Chapter 23
Translator: uly
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Black-Haired Storyteller of Chilgok County - 2
'To be, or not to be, that is the question.'
The classic tragic masterpiece, Hamlet. Even if people don't know the plot, many are familiar with this line.
To summarize Hamlet's story simply: Hamlet's uncle assassinates Hamlet's father, marries Hamlet's mother, and ascends the throne. Hamlet learns this from his father's ghost and seeks revenge. However, things get complicated, and while he succeeds in revenge, he ends up dying himself.
I'll adapt this in my own way, into a version I can perform alone, and show it to the people.
"To be, or not to be, that is the question."
The Murong Family's internal energy technique keeps the body healthy, even improving one's voice. I delivered the first line in a low tone to set the mood, but it would reach the audience's ears clearly. I began acting, bowing my head as if in deep thought.
"My father has passed away. Assassinated by a strange being! The leadership of the Ha Family did not pass to me, but to my uncle."
From the very start, I present what dilemma the protagonist is facing to capture the audience's attention.
"Isn't that the Ha Family head story?"
"It's a Joseon story, right? Just listen for now."
It seemed some had already caught on, but it wasn't a big deal.
"I saw my father's body. The wounds were clearly those that could only be left by someone who had mastered the Ha Family Sword Technique to the fifth star or higher. That's strange. Very strange. In our family, only two people have mastered the Ha Family Sword Technique to the fifth star or higher. My uncle... and me."
With a voice and expression full of anguish, I presented the mystery to the audience, then folded my fan and struck a pose as if thrusting a sword.
This fan works well as a prop too.
"So the uncle is the culprit."
"If you know, shouldn't you just kill him right away?"
"Why are you hesitating?"
People were showing interest in the outrageous story from the start. A good reaction.
"My uncle has no children. He declared publicly before everyone that he would only serve as Family Head for ten years, then pass the position to me. If I endure for just ten years, all the wealth and power of the Ha Family will be mine. If I don't raise suspicions publicly, I can enjoy all glory and riches ten years from now."
I acted as if seeing all sorts of gold, silver, and treasures scattered on the ground, pacing back and forth as if troubled. Then I looked up at the sky and spoke again.
"BUT!! If so, who will avenge our father, who wanders the Nine Heavens with resentment?! Yet, even if I say my uncle is the only one who could leave such wounds, no one would believe me. If I kill my uncle, I will be branded a patricide. And... I will surely die as well... To be, or not to be. That is the question."
A tone as if explaining to his father. Yet, deep worry was etched on my face.
"Wouldn't it be better to just endure ten years and become rich?"
"Would you say that if it were your father? If your father was murdered, you must take revenge!"
"My father would want me to live as a rich man, not die."
Good. People were starting to understand the protagonist's dilemma.
Now it was time to move to the stimulating climax.
"I decided to share this worry with my mother. Even though she is my stepmother now, she must have loved my father."
I turned my body toward the opposite side of the audience, pretended to walk a few steps, and then opened the fan.
Hiding the lower half of my face with it, I subtly pushed my hips back and imitated a woman's voice.
"Darling. How did you manage to kill my husband so perfectly, without anyone knowing?"
"Hush. What if someone hears you?"
*Snap!* I folded the fan again, turned my face, and began acting as the other man, the uncle.
This was why I bought a Joseon-made bamboo fan.
It was good for expressing my identity as a Joseon person and could be used as the storyteller's trademark.
Plus, I could use the fan as a performance prop, and by opening or folding it, I could indicate a change of character.
It was truly a versatile tool.
"Only my beloved darling and your humble servant are here."
"My lady. Do you know how hard I worked to obtain you and the position of Ha Family Head?"
"Hehe. That's why I used my influence to have the family headship passed to you, darling, instead of that child who shares no blood."
"Thank you, my lady. My brother was a man blessed beyond his merits. An undeserved family headship and such a beautiful woman. Now both have found their true master."
"So now your humble servant belongs to you, darling?"
"Haha. Isn't it obvious? Once I just send an assassin to kill that brother's son, I can formally take you as my wife."
After revealing their conspiracy in full, I glanced slyly at the audience.
"Those bastards!!"
"How can you have an affair, and with your sister-in-law of all people?!"
"Honey, lately my younger brother has been acting strangely close... Ah! Sorry! Don't pinch me!"
"I feel like vomiting. How can such trash exist?!"
Great. The reaction is fantastic. Now is finally the timing to use my main purpose.
"Heavens!! Did you see that scene?!!!"
I changed my voice tone and began acting as the protagonist, Young Master Ha Mu-rin.
"I want to kill those bastards right now!! What do you think?!!!"
I looked at the audience and pointed with my fan to the spot where I had just acted out the two villains.
"Kill them!!"
"If you don't kill them, your father will weep in the afterlife!!"
"If you don't kill them, it's patricide! Patricide!!"
The audience's response was good. Some uncles were shouting, their necks turning bright red.
The atmosphere was heated up.
Now I need to show some technique.
"But, Heavens! Even if I kill those bastards, I have no evidence, so I will also be executed. For killing my mother and uncle, I'd be a patricide. However, if I go to the scene where my father died and bring back evidence, I can kill that bastard!!"
"Go quickly!!"
