Chapter 2: Seol Tae Pyeong Part 2

“My name is Seol Tae Pyeong, an apprentice warrior from White Immortal Palace! I heard that the commander warrior, Jang Rae-nim, was looking for me!”

A resonant voice and the spirit it revealed were considered basic manners among the warriors.

Two guards stationed at the entrance of the Red Palace scrutinized me. Their puzzled looks made it easy to read their minds.

They seemed curious about why the commander warrior had personally summoned someone so unheard of.

After asking me to wait momentarily, the two guards finished their verification and allowed me in.

When I entered, I saw a training ground as vast as a courtyard inside the Red Palace with Jang Rae overseeing the training of dozens of warriors.

Then when he made eye contact with me, he finished giving instructions to the warriors and headed towards his office.

The brief eye contact was an invitation to follow him inside.

***

“I’m glad that you that you seem unharmed after fighting such a boar.”

As expected of the Red Palace filled with rugged warriors, no one offered me a cup of tea.

It wasn’t so much rudeness as it was the way of the Red Palace. Among men gathered to master martial arts in real combat, unnecessary formalities and pretense tend to disappear without them even realizing it.

“You seem to have great strength. Do you train regularly?”

“Even though I’m only an apprentice warrior, to carry the name of a warrior in this Cheongdo Palace, one must train daily!”

I sat on the wooden chair in the office that Jang Rae had guided me to and gave him what could be considered the 100-point correct answer.

Jang Rae who was sitting at his own desk nodded his head at my response and then said,

“That sounds like something out of a textbook.”

“……”

“As you might well know, the Red Palace values truth over courtesy.”

Basically, I was told that it didn’t matter if I was somewhat rude, so I should answer honestly.

“Hmm… If I have to say, it’s my constitution.”

“That sounds more like a natural talent or aptitude rather than constitution.”

“No, it’s definitely my constitution. Around the age of six or seven, I fell ill with a divine fever and nearly died, but after recovering, my strength increased.”

Jang Rae would know better that it wasn’t just a slight increase.

However, there’s no harm in keeping a sense of humility.

“Such strength is too valuable to waste in a minor position at the White Immortal Palace. Why didn’t you make a case for yourself with the personnel officer? With your strength, you could have been assigned to the Red Palace and paved the way for a promising career.”

“I understand that your abilities as a warrior and your abilities as a soldier are entirely different.”

Jang Rae looked at me with interest and made a sound of approval.

“If mere strength could make a great general, then all the renowned generals in history would be giants. A truly renowned warrior must possess virtue, knowledge, and physical strength. I wouldn’t overestimate my own worth just because I have some physical talent.”

“Do you know what the greatest enemy of a warrior is?”

Jang Rae suddenly shifted the direction of the conversation.

“I will engrave your teachings in my heart if you enlighten me.”

“It is ignorance. There are plenty of people even here in Cheongdo Palace who look down on knowledge and virtue just because they are a little good at martial arts.”

Only when one recognizes their own ignorance can they truly become a commander capable of leading an army.

It was a phrase that Jang Rae often repeated.

“At least you are aware of your own ignorance. That in itself is a significant talent for a warrior. Matters of strength and prowess come secondary.”

“.…..”

“If you wish, I can offer you a position in the Red Palace. We are in dire need of capable individuals.”

“Isn’t the Red Palace where all the warriors of this vast Cheongdo Palace strive to enter? It’s surprising to hear there’s a shortage of manpower.”

“It’s not that we’re short of people. We’re short of ‘capable’ people.”

Jang Rae stood with his arms crossed while tapping his forearm with his index finger. He seemed to be filled with discontent, though he tried not to show it. Even the position of warrior commander of the Red Palace had its fair share of worries and troubles.

“…Thank you for the precious offer! But as someone from the Hwayongseol clan, I can hardly see myself fitting in at the Red Palace. Being in such a high position yourself, you would know that I am barely able to keep my feet in the palace thanks to the grace of her highness.”

“You’re quite good at making excuses.”

