Chapter 3 - Discomfort
Discomfort
Translator : Elizabeth
"You really didn't know?"
"How the hell would I know the plot of a novel you were reading? You crazy bitch."
"No, but still. How could you mistake this place for a martial arts world?"
Wow, seriously. She's looking at me like I'm some kind of insect.
"Because there was Qi! It was definitely there! So, this has to be a martial arts world!"
Un-gi-jo-sik? Worked. Qi? Exists. Danjeon? I definitely felt it.
But what? It's not? Then what were all those days I spent training for...?
My head started throbbing.
"Fuck it, I'm escaping this place right now."
"What? You can't!"
"Why not? If this isn't a martial arts world anyway, there's no one here who can stop me."
I only stayed quiet because I thought the Imperial Palace was swarming with hidden masters. But now you're telling me they're all just normal people, let alone masters?
There was no reason to be held captive here any longer. If I escaped, I could hide my identity and live just fine.
But my sister blocked my path.
"I said you can't!"
"Why! Why not!"
"Oppa, just calm down and listen."
She pressed down on my shoulders, forcing me to sit.
"The romance fantasy I read... it has a bad ending, okay?"
What nonsense is this brat spouting with such a calm face?
"The beginning of that disaster is this Crying Ghost incident. The novel never revealed the exact truth behind it, but starting from this event, cracks begin to form in the Four Palaces."
"So? You want me to uncover the truth?"
"No, you don't need to reveal everything perfectly. Oppa, you just need to kill Her Highness."
My sister said it nonchalantly.
"What?"
"On a night when the crying doesn't stop, Lady Hyeon-bi's body will become twisted. Before long, she turns into a terrible evil spirit and slaughters the maids in the Hyeonmu Palace. That's as far as the novel goes."
"In other words," she continued.
"If you just get rid of the awakened Lady Hyeon-bi, everything will be okay. Oppa, you looked pretty strong earlier, so can't you do it?"
An hour had passed since my sister hurriedly left, saying she had to go.
My head was a mess, so I drew my sword and swung it.
It's not a martial arts world.
There are no masters.
Even the martial arts I dreamed of didn't exist.
However, the Danjeon was definitely real. Qigong existed too. I had definitely accumulated internal energy.
So, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
Not a martial arts world? So what?
I just have to found a sect. If I train disciples and create the Murim (Martial World), that's that.
A Founding Patriarch. That’s actually even better.
However, my sister had said:
'Think carefully, Oppa. If we don't stop this, everyone really will die like dogs. You love Wuxia so much, are you just going to let everyone here die?'
She said countless people would die if this wasn't stopped.
As a martial artist, could I just walk past this?
A martial artist who doesn't know Hyeop (Chivalry) has no value. That's not a martial artist, just a thug.
'Running away blindly means I'll have to live hiding my identity forever anyway.'
In that case, wouldn't it be enough to just kill the awakened Lady Hyeon-bi or whatever?
Fine.
I figured this was doable.
After all, engaging in life-or-death battles is the essence of a martial artist. My body was itching for action anyway, so I might as well test my skills.
And the next day.
I began my investigation in earnest.
Actually, you could read it as "investigation" and call it "slacking off," but anyway, I pointed out my sister and ordered her to be my assistant.
"So what do we do now?"
"Do what? Let's just suck honey (slack off) until she awakens."
Same blood indeed. How could she say something so admirable?
"Good. I'll practice my martial arts, so you go find somewhere to sleep."
"Oppa, go to a hospital. Ah, there are no hospitals here."
After that, we, as they say, sucked honey.
For almost a week, we ate when we wanted, slept when we wanted, and played when we wanted.
Then, a letter arrived for me.
It was from Baekrok, that old geezer.
Your movements are so quiet, I worry you may be neglecting your duties.
This guy, giving me goosebumps right from the opening. Is he a fortune teller?
Mumyeong, I know your nature. You are one who never moves unless matters are urgent. However, this matter is unrelated to your interest or will.
Due to the strange phenomena currently occurring in the Hyeonmu Palace, the court ladies and eunuchs cannot sleep at night, and rumors are already spreading outside the Golden Dragon Palace.
Do not take this situation lightly just because His Majesty remains silent. The more the superiors stay silent, the more fear spreads below.
I do not care what you do. However, at least make a pretense of investigating. That is the duty of one who has become the Imperial Sword.
...Trying to pull on my heartstrings for nothing. As my sister said, all I have to do is slice Hyeon-bi, so there's no need to move yet.
At that moment, a doubt arose.
'Kill a person?'
Kill a person.
Since when was this something to be spoken of so lightly?
Come to think of it, Si-yeon was strange too.
Even if my sister's personality was trash, she wasn't the type of kid to talk about killing people so easily.
I continued reading the letter with a dazed mind.
Below, I have attached the records of the Crying Ghost identified so far. Use this as a reference for your movements.
