Jangwon Proclaimed
Something told me he'd been playing the lone villain in that annex. The day of the final results announcement had arrived. I threw on some clothes to check the room next to the academy gate where they were posted. These weren't the ones I'd brought from home—they were brand new, bought at the market yesterday, still stiff with sizing. It wasn't the new clothes that had me in a good mood. It was my final score waiting in that room... and all the side income that would follow.
"Young master. I'm heading out now."
I tucked the changpo sword into my bosom as I spoke to Hui-un, who showed no sign of getting out from under the blanket.
"......"
He didn't even answer, just pulled the covers over his head completely. It wasn't just the shock and sorrow of failing the exam that had done this to him.
"Ugh...! W-water...! Waaater...!"
It was the result of drowning that shock and sorrow in booze.
"Got it. Hang on a sec."
It's a happy day—can't even do this much? With that thought, I left the room.
The courtyard, once packed with exam-takers, was now quiet and empty. The failures had all headed back to their hometowns.
"Hey!"
I called out loudly to a servant wandering the deserted yard and pointed toward Hui-un's room as he approached.
"Could you bring some water for the young master?"
"Sure thing! And, sir!"
The servant, on his way to fetch water, suddenly turned back to me. A bad feeling hit me—and it was spot on.
"Truly congratulations—"
"Whoa! Shh! Don't say it!"
"S-sir?"
"I'll go check it myself, so don't spill it!"
"Y-yes, sir......"
He nodded, looking utterly baffled but compliant. After assigning the servant the water errand, I headed down to the courtyard and slipped on my leather shoes. These, too, were new—bought yesterday with the clothes.
"Hahaha! Captain Kim!"
Just then, the house owner, Hong Cham-bong, came striding over with a huge grin. He must've stopped by home on his way to work; he was in his official robes.
"Captain Kim! You've worked hard all this time! You—"
Like master, like servant—Hong Cham-bong nearly made the same slip.
"Cham-bong sir! I'm grateful for the good news, but I need to see it with my own eyes to really believe it."
"You're going to check the room yourself? The news has already spread all over Jeonju anyway. Who the jangwon—"
"Whoa! Don't say it! I'll go first!"
I hurried to leave before he could spoil it.
"Oh, right."
I paused and made a request of Hong Cham-bong.
"Cham-bong sir! Make sure no one touches my stuff!"
"I've already strictly ordered the servants!"
"Tell them again! Not a single thing gets touched! Absolutely not!"
I was a bit on edge after a servant from this house had swiped my pillow last time. Seeing Hong Cham-bong nod in understanding eased my mind a little.
"Alright, I'm off!"
"Haha! Go get 'em!"
I bowed to Hong Cham-bong and stepped out the gate.
"Aigoo! Congratulations!"
But before I'd gone a few steps, someone else came rushing up with well-wishes.
"No! Don't! Stop it! I'm going!"
"S-sir!"
I ignored his desperate calls and quick-marched toward the academy.
On the way, it didn't stop at one person. Someone popped out from a corner without even a bun in hand to greet me; a flashily dressed woman tried to chat me up; even a rickshaw that looked freshly imported from Hanyang offered a ride.
"Ugh, enough! Shut up and scram!"
I shoved past them all and made for the academy. By the time I arrived, the well-wishers had thinned out.
"Haa, haa, haa."
I caught my breath from the brisk walk and headed to the wall beside the academy gate. Some time had passed since the pass list went up, so the crowd was sparse. Worth coming late on purpose.
"Haaa... fuuu...!"
Steadying my shaking nerves with deep breaths, I scanned the pass list. Then checked who the jangwon was.
Jangwon: Kim Ho-sun of the Andong Kim clan.
"......Oh, not here."
My heart nearly stopped. This was the civil service exam list; the military exam was a bit further over. I shifted along and checked the mugwajangwon.
Jangwon: Kim Si-jin of the Pyeongan Kim clan.
"Khup!"
I threw both hands up high to stifle the cheer bubbling out. But even clenching my fists couldn't hold back the cry from deep inside.
"Yes! Jackpot!"
I knew the written exam was perfect, the practical went smoothly, and the interview answers landed spot-on. Being jangwon was no surprise. What thrilled me was the windfall to come.
On the first exam day, not just the mugwa but civil and miscellaneous exam halls had my name attached to items being sold at premium prices. With nationwide fame, favor from the king and crown prince, and now jangwon status... I couldn't even imagine the markup on my stuff now. Especially if they documented it as mine officially...!
"Hohohoho."
"Whoa, shit. You scared me."
A laugh erupted right beside me, making me jump. As I lowered my raised hands and turned, an old man leaning on a cane had appeared out of nowhere.
"I wouldn't stand there if I were you."
"Pardon?"
"Right there."
The old man pointed with a wrinkled hand at the spot under my feet. Now I saw it—the ground was soaked, like someone had spilled water.
"Someone just passed out and pissed themselves right there."
