Chapter 174
Chapter 174
The Iron Emperor — Chapter 174
Side Story: Uru, Buru
* This work was posted on The Iron Emperor fan cafe.
Thank you for the fun story.
Author: Aksha
1. The Brothers Are Born
"Waaah, waaah~."
A resounding cry came from an inner room of a large mansion. Color returned to the face of the man who had been anxiously pacing outside the door.
"Ooh, it seems the child has been born."
"Yes, it seems so," a nearby maidservant replied politely.
"What are you doing? Quickly, go in and check if it is a boy or a girl..."
"Waaah, waaah~~."
"Huh?"
But the man's command was interrupted by the chorus that followed.
"What? Is there another child?"
"Pardon? Yes, I will go in and check."
The maidservant hurried into the inner room.
'Hmm, twins, is it? The cries sound like boys—they'll be general material.'
The man stood over seven cheok tall, with shoulders so broad that his height seemed shorter by comparison.
His strong-featured face radiated intimidation. But beneath it, he possessed an intellectual air.
Eulji Mugun, a general from a prestigious Gauri family, was a strikingly handsome man. He was now standing before the inner room of the rear residence, awaiting the birth of his second generation.
"General."
The voice of a subordinate officer from behind roused Mugun from his musings.
"What is it?"
"The mistress of the inner house sent a message. That lingering before the concubine's inner room is beneath your dignity..."
In other words, she was telling him to stop loitering and come out quickly.
"I understand. You may go."
Mugun's expression darkened.
This was the inner room of the concubine's quarters.
Though she claimed not to be jealous, his aging first wife could hardly be pleased. Moreover, the concubine was a stunning beauty Mugun had fallen for at first sight.
"General, it is a son. And they are twins."
"Is that so? That is good news. Take good care of the lady of the separate quarters."
A satisfied expression on his face, Eulji Mugun left the inner room.
'The more sons, the merrier. They'll be a source of strength later.'
* * *
"General, the preparations for the two young masters' first-birthday celebration are complete."
"Is that so? Understood. Have them wait; I will be there shortly."
"Yes."
Mugun, who had been observing the education of his eldest son Eulji Guru, rose.
"Father, I shall accompany you."
Guru, who had been practicing swordsmanship, spoke.
Eulji Guru was eighteen years old. He was the eldest son from the main wife.
He closely resembled his father, already standing six cheok tall, and though still slender, his martial prowess was not inferior to anyone in Gauri.
Moreover, he excelled in scholarship and military strategy, which greatly pleased Mugun.
"Do so. Even though they have a different mother, brothers are still brothers. Let us go together."
"Yes, Father. But first I have a quick stop to make. Please go ahead."
"What business do you have?"
"Nothing. I have an item to bring."
After politely bowing, Eulji Guru headed to his room.
'What a commendable son.'
His considerate and careful actions beyond his years always pleased Mugun. Mugun made his way to the separate quarters first.
"Hooh."
As Mugun looked at the items Eulji Guru had brought, admiration filled his expression.
What Guru had brought were various wooden weapons he had personally carved.
A bow, a sword, a glaive, a spear, and a military treatise. Five items were placed before the two babies.
"You have them pick one of these up?"
"Yes, Father. Though they are only turning one, I have heard that talent is innate. Let us try it. It should be fun."
Everyone gathered watched the twins with curious eyes.
"Now, young masters. Go ahead and pick one up."
The two children hesitated for a moment. Soon...
Confusion flickered in the onlookers' eyes.
The two children showed no interest in the five weapons and were instead fighting over the rice-cake steamer beyond them.
"......."
"Guru."
"Yes, Father."
"It seems teaching these two will be quite a struggle."
"...Yes."
After some wrangling, all the food was cleared away.
The two children hesitated once more.
This time...
They started fighting over who would take the bow.
"Hmm, as expected of Gauri descendants, they go for the bow..."
"Uh, Father, a moment."
Following whatever thought had come to him, Guru placed a wooden practice sword from the wall before them.
Moments later.
This time they began fighting over that practice sword.
"They are fighting over who gets the bigger one."
"...I see."