I come from a clan accused of treason and wiped out. There’s hardly a better shield than that excuse.

But with his keen intuition, Jang Rae immediately saw that this wasn’t what I truly thought. As expected of a warrior, he had an acuteness sharper than the long sword at his waist.

“I’ve mentioned before that while courtesy is important, I value the truth more.”

“… even though it’s hardly a commendable reason?”

“It doesn’t matter; go on and speak your mind.”

…

After a moment of hesitation and gauging the situation, I reluctantly spoke up.

“… To work as little as possible… and earn as much as I can…”

“……”

“… That’s my motto…”

“……”

“The martial attire of the Red Palace might be something all the warriors within the palace wish to wear at least once… but I’ve heard the workload is incredibly heavy.”

In essence, I was openly admitting to a high-ranking official that I didn’t want to work hard.

It couldn’t be helped. He was the one insisting.

Now, it would be bad to get angry with me and ask what kind of mindset is that.

“Kuh.”

However, the response I received was unexpected.

Given Jang Rae’s diligent and quiet nature, I honestly expected him to be angry. But instead, he seemed to be caught off guard and burst out laughing.

“Kuha, haha. Indeed. Now that I think about it, if that was your mindset, it does make sense.”

“…It’s not a mindset I was proud to disclose openly.”

“No, it’s fine. After all, there’s no rule saying that a warrior of Cheongdo Palace must not be calculating. In fact, it might be fortunate that you won’t be easily deceived anywhere you go.”

Jang Rae unfolded his arms and laughed heartily once more before finally catching his breath.

He was the warrior commander who only appeared dignified and reliable on the outside. Sor this new impression was unexpected.

“If there are those who blindly recite the virtues of loyalty and patriotism from the scriptures, then there must also be those like you who scrutinize everything. Clearly, you’re not the type to be tied down to the Red Palace.”

It was unclear whether it was a compliment or not, so I just listened quietly for the moment.

I wished he would make his statements more clear when he spoke.

“You’re wearing a sword. Do you know how to use it?”

“It’s part of the uniform; I just carry it around. I’ve never really wielded a sword properly.”

“…So you’re saying you subdued that wild boar with your bare hands, not with a sword?”

“…I did use the sword to cut its head.”

“Let me see your sword.”

Asking for the sword was a way to gauge a warrior’s level since well-disciplined and diligent warriors usually keep their swords clean and sharp.

While I was trying to take out the sword in its sheath to hand it to Jang Rae, my hand trembled.

Flinch

“…What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Here’s the sword.”

Jang Rae took the sword from me and examined it carefully while turning it over in his hands.

The blade was very damaged because it was not used well. Jang Rae lightly admonished me to always keep the blade sharp before handing the sword back to me.

“The edge is indeed quite damaged. Well, it can’t be helped. One cannot force those who are unwilling to commit. I understand your intentions now.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Ah, and there’s something else I need to mention.”

Jang Rae hesitated and crossed his arms again before continuing.

“About that… court lady from earlier…”

“Ah, you mean court lady Seol? She is indeed very beautiful.”

As soon as it was clear we were talking about Ran-noonim, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Unlike the senior maids of the inner court, who wear layers of makeup, she is truly beautiful with her natural appearance.”

“Indeed, she is… But, anyway, I want to clarify that our meeting was purely coincidental. We need to clear up any unnecessary misunderstandings about secret relationships or anything like that.”

This was an unusual sight from Jang Rae.

Jang Rae who always maintained the stern demeanor of a warrior seemed uncharacteristically hesitant when the topic of Seol Ran came up.

In times like these, I can’t help but have the same thoughts in my head as usual.

Indeed, it’s clear that not just anyone can be the heroine of a romance fantasy novel…

***

What do warriors do during their time off?

I recall overhearing a group of court ladies from the inner palace speculating on this very topic. It was during a patrol near the inner palace when I caught parts of their conversation by the laundry area.

The young warriors in their minds seemed to be Taoist-like people who were completely estranged from the world and immersed in martial arts.

