What's the Matter?
The moment Baek No shouted, a man flung the door open and dropped flat to the floor in a deep bow. He was built like a bear, every bit as intimidating as his massive frame suggested, yet both his eyes were ringed with ugly bruises. The man looked less like a ferocious wild bear and more like a panda.
The instant the newcomer appeared, Baek No flew into a rage.
“You worthless fool! You couldn’t even protect the young master, and now you dare show your face here?”
“Y-yes…” The giant couldn’t even lift his head under the scolding. It was almost pitiful. From the outside, he looked like the last person on earth who would be this meek.
Choun-seong raised a hand, stopping Baek No, then asked calmly, “What’s going on?”
“T-the eldest young master… is calling for you.”
The eldest young master—Choun-hak?
Before the question could fully form, Baek No exploded again. “You insane bastard! Are you taking the eldest young master’s side now?”
“B-Butler Baek…?”
“Get lost, you idiot!”
Listening to the two of them bicker, Choun-seong quickly pieced it together. This mountain-sized man was Yeom Choong, his bodyguard. He had probably failed to stop Choun-seong from getting beaten like a dog during the recent sparring incident and was now cosplaying as a criminal who couldn’t even raise his head.
‘Well, this worked out nicely.’
He had been planning to visit Choun-hak anyway. Having the path laid out for him like this was a stroke of luck.
‘Time to get to know this so-called older brother of mine.’
Everyone agreed that, aside from Baek No’s blind favoritism, Choun-hak was a flawless successor. He had a mild personality, natural charisma, and the second brother didn’t even dare dream of challenging him for the position. A good-natured, capable man. If he hadn’t been the original Choun-seong’s brother in the novel, he would have been the protagonist’s reliable best friend.
‘He might become my greatest ally here.’
More than anything, surviving the first volume of Cheonryong Chronicle: Omniscient Scoundrel Choun-seong Perspective would require making the most of this opportunity.
Volume 1 – Omniscient Perspective of the Scoundrel Choun-seong
“Help me up. I’m going to see my brother.”
Somehow, he had to mend this relationship.
Once they left the inner court, Choun-seong walked while leaning on Yeom Choong’s arm. Baek No kept glaring from the side, but who would actually be scared of a white-bearded old man no matter how hard he tried to look fierce?
‘Still, the servants and maids seem genuinely terrified of him.’
He really was the enforcer of the household’s discipline. For someone serving the worthless third young master, he seemed surprisingly competent. Of course, his favoritism was completely unhinged, but that was beside the point.
That aside—
“This place is enormous.”
“Y-yes… the outer court is more than twice the size of the inner court…”
“I know. Keep guiding me.”
This bear-like Yeom Choong was surprisingly timid on the inside. If left to find the place himself, Choun-seong would have gotten lost several times over. It really was fortunate that his leg was still injured.
‘This family is seriously loaded.’
In the original novel, it was only described as “a once-prosperous household that was completely ruined by the worst degenerate imaginable.” Now that he saw it with his own eyes, this was clearly a diamond spoon life. Another piece of useful knowledge acquired.
Soon the buildings disappeared from view, replaced by a lush bamboo forest.
“This isn’t a house—it’s basically a whole village.”
No, not even a village. It felt more like they owned an entire city.
He had known from the setting that Chogabo was supposed to be impressive, but he never expected to like the hack writer’s world-building this much.
‘If I play my cards right, I might be able to just sit back and enjoy the good life.’
While he was lost in pleasant fantasies, a hexagonal-roofed pavilion came into view. Four people were seated inside—three men and one woman.
‘The most extravagantly dressed one must be Choun-hak. The person beside him is probably his fiancée, and the one glaring like he wants to kill someone is the second brother.’
In the original story, the second brother was said to be closer to a martial artist than a merchant, and that description fit perfectly. He was even wearing martial attire and looked hot-tempered. The two brothers shared the same pig-like face.
‘Yeah… with a face like that, the “reliable best friend” theory is officially canceled.’
‘Then that guy must be the Three-Sword something?’
The man dressed in black martial robes sat with a sword cradled in his arms, eyes closed.
