Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Episode 10 - Private Audience, Resolve (1)
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Dang Hwa-seo was walking down the Murim Alliance's corridor.
Her face was covered in exhaustion.
‘There’s no end to this work.’
The workload was enough to make her head throb.
From basic reports on missions and budget expenditures to explanations for unexpected actions and checks from other unit leaders.
‘They’re dying to devour me whole.’
Dang Hwa-seo clicked her tongue.
It was all because of the True Origin Unit Leader, Gyeon Dong—a man who still made her blood boil no matter how many times she thought about it.
-If you're going to act so recklessly, why not just leave the Alliance? This is a collective. Don't you know you can't just follow your personal whims?
Despite being around the same age, he had lectured her in that nagging, old-man tone, which grated on her nerves.
The goatee he grew, presumably to look stylish, only made him seem like a timid pushover because of it.
Dang Hwa-seo ground her teeth.
‘A martial artist obsessed only with politics.’
True Origin Unit Leader Gyeon Dong was an oddity who, despite his position, had only reached the first-rate realm.
He was such a weakling that people even said he’d lose to his deputy in a spar.
The reason he held the leader position wasn’t anything special.
Connections and politicking.
His tongue had reached the Transcendent Realm, allowing him to claw his way to unit leader and eye the division leader spot next.
Dang Hwa-seo hated that.
She hated having to listen to such a man’s complaints.
Fortunately, White Sword Unit Leader Gwon Pyo-wol had taken her side, helping her escape the crisis, but the rising irritation was unavoidable.
Thud. Thud.
Her irritated footsteps grew heavier.
The martial artists she passed in the corridor gasped at her furious expression.
Dang Hwa-seo flinched at that.
It wasn’t for any other reason.
During the recent mission, rumors had twisted her acting into “Poison Phoenix is actually a venomous snake who kills with her tongue.”
‘…Damn rumors.’
Dang Hwa-seo composed her expression.
Her angry face was fierce enough to startle even Mok Ri-won, so she needed to manage it.
It was then.
“Ah, Dragon-Phoenix Squad Leader!”
Golden Sword Gwon Pyo-wol spotted her coming from the opposite direction and greeted her.
“Ah, Golden Sword Hero.”
“Heading back now?”
“Yes, I need to look after the squad members soon.”
“Look after them….”
Gwon Pyo-wol smiled awkwardly.
He understood what she meant.
As the man with the closest ties to the Dragon-Phoenix Squad in the Murim Alliance, he knew the general situation.
“You’ve had it rough.”
Yesterday, Mok Ri-won and Namgung Jincheon had broken equipment while practicing joint techniques.
All the reports he heard were about things breaking or someone causing trouble, so Gwon Pyo-wol couldn’t help but feel deep sympathy for Dang Hwa-seo.
“…It’s what I have to do.”
Dang Hwa-seo smiled as if enlightened.
Gwon Pyo-wol smiled along, then let out an “Ah.”
“But did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
“The Alliance Leader might have a private audience with the Dark Dragon.”
Dang Hwa-seo’s fingertips trembled.
Surprise appeared on her face.
“With the Alliance Leader?”
That was her immediate response.
“Has Young Hero Mok caused trouble again? Already? Without me knowing? No, wait. If the Alliance Leader is summoning him…!”
Dang Hwa-seo’s face turned pale.
It was the expression of someone staring into the abyss.
Gwon Pyo-wol burst out laughing with a “Pfft!” and shook his head.
“No, no. It’s not about any trouble. I heard it’s because he’s personally very interested.”
“Ah…!”
Dang Hwa-seo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Th-that’s fortunate.”
“You worry too much.”
“They’re the type who could bolt anywhere.”
Dang Hwa-seo let out a hollow laugh.
Then she asked.
“Anyway, thank you for the news. I need to talk to Young Hero Mok.”
“Take care.”
Gwon Pyo-wol left without lingering.
Dang Hwa-seo watched his back for a moment, then sighed and thought.
‘I need to teach him etiquette.’
She had to teach Mok Ri-won dining etiquette.
Her mind was filled with that thought.
*
“Dining etiquette?”
In the Dragon-Phoenix Squad’s quarters upon return.
Mok Ri-won, summoned to the leader’s office, repeated the question.
Dang Hwa-seo nodded and said.
“Yes. You may have heard, but Young Hero Mok, you’ll soon have a private audience with the Alliance Leader.”
“Ah, I heard from Lady Mentor.”
“Is that so? Ah, well. Kang So-so Hero was personally invited by the Alliance Leader.”
Dang Hwa-seo nodded in understanding, and Mok Ri-won smiled awkwardly.
‘It’s awkward.’
He knew Kang So-so was Yeom So-so’s alias, but it still made him flinch every time.
Since she was hiding her identity, he couldn’t let it show.
Composing himself, Mok Ri-won asked.
“But what do you mean by etiquette?”
“Nothing difficult. Just the manners, posture, and formalities to observe at the table. I’ll teach you those.”
“Hmm, no need to worry about dining etiquette with elders! Despite appearances, I served two elders faithfully before entering the jianghu!”
Mok Ri-won spoke with full confidence.
It wasn’t baseless.
After all, the two he had served his whole life were none other than two of the Four Saints Six Kings.
Especially Beggar King Ma Il-seok, who was sensitive about manners.
Mok Ri-won still vividly remembered the lessons he learned, even taking chestnuts on the head for dining with elders.
Dang Hwa-seo let out an “Oh” and looked at Mok Ri-won.
‘He had two masters.’
Along with that information, faint anticipation rose in her.
Right, she had forgotten because she saw him as childish, but Mok Ri-won was a disciple of a true master.
