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chapter 18
Following their gazes, Serin saw Shini standing with her arms crossed, watching them with an irritated expression.
As Dasim followed that gaze to Shini, then turned her eyes back to Seonji, Seonji lifted her chin proudly as if to say, “See? Now you get it.”
“Aha. So she is your backing, is that it?”
“That’s right! If you didn’t know, then know it now! I’m in the same intake as Shini!”
“And so what?”
Serin, who had been sitting and observing the situation, stood up.
“…Huh?”
With the stance suddenly becoming one against three, Seonji shrank for a moment. But aware that Shini was watching behind her, she raised her voice even louder than before.
“Do you even know whose niece Shini is?!”
“I know. She’s the grandniece of Busuksu. So what? I don’t care whose niece or whose daughter she is. You came late, so find another seat and sit down or don’t.”
When Serin didn’t back down or lose confidence, Dasim looked at her with a proud expression, while Seonji panicked.
This… this isn’t how it’s supposed to go!
“Y-you’re going to regret this!”
Just then, Serin heard footsteps outside the training hall, someone arriving at the stepping stones and taking off their shoes. She quickly counted the heads inside.
Twenty-one. All the trainees are here.
Then whose footsteps were those?
Serin grinned widely, cleared her throat, and shouted at the top of her lungs, loud enough to shake the training hall.
“Oh my! So because Shini is the grandniece of Busuksu, we’re supposed to give up the warm seats by the fire that we came early to reserve, and hand them over to you two instead?! And if we don’t, what—?! You’ll make us regret it?!”
“W-what?! Why are you yelling all of a sudden?!”
Seonji shouted back, covering her ears.
“Indeed. I would very much like to know. Why should others give up their seats to those who arrived late?”
“!!”
Still covering her ears, Seonji slowly turned toward the direction of the voice.
Standing there was the Deputy Director, Lee Jeong-a.
“Uh… uh?”
Seeing the suddenly appeared Jeong-a, Seonji froze like a broken machine. Jeong-a slammed the thin bamboo stick she held against the desk with a sharp PANG!
In an instant, the atmosphere inside the hall iced over.
“Class time has already arrived, and yet you are still standing around without taking your seats—what do you think you are doing?”
At the stern scolding, Shini and Seonji hesitated, unable to respond.
Jeong-a commanded in a calm but heavy voice:
“Go sit in any empty seat. Now.”
Startled by her tone, the two rushed to the empty seats in the back.
Jeong-a watched them with displeasure, then stepped to the front of the desk.
Ha… they’re causing trouble on the very first day…
She felt a headache coming on as she saw how fiercely Shini glared at Seonji—who had failed to handle the situation properly.
She already knew Busuksu had manipulated Seonji’s score to force her into Hye-eumwon.
Naturally, Jeong-a, who had served on the assessment panel, had no reason to view Shini favorably. Still, she had decided to treat her fairly—like any other trainee—since she was now officially part of Hye-eumwon.
And yet she causes trouble on the very first day…
Worse, instead of reflecting, Shini was glaring at the back of Serin’s head as if she wanted to tear her apart.
Jeong-a turned her gaze to Serin.
Right before I walked in, that child suddenly raised her voice. As if she wanted me to hear.
But Serin only looked back with an innocent expression that said, “I don’t know anything~.”
…Fine. I’ll deal with that later.
Discipline was important, but class came first. The grand opening was just around—
“…Dasim?! What are you eating?!”
Dasim, who had just taken a piece of jerky from her pocket and put it in her mouth, froze. When she tried to swallow it whole, Jeong-a let out a weary sigh.
“…Chew it slowly and swallow. And do not bring food into the training hall again.”
Afterward, Jeong-a let her eyes sweep over the group of new trainees. Because of the earlier commotion, everyone looked tense.
In a gentler tone, she introduced herself.
“Nice to meet you. I am Lee Jeong-a, Deputy Director of Hye-eumwon. Once again, congratulations on passing.”
D-Deputy Director?! Then she’s directly below Director Lee Eunchun?!
The trainees stiffened at her unexpectedly high rank.
“I am originally from Bongseong-hyeon(峰城縣)¹). I assisted my father, the hojang, in managing the affairs of our district before I was honored with the imperial command to serve as Deputy Director of Hye-eumwon.”
The trainees gasped.
An imperial command?!
Shini clenched her fist tightly.
A hojang’s daughter who had become Deputy Director… that was someone her uncle couldn’t touch. And she had shown her a bad impression on the very first day—infuriating.
This is all that brat’s fault!
As Shini glared at Serin with murderous eyes, Seonji beside her flinched, remembering their earlier failure and the scolding they received.
Jeong-a continued addressing the trainees:
“As this is the very beginning of your training, today I will tell you about the founding background of Hye-eumwon. Since you all applied here with purpose, you should already know the broad reasons why His Majesty created Hye-eumwon.”
Her face carried unmistakable pride.
“Hye-eumwon is a state-run lodging facility personally established by His Majesty’s command. Therefore, this is not an ordinary inn. It is meant to provide comfortable rest to officials performing state duties, and also serve as a vanguard showcasing the greatness of Goryeo to honored guests from abroad. Revenue generated here will be used to aid the people. This is why trainees were selected through a difficult and rigorous process. Those who help open and begin Hye-eumwon must not be ordinary.”
Her firm voice filled the hall. The trainees’ eyes shone with pride.
“Does anyone know why Hye-eumwon was built on the Hye-eum Pass?”
Shini quickly raised her hand. So fast that others—including Serin—lowered theirs again.
“Yes, Shini. Speak.”
Thinking it was a chance to redeem herself, Shini hurriedly answered.
“Because Hye-eum Pass lies between the Southern Capital and Gaegyeong.”
“Correct. You know it well.”
Receiving praise, Shini shot a triumphant look at Serin.
…And what am I supposed to do with that?
Serin mentally rolled her eyes and looked forward again.
“As Shini said, Hye-eum Pass lies between the two capitals. Many travelers use this route, yet until now there were no proper places to rest, and people often suffered from bandits and tigers.”
The trainees nodded, listening closely.
“Moreover, the ones who travel this path are not only our own citizens or officials. Visitors from other nations—such as Dae-sik and Wa—also use this road. His Majesty intends Hye-eumwon to protect their safety, and also to turn this area into a central trading hub that will spread Goryeo’s prestige far and wide. Thus, I expect each of you to take pride and give your utmost in your duties.”
A trainee raised their hand cautiously.
“Um… Deputy Director, what work will we be doing now?”
“There are several departments in Hye-eumwon—culinary, guest reception, and operations management. Since all departments function together like interlocking gears, you will first experience all tasks without separation. Then, based on your aptitude and skills, you will be assigned.”
The trainees’ faces brightened with anticipation.
“Oh, and one more thing—you should know this in advance. Right after training ends, our very first guests will be the merchants of the Dae-sik Kingdom.”
