Chapter 162
“Did you invite us here to cut ties?”
Roh Jun-Yeop slowly put down his chopsticks after taking a bite of the tteokbokki, which was colored green from “generous” amounts of some species of unidentified seaweed.
“......”
The other children had already turned pale and were covering their mouths with napkins. Comparatively, Roh Jun-Yeop’s stomach was good and he was the last to set down his chopsticks. For him, eating was just the act of replenishing calories, so he wasn’t much concerned with taste.
Still, the dishes that Jae-Hyeok had served were so weird that even he found it hard to eat. Said nicely, every dish faithfully retained the natural flavor of its raw ingredients. Said honestly, even the seaweed was tough to chew.
Roh Jun-Yeop was really starting to doubt Jae-Hyeok’s intentions.
“Uh......?”
Jae-Hyeok was also puzzled by the dishes.
Spicy, salty, sweet, bursting with umami—He had visited all the restaurants in the area to find food that his friends would like. Most of what he’d bought was red in color and looked deliciously greasy; meanwhile, most of the food on the table was white or green.
Even the meat was boiled and pale...
Jae-Hyeok checked the salad bowl, confirmed that even the dressing was missing, and finally figured out what was going on.
“This... Butler Hwang!”
“What happened to all the food I bought?!”
“I put it in the freezer for the time being. Once the sun goes down, I will sort it out for disposal as garbage and put it out by the front gate.”
“I brought that to eat! Why throw it away?”
“Eating such things will only decrease your lifespan. They shovel salt and sugar into greasy meats and buttered rice. It’s no different from a slow-acting poison, simply not suitable for human consumption.” Butler Hwang smiled resplendently. “Don’t worry, Young Master. As long as I live, I will always have enough energy to prepare meals for you and your honored guests.”
“No—”
“It tastes bad—bad, bad, bad!”
Do-Jin shouted before Jae-Hyeok could speak.
“The vegetables taste like dirt, the meat tastes like iron and grass, and the fish smells fishy. How are we supposed to eat this?”
“Haha, I used a cooking method that preserves the nutritional value, so the flavor might be a bit unfamiliar. Try to get used to it as you savor it slowly. Every bite can destroy cancer cells and extend your life!”
“How are we supposed to savor something inedible? Didn’t you hear me? It’s bad! Old Man, I thought your hearing was sharp from your time as a spy, but it must be a hearing aid. Go back and get your hearing aid first. Then I’ll explain slowly.”
It was truly a battle between a spear and a shield.
Do-Jin had abandoned his manners, flapping his mouth at speed and saying exactly what he thought. Meanwhile, Butler Hwang was obsessed with his own beliefs about food and life extension. Do-Jin could sooner punch through a fortress wall than change Butler Hwang’s mind.
“......”
At this point, the other students felt sorry for Jae-Hyeok. It would be difficult for him to lead the Kang family with these two by his side.
While Do-Jin and Butler Hwang were having a face-off, an old man slipped into the room, half-chuckling, half-humming as he did.
“Hoh-hoh, I finally get to eat some real food.”
The old man—who appeared older than even Butler Hwang—was sucking on a frozen pizza slice as if it were ice cream, his other hand cradling the box.
“Ah～ Delicious...”
“Elder Song.” Jang Yeon-Ju and Roh Jun-Yeop rose.
This elder was the very same blacksmith who’d re-joined the Kang family after they had rescued him. Not only was he the head of the Song family—which had cooperated with the Kang family for generations—but he was also the owner of the dragon harpoon that the white tiger beastman was after.
Jae-Hyeok also stood. “Elder Song! I’m glad you accepted my invitation to dinner.”
“When I heard that my benefactors had arrived, I naturally rushed over.”
Elder Song held Jae-Hyeok’s outstretched hand in his while turning to smile at Jang Yeon-Ju and Roh Jun-Yeop.
Benefactor?
Jang Yeon-Ju and Roh Jun-Yeop met Elder Song’s warm eyes and blushed.
