An Absurd Proposal

Naturally, the more a rumor passes from mouth to mouth, the more distorted it is bound to become. But no matter how much I thought about it, this had completely crossed the line.

The situation was so utterly overwhelming that I didn’t even know which part to start addressing first. While I stood there simply gaping, trying to latch onto my fading sanity, the man looked at me and flashed a sly, knowing smile.

“Are you feeling terribly embarrassed?”

“…Let’s just say that’s the case.”

It was actually just completely mind-boggling, but let’s go ahead and blame it on embarrassment.

The moment I forced those words out like a weary sigh, the man and his companions burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Then, they began tossing banter back and forth amongst themselves.

“Come to think of it, these days, there are far more single people visiting the lake alone rather than actual married couples or lovers, aren’t there?”

“Ah, yes. I heard an incredible number of people end up meeting someone at that lake and forming a romantic connection.”

“Tsk, tsk. The youth of today truly possess no shame.”

“Well, whether it’s our generation or the current one, the only real difference is whether people choose to display it openly or keep it hidden, wouldn’t you say?”

“I suppose that’s true.”

Watching them clamor rowdily, it felt like the perfect time to draw this conversation to a close. Just as I was straightening my posture after having turned toward the man’s table, he raised a hand to quiet his rowdy group.

“Now, now, everyone stop your bantering. And…”

Having successfully calmed his companions, the man turned his gaze back to me.

“I didn’t get to finish my thought earlier, but if you happen to be interested, you should definitely take a look around while you’re visiting the lake. If luck is on your side, you might just run into your destined match.”

“…….”

I was grateful to learn the reason behind Hefei’s sudden population boom, but I certainly hadn’t expected to receive dating advice out of the deal.

Left with absolutely no energy to formulate a proper response, my lips merely parted in silence, prompting Yeo-ui to quickly slide a teacup toward me.

“Young Master, please have some tea first.”

A raging fire was currently burning inside my chest, so the timing was absolutely perfect. Right as I was bringing the half-filled teacup beneath the fabric of my veiled hat, Yeo-ui adopted a thoroughly stern tone.

“It is quite hot, so please do not forget to drink it slowly.”

Because my view was obstructed by the veil, I couldn’t clearly discern the exact expression on Yeo-ui’s face. However, I could reasonably guess that he was watching me intently with wide, glaring eyes.

I nodded in immediate compliance.

“Understood.”

After delivering my response, I blew on the tea with exaggerated effort before taking a sip. Only then did Yeo-ui seem satisfied, turning his gaze toward the rest of the room. Finally able to wet my throat in peace, the man chimed in yet again.

“Even if you don’t happen to meet your destined match, the scenery of the lake in the evening is far superior to the daytime, so be sure to keep that in mind.”

“Thank you for the advice. I hope you enjoy your meal thoroughly when it arrives.”

It seemed he was finally ready to conclude the conversation as well. I raised my teacup slightly as a gesture of gratitude. At that, a thoroughly mischievous grin spread across the man’s face, visible to absolutely anyone.

“For your information, there are far more people looking for a partner at night.”

…Now I finally see what was going on.

The real motive behind his persistent chatter under the guise of offering friendly advice finally clicked.

This man was simply amused by the idea of teasing a traveler who had just arrived in Hefei. And out of all the potential targets to mock, I had beautifully fallen right into his trap.

Jin-cheong also seemed to realize that the group of men had been actively making sport of me. Watching his hand quietly drift toward the hilt of the sword resting right beside the table, I shook my head in a firm negative.

Despite clearly catching my signal, the fact that he continued to restlessly fidget with the scabbard proved his immense fury hadn’t subsided in the slightest. Only after I shook my head a second time did he let out a sharp sigh and finally withdraw his hand.

Sigh.

On the rare occasions when an opponent crossed the line far too severely, Jin-cheong would draw his blade even if I explicitly forbade it. I had been terrified that this might turn into one of those moments, so it was a profound relief. Mentally sweeping away my lingering anxiety, I completely straightened my body away from the neighboring table and cast my gaze back down toward the main road beyond the railing.

“…….”

If I had things my way, I would have fled this establishment immediately. But somehow, the crowd below looked even denser than it had just moments ago.

