Chapter 02…
Becoming a Escort Warrior
Playing with the little girl was far more entertaining than watching the boring escort warriors’ examination.
The girl, seemingly upset, stomped off with a sulky face and disappeared into the inner quarters.
“Did she leave?”
When she didn’t reappear for a while, Geomryeong looked a little disappointed.
“Maybe I was too harsh. Next time I see her, I should treat her better.”
“Are you Geomryeong?”
At that moment, someone called out to him.
“Yes! I am Geomryeong. I’ve come to become a pyo-gae (escort warrior).”
Jin Seol, the master of the Gangnam Escort Agency, looked him up and down and narrowed his eyes.
His delicate, almost feminine face hardly seemed suited to the rough work of an escort.
“Have you ever done escort work before?”
His tone carried some doubt.
“This is my first time. But I’m confident I can do it well. I have some strength.”
“Then why do you want to be an escort?”
“Because I need money.”
Geomryeong spoke with a cheeky grin. Seeing this, Jin Seol gave a small nod, then whispered something to Chief Steward Seo Namchun, who also nodded.
Jin Seol addressed all those who had taken the test.
“You’ve all worked hard taking the test. Everyone who applied as an escort has passed. Escort leader Na, take them and explain their duties.”
“Yes, sir!”
The new escorts followed Na Guk toward a small annex on the left side of the courtyard.
“You’re also accepted. Work hard.”
“Thank you.”
Geomryeong bowed.
“Chief Seo, teach him his duties.”
“Yes, I will.”
As Jin Seol headed inside, only Seo Namchun and Geomryeong remained in the courtyard.
“Follow me.”
Geomryeong followed him toward another annex, opposite the one where the escort leaders had gone.
This was the living quarters for escorts, where about ten men shared two rooms.
“You’ll be living here from now on.”
“Here? I won’t be living alone, right?”
He asked because the room seemed far too big for just one person.
“Of course not. You’ll live with the other escorts. They’re away transporting cargo right now, so you’ll be alone for the time being.”
“I understand.”
“Your work won’t involve long-distance transport. Instead, here in Xianghang…”
Seo Namchun briefly explained Geomryeong’s duties.
“So starting today, you’ll accompany me around the market streets and taverns, wherever we have clients. Keep that in mind.”
“So basically, I’m this city’s errand boy, right?”
Though Seo had dressed it up in fancier words, Geomryeong had nailed it.
“Well, you don’t have to think of it that way. You’ll be delivering items within the city. The Escort Agency handles goods between regions, but within Xianghang, you’ll be responsible.”
Geomryeong nodded. It didn’t sound difficult at all.
“What do I do once I finish the day’s tasks?”
“That’s up to you. Rest if you want, or do something else. But you must finish all assigned tasks that day, even if it’s late at night.”
A faint smile played at Seo Namchun’s lips—one that seemed to say, Please, for once, actually finish your work on time.
“Understood. Leave it to me.”
For several days, Seo Namchun took Geomryeong around Xianghang’s markets, inns, and pleasure houses, introducing him to all their business partners.
Geomryeong memorized everything after just one tour but hid it, continuing to accompany Seo for five more days before moving on his own.
His daily routine was simple.
Each morning, he received a slip of paper from Seo Namchun listing the day’s deliveries. His job was to go to each client and deliver their goods.
“Today’s work is a bit heavier. I’ll give you extra pay, so please put in the effort.”
He handed Geomryeong the list.
Normally, there were five to seven deliveries. Today, however, there were twelve—double the usual.
“Really? You’ll pay extra?”
When Geomryeong asked, Seo replied yes, promising ten iron coins as a bonus.
“Then… could you pay me in advance?”
Seo blinked at the shameless request.
“Of course, I don’t mean to doubt you, Chief, but I don’t have a single coin right now. I really need the money. If you could just pay me first…”
Seo thought it over, then nodded. Even if Geomryeong ran off, they wouldn’t really lose much since he’d already done some work.
With a bright smile, Geomryeong bowed after pocketing the ten coins.
“Then I’ll be off!”
He walked out of the Gangnam Escort Agency.
“It’s about nine o’clock now… he’ll probably finish around eleven.”
But the moment Seo finished muttering, Geomryeong’s figure vanished from sight.
