Chapter 81: ...Can we... do it here...?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 81: ...Can we... do it here...?
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The story progresses as [Lee Mong-ryong] passes the [Civil Service Examination] with top honors.
As a special reward, [Magistrate Byun] inherits the feelings [Seong Chun-hyang] held for the [Pimp].
Isn't it a relief that you no longer have to rack your brains over her training?
The confrontational structure of [Lee Mong-ryong] VS [Magistrate Byun] has been perfectly established.
The balance is judged to be approximately 6:4, which is not excessive, so we will proceed as is.
[Magistrate Byun] will begin at the [Government Office] in accordance with the laws of the Classic Masterpiece [Chunhyangjeon] Gate.
Based on the knowledge assessment of the person performing the role of [Magistrate Byun], it has been determined that he is familiar with the contents of [Chunhyangjeon].
The story will proceed without additional guidance.
Do you agree? YES / Yes
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"?"
Even if I accepted that the story had to progress, there was a part I couldn't understand.
That one sentence stating the balance was 6:4 really rubbed me the wrong way, especially since I had been training in such a good mood.
I'm a 4? Kim Min-su is a 6?
Unless there was an error in the analysis, this was a result I couldn't easily accept.
I had the [Alpha Male] effect, which gave me an absolute advantage over virgins, yet I was a 4?
All Kim Min-su did was take an exam over six thousand times.
Was there some secret growth method for the [Civil Service Examination] that I didn't know about?
Or did I take Kim Min-su too lightly?
Actually, he was easy, and since I'd beaten him up several times, my intuition might have dulled.
But even a fallen dragon is still a dragon—Kim Min-su is the protagonist of this novel.
A protagonist is someone who overcomes adversity, grows, and eventually achieves everything.
What if Kim Min-su had grown stronger through this opportunity according to that law?
It was a plausible development.
After all, that was the reason I introduced him to this Gate in the first place.
I felt like I needed to see it for myself to know for sure, so I pressed the 'Yes' button.
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The location changes to the '[Government Office].'
Since [Lee Mong-ryong] is already in town, [Seong Chun-hyang] will arrive at the '[Government Office]' shortly.
Follow the flow of the story: command her to serve you, oppress her, and throw her in prison!
Afterward, defeat [Lee Mong-ryong] and achieve the hidden ending of the Classic Masterpiece [Chunhyangjeon]!
Since the clear conditions have been met, the ending conditions that determine the quality of the reward are now revealed.
Ending Condition for the Corrupt Official [Magistrate Byun]: Victory in the showdown against Secret Royal Inspector [Lee Mong-ryong] (0/1)
The showdown will take place on [Magistrate Byun]'s birthday.
If you fail to meet the ending condition, you will receive nothing and only clear the Gate.
Please do your best.
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Hah.
Looking at the message window, I felt like I was constantly letting out hollow laughs.
It felt like I'd learned it as a conditioned reflex.
No reward at all?
I had worked so hard to satisfy the clear conditions, and now it could all go down the drain.
On the other hand, a worry cropped up: did Kim Min-su fail to meet his clear conditions?
I had perfectly claimed Chun-hyang for myself and even ruined the pure love aspect.
But all Kim Min-su had done was complete [Lee Mong-ryong]'s top honors in the exam, which was the original flow of the story.
Perhaps this Gate was designed so that if two people entered, one wouldn't be able to leave.
No, there's no need to worry about him.
There was no way a character created as Chubby Ahn's ultimate self-insert would get stuck in a Gate and never come out.
As the saying goes, you don't need to worry about celebrities—and you certainly don't need to worry about protagonists.
Conversely, if I were the one to get trapped, Chubby Ahn would probably be so happy he'd clap with his feet. Just thinking about it pissed me off.
"Aigoo, My Lord, why are you doing this?"
"Hmm?"
I hadn't noticed because I was lost in thought, but the location had already changed to the [Government Office].
A scene straight out of a historical drama unfolded before my eyes.
A single chair was placed in front of a large dirt courtyard, and I was sitting arrogantly upon it.
Unintentionally, I had become a [Corrupt Official] who ignored the wailing of the people to think about other things.
Regardless of the process, the end result captured the vibe of [Magistrate Byun] perfectly, so it was actually for the better.
"Enough of that. Who is the prettiest gisaeng in this town? I've only just arrived, and my heart is too heavy to start working right away. It'll be my birthday soon, so I should at least see the faces of the gisaengs."
"The most famous gibang in this town is the [Flower Butterfly], and while there are many 'flower butterflies' there, a girl named Chun-hyang is said to be truly extraordinary."
"Oh, is that so? Then I must see her face for myself. Bring her here at once."
Exchanging these artificial lines, the servant finally uttered the most essential line for the story's progression.
