The daily routine of the maids in the Seongnae always began with the morning assembly.
Though “morning” was a generous term—it was really the early hours before dawn.
To ensure that the day for the high-ranking masters started smoothly, it was naturally up to maids like me to move diligently.
“Seolha!”
The moment I stepped into the courtyard, So-ok waved at me as if she had been waiting.
Word had apparently spread that I had been assigned as Gongja Lee’s personal maid, for her usual sideways glances were more pronounced than usual.
Some even looked at me with glaring resentment.
If anyone saw it, they might think I had stolen a man.
I pretended not to notice the gazes of my colleagues and approached So-ok to greet her.
“Did you sleep well last night? It must’ve been scary sleeping alone.”
So-ok, who shared the same room, grew particularly fearful once the sun went down.
“No, I slept with the girls in the next room.”
She whispered it into my ear as if only I could hear.
“You went to see Grandma, right?”
“Yeah, I thought I wouldn’t have time for a while.”
“Still, I’m jealous. To see that face every day… I’d be full even without eating.”
Though the likelihood was zero, I simply smiled quietly.
Truthfully, I was in a state of extreme tension.
They say that even if you’re attacked by a tiger, you can survive if you keep your wits. The question was whether my mind could remain intact.
In the original novel, Jeokigon was sheer terror.
From the readers’ perspective, the horrendous scenes of slaughter could unfold right before my eyes.
The thought of myself, bleeding and crying in the middle of it, had tormented me since last night.
“Is everyone here?”
Shaking my head to dispel these dreadful imaginings, Mrs. Gwak finally emerged from her quarters.
The assembly always took place in her front courtyard.
“There will be some adjustments to task assignments today. Since Seolha has been appointed as Gongja Lee’s personal maid, I expect everyone to acknowledge that and proceed without issue.”
Whispers rose briefly but quickly fell silent at her words.
After adding a few instructions, Mrs. Gwak concluded the brief assembly.
“Now, let’s move energetically today!”
As soon as her order was given, the maids swiftly went off to find their respective duties.
It was a familiar sight. I was always among that group.
But today, I found it difficult to take a step.
The thought of facing Jeokigon made the world in front of me go dark.
“Seolha, do your best!”
So-ok’s voice reached me.
Right. There’s no time to be dawdling.
I heard that Jeokigon didn’t sleep in the morning. I had to hurry to arrive before he woke.
Suppressing my thumping heart, I headed to the residence of Gongja Lee I had never visited before: Geonyeonggak (建榮閣).
“I knew it was far, but this is ridiculously far.”
The Seongnae of the cult was not just vast; its paths were almost like a labyrinth.
When I first became a maid, the first thing I did was memorize this complicated layout.
Only then could I arrive on time and complete my tasks.
Fortunately, I wasn’t bad with directions. In fact, I learned the layout faster than anyone else, almost like a genius.
It was practically survival instinct. My resolve not to be seen near Geonyeonggak helped a lot.
Thanks to that, even though it was my first visit, I arrived at Geonyeonggak on time without mistakes.
“Wow, I can’t believe I’m actually here!”
Crossing the main gate, a sigh escaped my lips.
I still hoped someone would tell me this was a dream.
“Oh my, look at her talking. She’s so excited she’s losing it.”
The sudden verbal abuse came at that moment.
“Seolha, I didn’t expect this side of you. You’ve got some audacity, huh?”
“How much did you bribe Mrs. Gwak, anyway?”
Three pairs of eyes, full of hostility, were suddenly glaring at me.
One of them was familiar—the same one who had glared at me as if trying to kill me during the assembly.
Her name was Doe-ae, right? She was a second-year senior to me.
“You live with your grandmother without parents, yet you seem desperate to climb the ranks?”
“Judging by her face, she’s picky. How dare she target Gongja Lee!”
“You really think that’s possible for someone like you?”
What? So I’m being treated like some kind of scheming viper?
Listening silently, I was so furious I didn’t know where to start explaining.
On top of this miserable situation, these dainty little girls with their fantasies—what were they?
