Chapter 206
Chapter 206
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 206
>Chapter Title: One Day Without Work, One Day Without Food (3)
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In the past site of the Nancheon Society, where construction was in full swing.
The very person who had issued the precept [One Day Without Work, One Day Without Food]—Il-mok—had slept like a log and only woke up refreshed around late morning.
“Yawn~!”
As he stretched languidly with a satisfying yawn, a warm greeting came from beyond the door.
Not the voices of Dam Bin or Jin Ha-yeon, who always welcomed him.
“Young Master! You've finally risen!!”
Far from it.
It was the shout of that overly enthusiastic madman.
Il-mok, whose good mood soured the moment he woke up, sighed in response.
“What's got you riled up from the morning?”
He couldn't help thinking that guy might need some counseling too.
'Ugh. Speaking of counseling, that crazy physician from the Demonic Path Academy pops into my head.'
The mad physician from the Demonic Path Academy who had insisted on following him came to mind unbidden.
What a relief. He'd managed to escape to the Central Plains before that nutcase could catch up.
While Il-mok briefly recalled the mad physician, Baek Cheon entered the hall with Gu Yang-mun, who had been standing guard, and Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a.
“Young Master! I've come because I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor?”
Il-mok felt a bad premonition.
A request from a madman was bound to be something insane.
But before Il-mok could even utter the word refusal, Baek Cheon poured out his words like a waterfall.
“At the assembly last night, when I sang a hymn to the accompaniment of the courtesans' music, I realized this was truly fitting for your intent to spread the Divine Cult far and wide. So, I wondered if we could perhaps practice with those courtesans even outside of assemblies.”
Baek Cheon recalled last night's events, his face lost in ecstasy.
The sight of everyone singing along to the hymn he led, matched to the courtesans' performance.
Just thinking of that rapturous moment now made his body shudder.
Il-mok got chills watching Baek Cheon tremble with those crazed eyes.
'Ugh.'
But setting aside how creepy Baek Cheon was, his request was actually quite useful.
“By chance, is Team Leader Dam Bin or Miss Jin awake?”
“Yes, my brother.”
“Right now, he's outside teaching Miss Jeong and Miss Joo.”
“Hmm.”
Il-mok pondered briefly before issuing an order.
“Hand the training over to Team Leader Dam Bin and fetch Miss Jin.”
“As you command, Young Master!”
At the order to bring Jin Ha-yeon, Gu Yang-mun left the hall with a delighted expression.
A moment later, he returned to the hall with Jin Ha-yeon, whose expression was in stark contrast.
“Miss Jin. I need you to head to the red-light district for a bit.”
It was an order ripe for misunderstanding, but Jin Ha-yeon asked with an impassive face.
“What instructions shall I give there?”
“Baek Cheon here wants to practice hymns with the courtesans. Ask them for their cooperation. But do not force them to come.”
If the red-light district's courtesans were already fanatics of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, there'd be no need for the word "cooperation."
A simple order would have them stepping forward with fanatic eyes, crying, "For the Heavenly Demon, I'll offer this body!"
But they weren't fanatics yet, so for now, they needed careful handling.
“Also, while you're there, during the time for recruiting applicants, have the chefs prepare some food with the money and bring it along.”
“Food for those working on the manor site during construction?”
“Exactly. The manor's vast, so not every area is under construction. We can practice the singing there.”
“Then I'll instruct them to prepare food for Baek Cheon and the courtesans as well, and bring along the money to distribute to the laborers.”
Il-mok nodded at Jin Ha-yeon's words, and she paid her respects with a cupped-fist salute before leaving the hall.
* * *
Former beggars, a master carpenter directing the construction, and the few laborers he oversaw were sweating away in the manor.
There, a group of about a dozen people came rushing in.
One masked woman and one man with unusually clear eyes. And ten women.
The masked woman and the clear-eyed man aside, the others all carried trays.
“Please take a short break and have some snacks.”
When one of the women said this with a smile, the master carpenter directing the work, Deok Gwang, nodded and shouted.
“Break for half a shichen!”
At his command, the former beggars and laborers gathered, digging into the snacks the women had brought.
Watching the scene, the masked woman with the angry demeanor spoke in a flat tone.
“Let us go.”
At her order, the clear-eyed man and ten women followed her footsteps.
Strangely, they headed toward the interior of the manor.
“Where are you headed?”
At Deok Gwang's question, the masked woman leading them stopped and said.
“We plan to practice song and music in an area where construction hasn't started yet.”
“Song and music?”
Deok Gwang scratched his scruffy beard, then shrugged indifferently.
As long as it didn't interfere with the construction, he didn't care.
“Singing work songs for us, eh?”
Whether Deok Gwang muttered to himself or not, the masked woman led her group to another part of the manor.
“This seems like a good spot to practice.”
At the masked woman's words, their performance began under Baek Cheon's direction.
“We'll start with the Hymn of Light.”
The woman leading them stepped back a few paces, watching impassively.
Jin Ha-yeon. Her role was surveillance.
Not to prevent the courtesans from doing anything foolish or leaking information.
- Baek Cheon is a madman who might bolt anywhere, so Miss Jin, keep watch and rein him in.
