But That's How Arthur Handled It
"Hehe! Your fate is truly a twisted one!"
"……."
"……."
Today, I was skipping seodang and playing in our house's yard with Eori. That's when some beggar stopped in front of the main gate and started spouting nonsense.
"You're not meant to grow up like this. Your fate got badly tangled. Hehe. What a shame. Such a shame."
"Hey, mister."
"But there's a way, hmm?"
"Mister, they don't sell booze here, so go look somewhere else."
"Young master?!"
Eori reacted in place of the beggar, annoyed at the interruption of our playtime. She glanced sideways at him like she was gauging his reaction, then whispered to me.
"Young master! You can't talk to a monk like that!"
"A monk? He's a monk?"
I turned to look again at the man standing outside the gate. His clothes were ragged, and the sedge hat on his head was so worn it was full of holes. The only thing that screamed "monk" was the prayer beads around his neck.
"He looks like a beggar no matter how I squint."
"Young master?!"
"Hehehe! Kid, you're something else! So bold! General material, through and through!"
Even after I straight-up called him a beggar, the man laughed like he was delighted. He adjusted his tattered hat and picked up where he'd left off.
"Kid. There really is a way for you to become a general. Want to hear it?"
It piqued my interest—I was aiming to be a military officer, after all. I got up from the porch where I'd been playing with Eori and headed to the gate. The man watched me approach, eyes sparkling.
"Not buying."
Creeeak, thud.
That was before I slammed the gate shut.
"Young master?! Why do you keep doing this?!"
Eori, who hadn't had a moment's peace, jumped in shock and hurried down from the porch. Her braids whipping behind her, she flung open the gate I'd just closed.
"Monk. Attain Buddhahood."
She clasped her hands and bowed deeply to the still-lurking beggar. He returned the gesture.
"Attain Buddhahood, bodhisattva."
I watched them for a second, then mimicked it.
"Monk. Attain Buddhahood."
Creeeak, thud. And shut the gate again.
"Argh, seriously! Young master! You'll bring down heaven's wrath like this!"
Eori, raising her voice unusually high, threw the gate open once more. The beggar should've gotten the hint by now, but he was still planted there.
"Hehehe. Thanks to this compassionate bodhisattva, I get to pass on the karmic connection. Lucky me."
"No need, monk."
"Hey, son? Who's here?"
Maybe from all the gate-opening and slamming, or perhaps the commotion reached inside—Mom poked her head out from the room.
"Oh? Has the monk come?"
Mom recognized him as a monk too, smiling brightly as she stepped out. She went into the kitchen and soon returned carrying a basket that looked full of something.
"Mom, good call. Sprinkle some salt."
"Son?!"
"Young master?!"
Chasing off a weirdo was common sense, but Mom and Eori were fretting over not serving him properly. I checked if maybe he was handsome under the grime, but nope—just your standard filthy beggar.
"Hmm?"
As I sized him up, our eyes met. He gave a folksy grin and looked down at me.
"Young acolyte. What's your name?"
"And what's yours, sir?"
"Young master……!"
It was basic etiquette to give your name first when asking someone else's. Eori, oblivious, shot me warning glances.
"Hehehe! What a general this kid'll make!"
The man laughed heartily, clearly pleased with my attitude. Only then did he share his name.
"This humble monk's dharma name is Won-jeong."
"Yeah? Came all the way from Wa for Won-jeong?"
"Hehehe. Wa, huh? I'd love to visit someday, but no. And you, young acolyte—what's your name?"
"Kim Si-jin."
"Oh? Kim Si-jin? 'Si' as in 'at last,' 'jin' as in 'to shake off and rise.' A fine name indeed."
What the hell? How'd he know?
He'd figured out the hanja of my name just from hearing it. I was a bit rattled, but one thing was clear: this guy was a con artist who'd done his homework to rob us blind.
"Young acolyte, forgive us. My son is so wild and scatterbrained……."
As I eyed him suspiciously, Mom handed the basket to the con man. Without hesitation, he pulled a sack from his back and held it out.
Whoosh.
Enough rice for three meals poured out like a waterfall into the shabby sack. I couldn't fathom why Mom and Eori were fussing over this guy.
"My thanks, bodhisattva."
The con man, clearly used to handouts, slung the sack back on. Then, right in front of me, he brought it up.
