Chapter 15
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Black Moon (3)
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As the hulking Gwang-u stepped into view, the Seok Family retainers flinched in surprise, and even the Family Head's face betrayed a flicker of astonishment.
"This is my little brother. Pay your respects. This is the head of the Huanin Seok Family."
Gwang-u mumbled something under his breath before bowing awkwardly.
"Name's Gwang-u."
"I'm Seok Yang-ho. I haven't lived all that long, but you're the first young fellow like you I've ever seen."
At the Family Head's praise, Gwang-u's mouth stretched into a wide, goofy grin.
"Some folks... even said I look like a cute little bunny."
Aaaah.
My face flushed beet red in an instant.
But the Family Head and his retainers just stared back blankly, not getting the reference at all.
'Thank goodness. What a relief.'
Hahaha...
The Family Head let out a hearty chuckle as he gazed into the ox-like eyes of Gwang-u.
"You look just as cute as a bunny to these eyes of mine, young hero Gwang-u."
Hehehehe.
Gwang-u twisted his massive frame in delight, grinning ear to ear.
'Please stop, you idiot.'
I was dying to sock him one, but with the Family Head and retainers right there, I couldn't.
"The place is humble, but please come inside."
"Much obliged. You lot wait out here."
The retainers jumped in alarm, trailing after their head.
"No, Family Head!"
"Hey now. What danger could there be here that you all need to barge into the room? Don't be reckless—wait in the yard."
The Family Head left his retainers in the courtyard and followed me inside.
Now that I'd actually invited the Family Head into our home, I realized we had nothing proper to offer.
"My apologies. We don't even have tea leaves to serve you with."
Hahaha...
"After such a long trek, my throat's parched. Right now, I'd take a cup of cool water over hot tea any day."
I was deeply grateful for the Family Head's graciousness.
"Gwang-u. Fetch some cool water."
"Yes, bro."
As Gwang-u stepped out, the room held only me and the Family Head.
"What sort of work do you two usually do?"
"We're just illiterate mountain folk scraping by on hunting."
Huh...
"You don't look like mere hunters to me."
"We'd gather herbs and sell those too."
"...I see."
The Family Head studied my face for a moment before changing the subject.
"Has a gang calling themselves the Black Bear Gang shown up around here? Word is, the merchant couple who used to live in this house suffered quite a bit at their hands."
"Nothing like that so far."
He seemed like a decent fellow, the kind folks called a true gentleman, just as the rumors said. But I had no desire to get tangled up with murim world types.
"That's a relief. If those thugs ever show, send word to me at once."
"Your words alone are thanks enough."
The door creaked open, and Gwang-u came in, carefully setting a bowl of water before the Family Head.
"Thank you."
The Family Head drained the bowl in one go.
Whew.
"Refreshing as can be. The coolest water in the world."
"Glad you like it."
Hahaha...
"No, really—the coolest."
He flashed a pleased smile, then glanced fleetingly at Gwang-u standing behind me.
"You said you two used to hunt for a living, so mind if I ask a favor?"
A bad feeling crept over me.
I didn't want anything to do with murim folk, yet it felt like I was being dragged into their world bit by bit.
Still, I couldn't just refuse without hearing him out.
"What is it, Family Head?"
"Truth is, my father's birthday is in twenty days. I'm gathering fine medicinal ingredients for his health and longevity, and I'd love to brew him some tiger bone tonic. I'll pay handsomely, so could you catch one for me?"
Phew. What luck.
Tigers were unheard of around the village—not to mention wolves or foxes.
"Sorry. We'd love to, but no tigers live anywhere near the village."
But my hopes were dashed in a heartbeat.
Hahaha...
"No worries about the tiger. There's a village called Flower Valley Cave about fifty li from here. Word is, a tiger's been prowling there lately, mauling folks. The officials tried to hunt it but haven't succeeded, so they're tearing their hair out. If you two took it down, the villagers would rejoice, and my father would be thrilled."
'Damn it...'
Forcing a smile, I accepted the job.
"W-Well then, we'll give it a shot."
"Thank you. Truly."
"Until next time."
"Safe travels."
After exchanging farewells, the Seok Family Head led his retainers out the gate.
Gwang-u and I stood side by side, watching them go.
Once their figures faded from sight, Gwang-u spoke up.
"Bro, they seem like good folks."
"Yeah, yeah. First things first—you're getting a whack."
Gwang-u yelped and leaped back.
Too late—my fist was already flying toward his jaw.
Thwack! Gurk!
