Chapter 58
Translator: uly
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The Assassin Star of Chilgok County
The next day.
I went out alone early in the morning to move inns and started looking around at other places.
"This place is no good."
"How much for a double room here per day?"
"What? That expensive?"
Even after checking several inns, there weren't as many places I liked as I'd hoped.
If I were staying alone, I would have looked for the cheapest place, but to avoid incidents like this last one, I needed to find a suitable spot.
"Our inn has excellent soundproofing."
In the end, after pounding the pavement, I found an inn that felt like a good-value business hotel.
"Is your companion male or female?"
After briefly checking the facilities and about to pay, the innkeeper asked.
"Female."
"Then is a room with two beds really necessary? If you need a place with good soundproofing, it seems you're at that age... I'll get you a room with a large bed that has even better soundproofing. The price will be a bit higher, though."
It does seem odd to get a two-bed room when a man and woman will be sleeping together.
"She's not my lover, she's my wife."
I said to the innkeeper with the face of a pitiful, henpecked husband who dreads every night.
"Ah, so that's it... But you still seem young."
The innkeeper showed a momentary look of understanding but, as a businessman, didn't completely give up.
Times like this call for words that make sense in one go.
"My wife is a martial artist. I haven't learned any martial arts."
"I'll get you the room with the best soundproofing and the largest bed, the one farthest in."
"Thank you."
"Hang in there."
The innkeeper patted my shoulder with a sympathetic look and offered encouragement.
After moving inns, the same problem didn't occur.
It's just that, every evening after dinner when I went up to the room with her, the innkeeper would often watch us with a pitying gaze.
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"Are you the black-haired storyteller performing in the marketplace lately?"
After the performance ended and I stepped down from the stage to wait for So-hee, a group of martial artists wearing wide-brimmed hats approached me.
"Yes. That's me. Where are you all from?"
Whenever these sword-carrying guys swarm like this, only bad things happen.
"We're from the Changgeom Sect."
A middle-aged martial artist who looked to be in his forties spoke to me.
"The Changgeom Sect? Aren't you the heroes of Chilgok County? What business do such esteemed people have with me?"
Only one thing comes to mind.
Did that bastard Yoon the Petty Snitch report us?
I asked with a clueless expression while my eyes urgently searched for Cheon Sa-seong.
"Where's the woman who's said to be with you?"
The middle-aged martial artist ignored my question and scanned the surroundings. The other martial artists began actively looking around.
Did they come as a group because they heard she was a martial arts master? They must think they can handle her.
What's the best course of action?
The situation changes depending on what the Changgeom Sect martial artists plan to do with us. Depending on the situation, blades could be drawn.
What will Cheon Sa-seong do? No matter how strong she is, at this level, it would be better to hide and ambush them.
Then what about me? Can I break through the Changgeom Sect's encirclement and escape alone?
"Me. I'm here."
Unexpectedly, she appeared before the martial artists without resistance.
The martial artists, tense at her sudden appearance without any presence, began to surround her, hands on their waists.
Cheon Sa-seong paid no attention to whatever they did and strode confidently up to me.
"Yun-ho. Stay behind me."
She stood between me and the martial artists and reached for her sword hilt.
"Where does this wench think she's putting her hand on a sword!"
"Should we draw first?"
When So-hee moved her hand to her sword hilt, the Changgeom Sect martial artists hurriedly tried to draw their own blades.
"Draw. And you all die."
Cheon Sa-seong's voice was low, but its tone was like pouring cold water over the overheated atmosphere.
"Wha, what is this?"
For a moment, all the Changgeom Sect disciples faltered and stepped back at her presence.
Seizing the moment, she quickly spread her hands and hid me behind her back.
It's like a tiger among a pack of wolves. The wolf pack is scary, but the tiger protecting me doesn't seem like it will lose at all.
"Does this wench really think she can take on the Changgeom Sect?"
"The girl's got some nerve!"
"Brothers! We don't have time, let's subdue her and take her away!"
