Chapter 9
Giving someone a name means time flies by in the blink of an eye. I'd felt it before, but now that my body's gotten younger, it hits even harder. Before I knew it, I was thirteen. It feels like I was just eleven the other day. Already two more years gone—well, a few months past that, actually.
Early spring, with the last chill of winter still lingering. I sprawl out in the rattling carriage, trying to kill time with a nap, but the jolts make it impossible.
"...Jang Sambung, how much longer till we reach the Jegal family manor?"
"Beats me. First time heading there for me too. No clue."
"No clue and your military service is over? You love how nice I've been lately, huh? Wanna see what inconvenient feels like?"
At my grumpiness, Jang Sambung glances around helplessly and pulls a book from her waistband sash.
"Bored? Wanna read this?"
"What kinda page-turner gets hidden in your clothes?"
I flip it open. Illustrations of naked men and women in the throes of passion spill out. A spring picture album. Definitely not something to get caught with.
"...Just to be sure, you didn't sprinkle any root on this, right?"
"What do you take me for? Don't you go sprinkling any on it, young master."
"Don't worry. My standards are too high for this stuff."
Saying that, I flip through and admire the artwork. The quality's surprisingly high—gotta admit, I'm impressed. Especially since it's pure romance. Who in the murim world has this kinda artistic talent? Thought it'd just be straight-up porn drawings with no story. Happy misjudgment.
Having enjoyed comics in my past life, this primitive manga equivalent lifts my spirits. I quietly read on, turning pages.
...Normally, I'd be secretly training martial arts at home, away from my parents. But to grow, you gotta leave home and meet people—that's Dad's philosophy. So I'm off to study at the Jegal family manor, where he has connections.
One of the Five Great Families, sure, but sadly, not to learn martial arts. Nah, it's to cram for the civil service exam under the renowned genius tutor, old man Jegal Hwi.
The Five Great Families are bloodline-centric anyway. No marrying in? No family martial arts for outsiders. Stingy bastards. What's the big deal sharing a bit?
Oh, and big bro Sima Rang got married. You might wonder what that has to do with me studying abroad, but in this bloodline-obsessed society, continuing the line is huge. Meaning, to make babies. The kind of stormy sex vividly depicted in this very spring album. But with a kid like me at home, they get self-conscious.
I'm thirteen now anyway—old enough to know it all. As these random thoughts swirl, fatigue creeps in, eyelids drooping. A kid's body crashes easy. Beats the insomnia I suffered once in my past life; this part's a win.
I hand the book back to Jang Sambung, pull the blanket over, curl up like a grub, and dive into sleep.
Rock-a-bye... rock-a-bye...
How much time passes? A voice calls, shaking me awake.
"...Young master... young master. Wake up."
"...Huh? Ungh? ...What? Where?"
Coming to, I'm piggybacked on Jang Sambung. I wipe drool and look up. A grand gate looms—opulent's an understatement. Our place is nice, but this? Different league. Not even a mansion; it's a fortress. Called a "family manor," but I figured small family biz. Gotta correct that: full-on massive mafia clan cartel.
Ah~ so bored. Bored.
New environment away from the familiar home—figured something fun might happen. Nope. Even duller.
Study. Eat. Study. Eat. Study... One pattern.
I knew it was study-abroad, not vacation, but this is excessive. So bored I tried luring other study kids like me into yutnori, but got babied instead.
Dissing yutnori... They know nothing of life's joys. If you're holing up studying forever, why leave home?
Lying grumbling's boring too, so I drag my numb leg out for a walk.
The Jegal family manor has three classes. Top tier: obvious, the big elders, family head, direct kin—core family.
Middle: diluted branch blood, bastards. And guests. Guests are as named: invited warriors, physicians, rich tycoons, talented retainers.
Thanks to Dad's friendship with a direct Jegal, I'm middle too.
Bottom: servants doing odd jobs, low-skill grunts.
And right now, a grubby kid not fitting any class huddles turtle-like, getting beat by branch kids. Probably some Jegal No-Name. Not that I forgot; his actual title's "No-Name." Got the surname, no given name.
Curious why, I had Jang Sambung ask servants. Complicated backstory.
Starts with current head Jegal Gyugeun's fave youngest daughter, Jegal Somwol, vanishing at sea during a boat trip.
Frail gold-leaf baby, so he mobilized the whole family—even other clans—to search. They searched, but figured her dead. Ocean, not land. Didn't wanna say it to his face, but wasting fortune on fish food? Kin grumbled.
Then Somwol returns. Alive, not corpse. First spotter, a fisherman: at dawn, ornate boat laden with treasures sailed in, fish escorting, sun at back.
Daughter back with riches? Pure joy. Till her swelling belly showed.
While missing, pregnant by some unknown. Any parent would flip. Furious Jegal Gyugeun demands who, who did this.
Somwol smiles unearthly beautiful: "This child's the son of the North Sea Dragon King Aosun."
True or not? No one knows. Somwol died birthing Jegal No-Name.
So maybe real dragon spawn, treated like that. Gave surname for dead daughter's sake, but no name, left to abuse. Grief needs an outlet, but on an innocent kid? Pathetic humans.
"Hand it over! Now!"
Despite branch kids' fists and kicks—trained in martial arts—Jegal No-Name doesn't cry or rage, just silently curls. That calm infuriates them more.
"Let's smash him with a rock. See if he dodges."
Wasn't gonna butt in, but can't ignore that. I turn toward the branch brats.
"Hey, ease up. Kid's gonna die."
Sudden voice startles them, but spotting me—lame, thumping cane—they sneer.
"Freak making us jump. Buzz off while we're nice."
Cripple fuck right off the bat. What kinda home training? Then again, properly raised, they wouldn't rock a defenseless kid.
Check no one's around, hold up three fingers.
"Gonna give you 3 seconds. Bow. First to bow gets nine hits instead of ten."
"What?! You freak! Wanna die?!"
Moment later, no need for Dog-Beating Stick Technique. Arrogant branch shits flee howling, asses and thighs busted by my staff.
Clack~ clack~ Some punks gotta show off and pay the price.
With tormentors gone, Jegal No-Name uncurls and stands. First close-up of the rumored kid.
Honestly, doesn't look North Sea Dragon King's spawn. Just normal grubby tot. No sea monster crawled ashore, no omen of Jegal doom, no mom-killing viper.
Through tangled black mess-hair, clear blue eyes like morning sea gleam. Filthy exterior, but stunningly pretty eyes.