Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: 18. The Golden Age of the Bad Guys (1)
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I excused myself, saying I needed to use the outhouse to clear my head.
Yeah. Now it was time for the rewards.
Who the hell was Yi Hyeol?
I nearly grabbed the first person I saw and asked if they knew a guy named Yi Hyeol.
Luckily, being in the outhouse meant no one was around, which jogged my memory that Yi Hyeol was actually King Seongjong's personal name.
I'm not ignorant. A king's personal name is like Voldemort—taboo.
It's scrubbed from every book, no one utters it, so how's anyone supposed to remember? Plus, Seongjong ruled ages ago.
They call Han Seokbong by his nickname, so why use this guy's real name? It's like they're screwing with me on purpose.
Calm down. Experience tells me raging at the system just makes me look stupid. Better to hit the kiosk or therapy instead.
But affinity? Did Seongjong really have that kind of social charisma?
All I knew was his insane patience enduring every humiliation, confinement, and torment from his ministers. His son avenged him, though.
Thinking it'd turn me into a Hong Daeyong or Park Jiwon type felt off.
I didn't even want that. And I'm not that socially inept anyway.
Puzzled, I checked the next reward.
When I cleared the first essential objective, it gave me both an active and a passive skill. A totally useless one... no, wait, Vitality Enhancement turned out useful after all.
This time, though, no passive—instead, something different.
An item? First time for everything.
Not Hua Tuo's medicine or Heo Jun's acupuncture—Janggak's Amulet? Super suspicious.
Just to check, I tapped the Status Window like I would for more details.
It felt just like dragging an icon with a mouse, that toggle sensation every PC user knows.
I gingerly pulled.
It worked. A real talisman materialized.
I hastily shoved it back into the Status Window. It tucked away nicely, which blew my mind even more.
One-time use. Gotta save it for something big.
Not on Yeongjo. Cancer, AIDS, zombie virus—zero sympathy. If I waste it on him, better sell it at the gacha shop. Wonder if it sells?
Next best investment... Could it cure Crown Prince Sado's future madness?
That'd let him inherit normally, smoothing my Chief State Councillor path.
Ah, 'physical' diseases only.
Think on it later.
I don't get sick, but Se-hwa or family might.
Last reward?
Experience said there should be an extra, like after topping the literary exam.
I didn't just get the Songdeokbi—I pulled off an unprecedented double, a one-hit double Songdeokbi.
(Shockingly) The Status Window delivered.
I almost yelled in the outhouse but clamped my mouth shut.
Perfect. Gacha cheat key.
Complete the bonus objective no matter what next time.
Everything but Yi Hyeol's Affinity checked out great.
No more time—lingering risked awkward health questions from the boss. I slipped out quick.
It took a few more days to liquidate our assets and head to Seoul with the in-laws too.
Even rushing, that's how long. Pickling season had hit, snow flurrying even down south.
But splashing cash made the trip comfy.
Riding, I pondered.
Skills and such were piling up—time to sort.
Active skills I must practice: [Han Seokbong's Calligraphy], [Lee Seonggye's Archery], and new [Yi Hyeol's Affinity].
Gacha special: [Shin Sukju's Chastity]. Great, but rare use.
Total abstinence soon. I don't love booze, but sober in Joseon? Tough.
Passives [Language Synchronization], [Disease Immunity], [Vitality Enhancement] are set-it-forget-it. Pure support, no quest ties.
Bonus for Status interactions: 'Foresight' to see hidden bonuses, 'Groping in the Dark' for gacha previews. Tied to overachieving essentials.
New: 'Item'. Limited like a one-shot skill.
I looked up, exhaled long.
White breath puffed out.
My arsenal: youth, passion, scholarship, morals. That's it.
Family not powerhouse yet, wealth not mega-rich.
Time to build it.
Like the 21st century, close in-law quarters felt awkward here too.
Father-in-law Hong Eok and brother-in-law Hong Daeyong just greeted Dad then headed to Hong Ryeok's (rented) Seoul place for official duties.
Se-hwa, tense-free as ever, greeted her in-laws after over a year and secured a room. Parents praised her etiquette as befitting a noble daughter.
In Joseon thinking, marriage mattered less than kids 'serving' parents properly.
Mom dabbed tears with her sleeve.
"With the kids excelling in office and married off, I've done my duty in life. No regrets if I die now."
"Tsk. Don't talk like that already. You gotta enjoy grandkids first."
"Then I'll hold out till your eldest passes the exam too."
"Fair. By then, grandkid'll be grown and marrying."
"Sons built the house—noble matchmakers everywhere. Gotta stay sharp so senility doesn't screw it up."
"Great-grands? Adorable. Unhaeng, your son's 'ri' generation, grandson 'sun'. Pick good names before brothers snag 'em. Nah, you're busy—I'll ponder and name 'em."
Parents under 50 plotting immortality. They'll outlive me?
And why's my brother stuck with such modest hopes?
Suppressing troll urge, I bowed and withdrew.
No empathy, but I got it logically.
They felt fulfillment from a life well-lived and emptiness from retiring. Hence the chatter.
Dad's submitting resignation soon too, apparently.
Not shame over lower rank than son—more sparing my career the unfilial stain.
Dad hates quitting. Not his style.
He loved the work, not power (unlike me). Wrote org charts and histories for fun.
Sneered at fake scholars chasing empty fame, stayed true. Him retiring hit sentimental.
Era of me carrying the family.
What're you doing as eldest, bro? Work.
I entered our remodeled room, originally the gatehouse annex.
Expected, but rushed job meant outermost spot. Time to split households.
"Dragging you to strange place—must be tough. Tell me everything, no hiding."
Se-hwa looked baffled.
