episode_0012

Acheong displayed a modern sense of judgment.

Fleeing haphazardly would only lead to being caught.

This was a lesson learned from many modern stories.

So, after sleeping and eating for ten days straight, they continued on.

Cheong relaxed, able to focus once again on the new hobby they had picked up in the martial world.

It was none other than gourmet dining.

Ah, the cool fragrance of the inn.

Truly a long period of humiliation…

As they sat at the table, Jeomsoui approached.

Her expression was quite uncomfortable.

With two years of experience in the martial world, Cheong now understood the dining etiquette of the central plains.

Seating at the inn was crucial.

The closer to the center and the window, the more valuable the seat.

And the worst seat was the one closest to the back door leading to the backyard.

Those who wanted to eat cheaply had to sit in the worst seats.

It was an unspoken rule of the inn.

However, Acheong boldly claimed the sunny window seat.

After running and eating for ten days, they were a mess.

Having claimed the best seat, it was strange to see Jeomsoui’s expression brighten.

But all these rules meant nothing in the face of a sword.

Leaning on the sword placed on the table, Jeomsoui rudely asked, “What will you have?”

“Hehe…”

Acheong let out a strange laugh.

As Jeomsoui’s expression crumpled, Acheong decisively placed a silver coin on the table!

“Ugh!”

“Alright. ‘Silver coin.’ Give me the best and most delicious thing here. Three of them. Also, bring me alcohol. And something expensive.”

“Understood!”

Jeomsoui took a deep breath.

“Here, the guest has ordered Frozen Beef, Mountain Ginseng, and Freshwater Fish! With a side of Porridge with Chestnut Leaves!”

The more expensive the order, the louder it had to be announced.

It was Jeomsoui’s duty.

This guest ordered something expensive!

The inn’s patrons looked at Acheong with envy.

For example, they might think, “Wow, Frozen Beef, Mountain Ginseng, Freshwater Fish!”

“Oh my, how wealthy is this person!”

And as the most beautiful woman in the inn (Blue and White Goddess) approached to serve a dish…

“Tsk.”

Acheong frowned.

The disdainful look from the imagined most beautiful woman (Blue and White Goddess) made Acheong feel satisfied.

In Nakyang, Acheong had thoroughly enjoyed the visual feast.

There was never a friendly gaze.

Am I selfish for wanting you to smile for me?

At that moment, Jeomsoui appeared, carefully placing alcohol and dried snacks on the table before retreating.

In any case, Acheong was in a good mood to the point of chatting endlessly.

Acheong’s good moods fell into one of three categories.

When delicious food was in front of them.

When they thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of life and death.

Or when they had a lot of money.

In that sense, the past ten days of escape had been worth it.

The lady of the Heukyoung Society, whose name was unknown, seemed to be very loved within the household.

Because true love sometimes appears in the form of gold.

And judging by the extravagant hairstyle and luxurious business, it seemed like they had grown quite a bit.

That’s why family education is important.

The lesson of giving two pieces of gold to the Heukyoung Society was enough.

Leaving a child to grow crooked without guidance will only lead to trouble.

I hope other children are raised well.

Isn’t it like having a great teacher like Mr. Oh, a child expert?

But, in reality, is there any evidence that I killed them?

When I came to my senses, they were already dead.

After wrapping my hair around my hand alone, there is a possibility that I could have committed suicide by cutting my own throat.

So, I didn’t do anything wrong.

In fact, I cleaned up three pieces of trash from the world…

“Damn, the food is not coming out well.”

Acheong muttered a curse.

So, I had a drink.

“Ah, it’s spicy.”

The solo love of a middle-aged person is extraordinary.

The rice wine in the glass, with a spoonful of porridge, roughened the tongue and throat, touched the Adam’s apple, and burned fiercely.

Do you find the rice wine bitter? I find it sweet.

Because porridge is originally sweet.

What, is it supposed to be this spicy? Is the rice wine hot?

Acheong shook his head.

The spicy taste that rises up in the aftertaste is strange, but it’s also excellent.

I don’t know. Maybe it’s supposed to be like this.

As I was wandering, the food came out.

Pork with a crispy surface.

The inside is soft, and the outside is also soft.

Fried eggplant and vegetables served with something like raw fish in the middle, but I’m not sure.

It’s a shame that there’s no dipping sauce, but the rich sweetness is excellent.

A whole big fish steamed in a pot.

The soft flesh of freshwater fish meeting the steamed flesh was very satisfying.

Still, the taste was good.

Overall, excellent. Full marks.

Acheong nodded after roughly tasting the food.

Now it was time to eat in earnest.

“…”

This pork, the taste is amazing!

