I Became a Hotelier at the Goryeo National Hotel - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 25

 

Rashid informed them about the situation that had unfolded.

 

[Before we reached the meeting place, they suddenly jumped out and attacked the trading company. We were a bit surprised, but they seemed inexperienced and clumsy for bandits, so we were rather bewildered.]

 

Hearing directly that no damage had been sustained, Eun Cheon finally felt relieved inwardly.

 

Since these were people who dealt with precious goods transported over long distances, merchants often valued their trade goods more than their own lives.

 

Eun Cheon once again personally inspected the trading company party and their goods to check for any damage. Around that time, Jun Gyeong had subdued all those who had acted as bandits.

 

Rashid asked.

 

[What do you plan to do with them?]

 

[I will give them appropriate punishment.]

 

However, upon hearing those words, Rashid’s expression darkened.

 

[…They look far too young to be called bandits…]

 

[…]

 

Eun Cheon approached the bandits that Jun Gyeong had subdued. The trading company guards were setting aside the weapons they had brought.

 

“Good work.”

 

“It wasn’t even worth calling work. These guys… they’re not bandits…”

 

Eun Cheon silently examined those kneeling in silence.

 

As Rashid and Jun Gyeong had said, their appearance looked far too young. Most of them didn’t even have traces of facial hair.

 

Moreover, what they had brought were all old farm tools without a single intact part.

 

Eun Cheon approached the boy who appeared to be the oldest among them and asked.

 

“Where did you come from?”

 

“…”

 

The boy, who had been groaning while clutching his ankle where Jun Gyeong had properly struck him with both hands, only hung his head low and couldn’t respond.

 

“Not answering? Do you need to get hit more to come to your senses?”

 

When Jun Gyeong clenched his fist tightly and approached, Eun Cheon stopped him.

 

“Let me try talking to him.”

 

Eun Cheon bent his knees to match the boy’s eye level and spoke to him once more.

 

“Where are the adults, and why did you do such a thing among yourselves?”

 

The boy hesitated before barely parting his lips.

 

“…nida.”

 

“I can’t hear you well.”

 

At Eun Cheon’s words, the boy swallowed dry saliva and answered in a weak voice.

 

“It’s something we did among ourselves… sir. Most of us here, including myself… our fathers and mothers are bedridden with illness and starvation. So, just to survive… to try to live, we came out like this.”

 

‘So that’s why it was like this.’

 

The makeshift weapons, and how clumsy they looked holding weapons.

 

These weren’t people who made banditry their profession. They were just starving boys.

 

When Eun Cheon remained silent, the boy suddenly prostrated himself flat and pressed his forehead to the ground.

 

“We, we never intended to harm those people. We just…”

 

“Tell me.”

 

“We were hungry. My younger sibling has been starving for days too. We wondered if there might be something to eat. We, we never had the slightest intention to harm anyone.”

 

Jun Gyeong, who had been listening to their conversation, flared up.

 

“That doesn’t give you the right to threaten others with weapons.”

 

The boy flinched at Jun Gyeong’s sharp rebuke.

 

“Y-yes, I was wrong. But if I don’t take something, my father will die. That’s why, I was so desperate that I— My younger sibling and mother are also lying sick. I don’t know how many days they’ve been starving. P-please forgive me!”

 

The boy pleaded while banging and grinding his forehead against the ground.

 

“…Stop.”

 

At Eun Cheon’s restraint, the boy stopped his actions and sobbed with his forehead pressed to the ground.

 

Eun Cheon quietly observed the boy for a moment before speaking.

 

“…What is your name?”

 

“Pardon? Ah, I, I am… called Jae, Jae Yeol.”

 

The boy named Jae Yeol didn’t dare ask why this noble lord of high status was asking for his name, and cautiously spoke his name.

 

“I won’t do anything to you right now. However, you must come with us for now.”

 

At Eun Cheon’s words, the face of the boy called Jae Yeol turned pale and froze.

 

But what could he do? He had been caught red-handed stealing.

 

The boy thought it was extremely fortunate that this person hadn’t said he would drag away his family members as well.

 

When the leader-like child among the group obediently followed Eun Cheon’s words, the other children also read the situation and awkwardly stood up, gathering around Jae Yeol.

