What day is it today?
It’s the day when Geum Myeong-wol clears up the rumors of being the Seonan Inspector.
Chatter!
Buzz!
I could only guess how many people had gathered in front of the grand podium announcing national policies; it was an unimaginable number.
Even though I was in a high-quality royal tent with excellent soundproofing, I was exposed to noise as if I were standing in the middle of a market.
And I was facing Seo Gong inside that tent.
What’s the most direct way for people to realize that Hyeok Gi-rin is Hyeok Gi-rin?
It’s by having the one and only entity, Seo Gong, standing beside me.
So, I placed a specially made cap on Seo Gong’s head. It was to match the outfit that Hyeok Gi-rin would be wearing on stage.
However, that process was anything but easy.
Snap!
As soon as I placed the cap on Seo Gong’s head, he swatted it off with his tail.
“Hey, stay still!”
I tried to warn him, but the rebellious glint in Seo Gong’s eyes didn’t fade at all. Instead, he just snickered and lifted his snout defiantly!
Pip-pip-pip-pip!
He raised his front paw as if to scold me, apparently furious that I had been away for too long.
Thinking back, I had spent moments apart from Seo Gong, but never had we been completely separated like this.
He was flailing his limbs and gesturing wildly. I didn’t understand him completely, but I gathered his message was something like, “If you’re going to treat me this way, I might just switch owners!”
Given the arrogant look in his eyes, it seemed Seo Gong fully understood his popularity in the Central Plains.
Wasn’t this guy trapped in the palace?
But I guess a Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist like Hyeok Gi-rin wouldn’t miss the chance to escape.
What could I do? I had no choice but to soothe him.
I took out a Spirit Herb from my pocket and offered it to Seo Gong, patting his back.
“Hey, I’m sorry. Really! But I’m not doing this for my own sake.”
Snap!
Seo Gong snickered. If he were human, he probably would’ve shot back, “Then who is this for?”
“Huh? Isn’t this all for Hyeok Gi-rin? Even if it’s a bit uncomfortable for you to wear, it’s all about looking good and making everything work out smoothly!”
Peep-peep!
Seo Gong seemed to have understood that it was for Hyeok Gi-rin, and his anger seemed to wane. But with narrowed eyes, he alternately looked at me and the Spirit Herb in his paw; it felt like he wasn’t letting his suspicion go just yet.
Anyway, he’s got a sharp sense!
Truth be told, it’s more important that Seo Gong is next to Hyeok Gi-rin than whether he is wearing a ceremonial robe or not.
But it was still significant.
What’s the hottest selling item in the Central Plains right now?
It’s the Seo Gong doll!
Hyeok Gi-rin’s Daily Life book sold well, but unlike that one-time purchase, there was plenty of reasons to collect multiple kinds of Seo Gong dolls!
So, how much has it sold?
If copyright was a thing back then, my alias wouldn’t have been Brain Knife Outcast but Money Outcast!
Now, Seo Gong appears in official settings wearing a ceremonial robe?
Of course, that would be recreated as a doll, and its popularity would explode!
And the workshops making the Seo Gong doll would have to keep an eye on the Huang Nation. It’s a given that those underpaid have to look out for those in power! It’s the way of the world, so a business doing something related to officials would typically donate a portion of profits as “donations.”
What will the official receiving those donations do? Would they pocket the money meant for the Seonan Inspector, who is famous for chopping off the heads of the Governor? Sure, there might be a madman out there, but they’d be in the minority.
Of course, it would go straight to the palace, and they will hand that money over to me.
In other words, I would become a rich man!
A comfortable old age! And passive income!
All of this depends on whether I can dress Seo Gong up or not!
Pip-pip!
Despite Seo Gong raising suspicion and studying me from all angles, it was clearly insufficient to decipher my subtle expressions in a game where a fortune was at stake.
Squeak!
Defeated, Seo Gong picked up the Spirit Herb and, with a flick of his tail, repositioned his cap. The court ladies watching our scuffle rushed over to drape the ceremonial robe over Seo Gong.
“Oh my, Seo Gong! You look absolutely stunning!”
“So cute!”
The court ladies of the palace, who always shot me icy stares, were now squealing and fawning over Seo Gong!
I felt terribly wronged due to the inexplicable favoritism, but seeing how sincere the court ladies were in dressing up Seo Gong, I felt okay leaving this to them.
After inspecting the important element of my selfish desire, no, my retirement plan, and the appearance of Seo Gong who would accompany Hyeok Gi-rin, I moved towards the barracks where my comrades were stationed to assess the situation.
“Is the event venue secured?”
“We are faced with an extreme level of congestion that is greater than anticipated! The members are unable to find their places! Additionally, there’s a report of Black Bandits disguised as peddlers creating trouble, and our men are currently sweeping them out and heading back!”
“There must not be a single mistake! Identify ourselves to the nearby officials and send all thugs to prison!”
“Report! Many ruffians are currently appearing in Nangyang, claiming they are searching for Great Hero Geum Myeong-wol!”
“Arrest those guys too! Damn it, it’s almost time to start; why are there so many problems!”
I rushed past the members of my team who were running around like soldiers in a battlefield and headed for Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi’s barracks. Once I entered the tent, I found Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi talking with Black Cat.
“With the crowd rushing in from everywhere, it feels like Nangyang might burst… I’ve lost contact with the information sources as well. It won’t be easy to assist from here on.”
“Ha, I might need to request additional support from the Commander of the Golden Guards. Anything else unusual?”
