouted my nickname loudly. Eyes—especially the girls'—turned to him.
"Th-there! The Tiger-slaying Boy!"
The panicked official spotted me amid the girls' stares. Women turned our way.
"That's the Tiger-slaying Boy?"
"Smaller than I thought."
"But kinda cute, right?"
First time even in modern times so many girls stared. My face burned. They giggled softly.
"Hello?"
A girl approached my flustered self.
"I'm Song Hye-in, daughter of Merchant Song Pan-ho."
No time to check her looks. More girls swarmed to greet or chat.
"I'm Kim Chun-ja, daughter of Kim Mak-dol!"
"No parents since I was young, but I'm Soon-sim of the high house!"
"Greetings! As rumored, so valiant!"
"Eek! Wait, wait! Hold on!"
First time in Joseon girls mobbed to see my face. Sweet scents overwhelmed, vision blurring.
"M-Master! Over here!"
Luckily, Eori was by my side and in my heart. She shoved through, pulling me from the crowd.
I rushed the officials. "Why yell like that and cause this mess?!"
"You said not to call you Idle, so we used this!"
"Still, not now! Why call at all?!"
"Hyeon-gam says it's starting soon—fetch you!"
"Got it! Coming!"
I fled with the official to the tent at the field. Clerks prepped the contest; Hyeon-gam was there.
"Oh! Si-jin! Where've you been?"
"To the land of women."
"Hahaha! Lucky you!"
"Not lucky at all. Serious."
I'd thought being surrounded by girls would be bliss. Reality: not all beauties, saw me as a ticket up, mobbed like hyenas hunting.
"Ahem! I see. Tough break."
The culprit Hyeon-gam coughed awkwardly, patted my shoulder.
"Time to start. We'll clear the misunderstanding then."
"Please do. It's overwhelming."
"Hoho. Got it. Get ready."
"Can't I skip?"
"No. All these girls came for you. Show up, or they'll lose face. Hurry."
He ignored my protests and left. Sighing, I geared up as his speech began.
"Ladies! Welcome! I'm Yi Su-in, magistrate here!"
""Honored to meet you.""
"Hahaha. Before we start, this rumor: winner marries Tiger-slaying Boy? False."
The crowd murmured at the truth. Hyeon-gam calmed them.
"But no empty hands! Winner gets Tiger-slaying Boy's personally caught tiger—tiger-tooth amulet as prize!"
Murmurs rose again, now excited anticipation.
He waited, then spoke. "Right! Chunbun archery contest begins! First—"
My turn.
"Idle Captain Kim Si-jin, step forward for the signal shot!"
Here comes the bum.
I exited in crisp paper armor, matchlock on back, mid-length sword left hip, quiver right. Eyes—more girls'—hit me. Ears burned despite ignoring.
"That's the Tiger-slaying Boy."
"Fitting for a boy. So small."
"I like 'em compact. Slurp."
"?!"
Officer! Over here!
I stepped to the shooting line, drew hornbow and signal arrow from quiver. Normally magistrate's job, but he'd forced me.
"Hooo……!"
Sigh eased tension slightly. Nocked arrow per Eori's training, drew, aimed distant target.
"Haah, hooo……!"
Short breath out, released. String snapped arrow forward; notched tip whistled.
Piiiing! Thwack!
Signal hit dead center flawlessly. Tension melted at impact. Cheers and applause erupted.
"Kyaa! So cool!"
"Manly, Tiger-slaying Boy!"
"Look this wayyy!"
Trembling, bow in hand, I turned. Amid cheering girls, only Eori's tanned face stood out.
"……!"
She beamed, arms up. I raised my bow hand high in response. Cheers exploded louder.
"Kyaaak! He saw me!"
"He looked at that tall girl like a totem pole!"
"Stared right into my eyes!"
"At the bird in the sky!"
"No! He chose me! His bride!"
A taste—just a glimpse—of male idol life.