ALL NOVEL The atmosphere in the inn suddenly chilled.
When someone who usually walks around smiling suddenly turns serious, it feels even scarier.
It wasn’t just me feeling this way; the ruffians who had been full of themselves just a moment ago started to cower, glancing nervously at Dokgoseok.
“I-I’m sorry, young master. That guy didn’t mean it on purpose.”
A classic case of the strong getting weak and the weak getting strong.
When it was time to pick a fight, they were bold, but as soon as two of them showed signs of wanting to flee, Dokgoseok released the head of the ruffian he had in his grip and spoke.
“Take this guy and get lost.”
The two cautiously approached, eyeing Dokgoseok, helping their fainted comrade out of the inn in a hurry.
“Hmph, they were just a bunch of empty threats.”
With his robe billowing, Dokgoseok sat back down in his chair, returning to his usual cheerful self as he turned to apologize to Dokgorin.
“I’m sorry, Rin. Your brother disturbed your meal.”
“I’m fine.”
As Dokgorin said this and placed the untouched dish on the table, Dokgoseok patted her head.
“Even in such chaos, you managed to keep your food untouched. Our youngest is slyly a little glutton, huh?”
“…Please move your hand.”
“Hahaha! Such a prickly one!”
Anyway, although the situation had resolved a bit anticlimactically, it was a relief no one was hurt.
One thing I worried about was that those who had just fled might bear a grudge and come back to make trouble for us, but Kyungah noona confidently declared it would be fine this time.
“Those scoundrels often puff themselves up, but when things turn against them, they hurry to run away. Especially since our young master is a peak warrior, there’s no way he would lose to such lowly ruffians.”
“Is the young master really a peak warrior?”
“Oh my? Didn’t you know? While not as renowned as the first young master, our young master had been famous since childhood for being a prodigy. He became a peak warrior at just twenty!”
“Ohhh.”
In the original work of Cheondokma-nyeo, his name was merely a passing mention, so it was the first time I’d learned about this setting for Dokgoseok today.
In fact, as is typical with most martial arts novels, the level of martial power inflation in the Cheondokma-nyeo universe is quite steep.
Dokgorin reached the level of the Ten Great Masters at just thirty, but that’s because she’s an exception—most people would be considered exceptional if they reached peak warrior status in their twenties.
Most warriors struggle to even unsheathe their swords.
This is why people talk about prestigious families and their martial prowess.
Anyway, as we chatted while eating, it wasn’t long before the food on our plates completely disappeared.
As I patted my food-baby belly and savored the moment, Dokgorin suddenly gestured for me to come over.
“Chilbok, can I ask you something?”
“Huh? All of a sudden?”
“Yeah, I’m just curious about something.”
I wondered what it could be, but I told her to go ahead and ask anything.
So, Dokgorin bluntly asked without hesitation.
“What’s your relationship with your older brother’s maid?”
“…What?”
“From the looks of it, you two seem very close. Is she really your type?”
“No, no, forget about types; how did we even get to this topic?”
“You said there are no friends between men and women, didn’t you?”
…I had been drilling that concept into Dokgorin’s head, but I never thought it would come back around to me like this.
But that’s that; I decided to clear up Dokgorin’s misunderstanding.
“Even so, a significant age gap is difficult. Besides, Kyungah noona probably doesn’t see me as a man; what would I gain from foolishly getting flustered?”
“Hmm—”
After hearing my explanation, Dokgorin wore a dubious expression, but when I elaborated that if there was something between us, she would have initiated conversation more actively, she finally accepted my words.
“So, does that mean you prefer someone younger rather than older?”
“…If I had to say, then maybe?”
I felt like I was digging my own grave, but I decided to just go with it.
“Okay then. Thanks for answering.”
Having successfully extracted that answer, Dokgorin began to sip her tea as if nothing had happened, her face all innocent.
*
After finishing dinner, we dispersed to our respective rooms.
In my case, it didn’t make sense to have a servant staying alone in a room, so I ended up sharing with Kyungah noona.
