I'll Handle That Revenge Myself (5)
Singui said,
“First, take this. It should ease your headache a bit.”
“……Yes.”
I took the pill from Singui without knowing what was going on.
Why is Singui here?
“Feeling better now?”
“Yes, yes.”
I straightened up and greeted him properly. He was still looking at me with that serious gaze.
“I have something to tell you.”
I'd heard that earlier. I glanced around the room again, wondering if this was the medical hall or something.
This is definitely my room.
But the atmosphere was awkward as hell. And the reason was probably the guy standing right in front of me. Singui, who was usually so composed, was fidgeting restlessly.
What the hell is he trying to say…?
If he had something to say to me, he could've just left a note. Or passed it through the head maid, or… Anyway, there were plenty of ways.
* * *
Singui was gauging Namgung Daeso's reaction.
Before coming here, he'd heard the whole story from Namgung Je-cheon and nearly fainted from shock.
“Anything else?”
“Else?”
“Yeah. What about the other spirit medicines? Don't tell me you gobbled those up too!”
“Come on~ I'm not a pig. How could I eat all that by myself? I shared with the sisters.”
This madman was beyond imagination. Not just the Cheong-a pills, but all sorts of other spirit medicines—he'd slyly smuggled them out through loopholes instead of outright theft. Fine, up to that point, it was understandable. Singui himself had handed over the Cheong-a pills and various other elixirs to Namgung Hancheol. Once given, they were out of his hands. Who takes back a gift?
The problem was that the fragrance of those Cheong-a pills lingered on the body. Some might wonder why that was a big deal, but scent was crucial for physicians—especially apothecaries. Distinguishing medicines and compounding new ones relied more on understanding their components through smell than anything else. Without the ability to differentiate herbs by scent, you could never be a true master apothecary.
It was still just a hunch, but if he'd eaten enough Cheong-a pills for the scent to seep into his body… And if this lunatic had done the same with the other spirit medicines… That would be a real disaster.
But there was a sliver of hope. If he could distinguish the scents of each individual medicine…
Singui dared to dream of reviving the old ambition he'd once abandoned.
“Let's go!”
“Where to?”
“To the youngest young master.”
He'd rushed straight to Namgung Daeso and the girls to confirm it… only to be greeted by an unexpected, utterly bizarre sight.
Empty liquor bottles scattered everywhere. About fifty grown men sprawled like corpses. The only ones still upright were three old men in the corner, pathetically nursing their cups.
Ilseon Daesa, Mujikja, and Geum Dondong.
Singui waved at them, and they greeted him back with miserable smiles. Then he learned it was all because of Namgung Daeso, who was passed out face-down on the table, exhausted from the fun.
Luckily, before Namgung Daeso woke up, he managed to clear up some doubts. By dawn, the head maid and her maids had tidied everything as if the night before had been a dream.
Well… not without that somewhat nauseating scene of Deputy Strategist Namgung Je-cheon clinging to the maids and throwing a tantrum.
“I got hit right here! That mean old geezer over there did it!”
“Poor thing~ There, all better?”
“Here too!”
Singui had nearly dragged him out and given him a beating right then, but held back. He couldn't afford to look bad to the potential future apothecary—and possible disciple.
Singui first pried Namgung Je-cheon away from the girls and approached the maids. Sure enough, the scent of Cheong-a pills clung to all three.
As if he'd been waiting, Singui pulled out several unmarked pills from his robe and asked them.
They were flustered at first but soon matched his seriousness.
“Do you know what this is?”
A nameless pill wrapped in black paper.
“Suryong Pill.”
“And this?”
Another nameless pill in black paper.
“Gongjin Pill.”
This went on for over ten questions, and they nailed every one.
And every answer was…
“Correct.”
The moment confirmation ended, Singui made his proposal.
“How about becoming my disciples? No—will you?”
It was a direct plea from Singui himself. They were stunned at first but quickly regained composure and answered without hesitation.
“No thanks.”
“Sorry.”
“That's too much for me.”
Singui tried persuading them repeatedly, but their resolve was ironclad. So, his last option was to ask Namgung Daeso directly.
* * *
The problem was that this guy was dead to the world, showing no signs of waking—which was why he'd waited all night.
“Please, I beg you. Can't you make it happen somehow?”
Singui bowed his head to me.
“You serious?”
This was the first time I'd seen Singui like this, and the first time getting such a request.
Singui looked up cautiously.
“Yeah. It wasn't just the pills. They distinguished every single herb perfectly. You have no idea how shocked I was.”
Ah… that.
I could easily guess the reason. Ever since the nursery days up to now, one of the maids' few hobbies was foraging for wild herbs in the mountains. Strictly speaking, it was a forced hobby for survival. After the nursery cut off support.
We'd eaten so many wild greens back then—it still made me dizzy thinking about it. My mouth reeked of grass. Occasionally, we'd dig up various medicinal herbs—not true spirit medicines, but close enough—to scrape by.
I asked Singui again.
