Teraden's Plunder
“Left foot! Left foot! Left foot! Stand still!”
“Bam! Bam!”
Teraden’s command froze the thieves’ feet in perfect, disciplined order. Everyone in the group froze on the spot.
The reformed thieves stared at Teraden with wide eyes, their bodies rigid with nervous tension.
“Stand up straight! Don’t you dare look around! One glance and the whole lot gets extra drills!”
“...”
Where the hell did he learn this?
“Oppa!”
The moment Teraden and the thieves halted in front of the mansion, Maru and Jubern came out to meet us.
“Oppa! Maru came and gave those bad uncles a good scolding!”
“Yeah. Maru really did something big. Good job. Any injuries?”
“Yes! Hehehe!”
I ruffled Maru’s hair. Her innocent laughter filled the air as she leaned into my touch.
Jubern, on the other hand, looked grim. His face was pale, as if he had seen something he never wanted to see.
“Jubern-nim…? Did something happen while we were away?”
“It’s, um… no, nothing. It’s nothing.”
“...”
“The mission was a success. No wounds at all. You two did excellently. This way, please.”
Following Jubern’s lead, we all stepped inside the mansion.
The halls were splattered with blood, as if a fierce battle had raged through them. In one corner, dozens of unfamiliar men were piled up.
I had thought the number of thieves we faced was fewer than what the messenger had said, but they must have split into two groups to hit us from both sides at once.
Still, these guys… their heads were all caved in on one side. Was this really?
“Hyung! It’s Hyung! I knew you’d pull through! Help me out! Wipe out these bastards right now!”
As we pushed deeper into the mansion, one of the bound men on the floor called out to Il-eun.
Teraden slowly turned his head toward Il-eun, his gaze like a drill. Il-eun flinched, then leaned in and whispered to the thief beside him.
“Shut your mouth, idiot. I got captured too.”
“Haa… damn it. My life’s ruined because of this idiot.”
“What?! What the hell did this guy eat? I gave him the boss title and everything!”
“Are you saying I’m wrong? If you hadn’t sent me here, none of this would have happened…!”
“Really?”
The two started raising their voices. Teraden approached them calmly and raised one hand.
““Kyaaaah!!””
Startled, both thugs shrank back.
“You’re doing it right. Good. Thieves? What do you know? Shut up.”
“...”
“So, what did you say just now? Wipe these guys out?”
Teraden sat in front of the boss, face twisted.
“Haha, I guess you didn’t catch my meaning.”
“Catch my meaning? You said boss, didn’t you? What’s your name?”
“M-me? I… I’m Yaeun?”
“Oh? Really? Then you should be worth a good shake. But since you’re tied up, it’s not shaking easy.”
“What? Why…!”
Teraden plunged his hand deep into Yaeun’s pocket and sleeves, rummaging. While the man yelped in panic, Teraden pulled out a thick pouch—thicker than Il-eun’s, at least.
He checked the contents, sighed, and shook his head.
“Whoa… this guy’s no good. You need reformation too. Get ready.”
“W-wait! What are you—! Gaaaaaah!”
The merciless “reformation” of the self-proclaimed reformed thief had begun again.
* * *
After the situation settled. The sun was setting, and his daughter was safely home.
Chief Oh threw a grand feast for everyone who helped him.
We attended the dinner he prepared.
“Kheuk…!! Our daughter! She came back looking like half her face was gone!!”
Chief Oh stroked his daughter’s face as she returned to his arms, unable to hold back his tears.
“Half? What do you mean ‘half’?”
Teraden, tearing apart a rib the size of a forearm beside him, muttered, “That can’t be right.”
“I’m so grateful you’re safe! Thank you! Thank you! Th-thank you!”
“Chief-nim…”
The buodanju wiped his eyes with his handkerchief while watching the reunited couple.
Everyone present felt moved by the dramatic reunion.
“Yes, our Hong. Nothing happened? Ah, but did you thank them first? You risked a lot today to save her.”
Chief Oh took Hong’s hand and pointed toward us.
But Hong, glancing at us, frowned.
“Dad, it seems he likes me.”
“What?!”
“He’s been acting creepy since the first time he saw me. I know someone who acts mean on purpose to someone they like, and he seems to have that kind of personality.”
“Haha, heh heh, hem hem!!”
Teraden coughed repeatedly, pounding his chest.
“Here.”
“Gulp gulp.”
