Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Festival
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The next day.
Once the hiring of all contract workers was complete, Geum Ja-hwan began assigning them to suitable positions based on their abilities.
Those with lower martial skills were assigned simple tasks like gatekeeping, dawn patrols, and warehouse security. The two skilled disciples from the Dragon-Slaying Gate were placed in the strike team, while Sa Ma-heun joined the security team, starting their duties at the main building.
With the personnel assignments complete, a sense of vitality quickly returned to the branch.
This was because the people who had been overwhelmed with work finally had some breathing room.
And that included me.
“Yaaawn...”
Thanks to them, I was able to spend the morning lying down comfortably.
Geum Ja-hwan grumbled about the vacation I'd given myself, but what could he do?
'Orders are orders.'
In the Nine Dragons Fortress, which was no different from the military, a superior's command was absolute.
After lazing around and sleeping in through the morning, I went outside and sat down at a table in the inn.
A waiter who recognized me hurried over.
“Careful now. You might fall.”
“Hehe, are you awake, my lord?”
I thought this every time I saw him, but he was a decent fellow with a good sense of service, always greeting people with a smile.
That's why I've been tipping him one coin every three days.
“What can I get for you today?”
“The usual, please.”
“Yes, I'll bring it right away.”
After waiting for about fifteen minutes, the waiter returned with a plate full of food.
“Enjoy your meal!”
“I will.”
Gulp.
Perhaps because I had skipped breakfast, my mouth watered at the sight of the food.
'Ah! This is it.'
The menu was none other than the Jin Mujeon-style brunch.
What nonsense is this, you ask?
A fantastic meal featuring a fried egg made with a fresh egg, something similar to a sausage made from minced pork coated in flour and fried, and finally, a type of bread called 'bing' served with a cup of caffeinated green tea.
If this isn't brunch, what is?
'If only I had a Coke, it would be perfect!'
For the record, this brunch was a menu item I developed in collaboration with the inn's owner and chef.
'Eek! I-I'll m-make it as you command!'
Recalling his passion-filled voice, I took a bite of the sausage. The juices bursting with every chew couldn't be more satisfying.
“Phuhu.”
Life’s simple pleasures.
This is happiness.
I felt a wave of embarrassment as I recalled my past life, when I believed that spending twenty thousand won at a brunch cafe was a waste compared to a hearty, hot bowl of soup.
'The position makes the man.'
But it couldn't be helped.
In my past life, I couldn't even joke about being in a high position.
After all, you need to have some leisure to enjoy things, don't you?
After finishing my upper-class brunch, I returned to my room and was met with an unexpected sight.
Sparkle, sparkle.
Cheong So-so, freshly washed, was putting on makeup.
She was even wearing a fancy outfit for going out instead of her usual yellow physician's robes.
Shudder.
My body trembled at the frightening sight.
There are two reasons a woman gets dressed up.
One is to meet her female friends, and the other is to meet a man.
Since Cheong So-so's hometown was Hubei Province, a thousand li away, it was unlikely she was meeting friends. This clearly meant she was meeting a man.
'Hah! Another precious youth has been sacrificed today!'
As I silently offered my condolences and shook my head, Cheong So-so's voice reached me.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“L-Like what?”
“...It seemed like you were looking at me as if I were a bug. And you were shaking your head as if you pitied me.”
“What are you talking about? When did I do that?”
“I don't think so... You had the same expression my older brothers get when they look at me...”
“I'm telling you, you're wrong. I was just thinking that I couldn't take my eyes off you, since it's been a while since you've dressed up...”
At my words, intended to avert the crisis, Cheong So-so's eyes lit up as she asked.
“Really? Am I that pretty?”
Objectively, Cheong So-so was a beauty, but she wasn't the kind of stunning beauty that would make your eyes pop.
It's easier to think of her as the local beauty, well-known in the neighborhood.
'The problem is, I've seen her in so many dirty states that I don't feel it.'
