Chapter 56
Chapter 56
Iron Emperor — Chapter 56
Around the splendid table, Gye Ung-sam and his party sat with Baron Gowin, sharing casual conversation and enjoying their meal.
"At any rate, I've been truly grateful over this past month."
"Not at all, Sir Gerard. If anyone should apologize, it's me—for neglecting my benefactor because I was busy."
At Ung-sam's greeting, Baron Gowin quietly set down his fork and gave Ung-sam an apologetic look.
'Of course he was busy. He must've been digging around everywhere to verify whether what we told him was true—there's no way he wasn't busy.'
But true to his nickname, Ung-sam waved his hands dismissively and put on a humbly honored expression.
"Not at all. In this sort of situation, 'comrade' fits better than 'benefactor.' Have you forgotten? The day we came in, at the rear gate of the castle, when a charging saber-toothed tiger came at us—you didn't flinch and stood firmly at my side."
"Hahaha..."
This time, the words Ung-sam spoke carried some genuine feeling. And as if recalling that moment, Baron Gowin smiled as well, though the end of his smile trailed off—because the careful verification work he'd done on them now felt nothing but embarrassing.
"In any case, we should find our own path now. We can't while away our time forever, and I feel we're placing too much of a burden on you, Baron."
"Hoo."
As Ung-sam spoke in a calm voice, looking around at his party and voicing his intention to leave, a sigh slipped from Baron Gowin's lips. Even for Ung-sam, the reaction was unexpected. He'd figured the baron would either try to keep them here as a formality—or genuinely attempt to win them over.
"Why the sigh?"
"..."
When Ung-sam gently prodded, the baron's face—which had always seemed rather exacting—visibly relaxed.
"Truth be told, over this past month, I had people look into what you said."
"..."
"It's not that I didn't trust Sir Gerard... It was the weight of the name 'Gerard.'"
"I know."
When Ung-sam answered like he understood, Baron Gowin's expression grew noticeably easier as he picked up the wine bottle. He filled Ung-sam's glass and continued.
"Thank you for understanding."
"Think nothing of it."
Though the words were brief, you could feel the atmosphere shift in an odd way.
"I need Sir Gerard."
"..."
"Lend me your strength."
The baron's pouring hand came to a stop in midair. Wine overflowed Ung-sam's glass, spilling down the outside and wetting the hand holding it. Yet the two men simply held each other's gaze, neither moving a muscle.
Ung-sam's mouth opened, breaking the silence.
"Let me ask one thing."
"..."
Baron Gowin kept silent, but his eyes said, ask.
"Are you looking for someone to wipe up the wine that's spilled across this table?"
The question from Ung-sam sounded both clear and elusive.
A ripple went through Baron Gowin's eyes. A moment later, he set the bottle on the table. Then he laughed.
"Hohoho."
The way he shook his head and laughed seemed like he was chiding himself for his own misstep.
"Until just now... I admit I had a bit of that thought."
"And now?"
"I'm looking for someone to take this hand."
"Is that so..."
Ung-sam's voice trailed off. But only briefly—a smile touched the corner of Ung-sam's lips.
"You're honest."
"I'm not honest with just anyone."
Baron Gowin smiled back. At that, Ung-sam's smile vanished and killing intent flooded out.
"That's what saved you."
"...!"
"Sir Gerard!"
"Stop!"
When Ung-sam's harsh words came out laced with killing intent, Rainman among the knights who were standing by stepped forward. But Baron Gowin raised a hand and stopped him. An eerie standoff emerged. The other knights—Rainman included—had their hands drifting toward their long sword hilts, but Ung-sam's party just watched as if gazing at distant mountains.
Ung-sam glanced sideways at the knights and let out a small snort of laughter. Then he slowly picked up the knife set out for the meal.
"Huk!"
"Hup!"
HUMMMM!
The knights' eyes flew wide open as if they'd witnessed something they shouldn't have. Even Baron Gowin's eyes, seated right across from Ung-sam, wavered.
From the dinner knife Ung-sam had picked up, a semi-transparent Sword Aura nearly one mir in length was flickering.
"Sword Master!"
Rainman's voice burst out. Ung-sam erased his killing intent and dispersed the Sword Aura that had risen from the knife. Then he lifted his glass and carried it before Baron Gowin.
"You seem to be someone I can trust."
"Likewise."
