Chapter 157
Chapter 157
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Seo Ok-rang (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Yes! You!”
“Hey, wench. I've got a fancy name: Chu Un-hwi.”
“W-wench?”
Clearly not expecting such disrespect, Seo Ok-rang stood there gaping for a long while.
“Instructor Chu.”
“You stay out of it.”
Brushing aside Il-pyo as he tried to intervene, Chu Un-hwi stepped up to Seo Ok-rang and tilted his head.
“Ugh!”
She took a flustered step back as he approached without hesitation.
“Hmph!”
Then she furrowed her brow, stood her ground, and crossed her arms.
Only then could Chu Un-hwi properly take a good look at her.
'She was already pretty flashy before, but it's gotten even worse.'
Her face was caked with makeup, and her lips were smeared with bright red rouge.
The makeup was just the beginning.
Her hair color was lighter than before, and the ends were curled into loose waves somehow.
The real spectacle was her fingernails.
Swordsmen usually kept their hands hidden.
To wield their sword techniques discreetly.
'But she's gone and dyed her nails too?'
At this point, it wasn't just teenage rebellion—it was a complete lack of sense.
Chu Un-hwi laid into her.
“Hey, henna nails.”
“What? Why would I have henna nails?”
“Your nails are so colorful. They're blinding.”
“Hmph! This isn't henna—it's premium dye from a famous beauty shop even in the capital!”
How big is the difference?
Chu Un-hwi waved her off dismissively as she screeched.
“Fine, whatever, henna nails.”
“What did you say? You temporary instructor!”
Visibly irked, she looked him up and down instead and snorted.
“What sect are you from?”
“Why do you care?”
“Well.”
Regaining her smugness, Seo Ok-rang crossed her arms and lifted her chin.
“I need to know what backwater you crawled out of so I can mock you properly.”
“Is that so?”
“Looks like you're from some no-name mountain sect. No way a low-paid nobody like you appreciates anything valuable.”
This girl. She's hopeless.
“Pure Sword Sect.”
“Hmph. Pure Sword Sect? Never heard of it. Just as I thought, a hillbil—wait.”
Pure Sword Sect?
“I've even got a nickname.”
“A n-nickname, you say?”
“Lucky Strike Sword.”
Il-pyo, who had been listening silently, jumped in surprise and shouted.
“Beast Tamer!”
Beast Tamer?
'Did I get another nickname without knowing?'
And Seo Ok-rang rattled off yet another one.
“Bronze Hall Lunatic! Blockhead!”
Lunatic? Blockhead? No way.
“Y-you're famous for your piss-poor temper and living like there's no tomorrow.”
“Oh? You heard? Then this'll be easy.”
Grinning, Chu Un-hwi raised both hands and nicely cupped the top of Seo Ok-rang's head.
“What are you doing?”
“Brace yourself. Don't bite your tongue.”
“Uh... ugh!”
She tried to fight back like a proper martial artist.
Crack!
But the headbutt was faster than her hands.
***
Seo Ok-rang came to after about fifteen minutes.
Clutching her forehead with her right hand, she barely managed to sit up, dazedly scanning her surroundings until her eyes met his.
“B-barbaric! Headbutting a woman's head!”
“Don't worry. I headbutted him equally nicely too.”
Seeing Il-pyo lying beside her, Seo Ok-rang's eyes blazed with fury.
“Y-you...”
It must have hurt bad—she ground her teeth, tried to snap at him, but just swallowed her anger. Quite the sight.
Still unable to hold back her rage, she turned her head away and muttered under her breath.
“Idiot. Scoundrel. Dolt.”
“I can hear all that.”
Turning her back around, Chu Un-hwi smiled brightly.
“I-I said it quietly!”
“I heard.”
Loud and clear.
Crack!
Seo Ok-rang clutched her forehead and toppled backward.
***
After the manners lesson was over.
Chu Un-hwi led the now-docile pair to an inn frequented by students.
A shabby eatery where passersby stopped briefly for quick meals.
“The food's pretty good though, so give it a try.”
He held up three fingers, and without a word, the server brought three bowls of noodles.
“What? They don't even take orders here?”
“They only sell noodles.”
Slurp.
Il-pyo, who had been watching cautiously, slurped up a mouthful of noodles.
His face lit up with surprise soon after.
“...This is pretty good.”
“Hunger's the best sauce. Beats gnawing on jerky on the roadside—no better delicacy.”
Meanwhile, Seo Ok-rang just poked at her noodles with her chopsticks without eating.
“What's your problem now?”
Want to lie down here?
As he started to threaten her, the startled Seo Ok-rang set down her chopsticks and protested.
“This isn't food.”
Those in the know called stuff like this.
“Fodder. It's fodder.”
“How about watching your mouth around all these people eating their 'fodder'?”
Knowing her words were harsh, she quickly added.
“I don't like cheap food like this!”
As she kept whining, Il-pyo's expression soured too.
'Rumor has it she's the trouble he dragged out in the middle of the night.'
If true, pity the poor taste that couldn't pick a less troublesome girl.
If not, shed a tear for his fate tangled with one.
'I'll have to look into the details later.'
For now, dealing with this noisy girl came first.
Clack.
Setting down his chopsticks, Chu Un-hwi asked.
“So what food matches a girl like you?”
“Hmm. Well. A temporary instructor on a pauper's salary probably wouldn't know the latest trends.”
“Tell me. I know my trends inside out, looks notwithstanding.”
“In that case.”
Seo Ok-rang, lost in pleasant imaginings, held up her index finger.
“That famous restaurant in So-ho that only renowned foodies visit?”
Heard of it?
“Oh, yeah. The one where only those recommended by celebrities get in?”
The name was, if memory served.
“Mi-mi Cuisine House, right?”
“H-how do you know?”