When picked up with chopsticks, it melted in the mouth like shaved ice. The meat and fat melted together, truly melting fat…

“…”

Something with a soft pink color like pudding, with fine blood vessels visible.

When put in the mouth, it truly melted fat, but the taste is a bit overwhelming.

In this case, have some vegetables as a palate cleanser…

“…”

Fried eggplant. It was fried eggplant. Delicious.

The taste is quite stable. But…

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Hey, kid?”

Acheong turned his head slightly.

The meal wasn’t going well because of the child who had been maintaining a subtle distance and staring at him.

About ten years old?

The child was small and thin, to the point of being pitiful.

“When eating, don’t even touch a dog. And eye contact is violence, violence! Did you think I would yield to such innocent eyes? If you look at me so pitifully, thinking I’ll say, ‘Here, try this,’ you’re mistaken.”

“…”

“Sigh. Unbelievable. If you really thought I would do that, then I’m not such a weak-hearted person.”

“…”

It’s truly regrettable to be upset about what to eat.

Through his life in the gang, Acheong realized this painfully.

Especially when eating dumplings, the urge to stab the kids next to him who were eating noisily was almost unbearable.

The dumplings in the middle are just empty bread.

Acheong was full now.

He was even more full because he didn’t think about future wealth at all.

And that became a sufficient reason for baseless kindness.

“Do you want some meat?”

“!!!”

The child’s eyes widened like saucers.

Finding it cute, Acheong poked a chunk with his chopsticks and offered it.

The child looked at the meat tremblingly, then turned his head around, looked around, looked at the meat again.

Finally, he asked hesitantly.

The child didn’t say anything, but his expression spoke volumes.

It was a sense of betrayal, as if saying, “How can something so delicious exist? How did I live without knowing?”

A tear rolled down from the child’s eyes.

Laughing, Acheong handed the chopsticks to the child.

“Alright, sit here, that’s right, little one. You know how to use chopsticks, right? You have to pick up the food yourself. I’m not someone who goes easy on kids. You should learn to take care of yourself from the start.”

Acheong started eating ferociously.

At first, the child hesitated, but then resolutely reached out with the chopsticks as the dishes on the table quickly diminished.

And so, there were two beggars at the table.

In the midst of it all.

“Myung-ah!”

With a scream-like shout, a woman rushed in.

Acheong was skilled enough to easily fend her off.

But the woman’s expression was so desperate, and her gaze was fixed on the child, so Acheong just let it be.

The woman embraced the child as if catching him.

—

“Thank you, thank you…! Daehyeop…!”

A middle-aged woman who seemed like a mother bowed repeatedly.

She was a woman named Yang Sowol.

Her overwhelming gratitude was almost overwhelming.

“It’s just because the kid is cute, that’s all. Myung-ah, how old is our Myung?”

Instead of answering, the child blushed and avoided eye contact.

This little guy is cute.

It was when Acheong smiled contentedly.

“Um, Daehyeop…”

“Yes?”

“Myung just turned sixteen this year…”

“Excuse me?”

Acheong looked at the child’s thin figure.

No matter how you looked at it, he didn’t seem over ten years old.

“He’s a bit weak, and hasn’t grown as much as his peers…”

It doesn’t seem like just a little bit, ma’am.

Acheong held back her words.

After realizing it, the child’s pale face looked different.

It wasn’t embarrassment, but shame!

If he’s sixteen, then…

Has it been too long since he went to school to match his grade and age correctly?

Elementary school 1st grade is 8 years old, right? So 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

Acheong folded her fingers to barely finish the calculation.

He’s in 9th grade? This kid?

He must feel embarrassed in front of 9th graders.

Acheong was shocked.

Then she looked back and forth between Yang Sowol and Jin Myung.

Yang Sowol was a very gracefully aged lady.

Even though her attire was simple, there was a certain elegance about her.

Jin Myung was a little kid with sunken cheeks.

He couldn’t eat, but his mom seems fine?

Could it be…

Furthermore, the kid can’t even speak.

But still, as a mother, she let her guard down.

Acheong’s gaze sharpened.

“Daehyeop, you’re misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? What do you mean?”

“The child is a bit sick, no, quite sick…”

Yang Sowol’s expression was full of regret for her son.

It was an undeniable proof of her deep affection.

Ah, it was just a misunderstanding.

Acheong felt awkward.

“Did you maybe take the wrong medicine…?”

“…What are you saying. Ugly things.”

Acheong was surprised.

He spoke!

He knows how to talk!

Well, of course, if he’s sixteen.

But more importantly? Wrong? Did I hear that right? The content? A bit?

Huh? After all the trouble of feeding him, he’s in this state?