Chapter 98
Chapter 98
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Part 23 Declaration
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In front of the Won-gak Pavilion's main gate.
Before business hours began, in the dim light of early dawn, it was usually quiet and serene.
But the street in front of the impeccably—almost grandly—maintained gate stood utterly empty, which felt particularly desolate.
"Today's the first day, right?"
The Special Task Force member on guard duty from the neat guard post asked his colleague, who was logging entries under the lantern light.
"Yeah. The construction's basically done, so today marks the pavilion's official opening."
The guard scanned the street.
The buildings were lit up brightly with lanterns hung densely everywhere, yet not a single soul could be seen on the road itself.
"...Feels like a ghost town."
His colleague chuckled softly as he wrote.
"No matter how fancy you make it, when the owner is who he is, it's bound to stay empty."
The guard smacked his lips at that.
"...I hope some customers show up."
"You've taken a liking to the Eldest Young Master already?"
"No, no, it's not that. It's the maids and servant girls. Seeing how hard they've worked, I'd just like enough to come so they can feel some reward..."
"Hmm... Yeah, fair enough."
They were Special Task Force members who had watched those girls half their age prepare with all their might up close.
"...But it'll be tough, won't it?"
"Probably. Don't you think?"
Just then, two figures appeared from the far end of the main road.
"Unidentified individuals, two approaching."
"No way, customers already?"
The two sharpened their focus, peering at the newcomers.
A moment later, the Special Task Force members sighed.
"...Customers, sure, but not the welcome kind."
* * *
The ones who had come to Won-gak Pavilion at this early hour were none other than the two men tearing their hair out over Jeong-a, who had become the Eldest Young Master's chief maid.
The housekeeper of the Lake Courtyard, created by the Second Young Master in place of the Inner Courtyard.
And one of the Three Absolutes Warriors, the Third Young Master's personal guard force.
They were people who would normally not even acknowledge each other, but the situation was dire.
"...I can't fathom what nerve that crazy bitch had to ignore several letters from the family head."
The Lake Courtyard housekeeper's words made the Three Absolutes Warrior grind his teeth.
"If the chief housekeeper hadn't dragged things out with all that procedure nonsense, this would've been settled long ago."
"The Eldest Young Master breaking his seclusion in the meantime didn't help either."
"Doesn't matter—she's still just a lowly slave girl. She's got to obey orders from above."
"That's exactly why the Eldest Young Master regaining his position is the problem, isn't it?"
"Hah, our lord is far greater than that Swordless One. Not even worth comparing."
"From the family's standpoint, sure. If my master, the Second Young Master, flexed his political influence properly, he could decide that wench's fate on a whim. But he can't, and that's the issue."
"What's wrong with a strong man taking what he wants?"
"...My mistake for even talking to a dumb brute of a warrior."
"What?! You scrawny little—"
After a brief growl-off, the two sighed and quickened their pace.
They hadn't expected customers for the Eldest Young Master this early, but since it was a personal matter, they needed to avoid drawing eyes.
"...Didn't you get orders from above to leave the girl alone for now?"
"...You too?"
But neither wanted to miss this golden chance to earn their masters' favor.
"That so-called Eldest Young Master can say what he wants..."
"Not a single one of our warriors fears the likes of the Swordless One."
The lavishly decorated street grated on their nerves.
* * *
Ignoring the two Special Task Force members glaring daggers at them, the pair waited a moment before Jeong-a appeared.
The instant she did, they swallowed dryly despite gearing up to shout.
Wrapped in a gown of restrained splendor and adorned with dazzling jewelry, Jeong-a's beauty was the kind that captivated men and women, young and old alike.
Her dark makeup and haughty gaze as she looked down at them exuded an aura that transcended dignity and grace—something almost intimidating.
And when twenty sword-bearing servant girls lined up behind her at the gate, that presence even drew quiet admiration from the Special Task Force members.
"What business brings you to seek an audience with me, the chief maid?"
Her golden eyes fixed on the unwelcome guests.
The Lake Courtyard housekeeper, who had nearly bowed unconsciously, forced a derisive snort instead.
As pre-agreed, the Three Absolutes Warrior stood with arms crossed, silently watching.
"You've got a bit of money now and suddenly you're all high and mighty. Pathetic sight."
Jeong-a didn't scoff back.
"Isn't that rich coming from you, strutting around on your master's coattails?"
She fired back in kind the moment they used informal speech.
She was no longer the Jeong-a they had last seen.
"You filthy—!"
Her retort made veins bulge on the housekeeper's forehead.
Before Jeong-a could respond, the servant girls unleashed a barrage at him.
"Mind your tongue!"
"To use such crude language in front of Won-gak Pavilion, where the family's Eldest Young Master resides!"
"Even if you're the Lake Courtyard's chief housekeeper issuing orders, you can't speak so disrespectfully to Won-gak Pavilion's chief maid!"
The housekeeper ignored the servant girls and pulled out his fan, pointing it at Jeong-a.
"You think dragging around a bunch of lowly maids intimidates me even a little?"