They were young students. Although they’d both completed several commissions while a part of the Shooting Club, their relationship with clients had only extended to financial transactions. The gratitude received for saving a life was totally unfamiliar to them, and it felt special.
“That day, I was cornered by a gang of beastmen and had a hard time finding a place to hide. Then you appeared and saved me. I survived thanks to you, so I am grateful.”
After the fall of the Kang family, Elder Song sensed the danger. He took down the Song family’s signboard and disguised himself as an ordinary blacksmith.
Making a living wasn’t hard.
Grishi was the area with the highest annual appearance of gates in South Korea. It drew a constant stream of players, and those players naturally sought blacksmiths to repair their equipment and appraise items.
That’s right.
Although Grishi had been left unrepaired and abandoned by ordinary people long ago, a new society had taken shape in its wake. It was a society created by players who refused to be bound by the Association's and the government’s rules, and who wandered in search of freedom.
Elder Song had gotten by comfortably enough in Grishi—that was until the beastmen appeared a few years ago. Somehow, they knew his real identity from the beginning and threatened him for the dragon harpoon, an heirloom of his Song family. Had Elder Song not made contingencies, he would’ve been captured by the beastmen on their first meeting. No... he likely would’ve been robbed and killed on the spot.
“The white tiger beastman, Krellon... He calls himself a king and enjoys pretending to be rational and generous, but he is ultimately a beast. No matter how many times I think about it, escaping Grishi and getting away from his pursuit still feels like a miracle. That miracle was your doing.”
“It is thanks to your efforts, not ours,” Jang Yeon-Ju said.
If it weren’t for Elder Song pulling out the dragon harpoon at the last moment, she and Roh Jun-Yeop would’ve been killed on the spot.
Jang Yeon-Ju spoke humbly before bringing up a question she’d been curious about. “By the way, didn’t you have a way to contact the outside world? Why didn’t you send a rescue request to the Association when you were being chased by the beastmen?”
“My Song family has cooperated with the Kang family for generations. Nothing good would happen if I fell into the hands of the Association. I would rather be captured by the beastmen. However, I never expected Butler Hwang would contact me or that the Kang family still had so much power left.”
Elder Song turned his attention to Jae-Hyeok, his eyes gentle.
The dining room sank into silence.
Everyone was already aware that the Association hated and distrusted the Kang family, but learning just how extreme their attitude was came as a shock.
Persecuting him just because he cooperated with the Kang family?Isn’t that too much?
From the Association’s perspective, it might be a natural action...
Kang Dae-Seong and Kang Hyeon-Ah... It was true that the Kang family had produced two terrorists. No matter how great the Yaksha was, it was only natural for the Kang family to be blacklisted after his children had endangered the country.
The Association is probably wary of anything related to the Kang family.
Everyone’s hearts turned heavy as they thought this.
The South Korean Association was like a great mountain—they couldn’t imagine how much effort it would take for Jae-Hyeok to move that mountain and change his situation.
Elder Song coughed. “It seems I ruined the atmosphere with my words. This clueless old man will take his leave. You can set aside Butler Hwang’s rubbish—I mean, food, and heat this up instead.”
“Why don’t we eat together?” Jae-Hyeok said.
“It is easier to eat alone.”
Elder Song broke off several more slices of pizza and waved as he left. Halfway to the door, Elder Song stopped and called back.
“Oh, Jae-Hyeok, please bring my benefactors by the smithy later. I’ve prepared gifts.”
***
“Hey, is there really a smithy in the mansion?”
Everyone’s expressions were bright as they talked. Having tasted the hell that was Butler Hwang’s cooking, the pizza Elder Song had brought, as well as the food Jae-Hyeok had bought, tasted divine once heated.
Admittedly, they feel a little sorry for Butler Hwang, who stood by the door looking pained... Everyone had ignored his dishes, with Jae-Hyeok eventually ordering Butler Hwang to throw them out.
“See this? This is real food.” Do-Jin sneered, waving a piece of pizza at Butler Hwang.
He seemed oblivious to the fact that this person would be his boss in two years...
Jang Yeon-Ju shook her head before ignoring Do-Jin entirely.