Later, Jin Seol savored a sweet as he showed it to his young daughter, Jin Aseol.
“This is really delicious.”
Geomryeong had bought sweets from the market with his bonus pay, intending to tease the little girl.
Having grown up on Blackrock Island, he found playing with Aseol—like a younger sister—genuinely fun.
“Hmph. I’ve had plenty of sweets before. I don’t even like them.”
“Oh, come on. You want some.”
“Nope. I have something even tastier.”
The only things Geomryeong had eaten on Blackrock Island were oddly shaped herbs, colorful mushrooms, two-headed snakes with horns, golden frogs, and tasteless water.
Compared to those, the sweets he had just discovered were heavenly.
“Something better than sweets?” He asked, incredulous.
“Yup. Look!”
Aseol revealed the ice treat she’d been hiding behind her back.
“This is called binggwa (ice confection). It’s ten times tastier than sweets. And it’s so refreshingly cold…”
Geomryeong pouted as he eyed the ice treat. Today, it seemed he’d lost to Aseol.
“Aseol!”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s trade.”
He held out his sweet.
“No way. This tastes better than your candy.”
And indeed, the frosty-looking treat did look more appealing.
“I told you to call me oppa, not ‘ajusshi.’ I’m not that old.”
“Pfft. You’re still an ajusshi.”
Knowing he was losing, Geomryeong tried again, hoping to coax her.
“Aseol, don’t be like that. Let’s swap. This candy is special—made by Master Wang in the marketplace. Look, see the syrup dripping here—”
Aseol giggled at the sight of him pleading.
“Fine, but only if you promise never to tease me again.”
“Alright. I’ll never tease my dear Aseol again.”
“Then here. Eat this.”
She handed it over.
Despite all their daily bickering, she enjoyed playing with him. Geomryeong, too, found warmth he’d never felt on Blackrock Island.
He took a bite of the ice treat.
The chill and the way it melted in his mouth felt like tasting heaven itself.
“Wow, this is amazing.”
“Right? It’s so good!”
Just then—
“You there! What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be working?”
Seo Namchun approached, scolding Geomryeong for playing with Aseol.
“I already finished today’s work.”
“What?”
“I’m done. And didn’t you say I could do as I like after finishing?”
Seo stared, dumbfounded.
Geomryeong had received the list at nine o’clock. Even rushing, by eleven he should’ve only managed two or three deliveries.
Thinking it a lie, Seo barked,
“Are you mocking me?”
“No, it’s true. I really finished everything.”
Though his tone wasn’t that of a liar, it seemed impossible. Seo held out his hand.
“Then show me.”
“Show you what?”
“The receipts. The slips you got for each delivery.”
“Oh, right! I almost forgot to hand them over.”
Aseol shook her head at his antics.
Geomryeong pulled twelve receipts from his robe and handed them over.
Seo’s hands moved faster as he checked them. Each bore the client’s seal of confirmation.
He couldn’t help but look at Geomryeong in shock.
“You really delivered all of them?”
“If you don’t believe me, go check yourself. Now stop bothering me. I’m playing with Aseol.”
Stunned, Seo nodded and backed away. He hurried off to confirm—losing a client would be disastrous.
Once he was gone, Aseol asked,
“Ajusshi, did you really finish?”
“Of course! Your oppa runs super fast. Actually, I didn’t tell you, but I’m a martial arts master.”
He spoke with anticipation, hoping she’d be impressed.
“Pfft. If you’re a master, then I’m the greatest master ever.”
Her disbelief stung a little.
“I’m serious! I’m strong enough to beat even my teachers.”
“Liar! No way you could beat your masters. You’re just a fibber.”
“You’ve never heard of ‘the pupil surpassing the master’?”
He hoped she’d believe him, but she just shook her head, refusing to fall for such nonsense.
“You said you wouldn’t tease me anymore!”
“I’m not teasing! I mean it!”
“Hmph! I’m not playing with you anymore!”
She spun around and stormed into the inner quarters.
“Hey! And I told you to call me oppa, not ajusshi!”
But Aseol ignored him and disappeared inside.
“It’s not a lie… little brat already doubting people’s words…”
Though they’d argued, Geomryeong wasn’t worried. He knew she’d play with him again tomorrow.
“Still, that ice treat… it’s incredible. From now on, I’ll buy binggwa instead of sweets.”
