WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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Episode 2: Yeonmok Sword Manor (1)

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Mok GyeongUn removed his bandages and looked at his upper body in the bronze mirror.

Scars remained where the sword had pierced his left chest and abdomen.

‘Scars?’

Normally, even fairly serious wounds left no scars.

Yet the wounds inflicted by the black-sword wielder had remained as scars.

They would likely stay with him for the rest of his life.

‘Well... it can’t be helped.’

He had to be satisfied that he had survived.

He had thought wounds that severe would kill even him.

Yet, against all expectations, he had lived.

He had known he possessed unusual healing abilities, but his vitality was far more tenacious than he had imagined.

‘Does this mean I’m not supposed to go there yet?’

That was fortunate.

If he had to listen to his grandfather’s nagging, he at least wanted to finish his revenge first.

Otherwise, it would feel even more unfair.

‘Revenge...’

Thinking of revenge made him realize how lucky he had been.

Who could have imagined that someone in this world had exactly the same face as him?

Thanks to that, he had been given a chance to assume a new identity.

‘Should I call it luck?’

Since the condemned criminal’s identity had been killed, no wanted notice would be issued claiming that he had escaped.

In truth, Mok GyeongUn had something else in mind besides a notice from officialdom.

‘They’ll believe I’m dead now, won’t they?’

The middle-aged wielder of the black sword, whom he had encountered while following the traces of his enemy.

The wielder had appeared to kill him.

If it were discovered that he was still alive, the wielder would surely come again.

‘...Martial Arts.’

He had experienced it firsthand.

The wielder was a monster unlike any he had ever encountered.

Without learning Martial Arts, he seemed unlikely to be able to face the wielder.

In that respect, this was heaven-sent luck.

The fellow with his face was the third young master of Yeonmok Sword Manor, a martial clan of the martial world.

He could deceive the wielder and the world as the third young master of Yeonmok Sword Manor rather than the Sickle-Slaying Fiend, and he had gained a chance to learn Martial Arts.

‘Though the opportunity has opened...’

There was just one problem.

As he put on his top, Mok GyeongUn looked at the black figure standing outside his door.

It was someone Guard Gam had stationed to watch him.

Thanks to that, he had been confined to the villa, unable to go anywhere except the latrine.

‘Troublesome.’

The situation was not easy.

At this point, it was practically imprisonment.

They had made a deal, but Guard Gam clearly did not trust him at all.

That would likely remain the case.

Perhaps it was only natural. He had boldly killed the real one right before Guard Gam’s eyes.

‘What should I do?’

If he remained still, he would only be controlled like this.

He might never even get a chance to learn Martial Arts.

He was trapped, unable to advance or retreat.

Even so, Mok GyeongUn merely gave a faint, calm smile.

Knock, knock!

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Young master. I’ve brought your lunch.”

The door soon opened, and a female attendant entered carrying a tray of food.

There was stir-fried beef and eggplant, mung bean sprouts, and rice.

As usual, the attendant placed the tray on the round table by the window.

She glanced at Mok GyeongUn as he fastened the buttons of his top and sat down.

‘He’s handsome.’

Among the four young masters of Yeonmok Sword Manor, Mok GyeongUn was undeniably the most beautiful.

The attendants practically competed to bring him meals just to see his face.

They needed such small pleasures, did they not?

But then...

‘Hm?’

The attendant narrowed her brow slightly.

Even the faint smile on his face was no different from the usual Mok GyeongUn.

So what was this strange sense of incongruity?

‘What is it?’

Something felt different.

But she could not tell exactly what it was.

Still confused, the attendant picked up the tray and was about to leave.

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“The stir-fried beef and eggplant.”

“Yes.”

“Next time, have them cook the beef less.”

“If it’s undercooked, there’ll be blood...”

“Beef is more tender when it’s undercooked, and it tastes best when it’s lightly soaked in blood.”

He smiled brightly as he said it.

The instant she saw that smile, a chill ran down the attendant’s spine.

She thought she knew why she had felt that incongruity.

His lips were smiling, but his eyes had not moved in the slightest as they stared at her.

Her body seemed to stiffen.

“Is there a problem?”

“Th-that...”

Once fear had gripped her, it was difficult to answer.

At that very moment,

“Cooking is for the chef to decide, young master.”

Mok GyeongUn turned toward the door.

Guard Gam was entering through the open doorway.

With an unhappy look, Guard Gam shook their head, then waved the attendant away.

The attendant gave a quick bow and hurried outside.

Thud!