They seriously discussed stories of warriors meditating in isolation or punishing rogues in the outer palace. While it’s true that imagination knows no bounds, I couldn’t help but think how far-fetched it was to equate warriors with paragons of justice.

To set the record straight, even the most powerful warriors tend to relax on their days off and they weren’t much different from anyone else.

Unless they’re like Jang Rae, who is obsessively dedicated to his duties, most understand the importance of resting when they have the chance.

Among them were those who ventured outside the palace to visit pleasure houses or gathered to engage in coarse banter which were actions far removed from the noble warriors the court ladies might imagine.

What can one say? Such is the nature of men.

In that respect, I considered myself fairly disciplined in how I spent my off-duty time.

 Chop! Chop!

The sound of the knife hitting the cutting board as I sliced through a large green onion.

I was in the midst of halving it when I also decided to chop up some cilantro and ginger before tossing them into the pot where a wild boar’s foreleg was simmering.

The broth I started boiling as soon as I returned from the Red Palace had now richened in flavor.

The ingredients that were kindly provided by the old Eunuch at my request were all of excellent quality. I was always grateful for his support in my only hobby.

Lifting my gaze to the window, I noticed the faint outline of the moon through the paper screen.

It was quite late into the night.

The sound of the broth bubbling away. Sitting idly in front of the hearth, looking up at the stars and the moon, I was enveloped in an indescribable sense of warmth.

“…I need to eat if I’m to keep up my strength for tomorrow.”

With that thought in mind, I poured some of the broth into a porcelain bowl filled with rice.

Next, I sliced the tender meat from the foreleg that was now transformed into succulent pork meat and laid it atop the rice. A taste revealed that the various spices I had added had nearly eliminated any gamey taste.

I carefully sprinkled a bit of chili pepper and black pepper that I got from the main palace. These were valuable items that should be treated with care.

After that, I stirred everything around with a spoon. Although it looked like ordinary pork soup, it was quite a rare food for a low-ranking warrior like me.

I blew on a spoonful gently and took a bite before exhaling happily. Yes, this was the taste I craved.

“Kuhuh.”

I was just about to continue shoveling the comforting meal into my mouth when I heard a noise.

Clatter!

“Tae Pyeong! I heard you caught a wild boar and brought back some meat! Let’s have some sliced and boiled meat! I managed to get some from the main palace after serving dinner to the high-ranking officials!”

At that moment, the door opened and a woman with a familiar face appeared.

It was Yeon Ri, a maid who served alongside me under the White Immortal Elder. In terms of our positions, she was essentially a colleague of mine.

She was someone with an enormous appetite who was always the first to rush in with eyes shining whenever rare food was brought in.

“……”

“……”

However, the wild boar meat that Yeon Ri had been coveting has long since become part of my pork soup.

Yeon Ri who had been staring blankly at my dish seemed to be holding back tears.

“I’m too late!”

“What’s done is done. Come sit here and join me for some spicy pork soup.”

“Can you stop turning every edible thing into soup! I’m so fed up with how everything ends up as soup!”

Yeon Ri scratched her head furiously while venting her frustration at me.

“It was my catch, so it’s up to me, isn’t it? And what’s the point in knowing all those fancy cooking methods like raw marinated meat, braised pork, and skewered meat that just waste time and reduce quantity? If I have that time, I’d rather make another bowl of spicy soup.”

I continued to spoon the soup into my mouth, then picked up a piece of pickled cabbage with my fingers and stuffed it into my mouth.

After chewing a few times, I lifted the bowl and gulped down the rest of the soup.

“Kuhaa—.”

“……”

“Kahaa— This is life.”

“……”

“Damn, I could go for a drink. Should I have just one? Is there any sorghum liquor left in the cupboard?”

…Could this really be the behavior of a fifteen-year-old?

Even without words, Yeon Ri’s gaze seemed to ask that very question.

***

The resplendent moon wrapped the Red Palace in a cozy embrace.

Given the late hour, no warriors remained in the palace aside from those on duty.

However, the warrior commander Jang Rae, was still seated in his office and reviewing reports well into the night.