Right as I was averting my gaze once more, utterly unable to hide my look of profound disgust, I spotted a highly familiar clothing color on the second floor of a building directly across the street. My head snapped right back in that direction.

“How utterly exhausting.”

I had barely even been back in Hefei for any length of time, yet I was already running right into those pests from the Namgung Clan.

Thanks to that visual trigger, the absolute nonsense about a pregnancy and a mystical elixir came flooding right back into my mind. As I stared at the figures across the street with a heavily furrowed brow, Yeo-ui suddenly called out to me.

“Young Master, did you say something?”

It seemed my internal monologue had slipped out a bit too loudly.

Averting my gaze from the window, I brought the teacup back up to my lips.

“No, it’s nothing at all. Is the food not ready yet?”

I deliberately asked a question I didn’t care about in order to successfully divert the attention of my two companions. If possible, I preferred that neither of them realize the presence of the Namgung Clan members across the way, if only to avoid sparking any unnecessary misunderstandings.

“It should be served any moment now.”

“I suppose it will take quite a while before the crowds thin out, right?”

“…If navigating through them proves too difficult, I shall personally carry you, Young Master.”

I had profoundly hoped that nobody else would notice, but it seemed Jin-cheong had also caught sight of the building across the street.

The sheer misery vibrating clearly in his voice was transmitted to me without a single filter, prompting me to respond casually as if nothing were amiss.

“Let’s consider that option as our absolute last resort.”

It wasn’t that Jin-cheong’s proposed method was bad. In fact, being able to move comfortably without being caught up in that brutal human tide sounded rather wonderful.

The real issue lay entirely in the aftermath of such an action.

“…….”

If the youngest son of Mangeum Bank—who had supposedly gone away on a leisurely journey—were to suddenly return to the family estate clutched tightly in the arms of his personal guard?

It would do absolute wonders to pour a massive bucket of oil straight onto the fire of those preposterous rumors.

In a situation where further bizarre gossip was guaranteed to latch onto us, hasty actions were strictly forbidden.

Casting one more brief glance down at the main road, I communicated my decision to the two of them.

“Go find out if this tavern has any vacant rooms.”

“…Do you intend to stay the night here?”

“We will move tomorrow instead. That will be much wiser.”

Whether it was to actively avoid the gossip or to grant some much-needed rest to this incredibly fragile body—which would undoubtedly be swept away the exact second it stepped into that sea of people—I absolutely needed to stay put today.

While waiting for a response, Yeo-ui carefully set down the teacup he had been holding.

“Our actual destination is practically right in front of us, so wouldn’t it be far better to rest comfortably at home?”

Given that our luxurious estate was a mere stone’s throw away, it was entirely understandable that he couldn’t comprehend why I would choose to unpack our belongings elsewhere.

Even so, under the current circumstances, this choice was my absolute best option. With my physical stamina already near zero, there was no telling what kind of disaster might strike if I forced my feet into that absolute hellscape.

I asserted my intentions one more time.

“If we try to reach that stone’s throw of a distance right now, we will literally be swept away. Besides, I feel as though my physical energy has completely depleted.”

“I shall go inquire about the rooms immediately.”

The moment I mentioned that my stamina had hit rock bottom, Jin-cheong bolted up from his seat. Watching him grab his sword and head down to the first floor, I reached out and gently took hold of Yeo-ui’s hand.

“If staying here makes you uncomfortable, you are free to head back to the estate ahead of me.”

“How could I possibly go anywhere and leave you behind, Young Master!”

“True statement, right?”

I had known with absolute certainty that he would offer that exact response. As I let out a soft chuckle, Yeo-ui stared blankly at me for a moment before letting out a thoroughly disgruntled pout.

“…Honestly, Young Master, you feel as though you have changed an immense amount. To think you can now utter such mischievous words so effortlessly.”

“So… do you dislike it?”

It was merely my way of showing a bit of affection, but if he genuinely disliked it, I would have to exercise some restraint. While waiting for his response, Yeo-ui swiftly slid his hand out of my grip.

“How could I possibly dislike it! I adored how you were before, but I love how you are now even more! In the past… in the past, even though you were the master I served, your disposition was honestly far too wicked!”