‘Target whom?’
For four years and ten months, I had never caused an incident, yet now, I felt an intense urge for violence.
“You’re not aiming to become the lady of Geonyeonggak, are you?”
“If that’s the case, you’d better wake up from that dream.”
“Do you really think Gongja Lee would care about someone like you?”
“Are you mute? Why aren’t you replying to your seniors?”
“Oh, you wanted me to answer?”
They had been chattering non-stop, and now suddenly, ignoring me.
The only way to respond to nonsense is with more nonsense.
“But how can I? For words to work, they must make sense.”
“What?”
“They keep spouting nonsense one by one, I can’t understand a thing.”
“Nonsense?”
“Yes. As you can see, I’m human. They, unfortunately, are not. I have many skills, but nonsense isn’t one of them. I’ll try to learn it if I have time.”
My rebuttal left the three a little dumbfounded. I had always been quiet and well-behaved among colleagues.
They had clearly underestimated me, but my tongue was no joke.
Honestly, at this moment, I feared nothing.
I might die today at Jeokigon’s hands, but I wouldn’t be bullied by mere maids.
My survival instinct was at its peak.
“Do you think this is a joke? Do you want to die today?”
“Are you going to hit me?”
“It’s nothing for the three of us to crush just one of you!”
“Three against one. That’s really low.”
As I continued to bluff, their eyes rolled.
Doe-ae, unable to control her rage, lunged at me to grab my hair.
Her entire body was full of openings.
Though I wasn’t a top martial artist, I did know some combat.
Madam Singeum had insisted I learn to protect myself from a young age, giving me basic training.
I struck the right shoulder of Doe-ae with the edge of my hand.
“Ah!”
She screamed and collapsed to the floor.
I had struck the Geogol point (巨骨穴); her right arm would be in considerable pain. She probably couldn’t lift it today.
Who’s next?
Without a moment to catch my breath, another senior tried to grab my collar. A sizable one.
In combat, speed and decisiveness matter.
I struck upward at the chin with the palm of my hand.
With a thud, the opponent passed out.
“You… you…!”
One accidental strike might be forgiven, but twice? Not this time.
The third girl, frightened to see her comrades taken down so quickly, stared at me.
Though her expression was still resentful, she clearly dared not attack recklessly.
“Shall we continue, or call a truce here?”
“What about these girls?”
“They’ll wake up soon. Geonyeonggak still needs cleaning, after all.”
I didn’t want to get in trouble for poor cleaning on my first day. The seniors likely felt the same.
“I’ll let this one slide quietly, but there won’t be a next time. From now on, anything that happens inside Geonyeonggak is my responsibility. That means I outrank you, seniors. You’re aware that I also have the authority to assign penalty points, right?”
They seemed startled, probably not expecting that.
Did they act first and think later?
Good grief, what’s Jeokigon thinking.
“One last thing. I think you’ve terribly misunderstood me. I’m the one most upset about being assigned here, understand?”
I thumped my chest with my fists in indignation.
“I didn’t pay any bribes. I may be audacious, but I have no desire to climb the ranks. The idea of being the lady? I don’t want it, and I have no intention of it. I have peculiar tastes; I dislike handsome people intensely. Among the maids in Seongnae, I’m the only one who doesn’t like Gongja Lee. He’s a disaster for me. Who would want the attention of a disaster? And even the popular Gongja Lee wouldn’t pay any attention to someone like me.”
That had to be true. And it was highly likely.
“Anyway, stop bothering me about this same issue. Understand, you three?”
The two on the ground shivered.
As if they understood my meaning to stop pretending to be unconscious, they slowly began to rise.
“Let’s get along until the day we switch shifts.”
As long as I’m Gongja Lee’s personal maid, Geonyeonggak will always be in top condition. No room for error.
For the next two months, I’ll do my best!
Thinking of Jeokigon again made my stomach tighten, but I forced myself not to show it and stepped boldly into Geonyeonggak.
A short while later, from a tree near where the scuffle with the maids occurred, a shadowy figure dropped silently.
“Disaster….”
