A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 119

119. An Unexpected Gift (2)

The Seowon’s morning is quiet. Enjoying the tranquility, Nam-ak Senior smiled contentedly.

“It’s spacious and nice.”

With a satisfied look, Nam-ak Senior picked up his teacup. The obstacle that had been blocking his view for the past few days had finally disappeared.

“It’s also quiet.”

“It was always quiet, just without conversation,” Shinui retorted from the side. The Senior frowned.

“Still, it was visually frustrating. That bear-sized guy was taking up so much space; it made the place feel cramped.”

Everyone knew he was talking about: Hyeonryeon-wi, the former Paegeum [a title or rank, possibly related to martial prowess], who had occupied most of the bamboo mat.

“Well, but if Lady Jeok doesn’t come, that’ll be a bit disappointing.”

Shinui said with a face that showed no disappointment at all.

“She was a nice girl who taught the kids well and organized the materials quite well.”

Although his expression was stern, Shinui’s disappointment seemed genuine. It was only natural since there was no one else to help him.

“Shall I help you?” Sonbin asked. Shinui glanced at him.

“As I’ve said before, if you have time for that, read some basic medical texts first. That’s how you can help.”

“Why are you taking it out on the kid who’s just standing there?” The Senior grumbled.

“He’s offering to help, and you’re still making a fuss… Huh?”

The Senior, who was speaking, suddenly frowned. Seorin, who had been tasting the tea on the table with her tongue, also raised her head. Only Dang Wor-ah remained motionless, holding her teacup.

“If you’re here, why don’t you come in?” The Senior said, looking outside. The person who peeked out from the gate was none other than Lady Jeok Se-hwa. She smiled shyly and came inside.

“Hello.”

“Welcome.”

Sonbin greeted her with a smile. Jeok Se-hwa also bowed her head with a smile.

Jeok Se-hwa, who greeted Shinui, the Senior, Dang Wor-ah, and Seorin, took her usual seat. Sonbin offered her tea.

“Thank you. Oh, by the way, Great Warrior Hyeonryeon is…”

“He won’t be coming,” the Senior said with a grin. Jeok Se-hwa didn’t know the result of the last martial arts contest.

“Now, we’re done with seeing that frustrating face.”

“Is that so?” Jeok Se-hwa, who received the teacup, tilted her head.

“But today, a strange letter came from the Hyeonryeon family.”

“A letter? This morning?”

“Yes. It’s just that…”

At that moment, the Senior, who was listening, turned his head sharply and immediately distorted his expression.

Thud.

With the sound of footsteps, a warrior with a huge physique that seemed to fill the gate entered. His stylish beard reaching down to his chest, he was none other than Hyeonryeon-wi, the former Paegeum.

Thud, thud.

Hyeonryeon-wi strode inside and took a seat on the bamboo mat, right where he always sat. In an instant, the surroundings seemed full.

“Why are you here again?” The Senior frowned and asked, as if scolding him. But the former Paegeum stared intently at Seorin’s teacup on the table instead of answering. Seorin, who was licking her tongue, looked up at the former Paegeum with wide eyes, unafraid.

“Shall I get you some tea?” Jeok Se-hwa quickly got up and said.

“I’ll do it,” Sonbin, who was nearby, offered tea to Hyeonryeon-wi. Hyeonryeon-wi bowed his head almost imperceptibly to express his gratitude.

“Well, well? What’s this? You’re even saying thank you.”

“He didn’t say it,” Shinui added to the Senior’s words.

“He just bowed his head. No, that’s not the point right now. You’re now… Huh? What’s this again?”

Swish.

The Senior, who was speaking, turned his head again. This time, everyone’s gaze except for the former Paegeum turned to the gate.

“Let’s see, so this should be the place… Ah, this is the Seowon [a type of private academy during the Joseon Dynasty].”

A middle-aged man entered, looking around.

“Oh my, it’s really shabby. It’s going to take a lot of work to fix this, right?”

With a sun-tanned face, a sturdy physique, and tools hanging from his waist, it was clear at a glance that he was a carpenter. Behind him, about four similar men entered the Seowon in a line.

“Is this the place? It’s our first job in Cheongwon.”

The men, who appeared to be carpenters, began to talk to each other, looking around the house.

“This is a bit much, isn’t it? The house isn’t even finished, and the walls aren’t even built properly?”

“This fence here is completely gone, isn’t it?”

The carpenters shook the barely standing wooden fence, talking to each other. It seemed like the fence might collapse at any moment.

“There’s not even proper shade, so the kids will all collapse during class in the summer. We definitely need to fix it… Ah, are you the owner of this place?”

The carpenter, who had been grumbling, bowed to Shinui with a smiling face. Shinui only moved his eyes to look at Sonbin. The carpenter, who didn’t catch the look, spoke to the Senior this time.

“Then, Master No…”

Jeok Se-hwa, unable to watch any longer, quickly stepped forward.

“The young master is the teacher of this Seowon.”

“Ah, is that so?” The carpenter said to Sonbin with a smile that seemed ingrained on his face.

“Congratulations. You’re receiving blessings for doing good work like education.”

