Chapter 7 : Chapter 7

Chapter 7. He's Handsome!

The remaining days at the Murim Alliance were not many.

The moment he received my definitive answer, Namgung Gwang began preparations to depart immediately.

"Is there anything you need to pack?"

"No, Father. But before we go, I'd like to say my goodbyes to the Alliance Leader and Daoist Cheonggwang."

Being adopted for the first time–was that why? The word "Father" still felt a bit awkward.

"I was planning on it. Those fellows will come out to see us off."

Namgung Gwang ruffled my hair with an impressed look. Seeing us like this, we really did look like father and son. The feeling was strange, in a good way.

True to his word, on the day we departed, the Murim Alliance Leader and the Wudang Sect Daoists came to see us off.

"You're leaving."

"Thank you for looking after me all this time, Daoist Cheonggwang."

"……I see."

Cheonggwang wore a complex expression at my farewell, as though mixed emotions were churning within him. He seemed regretful that I'd chosen Namgung over Wudang.

"Take care of yourself."

"You too."

"You said you liked meat, but you need to eat your vegetables too to stay healthy."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"If you ever find yourself in trouble, send a letter."

"I'll send one even when nothing's wrong. Should I send it to the Murim Alliance?"

It sounded a bit cheesy once I said it, but I wasn't being insincere. Cheonggwang was a man of character who had shown me genuine kindness. Of course, he'd had ulterior motives of pulling me into Wudang, but let's set that aside.

"Even when nothing's wrong, you say……"

Cheonggwang seemed slightly surprised at my answer. Well, I had feelings too. He'd cared for me quite a bit, so naturally I'd grown attached.

Besides, staying on good terms with a Wudang Sect Daoist would benefit me in the future. No, that's not the point. It's just…… you know.

"Very well. It would be difficult for you to send letters to Mount Wudang, after all."

"Right."

The Murim Alliance Leader, rather than exchanging farewells with me directly, was speaking with the Sword King. Judging by the atmosphere, the two did not seem to be on such hostile terms as the rumors suggested.

Oh, and let me be clear about the source of those rumors–it was the countless clan heirs who'd been approaching me. People's love of gossip was the same then as now. And the amount of idle rumor was just as high.

Once Namgung Gwang finished his exchange with the Alliance Leader, he came over and spoke to me kindly.

"We will travel at a leisurely pace so you can take in every city and scenery worth seeing along the way. Commit it all to memory."

"Yes."

The road to Hefei was quite enjoyable.

There was no camping, and we spent nearly every day in towns and cities–luxurious days of sampling expensive food, watching performances, and taking in the scenery.

There was just one fly in the ointment.

[Hmm, entering a fine inn brings back fond memories. The joy we shared when we massacred those unworthy wretches at the inn–those were the days.]

This mood-killing Cursed Sword was the cause.

What was a nightmare for me, it reminisced about as a fond memory. The sheer irritation was beyond words.

[You call that a performance? A previous master of mine exterminated the entire families of performers like those unto the third generation! Have your eyes rotted?!]

[What a filthy place. An inn that does not earn its price deserves to have everyone inside killed.]

[Ah, the Huai River. Thanks to me, this very river once ran entirely red with blood. Hehehe, I miss those days. What say you? Would you not like to try it yourself?]

Complaints were one thing, but it was also trying to goad me into something heinous. No wonder I was fuming. What was this, a recital of fond murder memories?

Whenever the Blood Demon Sword spouted its nonsense, I fired back with a string of curses, but the damn thing had apparently built up an immunity and didn't back down easily anymore. My aching head.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, this thing keeps spouting nonsense."

"……The Blood Demon Sword?"

"Yes. It keeps bragging about how it once turned the Huai River red with blood and whatnot. Really unpleasant stuff, delivered with pride."

"I see. Could it be……"

"Hm?"

"……It's nothing."

Namgung Gwang nodded with a complicated expression. He seemed to be worried, or possibly alarmed–it was hard to tell.

