Chapter 27
Expensive fine wine flowed endlessly, and Musicians and Dancers swayed to the music on one side.
Such revelry continued for a long time.
“Hmph... Young Master...”
The young lady named Sohyang was already quite drunk and kept burrowing into my arms.
She had gotten this way by drinking only the sweet liquor I offered her, because I had deliberately given her sweet but rather potent alcohol.
“Give me three more bottles of Dragon Venom Wine.”
“But a Hostess shouldn’t order drinks as she pleases...”
“Young Lady, I want to drink more.”
“Order it! Give the Young Master everything he asks for!”
“You heard her? Three bottles of Dragon Venom Wine. And a few more plates of the most expensive appetizers.”
Thanks to this, I could freely enjoy the liquor with Sohyang’s money. She’d probably be shocked by the bill when she sobered up, but well... that was none of my business.
I glanced over and saw the youngest was also having a good time with Sohyang’s younger sister.
“Um... Young Lady Heeya...? You, you, you seem a little too drunk...”
“Young Master...”
“Ugh...!”
Hmm...
They were certainly having a very *intimate* time. The younger sister didn't seem like that type, but she must have a bold personality.
The Youngest looked troubled, his expression on the verge of tears, but well... that was none of my business either.
“Young Master... hehe...”
Sohyang, seemingly drunk, subtly leaned in and clung to me, but this level of physical contact didn't bother me at all.
If anything, drinking while holding someone felt rather special.
Still, she seemed very drunk, and I didn't want her to throw up in my arms, so I stopped her from drinking any more.
“Young Lady, that’s enough.”
“Aah, why...?”
“young lady, you’re drunk now.”
“Me, drunk? No~? I’m not drunk at all?”
You're slurring your words, you fool.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and brought the wine cup to my lips. Sohyang watched me intently and then said,
“Young Master... you drink very well.”
“Well... it’s my profession, after all.”
“Ah... I see.”
Actually, my profession was Bandit, not Host, but I couldn't say that, so I just vaguely brushed it off.
Then Sohyang began to ask more deeply.
“How did you come to start this work?”
“Hmm...”
What should I tell her...? This is annoying.
But a true gentleman always turns a crisis into an opportunity.
“It might be a bit of a difficult story to hear, are you sure?”
“...As long as it’s not too awkward to talk about, I’d like to hear it.”
I poured another glass of wine and put on a wistful expression.
“I was born the son of a poor tenant farmer. Our family could barely eat one meal a day.”
“Ah...”
“My father worked diligently in the fields, but most of his share went to the landlord. My father always lamented not having his own land.”
Actually, my Father is a Bandit.
*Did he ever farm? Or is he even alive...?*
I vaguely recalled my Father, who had told me to just live a normal life as a Bandit before I left home as a child.
So, even though this entire story was a complete fabrication, I could still put emotion into it.
“Then a Moneylender appeared, offering to lend money at cheap interest, telling us to buy land with that money. Ah... my Father shouldn’t have signed that contract...”
“What happened in the end...?”
Sohyang’s expression was already as serious as it could be. And I continued, putting on an even more serious face.
Drip.
Finally, a wistful tear fell from my eye.
“*Sniff*... In the end, our family was burdened with debt... my Father fell into despair and became bedridden...! My Mother...! *Sniff*... Mother—!!”
Actually, my mother was said to have died of puerperal fever giving birth to me. Growing up without a mother wasn't ideal, but it was common in this era, so I just accepted it.
And most importantly, what mattered now was Sohyang in front of me.
“Ah...”
She seemed to believe my story so completely that she looked like she was about to cry herself.
To deliver the final climax, I gave her a bitter, wistful smile, as if to say I was fine now, and told her,
“So, I had no choice but to leave home at 12 and get a job at a Courtesan House... It’s been 10 years now, so I’ve gotten used to it.”
“Hmph... such hardship since you were 12...”
“I’m fine now. Even though the House Mistress and Chief Manager here are unpleasant people, the work is enjoyable, and I get to meet good people like you, Young Lady. However...”
“However...?”
“Ah, our family still has debt... *sniff*... I keep sending them the money I earn here, but still... Father and Mother... oh dear...!!”
“There’s still debt left...? Such wicked usurers...! H-how much is the debt?”
“Oh dear... there are still 5 gold taels of debt left, so Father...! Mother...!”
“F-five gold taels...?”
As soon as she heard that, Sohyang checked her pouch. She seemed to be trying to see how much money she had brought.
Soon, her expression crumpled, and what she pulled out was a bundle of paper money worth 3 gold taels.
With a tearful, apologetic expression, she handed it to me and said,
“I, I foolishly didn’t bring much money... This is all I have left. But... if this can help pay off the debt...”
“*Sniff*... I wish it were a little more, but... thank you for this, Young Lady.”
“I hope Young Master can be happy... *sniff*...”
Sohyang said that and hugged me tighter. I pretended to hug her back and slipped the paper money she gave me into my pocket.
*Shit, what is this? This is awesome.*
Of course, it was a small amount compared to the money I currently had, but out of nowhere like this, 3 gold taels was still something.
