Snowlight Chapter 7

His tone was sarcastic, his voice laced with derision, yet he spoke slowly. Yu Won stood there, biting his lip so hard it turned red, glaring at the man. A strange spark flashed in the man’s eyes, which had been emotionless and indifferent.

 

The sound of a horse neighing came from the distance, followed by a shout.

 

“Brother!” 

 

The shout echoed as if it would shake the mountain. A group was coming down the mountain path on the opposite side, leading their horses.

 

Soon, a man reined in his horse and stopped in front of the two.

 

“It’s not just once or twice, but this always happens again and again! What did you just say? You clearly said we’d keep in touch as soon as we found them, didn’t you? But if you try to handle this on your own again, I’ll be the one left to take the brunt of it later! Don’t you ever think about my situation?”

 

After snapping at him like a wild dog, he looked around and was utterly horrified.

 

“What the hell is this? How many people have died? No wonder the smell of blood was so overwhelming. I’ll have to warn people not to use this path for a while. Wait, hold on, is that a Nati? Why on earth is a Nati here? It’s still too early for them to be active, isn’t it?”

 

Despite his barrage of questions, the man remained silent, calmly examining the spent cartridges scattered on the ground. Holding a crumpled bullet in his hand and rolling it between his fingers, the man finally spoke.

 

“Hyeon Wook. Did you catch all the ones who fled?”

 

The man called Hyeon Wook replied with a weary expression.

 

“Yes, yes. What do you take me for? I didn’t let a single one slip away; I caught them all.”

 

From behind, five bandits, bound by the men, were being dragged along feebly. The man tossed the identity tags he was holding to Hyeon Wook.

 

“They’re a professional gang that disguises their identities to commit fraud. They’ve already caused multiple incidents. If you add up the amounts we’ve identified so far, it’ll be over a hundred silver coins.”

 

“So you’re saying this guy is the one who pulled off the fraud?”

 

“Probably. Since the stakes were high, they must have brought in bandits to help, but it looks like a fight broke out when one of them betrayed the others.”

 

After hearing the matter-of-fact explanation, Hyeon Wook clicked his tongue in disbelief. When he looked at the identity badge he’d been handed, his eyes widened.

 

“Wait a moment. Isn’t this the Tae family’s badge?”

 

“Doesn’t it look like it?”

 

“H-Has that madman completely lost his mind? How dare he lie and claim he was the provincial governor…!”

 

“If he’d stopped there, I might have let it slide. But he was carrying a matchlock rifle, a weapon provided only to elite troops, and even wearing full armor.”

 

“What? What did you say? Those are all military supplies, aren’t they?”

 

“True. But for a mere civilian to have stolen them and worn them about so carelessly, isn’t that the sort of thing that could easily be mistaken for aiding a rebellion or even treason?”

 

The man chuckled softly and tapped the ground with his sword scabbard.

 

“Before we report this to the governor, I think we should find out where the matchlocks might have been being sold.”

 

“So, should we collect all the bodies?”

 

“Throw the ones that are unrecognizable off the road. That way, the beasts drawn by the stench won’t bother innocent people. Load up the rest. If we bring them face to face, the guilty ones will give themselves away.”

 

“Yes, yes. Let’s do that. We need to really show them what’s what. But, brother, who is this person… exactly?”

 

Hyeon Wook glanced at Yu Won, who was crouched beside him, and asked. The man slowly turned to look at Yu Won and let out a small gasp.

 

“Well now. I didn’t ask for his full name, but he told me earlier that the man lying over there is supposedly his groom.”

 

“Groom? If he’s referring to the man lying there… are you saying he called that con artist his groom? So, if he called the impostor who pretended to be the provincial governor’s ‘groom,’ then surely he didn’t mean… you, sir?!”

 

Shh. The man raised a finger to his lips and shook his head. His stern gaze suggested he wouldn’t let Hyeon Wook say another word. Hyeon Wook clamped his mouth shut and stepped back, his expression a complex mix of emotions.

 

The man straightened his hunched posture and looked down at Yu Won. Yu Won’s face, having heard the entire story, had turned pale with horror. The man spoke to Yu Won, who was averting his gaze with his eyes cast down.

 

“To think that your supposed groom was even a fraud, how truly unfortunate.”

 

“……”

 

“But what can be done? It seems it was not meant to be.”

 

Though his tone was clearly polite, there was not a trace of compassion to be found. Yu Won looked up at the man, his eyes lifeless. His expression was impassive, save for a slight twist at the corner of his mouth. It was a cruel smile, as if mocking Yu Won’s plight as he endured this humiliation.

 

As if he had said all he needed to say, the man turned away coldly and mounted a horse with a completely black mane and body. With a final order to collect all the bodies and clear the road, the sound of galloping hooves faded into the distance. Hyeon Wook, who had been busy collecting and disposing of the bodies, approached Yu Won cautiously.

 

“Excuse me, are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?”

 

His tone was surprisingly gentle, in stark contrast to his rough appearance. Yu Won nodded weakly. Looking down at Yu Won, who was slumped on the ground, Hyeon Wook clicked his tongue inwardly.

 

He looked pitiful just to look at. His tattered clothes were covered in blood, and one of his shoes was missing; he was barefoot. On top of that, his face, smeared with blood and dirt, was deathly pale, as if his spirit had been sucked right out of him. Having been through such a harrowing ordeal in the middle of the night, it was no wonder he was too shocked to speak.

 

Unable to bear watching Yu Won shivering uncontrollably, Hyeon Wook took off the coat he was wearing and draped it over his shoulders. When a flustered Yu Won tried to take it off, the man shook his head.

 

“Just keep it on. The early morning is so cold that even the hardiest of men can’t stand it.”

 

“But… you must be cold too, sir.”