As we continued our journey, we finally entered Anhui Province, the Namgung Clan's home territory.

Namgung Gwang had put on an excited expression, eager to show me the scenery of Anhui. But.

"……What's that?"

Sadly, that didn't come to pass.

The moment we entered Anhui Province, we spotted a village with flames leaping into the sky. The commotion was far too great to be a kitchen fire.

That left only one answer.

"Banditry in Namgung territory–how dare they!"

Namgung Gwang's face flushed crimson.

"Azure Heaven Corps! Go rescue the people and capture every last bandit!"

"Yes, sir!"

As the Azure Heaven Corps headed for the village, Namgung Gwang looked slightly embarrassed.

I tried to understand how he felt, while keeping in mind that I might not be able to fully empathize.

For a prestigious household, reputation would obviously matter, and the very first thing his adopted son had been shown was bandits running rampant in his own backyard. Naturally, that would be mortifying.

At times like these, you had to exercise your social skills.

"The Azure Heaven Corps is truly impressive. The moment they see injustice, they charge right in. The Namgung reputation is clearly no empty name."

"……You think so?"

"Yes. Since they're doing work the government should be handling, the officials must love the Namgung Clan too. A prestigious name isn't built for nothing."

"Hahaha."

Namgung Gwang brightened up and laughed heartily.

We made our way slowly toward the village. The Azure Heaven Corps had already put out the fires and captured every last bandit.

Fitting handiwork for the Namgung Clan's strongest combat force.

"Any escapees?"

"None."

"Well done."

Having entered the village, Namgung Gwang left the bound and kneeling bandits behind and approached the grateful villagers.

"You have endured a terrible ordeal."

"We owe you our lives. But…… how are we to go on from here……"

"I will provide some funds. It should be enough to sustain you for a while and rebuild the village."

"Is that truly so? Thank you! Thank you!"

"Stay strong."

After hearing the villagers' gratitude, Namgung Gwang drew his blade.

At that, the Blood Demon Sword threw another fit.

[KRAAAGH! You should be the one killing them! Why are you just standing there watching?!]

Ugh, my poor eardrums.

I didn't intend to just stand by either.

[Truly?]

Obviously.

From what I'd seen upon entering the village, there had been a fire, but no one was injured or dead.

What did that mean? These people weren't killers. Arson was nearly as terrible as murder, granted, but…

And looking at their faces–grimy and haggard–they didn't seem like people who'd chosen banditry willingly.

"Are you going to execute the bandits yourself?"

"I cannot simply let such people go."

Namgung Gwang spoke firmly.

"What if we hand them over to the authorities instead?"

At my suggestion, Namgung Gwang looked surprised. Thankfully, he didn't seem displeased. He simply regarded me with that same curious look from before.

"Is there a reason?"

"First, these people don't seem to be murderers. Look–there's no one injured or dead over there."

"True. I am aware. But there is no guarantee they have not killed before."

"That's fair. But there's no proof they have, either."

Of course, if we asked them, they'd deny it on the spot, so the truth was unknowable. But as long as there was no evidence, shouldn't the presumption of innocence be upheld?

Above all, these people showed no signs of being accustomed to killing.

"Besides, sparing them and handing them over to the authorities gives us more advantages."

"What advantages?"

Right, this was where I had to choose my words carefully. A chance to score points with Namgung Gwang.

"First, we can put the authorities in our debt. The Namgung Clan regularly goes on bandit-suppressing campaigns, but strictly speaking, that's the government's job. Using that as leverage to pressure them would be bad form, but at the very least, the authorities would owe us their gratitude. And if we escort these bandits in, the common folk can witness the Namgung Clan's righteous deeds firsthand."

"Hmm…… that makes sense."

"And there's another reason."

"Another reason?"

"Shedding blood during a time of celebration is bad luck."

"What? Hahahahaha!"

