Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Persuading the Crown Prince
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Just as I was about to ask what I was supposed to dodge, an enormous shock came crashing down.
It felt like a massive boulder fist plummeting from the cosmos, smashing right into me. I tumbled over, my legs shaking uncontrollably without me even realizing it.
My body moved on its own from the intense pain I'd never felt before in my life. Then darkness swallowed me.
Am I dying like this?
I thought to myself as I lost consciousness. And I felt afraid.
I hope this doesn't send me back to the modern world.
I'd faced crises several times, but I had no desire to return to the present.
The face of my tearful wife bidding me farewell and my father Yeon Gaesomun, whose true feelings I still couldn't read, floated up and then faded away. Then Geom Mojam's face appeared.
"Master! Pull yourself together! Can you hear me?"
It reminded me of the time I'd stayed up all night writing and barely fallen asleep, only for my mom to shake me awake forcefully for breakfast.
I tried to roll over, but this guy had even slapped my cheek now.
"Damn it! That hurts like hell."
Anger surged up, and I yelled out. Geom Mojam broke into a wide grin.
"Thank goodness. You really scared me."
Thinking back, it seemed like something had fallen from the sky, hitting me with the impact.
I clutched my still-dizzy head and looked around.
"But what the hell fell on me?"
Geom Mojam grimaced.
"Well..."
"What?"
"A person."
"What?"
His unexpected answer left me stunned, and Geom Mojam glanced upward.
"The guy who dropped the stone from the wooden tower earlier."
"He jumped?"
I asked in disbelief, and Geom Mojam nodded.
"Crazy bastard."
"He must've been after the Crown Prince's life."
Listening to Geom Mojam, I suddenly thought of the Crown Prince.
"Crown Prince Uija?"
"He's not badly hurt."
Following Geom Mojam's gaze to the side, I saw Crown Prince Uija leaning on Buyeo Seung for support, his face dazed.
Behind him lay Go Jeong-ui, clever but timid, passed out cold.
"Is His Highness the Crown Prince alright?"
Crown Prince Uija nodded absently at my question.
"And you?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
Seeing his expression, I touched my face and finally noticed it was covered in blood.
As I started to scream, Geom Mojam hurriedly cut in.
"It's not your blood, Master."
"Then...!"
"It's from the guy who fell from above."
He pointed behind me. At first, I didn't realize it was a person.
It looked like a balloon filled with red paint that had burst. But looking closer, I saw fingers... and part of a shattered skull.
And the stuff spilling out from it... Thinking about what it was, I passed out again.
When I opened my eyes, Crown Prince Uija was there instead of Geom Mojam.
"Coming to?"
I've seen scenes of people falling in books plenty of times, and even in movies or dramas.
But I'd never known what they looked like afterward. Now I'd seen it clearly.
And on another note, a terrifying thought crossed my mind. The fight for power and to seize it was no child's play.
I need to stay sharp, or I could get taken out pointlessly.
Realizing I was alive, the surroundings slowly came into focus. There were dirt walls, and a shabby bamboo bed on a raised platform.
Only oil lamps for light—no other furnishings in sight. Sensing my gaze, Crown Prince Uija spoke.
"This is my room. You've been out for a full day."
"Very austere."
"Can't exactly fancy up the place when I'm trying to start a Buddhist order, can I?"
I nodded in agreement.
"Fitting for the Sea-East Sage. With such deep filial piety and brotherly love, no wonder Arah chose you as Crown Prince."
"You're too kind. I just want to live well with my father and brothers."
"Of course, that will pave the way to becoming the next Arah. No need to hide your true intentions from me."
"What do you mean? What intentions am I hiding?"
His tone grew a bit stiff, but I felt certain now.
"Being named Crown Prince late, living here like this—it's all deliberate, isn't it?"
"Deliberate how?"
His voice rose, but I caught a faint tremble.
"People misunderstand because you were named Crown Prince at a later age. But you can't fool these eyes."
"What, are you some shaman now?"
I couldn't help chuckling at his words.
I wondered what face he'd make if he knew my real identity. Anyway, I stopped laughing and spoke.
"It's not because you were weak or lacked trust that it happened late. Arah has a ton of sons from all his wives right now, doesn't he?"
"Having many royal family members is a good thing."
"Sure. But it's only natural they'd all eye Arah's throne. And naturally, they've allied with their maternal clans and the nobles."