After closing the door, Guard Gam approached Mok GyeongUn.

“I warned you not to do anything conspicuous.”

Mok GyeongUn lightly lifted some rice with his chopsticks as he answered.

“Is asking for less-cooked beef really doing something conspicuous?”

“You are Mok GyeongUn, not a condemned criminal.”

“The paper you gave me to memorize did not mention what kind of meat the real one preferred.”

Mok GyeongUn refuted calmly.

‘This bastard.’

Guard Gam’s expression hardened at his attitude.

It was not exactly wrong, but Guard Gam disliked how he had an answer for every word.

Even the sight of him chewing his food was irritating.

Guard Gam sat opposite him.

“Judging by the way you speak, I suppose you memorized everything I told you to learn?”

“Yes. It wasn’t much.”

“It wasn’t much? Ha! Then what is the eldest young master’s name?”

“Mok YeongHo. Twenty years old. He has a mark on his left cheek and is so obsessed with wine and women that he visits taverns about every other day. He is the most incompetent of the four brothers, but greedy and cruel.”

‘...’

One of Guard Gam’s brows rose.

He had recited it perfectly, without missing a single word.

The real young master had personally written that information sheet, so it had laid everything bare from his own perspective.

“...And the second young master?”

“Mok EunPyeong. Eighteen years old. He has drooping eyes like the First Madam’s. Clever and cunning. A piece of trash who would do anything to become Clan Head.”

Mok GyeongUn had memorized it exactly as written.

The force behind the handwriting had made it clear how deeply the writer despised him.

‘It would have been easier if he were an idiot.’

Guard Gam clicked their tongue inwardly.

As expected, this fellow was clever enough to memorize it all.

There seemed no need to confirm anything further.

“Should I tell you about the fourth young master as well? Or the real Mok GyeongUn’s usual habits...”

“That’s enough.”

“Then, since I haven’t finished eating yet, may I continue?”

“Hmph. Eat while you listen.”

“Understood.”

Guard Gam rose from their seat, clasped their hands behind their back, and looked toward the window.

“You have memorized what is on the information sheet, but you will hardly have any reason to meet the other people in this household.”

“...Why is that?”

“Even if you have the young master’s face, a tail that grows too long will eventually be stepped on. We simply will not let such a situation arise in the first place.”

“So I am to remain shut inside?”

“You understand well.”

“Then this does not seem much different from being a double.”

“It was you who chose to become a puppet rather than a double. You chose that path yourself, so you need only do as you are told.”

Guard Gam made it perfectly clear.

So that this clever bastard would not entertain any other ideas.

“So I only need to do as I am told.”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything else I need to know?”

“No.”

At Guard Gam’s final words, Mok GyeongUn’s eyes narrowed as he continued using his chopsticks.

They had called it information he needed to learn, yet they had told him nothing beyond enough habits and personal details to keep his identity as a fake from being exposed.

Especially not the information he most needed.

‘They are not going to tell me why they needed a double.’

He had expected that they might not tell him.

But this let Mok GyeongUn become certain of one thing.

‘Are they planning to leave me alone even if I face the dangerous situation that required a double?’

Otherwise, there was no reason to withhold that information.

They had fed him a poison pellet, and with the real Mok GyeongUn dead, he was their only substitute. He had assumed they would use him for a while, but apparently not.

They seemed to have another hidden trump card.

The corners of Mok GyeongUn’s lips curled into a sinister smile.

‘They’re looking to switch sides.’

* * *

Thud!

Guard Gam closed the door and spoke to the sharp-eyed middle-aged man guarding it.

“Make certain that he cannot escape. And if anyone comes looking for him, use poor health as an excuse if necessary. Do not let him meet anyone else.”

“Understood.”

“I will be going out for a while.”

As Guard Gam began to leave, the middle-aged man whispered.

“Senior martial brother, is it really necessary to switch sides?”

“Hm?”

“We have already fed him a poison pellet. Wouldn’t it be better to control that fake? After all, we chose the third young master because...”

“Not him.”

“What? Why not?”

“He is not someone who can be easily controlled.”

At Guard Gam’s words, the middle-aged man scoffed inwardly.

No matter if the fellow had been a condemned criminal, he was only an ordinary civilian who had not even learned Martial Arts.

It was ridiculous that senior martial brother was overreacting like this.

Perhaps living as a guard after stepping away from the front lines had dulled Guard Gam’s former sharpness.

If the fellow was that bothersome, they only needed to beat him down a little and teach him a lesson.

