The Wizard Who Endured the World of Murim - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Surviving in the Martial Realm as a Mage: Episode 14
“As you’ve probably guessed, you’ll need to play the role of bait in this commission. That’s the condition for dividing the reward into five shares.”
The five Ronin, including Ilhyang, had gathered at the Yunwol Pavilion, located on the outskirts of Giyang County.
This establishment sold tea of reasonable quality at reasonable prices, making it quite popular among the Ronin of Giyang County.
The landmark that had made this place famous was this upper pavilion, which overlooked the central garden.
Ilhyang brought the Yunwol Pavilion’s prized Cheongyeon tea to his lips.
Gazing down at the well-maintained garden from this floor, I posed the most crucial question.
“I understand the bait role. What I want to hear about is the strategy that comes after. Are you planning this assuming I’ll be completely kidnapped? Or will you capture the kidnappers just before the abduction?”
“Of course we’ve planned this assuming you’ll be kidnapped and taken away.”
Ilhyang tilted his head in confusion.
“Why is that? According to what was written on the Commission Board, we could receive compensation just by catching the criminals.”
One-Eared Hak In-bo. He hesitated for a moment before answering.
Glancing at his fellow companions around him, he soon let out a sigh and spoke honestly.
“Separate from that commission, we received a special designation request.”
“A special designation request, you say… Could it be that you received it from the Magistrate of Giyang?”
“That’s right.”
Could it really be true, like the rumors circulating in the streets—that his own son was kidnapped?
As Ilhyang blinked in surprise.
Hak In-bo glanced around cautiously before speaking in a hushed voice.
“Two days ago, the Magistrate’s Son was kidnapped. Though he’s not the legitimate heir, the fact remains that he’s the only son.”
Remarkably, the rumor was true.
Ilhyang’s eyes widened as I gazed at Hak In-bo and whispered.
“So the rumors circulating were actually true?”
“Yes. The Magistrate of Giyang—that old man has been making a fuss everywhere, pressing the matter. There’s no way to keep such rumors hidden.”
“Then this becomes a duplicate commission. We’ll need to recalculate my share, won’t we?”
“…Hm?”
Ilhyang placed his small hand on the table and spoke with a serious expression.
“If the Magistrate of Giyang specially designated Hak Dae-hyeop and commissioned you separately, then you must have received separate compensation for that as well, correct?”
“…”
Hak In-bo momentarily bore the expression of someone who had taken an unexpected blow.
Then he slowly nodded.
“…Your calculations are thorough. Fine, we’ll divide that into five shares as well.”
“Thank you.”
Hak In-bo accepted readily, though he couldn’t hide his disappointment.
It seemed he had intended to divide only the Ronin Guild’s commission fee among themselves.
‘How dare he.’
The amount of the Magistrate of Giyang’s commission was surprisingly one thousand silver coins.
‘Five hundred as the advance payment alone.’
Upon successful completion of the commission, an additional five hundred would be provided.
‘So the total commission amount is…’
Fifteen hundred silver coins.
An enormous sum hung on this commission.
Even divided five ways, each of us could pocket three hundred coins.
Clink—
I pulled out my coin purse on the spot.
Hak In-bo, who separated out a hundred of the advance coins and handed them over, then
drafted a contract right before my eyes and obtained my signature.
Only then did he speak.
“According to the Government Office’s investigation, the kidnappers’ range of activity wasn’t particularly wide.”
The results the Government Office produced in barely a single night proved quite helpful.
We could narrow down the criminals’ operational area.
Hak In-bo dipped a finger into the teacup he’d been drinking from, then withdrew it and drew a rough topographical map on the table with the tea water before
pointing to one location and speaking.
“When I narrowed the activity range around the residential areas of the abducted children, this was the only place where all their movements converged.”
It was inside the fortress walls, at the well in the heart of the city—
and coincidentally, the very place where I’d put on quite the public display after forming my first circle not long ago, claiming I’d wash up properly.
“The commission begins with you getting kidnapped at Cheongyeon Well here.”
“…Understood.”
Once I confirmed the location, the memory of my shameful conduct at the well surfaced, and my face twisted involuntarily.
Misinterpreting this, Hak In-bo opened his mouth.
“Hmm… Still, since you’ve taken the advance, I’d appreciate it if you’d drop that constipated expression.”
“Yeah, trust us. We’re quite famous in these parts!”
One-Eared Go An-jeok.
He spoke with a grin, flashing his single front tooth brightly,
but I offered no particular response.
‘I should make separate preparations just in case.’
