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Chapter 25
Rashid explained what had happened.
[Before reaching the meeting place, they suddenly appeared and attacked the caravan. We were a bit surprised, but they didn’t look experienced enough to be considered true thieves—they seemed clumsy and ridiculous.]
Hearing that no one had been harmed, Euncheon finally felt some relief.
Since these merchants dealt in precious goods transported over long distances, they often valued their merchandise more than their own lives.
Euncheon carefully inspected the caravan and the goods again to check for any damage. Around that time, Junkyeong had subdued all the would-be thieves.
Rashid asked,
[What do you intend to do with them?]
[They will receive a fitting punishment.]
Upon hearing this, Rashid’s expression darkened.
[…They look far too young to call them thieves…]
Euncheon approached the young thieves that Junkyeong had captured. The caravan guards had set aside the weapons the kids had been carrying.
“Well done.”
“It wasn’t much of a job… these aren’t bandits…”
Euncheon silently examined the kneeling youths.
As Rashid and Junkyeong had said, they looked far too young. Most of them didn’t even have a hint of facial hair.
Moreover, all they had brought were old farming tools, all battered and unusable.
Euncheon approached the oldest-looking boy and asked,
“Where are you from?”
The boy, clutching his ankle from the blow Junkyeong had landed, lowered his head and could only groan, unable to answer.
“Not answering? Do you need more punishment to come to your senses?”
Junkyeong clenched his fist and stepped forward, but Euncheon stopped him.
“I’ll speak to him.”
Euncheon kneeled to meet the boy’s eye level and spoke again.
“Where are the adults, and why are you doing this on your own?”
The boy hesitated, then whispered weakly,
“…It is us… doing this. Most of our parents, including mine, are bedridden from illness and hunger. So we… just came out to survive… to try to live.”
So that’s the reason…
The poor weapons, the awkward way they held them—it all made sense now.
These weren’t professional thieves. They were just starving children.
When Euncheon stayed silent, the boy suddenly prostrated himself, pressing his forehead to the ground.
“I never intended to harm anyone… I just…”
“Speak.”
“I was hungry. My younger sibling hasn’t eaten for days. I was just hoping to find something to eat… I never, not even a little, thought of harming anyone.”
Junkyeong, overhearing this, snapped angrily.
“That doesn’t justify threatening others with a weapon.”
The boy flinched at Junkyeong’s words.
“I… I was wrong. But if I don’t bring something back, my father will die. So I lost control! My sibling and mother are sick and bedridden. We haven’t eaten in days. P-please forgive us!”
He slammed his forehead repeatedly against the ground, begging.
“…Enough.”
Euncheon stopped him. The boy rested his forehead on the floor, sobbing quietly.
Euncheon watched him for a moment before speaking.
“…What is your name?”
“Huh? Ah, I… I am… Jae-yeol.”
The boy named Jae-yeol timidly said his name, too intimidated to question why a noble of apparent rank was asking.
“I won’t punish you immediately. But for now, you must come with us.”
At Euncheon’s words, Jae-yeol’s face turned pale.
But what could he do? They had been caught stealing.
He felt relieved that the noble hadn’t said anything about taking his family as well.
When the group’s leader complied with Euncheon, the other children hesitantly stood and gathered around Jae-yeol.
Junkyeong collected their “weapons” in disbelief.
“They’re embarrassing even to call weapons… pitchforks, hoes, sickles… rusted so badly some could break by hand.”
Junkyeong instructed the guards to collect the farming tools and then asked Euncheon,
“So, what are you planning to do with them?”
“First, we must guide the caravan to Hyeumwon. We can’t leave them here, so they’ll have to come along.”
“Do as you wish.”
Junkyeong reluctantly followed the order. Euncheon instructed the guards to tie the children and follow behind, then moved out with the merchants.
By the time Euncheon’s group reached the crest of Hyeumryeong Pass, the sun barely clung to the horizon with its last crimson rays.
Through the dimming pass, the rooftops of Hyeumwon came into view.
In the shadows spreading along the mountainside, lanterns hanging from hanok eaves began to glow orange, one by one.
As dusk deepened, the lights spread softly, blending with the quiet mountains to create a dreamlike scenery.
[Oh…]
Nashim, gazing at Hyeumwon, couldn’t help but marvel.
When his eyes met Euncheon’s, he cleared his throat and quickly turned away.
“Euncheon, that kid seemed to be complaining earlier. They’re not in a position to act like that, right?”
Junkyeong, riding beside him, asked. Euncheon looked at him with mild surprise.
“You understand the Dasikuk language?”
“What? You know very well I abandoned studies long ago, don’t you?”
“….”
Euncheon shook his head.
Meanwhile, someone had been anxiously waiting for the guests: a Hyeumwon attendant who had been watching from the door.
“Oh! Fi-finally!!”
Seeing Euncheon and Junkyeong glowing in the sunset, the attendant rushed inside, shouting,
“The guests have arrived!”
Upon hearing this, the Hyeumwon staff sprang into action like arrows released from a bow.
Tea and cups were checked, and the attendants in charge of guest rooms inspected the curtains and bedding once more.
The news quickly reached Vice Director Lee Jeong-ah, who oversaw the banquet room, and all staff reported that preparations were complete.
Lee Jeong-ah smiled in satisfaction.
Perfect! Everything’s ready!
The attendants straightened their attire one last time.
“Se-Seorin… I’m so… nervous.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry.”
“Here, kids, hands.”
Dasim pulled out a small bottle from her pocket and poured fragrant oil onto the hands of Gabi and Seorin.
“What’s this?”
“Perfume oil. Apply it quickly.”
Gabi and Seorin rubbed it over their bodies, and a pleasant scent soon emanated from them.
“Thanks, Dasim.”
Seorin, fully prepared, placed a hand on her chest, feeling her heart thump with excitement. A delightful thrill.
My first guests! Whether this is a dream or not doesn’t matter. Right now, I am a hotelier of Hyeumwon!
Vice Director Lee Jeong-ah gathered the attendants and staff, her expression solemn as she spoke.