"However, Chun-hyang has already promised marriage to Lee Mong-ryong, the son of the previous magistrate, and is waiting for him with a single-minded devotion."
"Haha! What kind of nobleman, living under strict parents, would prepare to take a gisaeng girl before even getting married? Bring her here immediately."
"B-But...!"
"Are you more afraid of a girl who claims to be betrothed to a nobleman than the nobleman standing right in front of you? I suppose I should become someone scary to you as well."
"No, My Lord! That's not it...!"
Thwack!
I didn't understand the sentence about being able to utilize the body to its limit at first.
However, after repeated training in that white space, I finally realized it.
My body moves exactly as I think.
From power control to movements you'd only see in a manga, everything became possible to implement.
It meant that the combat sense and adaptability 'Baek Tae-yang' possessed would manifest instantly.
I unconsciously found the best route and moved my body in the most optimal way.
Crash!
Before he could even beg for forgiveness, the servant was sent flying into a wall by a single punch.
Since people can't be fixed, I couldn't keep someone who had already rebelled once by my side.
Well, for now, I'm just acting the part of a corrupt official.
I even spat on the ground for effect as I looked around.
Wait, do noblemen spit?
"I... I will... I'll bring her right away, My Lord!"
"Right. Good."
A male servant, displaying a 'step-up' spirit that surpassed mere leadership, quickly scrambled away.
I realized that the sentiment of 'stepping up when you feel it's your turn' was truly universal.
The rest of them were frozen, unable to even roll their eyes properly, which made me feel a bit sorry.
But that's that.
Performing the role of the [Corrupt Official] properly was a separate matter.
"So, how long do you think it will take for that Chun-hyang girl to get here?"
"Well... there's some distance between here and the gibang, so it might take a little while."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, that's right. Er... anyway... please do not be angry..."
"What? Angry? Do I look like such a narrow-minded person that I would get angry over something like this? Haha... you truly cannot read people."
"I've done wro—!"
Thwack!
He was doing fine until that slip of the tongue, so I threw another punch.
Did he not know that one must always pay close attention when speaking to a superior?
Seriously, this is why people these days are hopeless.
Crash!
I gestured to the guy next to him and continued.
"What do you think?"
"The fellow who just ran off is one of the fastest in this town, so I believe she will be here shortly."
"Very satisfying."
"Haha, thank you. In my eyes, My Lord is absolutely not the type to get angry over such things, so how dare that fellow..."
It was a heartwarming moment where not a shred of camaraderie between servants could be found.
He was clearly trying to get on my good side by driving a wedge like that, but he made one mistake.
"What? How dare you judge me? Do you know who I am to be deciding whether I'm that type of person or not?"
"A-Ah...! No, My Lord...! That wasn't my intention...!"
Thwack!
Crash!
A magnificent sight was created as three servants were smashed into the wall side-by-side.
I was planning to play around and joke with them until Chun-hyang arrived.
At this rate, everyone's going to end up stuck in the wall.
[Magistrate Byun] held more power and strength than the [Pimp], making him the true king of this town.
While the [Pimp] had to be mindful of others due to his social status, [Magistrate Byun] was a tyrant through and through!
Being in a rural town, the concepts of arrogance and self-centeredness were simply ingrained in his character.
"My Lord! Chun-hyang has arrived! My Lord! Chun-hyang has arrived!"
"Right, it's important, so you said it twice. Well done."
"Hehe..."
The servant who had shown the 'step-up' spirit announced Chun-hyang's arrival, and the main gate swung wide open.
They didn't really need to open it like that, but it was the result of the other servants moving proactively to avoid getting hit.
Now, the stage was set.
All that remained was the story of me commanding her to serve me and Chun-hyang refusing.
I can't believe I'm actually going to say this line.
Just as Chun-hyang stepped through the gate and I was about to utter [Magistrate Byun]'s famous line for a quick ending...
Chun-hyang opened her mouth first.
She was wearing a smile so bright it was hard to believe she was someone who had been brought there against her will.
"My Lord! I missed you so much... For some reason, I was trapped in the gibang and couldn't move an inch, so I've been thinking only of you..."
Was this what it meant for emotions to be inherited?
I was so flustered that I couldn't speak for a moment.
While the servants were also looking on in confusion, I quickly regained my composure.
It's a minor thing.
Variables like this could be controlled easily enough, so I spoke the line.
"Chun-hyang, serve me."
The moment she heard my words, Chun-hyang's face changed completely.
Her bright expression darkened instantly, and she hung her head low.
Was it going according to the original story?
After all, she had to refuse, even if only as a formality, for Lee Mong-ryong to appear.
Just as my heart swelled with the expectation that I could reach the ending smoothly—!
Her next words froze everyone on the spot.
"...Can we... do it here...?"
"...."
Stick to the original story, damn it.
Refuse me.