Baron Gowin raised his own glass and clinked it against the one Ung-sam raised. Then the two men poured the wine down their own throats. For the harmony between just the two of them.
The meal that followed consisted of nothing but trifling small talk, a world apart from the conversation they'd just had.
As if they were old friends...
On the way back after the meal, Samdopyo clasped both hands behind his head and opened his mouth brusquely.
"Hey, boss, why'd you ask earlier who's gonna clean up the spilled wine?"
"..."
Gye Ung-sam felt a sudden urge to crack open the head of the Dupyo who'd just spoken to him. Maybe he'd understand what was inside. Whether Gang Yuwol sensed Ung-sam's inner thoughts, or simply wanted to prevent Dupyo's head from being cracked open right there, he swung his bow staff as he walked alongside them and smacked Dupyo in the back of the head.
Thwack!
"Keok!"
"You idiot! That's why all you ever do is clean up after everybody, you moron."
"Agh, my skull... you dirtbag! You understood it? What's all that about why you'd wipe up spilled booze and why you'd take someone's hand? Two guys holding hands in a way that makes you cringe, what a load of..."
Watching Dupyo, who only grew louder, Ung-sam let out a sigh and lamented like he was talking to himself as he passed.
"Hoo... Dupyo, that bastard is the tripping hazard of my life."
"..."
Rubbing the back of his head, Dupyo watched Ung-sam's fading back and muttered with a scowl.
"What tripping hazard did I put down... He's walking just fine, ain't he."
"Heh-heh."
The rest of the party, marveling at Dupyo's bottomless ignorance, fondly recalled the Eulji Brothers who'd be up in the Reganza Mountains.
'Compared to that lout, the Eulji brothers are great scholars...'
* * *
"Huh? What's this, why're my ears so itchy?"
"Someone must be badmouthing you."
"Giyul, shut yer trap."
Buru, who'd snapped at Buyeo Gi-yul for chiming in from the side, kept walking while digging at his ear.
GONG-GONG-GONG-GONG-GONG!
"Huh?"
The urgent sound of the gong rang from where the sentries were stationed. The speed and volume suggested it was announcing a courier's arrival.
"Giyul, run over and see what it is."
"Yes, General."
As soon as Buru gave the order, Giyul sprinted off.
"What's going on!"
When Buyeo Gi-yul called out to the soldier on watch, the soldier spotted him, raised a salute, and answered.
"A communication is coming from the direction of Baron Gowin's territory."
"Oh?"
A voice that sounded like it had stumbled on a welcome bit of news escaped Giyul's lips. It wasn't just Giyul—everyone here was thirsting for word of Ung-sam.
Clop-clop-clop-clop.
A moment later the gate opened and Mong Ryu-hwa, who was in charge of training the spear unit, came riding in.
"That you, Ryu-hwa?"
"Aheh, ptoo-ptoo—dust sure is fierce today. Oh, good timing. Giyul, where's the general?"
Ryu-hwa dismounted and greeted Giyul warmly.
"Is that the one from General Gye?"
"That's right."
"Giyul!"
Just as he confirmed it was a letter from Gye Ung-sam, Buru's booming voice rang out from behind. Giyul shouted back at Buru that Ung-sam's letter had arrived.
"It's a letter from General Gye, General!"
"Ya don't say!"
Buru came running, his mouth stretched wide open in delight. The movement was entirely at odds with his short legs. Maybe even the irritation of familiarity had become fondness—deep down, Buru had been worrying as word from Ung-sam grew delayed.
"Where is it!"
"Salute!"
"Oh. Mong."
"Yes, General."
"Hand it over here."
Ryu-hwa grumbled inwardly about being addressed only by his surname, but with the face of someone utterly unbothered, he held out the letter to Buru.
"Here it is."
"Good. I'll take this—go and get some rest."
"Salute!"
Buru barely acknowledged Ryu-hwa's salute, and the moment he turned and bolted away, Ryu-hwa started griping.
"Ah, dammit. I'm never taking an assignment like that again."
"Well, who told you to mess around with a married woman?"
"I didn't know. Tch."
When Giyul teased him, Ryu-hwa clicked his tongue and scratched his head. Right then, a youthful voice came from one side.
"Giyul oppaaa!"
"Oh!"
From that direction, a young girl and a woman were running toward Giyul. Giyul smiled and bent his waist low to meet the onrushing girl's height.
"Oppaaa!"
"That's right, Selin—"
"Marian!"