He was considered fairly strong in the early stages, but once the Blood Sect and the Heavenly Demon Cult made their moves, he was nothing more than a minor character.
‘Of course, even that minor character would be leagues above someone like me…’
While he was rolling his eyes and mentally scolding himself, Choun-hak spoke in a calm voice.
“It is unexpected that you actually responded to my summons.”
Despite his potbelly, Choun-hak carried an elegant, dignified aura as he continued.
“Have you reflected on your actions, Un-seong?”
His voice was as sharp as frost.
Choun-hak. The successor of Chogabo. Looking back at the original novel, he didn’t have a particularly large role.
‘He’s a pot-bellied man wearing jewel-studded clothes and doesn’t even practice martial arts.’
In the original story, almost everyone around the protagonist was a martial arts expert. No matter how influential the eldest son of a major merchant group was, there was little chance for him to appear in a world where monsters who had transcended human limits ran wild. Even in a trashy novel that went off the rails after five minutes, it made sense that he never showed up.
But that didn’t mean he could be ignored.
‘Choun-hak later becomes someone who helps the protagonist.’
After Choun-seong’s poisoning attempt caused the family’s power to collapse, Choun-hak would try to recruit the protagonist but fail. Still, the fact that he had recognized the protagonist’s ability early and reached out first showed that he had good insight.
‘As expected of the successor to one of the Ten Great Merchant Groups. He has the ability to read the flow of the world.’
Or perhaps he had simply used the massive intelligence network that Chogabo possessed. Either way, it didn’t matter. Anyone with real ability would be helpful.
‘Still, he’s only human in the end.’
Besides the Blood Sect—the true mastermind behind the story—there were terrifying monsters in this novel. The Three Sovereigns. A painfully generic name that appeared in countless martial arts stories. The title referred to masters who had surpassed human limits: the Ink Sovereign Muk Bi-yeong, the Sword Sovereign Baek Ri-seon, and the Death Sovereign Eum Sa-jeok.
Besides those inhuman monsters, there were also the Five Emperors and the Eight Honored Ones, but he couldn’t remember the rest. They were ultimately just experience points for the protagonist, so it was natural they didn’t leave a strong impression. Once the Blood Sect appeared, they were all treated as extras anyway.
And after that came the true final boss, the Heavenly Demon Cult—
While he was trying to hold back tears of self-pity, a voice pulled him back to reality.
“……Are you listening?”
Whoops.
Only then did Choun-seong snap out of his thoughts and offer a polite bow.
“I was lost in thought for a moment… My apologies.”
The atmosphere instantly became strange.
“Hm? Why did the mood suddenly turn so cold?”
The reason came from Choun-hak’s lips.
“Apologies… That is a word I never expected to hear from you.”
Was that really such a special word?
“If my memory serves me correctly, this is the first time those words have ever left your mouth.”
Ah, you absolute piece of trash, original Choun-seong. You caused every kind of accident imaginable and never once apologized?
“Everyone has to start somewhere.”
“That is true.”
“I will make sure to do it more often in the future.”
“Wouldn’t it be better not to create situations that require apologies in the first place?”
Choun-hak looked at his younger brother, who wore the face of a devout believer who had just received enlightenment from the heavens, and burst into laughter.
“Hahaha. I was only joking. Just a joke.”
What a terrifying way to tell a joke.
Still, there was no falseness in his laughter. Despite his pig-like appearance, he seemed to possess a surprisingly bold and generous nature.
“Your unexpected behavior must have brought out my playful side. Hahaha.”
It was refreshing to see. But the laughter didn’t last long.
As if the hearty laugh had been an illusion, Choun-hak’s expression hardened as he spoke.
“However, the one you should be apologizing to is not me. You will properly apologize to my fiancée for what you did before. And you will swear that such a thing will never happen again.”
At Choun-hak’s words, Choun-seong turned his gaze toward the woman who was deliberately looking away with a stiff expression.
‘She’s beautiful. Why would someone like her agree to marry a pig?’
‘What was the fiancée’s name again?’
