Chapter 31
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 31
"Shall we head to Gyeongbokgung now?"
"..."
Gyeongbokgung.
I took my students there on a few field trips. The kids always complained it was boring and hated it, though…
Recalling those bustling days, Gio asked, "Did you say there’s a night market?"
"That’s right. There’s no better place to experience the Korean atmosphere."
"It sounds fun."
"Want to try on a hanbok while we’re there?"
"Hanbok..."
Memories from the not-so-distant past surfaced.
He had never gone out of his way to visit unless it was for a school trip, but Gyeongbokgung did have its charms—especially dressing the kids up in hanbok and taking photos of them.
The students in my last class were particularly memorable. They put on a spectacular, real-time show of royal court intrigue.
Gio lost himself in the memory. The fierce battle between the self-proclaimed Queen Consort and the court eunuch had been the absolute highlight.
Thanks to being in charge of such adorable, rowdy students, Gio had many fond memories of Gyeongbokgung. And while he had never worn a hanbok himself, always busy supervising, he didn’t dislike the idea of trying one.
"Sure, let’s do it."
"Really?"
At Gio’s response, Yoo Seong-un inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
Considering his true nature is a portrait, I was worried he might find changing his attire offensive.
Fortunately, Gio seemed to have no aversion to trying new things.
"Great. I know a good place."
"A hanbok rental shop?"
"It’s usually not too crowded, so we can take our time."
"I’m looking forward to it."
"Then shall we head to the elevated train? It should be arriving soon."
"Is there a set arrival time?"
"Well, it’s not a transit system that runs constantly..."
As he led Gio to the station, Yoo Seong-un was struck by a strange thought.
He introduced himself as Gio, so I assumed he was mimicking Korean culture. But what if the culture he’s mimicking isn’t Korean at all?
The table manners Gio had displayed at the restaurant were a bit too ambiguous to be considered Korean. They looked much closer to a Western style, which was peculiar, given Gio’s earlier remarks that made him seem quite knowledgeable about Korea.
"...Hmm."
But at this point, it didn’t really matter.
"How was the restaurant?"
"It was delicious."
"That’s what a guide loves to hear."
When Gio’s status felt overwhelmingly high, it was impossible to read his expression. But now, Seong-un could tell that Gio was enjoying himself in his own way.
Thanks to that, guiding him is going smoothly.
Yoo Seong-un continued his train of thought.
He’s acting human enough that we shouldn’t have any problems, as long as another hunter doesn’t try to pick a fight. According to Guild Master Bisabeol, Gio is the type to avoid conflict whenever possible…
"The elevated train passes right through the buildings," Gio remarked.
"Isn’t it more convenient for commuting? It’s much easier if it drops you off right inside."
"That is true."
"Two more stops from here, there’s a station that goes straight through a department store."
"Are there no issues with noise?"
"Of course, it’s soundproofed. Though only the Ministry of Magic would know exactly what kind of spell they used..."
Seeing how Gio took pleasure in everything he was shown, it seemed he quite liked the human world.
A man nearly 190 centimeters tall acting like this could easily look childish.
Yet, the elegant line of his neck as he turned his head, or the delicate way his fingers brushed against the window, held none of that childishness. He was certainly enjoying himself, but it felt less like a child’s pure wonder and more like the gaze of a profound observer.
Is it because of his heavy aura?
He wasn’t smiling as an equal, but rather observing from on high, as if with his hands clasped behind his back...
"Are we getting off soon?"
"Ah, yes."
Yoo Seong-un disembarked at Gyeongbokgung Station with Gio. He pointed below the platform and said, "This is Gyeongbokgung."
One of the advantages of the elevated train was the panoramic view of the city.
Sky lanterns floated gently at a low altitude, fluttering as if they were alive. Below them lay Gyeongbokgung and the Hanok Village, bathed in a warm, gentle glow, as if the night were lit by fire rather than electricity.
People stopping by after work or visiting as tourists bought food from the night markets lining the streets inside and outside Gyeongbokgung. The hanbok they wore, chosen to match their desired roles, fluttered softly in the winter wind.
Yoo Seong-un waited for Gio to take in the entire view before speaking.
"If you come to Seoul, you have to visit Gyeongbokgung. It’s a world-class tourist attraction, in its own way."
"..."
"What’s wrong? Is it too crowded and hectic?"
"No. I just didn’t expect the atmosphere to be this wonderful."
"I’m glad you like it. In that case, we should enjoy it too."
Yoo Seong-un took the direct elevator down and led Gio into the Hanok Village. People, some in hanbok and some in regular clothes, strolled through the narrow alleys. The winter hanbok provided by the rental shops were all insulated, so despite the cold, no one seemed too heavily bundled up.
"This way. Let’s get changed first."
"To the hanbok rental shop?"
"That’s right. If we want to enjoy this properly, we need to be fully prepared."
The Gyeongbokgung village was a maze of interlocking hanok where a newcomer could easily get lost, but Seong-un had visited a few times before and navigated it with ease. Tourist spots rich in 'stories' like this always gave him plenty of work.