This wasn't a lie. As the son of a shaman, I could vouch for it: spilling blood before a great occasion–or during a celebration–was ill-omened.

"Indeed! A new member has joined the Namgung family, and we cannot have bloodshed. Quite right."

Namgung Gwang nodded with a satisfied face. Thank goodness my words had landed well.

"Azure Heaven Corps, bind them all. We will hand them over to the Hefei authorities."

"As you command!"

The Azure Heaven Corps members sprang into action, and the Blood Demon Sword threw a fit.

[No! If you will not even kill the likes of them, then who in the world do you intend to kill?!]

Who am I killing to make you happy? Shut your mouth.

After a brief squabble with the Blood Demon Sword, Namgung Gwang came over and ruffled my hair.

"Your disposition is so gentle–I am certain you will get along well with your siblings."

I'd already been told about the family.

My new stepmother's name was Baekri Ran. As her name suggested, she'd married in from the Baekri Clan.

Then there was the eldest brother, Namgung Hwi, and below him a younger brother, Namgung Myeong, and a younger sister, Namgung Hye.

Hmm, this was a bit tricky. Having an older brother was fine, but having two younger siblings was a little concerning.

For both of them, a new authority figure had suddenly appeared out of nowhere–that would naturally be uncomfortable. Especially if they heard I'd been a waiter.

'What can I do? I'll just have to put my maxed-out social skills from two lifetimes to good use.'

In my previous life, I'd actually had a younger sister. Handling younger siblings was my specialty.

……Probably.

"Our youngest, Hye, is particularly adorable. She's seven now, and remarkably clever."

Namgung Gwang suddenly launched into a daughter-bragging session. Fathers turning into puddles over their daughters was the same in every era, it seemed. Wait, should I say "every era" or "past and future"?

Listening to Namgung Gwang's stories and the Blood Demon Sword's petty grumbling, we arrived in Hefei before I knew it.

Hefei was famous in the old Three Kingdoms era as a battlefield between the kingdoms of Wei and Wu, and traces of its military character lingered throughout the city. The walls, in particular, were remarkably tall.

"The two most famous figures associated with Hefei are Jang Ryo and Judge Bao. There are shrines dedicated to both."

The moment we arrived, Namgung Gwang brought it up with thinly veiled pride. Which historical figures a hometown had produced was a source of local pride.

I could understand the sentiment. Even in the modern era, you'd occasionally see banners outside high schools reading, "Class of XX, Student So-and-So, Accepted to Seoul National University." It was exactly that feeling.

'Of course, Jang Ryo wasn't actually from Hefei.'

When we reached the city gates, the guards didn't even conduct an inspection–they simply bowed in greeting to the Namgung Clan Head.

"Welcome back, Clan Head."

"Haha, anything happen while I was away?"

"No, sir!"

"What about the inspection?"

"Who would dare inspect the Namgung Clan Head?"

"Now, that will not do. What if someone disguised themselves as me? Make no exceptions in your inspections."

"……Then please excuse us."

When Namgung Gwang insisted on protocol, the guards complied. With the Clan Head himself submitting to inspection, the Azure Heaven Corps members and other Namgung retainers naturally consented to being searched as well.

'So this is the Namgung Clan. Truly a class act.'

I'd heard they reigned like kings in Hefei, but to see such fair-mindedness firsthand was remarkable. It was clear why they commanded such widespread respect.

"All clear."

"Good. Keep up the fine work."

The moment we entered Hefei, the bustling noise of the market fell away as if by magic.

The fruit vendor, the porter hauling goods, even the drunk stumbling out of a tavern–everyone stopped what they were doing, lined the streets, and bowed their heads.

Their faces held not fear, but warmth and heartfelt respect. Namgung Gwang waved to each of them in return.

"Welcome back, Clan Head."

"Have you all been well?"

"Yes, sir. Thanks to the Namgung Clan, we commoners always sleep easy."

