I Became a Hotelier at the Goryeo National Hotel - Chapter 37
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 37
Jun Gyeong grumbled to An Hyeok that Lee Eun Cheon was strange.
“Even so, I, me! Does it make sense that I, the hero of the Yeojin conquest, would train such worthless brats! Moreover, he even said he’d make those dried anchovy-like kids the guards of Hyeeumwon.”
“…I see. Either way, since you’ve already agreed to take it on, why don’t you brighten up your expression? Anyone who sees you would think you’re going to cut someone’s throat.”
“Tsk, I already have more than enough state affairs to handle, and now I have to take care of such youngsters too!”
“If state affairs are so busy, you could have just refused.”
When Jun Gyeong looked up sharply saying “What?”, Wang An Hyeok smiled brightly with his eyes.
Jun Gyeong was disgusted when he saw his face.
“Again, again! Look at that smile with unknowable intentions. Ugh!”
Jun Gyeong rubbed his arms vigorously as if getting goosebumps.
The grounds of Hyeeum Sa were quiet as always.
Jun Gyeong and Wang An Hyeok headed toward their quarters inside Hyeeum Sa.
Just then, the door to the Abbot’s Quarters where Head Monk Hye Gwang stayed burst open, and familiar faces came pouring out. They were the petty thieves that Jun Gyeong had personally caught at Hyeeum Pass.
Hye Gwang had sent them all outside saying he was cleaning the room.
“Huh? Why are those kids coming out from there?”
Jun Gyeong’s eyes narrowed.
“Monk Hye Gwang said he shares a room with the children, so it seems to be true.”
At An Hyeok’s words, Jun Gyeong snorted as if incredulous.
“Even so, how could he let criminals roam freely around the temple without even confining them?”
The children spotted Jun Gyeong and Wang An Hyeok and were startled, freezing in place.
In a way, it was natural. That very man with the terrifying expression was none other than the one who had subdued and brought them here.
Jun Gyeong looked at the children’s frightened eyes with complicated feelings.
“Haah…. To think I have to train such youngsters….”
Jun Gyeong sighed and gestured to the children who were trying to sneak away.
“Hey, you kids, come here and stand.”
The children hesitantly approached and stood at his words.
Jun Gyeong approached the children and began examining them carefully.
“Hmm. Well, their builds are decent enough….”
Under Jun Gyeong’s intimidating gaze, the children unconsciously hunched their shoulders.
“Train them well. Who knows? Among them, there might be hidden talent who could grow into excellent warriors?”
“That’s nonsense.”
At An Hyeok’s words, Jun Gyeong looked at him incredulously, then turned his eyes back to the scrawny children.
Soon, as if having made up his mind, Jun Gyeong’s booming voice shook Hyeeum Sa.
“Everyone, assemble in four-column formation!!”
But when the children who didn’t understand just blinked their eyes, Jun Gyeong sighed and said.
“Line up four people across in rows!”
When his enormous voice that seemed capable of toppling mountains shook Hyeeum Sa, the children hurriedly lined up in front of him in a panic.
However, they were crooked and disorderly, a complete ragtag bunch. Just as Jun Gyeong was about to let out a deep sigh, one kid caught his eye.
One who followed orders but looked at him with defiant eyes.
‘Oh, this kid~ His eyes show quite some potential?’
But the other kids were utterly hopeless. Most of them couldn’t even make eye contact, staring at the ground or trembling with their legs shaking.
“You’re all slow as slugs!”
At Jun Gyeong’s roar, the children who looked up in surprise had fear in their eyes. As if they wore expressions saying what they expected had come.
That defiant-eyed kid from before courageously asked as their representative.
“…Are we going to the government office now?”
At Jae Yeol’s words, Jun Gyeong snorted.
“Would I personally step forward for such a trivial matter as handing petty thieves like you over to the government office?”
“Then, then…?”
“From today, you will begin training. If you follow well, I’ll let you work here.”
“…What?”
At Jun Gyeong’s words, the children stirred. They looked like they couldn’t believe it. Jae Yeol muttered quietly with suspicious eyes.