However, there's no need to crush the spirit of someone going on what I presumed was a date.
I decided to boost her self-esteem.
“Of course! You're gorgeous! You could even enter the Miss Central Plains pageant!”
Though she'd probably be eliminated in the preliminaries.
“M-Miss what?”
“Just think of it as something like the world's greatest beauty pageant.”
“Oh my...”
She cupped her cheeks with both hands.
Her flushed face showed that my flattery had worked perfectly.
I started giving her some realistic advice.
“This isn't from my experience, but a friend told me, even if you like the guy, don't just throw yourself at him...”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
“Why are you suddenly talking about a man?”
“Aren't you going to meet a man?”
“Are you trying to jinx my love life? What are you talking about, a man...”
“Then where are you going, all dressed up like this?”
Cheong So-so answered with a bewildered expression.
“Don't you know what day it is today?”
“...How would I know that?”
“Aish! Seriously.”
She patted her chest and said.
“The festival celebrating the Spring Festival starts today, right?”
“Ah...”
That's right.
They did say something about a festival.
I'd even stamped the approval myself, but I had forgotten.
“And here I was thinking...”
My interest vanished in an instant, and as I turned to head to my room, Cheong So-so grabbed my arm.
“Let's go together.”
“No. It's a hassle.”
Despite my cold reply, Cheong So-so didn't give up.
She started clinging to me even more than before.
“Aww, don't be like that. Let's go together, eat some delicious food, and look around. It'll be fun if the three of us go, with Myo Hyang too.”
“The two of you can just have fun together.”
“...It's, it's dangerous. Just two women alone... What if someone tries to harm us?”
I jutted my chin toward Yuk Hak, who had been glaring at me for a while now.
For reference, he hadn't been coming to work lately and was protesting in the inner court, demanding a rematch with me.
I, on the other hand, maintained that since no real battle had occurred, there would be no rematch.
“You can go with that man over there. With the great Iron-Blooded Hegemon as your escort, who would be brave enough to start trouble?”
“W-Well... Yuk Hak has somewhere to be.”
“Somewhere to be? Where?”
“Well... he's been seeing someone lately, and he's going to meet her today.”
“Hey, don't lie. With that face? A girlfriend? No way...”
His face alone looks like it could unify the world of mountain bandits...
However, I had no choice but to nod at Cheong So-so's following explanation.
“It's true. When Yuk Hak was at the Cheong Family Estate, so many older women used to follow him around. Right, mister?”
“Ahem, th-that's right. I suppose it's because I have a certain manly charm...”
Well, I suppose there are women who like muscular men.
'Come to think of it, Don Lee was popular too. He even married a model 17 years younger than him.'
As I was nodding to myself, thinking about how diverse people's tastes are, Cheong So-so gave me a pleading look and begged.
“So, won't you please go with us?”
Faced with an expression like a Maltese puppy staring at a treat, I had no choice but to nod.
“Ugh... alright, fine. But you're buying the food.”
“You have so much money, yet you're so cheap...”
“Then, should I just stay home?”
“N-No! Rest for a bit, and I'll come get you when we're ready to leave.”
* * *
— Come and get your delicious tanghulu! Ten for one coin!
— Guess where the ball is and win double your money!
— We've got beef noodle soup made with the finest beef! Come and have a taste!
The area around the marketplace was completely different from usual.
In celebration of the Spring Festival, the merchants of Hanzhong had closed their shops and rented out their spaces to street vendors.
This was a tradition unique to Hanzhong, providing an opportunity for the poor and those who helped them to set up stalls and earn a lump sum of money.
The prime corner spots, in particular, were occupied by welfare organizations based in Hanzhong, such as orphanages and soup kitchens.
As we passed through the bustling market street and approached the Merchant Guild building, I saw Myo Hyang waiting at the main gate.
To think she came to work even during the great Spring Festival holiday. It was impossible not to compare her to the lazy freeloader standing right there.
“So-so, Squad Leader!”
