Prevent the Jaegyeong Pavilion Fire (2)
It was a simple bet, nothing to lose face over.
Besides, he must have thought I wouldn't pass anyway.
I picked up the documents I'd prepared and stood from my seat, heading straight for Chief Officer Yu So-ak's office.
I entered the internal chief's office.
Without even looking up, Yu So-ak asked, “What brings you here?”
“I've finished the task you assigned, sir.”
“……Pardon?”
Yu So-ak raised his head, staring at me with a look of utter bewilderment.
“You finished it already?”
“Yes, sir.”
His expression quickly soured into irritation.
He probably figured I'd slapped something together carelessly.
I handed over the documents with full confidence.
It took less than a minute for his face to twist in shock.
With a rigid expression, he asked stiffly, “Who taught you how to format these documents?”
Who taught me? You did, of course.
It was a pain to memorize all that.
But I couldn't say that outright.
“I picked it up just by looking at the other files.”
“And the references you consulted for this…… you've numbered and listed them separately at the end. Who showed you that?”
“I saw it done that way in the other materials, so I tried it myself.”
I smiled as I replied.
“The reference files were so excellent, they taught me everything I needed to know. Must be thanks to your guidance, Chief Officer Yu.”
Yu So-ak stared at me wordlessly for a moment before speaking.
“You've organized this far better than I expected. You pass. You're free to head out for the day.”
Just as I'd predicted—a clean pass.
Yu So-ak dragged himself to Jaegyeong Pavilion once more, his face etched with exhaustion as always.
In truth, he'd left work just before the chuksi hour last night—well past midnight.
That meant less than three hours of sleep before clocking back in.
“I must be out of my mind. Why did I…… let the young master's words sway me back then……”
It was a habit of his to grumble like that.
He'd been a top graduate once, but for some reason, he'd quit public service soon after. Then Merchant Group Leader Eun Gil-sang's words moved him, drawing him to work for the Eunhae Merchant Group.
Now he served as its internal chief officer.
He'd complain that falling for the leader's words had doomed him to this grueling life, but it was just talk.
To Yu So-ak, Eun Gil-sang was the benefactor who'd saved his life.
He never forgot a grudge—or a favor.
He'd already resolved to give his life for the Eunhae Merchant Group if needed.
Hurrying his steps, he recalled that he'd stopped by the leader's office before heading to Jaegyeong Pavilion, which had delayed him a bit.
As he entered, the night-shift clerks jumped to their feet.
“Good morning, Chief Officer!”
Yu So-ak nodded in response.
“Yes, good morning.”
He instructed the clerks, “When Young Master Eun Seo-ho arrives, tell him to come straight to my office.”
“Understood, sir.”
A faint smile crept onto Yu So-ak's face as he thought of Eun Seo-ho.
I was so disappointed on his first day. Turns out I was completely wrong about him.
From that very first task, Eun Seo-ho had submitted flawless reports without a single flaw.
Ten days had passed since then.
Every assignment he'd given had been handled swiftly and precisely, leaving Yu So-ak in genuine awe.
That seasoned hand…… like he's been at this for decades.
Even a genius couldn't explain it all. Sure, geniuses had brilliant minds, but this meticulous, organized proficiency? That came from real-world experience alone.
That's why terms like “desk jockey” and “ivory tower scholar” existed.
No heir to any merchant group skipped five years of hands-on training—but it wasn't a fixed term. Once the heads of Jaegyeong Pavilion, Sepeung Pavilion, and Sangyu Pavilion all approved, the practical training ended.
In Yu So-ak's mind, Eun Seo-ho had already earned approval ten times over.
He was holding back only because of appearances.
Both of Eun Seo-ho's older brothers had done full three-year stints in Jaegyeong Pavilion.
No need to make him stand out alone.
But testing him with random tasks and drilling practical skills had lost its point.
Broadening his experience is the best path now.
The perfect spot? Right by his side, assisting him directly.
Yu So-ak decided to bring Eun Seo-ho on as his personal aide.
Of course, the young master would probably freak out if he knew.
As a special trainee assigned to Jaegyeong Pavilion, Eun Seo-ho's oversight fell to Yu So-ak—but he was still the merchant leader's son.
So he'd gotten permission first.
That detour to the leader's office had been for exactly that.
Ahem! Not because I need help with my workload—no, sir. Just that having one of the young master's sons around Jaegyeong Pavilion isn't a bad idea. Yeah.
Muttering to himself, Yu So-ak entered his office.
I headed to the dining hall for breakfast.
My two brothers were already there.
“Good morning.”
My eldest brother, Eun Jeong-ho, greeted me.
“I heard you've been climbing the back mountain at dawn lately. For your health?”
“Yeah.”
In truth, it was for martial arts training.
I needed to start practicing outdoors soon, but too many eyes around the house made it risky.
