Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Fire and Dog
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Clang... clang...!
The workers' hammering echoed without end.
These days, the busiest person at the estate wasn't one of the workers or squad members.
It was Sa Sa Un, who was in charge of feeding them all.
The workers had originally brought their own meals from home, but Se Yeong had insisted on providing for them too.
That meant cooking massive pots of rice and stew every time.
Even though the workers handled all the dishwashing, just preparing the meals was enough to bend his back double.
'I want to train my martial arts too... damn kids.'
Hoo...
Sa Sa Un let out sigh after sigh as his hands moved busily.
"Your cooking's not up to your usual standard lately."
Se Yeong remarked as he stepped into the kitchen, prompting Sa Sa Un to bow his head low.
"My apologies, Hero Han. I'll... pay more attention."
Se Yeong glanced at the piles of vegetables and meat stacked in one corner of the kitchen.
"Seems like too much for one person. Want me to assign some squad members to help?"
"No, that's fine."
Sa Sa Un shook his head vigorously.
In truth, he did want the squad members' help.
But if they pitched in, the food quality would drop even further, and dealing with the aftermath wouldn't be easy.
"Alright then?"
Se Yeong turned to leave without another word.
But his eye caught a bundle of rags in the corner.
"What's that?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Se Yeong noted how overly flustered Sa Sa Un seemed.
'What a straightforward guy.'
He walked over and lifted the rags, revealing over a dozen eggs nestled together inside.
"What's this?"
These eggs were clearly the ones the farmers had brought a few days ago.
"Ah, it's nothing. Really... nothing at all."
Sa Sa Un looked on the verge of tears, fidgeting anxiously.
"I'm not gonna chew you out, so just tell me the truth."
Only then did he bow his head and confess.
"When I was a kid... I hatched some eggs once..."
Hahaha...!
Se Yeong burst out laughing at his mumbling explanation.
It was so unlike the usual Sa Sa Un.
"Got it. Think these'll hatch into chicks?"
"I'm... not sure."
Se Yeong nodded and headed out of the kitchen.
"Give it your best shot. If chicks do hatch, I'll build you a coop."
The farmers were enjoying themselves more each day lately.
The harvest was already done, so they'd usually be trudging through distant mountains digging for herbs.
But not anymore, at least for the time being.
And unlike other places, this estate even provided hearty lunches.
To the farmers, lunch here was a luxury.
They'd struggled just to get two meals a day before, but now they enjoyed meat and rice every midday—no king or noble could compare.
The estate's master had even brought in neighbors who'd been idling at home, putting them to work.
Over twenty people were laboring here now.
As Se Yeong ate at the table, he looked down at the workers shoveling food while seated on the floor.
He'd prepared a big table for them, but they'd insisted floor seats were more comfortable.
"Any good cooks among those idling at home?"
At Se Yeong's question, every worker paused mid-bite.
They glanced at each other and shook their heads.
"None, Young Master Hwang."
Se Yeong resumed eating.
'No choice then. Sa Sa Un'll have to tough it out alone for a while.'
He'd hoped to pull someone skilled to assist Sa Sa Un, but no luck.
Then one farmer hesitantly spoke up as he was about to eat.
"Um... my nephews have been kitchen hands since they were young, so they know their way around cooking."
Se Yeong jumped on it.
"Perfect. Bring them tomorrow morning."
But the farmer hesitated to reply.
"Thing is... they might not be cut out for work."
After mustering the courage to speak, now he said they weren't suited?
Se Yeong was curious.
"Why not?"
"Those brats have tempers like you wouldn't believe. Always brawling in back alleys, so the family's basically kicked them out."
"How old?"
"Twin nephews, both twenty-one. The girl's a half-hour older."
"Bring them anyway."
The squad members cheered more than the workers at Se Yeong's approval.
Heh heh heh...
"Sa Sa Un's got subordinates now."
"Om mani padme hum. Buy us a round."
As the squad members rejoiced, Squad Leader Kang asked the farmer,
"You said 'girl' just now?"
The farmer flushed.
"Yes. Her temper's so foul, even the family treads lightly. The younger one's a boy."
The squad members laughed even harder at that.
Hahaha...!
"Make it work, Sa Sa Un. They might end up as your wives, not underlings."
The squad members glared when Paeng Se Gi let slip Sa Sa Un's full name.
Paeng Se Gi quickly shut his mouth.
If their names spread through the village, martial world experts would swarm them soon enough.
Sa Sa Un wasn't amused in the slightest.
'Crazy bastard. If you're getting assistants, at least bring decent ones.'
The next morning, the farmer showed up with a young man and woman, just as promised.
The woman had fierce eyes that screamed a fiery temper, while the young man had a round face and sturdy build.
The farmer bowed repeatedly as he introduced them.
"This here's the eldest, Ilhwa. And this is the second, Igu. What're you waiting for? Greet the young master properly!"
He scolded his nephews loudly.
But they lived up to the hype with their attitudes.
"What's this? Sword at your waist too? Heard you struck gold at a mine and sold it off—got the estate and fields as payment. Guess you're decked out so no one laughs at you?"