 

Jun Gyeong muttered as if amazed while collecting their weapons.

 

“It’s embarrassing to even call these weapons. An iron pitchfork, a hoe, and a hand hoe… They’re so rusted they’d break if you bent them by hand.”

 

Jun Gyeong ordered the guards to collect the weapons—no, farm tools—then asked Eun Cheon.

 

“But what are you planning to do by taking those kids with us?”

 

“Escorting the guests to Hyeeumwon comes first. But we can’t just let them go like this, so we have no choice but to take them.”

 

“Well~ do as you wish.”

 

Jun Gyeong obediently brought his horse and mounted it. Eun Cheon ordered the guards to tie up the boys to follow behind, and moved together with the merchant group.

 

When Eun Cheon’s group reached the ridge peak of Hyeeum Pass, the sun was barely holding onto its last red light beyond the mountain ridge.

 

Through the gaps of the mountain path where dusk was beginning to settle, the roofline of Hyeeumwon revealed itself.

 

In the shadows rapidly seeping along the deep mountain slopes, the lanterns hanging from the ends of the hanok eaves began lighting up one by one with orange light.

 

As the twilight deepened, the light spread more softly, harmonizing with the quiet mountain landscape to create a dreamlike scenery that seemed difficult to reach.

 

[Oh…]

 

Nasim, who was looking at Hyeeumwon, unconsciously let out an exclamation of admiration.

 

Then, when his eyes met with Eun Cheon’s, he cleared his throat and quickly turned his head away to the opposite side.

 

“Eun Cheon. That guy earlier seemed to be complaining about something. They’re not in a position to act like this toward us, are they?”

 

When Jun Gyeong, who was riding his horse beside him, casually brought up the topic, Eun Cheon looked at him with curiosity.

 

“Did you know the language of Dashi Kingdom?”

 

“What are you talking about? Don’t you know better than anyone that I’ve been estranged from studying since early on?”

 

“…”

 

Eun Cheon shook his head from side to side.

 

And there was someone who had been anxiously waiting for them from afar. It was none other than Nok Sa, who had been sticking her head out the door and keeping watch while waiting for guests.

 

“Huh? Oh! F-finally!!”

 

The Nok Sa who spotted Eun Cheon and Jun Gyeong radiating a dazzling aura that couldn’t be hidden even in the sunset quickly ran inside and shouted at the top of their lungs.

 

“C-customers have arrived!”

 

Upon hearing this cry, the Nok Sa of Hyeeumwon scattered to their respective positions in perfect unison, like arrows released from bowstrings.

 

The Jigaek-cheong staff hurriedly double-checked the tea and tea cups to serve the guests, while the trainees in charge of guest rooms examined the banners and silk bedding in the rooms where the trading company party would stay once more.

 

News of the customers’ arrival was quickly delivered to Chanseon Bang where Deputy Commander Lee Jeong Ah was located, and Nok Sa from each department rushed to her to report that all preparations were complete.

 

After finishing preparations to welcome the guests once more, Lee Jeong Ah smiled with satisfaction.

 

‘Good! Perfect!’

 

The trainees checked their clothes neatly once again.

 

“S-Seo Rin, what should I do? I’m n-nervous.”

 

“It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

 

“Girls, give me your hands.”

 

Da Sim took out a small bottle from her pocket and poured some fragrant liquid onto Gap-i and Seo Rin’s hands.

 

“What is this?”

 

“Fragrant oil. Quickly apply it to your body.”

 

Gap-i and Seo Rin quickly applied the fragrant oil all over their bodies. Soon a pleasant scent rose from their bodies.

 

“Thank you, Da Sim.”

 

Having completed all preparations, Seo Rin quietly placed her hand on her chest. She could feel her heart pounding. A pleasant feeling of excitement.

 

How much she had wanted to feel this emotion!

 

‘My very first customer! Whether this is a dream or not, that doesn’t matter. Right now, at this moment, I am a hotelier of Hyeeumwon!’

 

Deputy Commander Lee Jeong Ah gathered the Nok Sa and trainees together and opened her mouth with a solemn expression.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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