Surviving in a third-rate martial arts world
Vol. 1 - Ch. 27

Unlike other days, there was a constant stream of food orders today, even though the evening sky beyond the window had long since grown gloomy.

I, who had stepped back from the front lines due to dizziness, was sitting on a chair in front of the kitchen counter and kept the ordered pork fry on a plate.

One or two pieces of glossy meat were gracefully placed on the lotus leaves spread widely on the plate.

Instead of trying to pick up the remaining meat, I glanced at Ja-hyun standing next to me.

‘How can he look so handsome even from below?’

It was a face that aroused my admiration wherever and whenever I saw it.

I’ve heard that even if you do the same task nine times, you do make mistakes one time, and that is when you get called out. Even if you do poorly nine times and do one thing right, you get called a good person.

That is the human mind.

That’s exactly how I felt about Ja-hyun, standing in front of the flame, holding and shaking the heavy iron pot, in the muggy weather even after the sun had set.

Even though he had followed my instructions well, I still had the impression that he was a bad-natured and arrogant guy. Seeing him work so hard for me made me feel sad and apologetic.

Even if I cannot find a drop of sweat anywhere on his face.

“Uhm.”

As I put the meat back in, I opened my mouth softly.

“Isn’t it challenging?”

I only asked him out of courtesy, even though I knew it couldn't be difficult for him.

“Should I do it? Do you want to rest for a bit?”

No answer came back. Instead he looked at me.

“Or is there anything else I can help you with?”

It was even before the answer came to the question I had intended.

“Nuna! Eun-ri nuna!”

I started with the loud voice outside and lifted my butt off the chair.

Soon, Dong-mun stuck his head through the open door.

Nuna! You are here?

“Ah, you shocked me! Of course I am here.”

I sat down on the chair again and scolded Dong-mun.

“And why is it so nuna? You always call me with respect when something happens.”

“That…..”

“What, did something happen?”

Dong-mun, who was standing with one hand on the door frame, started to speak but instead coughed. As I listened, the sound of heavy breathing felt like someone had run all the way to the kitchen.

I didn’t know if he did it, but I turned away from the struggling Dong-mun and glanced at the next person.

‘Woah, he doesn’t even look at me.’

If someone suddenly approached you, you might even throw a glance at them. Ja-hyun seemed to be busy frying vegetables with his back to Dong-mun.

From the looks, it seemed like Dong-mun wasn’t even curious about what it was.

“What is happening?”

On the other hand, I, who was curious about his problem, quickly got up and walked to the door.

Dong-mun, still out of breath, opened his mouth in silence when he saw me stopping.

“Nuna, right now, at the restaurant...”

“A-at the restaurant?”

“The customers are fighting…”

“Fight… what?”

There was a fight between the customers?

‘What did this mean?’

For a moment, I looked at Dong-mun, unable to understand.

If that was the case, isn’t it something that happens normally in a guesthouse business?

I couldn’t believe that Dong-mun, who was young and strong, had a hard time breaking up fighting and came to see me.

‘No, no. It is too early to jump to conclusions. There could be some reason.’

After quickly gathering my thoughts, I quickly consoled my fellow worker in a calm voice.

“Dong-mun, let us calm down first. Okay? Just what exactly happened?”

“Ah, yes! The Old Dragon Association.”

From that one word, I could guess what happened outside.

“After they finish their meal, they throw the empty plates on the ground because it wasn’t what they ordered and are shouting loudly and breaking glasses. In the end, the customers sitting next to them are getting into useless arguments, and when I tried to stop them, they called me an ignorant server and tried to hit me.”

I just nodded as I continued to listen.

"When a customer tried to stop them, they grabbed his collar and…”

“Customer? Who?”

Is this someone I know? If possible, it would be nice for someone who can help us in this situation.

“Well, the young lord on the 2^nd floor.”

As far as I could tell, our guesthouse was occupied by a single young lord.

“What about his escort? He wasn’t around.”

My voice rose around.

“Escort? I’m not sure. He was by himself in the restaurant.”

Well, right.

As I was choking on the words with regret, my friend, who interpreted my reaction, started talking gibberish with a nervous look.

Now, because of them, other patrons are leaving secretly. They promised to come back and pay later when I instructed them to pay the bill. In all honesty, I don't think we'll ever be able to recover even half of the cost.

“Hmm.”

I guarantee him, we won't get a dime back. Rather, even if we apologize and compensate them for the bad experience, it wouldn’t be enough.