Teraden snatched the drink and chugged it in one go.
“Hmm, is that true? If it were up to me, I’d have buried Hong alive before letting her meet a man, but since you saved her and are strong and good character… I’m willing to allow courtship. But if Hong says no, even I can’t do anything.”
“Why are you acting like this to me all of a sudden…?”
Eyes squeezed shut, Teraden rubbed his temples with one hand.
“Once we finish eating, take the reward and get out. Staying here could be dangerous.”
“Hehe, I thought you were heartless toward the thieves earlier, but in front of your woman, you’re full of shame. Well, our Hong isn’t that pretty anyway.”
“So? Hmph! You act like you’re superior but can’t hide your jealousy.”
“No, it’s not like that!!”
Teraden argued, veins popping in his neck, but Chief Oh just laughed it off.
He must have thought Teraden’s reaction was pure embarrassment.
After the noisy feast ended, Chief Oh and the buodanju secretly called us aside.
We entered the first room we had met him in. The two chiefs greeted us with respect.
“Chief, why don’t you leave me and spend more time with your daughter? It’s been a long time since the reunion.”
“No, how can I hand over the people who brought my daughter back to you alone? I have to thank you myself.”
Refusing flatly, he handed me a box.
“This is the reward for this mission plus a small token of appreciation.”
The box was about one jang wide, half as tall and deep. The lacquered surface gave it a deep, luxurious black sheen.
Clack.
The lid opened, and bright light spilled out.
Ting, ting, ting!
“All gold! Pure gold! Hahaha!”
Teraden took out the contents and kept stuffing them into his nose, grinning ear to ear.
It looked like he could take off into the sky any second, wings and all.
“According to my records, the mission reward was ten gold coins. But this is too much. I can’t accept such a large sum.”
“This was the money I was supposed to hand to the thieves in two days. I owe you everything for saving my only daughter. Please accept my gratitude.”
“But still…”
“Wait, about the money—here’s what we’ll do.”
Teraden took over for me.
“First, we’ll return these.”
He dug deep into his sleeve and pulled out two pouches and several expensive-looking items, handing them to the buodanju.
“This…?”
“It’s everything we stole from the thieves earlier.”
“I know that, but why give it to me? As spoils of war, you can keep it….”
“No, this is dirty money. I like money, but I’m not crazy enough to want it too. Anyway, in return for this, I’ll gratefully accept the gold coins as a token of appreciation.”
Teraden wiped the smile from his face, closed his mouth, and shut the lid again.
“You can distribute this to anyone or use it to repair damages. Combined, it’s roughly sixty to seventy gold coins. Ah, the thieves ate plenty. This is for the best, right?”
Teraden’s move balanced both sides.
By returning the stolen goods, he eased the burden on both.
He lowered the actual amount received while accepting their goodwill, catching two birds with one stone.
“We’ll take all the thieves locked in the temporary prison. If they escape and cause trouble again, we’ll interrogate them separately.”
“What will you do with them?”
“There’s a fairly large city on our way back. I plan to hand them over there or to the Imperial Capital.”
“Hmm, understood. Thank you again.”
Chief Oh nodded calmly.
“Ah, one more thing I’m curious about.”
“Anything. Ask whatever you like.”
“Do you intend for your daughter to enter the Danju Selection?”
Chief Oh’s brows narrowed slightly at the sudden question.
“What nonsense is this? We’d never send our delicate Hong into such a dangerous place.”
“Like folding her head, chest, and belly somewhere delicate…?”
“You said the same thing earlier. Who is O-ban?”
“Ah, there is someone. Anyway, it’s good she’s not going.”
“Ah, can I ask one thing too?”
“What?”
“Do you… have any intention of formally courting my daughter Hong?”
“Ah! No way! Come on, let’s go!”
“Now? At this hour? No, when the sun rises we’ll leave. Why so late… talking about each other…”
“We’re busy! See you!”
Teraden shot off the cushion and yanked me up.
Maru and Jubern, unable to resist his urgency, followed like puppets.
“We have remaining schedules and need to conserve time. Please understand.”
“It’s truly a shame. Take care on the way back.”
“Thank you for your hospitality. If you need help, call anytime.”
“Let’s go!!”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
Under Teraden’s urging, we fled the chief’s mansion like escapees.
On the way back from a successful mission.
Teraden stroked his chest and grumbled.
“Phew… I almost got caught without moving.”