There Is No Such Thing in This World as Everyone Being Happy (3)
I glanced to one side. The folks from the military strategy office were clustered together, packed in tight. Then I looked to the other side. The people from the medical hall were huddled up just the same. And across from them were the figures from the financial management building….
Should I call this getting whacked upside the head? Or maybe stepping on my own axe while trusting it blindly?
At the center of those three groups were my maid sisters.
“If not for Lady Ilhyang’s invitation, we’d never have dreamed of showing up here.”
Then why’d you come at all?
“Ho ho, festivals are for everyone to enjoy together. And today’s on the youngest young master, right?”
I’d said it myself, sure, but I didn’t mean you guys were invited.
Our Ilhyang sis had changed completely after getting out in the world. Had she forgotten those days scraping wild greens from the mountains because we were broke?
“See? The youngest young master’s smiling too.”
I wasn’t smiling because I was happy, not right now….
“Just as Lady Ilhyang said—a fine fellow indeed.”
“Right? The best in the world!”
Ha ha, hard not to crack a grin with praise like that right to my face. And I couldn’t exactly tell these seat-stealers to beat it.
“Lady Ihyang, our sudden intrusion won’t burden the youngest young master, will it?”
Spoken like true strategy office brains—sharper than the healers when it came to reading the room. Yeah, you’ve crunched the numbers. So now scram! You’ve eaten plenty.
I shot Ihyang sis a look brimming with infinite trust.
She beamed back. “No worries. The youngest young master isn’t as narrow-minded as you think. Among everyone I know, he’s got the biggest heart in the world.”
Uh… that’s not what I meant?
Sure, I’ve got a big heart, but look at the crowd! Easily over two hundred now. Triple the original count.
And every dish they were scarfing down was top-shelf cuisine and premium liquor.
“As expected of the youngest young master!”
“Right? Ho ho! He’s always the best.”
Why did those words suddenly feel like a jab?
Clutching my last shred of hope, I turned toward Samhyang sis’s group.
Uh….
Crunch munch chomp chomp.
Nom nom nom nom nom.
Slurp slurrrrp.
They chewed, tore, and guzzled in silence, like they’d marched in for battle.
Ha ha! Ha ha!
Who was it that said never share a table with merchants?
Unlike the others, these guys knew exactly what was good here. Look at that—picking only the priciest stuff!
“The dragon palace soup’s all gone.”
“Dragon dew liquor’s empty.”
“No more dragon eyebrow greens either.”
No one left to trust in this world.
“Hang in there, youngest young master! I’m right here with you, aren’t I?”
Oh yeah, this guy was strategy office too. Deputy strategist, even.
“Why aren’t you over there? Aren’t you their superior?”
He hadn’t even noticed his own crew showing up earlier.
“Ha ha ha!!!”
Namgung Je-cheon laughed awkwardly.
“Weirdly, lately no one wants to chat with me. They ignore what I say, don’t read the room. Should I just move to Cheonryongjeon for good?”
I’d put up with this fool’s crazy antics long enough. No wonder he stuck so close to Ihyang sis.
Tsk tsk. Should’ve played nice from the start.
I stated firmly, “No.”
“Aw, you like it but playing coy.”
Like it? What’s to like! Sigh….
Then the main gate creaked open again as someone else strode in.
“Did you invite them?”
“Come on, you know everything now. No one in Namgung Sega plays with me anymore except you, youngest young master.”
“True. Who’d hang with a lunatic like you? So why’d they come?”
About two hundred people poured in, settling into empty seats like they owned the place.
I faced off with the mastermind who’d dragged them here.
Argh, seriously! Wasn’t I the generous big bro footing the bill!?
“Thanks for the invite, little bro. First time mooching off you like this.”
“Second brother… I don’t remember inviting you.”
“No way. Namgung Pil squad leader said you told everyone to come anytime.”
That innocent look—like he’d just heard and tagged along.
But his eyes were smiling. Just the corners.
Ha ha! This is on purpose. Obviously on purpose.
“I brought the entire Daeyeon Geomdan myself. How could I, as your brother, sit this out when our little bro’s treating big?”
You could’ve sat it out, bro. And anyone can see you’re here to get back at me for that loss.
“Plus, this should cool my temper nicely.”
See? Told you!
Brother grinned at me and continued. “Gonna stuff myself silly today. Heh heh heh heh.”
“Kraw raw raw!!! Second young master! Get over here! This place is a goldmine! Best food and booze of my life!”
It is a goldmine. The capital’s priciest chef at work—tasteless would be the real crime.
But was that elder even injured? Most lively guy here. He’ll outlive us all.
Lucky bastard! Gulp!
Damn it….
Namgung Je-cheon beside me quietly refilled my cup.
“This is why I like second bro. One of the few in murim you can’t drop your guard around.”
This jerk fanning the flames? Want me to smash your daegari too?
