Chương 45: S.04 Memory of the Clock 08(05)

Scene 09_01. Deep night had settled over the Grand Hall. The Ghost Light burned softly enough to push back the dark, so the steps Ji-young walked did not tangle, but the trouble lay in the documents filling the carts being wheeled along behind. Ji-young stood on the dais and watched on silently, without letting anything show on her face. In her private heart she wished briefly she could rub her eyes. She had ordered it, but she had not expected it to be this much.

With that same inward feeling, Ji-young let out a quiet, secret sigh, then cleared her throat as if to set her voice. Ji-young: I apologize for the late hour. Standing before her were the Deputies taking the place of the department Directors who had either vacated their seats or been lost. At their very front stood I-seon. Ji-young: We must conduct an urgent fiscal inspection, and so, unavoidably, I called you here. I-seon: It is no matter.

Ji-young: I trust the Deputies who have taken the Directors' places are at least aware of the decisions made on the documents themselves. So-eun: Yes. Ji-young: It will not amount to a full audit, so please do not be overly nervous. Ji-min: Yes. Understood. Ji-young: Then, everyone, please come inside. I came a little early and had the fire lit. You will not be cold. Step in, and give me your explanations one by one.

At Ji-young's directive, the small carts—piled with an armful of fiscal documents from each department—were wheeled in. Ji-young glanced sideways at the documents passing her but sent them all through without a flicker of surprise on her face. Scene 09_02. Ji-young, who had gone over the ruined documents through the night, rubbed her eyes. On short notice she had even borrowed Hee-jin's glasses and put them on.

Having now passed an entire day without sleep, Ji-young sat at the head of the wide conference room of the Grand Hall and briefly worked the ache out of her body. Through the gaps between the bamboo blinds and the wall of the conference room, shafts of light were beginning to spill in. Ji-young: Ah. It is about time the tidying up ended. Hee-jin and everyone else had, in effect, gone sleepless through the night with Ji-young. Documents of every kind lay scattered in disarray.

Having dug into the documents first in the wide conference room of the Grand Hall, Ji-young looked briefly around the empty seats of each Director. No matter how directly they served, Deputies not holding decision authority could not possibly know every matter. The state of the documents was the result of a crew driven blind by greed. The only records in decent order came from the Library, the Martial Hall, and the Office of Occult Affairs. Ji-young: Ah, Strategist.

Every Deputy from every department, who had been tidying documents while watching for Ji-young's mood, was now listening for her voice. Yet Ji-young did not lay blame on the Deputies. There was a separate party that had caused this; she had no intention of visiting collective punishment on the Deputies. Contrary to the tense, walking-on-ice mood, Ji-young's voice was not particularly cold. Hee-jin: Yes. The Oldest. Ji-young: The empty seats — we must appoint new people.

Please put together a shortlist of decent candidates. Hee-jin: Understood. Ji-young: I only just arrived yesterday and do not know the fine details. So, to the Strategist, and the Acting. Executive. Secretary. The designated I-seon was bobbing her head, nodding off. I-seon's rumbling snore was cut off abruptly by Hee-jin's kick delivered from a distance. Ji-young: Anyway. You two, please sort it out and let me know. I will make the designations straight off.

I-seon, just waking from sleep, delivered her answer first in spite of not knowing what she was answering. I-seon: Y — yes. Understood. Ji-young: You did not hear a word. I-seon: Yes, yes? Ji-young: Of what I said. I-seon: Ah, uh. Hm. Probably that the Strategist, should, um, for me to — Ji-young threw I-seon a sidelong look with the face of someone who had eaten something salty. At the lightness in Ji-young's bearing, the Deputies, who had been on edge, let out breaths of relief at last.

Ji-young tidied the documents before her, straightened her back, and stretched long. In a bored tone she sent her voice through the hall. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Ji-young: Explanations received. Well done through the night. All of you. Finishing her stretch, Ji-young tidied the rest of the papers and passed on what remained to be said. Ji-young: I will not hold on to anyone unwilling to stay, and I will not curse them for it.

