Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Hero White Hawk and the Little Prince
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- Hero White Hawk is dead.
Die already, White Hawk, you balance-destroying culprit.
After brutally slaughtering the perfectly healthy White Hawk, I dove headfirst into writing.
"First, the genre."
No room for choice here.
Recalling the various genres tagged on the main webnovel page from before, only one came to mind.
Fantasy.
The original story itself was a classic adventure fantasy with an impressive, heroic progression, and now that mystical arts had already appeared, changing the main genre was impossible.
And yet, I could keep the mystical arts from showing up anymore while still maintaining the anticipation for them.
The tale of a world where Hero White Hawk dies and the mystical arts vanish.
An adventure where the protagonist sets out on a journey to restore the mystical arts.
Nice.
"On top of that, it has to be a fairy tale."
This book needed to be tailored to its reader.
Culinary Duel: Jang Geum had targeted nameless street urchins, so I'd thrown together a messy mix of flavors straight from my head, loaded with MSG for that addictive taste. But this book's reader was crystal clear.
The three-year-old little prince.
Thus, the category: fairy tale.
Instead of the umami MSG that adults crave, I needed to weave in episodes like hand-fermented soybean paste—lessons that kids could take as moral teachings.
"Hmm, toss in a few of the young master's sayings, too."
The characters...
This one's tricky.
If I made the millennium-old elf mage the protagonist like in the original, they'd whine about magic instead of mystical arts this time. Elf's out.
The squat dwarf's the same. The reason I'm up all night writing instead of sleeping is to craft a character like that blockhead Prince Imhae—but after all this effort, I can't stick an axe in his hands. Dwarf's out.
What about that human male cleric?
Hold on. What happened to Korea's first cleric?
Right, beheaded for deceiving the masses. You're out, too.
And with that, the entire original party is dead.
Tsk. Is this really right?
"Isn't there anyone suitable to make the protagonist? Someone who fits a fairy tale... that a three-year-old prince could relate to..."
Huh? Prince?
Oh, right.
What an idiot. The answer was right there, and I was looking in all the wrong places for a protagonist.
I immediately grabbed my brush and finalized the book's title.
And a few days later,
After nights of tossing and turning while wielding my brush, I finally finished writing Hero White Hawk and the Little Prince.
I contacted Park Haeseok, the senior official of the Bureau of Palace Provisions, through my father, and early the next morning, he sent a palanquin with an urgent summons to come at once.
"Young master, it's time to head out."
"Right, let's go."
I wrapped the crisp new book in cloth, stepped out of my room, and a man with dark circles under his eyes came rushing up to bow before me.
"Young master! Good to see you! I'm Kim Honggi, a clerk from the Bureau of Palace Provisions!"
"Hello. Heo Gyun here."
"Yes, yes! So, this is... the book! The sequel to Hero White Hawk?!"
"Uh... yeah, something like that..."
"In that case!! Just to be sure, does it have a solution for that mystical arts thing?"
"Yes... I did my best. It should work, probably?"
"I see. Fi... finally!! Finally, we can clock out on time!!"
Is the situation that bad?
How dire is it that a seasoned official is tearing up and wailing?
Kim Honggi, eyes brimming with tears, hoisted me onto his back and hurried the palanquin bearers along.
"Hurry! Everyone at the Bureau is dying over there. I haven't even gone home properly in three days—I've been stuck waiting there."
"Is His Little Highness that angry?"
"You have no idea. A few days ago, he was at least pretending to attend lessons, but now he won't even do that. If they don't show him mystical arts, he won't eat. When it's time to leave, he blocks the doors and throws tantrums, refusing to let the instructors or officials go home until they do. Everyone's been waiting until he tires out and sleeps, only heading home at dawn."
No way, that bad?
Feeling guilty, I bowed my head in apology.
"Uh... sorry about that."
"No, no! We can fix it now. Anyway, even when you meet His Little Highness, he'll demand mystical arts right away—what's your plan?"
"That's fine. I already killed off Hero White Hawk."
"Pardon? Killed him?"
"Yeah, he's already dead, and I'll say that's why no one can use mystical arts anymore."
"Uh... that's refreshingly straightforward and solid."
It really is a clean answer.
But can we handle the fallout? With the prince's temper, he'll probably flip the table demanding why White Hawk died.
Still, what's done is done—no helping it.
Whatever. No more thinking. He'll deal with the aftermath anyway. I'll just play it cool and bail when it's time to leave. Gotta request a transfer at the next evaluation.
Kim Honggi shook his head sharply, lost in grim thoughts of what lay ahead, and urged the bearers on.
"Hurry up!"
"Yes, sir!!"
Clatter-clatter.
The palanquin sped toward the palace.