"Bodhisattva. You must worry much about your son."
"Oh, no need. I'm just grateful he's growing up healthy."
"Hehe, but what to do. His path ahead is littered with obstacles."
"What rocks? These ones?"
I picked up a doorstop rock and showed it. Mom kept smiling, but her eyes flashed a warning at me.
"……Got it."
She still didn't fully trust me since the guy hadn't shown his claws yet. I set the rock down and quietly listened as he chatted with Mom.
"Aigoo, monk. What should I do then?"
"Even this humble monk can't say. All I can advise is for you, bodhisattva, to steel your heart."
"What does that……?"
"Ahem……."
The con man seemed to forget his script, coughing to buy time before answering.
"Your son's fate is so tangled that his road won't be smooth. He'll face life-and-death crises aplenty, and a single wrong choice could send him tumbling into the abyss."
"Aigoo, what to do……!"
"And look—there's a red glint in his eyes. He's fated to live with blood on his hands. Either a famed general... or a thug who treats lives lightly."
Just curse me out already. The future's something you carve yourself—Tom Riddle's wisdom, even if he never actually said it.
Anyway, I'd heard enough. Time to shoo him off.
"Bodhisattva. I'd like a word with the children alone. Could you step aside?"
"Of course, of course. Son, listen well to the monk, alright?"
"No, Mom. I don't trust this guy—Mom?"
Mom grabbed the empty basket without a second thought and walked away from us. With just me and Eori left, the man showed his true colors.
"Hehehe. Young acolyte."
Smooth.
"Hey, hands off!"
He tried petting my head like Kim Jin-sa would, so I dodged back quick. He withdrew his hand from thin air and spoke.
"Young acolyte. Great trials will come one after another. But if you stay true to yourself and press on, you'll achieve the dream you hold."
"For real? Like, when I grow up, can I have three wives and four concubines?"
"Young master?!"
"Hehe. Of course."
"Monk?!"
It was obviously a joke. Eori, who knew Mom's status as a concubine all too well, freaked thinking I meant it. I shook my head slightly to signal it was BS, then kept talking to the man.
"How do I make it happen? Need a talisman?"
"Hehehe. This monk doesn't do talismans, young acolyte."
"Then give me one of those beads. Looks like you could spare one without noticing."
"Very well."
"……For real?"
The man grasped the necklace-like beads with both hands and snapped one off. Impressively, he didn't drop any others—just handed me a thick one.
"Here you are, young acolyte."
"You're really giving it?"
"Yes. This monk has 108; one missing won't show."
"Uh, th-thanks."
I thanked him and took it. He gazed at me fondly, then pushed more snake oil.
"Soon, this will save your life."
"How? Turn me into a girl?"
"Hehe, nothing like that. Bodhisattva. Shall we talk?"
He turned to Eori, signaling our chat was done. She'd been sour-faced since my concubine joke and replied curtly.
"What about?"
"You have a dream, don't you, bodhisattva?"
"……Yes."
Eori hesitated, glancing at me oddly before nodding. The man smiled warmly, like it was adorable.
"Worry not. That dream will surely come true."
"Really?!"
Her face lit up instantly. She bounced in place excitedly, then suddenly frowned like bad news hit her.
"Pfft, don't lie. You're just saying that to make me feel good."
"No, truly, bodhisattva. No empty words. It will happen."
"How can I believe that?"
She's picking up my skepticism. Good to see.
"You don't have to. No proof for what hasn't happened yet. But this monk guarantees it. It will be so."
"……."
Smooth.
Still pouty and unbelieving, Eori held out her hands.
"Then give me one too. A bead."
She's really turning into me.
"Hehe. Here."
The man chuckled happily again and handed her a thick bead. Eori finally cracked a smile.
"Heehee. Young master. It's the same as yours."
"Yeah, it is."
I patted her head as she beamed over one lousy bead. I looked back at the man—but no one was there.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
Eori turned too, eyes widening at his sudden vanishing act.
"Oh? Oh my my?"
Mom, watching from afar, scanned around frantically for the missing man.
"!"
It hit me—this felt familiar from somewhere. Legends are legends, I muttered inwardly, then yelled to Mom.
"Mom! Check the house! See if anything's stolen!"
Why? Wasn't it the classic ploy—one distracts while the gang sneaks in to rob? But Arthur did it like this?