“What do you mean…” Sonbin asked with a bewildered expression.

“This time, the Hyeonryeon family has decided to extensively repair old Seowons as part of their regional community revitalization efforts,” the carpenter said with a bright smile.

“About thirty Seowons, including Gwangju and surrounding small cities, will receive this benefit. Of course, all expenses are covered by the Hyeonryeon family. Thanks to this, the construction industry has also been able to breathe. It’s a generous act worthy of the Hyeonryeon family. Haha.”

The carpenter praised the Hyeonryeon family, spitting as he spoke. But Shinui and Sonbin had bitter smiles on their faces. Jeok Se-hwa also gave an awkward smile, as if she now understood the situation, while the Senior’s face contorted.

“You, you…” The Senior said to Hyeonryeon-wi, who was silently raising his teacup.

“Is that it? If you told me not to come because it’s cramped, you’re going to expand the Seowon altogether?”

The former Paegeum Hyeonryeon-wi said nothing, but his relaxed expression told them that the Senior’s words were correct.

“This guy, who’s a rich young master from the bones…”

“Consider your age. He’s not a young master,” Shinui said in a calm voice. The Senior’s face contorted. The bewildered carpenter took the opportunity to quickly interject.

“So then, how would you like us to fix it? It’s possible to completely change the Seowon this time. These days, it’s trendy to open up all sides to see the scenery, but…” The carpenter asked Sonbin. Sonbin turned his head to look at Hyeonryeon-wi instead of answering. Hyeonryeon-wi, who was silently holding his teacup, didn’t say anything, but Sonbin could tell that this was his own form of goodwill.

“Thank you. This is really a grateful thing,” Sonbin said. Sonbin didn’t miss the hint of relief that flashed across Hyeonryeon-wi’s expression for a moment. Of course, the Senior’s expression was contorted.

“But if possible, I’d like to keep this appearance as much as possible. I’ve grown quite fond of this place.”

“Indeed,” the carpenter nodded.

“Those who have learned a lot have high-class tastes. These days, it’s also trendy to deliberately make the exterior look old and decorate the interior in the latest style, isn’t it? 빈 [Bin – Empty], bin something… Anyway, it’ll cost a bit more, but well, it’s free anyway.”

The carpenter grinned. He didn’t seem to realize that the person who would be paying the bill was sitting right here.

Sreuk.

The former Paegeum, who had been sitting silently, stood up. Just standing up was enough to draw everyone’s attention, such was his presence.

“I can’t come often,” Hyeonryeon-wi said in a heavy voice. His intense eyes were directed at Sonbin.

“But, I’ll come sometimes,” Sonbin replied with a gentle smile. A strange light flickered in Hyeonryeon-wi’s eyes.

“Good for you,” the Senior scoffed.

Thud, thud.

The former Paegeum Hyeonryeon-wi turned around and left. It seemed he had come to confirm whether Sonbin would accept it.

“That bear-like guy is scheming… Tsk,” the Senior grumbled, but said no more. He had provided the excuse in the first place, and Sonbin had already given his permission.

“The letter’s contents had this meaning. I wondered what it meant when they suddenly started promoting the repair of dilapidated Seowons…” Jeok Se-hwa said to herself.

“Ah, I have to go too. I’m sorry, Shinui. I’ll come help with the data organization later,” after giving a light greeting, Jeok Se-hwa returned to the Hoyeon Martial Arts Center.

In the meantime, the carpenters seemed to be examining every corner of the house and making work plans. And after some time, the children began to flock in.

“Teacher!”

“Teacherrr!”

The children came all at once, as if they had made a promise. And a problem arose.

“It won’t do,” the middle-aged man, called the head carpenter, frowned. He was a different carpenter from the one who had explained to Sonbin earlier. His eyes were sharp, and it was clear at a glance that he had a picky personality.

“It’s out of the question for children to be around during construction. We’ll be bringing in materials and workers soon; what if the children get hurt?”

Sonbin immediately nodded. The thought of the children getting hurt was terrible.

“How long will it take?”

“We’ll need to take at least ten days.”

“Ten days?” The head carpenter clicked his tongue at Sonbin’s changed expression.

“Originally, it would take at least a month. It’s only faster because a large number of carpenters and workers have been mobilized. You wouldn’t even dream of it if the Hyeonryeon family hadn’t stepped in.”

The Seowon’s repair seemed to be a bigger deal than Sonbin had thought.

“I understand. Then, I’ll leave it in your hands.”

Sonbin led the children outside. With Shinui, the Senior, Dang Wor-ah, and Seorin, it was quite a large group.

“Teacher, is our Seowon gone?”

“If we lose our house, won’t we become beggars?”

“Can’t we study anymore?”

The children looked up at Sonbin with eyes that looked like they would cry at any moment. Sonbin stroked the children’s heads.

“No, we’re going to make it better,” Sonbin said, but the children still seemed suspicious. It was as if they had suddenly been deprived of their beloved playground, and some of the children were staring blankly at the inside of the Seowon.

It somehow felt like the Seowon was really gone, and even Sonbin’s heart was about to become desolate.