Were they unable to sense the difference in level? The Changgeom Sect disciples began to bare their fangs at Cheon Sa-seong.
"Enough!"
The middle-aged martial artist raised his hand to stop the others.
So he's not thinking of drawing his sword immediately? Then it's worth talking.
"Come out here for a sec."
I grabbed the tiger sister's shoulder and spoke in Joseon language.
"Dangerous. Step back."
"They're the ones in danger. What do I have to worry about with you here? Just give me a moment to talk."
She shot me a look that said she couldn't allow it, but my resolve was firmer.
Hey. I'm scared of them swinging their swords too, but if you swing your sword, there's no guarantee my neck won't accidentally come along for the ride.
Swords can come later. Let's try to resolve this with words first.
"Just for a moment."
Unable to withstand my gaze, she finally stepped aside.
"May I know the reason why you are trying to persecute us?"
I spoke with a confident attitude to the middle-aged martial artist who seemed to be the leader.
It's possible they gathered to seek revenge for Yoon the Petty Snitch.
If Yoon the Petty Snitch told them about her level, they wouldn't be acting this arrogantly but would be as tense as possible.
Perhaps they didn't come for the reason I'm thinking.
"We received a report."
The middle-aged martial artist looked at me and spoke.
"A report?"
"A report that the escort the black-haired storyteller travels with is the assassin who killed the head of the Gapsoo Merchant Group."
The words brought up by the Changgeom Sect martial artist were an unexpected story.
So it wasn't because of Yoon the Petty Snitch.
It's different from my prediction, but this reason is more dangerous. They might really draw their swords to subdue Cheon Sa-seong.
I really want to avoid a situation where Cheon Sa-seong kills someone.
She also hasn't drawn her sword due to my usual earnest pleas, but if they draw theirs, she'll eventually draw too.
"An assassin? Where did you hear such a strange story?"
"There's someone who heard the name the black-haired storyteller calls his escort. They said it was Okbun, right? Isn't Okbun the name of the assassin who killed the head of the Gapsoo Merchant Group?"
What? I thought you brought some incredible evidence.
I thought it was shocking news on the level of telling a martial artist that the Heavenly Demon's true nature is neither male nor female but a TS Heavenly Demon. What a disappointment.
"Haha. If that's why you came, then there must be a misunderstanding."
"Huh? A misunderstanding, you say."
"The name Okbun is a common name in Joseon, so you seem to have misunderstood because of that. Martial artists from the Gapsoo Merchant Group, like you gentlemen from the Changgeom Sect, also came to us after receiving a report and then left."
"Black hair, red eyes. And the name is Okbun, and you call it a misunderstanding?"
The middle-aged martial artist asked me, suspicion still not dispelled.
"Yes. If you're still suspicious, just send one person to the Gapsoo Merchant Group to confirm, and you'll know immediately."
I told them with a confident attitude and a smiling face.
"Huh. Really now."
At my confident attitude, the middle-aged martial artist's expression, which had been full of suspicion, softened.
"Common sense dictates, why would an assassin remain in Chilgok County? And so brazenly using the name Okbun, no less."
"Tha, that is true."
"We'll be sitting on the stage, so once you've finished confirming, we'll be on our way as well."
"Alright then. I'll send someone to confirm."
It didn't take much time itself.
"Sorry for the misunderstanding. Go on your way."
Unlike that bastard Yoon the Petty Snitch, the middle-aged martial artist politely bowed his head, then led his men away and disappeared.
He even apologized.
It's only natural, but it feels like finding a two-eyed person in a one-eyed world.
So not all orthodox sects are like Yoon the Petty Snitch?
Come to think of it, Yoon the Petty Snitch also seemed to keep his promise, albeit for his own survival. The Changgeom Sect disciples didn't seem to know about that incident.
"So-hee. Let's go."
Unlike me, who relaxed a little after hearing the reason the Changgeom Sect martial artists came looking for us, she remained on guard until the end to prevent them from approaching me.
"Okay."
Only when the Changgeom Sect martial artists were out of sight did Cheon So-hee finally remove her hand from her sword hilt.