Again, she took a slow, deep breath; yet, no matter how many breaths she took, her heart raced on. She just couldn’t believe it: Elder Song, the blacksmith of a ducal family, had actually prepared a gift for her?
The thought alone filled Jang Yeon-Ju with wild expectations.
No, she thought. What if I get disappointed? I shouldn’t expect too much. A person’s heart is what matters when it comes to gifts. I shouldn’t be superficial...
Unlike Jang Yeon-Ju, who was trying to calm down, Jun-Yeop was openly excited.
“It’s a gift from a blacksmith, so it will at least be a unique-rated weapon, right? I already have a gun. I hope I get a bow.”
Yoo-Jin replied, “The rating of the item doesn’t matter when it comes to a master. Items made by a craftsman for a specific individual usually reflect a deep understanding of that individual.”
“Understanding?”
“It means there’s a high chance that whatever he gives you will be something that masks your shortcomings and maximizes your strengths.”
“As expected from a rich lady!” Roh Jun-Yeop thumped the table, impressed. Yoo-Jin sounded as if she had personal experience with master craftsmen. He was completely convinced and his expectations soared even higher.
On the other hand, Jang Yeon-Ju’s anticipation drained away.
She had only used her fists when rescuing Elder Song. According to Yoo-Jin’s explanation, the gift she was going to receive was likely to be something to help her in brawling.
Beneath the table, Jang Yeon-Ju balled her hands.
As expected, I am destined to be a brawler.I wanted to be a great Bow Saint like Grandfather, but... Well, it was a fleeting dream in the first place.
Indeed, she wanted to be the Bow Saint, but with what talent? In archery, she had none. She knew this in her heart, even if she couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud.
Jang Yeon-Ju glanced at Jae-Hyeok. She recalled the conversation they had after the duel evaluation, and slowly, she relaxed. It’s fine. First... I have to focus on what I’m good at.No matter what, I can’t continue doing only what I want to do. Otherwise, I won’t be able to do my part.
Indeed, she needed to accept her fate; she should be grateful that she was born with the talent of a brawler and should try to become the best in her domain.
Amid the laughter of friends and the passing of food, Jang Yeon-Ju once again reminded herself to let go of what could never be.
***
Creak.
When the doors to the smithy opened, Jang Yeon-Ju’s blue eyes shook.
Resting atop a cloth on a workstation, she saw two weapons: a bow and a crossbow.
“The bow is for you.” As expected, Elder Song handed Roh Jun-Yeop the green great bow. It was so tall and thick that a person might question its practicality, but the thrill in Roh Jun-Yeop’s eyes as he examined the item’s details suggested it was extraordinary.
“And this is for you.”
Jang Yeon-Ju accepted the crossbow from Elder Song. It was small, really small, and it had a flat design with no handle. Judging by the straps, it was meant to be worn on the wrist, almost like a concealed weapon.
“I heard from Butler Hwang that you are the granddaughter of the Bow Saint? I thought the shape of your fingers was unusual when I shook hands with you. You must’ve dreamed of becoming a Bow Saint like your grandfather.”
“T-that’s right. But—”
“But no matter how hard you tried, it wasn’t easy to hit the target. It must’ve taken a long time to focus, right?”
Jang Yeon-Ju stared at Elder Song in surprise. It was exactly as he’d said.
“It’s probably because you can’t filter out visual information.”
Yeon-Ju blinked in confusion. Elder Song didn’t directly explain and instead said, “First, get into the habit of roughly shooting arrows. This is a crossbow made to help you with that practice. You just need to inject mana into it. Give it a try.”
Just then, a steel target rose at the end of the smithy.
Jang Yeon-Ju held back her questions and infused mana into the crossbow. The arrow loaded in the crossbow immediately flew out and hit the target.
“As expected, you have the gift of a bird’s eye view. I wouldn’t have noticed if it weren’t for the records left by the founder.” Then, Elder Song declared. “Your archery talent definitely surpasses your grandfather’s. After all, no matter what talents he has, he wasn’t able to recognize your gift and let it waste away.”