Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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"It's because of my youngest brother. He lacks manners and etiquette, but that's due to the shock of losing our mother when he was young. He's a good kid at heart, so please look favorably upon him."
These were the words of an elder brother feeling sorry for his troublemaking sibling. As an only child, I had never experienced such warm brotherly affection.
I gripped Yang Hwan-chun's hand tightly.
"I truly have no other intentions for coming here. So please, set your worries aside."
"That's a relief, then. Ansi Fortress isn't a place frequented by high-ranking officials. Even those touring Liaodong visit Liaodong Fortress or Baekam Fortress and skip this one."
"I see. Though it's actually a place of great importance."
Yang Hwan-chun looked puzzled at my words.
"I'm grateful you see it that way. Even Elder Yeon Jeong-du, the Senior Central Administrator who visited Liaodong recently, didn't stop here."
"I have a different eye for things than others."
It was a meaningful statement, but Yang Hwan-chun took it merely as praise.
He thanked me and turned away, disappearing with his subordinates.
I watched the torchlight fade into the distance before turning back. In the meantime, Geom Mojam emerged from inspecting the inside of the inn.
"Nothing unusual. Let's eat."
Inside, it was shabby and worn compared to other places.
Go Jeong-ui muttered as he surveyed the interior by torchlight.
"It really feels like the boonies."
"Why call Ansi Fortress the boonies?"
"It's not a strategic defensive point like Liaodong Fortress, nor a bustling hub. Plus, with the Yang clan holding it, even the capital shows little interest."
"Still, the people here are honest and simple."
"That's the problem—they're too simple."
As I looked at Go Jeong-ui, I thought to myself that being too cunning was also a problem. But he seemed to read my mind from my expression.
"You're thinking even obedient villagers are better, right?"
"Something like that."
I left Go Jeong-ui wearing a look like he was about to burst with frustration and headed up to the second floor.
The bed was crudely woven from wood. But after the long journey from Liaodong Fortress, I was exhausted. I leaned my sword against the wall and lay down on the bed as is.
"I came all the way here looking for Yang Man-chun, and I never expected this."
I hadn't realized he'd be such a hopeless wastrel, tormenting his elderly father and brothers.
"And he's the one who needs to help me save Goguryeo."
Coming to Ansi Fortress felt like a wasted trip. Tossing and turning with various thoughts, I finally fell asleep.
The next day, a clamor from outside jolted me awake. I sat up from the bed, rubbed my eyes, and opened the window. Shouts rang out, along with shirtless men running about.
"What are they doing?"
Looking closer, they were kicking around something like a ball. I immediately recognized it.
"They're playing cuju."
It was similar to modern soccer, a sport enjoyed across the Three Kingdoms.
I scanned for Yang Man-chun, who was running around bare-chested like a madman. Covered in mud, he sensed my gaze, stopped, and looked up.
"Hey, long time no see!"
He seemed completely unaware of the trouble he'd caused his father and brothers.
"Good to see you."
I waved with a smile, and Yang Man-chun grinned back.
"I heard you arrived last night. Sleep well?"
"Not bad at all."
"Want to play a round of cuju before breakfast?"
"Sure. I'll be down soon."
The thought of running with Ansi Fortress's hero, Yang Man-chun, made my heart race.
I quickly shed my jacket, rolled up my pants, and headed downstairs.
Geom Mojam, who had been practicing the jujutsu I'd taught him in front of the door, looked at me in surprise.
"Where are you going, Master?"
"To play soccer—no, cuju."
As I opened the door and stepped out, Yang Man-chun waved.
I ran over, and someone kicked the ball my way. Up close, I saw it was made from a pig's bladder, with a bit of water inside.
Yang Man-chun stepped on the pig-bladder ball with one foot.
"There are wooden blocks at each end. Kick the ball between them to score."
"How do we tell teams apart?"
In modern times, uniforms and numbers on the back do it. But here, everyone was shirtless, pants splattered with mud, looking alike. Yang Man-chun grinned.
"I'm the face team, you're the torso team."
No sooner had he said it than someone smeared mud on my back. Yang Man-chun then applied some to my chest himself.
The young men of Ansi Fortress snickered. Geom Mojam and the attendants, arriving late, looked concerned.
I waved to signal it was fine. Yang Man-chun kicked the ball to his teammate behind me and said,
"They say you're good to your men. Looks like it's true."
"Why treat roughly those who help and protect me?"
"I think the same, but..."
He kicked the ball forward. Being a pig bladder, it flew lightly.
