Chapter 88
Chapter 88
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: It's Important to Me
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Someone once said it.
Blood can't be denied.
'That guy's got the Southern Jiang Merchant King's blood in him after all.'
Ha Seong's eyes were glued to the pile of gold and silver treasures I'd brought, just like someone from the Silver Radiance bloodline should.
He even roughly appraised their value.
"...Isn't that way too much to have just picked up on the way? Two, four, six, eight... Even roughly, that's at least 1,800? If you sell them properly at market price, you could get around 2,000 nyang?"
And here's another one who couldn't deny his blood.
Dang Ok-gi.
"Ahem."
Whether it was the Sacheon Tang Family blood in him or not, the guy leaned in close to my nose, furrowed his brow, and spoke up.
"...Eon Yong-un. You smell like you've got some poison lingering on your clothes."
"I thought I shook it off on the way, but some must've stuck."
"It did. Most people would just get a mild rash from this amount, but it's definitely there—that acrid poison scent. Did those Haegum Room bastards use poison arts too?!"
At Dang Ok-gi's words, Ha Seong's eyes widened as he jumped in.
"Poison arts? Big brother! Are you okay?! Wait, you're covered in blood too?!"
"Don't make a fuss. The blood's not mine, and ordinary poison arts can't touch me... Hey, forget me. I think you're the one with the problem."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Your face is breaking out in red splotches right now."
"What?!"
Right at that moment.
The symptoms Dang Ok-gi had predicted appeared on Ha Seong.
"Huh, no wonder my throat's been prickling since earlier."
He must've inhaled the poison clinging to my clothes when he hugged me earlier.
Realizing this, Ha Seong turned pale in an instant.
"Big brother? Am I dying like this?! I never even heard you say I was the best little brother, and now I'm going after showing you nothing but my pathetic side! Tell Father, Mother, and Big Sis I'm sorry! And on my tombstone, say I was the little brother you cherished most..."
At first, his tearful face was so ridiculous I just listened.
But if I let him keep going, he'd spin a full epic tragedy, so I cut him off.
"Quit your bullshit."
"...Even on my deathbed, you're scolding me. Still, I'm glad I got to call you big brother..."
Then I shoved the Blood Poison Wine I'd picked up from the Haegum Room leader's carriage into his mouth.
"Mmph?! Whmph ish thish? Big bwo?"
"Blood Poison Wine."
"Bwud Pwoish Wine?"
"Yeah. Suck it in through your mouth once, nose once, alternate breathing like that, and the poison will clear up soon enough."
"Fow me... you gave me shomethin shooo pwecious... I'll be woyal fowevah, big bwo!"
At Ha Seong's garbled words, Master clicked his tongue from my waist pouch, as if pitying him.
Some things in the world are better left unknown.
'Anyway, what do you think, Master?'
'Didn't you tell me to throw away that Blood Poison Wine? See? Keeping it turned out useful, didn't it?'
'Victory by decision? Be a man and say your disciple was right this time, loud and clear.'
'...Tch. You're sneakily sharp.'
Anyway.
With Ha Seong's mouth stuffed with Blood Poison Wine, things quieted down a bit.
But in exchange, Dang Ok-gi's piercing gaze burned into my side.
'...Did he inhale the poison just by looking?'
Not that I couldn't understand.
Dang Ok-gi had called me a friend with his own mouth.
But in the original story, Dang Ok-gi never lightly used the word "friend," not even as flattery.
So from his perspective, I'd basically stabbed him in the back, which must've left him feeling slighted.
'Dang Ok-gi's temperament—with every setback, he retreats deeper into his inner cave.'
The Sacheon Tang Family trait of never fleeing from friends or foes.
Considering all that, it might not just be slighted feelings, but self-loathing.
'Hmm. But I really did knock him out, so maybe "stabbed in the back" doesn't fit?'
Not that I felt sorry about it.
'It was the best option.'
To cleanly resolve the situation with the Haegum Room leader, that was the way.
