Murim's Vendetta #1: Back to My Hometown! "But I'm Not Happy At All."
"But I'm not thrilled at all."
The reason I'm not thrilled is simple. This isn't my real hometown to begin with, and I've gotten pretty damn exhausted getting here.
I hitched a ride with an escort caravan on their way here and worked as a temporary guard. Because of that, I was stuck pulling night watch rotations non-stop and thought I was gonna die of sleep deprivation. Man, I missed Serin so much during those nights. At least there were no fights, thank goodness.
"We're here, so contract's over. Pay up."
"Here you go."
I got my pay from the caravan leader and split from the group. First things first: grab a room, unpack, do some shopping. Then go find Jae Mi-son.
I headed straight to the inn I'd stayed at before.
"I'd like a room starting now. How much?"
"40 coins, young master!"
It's still early, so 40 coins makes sense. I've got a fat wallet now in all sorts of ways, but stepping into the inn made it feel like I'd finally returned to reality. 40 coins is big money. Damn right.
"Oh, and bring me some dumplings and a bowl of noodles."
"Right away! That's 30 coins!"
I paid the errand boy and headed up to my room to unpack.
"Whew."
My stuff's piled up. The downside of being a wandering ronin is I have to carry everything with me. Leaving it at an inn for a day is fine, but I can't leave it long-term. Folks with homes can just stash it there, but not me. This vagrant life is tough.
I need to think about how to handle luggage going forward.
"Food's here!"
The errand boy arrived soon after.
"Hm."
Steaming dumplings. I slowly picked one up with my chopsticks and ate it... Honestly, it's kinda meh. The dumplings from the Namgung Family were the real deal. Now everything I eat gets compared to their food? This is a curse...!
A truly pathetic curse!
Still, I wolfed it down until I was full, then crashed. Night watch has me wiped out.
"Ah."
Damn it. After staying at the Namgung estate, this inn feels like a huge step down. I'm already feeling deflated. It's like getting leave from the army after forever, only for some magic to turn your house into the barracks, making it feel like you're just reporting back to base. I wanna sleep in a bed...! And their blankets were so fluffy!
"Ugh!"
I miss Serin! But Song-ssi would push on steadfastly through crap like this. I have to do the same. I don't wanna see him disappointed.
I steeled myself like that and took a nap.
After a quick nap, I headed to the market district. Got money now, time to buy that thing I've been eyeing.
"Young master! What brings you here?"
"Looking for shoes."
Today's purchase: shoes. Last time I bought the Yopi Wan-gap here. Honestly, top satisfaction, and I've used them thriftily to bust through a few crises. Quality's unquestionable.
"Shoes? This way, young master!"
Young master, huh? Well, yeah. My current look is sharp as hell. Got a shave and haircut at the Namgung place. Plus neat clothes, fine sword at my side—bound to get called young master.
"Right here!"
"Lemme browse a bit."
"Yes, sir!"
I said I'd look around, but my eyes locked on one spot. Gaksa Janghwa. Heard last time it's made from the hide of a Pi Gaksa yokai. Five silvers, and I've wanted it since I first saw it. Look at those croc-leather boot vibes. How do you resist?
"That one?"
"Young master, great eye! That's Gaksa Janghwa! Made from Pi Gaksa yokai hide—super waterproof, tough as nails. Step on sharp rocks, no problem! High-quality for rough use!"
"Can I try 'em on?"
"Of course!"
I slipped on the Gaksa Janghwa.
"Oho."
Tough. Grips the foot perfectly. Kinda like combat boots? Walked a bit—fits like a glove. A bit heavy, but if performance delivers, who cares.
"I like 'em. Price?"
"Five silvers, young master!"
"Five silvers, huh."
"Worth every bit for the quality. Heh."
Fuck. Tried to haggle, but "young master" makes my mouth freeze. You sneaky bastard...! Now that I'm fed and fancy, you jack prices! Worried about my face?
"..."
Haggle, damn it!
"Five silvers! Pleasure doing business, young master! Come again!"
"...Yeah."
