Chapter 18: Echoes of the Future

Once the hunchback settled back into his chair, I tossed a pouch the size of a fist onto the table.

Its weight made the tabletop shudder.

The man’s face lit up instantly.

Without the slightest concern that I was sitting right in front of him, he eagerly untied the pouch and overturned it.

Gold coins spilled across the table.

His grin stretched from ear to ear.

I tossed over a second pouch.

It was roughly the same size as the first.

The hunchback’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Then I gave him another assignment.

“Investigate the Red Demon.”

“Haven’t we already submitted a report on General Chi?”

“I believe I made it clear.”

I looked at him coolly.

“Questions are not permitted.”

There was no way he had forgotten that rule.

The hunchback immediately rubbed his hands together in exaggerated submission.

To the untrained eye, it looked like nothing more than obsequious flattery.

Anyone foolish enough to take him at face value, however…

Would never leave the slums alive.

I tossed another pouch of gold onto the table.

Only then did his smile broaden again.

“Of course.”

“This humble one has no mouth.”

“I possess only ears to hear your commands…”

“…and hands to carry them out.”

He had already become completely absorbed in counting the scattered coins.

Even so, I knew he was listening.

“Everything.”

“I want everything.”

“His birthplace.”

“His family.”

“The places he grew up.”

“Every battlefield he has ever set foot upon.”

“Find anyone who claims to know him.”

“I want to know exactly how the Red Demon has lived his life.”

Even as I gave the order…

The old woman’s ramblings continued to echo inside my head.

The only reason I couldn’t dismiss them outright…

Was because I knew almost nothing about the Red Demon.

The God of Fire.

You ran away.

He tried to catch you.

None of it made any sense.

It was absurd.

Ridiculous.

Such unbelievable nonsense couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the prophetic dream I had seen.

I needed certainty.

I needed proof…

That the Red Demon was nothing more than an ordinary man.

The closer I came to the center of the Imperial Capital, the livelier the streets became.

Perhaps because I had just encountered that mad old woman…

Being surrounded once more by neatly dressed commoners somehow brought me comfort.

Today happened to be the third day of the market festival.

The streets were packed.

The crowd was so dense that I could barely move forward.

Yet strangely…

I didn’t mind waiting.

As an ox cart loaded with sacks of grain slowly passed before me, my eyes drifted toward one corner of the marketplace.

A smile crept onto my lips.

A young nobleman stood there.

Before him, a neat line of children waited patiently.

Without realizing it…

My feet carried me toward them.

Standing at the very end of the line behind the children, I noticed one of the nobleman’s guards spot me first.

His eyes widened.

I quietly raised a finger to my lips.

The guard immediately understood.

Suppressing a laugh, he bit down on his lip to keep from smiling.

Meanwhile…

The noble-looking young man opened the bundle resting beside him.

Inside were plump yugwa—crispy honey pastries coated generously with puffed rice.

Even from where I stood, I could hear the children swallowing eagerly.

The young noble crouched until he was eye level with the little girl standing first in line.

His smile was warm.

“Let’s see…”

“You brought your little brother today.”

“This must be the one you told me about.”

“Yes!”

“I see.”

“Then hold out both your hands.”

“I’ll give you plenty.”

“Wow!”

The little girl eagerly stretched out both palms.

Her younger brother awkwardly copied her.

“You’ve been taking such good care of your little brother.”

The nobleman smiled.

“You deserve a reward.”

He filled both of her hands to overflowing with yugwa.

The little boy received nearly as much.

“You’re adorable.”

He chuckled.

Every child had a different reason for receiving extra sweets.

One had grown taller than before.

Another answered loudly and confidently.

One whispered a secret into the nobleman’s ear.

Another proudly announced he had finally relieved himself after several days of constipation.

The reasons varied endlessly.

But the result was always the same.

Every child left with more yugwa than they could possibly carry.

Watching him…

It was obvious this wasn’t something he had begun yesterday.

He was wonderfully practiced.

One by one, the line grew shorter.

Even the scruffy-haired boy standing before me left with an armful of sweets simply because he had washed his hair.

By then…

The wooden box was nearly empty.

The bottom was beginning to show.

The nobleman bent down, carefully scraping together every remaining piece.

Unaware of who stood before him now, he gathered the last handful before finally looking up.

His eyes widened.

“Well now.”

“You’re the last one.”

“Since you’re last, you should have everything that’s left—”

He froze.

“Oh my… Han!”

Smiling shamelessly, I held out both hands.

“I’d like some too.”

“Han.”

“When did you get here?”

Disguised as a young nobleman, His Majesty theatrically pressed a hand against his chest as though calming his startled heart.