There was no other way to get Dang Ok-gi out of there without knocking him out.
'Besides, with Dang Ok-gi's personality, that kind of emotional turmoil happens in the original story anyway.'
Anyway.
Dang Ok-gi wasn't glaring because he hated me.
On the contrary, it was because he was worried.
And sure enough.
"Give me your arm. Let me check your pulse."
Dang Ok-gi extended his pale, slender hand toward me.
Heaven knew I was fine, Earth knew, I knew, and even Master knew.
But a pulse check would end it quickly, so no point in arguing.
I just offered my arm.
Dang Ok-gi felt my pulse, then snorted and shoved my arm away.
"You're fine."
"Told you. Worried about me? Unnecessary concern. If there's anyone in the world who picks the best spots to lie low, it's probably me."
"...Worried? Me? Not at all."
"Then why were you glaring like your eyes were turning red jade or pomegranate?"
"That was... because I thought you'd lose the Blood Thread Full Poison Worms!"
"I brought them safe and sound."
"...Ugh."
"Anyway, since you say you weren't worried, this is extra, but it was unavoidable. The outcome was good. And if you think about it, it was for your sake too. Imagine if you'd gotten dragged in—what would you report to that stuffy Fragrant Orchid Hall dormitory?"
"That's the most infuriating thing I've heard. Fragrant Orchid Hall? That doesn't matter to me. Worst case, I quit. I'd just get scolded by Father."
And that made sense.
The daughter of the Sacheon Tang Family wouldn't suffer anywhere without a Righteous Martial Academy diploma, and the bullying in Fragrant Orchid Hall must be wearing thin.
But Dang Ok-gi needed to grow attached to life at the academy.
"It matters to me. I want to spend academy life with you guys."
"......"
I meant it.
That's how I'd read the original story, which landed me in Eon Yong-un's body.
To handle the crises and disasters ahead, I needed these guys even more.
But right then.
Dang Ok-gi stopped grumbling and suddenly left the spot.
"Where are you going?!"
"To change clothes, why!"
"In the middle of a conversation?"
"Gotta change into uniform to head back to the academy, right?!"
Hmm.
Looks like my sincere words slipped in and hit the mark.
While Ha Seong recovered from the poisoning, I washed the blood off at the well and changed clothes.
In the meantime, Dang Ok-gi, who changed first, had transferred the Blood Thread Full Poison Worms.
"Red Jade and Pomegranate. All moved."
"Is it really okay to stuff them in that airtight wooden box?"
"Yeah. Just line it with rotting wood suitable for larvae, the right amount of moss, and feed them on time."
"Didn't you feed them on the way out of the auction house?"
"Yeah. So it'll be fine. They climb walls too, so as long as the box is sturdy, vibrations from running won't matter."
I'd cleaned up nicely, but we needed to leave the area ASAP, which meant swapping out the wooden box holding the Blood Thread Full Poison Worms.
'In the end, we got caught because part of the box was fragile glass that couldn't handle impacts.'
That's why we couldn't run.
And got caught.
Now fixed, no more worries there.
"Big bro! I think I'm all better now?"
"...Wipe your drool first. You're disgusting. He says the antidote worked—Dang Ok-gi, check him."
"Got it."
"Yeah. I'll pack up the spilled gold and treasures, so once Dang Ok-gi says you're good, change quick."
"Eek! Big bro!"
With the gold and treasures ripped from Haegum Room secured, we each shouldered our packs and slipped out of Lohagu like the wind.
Days of hard riding later, we arrived at Righteous Martial Academy.
Asking the gate guard senior the time, it was just past sunset.
"You didn't get your night pass revoked, right?"
"They don't revoke those for first-years in Fragrant Orchid Hall."
"Fair enough. Close call, then? Good work, everyone. Out of concern, let's keep what happened during this outing just among us."
Submitting an anonymous report and managing suddenly increased funds meant telling Yin Xia Lian.
