A Dragon Lives In That Scholar's Deep Spring - Chapter 13

– CHAPTER 13 –

“Coming from a distant place, you wouldn’t understand the ways of the world. Even if it’s frustrating, you should try to understand and explain slowly.”

“Ignorant?”

Sun-yi looked hurriedly at the questioning lady and swallowed her words back in. 

“I… I! Oh, I forgot I needed to buy radishes too!”

Grabbing what seemed random from Farang’s hands, Sun-yi neatly placed it back on the table.

“You can’t buy hairpins. You don’t even have enough money, and what’s more, the lady hasn’t even reached the age to use them.”

“There’s a specific time to use them?”

Thinking she would insist, Sun-yi was relieved when Farang gave up surprisingly easily and turned away. It was fortunate. Knowing nothing yet wanting something pretty. Sun-yi couldn’t help but feel a bit smug inwardly.

“Only married women use them. How can the lady, who hasn’t even married, want something like that?”

“Well, it doesn’t look bad.”

Sun-yi felt Farang’s evaluation of a precious accessory she might never have in her lifetime was overly harsh.

Moreover, Farang kept saying things like ‘Underneath my sea lies treasures far more magnificent than that’ or ‘It doesn’t seem that valuable, why not exchange it for the money you have’. These words only confused Sun-yi further.

Because there was so much noise, she couldn’t be sure if what she heard was right. Sun-yi decided to listen with one ear and let it go.

“After all, once we buy everything, we can buy rice cakes or sweets. Isn’t it much better than a hairpin that you can’t even use right away?”

While going back to the market, Sun-yi, who kept looking back to see if Farang was following well, felt like her neck wouldn’t turn when she woke up the next day.

There were so many people, and she was worried that if they collided, it might cause a fight. But the lady managed to follow Sun-yi smoothly without bumping into anyone. It was strange.

“Hey! Come see the dried pollack.”

“Has Sun-yi come? It’s a piece of candy per person.”

And until they arrived at the market, Farang kept her mouth shut and didn’t ask Sun-yi anything.

If it were her, she would have been curious and eager to ask about everything she saw, but is the lady’s only interest pretty accessories? If so, then Sun-yi would consider calling the lady a crow alone.

“You can get two pieces for five coins. You’ll need them soon anyway.”

Because of her childish face and even bargaining so vigorously, it wasn’t annoying, so eventually, the market owner smiled and started wrapping the dried pollack.

“But who’s beside you? Seeing someone with such fine features, is she a noble person? Could it be that your master married someone from a prestigious family?”

“Oh no!”

Sun-yi, who was about to pay, vigorously shook her hands and almost dropped what she was holding.

“She’s a guest in the house. The master asked to show the lady around.”

“Oh, is that so? But….”

“Step aside! Let me through!”

The shop owner seemed to want to say something more, but the procession coming from the government office passed by in a hurry as if sorting out the chaos in the market all at once.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of people making their way down the street, Sun-yi quickly pulled the lady close to her side.

“What’s going on?”

“Indeed.”

While both the shop owner and Sun-yi looked on in puzzlement, a notice was posted on the board. The lady, whose interest seemed to be solely focused on shiny and precious things like a crow, also turned her attention to the notice board.

Knowing she wouldn’t understand the writing anyway, Sun-yi quietly waited for someone else to read it first and relay the news.

“Oh my, what will happen to the houses preparing for weddings now.”

As expected, among those who could already recognize the characters, murmurs of discontent arose. And as the notice was carefully posted, the officials turned to address the gathered crowd.

“Royal marriage!”

* * *

If Sun-yi had been alone, one hour would have been enough with such a narrow pace, but since she was accompanying a person to be scrutinized, the time was much delayed than expected. 

Do-gyeom, who had been wandering in the front yard, was the first to greet Sun-yi and Farang as they entered, before anyone else.

“Are you back?”

“Master! Why are you here? Or where have you been?”

Sun-yi greeted the master like a tail-wagging puppy. Do-gyeom smiled and took the bundle Sun-yi was carrying.

“I had some errands outside and just returned. Have you seen everything at the market?”

“I’ve seen everything thoroughly. I’ll bring it to the kitchen right away!”

“Good. Well done.”

Do-gyeom sent off Sun-yi and then greeted Farang, who followed after her.

“Are you back?”

With a relaxed demeanor, Farang held a package of sweets that Sun-yi probably bought for her. With cheeks puffed up, she seemed to be enjoying the sweet treat.

“You said you don’t eat meals, but seems like sweet things suit your taste.”

It was a somewhat affectionate greeting, but it didn’t resonate with Farang. She spat out what she had been chewing onto the ground.

