Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: I Spent the Night with the Murim Alliance Leader's Youngest Daughter
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Jegal Yeong was utterly flustered.
It was because of the armful of books clutched tightly to her chest.
'Of all times, what are the odds of running into him right now...'
Browsing the cheap novels scattered through the market was Jegal Yeong's little hobby. The paper quality was so poor they barely qualified as books. And the contents were mostly crude beyond belief.
But every now and then, a true gem worthy of being called a masterpiece would pop up among them. That was why Jegal Yeong wandered the markets with the thrill of treasure hunting. The novels sold in places like this often revealed their raw, unfiltered essence in the most vivid ways.
Today's find, Conquering the Heavenly Martial Academy, was a hidden treasure.
The Heavenly Martial Academy, where the younger generation of the orthodox factions gathered. The protagonist, barely scraping by with his mediocre talent to enroll. He collected the weaknesses of women one by one, luring them into traps...
Bold writing style. The protagonist's raw lust jumped out from the very first lines.
This is it for tonight! She had been heading home in high spirits.
She never expected to run into Yi Se-woong.
"I thought you said you were going home to rest."
"I ran into an old friend after a long time. Looks like Senior came to buy novels? You read them every day and never get tired?"
"Wh-what? These are all military strategy books!"
Should've covered the covers first.
Jegal Yeong hurriedly stuffed the books into her bosom.
'Why now, of all times!'
She had deliberately dressed plainly and even worn glasses. And yet he still spotted her. Was his eyesight just that sharp?
He picked her out amid the throngs of people on the street?
Jegal Yeong was torn between joy at being recognized and dismay at the timing.
"Are the novels that fun?"
"They're not novels!"
"Senior keeps looking at them, so now I'm curious too. Got any recommendations?"
Jegal Yeong's reason screamed at her.
Time to retreat!
Her emotions whispered back.
Just a little longer.
'Why does even his drunken face look so handsome!'
It was a side of him she'd never seen before.
Whether he wasn't bothering to hide it or not, Yi Se-woong's face was flushed red.
Maybe because he met his friend.
His bright smile held no trace of wariness. His face, loosened up like a screw had come free, kept drawing her eyes no matter how she tried to ignore it.
'Well, well?'
Pretending to look away while stealing glances at Yi Se-woong, Jegal Yeong drew the attention of Park Il-do, who sensed something unusual in the air.
He didn't rely on gut feelings.
The Beggar Clan had to be most wary of instincts. Judgments had to be based solely on gathered information. Thoroughly. That was the only way to avoid logical leaps.
But sometimes, you had to trust that prickling sensation tugging at your nerves and follow where instinct led.
Like right now!
'This girl likes Se-woong!'
She was radiating suspicious vibes. The books she clutched so preciously—who knew what they meant, but she clearly wanted to hide them. The optimal move was to leave immediately!
But what was she doing?
Yi Se-woong tossed a few casual words her way, and she disarmed in an instant, hanging on his every syllable. She tried not to show it, but her gaze was sweet as dripping honey.
Maybe test the waters a bit.
"Hello, miss. I'm Park Il-do, Se-woong's friend."
"Oh, hello."
"Seeing you stand there like this makes me uncomfortable. If it's not too rude, would you care to join us?"
"P-pardon? Oh... no, I have urgent business."
Was the intervention too hasty?
As soon as Il-do butted in, Jegal Yeong's hazy eyes sharpened back to clarity, like she'd snapped out of a trance.
She had nearly accepted his invitation.
"I-I should get going. Don't drink too much!"
"Sure thing, Senior. Take care."
"You too!"
Watching Jegal Yeong beat a hasty retreat, Il-do smacked his lips. A little more time, and it would've been certain.
"Who's that girl?"
"Jegal Yeong. My senior in the White Willow Unit."
"Senior?"
"Yeah. She trained me during my apprenticeship, and we still do missions together."
Yi Se-woong answered flatly.
"So basically just a work superior?"
"Pretty much."
"Looked like she likes you."
"Come on, already drunk? What nonsense."
His utter lack of reaction made Il-do pity her a bit.
"You're still the same."
"What is?"
"You asked her to recommend novels. From the listener's side, that comes off as flirting, you know?"
"Where's the flirting?"
Il-do felt nauseous.
In his view, Yi Se-woong's lack of malice was the problem. That face like it was just everyday chit-chat. This obliviousness to the impact of his words. Gye-hee had fallen for him the same way.
Ah, sad first love.
Il-do drowned the wistful memory in a bowl of cheap liquor.
"Hey, Junior!"
Just as he was about to unleash a tirade on Yi Se-woong.
A clear, resonant voice cut through the rowdy drinking party, feeling out of place.
