Becoming a Branch Leader (4)
A moment later, I entered the dining hall.
"Feeling good?"
As soon as I stepped in, Jeong Ho hyung greeted me.
For some reason, I felt sorry toward him. No matter how much he said he was fine, my heart didn't feel that way.
"Hyung..."
Jeong Ho hyung chuckled at my words.
"This punk's becoming a branch leader before me!"
"Sorry..."
"Stop right there!"
"...?"
"If you apologize, I'll hit you?"
Jeong Ho hyung chuckled again.
"You think I don't know how you feel? But listen, everyone has clothes that fit them perfectly. Forcing yourself into the wrong ones is truly miserable."
Jeong Ho hyung continued.
"Right now, the branch leader's robes suit you best. So no need to feel sorry."
Yeah, that's Jeong Ho hyung for you.
"Well, they won't fit you for long—they'll get too small soon enough."
"Hahaha."
"Anyway, congrats."
I looked at Jeong Ho hyung. The image of his severed head from my memories flickered in my mind.
This time, Jeong Ho hyung would never meet that end.
"We're late!"
At that moment, the family arrived and celebrated my branch leader announcement.
I received gifts too.
Before sitting at the table, I called out to Mother.
"Mother, I have a request."
"A request? I'm curious what my youngest wants."
"Please name my private pavilion."
"Name your pavilion? Why ask me instead of Father or Grandfather?"
I answered her question.
"Eldest hyung's pavilion was named by Grandfather. Second hyung's should be named by Father. Even though I became branch leader first, I won't overstep that."
I looked at Mother and said,
"So I want you to name my pavilion."
In my previous life, Grandfather had named my pavilion.
Since Jeong Ho hyung's was named by Father at his request, it was only right to ask Mother for mine.
But back then, I hadn't.
Only later did I learn that Mother had quietly hoped for it, pondering hundreds of name candidates from the moment I started handling real work.
And that she'd been deeply disappointed.
Once I knew, I felt terribly sorry.
So this time, I wouldn't make that mistake.
Mother declined my request.
"No, you should ask Grandfather for your pavilion's name."
Her lips pouted slightly as she said it.
Mother really can't lie.
"No, I want it from you. Grandfather and Father will understand."
Grandfather and Father nodded readily at my words.
"Do as he wishes."
"Name Seo-ho's pavilion yourself."
Only then did Mother pretend to ponder briefly before speaking.
"A good name just came to mind."
"What is it?"
Mun-gok Pavilion. It's taken from the Mun-gok Star."
The Big Dipper has nine stars, said to govern human fortune and misfortune.
Each has a name, and the fourth is the Mun-gok Star.
"The Mun-gok Star governs literature, but also wealth. I named it hoping you'll always have good fortune in riches."
Of course, a name like that didn't come out of nowhere on the spot.
"It's a great name. Thank you, Mother."
Grandfather smiled warmly upon hearing it and chimed in.
"You've received a fine name."
"Yes, Grandfather."
"Alright, let's have breakfast now."
Everyone sat at the table, and breakfast was served.
Today's breakfast was red rice porridge made with azuki beans.
It was meant to ward off bad luck.
But the Mun-gok Star was also said to correct wrongs and foresee the future.
Naming my pavilion Mun-gok Pavilion felt profoundly meaningful.
No way Mother knows I traveled back in time, right?
Nah, impossible.
.
.
.
Right after breakfast, I headed straight to my pavilion and changed into formal robes.
They were made by Madam Hong Geum-so, whom I'd brought to craft uniforms for my guards.
She'd insisted on making them herself as thanks for all the money I'd helped her earn.
Now it was about time to cure her husband's illness.
I hadn't healed Madam Hong Geum-so's husband yet for a reason.
I was waiting for the right moment.
To restore organs rotting from sepsis, proper medicine was needed.
And the best one I knew would soon appear in the world.
I planned to get it and treat him.
I checked myself in the mirror.
The robes she'd made were stunning, even by my standards.
"Young master, you look so dashing."
"I do, don't I?"
"Of course! You're the handsomest in the world."
Basking in Palgap's lavish praise, I left the pavilion.
Warrior Yeo Eung-am and Warrior I Pil were also in formal robes—blue ones designed for ease of movement.
Only personal bodyguards could wear them.
The two guards bowed to me.
"We'll escort you."
"Thanks for today too."
I headed to the banquet hall with Palgap and my two bodyguards in tow.
It was time to greet the guests.
.
.
.
There were a ton of guests.
To be honest, I hadn't been surprised by the crowd.
But it seemed even larger than in my previous life when I'd become branch leader.
I greeted each one personally: "Thank you for coming," "Enjoy your time," and so on.
This wasn't easy.
Father, greeting beside me, must be tired too, I thought.
Then Father called me over.
"Go greet the lower banquet hall too."
"Got it."
The banquet hall was divided into two main areas.
We called them the upper and lower for convenience—the upper for high officials, merchants' leaders, and other dignitaries.
Everyone else enjoyed the lower hall.
I had to go to the lower hall separately because they hadn't greeted me on the way in.
They entered through other doors to eat and drink comfortably.
Since they'd come to celebrate my announcement, it was proper for me to pay respects.
"I hope you're enjoying the banquet."
"Very much so."