She didn’t know his identity, but judging by his skills, it had to be a renowned expert from a previous generation.
Such a person wouldn’t neglect teaching dining etiquette.
Dang Hwa-seo breathed a sigh of relief.
And said.
“Ah, that’s good. Still, just in case, shall we practice together?”
“Got it! I’ll treat Little Sister as the Alliance Leader!”
Mok Ri-won jumped up and patted his chest.
“Don’t be too shocked when you see!”
*
She was shocked.
It was a complete mess.
“…Young Hero Mok?”
“Yeah? What’s wrong? Eat up! Ah~!”
Dang Hwa-seo stared at Mok Ri-won with a blank expression, lips pressed tight.
Mok Ri-won held a piece of chicken leg meat in front of her mouth with chopsticks.
His eyes sparkled.
“Legs go to elders! You have to debone it and feed them, right?”
What on earth had Mok Ri-won’s master taught him?
Doubt filled Dang Hwa-seo’s mind.
In truth, it was like this.
Beggar King Ma Il-seok was born a beggar.
Even after ascending to the Four Saints Six Kings, he valued his beggar roots.
In other words, rather than proper etiquette, he had smacked Mok Ri-won’s head to make him do things his way comfortably.
Even Mok Seon-o, who should have stopped it, just watched fondly, so Mok Ri-won had no chance of learning normal manners.
“Come on! Little Sister! Ah~!”
Mok Ri-won pushed the chicken leg closer.
Dang Hwa-seo unwittingly opened her mouth.
Mok Ri-won slipped the meat in with a radiant smile.
“How is it? Seasoning good?”
He even considered her taste.
It was certainly attentive.
If one nitpicked, it was the attentiveness of an inn chef.
Dang Hwa-seo chewed and swallowed.
“…It tastes good.”
“Great! Wait a sec! Let’s see, next….”
“Young Hero Mok.”
Dang Hwa-seo stopped him.
She couldn’t deny her heart fluttered at him feeding her directly, but now wasn’t the time to enjoy it.
“Hm? What’s up?”
Mok Ri-won asked innocently.
His pure expression made Dang Hwa-seo momentarily wonder, ‘Should I really tell him the truth?’
But not telling him would cause bigger problems later.
Dang Hwa-seo spoke with resolve.
“That’s not how you treat an elder!”
“Wh-what-!”
“It’s etiquette for very close friends!”
It satisfied both practicality and desire.
Dang Hwa-seo’s slyness shone even now.
*
Having heard everything, Mok Ri-won despaired.
“Th-that wasn’t elder etiquette?!”
Mok Ri-won knelt, clenching his fists.
They trembled.
“I was tricked!”
Resentment toward Ma Il-seok welled up in Mok Ri-won.
How many chestnuts had he taken while learning that etiquette? He couldn’t help feeling wronged.
He had dressed hunted rabbits, seasoned them, yielded the best parts, and even practiced chopsticks to not drop food.
Yet all those days were meaningless!
A tragic feeling naturally arose.
“When I return to my mountain, I’ll demand answers for this!”
“Uh… yes, good luck.”
That was all Dang Hwa-seo could say.
Patting his shoulder for comfort, Mok Ri-won made a pouty face.
Dang Hwa-seo thought ‘cute’ unwittingly, then flinched and cleared her throat.
“Ahem, anyway.”
This wasn’t the time.
“Let’s learn dining etiquette again. Your chopstick skills are excellent, so just master speech and conduct, and you’ll be perfect.”
“Got it….”
“First, seating. It’s a private audience, but the guest is the Alliance Leader. Naturally, there’s head seat and guest seat. Typically, the head seat is….”
Dang Hwa-seo’s explanation continued.
Mok Ri-won quickly regained his spirits and listened intently.
He knew from experience that her teachings were useful beyond one occasion, for life in general.
Verbal explanations had ambiguities, but Mok Ri-won understood fine.
He was simple-hearted, not stupid.
“…That’s the basics. Understand?”
“Yes! I get it clearly. But some parts are hard to grasp from words alone—could you demonstrate?”
“Of course. That’s why I prepared this.”
Dang Hwa-seo smiled brightly and sat at the head seat.
“Shall we start from entering?”
“Thank you!”
Mok Ri-won stood, went outside, and closed the door.
Then shouted.
“Beginning!”
After the announcement, Mok Ri-won opened the door and entered.
He clasped his hands in salute.
“Greetings to the Alliance Leader.”
Proper posture.
Appropriate tension, not overly excited tone.
Excellent.
As Dang Hwa-seo smiled at that thought.
“Huh? Mok little brother. What’re you doing? And who’s this Alliance Leader?”
Jegal San, passing by the corridor, spotted Mok Ri-won and asked.
Mok Ri-won looked up.
“Ah, Brother Jegal! I have a private audience with the Alliance Leader, so Little Sister’s teaching me etiquette!”
“To your sister-in-law?”
Jegal San’s eyes narrowed.
Dang Hwa-seo startled, clenching her fist under the table.
-Very close friends’ etiquette!
His suspicious gaze brought those words to mind.
Jegal San had sharp instincts for this.
Fearing her embarrassing secret might be exposed, Dang Hwa-seo swallowed dryly.
And said.
“…Got a problem?”
People turn aggressive when guilty.
Dang Hwa-seo’s voice sharpened accordingly.
Jegal San backed away slyly and shouted.
“Nope!”
Then fled.
In the meantime, Jegal San thought.
‘I need to teach him again!’
Dang Hwa-seo was sharp, but her reason clouded when Mok Ri-won was involved.
Jegal San was certain.
She must have passed strange knowledge to Mok Ri-won under the guise of education.
Truly, a man with uncanny intuition.