Chương 65: S.04 Memory of the Clock 11(06)

Scene 15_03. The Master of the Southeast Province, Seon-ja, and the Master of the South Province, Seon-hyeong, were facing Ji-young with expressions of pride. Each of them holding one of Ji-young's hands, the two looked at her in silence with smiles, unable to bring out a single word. With Ju-hyeon and all the police officers — who had no time for a meal — having taken their leave, only Ji-young, Seon-ja, Seon-hyeong, and Seon-woo were left in the now quieter reception chamber.

Of course, though unseen, Chae-rim was certainly there as well. At Ji-young's young name for them, Seon-ja first carefully shook her head. Ji-young: ajeossi. ajumma. It was the childlike call Ji-young had once used. Ji-young's glad voice was thoroughly weighed down. To her steadied tone — striving not to let it show — the two whose years sat heavy on them only kept watching Ji-young in silence. Seon-ja (Master of the Southeast Province): The Oldest.

We must now hold the young Kang Ji-young in our hearts, and place The Oldest before us. Ji-young, with a face that could not quite hide her hurt, gripped tighter the hand cupped within Seon-ja's. Seon-hyeong (Master of the South Province): Were the Former The Oldest to see this, she would have been so very pleased. A single tear, which Ji-young could not catch in time, rolled down her cheek. Quickly lowering her head, Ji-young wiped it with the sleeve of her robe and, smiling brightly again, scolded Seon-hyeong.

Ji-young: Even so, ajeossi, you'll always be ajeossi. Always trailing after our mom. Seon-hyeong glanced lightly at the surroundings and whispered to Ji-young. Seon-hyeong (Master of the South Province): Y'know, I was such a smooth talker — a free-roaming sort with nothing but time on my hands. Maybe that's why your mother truly hated being alone with me. At Seon-hyeong's mischievous voice, Ji-young — still holding her tears — burst into laughter.

But unable to keep on simply laughing, Seon-ja gave Ji-young's hand a soft, comforting shake, drawing her gaze for a moment from Seon-hyeong. Seon-ja (Master of the Southeast Province): The Oldest. They will come for you again. Ji-young let a soft breath out and nodded. Ji-young: Oh well, would it just be today? It'll always be the same. Seon-ja (Master of the Southeast Province): You must always take care. Ji-young: The two of you, if anything happens, please — be sure to tell me. I'll come to you myself.

Seon-hyeong (Master of the South Province): You don't need to worry about us at all. From the days of old, we have not been alone in keeping it, and besides — The Black Doctrine has been close at hand, exchanging with us for quite some time now. Ji-young: Right. Ah, Jun-seong. I heard he got married. To the Third Steward. Seon-hyeong (Master of the South Province): That, exactly that — who would have thought a person 100 years older than me would come into my house as my daughter-in-law. Ji-young: Whoa, damn.

That's a bit shocking. Looking at it that way. Seon-ja (Master of the Southeast Province): In any case, The Oldest. We will take our leave first. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Ji-young: Stay a little longer. It's heartbreaking. Seon-ja shook her head. Looking at the seasoned smiles of the two — who appeared to be of an age with I-sim — Ji-young, carrying an unshakable trace of regret, kept her grip on the two's hands to the very end.

The image of young Ji-young longing for people was vivid before her eyes, but Ji-young was now grown, and she also held the certainty that the two would not follow her along to the end. With faintly released hands behind them, the two elders bowed deeply at the waist. To the elders' greeting, Ji-young, too, did her best to bow even more deeply. The two elders, with smiles in place, left Ji-young with a parting greeting and stepped away. Ji-young at last looked at Seon-woo, who had remained behind.

Seon-woo bowed deeply to Ji-young, conveying his greeting first. Seon-woo: The Oldest. Master of the East Province. Kwon Seon-woo. It was a familiar voice. Ji-young, smiling brightly, slowly took Seon-woo's hand. Ji-young: Pleased to meet you. Master of the East Province. We finally meet. Seon-woo, as if matching Ji-young's smile, was wearing a smile of his own. Seon-woo: I'm told you've been through hard times. Ji-young gave a gentle shake of her head. Ji-young: There's still a long way to go.

Until everything is done, I won't tire. Seon-woo: I will help to the very end. Whenever you call, please say the word. Ji-young: Thank you. Ah, Master, by any chance — are you hung — Seon-woo: Don't worry. I'm planning to eat before I go. I'm hungry, you see. Ji-young: Of course. Of course you should. Let's go together. I'm seriously about to die of hunger. Seon-woo: Last time, the Former The Oldest had me as her guest, but this time I really must — Ji-young: You came such a long way — there's no such thing.