“Let us think about it later. What about the customers who are currently being held captive by them? They didn't seem to care and asked me to run off, but there were many of them with swords, so it doesn’t seem like that one guy would be alright. Who should I call? The bar or Cheol-rim? Ah, he is at the gambling house, so…”

I raised my hand to stop Dong-mun’s rant.

“Wait. Why call Uncle? What about Mister Wang?”

“Uh?”

“He just came back from the physician. He said he was feeling alright. Where did that person go when we needed him?”

As I was about to open the guest house for dinner, I remembered Wang Dae-geon, who had come back from the physician’s office and looked normal, saying his headache was gone.

This was because it was usually much easier for Wang Dae-geon, who is a big man, to solve such problems than me or Dong-mun.

At my question, Dong-mun looked confused.

“Ah, that… He sneaked out earlier.”

“He left?”

“Yes. Now that he was feeling better, he said he would have a drink after a long time.”

Oh, my head. I held my head and fell into silence.

“Sorry. I was going to tell, but then I got busy with work.”

Dong-mun looked at me and made an excuse in a very timid voice.

“No. Why are you being sorry? The Wang who ran away on such a busy day is the one out of his mind.”

At those words, the dull face of Dong-mun immediately brightened.

‘And don’t worry too much. I will go and see for myself.’

“Uh? Nuna will?”

“Yeah.”

I straightened my shoulders and gave a somewhat trusting look.

“ They really are the Old Dragon Association, isn't that right? As long as they have brains, they won't be able to act carelessly in front of me because they would know if they touch me, things would go out of control. They must have come here with the intention of showing their influence to people, which had been overtaken by the Evil Blood Clan for the first time in a while, and by threatening us for free drinks, it won't be a big deal.”

“Ah…”

Dong-mun nodded blankly at the believable story.

“Is there any alcohol left?”

“Ah, yes. In the closet.”

“Then I will go first and comfort them, so you bring me the alcohol. First, we give them what they want.”

If Ju Cheol-rim or Wang Dae-geon had stayed in the guesthouse, I would have never offered them free alcohol.

But, as Dong-mun was a young man, it was impossible for me to resolve an issue peacefully without stepping back on their demands. Therefore, I had no choice but to take some losses.

Of course, if I ask the person behind me for help, things would get easier.

‘But that is like using a cow butcher knife to kill chicken. Such a waste of power.’

Moreover, I am the owner of this guesthouse. What kind of disgrace would it be to borrow someone else’s help to handle useless bastards?

“Let us head out first. It would be a huge thing if a customer got hurt at this time.”

Let’s solve it using my strength. Having come to the conclusion, I forcibly pushed back Dong-mun, who was hesitating near the door.

Just before leaving the kitchen, I didn’t forget to tell Ja-hyun, who was behind me, that ‘I will be back soon, so continue what you are doing.’

“Foolish.”

I felt like I heard him say something behind me, but I didn’t hear it properly with Dong-mun, who was speaking out.

“Nuna, instead of doing that, why not just take Ja-hyun with you? He wouldn’t be much help, but it would be better to have at least one person around.”

“It is fine. It isn’t like I have done this thing once or twice.”

“But…”

“But what is the point? Dong-mun, do you not trust me? I have been dealing with such people for several years.”

No, believe me.

Contrary to what I said, Dong-mun’s face showed a slight sense of anxiety.

“The son of a scholar who smells like ink on him and isn’t afraid of…”

The sound, which was just noisy, gradually turned clearer as we got closer to the restaurant.

We walked a little faster and pushed ourselves.

The scenery unfolding inside the restaurant was what Dong-mun explained.

I wonder where all the orders that were pouring into the kitchen have vanished. The only people I could see were 5 men who looked like thugs and a thin man who was between them, and 3 customers moving in the corner, unable to escape.

“Stop it now.”

As I walked across, this middle-aged man spotted me and gently placed his hand on the shoulder of the man holding Tae-kyung.

Only then did they let go of him.

As if waiting, Tae-kyung took a step back and brushed off his messed-up hair.

I checked his condition with my own eyes.

‘Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like he has any serious injuries, are there any on him?’

At first glance, there didn’t seem to be any problems with him.

What is it? Tae-kyung didn’t seem surprised, nor did he seem to be angry or have his pride hurt.

After glancing at Tae-kyung, who was as composed as usual, to check if he was bluffing or if he didn't mind being held by the collar, I looked across at the man whose face was crumpled and who was cursing.

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