Jeong-ho said, “Health is great, but don't push yourself too hard.”
“Got it. I won't overdo it.”
Jeong-ho was always so thoughtful.
Then my second brother, Eun Jin-ho, chimed in from the side. “Come on, bro! A morning hike up the back mountain is fine. You're too worried.”
“Still, I worry he'll get sick again.”
“That's exactly why he should move more. Look how much he's grown lately—taller, stronger. It's all from those morning workouts.”
Jin-ho turned to me slyly. “Speaking of, want to start training in martial arts again?”
“Martial arts?”
“Working for the merchant group means you'll need to protect yourself sometimes.”
Heirs to the group didn't ignore martial arts.
It just took a backseat to business—but they trained as much as possible.
A solid foundation could save your life in a pinch.
That's why both Jeong-ho and Jin-ho trained under the external chief officer.
The external chief, who also led the Eunpung Corps—the group's enforcers—had received a great debt of gratitude from Grandfather. He'd volunteered for the role to repay it.
Passing on his martial arts to the heirs was part of that ongoing repayment.
He'd even sworn not to marry until the debt was paid—and he hadn't, even up to my death in my past life.
I'd trained alongside them as a kid too.
But when I fell ill, I stopped.
Luckily, I'd only learned external arts.
If I'd delved into internal energy, my life would've been even shorter.
The external chief's style was pure hard yin-yang arts—completely incompatible with me.
Explaining that would be tricky, so my training remained a secret for now.
I smiled at Jin-ho. “I'll think about it.”
Just then, Grandfather, Father, and Mother entered, and breakfast began.
This morning's fare was chicken rice porridge.
Our merchant group's mornings were usually porridge unless something special came up.
As I carefully spooned the steaming hot porridge, Father called to me.
“Seo-ho.”
“Yes, Father?”
“I hear you're doing excellent work at Jaegyeong Pavilion lately.”
“Oh, I'm just following what they've taught me.”
“That's a talent in itself.”
Father's praise left me a bit embarrassed.
“That's why the internal chief made a special request this morning. He wants you as his personal aide.”
“He did…… Wait, what? Why?”
My voice rose without thinking.
Yu So-ak's personal aide?
This hadn't happened in my previous timeline.
Father answered my stunned question. “Why? Because you're doing such great work, obviously.”
“S-so you gave permission, Father?”
“Of course. You're already assigned to Jaegyeong Pavilion—what's for me to permit? Right?”
Grandfather chuckled and added, “For that picky fellow to keep you by his side himself! What a surprise!”
“Indeed. Ho ho ho.”
Mother laughed, and my brothers joined in with admiration.
“Whoa, impressive!”
“Our little brother's got skills.”
“……”
In the midst of my family's congratulations, my new role as Yu So-ak's aide became a done deal.
……
……
……
Becoming Yu So-ak's aide was…… disorienting. A lot.
Today was a crucial day, after all.
The day a massive fire would cause huge losses to the merchant group.
I was the only one who could stop it—and I needed time to do so.
But now I was stuck as his aide.
His eye-poppingly busy aide, no less!
Maybe I should've played it safe?
With a sigh, I headed to Yu So-ak's office.
He stood to greet me this time—not just glancing up from his seat like on day one.
“You sent for me, sir?”
“Yes. Starting today, you'll serve as my personal aide.”
I swallowed hard, eyeing the precarious stacks of documents on his desk.
Being his aide meant helping process all that.
This was my last chance to back out.
“Sir, I'm grateful you think so highly of my skills. But I've only been in practical training for ten days—your personal aide?”
“Feeling the pressure?”
“My apologies.”
“Hearing that only makes me more determined to have you.”
“……?”
Yu So-ak smiled. “You've got the virtue of humility too.”
So he was taking my refusal as modesty.
I'm seriously declining, though……
“I understand your concerns. But talent shines brightest where it's needed. And if your abilities help advance the Eunhae Merchant Group, that's a good thing, isn't it?”
He fixed me with a steady gaze.
“Don't you care about the Eunhae Merchant Group?”
“……”
Don't I care?
As if.
Yu So-ak was provoking me on purpose.
That meant he'd made up his mind.
Fine, then……
“Understood. I'll serve as your aide, sir. But I have conditions.”
“Name them.”
“First, guarantee meal times on schedule. And commute hours too.”
“Agreed.”
“And I start tomorrow.”
“Very well.”
The first condition was for my future plans.
The second? To stop today's fire.
Back at my desk, Yeo Chang's clerk approached.
“Young master, you're back?”
“Yes. The chief officer just summoned me.”
“I see.”
I couldn't mention starting as Yu So-ak's aide tomorrow yet.
The chief had asked me to keep it quiet—for security reasons, probably.
Come to think of it, Yu So-ak never trusted people easily.
That's why he'd worked himself to death without ever taking an aide.
Me becoming one was all the more unexpected.