“They say a high official from the palace ate there and shouted 'Mi-mi!'—delicious!—and personally bestowed the signboard?”
“Y-you even know the backstory.”
Seemingly unaware of that detail, Seo Ok-rang fell silent.
Instead, she asked about something else.
“What about Yang-hwa Tea House?”
“Know it. The tea at So-ho's chic Yang-hwa Pavilion, overlooking the scenery, is top-notch.”
“Th-then, flower boats for viewing the night lights.”
“Among flower boats, Golden Wave is the best. Aboard a boat gleaming with golden glaze, watching the golden reflections ripple on the water—pure heavenly beauty.”
“How do you know all this?”
“What? Weird for a lowly temporary instructor to know?”
“...Well, yeah.”
For the first time, Seo Ok-rang muttered in a deflated voice.
“They're all the latest trends...”
Chu Un-hwi pointed at her with a snap.
“A kid scraping pennies for one cosmetic item.”
Then flipped his finger to point at himself.
“Versus an adult with a proper job.”
“Ugh.”
Outmatched verbally, Seo Ok-rang protested.
“I heard temporary instructors get peanuts too. Where's a pittance salary gonna take you?”
“Hey now. Even if it's low pay, steady income makes all the difference.”
“Big talker.”
Watching her grumble, Chu Un-hwi snapped his fingers crisply.
“Tsk tsk. Time to show you an adult's spending power.”
Count yourself lucky.
***
Their destination was a small restaurant smack in the middle of So-ho.
Seeing the passersby on the street, Il-pyo shrank his shoulders.
“Instructor, is it okay for us to wander around like this?”
“What's the problem?”
“I heard rumors the Inspection Department is in So-ho...”
“Hah. So-ho's huge. Wander freely.”
Striding in confidently, a man in scholar's robes emerged from the antique building.
Even with their sudden arrival, he greeted them with polished courtesy.
“What brings you here today?”
Politeness ingrained in his very being—befitting a high-end restaurant manager.
Chu Un-hwi cut straight to it.
“Here for a meal right now...”
“We only serve dinner.”
The sun blazed high in the sky.
“Even the earliest slot would mean waiting at least an hour.”
“No need to wait.”
“Hmm. Ahem.”
His pointed hints seemed like a polite refusal.
But Chu Un-hwi pretended not to notice and pushed rudely ahead.
“I really want to taste the delicacies here.”
Then Seo Ok-rang beside him erupted.
“Mi-mi Cuisine House is reservation only!”
“Only approved guests get in!”
“No name, no fame? They won't even pour you a cup of tea!”
I know.
The greeter's gaze was sharpening.
“Don't worry. Adults have their ways.”
Stroking her head soothingly, Chu Un-hwi casually draped an arm around the greeter's neck.
“If you're resorting to force, you've got the wrong target.”
“Heh heh. Not force.”
He casually opened his robe to flash what was inside.
“Even gold won't buy entry if it's no... Gasp.”
The haughty greeter's face finally twisted in shock.
“M-Moyong...”
“Hey, voice down.”
He released the arm around his neck, but the greeter's attitude shifted dramatically.
“Sir! Forgive me for failing to recognize your esteemed self—a grave discourtesy.”
“No big deal.”
“We'll prepare the finest private room at once. Please, wait just a moment.”
“Thanks.”
Watching the flustered greeter hurry off, Seo Ok-rang rolled her huge eyes in confusion.
“What trick did you pull?”
Il-pyo pressed persistently, but.
“Told you. Adults have their ways.”
Chu Un-hwi brushed it off with a laugh.
***
“...No way.”
Seo Ok-rang was dumbfounded to find herself seated in Mi-mi Cuisine House's best private room in an instant.
Il-pyo's equally stunned voice came from beside her.
“Miss Seo, didn't you say it's impossible to just walk in?”
“Shut up. You're ruining the mood.”
Seo Ok-rang couldn't believe it.
The famed Mi-mi Cuisine House was a gourmet's paradise of utmost refinement.
Its lofty threshold couldn't be crossed no matter how much money you flashed.
Even celebrities got turned away at the door, or so the stories went.
Yet people never stopped trying to get in.
Such rumors elevated Mi-mi to the clouds.
'And a mere Bronze Hall babysitter waltzes in?'
Her enthusiasm suddenly deflated.
“Your expressions are quite colorful.”
What changed?
Lifting her chin haughtily, Seo Ok-rang replied.
“It's just... a bit disappointing since we got in so easily.”
“What? Feels off for a lowly instructor's haunt?”
“Exactly. I wanted to come because it's for a special, exclusive few.”
“Heh heh. True. No bragging rights if just anyone can stroll in.”
“Right?”
She muttered, but the instructor seemed utterly unconcerned.
“Hey, recognize them?”
A group was entering where he nodded.
“Ha ha. Opening early? Rare sight.”
“As self-proclaimed gourmets, we welcome it.”
“Big expectations today—don't disappoint.”
A posse of foodies.
Every one decked in lavish silk, oozing wealth.
“That's the county magistrate over there.”
“Oh my, that's the North Gate Commander.”
“Pure Sword Sect's sect leader too.”
At the parade of notables, Seo Ok-rang's excitement reignited.
“Really?”
“Yep. Officials too, see?”
Sure enough.
Warriors in official uniforms stood sternly at the entrance.
“Dining where magistrates and generals come. Pretty impressive, right?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Great bragging material, huh?”
Nod.
Seo Ok-rang unconsciously straightened up, trying to strike a refined pose.
“Ahem. Ahem.”
As she assumed the poise of a sophisticated diner, the greeter entered, clapped to gather attention.
“Now, for today's appetizers.”
Then.
Enjoy the world of fine cuisine.
Seo Ok-rang's eyes sparkled with anticipation.