The woman eyed Se Yeong and the squad members with mocking disdain.
She'd heard the rumors about the gold mine.
That a young man found it and sold it to this lordling for the estate and fields.
Heh heh heh...
Paeng Se Gi couldn't hold back his laughter.
How badly did she want a beating, picking fights on first sight?
And those names—Fire and Dog? Hilarious.
The squad members smirked faintly.
"To the training grounds."
Se Yeong led them wordlessly to the grounds behind the main hall.
Oho...
"Want a real scrap, huh?"
The woman and man followed Se Yeong and the squad without hesitation.
Once at the grounds, Se Yeong called out Sa Sa Un.
"Sa Sa Un, come here."
Sa Sa Un shuffled to the center of the grounds.
"These are the ones you'll be working with from now on, so you handle them. No holding back just 'cause she's a girl."
"Y-yes, Hero Han... er, Hero Hwang."
The woman threw her head back and cackled at his response.
Kekeke...
"Hah... people come in all types."
Furious at being mocked, Sa Sa Un's anger boiled over.
"Come at me together if you want."
The squad members looked shocked at his icy tone.
Oho...
"Didn't know Sa Sa Un had that side to him."
Sa Sa Un unbuckled his sword and tossed it aside.
That instant, the woman's fist flew at him.
Whoosh...
The eldest's punch was fast.
But her opponent was a seasoned martial artist from the Elusive Squadron.
Sa Sa Un leaned back to dodge, only for her other fist to whip in.
Whoosh...
'Slow.'
He sparred brutally with Squad Leader Kang every three days, like real combat.
Kang's strikes were far quicker and sharper—not to mention bone-rattling on impact.
This woman's punches were sluggish and lacked power.
As Sa Sa Un ducked low, his fist slammed into her gut.
Thud!
Urk...!
She staggered back with a short cry.
Sa Sa Un pointed at the younger brother with one hand.
"What're you waiting for?"
Wooaah...!
The squad members cheered at his stylish display.
"Sa Sa Un, I'm falling for you!"
Sa Sa Un blushed at Dang Ok's cheer.
Dang Ok flushed too, realizing she'd shouted his name unconsciously.
Whoosh...
The sturdy younger brother jumped in with a punch.
Sa Sa Un sidestepped with footwork and drove his heel into the boy's side.
Thud...!
As the brother reeled, the sister's leg spun like a whirlwind toward his face.
Thwack...!
Sa Sa Un blocked her leg with his left arm and smashed his right fist into her face.
Guuk...!
She tumbled across the ground with a brief scream.
"Sis...!"
The panicked brother charged like a bull.
Tap...
Sa Sa Un lightly kicked off the ground and booted the brother's head.
Thud...!
The brother rolled across the dirt too.
"You bastard...!"
As he rolled, the sister sprang up and lunged.
But she was no match for Sa Sa Un.
Thwack...!
"Not bad for street thugs."
Squad Leader Kang rated the siblings highly.
"Yes. They're late bloomers, but if they start training now, they won't be masters—but solid fighters? Definitely."
Se Yeong saw potential too.
Not in their agility or strike speed, but their relentless tenacity.
Sa Sa Un was the weakest squad member, yet still an Elusive Squadron martial artist.
Urk...!
Guh...!
The siblings kept getting knocked down.
Then Sa Sa Un started showing mercy.
"Keep this up and you'll get killed. Let's call it."
"Screw that."
The woman barely stood and charged with punches.
Sa Sa Un just dodged with footwork.
Unable to shake her off, he finally countered.
Thud...!
As she fell, the brother rose in her place.
"You're dead."
He lunged, and Sa Sa Un punched again.
Thud...!
"Bastard..."
As the brother crumpled, the sister was already rising.
"Tenacious ones."
Even the squad members were impressed.
"What're you doing? End it in one."
Sa Sa Un flinched at Se Yeong's cold command.
Thwack...!
Moments later, his fists sent the siblings sprawling side by side on the ground.
"Get them to a room."
Se Yeong had the fallen pair carried inside.
Ugh...
Ilhwa groaned as she sat up, glancing around.
She was alone in a neat, tidy room.
"Damn bastard."
Thinking of the man who'd done this to her, she forced herself up and stumbled outside.
Ugh...
Her face and body screamed in agony.
Clang... clang...!
The yard buzzed with hammering.
She searched everywhere for the man who'd beaten her and her brother.
Soon she reached the kitchen and spotted her brother devouring food.
Munch munch...
He averted his eyes when he met her glare.
"Y-you're up?"
She marched to the table and sat across from him.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Well... he grilled some meat..."
Her brother mumbled evasively.
Just then, Sa Sa Un emerged from the kitchen with a plate of grilled meat.
"Eat."
He set it in front of her.
"Why the hell should I?"
She glared daggers at him.
But his eyes brimmed with pity.
"You can't leave this place anymore. You'll end up like me—cooking and scraping by here."
"Like hell. What're you waiting for? Come on!"
The woman shot to her feet and bolted out of the estate.