“Then, shall we go on a picnic?”

“Picnic?”

“What’s a picnic?”

Sonbin smiled.

“It’s buying delicious things and going to play.”

The children’s bright eyes all turned to Sonbin. The unusually shining eyes of Seorin and Dang Wor-ah were also with them.

*

*

*

Oseong Village is a small village not far from Cheongwon. In fact, it was practically attached to Cheongwon, as it was just over one hill.

Many of the villagers also had workplaces in Cheongwon and virtually considered themselves Cheongwon people. However, those residents, now, not a single one remained in Oseong Village.

“Reporting.”

A man dressed as an ordinary villager said. Kneeling on one knee and placing his fist on the ground, he exuded a sharp aura like a soldier, unlike his appearance.

“There are no changes in the target area today. We discovered a group of men entering the village, but they have been identified as ordinary carpenters.”

“Understood,” a middle-aged man said. Sitting on a small chair in front of a shabby village house, he was also dressed as an ordinary farmer.

However, the spirit emanating from his entire body told that he was no ordinary person.

“Return to regular duty.”

Swish.

The man who finished reporting bowed once more and left with disciplined movements. His figure quickly disappeared beyond the fence.

“Regular duty… It’s just waiting.”

A woman standing next to the chair said. Her clothes and hair were the same as those of an ordinary woman, but she also exuded sharp eyes and an unusual aura.

“Killing time aimlessly, waiting for a hypothetical situation that will never happen.”

The man sitting, Eun-geom Daeju [likely a rank or title within an organization], frowned.

“There is no absolute in the world.”

“Yes, but there are many things that are infinitely close to absolute. For example, a natural disaster occurring in Cheongwon.”

The woman, Boodaeju’s [another rank or title] voice was sharp.

“Complaints are starting to come from the members.”

“It is your job to stop that.”

“It won’t last long,” Boodaeju said.

“Because their complaints are justified.”

Boodaeju bowed to Eun-geom Daeju with a stiff expression and left without looking back.

As she disappeared, Eun-geom Daeju, who was left alone, sighed softly.

“Hoo.”

Click.

Eun-geom Daeju got up from his seat and sighed once more. His dignified shoulders drooped powerlessly.

“Yes, it’s justified,” he muttered softly and raised his head. The sight of an ordinary village, with nothing special, came into his view.

Chirp, chirp.

Birds chirped from somewhere.

Swish.

The wind blew and the branches swayed, and the clouds flowed very slowly. The sound of birds chirping in the distance was so lonely that it felt like there was no one else in the world but him.

‘Extremely boring, extremely peaceful environment,’ Eun-geom Daeju thought. He didn’t have to do anything here. Everyone knew that the ‘what if’ wouldn’t happen. This state had been going on for months already. Moreover, there was no guarantee when it would end.

‘This environment is extremely toxic to us. At this rate…’ It wasn’t that he had never taken on missions that took several months. He had also carried out missions that tested the limits of his patience.

But those had a tense tension, like walking on a knife’s edge. Their job was to never be caught, even while being right next to them.

But this was different. There was no tension and no danger. All there was was a vague wait with no guarantee and no meaning. It was like life was slowly rotting away.

‘Could it be…’ The fear that they would be abandoned like this suddenly raised its head. Eun-geom Daeju bit his lip.

‘No, that can’t be.’

The Eun-geomdae [a special military group] is a force to be reckoned with in the Tang Clan, as well as an object of fear. No one knows who their secret and ruthless blade will be aimed at.

The Tang Clan’s ruthless and cold-blooded blade hidden in the darkness, that was the Eun-geomdae.

‘That can’t be.’

Shaking his head, Eun-geom Daeju repeated. However, there were also many cases where secret military groups like the Eun-geomdae were secretly disposed of. Those in power never tolerate potential risk factors.

Could the Eun-geomdae have been abandoned by Tang Hwa-ryeon, the Tang Clan’s chief military strategist? Under the pretext of this ridiculous mission?

“Hmm,” Eun-geom Daeju frowned and groaned. It was then.

Swish.

“Daeju-nim [a respectful title, similar to ‘Lord’],” one of the Eun-geomdae members who had been waiting appeared. His voice was trembling with tension.

“The Black Pearl is heading this way.”

“Is that so?” ‘Black Pearl’ is a code word for the person being protected. Tang Wor-ah, who was designated as a special class by Tang Hwa-ryeon, the Tang Clan’s chief military strategist, was the person being protected.

‘Has there been a change?’ Eun-geom Daeju was not surprised. This was not the first time Tang Wor-ah had visited this place.

“But…” There was a sense of embarrassment in the reporting Eun-geomdae member’s voice.

Eun-geom Daeju frowned. He thought that the long boredom was now rotting even the minds of the Eun-geomdae members, but that was a bit of a premature judgment.

“Speak,” a sharp voice flowed out. The Eun-geomdae member quickly continued his report.

“There are companions.”

“Companions?”

“Yes,” the Eun-geomdae member replied.

“In addition to the Black Pearl, there are two old men, two young men, and… eight children.”

Eun-geom Daeju’s face contorted without him even realizing it.