Chapter 10. Guarding the Estate (3)

We immediately followed the servant to check the boundaries of the estate. The estate was divided into two parts: the outer courtyard, where the servants, maids, guests, and workers lived, and the inner courtyard, where only the family resided.

Both areas were enormous, and I was overwhelmed by the size of the estate.

'Almost as big as my school?'

Although the university I attended was relatively small in Seoul, it was truly astonishing that a single person's residence could be this large.

'At this size, we'd need at least 20 people to cover it.'

There were no CCTV cameras, so we would need to rotate people consistently to ensure 24-hour security. This was my calculation.

"This place is so large that it might be difficult for just our guards."

"Indeed."

The Baekun Escort Agency's Myeongyanghyeon branch has about 30 guards in total. Normally, 10 to 15 guards are mobilized for regular escort duties, with rotations and irregular duties considered. Therefore, there weren't many spare personnel. Considering this, we would need at least 10 more people to manage it.

"It might be fine now, but when regular escort duties resume, we'll need more people to handle this place."

"We'll have to get reinforcements from other branches. I'll keep that in mind."

While assessing the surroundings and calculating the cost of having 20 people work in shifts, I noticed a strange scent.

...A delicate, nostalgic fragrance.

As I looked around to find the source of the scent, I saw a woman walking slowly from a distance, without any maids.

The servant who was guiding us hurried over and bowed deeply.

"Oh, Madam! What brings you here...?"

"It's been a while, Jangsam."

Madam?

Looking at her face, I quickly guessed her identity.

She was beautiful, no doubt.

She must be the second wife who caused the recent incident.

'Indeed, I can understand Jung Chusan's feelings.'

She had a delicate and slender appearance with a refined aura, like a delicate orchid. The feeling of tenderness she exuded made one want to protect her, truly a beauty that could captivate a nation.

If such a woman looked up with sad eyes and said, "I was wrong... Please forgive me..." who could refuse her?

'I can understand it.'

Compared to Baek Ryeong-hwa, whom I saw recently, they were different types of beauty, making it hard to compare. If Baek Ryeong-hwa had the beauty of a rising idol, this lady had the beauty of a mature actress in her early 30s.

As I was thinking this, the servant, Jangsam, looked flustered and said:

"Madam! Why did you come to the outer courtyard without a maid?"

"It's fine, Jangsam. I just wanted to take a walk and didn't want to bother anyone."

"This is not proper, Madam. Oh dear..."

Jangsam, still flustered, pointed to us and said something to her. She glanced at us and bowed slightly.

"You are from the Baekun Escort Agency. It's nice to meet you."

Jung Gun-pyeong bowed and said:

"Madam Nan-hwa. I've heard much about you."

I also bowed and greeted her. She received our greetings with a very sad smile.

What could I say? Just looking at her made me feel sad, and I wanted to say, "It's okay, don't cry."

"Then, I'll take my leave."

She sent a lingering glance and immediately turned to leave. In those days, it was considered impolite for a woman to converse with strangers for too long.

Jangsam, muttering "Oh dear, oh dear," looked at us and said, "I need to see Madam off, please wait here a moment," before following her.

Phew...

It was just a brief encounter, but it felt like I couldn't breathe for a moment.

Actually, since coming to the martial world, I haven't felt much pressure when dealing with women.

After all, they all seemed like neighborhood aunties, and I never felt particularly nervous or had any special thoughts about them.

It's like no one gets nervous or develops a crush on the aunts at the restaurant, right?

But, what can I say, after meeting such a beauty after a long time, it felt like my heart was suddenly blocked. I was overwhelmed by a feeling I couldn't quite describe.

I didn't feel this way even when I met Baek Ryeong-hwa at the interview.

'...Middle-aged beauty is indeed dangerous.'

Baek Seung-il.

Brother, I think you can understand.

* * *

When on guard duty, everyone brings a story to share.

Most of the stories people bring are relatable, like stories about women, baseball or soccer, or celebrities. Especially, the stories about the senior officers or the rear guard are the best topics.

However, since the military is a place where diverse people gather, there are times when the topics don't match and it becomes frustrating.

The most intelligent senior I've seen once talked about Pokémon all day. Listening to him talk about species values for over an hour, I understood why deserters exist.

When the topic doesn't match, guard duty can be the most painful.