Ended up paying full price. Last time I haggled fine, but one nice outfit and "young master" later, this? Driving me nuts. But my shoulders won't stop puffing up. Feels good anyway, the bastard.
"Heh heh heh."
Shoes are great, though. Totally satisfied. These'll help big in fights. Bet yokai'll be begging for mercy with cracked ribs, hands and feet grinding apologies.
Anyway. After dropping five silvers on shoes, wanna upgrade the armguards too. Maybe leg guards for thighs, torso guards, shoulder pauldrons. But budget's toast. Gotta pinch pennies and hit the Dahoebang now.
First, find Jae Mi-son.
"Errand boy!"
Went to the inn where Jae Mi-son stays and called out.
"You got a warrior named Jae Mi-son here? Guy with a weird spear-like weapon."
"Well..."
"I'm his friend."
Slipped the boy two small coins.
"Ah! Heard he went out on a job last time! Hasn't come back yet, young master!"
"I see."
Missed him again. Whatever. No plans today. Might show tonight, so kill time here.
"Errand boy. Noodles, one bowl."
"Yes, sir!"
"Oh, and. Got a question."
Handed over another coin.
"Ask away!"
"Heard some labyrinth popped up last time... What's the story?"
Good to check rumors. Lots of ronin died—how'd it shake out?
"Oh, that! Namgung Family warriors handled it! But get this: a Madu Nachal came out of it!"
"What?!"
"Heard tons of ronin who went in died. But Namgung compensated the families—truly worthy of the Namgung name."
"Wait. What happened to the Madu Nachal?"
"Don't freak, young master! Word is, the Murim beauty Okhwa Geom from Namgung was struggling when some ronin jumped in and took it down!"
"Gasp!"
That's my story! Details leaked this much?
"A ronin really did that?"
"Swear! Surviving ronin call him Na-chal-sal—Fierce Rakshasa Slayer. Fits if a ronin bagged a Madu Nachal!"
Crazy...! People calling me Rakshasa Slayer?
"Fucking badass!"
"Pardon?"
"Nah, good story. Fascinating."
Got a badass nickname...! Gotta do something memorable in Murim to get famous. Na-chal-sal. Rakshasa Slayer... Sounds dope just saying it.
Gotta brag to Jae Mi-son ASAP.
"Song-ssi...!"
This brings me one step closer to that guy named Song-ssi. He'll smile hearing Rakshasa Slayer. He'll acknowledge me.
"Oh, errand boy! A bottle of liquor too!"
"Yes, sir!"
Feeling good, I ordered booze to celebrate. What day is it? The day I got my first nickname, bro! How do you forget anniversaries, bro? I'm celebrating now, you punk!
"Kuhahahaha!"
The booze tastes sweet!
"So... why do you wanna join our Amto Bang?"
"To avenge my friend!"
O Su-man joined the black path gang to avenge his friend Chang-sam. Life in the Amto Bang was brutal. Constant bullying from the bosses, income shit compared to working solo with Chang-sam—most went to tribute.
That's why he'd stuck to robberies with just Chang-sam. But for revenge, he could endure the humiliation.
'I'll kill him for sure...!'
That pale bastard. O Su-man and Chang-sam had ambushed him before. Thought they'd rough up the guy who'd gone Murim after laboring at Dahoebang, maybe make him a slave. But the psycho flipped out, howling, and brutally murdered his friend Chang-sam.
Lost his buddy, O Su-man wandered. Couldn't rob alone anymore, scraping by. That grudge blackened his heart.
He'd avenge him, no matter what.
'Kim Geun-hyeop...!'
The target's name: Kim Geun-hyeop. He'd dug up intel working black path gigs. Trained at Baekgeom Martial Hall, hunting yokai for cash with those skills. Living carefree after slaughtering his friend Chang-sam. That fueled O Su-man's hate.
'I'll kill him, kill him for sure! Kim Geun-hyeop!'
With Amto Bang's power, butchering him would be easy. O Su-man gathered more intel on Kim Geun-hyeop. Lately no news—maybe dead?—but then a sighting: tall guy with white skin. Instinct said it was him.