“They really have the talent?”
If they had the gift, and could live a different life from being maids, and if they wanted it, then I…
It'd make me a little sad.
No.
Maybe a lot sad.
…I'd have to let them go.
“Talent? I've lived this long without taking a single disciple. Know why?”
“No marriage? No kids?”
“……”
“Haha! Kidding, kidding. The mood was too heavy, so I joked.”
“Ahem! I was too busy for marriage. Got it? Saving the world and all!”
Why's he getting so defensive? It was just a joke.
Singui's face was even more serious now. Better not mention marriage around him again.
“Yeah, yeah. So you're sincere, and they could become physicians? Apothecaries?”
“Not just physicians—Drug Immortals.”
Drug Immortal… He was overhyping them. But yeah, disciples of Singui should aim that high.
“Fine.”
It'd be enough persuasion.
“But no pressure. I'll go with whatever they decide.”
My answer wasn't fully positive, but Singui's stony face bloomed into a grin.
“Thanks! You're better than your old man!”
Uh… that didn't sound like a compliment. Dad was just… like that.
A moment later, as I stepped out of the room, the disaster before me left me frozen for a while.
“Those aren't all corpses, right?”
I remembered starting the party with them yesterday. The elders shared old tales, I heard about Elder Namgung Cheon's idiotic exploits, and then… memories got spotty. I think I blabbered something, they cheered excitedly, and… blank after that.
“Don't worry. They look dead, but they're all alive.”
“Phew, good.”
Yeah, with Singui here, no one would've died.
“Why's that guy doing that over there?”
Then I noticed another oddity amid my relief. Namgung Je-cheon was grunting as he hauled the drunks.
Looking closer, all the neatly lined-up bodies seemed to be his handiwork.
“Aigoo~ Young master! Why'd you take so long?”
Namgung Je-cheon spotted me and charged like he wanted a hug.
Whatever. Keep working.
“Just keep at it.”
“You're just gonna leave? My arms might fall off and kill me!”
“Yeah. They won't. And I've never heard of anyone dying from lost arms.”
“No~ I'll really die~”
I ignored his whining and headed straight to where the maids were.
* * *
The maids were huddled in the kitchen. A cauldron bubbled in front of them.
That sweet, savory smell. Bean sprout soup.
Someone once said bean sprout soup was the ultimate hangover cure.
Uh… but they all already had spoons in hand, looking way too practiced. Like regulars.
“Oh? Young master, you're up?”
Ilhyang hid what she was holding in surprise.
“The hang-over soup isn't ready yet.”
Ihyang, what's with the bean sprouts on your mouth?
“Feeling okay?”
Samhyang… she'd already finished hers. And boldly too—bowl right out in the open.
Born a man, she'd be a great general. Anyway, I'd confirmed they ate and passed out yesterday, yet here they were, normal as ever. Did Singui give them special pills?
I got to the point.
“Hey sisters, ever thought about becoming physicians?”
The answer came quick.
“Nope.”
“I'll serve you forever.”
“Me too.”
I turned to Singui.
“There you go.”
Singui addressed them, not me.
“Is the reason you're refusing my offer the young master?”
Unlike before, they hesitated.
“Huh? For real?”
Even my question got no reply.
It's legit, then.
That wouldn't do. I wasn't about to hold them back.
“Come on~ I'm not a kid anymore. You can be honest.”
Suddenly, everyone stared at me like I was an idiot.
What!
Oh… right. I am still a kid. Luckily, the head maid entered from outside, drawing eyes her way.
“So all that I overheard in the room was nonsense, huh.”
At that, the maids' eyes widened, glaring at her like she'd betrayed them.
“Ahem!”
Singui cleared his throat loud enough for everyone.
Now's the time.
He instinctively knew this was the moment to drive it home.
If the girls are hesitating because of the young master…
Singui spoke.
“I happened to hear that the young master formed his own faction.”
I slowly turned to stare at him.
Me?
“Even named it Cheonryongjeon.”
Me? First I'd heard of it.
“Total members: 53.”
That many?
“Count me in. Makes 54. If I take you as disciples, I'm one of the young master's people from now on.”
What about my permission?
Then Namgung Je-cheon burst in, panting.
“Me too, me too!! 55 now!”
Who invited you?
Then another strolled in leisurely.
“I've had my eye on one of them too.”
My eyes widened. Past Tianxia's top gambling lord. Current Cheonryongjeon financier. Future… undecided, but still my financier.
“Old man?”
“Heh heh. Thought I'd raise one. As a disciple.”
Geum Dondong's gaze fixed on one spot.
“Ol… d… man…?”
Samhyang stood there.
And it wasn't over.
“I'll take one under my wing too.”
You're not exactly mentoring age.
“A tragic genius who passed the perfumer's exam at my age, only for her family to fall and her become a slave. Ihyang of the Yi family—I appoint you Deputy Strategist to Strategist Namgung Je-cheon.”
“W-Wait a sec!”
These people! Speak one at a time!