Chapter 3
Chapter 3: People Are the Future.
In 2224 Joseon, saying something like that would get you called a lunatic, but I couldn't agree more. Why? Just look at us commoners scraping by in the lower districts of Hanseong. Feed them scraps and they'll do anything—no need for expensive electricity. Even the street rats begging for food can outperform precision machines once you implant a data chip in their skulls. And if they lose an arm or a leg in the process? Even better. Slap on some cybernetic prosthetics to cover medical bills or kids' tuition, and they'll work themselves to pieces for ten, twenty years straight. True paragons of self-sacrifice, giving their all to keep Joseon alive. These tens of millions enduring daily agony—they're the unsung heroes industrializing our oil-less nation, the future sustenance that will save our great land of scholar-officials.
The only tiny flaw? In about ten years, that future sustenance plans to hurl all us Sedao Clans straight into the fires of hell.
'And in my case... it'll come a little sooner.'
I gazed at the glittering nightscape of Hanseong's topmost layer through the window, a pristine city like one painted in a picture, with beautiful lights. A bastard not even worthy of the name—a lowly bloodline born under the feet of plebeians. Even so, my starting point was worlds better than the average commoner's. Sure, I'd be scorned, but never starved. Ignored, but educated at Joseon's finest institutions. Despised, but free to pursue whatever I wanted.
That dreamlike era ended the day I was branded a powerless one. No power base, no aura—I'd become nothing but a useless trinket, trash to the Andong Kim Clan.
This lavish life I was enjoying now? If my memories held...
'Probably about a month before it starts crumbling.'
That thought dragged up echoes of my past life. The bodyguard Tae-woong, gripping my small hand, forcing out the words.
'The scheduled imperial studies and swordsmanship lessons are canceled from today onward.'
They'd cut off my heir's education bit by bit, excuses piling up about "free time."
'The servants handling your meals... they were let go after last week.'
Shrinking my support staff with every flimsy pretext.
'From today, you'll live in this annex, not the main house. Your school will change too.'
Then suddenly, shipped off to a "new school"—one segregated from the other clan heirs. One layer down. Time passed, another layer down. Drifting further from the clan, my life sank into the abyss. By adulthood, even the memory of my existence faded. That's when they'd erase any proof of my bloodline. Like a frog in a slowly heating pot, oblivious to being discarded, vanishing quietly from the world.
The standard Sedao Clan method for heirs who shun media exposure. The fruits of a noble's one-night fling? Silently swept away.
'And I hated that. Hated it so much.'
I didn't want to fade into oblivion. I craved the honor of being a yangban, the chance to do great things for Joseon. That's why I'd groveled in the rain-soaked courtyard, offering myself as their dog.
But not anymore.
'Joseon, the Andong Kim Clan, the title of yangban—they're no longer honors to me. Just burdens to shed ASAP. Sandcastles before a tidal wave.'
'One useful thing, though... this rotten pile of cash.'
I eyed the bank account floating on my visual interface. One, ten, hundred, thousand... damn, it's a fortune. Fitting for an Andong Kim scion—even a fifteen-year-old brat's account was stuffed.
Of course, it wasn't mine to spend freely. Clan-managed funds, every transaction reported to the finance department.
But that was fine. Better if they noticed quick.
Why? Because...
"Young master."
"Yeah?"
Lost in thought over the interface, I looked up as bodyguard Tae-woong approached from outside.
"I've selected some suitable candidates beyond the one you mentioned. I was going to fetch them myself, but pinpointing locations took time..."
"No, no—this is plenty."
I slotted the data chip he handed me into my nape. New bodyguard prospects. A holographic interface bloomed before my eyes, packed with profiles.
'Huh.'
Towering brutes over two meters tall, cybernetically bulked human weapons. Every face looked ready to kill.
'I said find one person—how many did you dig up?'
Efficiency was great, but overkill had its issues. I skipped the miscellaneous recommendations and locked onto one in the corner.
'Found him.'
Different from our past-life meeting, but unmistakable. Gaunt frame. Wild, unkempt hair. One arm, no cybernetic replacement. Amid the hulking candidates, he stood out like a sore thumb.
The guy I wanted.
'Still too green, though. Not ready for fieldwork or combat...'
I studied his venomous glare, lost in thought—until...
"But are you sure about this?"
"Hm?"
Tae-woong's worried face turned to me.
"Sure about what?"
"The new bodyguard. Hiring without clan approval—especially now, any rash move could..."
"What, you think the old man will chew me out for the powerless trash stirring up trouble?"
He shut his mouth at my bluntness. Geez, no need to get so jumpy. You're embarrassing me.
I shrugged and shook my head like it was absurd.
"Don't worry. Sky could split in two—no way that'll happen."
"But young master, how can you be..."
"So sure? Obviously."
I recalled Father's face from the training grounds—Kim Jung-heon. No rage, no disappointment, not a shred of emotion in those inorganic eyes. I'd seen that gaze endlessly in my past life. Just thinking of it made me chuckle.
"No matter what I do or where, that man won't give a damn."
"Young master, that's..."
Tae-woong tried to comfort me, but I wasn't listening. Let's see... other ways to blow money...
"Oh, right. Tae-woong."
"Yes, young master."
"Check your account."
"My account?"
He activated his interface, checked—and froze on the spot.
"Young master. W-what is this?"
Self-explanatory. The balance climbing by the second would freak anyone out.
"Pocket money. Don't other bodyguards get this often? Funnel it through a dummy account. Split it up—it's not that much..."
"Stop the transfers now, young master!"
His shout cut me off. Face paling by the moment, he yelled unusually loud.
"What are you thinking?! Hiring outsiders without permission is bad enough—now dipping into clan funds directly? If the main house finance team finds out...!"
"They won't just sit idle, huh?"
I grinned at his ashen face. Then the quiet door burst open—black-hatted suits stormed in.
"Finance team. Kim Chang-un, correct?"
"Yeah."
"..."
I caught their eyes narrowing behind sunglasses. What, so brazen? Has the bastard finally lost it?
But they schooled their faces quick, grabbing my shoulders in that robotic tone.
"We've confirmed withdrawals from the clan account. Just to verify—you authorized them?"
"Yep. So?"
"Even for you, young master, misusing clan funds is unacceptable. Come with us."
What courtesy? Pitiful, you lot bowing to a pleb like me.
I smirked inwardly and rose slowly. Tae-woong clutched his face—inevitable, as planned.
Whirring suits flanked me, armed drones circling like guards. Looked like the royal guard hauling a criminal. All for pinching Daddy's wallet.
"Ah, hold up—one sec."
They halted, faces darkening. Sloppy on purpose?
"What's the issue?"
"Just one question before we go."
"Better save questions for headquarters. Now..."
"Not a big deal."
Grinning like a maniac, eyes glinting thin, I asked:
"Did the lord order you here himself?"
"..."
Silence. Brief.
But trash like me was still Andong Kim blood. Finance grunts couldn't boss me around.
'In this house, only two can order me. If not Father Kim Jung-heon... just one left.'
Kim Hyun-woo. Eldest son, half-brother. I pictured his arrogant mug and smirked.
"Come on, guys. Answer?"
Prodding as they stonewalled. The two beside me exchanged glances; the apparent leader grumbled reluctantly.
"The lord didn't order it... directly."
"But young master, if you resist..."
"Nah, got it. Question answered—no plans to dig in my heels."
That was all I needed.
I sauntered after the finance team.
"Y-young master?"
"..."
They looked shocked, but whatever. Actually, perfect.
Hiring outsiders sans approval, blowing clan cash, getting summoned by Kim Hyun-woo who sniffed it out—all according to plan.