"Squeeeeeeeee!! Mystiiiiiiiical arts!! Show me the mystical arts!! Lightning arts!!"
"Your Little Highness, please eat first, then we can talk about it after."
"Later my foot!! I don't even want clams anymore!! Mystical arts!! Leeeightning arts!!!"
"Your Little Highness, calm down a bit..."
What to do with this spoiled brat.
Cold sweat broke out as Prince Imhae's voice echoed from inside the room.
This might be beyond saving.
Park Haeseok, who'd been waiting anxiously at the Bureau entrance for my arrival, asked in an uneasy tone, mirroring my own worries.
"Are you really confident you can pull this off?"
"...Who knows. We'll see when we try. No other options, right?"
"True... no other way... If you resolve this, I won't forget this favor. Good luck."
"Sure... let's go, then."
"Sigh... announce us."
We exchanged nods, then Park Haeseok took a deep breath and called out.
"Your Little Highness, we've brought the tale of Hero White Hawk!"
"Mystiiiiiiiical arts!! Huh? What!!? For real?"
"Yes, Young Master Heo Gyun, who told you that story, has come himself. Please calm down and hear him out. We're entering."
"Okay!! Eunuch!! Bring some pear tea here!"
"Yes, Your Little Highness."
Creak.
As we opened the door, I saw an inner servant sweating profusely while preparing tea, a half-buried meal tray, and Prince Imhae with his face flushed red from all the screaming.
I pulled the book from my bundle and bowed to him.
"Your Little Highness, how have you been?"
"Hmph! Not well at all! 'Cause my teachers won't show me mystical arts!"
The sulky frog puffed out his cheeks and shot a piercing glare at Park Haeseok.
Park looked utterly withered, as if the glare from this mere three-year-old could crush him.
Situation grasped. Time to fix this.
I took the book in hand, sat across from Prince Imhae, and said,
"Your Little Highness, I looked into it, and there's a reason the Bureau teachers can't show mystical arts anymore."
"A reason? What's that?"
"Hero White Hawk died."
"What?"
"In the process, he drew on every last bit of the young master's sage arts, so now the Bureau teachers have none left."
"!!"
Thud.
The sky must look like that when it falls.
Prince Imhae's world had just collapsed.
Tears welling up.
Snot dripping down.
His already flushed face boiled over like a kettle whistling at the boiling point.
And just before the kettle exploded.
As his tiny hands reached for the table to flip it, I began the save.
"But!! I found a way to bring Hero White Hawk back to life!"
"What? For real?"
"Of course. This very book contains the method to revive Hero White Hawk."
"Qu... quickly, read it."
"Haha, but Your Little Highness, eat first. To save Hero White Hawk, you need to be healthy. You can't do it on an empty stomach."
"Uh... right, is that so? Then I'll eat fast!! Wait just a sec!"
"Yes, Your Little Highness."
Park Haeseok and I let out quiet sighs of relief as Prince Imhae scarfed down his food.
First hurdle cleared.
Moments later, the trays cleared, and the three of us—me, Park Haeseok, and Prince Imhae—huddled around the Bureau's small desk.
"This book was written by Hero White Hawk right before he died, thinking of Your Little Highness."
"Uh... me?"
"Yes. Look at the title: Hero White Hawk and the Little Prince. There's only one prince in Joseon right now, so he must have had you in mind."
"White Hawk for me... Read it quick!"
"Yes, Your Little Highness."
- Hero White Hawk is dead.
- It was because an evil, violent dragon had appeared in the northern lands not long ago.
- A massive shadow loomed through the clouds blanketing the sky, and the dragon's roar that tore through them shook the earth.
- Each mighty flap of its wings, covered in scales darker than pitch black, whipped up fierce gales that sent the thatched roofs of villagers' homes flying like paper.
- When the dragon descended to the ground, its enormous claws rent sturdy castle walls in a single swipe, and the crimson flames spewing from its maw turned people to ash.
- The dragon's name was Storm Dragon.
- Storm Dragon reigns supreme.
"That's when Hero White Hawk stepped up to stop that violent dragon."
- The brave scholar White Hawk poured out every lesson he had learned from the young master to defeat the wicked Storm Dragon.
- After days of battle, he finally slew the Storm Dragon, but alas, Hero White Hawk perished alongside it. With that, the young master's teachings faded, and scoundrels and deceivers began to run rampant in the land of Joseon.
- Everyone in the world mourned Hero White Hawk, and the little prince living in the palace, who had always admired him, was no exception.
- One day, as the little prince wandered the palace grieving for Hero White Hawk, a white hawk flew down from the sky toward him.
- The hawk spoke.
- Little prince, I'm going to bring Hero White Hawk back to life. Will you come with me?