Guaranteed Employment - 2
Exactly three days after receiving the order to report for duty, I headed alone to the Dochalwon offices. Not because Jwa Do-eosa had summoned me for some command I had to hear, but because I was going there to work.
"I shouldn't get all teary-eyed over something like this."
I nearly shed tears of emotion without realizing it. Instead of heading out beyond Kaepyeong's walls, I'd be working right here in the Dochalwon inside the capital. How could something so mundane feel so precious and beautiful? How desperately had I longed for this simple privilege? How wretchedly had I rolled across the entire country for this moment?
"My beloved Kaepyeong."
My soul, my aspiration, my heaven, my light. From now on, I'd live out the rest of my days here in Kaepyeong. I was a citizen of Kaepyeong long before I was a subject of Daesong.
"Greetings, Lord Ubu Do-eosa!"
"You've worked hard, my lord!"
"Congratulations on your promotion and marriage! We mean it!"
"Thanks, everyone."
Striding confidently into the Dochalwon with light steps, I was greeted by the officials already at their posts, who bowed one after another. It made my heart swell even more. In the past, walking in had earned me looks like, "What the hell is that guy doing here?" They were baffled by the provincial inspector showing up in the capital unannounced. But no more. My presence here was now perfectly natural.
"Have the Censor-in-chiefs reported for duty?"
"Yes! Lord Jwa Do-eosa just arrived, and Lord U Do-eosa has been here steadily since the day before yesterday!"
"...I see."
I'd asked casually, figuring I'd pay my respects to my two superiors while I was at it. But the answer hit like a brick. U Do-eosa—the very person I was now tasked with assisting as Ubu Do-eosa—had been holed up here as the de facto warden of the Dochalwon.
"Since the day before yesterday?"
I swallowed a sigh that nearly reached my throat. I'd known U Do-eosa was a workaholic, but I hadn't expected him to still be at it even after I'd finished my Central Plains pilgrimage. Actually, I'd suspected as much. Why else would only Jwa Do-eosa show up at public events or imperial debates?
"The offices are usually split left and right, with left handling the real clout... but even accounting for that..."
Still, U Do-eosa was the type to skip even going home, utterly mad for the job. He left external affairs and internal discipline to Jwa Do-eosa while burying himself in paperwork. The silver lining? He was obsessed with work but not deranged. You heard complaints about the workload under him, but never gripes about him being a tyrant. At least he wasn't as vicious as Jwa Do-eosa herself.
"I'd better work hard so Lord U Do-eosa can finally head home."
"If Lord Ubu Do-eosa takes on some of his tasks, he'll probably just find new ones to tackle."
"Damn."
This time, a genuine sigh escaped. That sounded exactly like the U Do-eosa I knew.
"What a pickle."
A boss who drove subordinates mercilessly due to personality flaws, or one who made them walk on eggshells out of sheer work frenzy—which was worse? Tough call. Why were both of the Dochalwon's Censor-in-chiefs such work zealots?
"At least U Do-eosa has to be better than Jwa Do-eosa, right?"
God, I hoped so. First, I went to pay respects to Jwa Do-eosa, who'd issued the order.
"Greetings, Lord Jwa Do-eosa."
"Already here? Sit."
She nodded curtly without looking up from her scroll.
"Feels weird. I'd just dump work on you whenever you showed up here, but now you'll be slaving under U Do-eosa instead of me."
Finally raising her head, she smirked—what might've passed for a sneer.
Hearing that from her felt odd to me too. I was touched by my own posting, but she didn't need to share the sentiment.
"From now on, I'll hone my skills under Lord U Do-eosa and devote myself to the realm."
Today was a good day, though. Sure, people preferred lounging at home over clocking in, but starting central duty instead of provincial trips? Worth celebrating. No way I'd let her sour it.
I'd brush off whatever she said with a smile—
"Hone yourself any further, and there won't be any jade left in you."
"Son of a...)
Her follow-up zinger made me bite my lip. Calling out the dog who'd already groveled plenty, with no room left to try harder. Encouragement? Praise? Mockery? The vicious line worked on every level.
