An Outing to Moda (1)
Plod, plod.
A grand boulevard built of stone and hwanghoe mortar. It could fit maybe three wagons side by side — but honestly, in this era, that counts as a proper avenue, right?
So much time had passed, and here I was, off to see how the blacksmith city was getting along these days.
Back in the day, my primitive friends used to walk here in a single day, so I'd set out without a second thought...
“Damn it? Why is it so far?”
I couldn't even see the city walls yet. I guess I'd have to pitch a tent and camp out here for the night.
Well, it's still the side of a road — at least I won't be waking up to an unfamiliar ceiling like last time.
Flicker, crackle.
Sitting by the roadside on a summer plain as the campfire burned peacefully along, I pulled out a flute.
Feeed... pip, pip.
“Ah. This is tricky.”
People had made it — they took those whistle-like pipes and built them bigger, added holes, and turned them into something that could actually carry a tune.
I figured I ought to learn at least one instrument, so I'd grabbed one without thinking.
But wind instruments turn out to be harder than expected. I'd assumed the sound came out on its own — turns out I have to make the sound with my mouth, and the holes just adjust the pitch.
“Ugh! Forget it.”
Maybe I'll try again someday, once someone invents a recorder for me.
Clop. Clop.
The sound of two animals pulling something in step. A wagon, by the look of it.
“Whoa there.”
A middle-aged man glanced my way and brought his cart to a halt. Huh? Why'd you stop? That's kind of unnerving?
“You travelin' alone, miss?”
“Ah... no? I have friends!”
“Heh heh heh.”
Excuse me? Why are you laughing like a villain?
“Bahahaha. Don't fret, I won't do anything to you. Pretty little thing like you, run away from home by the look of it — even near Sinsi, sitting out here like this is askin' for trouble. I'm headed to Moda myself. Want a ride?”
Hmm? Just a warm, friendly neighbor uncle? What exactly am I supposed to trust this guy on?
“Here, my ID. I'm a solid citizen, no need to worry.”
“Okay...”
It didn't say what he did for a living or anything — what a strange use for an ID. Is he famous or something?
“May I ask a favor of you?”
Well, he's offering a ride. Might as well hitch one.
“Right, come on over then. It's a freight wagon, so you'll have to sit up beside me — that alright?”
While the man tidied up his seat, I quickly stashed my tent into my pouch. Vanishing right in front of someone's eyes would look strange to anyone, wouldn't it?
“Hm? Didn't you have a tent there?”
“No, that was just a stick I'd propped up.”
“Was it?”
I just tilted my head, and since it was getting dark, he apparently couldn't remember clearly either.
“Hop on, then. It's not far — we'll make it before the sun's fully down.”
“Yes! Thank you~”
So it hadn't been far after all. A little more walking and I'd have made it. Got it.
Clop, clop.
Ours was the only wagon on the boulevard. Was that because everyone timed their travel by the day's distance? I wondered how long hauls worked, then.
“By the way — how do you handle far-off places?”
“Hm? Long hauls? There's a rest stop about every day's journey for a regular wagon.”
From what I gathered, people traveled the routes often enough that they'd settled on spots to gather and stay overnight. Even with so many hunters roaming around, you'd still have to watch out for wild beasts.
“Does nobody build actual buildings at these rest stops and sell food?”
“Huh?”
Nobody? Watching the man think hard about it, apparently no one does.
“Now that's not a bad idea. Good thinkin'. Maybe I'll try it...”
Oops. He just stole my business idea. It would be hard for me to run it myself, honestly. Maybe I should just invest?
“Why don't you run it, then?”
“It's your idea, miss. You sure you don't mind me takin' it?”
An era when people still had a conscience. How delightful is that?
“Want to do it as partners? I'll put up the money, and you run the place.”
Operations should be left to a professional manager, after all. The inn business is half profit on conscience alone — and this man already seemed to have plenty of it.
“Hm? What's that, now?”