I acknowledged that these men were fairly capable fighters among the ronin.
They were all first-rate masters, and the County Magistrate’s decision to entrust them with a commission meant they had considerable credibility in the industry.
‘But.’
That’s all there was to it.
What if the kidnappers possessed greater strength?
I couldn’t guarantee my safety the moment I was taken.
‘I need at least some safety measures.’
Just as I was considering my own precautions, Hak In-bo spoke.
“Given the client’s circumstances, I’d like to start the job as quickly as possible. How does that suit you?”
“Ah. Let’s move right away then.”
It had been two days since the County Magistrate’s young son was kidnapped.
Whether he was alive or dead remained unknown.
If we could at least secure a body, the commission would be fulfilled.
But if the client’s son actually died, it would be an extremely uncomfortable situation for Hak In-bo as well.
Perhaps I would need to abandon Giyang County, which I had been using as my base.
So the moment he heard Ilhyang’s answer, he picked up the teacup in which he had dipped his finger earlier and gulped down the remaining tea.
Then he rose from his seat, brushing himself off.
“Let’s hurry.”
Thus the group moved discreetly near Ilhyang’s lodgings.
To Cheongyeon Well.
* * *
At the well in the village.
Cheongyeon Well.
Ilhyang hadn’t known it, but this place was quite popular in the area.
First, it was famous because the well’s scale was excessively large for a well.
Moreover, there was historical significance to the fact that the village of Giyang County had actually been founded around this Cheongyeon Well.
So it was a place where villagers frequently came and went.
‘Still, there are more people here than I expected.’
From around midday onward.
Ilhyang lay rigidly on a large wooden platform like a corpse.
But for a full half day, there had been no word.
‘I’m starting to get hungry.’
Had the operation failed?
Ilhyang and the Ruffians, each keeping their distance as if they weren’t part of the group.
Just as I was thinking it was a shame, but I should wrap things up for today.
An unexpected variable appeared.
“Huh? Young Master! Why are you in such a shabby place?”
“…Who are you?”
“It’s me, sir! Poil. Your younger brother whom you hold especially dear.”
“…”
The Inn Server from Manseok Inn.
When he smiled brightly with his dark complexion.
Ilhyang thought things had gotten a bit complicated.
“Why did you come here?”
“I came to fetch bathwater for the guests. I always come at this time.”
When Poil showed two water buckets as large as his own torso lowered from his carrying pole, Ilhyang nodded readily.
“But you seem quite strong for appearances. Those buckets are rather large.”
“Haha, I’m used to it, so it’s easy. As you say, I have considerable strength.”
Inn Server Poil answered thus, and with a cry of “Hup!” flexed his thin forearms with all his might.
Then small quail-egg-like muscles bulged visibly on his forearms.
“Well, how is it? Quite impressive, isn’t it, Young Master?”
“…Yes. Admirable.”
In any case, today seemed to have gone awry.
Seeing no particular signs even as dusk fell like this.
No matter how I looked at it, today was a bust.
‘You can’t expect to be satisfied on the first try.’
I exchanged a glance with Hak In-bo and slowly shook my head.
As it happened, Hak In-bo seemed to share the same sentiment, exhaling a sigh from beneath the eaves near the Well.
『Let’s call it a day.』
The moment I heard the transmission, I turned to Poil and spoke.
“Want me to help with anything?”
“Eh? No, sir. This is my responsibility, young master. Please head into the Inn first!”
At Poil’s rather professional response, I nodded and slowly stretched before rising from my seat.
Then, suddenly.
An inexplicable realization flickered through my mind.
‘Didn’t they say the kidnappings centered around the Well?’
Which meant the kidnappings had to center around the Well for some reason.
There had to be some reason for that, didn’t there?
‘What could that reason be?’
This Well was quite an open location.
The scale was large.
The waterway connected to the well spread out considerably wide, and many people passed through here.
Not ideal conditions for kidnapping children.
Yet they deliberately centered the kidnappings here… wait?
‘The waterway?’
I brushed myself off from the bench and surveyed the area around the Well.
With the look of someone who had grasped something, I gently placed my hand on Poil’s shoulder as he busily drew water from the well with a bucket.
“Hm? Haven’t you left yet, young master?”
“Brother. Let’s do something together.”
The Inn Server of Manseok Inn.
Poil nodded without the slightest hesitation at my sudden request.
“Just say the word, sir.”
I met Poil’s loyal gaze and opened my mouth.
“First, how about you take off your clothes?”
“…Pardon?”
Poil’s loyal eyes instantly clouded with impropriety.

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