episode_0004

In particular, the author known as Hyung flies under the radar like a duck.

Moreover, in the original history, when his father passed away and a dispute arose over the grave issue, he beat Ee Jing-ok until she fainted.

It is said that Ee Jing-ok did not resist but simply took the beating, which is hard to understand considering she was widely known as a terror to the Yeojin tribe in the Hamgyeongdo region in the original history. Perhaps she was subdued by the hierarchical society dominated by Confucianism in Jangyuyuseo.

Even though he was still young, Hyung had no manners and tormented me every training session by hitting me.

I wanted to kill him before he grew up.

When we rode together in the mountains, I looked for opportunities to push him off a cliff or grab him by the collar and have a good fight.

But if I acted out, there would be consequences to deal with.

If it was assault, Ee Jingsuk, who was always gentle, would retaliate in various ways.

For murder, there should be no witnesses, and I would need an alibi to avoid getting caught.

Lastly, now that Jangson is dead, my parents’ attention will be focused on me as the successor.

I also have to handle various ancestral rites in the household.

“Annoying. Let’s just endure it.”

We’ll eventually go our separate ways once we become adults.

Meanwhile, among Ee Jing-ok’s legends is the story of her catching a tiger barehanded in her teens, but such an event never actually occurred.

The tigers inhabiting the Korean Peninsula are the largest among the various types of tigers.

In simple terms, Siberian tigers.

However, no matter how strong one may be, how could a human catch a tiger barehanded?

Even if you’re exaggerating, do it in moderation.

If it were possible, it would likely be a newborn cub.

There are a few stories about Ee Jing-ok in the legends, and among them, some actually happened.

One of them is when his mother asked him to bring back a wild boar.

One day, his mother called three brothers to see a live wild boar.

“Hoo, why is the lady from the magistrate’s house asking for a wild boar?”

It doesn’t seem like something the wife of a high-ranking official would ask her son to do.

Should they chase after the wild boar using the hunting techniques of the original history?

But he didn’t want to do such ignorant and difficult tasks.

Hyung Ee Jingsuk shot an arrow and killed the wild boar.

However, I searched the area where my brother hunted and found a baby wild boar to show to our mother.

Her reaction to this was amusing.

“This is a wild boar, but what a disappointment.”

“Mother, I only did as you instructed.”

“Well, that’s true. You, the smartest among your brothers, know how to scheme like this.”

However, my thoughts were different.

“A mother asking her young son to bring back a wild boar. Isn’t that like sending him to his death in a hunting ground?”

Honestly, it seemed reckless.

“Jingok, I’m worried that your capacity might be as small as a baby wild boar.”

Originally, in the legends, Ee Jing-ok would exhaust the wild boar for days before bringing back a live one.

At that time, what his mother said meant that Jing-ok would become a great general in the future.

It is said that at that moment, Ee Jing-ok declared, “I will become the Emperor someday!”

But this seems like a made-up statement after the fall of the Sejo Rebellion.

As his mother finished speaking, even though he hadn’t brought back a live one, his brother received praise for killing the wild boar and smirked at me.

Although he couldn’t catch the baby wild boar, the younger sibling, still aiming for bigger game, attempted to hunt and shook his head in frustration.

Regardless of what his mother said or how his brothers reacted, I paid no attention.

“What’s so important about hunting wild boars?”

This wouldn’t have any impact on my future.

Especially since I am a reincarnator.

Over the course of several years of training and stone-cutting (not iron, but stone), my muscles had become so well-defined that if I took off my shirt, women might mistake me for a dolphin.

#

“Open status window.”

After stepping back in front of my father and entering my room, this was the first thing I did.

[Beep! An error has occurred.]

“Darn it!”

As usual, calling for help worked.

Just in case, I called up my inventory and quest log.

“This is supposed to be the start of the game! Why won’t anything else work?”

I was getting frustrated.

But there was one thing that worked.

Character customization!

Like stumbling upon it after trying everything else, I found it.

I couldn’t understand why only this worked, but anyway, in a semi-transparent window floating in the air, my current face and body were displayed.

“I look… manly.”

Not handsome.

It was a rugged, strong-jawed face and a muscular physique with defined abs.

“It seems my hard work in exercising is paying off here. But if I can change my physique through character customization, why did I bother exercising all this time?”