"House affairs are for wives. Now ascending to great duties, you must shut every door like Lord Mabok of Horse Garments—focus solely on state matters. I just obey in-laws and sister-in-law. What's hard?"
My face must've been gold. Se-hwa covered a laugh.
Then,
"But thanks for saying it. And for Father and brother. I'll devote filial piety and plan ahead for you."
I laughed too. Learned: laugh when unsure of expression.
Se-hwa's advice noted.
But sorry—state affairs bore me. Positions excite.
I stalled days till Dad's resignation processed, claiming unfit for higher than father.
Next day, private business first.
Like Zhao She ignoring home for duty.
His son Zhao Kuo skipped war prep for real estate, lost big—mom warned against it.
Won Gyun, post-note: ditched Yi Sun-sin for family hires, outdid Kuo in praise.
My task: retainer welfare.
Jangbok's thrilled just back in Seoul—no extras needed. Eoji's turn.
When I left, Eoji's wife, shaman Yeon from Mt. Chuiam, liquidated and followed to Seoul. Must love him tons.
Mokcheon locals panicked sans spiritual pillar. Real cart-block threat.
Lowly or not, law's law—but commoners ignore it. Nobles too if status gap big; guys follow wives.
Everyone knew Eoji's dim, blamed my pressure on Yeon. Infuriating.
Pre-Songdeokbi backlash, I acted fast.
Yeon had ties like modern Mt. Gyeryong shaman guild.
Fierce competition there. Secretly recruited a struggling one for Chuiam handover.
Yeon no ongoing need, but Eoji stays lifelong retainer.
Last service: Our Jang-dong near modern Seochon, Inwangsan nearby.
Historic peak, Taoist shrines, hermitages, shaman huts despite bans.
As official, can't ignore illegals.
Picked a lone Taoist shrine, no backup. Took Eoji.
Like Yeon, I challenged rap battle. My beat 'Neo-Confucianism' crushed the heretic. Fan gifted.
Yeon bowed at new shrine/home.
"I'll engrave this grace. East dragon energy, Inwangsan tigers kneel to mighty mountain god—I'll thrive in the shade."
Whatever. If you say so.
I showed tolerant policy.
"Struggles in strange land? Tell me. Eoji's family—you're daughter-in-law too."
Lifelong employment sealed.
Agreed monthly cloth/rice rent (my gifted house). Happy return.
Her level? Seoul money-maker.
I'll send clients. Nobles pretend not, but believe fortunes plenty.
Next: land-poor genius partner Yi Jae-un from Mokcheon/Jiksan.
Seoul-frequent, easy biz planning.
Kneeling, he briefed.
"Capital guilds own every inch—outsiders struggle. Naive provincials open stalls, get wrecked, rot in Cheonggyecheon gutters. Can't count 'em yearly."
Yeah. Seoul native, I knew.
Joseon: minimalist gov, privatization unmatched even modern.
Barbarian level, Thatcher/Hayek can't touch.
Peace now, but war privatizes army—righteous armies.
Hanyang shows it.
Gov outsourced policing to Butchers' Guild/sigeon merchants.
'Policing' Joseon-style: beat, rob merciful; murder common. Textbook 'right to beat merchants'.
Noryangjin cup-rice thugs? Saints.
Offices profit via 'efficiency'.
Agencies self-fund, independent econ/military. One word: yakuza.
Most scramble budgets. Seoul too.
High Six Ministries/Three Offices exempt, but Saongwon (feasts), Aekjeongseo (palace goods), Uyeonggo (food storage)—daily budget wars.
Not weaving/farming, so extort.
Clerks mob toll roads/rivers for goods (slaves/gisaengs too). Daily brawls spectacle.
Sigeon territories divvied by offices.
Offices aid busts/cover murders for protection money.
Sigeon cling to beat-rights to pay up.
Forget king rules? Nah, they remember.
He's top Gang of Seoul.
Moral nation. Honest officials busted thugs.
Victim: Aekjeongseo clerk (aekrye). Night-pass kings lately, rowdiest.
Palace goods dept—cut slack? Over line, nabbed.
Yeongjo punished the honest official.
'Touched king's men without report.' I.e., 'Don't touch our boys!'
Whip errand boys? Means don't.
Aekrye bolder daily. Aekjeongseo magically budgets sans spend—king pleased.
Not alone.
Longer in Joseon, more I suspect Yeongjo killed his bro.
From censorate, kept killers/thugs as 'guards'.
Unrest excuse flimsy.
Once throne secured body?
Rebellion. King hits, you block?
No self-defense vs monarch. Resist? Traitor.
Yeongjo'd claim Noron foes. But I see ulterior.
Dumped post-throne? King heads crab-gang, why not Unhaeng-gang?
Top Three Bonds: king over subject.
King models for ministers.
Vital for Chief Councillor over pointless Hongmungwan.
One: private army for Seoul's top thugs. Eoji alone risky.
Two: if framed traitor, last resort needed.
Like old Yeongjo.
Rebel if needed. Unlike yangban calmly awaiting wiki verdict 300yrs hence.
Two: money.
Bribe list thicker than Three Histories. Climbing adds more.
Joseon moneymaking beats farming: crime. Commerce? Crime here.
Yi Jae-un got it.
"So start Songpa Ferry over capital. South/East goods converge—busier than sigeon. Should've prepped inside too."
"Nah, maybe better. Liu Bang lost capital, thrived in Hanzhong fringes."
Established merchants clingy; Yi Jae-un flexible geographic edge better. He grinned, got it.
"Serving Lord Kim was right. Knew you weren't ordinary at first sight."
"Flatterer. Plenty half-deals sans me. I'm small fry."
"Till yesterday."
Yi Jae-un bold.
"Not from today."