"Have a wonderful time."
"Thank you for inviting us."
"Thanks for coming today."
"Congratulations on becoming branch leader."
I made a full round greeting people. Then I spotted a welcome face.
Gong Do-gong and Gong Mil's family.
I exchanged greetings with them. Gong Mil looked bashful there.
"We made a gift to celebrate your branch leadership."
"Oh?"
"Nothing special, but please visit later."
"Sure, will do."
As I ruffled Gong Rae's hair, he said to me,
"I'll sing you a song as my gift."
"A song?"
Gong Mil explained at my question.
"Rae sings really well."
"Does he? Got it. I'll make sure to come hear it."
We made the promise, and I turned to greet others.
"Internal Manager?"
But Yu Chong-gwan was there.
"Shouldn't you be in the upper hall, not down here?"
"No can do."
"Pardon?"
"Can't eat or drink comfortably. Plus, I have to watch this kid—he gets motion sick."
The child Yu Chong-gwan pointed to was Seok Il-song.
He bowed to me, looking embarrassed.
His cheeks had filled out nicely since we last met.
"Work treating you okay?"
"Yes. The internal manager takes good care of me."
"Learn hard. He's the most capable person I've ever seen."
"Yes, sir!"
Yu Chong-gwan turned away, blushing at my words.
I chuckled and was about to move on when I spotted an important guest.
My master's wife, known as the Bamboo Grove Matron in my previous life.
"Welcome."
"Thank you for the invitation."
Two children were with her.
Gwak Hyeong-jin, whose life I'd saved, and Gwak Jun-ha, my bodyguard in my past life.
"Good to see you kids too."
"We wanted to thank you properly for saving us, but couldn't visit again."
"I've been busy anyway. Still studying hard?"
"Yes."
Then Gwak Jun-ha spoke up.
"My brother just started learning the Analects!"
"Already?"
"Yes!"
"Whoa, impressive!"
He'd just turned thirteen—Analects already!
I felt proud knowing I'd nurtured a talent.
I knew another one: Seok Il-song, eating beside Yu Chong-gwan.
It'd be great if those two became friends...
"Where's Master?"
"He came with us this far, but said something urgent came up and sent us ahead."
"I see."
"He said he wouldn't be late."
She glanced around for an empty seat.
Then Yu Chong-gwan called to her.
"Are you Captain Gwak's wife?"
"Yes."
"If it's not too much trouble, join us."
"Is that okay?"
"Of course. Il-song's been bored without peers anyway."
With Yu Chong-gwan's status and stern face, no one sat nearby, so there was plenty of room.
Then Deputy Jo Yeong-yeong found me.
"Time to take the stage."
"Ah, already?"
I said my goodbyes and followed her to the platform.
Father, dressed splendidly, stepped forward first and greeted the guests.
"I am Eun Gil-sang, leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group. Thank you all for attending my third son Eun Seo-ho's branch leader announcement today."
Father bowed, then introduced me.
"Allow me to present Eun Seo-ho, the youngest ever to become a branch leader in our group."
At Father's words, I ascended the stage.
I clasped my hands in salute and greeted everyone. From here, I could see all their faces clearly.
"I am Eun Seo-ho, as just introduced. Thank you all for coming to celebrate my branch leader announcement."
Father made the official declaration.
"Today, I, Eun Gil-sang, leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group, hereby announce that my third son, Eun Seo-ho, is officially a branch leader."
Deputy Yu Dae-ik held up a silver badge from a tray—the group's symbol of a moon over the sea.
Unlike the jade badge I'd received earlier, this was for everyday wear.
I took it and hung it from my waist.
Now I was officially a branch leader.
The event went smoother than I'd expected.
No incidents like I'd feared.
Good.
At that moment.
Gwak Myeong-hyeon wiped the blood from his sword with a cloth.
The announcement must be in full swing by now.
He eyed coldly the men he'd just cut down.
While attending Eun Seo-ho's invitation with his family, he'd sensed their killing intent.
The masked men had directed clear hostility toward the Eunhae Merchant Group.
Gwak Myeong-hyeon had pursued them and learned they were after Eun Seo-ho.
True to assassins, their lips were sealed.
He couldn't discover who hired them.
They'd attacked him, but it was laughable by his standards.
What the hell is my disciple doing to attract flies like these?
Suddenly, his recent conversation with Eun Seo-ho came to mind.
"I just trusted you, Master."
"Me?"
"Yes. Don't you wish for your disciple's success? So I trust and follow you."
A disciple who trusted him so completely!
He'd taken him as a student due to a family prophecy, but before long, Gwak Myeong-hyeon had grown genuinely fond of him.
That must be why.
Why he'd given him one of the few remaining family treasures as a gift.
And why, like at Eun Jeong-ho's announcement, he'd stepped in personally upon seeing the masked men—knowing Eun Seo-ho could handle crises, but still.
Today of all days, no one could disturb Eun Seo-ho.
I won't let a single blemish mar my disciple's future.
Before he knew it, Eun Seo-ho was no longer just "young master" but "disciple" to him.
Shing.Click.
He sheathed his sword.
Others appeared from nowhere to dispose of the bodies.
No trace remained of the deaths here.
He straightened his clothes and shook off the blood scent with his inner energy.
Now, time to join his disciple.