“Building an inn costs a fortune up front, right? So I put up the capital, you run the place, and we split the profits.”
“Isn't that a loss for you?”
This man had no idea how promising this industry was.
“The better you run the inn, the more money I make without lifting a finger?”
“Is that so?”
He tilted his head, utterly unable to grasp it. Wow~ what an honest soul.
“What do you say? Worst case, the money that goes up in smoke is mine anyway.”
“But how can you trust me?”
“You were the one telling me to trust you over an ID card a minute ago?”
“Ahahahaha. Right, I did. Fair enough.”
So that ID business was just him being casual about it. Honestly.
Reach.
The man held out his hand. Is this a deal? I guess this is what people do when a deal's struck these days?
I hurriedly took his hand and shook it.
“What're you doing? Show me yours too, miss?”
Oh... my ID? So it wasn't a handshake. No wonder his palm was just hanging open there. Showing mine is kind of embarrassing, though...
Damn it. To think the day would actually come when I'd have to use it.
“Here you go...”
My hand trembled on its own. How humiliating. Ugh...
“Pfft. What is this? BWAHAHAHA! It's adorable?”
“Don't! It was just made that way. What am I supposed to do about it!”
Ah. I lost my temper. My voice was way too loud. Echoing across the countryside. Wonderful.
“Alright, alright, easy now. So that's why you go around covering your face?”
It's because so many people recognize me. Could we just let it go at that, please? If you ask to see it, I'll have a problem.
“Well then. 'Haeun.' I'll remember that name for sure.”
“Likewise, Uncle Ian. Pleasure working with you.”
The man's name was Ian — it was written on his ID earlier. Wait, did I even need money?
“So, this investment of yours — how much are we talkin'?”
“A whole lot.”
“You have money?”
“Yes. A tremendous amount.”
Technically, wasn't all of this nation's money mine anyway? It's not like the hair and holy water business runs itself.
“Well, I'll be. A rich girl runnin' away from home — called it.”
“Hahaha.”
Embarrassing, but there was no helping it. He wasn't wrong, after all.
“For starters, why not build one at a four-way crossroads?”
“Hm? Isn't that a middling spot?”
“Lots of people pass through, so think of it as a restaurant first, an inn second. Word spreads fast about places like that. Then it'll be easy to scout your next location, won't it?”
“Ooh... you done this before?”
Er... in video games? Never in real life. Is this going to flop spectacularly?
“Here, start with this.”
And I pressed a fistful of banknotes into his hand. No idea how much. I just grabbed a handful from my pouch.
“HIIIIIK!”
The man was gasping. Was there some foam at his mouth? A little? Hello? Sir?
“What's wrong?”
“What do you mean, 'what'! You carry this much around with you?!”
Er... so it's a lot, apparently? Yelling like that, he's just going to spread more rumors about me...
Was the currency worth more than I thought? How would I know? I only spend money when something comes up...
“Is this enough?”
“At this rate, I could build these all over the land.”
“Go ahead, do exactly that. As for my share of the profits, put them toward expanding the inns, and use them to help people in need.”
What would I even do with the money? Better to ask him to use it for a good cause.
“Huh?”
Question marks spinning in his eyes again, as expected.
“I told you, I don't need money? Just leave my name with the place. I might drop by now and then.”
“You mean that?”
“Yes. There are things more important to me than money.”
“Remarkable. Something more important than money, hm...”
The man sank deep into thought. For some reason, I had a feeling he'd succeed. My gut felt good about him — just like when I first met Garungda.
Wait. Garungda got into plenty of trouble, quietly, didn't he? It's just an inn, though. What kind of trouble could he possibly cause?
And sure enough — just like the man said, Moda appeared before my eyes in no time! It hadn't been far at all.
Or maybe we'd simply been having too much fun talking, and I'd lost track of time.
“Well, Uncle. Good luck with the preparations. See you again sometime.”
“Right. I won't forget this — I'll be sure to stop by and treat you proper.”