Still, whatever the man thought, he could not argue with senior martial brother.

“Understood.”

“Watch him carefully. If he tries anything unnecessary, subdue him with a grappling hold. You may inflict a reasonable amount of pain anywhere but his face.”

“Oh. Really?”

“That might be better for him. In any case, watch him closely.”

“Understood.”

The middle-aged man’s lips curled up in satisfaction.

* * *

About a quarter hour after Guard Gam had left, the closed door opened.

The middle-aged man guarding the door stepped in front of Mok GyeongUn as he tried to come out.

“Where do you think you are going?”

“I’m going out for a moment.”

“To the latrine?”

“No. I thought I would look around outside the villa. I was also in need of someone to talk to. Would you like to come with me?”

Mok GyeongUn spoke as though it were nothing.

The middle-aged man shook his head in disbelief.

Senior martial brother had been gone for barely any time, and this fellow was already trying to slip outside.

The man spoke coldly.

“If you do not want to suffer, go back inside at once.”

“Your name was Go Chan, right? If the two of us keep our mouths shut, I do not think anything would happen...”

Before Mok GyeongUn could finish,

Whip! Whip!

The middle-aged man, Go Chan, swiftly seized Mok GyeongUn’s wrist and twisted it behind his back.

It was a grappling hold.

Senior martial brother had said that while it was not external energy, Mok GyeongUn’s muscles were unusually dense. Rather than striking him, it would be easier to subdue him by twisting his joints.

‘Nothing much.’

It had been a long time since he had used a grappling hold, but it seemed his skills had not dulled.

Feeling better as he twisted the fellow’s arm, Go Chan spoke into Mok GyeongUn’s ear.

“You seem to have forgotten your place. You are not the real Mok GyeongUn. It will do you no good to provoke me for no reason.”

Clench!

He twisted the wrist further.

Regardless of the man’s muscles, a bent joint would hurt.

“Go back inside and stay there quietly.”

Go Chan gave the warning in a low voice.

He thought that after this much, Mok GyeongUn would naturally return of his own accord.

“If I do not want to?”

“What?”

Go Chan gave a snort of disbelief.

He had heard that this fellow thought differently from others, but perhaps he was not in his right mind.

If he would not go back quietly, what choice was there?

“You foolish bastard.”

Go Chan struck the back of Mok GyeongUn’s neck with the side of his hand, imbued with internal energy.

Thud!

With this much strength, no matter how dense Mok GyeongUn’s muscles were, the impact should knock him unconscious.

Or so he thought, but something was strange.

It felt as though he had struck a wooden post.

‘What?’

He had expected Mok GyeongUn to collapse, yet he remained perfectly fine.

Go Chan wondered whether he had not used enough internal energy and tried to apply more, when Mok GyeongUn spoke.

“You are certainly weaker than Guard Gam.”

‘This bastard?’

He seemed to feel no pain at all.

Otherwise, how could he speak so calmly after being struck on the neck?

A bad feeling crept over Go Chan. Deciding this would not do, he twisted Mok GyeongUn’s wrist harder to force him to the floor.

But then,

Clench!

No matter how hard he twisted, Mok GyeongUn did not budge.

No, the fellow was straightening his own bent wrist and arm.

‘W-what in the world...’

Startled, Go Chan drew up his Force of ki with all his might.

This was no time to worry about whether the fellow would be hurt.

He first had to subdue him.

But then,

‘What?’

The moment he tried to draw up his Force of ki, his body rose into the air.

Then he was slammed down in front of Mok GyeongUn.

Thud!

“Urgh!”

Fortunately, it did not seem that he had been thrown too hard.

He quickly tried to spring to his feet, but Mok GyeongUn grabbed his throat with his right hand.

Clench!

Ghk!

The grip was so strong that it felt as though his neck would snap at any moment.

Go Chan’s eyes trembled and turned bloodshot.

He urgently grabbed Mok GyeongUn’s wrist and tried to force it away.

But it would not move.

‘W-what the hell is this bastard? How can he be this strong...’

In terms of Martial Arts, he had reached the Second-rate realm.

It would not be an exaggeration to say he possessed twice the strength of an ordinary grown man.

Yet he could not withstand the strength in a single hand of this man, who had never even learned Martial Arts.

Ghk, ghk.

He could not breathe.

His face felt as though it would burst.

He struggled in agony, when his gaze fell upon Mok GyeongUn’s face.

‘He’s smiling?’

The corners of his mouth had reached his ears.

He wore the expression of an innocent child playing with a toy.

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