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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Executioner's Blade
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"Man, that was totally spine-chilling."
I couldn't even catch my breath properly the entire way back to the mansion.
I'd written scenes of people dying countless times, but this was the first time I'd seen it happen for real.
"The sound of a sword slicing clean through flesh... and the thud of an arrow embedding itself..."
The blood hadn't sprayed or flowed as violently as I'd imagined. And there were no thrashing bodies or screams as they fell.
"They just dropped."
Like puppets with their strings cut, they crumpled lifelessly. No long monologues about their lives after collapsing.
It was just death, plain and simple. And in the midst of it all, one thing hit me.
'Red eyes flashing like that must be a danger signal.'
Seon Do-hae had snapped in irritation, his eyes changing in an instant.
The eyes of those thugs who ambushed me in the market had been the same.
'Like some kind of radar or something. Still, glad I noticed.'
It might have been a perk for getting dumped a thousand years into the past. That's when Geom Mojam's voice cut through.
"We need to hurry, Master."
"Yeah, got it."
Geom Mojam, sword in one hand, scanned our surroundings as he took the lead. I couldn't see them clearly, but I heard footsteps on the rooftops nearby.
Definitely the ones who'd saved us.
Once we escaped the tangled market streets, a wider avenue opened up. People caught sight of blood-soaked Geom Mojam and me, and they all backed away in unison.
Just like that, we made it back to the mansion in one straight shot.
Word must have gotten ahead of us, because armed retainers were waiting outside. I bolted up the stairs, gasping.
"Ugh, I'm gonna die."
The sound of the heavy gate slamming shut behind me made my legs give out on their own.
As I collapsed to the ground, I spotted Geom Mojam. He hadn't let his guard down yet—his hand was trembling.
The hand gripping the sword, blood dripping down the hilt in thick drops. A surge of guilt and gratitude welled up inside me.
"Back in the modern world, the only people around were leeches sucking me dry."
I jumped to my feet and approached him. Geom Mojam bowed his head low.
"Thank you. I lived because of you."
I pulled him into a tight hug, and he shuddered violently.
"M-Master!"
Geom Mojam shoved me away and flattened himself to the ground. I dropped to one knee and said,
"I'd be in real trouble if not for you."
"I merely did my duty. Putting you in danger is罪 enough for me."
"What are you talking about? You saved my life."
Our back-and-forth—not quite an argument—ended when Yeon Gaesomun appeared. Seeing everyone freeze, I grumbled inwardly.
'What is this, the final boss?'
Of course, even I found myself bowing automatically.
"Ah! Father."
Yeon Gaesomun, in his golden crown and black robe, stared right through me.
"Follow me."
With those curt words, he turned, dominating the atmosphere around him. While writing novels, I'd always wondered about Yeon Gaesomun's charisma.
He made people shrink without raising his voice or exploding in anger.
'He's on another level.'
Thinking that to myself, I followed my father, Yeon Gaesomun. We headed to a small pavilion in the rear garden.
I could see the plank walls and the elegant upturned eaves.
Stepping inside, a chill rose from the stone floor.
Along the wall sat a low couch and backless chairs. Yeon Gaesomun settled onto the couch, and I naturally took a seat on one of the chairs.
"What business took you outside?"
"I-I just wanted to see how ordinary people lived, so I went out."
"And that's why you went to the market without escorts?"
His tongue-clicking irked me a bit.
"Who'd show their true selves if I paraded around with guards?"
"And what good does seeing their 'true selves' do? Merchants in the market are experts at deception."
"The market isn't full of just merchants, is it?"
I couldn't keep bickering, so I changed the subject.
"Who was it that saved me in the market?"
"A warrior named Channo. Geom Mojam's master and my father's sword instructor."
"He took them down in the blink of an eye."
"A drawn blade demands blood. But spilling blood doesn't always mean victory."
I'd thought him a cruel, brutal man, but this surprised me. His son had nearly died, yet he stayed cool-headed instead of fretting. No wonder his name echoed through history.
"Who sent those attackers after me?"
At my real question, Yeon Gaesomun gave a bitter smile, fiddling with his mustache.
"Who? It'd be quicker to list who's not behind it."
He spread his fingers and started counting them off.
"First, the Great King. He was a hero who repelled Sui alongside General Eulji Mundeok. But now he's Tang's lapdog."
"Father..."
"He hides behind excuses about avoiding war, but it's a lie."
"Why?"
"To fend off Sui's invasion, Yeongyang Great King made major concessions to the nobles. He wouldn't have wanted that."
"What does that have to do with the assassination attempt on me?"
"He resents our Eastern Division clan the most. Know why?"
"Because we push for war?"
"Exactly. We say no concessions. So he'd do anything to damage us."
"Was it to sow chaos in the family by killing me?"
"Even the sturdiest house crumbles under unclear succession. He'd never pass up a chance to kill you, the eldest son."
Yeon Gaesomun folded one finger and continued.
"Next, the other Division Leader clans. We're a newly risen house."
"I know."