But before Giyul could even finish calling the girl's name, Ryu-hwa next to him dashed forward and threw his arms around the girl's mother.
"That dirtbag son of a—!"
Giyul instantly felt his blood pressure spike.
As mother and daughter drew close, Giyul stroked the girl's hair and watched what Ryu-hwa was up to.
"Marian, I missed you."
"Ryu-hwa, aren't you tired?"
The conversation between the two flowed naturally, as if they'd known each other for a while. Watching Ryu-hwa, Giyul shook his head and muttered inside.
'The man loses his mind the instant he sees a widow.'
Ryu-hwa dug through his coat and pulled out a piece of jewelry.
"This is a necklace I managed to get by asking a soldier who handles things in the Gowin territory."
"Oh my, it's lovely!"
The woman called Marian gazed at the bead necklace with a soft smile. At that sight, the girl's eyes sparkled with envy, so Giyul promptly plucked one of the several hairpins in his coat and showed it to the girl.
"Here. I had a dwarf craftsman make this just for you, Selin."
"Waaah, it's pretty!"
Looking at the girl, whose mouth had stretched wide open in delight, Giyul smiled with deep satisfaction. As if refusing to be outdone, Ryu-hwa pulled something else from his coat.
"And this. I figured it'd be hard to get clothes around here, so I bought some."
"Ryu-hwa..."
The mother and daughter basked happily under the two men's gift offensive, until—rather regretfully—the hour grew late and they headed home. Giyul and Ryu-hwa waved toward them, then once the two were out of sight, they scowled at each other.
"You seriously lose all sense the second you see a widow."
"Heh-heh, why you acting like this? To the man who might end up your father-in-law."
"..."
It was Ryu-hwa deflecting with sheer brazenness. That's how invisible sparks flew between the two of them.
* * *
Seated upon the Throne of Yeolje, Go Jin-cheon read through the letter Eulji Buru had brought, going line by line.
[For some time now, while keeping close watch on Baron Gowin's movements and sparing no effort day or night... (abridged)... with a sense of duty that we must succeed... (abridged)... our inquiries have revealed that iron resupply is underway and that a vessel bound for the Holy Kingdom... (abridged)... Yet even in the face of such circumstances, we carry on with the conviction that we have received Heaven's mandate.
Furthermore, we shall soon travel to the capital of the Haian Kingdom together with Baron Gowin. As for Baron Gowin himself, having observed him... (abridged)... given these observations, I would venture that attempting to win him over later would not be a poor choice.
Lastly, we six who tread always upon the brink of death—should our lives be cut short here—shall nevertheless burn this body away for the glory of the Gauri Empire... (abridged)... so I submit.
— Gye Ung-sam —]
"..."
After reading the letter to the end, a deep furrow had formed between Jin-cheon's brows. The substantive content amounted to: military supplies are moving to the Holy Empire, they are going to the Haian Kingdom, and the results of observing Baron Gowin. More than half the remainder was pure glorification—padding to stretch the length—and words seemingly meant to broadcast just how hard a time they were having.
"Kreum."
As a troubled note escaped Jin-cheon's mouth, Buru carefully accepted the letter.
"Is something wrong?"
"You'll know once you read the letter later."
"Then I'll be going."
Buru folded the letter back up to take it to Yeon Hwi-garam, then left.
Alone, Jin-cheon furrowed his brow once more and gazed out toward where the Gowin domain lay.
"Now he's padding even his reports with bullshit..."
Jin-cheon's clenched fist signified the hell that awaited Ung-sam once he returned.
"Hrmmm, my ears are itchy."
Gye Ung-sam, sprawled as usual with his head pillowed on a lady-in-waiting's lap, suddenly dug at his ear and fidgeted.
"Miss Lienne, pick my ear a little for me~."
"Yes, sir."
On the lap of the personal maid Baron Gowin had assigned him, Ung-sam was spending yet another pleasant day.
Never even imagining the hell to come...
"Huh?"
Eulji Buru, who had been reading the letter intently, cocked his head to one side. He glanced back at the Yeolje Palace he had just left and muttered.
"From what I read, that bastard's been through hell and thinks an awful lot of His Majesty... So why was he frowning?"
Buru—who hadn't grasped at all why Jin-cheon was annoyed—was already contemplating what reward to bestow on Ung-sam.
And so, a day of shared bed, different dreams passed slowly by.