The Call of the Dokgo Clan
The day after the summons from the Dokgo Clan, I was changing clothes to head to Elder Baek-hyeon's apothecary as usual when I sensed someone outside the house.
"Ahem! Ahem! Is anyone there?"
Wondering who would come calling at the crack of dawn, I opened the door and stepped out. In the front yard stood a middle-aged man I'd never seen before.
"Excuse me, but who are you?"
The man stroked his beard with a dignified air and replied, "I was told that a boy named Chilbok lives in this house."
"That's me, but who might you be, sir?"
The middle-aged man’s face brightened as he asked, "Then this will be quick. Yesterday around the hour of the Rooster, didn’t you rescue a young girl from the stream in front of the village?"
A sense of foreboding washed over me, but I nodded anyway. "…I did."
"That child is the one and only precious daughter of my master. He has ordered me to bring her benefactor with the utmost respect."
As he spoke, the man gestured outside the yard. Sure enough, beyond the wall stood a large palanquin and four sturdy men who had apparently carried it all the way here.
My head spun. I politely declined. "There’s really no need for a palanquin. I can walk just fine, so please send it back."
The man looked troubled. "Couldn’t you just ride it? It might be easier for you to walk, but if the benefactor arrives on foot, the ones who’ll catch hell are me and these fellows here."
When I glanced at the four men standing outside, my resolve weakened. They were clearly someone’s sons and fathers too. Arguing over something like this would only waste everyone’s energy, so in the end I closed my eyes tightly and accepted.
"…Understood. I’ll ride it."
The middle-aged man brightened. "Then shall we depart right away?"
I was about to agree when I realized I looked like a complete mess. I stopped him. "Please wait a moment. I’ll tidy up and be right out."
I still had some pride. I couldn’t go meet strangers with crust in my eyes.
Only after I had washed properly and changed into the cleanest clothes I owned could the palanquin finally set off.
Clunk! Clunk!
My first-ever palanquin ride could not, by any stretch, be called comfortable. The inside was large enough to fit an adult man, yet it rattled nonstop. Now I understood why the king’s palanquins in historical dramas were always so ridiculously big. With no windows and such a cramped space, it felt suffocating. And why did my backside hurt so much? The cotton cushion underneath wasn’t doing its job at all. It felt like I was being continuously beaten with a weak club.
I knew it would be like this. That’s why I said I’d walk.
If it’s uncomfortable for the rider and uncomfortable for the carriers, who exactly is this palanquin for? I grumbled to myself while waiting for the thing to reach its destination.
Clunk!
"We have arrived."
At the palanquin bearer’s voice from outside, I clenched my fist in relief. The moment the door opened, I scrambled out without waiting for anyone to stop me.
"Ouch!"
The instant my feet touched the ground, a sharp pain shot up from my backside. But a man’s pride wouldn’t allow me to rub my butt in front of others, so I gritted my teeth and pretended nothing was wrong.
The middle-aged man who had brought me here spoke up beside me. "Hehe, don’t be too surprised. This is the Dokgo Clan estate."
"Pardon?"
I thought he was talking nonsense and looked ahead. Then I lost my breath without realizing it.
"Whoa."
A massive wooden mansion, far too grand to even compare with the shabby buildings in the village, stood before me.
I’ve only ever seen stuff like this in Chinese movies.
Apparently pleased by my expected reaction, the middle-aged man laughed heartily and gave my back a push.
"Then let’s head inside. The master is waiting so eagerly his neck might snap."
The interior of the Dokgo Clan estate was even more magnificent than it appeared from outside. Rows of traditional buildings, a pond filled with leaping carp, and meticulously tended gardens. To someone who had grown used to the village’s rundown structures, it felt like stepping into another world.
"Follow me this way."
The man must have found my awestruck expression adorable, because he smiled warmly and led the way. It was a little embarrassing, but shame doesn’t put food on the table, so I kept my chin up and continued admiring the surroundings as I walked.
After walking for quite some time, we arrived at the most lavishly decorated building within the entire estate. This had to be where the master of the house resided.
My guess proved correct. The middle-aged man who had guided me here called out in a loud voice, "Master! As you commanded, I have brought the benefactor who saved the young lady’s life!"
Soon, a deep, heavy voice came from beyond the tightly closed sliding door.
"Bring him in."
The middle-aged man glanced at me and spoke gently, "My role ends here. Go on inside."
"Thank you for guiding me all the way."
When I bowed my head, the man waved his hand. "I only did what was right. On the contrary, I should thank you for saving the young lady’s life. If you ever run into trouble later, come to this estate and ask for Steward Jang."
"Yes, I understand."
I didn’t know how sincere he was, but the fact that he could speak so confidently meant he held a respectable position here. I made a mental note to remember the name Steward Jang, then stepped through the sliding door he had opened for me.
Clack!
The moment I entered the building, the wide-open sliding door slammed shut behind me. Since I had come this far, there was no turning back. With the mindset of someone entering a tiger’s den, I took one cautious step after another.
After passing through a short corridor, a small red-lacquered table appeared before me. Seated in front of it was an old man with a powerful build and an extremely fierce gaze.
"Welcome."
The instant I faced him, instinct told me this old man was the master of the estate. It made sense. Someone who could overwhelm others with nothing but his mere presence couldn’t be common in this world. In that sense, the oppressive pressure I had felt when I first met Dokgo Rin yesterday was strikingly similar to the aura this old man naturally radiated.
Overwhelmed by the atmosphere he exuded so effortlessly, I opened my mouth. "Greetings, sir. My name is Chilbok."
"I heard about yesterday’s events from Rin. She said you jumped into the water to save her when she fell in?"
"Yes, but please know that I didn’t do it expecting any reward."
"Hehe, I already heard that part too. For a child, those were remarkably thoughtful words. Perhaps that’s why, ever since she returned home, my daughter has spoken of nothing but you."
Daughter?
The information nearly made me lose my composure. The old man sitting before me looked at least sixty years old. I had been certain he was her grandfather. But whether he knew my inner thoughts or not, the old man continued with a gentle smile.
"However, if I let the benefactor who saved the youngest daughter of Dokgo Jin leave without any compensation, the world would surely laugh at me. So do not hesitate. Tell me what you desire. Whatever it is, I will grant it without fail."
"Compensation, you say?"
My mind reeled at the sudden blank check. For a twelve-year-old orphan whose only concern was surviving day to day, this was far too surreal.
After thinking for a long time, I finally spoke. "I want to earn money."
The old man chuckled and nodded. "That should be easy enough. I’ll tell Steward Jang to bring gold immediately."
He reached for the bell beside the table. But that wasn’t what I wanted, so I hurriedly stopped him.
"No! I didn’t mean I wanted money!"
The old man, who had been about to ring the bell, tilted his head in confusion. "Didn’t you just say you wanted to earn money?"
"I do need money. But I don’t need a large sum. If word gets out that an orphan like me suddenly possesses a fortune, it will surely bring trouble in one way or another."
After listening to my explanation, the old man stroked his beard with an intrigued expression. "Go on."
"What I need is a place to work. A stable job where I can receive my wages on time without fail. A child like me doesn’t need much money if I have food and a place to sleep. So if you truly wish to repay me, please consider this instead."
When I lowered my head deeply, the old man remained silent for a moment. Then—
"Hahaha! Excellent! We shall do as you say! What an interesting fellow has come to visit!"
Clearly delighted, the old man burst into hearty laughter and accepted my proposal.