Winds of Change Amid the Gathering Crowds (3)
I couldn't hide my disappointment with the current situation.
"It's so plain, but eating side dishes like these greens once in a while isn't bad at all."
Ilseon Dosa was flattering Sinyejang for all he was worth, trying to win her favor somehow. Thanks to the two years they'd spent together, their relationship had progressed a little—just a tiny bit, really. Sinyejang piled extra greens especially generously onto Ilseon Dosa's plate.
Mujikja, who never seemed burdened by greens in the first place, was chomping away at them with gusto.
"Give me another bowl."
'Damn that bald monk—he's really going for it!'
I wanted to jump up from my seat right then, but if I vanished now, Ilhyang and Ihyang noona would worry about why I wasn't eating properly. So I sat there, forcing it down like I was choking on tears.
That was when it happened.
"S-Sect Leader!"
Daegalbak 50ho, the eldest here aside from Ilseon Dosa and Mujikja, came rushing in, panting and disheveled—completely unlike his usual self.
'Could it be!'
Was he hungry? I patted the seat next to me.
"If you're hungry, just say so. Why are you standing there? Come sit."
"N-No, that's not it! And I want meat!"
'Oh! So there's at least one person here who gets me!'
"You need to come out right now!"
"Did someone show up?"
I took a bite of the tofu—the one thing that didn't taste like greens—and asked.
"Yes, Namgung Dae has arrived!"
I set down the tofu I'd been about to eat and stood up, asking again to make sure I hadn't misheard.
"Who did you say came?"
"Aigoo, you dense one! Namgung Jung, the second young master of the Namgung Clan, is here!"
A grin spread across my face.
"Well, can't be helped then. I guess I have to go greet my brother. Oh, everyone else, just stay here and enjoy the greens comfortably."
Though the proxy duel loomed ahead with my second brother, from what I remembered, he was a good guy—unlike the others.
"Heh. Heheheh."
The laughter bubbled up on its own. Everyone stared at me like I'd lost my mind.
"How many headbutts to the skull did it take to turn him like that?"
Keep it to yourself!
"I'll go welcome my brother then."
I stepped into the courtyard with a spring in my step, spotting my brother facing off against the Cheonryongjeon Daegalbak crew. I pushed through my men and reached him.
His sharp gaze, unchanged from past to present, turned toward me. I spoke first.
"Namgung Daeso greets Second Brother Namgung Jung. You must have come to talk, right? It's not great for chatting here, so let's go to that place from before, brother!"
Namgung Jung eyed the youngest with a look that said something didn't sit right. The cause was the youngest's unexpectedly warm attitude—something he hadn't anticipated at all.
This was his second time here. The first, two years ago, he'd visited, inspected the members, and sneered at the youngest and his crew. He'd seen them as worms thrashing about—mere errand boys from the Namgung Clan bottom ranks, banded together into this Cheonryongjeon farce. What, did they think a fancy name would make them seem less pathetic? He hadn't paid it much mind. Two years was too short for the runt to accomplish anything.
But today, that opinion flipped.
Who would look at these guys and think "errand boys"? Just their standoff sent waves of ki that felt like it was slicing into his skin.
He'd thought the proxy duel would end anticlimactically.
'This might be...'
"Brother, what are you thinking about for so long?"
The youngest's voice snapped him out of it.
"Just pondering a bit. So, where are we going?"
"That place from before. Where you bought me tons of tasty stuff!"
"Ah... that place?"
"Yeah, brother! My stomach's craving meat right now!"
Namgung Jung swept his gaze over the men once more.
'The ki they were emitting vanished the moment the youngest arrived. Do they really follow him wholeheartedly?'
This time, he looked at the youngest, who was beaming at him for some reason.
He'd just come from meeting the third brother. To him, third and youngest were both just little brothers... or so he'd thought.
Without realizing it, Namgung Jung reached out a hand.
The third had tensed up at the move, hand flying to his sword hilt. If Father hadn't been there, he would've drawn.
So how would the youngest react? Would all these guys jump him? Or mirror the third?
But the result was utterly unexpected.
His outstretched hand—
Grab!
'What?'
The youngest seized it and dragged him off.
"Come on, brother! My stomach's rumbling like crazy!"
"R-Right."
Namgung Jung, who rarely lost his cool, was utterly flustered by this unprecedented situation.
'Has anyone ever... grabbed my hand so casually?'
From the distant recesses of memory, a fragment he'd thought forgotten surfaced.