No gain in blabbing to others.
'At this point in the story, no academy student eliminates the Haegum Room leader.'
"Yes, big brother."
"Got it."
Thankfully, both agreed without extra chatter.
With the Haegum Room leader matter settled, I continued.
"And we'll raise the Blood Thread Full Poison Worms in Blue Bamboo Hall."
Right now, Dang Ok-gi's "friends" were just me and Jeon Gal Seol-ji.
'They say familiarity breeds affection.'
Popping into Blue Bamboo Hall constantly for the worms would naturally build bonds with original-story friends like Yin Xia Lian, Jeong Hyeon, Ha Seong, So Neung, Kyung Ryong hyung, and more.
It could even help connect with key figures who have enemies in other dorms.
'Yong-myeong and Cheon Jang-ho are my brother and his friend, so easy to invite. The Peng Family twins have ties from our parents' generation and childhood, so that should work too.'
Rubbing shoulders like that, Ok-gi would warm to academy life.
'And carrying that into Fragrant Orchid Hall right now would put Dang Ok-gi in hot water immediately—this is best.'
That's why I suggested it, ready to explain if asked.
But surprisingly, Dang Ok-gi nodded easily.
"Got it."
"...? I'm warning you, no backing out later. Bringing that into Fragrant Orchid Hall..."
"I said I get it! I understand! I'm not an idiot?!"
"...You understand and you're going along this easily? This isn't the Dang Ok-gi I know. Who are you?"
"Kyaaah!"
"There, that's more like Dang Ok-gi."
"Seriously! Even when I agree, you make a fuss!"
"Anyway, good work. Head in before roll call's late. See you tomorrow."
"You too. And th..."
"And what?"
"...Thanks."
With that, Dang Ok-gi hurried off like he was late for something.
Wonder what he hesitated on.
Thanks, huh? I'm thankful.
Thousand Poison Pill's reliable.
After parting with Dang Ok-gi at the academy square, we headed to Blue Bamboo Hall's student council room.
"Big sis! I'll do even better from now on!"
"Huh?! Whoa, why are you like this, Eon young master? Did you get some special 'training' while away?"
"...? What do you take me for?"
"I see you as Eon young master."
"...?"
"Anyway, you're late? Or not? You said you might stay out overnight, so maybe you're early?"
"Some stuff came up. But you're alone?"
"Yes. Everyone else went to the dorms for roll call prep."
On the way, the dorms looked busy with roll call, and sure enough, Yin Xia Lian was alone.
Perfect. I told her about the Medicine Market events, skipping bits like Corpse Manipulation Technique.
"...That's how it went."
"Wow, some huge things happened."
Hearing me out, Yin Xia Lian unconsciously clicked her tongue.
She busily checked me over.
"No injuries anywhere?"
"As you see, perfectly fine in body and mind. Didn't bring Tang pastries, though."
"Jokes even now. Be careful—you're not alone anymore. Without you, Blue Bamboo Hall collapses, and I'd go down too after investing my trust and funds here."
"...Noted. So, can I leave the anonymous report on the Haegum Room base and fund management to you?"
Shocked by the bombshell from my mouth, but at "funds," her attitude shifted sharply.
"Yes. Use the merchant group's lower organizations, pass it through a few hands—anonymous reports are easy. But you went to spend money and made some?! Hehe. Any plans for the funds? Or should I handle as usual?"
I'd only mentioned not getting pastries.
Why was her mouth watering again...
Anyway, I had plans, so I spoke.
"I'd like to invest a bit in preparing for the inter-dorm tournament."
"If it's funds to boost strength via wealth during the tournament, that means the Athletics Department, right?"
"Exactly."
"But don't we need to recruit the department head first? Oh, the re-enrollment skill assessment results came in today. Want to see? Here's the top ranks."
With her words, Yin Xia Lian handed over a document. Skimming it,
sure enough, at the top was the name of the one I'd eyed for Athletics head.