"If you have any problems, come to us. The Namgung Clan will take care of it."

"Oh, thank you so much."

That alone told me everything about the Namgung Clan's standing in Hefei.

'They don't rule by force–they've captured the people's hearts entirely. So this is what a prestigious house looks like.'

I'd heard the term "prestigious house" before, but had never truly felt what it meant until now.

At this level, even court-appointed officials would have difficulty governing Hefei without the Namgung Clan's cooperation. If the Namgung Clan took offense, even collecting taxes would probably become a headache.

'Earning people's respect is something that cannot be achieved by strength alone. The people of the Namgung Clan are fundamentally honorable, in all likelihood.'

That alone was more than satisfying. What if, of all things, the clan I'd been adopted into turned out to be one rife with internal power struggles or full of hypocrites?

"You will need to grow accustomed to this as well. And you must not bring shame to the Namgung name."

"Of course. From the moment I decided to join the Namgung Clan, I've been prepared to shoulder not just the rights, but the duties."

At my reply, Namgung Gwang regarded me as though he'd heard something unexpected. I didn't know what he was thinking, but he was probably feeling quite good about his decision to adopt a son. Hmm, am I being too self-congratulatory?

[Duties? I thought you only cared about living comfortably.]

Tsk, tsk. This is why scrap metal doesn't get anywhere.

Think about it. Even in an ordinary household, every member has their role.

If I just loafed around doing nothing because I liked the easy life, I'd be cutting off my own nose to spite my face.

If I studied hard and helped with chores on weekends–vacuuming, doing laundry–they'd call me a good kid and give me pocket money. But if I did nothing but play around and then asked for spending money, I'd get smacked on the back for my trouble.

In other words, diligently doing my part at the Namgung Clan was actually the path to a more comfortable life. This was the secret to seeing the forest, not just the trees.

[How very clever.]

Now you understand?

And with that, we arrived at the Namgung estate. A truly enormous manor spread before me, but having already seen the grandeur of the Murim Alliance, it wasn't exactly jaw-dropping.

Still, the fact that a single family lived on grounds this vast was impressive in its own right.

"Let us go in."

"Yes."

When we stepped inside, there stood a beautiful woman.

A young girl clung to the woman's hand, and beside them stood two boys with a notable age gap between them.

'That must be Namgung Hye, and the older one is Namgung Hwi, the younger one Namgung Myeong.'

The beautiful lady welcomed Namgung Gwang with a voice that sounded pleased yet somehow barbed.

"You're back?"

"I'm home, dear."

Namgung Gwang's wife, Baekri Ran, was so beautiful it was hard to believe she'd borne three children. Could she possibly be a second wife, taken after the first had passed away? How was she so young?

"……Is that the child you mentioned in your letter?"

"That's right."

Namgung Gwang gave my back a gentle push. All right–first impressions were everything.

Just nailing the greeting would get me halfway there. Time to unleash the "manners" I'd honed since my previous life.

I bowed deeply to the lady at a full ninety degrees.

"Hello, Mother. My name is Namgung Yul."

The moment I called her "Mother," I felt her recoil in shock.

The finest manners under heaven worked here too.

"It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Surely she couldn't spit on a smiling face.

The response didn't come right away. When I peeked up, Baekri Ran was looking at me with icy eyes.

"Welcome. But don't you think calling me 'Mother' is a bit premature? Even if the Clan Head has taken you in as his son."

……There are exceptions in this world.

Sadly, today was one of those days.

Or so I thought.

"Are you my new big brother?"

The little girl who'd been holding Baekri Ran's hand let go and came toddling over to me.

She stared up at me, then looked back at her father and mother, and exclaimed–

"I like this big brother!"

At Namgung Hye's brazen declaration, a smile bloomed across Namgung Gwang's face. Baekri Ran's expression, on the other hand, hardened.

"Is that so?"

"Yep!"

"Why?"

Namgung Hye beamed.

"He's handsome!"