Chapter 13 - The Hunt (2)
The Hunt (2)
Translator : Elizabeth
"Ho-oh. Your skills are proficient."
Seeing me skillfully skinning the wild boar, the Emperor clapped his hands.
Well, yeah. In a world where beggars like me would starve to death if we couldn't even do this, it's natural to be good at it.
I cut the meat into thick pieces and skewered the chunks.
Around the time the sound of meat sizzling ripened, the Emperor took out some alcohol.
Alcohol that looked terribly expensive at a glance.
...was not it. That is alcohol commonly seen in the marketplace. Just cheap booze. It's cheap alcohol, nothing more, nothing less.
The Emperor poured it into roughly made cups.
"Accept a cup."
"It is an honor."
"You don't need such formalities. Aren't I, Jim (the Royal We), and Gong (You/Duke) here together simply as martial artists right now?"
Now I get it. This gentleman's personality.
This person has absolutely no sense of authority. He's a type who doesn't wield his power to the extent that it makes one wonder if it's really okay.
Honestly speaking, he was the type that makes loyalty well up. He's somewhat flexible, and since he says only such good things, naturally, my heart can't help but be moved.
However, I have already decided.
I will definitely establish the Gangho here. By steadily raising my stage (Gyeong-ji), I will see the end of my martial arts.
"...Your Majesty. I apologize for saying this, but your subject will leave."
"Hahaha! Out of the blue?"
"I am telling you just in case. Isn't giving false hope something only treacherous subjects would do?"
"That is true."
He swirled his cup.
"What do you intend to do once you leave?"
"I will establish the Way of the Gangho."
"The Way of the Gangho? Is that more valuable than gold and silver treasures? Honestly, I do not understand."
If I declare here for no reason, 'I'm going to set up a sect and grow an armed group!', then we might really wage war.
So, changing the subject...
"Your Majesty praises your subject, but initially, your subject is nothing more than grass-roots (Min-cho)."
"What grass-roots could shake Jim's heart like this?"
"That is why I do not understand. I apologize, but hasn't the time Your Majesty and your subject met been short? Just what did you see in your subject to treat me so well?"
It's literally as I said. This is almost the first time you and I have had a proper conversation.
So why are you trying so hard to employ me?
If you tried to employ me coercively, I could at least run away comfortably. Like this, it just made my heart uncomfortable for no reason.
The Emperor swirled the cup in his hand. His expression, which had been smiling familiarly just moments ago, suddenly turned serious.
"...Well."
He stared blankly at his face reflected in the cup.
"Jim does not trust anyone in the Golden Dragon Palace. The interior of the Golden Dragon Palace is full of secret plots, and traitors aiming for Jim are swarming. How can Jim truly trust anyone?"
"Then isn't it even stranger? Why did you go hunting with your subject alone?"
"That was a whim."
"At least you should have kept guards by your side."
"Couldn't you harm Jim sufficiently if you set your mind to it anyway? Jim hates wasting energy on meaningless things more than anything."
Ha, truly. I can't figure out his inner thoughts at all.
"Did you ask why I go this far for you?"
Soon he continued.
"Jim doesn't know either."
"Pardon?"
"Sometimes while living life, aren't there such moments? 'Ah, I want it! I want it like crazy! I want to get it in my hands no matter what!'—moments when you feel destiny. Jim merely felt such an intuition."
Uh, um. I don't think I've ever had that in my life.
Is it a similar context to when martial artists find their beloved sword and get excited thinking, 'Ah, this is the sword!'?
If it's something like that, I somewhat understand.
"It was a truly fascinating experience. There is a capable brain by Jim's side, but even he has never made me feel such emotions. Perhaps that is why my heart is swayed like this."
The Emperor, who was swirling the cup this way and that, raised his head and met my eyes.
"Mumyeong. I will speak honestly. The current Golden Dragon Palace is broken to the point where Jim and the Chancellor alone cannot silence it. It is truly shameful to say, but this is the clear truth."
"Who on earth are those traitors you refer to?"
Didn't my sister say this was a novel with a bad ending anyway? This was a pretty important question.
The Emperor hesitated to open his mouth for a moment, then touched his forehead.
"Hmm. First, the marriage was wrong."
"...Pardon?"
No, fuck. Coming in with a hook. I don't know how to react to this.
"Jim's primary wife (Jeong-bi) is a woman with thick ambition. So sometimes she crosses the line. But she is so meticulous that her tail is rarely caught. I give you just one piece of advice. Be careful with marriage."
She definitely said the Empress was a villainess. The reason Hyeon-bi was deluded by the Crying Ghost was also because of that woman.
I nodded sincerely.
"I will keep it in mind. Marriage, carefully."
"Not a very pleasant feeling."
The Emperor burst into self-deprecating laughter.
Soon he opened his mouth again.
"Not only that, the Cheon-ui-won (Heavenly Council). Those people are also formidable opponents."
The Cheon-ui-won...
Ah, right.
I've heard of this too. Probably a group of elders with strong enough power to select Crown Princesses, right?
"There are five elders in the Cheon-ui-won. Originally, on the surface, they are Jim's swords."
"The elders are swords?"
Aren't elders usually just old farts who say, 'Ahem, that's not how you do it'?