If you have chosen to remain, then please simply do the work properly. Unfamiliarity is fine. I will teach. Just do not lie to me. Ji-young set down the documents she had sorted. As Ji-young pushed her chair back to leave her seat, Hee-jin called her in a polite voice. Hee-jin: The Oldest. Ji-young: Yes. Hee-jin: How do you intend to handle your own inauguration. Ji-young answered without a moment's thought.

Ji-young: In place of my inauguration, once the Directors are in place, we will hold their inauguration as mine as well and I will simply deliver an address. Hee-jin: Understood. Ji-young: Ah, and, Strategist. Hee-jin: Yes. Ji-young: The rite of mourning — by any chance, can we do it today. Hee-jin: This afternoon is possible. We have each dozed off in turns, but you have not slept a wink, so it would be better done in the afternoon. Ji-young: Ah, and — the rite for the Former The Oldest I will hold later.

Once everyone has been settled. Once we have come to rest in one place. Before that, let us begin with those lost in this first calamity. Hee-jin: Understood. Ji-young: I will wash up and catch a little sleep. Wake me at lunch. As Ji-young rose, everyone seated in the conference room got to their feet with her. Ji-young waved her hand dismissively as if to settle them back down.

As Hee-jin and I-seon followed Ji-young out and emptied the conference room, everyone who had risen lowered themselves back into their seats, weariness plain on them. Scene 10. Seated on the 보료(Bo-ryo_cushioned mat), Ji-young, having wiped her makeup clean, pushed the dressing table aside with a weary look and knit her brow tight. Beside her, a washing kit lay unattended.

With fatigue pressing down hard enough that even a yawn would not come, Ji-young, eyes only half open, stretched her hand over and grabbed the washing kit with a firm pull. As she was about to rise from her spot, she caught a presence from outside. Settling her body back down in place, she was struggling to lift eyes that kept trying to close when Gyeong-seo's voice came through. Gyeong-seo: The Oldest. It is Mun Gyeong-seo. Ji-young: Yes. Come in.

Gyeong-seo, having announced her presence, opened the door and brought in an armful of garment bundles. When Ji-young shot up and moved to help Gyeong-seo, who could hardly walk straight, Gyeong-seo flinched and tried to wave Ji-young's hands off. Gyeong-seo: Aigoo, The Oldest. This is my Director — no, I do not have one, anyway, please do not do this. This is my work. Ji-young: Ah, what is this even, to make a fuss. My mother was older, sure, but Gyeong-seo, you and I are barely apart in age, just hand it over.

Really. Having snatched away the heavy bundle she had been carrying, Ji-young laid the garment bundle on the low writing table and turned back to Gyeong-seo—who, no different, looked to have barely slept, her undereyes blackened—and teased her as she took her in. Ji-young: Wow, but, Gyeong-seo, seems you did not get any sleep either.

Gyeong-seo: Truth is, I was going to sleep, but then I heard The Oldest was tidying documents through the night, and I figured that if I just dropped off, I would be slapped later by Yeon-hui sis. Ji-young: Ah, she never tells on anyone like that. Gyeong-seo: The winter garments should be enough. If there is anything else you need, please do not hesitate to say so. Ji-young: Hmm, let us see, a 무도복 (Mu-do-bok_Combat garment) and a Traditional coat-dress. Three sets of the inner jacket, oh. You really prepared a lot.

Thank you. Gyeong-seo: Truth is, I had the seam allowances finished through Si-yeon some time ago. Only the fine finishing was left, so I could wrap it up quickly. Ji-young: Thank you. Gyeong-seo: Not at all, it is my work. Ji-young, looking over the garments one by one, showed both satisfaction and a kind of wonder. Gyeong-seo: Then from today I will be together with Yeon-su — Ji-young: Yes. Please do that. I am counting on you. Ji-young took up the washing kit and stepped outside.