That was the signal—both sides shouted and clashed. Watching the flying ball, Yang Man-chun added,
"...most people aren't like that."
Then he shoved me aside and dashed toward the ball.
I hurried after Yang Man-chun. I wasn't a pro, but I'd once planned a novel with a soccer player protagonist.
A third-rate player, after a car accident, gains the ability to summon the souls of desired players.
Summon famous soccer stars and use their skills—that was the gimmick. But I heard even top skills back then wouldn't cut it now.
Plus, trying soccer myself, it was too grueling, so I quit. Still, I had some confidence.
"Just watch."
But after ten minutes, I realized I'd been wrong.
"Ugh, I'm dying."
For one, my stamina couldn't keep up.
Yang Man-chun and Ansi's youths were lean but tireless. And the pig-bladder ball differed from modern ones.
It moved fast and light, veering off if mishit. The muddy ground, not grass, meant it stuck fast if it lodged anywhere.
I marked Yang Man-chun tightly but kept losing him, humiliated. Shaking me off, he scored between the blocks and turned.
"Put some more effort in. Didn't you come from the capital? Never played cuju?"
Ansi's youths laughed. From afar, I saw Geom Mojam bristling.
"Too busy with other matters for cuju."
In modern soccer, restarts are from midfield after a goal, but in Goguryeo, they kicked off right in front of the blocks.
I gestured for my teammate preparing to kick to pass it to me, then replied to Yang Man-chun,
"More important things than cuju."
Spotting the incoming ball, I shook Yang Man-chun off in a flash and ran.
A few sprints in, I grasped the muddy field's quirks.
The spot I'd marked was trampled into a puddle. Balls landing there stuck immobile.
Yang Man-chun, not thinking of that, lunged forward for the rolling ball. I easily kicked the stuck ball aside and bolted toward his goal.
"Damn it!"
Yang Man-chun cursed from behind.
Elated, I charged ahead. So sudden, no one blocked me.
"Block him!"
Yang Man-chun's belated shout brought a few, but with a few modern moves, I slipped past and reached the blocks.
No goalkeepers here, no hands. I kicked hard, shouting,
"Shoot!"
Thrilled as the ball rolled between the blocks.
"Whoa!"
Joy was short-lived—a massive impact hit from behind. Still watching the goal, I tumbled forward.
I face-planted into the mud. The shock was bigger than expected; I blacked out.
Flipping over, I saw Yang Man-chun's apologetic face.
"Hey, you okay?"
Geom Mojam came panting.
His shocked face entered my view.
"M-Master! Are you alright?"
Feeling mischievous, I pretended to be unconscious. Geom Mojam frothed, protesting to Yang Man-chun.
"How can you shove someone that hard from behind?"
"It happens in cuju. Didn't think it'd knock him out."
"Do you know who this is? The eldest son and heir of the Eastern Division Leader!"
"I know. Word's spread even to this backwater."
"Then how can you tackle him so brutally and make him pass out? What if something happens—will you take responsibility?"
"Of course. So quit yelling and let's move him."
Pretending unconscious, I thought he was pretty good. Staying calm in a spot for panic or anger.
Geom Mojam agreed and carried me back to the inn.
Yang Man-chun said to move me to a cool shade. Then Go Jeong-ui's tearful regret: "Should've stopped you."
'This is more fun than I thought.'
I felt myself laid on the floor inside the inn.
Yang Man-chun yelled to a youth to fetch a physician and ordered fanning.
Everyone fetched things or fanned by hand. To avoid issues from prolonging, I slowly stirred.
Groaning and writhing, Geom Mojam shouted,
"He's coming to!"
As they buzzed, I pretended to open my eyes slowly. Go Jeong-ui, who'd been crying, grabbed my muddy hand.
"Oh, you were crying."
"Would you laugh? You scared me half to death."
He nitpicked but knew what it'd be like without me.
Mischievous, I smeared mud from my hand on his face. Back to normal, he fussed,
"Hey!"
Then laughed. Ham-a and others nearby sighed in relief. Adokbang leaned against the door, sobbing openly.
Knowing they saw me as family warmed my heart. Yang Man-chun was relieved too.
"Felt like ten years shaved off my life."
He plopped down on the floor.
I clutched my head, sat up, and looked at him.
"Thought my bones broke."
"Mud breaks no bones from that."
"I'm delicate capital stock."
Yang Man-chun grinned at my joke.
"Capital folk always act weighty or solemn."
"Showing off to country bumpkins. Truth is, capital's no different from here. Just places where people live."