Gwang-u tumbled to the ground, waving his hands frantically.
"Bro! Stop! What'd I do?!"
I glared daggers at him, raising my fist again.
"You little punk. Didn't I tell you never to bring up the bunny thing? Did I? Or didn't I?"
Gwang-u hung his head, mumbling sheepishly.
"...You did."
"Then why drag it up again, you idiot?!"
Gwang-u, head still bowed, suddenly started sniffling.
"Bro... You've never once been told you look like an ox, have you? Me? I've heard it plenty. I know I'm built like one, face and all. But... I hate hearing it."
It stung a little, hearing that.
I'd never realized he was that self-conscious about his looks.
"What's wrong with being an ox? They're cute as hell."
"I... still hate it. Maybe you think it's cute, but not everyone does."
Sigh...
"Ah... you punk..."
I let out heavy sighs, then started soothing him.
"Fine, but bunny's too much. Call yourself a tiger instead. Or a dog if you hate that..."
The ox's teary eyes looked up at me.
"Bro... You like being called dog-faced?"
"It's just a figure of speech! Come on, anything but bunny. Got it?"
Gwang-u didn't answer, dropping his head again.
I clutched my head in agony.
"Arghhh! ...I'm going nuts!"
"Family Head, weren't you a bit too generous with those two? They just struck me as big, dumb hillbillies."
One of the retainers trailing behind murmured softly.
A faint anger flickered across Seok Yang-ho's face.
"Do you judge people by appearances alone? Even if those youths lack formal learning, you shouldn't speak so lightly of them. And if learned men harbor evil hearts, how much blood and suffering would the world see?"
"My apologies, Family Head. I spoke too hastily."
As the retainer admitted his fault, Seok Yang-ho's ire subsided.
"Be more careful in how you regard others from now on."
Another retainer spoke up.
"I took a quick look around their home, but no books or writing tools in sight."
"I know. But you can't judge those youths by that alone. Did you observe the young man named Go? He's no shallow learner, that one."
The retainers realized their head was quite taken with the pair.
Seok Yang-ho continued.
"It's a pity they grew up hunting in the mountains. If they'd caught my eye sooner, I'd have taken them as disciples..."
"They didn't seem worth that much attention. Impressive builds, sure, but..."
"Not an ounce of flab on them. One might expect that from mountain life, but even scouring the world, such youths are rare."
The retainers could only tilt their heads.
What exactly had the Family Head seen to rate them so highly?
Sure, their size was impressive, but murim wasn't a place where brawn alone solved everything.
And from what they'd observed, the big one didn't seem all that sharp.
Yet their head's high praise sparked a twinge of envy.
"Stay vigilant—the Si Family might strike anytime."
"Yes, Family Head."
Under cover of midnight, black shadows slipped into the village and headed for the now-deserted marketplace.
They ducked into a narrow alley and opened a door, where a young man greeted them.
"Welcome."
The young man had prepared a meal, setting it before the five men.
The five ate in silence.
"Tell us only confirmed facts about the Seok Family's current situation."
Once finished, the eldest-looking among them spoke in a hushed whisper.
The young man tensed and spilled everything he knew about the Seok Family.
"Security tightened after the life-or-death duel with the Life-Escaping Sword. Retainers patrol day and night without a gap. Even when the Family Head goes out, they're always at his side. But as elite assassins, you'll slip in no matter how tight their guard."
The older man replied.
"I'm the only elite-grade; the rest are first-grade. But we'll manage the hit."
The young man panicked.
"No, it might've worked before, but not now."
"What do you mean?"
"The former Family Head's birthday is soon, so allies from friendly clans and sects are already arriving to stay."
"Damn..."
The assassins froze, none speaking first.
But the veteran elite quickly composed himself.
"When's the former head's birthday?"
"Five days from now, from what I hear. They're making it grander than usual. The Family Head even asked village hunters to procure a tiger for it."
"A tiger?"
A glint flashed in the stoic assassin's eyes.
"Yes. Planning to brew the bones into tonic for the former head. And serve the meat to guests, rumor has it."
"Perfect opportunity."
"Pardon?"
The assassin shook his head at the young man's confusion.
"No. Keep an eye on the village hunters—whoever bags the tiger, report back the moment you hear. Got it?"
"Understood."
A massive tiger strode down the road alongside a sturdy young man.
Onlookers occasionally startled at the beast and stumbled back.
A closer look revealed the truth: it wasn't the tiger walking the road, but the colossal young man carrying it on his back.