...They seem quite active today. It doesn’t look like they’ll cause trouble, but they’re unusually lively…
He spotted 'stories' pretending to shovel snow off hanok roofs, or mimicking scholars and noble ladies while dressed in hanbok.
"..."
Spotting one wearing a wooden mask, Yoo Seong-un quickly averted his gaze. They generally didn’t attack first, but the entities in Gyeongbokgung were not something you wanted to lock eyes with.
They arrived at a courtyard draped with silk, where warm-colored lanterns hung from the eaves. Yoo Seong-un pulled Gio, who was silently admiring the surroundings, inside the hanok.
"Ma’am."
"Oh my, if it isn’t Seong-un."
A middle-aged woman dressed in an elegant, flower-dyed hanbok welcomed him.
"It’s been a while. Entertaining another guest?"
"He’s a guest of the association, so I need to be extra careful."
"Then our shop’s hanbok is the perfect choice." The woman smiled elegantly and turned to Gio. "Is this the guest?"
"We’ll be focusing on the night market rather than the activities, so please pick something comfortable," Seong-un said.
"Why not the activities? They’re hosting a lot of fun things this time."
"I’ve been running around all day. I’m completely drained."
"Then we should dress him as a scholar, shouldn’t we? If the clothes are too thick or heavy, it’ll be uncomfortable. Let’s go with a light scholar’s outfit."
"That sounds good."
Yoo Seong-un turned to Gio. "What do you want to do about your face? Do you want to keep it covered, or..."
"I’d prefer to cover it."
Please guarantee the portrait’s anonymity.
The larger-than-expected crowd was intimidating. Gio, who always wished to stay far from human attention, wanted to block out their gazes.
Though Yoo Seong-un didn’t know about his timid heart, he guessed that Gio wouldn’t enjoy crowded and noisy situations anyway. Nodding in understanding, he made a request to the owner.
"Do you have a mask?"
"A loose-fitting one?"
"That would probably be more comfortable. Yes, please."
"Then let’s pick the clothes first." The owner looked at Gio and asked, "Could you take off your cloak for a moment? You can wear it again later, but I need to see your build to choose the right hanbok."
"Understood."
Gio obediently took off his cloak and draped it over his arm. Having followed her instructions perfectly, he looked at the owner with a hint of pride.
"..."
"..."
"...Ma’am," Yoo Seong-un called out to the owner, who had frozen solid. "You’re going to scare the guest."
"...Oh my. Forgive me, that was unseemly of me." The owner finally stirred. "The guest is so handsome he took my breath away."
"Don’t say strange things to my guest."
"With a build like that, picking out clothes for a handsome guest is a real treat. Just a moment."
Before long, the owner returned, pushing two clothing racks of hanbok with the help of two young women. One rack held hanbok in cool blue tones, while the other featured mostly neutral colors.
"Both are made of silk spun by our shop’s own silkworms. It’s smooth and won’t irritate the skin."
"The blue one is mine, right? Isn’t that a bit of a cold color for winter?" Seong-un asked.
"I just brought what suits you best. Who else but you could pull off this color in the winter?"
"I feel like I’m being used as an advertisement..."
"I’d appreciate it if you did some promoting while walking around. Hunters really do make great clothes hangers, don’t they?" The owner then turned to Gio. "Seeing how lightly you’re dressed in this weather, you must be a hunter, right? Don’t worry, our hanbok are made to be durable and lightweight so hunters can move without any trouble."
"I wasn’t worried."
In the first place, Gio wasn’t even a hunter.
Would it be weird to deny it now?
The owner smiled, fluttering her fan. "Hunters usually dislike cumbersome clothes, so I was just making sure. I don’t recognize your face, so you must be unregistered, or perhaps you just recently got your license?"
"..."
"You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. Seeing as you want to keep your face covered, you must hate having your personal details leaked. I’ll make sure you’re stylishly concealed."
Personal details leaked? Is it common for hunters to have their information exposed?
What a terrifying world.
Deciding to ask Yoo Seong-un about it later, Gio put on the black hanbok recommended by the owner. It consisted of a black dapho over a gray dopo, with a clean, pure white waist belt.
"If you’re going to Gyeongbokgung, you must wear a gat. Yes, it suits you perfectly. It would look even better with plenty of norigae attached. This one is made of coral; try it on."
"Thank you."
"And this is a scarf. Oh my, white suits you so well. Is it because your skin is so clear? It’s beautiful. This is a coin pouch for your yeopjeon, so make sure to tie it securely so it doesn’t fall off, alright?"
"..."
"Now, for the neoul."
Gio was slightly taken aback by the loose, pitch-black veil. He knew what a neoul was, but he had never worn one.
"...How do I wear this?"
"We’ll have to help you. Dan-woo, could you put the neoul on our handsome guest?"
"Yes, ma’am."
A young woman wearing a pink daenggi approached and draped the black cloth over Gio’s gat. Amazingly, he could see ahead perfectly, as if nothing was there.