Crown Prince Uija's face hardened as he listened.
"In that process, Arah must've played it ambiguous. Deepening the nobles' conflicts over which prince he'd back as king."
"Isn't that obvious?"
Seeing his calm reply, I sensed the brutality of power struggles not recorded in the histories.
"Arah acted as judge in the midst, strengthening his own power. He wasn't even in line for the throne under normal circumstances anyway. In Baekje, hardly anyone who rose to the throne that way lived out their days peacefully."
Blasphemous words, but he didn't seem shocked.
"True enough. You know your history well."
I nearly blurted out that I'd made a living writing novels set in this era. I held back and continued.
"So deliberately delaying your naming as Crown Prince and seeming neglected isn't sincere. It's to make your rivals drop their guard, give them hope, keep them fighting for power. Plus, it's protection for you."
Crown Prince Uija fell silent for a while after hearing me out. Then he quietly stood and looked around the room.
"We captured a few assassins alive. But they won't reveal who sent the ones attacking us today."
"The aftermath is the real issue, right?"
"If I listed everyone who wants me dead, it'd be endless. Harder to find those who don't. That's why I've been laying low at Geumma Temple."
"And some don't buy that."
"Exactly why I don't hunt them down. To keep them off guard."
He confided earnestly.
"In all Baekje, only Arah and I know this. Never dreamed it'd come from you, a Goguryeo man."
People misunderstand that King Uija struggled greatly to ascend because he was named Crown Prince late.
But Samguk Sagi shows otherwise—he succeeded his father King Mu immediately upon his death, with no notable opposition. In fact, once his rule solidified, he even exiled half-brothers and ministers.
That meant the power transition was smooth. Likely pre-arranged between King Mu and Crown Prince Uija. As these thoughts swirled, he asked.
"But how did you know?"
"Because of the assassination attempt."
"Today's incident?"
"If you truly lacked Arah's trust, why bother with it now? So find the culprits. Don't punish right away—use it to flush out and eliminate the opposition."
"Use another's hand to wipe them out, you mean."
"Exactly. If not, keep today's captives alive secretly and deal with them after ascending as Arah."
"I'll do that."
He answered curtly, then asked after a moment.
"But why tell me all this?"
"Baekje needs to strengthen to check Silla, so Goguryeo can stand against Tang invasion."
"Tang will invade?"
"In a few years. If Goguryeo falls, Baekje's next, and Silla won't escape unscathed."
"I think the same. Thanks for the help."
"Then aid me once you become Arah."
"Agreed."
I felt relieved seeing him nod.
Of course, promises from the powerful were worthless scraps. But we had to use King Uija well to stop Silla allying with Tang.
That was the surest shortcut to preventing Goguryeo's fall. Crown Prince Uija smiled broadly, pleased. Then Buyeo Seung flung open the door, face shocked.
I nearly said to knock, but the Crown Prince reacted differently.
"What is it?"
"Arah has arrived."
"Father has!"
The sudden plot twist straight out of a novel left me stammering.
"Where is he now?"
"At the wooden tower where yesterday's incident happened."
"I'll go see him right away. Is security tight?"
"The Royal Guard has the perimeter and temple interior locked down tight."
He nodded, then looked at me apologetically.
"I'm fine. Go on."
"Sorry. I'll never forget you saved my life."
"Ascend as Arah for sure. We have much to do together."
I meant rewriting history together, but couldn't say that much. Still, my sincerity seemed conveyed.
He nodded with trusting eyes and left. Buyeo Seung followed with a quick bow. Soon after, Geom Mojam appeared.
"Are you alright?"
"Not really. I had no idea people turn into that when they fall."
"I'm sorry. I just..."
"I'm fine, but how's Go Jeong-ui?"
"He just came to."
"Good. Time to prepare to leave."
"Already?"
I replied to his surprised look.
"I've said what needed saying. Staying longer might burden the Crown Prince."
I threw off the blanket and stood, feeling my body ache but movable.
Seeing that, Geom Mojam said,
"I'll prepare to depart immediately. Please wait a moment."
Even after Geom Mojam left to prepare, I sat there blankly for a while.
I succeeded in persuading Crown Prince Uija. Next up...
My head was an utter mess. All I knew of Three Kingdoms history was Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa.
But reality was far more tangled. Could I really unravel all these complex threads?