Teacher, Time to Discharge - 2

Ak I-yeon's bombshell declaration left my head throbbing. Of course, it wasn't the first time she'd said she wanted to be with me. Right after she regained her martial prowess through the spirit oil I brought, the reborn warrior Ak I-yeon declared she'd grow stronger than me and become my protector. She meant traveling the Central Plains with me, just like I did with Jo Wi-cheo.

Back then, I didn't argue or try to dissuade her. I simply said I'd gladly wait. I couldn't douse the high spirits of someone who'd just reclaimed her martial arts, and I figured it would take considerable time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for her to break through to the Peak realm anyway. Plus, to travel with me, she'd need to pass the imperial exams on top of reaching Peak. Even without ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my opposition, I thought the exam barrier would stop her.

"If it's too much for Gaga to stay in Kaepyeong, then I can just follow you around the country, right?"

But then, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the worst possible timing, Ak I-yeon brought up touring the nation again. After seeing me return covered in wounds and barely clinging to life. Even though she still hadn't passed the exams.

She's not the type to bring this up without reason.

Cold sweat broke out on its own. The Ak I-yeon I knew wasn't one to toss out words lightly. If someone else had said it, I might've thought they were steeling their resolve or throwing a tantrum after seeing me hurt. I could've brushed it off with a smile. But Ak I-yeon was the type who was dead serious about promises to herself.

It wasn't "Someday, I'll be with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gaga." It was "We can just travel together." That meant she'd already decided to follow me—Peak realm and exams be damned.

No. That's absolutely not happening.

Anything but that. I couldn't tolerate it. One crown prince wandering the country was enough. Ak I-yeon was Ak Wang's precious granddaughter, meant to live as a revered junior expert, admired and awed by the world. She could live wealthy and peaceful here in Kaepyeong. Better than getting battered around like some official who stumbled into trouble every other day.

I was certain of it.

"Gaga?"

As I sat there silently, eyes darting around, Ak I-yeon's shoulders slumped.

"You... don't want me traveling with you?"

"What? No, of course not."

I shook my head frantically at her words. Traveling with Ak I-yeon didn't bother me at all. It was just... I didn't want my beloved fiancée rolling in the dirt and working alongside me.

"I'm traveling the Central Plains for official duties. Even if you're a royal granddaughter, it's tough for a civilian to tag along on a censor's business."

But the current Ak I-yeon probably couldn't grasp that subtle distinction. So I voiced the straight facts, furrowing my brow in reluctance. It wasn't wrong. Her intentions were noble, but the world didn't run on good intentions alone. Even as a royal granddaughter, without an official post, she was a civilian. A civilian arbitrarily accompanying an official on the emperor's orders would inevitably spark gossip.

"Han Un of Giwangga and Ak I-yeon of Akwangga could travel together freely—no one could stop that. But right now, I'm traveling as Left Vice Inspector General Han Un."

I gently clasped her hand and smiled, conveying reluctance, regret that we had no choice.

"I want to be with you too, I-yeon, but I'm scared people will point fingers and badmouth you. So for now, just let me cherish the thought."

"Gaga..."

Whether my sincerity got through, Ak I-yeon's eyes grew misty as she gazed at me—

"I'll borrow Grandfather's power."

...What?

"I wanted to pass the exams fair and square and join you, but seeing you hurt like that... I can't wait anymore."

"Huh?"

"It's embarrassing, but... I'll ask Grandfather to get me an official post. He's a king, so appointing one person like me should be easy."

With Ak Wang's influence, he could appoint not just Ak I-yeon but the entire Akwangga if he wanted. I was speechless. Officially, Daesong had no such thing as yinshi appointments anymore. But at the king level, they could directly recruit talent under their authority, bypassing exams entirely.

That's how I got promoted too.

I'd passed the exams officially, but Grandfather Giwang's influence as a king had been huge. Without it, would a twenty-something kid like me have risen to Left Vice Inspector General in Dochalwon? Ak I-yeon might not get a meteoric rise without exams, but if her goal was just to travel with me, even Jeong 7-pum Inspector Escort or Jong 7-pum Recorder Escort would suffice.

"With your abilities, you could pass the exams easily. It's a waste to borrow His Highness Ak Wang's power just to speed things up a bit."

