The Tyrant Takes a Liking to Me (1)
I'd fallen into a strange Joseon.
A woman who looked like nothing but a golden-haired, blue-eyed elf was staring at me, dressed in a white dobo.
"Just as the rumors said, you're a boy with such refined beauty. I've heard you're the finest among the men of this gilbang."
"To receive such praise from you, my lord, this humble one dares not even respond."
She was a jang-i-in, the Yejo Champan, my guest for the evening, and I was the ginam summoned to attend her at the table tonight.
"I've heard you can recite poetry."
"I merely mimic the words of the sages like a parrot."
"Ho ho. A fine young man with some learning, it seems. Under whom did you study?"
I'd fallen into a strange 'Joseon'.
"My teacher now uses the pen name Mihu Dang."
"Mihu Dang! Wasn't that the gentleman who rose to prime minister under His Majesty King Yeongjong, two reigns ago?"
"So I understand, my lord. Though it was before I was even born."
"Heh... I see, I see."
The guest's eyes gleamed with deep interest.
"Fascinating. What's your name?"
"In the gilbang, they call me Seonwol."
"Not your gilbang name—your real name or courtesy name."
"How could a lowly man like me have a courtesy name? And how could a man so casually reveal his given name before a lady?"
"True enough..."
"However."
I flashed a smile.
"If my lord is so very curious... I suppose I have no choice but to reveal a single stroke, swallowing my shame, in exchange for setting the table."
"Krhahaha!! Krhahahaha!!!"
The Yejo Champan burst into boisterous laughter.
"You there! Bring out a grand table of drinks!!"
"Yes, my lord!!"
The gilbang attendants waiting outside immediately took the order and relayed it to the kitchen.
Lucky break.
A big order like that meant a decent cut for me.
And right before my eyes.
The Champan's desire flickered like a blazing fire.
"Well then, tell me."
"In that case, I'll give you the first stroke. On the left side sits the king."
"A king (王) on the left? Alright, and?"
"And for that, shouldn't my lord pour a cup—not just set the table, but drink as well?"
"Krhahahaha!! You there, bring the sake first! The stronger the burn, the better!"
By "burn," she meant soju—the fierce distilled liquor.
"How bold and dashing, my lord. Then, as for the next part on the side, a mountain rises in the corner."
"A king on the left, a mountain (山) on the right? What character is that...?"
"Please lend your ear to this humble one's words, my lord. I said the right side's part."
"Heh! Then I can guess the next."
"Precisely so."
The gilbang staff hurriedly, yet gracefully, brought the sake and cups.
Joseon elegance was flashy yet subtle, simple yet refined.
The sake bottle and cups, with their milky sheen softly glowing, embodied that Joseon luxury perfectly.
"Shall I pour you a cup, my lord?"
"Yes, good. But you must drink too."
The Champan immediately tossed back the cup down her throat.
Her jang-i-in ears, long and drooping, pointed downward before rising again as she lifted her head.
"Haaah! Excellent. Now, the rest?"
"A beard."
"A beard...? Suddenly...?"
"If my lord guesses it right from here, this humble one will drink another cup."
"Heh..."
The Champan pondered deeply, then slapped her knee.
"Heh! Of course! I know it! The first character of your name is the seo (瑞) from auspicious! A king (王) on the left, a mountain (山) in the right corner, and the i (而) for 'and' was originally a pictograph of a beard, simplified over time!"
"Exactly right, my lord. Then this humble one will drink."
"Such a brazen one..."
The sparkling desire to learn my name faded a little, replaced by a darker new one.
It was still faint in color.
But I'd teased her a bit too much, so I adjusted.
"Then I'll reveal the rest of the courtesy name at once. Metal gold (金) on the left, true jin (眞) on the right. Together, the jin (鎮) to govern."
"Hm...?"
The Champan showed curiosity once more.
"So, Seojin?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Your family name?"
"Han (韓)."
"Han Seojin."
"Yes, my lord."
"Then why reveal your full name to me all of a sudden? From your antics earlier, I thought you'd drag out all three characters until dawn, selling sake the whole night."
"How could this humble one toy with such a generous and noble guest?"
"Hmph."
The Champan's head drooped, then.
"Hahahahaha!! What a delightful boy you are!"
"I've indulged in the arts of pleasure for quite some time, but a boy like you is rare—truly rare. Tonight, we'll drink deep together!!"
"An honor, my lord."
Perfect. Hooked her completely.
Now, if I just casually dropped that the Panui of the Ministry of Justice recently dropped a whopping 20 nyang on a single night, I could push tonight's sales to 30 nyang easy.
Right then, someone shouted loudly from the gilbang's main gate.
"Hey!!"
I figured it had nothing to do with us.
Until the attendant came trembling to fetch me.
"S-Seojin...! There's someone outside looking for you!"
"What? I'm attending the Champan right now."
"Aigoo! It's, it's...!"
Clop-clop.
The heavy sound of hooves.
What appeared was a woman with a human upper body and the lower body of a horse.
"I am O Ja-yeon, Uigeumbu Dosa. Is there a ginam named Han Seojin here?"
From the Uigeumbu?
"That would be me."
"I've been ordered to bring you. Come along."
"May I ask the reason, my lady?"
"No."
Sharp as a blade.
The very picture of a warrior.
But no intent to harm me, it seemed.
"Champan, my lord, I must beg your pardon for the grave rudeness, but I fear I must take my leave first tonight. The gilbang will send another boy—please enjoy yourself."
"Uh, uh... alright..."
The Champan looked utterly stunned.
But behind that mask, her mind raced.
Her desires floated before my eyes.
The sole perk granted to me upon falling into this unfamiliar world.
But I could read only desires, nothing more.
Not mind-reading to see every thought.
Yet desires alone revealed quite a lot.
"Let's go."
"Gather any essentials if you must."
"Nothing in particular."
"Do you know how to ride?"
"I know the basics."
"Then mount behind me."
I hesitated.
"As I recall, banmain are deeply faithful, but they never let anyone ride unless the bond is exceedingly close."
"Correct. But time is of the essence."
Uigeumbu Dosa O Ja-yeon lowered her body to make it easier for me.
"Then, forgive my rudeness."
Spreading my legs, I climbed onto her back.
"Am I not heavy?"
"This is nothing."
O Ja-yeon's voice trembled faintly—but unmistakably.
Along the streets of Hanyang Doseong, people parted like the sea before O Ja-yeon as she galloped half in a trot.
I leaned close to her long ear and asked.
"You said Uigeumbu Dosa."
"Yes."
"From my limited knowledge, only one person in all Joseon can command the Uigeumbu."
"Correct."
A bit strange, but this was still Joseon.
And guided by O Ja-yeon, I came face-to-face with her for the first time.
"Raise your head and look upon me directly."
The first thing that caught my eye was the red gonryongpo embroidered with a golden dragon.
"Hear me further. I permit you to gaze upon my dragon face."
Her hair was split black and white, half on each side.
Her blood-red eyes were slit like a cat's, brimming with mischief.
Eyes that could unleash cruelty at any moment.
The dragon bloodline descended from founding king Taejo.
This world's history differed in details from what I knew, but broadly matched.
And the figure corresponding to the woman before me in original history was.
"The one before you is the king of Joseon."
The tenth king of Joseon.
The woman matching the deposed prince Yeonsan-gun sat barefoot before me, legs crossed.