During the day, he oversaw the training of the warriors and dedicated himself to the protection and security of high-ranking officials. Thus, paperwork was inevitably a task for the nighttime.

In the midst of perusing several bamboo slips, Jang Rae suddenly lifted his head to gaze quietly at the moonlit sky.

—I’ve never really wielded a sword properly.

Those were the words of the apprentice warrior from the White Immortal Palace who had been summoned earlier in the day.

Although his physical strength appeared remarkable, his mindset and actions seemed distant from martial values. Rather than solemn and heavy, he looked to be carefree. Yet his strength certainly seemed extraordinary.

However, mere physical strength does not symbolize the essence of a warrior. True strength is shaped and given meaning through skill.

It seemed impossible for someone who had never even swung a sword to possess such skills.

Perhaps he was never suited to be a warrior for the Red Palace in the first place.

However, what concerned Jang Rae was not that aspect.

It was the very moment when the apprentice warrior extended his sword towards Jang Rae.

“.…..”

Inspecting the condition of the sword was akin to evaluating the martial virtues of the opponent.

True to his words, the sword was poorly maintained, appeared crudely made, and hardly ever swung.

Yet a master warrior could discern the qualities of another without even needing to check the sword.

The way one holds the sheath—that is, the grip—could reveal the level of the opponent.

The moment he gripped the sheath, that brief glimpse of his hand over his shoulder.

It was only for a fleeting moment, but the way that apprentice warrior held his weapon was entirely different from that of an ordinary warrior.

He was well aware of the conventional grips detailed in swordsmanship manuals.

But considering the variety of swords in the world and the diversity of human physiques,

It was natural for the manner of holding to evolve into something more comfortable with time and experience handling a sword.

It lasted less than a second.

The grip of the apprentice warrior holding the sheath was entirely different from what was depicted in the manuals.

The ring finger and little finger were tensed, while the middle and index fingers merged to support the bottom of the sheath, and the thumb jutted out prominently.

This characteristic is often seen in those who have spent a long time handling heavy black iron swords as the length and weight of the blade shift the center of gravity toward the back of the sheath.

This person has wielded a sword before and for quite a long period of time at that.

Developing one’s own efficient way of gripping only happens to those who have swung a sword for a long time.

If it’s instinctive to the point of jutting out, it means it has been fully internalized.

And this was from a mere fifteen-year-old apprentice warrior.

But that wasn’t all.

Before handing the sword to Jang Rae, the young warrior’s body twitched and shuddered.

In that moment, he adopted a grip so novice that it was as if he were holding a mere stick and then handed the sword to Jang Rae in that manner.

“.…..”

He probably thought it would go unnoticed in what seemed like a fleeting moment, but by a stroke of luck, Jang Rae caught a glimpse of it at the very edge of his field of vision.

He took that brief opportunity to change his grip and conceal his true skill with the sword.

The implication was clear.

In that brief moment, he realized he needed to hide his grip to avoid revealing his level of expertise to Jang Rae.

As the sword was handed over, their eyes met.

By nature, apprentice warriors would tremble at the mere sight of a warrior from the Red Palace.

But this one was carefully observing Jang Rae’s gaze, whether it was on the sword itself or on the hand that held the sheath.

It was truly a fleeting glance, perhaps lasting only a hundredth of a second.

Seol Tae Pyeong’s eyes.

There seemed to be a reddish glow in his eyes at that moment when he was gauging Jang Rae’s stance.

It was the same look he had after killing that wild boar in the back alleys of the White Immortal Palace.

—A mere apprentice warrior was attempting to gauge the level of a warrior commander.

…Why did he try to hide his skills?

-… To work as little as possible… and earn as much as I can…

– … That’s my motto…

Jang Rae fell into deep contemplation and rested his chin on his hand.

What is he trying to hind behind that frivolity?

He gazed up at the moon in the night sky beyond the wooden window yet no clear answer came to mind.

Only the softly shining stars caught his eye.

White Immortal Elder, what exactly are you harboring within that palace…?

The night deepened relentlessly.