Of the five weapons, the bow had been made the largest.
"Then what do we do?"
Guru pondered for a moment.
"I will teach both of them the Axe Method."
"Why?"
"Because it will suit them best."
The intelligent Eulji Guru had already sensed his younger half-brothers' simple-mindedness.
And the weapon that would suit them. When it came to solving things with force, the axe was supreme.
The father-son discussion worrying about Uru and Buru's future continued into the night.
2. The Secret of Their Birth
"Good grief. It is truly strange."
As Mugun watched his two sons train in martial arts at the training ground, his face was steeped in doubt.
When Uru and Buru turned six, they began basic training with wooden weapons.
But the problem was, judging by appearances, it was hard to call them his sons.
Because their martial skills were lacking?
Absolutely not.
Though only six, Uru and Buru had already subdued every ten-year-old in the neighborhood and reigned as the leaders of the alley.
The problem lay elsewhere.
"Guru."
"Yes, Father."
"How tall are you?"
"Just over six cheok (180 cm)."
"Good grief."
It was incomprehensible.
Mugun and his eldest son Guru were both tall. Uru and Buru also ate well and grew well. The problem was they were not growing up—they were growing sideways.
"They will grow taller later. Some children simply grow late," Guru said cautiously.
But even Guru could see that his brothers' bodies were peculiar. They were slightly shorter than their peers, yet their shoulder width was almost that of adults. No one in the family had such a build.
"I am going to the separate quarters. Make ready."
"Yes, General."
Ultimately unable to overcome his suspicions, Mugun made his way to the residence of his beloved concubine.
"It is absolutely not true. I am being falsely accused."
"I am not a suspicious person by nature, but is this not strange?"
An unusual interrogation (?) was taking place in the separate quarters.
The woman whose chastity was being questioned pleaded her innocence in a mournful voice. However, given that she herself was nearly six cheok tall, the children's peculiar physiques were not easy to explain away.
"It is not. It is absolutely not so."
"Then why are the children..."
"General, a guest has arrived."
Mugun's interrogation was interrupted by the sound from outside.
"Who is it?"
"Yes, sir. He says he brings goodwill from the family of the lady of the separate quarters. The eldest son of that family has come personally."
"My elder brother?"
Color returned to the woman's face. She had never been so glad to see her own family in her life.
"This is the first time your family has visited here," Mugun said, as if it had just occurred to him.
Her family, originally servants, had never been introduced. They lived far away and were not nobles, so they had no reason to come to Pyongyang Fortress.
"Yes. And once you see my brother, you will believe in my innocence."
"Huh?"
There was another reason she welcomed her elder brother. It was to clear her name. Otherwise, how could she be glad to see those who had sent her to the general's household to help with the family finances?
Though, of course, things had turned out well and she was now living comfortably.
And it had also upset her that her family, who had not even pretended to know her before, suddenly started acting friendly the moment they learned she had become Mugun's concubine. This visit was likely in the same vein.
But in any case, she was glad now.
"I will go see him."
Mugun headed to the main hall.
"Though our house is humble, we are deeply moved by the General's grace, and so this meager..."
Mugun was not listening to the man prostrated before him.
The man was about five and a half cheok tall (165 cm). His shoulders seemed as broad as he was tall. He had a bushy beard. As Mugun took in the appearance of his brother-in-law, who looked nothing like his own concubine, he realized something.
"You there."
"Yes, General."
"Go to the separate quarters and tell her I am sorry."
"Yes..."
The maidservant hurried off to the separate quarters with quick steps.
"I have a question."
"Yes, suh, ask whatever ye like."
A rough dialect. It was the dialect of the southeastern region of Gauri.
"Do all the members of your family have a similar build?"
"Yes, tha's right. 'Cept fer my youngest sis, we're all the same."
His brother-in-law's words turned Mugun's mind blank.
The mystery was solved.
"It was the maternal line. Good heavens..."
The man's face became bewildered at Mugun's muttering.
"No, suh. Our fam'ly ain't from the ma-ternal line, we're from Hamgyeong Province. Y'er mistaken, suh."
"......."
Mugun was speechless.