But there is one topic that anyone can talk about for hours.

"Senior, what do you plan to do after leaving the escort agency?"

It's the topic of retirement.

While patrolling the walls for several days, Jung Gun-pyeong, who usually didn't respond much to my stories, suddenly paused and spoke when I asked this question.

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, I was just wondering if you had any plans. I'm curious about what the seniors will do after retiring."

"Hmm. It's a good time to think about it."

As is typical for people who speak little, he nodded and took a long time to choose his words. Just when I thought he might have forgotten we were having a conversation, he finally spoke again.

"I've never thought about life outside the escort agency. I don't have much talent."

"Is that so? Then, maybe as a head guard?"

In the military, many people think about becoming a non-commissioned officer or a warrant officer, which I can understand.

After a while, it becomes familiar, and you think it might be the best option.

I often thought that staying in the military might have been better for me after entering society. Before entering society, I missed it, but once I was out, I often thought the military was better.

He shook his head.

"Head guard... It's difficult. I've given up."

"Why? With your experience and skills, you could become a head guard, right?"

"I can't read."

Ah.

Only then did I understand the brief emotion that flashed across Jung Gun-pyeong's face when he handed me the contract to sign.

It was shame.

"Ah... I see."

"Yes."

Illiteracy was common in this era.

Chinese characters require memorizing a vast number of characters, and without a teacher, it's impossible to learn on your own.

In modern Korea, there would be annotations in Hangul, making it possible to learn on your own, but not here.

You would have to take money and go to a school to ask a teacher to teach you.

But for people who struggle to make ends meet, where would they find the money and time? They just live without knowing.

Many people only know how to write their own names. Ordinary farmers don't even know that much.

It's an era where effort doesn't necessarily lead to results.

"I didn't know that."

"It's not a big deal. It seems you can read."

"I learned in my hometown."

If you didn't know, you would be beaten. It was an era where you had to know, and I was confident in my Chinese characters.

"You must have had a good teacher."

I immediately thought of the "crazy dog" who always wore改良한복 (improved hanbok) and carried a wooden flute.

Is Mr. Kang doing well?

Thanks to you, I can read and function in society. Actually, now that I'm revealing this, the teacher who took bribes from the education office, did you find the culprit?

I quit that.

But you were strict.

You even texted my mom to bring you liquor on Teachers' Day.

"He wasn't a good teacher, but I learned a lot."

"That's good. I envy you."

"Me?"

"I... I'm worried about what will happen when I get old. The only thing I know is a bit of martial arts, but it's not enough to survive in the martial world. If I try to become a farmer now, I don't know anything. The thought of leaving the escort agency... is terrifying."

Farming is a high-level skill. Farmers may seem uneducated, but they are not.

From planting to harvesting, it requires a lot of expertise.

It's not something a martial artist can do just because they want to. That's why Jung Gun-pyeong looks so lost.

"I can't do business, and even if I could work as a guard for a wealthy family, it would be difficult when I get old. I might have to work as a servant... I can't imagine living like that."

"..."

Old age is a problem everywhere. I cautiously brought up the topic.

"Senior, if it's okay with you..."

"What?"

"Can you teach me some martial arts? In return, I can teach you to read."

Jung Gun-pyeong is a skilled martial artist, even if not at the top level in the martial world. He has years of experience and practical knowledge that is hard to learn even with money.

His eyes lit up when he heard my proposal.

"Really?"

"Yes. I'm a bit scared with my current level, and I want to learn more from you."

"If you do that..."

Just as he was approaching with a smile, a rustling sound came from somewhere.

*Crack, crack.*

'What is it?'

Suddenly, I felt a chill run down my spine.

Without thinking, I reached for the knife at my waist and looked at Jung Gun-pyeong, who also seemed to sense the danger and reached for his weapon.

"Who—"

*Slice!*

"Ugh!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Jung Gun-pyeong was cut down, blood gushing from his chest. The scene unfolded in slow motion before my eyes.

What is happening?

The unreal sight of a person who was just talking to me being cut down overwhelmed my vision.

I immediately tried to draw my knife and take a combat stance, but—

"Be quiet."

A man in black martial clothes, who had literally "flown" over 10 meters to cut down Jung Gun-pyeong, pointed his sword at me from the darkness.

"Be quiet, put down your sword."

Baek Seung-il...!