“If you’re going to follow me around all the time, just stick with me.”

He had thought so, and it turned out to be true. He had tested it secretly to see if she could detect the presence hidden behind the wall, but she could even hold sway in the crowded market.

“What’s this about?”

Without any enthusiasm, Farang abruptly grabbed Do-gyeom’s belt. Not only was it perplexing that the knot came undone, but Do-gyeom’s eyes widened as the gap narrowed in an instant.

“Why are you suddenly…!”

Suddenly approaching, Farang nestled into Do-gyeom’s arms as if seeking solace, pressing her nose against his chest. Do-gyeom couldn’t breathe properly for a moment.

“What, what are you doing?”

“I am smelling you.”

What smell could emanate from the body of a scholar who must be both clean and pure? Concerned, Do-gyeom raised his sleeve to his nose to check the smell.

“Do I have anything different from others?”

“Even without weapons, you’re skilled at living.”

“…”

“You emit a particularly complex and unpleasant odor.”

This accusation, disregarding the other person’s feelings, was insulting. It was the first time Do-gyeom had heard such words face to face, and he couldn’t hide his discomfort.

“What do you mean unpleasant? What’s so complex and unpleasant?”

“I’m just speaking as I see it. I thought it might be because of the henchmen at first, but it wasn’t. It’s the first time I’ve smelled it….”

Giving up on deep contemplation, Farang reached into the sweets again.

“If you don’t want to believe it, then don’t. Why are you so eager to confirm it?”

Then he realized. He had selfishly made Farang uncomfortable first to satisfy his curiosity. Feeling ashamed, Do-gyeom immediately offered a sincere apology.

“You’re upset because I followed you.”

“No, there’s nothing to be upset about.”

Farang’s pronunciation seemed to falter slightly, and her white cheeks bulged out.

“It’s not harmful to me, and I’ve learned something too.”

“What have you learned?”

Staring intently at Do-gyeom with curiosity, Farang suddenly turned her gaze away as if lost in thought.

“…Humans are truly weak. There’s no difference from a school of fish.”

“That’s nonsense again.”

Though he was annoyed, as Do-gyeom learned more about Farang’s abilities, he found himself with no room for rebuttal.

“As I got to know you, I felt increasingly sorry for keeping you confined. But I couldn’t simply leave others unaware of your safety, so I stepped forward.”

“You wanted to see if I was trustworthy even when you’re not around, right?”

There happened to be a short phrase to encapsulate this situation, so Do-gyeom immediately utilized it.

“Don’t just say that. Haven’t you gained something too?”

“Well, this?”

Farang showed him the somewhat lukewarm sweets.

“I don’t need to eat them, but they’re so delicious.”

It was an indifferent gaze, but she diligently rolled her tongue around the sweets, making her nothing more than a little girl. Do-gyeom, feeling sorry, took out a hairpin from his sleeve.

“It’s the only thing you had an interest in.”

Farang didn’t seem surprised or pleased. She probably just kept recalling the lecture she heard from Sun-yi.

“After all, it’s something I can’t use.”

Of course, it was just Sun-yi’s opinion. Do-gyeom confirmed it again.

“Do you have a companion in the place you are returning to?”

“No.”

“If you can take it with you, I hoped you might consider this time here as a short journey, even when you return, and use it as a souvenir.”

“But it doesn’t feel alive.”

Farang examined the hairpin closely as she asked.

“If your companion’s actions don’t please you, is it for stabbing?”

“…What?”

“The tip seems blunt for that… No, it’s not for stabbing the flesh, but tearing into it, causing even more pain.”

Though he didn’t expect her to be moved, Farang once again lightly surpassed Do-gyeom’s anticipated scope.

“No, no! This is simply something used by women to adorn their hair. Well, occasionally it could be used as a weapon for self-defense in dire situations, but it wasn’t originally made for such purposes.”

“Ah, I see….”

Her innocent eyes, solving a simple question, were so transparently pure that Do-gyeom couldn’t help but sigh involuntarily. He couldn’t understand why she only thought of it in that way. Was it possible that she came from the underworld?

Just in case, Do-gyeom decided to show her something else he had bought.

“And this can still be used even with the guard down like this.”

It was a hairpin decorated with pearls, silver, and blue jade. It wasn’t just hairpins he had bought. The blue color seemed reminiscent of Farang.

Instead of handing it to Farang, Do-gyeom chose to insert it himself.

“This is how you use it.”

While he understood it was meant to be worn on the side of the head, actually inserting it was a first for him, so Do-gyeom’s hand trembled slightly.

“I hope you like it.”

As if she was worried about what was inserted in her hair, Farang reached out to touch it herself.