Let's head out first. Shall we go with the Strategist and the Martial Director. I'll go cut the leave-of-absence paperwork and come right back. Wait just a moment. A shadow on the high ceiling of the reception chamber abruptly dropped down. Chae-rim, who had moved into the shadow beneath Ji-young, conveyed her voice. Chae-rim: The Oldest. I will — Ji-young halted her step for a moment and gave a small nod. Ji-young: I'll leave it to you. And — be careful. Chae-rim: Do not worry.

After her brief reply, the trace of Chae-rim that had been felt in Ji-young's shadow faded out. Ji-young carried her interrupted step on the rest of the way. Ji-young: Ah!! I'm starving!! Scene 15_04. The people who had spilled out of the black water as if poured forth were busy hacking out the black water lodged inside their bodies. Not one of them knew what had swallowed them. They had only opened their eyes to find themselves coughing it out.

Hacking up coughs as if vomiting for a long while, the people belatedly began to fumble around and survey their surroundings. It was a familiar training ground. The first to come to her senses was Yeon-jin. Steadying herself, Yeon-jin rose first from her place and headed for the room she had previously occupied. Hong-sin followed Yeon-jin's lead.

While none of them could grasp the situation, they were quietly watching the presence seated halfway up the dais — and at that moment, Su-jeong, who had been seated, lifted her body and looked down on the Masters of the Province in contempt. Su-jeong: Even when one has to scrape the bottom, only this caliber of trash gets dredged up — no wonder there's no winning.

Stepping into the entrance of the training ground was Yu-seok, who had begun loosening the cumbersome ceremonial robe and was cutting across everyone now starting to come to. He passed Su-jeong's side, climbed onto the dais, and looked at the Masters of the Province, the Deputies of the Province, and each of their attendants — who had with effort risen from their places — and let out a sneering huff of laughter. Yu-seok: Well. So. What are you all going to do. Going to hand it all over and end up out on the street?

Bo-ram, unable to properly open one of her eyes, screamed at Yu-seok. Bo-ram: Hand over the Grey Ash!! You son of a bitch!! Yu-seok looked at Bo-ram with a face that said he found it strange. Yu-seok: If I give that to you, what are you going to give me? Bo-ram: What the hell would the likes of you ever get from us!! Yu-seok: Then just live with the bad eye. Don't bark. Just because your mouth's been pried open a bit, don't go vomiting whatever comes to mind.

Yu-seok perched on the edge of the dais and looked down on everyone with a face full of contempt. Yu-seok: Well then. So. Anyone want to do what we talked about yesterday? You can go if you want. As Yu-seok, still seated, fiddled with his hand, dim sand began to settle in every direction. Yu-seok: Though you won't be walking out. To Yu-seok's mocking voice, no one could give an answer. It was a dead end where there were no choices to be had at all.

Yu-seok calmly crossed his legs and quietly looked down on every native-soil force glaring at him. Yu-seok: Anyway — even if you don't die at my hand, you'll die going back, and you'll die standing against me. Ah, Yeon-jin, who had changed fully into her ceremonial robe, was making her way out of the corridor. Walking past Yu-seok, toward the native-soil forces standing off against him, Yeon-jin — the moment she stepped into the training ground — sliced clean through the throat of Bo-ram, who was at the very front.

Yu-seok: Of course, you'll also die staying here. All of you. The Northwest Province's people who had been waiting outside the training ground had cut down every native-soil figure who had stepped inside, blades soaked through with blood as they walked. Yeon-jin, after letting Bo-ram's head drop to the floor, slowly approached the Masters of the Province who were eyeing her in alarm.

The instant Yeon-jin's stride moved, Bo-ram's still-standing body was punched clean through, in a tattered burst, by a single arm soaked thick with black water. Behind Bo-ram — who could not even shape a face of disbelief — stood Yeong-min, every blood vessel running only with black water, set in place with hollow, unfocused eyes like a doll's. As the burst of black water faded, Su-jeong — eyes blackened to the depths — entered the Masters of the Province's line of sight. Su-jeong did very little.

She only conveyed a light gesture with her hand, working Yeong-min and Ju-hee like puppets in her play. Each time the two puppets moved, the training ground at Yu-seok's family residence was being filled up with death. Watching everyone backing away in fear, Yeon-jin let a sneering smile rise. Yeon-jin: Now, now — don't run off in such a sad way. You have to do at least as much as the money I've fed you is worth.