Spotting us, she waved with a bright smile.
“Oh? Where's Great Warrior Yuk?”
Cheong So-so quickly answered Myo Hyang's question.
“H-He went to meet someone he's been seeing lately...”
“Oh my, how unexpected! Might we have something to celebrate soon? Huhu.”
“Maybe...?”
After exchanging greetings, we headed to the festival grounds.
“Let's buy that and eat it!”
“This too!”
“Those dumplings look delicious...”
Munch, munch.
Cheong So-so began stuffing her cheeks with all sorts of street food.
“Squad Leader, look over there. The colors are so beautiful. I wonder what the raw cost of fabric like that would be?”
“Oh my, they're gambling over there? Hmm, it looks like the game is designed to be heavily in the organizer's favor.”
“Noodles made from a broth of dried sea cucumbers from Zhejiang for one coin a bowl... I don't think they can break even on the cost.”
Myo Hyang was busy analyzing the prime cost of almost every stall.
“...”
While following behind them and looking around the festival,
“Sect Leader Bukgung?”
I ran into someone completely unexpected.
“Gasp!”
It was none other than Bukgung Jang-hwan of the Dragon-Slaying Gate, running a stall with his disciples.
And a noodle stall, at that.
“What are you doing here?”
“Gasp! W-We are giving the people of Hanzhong a taste of our Dragon-Slaying Gate's secret recipe noodles.”
“...I see.”
It was an obvious lie.
'Looks like he got scammed for more than I thought.'
He probably opened the stall hoping to make a killing during the Spring Festival.
Considering the festival's foot traffic, he must have thought he'd hit the jackpot even if he only sold one bowl per person.
The problem was,
Whoosh—
there wasn't a single customer.
“...”
That's how the food business is.
If it's delicious, people will seek it out even on top of a treacherous mountain; if it's bad, they won't go even if their own family runs the place.
For the record, in my past life, I went to my mom's sausage stew restaurant once and never went back.
It was obvious what was happening, but martial artists are a proud bunch who live and die by their pride.
If I pointed out the problems, he might fly into a rage, claiming I was insulting him.
I decided to pretend I didn't notice and continue on my way, but.
“...Since you're here, how about having a bowl before you go.”
At the Sect Leader's invitation, I couldn't bring myself to walk away.
A master of his caliber was swallowing his pride to attract a customer; I couldn't just ignore him.
“Umm... alright.”
“Thank you.”
As I sat down at the Dragon-Slaying Gate's stall, Cheong So-so and Myo Hyang, who had walked ahead, came back.
“Again! Trying to eat something delicious without me...”
Cheong So-so, who had been whining, noticed the stall's gloomy atmosphere and quietly sat down.
While we waited silently for the food, Myo Hyang whispered in my ear.
“It looks a bit dirty. The people working here don't look very friendly either.”
“...I know. He's an acquaintance, so let's just do him a favor and get out of here.”
Nod.
It was true. Running a street stall was a job for someone with experience. What would a bunch of guys who'd only ever punched things cooped up in their sect know?
Naturally, the hygiene and service were bound to be a mess.
And sure enough, the thumb of the Dragon-Slaying Gate disciple bringing the noodles was dipped in the broth.
In a world without hand wash and soap, it was an unforgivable mistake.
'I'd better eat quickly and leave.'
Since I couldn't exactly consider the Dragon-Slaying Gate strangers, I silently told myself to be patient and let it slide.
And then.
“Cough!”
The moment I lifted my chopsticks and put the noodles in my mouth, the three of us widened our eyes in shock.
Ptooey-!
The taste was something only the devils of hell would eat, and we spat out every last noodle we had put in our mouths.
“You're selling this for money? Are you insane?”
“That's right! This is a crime!”
“The Hanzhong Merchant Guild will hereby sever all ties with the Dragon-Slaying Gate.”
It was the moment the star rating for the Dragon-Slaying Noodles plummeted.