<Crying Ghost Occurrence Record>
First Occurrence: Around Ja-si (11 PM - 1 AM) on the first day of every month.
Location: The corridor behind the detached palace north of the Hyeonmu Palace.
Form of Voice: Consistently reported as the crying of a "young girl."
Note: The crying has a desperate tone that seems to stimulate sympathy, and there have been no cases of it calling out a specific name yet.
"Hmm."
I turned the page.
Abnormal Phenomena: Numerous reports that after the crying is heard, lanterns around the Hyeonmu Hall flicker, or doors and blinds shake on their own despite no wind blowing.
Also: Immediately after the crying is heard, cases have been found where normally gentle court ladies suddenly become agitated or show hostility, glaring at each other.
Violence: Some showed violent behavior such as shoving colleagues or grabbing them by the collar without reason. In two particular cases, maids drew daggers and swung them at colleagues, resulting in serious injuries.
The first day of every month.
As it happened, today was the first day of the month.
I immediately headed for the Hyeonmu Hall.
"What is it? Oppa, why are you suddenly moving so busily?"
"Si-yeon, doesn't something feel strange?"
"Shh, shh! I'm Hyang-rang here!"
My sister, who was tagging along, looked around and put a finger to her lips. Shh!
"Right, Rang-ah. Something is strange."
"What is?"
"Since when did you talk about killing people so lightly?"
"...Why? What's strange about it? Everything gets solved if we just kill Lady Hyeon-bi anyway. So, of course, we should kill her."
It seemed my sister didn't feel any sense of incongruity at all.
Honestly speaking, I was unsure too. The thought that it was the better method kept circling in my head endlessly.
So, I closed my eyes and practiced breathing (To-nap).
I am Baek Si-woo. Now, Mumyeong. A healthy Korean man.
Born as a man, to kill an innocent woman just to solve a problem?
GAL (SCREAM)!
Doing such a petty thing is not the Martial Way (Mudo). It is not Chivalry (Hyeop). The martial artist I aspire to be would never do such a cowardly thing.
Only then did I feel my head clearing.
Ignoring my sister—or rather, the brat now named Rang-ah—I stopped in front of the Hyeonmu Hall.
"...Even if you are an investigator sent by Master Baekrok, we cannot let you in casually."
The Head Maid and several maids came out and blocked my path.
Should I show the plaque?
No, it's too early. There's no need for that yet.
I stood crookedly and sighed.
"Then should I just go? Really?"
"...This is the palace where the Crown Princess resides. At the very least, procedures must be followed. After all, you haven't made a single move to investigate until now, have you?"
When she put it like that, I didn't have much to say.
Before I knew it, a chilly silence settled between the Head Maid and me.
Hyang-rang trembling nervously beside me, and the maids whispering behind the Head Maid.
However, I had no intention of backing down.
Losing the battle of spirits here meant defeat!
I opened my eyes wide and glared at the Head Maid as if to devour her.
"What is this commotion?"
At that moment, an elegant voice was heard.
The air in front of the Hyeonmu Hall settled instantly.
The hem of light silk robes brushed the floor, and an aura calm enough to be chilling scattered around.
The Head Maid and the gatekeepers bowed in unison.
"We greet Her Highness, Lady Hyeon-bi."
Pale green eyes focused on me.
"Investigator Mumyeong. What brings you to the front of the Hyeonmu Hall?"
"Well, I came out to investigate."
At my casual tone, the Head Maid's eyes widened!
Not wanting to lose, my eyes widened too!
Hyeon-bi touched her forehead as if she found the situation absurd.
"I see you know no fear and have a loose tongue."
"The investigator came out to investigate, but they keep blocking me."
"That is—!"
Just as the Head Maid was about to say something, Hyeon-bi turned her head slightly.
A very small movement.
With just that, the Head Maid was instantly silenced.
"If he is someone sent by Master Baekrok, there must be a reason. Let him in."
"But, Your Highness—"
"I said let him in."
At her firm tone, no one raised an objection any longer.
The Head Maid eventually took a step back and bowed her head.
"...I have committed a discourtesy. Please, enter, Investigator."
The doors opened, and the appearance of the Hyeonmu Hall was revealed.
Contrary to the splendor outside, the inside was excessively quiet.
There was no flashy garden, no colorful flower beds. The wide grounds were covered in gray sand and black stones, and above that, only mounds of dirt.
In particular, a stone statue in the center stood out; it looked like a snake resting on a turtle's shell.
"O-Oppa...! What are you going to do now?"
My sister whispered urgently beside me.
Well.
I think I won't know that until tonight.
Then what should I do before then?
"Are there any medicinal herbs around here?"
"There are, but why?"
"Then talk nicely to Her Highness for me. I'm going to do some farming."
"What the fuck?"
Since I've only been playing lately, I should eat something good for my body.
Rang-ah's eyes seemed to get a bit moist, but that wasn't my problem.
I immediately launched my body into the air.
I'm counting on you, sis!