Gyeong-seo sprang swiftly to her feet and guided Ji-young as she headed out into the yard. Following along behind her, Gyeong-seo asked Ji-young with a suspicious look. Gyeong-seo: Ah, by any chance, did the Former The Oldest say something to you — Ji-young: About what? Gyeong-seo: That when it comes to instructions I am slippery, but with requests I cannot be. Ji-young: Oh~ Is that so?

Crossing the middle of the yard on her way to the bathing quarters, Ji-young looked to have been handed a good thing and threw Gyeong-seo an odd smile with a sidelong glance. Gyeong-seo: Ah. Uh. Uh-uh. Just. Why did I just say that. Ji-young: Ah, do not worry. I will not make requests of you at every chance. Gyeong-seo: Ah, uh. Uh-uh. Why, um, does that not bring any comfort? Worn to the bone with fatigue, Ji-young had not been listening to Gyeong-seo's light grumbling to begin with. Scene 11.

A quiet scene lay before her. Up a sloping path of the sort one would only see in the countryside, a quiet house sat waiting. This was not So-hui's first time here. This was where she had first met Yeon-hui. It was a side residence prepared in the middle territory. Beyond the hedgeless yard, set with a cozy kitchen garden and a small plot, lay a little hill and a narrow stream. Seated in the wide living room, looking out beyond the large pane of glass, So-hui let her voice out in a bored tone.

Si-yeon, who seemed to have just finished washing her face, was patting water off with a towel as she flopped down into the living room. She dragged over the dressing table set beside So-hui. So-hui: Ah, delivery food does not even come up here. It is surprisingly hard. Country life. At So-hui's bored grumbling, Si-yeon checked her own face in the mirror and scolded her in an offhand voice. Si-yeon: Yah. That falling-apart apartment of ours never got delivery either. Same either way.

So-hui: Even so, we had places to eat if we walked ten minutes. Si-yeon: The traditional market here is not all that far either. So-hui: No, it is pretty far. Si-yeon: What does it even matter, we are what, five minutes off? So-hui: Hah. Really, you never lose, do you? Si-yeon: Did you not know? I do not lose to anyone. Except our mother. Still cross-legged, So-hui let her upper body fall flat to the floor and looked up at Si-yeon, who was intently inspecting herself in the mirror beside her.

After a moment of watching Si-yeon, So-hui, with a small sigh, drew out what had been sitting deep inside her. So-hui: Truth is, it is really scary. But even so, I was a little reassured when Ji-young sis came back. My blood was drying up in that short stretch. More than I let on. Si-yeon: Same here. So-hui: If Yeon-hui sis were with us too it would be even better, but she still needs a bit more time. Si-yeon: Me, well, I do not know about the rest — I just want the people with us not to get hurt anymore. You too.

It was a consolation only Si-yeon could offer. At Si-yeon's grumbling tone, So-hui, still lying with her arm for a pillow, let out a small, deflated laugh. Laying the laugh down lightly on her face, So-hui drew her phone from her pocket to check the date. So-hui: I wonder if they are coming today. Si-yeon: Who. So-hui: Gyeong-seo and Yeon-su. Si-yeon: Ah. Ahh. They are coming, right? Ah, cannot I just stay here on my own? No sense dragging other people into it. So-hui: Better to have them around.

Si-yeon: That is true enough. Si-yeon, having finished all her base grooming, abruptly looked down at So-hui as though something had struck her. Si-yeon: Yah. But. Aren't you cold? So-hui: Hm? Out of nowhere? Si-yeon: No, the temperature is just right for me, but you. You should be cold. So-hui: I did leave the heater off. Should I bump it up a bit? Si-yeon: Those two will bitch about the cold when they get here.

So-hui straightened up from where she lay and raised the boiler temperature on the wall panel of the living room. So-hui: I do not feel all that cold, but, right. Looking at Yeon-su's scrawny build, she would be cold.