“Still, this is something. If it were me, I’d have dragged every outer court warrior. Shows conscience as a direct descendant. Or maybe consideration for the youngest young master.”
Two more considerations like that and the house is bankrupt.
“Anyway, this vibe’s not bad, right?”
Not bad at all. Total chaos.
“Oh, Sword Venerable! Here you are. How about we eat up and spar another round?”
“Heh heh, Thunder Emperor, go easy on this old bag of bones. Joints still aching.”
“Kraw raw raw! Then how about you, Fire Venerable?”
“Amitabha, prior engagement.”
Daeyeon Geomdan leader Namgung Pil held back elder Namgung Cheon.
“Elder, get in line. Even you can’t cut.”
“Kyak ya kya, squad leader! Grown a lot, eh?”
“Been taller than you since forever.”
Perfect recipe for pandemonium!
“Hey rascal, how much did I win today?”
“Lemme see, young master bet two thousand silver taels, so… two hundred thousand.”
Yeah, two hundred thousand silver taels. No small change. Unthinkable sum.
“Eat! Let’s gorge till we burst!”
“Hell yeah! Real men don’t cling to coin like wimps!”
“Right? How much can they eat anyway?”
* * *
On the rooftop.
Namgung Hancheol quietly nursed his cup alone. Yi Han, who should’ve been beside him, was down there yapping away, spit flying—what had gotten into him?
“Our Ilhyang! So clever, she…!”
Namgung Hancheol’s ears picked up more than most.
His gaze shifted to old Namgung Ilro, who rarely showed at these shindigs.
“Ihyang my girl! With you around, this old coot can finally rest easy and close his eyes. You’ve no idea how that madman turned my guts pitch black….”
Namgung Ilro wore the most peaceful look imaginable.
Namgung Hancheol topped off the empty cup. As always, from the clan’s highest perch, he surveyed below.
Everything as it should be. Sword qi and auras blooming everywhere. Shouts filling the night.
Everywhere except one spot.
His kin, ever locked in self-rivalry or one-upmanship.
They’d drink sometimes, rest, chat in groups. But never like that.
Folks from rival factions gathered, tensions utterly shed. No guards up—they just poured, drank, and bantered freely.
Things had changed. Most shocking: second son right in the mix.
Not long ago, he’d stormed in, eyes blazing about the youngest this and that.
Today, he’d even taken a solid hit from said youngest and lost face.
The second son Namgung Hancheol knew should be sharpening revenge’s blade by now.
“Yet there he is, grinning over drinks….”
What was so great? So fun?
Thoughts he’d never entertained before.
“Heh heh.”
He startled himself a bit.
—You know it too, right?
—Know what?
—That you’ve changed as well. You’ll notice bit by bit. And realize: change means you’re getting drawn in.
—Spouting nonsense about mercy? Want your last arm lopped too?
—Heh heh heh, do as you please.
“Foolish notions keep bubbling up.”
The booze tasted off tonight.
Namgung Hancheol descended from the roof.
* * *
I pinched my nose against the sour booze stench and glanced aside.
Namgung Je-cheon was totally sloshed.
“Young master! Hear me out. I think master hates me. Always smacking my daegari, petting only Ihyang sis’s hair. I like head pats too….”
“Haa… yeah, yeah.”
Pat pat.
I stroked his head, standing in for elder Namgung Ilro.
“Hee hee, master, nice.”
“I ain’t the elder, but I can’t even do this much?”
The mood was peaking now. Someone crooning a tune over there. Another dancing with a blade yonder.
Groups once divided by office or unit now blended beyond recognition—strategy, medical, finance, Daeyeon Geomdan.
Never thought I’d see the day.
Like a neighborhood feast. Not that I’d ever been to one.
Then—
Creeeak.
The gate swung open again.
“Yeah yeah! Eat your fill! Suck it dry like mosquitoes on blood—go full bore!”
I’d given up, resigned. Whoever came next, didn’t matter.
Even big bro, I’d greet with “Aigo~ Bro’s here!” and a smile. Third bro too.
But me of all people….
“Got it.”
I froze at the newcomer, words failing.
I wasn’t alone.
Stab!
The sword dancer fumbled in shock, gashing himself.
Cough hack wheeze!
Chokes rippled through the drinkers everywhere.
Uh buh buh.
Uh buh buh buh.
The stunned mutters spread.
All from one man’s entrance.
He strolled past them leisurely, sat before me, and picked up an empty cup.
“Pour.”
I gawked blankly; annoyed, he grabbed the bottle himself.
Then Namgung Je-cheon lurched up, eyes half-mad with drink.
Spotting the new arrival, he slung an arm around and bellowed gleefully.
“No way! Isn’t this the biggest stick-in-the-mud in our house?”
Dead silence crashed down.
I prayed silently for Namgung Je-cheon’s next life.
Farewell, you mad lad. May you be sane next time.