—Our Jong is a good boy, so take good care of your little brother.
The one Namgung member who wasn't truly Namgung—warm and kind.
"Brother! Hurry!"
"R-Right."
For the first time in ages, Namgung Jung recalled the warmth of his mother's hand.
* * *
I sat in the pavilion, brimming with anticipation.
"Bring out everything made with meat. And rice..."
Second Brother glanced at me, sighed, and continued.
"Just bring the whole pot."
He wasn't repeating last time's mistake. The key to eating was the flow! Last time, it got interrupted mid-meal—such a ordeal.
Growing bored waiting, I spoke first. I had a good guess why he'd come.
"You came about the proxy duel, right?"
"Yes. As you said, I waited two years. Now it's your turn to fulfill my request."
His face had returned to its usual impassive mask.
'That earlier expression was nicer.'
I replied casually.
"Sure. I'm good anytime."
"Even if I pick the date on my own?"
"Yeah."
Duels were second nature now—I could do them in my sleep.
The food arrived soon after. Sweet, salty, spicy aromas assaulted my nose.
Marinated meat. Charcoal-grilled. Boiled tender. Meat everywhere, filling my vision.
Yes. Meals needed meat, obviously.
I picked up my chopsticks—both hands, as always.
"I'm thinking of inviting some spectators to the duel."
I worked the chopsticks furiously as I answered.
"You mean onlookers? Fine by me."
I'd figured word would spread anyway.
"But... never mind. If you're okay with it, then it's fine. Eat up."
He seemed like he had more to say, and I was curious, but I nodded on reflex. The meat was cooling.
Namgung Jung watched Namgung Daeso devour it all, thinking he sure ate well.
'And still no suspicion, just like always.'
The youngest had been the same last time. Back then, he could've chalked it up to youth, but two years later? Still the same. He'd grown out of some childishness, but...
"Brother! This is delicious! You're the best!"
Just grown in body, it seemed. Or lacking caution.
This was a meal alone with his proxy opponent on the eve of the duel. What if the food was poisoned?
Despite himself, Namgung Jung grew irritated at the innocence.
"Little brother."
"Nom nom, yeah?"
"In this world, there are times you can't trust people too much."
I think I've heard something like this before...
"Even blood relatives are no different. No—in fact, they’re the very ones you should trust the least. We are no ordinary family. We are the greatest family under heaven."
Even as he lectured, the youngest kept shoveling food in. Had he been starving? Worry overrode anger at the immaturity. But that explosively grown body said otherwise.
"What if I'd poisoned the food? What then?"
The youngest halted his endless chopsticks, staring blankly.
Namgung Jung met those eyes—pure as blank white paper.
"It's you, brother."
Chewing still, his words slurred.
"It's you, not anyone else. You wouldn't hurt me."
Not a shred of doubt in that gaze toward Namgung Jung.
For some reason, it was hard to meet.
"Even if you did try to hurt me, it'd be okay."
"Wh-Why?"
Brother stammered.
I swallowed properly out of courtesy before answering.
"'Cause I like you, brother. Hehe."
I wouldn't have thought this before. But now? No need to be on guard before a fight—even if we'd clash someday. Maybe getting beaten so much built some mental leeway. A strong man's luxury? Not that I was claiming to be strong. Just some self-confidence now.
"......"
And second brother hadn't wronged me yet anyway.
"You're treating me to all this yummy food right now."
"I didn't make it. I just ordered."
"Psh, same thing. Third and First Brothers wouldn't even do that."
Third had stabbed my chest; First planned a gut hole. Compared to that, second was innocent.
"Tsk tsk. You're too careless anyway."
I hadn't noticed before, but this side of him was kinda cute.
"Hehe, it's fine. It's you, brother."
I smiled genuinely.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
"Eat up. I came to set the duel schedule."
"When're we doing it?"
I resumed my chopsticks. Felt like the talk was wrapping up.
'Gotta eat more—no, all of it—before then!'
"Tomorrow."
Wait, did I hear that right?
Brother continued.
"Participants on either side: free choice."
What? First time hearing that rule.
"Format: until one side admits defeat. No complaints?"
So, fight to the end till surrender?
Just to confirm, I asked.
"You're not fighting yourself, right?"
"Of course."
"Phew..."
That was when.
"Our duel spot will be elsewhere anyway. Young lord contest. Right?"
Haha! Hahaha!
"Yeah."
"And if I win tomorrow's match, I'll state my request now."
Listening to the rest, I made one resolve.
'I'm winning no matter what!'