“The command itself has lost its meaning, so I’m thinking of monitoring any martial artists who could blend into the crowd and create disturbances.”
“If that’s the case…”
I intended to check on how things were progressing, but since they looked busy, I decided to let it be.
The last place I visited was the current tent of Hyeok Gi-rin.
“How are you so perfectly suited for this? I’m envious!”
“Re-really?”
As I stepped toward the cheerful conversation, I saw Hyeok Gi-rin in a red royal robe, with Dokgo I-seol, Moyong Yeon-hwa, and Miss Yeo Il-ye adjusting Hyeok Gi-rin’s attire.
“You’ve come! What do you think of how Hyeok Gi-rin, no, Princess Yuya, has been made up?”
Moyong Yeon-hwa’s question had a hint of expectation, hoping I would be surprised, but unfortunately, I had already seen Hyeok Gi-rin dressed in royal attire during my time as a Training Instructor so it didn’t surprise me much.
“She looks truly amazing.”
Yet, I couldn’t help but admire Hyeok Gi-rin’s appearance. The bright red silk adorned with golden embroidery and jewels made the outfit look stunning on her, befitting her perfectly.
That matching was different from the cliché phrases like, “A woman’s transformation is without sin,” or “A beauty shines in anything.”
It felt natural.
It gave off the sense that she belonged exactly where she should be.
Just like Hyeok Gi-rin in Jeomchang Faction attire, or Geum Myeong-wol with Seo Gong on her lap, or Princess Yuya in her lavish dress exuding authority.
Seeing this made the unease gnawing at me linger less.
Was I truly making the right decision?
Even if my decision was correct, wouldn’t it have been better to choose a different path?
What if something goes wrong with my calculations and predictions, leading to an irreversible situation? How many times have I toyed with the world again and again? Could I truly handle this situation?
Such thoughts began to fade on their own.
If I fail and scramble, even if I can’t clean this up… this path was undoubtedly the right one.
Watching Hyeok Gi-rin now, I was convinced that all the identities I knew of her had to combine to truly recognize Hyeok Gi-rin.
“I’m feeling a bit nervous.”
As if sensing my worries, Hyeok Gi-rin suddenly confessed her feelings, standing across from me.
“Soon, I shall reveal the secret of my hidden identity. It will be disclosed that Geum Myeong-wol is the Princess Yuya and also Hyeok Gi-rin.”
That’s right.
Geum Myeong-wol’s clarifying statements in Nangyang and the finale of my plan were all about Hyeok Gi-rin spilling the truth to the crowd.
That Geum Myeong-wol is, in fact, both Hyeok Gi-rin and Princess Yuya.
“Are you afraid?”
“If I said I wasn’t afraid, it would be a lie. It’s not just me who bears the blame; if something goes south, it will reflect poorly on the Jeomchang Faction, and the royal authority will also suffer greatly. It would, of course, bring trouble to Senior Ho as well.”
Hyeok Gi-rin spoke negatively.
Yet, to my surprise, the light in her eyes was exceptionally gentle.
“However, what’s in my heart is not only fear. Excitement resides there, too.”
Excitement, huh?
“Caring for each other is a natural tendency of mankind; I’m learning that it’s not necessary to lose sleep over whether I deserve that. That’s the realization you’ve given me, Senior Ho. It was back then when I decided I wouldn’t abandon the matter of my identity.”
“I long to see the day when the Together with Master and the Older Brother can share laughter and joy in one place. Back then, I dreamt of such a scene, and now… I want even more people to be together.”
Who are the ones who have touched Hyeok Gi-rin’s heart?
It could be me, my companions, and Seo Gong. Or perhaps Tang Do-yeon or Tang So-yeol, who aren’t here. Or maybe Seo I-ryeong or Tang Rye-ah, to whom she has deep affections.
There might be others I don’t know of.
“I truly appreciate Senior Ho Cheon-an. You’ve worked tirelessly to fulfill what was nothing but a crazy dream of mine.”
“I didn’t do this alone.”
“Right, we received help from everyone.”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s gaze drifted far away.
It was directed towards the palace, where Emperor Yoo Jung was, who could not accompany us here at this moment.
Then, her gaze shifted towards the barracks of the Dongchang members, surely recalling Black Cat and Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi, who had controlled all the rumors so far.
After that, she merely stared blankly at the sky.
The bittersweet smile that crept onto her face must have been triggered by thoughts of Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon and Bicheongmacha, who had spread the daily life stories.
Hyeok Gi-rin’s eyes landed on the three who had just adorned her.
Dokgo I-seol, with her fist clenched, had recruited Dokgo Yeongcheon as the antagonist alongside me, while Moyong Yeon-hwa nodded as she asked Moyong Seo to mention Geum Myeong-wol.
And Miss Yeo Il-ye was now ready to stand on the stage with Hyeok Gi-rin.
“Thank you all so much.”
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Before anyone could respond to Hyeok Gi-rin’s gratitude, the drumbeat announcing the proclamation echoed loudly.
Pip-pip!
Seo Gong, in his cap and ceremonial robe, dashed to Hyeok Gi-rin’s side. Seeing Seo Gong in his official attire, Hyeok Gi-rin smiled brightly and reached out to him.
As if waiting for that moment, Seo Gong placed his tail in her hand.
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
To conclude everything I had built up until now.
Hyeok Gi-rin and Seo Gong started walking towards the proclamation stage.