"Senior Hwangbo Seyul."
"Ugh, so stiff. Just call me Senior-Senior!"
"That's a bit... What brings Senior here?"
"I was tracking you, Junior!"
Junior-Junior this, Senior-Senior that.
What the hell?
Did I drink too fast?
Il-do fiddled with his ear self-consciously.
The girl standing before Yi Se-woong.
A beauty rivaling Jegal Yeong. Her playful smile revealed charming little fangs.
"Tracking me?"
"Yeah! You said you were going straight home, but you headed to the market? Suspicious! Whatever Junior was hiding, even lying about... Doesn't Junior-Junior want to know too?"
"Not really."
"So cold! Has Junior-Junior been corrupted by Junior too?"
She slumped in dejection.
What was it?
She was an incredibly cute creature.
She patted Yi Se-woong's shoulders with both arms like throwing a tantrum. He accepted it nonchalantly, as if used to it.
"Well, I'll be off then."
"Sure."
"Pray I find Junior!"
"I'll think about it."
She left behind two awkward-faced men.
"That one a work superior too?"
"Yeah. Even older senior than the last."
"Do all workplace seniors act like that these days?"
"What?"
"The White Willow Unit's discipline has hit rock bottom..."
While I was rolling in the dirt with rough guys, this punk was frolicking in a flower garden. A heavy anger, enough to crush the joy of reunion, thudded in Il-do's heart.
"Kid, sit down here."
"I'm already sitting. What bullshit?"
He couldn't hold back, even for the sake of the jianghu's morals.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "You seduced the Moyong Family's daughter too, huh?"
"Seduced? What're you talking about?"
"At least you stole her heart."
"How'd you know?"
"The Moyong Family formed a full tracking team. Think the Beggar Clan wouldn't hear?"
Il-do looked deadly serious.
Usually, this face meant a lecture incoming.
"You got multiple lives or what?"
"Huh?"
"From Namgoong Yeonhui to Moyong Hye. And today alone, two more. Already tangled with four. Don't tell me you reached for your master too..."
He muttered in a voice just loud enough to hear.
"Surrounded by women everywhere."
"That's exactly what worries me."
I relayed Sama-hyung's words to Il-do.
As concisely as possible.
The prophecy that women were fated to flock to me, and it was best not to resist.
"Jealous! So jealous!"
"Jealous my ass."
"If I were you, I'd have already set up house by now."
"Living by fate? Hate that."
I said quietly.
Fate.
Wasn't that the word we despised most?
"Fate, fate."
"..."
"Reminds me of those days wandering back alleys with you."
Il-do's face grew wistful.
Riding the booze, he was chewing over old memories.
"Remember? The day Gye-hee's father died."
How could I forget.
The day villagers got caught in sect disputes and died.
Even as people who grumbled but fed us until yesterday withered away.
There was nothing we could do.
"The world's shit. Are we fated to get kicked around like stones forever?"
I still remembered Il-do's twisted face as he asked me.
"If that's fate, we'll smash it."
"Can we even do it?"
"Not 'can we.' We must."
No mound to bury them, so we cremated the bodies. The moisture trailing down our faces was probably from the smoke.
An old memory.
"We tried to live that way, and we have. Can't help being bugged by 'fate' now."
"Ha..."
"But brother. Didn't we decide that day? No matter the surroundings, we'll live by our hearts."
"So?"
"Do what you want."
Yeah.
Park Il-do was that kind of guy.
A free spirit, resolved to go with the flow.
That's why he stayed in the Beggar Clan.
"What's the conclusion?"
"Like the girl, keep her. Don't, let her go. Simple, right?"
"Classic you."
Watching Il-do joke around eased something in my chest.
The buzz swirling in my body and the heaviness at my heart flew away together.
Refreshing.
"And that prophecy? No need to sweat it."
"Too spot-on to ignore completely."
"Fuck. This punk doesn't look in mirrors?"
"...?"
"Fate my ass. Women not swarming this face would be defying heaven. Any mutt on the street could guess that."
Il-do grumbled and downed bowls nonstop.
"Just call it fortune-teller bullshit."
"That'll ease my mind."
"Prophecies are all like that. Doesn't fit your ears? Shove it up your nose."
The fog over my eyes felt a bit lifted.
"Even if things go south, big bro's got your back. No worries."
"Big bro? If you're boasting, take over the Beggar Clan first."
"Might be soon."
"Talking shit means you've got energy left. Drink up."
"Still got plenty for talk."
Meager but reliable side dishes.
A steaming bowl of cheap liquor warming the throat.
With passersby's footsteps as accompaniment, toasting with my brother—no delicacies needed.
"I'd have multiple households by now."
"But you don't, huh?"
"You bastard."
It was a good night.