WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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Episode 12: Manor Lord (3)
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Lights from the Manor below the hill.
Two figures watched them from the darkness with indifferent eyes.
The taller of the two asked the one beside them,
“Is this the place?”
“Yes.”
At that answer, the taller figure took something the size of a finger from their robes.
It looked like a seal.
“I heard its owner was freed from the malign force. What was the cause?”
The figure beside them, who had formed a sword-finger seal with one hand, curled their lips into a smile.
“Gujo.”
“What is that?”
“One of the spirits and goblins of Green Crow Mountain.”
“Spirits and goblins?”
“I once heard that in Mengcheng, not far from here, there is a Taoist occultist who keeps the monster Gujo as a spirit familiar. It seems that person is over there.”
At those words, interest flashed in the taller figure's eyes.
“So that was it. A Taoist occultist intervened.”
“Now that we have the answer, what will you do?”
“We need to bring it back.”
With that, the taller figure raised a hand.
At that moment, the sounds of countless people could be heard behind them.
* * *
“I will determine who is qualified to become this Manor's successor through a test.”
‘!!!!!’
The air in the room changed at the Manor Lord's declaration.
The youngest, Mok YuCheon, could not hide his delight, his lips twitching.
If it was a test, he had the greatest advantage over anyone.
‘Ah! Father is giving me an opportunity.’
What could a test in a martial family be?
Naturally, it would be something that showed off one's martial talent.
Eldest Young Master Mok YeongHo was Second-rate, while the second son, Mok EunPyeong, was Advanced. The third son beside him, Mok GyeongUn, was only Third-rate.
None of them could defeat him.
Whether it was a martial match or anything else, he held the advantage.
Clench!
Mok EunPyeong bit down hard on his lower lip.
He had been thinking much the same as Mok YuCheon.
Anyone would see that the Manor Lord's declaration was intended for the youngest, Mok YuCheon, whose martial talent was the greatest.
Who could defeat that monster, who had reached the beginning stage of Expert at merely sixteen?
‘How could he do this?’
If this was how it would be decided, it would have been better to simply name Mok YuCheon as the successor.
Feeling that it was all unfair, Mok EunPyeong gathered courage and finally spoke, though he normally would not have dared.
“Father, I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
“If there is to be a test, what exactly will it involve?”
At the question, Manor Lord Mok InDan stared directly at his second son.
Having barely summoned the courage to speak, Mok EunPyeong lowered his head slightly and avoided his father's intimidating gaze.
Mok InDan let out a faint snort.
He had finally voiced an opinion, yet could not even meet his own father's eyes.
It was utterly pathetic.
Still, after surviving the brink of death, Mok InDan had resolved to give everyone a fair chance in the process of choosing the Manor Lord.
So he said,
“If we were merely competing in martial matches to test martial talent, none of you could defeat the youngest.”
“...”
Mok EunPyeong's expression twisted for an instant.
His pride had been wounded.
But before his father, he quickly composed himself.
Unconcerned, Mok InDan continued.
“Therefore, I will determine who possesses the qualifications to be Manor Lord.”
‘Qualifications?’
The brothers of the Mok Family all looked puzzled at those words.
Mok YuCheon, too, had assumed that everything would be decided by martial prowess, since they were choosing the successor of a martial family. But at the mention of qualifications, unease entered his eyes.
If those qualifications did not mean martial talent, he would be at the greatest disadvantage.
‘Ah!’
Perhaps for that reason, Mok EunPyeong's expression brightened instead.
Until just moments ago, he had believed the Manor Lord had already decided on the youngest, Mok YuCheon. But if they were discussing qualifications, Mok YuCheon, the son of a concubine, would find it difficult to earn the retainers' recognition.
‘Then it will be a contest between that bastard and me.’
Mok EunPyeong glanced at Eldest Young Master Mok YeongHo beside him.
He could not tell what that man was thinking.
First Madam was trying everything she could to make him the successor, but Mok YeongHo himself had gone so far astray that he had brought nothing but disappointment to the Manor Lord.
‘There is a chance.’
Mok EunPyeong had been unable to hide his disappointment upon hearing that the Manor Lord had awakened.
Yet now, a slim hope rose in him.
If things went well, he might earn his father's recognition and formally become Manor Lord.
Then Mok YuCheon carefully opened his mouth.
“Father, may I ask what you mean by assessing our qualifications?”
“The Manor Lord is the leader who guides the group known as Yeonmok Sword Manor. I will test whether you are suited to that position.”
‘Someone suited to be Manor Lord?’
It became even harder to guess what sort of test it would be.
Sweeping his gaze across his sons, Mok InDan continued.
“Though your mothers are different, you are all my children. Thus, everyone will be given a fair chance to compete for succession. Return now. Each of you should consider what sort of test there may be and prepare yourselves.”
Having said all he wished to say, he ordered his children to withdraw.
They joined their hands and bowed, preparing to leave.
“Forgive me, but I will not take the test.”
Everyone's eyes turned toward the speaker.
It was Mok GyeongUn.
‘What is he saying?’
‘He will not take the test?’
Mok EunPyeong and Mok YuCheon both stared at him as if they could not understand.
Was he personally turning down the chance to officially become the successor?
As they stood puzzled, Manor Lord Mok InDan questioned him.
“You will not take the test?”
“Yes.”
“Why not?”
“I lack much compared to my brothers beside me and even my youngest brother. I do not believe I am qualified to become the successor. Therefore, I will not take the test.”
