Chapter 12
Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Somwol's Private Room
The day after I stirred up chaos at Azure Moon Pavilion.
I was heading to Taewon as usual.
It seemed yesterday's talk about the successor had worked—hyungnim didn't try to stop me.
If he'd known I'd caused a scene at Azure Moon Pavilion, he would've asked about it at least. But since he didn't, the Madam must have kept the information tightly under wraps.
'Well, it'd be trouble for the Madam if rumors spread needlessly.'
If word got out about why I'd kicked up such a fuss, the oddity of it all would come to light inevitably.
It wouldn't do Somwol's reputation any favors either.
'I wonder what conclusion the Madam reached.'
She didn't have many options to choose from.
The first that came to mind was killing me outright or fleeing through the night after I left yesterday.
That only worked if she was confident she could evade the Murim Alliance's pursuit.
The Madam was a decent expert in her own right, but no way she could pull that off.
So, ruled out.
The second was to go along with my proposal... but from our chat yesterday, that seemed to have a slight snag.
I'd assumed she was the one calling the shots, but judging by her troubled expression when I said I wanted Somwol, maybe not so much.
'Still, she must've convinced Somwol.'
If not, she'd have to float some other offer my way—but I'd reject whatever it was.
Unless it was a woman who stirred my heart even more than Somwol.
And no such woman existed.
Once I entered Taewon, I headed straight for Azure Moon Pavilion.
With a touch of anticipation.
When I arrived at Azure Moon Pavilion, the one greeting me wasn't the usual courtesan.
"...You've arrived?"
It was Somwol.
The very woman I'd longed for so desperately.
She was the first to welcome me.
Of course, her expression said otherwise.
Somwol's gaze upon me brimmed with contempt and disgust.
Well, she had every reason to.
She must've heard the full story from the Madam.
It's been ages since a woman last looked at me like that. Quite the nostalgic feeling.
'Feels like the first time since my regression.'
Lately, with my handsome face, I'd only been getting affectionate glances from women. Seeing Somwol's eyes stirred something strange.
Like slipping back into my Lecherous Demon days.
"Right. Does your coming out to greet me mean the Madam accepted my proposal?"
With others around, I phrased it carefully.
This much should get the point across.
Sure enough, Somwol nodded.
"Yes. The Madam has decided to accept your proposal. Grit."
As she answered, anger seemed to boil over—she ground her teeth.
The sound was so loud I worried her pretty teeth might shatter.
'Of course, that's unlikely.'
For all her looks, Somwol was a martial artist of considerable skill.
Even now, her killing intent was wrapping around me.
'She's furious, huh? Can't blame her.'
From her perspective, I was just the third son of the Mok Family Clan.
A woman like her, tied to the Shadow Gate Sect, wouldn't give a damn about the Mok clan.
And as a martial artist, she outclassed me besides.
I hadn't tested her in a real fight, but she'd surely see me as far beneath her.
How infuriating must it be to have to offer her body to a vile threat from a punk like that.
Especially when it was the purity she'd guarded all this time.
Thinking that far, I couldn't hold back any longer.
"Shall we head straight to the courtesan chambers?"
Normally, I'd sip some drinks, chat, build the mood a bit—but today, even that felt like a waste of time.
Yesterday's chaos at Azure Moon Pavilion had left me without a woman, and my lust was already sky-high. To finally hold Somwol, whom I'd craved since my Flowery Playboy days?
No way I could wait.
As I started toward the courtesan chambers, Somwol grabbed my wrist.
"...Just go to my room."
Her lips pursed tight in resentment.
Somwol's room.
It was a place I'd never once set foot in, even back in my Flowery Playboy days when we got close.
'Actually, we never really got close, did we?'
Maybe I was just like Jeong Mutae back then, flailing in the false affections of a gisaeng.
I'd thought her an ordinary entertainer at the time, but once I learned she was Shadow Gate Sect, it didn't add up.
A scion of a martial house who skipped training to haunt brothels every day.
No way that'd impress an expert from the Shadow Gate Sect like Somwol.
