episode_0003

When it came to learning the martial arts texts like “Mugye Chilseo” (Sonja, Oja, Wiryohja, Samabeop, Iwigongmundae, Samryak, Yukdo), I was the most outstanding among the three siblings.

It was inevitable, as I had diligently memorized all seven texts after learning the miraculous memorization technique circulating on YouTube.

Thanks to my memorization skills, one day my father called me.

“Jingok.”

“Yes?”

“How about trying to learn the Sasuogyeong now?”

Huh? What is he talking about?

Just memorizing those seven texts was already challenging enough.

It felt like being told to take a judicial exam while preparing for the physical education test.

“Do you think I’m trying to make all three of you officials?”

Well, aren’t all three sons a bit dim-witted?

Although I felt the urge to retort, I held back as it would only lead to a scolding.

“The civil service exam is difficult. But the military exam is easy. And you seem capable of the civil service exam.”

“Father, I have no interest in civil service.”

I disliked memorizing books, but I detested the idea of becoming an official and engaging in political fights even more.

Do you happen to know that 15% of Joseon officials were exiled as punishment?

It’s a fact found on the internet.

Well, even in the 21st century, corrupt officials exist, and society is full of such things.

But I couldn’t stand the Confucianism that made my head ache.

While initially learning martial arts was a struggle after reincarnation, sweating without any thoughts was better for both physical and mental health.

“Hmm. Is that so? If you truly dislike it, there’s nothing I can do. Let’s talk about your marriage then. A marriage proposal has come for you. She is from the Jinju Kim clan, a very difficult match indeed.”

Suddenly, a ringing sound echoed in my ears, and a message appeared in the air.

[Ring. Tutorial completed with the arrival of the marriage proposal.]

[The randomly selected character currently is Lee Jingok, one of the strongest generals in Korea.]

[Refer to the help section for Lee Jingok’s history.]

[Starting the main game.]

[Will you accept this marriage proposal or choose a mission?]

[Mission – Achieve an impossible marriage.]

[The greater the difficulty of the marriage, the greater the reward.]

[Choices:

1) Accept the arranged marriage by your father.

2) Proceed with the mission.

The mission must be completed within 2 years.

If 2 years pass, you must marry according to your father’s wishes with no reward.]

“What is this!”

I was so shocked that my mouth hung open.

Especially since my father, who usually watched over me as a hologram, was nowhere to be seen.

For the past six years, I had only used the holographic tutorials when alone in my room at night, or under the covers.

But now, I couldn’t hide the situation.

“Why isn’t he reacting?”

My father seemed completely unaware of the absence of the hologram.

Instead, his eyes regarded me strangely, as if surprised by my pale face.

“Could it be that you don’t like this marriage proposal?”

“Uh… No.”

While the mission worried me, I really didn’t want to marry a woman I didn’t even know.

“[You have rejected the arranged marriage proposal by your father. The mission will proceed.]

Time remaining: 2 years.”

“Haha. You dislike civil service and marriage too? Well, I also found this marriage distasteful. Rumor has it she’s a trigger-happy lady.”

The phrase “trigger-happy” could be interpreted in two ways: physically unattractive or mentally unsound.

Seems like hearing rumors that I’m crazy made her think she could pair up with me.

Why does that leave a bad taste in my mouth?

“I’ll give you two years to find a suitable wife. If you bring back an unacceptable woman, be prepared for the consequences!”

With that, my father gestured for me to leave.

I managed to step outside, but my heart still couldn’t calm down.

“Now the tutorial is over? The real game begins?”

I even found myself thinking I should have gotten married earlier. It felt like my past six years were being invalidated by the realization that the place I had entered was indeed part of a real game world.

“At least it wasn’t all for nothing.”

When I first arrived in this world, I worried about starving due to the lack of food.

But three full meals a day.

No, I could enjoy five meals a day from dawn till dusk, all richly served with meat dishes.

Even during my teenage years in the 21st century, I didn’t eat this well. Being the son of a high-ranking official who held the position of a magistrate was truly different.