Since that part had almost no importance in the original novel, he had no idea what this beauty’s name was.
As he hesitated, Choun-hak’s face grew even colder.
“What is it? Are you unable to apologize to Lady Seomun?”
No, of course I can apologize.
Choun-seong quickly brought his palms together and began rubbing them vigorously.
“Lady Seomun. I am truly, deeply sorry. I beg for your forgiveness with this sincere apology. Please, with your generous heart as vast as the sea, find it in yourself to forgive this unworthy one.”
How’s that? Five years of corporate experience. The Double-Handed Rubbing Divine Art. Even the manager who used to explode in rage would buy me meat for dinner after this move!
But the reaction was strangely cold.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
As he tilted his head in confusion, a choked sob came from behind him.
“Hic…! To think that the proud son of Chogabo would lower himself in such a humble manner to apologize…”
“It’s all my fault for serving him poorly!”
Baek No and Yeom Choong were both on the verge of tears. Baek No looked like he was about to start wailing any second.
‘Was that a bit too much?’
It really was. The woman named Seomun Seol, who had received an apology in a form she clearly never expected, had turned bright red.
“Y-you don’t have to go that far…”
It seems this world is brighter than South Korea after all. A society where you can apologize with the mild flavor and actually be forgiven? But there’s no way that’s true. I won’t be fooled. The manager who said “it’s fine” would always explode again three seconds later. You have to check both an extinguished fire and a calmed manager again. That was how I became a super-peak expert.
Since he had already apologized, he might as well do it properly.
Instead of backing down, Choun-seong prostrated himself fully on the ground.
“Aigoo, my lady. This ignorant fool has committed a grave offense against you. I swear on my life that such a thing will never happen again.”
“N-no, that’s…”
“If such a thing were to happen again, I will not even breathe without your permission. Please, I beg for your forgiveness!”
The Apology Divine Art, Second Form. It seemed to have worked perfectly.
A heavy silence fell over the entire pavilion. Even Choun-hak, who had been urging the apology, was speechless.
After a long while, Choun-hak finally spoke.
“……Do you even understand what it means for you to bow your head like this?”
I bowed because I was sorry. What else could it mean?
Choun-hak explained gravely.
“Inside Chogabo, for the legitimate son of the main family to bow his head to an outsider carries no small meaning.”
“But Lady Seomun is not an outsider. Since she is your fiancée, isn’t she practically family already?”
“Not yet.”
What a cold thing to say. Look at Lady Seomun—she’s practically crying!
But Choun-hak continued.
“Furthermore, there are people watching right now. They are retainers of our family.”
“And?”
Choun-hak’s voice grew heavier with each word.
“Do you have the confidence to bear the consequences of showing such a pathetic sight in front of everyone?”
This pig. He told me to apologize and now he’s saying this? What the hell?
As Choun-seong looked puzzled, Baek No whispered from the side.
Succession…
Come to think of it, the original Choun-seong had been desperately eyeing the position of successor to Chogabo. Consumed by jealousy toward his brothers, he had even attempted to poison them and nearly destroyed the entire clan.
‘But that’s not me.’
A massive war would soon break out in the martial world. A bloody sea of carnage.
‘Am I crazy? Why would I willingly step into that bloodbath?’
There were people who looked like they were born to be meat shields. Why fight them for the position when he could just stay in the back and enjoy the benefits?
‘I was a healer main, after all. If I have time, I’ll just throw out some buffs and heals. Huh? More honey? Don’t mind if I do!’
Having made up his mind, Choun-seong answered.
“If one worries about the eyes of others while apologizing for a mistake, how can that be called a true apology?”
Choun-hak was silent. He simply looked like he was wondering what his brother had eaten to cause this sudden change.
Even the manager would have been moved to tears by this speech, yet he’s trying to deny reality like this.
Eventually, Choun-hak raised his hand and waved it dismissively.
“I understand your intention. Return to your residence and reflect on your actions while remaining in seclusion.”
Being told to remain in seclusion by one’s own brother could hurt one’s pride.
But Choun-seong didn’t mind at all.
‘Seclusion!’
Finally, he would have time to himself.