Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Debt and Devotion
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Summarizing the situation didn't take long.
"I'm innocent, warriors!"
"Owner. Do you think it's right to bind people with debt?"
"Aigoo, I have to collect what's owed, don't I? Hwalan's debt is a whopping three nyang of gold."
"Go say the same thing at the magistrate's office."
"Warriors!"
"It's a ridiculous IOU. You didn't know it's banned by the state, did you?"
The reason Um Kang and Hwalan had put on this village drama.
It was because of Hwalan's debt. She had borrowed money from the Moon Shadow Tower owner for her sick father's medicine. After her father, whom she had served so devotedly, passed away, all that was left for Hwalan was a mountain of debt that had ballooned with compound interest.
'People like this still exist?'
It was the kind of thing you'd expect at some rural tavern. Binding people with money. The interest was larger than what she could earn, so Hwalan would have been exploited at the Moon Shadow Tower for life.
"Did you stir this up hoping the Alliance would intervene?"
"……."
"You'd better answer straight. For your sake and mine."
"Yes, young hero."
Um Kang, who had caused a ruckus at the Moon Shadow Tower every day.
It had been his bold attempt to break the situation. If he'd wanted to kidnap Hwalan, he could have done it anytime. Instead, he deliberately caused minor frictions at the Moon Shadow Tower to draw in the Murim Alliance. When he heard we had arrived, he started the incident—to report the owner.
"Didn't you think of appealing to the magistrate?"
"I've tried countless times already. But they were all in cahoots. The officials who took bribes were on the owner's side."
It was commonplace. What did it matter if the state banned it by law? As long as it didn't surface. That's why Um Kang had chosen such an extreme method. He figured that if the Murim Alliance got involved, their investigation would expose the Moon Shadow Tower owner's deeds.
"Honestly, it doesn't sit well with me. Did you think the Murim Alliance was a group that moves for personal grudges?"
"I'm sorry. What happens to me?"
"We'll follow procedure. Causing a scene at a civilian tavern, attacking White Lotus Squad warriors. Regardless of the owner, you'll face the Alliance's punishment."
"Wh-what about Hwalan?"
What a romantic fool. Even hearing he'd be punished, Um Kang only worried about Hwalan's fate. Considering he'd tried to stab a Murim Alliance warrior, it was understandable.
When Jegal Yeong glanced at me, Um Kang's gaze turned toward me too, filled with anxious eyes.
"What happened?"
"!"
"I remember you charging in to protect her, but after that, it's hazy. Your resistance was so fierce. Impressive skills. I had no time to notice anything else while dealing with you."
I only remembered disarming him with Finger Strike and stepping on him right after, but anyway. Jegal Yeong spoke to Um Kang with an expression that said there was nothing to be done.
"Since she says nothing happened, we can't punish her. Her treatment is not for the Alliance to decide."
"Th-thank you! I'll never forget this kindness!"
"Kindness? Once you're imprisoned, you'll swallow those words."
Grateful even for being thrown in jail. What a strange guy.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Unexpected."
"What is?"
"I figured you'd be stricter, Senior."
After smoothly handing Um Kang over to the Murim Alliance. Jegal Yeong looked tired from writing the report.
"You always nitpick about rules and procedures."
"……."
"Not many train as diligently as you, Senior. They all just go through the motions."
I'd glossed over it awkwardly, but Jegal Yeong overlooking it was definitely unexpected.
"Do I seem that cold-blooded?"
"A little?"
"Our work has to follow regulations and procedures, sure. But... why do you think the White Lotus Squad exists in the first place?"
Jegal Yeong had a serious look.
"We work to punish evildoers who harm civilians. To catch those who run wild relying only on their martial arts."
"……."
"In the end, it's to protect the powerless. So, should I have grilled that exploited courtesan, saying, 'How dare you swing a sword at a Murim Alliance warrior!'?"
"Well, good is good."
It was a glimpse into Jegal Yeong's thinking. White Lotus Squad members each had their own goals. Some loved fighting, others wanted to be where the strong gathered. Some sought honor or a stepping stone for promotion. Jegal Yeong seemed uniquely driven by a sense of duty.
"Still, going to prison for his lover. Kinda touching, huh?"
"?"
"You're weak to this stuff."
"What? You were gonna let it slide too!"
"Of course."
"You......"
The talk was veering too serious, so I'd tossed in a joke to lighten the mood. But Jegal Yeong's reaction was off.
"I get why your heart's softening, Senior."
"It's not like that."
"Sure!"
Fun to tease. There's that saying about impact. How can you resist when a light poke gets such a multiplied reaction?