Jeong-a replied expressionlessly.
"You seem to be misunderstanding something. I didn't bring these servant girls because of you."
The housekeeper's eyebrow twitched.
"I was trying to cut you some slack, but if you insist on humiliating yourself in front of all these people, be my guest."
"As chief maid, I have nothing to be ashamed of. Do your worst."
A vile smirk spread across the housekeeper's face.
"Everyone here knows you're just a whore who played both sides between the Second and Third Young Masters, then fled to Won-gak Pavilion when you couldn't handle the mess you made."
It was blatant insult.
He aimed to spread filthy rumors about Jeong-a among the pavilion's servant girls at the same time.
"That stinking body of yours seduced the family's two young masters, but when it didn't work, you tricked the naive Eldest Young Master into making you chief maid."
He flicked his tongue, rolling his eyes to gauge the servant girls' reactions quickly.
"For a slut like you to serve as the Eldest Young Master's chief maid—utterly shameless!"
But contrary to his expectations, the servant girls' faces showed nothing more or less than anger toward him.
From the start, the servant girls of the pavilion wouldn't harbor even a sliver of doubt toward the chief maid trusted by the Eldest Young Master.
On top of that, having lived with her, they knew exactly what kind of person she was.
Jeong-a waved her hand dismissively.
"Your filthy mouth is rotting my ears. If that's all your 'business' is—spouting nonsense—then get lost."
The displeasure wasn't just theirs; the two on guard duty shared it.
They edged forward stealthily, subtly releasing their presence.
But the housekeeper, knowing they couldn't touch someone who hadn't intruded, remained unfazed.
"I came here personally, and yet you're digging your own grave."
He clicked his tongue.
"Even as the Eldest Young Master's chief maid, you can't escape your lowly origins. When the young masters get angry, moving a slave like you is child's play—don't you know that?!"
He spat as he shouted at Jeong-a.
"Relying on a powerless figurehead Eldest Young Master with no influence or authority in the family—that only lasts so long!"
At his words, Jeong-a finally burst out laughing.
She knew what her master had done—and what he could do.
The shrill laughter momentarily flustered the housekeeper.
"Th-this bitch has finally lost her mind...!"
Jeong-a cut him off, her laughter vanishing.
"Wasting time on trash like you who doesn't even know my master's true face..."
She took a step forward.
"But since you're so deluded on a few points, I suppose I, the chief maid, will have to teach you myself."
Her eyes flashed with golden light for an instant, making the housekeeper shiver and step back two paces.
"First, it's not that my master protects this chief maid—it's that this chief maid serves and guards my master."
She advanced another step, and the housekeeper hastily retreated two more.
"And second..."
A chilling smile curved her lips.
"This chief maid is no longer some slave whose fate she decides herself. My status is..."
Her hand rested on the hilt of the sword at her waist.
"That of a warrior."
For a split second, the housekeeper thought he saw her pupils narrow vertically.
Before he could process what he'd seen, he didn't even realize he'd collapsed to the ground.
"Uh...?!"
As everyone sneered at him, a boisterous laugh rang out.
"Ha! A mere maid who's only dealt with customers thanks to her looks suddenly claims to be a warrior!"
It was the Three Absolutes Warrior, arms still crossed.
"If you're truly a warrior, then your status isn't the issue. Warriors have the right to choose and serve their lord."
Unlike his hearty laugh, he was unmistakably furious.
"...But if you're falsely claiming the title of warrior to mock us, you'd better be prepared to pay the price?"
He gripped his sword hilt tightly.
A ferocious aura surged from him at the same time.
It was a killing intent that made even the servant girls step back involuntarily.
"Bitch. If you fancy yourself a warrior, then you know..."
In the past, Jeong-a had retreated behind the gate against the Lake Courtyard housekeeper and Three Absolutes Warrior, relying on the Special Task Force members.
Now, she smiled coldly and stepped out beyond the gate.
"In the Sword Clan, the status of warrior isn't given—it's seized by one's own hand."
The Three Absolutes Warrior grinned wickedly at her words.
"You know it well. Let's see just how sharp the sword is of a wench who only entranced customers with her beauty. This Three Absolutes Warrior will test it personally."
The Special Task Force members were the ones flustered by the scene.
One urgently spoke to a nearby servant girl.
"The chief maid must have her reasons for stepping up, but the Third Young Master's Three Absolutes Warrior is no one to take lightly."
The servant girl was calm.
"We know. In the Third Young Master's personal guard, 'Three Absolutes' is the title given to those who have mastered three of the five sword forms in the Sword Clan's Sword Heart Sword Cry swordsmanship."
Another servant girl continued.
"We've only just made one sword form our own—how could we underestimate a Three Absolutes Warrior?"
The Special Task Force member slapped his chest.
"Then why aren't you stopping the chief maid?"
The servant girl shook her head.
"When we say 'we,' we mean Won-gak Pavilion's servant girls."
His eyes widened at her words.
"Then the chief maid is...?"
The servant girls merely smiled.