It was because of the transmission Il-mok had secretly sent during his instructions, without Baek Cheon's knowledge.
There was one more thing Il-mok had ordered.
As Baek Cheon and the ten women continued practicing for a while.
After about half a shichen, Jin Ha-yeon, who had been watching impassively, spoke up.
“Take a one shichen break.”
Baek Cheon objected to her order.
“We're still far from ready—rest? What are you talking about!”
“Unlike you, Young Master, these women aren't trained in martial arts. Consider their stamina.”
It was another instruction from Il-mok: give them breaks in between.
He had predicted that without it, the madman would push on in his fervor until the women collapsed.
- You might strain your throat too, Young Master, so at least moisten it with water. Young Master Il-mok worries your precious voice, bearer of the mission to spread the Divine Cult, might be harmed.
Il-mok hadn't forgotten to add advice on how to make Baek Cheon listen.
- As expected of the Eight Young Masters, even considering my precious voice! This Baek is overcome with gratitude!
As Baek Cheon looked at her with eyes brimming with emotion, Jin Ha-yeon lightly shook her head.
“Ahem. We'll rest for one shichen!”
In high spirits, Baek Cheon gave the order and began moistening his throat with water for vocal care.
“Whew.”
Finally able to rest easy, the women sighed, massaging their weary bodies from the nonstop playing or drinking water to soothe their throats.
The women were divided into two groups. Three women dragged from the Nancheon Society who ended up singing hymns with Baek Cheon by chance. And seven courtesans who had come to practice accompaniment.
In that awkward atmosphere of being together yet not, one of the hymn singers spoke up.
“Aren't you tired?”
“It'd be a lie to say no, but it's rewarding.”
“Rewarding?”
“Thanks to the Maitreya Illuminated Cult, we can earn money. And now, we won't be punished for refusing to sell our bodies—we can just perform as courtesans. How could repaying that grace with our meager talents not be rewarding?”
That was the biggest reason seven courtesans had volunteered.
Additionally, the brothels and pleasure houses had closed for the night assembly, so they had the physical leeway.
In the subtle atmosphere, a courtesan spoke calmly.
“Do you all remember what the incarnation of Maitreya said at the assembly?”
“One Day Without Work, One Day Without Food?”
“Yes. To me, those words felt the opposite.”
“???”
As everyone looked at her puzzled, she smiled softly and said.
“Don't work, don't eat. Put conversely, it means if you work, you can eat. I was sold here from another region due to debt. Naturally, even selling my body while working brought no money back.”
“…….”
At her somewhat poignant story, no one could easily speak.
It wasn't just sympathy for her. Most of the women here had been in similar straits.
It was closer to empathy than pity.
The three hymn singers hadn't been sold to brothels, but their lives as Nancheon Society concubines were no different.
And the courtesan knew they shared her plight, so she spoke courageously.
With a complex expression of sorrow and relief.
“But now, if we work, we can earn money and make a living. No more punishment or beatings for refusing to sell our bodies.”
Was it because she had bravely shared her sorrow? Because they all felt the same plight?
The women, divided into two groups, soon began sharing names and ages, chatting amiably.
And without anyone realizing.
A faint smile formed on Jin Ha-yeon's lips, a few steps back on watch duty.
A smile filled with pride and satisfaction in the one she served.
* * *
Meanwhile.
On the opposite side of the manor where the women and Baek Cheon were practicing hymns, those who had finished eating returned to construction.
“Glo~ rious light of the Maitreya Cult~!”
Accompanied by the hymn faintly drifting from a distance.
The former beggars had attended the assembly, so they knew the hymn.
Naturally, they began humming the catchy tune as they worked.
“Glo~ rious light of the Maitreya Cult~!”
Soon, even the laborers who hadn't attended the assembly were all humming the hymn as they toiled.
At the sight of work songs they'd never heard before, Deok Gwang directing the construction tilted his head.
“Glo~ rious light of the Maitreya Cult~!”
But the work song was already slipping from his own lips all the same.
Then, after another two shichen passed and dusk began to fall.
Those practicing the hymn returned to the construction site, and in tandem, a few new people appeared at the manor pulling a cart.
It was the dinner Jin Ha-yeon had pre-ordered from the brothel chefs, brought by some errand boys in a cart.
“The sun will set soon, so how about calling it a day on construction?”
At the masked woman's words, Deok Gwang nodded.
“That's enough for today—go eat!”
At his order, laborers and former beggars gathered at the cart, and the women who had practiced hymns sat beside the laborers to begin eating.
“You've worked hard.”
When a few women greeted the former beggars and laborers who had toiled all day, the men's lips split into wide grins.
“Since we've ended up together, join us.”
Some lively ones mixed in, eating and chatting together.
And right after the courtesans left with the errand boys to receive guests at the brothel.
“Here’s today’s wages. Good work, everyone.”
The masked woman personally distributed the pay to the laborers.
Even the existing laborers were pleased with slightly thicker pay than usual.
“…….”
But the beggars who had lived as such for so long, earning money from real work for the first time in ages, stared down at the wages in their hands with indescribable expressions.