Mok EunPyeong gave a faint scoff.
He did not know what scheme Mok GyeongUn was plotting, but there was no downside if he withdrew of his own accord.
It would only make the competition easier.
‘So he meant it.’
Mok YuCheon found it unexpected.
Unlike when the Manor Lord's life and death had been uncertain, refusing an official opportunity to become successor meant that what Mok GyeongUn had told him was true.
He had not expected Mok GyeongUn to truly have no desire for the Manor Lord's position.
What was he thinking?
‘Good.’
Mok GyeongUn welcomed the situation instead.
If he formally withdrew from the succession dispute, they would no longer have cause to bother him.
His purpose was Martial Arts in any case.
Once he had established a sufficient foundation, he would leave Yeonmok Sword Manor.
There was no reason to bind himself here.
But then...
“Why do you think you lack what it takes?”
The Manor Lord's question followed.
Mok GyeongUn found it strange.
As far as he knew, the Manor Lord had considered Eldest Young Master Mok YeongHo and the deceased Mok GyeongUn pathetic.
If so, there was no reason to regret Mok GyeongUn withdrawing from the succession test.
‘How troublesome.’
It would have been over if the Manor Lord had simply accepted it.
Still, there would be no benefit in offending the Manor Lord here.
He had no choice but to provide a suitable reason.
“I understand that the eldest son should be given priority as successor, and if that is not possible, the one of greatest ability and merit should be chosen.”
“...”
“Furthermore, my maternal family is no longer what it once was, so they cannot lend strength to Yeonmok Sword Manor. This makes me even less qualified to become the successor.”
He explained smoothly why he could not be chosen.
Mok EunPyeong nodded.
‘He knows his place.’
He was pleased.
Surely the Manor Lord would no longer object to Mok GyeongUn declining the succession test.
‘Hm?’
But something was strange.
The Manor Lord's expression as he looked at Mok GyeongUn was not unpleasant.
Rather, it was closer to the look of someone seeing him anew.
‘What is this?’
And his guess was correct.
Mok GyeongUn's words were not exceptional simply because he had put himself down.
However, to the Manor Lord, Mok GyeongUn's clear understanding of himself and his willingness to plainly state his opinion were completely unlike before.
There was none of that weakness and pathetic demeanor.
What had happened while he had lain unconscious for so long?
‘He has changed.’
What could have changed this boy so much?
Or had he been changing over the years when Mok InDan had paid him no attention?
The Manor Lord grew curious about Mok GyeongUn.
Rustle.
Suddenly, the Manor Lord pulled back his upper garment.
His scar-covered upper body was revealed.
Among the wounds, the one that seized everyone's attention was...
‘...Ah.’
Though wrapped in bandages, the stump of his severed arm was plainly apparent.
Everyone knew that he had suffered an accident due to an assailant several days earlier.
But they had not known that his arm had been cut off.
Manor Lord Mok InDan was a swordsman.
For a swordsman who used his right hand, losing that arm was no different from losing his prime. It was a terrible misfortune.
Yet Mok InDan himself seemed not to care at all as he spoke.
“You said it yourself.”
“Pardon?”
“You said that the eldest son, or one of outstanding ability and merit, should become the successor.”
“...Yes. But I possess none of those qualities.”
“I heard you stopped and killed the person who cut off my arm.”
‘What?’
Everyone looked at Mok GyeongUn.
They had heard that Mok GyeongUn had been injured while visiting the Main Hall and had spent some time in the Medicine house, but they had not known such a thing had happened.
Of course, this story had been embellished by Mok GyeongUn.
‘Ah...’
Mok GyeongUn had not expected the story he had casually altered to lead to such troublesome consequences.
Showing his severed arm, the Manor Lord said,
“As you said, one who has rendered merit is also fully qualified to become the successor. Thus, that reason does not seem sufficient grounds to refuse the test.”
“...”
At the Manor Lord's words, Mok GyeongUn's face went blank.
He had clearly said he did not wish to take the test, yet the Manor Lord was trying to pull him in this way. It was becoming rather troublesome.
Mok GyeongUn decided it would be better to simply say that he would not take the test.
But then something caught his eye.
‘!?’
It was a scar visible on the Manor Lord's side.
Though it had healed, the distinct scar looked as if it had been made by something sharp, like a sword. The instant Mok GyeongUn saw it, his eyes narrowed.
‘That scar...’
It looked remarkably similar.
Similar to the mark he had been searching for.
Perhaps because of this, thoughts of succession and everything else vanished from Mok GyeongUn's mind.
Only one thought remained: how had the Manor Lord come to bear that scar...
Mok GyeongUn frowned and turned his head slightly.
The Manor Lord asked with a puzzled expression,
“What is it? What...”
Before he could finish speaking, Manor Lord Mok InDan's gaze sharpened as well, and he sprang to his feet.
“Father?”
The other brothers of the Mok Family looked confused.
Then, all at once, commotion erupted outside from every direction.
“An enemy raid! Intruders have entered!”
“Manor Lord! Inform the Manor Lord!”
‘!!!!!!’
It was a sudden emergency.
None of them could hide their shock.
Meanwhile, Mok YuCheon, who had sensed the presences almost at the same time as the commotion began, stared at Mok GyeongUn in surprise.
‘What is with him?’
Though he was only Third-rate, Mok GyeongUn had noticed it before either Mok YuCheon or their father.
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