Then he carefully filled both of my hands until they overflowed, making certain not a single pastry would fall.

Having listened to him shower each child with gentle praise, I could barely suppress my laughter.

Feeling mischievous, I asked,

“And what reason does Your Majesty have for giving them to me?”

“My dear Han.”

His Majesty smiled.

“Must I have a reason to give something to my own subject?”

“I simply thought you looked adorable.”

His words flowed as naturally as a mountain stream.

Unable to stop my cheeks from warming, I wrapped the yugwa carefully and tucked it safely into my robes.

Seung-gi, the guard, packed away the now-empty box.

As always…

The three of us disappeared into the bustling marketplace.

People crowded every corner.

Grain.

Fresh vegetables.

Recently butchered meat.

Salted and dried seafood brought in from the coast.

The stalls stretched endlessly.

Seung-gi walked ahead, clearing a path through the crowd with his broad shoulders.

I followed behind His Majesty.

Standing safely between us, the Emperor leisurely admired the lively streets.

The gentle smile upon his face overflowed with affection.

Was he truly that happy?

Then again…

This was the man who claimed that personally witnessing his people living prosperous lives was the greatest joy…

The greatest meaning…

Of his life.

I had begged him countless times not to venture into the city disguised like this.

It was dangerous.

But there was no stopping him.

Eventually…

We reached a compromise.

His Majesty agreed to make fewer excursions.

In return…

He insisted on bringing fewer guards.

Still…

Only one guard?

That was going too far.

This time, I couldn’t let it pass.

Now that we were trapped among the crowd and His Majesty couldn’t simply walk away…

I seized the opportunity.

“My lord.”

“This is truly too much.”

“Even in disguise…”

“You should never go out with only a single attendant.”

“Now, Han…”

“No.”

I interrupted.

“That’s not true.”

“Hong-jae came as well.”

“But Your Majesty sent him away on an errand.”

“An errand?”

Seung-gi immediately chimed in.

Protecting His Majesty was supposed to be his highest duty.

What task could possibly have taken priority over that?

Depending on the answer…

Either His Majesty…

Or Seung-gi…

Would be receiving my lecture.

Perhaps Seung-gi had been waiting for this opportunity.

“There was that village just past the Great Hong Gate, wasn’t there?”

“Over there—”

“Ahem.”

A single cough from His Majesty silenced him.

Turning toward me, the Emperor smiled gently.

“Han.”

“Have you eaten yet?”

“I’m getting hungry.”

“Why don’t we have some noodles?”

…He really didn’t want to tell me.

He changed the subject so blatantly that it was almost amusing.

Still…

If His Majesty wished to keep something secret…

What could I do?

Though reluctant, I trusted he would tell me when the time was right.

So I let the matter drop.

We took seats at a small noodle stall tucked into one corner of the market.

Before long…

Three steaming bowls arrived.

The broth was crystal clear.

Freshly cooked noodles floated within it.

There weren’t even any toppings.

Yet the aroma alone was enough to make one’s mouth water.

Lifting a generous bundle of noodles with my chopsticks, I watched steam curl upward.

The rich scent of dried anchovies used in the broth filled the air.

The clean, delicate flavor warmed my stomach.

The noodles slipped down easily.

Once our hunger had eased…

Conversation naturally resumed.

As His Majesty stirred red seasoning into his broth, he casually remarked,

“Seung-gi.”

“When you get married someday…”

“I suppose I’ll come eat noodles at your wedding.”

“Please don’t.”

Seung-gi laughed helplessly.

“If Your Majesty attends, I doubt I’ll have much peace greeting my bride.”

“I imagine…”

I added with a smile,

“I’ll be too busy looking after my own wife that day.”

His Majesty never forgot such things.

There was no reason for an emperor to remember every small event in a servant’s personal life.

Yet…

He always did.

And he never let those around him feel forgotten.

“I’ll send sacks of rice.”

“Beef.”

“And deer antler as well.”

“Tell your servants to prepare.”

“Cough—”

Seung-gi nearly choked.

“M-My lord…”

“That’s far too generous.”

I quietly poured him a cup of water.

He was surprised now.

But that was nothing compared to how shocked he’d be once everything actually arrived.

Smiling inwardly, I lifted another spoonful of broth.

Then…

My hand stopped.

Without thinking…

I had naturally pictured Seung-gi’s wedding.

A wedding that hadn’t happened yet.

And suddenly…

I realized where I had seen it before.

The dream.

The dream of the rebellion.

In that dream…

I had accompanied His Majesty to Seung-gi’s wedding.

The realization unfolded those dreamlike memories with startling clarity inside my mind.

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