'Anyway, her own room...'
Allowing me into her private space meant the courtesan chambers must've wounded her pride badly.
Even in the same Azure Moon Pavilion, the status gap between entertainers and courtesans was vast.
All the more for someone like Somwol, no mere ordinary entertainer.
I followed behind her and arrived at a splendid room.
The spacious chamber was adorned with all manner of paintings and calligraphy on the walls.
One side held an exquisite qin and pricey stationery set, while the bedding on the floor put the courtesan chambers' to shame.
'What the—looks better than my own annex.'
It was far too luxurious to believe a mere gisaeng lived here.
At this point, I was getting curious about Somwol's true identity.
'Even an expert like the Madam couldn't force someone into a room like this...'
As I stood at the door lost in thought for a moment, Somwol said coldly,
"Come in."
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
I was curious about her identity, sure—but it wasn't urgent.
What was urgent was some heated time together.
The moment I stepped inside, I began shrugging off my robe.
Somwol cried out in startled alarm.
"Wh-what are you doing!"
"What else? Taking my clothes off."
You couldn't very well have sex with your clothes on.
Doing it with just parts off had its own charm, sure—but for our first time, I wanted to see all of Somwol's naked body.
But Somwol gritted her teeth and said,
"Don't. Let's talk first."
Truth be told, I wanted to dive right in regardless—but when she put it like that, what could I do?
I wasn't some Lecherous Demon who'd force himself on a reluctant woman.
'This is all under mutual agreement anyway.'
I hadn't even blackmailed Somwol—I'd just casually suggested it to the Madam.
And she was the one who'd accepted.
"Talk about what?"
My brazen attitude left her speechless for a beat, but she finally managed to speak.
"Why me?"
"What do you mean?"
For a moment, I didn't catch her meaning.
Why her?
She spoke with clear grievance.
"You and I met for the first time only yesterday. Yet you'd been asking for me every day before that, and you even threatened the Madam."
Then it hit me.
I'd seen Somwol countless times before my regression, but yesterday was her first time seeing me.
I imagined it from her side for a second.
A handsome customer who seeks her out every single day.
And he's loaded too.
She comes in expecting something, only for him to ignore her like she doesn't exist from the jump, then throw a fit right there.
And afterward, threaten the Madam...
'Yeah, she'd definitely feel hard done by.'
As I nodded silently without answering, Somwol pressed again.
"Did I do something wrong to you before? Why pick on me?"
Wrong?
Oh, she'd done wrong, alright.
The sin of teasing me like she might give it up, then vanishing to Beijing without delivering.
But that was all pre-regression.
My own past misdeeds had been wiped clean, so hers should be too.
After a brief ponder, I threw out another excuse.
"You threatened me first with that sound technique."
"That was because you couldn't focus at all with me right there..."
"Ah, then play better. Why blame me for your lousy performance?"
I decided to play it shameless.
Somwol bit her lip hard at my words.
"I've heard from others that you play the qin quite well. But I'm confident in my own skill too, so it's hard to just accept what you say. Could you show me just how superior your talent is?"
Her pride must've taken a real hit—her words dragged on.
I smirked and replied,
"Later. After I take you first."
Grit—
Her fisted hand trembled.
I half-worried she might actually attack.
'Honestly, I'm not that much better.'
I could play the qin decently, but Somwol's skill was already top-notch.
At this level, it was all personal taste—no clear better or worse.
If I had to nitpick, I'd say I edged her out a bit, but bragging about it now would've been a waste of time.
As I resumed undressing after saying that, Somwol spoke in a low, sunken voice.
"Do you really have to take me?"
Killing intent seeped from her tone.
But this was kid stuff.
"Yeah. Undress."
Stating the obvious.
How much had I been looking forward to this since yesterday?
Having to give her body to someone she saw as weaker—must feel like the greatest injustice.
After trembling for a good while, she finally let a single tear fall.
Seeing that stirred a twinge of guilt,
but
'I'll make her realize what a huge blessing today is.'
It was sure to become a cherished memory for her someday.