Joseon Needs a Coup - Chapter 138



Only Noblemtl

#138. Nobody Wants (2)

“Huh? Oh, that’s a surprise···.”

It’s also a talent to suddenly appear and surprise someone when they’re just blankly staring.

I was able to brush away my surprised heart and face the old man whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.

I heard that the company recently changed its name and is doing very well, but apart from that, its face is looking increasingly unsightly.

“Sir, you look more haggard than when I last saw you.”

“Feeding thousands of people is no easy task. But who are we, descendants of Dangun who settled in Pyongyang, aren’t we ‘Hongik’ who benefit all people? Hahaha!”

They changed their company name to Hongik. In any case, if there was one company that was the best in the Korean Empire at the moment, it was none other than these. They had complete control of the military and government, as well as the maritime trade routes on the West Coast, and the transportation network of the metropolitan area. Now, they were making a lot of money through various food businesses and gun production.

And thanks to what he told me, I was able to hold a Joker. I guess I should pay for it when I can use it at its most expensive.

I expressed my gratitude silently.

“And thank you for the reminder the other day.”

“Hmm, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Then I smiled and spoke to him, who was smiling faintly.

“By the way, what’s going on at the banquet hall?”

“I was invited as well. I am honored to have been invited. His Majesty personally invited me to the highest seat, saying that I have distinguished myself in this war, and discussed various matters. I have finally been released. By the way, congratulations on your decoration. You will soon be a general, so I think it is better to show off your skills in advance.”

“You are too kind. I am satisfied with where I am now.”

I don’t know if I’ll actually be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, but the core of the Korean Empire’s military was not the generals, but the vice-ministers and ministers who were in charge of practical affairs at the director level. My current rank could be seen as being the core.

As we talked, I could see that there was someone else besides the old man.

A girl stood there, somewhat discreetly, but definitely wearing a striking dress. She was silent, but her presence was, somehow, like a star shining even in the pitch-black night.

“Oh, hello. My precious daughter.”

“Haha, it is an honor to meet such a precious person.”

What can I say, it was quite a cute voice. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it was a voice that was perfect for that age group.

“Are you that kid from back then?”

“That’s right. My daughter attended the private school you founded, which has now grown into a prestigious school in Pyongyang.”

Has so much time passed already?

I rubbed my eyes and looked again. The face I had seen from afar back then was still there. Of course, unlike back then, she was now a completely young girl, and she was giving me an inexplicable smile.

“Then, please introduce yourself to each other and have a good time.”

“No, where are you going, sir?”

“I will return to His Majesty the Emperor. I cannot commit the disloyalty of being away for so long.”

It seemed clear that he had an ulterior motive. The old man straightened the collar of his stylish suit, whispered a word to his daughter, and disappeared the way he had come.

It disappeared so quickly before I could say anything, I was really, what should I say… embarrassed.

I wouldn’t know what to say to a girl who is 7 or 8 years younger than me, but I don’t know what to say to a girl who is the same age as me.

“I’m late in introducing myself. I···.”

“I know who it is. I heard it over and over again from my father.”

She came closer to me, interrupting my words. For the first time in a long while, a fragrant scent tickled my nostrils.

In her white dress, she walked with a graceful yet elegant gait that seemed to have been learned somewhere, showing the kind of education she had received.

To have that level of posture, you must not have received an ordinary education.

“My name is Roha. It’s not a very common name for a girl, but don’t be surprised. I’m eighteen this year, and my father is so holy.”

“Ugh, where are you, hyung?! Hyung!”

As if he had noticed me, my drunken, almost passed out brother was being supported from afar and was coming towards me.

Well, I didn’t know because I don’t usually drink, but I started thinking that I should stop drinking from now on.

Because it was a pattern often seen at club or department events.

“Hmm, is that your younger sibling? They look similar, but somehow they’re different.”

“Hey, big brother! You’ve received the first-class decoration and now! There’s even a rumor going around that you’ll be promoted to general. You should go have a drink with your subordinates!”

“Be quiet. If you’re drunk, go spread out and sleep.”

I said, shaking off my brother who was clinging to my arm.

Judging by the strong smell of alcohol in the air, it seemed he and his men had been drinking to the point of near death.

“Huh? Who is the pretty girl next to you?”

“You are the daughter of Mr. Choi. Stop making such a fool of yourself and go to sleep.”

“Hehe, you’re still a man, hyung!”

Then he looked at me and the old man’s famous daughter, who introduced herself as Loha, in turns and spoke.

“Even if you compare me to that young lady a hundred, no, a thousand times, isn’t that young lady much more pitiful?! Young lady, don’t be fooled by my older brother. That old man is a cold-blooded man who doesn’t even blink an eye on the battlefield, and he doesn’t have any blood or tears, so how could he give his heart to a woman?”

“Be quiet.”

I said, covering the guy’s mouth. Watching the bickering, she laughed silently but with a clear expression.

“Wow, you two have a deep bond of love.”

“That’s right! Even though my brother’s French skills are terrible, he’s so good at war that even those arrogant French guys are scared. With a brother like that, huh! I’m prepared to die and stand at the forefront of every war!”

“Why don’t you be quiet?!”

“But… Brother, you’re not as good at French as me….”

“······.”

No, well, I have to admit it… but seeing him so drunk that he was blurting out everything he wanted to say, I felt like I couldn’t let it go any longer.

“Mr. Kim Si-jin, you seem seriously drunk. Should we go back now?”

“Oh my~ That girl is such a pity. Try to do better.”

Then, staggering, the younger brother approached his subordinates.

