It Hurts Quite a Bit (1)
We arrived safely at my maternal grandparents' home in Yeongseon Village.
My grandparents and uncle welcomed us warmly.
"Reporting in. All twenty members of the Gale Wind Company are safe and sound."
I smiled faintly and continued.
"We made it back in one piece."
"Good, that's a relief! What a relief!"
My grandfather teared up as he embraced me.
He was certainly the type to wear his emotions openly.
To think he'd worried about me this much.
Meanwhile, my uncle, who had just returned after praising the Gale Wind Company's efforts, clapped me on the shoulder.
"You did well."
"No need for that. Yeongseon Village is my maternal home. We only did what was natural."
"Hearing you say that makes me even more grateful."
At that moment, my grandmother patted my back and said,
"Come on now, let's head inside. I prepared sea cucumber porridge just for you."
As we were about to go in,
"Young Master Eun Seo-ho."
"...?"
I turned at the sound of my name to see the Gale Wind Company members calling me.
What was this about?
Before I could ponder further, they all clasped their hands in respect and bowed deeply in unison.
Clack!
The Gale Wind Company leader spoke on their behalf.
"We all made it back safely thanks to you, Young Master. We'll never forget this grace for the rest of our lives."
It felt a bit embarrassing.
.
.
.
.
That evening,
I bathed in the antidote that Yi Pil the warrior had prepared to neutralize the tracking scent.
"Hm, the tracking scent is completely gone now."
Palgap nodded at Yi Pil's words.
"Indeed, the smell has vanished."
Then Yi Pil asked Palgap,
"By the way, how on earth did you detect that tracking scent?"
"Pardon?"
Palgap tilted his head.
"It just... smelled like something."
"As I mentioned before, detecting that tracking scent requires special training. For you to pick it up without that..."
Seo-u the warrior provided the answer to that puzzle.
"I've heard that among those with extraordinarily keen senses, some can detect special scents without any training. Perhaps Young Palgap is one of them."
Come to think of it, Palgap really hated fermented foods. Fermentation and rot were just a hair's breadth apart, after all.
As that thought crossed my mind, I chuckled inwardly.
I think I knew why Palgap could do it.
Because he's basically a bear.
His wild instincts were still alive and well.
Frankly, even his talent for slaughter—nicely put as the "Slaughter King's Talent"—was, in the broader sense, a wild instinct.
An instinct honed for the hunt, you might say.
Palgap's was just directed toward serving me.
"Alright, time to turn in."
At my words, everyone headed to their quarters.
Palgap checked my bedding before going to the room next door.
As I lay down, I sensed the presences of Seo-u the warrior and Myeongjong the warrior standing guard at a set distance outside.
They wouldn't enter unless I called.
Now, then. It was time.
I pulled out the items left by Master Hyeolgon Seongseung from my secret pouch.
First, I needed to verify if the cloth wrapper was truly a magical artifact.
Doing this secretly in my room was because I was the only one who knew about it.
Explaining would be a hassle, too.
I placed the books and letters in a box, then spread the cloth wrapper out on the table.
A vivid red color... Huh?
That's when I noticed something odd.
This cloth had wrapped the books and letters for over five hundred years.
While the books and letters were worn, how could the cloth remain so pristine and vibrant?
I knew our merchant group's main goods well, including silk, and no silk could stay this perfect after five centuries.
So, was it really a magical artifact?
It was said to safely guide you to any destination written on it.
A place I wanted to go?
To test it, I should write a place I knew well.
I took up a brush and wrote Eunhae Merchant Group Beijing Branch on the cloth.
"...!"
I couldn't help but be startled.
The characters I wrote with the brush vanished, and a black map began to emerge on the cloth.
A map.
Of the entire empire, no less.
And a golden line snaked from this maternal home all the way to the Eunhae Merchant Group's Beijing branch.
Gasp!
I quickly covered my mouth with both hands.
Otherwise, an exclamation would have escaped.
It was real. A real magical artifact.
I carefully examined the route.
If heading to the Beijing branch, it suggested taking a boat— a golden line followed the river midway.
"Hm, but I'd prefer the land route. I've got the Zhuqiang horses, after all."
As I muttered regretfully, the golden line erased itself and redrew.
A path using only land routes, no boats.
This was incredible.
Honestly, if this artifact forced a specific path to the destination, I'd have been suspicious.
There were artifacts that brainwashed users or corrupted them with evil.
But seeing it change according to my intent suggested it wasn't one of those.
I memorized the route firmly in my mind and neatly folded the cloth away.
Good. Now, shall I test if this path is truly safe?
If it really showed the safest route?
No need to hesitate.
Of course I'd devour it.
Nom nom.
.
.
.
.
Dawn broke.
And today was the day we headed back to Beijing.
"Why not stay a bit longer?"
I smiled at my grandmother's words.
"I'd love to, of course. But I have a lot to take care of."
I hugged her as I said it, and she patted my back.
"I understand it's regrettable, but no helping it. See you next time."
"Yes."
"Take care of yourself."
My grandfather followed, then my uncle added,
"We'll meet again soon enough. Stay healthy until then."
"Yes."
"And take good care of Seon-i."
His words brimmed with affection for my mother.
Speaking of which, I hadn't seen my second uncle.
I should visit him again before he passes from qi deviation in four or five years.
If I could prevent his death, I would.
We left Yeongseon Village amid everyone's farewells.