Though not from a major corporation, it was at the level of a successful business conglomerate’s second generation?

With the granary never running out of rice, I could eat as much as I wanted without any concerns.

I was grateful that I was born with a body that could enjoy food to its fullest.

Although it was the outdated and backward 15th century, living without financial worries actually made life better than before.

Thanks to that, I grew taller than 180 centimeters.

With a good physique, I became an imposing figure outwardly.

Not just me, even my older brother and younger brother had impressive builds.

“No wonder we’ll all become generals in the future.”

Speaking of which, if I were to recount the past six years…

During cold winters, I had to stay cooped up in my room studying and experimenting, feeling somewhat bored.

By now, I had already finished all the studying required for the civil service examination, so there was nothing more to do.

And my transformed body yearned for physical activity.

“Let’s create equipment to exercise even inside the house.”

I instructed the servants to make various gym equipment using stones, ropes, wooden poles, and more.

Things like bench presses.

I wanted to use iron, but it was rare and expensive. Besides, I had to call a blacksmith and it was difficult to cut and shape iron like wood.

Instead of using just one stone, I used several, trying to make them as square or round as possible, breaking and grinding them to achieve uniform shapes, and using weights to balance them.

Since many servants helped make these devices, it wasn’t difficult for me.

After receiving my mother’s permission, I stored the created equipment in an empty warehouse and trained my body.

I learned how to exercise through the internet, created schedules, and diligently managed to build muscles.

I followed yoga videos online to improve my flexibility.

Having started yoga from a young age shortly after reincarnation, my body hadn’t stiffened yet, so I could easily follow even challenging poses.

I also learned martial arts alone through online videos.

Things that could be done adequately in a confined space.

For example, Krav Maga.

I learned it in preparation for fighting bare-handed when the opponent had a weapon, or when outnumbered.

I completely emptied one warehouse and self-taught myself by watching online videos here.

When I needed a partner, I called Gebok and other servants.

“Oh no, Second Young Master! Gebok is dying!”

Upon hearing the word “attack,” Gebok really fell down without knowing what hit him, groaning in pain.

“Ahem. Get up quickly.”

“Ouch. I think my arm is broken. My back feels out of place too!”

“Stop pretending you’re dying. As long as I’m here, you don’t have to do anything else.”

“I’d rather work. I’ll become useless if I stay here.”

Gebok wasn’t entirely exaggerating about becoming useless, so I had to change my attitude.

However, my younger brother was too young to call for help, and my older brother, driven by competitiveness, would seek revenge if he lost to me, regardless of consequences.

“I’ll go easy. I’ll go easy.”

Different martial arts were mastered, but Karambit, who wielded a curved dagger, was chosen for its exceptional practicality, much like the captivating character in the movie ‘I’ll Save You, Sir.’

Meanwhile, my older brother and younger brother, along with even my father, found it fascinating to see me exercising with self-made equipment.

“What are you doing?”

My brother asked, poking at the equipment as if starting an argument.

“I’m trying to build strength.”

“If you want to build strength, just lift rocks. What’s the point of pulling on a rope like a woman tied up?”

Yeah, you ignorant fool, do it your way.

Although I was boiling inside, I held back.

“Is there any fun in pulling on this rope?”

“It’s not for fun.”

Building muscles is about the satisfaction, not really about enjoyment.

If there was a mirror, I would have looked at my body and tried to muster some enthusiasm, but there was nothing like that here.

In the cold, narrow space, I lit a lantern and pulled and dragged a stone-bound log.

That was all there was to it.

Father looked at me making this and seemed very disappointed. Indeed, he always praised cleverness.

“Ah, I’m not going to do this.”

“Me neither.”

Both my brother and younger brother quickly got bored of the static exercise and shook their heads, leaving.

I was relieved by their reactions.

Honestly, I didn’t want to exercise together.

Why?

Because when the Saeja Rebellion happened in history, my brother and younger brother sided with Saeja.