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On the way to the inn.
Cheon Sa-seong seemed unable to shake off the earlier situation, her mood appearing heavier than usual.
"I can't tell you how reassured I was thanks to you just now, So-hee. Why are there so many people picking fights?"
Times like this call for praise. They say praise makes even a whale dance the tap dance on a hot plate.
"Reassured?"
"Of course. When I was wandering the Central Plains alone, you know. There were so many people picking fights left and right. Not long ago, I was beaten half to death by some guys from the Cheongsa Sect or something and had my money stolen too. But now I have you, So-hee, so that doesn't happen anymore."
Since Cheon So-hee started working as my escort, the only people who came with swords were Yoon the Petty Snitch and the Changgeom Sect, but there were other various provocations too.
Every time, So-hee stepped forward and subdued them effortlessly in one move, allowing the performances to proceed successfully.
"Right."
Perhaps she felt better from my praise. The tension in her eyes softened considerably.
"By the way, So-hee. I have a proposal."
In this good atmosphere, it was time to bring up what I originally intended.
"What is it."
"About that name, Okbun. Can't we change it?"
That name, the root of all evil. It's about time we changed it.
At first, when my life was on the line, I couldn't even suggest changing the alias, but today's incident made it worth bringing up.
"Why?"
"That name. You used it when you joined the acrobatic troupe, right? We've already had two incidents because of that name, so if it's an alias, it seems like we could change it."
"No."
Why not?
It's a name that constantly invites trouble. There's no reason to be so attached to an alias.
Is it because she can subdue everyone with force, so she doesn't care about provocations? But you should consider my thoughts a bit too.
If this were the first time, I would have cowered and yielded my opinion, but for my own safety, I need to voice my opinion more actively.
"The name Okbun is such a rustic name, isn't it? I think it's absolutely not a name that suits you, So-hee, even if it's an alias."
"The name is rustic?"
"Yeah. Who uses a name like that these days? Instead of that tacky, country-bumpkin name, how about changing it to something else? Like Ji-soo or Na-yeon."
Given the ninja outfit, a Japanese name might be okay too, but still, a homegrown name is better.
"The name Okbun."
Her voice, which had just relaxed, suddenly grew heavy.
Did I push too hard?
"Huh?"
"It's my mother's name."
"......"
Ah.
My brain froze for a moment.
A faint but definite anger was etched on her face as she looked at me.
"So, So-hee. I always call her So-hee's mother... I didn't know your mother's full name..."
In a panicked state, I desperately searched for an excuse and spoke, but she sharply turned her head away.
"I'm going ahead."
With those words, she disappeared from my sight.
"So-hee!"
I messed up.
-----
I thought about rushing straight to the inn but stopped.
It's not that my excuse was unbelievable. But insulting her mother's name as "rustic"... her mood wouldn't lighten easily.
Even if I returned to the room now, it would be as awkward as a forced reconciliation scene between a baseball player who intentionally threw a dead ball and the batter who threw the first punch at that player.
She needed some time to let her emotions settle a bit.
'Maybe I'll visit the shanty for the first time in a while.'
Suddenly, I remembered the writing tools I left in the shanty.
They were very low-quality tools, and my situation wasn't such that I had the leisure to go get them, but maybe I'll go fetch them now, taking this opportunity.
'I'll have to write novels again someday.'
It's not the right situation yet, but someday I'll have to write books again.
I dug a hole in a corner and buried them so even if a thief came, they couldn't steal them, so if I go to the shanty, I should be able to retrieve them.
'It's been a while since I last saw those Cheongsa Sect bastards too.'
It's been quite some time since the Cheongsa Sect bastards disappeared from Chilgok County.
They're not sword-wielding martial artists, just a few thugs, so I'm confident I can knock them out even without So-hee. Going alone shouldn't be a big problem.
I took a moment and headed towards the shanty.
"Hey! Look who it is! Isn't this our money pouch! Just came back to Chilgok County and we run into you! Long time no see!"
Ah, fuck this.