I couldn’t help feeling self-conscious.

However, when I tried to change things one by one…

“It’s asking for a recharge?”

The game system demanded real money.

“Hah! Ridiculous. How am I supposed to make a payment in this situation? Scratch a card?”

I had forgotten all my card numbers.

“Wire transfer?”

Suddenly, I realized that was possible.

Entering the game world, even after six years, I couldn’t forget my account number.

It popped up in my mind as vividly as a military serial number.

“How much was in my account?”

I couldn’t remember well, but it wasn’t zero.

“If I charge ten thousand at a time, I should find out.”

So, I charged it and it became 4.11 million won.

“Oh, not bad. That’s enough!”

For the first charge, I received a random box, and when the charging amount reached 1 million won, I also received a golden box.

This happened at 200 thousand, 300 thousand, and 400 thousand won charges as well.

So, I opened the three random and golden boxes…

[From the random box, you received a ‘Potion of Luck (single use).’]

[From the golden box, you received ‘Life Extension Elixir.’]

[Your lifespan increases to 250 years.]

[From the golden box, you received ‘Strength +10 (permanent).’]

[Your strength increases by 10.]

[From the golden box, you received ‘Agility +10 (permanent).’]

[Your agility increases by 10.]

[From the golden box, you received ‘Stamina +10 (permanent).’]

[Your stamina increases by 10.]

“Oh! Nice! Am I going to live for 250 years now?”

Already overflowing with strength, it seemed like I was getting even stronger, and my vitality seemed greatly enhanced.

“It’s a shame the store isn’t open.”

Even though I recharged generously.

Still, since I could now change my face and body, I spent the night customizing.

The result!

My face and body didn’t change drastically.

The reason was…

“To apply the customization you selected, it will take one year.”

Seemingly unnecessarily realistic, it required time before changes took effect.

“It will really apply, right?”

Unable to open the store and having poured all 4.11 million won into it, my face transformed into a 21st-century handsome man who couldn’t possibly have come from the Middle Ages, reminiscent of actor Jung Woo-sung if anyone.

I crafted my physique like a champion with a physique rating of 1,000.

My skin tone was a suitable copper hue.

“I hope a year passes quickly.”

For the first time since coming to this world, impatience crept over me.

#

1416, the year I turned 21.

“Jingok?”

After sitting me down in front of him, my father called out.

“You turn twenty-one this year. Like your brother, go up to Hanyang and serve as a royal guard. Then, prepare to take the civil service exam.”

Serving as a royal guard or in the king’s court was not for just anyone; it required individuals from the affluent ruling class.

From the king’s perspective, wouldn’t it be more reassuring to have someone trustworthy guarding him rather than just skilled individuals?

Next to the king, one had to stand in attendance, looking dignified and possessing martial arts skills.

My brother, as well as myself, fit the criteria perfectly.

My elder brother, Lee Jingseok, had gone to Hanyang four years ago, passed the military examination, and ranked first in the Jangwon exam.

Afterward, he became a royal bodyguard, residing in the palace and taking on the duty of escorting.

I had already been thinking that once I reached the appropriate age, I would also take the military examination.

It was the same in our family’s history.

“I understand.”

There was no point in refusing, so I obediently replied.

The next day,

I departed from our house in Yangsan to Hanyang with a horse for riding, a packhorse for luggage, and four servants, including the groom who had lifted me up during an accident six years ago.

“Why such a large entourage?”

Traveling alone was risky, and it took around ten days to reach Hanyang in these times. In some cases, it could even take two weeks.

If we couldn’t find accommodation along the way, we might have to sleep outdoors and cook our own meals.

Of course, my father had provided travel expenses, and there was a letter instructing me to visit a government office if we passed by one.

The contents were…

“In my previous life, I served as the Minister of Public Works during the reign of King Taejo, and as the Minister of Rites during the reign of King Taejong. I am now on my way to Hanyang with my second son to become a military officer, requesting lodging and food along the journey.”

Roughly, this was the gist of the letter.

By the time we reached the government office, they would recognize me from my past life, so I couldn’t just ignore the letter.

However, I had no intention of actually using the letter.

This was because my father had advised me not to use it unless absolutely necessary, as it could lead to unnecessary attention from the nobles.