“Really…is that true? You won’t hand us over to the government office?”
Jun Gyeong’s eyebrows twitched.
“Where has this kid been living getting deceived all his life?”
“…Rather than believing the words of high-ranking nobles, I’d trust the words of a passing ant.”
“…You, what did you just say?”
Jun Gyeong looked at Jae Yeol and spoke coldly.
“If all of you run a hundred laps around here without exception, I’ll make sure the government office never takes you away again.”
“Is, is that really true?”
“Yes, I stake my position as Middle General on it.”
At Jun Gyeong’s words, Jae Yeol bit down hard on his teeth and started running first. When the oldest brother began running, the rest of the children all started running following Jae Yeol.
But having eaten just one or two meals couldn’t suddenly give them stamina they never had. Without even completing a few laps, they began gasping and panting for breath one by one.
“Oh my, look at that sight. How can we train them like that…”
Jun Gyeong clicked his tongue and crossed his arms. Wang An Hyeok, who had been watching this entire scene from behind, stopped Jun Gyeong.
“At this rate, you’ll kill the kids.”
Despite Wang An Hyeok’s concern, Jun Gyeong had a relaxed expression.
“Don’t worry. I’m just trying to establish some discipline before we start. They won’t be able to complete a few laps and will crawl back in.”
However, his prediction was spectacularly wrong.
Under the autumn sun, the children running and kicking up dust gritted their teeth and didn’t stop even though they staggered as if they would collapse at any moment.
Jun Gyeong began to feel anxious.
“Those, those kids, why aren’t they stopping?”
Then, when only a few laps remained, the smallest child spewed a nosebleed into the air and collapsed with a thud on the ground.
“Uh, what?!”
Jun Gyeong panicked and ran over. But that was just the beginning. The children began collapsing one after another like wheat being cut, foaming at the mouth or bleeding from their noses.
Monks from Hyeeum Sa who were passing by saw this scene and ran over in shock, then hurriedly carried the collapsed children on their backs and rushed to the medical office.
“Damn it all…”
A moment later, in the Medical Office.
Hye Gwang’s furious roar made the roof of the Medical Office shake.
“What on earth is this! How could you treat children so harshly when they don’t even have the strength to hold chopsticks!”
Hye Gwang glared at Jun Gyeong and shouted. Jun Gyeong, like someone who had swallowed honey, couldn’t say a word.
“Those children have endured harsh trials and barely made it into Buddha’s embrace. How could you be so merciless to them! Do you have no pride as a warrior, no compassion!”
“I, I wasn’t being merciless, it was training—”
“Training? Training!!”
At Hye Gwang’s roar, Jun Gyeong hung his head low. Even with ten mouths, he had nothing to say.
His mistake was thinking lightly of them based on the subordinates he habitually commanded.
‘Did I really think they would run with such desperate determination!’
“I have no… excuse.”
“These are children who haven’t even properly gained flesh on their bones. If they overexert themselves now, their bodies will suffer permanent damage.”
“…Yes. I will be… careful.”
Jun Gyeong read Hye Gwang’s mood and slowly retreated, carefully pulling back the inner banner.
Then he could see children lying on narrow sickbeds. Some groaning in pain, some drenched in sweat, some making moaning sounds… their conditions were terrible.
‘…Was I too harsh.’
Just as he was beginning to feel sorry, Jun Gyeong’s eyes caught a familiar face. It was Jae Yeol. Unlike the other children, he was staring at the ceiling with wide-open eyes.
“…”
Jun Gyeong quietly approached Jae Yeol. Sensing his presence, Jae Yeol turned his head. Their gazes collided in mid-air. Jae Yeol glared at Jun Gyeong for a moment, then quickly turned his gaze away.
“Heh, scared?”
When Jun Gyeong chuckled, Jae Yeol seemed to flare up and whipped his head back toward him.
‘This kid has quite the pride, doesn’t he.’
“Hey, I thought you’d be different? I’m a bit disappointed?”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————