"Jwa Bu-do-eosa will be here soon. Say hi on your way out."
"Ah, yes. Will do."
I nodded, swallowing bitterness. My promotion had turned my old boss into a peer. Since I was already here, greeting Jwa Bu-do-eosa made sense. Skipping him would've sparked character rumors. No grudges anyway, and we'd be sharing the same office. Better to keep things amicable.
"And Ubu Do-eosa."
"Yes, my lord. Speak."
"Tell your wife to report in two months' time."
"Pardon?"
The unexpected words drew an involuntary echo. Two months—not two days or two weeks, but two full months. Far too long for mere vacation.
"Why so shocked? With Giwangga's great-grandchild on the way, you need that much time."
She chuckled at my reaction, then picked up her scroll again.
So even Jwa Do-eosa had a shred of reason and consideration...
Jwa Bu-do-eosa greeted me with a beaming bow.
"It's been tough handling the assistant duties alone lately, so I'm thrilled that the most reliable person around is filling the spot."
"You're too kind. First time as assistant, so I may lean on you often, Lord Jwa Bu-do-eosa."
"Ask away. Happy to help!"
He burst into laughter, like new slaves were always welcome. He'd assist eagerly if only to protect his own peace—two assistants meant no one got overwhelmed.
After some polite chit-chat, I excused myself, but—
"Oh, Lord Ubu Do-eosa."
"Yes?"
"Uh... don't be startled, no matter what you see."
"Pardon?"
"You'll see when you get there."
Right before parting, he dropped that ominous warning. "Don't be startled no matter what"? Sounded like "Don't freak at U Do-eosa," but who says that about a person? More like ruins or a disaster site.
"What the hell could it be?"
Anxiety crept in. While my post was vacant, Jwa Bu-do-eosa had backed both Censor-in-chiefs. He'd know U Do-eosa well—and he issued that terse alert. Even with my brain buzzing on happiness highs from central posting, I couldn't shake the worry.
"It's just a person, worst case."
The unease faded quickly. After bandits craving enlistment, endlessly respawning water pirates, evil sects stirring chaos between Wudang and Je-gal, corrupt locals and officials, beast-obsessed cults, depraved Confucian sobbers, and debate-mad scholars—a cranky boss was nothing.
Or so I thought.
"What is that?"
Until stepping into U Do-eosa's office.
"Why the hell is that floating?"
Scrolls floated everywhere, filling the room like a conveyor belt. Slumped in his chair, he scanned the drifting parchments rapidly while scribbling with his right hand. (Presumed U Do-eosa.) Utterly abnormal.
"Hm?"
As the airborne scrolls zipped past him like an assembly line, he spotted me and turned. They halted en masse.
"Whoa."
Now it was awe beyond shock. Wasn't that air manipulation? Swordless sword flight, basically.
"A master like that was in the Dochalwon all this time?"
I wouldn't be this stunned if Jwa Do-eosa, a Hwagyeong master, pulled it off. But I'd never heard U Do-eosa was one, and his aura felt far from elite.
"Ah, Ubu Do-eosa, right?"
"Yes. Han Un, Ubu Do-eosa."
"Heard you'd arrive soon—today, apparently."
He nodded lightly and rose—
"Oof!"
"My lord!"
His back gave out mid-rise, and he crumpled to the floor.
"A-are you all right?"
"No worries. Sat too long; back's throwing a tantrum. Lying down quiets it."
The "tantrum" crack was loud, but if he said so...
"Anyway, welcome, Ubu Do-eosa. I know your feats as Jwa-cheom Do-eosa well—read every report that came up."
"You're too kind."
I eased him flat on the floor, nodding awkwardly. Welcome or not, rest first. Never imagined my first direct boss meeting like this.
"How am not supposed to be startled?"
Non-master using air manipulation. For paperwork convenience. The monster wielding it clutching his back and groaning. No escaping the absurdity; laughter bubbled up.
"Figured Jwa-cheom Do-eosa meant Jwa Bu-do-eosa, not coming to me."
Ignoring it all, he kept chatting from the floor—his version of warmth, maybe. Dochalwon life was shaping up to be tricky in every sense.