It was from history books I'd read in the modern era. His family had skyrocketed from his great-grandfather's time, securing noble status.
"The others are fools clinging to tales of existing since Chumo Great King's era."
"Jealousy?"
"More practical reasons. Your death shakes our succession. They'd plot to topple us then."
He folded another finger.
"We have internal enemies too. Yeon Jeong-du would do it."
"Uncle?"
My slip made Yeon Gaesomun's eyes turn icy.
"He's family, nothing more."
"Understood."
"Talented and clever, but lowborn on his mother's side. That's why he wasn't named heir. He can't accept it, so he's cozying up to the Great King as a retainer."
"So you think he's in league with the Great King, targeting my life?"
"He'd do it. No scruples for his goals."
You're no different, are you? I thought, but held my tongue as he folded a fourth finger.
"Your brothers want you dead too."
"Nam-san and Nam-geon?"
History had them ousting Yeon Namsaeng, so no shock there.
Yeon Gaesomun raised his pinky for the last one.
"Finally, those harboring grudges against our house."
"That's a long list."
I regretted the words instantly, but he nodded.
"True. We rose on rivers of blood and grudges. Revel in victory, but never forget them."
His pragmatism hit home, revealing the Eastern Yeon clan's fragility in a flash.
"But those attackers weren't street thugs. Not everyone's grudge makes them the culprit."
Yeon Gaesomun eyed me with interest at my firm words.
"Then who do you think?"
"My outing was a spur-of-the-moment decision."
"So I heard."
"They couldn't have prepared after hearing about it. Means they've been watching the mansion routinely."
"Not bad. Go on."
"They tailed me all the way to the market. Struck at the perfect moment."
"Heard a performer passing by spotted it first and threw a cartwheel to help."
"Without him, I'd really have been in danger."
"We're tracking him now. We'll learn who he is."
"He basically saved my life."
I'd noticed the strange glow in the fallen man's eyes signaling danger, but kept that to myself. Yeon Gaesomun, watching me think, stood.
"I trust you grasp our house's precarious position now."
I might not have before, but after nearly dying, it was crystal clear. Another thought struck me too.
'With this power, I could change history.'
Traps abounded, but I knew roughly who would help or betray, when Tang would invade. I could reshape the world with that knowledge.
'Carve my name into history. Not Yeon Taehwan, but Yeon Namsaeng.'
With my thoughts settled, the answer came naturally.
"I felt it in my bones."
"Don't forget it. The moment you do, our house falls."
"Is there no way to live without making enemies?"
Yeon Gaesomun gave a wry smile at my impulsive question.
"Step down as Division Leader and retire to the countryside? Even then, assassins would follow soon enough."
"So we live under constant threat of murder?"
My old life had been tough, but at least death-free. Father Yeon Gaesomun's gaze on me was profoundly complex.
"Pitiable child. This is our fate."
Heading for the door, he said,
"Follow me."
"Again?"
I barely swallowed the urge to say, Let's just talk here.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Yeon Gaesomun led us to an enclosed yard surrounded by walls on all sides.
In the narrow, rectangular courtyard lay five bloodied men with disheveled hair, kneeling on straw mats.
Spotting Yeon Gaesomun, they bowed their heads in unison.
"Spare us, Master."
"Please forgive us just once, Lord."
Under the long eaves of the main hall stood my two younger brothers.
Approaching them, Yeon Gaesomun took a large sword from a retainer.
Dozens of people watched from in front of the opposite hall.
Gripping the sword like a staff, Yeon Gaesomun called to me.
"Do you know who these men are?"
"Who are they?"
"Slaves of our house. Captives from the Sui wars."
"Why are they bound like that?"
"Caught plotting to flee to Tang."
"And what punishment do you plan?"
"Slaves who flee or plot to must die."
"For real?"
I thought execution without trial was too harsh.
But Yeon Gaesomun went further, handing me the sword.
"Namsaeng! You execute them."
"M-Me?"
In novels, I killed millions without blinking, but reality was different.
I couldn't even squash an ant, let alone kill a living person!
Hesitating, I heard Nam-geon sneer from under the eaves.
"If brother can't, I'll do it, Father."
Yeon Gaesomun's face turned colder than ever.
"This isn't your place."
"Forgive me."
Nam-geon's pride was clearly wounded, but he bowed silently.
"Why me?"
Yeon Gaesomun gazed at the doomed slaves.
"Because they're the backbone of our clan."
"Then shouldn't we cherish them, not kill them?"
"Do you grasp the gulf between us and them?"
"I'm not sure what you mean."
What's with the Zen riddles? Not my mentor.
"Fail to do it right, and we could end up like them anytime. Even great towers topple from a leaning pillar. Many of our slaves are Sui captives. If they flee homeward, what happens?"
Finally, it clicked. Clearing his throat, Yeon Gaesomun added,
"Lose the slaves, and our house crumbles. We must make an example."
"By killing them?"
At my retort, Father raised the sword. Thicker and longer than usual, its blade gleamed in the sunlight.
"Blades persuade better than words. That's our clan's way."
And he handed it to me.