"You said you’d be focusing on the night market, so you’ll be eating often. Covering your mouth with a mask would be inconvenient. For those who don’t want to reveal their identity, a long neoul like this is perfect."
"..."
"You have such a striking aura that people might still wonder who you are, but the outfit is so splendid and has so many ornaments, who would look that closely at your face?"
"I see."
"The scarf is quite thick, so it covers most of your lower face anyway. This should be more than enough. Enjoy our village with a light heart, Scholar."
Having changed into a blue-toned hanbok nearby, Yoo Seong-un asked the owner, "We’d also like to buy some lanterns."
"Oh my, you’re really going all out, aren’t you? What kind would you like?"
"Nothing in particular. What’s popular these days?"
"Well, the young ladies do like the moon lanterns."
"Uh... what about for men? We’re not exactly young ladies."
"Do you think it’s common for two men to come hang out together like this?" the owner teased. She pondered for a moment, then called over one of the girls. "Hong-yeon, could you bring the aquarium?"
"Yes, ma’am."
The woman named Hong-yeon soon wheeled in a large glass case. Inside, various lanterns made of hanji paper were submerged in light, moving as if they were alive. The owner scooped out two small fish-shaped lanterns with a net.
They fluttered slightly, looking just like real fish.
"How about goldfish? They’re small and subtle, so they won’t be a hassle to carry."
"That sounds good."
Gio experienced a culture shock.
The lanterns are alive?
When Yoo Seong-un mentioned 'lanterns,' Gio had envisioned hand-held sky lanterns or hanging lotus lanterns. But the goldfish lanterns Yoo Seong-un purchased fluttered gently through the air, and soon, one of them took its place right beside Gio’s face.
"..."
The lantern, gently swishing its tail, didn’t hurt his eyes even when he looked directly at it.
"Well, have fun you two."
The owner waved them off.
Stepping out of the silk-draped courtyard, they were back on the bustling village streets. Yoo Seong-un called out to Gio, who was looking around with interest.
"How is it? Is it uncomfortable?"
"It’s very comfortable."
"If you want to look around the village before we enter Gyeongbokgung, we can do that now."
"The village?"
"The village market closes earlier than the one in Gyeongbokgung. By the time we’re done there, the lights here will probably be out."
"Then may we look around for a bit?"
"Of course."
Yoo Seong-un led Gio, who seemed unfamiliar with the environment, toward a fan shop.
"...?"
Standing blankly beside the shop, a group of figures wearing crude wooden masks were peeking around. Gio blinked. Their movements weren’t stiff, but they were uniform, like machines following a program. They didn’t look human. Just as Gio tilted his head, unable to identify them, Yoo Seong-un spoke to the shopkeeper.
"Sir, could you show us some fans?"
"Oh, welcome, fine scholars! What kind of fan are you looking for?"
"Something sturdy would be nice..."
"Then these are the best."
Soon, Gio averted his gaze from the lingering masked figures and looked around the market with curiosity.
All the shopkeepers are wearing hanbok.
Some wore traditional hanbok, others modernized versions, and some merchants wore modern clothes underneath with only a durumagi overcoat on top. They catered to the tourists, playing along with the theme.
Yoo Seong-un soon presented a black fan to Gio.
"Here. Since you’re dressed as a scholar, you should at least have a fan."
"...Is a fan an essential item for a scholar?"
"It could be, or it could not be. It’s just a meaningless souvenir."
"Souvenirs from tourist spots are always special."
The fan, made with black ribs and black fabric, was quite elegant. Gio wondered if having a black fan on top of everything else made him look too much like a Grim Reaper, but since he liked black anyway, he readily accepted it.
"Most shops in the Gyeongbokgung Village sell souvenirs or food. They hang up whole chunks of meat or sell homegrown produce. It’s much fresher than goods distributed from the provinces, so many people come here specifically to shop."
Gio nodded. "The atmosphere is truly wonderful."
"Isn’t it?"
After wandering the village for a while, the two finally headed for the entrance to Gyeongbokgung.
"Wait, we need to exchange some money first."
"Money?"
"The shop owner gave you a coin pouch, right? Inside Gyeongbokgung, only yeopjeon are accepted, so it’s best to exchange what we’ll need."
"What happens if we have leftovers?"
"You can keep them as souvenirs or get them refunded at the exchange booth."
Yoo Seong-un soon returned with their coin pouches filled to the brim.
"They say these yeopjeon were modified to be lighter, but they still have some weight to them."
"Don’t people find this inconvenient?"
"I’m sure some do, but people come here to enjoy this kind of atmosphere. The merchants also like it because they get subsidies from the government for accepting yeopjeon."
"Subsidies?"
"It encourages them to use the yeopjeon more actively," Yoo Seong-un chuckled.
"I see."
"Here, take this. This is your identity pass."
"...?"
A pass, too?
He understood using yeopjeon as currency, but what was the purpose of an identity pass? When Gio looked at Yoo Seong-un, the latter just shrugged.
"It’s an all-access pass."
"Ah."
Excellent.