It was probably because I was young, they let me share a room, but as an adult man, I found it quite hard to know where to look.
“Oh my, there’s really no need to turn your back.”
“Even if we’re just children, it’s unusual for an unmarried maiden to show her skin like this.”
As I pointed that out logically, Kyungah noona chuckled and said, “Chilbok, you’re quite mature for your age.”
“Since I’ve changed my clothes, you can turn back now.”
With her permission to turn back, I did, and I found Kyungah noona sitting by the bed wearing slightly thinner clothing than her normal outfit.
It felt not just like a sensation but I could swear there was a slightly pleasant scent in the air.
Not having shared a room with a woman before made me rather anxious, and while I fidgeted alone, Kyungah noona spoke up.
“Speaking of which, unlike me, you seem to keep your personal matters to yourself; is there a reason for that?”
“Ah, you mean about me.”
I suddenly found myself speechless from her unexpected question.
Although I had possessed the body of Ichilbok, my identity was of my previous life—Choi Seok-woo.
Moreover, since I had never had any emotional exchanges with Ichilbok’s parents, I only knew them through secondhand information.
However, bringing up my past parents would probably make the atmosphere weird, so I decided to skirt around it.
“To be honest, I have amnesia.”
“What?”
“According to the old doctor, I was so shocked when my parents passed that I can’t remember anything before I was twelve.”
“That’s terrible.”
Kyungah noona covered her mouth with stunned eyes after hearing my situation.
Although it seemed my little ploy was working better than I intended, I decided to keep the steel face I had on.
“But it’s okay now. I’m happy. It’s better than living alone in a house where no one is around.”
As I said this with a bittersweet smile, Kyungah noona jumped up from the bed, came over, and hugged me tightly.
“I’m sorry, Chilbok. I didn’t mean to pry.”
As I was completely taken aback by the soft sensation enveloping my face, I managed to speak as calmly as possible.
“No, I’m fine. You didn’t know what you were saying after all.”
But perhaps this triggered her maternal instinct, as Kyungah noona hugged me even tighter.
“Ugh!”
Just then, with my face buried in her chest, feeling like I might suffocate, Kyungah noona whispered softly in my ear.
“If you ever have a hard time, feel free to talk to me. I’ll do my best to help.”
“…Okay.”
It wasn’t planned, but this might turn out well.
Having gained a reliable ally, I thought as I nestled deep into Kyungah noona’s embrace.
At that moment, there was a sudden knock on the door.
“Chilbok, are you in there?”
It was Dokgorin’s familiar voice.
Finally pulling myself together, Kyungah noona startled and released me from her embrace.
“Oh, um, sorry. I didn’t realize I was holding you for so long.”
As if realizing her behavior was a bit excessive, Kyungah noona’s face flushed slightly as she spoke.
“No, you were just being considerate. I’m actually glad.”
As I said this with a gentle smile, Kyungah noona nodded back with a trusting smile.
“Chilbok?”
Hearing Dokgorin call again made me realize I couldn’t delay any longer, so I hurried to respond.
“Yes! Miss!”
I got up from the bed and spoke to Kyungah noona.
“I’ll be right back. You should go to sleep.”
“Okay, take care.”
Kyungah noona smiled sweetly and waved me off.
After bowing my head to her, I opened the previously tightly shut door.
Standing at the door in clothes suitable for movement, Dokgorin looked mildly displeased as she stared at me.
“Why did it take you so long to come out?”
“I was in the middle of organizing my things.”
As I said this and began to inch the door closed, Dokgorin narrowed her eyes and let out a “Hmm—”.
“What’s the matter?”
“Well, it seemed like you two were getting along quite well.”
“Kyungah noona and I aren’t close at all.”
As I waved my hands dismissively, Dokgorin suddenly sniffed the air and said.
“Really? Then why does Chilbok’s body smell like that maid?”
“…What?”
“This is the scent of musk that the maid always carries.”
Saying this, Dokgorin stared at me with an expressionless face.
“Did you do something with her?”