"I want to become an official to be with you, Gaga. But if you get hurt while I'm studying for exams, nothing could be more pointless."

Her firm reply made me lower my eyes slowly. I couldn't meet her gaze—this disaster was my own doing.

"I'll be more careful from now on, no more injuries. Can't you just wait a little?"

"If you won't get hurt anymore, then there's no problem with me traveling with you, right?"

This time, I bowed my head completely. She wasn't wrong; I had no comeback.

Ak I-yeon's parachute declaration had already reached Ak Wang's ears.

"Hoo."

Ak Wang let out a deep sigh, falling silent with a complicated expression. I understood. I felt the same. When your granddaughter, who'd been diligently training her martial arts and studying for exams, suddenly pulls a parachute move, your head spins. Especially when the reason is "I can't leave my injured fiancé alone."

"This is something. So my grandson and granddaughter-in-law will roam the Central Plains together?"

Meanwhile, Grandfather, who was with Ak Wang, burst into hearty laughter and tilted his liquor bottle. Probably seventy percent of Ak Wang's sighing was Grandfather's fault.

"Is this the time to speak so lightly!"

Ak Wang, who'd been silent, erupted at Grandfather's words.

"What's wrong with it? If you don't want to send your granddaughter-in-law out, just refuse. If you plan to eventually, it's just a bit earlier."

But Grandfather's counter was fierce. Refuse if you want to keep her forever, or let her go now if independence is inevitable. It was logically sound, so Ak Wang faltered, his anger softening.

"Think it over carefully. Our Un is the eldest grandson."

"Who doesn't know that."

"Then you know he'll become Giwang someday. Hitching to Akwangga forever isn't possible."

Ak Wang bit his lip at Grandfather's follow-up. What? Was it that infuriating that I wasn't taking the live-in son-in-law route?

"A granddaughter-in-law is a butterfly meant to flit through the world. When that butterfly is ready to spread its wings, it's not a grandfather's place to clip them."

"So you just released your precious grandson like that?"

The sudden word "released" stung. So that's how Ak Wang had seen me all this time.

"Released? I trusted my grandson and sent him into the world!"

Grandfather's reassurance settled him somewhat. Even though Grandfather was the one who'd released me.

"Anyway, use this chance to think it over. I agree it's a shame she skips the exams, but she can take them later. Experiencing the world with our Un might even lead to better results."

"Hmmm..."

Ak Wang groaned under Grandfather's relentless persuasion. From his perspective, there were reasons to approve Ak I-yeon's request and reasons to refuse. She deserved to see the world, but she was still in training. So the deliberation would drag on. Knowing that, Grandfather didn't press further—

"Han Un."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"If Yeon becomes endangered because of you, you'd better flee beyond the borders."

I bowed hastily at the blunt declaration. It meant he'd ultimately allow Yeon to travel with me.

"Your Highness, I'm prepared to lay down my life for I-yeon, but having her roam the Central Plains right after recovering is a huge burden. Please reconsider."

"Enough. I planned to let her go as she wished if she passed the exams anyway. As your grandfather said, it's just a bit sooner."

Ak Wang sighed again, stood, and patted my shoulder.

"Yeon will act as your Recorder Escort. Officially, she'll record your and Inspector Escort's movements."

His momentum, already assigning her a post, nearly drew a bitter laugh. In the end, the victims of this era weren't just me and Jo Wi-cheo.

Two days later, Ak Wang returned from outside Akwangjeo with a scroll in hand.

"Once you and Yeon's recovery is complete, we'll pay respects to the emperor. This details the graces His Majesty will bestow—memorize it in advance."

He handed it over in the same casual tone as announcing "Lunch is noodle soup today." Imperial audience. Emperor's graces. Each word was monumental, but by now, I just shrugged. My precious fiancée was about to roll in the dirt with me—what did one emperor matter? Besides, since surviving Koke Temur, I'd expected a face-to-face with the emperor anyway. If I were him, I'd summon me publicly to commend an official brave before a Hwagyeong master, and privately to see what madman dared provoke one.

I unrolled the scroll with a bitter heart, only to find even more bitter contents. I'd received a marquisate, Jo Wi-cheo finally got his promotion, and Ak I-yeon was officially an official. Others might celebrate, but inside, I was rotting away.