"Yes, they are the ones called the Cheon-ui-o-seong (Five Stars of Heavenly Council)."
Cheon-geom-seong (Heavenly Sword Star). Cheon-do-seong (Heavenly Saber Star). Cheon-gwon-seong (Heavenly Fist Star). Cheon-yeong-seong (Heavenly Shadow Star). Cheon-myeong-seong (Heavenly Fate Star).
The Emperor added that they were called as such.
"They are warriors from a generation far before Jim. Therefore, the Golden Dragon Palace and the Cheon-ui-won have lived in a symbiotic relationship where they cannot devour each other. A relationship like the harmony of Yin and Yang, where neither can be called higher. However, it seems some of them have betrayed the Imperial Family."
"Who are those few?"
"It could be all of them, or maybe not."
In other words, he doesn't know.
"Don't look at me with those eyes. Jim also only found out recently. Who in the world would have known that even the sturdy Cheon-ui-o-seong would harbor different intentions?"
"No, well. I didn't particularly look at you with those eyes. As you live, there are naturally guys like that."
"Do you know? You are probably the only one who refers to the Cheon-ui-o-seong as 'guys like that'."
Even if they are the Cheon-ui-o-seong, they can't handle Qi like me anyway, aren't they just a group of old farts shouting loudly because of their age?
Honestly speaking, I only thought, 'Weaklings trying hard to use grandiose nicknames.'
Aren't they embarrassed at their age?
"You must not underestimate them. You cut an evil spirit, but they are those who can handle evil spirits."
"Handle evil spirits?"
This is new information again.
"It is merely speculation, but Jim and the Chancellor judged that there must be someone among the Cheon-ui-o-seong who handles evil spirits. Since they are those who rarely reveal themselves to the secular world, no one would know their exact power."
Then is the mastermind the Cheon-ui-won?
No. Let's not think for no reason. I decided to leave, didn't I? I shouldn't get involved anymore. If I do, I'll really get caught.
"I see. Your subject will cheer for everything to work out well, even from afar."
"That is truly comforting."
The Emperor shook his head and clicked his tongue.
"If I say more, Jim might feel disappointed, so I will change the subject. So, just what is the Way of the Gangho that you try to leave so much for?"
At that question, I clenched my fist tight.
"Of course, it's the Way of Men."
"And what is the Way of Men?"
"Grass-roots like us live without even knowing they are being trampled. There are many weak people who live the rest of their lives starving, being plundered, and finally dying in vain."
"Hmm."
"That is why your subject chose to hold the sword. If one is strong, one protects the weak. If one is a true man, isn't that side cooler?"
"I see. That's awesome."
The Emperor laughed.
"I heard it while searching for you. Did you say it was Hyeop (Chivalry)?"
Hyeop.
As soon as that word came out, I couldn't hide my excitement.
"Yes, it is Hyeop. Guys who don't know Hyeop cannot be called men. For a man, living a life protecting Hyeop by training martial arts is only natural. At least your subject thinks so."
The Emperor shut his mouth for a moment. And stared at me intently enough to be burdensome.
He gulped down the cup.
"Then what is Hyeop?"
He asked.
I answered without hesitation.
"There should be no one dying unfairly. Being trampled just because one has no power makes even less sense. Such an unfair world should not exist. Those who know Hyeop do not turn their heads away from this."
"Is that the Hyeop that Gong thinks of?"
I nodded.
Then the Emperor clicked his tongue.
"A useless ideal. Even if you do that, no one will recognize it anyway. Life is originally each for their own survival."
"Life is also sometimes about living together and dying together."
The Emperor opened his eyes wide. His pupils were fluctuating.
"...You don't lose a single word. I didn't know you had such a personality that hates losing."
"Aren't martial artists originally somewhat childish creatures? Please overlook it with a heart as vast as the sea."
"Right, I will try. Anyway, the time is already this late."
He stood up from his seat.
"However, Jim is also a childish creature. I hate losing so much that I never even fight a losing battle. Shouldn't a ruler's pride be like an impregnable fortress?"
I felt it earlier. He was definitely sneaky.
But a fight? Does he intend to wage war or something?
"Let us sleep now. It was truly enjoyable."
Before I could ask, he lay down.
It feels uncomfortable, but I can't wake him up and ask him either.
Helplessly, I sat next to him and closed my eyes with my upper body upright.
Let's not mind it. Anyway, tomorrow is a relationship I won't see again.
Thinking so, I asked for sweet sleep.
What on earth is happening?
As I woke up, a clear voice hit my eardrums.
"Royal Father, your daughter has arrived."
The Emperor, who had risen early in the morning, smiled brightly at this.
"Right. You have come."
The sound of stepping on leaves gets closer. A girl with dumpling hair on both sides. But her attire is, fuck, fucking glittering.
Furthermore, her gait and every gesture are overflowing with grace.
"You came just in time. Mumyeong, didn't I decide to bestow a few swords upon Gong?"
The Emperor's gaze naturally turned to me.
"This child will guide you to the treasury. Since Jim is also very busy, you see. I won't be able to go with you."
"Yes, this girl will guide him."
The Emperor threw a log into the bonfire and grinned.
"Then Jim will get going first. I'm sick of the forest now."
Watching the Emperor leaving with pleasant steps, I wiped my face.
Something.
Something is happening.