“Yes! Off you go now~”
I practically shoved the dithering man off by his back. So he eats and runs — well, good. May he eat well and prosper.
Finding where this Ian fellow lives wouldn't be hard, would it?
That said — were there even any inns here? From what he'd told me on the way, it didn't sound like it.
“Um...”
At the sound of someone calling, I turned to find a girl with freckles and twin braids looking up at me.
“Hm? Can I help you?”
“Is this your first time in the city?”
“Yep! How'd you guess?”
“Do you have somewhere to stay?”
Oh? Isn't this that thing? Touting! I've seen one of those boarding-house recruiters before!
“Nope? Not a single place to stay, I'm afraid.”
“Then! May I introduce you to one?”
Called it. Her face lit up instantly. Not a wrinkle of worry on her — she seemed to come from a decent household. I figured it was safe to follow her.
The place she led me to was a residential street a little off the main boulevard. Flowers grew in the yard, and though the house was old, it had the look of one faithfully tended over the years. A fine home, really.
“Wow. Nice house. This is it?”
The girl fidgeted a little, so I spoke up first. Houses like this can look shabby if you don't know what you're looking at.
“Ah! Yes! Shall we go in?”
“Sure~ Lead the way~”
“Ahaha!”
Following the girl inside, neat, well-kept furniture met my eyes. A dining table worn smooth with handprints — this was a home that never threw things away carelessly.
“Have a seat and wait a moment — the adults will be back soon.”
“Mm. Thanks.”
As I sat in the chair she pulled out for me, she promptly brought over a cup of water. Boiling water on demand was apparently still too much trouble for tea.
“Water's fine too. Don't you worry.”
“Yes, ehehe.”
Well, she'd brought it, so I ought to drink. I lifted my veil away and was just raising the cup carefully when —
“Woooow....”
“Hm? What is it?”
“I've never seen anyone as pretty as you, miss....”
So she didn't recognize me. Well, fair — a statue or a portrait doesn't exactly give you an instant match.
“I know, right? Still, thank you~”
“Wow...”
Hahaha. Men weren't enough — now even women fall for this face. Whatever am I to do with this beauty of mine? Truly, my sin is great~
“Do you not have any siblings around?”
“Ah! I have lots of older brothers and sisters, but they've all gone off to work.”
A hardworking family, then. What do common folk spend their earnings on, I wondered?
“You'll be rich before you know it.”
“Yes! Everyone's working hard so we can move to our big family farm!”
What a relief. If a family this diligent were still poor, that would mean something was going wrong somewhere. My mind is at ease. They're still doing fine.
“So, is there a guest room?”
“Well, about that...”
“What is it?”
“I'll give you my room, and I'll sleep in my sister's room with her.”
So this boarding arrangement was actually the girl's own little side business? What a darling kid.
“I don't have any siblings, you see — I always wanted a little sister. Would you keep me company while I'm here?”
“Oh? Really? You'd do that?”
“Of course~”
Secretly, she must have been scared of her older sister. Or maybe she figured that someone small like me would be more comfortable company than a sibling who was clearly going to tower over her.
“Come this way! This is my room!”
“Sure, let's have a look.”
The girl's room wasn't large, but tidiness clearly ran in the family — the bed and wardrobe were all in perfect order.
I could stay here quite a while, actually.
“I love it! Would it be alright if I stayed a while?”
“How long!?”
She seemed delighted at the prospect of a long stay. How does every emotion show up on her face instantly like that?
“Until my business here is finished?”
“Oh? You came here for work?”
Hm? Do women not usually work around here?
“Mm-hm, I stopped by to check on something. But it's a long job, so I was worried about where I'd stay.”
“Wow. So cool... You're this pretty AND you work?”
“Why? Pretty people don't work?”
“Most of them find a husband young instead.”
Ah~ that's my fault, isn't it. With all the benefits for having lots of children, marrying young beats working. Sorry about that one.