It was truly a nice bonus.
So, I stroked Sohyang’s head as she sniffled in my arms, and drank more wine with my other hand.
However, drinking while listening to a girl cry wasn't very exciting. It was so quiet that I looked over and saw the Musicians had noticed and stopped playing on their own.
I was about to tell them to play again when...
“Hey everyone, it’s fine here, so please...”
...I stopped when I saw the Zither the Musician was holding.
Was it because I was a little tipsy, or because I'd told a fabricated story about the past?
“No, wait a minute...”
Remembering something, I gently set Sohyang down from my arms and stood up.
“Young Master... where are you going...?”
“Just a moment... it brought back some old memories.”
I gave Sohyang a smile and headed towards the musicians.
“I’ll show you something interesting.”
And it would be a good return for the money I just received.
Step—.
I walked straight up to the Musician holding the Zither and held out my hand.
“Lend me that for a moment. I want to play it once.”
“Ah... yes...”
The Musician, though flustered, handed the Zither to me.
Twang—.
It looked good at first glance, and a rather beautiful sound emerged when I plucked it once. It seemed the owner had taken good care of it.
Pluck-pluck—.
It had been a long time since I had touched a Zither. But as soon as my hands touched the strings, my already accustomed fingers reacted automatically.
It was because someone had forced me to keep doing it, even when I didn't want to.
No, seriously. Why am I doing this?
“How many times do I have to tell you that sharpness and softness are the most important things when handling a sword? There's nothing better than the Zither for cultivating that, you know? And if you swear again, I told you I'd snap your Adam's apple...”
I love wine and I love music.
The moment I immerse myself in it, all memories and emotions are forgotten, and only intoxication and excitement remain.
Pluck-pluck-pluck—.
However, the vanished emotions don't simply disappear; they melt into the melody.
And that melody resonates with the listener's emotions.
Was it the lingering tipsiness from yesterday, or was I still drunk?
I had deliberately avoided the Zither until now, fearing old memories would resurface.
But now, pouring all the emotions of that time and the present into the melody and releasing them, I recall and then forget all those memories.
Tra-la-lan—.
When I finished the short performance, took my hands off, and looked up...
“...”
“...”
Everyone present was staring at me with blank expressions.
“Hmph... *sniff*...”
The only one making a sound was Sohyang, who had heard my fabricated story earlier. She seemed to have contrasted my false tale with my current performance, as she was shedding tears non-stop.
“Hmph... Young Master...”
I don't know love.
However, to anyone who saw them, those tears and that gaze she directed at me were...
“I hope Young Master can be happy...! *Sniff*!”
...those of a girl in love.
Uh oh. Is this really okay?
“Young Master...! Hmph... that performance earlier was so beautiful and sad. It’s because of your parents’ debt, isn’t it? Give me the list of those wicked Moneylenders...! Then I’ll tell my Father and make sure to...!”
“Alright, alright, just go already...!”
Sohyang sniffled in my arms for a long time until I finally managed to send her off when Cheongwolru was closing.
After I put her and her sister in a carriage, despite her insistence that I come to her house, Munseok was standing behind me.
He looked at me with a surprised expression. Feeling a little annoyed, I asked,
“Munseok, what is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I heard everything from outside the door earlier. You... did you always have a talent for the Zither?”
“I just learned it from some old man.”
“Hmph... that was no ordinary sound...”
Munseok pondered for a moment, then asked again.
“Say, you wouldn’t consider working as a musician in our courtesan house, would you?”
“If you give me 300 gold taels a month, I’ll even play with my teeth.”
I said that casually and walked past him. I was extremely tired from drinking and partying until dawn.
But...
“I can just sleep in that Guest Room from yesterday, right? I’m tired, so don’t wake me up...”
“Wait a moment...”
Grab.
“...?”
Munseok grabbed me as I was about to pass by.
He spoke to me with a slightly troubled expression.
“Perhaps... could you play that piece just one more time?”
“Would that be okay?”
“I, I knew you’d say that, but... I beg of you...! I told someone about this, and they really want to hear it themselves...”
“If they want to hear it, tell them to come here themselves. Why are they ordering around you with bad joints? I’m going to sleep, so...”
“The person who wants to hear it is the Haomun Leader.”
“What...?”
At Munseok’s words, I stopped in my tracks.
“What? The person who wants to hear my performance is the Haomun Leader? Then lead the way.”
“Really? You’ll really play the Zither?”
“Yeah. I’ll *fucking* play it. That shameless bitch. I’ll *fucking* beat her head with the Zither.”
“...”
As soon as he heard that, Munseok’s face turned pale, and he hugged me tightly as if to stop me.
“...Please forget what I just said. I’ll guide you to the Guest Room, so please rest and recover...”
“Let go. Aren’t you going to let go? My left hand distinguishes between men and women, but my right hand doesn’t know such things. I’ll *fucking* beat her with my right hand, you bastard! Bring the Haomun Leader here—!!”
“Aah—! I’m sorry for saying something unnecessary. So please, calm down—! Not here—!!”
And so, the struggle between me and Munseok continued for a long time in front of Cheongwolru’s entrance.