“Is that so? Well, that’s a relief.”

If he had actually confessed to preferring the days when I acted out my villainous role with absolute malice during the quest, I would have had to seriously contemplate whether he possessed masochistic tendencies.

While smiling at Yeo-ui, who now stood with both hands planted firmly on his hips, Jin-cheong suddenly materialized back at the table, having already completed his journey downstairs.

“What did they say?”

“…Well, about that.”

Seeing how he struggled to string his words together, it seemed a vacant room was out of the question.

To be fair, with such a massive influx of travelers, it was highly improbable that a tavern would have a single room to spare.

Just as my eyes drifted back out toward the crowded road, Jin-cheong forced out the rest of his sentence.

“…They did mention that a room is currently available.”

“Oh, really?”

If a room existed, I wanted to head there immediately to rest. Right as I was about to stand up, Jin-cheong cautiously delivered the catch.

“…However.”

“However?”

“Well, the thing is…”

What on earth could the situation possibly be for him to hesitate this extensively?

After waiting in silence for what felt like ages for Jin-cheong to carry on, he finally blurted out the remaining details.

“…Apparently, that is the case.”

“What exactly did they say for you to trail off like that?”

Anyone watching would assume he had just overheard some unspeakable secret. At my prompting, Jin-cheong tightened his grip on his sword.

“The issue is… they claim the only available quarters are rooms specifically designated for lovers. They do not allow all-day occupancy, and the space can only be rented in intervals of a single two-hour block…”

“…Ah.”

I finally understood exactly why Jin-cheong had been trailing off.

…Just how many people actually believed those preposterous rumors about me for the local room rental system to transform into something like this?

While I was left merely gaping in absolute psychological chaos, Jin-cheong dropped yet another horrifying piece of information.

“Furthermore, they stated that if three individuals intend to occupy the same room together, an additional surcharge must be paid.”

“…Let’s all just sit down for a moment.”

It reached a point where I felt actively guilty making Jin-cheong deliver such scandalous details while standing up.

The exact second I gestured for him to do so, Jin-cheong eagerly reclaimed his seat. He immediately dropped his head, making it entirely obvious just how profoundly embarrassed he felt.

Staring at Jin-cheong, I couldn’t help but let out a completely hollow laugh at the sheer absurdity of the tavern’s operations.

“To think they offer short-term hourly rentals.”

Come to think of it, back when I was reading this novel, the only element that had ever struck me as remotely normal was the romance between the main top and the main bottom.

The author had explicitly categorized the world-building as a martial arts fantasy romance novel with a distinct Murim flavor, after all.

Recalling this world—which was fundamentally rooted in traditional martial arts but heavily blended with numerous modern concepts—I realized the silence between my two companions had stretched on for far too long, prompting me to speak up first.

“Let’s just eat our food the moment it arrives, rest for a brief moment, and then head straight to the estate. As for that room… I wouldn’t be able to rest a single wink in it even if they offered it to me completely free of charge.”

“Yes, Young Master!”

“Wonderful! Let’s drink some tea, consume plenty of food to restore your stamina right here, and then make our departure.”

The very instant the words left my mouth, the two of them brightened up considerably and nodded in unison. Smiling at the profound relief vibrating in their voices, I cast my eyes back out toward the main road.

“…….”

Though we had resolved to move after a brief rest, looking at that terrifying sea of humanity left me feeling completely daunted. Even so, I had absolutely no desire to sleep in a place where countless other couples had frequently cycled through.

I spent a long moment staring silently at the road to steel my resolve, but the mere thought of diving headfirst into that crowd left my mind in absolute turmoil. Ultimately, I turned my gaze back toward Jin-cheong, who sat directly across from me. It seemed I would indeed have to rely on him carrying me after all.

After I spent a considerable amount of time staring at him through the fabric of my veil, Jin-cheong finally nodded in understanding.

“Whenever you desire to leave, Young Master, I am fully prepared to depart at a moment’s notice.”

“Thank you.”

It was truly wonderful to have someone who could accurately read my mind without the need for unnecessary explanations. Nodding with a smile, I settled in to take my final rest before our departure for the Mangeum Bank estate.