"?!"
Realizing it was piss, not water, I jumped back quick.
"Hohohoho."
He chuckled, pursing his wrinkled lips as if my reaction amused him. But this grandpa... His robes were flashy silk, the headscarf embroidered, the cane inlaid with mother-of-pearl. And those sharp eyes glinting through wrinkled lids. No way he was just some neighborhood elder.
"Congratulations on jangwon, young master Kim Si-jin."
As expected.
"You know me?"
"Who doesn't? Sea-horse boy, Tiger-slaying Boy, Idle Captain, mill house. How could I not?"
He even knew my childhood nicknames, so this wasn't idle curiosity. I subtly moved my hand toward my chest where the changpo sword rested and scanned the surroundings. One on the left, two behind, one on the right.
"Huh?"
I spotted men watching us, but their faces looked vaguely familiar. Especially one with a bandaged right finger. Keeping my guard up, I asked on a hunch.
"Excuse me... any relation to Cheong-un-gak?"
Cheong-un-gak. The place I'd trashed going after Baek Do-yun.
"Hohoho. This old man is Hwang Do-chul, proprietor of that Cheong-un-gak."
"I'm truly sorry about that incident. My apologies, elder."
"No, no. It's fine."
As I bowed in apology, he waved a wrinkled hand. Up to here, I figured no issues.
"My grandson sent men after you first."
Oh, shit. Fucked.
Baek Do-yun, the punk who'd sent goons after me, was this guy's grandson.
Something told me he'd been playing the lone villain in that annex.
"Grandson?"
I feigned surprise and rested my hand on my chest again.
"Is young master Baek Do-yun... your grandson?"
"Close enough. Son of my niece."
The old man nodded like it was the same thing and bowed deeply to me.
"My apologies. For him to pull that while I was away."
"No, no. It was young master Baek's fault."
"As the saying goes, a child's wrong is the adult's fault. Please accept my apology."
His eyes glinted through the wrinkled lids then.
"And best keep that hand still. The pillar boss isn't that clueless."
"......That obvious?"
"Very."
I lowered my hand at his nod. No matter how crafty he was, he wouldn't attack me—a mugwa jangwon favored by the king and crown prince—in broad daylight. Calming myself with that, I continued.
"So, why're you here? You must hate the sight of me."
"What else? To congratulate the jangwon."
"Me? Why?"
"What kind of question is that? Someone with your guaranteed rise—you line up to meet 'em."
"Fair enough."
"Hohoho."
He burst into his signature laugh at my quick agreement, eyes twinkling again.
"Jangwon now, so you need a celebration party, right? Got a venue?"
"Nah, I'll just kill a chicken quietly."
"Hohoho. So frugal yet bold. Forget that—I'll reserve an annex at my gisaeng house. How about there?"
"Pass. Staying at Cham-bong sir's place."
"Ho ho. Selling your stuff there too?"
He'd caught my earlier "jackpot" glee and pieced it together.
"Don't refuse. It's to apologize for my little punk's rudeness and build ties with you."
"After what happened with that young master, how could I know?"
"No issue. Oh, right—mind if I ask something?"
"Shoot."
"How'd you do it? Let that punk off without laying a hand? He sent men after you."
"Just... y'know."
Brushing off his admission of deserved punishment, I recalled the scene. Baek Do-yun went pale the moment he saw me. Ended up not just crying but pissing himself. If he'd come at me boldly, maybe it'd have been satisfying to beat him. But like that? Even the urge faded.
"How do you hit a kid? A little squirt."
"I took him for your age."
"We call guys who cry and piss their pants in fear 'little squir—' We made a pact."
"Hohohoho."
He didn't mind me calling his grandnephew a squirt. If anything, he grinned with his few remaining teeth, like I'd nailed it.
"Hoho. Liking you more by the minute. So, celebration at my gisaeng house? On the house, naturally."
"No thanks. Staying put at Cham-bong sir's."
"Don't trust me? Think I'll pull something? Come on, you think I'm as dim as that thunderbolt-head?"
"Not that. Elder."
"I'll pay top yang for your stuff too. Start at three thousand?"
"......"
Tempting. Three thousand yang bought a decent warhorse. But he was grandpa to the punk who'd sent assassins—and owner of the gisaeng house I'd wrecked. Favored by king and crown prince or not, following an enemy alone felt risky. Refusing outright was awkward too. Beyond the sales, I needed to smooth things over. With the academy acceptance, I'd be in Jeonju three years. Fewer enemies the better.
"Ha! Brother! See? Came midday—hardly anyone's here!"
"Guh... H-Hyeon-beom! I-I'm going! I'm definitely failed!"
"Why so glum? You saw the interview! Brother's jangwon for sure! Or runner-up!"
"Runner-up? That's second place, you illiterate brute!"
Maybe I wouldn't have to go alone after all. Spotting two familiar faces from the interview day, I asked the old man.
"Mind if two more tag along?"