"Well, it'd be a lie if I said I wasn't impressed. It was amazing. Devotion for love... I thought that only happened in novels."
"Novels? I thought you read military strategy books, Senior."
I'd seen her with books sometimes.
Thick volumes with titles like Art of War or Six Secret Teachings and Three Strategies.
Even with all the training, she was from the Jegal Family after all. It fit the image of being versed in both letters and arms. But novels?
"Wh-what are you talking about? Of course they're strategy books. I just remembered one from long ago."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Where would I find time for novels? You might not know because I've been teaching you, but I'm busy. No time to waste on that."
Suspicious, but hard to press further. Her glare said she'd explode if poked even a little.
"I just thought it didn't make sense."
"What?"
"Sacrificing yourself for love. I've never met anyone like that."
Jegal Yeong's face as she said it held a lonely air. Like she had some backstory. An inexplicable regret emanated from her gaze, as if looking far away.
She said she'd dated a lot, but maybe only with scumbags. Better not dig deeper.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After sending Yi Se-woong home.
Jegal Yeong had to circulate her internal energy to calm her startled heart. As the pure energy flowed through her body, her mind settled bit by bit. But it wasn't enough.
'Almost got caught!'
The matter with Um Kang and Hwalan.
Her desire to protect the powerless was genuine. That one conviction alone had brought her to the White Lotus Squad. That's why she grumbled but never quit. But showing flexibility this time had another reason.
'He was like Kang Se-pyeong.'
The novel she loved.
The protagonist of volume 3 of Tale of the Nine Dragons, Kang Se-pyeong.
He claimed the role of criminal for his beloved woman. Even if it meant his downfall. Burning himself for love alone—that pure passion. Seeing Um Kang, she couldn't help but think of him. Being moved by his fervent heart was inevitable.
'To see such a tender scene in real life!'
That's right.
She was an avid reader of romance novels.
Starting with Records of Peach Blossom Beauties found in her cousin sister's library, Jegal Yeong had devoured countless romance novels. She learned about love from books.
The romantic tales unfolding in novels.
Handsome protagonists living for one woman. Heart-wrenching stories. Sometimes shocked by the explicit, shameless descriptions, but they only drew her deeper.
Reading content tailored to women's tastes, she harbored fantasies.
A bit detached from reality.
'Impossible in real life.'
Striking looks, a body toned by steady exercise. Plus intellectual charm. It was odd no men swarmed her. Suitors scheming for Jegal Yeong's heart never stopped. She rejected them all, unsatisfied.
'Love? Just satisfying lust.'
The more so, the deeper she fell into novels. Novel love stories alone could make her heart race, unlike men who didn't even hide their blatant desire.
'How did it come to this?'
It started with a small lie. From a slight misunderstanding.
Maybe because men hit on her daily.
Before long, rumors spread that she was experienced with men.
Dating? She'd never even held a man's hand.
-Sister, he keeps cheating. What should I do?
Was it Hwangbo Ryeong?
A girl from the Hwangbo Family with little acquaintance had suddenly asked. Pride stung at admitting she'd never dated, so Jegal Yeong made an irreversible choice.
-A woman makes the man what he is. Try this first.
It should have been nonsense advice. Just patching together lines from romance novels. Bluffing that could collapse anytime—but surprisingly, it worked.
-Sister really is a love master!
'Why did that work!'
Love learned from books.
Who knew hastily picked-up words would land.
The lie snowballed. Rumors grew, and women lined up for her advice. Thus, Jegal Yeong became the enchanting woman who never missed her targeted man.
'I don't know!'
No courage to confess now.
She'd bragged so much to close juniors.
How to admit at this age, no dating, not even held a man's hand—a total loser.
Her only defense was acting like she had a backstory, a wounded past.
Like with Moyong Hye and Yi Se-woong.
'Never felt this before.'
To her, Yi Se-woong was fatal poison.
Maybe she couldn't be interested in real men. Maybe satisfy with novels forever.
That guy flipping her thoughts.
'Why does he keep popping up!'
When reading novels, she pictured scenes in her head. The imagined protagonist's face always shadowed, unseen. Because she couldn't conjure her ideal.
Lately, her imagination was invaded.
Yi Se-woong always stood where the male lead should.
-Senior. Pretending otherwise, but you're this worked up.
In her fantasies, he was rough. Calling her senior only in words. With the beastly eyes from their first meeting, looking down on her. Ravaging her fiercely. His aroused hands burned like fire on her skin.
'Stop!'
Jegal Yeong shook her head, barely escaping the delusion.
Her forcibly calmed heart began pounding again.
No early sleep tonight either.