I was worried that he might fall, but I was relieved to see him walking with surprisingly good balance.

“I’m sorry. That guy is usually very shy, but he got really drunk today…”

“No! He seems like a good person. He seems to be very affectionate with his brothers…”

“Rather than friendship… um….”

“I’m jealous. I was born an only child and grew up without knowing what siblings were. I was really jealous when I saw my friends growing up with their own blood relatives.”

I know that feeling. There are times when being an only child is great, but there are also times when I wish I had siblings.

“According to my father, he said that you are practically like his own son. If you are not uncomfortable….”

“What if you don’t?”

“Can I call you ‘brother’?”

“······.”

I made a bewildered expression. I had only seen that word in games or animations, but here I was, hearing it in person. I was so embarrassed that I had nowhere to look, and she twirled her long hair around her fingers and opened her mouth again.

“Oh, it doesn’t mean anything else. I just think every day what it would be like to have a dependable older brother…”

Her expression of helplessness was exactly like that of a child of that age. As I watched her hesitatingly waiting for my answer, I felt like playing some kind of mischievous prank on her. For example, not answering, but just staring at her.

“If you just stare at me like that without saying anything, I’ll feel even more embarrassed…”

I wanted to tease her a little more. It reminded me of when I was in elementary school, teasing my pretty classmate and making fun of her. I deliberately didn’t answer, wondering when she would answer.

Because from far away, my younger brother, who should have definitely gone, appeared in ambush among the trees under the cover of darkness, just like when he was attacking Tianjin Castle.

“Hey! Over there, our regimental commander is flirting with that pretty girl!”

“Wow!”

“Catch the regimental commander!”

And he wasn’t alone. He brought his subordinates, even the cavalry battalion commander Kim Seok-joong, who he had lured out without knowing when, and advisor Harcourt.

All I could think about was getting out of there right away, hearing the shouts of my subordinates.

If I were caught by those drunken subordinates right now, it was obvious that I would be dragged to the center of the banquet hall and teased by everyone.

“Let’s step aside for a moment.”

“Whoa!”

I ran with her on my back in a hurry.

If possible, somewhere where those crazy guys won’t see you.

I ran and ran, vowing that when the sun rose tomorrow, I would run in a real group at the parade ground until my hangover went away.

By the way, these damn guys, I must have trained them really well because their stamina is amazing.

It’s amazing to see him chase after me like crazy even after drinking so much.

***

“···These subordinates are really rough.”

“I apologize for that…”

“Hmm···.”

After barely shaking off the drunken subordinates, I had to apologize to her. In any case, I thought it might be unpleasant for me to carry her on my back and run without permission.

Moreover, since it was done by a stranger, it could be considered an irreverent act according to the ideas of the time.

She trailed off at my apology, as if there was some purpose to it.

“I didn’t get an answer to that question earlier. Should I do it this way then?”

She said with her eyes wide open, as if a good idea had just occurred to her.

“Instead of apologizing, I think it would be okay if I called you ‘big brother’ from now on…”

There was an intention. I tried to play a prank like before again, but this time she was firm.

“Or else, I’ll have to tell my father. A stranger suddenly grabbed me and carried me on his back… sob, sob….”

“No, there’s a lot missing in the middle?!”

“Hehehe.”

He laughed and laughed. He seemed to really enjoy pranks. I wondered how he could have endured such pranks. And at the same time, I could imagine for a moment the old man holding a double-barreled shotgun and counting 12-gauge cartridges because he had touched his daughter.

Well, he was certainly a good man, but he would never let it go if you did something to his famous daughter. Of course, I had no intention of doing that to this young lady either.

In the first place, he wasn’t a pervert who enjoyed that kind of thing, and he was in a situation where he couldn’t devote all his nerves and mind to solving the problems that were right in front of him.

“I’m joking. Would I ever say something like that to my father?”

“···You may call me. Well, I’ll be happy to do it for you.”

“yes?”

“I think it would be nice to have a younger sister. You can call me whatever you want. Even though she’s not really my older brother.”

Then she smiled, as if something she had thought of had worked out.

“Then, can I come see you often in the future, Brother?”

I nodded without answering. Well, there are many things to look for while the old man is in Seoul anyway.

“I’ll come visit you often under the pretext of making excuses. Hehe, thanks to you, I had a great time.”

“It’s almost time to call off the banquet···.”

From a distance, a sound could be heard that seemed to indicate that the banquet was slowly coming to an end.

Because I could hear the footsteps of the drunken officers being led to the official’s quarters by their attendants, and the soldiers, who were also quite drunk, were being led to the barracks under the orders of their officers.

I should start getting ready to go back soon too.

“I’ll see you home.”

“great.”

Then she reached out her hand to me. It was the kind of etiquette you see in movies and dramas.

I ended up holding her hand and escorting her to the grand house where the old lady was staying.

Well, I thought he was a really smart kid, but at the same time, I felt sorry for him.

If only I had been born a century later, I could have done much greater things.

***

“Umm… Brother, hold the young lady….”

“This kid talks nonsense even when he sleeps.”

I returned to my room and sighed as I looked at my brother, who was stretched out on the couch.

The day I returned from the expedition was more confusing than the first day of the expedition.

Why did the old man leave the child with me? I spent the night wide awake until daybreak, not knowing why.

And as soon as the sun rose, I woke up the drunken cavalrymen and the assault infantrymen and led them from the training camp to Heunginmun Gate in order of arrival.

Everyone ran with apologies in their mouths, perhaps because they remembered what happened yesterday or because they were still drunk.

I ignored it and repeated it until breakfast.

It’s probably cheap considering the mess I made yesterday.