"What are you waiting for? Go!!"
Okay, I'll go, I'll go. But I need something.
"The Ha Family's wealth is the wealth of those filthy bastards. To avenge my father, I cannot use dirty money. Heavens!! Will you grant me... travel expenses?!!"
I quickly stepped down from the stage, took out a prepared bowl, and began walking among the people, holding the bowl with both hands.
People seemed not to understand my action and showed no reaction.
"Heavens!! Without travel expenses, I cannot go to the scene of my father's murder!!"
Hurry up and give me money. You've been listening for free until now.
The storyteller's tales are basically free.
In this world, there is no subscription service where only those who pay can hear the story. Nor can I buy a theater and only let paying customers enter.
So how does a storyteller make money? This is where technique comes in.
The Art of Soliciting Money
The method of receiving money while telling a free story—that is the Art of Soliciting Money.
A representative method is the cliffhanger technique. Cutting off the story at an interesting part and stopping. Then people put money into the storyteller's money bowl to make him continue the story.
However, this method has the problem of creating a very negative reaction if you stop at a truly exciting part. So, I created a situation where the main character breaks the fourth wall, like in a metafictional story, and asks for money.
"Quick, take the money and rush to the scene!!"
"You need to stab your uncle!! Take it!"
"I was going to have a drink of takju later, but you take it!"
Money began to pile up in the bowl, one by one. Enough to eat a hearty hangover soup with thick broth and plenty of meat for a while.
"Heavens! For granting me these travel expenses, I shall rush to the scene immediately!"
Once a decent amount of money had gathered, I strode back up onto the stage.
I should use the soliciting technique at least three times per performance.
And so, I began the remaining part of the story.
"It was a moving story."
"I enjoyed listening!"
"So it's not just the Central Plains; such things happen in Joseon too!"
"It was a bit tragic, but it was splendid!!"
The story of Young Master Ha Mu-rin of Joseon was a great success. When the story ended, people clapped and made impressed expressions.
After all, even though Young Master Ha Mu-rin met a tragic death, he still got his revenge decisively before dying. Plus, my money bowl had grown heavy.
"Thank you. I will tell a Joseon story once every day at this time."
"I'll look forward to more Joseon stories!"
"A young man who brings tension to the relaxed Chilgok County!"
As the satisfied people began to leave their seats one by one, I also gathered my money bowl and came down from the stage.
All of this in the world is money I earned.
Just a short while ago, I was short a few coins, eating roots in the mountains.
The money in the bowl was all copper coins. But the weight was substantial, enough to be exchanged for silver coins.
No matter how well you use the soliciting technique, people won't spend silver coins just to hear one story.
It's not about receiving large sums, but receiving money from many people. That is the Art of Soliciting Money.
'I should ask Old Man Wang to exchange these for silver coins.'
This amount is too heavy to carry around.
And leaving it in the shack risks theft. Exchanging it for larger currency and carrying it on my person is the better method.
——————
After exchanging the money with Old Man Wang, I headed toward the shack.
On the way, I saw an old man I had never seen before sitting there. In front of the old man was a small stall, and behind him stood a flag with the character for 'divination' written on it.
If you're going to tell fortunes, you should go to the marketplace. Why are you telling fortunes near the shantytown?
"Hello. I haven't seen you in this neighborhood before."
The old man with an immortal-like beard glanced at me but gave no reaction.
This grandfather doesn't know how to do business. When greeted, you should respond with a greeting and even give a product description—that's business.
"You seem to be telling fortunes. Did you have much business today?"
I hit the jackpot today. Actually, I feel like bragging a little right now, but Old Man Wang was too busy to talk to.
"The fortune I cast said I would meet a very precious guest here today, but no guests have come. Perhaps you, young man, would like your fortune told?"
"I don't know much about fortune-telling. But I suppose I should at least be your first customer, grandfather."
The grandfather is subtly trying to do business. I'm unlikely to be a precious guest, but since he's making an effort and seems to have some sales spirit, I should be his first customer.
"There's a stool in front. Sit down. What would you like to know?"
"My first business went well today. I'd like to know if my life will continue to go smoothly."
After surviving on a single piece of flatbread for a month, it feels a bit luxurious to indulge in something like fortune-telling. But when such good things happen, it's only right to show a little kindness to someone.
"Very well. Then I shall read your fate. What is your birthdate and time of birth?"
"My birthdate is..."
Should I give the birthday of Kang Yun-ho, who would be born hundreds of years in the future? Or should I give the birthday of the wastrel Kang Yun-ho? Calculating the former into the sexagenary cycle to get a birthday is too complicated.
I just gave the birthday of the wastrel Kang Yun-ho.
"Hmm..."
The fortune-teller grandfather began fiddling with strange tools in front of him. Oh, this has atmosphere. Was he more serious than I thought?
"Strange."
Suddenly, the grandfather looked at me once, then went back to fiddling with his tools.
"Hmm."
The grandfather pressed his fingers to his forehead and made a troubled expression.
What's wrong? Calculating the fee? If you ask for too much, I'll just flip the table and run, grandfather.
"Young man."
The grandfather then looked at me with a grave face.
"Yes?"
What is it?
"Why is a dead person walking around in this world?"
What?