 

“I can withstand the cold better than most sturdy fellows. Besides, I don’t want to see a living person freeze to death, and… I feel embarrassed seeing you so scantily clad.”

 

Only then did Yu Won realize how disheveled he looked. The ties of his jang-ot were torn to shreds, exposing his undergarments. The cold he had forgotten about finally caught up with him. His hands and feet tingled so badly it felt as if they were being pricked by needles. Yu Won put on the coat Hyeon Wook had handed him. It looked rough and worn, but as soon as he put it on, the chill miraculously vanished.

 

“It’s a coat made from fire dog hide, so it won’t get cold even in the wind. Normally, the smell from the leather is a bit strong, but this one was soaked in water mixed with charcoal powder, so it should be milder.”

 

“Fire dog?”

 

“Ah, I suppose they’re rare down south. They look similar to wild dogs, but their entire bodies are as red as a blazing ball of fire, which is why they’re called fire dogs. Their meat isn’t edible, but their fur is of such high quality that it’s used to make winter coats. Around here, they’re more common than mountain hares.”

 

In other words, it was a coat made from the hide of a demonic beast. Even in the capital, where one could find just about anything, things made from demonic beasts were considered valuable items. Even if that demonic beast was common here, to actually hunt one down and make a winter coat out of it, then he must have truly exceptional hunting skills.

 

Hyeon Wook, who had been awkwardly gauging Yu Won’s reaction, soon introduced himself. He was Hyeon Wook of the Kwak clan, a hunter attached to the Wonhye garrison. He explained that while he had been roaming the forest for some time in search of game, he heard a scream and, upon seeing suspicious figures suddenly bursting out from the underbrush, had hurried to this spot.

 

Upon hearing the word “hunter,” Yu Won harbored no particular suspicion. Even in the capital alone, there were always professional royal hunters like the Chakhogapsa who roamed the mountains to drive out demonic beasts and game. In the Northern Provinces, where these beasts ran rampant day and night, there were bound to be even more hunters.

 

“By the way, what is your name, young master?”

 

“I am Yu Won… Hong Yu Won.”

 

“If you’re from the Hong family among the noblemen of Okyang… are you saying you’re the son of the Minister of Personnel?”

 

Yu Won nodded, feeling as if he were swallowing a thorn. Even though he had been granted this surname as a gift, with the promise that his name would be added to the family register following this marriage, it still didn’t feel like his own.

 

“Um, is that gentleman from earlier also a hunter like you?”

 

“Which gentleman?”

 

“The one who went ahead that way.”

 

When he pointed toward the mountain path again, Kwak Hyeon Wook chose his words carefully as he answered.

 

“Well, my older brother is… sort of the leader of the hunters.”

 

“The leader?”

 

“Yes, well, something like that.”

 

It was a somewhat vague answer, but the atmosphere made it difficult to ask any further questions. Yu Won nodded. After all, considering he commanded such a large group of hunters with just a nod or a gesture, the description of a “leader” seemed fitting.

 

Yu Won suddenly recalled the man’s gaze. It was a piercing stare that made his knees go weak. At the same time, they were filled with rage. Did he find it repulsive that Yu Won had shielded a mere imposter, calling him his “groom”? Or had he seen right through the fact that Yu Won wasn’t of noble birth? Even so, there was no need to treat a person so harshly, as if he were an enemy. If he had simply told Yu Won that he was a fraud, Yu Won wouldn’t have felt the need to stand in his way.

 

A wind as sharp as a blade brushed against his cheek and the nape of his neck. It was an indescribable cold. Yu Won shivered uncontrollably, hunching his body and pulling his coat tighter. Of all times, he had to lose one of his shoes. His socks were soaked through, feeling as if they’d been dipped in icy water.

 

“Fortunately, it was still wearable.”

 

Kwak Hyeon Wook, who had gone to look around for a moment, handed Yu Won the item he was holding. It was the shoe he had thought he’d lost. Kwak Hyeon Wook, who had offered his shoulder for him to hold on while he put the shoe on, hesitated before speaking cautiously.

 

“Um, young master Yu Won. My older brother acted a bit harshly just now, but he’s not a bad person. So please don’t hold it against him.”

 

“Yes…”

 

Somehow, it sounded like he was making excuses on the man’s behalf. It seemed he was worried that some trouble might arise later on. In any case, the problem Kwak Hyeon Wook feared was unlikely to materialize. Even if he, who was brought in place of his child, were insulted along the way, it would hardly be a matter of great concern to the Lord. However, Yu Won made a point of not mentioning these circumstances. It was a matter they needn’t know about.

 

“My Lord! We’ve finished gathering everything here.”

 

The men, who had finished tidying up the area, called out to Kwak Hyeon Wook from all around.

 

“Got it, you lot! Get ready to head back quickly!”

 

Kwak Hyeon Wook replied loudly, then rubbed the back of his neck and said with an awkward expression.

 

“Um, what are you planning to do, young master?”

 

He glanced around and continued.

 

“As you can see, it’s getting dark, so it’ll be hard for you to travel far right now. Even seasoned mountain guides find this place difficult. I’ll assign one of my men with a good sense of direction to accompany you. Why don’t you rest a bit at a nearby lodge before returning to your family home? After all, you must inform your family of the situation, mustn’t you?”

 

At this polite inquiry, Yu Won blinked. It wasn’t even a suggestion to go to Wonhye; he was specifically telling him to return to his family home.

 

“I’m sorry to ask, but how long does it take to get from here to Wonhye?”

 

Kwak Hyeon Wook pursed his lips. He looked extremely uncomfortable.

 

“Well, it’s not that far. If you walk briskly, it’s a distance that can be covered in half a day. However…”

 

“However?”

 

“Of course, we would be delighted to accompany you, young master, but we aren’t heading back that way ourselves.”