"Which way are we headed?"
At Seo-u the warrior's question, I pointed.
"This direction."
"Understood."
And so we galloped toward Beijing.
The path I was taking now was the one shown by the cloth artifact.
The Zhuqiang horses charged ahead without falter.
"Hm, left from here."
Neigh!
I gave directions to the group now and then, tugging the reins to turn the horse.
Honestly, on our way from Beijing to Nanzhou, we'd crossed mountains.
But this route showed only open fields—no treacherous peaks.
It might seem circuitous, but it was actually faster.
Running across obstacle-free plains beat zigzagging over mountains any day.
Thanks to that, we reached the outskirts of Beijing a full day ahead of schedule.
Night was falling.
"We'll camp here tonight."
Palgap tilted his head at my words.
"What do you mean? Beijing's just one or two hours away."
"I know."
"Hm, for you to give up a comfortable bed... must be something important."
"Right. So prepare camp."
"Got it."
Palgap and the guards set up camp.
Soon, we sat around the campfire, ate, and drank tea.
Now everyone was ready to hear it.
"Before we left, I mentioned it, right? The orders I received from His Majesty the Emperor."
They all nodded.
"To put it bluntly, this mission was a test for me."
"A test...? What do you mean?"
I sighed at Seo-u the warrior's question and continued.
"Exactly that. His Majesty wanted to see if I'm worthy of greater responsibilities, so he gave this command."
Yi Pil the warrior seemed to realize something.
"Was the tracking scent part of that too?"
"Probably."
"Damn! Should've told you sooner."
"No need for self-reproach. Just speak up next time any suspicions arise."
"Understood."
Then Palgap spoke.
"But if you're put to even heavier tasks, won't you get busier than now...? Is that even possible?"
Palgap's question was natural.
I was already run ragged as it was.
Good thing Seo Hyang's assistant was helping...
Everyone looked at me in agreement.
"Of course, getting busier than this would be tough."
"Indeed. You're already sleep-deprived, my lord."
"And lack of sleep hinders growth and development."
Who said that last one?
Ah, Yeo Eung-am the warrior.
But uh, I think my growth phase is already over?
I continued.
"I think so too. Which is why..."
I explained the plan step by step, and they nodded in agreement.
Honestly, once I realized this test meant the Emperor planned to use me heavily, any thought of getting one over on him vanished.
But I guess I can't fight my nature.
Even so, the urge to prank the Emperor lingered in my mind.
The Emperor was reading a letter.
It was a report from those he'd ordered to test Eun Seo-ho.
Thanks to the express delivery, it arrived far sooner than Eun Seo-ho himself.
"Hm... As expected of the talent I chose."
The Emperor smiled contentedly as he read.
Not only had he neatly handled the matter of Master Hyeolgon Seongseung's sword collection, but he'd also carried out the Emperor's instructions quite well.
"So, only the final stage of the test remains?"
At the question, the Emperor turned to the man beside him—his eldest son and current Crown Prince.
People said his eyes, so like his father's, made him look like the Emperor in his youth.
"Yes. If he lays bare the full truth of this affair before me, he'll pass. Then I can assign you someone reliable."
"I'm greatly looking forward to it."
The Crown Prince showed no displeasure at the idea of a merchant being attached to him.
He knew better than most.
How filthy those who pretended to be lofty and pure truly were.
"That said, 'someone reliable'... You must really have high expectations."
There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
Just days ago, the fifth man in charge of his personal seal had died.
And the culprit was someone he'd considered a close friend, amplifying the shock.
He'd learned how fleeting trust could be.
His eyes had deepened because of it. But being young, the sarcasm slipped out unwittingly.
"Tsk tsk, I understand your feelings."
"My apologies. I've shown unbecoming behavior."
"Mind it next time."
"Yes."
"I won't insist you trust my intentions. But if you can't trust this father of yours, at least think of it as for the empire."
"... ."
The Crown Prince was a bit surprised.
He'd heard his ears ring from the Emperor's praise of Eun Seo-ho, and he'd investigated personally too.
He knew he was the vice leader of Eunhae Merchant Group, making astonishing strides.
But he couldn't fathom why his father—the Emperor—trusted him so deeply.
Wasn't he the one who'd learned trust's fragility far more than the prince?
What exactly gave Father such faith in him?
As he pondered, the Emperor called.
"Crown Prince."
"Yes, Father."
"You can't trust people, can you?"
"... ."
"But you can't rule this empire without trusting people. Betrayers are human, but so are those who protect you."
"Yet I fear because I can't tell who will betray me or protect me. I lack that discernment."
"You think I can read people's hearts after one look? Me?"
"Pardon?"
The unexpected reply made the prince blink.
"That's why I'm assigning him to you. Spend time with him, and you'll find your answers."
Just then,
"Your Majesty, Jin Yeong Daehyeop is here."
At the eunuch's words, the Emperor said,
"Let him in."
The door opened, and Jin Yeong entered, prostrating before the Emperor with utmost courtesy.
"Why are you alone? Didn't you say that young man arrived at the Beijing branch today?"
"Yes, that's correct. But there's a problem..."
"What problem?"
Jin Yeong continued with a troubled expression.
"It seems the trip to Nanzhou amid his busy schedule took a toll. He's utterly exhausted and bedridden with illness. Even so, he insisted on following me to the palace and tried to get up, only to faint."
"... ."